Questions regarding technique, as opposed to style, hardware, or software.
29
votes
10answers
8k views
How can I get dramatic shallow DOF with a kit lens?
I'm currently using an entry-level DSLR with 18-55mm lens and having great trouble trying to creating a blurred background effect in my photos. Now matter what aperture or shutter speed I choose, I'm ...
46
votes
14answers
5k views
How does one focus for landscape photos in very dark conditions?
Tonight I tried my best to take some night landscapes in the darkest of dark conditions. Hoping for an epic composition of the Milky Way and a landmark.
Of course, none of my glass could auto focus ...
36
votes
5answers
3k views
When best to use Multi-Zone/Matrix, Spot, or Center-Weight?
What are Multi-Zone/Matrix metering, Center-Weighted metering, and Spot metering? What about Partial?
Is there a good rule of thumb, or a few pointers, on when best to use each metering mode?
68
votes
6answers
3k views
How and why do you use an image histogram?
I realize that an image histogram is a graphical display of an images tonal distribution (i.e. horizontal darks to lights, vertical pixel distribution), but how does one really use it and why? I mean, ...
74
votes
11answers
3k views
How do I approach people for a natural look in street photography?
I am enjoying taking candid photos of people, but the subject is usually someone I know, or it is during some family/friend event, so after a while the people get used to the presence of the camera ...
18
votes
6answers
825 views
How do I manage good photos of babies and kids?
Apart from the strain they create by not sitting in one place while in photo shoot, kids do make nice subjects for pictures.
I have been trying various scenes, props, etc., to get the best out of my ...
38
votes
13answers
3k views
Why do it “in-camera” rather than in post-processing?
There's a very common attitude among photographers that the appearance of a photo (ex: exposure) should be created using the features of the camera (aperture, shutter, etc; does not include the ...
37
votes
6answers
2k views
What technique and camera settings should I use to capture lightning strikes?
I enjoy getting images of different types of weather and would really like to capture some good lightning shots. I have a feeling that I should be stopping down a bit and taking somewhat long ...
18
votes
11answers
1k views
What's the best way to create a tilt-shift photograph?
Specifically, what's the best way to go about shooting photos that have a fake miniature quality to them, which produces high-quality (and believable) images? Is there some special lens that you can ...
20
votes
3answers
3k views
What is 'freelensing'?
I've recently heard about a photographic technique called 'freelensing.' How do I go about 'freelensing,' and what can I do with the technique?
19
votes
3answers
4k views
19
votes
8answers
2k views
How can I reduce the noise present when taking pictures without lowering my ISO?
I know that high ISOs tend to produce more noise, and some cameras' software can handle that noise better than others, but are there any other settings or conditions tha affect visible noise?
I'm ...
14
votes
3answers
650 views
What techniques do you employ to control contrast in your landscape shots?
Or to put it differently - how to keep the highlights from blowing and shadows losing details?
EDIT: I'm mostly interested in what can be done in the field to get me the optimal data to begin with, ...
30
votes
3answers
2k views
How can I get photos showing the “shaft of light” effect?
I would like to be able to capture a photo which shows light shafts coming through the window. A famous example is this:
I'm guessing this involves a tripod, a long exposure and strong sunlight, ...
24
votes
13answers
5k views
How does one get manual focus right with a fast-aperture lens?
I have got an old lens (f1.4) that I have to use only with manual focus on a DSLR. Well, it is difficult for me to get the subject on focus. Although on focus according to the viewfinder, the actual ...
11
votes
4answers
359 views
How to keep flash from disrupting the scene?
My friends and I have observed that the act of using a flash in informal settings (for example, pictures of a Christmas party or a busy toddler) tends to draw attention to the photographer and thus ...
5
votes
8answers
640 views
What macro techniques offer an alternative to expensive optics?
I was wondering what are the alternative macro techniques people use instead of buying expensive macro optics. I know about single lens reverse macro technique; what other alternative techniques allow ...
103
votes
7answers
11k views
What are the best techniques for photographing overweight people?
I'm not the most lean person on the planet, and many pictures seem to really point this out. While I wish I was simply in better shape, it is simply not the case for me or unfortunately, many ...
22
votes
5answers
1k views
How to cope with high contrast?
Many times (especially around midday), we encounter lighting situations where the contrast of the scene is too high to capture with a camera. What can we do to create a useful picture in such ...
17
votes
4answers
5k views
How can I make good fountain/waterfall photos?
I have a Canon Digital EOS Rebel XT camera, and I wonder how you could take photos of moving water like rivers, waterfalls and fountains...
17
votes
7answers
8k views
How to do the ghost mannequin effect?
I'm looking into taking some product photography and I would like to get the ghost mannequin effect, but I can't find any proper documentation.
Something a bit like this:
Can you please give a ...
6
votes
2answers
627 views
How can I get more of this macro photo in focus?
I want to make a full focus on the body, for example:
I need to have a clear focus on the each balls in the photo. I used just single point focus.
In this picture I used:
shutter speed: 8
...
55
votes
9answers
11k views
How should I photograph falling snow?
We don't get much snow in the UK, so I don't have much experience photographing it, and when I tried photographing falling snow last year I found it very hard to capture the snowflakes in the air — ...
25
votes
7answers
3k views
When to use shutter priority instead of aperture priority?
Under what circumstances would you use aperture priority vs. shutter priority and vice-versa?
I typically don’t use shutter priority (ever) and favor aperture priority to try to get a max aperture ...
21
votes
6answers
441 views
Are there specific techniques/filters for snowscapes?
It is fast becoming winter, and this will be my first winter that I have a decent camera, so I was wondering how to make the most of the seasons beauty.
I am wondering if there are any techniques ...
