Camera Sleuth » Jenn

Is your camera ready for Christmas?

Jenn — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:04:26 +0000

‘Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the house
Not a camera was stirring
Not even a computer mouse

Make sure you’re not scrambling last minute to assemble that perfect Christmas morning photograph, or worse yet missing it entirely, because you’re not ready. My suggestion is to get ready on the morning of Christmas Eve: charge your batteries, empty and format your memory card (the last thing you want to run the risk of is corrupted data because of a memory card that is clogged with file fragments!), get your flash ready, and set up the tripod. Do a few test shots to make sure the lighting is just so. If you’re uncertain, check out tips on early morning photography. And be sure to remove clutter from the backgrounds — tuck away cords, put away paper, vacuum, wipe down the walls, etc.

Then, come Christmas morning, make sure you and your camera are ready and waiting!

Why it pays to go digital

Jenn — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:57:52 +0000

Many photographers strictly adhere to the “old-school” standard of film photography, but if you’re serious about photography, whether you’re a novice or someone who is more advanced, it can definitely pay to go digital. While there is the added expense of memory cards, they, unlike traditional film media, can be reused again and again and again. Depending on how often you take photos and how long you take photos for, you can expect the average memory card to last for 5-8 years. You do need to have special batteries on hand for your camera and the flash, but they often come along with the camera and flash, and are usually rechargeable.

Going digital is a smart idea because you can see your photos right after you have taken them, and decide right away whether or not you’d like to use them, or if they would be better off discarded.

Take care of your camera equipment

Jenn — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:57:19 +0000

I’m currently looking at a $249 repair bill. That is what it is going to cost to check over my Nikon D40x camera body, repair my Nikon 18mm-55mm, and repair my Nikon SB-600 external flash. What happened? Well, I’m happy to say that it didn’t happen under my watch. But it did, unfortunately, happen under my husband’s watch. It involved a tripod being placed on the top of four steps, a strong wind and a screen door blowing open and an unfortunate crash to the round.

But in terms of camera repair, $249 isn’t bad. The cost of a new lens would be $100 – $130, and the cost of a new flash would be about $225. And it’s always a good idea to get the camera body checked over, especially since it’s the most expensive part of the camera.

Moral of the story? Be careful with your camera equipment! Use it with care, and take extra precautions when using it out of doors, where a fall to the ground would cause a lot more damage than a fall to the carpet.

Rediscover your love of photography

Jenn — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 05:32:29 +0000

With the holiday season upon us and daily stressors continually taking their toll, it can be easy to put down the camera and then forget to pick it up again. I’ve been in a photo funk for the past several months, and I am hoping that the few new aperture rings I bought for my Lensbaby and the upcoming holidays will help to relight the spark. But aside from inspiration and encouragement around you, try looking at the following sites for inspiration:

Flickr
Flickr’s “Explore” feature is more than enough to inspire me!

We Heart It
A site for people to save photos that they love — tagging options are available too!

Tumblr
A lot of people use Tumblr as a photo saving & sharing resource, so it can be very easy to find some great inspiration here!

Back up your backups

Jenn — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 01:09:16 +0000

If owning a computer for the past twelve years has taught me anything, it’s how quickly data can be irrevocably wiped out of existence. And for that reason, I have four, no, five, safeguards in place:

1. I sync my documents, music, photos, videos and email between my desktop, laptop and netbook
2. I sync my documents, music, photos, videos and email between my three computers and a networked external hard drive
3. I have a program (LifeStudio Mobile Plus) that auto-syncs all of that data on my desktop PC with a USB-connected external hard drive
4. I burn copies of my photos to DVD every month
5. I upload my favorite photos to Flickr

This may all seem excessive, but you never know. Data can corrupt, operating systems can be taken down by malware, a virus or a trojan, computers can be stolen, data can be accidentally deleted, etc. It’s better to be extra-extra-safe than really sorry!

Instagr.am

Jenn — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 04:34:42 +0000

For those of you who are lucky enough to own an iPod Touch or an iPhone, then one must-have photo app to go download is Instagr.am. Insagr.am allows you to take photos on your iPod/iPhone (you can use existing photos, or take new ones), add cool cross-processing/lomo effects to them, and then upload them to Instagr.am. You can even choose to share them across multiple social networks: Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Foursquare and even Tumblr.

What I like about Instagr.am is that it allows you to share normal photos on-the-go, but with a touch of extra contrast, a vintage border, a burnt edge look, and more. The app has definitely been inspiring me to use my iPod Touch for more photos, and to share them more often!

The digital photographer’s essentials

Jenn — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 20:37:54 +0000

I’ve been shooting with a DSLR camera for three and a half years now, and have been serious about photographing many moments in my life and in the lives of my families for about twice that long. Experience has taught me that the following should always be on hand at all times:

Digital camera (of course)
Memory card (don’t leave this in your computer or laptop, or you may forget to put it back in your camera!)
Extra batteries
Extra lens cap for your lens
Telephoto lens if you use a prime lens; or, if you use a telephoto lens regularly, a prime lens to switch to for portrait shots
External flash
Small tripod or Gorillapod for spontaneous self-portraits
Lens cleaning solution and cloth

Be sure to have a nice little camera bag to place these items in. I’m partial to Crumpler bags, but Amazon has many other nice options too!

Great gifts for the photographer enthusiast

Jenn — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 00:15:59 +0000

What should you buy for the budding photographer or photographer enthusiast in your life? You may have fears of recommendations of pricey cameras, expensive flashes or obscure lenses that may or may not fit, so rest assured that this particular list is perfect for any budget and any photographer.

Memory cards. If there’s one thing any digital photographer needs, it’s memory cards, and the more the merrier! Just make sure you know whether you need SD, SDHC, Compact Flash, XD, or another type.
Batteries. Many older digital camera models and most external flashes rely on standard AA and AAA batteries for power.
Battery chargers. Go green and provide a gift that will never be discarded by treating your family member or friend to a set of rechargeable batteries — and a charger!
Tripods. There are many types of tripods available, from large tripods to specialty monopods to tabletop tripods such as the Gorillapod.
Camera cases and lens cases.
Camera straps — check out Etsy for some fun ones!

Lensbaby: a fun camera accessory

Jenn — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:11:31 +0000

With the holiday season fast approaching, the one must-have gadget I can recommend for the digital photography enthusiast is a Lensbaby. The Lensbaby is a spiffy lens that provides fish-eye photography with a creative bent — extreme focus and bokeh-inducing effects on your photos. Combined with the optional aperture rings, you can create even more stunning effects. Here are some examples of what the Lensbaby can do:

There are two Lensbaby lenses available — Lensbaby Muse, the “starter” lens, and the Lensbaby Composer, the “serious” lens. You can find info and pricing for both at lensbaby.com!

A tripod is a crucial piece of photography equipment

Jenn — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:09:01 +0000

Once I got used to handling my Nikon D40x, the one thing I longed for was a tripod. Specifically, I wanted a tripod that I could adjust for different heights and angles. Fortunately, many companies make such tripods, and they’re relatively inexpensive. You can pick up a sturdy, decently built tripod that offers multiple height adjustments via the legs and the main “shaft” for well under $50. Many even come with their own carrying cases, which makes them easy to take from one place to another.

With the Christmas season coming up, you should definitely pick up a tripod for you or anyone you know who is serious about photography! Check out Amazon for some nice ones.