Low Light Photography Tips

When shooting in subdued light, classic photography method is to select a very low shutter speed (tens of seconds or even more) to reveal the faintest objects. Therefore, we will take just one long exposure. One alternative way to proceed, however, is to take several short exposures of the same scene and then adding them up with editing software like Photoshop. This technique offers a wealth of advantages, leading up to better images and greater creativity.

The method of summing up several pictures of the same scene is conceptually simple. Just take as many photographs as necessary so that when summing them up, the scene will be lighted correctly. The light of each photo will add to that of the others. By adding an appropriate number of such pictures, the photographer can get a final image properly exposed. If you want to take a look at a more in-depth description of this method and an example, you can read our article.

We can distinguish between two macro-cases. In the first one, we are taking a picture exploiting the already present natural ambient light. In the second case, we provide the main lighting. In the first case, the proposed method offers several advantages, but, in the second case, the benefits are even more.

Just Ambient Light

The first real macro advantage is that, due to thermal noise in CCDs, still digital cameras simply cannot offer arbitrarily long exposure time. That is why the authentic “B” pose does not exist in digital cameras. Therefore, the proposed method overcomes the problem of very long exposure, impossible with digital cameras.

Another advantage in using the proposed method is noise reduction. Indeed, at least a part of noise is stochastic, which means that it can add to or subtract from the signal. If we sum many noisy images, we make a sort of average, so reducing noise.

A third advantage is we can dismiss faulty images. In the sequence of images taken, some may be blurred by micro-movement of the camera (e.g. due to the wind) or imperfect in other ways. For instance, an airplane or a car passing by may leave an unwanted path of light. There could be zillions of reasons why an exposure could be faulty. If we take just one long exposure, we will end up with a useless picture. However, if we take a lot of them, keeping all of them short, we can dismiss some of the shots at the editing phase. This is even more so if the exposure requires some photographer’s actions, like firing sequences of flashes.

A fourth benefit arises from the powerful capabilities of image editing software. As an example, we can mask unwanted parts in some of the shots. This could be useful, for instance, in order to avoid saturation of the brightest parts of the image. This way, the lighting will be more uniform. Alternatively, we could do this creatively by dimming some portions of the final image purposely. Control over the brightness of the single parts of the image is much stronger.

We could even extend this technique to normally lighted daytime shots, taking advantage of the same benefits. In that case, each single shot would be extremely short (1/500s or faster).

We Provide the Main Lighting

If the photographer is providing the lighting of the scene being photographed, all the previous advantages still apply. Others can be listed, however.

Lighting equipment can be drastically reduced, thus reducing cost and ease of transport. It is not necessary having many lights lighting the scene simultaneously. This time we can shoot each picture with just one light at a time. They will be added during the editing phase. So, we need just one lamp for each type of lighting equipment being used (e.g. just one soft box instead of two). Moreover, the lights being used do not need to be very powerful, because, again, summing their effects via software we can achieve any brightness we desire.

In case of artistic “painting with light”, during the retouching session the photographer has a very wider range of freedom. He can easily try different compositions, perfectly matching the different lights as desired. This will enhance his creativity. For instance, if using two colored lights, the number of possible combinations is countless. In this same example, precision reached through an image retouching tool, summing the different images each with its own light, is unattainable simply dosing the light during the exposure.

Disadvantages

Of course, this method has disadvantages, too. It is obviously the extra post-processing work with the editing software. In particular, the registration phase, i.e. the alignment of all the pictures to be added, is cumbersome. However, there are specific tools doing that automatically. Moreover, although it is true that we can try different combinations by dismissing some photographs or others or masking them in different ways, this may take a lot of time, too. On the other hand, this is a price for greater freedom.

Apart from that, no real drawbacks arise in using this technique. I hope I managed to convince you about the power of this method and wish you success in using it.

The Classic Wedding Photography

To get classic wedding pictures, one should get the best wedding photographer they can afford. In wedding photography one can choose to have traditional pictures taken or have their photos taken in a reportage style. Another person may opt to mix the two styles. What matters is that the quality of the pictures. If the person resides in Toronto, they can choose to have a Toronto wedding. Once a person selects the venue, the next big decision concerns the wedding photography. To get great pictures of the memorable day, it is advisable to shop around for the best Toronto photographer. This is done by getting a phone book and comparing prices of the different photographers who deal with wedding photography. Some may be cheap while others will charge exorbitant prices for their wedding photography. The best choice would be to settle for one whose prices are affordable.

