Technology Explained, Practice
Daniela Bowker
Resolution and pixels and image quality! Oh my! ...

When you hear the term 'high-res' thrown about with such abandon when it comes to images for web use, have you ever stopped to think just how big or how high quality and image meant for the web needs to be?

Resolution and pixels and image quality! Oh my! Saving images for the web
Feature Articles, Photography Theory
Haje Jan Kamps
Low-contrast photographs don't have to be boring

There's an assumption that high-contrast images are more dynamic, more compelling, more inviting. Have a go at some low-contrast photography. You might surprise yourself with the results.

Low-contrast photographs don't have to be boring
Feature Articles, Theory
Daniela Bowker
Seeking balance in your photos

Balance doesn't mean symmetry; it means an internal consistency and tension within your photos. And it's a vital element of composition. 

Seeking balance in your photos
Feature Articles, Photography Theory
Haje Jan Kamps
Training your photographic luck

Great photos might be down to a little bit of luck, but most of that 'luck' you make yourself. Don't believe us? Read on...

Training your photographic luck
Feature Articles, Practice
Daniela Bowker
The ups and downs and ins and outs of ...

Photographing buildings doesn't have to mean wide-angle lenses and fretting about correcting for the keystone effect. Any lens, and angle. Don't believe us? Let us show you!

The ups and downs and ins and outs of photographing buildings

grey cards

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The Pre-Photography Checklist

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So, you're ready to do a photo shoot? No, seriously, are you really ready for your shoot?

A while ago, I was challenged with creating a pre-shoot checklist for photographers - I figured it'd be rude not to, so I gave it a whirl.

Before you press the shutter button...

  • Check your settings – Is your camera set to the mode you planned to use? Is the ISO set to a useful setting?
  • Fill the frame – Does your subject fill the frame? If not, get in closer, either by walking closer, or by zooming in.
  • Pre-focus – When you press your shutter button half-way, your camera will focus and measure the light. Use that functionality every time
  • Check your focus! – If you’re taking a photo of something with eyes, make sure you have the eyes in focus. If not – well, try to get the important bits in focus.
  • Compose – Keep the shutter button pressed half-way, and re-compose your image so everything you want in your photo shows up the way you want it.
  • Check your edges – Before you press the shutter all the way down, run your eyes along the edges of the frame. Is there anything along the edges that shouldn’t be there? If so – re-compose your shot and try again!
  • Check the background – New photographers are so focused on what’s happening in the foreground, that they fail to notice the huge dog taking a poo in the background. You laugh, but I’ve seen it happen. 
  • Deep breath – Hold your breath whilst you very slowly press the shutter button all the way down. This helps eliminate camera shake when you are taking the photo.

Best of all, if you want a handy, keep-in-your-pocket version of this checklist, it's printed on the back of my super-handy Photocritic Grey Cards. Spiffing. 

 

Little-ish gifts for photographers, seeing as the season is almost here


Lens cleaning pen for under £5

The season of frenzied gift-giving is nigh upon us, meaning that it is time to wheel out Daniela's quick and dirty guide to finding perfect pressies for the photographer in your life. (Or you could just send people whom you love in this general direction for gifts that you might wish to receive.) Quirky or practical, the criterion for today's selection was that it had to come in sub-£25 (or around $40). Credit cards at the ready? Let's go shopping!

Lens cleaning pens are super-useful. They're also super-easy to pick up from Amazon UK for £3.90 or Amazon US for $7.15

These cute camera-shaped rubber stamps can even be customised if you ask cupcaketree very nicely. They're only £6 from cupcaketree's Etsy shop.

Grey cards - everyone should have a set of grey cards in their kit bags. This rather groovy set from Photocritic even has nifty hints and tips printed on the bag, all for a bargainalicious £7.95, available on Amazon.

In addition to the lens cleaning pen, how about a little air blower to help shift dust spots, too? This one from Giottos is £7.50 from Amazon UK or $9 from Amazon US.

If you're not fortunate enough to have a memorycard reader integrated into your laptop, you'll likely find one useful. This version from Kingston is curently a bargain at just over $10 on Amazon US or £8 from Amazon UK.

Last year I suggested that you might wish to buy the male photographer in your life a set of cufflinks; this year, it's the turn of lady-photographers. Now, they might want cufflinks, too, but perhaps they'd prefer earrings? How about these for $12?

Fancy a tipple? How about from a hipflask decorated with a hand-drawn camera? These gorgeous things are only $14.95 from buyalex on Etsy.

I still handwrite quite a bit, and if I don't use a fountain pen, then I use pencil. A camera-shaped pencil sharpener would be an ideal addition to my desk, and probably my brother's too. They're $14.99 from Amazon US.

Last of all, cleaning your own sensor might sound a bit scary, but there's plenty of advice on how to do it, and kits available from Amazon to help you! Just make sure that you pick up the correct size for your camera. These kits are for 1.6 crop factor sensors and cost £16.85 from Amazon UK and $24.95 from Amazon US.

How's that for a start? Don't forget, you can always take a look at last year's suggestions, too!