All Entries in the "Tips" Category
A tripod is a crucial piece of photography equipment
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 [...]
DIY photo Christmas cards
We used to pay upwards of $50 at Picture People for portraits to add to Christmas cards that we had to pay separately for. Then I got a DSLR camera. Then I learned how to take decent, candid shots of my kids. Then I got creative, and determined to save money. For the last two [...]
‘Tis the season for photos!
Now that it’s Black Friday, the official kick-off for Christmas has begun! I don’t know about you, but I love taking holiday photos. Nothing is more beautiful to me than Christmas lights blazing away, and the way they glimmer and highlight various ornaments. I’m personally super excited about stringing half a dozen strands of multi-colored [...]
Tips for pet photography
As an owner of four cats, a squishy Pug and nearly a dozen fish, I can tell you from firsthand experience that pet photography is not as easy as it seems. Background, lighting and your pet’s attitude can all impact the style and quality of the photos that are taken. I think the biggest thing [...]
How not to lose your camera in public places
The easiest way to keep tabs on your camera is to never let it out of your sight, and to always have a physical hold on it. If you’re shopping around for camera bags, be sure to pick one that has not only the typical shoulder strap, but also a small strap that can be [...]
Aperture: why bigger isn’t better
Aperture is a term that refers to how open your lens is. With aperture, the smaller the number, the larger the opening. The larger the opening, the more light that is let into the lens, subsequently the brighter/better exposed the photograph will be. I’m a beginner in terms of understanding aperture, shutter priority, program mode [...]
I make backups of backups
When it comes to my photos, I can never have too many backups. You just never know when something might go wrong. So, here’s what I do: Store all .NEF (those are RAW format files) files on my external hard drive Store all .jpg files on my desktop, laptop, and netbook (yes, I sync three [...]
How to get out of a photography slump
I looked over my Flickr account recently, and I noticed that I really haven’t taken a lot of photos since last summer. Oh, I still take photos, but they’re mainly in spurts. The daily and semi-daily photos seem to be a thing of the past. I’m upset with myself over this because my children are [...]
Weighed down by the gear
While I love having a DSLR and a variety of lenses to use with it, the one thing I don’t like is how much all of that gear weighs when it’s packed into my camera bag. So, what can you do about heavy camera gear? First, make sure you’re using a camera bag that fits [...]
Turn your favorite photos into decor for your home
I have been taking photos for years, and over the last five years I have been showcasing my favorite ones on Flickr. But more recently I have been getting into displaying my favorite of my favs around my house. It all started last summer, when my friend gave me a very sleek, high quality digital [...]