All Questions
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 ...
19
votes
3answers
2k views
What makes a strong wide-angle composition?
A simple, effective way to improve most compositions is to crop (or zoom) more tightly. Cut out the "distractions", and boom, powerful composition. I usually shoot with a slightly-long lens in the ...
18
votes
4answers
2k views
What do Pentax, Sony, and Olympus DSLRs offer that differs from Canon and Nikon?
We have a question and answers outlining the significant differences between the "big two" DSLR brands. I'm interested in the other DSLR makers, and how the cameras they make compare in terms of ...
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 ...
15
votes
5answers
5k views
What is dynamic range and how is it important in photography?
I haven't seen an explanation on this site, and I think it is a good question to have here. Wikipedia says that the dynamic range is the "ratio between the largest and smallest possible values of a ...
17
votes
4answers
604 views
What should I consider when purchasing a macro lens?
What should I be aware of when buying a macro lens (other than that it will fit my camera)?
What features should I look for?
What specs should I pay close attention to?
What factors affect macro ...
11
votes
2answers
780 views
What software shows the most accurate version of a photograph for web viewing?
I have a photo (photo_A.jpg), taken on a post-sunset beach, for which I want to reduce some noise. I do so using the luminance noise reduction technique from Adobe Camera Raw, open the image in ...
11
votes
4answers
2k views
What is a “fast” lens?
I've been reading lots of camera reviews lately and have ran across several references to "fast" lenses.
What exactly is a fast lens and what are its advantages compared to other lenses?
9
votes
8answers
9k views
Why is Aperture changing the color of my RAW photos?
For some strange reason, Aperture 3 seems to shift the colors of the raw images, after importing them.
For example, the reds become washed out and something not red. In the following example, the red ...
15
votes
4answers
955 views
Does it give higher quality to shoot in low-res mode in-camera, or to downsize high-res photos later?
Suppose you want to store your photos at some lower resolution, let's say about ~1 MB large.
You own a camera able to make photos at 5 MPix and more.
And, you want to have the maximum quality at the ...
9
votes
2answers
1k views
Why do zoom lenses and compact cameras have varied maximum aperture across the zoom range?
Why does a camera's maximum (allowed) aperture get smaller when you increase its zoom?
15
votes
4answers
826 views
When is it OK to place the subject in the middle of a picture?
When is it OK to place the subject in the middle of a picture?
I took this picture and feel very compelled to put the subject in the centre rather than on the sides.
15
votes
4answers
728 views
Does the dpi number reported by camera in JPG have any meaning?
I have two cameras, a 6mpix Panasonic FZ8, and 14mpix Canon A2200.
When I compare shots from two cameras, one of differences I notice is
dpi number that camera reports in JPG info:
FZ8 reports ...
15
votes
2answers
603 views
Is a model release needed for all commercial photo sales?
I've seen variants of this question covered on many sites but I can't find an answer specific to fine art sales. I know that I need a model release if my picture will be used as stock photography ...
14
votes
3answers
2k views
What causes lens flare?
I heard a couple of years ago that only certain types of lens caused flare to appear, something related with the material and/or quality of the lens. Is this true? Which material/quality caused flare? ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
How can I approximate 'soft focus' digitally?
In a previous question about soft lenses, it was suggested that much of the current practices regarding soft focus involve selectively soft focusing certain parts of the image and mattdm suggests its ...
8
votes
4answers
664 views
Why buy an intentionally soft lens?
While reading some reviews of older lenses, I keep reading "It's soft wide open, but that's not always a problem with portraits." Over my rather short time in photography thus far, I've come to ...
7
votes
5answers
872 views
How does taking lower-resolution pictures with a higher-resolution sensor affect image quality?
Does taking a picture with 8 megapixel resolution with my Canon IXUS with a 1/2.3" sensor and 12M max resolution provides the same or worse image quality (particular, noise) as if the picture was ...
12
votes
5answers
505 views
Is an SLR camera a must when learning?
I'm starting to learn how to shoot. Up until now I've only used point-and-shoot cameras mostly on automatic settings. My view is there are basically three classes of cameras sold by the major ...
12
votes
3answers
371 views
What is Chromatic Aberration?
What is Chromatic Aberration? Is it a physical part of the lens, or just an optical illusion?
10
votes
7answers
1k views
Is a UV Filter required/recommended for lens protection?
Is it still required/highly recommended that I buy a UV or similar filter to 'protect' the front element of my lens?
I ask because this advice has been around for 30 years and you would think that ...
61
votes
1answer
5k views
In portrait photography, what is 'broad' lighting? What is 'short' lighting?
What are 'broad' and 'short' lighting when it comes to studio portraiture, and when should I use each?
30
votes
5answers
864 views
What is the best way for a hobbyist to start generating income from photos?
What is the best way for me to look into the feasibility of selling my shots (hopefully including some sort of feedback on my technique) and examples of places where I can have someone manage the ...
44
votes
14answers
2k views
When is black and white likely to enhance an image?
I recently had a play with converting some images to black and white to see how that changed the image. Some baby photos came out particularly well, while others I tried seemed less interesting when ...
