Photography Tips By Steve

If you have a tip to include here E-mail it to me. and I'll give you credit for the tip and a link to your page at the end of the tip if you like.

If you would like to take a quick humor break check out my page of

Tip Topics

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Proper Exposure



• Is there such a thing? Yes and No. There is proper exposure for the image you want capture. The same scene has multiple "proper exposures."
• Imagine I have my camera on the tripod and I look through it and see a lake surrounded by high mountains. There is one "proper exposure" to silhouette the mountain outline and sun but the lake with the surrounding trees will be underexposed. There is another "proper exposure" for the lake and trees, but the sun will come out overexposed. Without moving the tripod, I decided these two "proper exposures" were exactly what I need to capture the image on film.
• If you are in a once in a lifetime situation, or place, use bracketing to take an exposure above and below the selected exposure. As with any operation you should learn how to bracket before you really need it.

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  General

  
  
• What problem do I see as most common when I teaching photography:
  When most people look through the viewfinder, in their mind they still see what is outside the frame and let that affects the photographs they take.
• For example; You are at the circus and take a close up snapshot of someone you are with. You get the photo back and what you have is a snapshot of the person smiling somewhere, maybe surrounded by people. Where is the circus? Because you were at the circus does not mean it will show up in the image. This does not mean you have to include an elephant, even though that would help. Be inventive or do something as simple as having them hug a program that shows the circus.
• The second problem I see is people locked into one orientation and not mixing horizontal and vertical compositions. Try vertical landscape s or horizontal portraits. For a week put deliberate thought into always looking through the viewfinder in the other orientation after you take a photograph. Even if you are not thrilled with the image take a few and analyse them when you get them back. In addition look back through your old images with the purpose of finding images that would have been interesting in the other orientation.
• Don't forget you are not limited to horizontal and vertical orientation there are 360 degrees to play with. Break the rules and do some unusual angle shots. You will probably produce some really bad photographs but that is the wonderful part of photography, you only show off the ones that work for you.
• What is the most under-used accessory in photography?
  Answer: The Feet. I constantly see people complaining they can't get a good composition. Then they try moving their camera around while standing still. If they walked around a subject they might find an angle that works for them.
• TAKE YOUR CAMERA WITH YOU. You can not capture an image if you don't have your camera. A friend of mine hikes constantly and I constantly hear from him, "If I only had my camera".

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  Night Photography

  
  
• The first question you have to ask yourself a few questions about night time photography and what are you trying to do. Do you only need to capture something on film that is more of a snap shot? Do you want something very dramatic? Is time a factor? If you are using a flash; What is the range it must cover or what is the distance to what you are photographing?
• If you are just wanting to get a rememberance and you can stay at 400 ASA and a flash that is what I would recommend. If your flash has exposure compensation I suggest you under flash by a -1.0 or -1.3. This will give your images a more natural look. They still look like there is additional light but they do not look like and canned flash photo.
• For dramatic images use a low speed film, a tripod, and time exposure. I find that for Fujichrome Velvia I get wonderful light trails in traffic shots with about f/8 and a 30 second or 60 second exposure for medium speed traffic. Keep in mind with shots of traffic the speed of the traffic will vary the intensity of the light trails so adjust your exposure for increased light with faster vehicles.
• As in all photography I think you get your best work when you have fun and play. Get silly and creative when you do it.

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  Holiday time and photography

  
  
• It is holiday time and you want to get shots of your friends and family enjoying the festivities. Here a some simple and quickie things but the are the best tips since they are quick.
• Get a few disposable camera*with flash* and scatter them around for Thanksgiving and Christmas. With just one person taking photos you get just their point of view. Give everyone a chance to surprise others with a photo opportunity. Even the kids love to get their hands on the camera and with the disposable you do not have to worry that they are going to break it.
• DO NOT do to many of the everyone get together infront of the camera. People get tired quickly of those. Yes do at least on of them but that should cover it. If you have the same group getting together repeatedly each year for the holidays do a theme photo. Same theme every year with everyone in the same place. Then for the next year have the blow up of the previous year for everyone to laugh at themselves. After many years it gets really interesting.
• I normally don't use many special effects filters but a star filter on with a shot of a lighted christmas tree is great and I never tire of that look.
• Happy Holidays and Happy Photography

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  Sunny 16 Rule

  
  
• What is the "Sunny 16" rule? General exposure for a sunny day is 1/(film speed) for the shutter speed and an aperture of f/16. If you are photographing outside on a sunny day using 100 speed film the exposure would be 1/125 of a second to have the scene captured as you generally perceive it. Always keep in mind the proper exposure rule.
• The sunny 16 rule can help you check your camera s exposure meter by setting the aperture to f/16 and shutter speed to the sunny 16 rule. Meter a good blue sky. This reading should agree with the sunny 16 setting.