Another factor to consider in the wedding photography is the length of time it will take to get the pictures developed or printed. The wedding photographer should give one a date when they should expect their photos. Just like Toronto weddings, a good wedding photographer will impart lasting impressions on anyone who looks at the pictures. This will help one know how a particular studio handles its wedding photography. Talking to the photographer also helps someone to know the language used in photography circles. It is also helpful since one can ask as many questions as possible about wedding photography.

Friends and relatives can also advise on the best wedding photography options. They can recommend photographers who take good wedding pictures. They also give advice on the various wedding poses and prepare one for what to expect on the wedding day from the wedding photography. Wedding photography is an art that requires skill and experience. It would be advisable to get a Toronto photographer who has worked for at least two years, as they know how to capture certain moments to get classic wedding photographs. They can also advise on the best poses one can use and make use of the lighting when doing the wedding photography.

Reading the wedding photography contract before signing is important. One gets to know if all costs are inclusive or if there are going to be additional costs. Contracts spell out what the photographer will do for specified amounts of money. Selecting a studio to handle wedding photography is not easy. The process should be started early enough because a wedding day is one of those days when memorable moments are made. Wedding photos should capture those joyous moments.

Wedding photography might be expensive but when one considers the story the pictures will tell, they will choose the best wedding photographer who will bring the best out of that important day. It is an investment of the future and one should not forget a picture is worth a thousand words. Choosing the best studio for the wedding photography will ensure than the couple does not regret when looking at the wedding photos later. by Rafi Ghanim

Digital Photography: The RAW vs JPG Debate

The RAW vs JPG image format debate has come more to the fore in recent times with the introduction of specialized software for handling RAW images. If you use a digital camera and that camera is an SLR (I use a Canon EOS Digital Rebel/300D myself), then it most likely can record images in RAW format. In general, you should record your images at the highest resolution possible. If you only have a small memory card and are worried that you can only records a few RAW images on it, then it's time to buy a bigger card! [They don't cost much these days]. You can always shrink an image after it's taken but you can't enlarge a small one without introducing artifacts. At the very least, you should have your camera record images in Hires JPG format but RAW format is even better.

Any kind of JPG written to your camera's memory card will be processed in some way. JPGs, by their very nature, lose information in an image. If you repeatedly save a JPG, you'll lose more and more detail in it and see more artifacts appearing. Also, if you've set your camera up to do some image manipulation (e.g. contast/brightness adjustments), these will also be applied before your camera writes the image out to the memory card. In such cases, you could end up with images that have burned out highlights or shadows that are so deep that they contain no detail. Such areas of an image may be irreparable even with the likes of Adobe PhotoShop.

RAW images, on the other hand, are simply that - raw. What the camera sees is dumped (without any image manipulation whatsoever) onto the memory card. RAW images also tend to contain more information and detail and have larger file sizes than similar resolution JPGs. The problem with RAW files is that they've not been the easiest to work with; for example, Windows Explorer cannot show RAW files as thumbnail images so, unless you've renamed your image files with meaningful names, you won't know what the images are when you come back to them a couple of months later.

This is where software such as RAWShooter Essentials (RSE) comes in. This software lets digital photographers of all abilities import, view, edit and convert large batches of RAW files (to TIF files). RSE is currently free - it won't be for too long - so grab a copy now. Having used it, I can say it makes working with RAW files a doddle; much easier than using the software that came with my Canon EOS Digital Rebel.

With your converted RAW files, you have full control over what manipulations will be carried out to produce the final image, using packages such as Adobe PhotoShop, Adobe PhotoShop Elements or Paint Shop Pro. The better RAW conversion packages also include basic contrast, brightness and color management controls, so you may not even need a separate image manipulation package. Some even provide tools for compensating for over- or under-exposed images.

By shooting RAW images, you give yourself complete control over color and exposure and it's you, rather than the camera, that decides what adjustments are applied to reproduce the tones and contrast of the original scene. It also lets you maximize the quality of your final image for whatever output you want, whether that's on a monitor, as an inkjet print or sent to one of the digital photo labs for printing.

Various RAW conversion software is available (I've already mentioned RAWShooter Essentials) to allow you to process digital images to the highest quality possible. Capture One and Breezebrowser are both highly regarded, although you have to pay for these. A demo version of Capture One is available so you can try before you buy.

Probably like yourself, I shot all my photos in hires JPG mode until I got switched on to recording my images in RAW mode. Yes, I had to buy a larger capacity memory card, but even 1Gb cards are pretty cheap these days, and with image files being about 6Mb a piece, that still lets me record well over 200 images on the card - that's equivalent to over 6 rolls of 35mm film (at 36 frames per roll)!