17
votes
21answers
997 views
Which photographer do you find inspirational? [closed]
As a change from the technical flavour of our questions I would like to turn to photography as an art, so I am afraid this is inevitably subjective.
Which photographer, in your mind, is especially ...
53
votes
12answers
5k views
What advantages does manual mode have over aperture priority mode?
I'm wondering what are the most compelling reasons to switch to manual mode on my DSLR. I mostly just use aperture priority mode so I have good control over the depth of field combined with an ...
35
votes
9answers
2k views
What is the best way to clean lenses and filters?
After removing dust with an air pomp and a brush, what are you using to remove stains from the lens and filters?
So far I'm using the liquid from a Giotto's CL 1002 cleaning kit for the lens, but I'm ...
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 ...
29
votes
12answers
2k views
What situations are best suited for spot metering?
I have found myself using spot metering on several occasions in order to get the right exposure, such as sunsets and on bright days with a subject in the shade. What other situations are well suited ...
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 ...
34
votes
7answers
2k views
How can I take pictures through a skyscraper, airplane, or train window?
I find that I take a lot of pictures through skyscraper and vehicle windows (those that are impractical or impossible to open). There are all kinds of problems with taking photographs through windows: ...
28
votes
1answer
3k views
What is “bokeh panorama” (also called the “Brenizer method”)?
Somewhere I don't remember, I heard about the Brenizer method.
After reading a few sites, there is no consistent information about what it is exactly, or what the procedures are to apply it, so:
...
31
votes
10answers
1k views
What are some tips for shooting in low light?
I own a Canon 450D with just the standard lens kit that comes with it (poor so won't be buy a new lens for a while) and one thing I tend to struggle with is shotting in lower light conditions, indoors ...
25
votes
8answers
7k views
What should I consider when using DSLRs in cold weather?
What temperatures can consumer-level DSLRs and lenses typically handle? Are there any precautions one should take too minimize potential problems (e.g. condensating water)? What about moving in and ...
25
votes
9answers
3k views
What's the difference between using black and white mode in-camera, and converting in post?
For black and white photography, will there be any quality difference between using the built-in black and white mode, or shooting in color initially and then removing the color later using Photoshop ...
18
votes
4answers
931 views
What types of filters are there and what's their use?
I have basic idea of what a filter is and what it is used for. I would like to know what are the different types of filters are available and if possible would love to have the following questions ...
36
votes
10answers
2k views
Is lenses which make your photographs, not camera bodies?
I read somewhere on this site itself that you should spend more on your lenses and less on your camera bodies.
Is it a myth or a fact that mostly it is the lenses which make your photographs not the ...
22
votes
3answers
4k views
How can I calculate what the effect of an extension tube will be?
There must be a mathematical description of the difference that an extension tube makes to a lens -- is it something that can be easily described?
(For example, with teleconverters you can say things ...
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 ...
17
votes
3answers
3k views
How does the human eye compare to modern cameras and lenses?
A goal in most photography is to present a scene which resembles what a person who had been there at that moment would have seen. Even when intentionally working outside of that, human vision is the ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
How does changing focal length affect depth of field?
I'm curious about how my "area of acceptable focus" changes when the focal length of the lens I'm using changes as I zoom (or switch lenses). In particular, I'd like to know how the front & back ...
7
votes
6answers
5k views
What is a good general purpose lens for Canon?
As an upgrade from kit lens 18-55mm, which would be a better general purpose lens?
Obviously there is no "best" option, as everyone has a different budget and style, but what are the best options ...
17
votes
3answers
928 views
Do smaller apertures provide more depth of field past the diffraction limit, even if peak sharpness suffers?
In Understanding Exposure (3rd edition, on page 48), Bryan Peterson has what might be called a rant against modern on-line conventional wisdom about diffraction limits. Answers on this web site are ...
16
votes
5answers
1k views
How do I get started with RAW photography?
Having read about the benefits of shooting in RAW as opposed to JPEG (for example this question), I'd like to have a go with it myself. However, I'm not really sure how to go about it.
I can turn RAW ...
15
votes
6answers
1k views
Which scenarios are better shot with a prime lens versus zoom lens or macro lens?
What scenarios are better shot with a prime lens? A zoom lens? A macro lens?
13
votes
6answers
2k views
Why are blown highlights particularly bad in digital photography?
I've heard that digital sensors are less "forgiving" of blown highlights than film. Why is this?
There's something called "characteristic curves". How does this related, in film and in digital?
Can ...
13
votes
10answers
2k views
What is the 18% gray tone, and how do I make a 18% gray card in Photoshop?
I have heard about 18% gray tone — what is it really, and why 18% (and not 20% or some other value), and how can I make it in Photoshop?
11
votes
8answers
2k views
When buying entry level cameras, are lenses really more important than the body?
Original Question: Is there a D5100 alternative
I was considering my first DSLR Nikon D3000, then saw D3100 and was fixed on it, then saw D5100 and I though yes,this is the one to go for. While ...
8
votes
2answers
762 views
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?