14
votes
4answers
983 views
How to maximise contrast range of distant landscapes with blue haze?
Distant landscapes often appear hazy, washed-out and blue due to Rayleigh scattering.
What can be done to maximise the contrast range of the exposure when photographing such scenes?
For example:
...
6
votes
4answers
6k views
How do I know I have the correct exposure when shooting in manual mode?
I have a Canon XTI which I've been using for a few years now. Most of the time I'm been shooting in one of the "semi-manual" modes like aperture priority or shutter priority, but now I'd like to try ...
19
votes
4answers
2k views
Can manual focus be faster than autofocus?
Recently I've gotten into street photography, and I've noticed there are some situations where it is technically impossible to autofocus, to be precise, when you have moving objects and don't want to ...
9
votes
4answers
917 views
Tips for Shooting Crowds, Political Demonstrations, Rallies and other 'Lively' Events
Over the next few months I'm going to be spending weekend time documenting a number of demos and rallies here in the UK. They events are to be held outdoors, during the day and may become ...
7
votes
1answer
643 views
What technique and settings should I use to capture meteor showers?
I'm just starting out with astrophotography and have read that this years most spectacular meteor shower display (at least where I live in Canberra, Australia) will be the Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower:
...
3
votes
2answers
407 views
What advice would you give for taking photos on a boat cruise at night?
Tomorrow I will be going on a boat cruise in the evening in London. I will no doubt be looking for photo opportunities on the boat, both of people, as well as the landmarks/surroundings. I'm pretty ...
19
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the Black Card Technique?
I have found interested comments on 500px: Non-HDR-processed / Non-GND/ND-filtered / non-blended● Black Card Technique and group on Flickr.
Could somebody explain how to and cons and pros of this ...
21
votes
5answers
6k views
How does Peter Lik manage to capture the stars in such detail in the following photograph?
Here's the picture:
I'm curious to know what techniques (i.e. shutter speed, aperture, ISO, etc...) he uses to capture the stars so vibrantly (assuming it wasn't Photoshopped). I'm guessing it was ...
19
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I meter for long exposures (10+ minutes)?
One of my longstanding interests is long exposure night photography.
However, many of the situations where I am shooting require exposure lengths on the order of 10 minutes, which is far beyond what ...
13
votes
9answers
697 views
How to compare RAW photos quickly?
It's not uncommon for me to return from a hike or outing and have 500+ images to "sift" before getting started on post processing.
Is there a better way to compare 5-10 photos of the same image ...
12
votes
4answers
483 views
What techniques should be used when attempting bird photography?
I'm pretty new, and was just playing with the D7000 kit taking pictures of birds in the area. I asked for my photo critiqued in Chat, led to some good general purpose information I think is applicable ...
10
votes
3answers
710 views
How to get the best results with resizing an image?
I've heard that resizing your image from 100% to the desired size is not a good way to resize an image.
Given developer/photographers like Fred Miranda have written tools to help resize your images ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
How can I create a grayscale with color highlighting effect in Lightroom?
Highlighting certain area with color, leaving the rest grayscaled — what is the name of this effect in photography?
What is the most precise way to achieve this effect in Lightroom?
12
votes
5answers
965 views
What is the best techinque to smooth skin?
I am toning a senior portrait right now and am wondering what the best skin smoothing technique is. Think glamor. I know how to take care of blemishes, but I'm looking to enhance that silky skin look.
...
9
votes
3answers
395 views
How can I make nice, professional looking corporate portraits?
I have been asked to shoot a couple of portraits at work for a conference brochure. I am a keen amateur but never really shot corporate portraits.
I will use a Nikon D40 and the 50mm 1.4G.
I am ...
5
votes
3answers
596 views
Is there a photoshop plugin or any other piece of software that can do super resolution?
I want to combine multiple photographs of the same lanscape to increase the resolution of the final image. More details on the method here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super-resolution
What software ...
3
votes
6answers
549 views
How to capture details of the moon?
I just purchased a D5100 and I am slowly learning the basics. I mostly shoot landscape/scenery shots.
I have been trying to capture the full moon unsuccessfully. It looks focused in the ...
6
votes
5answers
585 views
How can I hold my face in the same place for a month long daily self-portrait?
I want to take a self-portrait every day over a period of a month. I want to turn these photos into an animation, so it is important that the face is in the exact same position on each shot (the ...
5
votes
1answer
478 views
How to achieve shallower DOF using multiple exposures?
For static or semi-static scenes, there are many ways to "simulate" certain features actually not feasible on single photo using the technology the photographer has. For example,
wider field of view ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Taking photos of computer screens - reducing glare with S95
I am using my S95 to take photographs of LCD computer screens which are used to display Microfilm images related to my research. Unfortunately they aren't running a normal OS, so it's not an option to ...
0
votes
0answers
87 views
What software or technique was used to acheive this (soft-curves-brush-stroke) effect? [duplicate]
I am curious to know what software, filter plugin or technique was used to achieve the effect applied on the tree on the following photo:
http://500px.com/photo/28630509?from=upcoming&from_page=4
...
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, ...
32
votes
7answers
6k views
What methods do macro photographers use to get so close to butterflies, bees, insects and the like?
I have seen some super macro photos of things like butterflies and bees that left me wondering how the photographer is able to get so close to the subject long enough to take a photo.
Most of the ...
28
votes
7answers
2k views
How can I stop my HDR shots looking so fake?
All my attempts at HDR come out looking remarkably fake, how can I reduce the halos effect?
24
votes
6answers
2k views
Is it practical to shoot portraits by only candlelight?
Is it practical to shoot portraits in candle lights, only, provided there is no flash around? If yes, then for portrait shots, where and how should one place the candles? Are there any specific ...