So, if you're not already recording in RAW mode, make the switch today and take full creative control of your photographs.

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Just after I'd finished this article, I was looking around the websites of some professional photographers who use digital cameras to see if they had any words to say on the topic of RAW Vs JPG. What I learned surprised me. Quite a number of them shoot in JPG mode rather than RAW format. The reason is time. Professionals expect to get "the image" in camera using compositional techniques, filters and a knowledge of their subject and they simply don't have the time to manipulate images to achieve a desired result. Any such time would cost them money by taking time away from being out there taking photos and earning a living.

The amateur photographer is in a more luxurious position. Our livelihoods don't depend on our results and, if a photo isn't quite up to spec. we have the time to tweak it and bring out its hidden attractions, rather than junking it and moving on the the next photo. The lesson to be learned is that we should always try to get the best picture possible on the day with the camera rather than becoming lazy and assuming sloppy pictures can always be corrected, cropped and manipulated when we get home. Post-processing of photos should be about making good pictures even better rather than so-so or bad pictures just acceptable.by Gary Nugent

Become Snap-happy With Digital Photography!

The digital revolution has made amateur photography

more popular than ever before. The days of Fuji film and print processing have been replaced with talk of mega-pixels and With hundreds of cheap digital cameras on the market, it’s possible for anyone with a good eye for photography yet little practical knowledge of the mechanics of cameras, to capture great shots with simple “point and shoot” digital models.

For some, a love of photography can turn into a profession. If you’re looking to take your photography to the next level, it’s a good idea to first build up a portfolio of work, and then submit your work to the many dedicated photography websites or competitions. There are hundreds of amateur photography forums and websites where members can submit their work for critical appraisal by other members. Such websites also offer advice and tips on photography techniques.

Another way to get recognition and even payment for your photographs is to submit your shots to magazines. Either choose a general photography magazine to do this, or try specialist consumer magazines. For example, if you are a keen skier, submit your ski shots to a winter sports magazine; or if you enjoy fishing, try an angling magazine. Local papers are also a good place to submit photos, as they are often on the lookout for pictures to accompany their stories.

When submitting your photography to magazines, it’s important to remember that photography is an extremely competitive field and that you will be up against professionals. Therefore, don’t get disheartened if your shots aren’t accepted at first – just keep on shooting and continue submitting; in the world of photography, persistence pays.

Amateur photography competitions are another great way of getting your photography seen, and can win you fans, prizes and even commissions or customers. A good idea is to start small; your local photography club will probably hold various contests; also keep an eye out for other competitions that are within your field of expertise. There are hundreds to enter, and they tend to have set themes – covering everything from travel to sports, nature to nautical and portrait to planes.

The ‘Million Places on Earth’ competition, for example, is offering a top prize of one million dollars for unique location images from anywhere in the world. Other competitions include Embassy Suite Hotels ‘Happiness in Motion’ competition, which carries an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii as their top prize; while UKplus are also holding an online photography competition with a top prize of £1000 for photographs taken within the UK.

Whether it’s for fun, glory, or perhaps a new career path, photography is an extremely rewarding hobby. And you never know - you might just see your picture on the cover of National Geographic one day! by Adam Singleton

Basic Photography Composition

Composition, the act of composing the image in the viewfinder, is a visual process of organizing the elements and individual details of a scene into a balanced and pleasing arrangement. Because what one person finds pleasing, someone else will not, composition is largely a matter of personal taste.

In this section, we take that into account. There is no right or wrong composition in photography. A composition that conveys a photographer's intended meaning is an effective one. A composition that doesn't or that confuses the viewer is not.

A photograph that communicates its message - that says what you want it to say, says it clearly, and that interests its viewer - is an effecive composition.

How you arrange a scene's elements in your camera's viewfinder will not only determine the effectiveness of your picture's graphic design, but will also contribute to how well its message is conveyed. There is more to good composition, though, than the placement of elements. Lighting, shutter speed, depth of field and other considerations contribute to a picture's mood and clarity of what the picture is saying, and therefore the effectiveness of its composition.

TREAT THE RULES OF COMPOSITION AS GUIDELINES

Some of the so-called "rules" of composition presented here should be considered as guidelines. They are based on recreating similarities in the make-up of many different images that many people have found to be esthetically-pleasing. We do not intend that a rule of composition or a design concept be taken as a hard and fast rule that must be observed. Besides, some renowned photographs violate all the rules of composition and are still excellent pictures. This doesn't mean that the rules are without value. They are tremendously valuable. They are time-proven, and provide great guidelines for photographers at any level. We use them all the time.

