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How To Capture Moon Shoot

To answer Davelynne question on how to capture moon. Over here I will explain a little bit about it. To capture moon, it is always very tricky because of the bright moon surrounded by darkness. So this will end up a shot where the moon is over expose and you loose the detail of the moon or too bright.Now in order for you to get the detail on the moon is 1st you need to use a zoom lens, ranging between 300mm to 600mm or more. For this shot that I have post in here I use 600mm to capture it. For me to get the detail of the moon I took roughly 6 shots using different exposure setting. In you camera, you have the EV +/- setting where you can adjust the exposure compensation either you want it under or over expose.Down here I put the example of the shot and setting I used to get the moon shots. Usually it is very difficult to get the right exposure but

it a matter of keep trying and trying to get the right exposure using different setting. If you are using a digital SLR then it won't cost you anything to keep shooting. I hope this post helps.
You can post any questions in here about photography and I will try my best to get you an answer.
::Click image for large view::

Portrait With Flash

As far as I concern, there are no rules in portrait photography. It is up to you how you want the shots to be. But there is a composition guideline how you wanna make the portrait shots give more impact or we say catchy. If you are taking picture for other people be sure to know who you doing a favor. Some people especially Chinese don't like their picture taken cropped on the leg or cropped on the forehead.

Using Flash

Often there will be a time when you need your flash to take picture. In a low light condition flash is very essential for portrait photos. But when using a flash for a portrait, it can be harsh form of illumination and often creating a result of shiny on the face and red eyes. Some camera now a day had a TTL function which will make the camera assessing the amount of light available and decide the amount of light to be produce from the flash to balance to exposure. Sometime this does not always help. If you are using a flashgun or speedlight, you can bounce the flash off the ceiling or wall to softening the effect of the flash. This is by putting your flash to the ceiling or wall and not directly to your subject. So this means that you are using the ceiling or wall as a diffuser to spread the light evenly. If you have a diffuser for your flash that is even better.
A Stofen diffuser usually put on the front of the flash.
This is one of the best way to avoid the harsh light created
by the flash from creating the shiny part on the face.
If you are using a build in flash or fixed type then you could try taping a piece of white paper in front of the flash tube to diffuse the effect.
The soft effect is the key for a good portrait.

Learn From The Pro

I find the way to improve your photography skills is by learning from th pros. I have followed some pro photographers and most of them are willing to share their knowledge about photography. I find that is the best to on the field with the pros you'll gain more from it.

Read photography magazines

There are many photography magazines out there you can read and most of them have some photo
tips and tricks that you can learn, few magazine that I usually buy is the Digital Camera Magazine, Practical Photography, Outdoor photographer and I even buy National Geographic magazine because now National Geographic most likely concentrate more on photography than long articles. These are some of the magazines that I find it very helpful in giving you inspiration and new ideas by just looking at the images taken by pro photographers.

Camera Handling

It is essential for a photographer to know how to handle a camera properly.
I stated here some proper way of handling your camera.

Holding The Camera

A digital camera if not held properly, there is no amount of software trickery can

rescue a bad picture. Usually people can make silly mistake like draping a stray
finger over the lens and also creating camera shake because of bad posture.
When using a Dslr camera, a photographer usually make a good grip with their
right hand on the camera and make sure their pointer finger can move freely
where the other fingers getting a good grip on the camera. The other hand
holding the base of the camera on the lens where the thumb finger on the left
of the lens. Draw both elbows toward the body and shoot. By doing a proper
holding of the camera doesn't make it a good posture. Remember to stand
properly with the two legs having a good stand like a tripod base.

Using a Tripod
Tripod is one of the useful tools that used by most photographers. It comes with
many different sizes and weight. Now a day, there many tripod has been design
for certain type of shot. Most common one is the pan and tilt head but most landscape photographer prefer using the ball head tripod because of easy
fix of its tilt. But ball head tripod are not suitable for holding zoom lenses. For zoom lenses that normally used for sport photography and also wildlife
photographer is the Wimberley head. By using a tripod, it can keep the camera steady under slow shutter speed. A tripod prevent blurred and out of focus result.



