Digital Photography Tip #001 - Know Your Camera.

I'm starting a more serious series of posts. Digital Photography Tips. My blog to date has been mostly ramblings about, well nothing really. I'm going to start to give back that which I have learned. I'm aiming as DSLR users here but any tips on composition and the like will also work if you have a point and shoot.

OK, let's get started. Here is tip number 1.

Know your camera.

You may ask, "What the heck does that mean?". Well I mean just that. Know your camera. Inside and out. All the controls, how to do everything that it will do. Everything from changing the ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture right down to changing the battery. Take some time, read the manual that came with the camera. Learn what all those little display icons mean and how to change them. Take some pictures then change some settings and see what they do. You need to be able to change settings on the fly and not have to pull out the manual to figure it out. That moment will pass you by as you are looking something up.


There may be a more detailed book for you camera at your local book store. They can provide much more detailed information than the manual but the manual will give you tons of information.

That's it for #1. Simple to the point but important. You need to know how to adjust your camera. Next time we will start discussing what and why you need to change settings.

Chris.

James Nachtwey - War Photographer

Recently I had the chance to watch the documentary War Photographer. This fantastic documentary is about James Nachtwey a photojournalist who focuses on the dark side of humanity, war. It was a great movie and I recommend it to everyone even if you are not a photographer.

Several times throughout the movie I was so moved by the scenes before me I wanted to scream. The passion he has for telling the story, the way he went about the photography, almost meek in his manor yet courageous in his life.

James has won the 2007 TedPrize, a $100,000.00 prize for one wish to change the world. James is getting ready to release his photos of events that are underreported and will most likely shock the world. The date for the unveiling is Oct 3 2008. Watch for it.

Here is James prize wish video.

Find out more about James Nachtwey, TED and the TedPrize here.

Chris.

Jacob - 4 years old already!

Photo For Now #007

Well here is a cute photo I did in my back yard recently. We have tons of hares running around our neighboorhood just as I imagine most people do. This guy was having a nap in my back yard and didn't even flinch as I passed by him to go in my house. I grabbed my camera and came back out for a photo shoot with the little guy. I like this one the best. It's nice and sharp.


250mm, ISO 100, f/5.6 for 1/100 sec.

Chris.

Update For Jared

So today I'm writing a post just for Jared. Jared is an avid reader of my blog. Probably the only reader I have. He has complained that I have not updated my blog 'in like forever'. Well Jared, here you go. An update just for you. Stop whining. LOL.

Seriously though, I have not been taking too many photos lately. I'm upgrading to the 50D as soon as it hits the store. It could be any day now. Then watch the photos roll in. It's not that I don't like my 400D it's just that I need more features. I feel I've almost outgrown the 400D. It still takes some fantastic photos but I grow bored. :)

Well, I hope that satisfies you for now. I will try to get a photo or two up here sometime in the next week or so. I have some shots in mind that I'll do with my 400D if I have too.

Thanks for reading Jared.

Chris.

Photo For Now #006

For #006 I have a portrait of my son that I took during his 4th birthday party. Man, how time flies, 4 already! Anyway, I was playing around with my 430EX during his party. I didn't want to have to fight with the lighting so I added my own. The flash over powered the ambient light which was alright for the day. I bounced it off the ceiling but angled slightly forward to get a little thrown his way.


187mm, ISO 100, f/5.6 for 1/200 sec.

Chris.

I'm Published!

I have had a photo of mine published. Sure it's on a blog but that still counts. I was approached by the writer of the Colorado Energy Careers blog and asked if they could use this photo.



Of course I said yes. All I asked was that I be credited for the photo. Which I was and I am very excited. Here's a link to the post.

Very cool.

Chris.

Photo For Now #005

Here is a photo I took while we were at the Edmonton Corn Maze on Sept. 6 2008. It's a shot of Jacob throwing some straw at me that I think captures the mood of the day.


28mm, ISO 400, f/8 for 1/1000 sec. (ISO 400 was needed in the maze and I saw no real reason to switch for the short time we were out of the maze.)

Chris.

Photo For Now #004

For number 004 I have a series of shots. We shot off some fireworks out at the lake this past long weekend and I attempted to capture them. They are not as sharp as I would have liked but hey, this was my first attempt. I will have to wait until next year for another attempt. I like how the light worked in them. It was easier than I expected.



18mm, ISO 100, f/16 for 11 sec.


18mm, ISO 100, f/16 for 38 sec.


18mm, ISO 100, f/16 for 17 sec.

Chris.

Photo For Now #003

Photo For Now #003 is one that I wish I had when I was gathering photos for my assignment in my course for unit 2. I have my son framed very nicely through the culvert. The ditches have been quite wet this past summer especially in June when I was working on that unit. Oh well, it's nice to have it now.


187mm, ISO 100, f/5.6 for 1/50 sec.

Chris.