Showing posts with label Learn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Learn. Show all posts

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Why Learn Digital Photography Basics?

Learning digital photography basics is a must if you have your own camera with you. The reason is quite simple. You cannot expect to learn the complex matters involving digital photography if you do not start with the roots, right? Besides, as an owner of such gadget, it would always be better to know and familiarize the different options as well as alternatives it can offer. There is no need to worry though as photography basics will not take so much of your time. As long as you know how to be patient and attentive, you can always get the lessons which may be taught to you.

First of all, photography roots must start with how to choose your camera, especially for those who are still planning yet. An SLR camera most of all allows an enthusiast to attain a variety of focal lengths and are great for taking pictures. But bear in mind that you also have to consider the price tags of these gadgets. Thus, a wise decision making plus certain criteria must be done to buy the right camera and then start with the photography basics. The following are the features you can use a criteria in choosing a camera.

Decide if you want to take pictures or videos as well. Before, camcorders are often used for this purpose. However, today, there are digital cameras that offer the same. You must have made up your mind on this matter already before you go to a camera store.
Always limit or keep in mind the budget that you have allotted for it. Necessarily, you wouldn't want to be obsessed with a camera which is beyond your capacity right?
You can actually buy the body of the camera in separation with the lenses. This can save you money.

Then comes the question as to why you need to learn digital photography roots. Basically, as the owner of the camera, you must know how to handle it. In one point, you need how to handle it in such a way that it will not be damaged or get broken. Keeping it clean and safe may sound a cliche but these are common digital photography basics which are taken for granted.

Learning digital photography roots will allow you to satisfy your passion too. If you really love taking pictures, then you will know that you still have more to explore in your digital camera. This can be a great source for your passion to grow into an investment or even a career. Obviously, once you have started with digital photography basics you can then advance to higher learning.

Digital photography basics will teach you many things. It will begin with how to operate your digital camera. This gives you the idea that once you have familiarized all the buttons and features of the gadget, you can use it with eyes closed. Then, digital photography basics will also teach you how to position your camera, how to adjust the lenses, which landscapes to be chosen as subjects and how light as well as darkness can be utilized.

How can you learn digital photography basics? A primary option would be to enroll in a formal lesson in digital schools. A second option would be to learn online and last resort can be one through self-help and a few reading materials concerning digital photography basics.


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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Photoshop Tips - 5 Tricks You Should Learn in Photoshop

Now of days, most of us photographers shoot digital. With digital, we are opened up to a whole new world of opportunities. If you are not editing your photographs with software such as Photoshop, you are missing out on making your images look as good as they can.

Whether you are a budding amateur photographer, or a proud parent looking to take better pictures of your kids, software like Photoshop elements can really make your images stand out above the rest. There are some very basic tools that you can use in order to get the most out of your photographs. Every image that you see in a magazine has been edited to some degree. Every professional photographer that is successful in his or her industry uses these tools to enhance their art. Notice I said "enhance," because even the best PS experts cannot save a picture that was compositionally wrong, or had horrid lighting, but with the right knowledge, you can make all of your images better. Adobe (maker of PS and PSE) offers a free trial of their software that allows you to "try before you buy." For most amateurs, I would suggest PSE, because for only $89, you get some serious horsepower, and you can always graduate to the full version later. Here are the five things that you should know how to use to get you started.

1. Layers

This is the subject that turns most users away from PS right away, it seems hard to wrap your head around, but this should help you get a grasp on it. PS offers you the ability to work on layers, in order to keep certain parts of the image from being affected by your tools. Think of layers as steps. Your base picture is your background, and then every layer that you add is like placing a plastic wrapper over the original layer. Now every tool you use will only affect that single layer. In PS, just go to layer>add new to create a new layer, or press control+J (Command+J for mac) to duplicate the background layer.

2. Levels

Your levels can be found by clicking Image > Adjustments > Levels. Levels adjusts the contrast in your images, or the difference between brights and darks. Play with it for an instant boost in your images.

3. Hue and Saturation

This can be found by using the same method as above, except you click on Hue and Saturation. Saturation affects the colors in your image. The more saturation, the stronger the color! Just be careful not to go overboard! The hue and lightness can be played with in order to change the tints.

4. Selection tools.

On the toolbar on the left of the screen, the first 4 tools are selection tools. They offer you various methods in order to affect certain parts of an image. Make sure that you right click, and select a feather radius of 5-250 pixels in order to soften the edge of the selection.

5. Filters

By clicking the filters tab on the top, you can open ourselves up to a million different opportunities, add some blur, you got it. Sharpening? No problem. You have to play with them all to see the power they offer.

If you have any questions on how to use any of these tools, or any of the other tools, feel free to e-mail me. My portfolio can be viewed at Santa Clarita Photographers

Michael Anthony Photography is a Santa Clarita Photographer


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