The approach and skills for the actual capture of a photograph with a camera.
29
votes
15answers
4k views
How can I maximise that “blurry background, sharp subject” (bokeh) effect?
I know that it occurs when there's a shallow depth of field, but what are the various ways I can increase this effect in my photos when I'm taking them?
Note that I'm not asking how to use an ...
23
votes
10answers
2k views
What settings should I be using to photograph fireworks?
As it's heading into firework season (with Thanksgiving, Guy Fawkes, and New Years), I've never been particularly successful at photographing fireworks. In previous years I think I've always had too ...
15
votes
4answers
623 views
What is ETTR (Expose To The Right)?
Picking up from this answer and this question, What exactly is ETTR? How it may reduce the image noise? And how is it difference from film to digital sensors?
In the answer linked above, what are the ...
23
votes
18answers
1k views
What are some techniques for hand-held image stabilization?
My zoom lens (75-300mm) is fairly slow: 5.6 at its farthest point. (I think it's 3.5-5.6, and it's not image stabilizing. I'm on a budget, sadly!) Unfortunately, my primary use for it is hand-held ...
29
votes
20answers
2k views
How can I hold my camera steady?
I've been an amateur photographer for some time, but have always had problems holding the camera steady. I've developed some tricks like using a flat surface and the self timer in low light, and of ...
65
votes
9answers
6k views
How do you photograph rain?
What are recommended settings for my Nikon Coolpix P1 to best portray rain?
Here's what I got. No retouching was applied.
The picture I took when the rain was heavy with the automatic settings:
...
25
votes
8answers
4k views
Should I shoot underexposed photos?
Someone more experienced than me said that he always shoots so that his photos are underexposed (darker) and I should too. The reasoning being that you can always increase the exposure in ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
What focal length lens do I need for photographing the moon?
I would like to know whether it is possible to photograph moon without any flaws with a canon EOS 550d..
Also to get an image of the moon as close as the following image, what kind of ...
21
votes
7answers
2k views
Is it acceptable in photography to never use flash?
I was hanging out with a friend of mine who is a professional photographer (for 15+ years), and has a solid portfolio, web-presence, and regional and national exposure.
He never uses a flash. ...
21
votes
4answers
719 views
When doing portraits, how to get serious insightful expressions?
Professional models know how to produce such expression at photographer command, normal people don't.
Still good photographer are able to get it from famous actors/politicians/sportsmen.
I've been ...
20
votes
3answers
491 views
How to Avoid Red-Eye in Photos?
Although tools exist to remove red-eye in post-production, what's the best way to avoid it while creating the photograph in the field?
18
votes
6answers
818 views
How to photograph a partial solar eclipse?
There will be a partial solar eclipse tomorrow visible from Europe, Africa, Asia. I'm looking for photography tips. Looking for ideas for a typical amateur photographer but also for someone having a ...
9
votes
5answers
8k views
How to avoid reflection when taking a picture of a ceramic object with a shiny glaze?
How can I avoid the reflection when I take a picture of a shiny object in bright light?
4
votes
4answers
451 views
Which parameters to lock between images for a panorama?
I gather that common wisdom says that in addition to camera position you should keep as many variables as possible the same between different shots for a panorama. Variables that spring to mind are ...
38
votes
5answers
4k views
How can one learn to shoot with both eyes open, and what are the advantages?
Greg made an intriguing comment in this answer (emphasis mine):
One of the things we're supposed to do when we're shooting is keep both eyes open; That helps avoid fatigue from shooting for hours, ...
10
votes
4answers
888 views
Why is the sky in photos always too white?
Why do I never seem to get a clear picture of the sky during the day, even with white puffy clouds in the sky? It always looks over exposed and whitened out? I am using a Nikon D3100, no lens hood, ...
14
votes
6answers
1k views
How can you avoid/minimize lens flare when shooting into the sun?
When shooting outdoors in bright sunlight, and specially when shooting with the sun visible in the background, lens flare can affect the picture by reducing contrast and introducing artifacts. Are ...
13
votes
8answers
1k views
What are some of your pre-shoot checklist tips?
I'm always in a hurry and never really check my camera settings before a snapping a few photos using whatever setting the camera was left on. I'm thinking I should probably try to put a checklist into ...
7
votes
2answers
466 views
What and how to crop?
When I take a photo of something like a building, I tend to shoot the whole building, because later I want to get the feeling and impression I had when I took this photo. I want to transfer these ...
20
votes
10answers
6k views
How can I make short people look taller in photographs?
I was browsing some great shots from Herb Ritts and came across this photo (NSFW). It seems like the legs of the woman appear longer in relation to her body. Is this an effect of the lens used?
...
19
votes
5answers
604 views
How to capture the scale of a scene?
My framing in the following photo completely failed to capture the sheer height of the waterfall. If you don't know I was standing at the top of the waterfall, and the "splinters" at the bottom are ...
5
votes
3answers
920 views
How to take saturated portraits like these (with natural lighting)?
The photographer of these portraits claimed he used a 50mm f/1.8 prime with no special lighting equipment:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5318756409_9f4ec94f5b_z.jpg
...
6
votes
4answers
409 views
How to achieve good scenic photos without HDR?
I've always had a problem getting exposure right with shots of the outdoors. I always seem to need to do manipulation which ends up in noisy photos.
I know HDR would sort it out, but I'm using a ...
6
votes
3answers
679 views
How can I achieve this effect, where the flower is sharp and everything else is blurry?
I was wondering how it is possible to take a picture like this.
Please have a look here for some example pictures. The flower is sharp, and everything else looks like taken with a long shutter.
Is ...
6
votes
6answers
286 views
What would be the right approach to take pictures of a long counter?
I am trying to take a picture of a long counter in a super market. It is about 15 yards long. I inched along (at about a distance of 3 yards) and took straight on 30-35 pictures with my 16-35mm at ...
5
votes
3answers
215 views
Taking sports and action shots with regular lenses
I do not shoot action or sports photos. I was asked to shoot a friend's soccer game. I am not looking for perfect magazine quality images; however, I'd like to maximize the quality of my shots with ...
2
votes
2answers
235 views
When and where do you need to use a tripod?
I am looking into use cases where the use of a tripod is very effective or necessary.
Though in theory every possible shot can be taken with the help of tripod, in real life I do not think that is ...
1
vote
1answer
504 views
How to photograph panning with a point and shoot camera?
I have recently learnt about panning photography on the internet and I was curious about capturing one myself,
But as an amateur I just own a Point and shoot camera (Samsung SL30),
I have ...