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  Animals

  
  
• Change your perspective. We see most things standing. When you see a photo of an animal taken from eye level, whether it is your pet, a wild animal, or an animal in a zoo, it is harder to come up with an image that stands out. Get even with or below the eye level of the animal and your image becomes more intimate.
• Other tips: Focus on the eyes. Use a flash, even outdoors, for a catch-light in the eyes. Don t try to force the animal to fill the frame, leave some natural elements in the photograph.

  A Quick Photo Break

  
  

  Two Butterflies Hugging

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  People

  
  
  The simplest tip for photographing people is: Talk with them. How do you feel when someone wants to take your photo and they just have you stand there? You are intimidated by the silence and the lens. What you probably end up with is photo of someone looking uncomfortable. Talking relaxes them and the relaxation will show. Stop talking just before you press the shutter release to minimize camera shake, or use a cable release.
  Do not use a short focal length lens. I normally use at least a 100mm lens for people. This gives you separation so the camera is not as intimidating and does not accentuate large features.
  Other tips: Remember people are animals so focus on the eyes. Try to include something that shows their personality. Use a flash for catch-light in the eyes.

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  Posed Photos

  
  
  Posing for photos is something most people are terrible at!!! What makes the photos look so bad is that they think they can look natural and that makes them look even more fake.
  How can you overcome this. Do a 180 degree turn and try to make posed shots look even more posed or outragous. Go for radical expressions. Use non-standard props. Get in really close or hold the camera at an unusual angle.
  What ever rules you know break them on purpose and see what happens.

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  Steady Your Camera

  
  
  A clear image can best be achieved with a tripod but you don t always have that luxury. How you hold the camera makes a large impact on the clarity of your photographs. If you hold your elbows out then you can change something to have your pictures sharper. Your arms should be tucked in to your sides.
  Try this test: Put your arms and elbows up while holding your camera, and now move an elbow an inch.
  .....I ll wait while you do it........
  What happens to the camera you are holding? A movement of your elbow makes it impossible to keep your camera still. It is like keeping your eyes open when sneezing, physically impossible.
  If you are out and need an extra steady camera but don t have a tripod try some of the following:
  1. Find a pole or tree to lean on or put the lens against.
  2. Ball up a jacket and find a table or flat surface to set the camera on and the jacket. This should raise up the camera enough to be able to focus and give you a steadier base.

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  Bad or Cold Weather

  
  
  Don t put your camera away just because the weather has turned bad. A gray overcast sky defuses the light to soften shadows. This is good for close-ups when you may not want harsh shadows and contrast.
  If you are photographing outdoors in bad weather try not to get a flat gray sky in the photo. It makes everything in the photo look flat and bland. As an alternative, look for dramatic contrast in the sky, such as a black sky with a shaft of light shining through.
  Try taking photos of people reacting to or being affected by the weather.
  Prepare for the cold by layering clothing and always have a hat, but what has helped me most are wind-proof fleece gloves. They allows me to operate the camera controls in any weather.

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  Composition

  
  
  This is the most personal part of photography. There are rules of composition and books to teach it but it is more a matter of your own style. Experience is the best teacher of composition.

  The rules I have developed my composition style around are:
  

  1. Keep it simple. Don t try and include everything. A cluttered image is normally hard on the eyes.
     
  2. The rule of thirds. Divide an image into three parts horizontally and vertically. Placing the horizon a third of the way from the top or bottom for impact. Where the horizontal and vertical divisions meet are power points. Placing your subject at a power point makes a pleasing image.
     
  3. Before you press the shutter release run your eyes around the four sides if you have the time. This is to insure you don t have a distraction poking in from outside.
     
  4. The most important rule is to know when to break the rules. Some of my favorite photographs are cluttered and have the subject dead center in the frame.

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  Travel

  
  
  Do your homework. Whether you travel in the US, or abroad, learn the area, the hours, rules, and local customs.
  Items to keep in mind for photography when you travel: Can you get batteries where you are going? In many places you are allowed to photograph but not allow to use a tripod.

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  What Do All Those Buttons Do?

  
  
  Learn how to change you camera settings while you are not photographing. Take out your camera while you are sitting at home watching tv or doing nothing and play with the buttons. Learn what does what and practice adjusting as much as possible while still looking through the viewfinder.
  I have found a lot beginning to intermiediate photographers do not know what the button, knobs, or dials on their cameras do. In addition I have been teaching and will tell a student to change a specific setting and they will have to stop everything and study their camera and normally what I hear is "I think this is how I change that." If they had been in a situation where something moving was happening and they needed to change the camera settings they would have lost the opportunity to take the shot.
  I can not change everything without taking the camera from my eye but I can make exposure adjustments and a few other changes because I know what buttons do what without looking at them. This lets me spend more time studing what I am shooting.

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  Look The Other Way

  
  
  When photographing & engrossed in a particular subject. Look behind you. Many times someone is so into what has caught their eye, they miss something right over their shoulder.