Wimberley Head Tripod for sport and wildlife -->

The Rule of Thirds

Normally people take picture of something placing the subject right in the middle of the photo. But some time this photo does not work well in attracting the eyes of the viewers. When you take picture it is better to think in a second about where you want to put the subject in the frame. Most pro photographers think in a split second how they going to composition their image. By placing your subject off-center in your photograph it can create an abstract of reality. It makes the photograph more powerful in leading the eyes.

Selling Fine Print Online

You love photography and take a lot of images but you don't know how to turn your photography hobbies into source of sideline. I been in the business for quite sometimes now, one of the way I make money from my photograph is by selling fine print. If you feel your images can makes people wanna buy your images and hang it in their house or office walls, then you can start making your
own online gallery. Most professional photographer normally creating their own online galleries
where they can do selling and received payment online from credit cards. But this type of gallery
is very costly so for a start usually its better to used the online photo service where its offers good deal for photographers. One of the photo online gallery that offer online galleries and also sell print
which is able to receive payment online is Imagekind . Some others like deviantart.com also offer the same thing. Both imagekind and deviantart offer free membership and members can upgrade to paying member which is much bigger storage for your images and sale more images. You can view sample of the imagekind here which is my gallery at http://jollence.imagekind.com/borneo/ . Normally it is better you read all requirement of the galleries before submitting your images. If think you are ready for this go ahead, Good Luck!

::Remember to promote your gallery, not just hoping visitor to come by it self::

::Leave your comment if this helps::

Slow Shutter Speed For Landscapes

Landscape shot its not just a shot where you point your camera and snap. But it is also a kind art where u need to imagining it in order to create an eye catching image. Most professional landscape photographer, taking their time when go out to shoot their landscape images. Early morning and late afternoon is the best time for landscape,(Golden Hour).

For this time I will touch about using slow shutter speed in landscape. By adding movement and motions in the images,It will make the photo a little bit more extra eye catching compare to normal point and shot image. But of coz sometime it depend on the subject.
Before you go and take your shot, do some research on what type of shot you wanna take. 1st, read some photography magazines or book about photography. take a look at some of the images that been taken by other photographer to have an idea. Then decide where in your local area you think
you can get the shot you wanted. Always have in mind of what kind of shot you wanted to create. Imagination is good. Draw in your mind.
To shot landscapes that you can add motion, you choose either a beach, stream or even a street or city night shot where you can capture movement of a cars.
Prepare your equipment, camera, filters, cable release, tripod or bean bag.
When using a long exposure, tripod and cable release is very important in minimizing camera shake. Filters is essential in slowing down shutter. when using long exposure, it best to use a setting of lowers ISO..100-200 and aperture ranging between f16-f22, small aperture can make shutter speed become slow.try to shot manual setting, learn using manual. Shooting raw will give you advantage because you can always change the white balance later.

Starting photography (Macro)

A lot of people think that only DSLR can create good image.Now they are wrong. Good images is actually come from the photographer itself. How he/she compose the image from they own imagination. It is like drawing except it using a camera instead of pencil and paper. Practice is one of the key, keep shooting. Now a day, is a digital era. With digital camera, you loose nothing but battery charge only.

GET USE TO YOUR CAMERA SETTING

When you buy a new camera, make sure you read the manual book before start shooting your camera.It help you alot. Most people that just bought a new camera. they never open their manual book. Straight away using it. It best for you to read and understand your camera before you start clicking it.Get use to the buttons and menus. Most people never realize that their digital compact can take macro shot. It is because they never read their manual book. This shot of a small bug was taken using Sony Digital Compact camera, not a DSLR. Any compact camera have these setting where it capable of doing macro shot. Mostly just in one press of a button. usually the button for macro shot is using a symbol of a flower. You just need to find it. Macro shot can be in your own home or garden. If you already have your digital compact camera, go and try macro.

Twilight shots

This images was shot using a setting of
f4.5 ISO400 and expose about 5 minute.
Camera was mounted on a tripod.
this shot will be much more punchy
if the shutter left open longer than 5 minute.
shooting a night shot means stay awake all night.
make sure when you are shooting night shot,
you get enough sleep during day time.

Tripod and cable release is needed for
this shot.