ORIGIN OF THE RULES OF COMPOSITION

Years ago, artists who had been born with an innate sense of design created works that were perceived, by other skilled artists, as having good composition. Not only that, but their works were very popular with the general public and art afficionados. Analysis of such works showed patterns and trends in the organization and inter-relationships of lines, shapes, forms and colors that were recognized as contributing to the effectiveness of the works. It was found that others could employ these patterns as techniques in improving their own works. When they were defined, they became known as the rules of composition.

FOLLOW THE RULES UNTIL YOU KNOW WHEN TO BREAK THEM

We hope in this section to help everyone to compose better pictures, but especially the person who has no idea of composition - the photographer for whom taking a picture means just picking up a camera to point it and shoot it with little thought for the arrangement of the elements in a scene. Such a person would rarely be pleased with the results of his or her normal photography, and could benefit enormously from an understanding of the elements of composition.

Anyone who has an interest in improving their pictures would do well to go through this section and use the tips and hints it contains in their photography to see if their pictures improve.

By religiously observing the principles of composition, they will become firmly cemented in your mind. Employing them will become second nature to you. If you don’t find there is an improvement in your pictures and people aren’t commenting on how great they look, we will be greatly surprised.

Once you have the rules of composition down pat, experiment and break a rule here or there when you feel the image will work better without it. That’s called individual style, and the creativity that stems from it produces some great images. The point is that you will know when to break a rule of composition once you know what the rules are and how they work

Learn Digital Photography - The Basics Of Digital Photography

When you want to maximize your digital camera, you need to have some basics of digital photography. Some might think that they need to join photography classes to get the best of their hobby but little do they know, you just need some background information and you will be able to improve the quality of your picture.

So, let's start.

The first thing to learning digital photography is to have the right camera. When you are starting on photography, you will be wasting your money when you dive straight into the professional DSLR camera. It is true that DSLR cam capture better picture but as a novice photographer, you might have problem appreciating its potential.

When you are unsure of your skill level, you should stick to a compact digital camera and practice your skills before you get something more complicated.

Then, let's talk about the basic format of digital photography.

You need to understand that the digital images you captured is actually made up of million of pixels. Most people thought that the more pixel you have the better picture quality will be. That is not entirely true. You will enjoy better picture quality with high pixel when you have a larger image sensor. 

This is because the more pixels you have in a small image sensor, the more they are compressed together. When you take a picture at high ISO, the pixels are going to introduce digital noise to the near by pixel. However, when you have a larger image sensor, these pixels will be more loosely pack. Hence the intensity of noise in your picture at high ISO will be less.

Still, it is not the end of the world when you have noise in your picture. Another beauty of digital photography is that you can always edit your picture with software. Although it does involve work but when you think about saving the once in a life time picture, all the extra work is worth it.

You might think that software is only for professionals. But as the technology improves, software developers have made the software so user friendly that you can learn it over a short tutorial.by Michael Wong

Learn Digital Photography - All About Digital Camera

Needless to say, when you want to get into photography, you will need a camera. Although film based camera still has its reputation in the field, it is recommended that you get a digital camera for the hobby due to its user friendliness.

Digital camera owes its existence to NASA where digital imaging was developed to help astronauts to navigate their spaceship. During that time, the camera certainly looks different what you have today. It was using a mosaic photosensor to produce digital photograph.

This photosensor was later developed into a charge coupled device (CCD) which most compact digital cameras are having now. The CCD will record the picture when light struck on it. Then the recorded images will be converted into digital data to be display on the LCD screen and later stored in memory.

As the technology improves, these cameras were developed into a few categories and among the few famous one are the compact digital camera, bridge camera and DSLR (digital single reflex lens) camera. 

Compact digital camera is the point and shoot camera that occupied the consumer market. It is smaller in size, affordable and suitable for occasional photographer. Bridge camera is the camera that shares the feature of point and shoots camera and DSLR camera. It has similar manual control as DSLR and cheaper than DSLR. DSLR camera is considered as the professional camera and you can change lenses depending on the purpose of your photography.

Now, you can only enjoy digital photography when you have the right camera. When you are starting on photography, you should start with compact or bridge camera. Not just that DSLR is more expensive, it is also more complicated. You will have problem enjoying the hobby when you have problem appreciating your tool.

So, when you are choosing your camera, the first thing you need to think is your purpose for photography. When you intend to move into the professional segment, you can start with a bridge camera. It is wise that you get yourself familiarize with the features and functions before you move forward with something more advance.by Michael Wong