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  Photograph the Wind

  
  
  Photograph the wind. Use a tripod, multiple exposure, slowest possible film, and a neutral filter(or two) to cut down the light level reaching the film. Expose the film with multiple exposures when something in the frame is affected by the wind. You might even try doing this over day to get unusual light effect with the shadows.

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  Save Magazine Images

  
  
  If you see an image in a magazine that catches your eye tear it out and save it. See if you can reproduce the image or improve it. I do not recommend stealing image ideas but they can be used for inspiration and to learn from.

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  Flash

  
  
  Flash is not just for indoors. Fill flash outdoors can solve many problems, including these.
  It can add catch-lights in the eyes.
  Hat head, this is not removing your hat and having a bad hair day. Hat head in photography is when the a hat casts a shadow to the point of hiding the persons face.

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  Film

  
  
  Film is cheap. When it comes to the cost of camera equipment and travel it is the cheapest items in photography.
  Slide film or print film?
  Slide film gives you better feedback on your exposure. When you get your slides processed you can see if you underexposed or overexposed for what you were trying to capture on film. With print film the lab adjusts for each exposure depending on what "they" think were exposing for.
  Print film has a wider exposure latitude for capturing the difference between light and dark. Both have their good and bad points.
  Don t use a type of film just because someone else uses it. Use a film that suits your needs.

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  Camera

  
  
  Point and shoot, SLR, Medium format. Each has it s own uses and the type of photography you want to do will mostly determine what camera you will use.
  Much of the studio work is done on Medium format since the size and weight is not a consideration.
  For photojournalism and travel photography, the compact size and weight helps.
  I can carry two bodies and 6 lens in a large waist pack when I hike.

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  Basic Equipment For My Travel Bag

  
  
  Two Camera Bodies, 15mm fisheye, 24mm Wide-angle, 18-35 zoom, 28-70mm Zoom, 50mm Macro, 75-300mm, 300mm, Cable release, Tripod, Table top tripod, Blower brush, Lens cloth, Stick-on labels to identify special rolls of film, permanent marker for canister when you don t have labels, small screwdriver for emergency adjustments, notepad for notes on locations, Batteries, More batteries, & twice as much film as I feel I will use.

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  Depth Of Field

  
  
  DOF is one of the most creative tools you can use to change the mood of an image. For portraits, a narrow DOF can make the subject stand out. For landscapes, maximum DOF is much more pleasing and less distracting.
  DOF is directly related to the aperture(f-stop). The smaller the number, the smaller the depth of field.
  If you do not know how to use the DOF scale on your lenses, get out the manual and learn to use it.

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  Final Notes

  
  
  Photography should be fun!!!! These tips are starting points. Remember there is always a rule to tell you what to do and there is always a reason to break the rules. Experience and your developing style will let you know when to obey and when to rebel.

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  Additional Photo Thoughts/Suggestions.

  
  
  Here are additional photography bit and pieces for you to explore with your camera indoors and out. Some of these are just general headings for you to look up and learn.
  

  1. Light painting a subject at night.
  2. Hyper-focal Distance for depth of field.
  3. Multiple exposures can be done even on a camera without that capability built-in as long as it can do long exposures. This can only be done in a very dark area.
  4. Multiple flashes with different color filters on the flash while moving the flash to different sides of the subject.
  5. Telescopic compression. Find out what it is and how to use it.
  6. Slow shutter speed at a sporting event to blur everything. Slow shutter speed while panning with a moving object to blur only the background.
  7. Find patterns in nature and in civilization to photograph.
  8. Try making moving things disappear in a photograph by slowing the shutter speed down.
  9. Give yourself an assignment for a day. For example tell yourself you are going to photograph signs next time you go for a drive. Now take the challenge to open your eyes to find interesting signs.
  10. Push a film to it s limits. Shoot a roll of 400asa at 3200asa and have a lab process it pushed 3 stops. This will purposely produce super grainy images.

The two photographs on this page contain very simple but very important photography concepts. Email me what you think they are.

If you want to see how I apply some of the above tips and rules check out my pages of images. Each page contains three to five images.

• Photography, page one.
  

• Photography, page two
  

• Photography, page three
  

• Polaroid transfer, page one

• Polaroid transfer, page two

For example: Position a piece of glass(clean on both sides) between two tables or chairs. Arrange, pile, or ramdomly scatter things on the glass. position yourself under the glass and shoot upward, becareful of flash reflection if you do need to use a flash. Try putting the flash behind the materials on the glass, or off to the side.

I have not recieved feedback so I will not be posting other creative assignments at this time. Maybe another in the future at random times I will place a new one here. Well do you think I should do more of this? Let me know.

STEPHEN SCHRADER PHOTOGRAPHY
1432 Pennsylvania St. #3, Denver, Colorado 80203
303-813-1258

Feel free to give me any feedback in a mail message.

nikonman@ix.netcom.com
Changes last made on: Tue Nov 12 12:42:00 1996