Tip of the Day: Early Morning Photography

Every day Earth rotates around the Sun, and presents us with shooting opportunities that are unique to that day. However, one thing that is always true is that morning sun is typically much softer warmer, and offers excellent shooting opportunities. There are some things to keep in mind though to get the most out of your early morning photography. Always use a lens hood in the morning; flare, and low angle light will no doubt ruin some of your shots if you do not. Do not shoot into the sun. Look for shadows. Early sun offers low angle light and long deep shadows. Take advantage of them. Use a polarizer. Try to keep the sun at a 90 deg. angle to your lens to maximize the effect of the polarizer. Look for reflections. Low angle light likes to bounce off reflective surfaces and offer beautiful shimmering artifacts.

Tip of the Day: Cold Weather Photography

It is winter time now, and in many areas of the country a great time to go out and shoot. There are of course things to keep in mind to make our outings more productive. Batteries, especially rechargeable batteries, drain very quickly in the cold. Always carry more spares than you think you will need, because if you do not, you will surely need them. Always, be sure you are completely safe, and layer your clothing. People who do not plan ahead often return early and disappointed. Check all your gear before you go out, and attach things like hoods ahead of time. Doing all this with cold hands is less than pleasant.

Tip of the Day: Universal Lens Hoods

If you still wonder why you even have a lens hood, you are likely not getting as much out of your lens as you expect. The hood is a wonderful accessory. It keeps stray light away from the lens, which reduces reflections, loss of focus, washed out photographs, etc. If you do use a lens hood, but hate having one for each lens, consider getting screw-in adjustable rubber hoods. They thread into the front of the lens, and because they are rubber, they can roll in and out to accommodate anywhere from a wide angle to a telephoto lens. The prices are typically low, around 15 dollars. This is definitely a worthy investment.

Tip of the Day: Maximizing Sharpness in Photographs

We all strive for tack-sharp photographs, unfortunately more often than not our images are not as sharp as we had hoped. There are few basic improvements which we all can make to our workflow to improve sharpness in our photographs. First, if you are not already using a tripod, you should start. Hand-held photographs, even when shot at a very small fraction of a second (fast shutter speed) will exhibit some softness, which will be greatly exaggerated when shooting with a telephoto lens. The longer the lens, the more problematic camera shake will be. If tripod is not an option, shoot with a shutter speed greater than 1 / lens' focal length (i.e. for a 50mm lens DO NOT use shutter speed slower than 1/50 sec). Avoid shooting in the wind, whether with tripod or without. When long exposures are a must, stabilize your tripod, use a remote release, do not touch the camera, and make sure there is no zoom creep, if a telephoto zoom is used.

Tip of the Day: Purchasing a DSLR Camera Body, or a Camera Kit?

We are right smack in the middle of holiday season, and if you have been thinking about getting a new Digital SLR, whether to replace your digital point-and-shoot, or a film camera now is a perfect time to make that purchase. Retailers are eager to make sales, especially now, during the holiday season. Manufacturers are also on board, and several released new models and packages including a camera and a lens or two. Naturally, you are wondering if you should get the kit, or just the body. I tell people that if they are just getting their first Digital SLR, or switching from film, they should get a kit, because the kit lenses are typically quite good, and you will get a very good deal altogether. Plus, there are many rebates available on camera kits. Manufacturers are eager to get you onto their system, and they offer good starter lenses to get you to become their permanent customer.

Tip of the Day: Personalized Holiday Greeting Cards

We are of course nearing Christmas, and other religious holidays. If you are still thinking about what special thing to give people in your family, consider Personalized Greeting Cards. Kodakgallery.com is offering a large selection of styles to choose from, as well as layouts. Personalized cards are great for those who create scrapbooks, and of course anyone else in the family. They will no doubt leave a lasting impression, and will make a great gift for those with a tight budget.