Category: Digital

© Julie Waterhouse Photography

Is Digital Better than Film?

I know better than to engage in that debate! There are still many photographers who swear by the unique qualities that film brings to their images. Film and digital each have their pros and cons. Before I get into the tips basic digital photography, I’ll share with you what I think are some of the advantages of digital over film.

Freedom to Experiment

Autumn leaves. Experiment a little!
© Julie Waterhouse Photography

Digital photography is by no means “free.” You have the cost of your camera, your computer, memory, hard drives, software, and more! However, that cost is amortized a little differently than the costs associated with film photography. With film photography, every time you click the shutter, it costs you money. That image has to be processed by a Lab, and you pay for it.

With digital photography, once you have paid your up-front costs, there is no “cost per click.” I find that very liberating. I no longer have to worry about how much it’s costing me every time I release the shutter. That encourages me to experiment more with new techniques and styles. I can “try it” just to see what will happen, without feeling like I’m wasting film. Experimentation is the best way I know to learn, so this freedom has had a positive impact on my photography.

Instant Feedback

With film photography, you have to wait to see your results. Sometimes, it will be a week or more between clicking the shutter and seeing the resulting image. In the meantime, I guarantee you’ll forget what you were thinking at the time you took the shot! I’ve tried keeping little notebooks to record the settings I used, but frankly, it wasn’t very effective. For one thing, next time I head out to shoot, the light will likely be different, so my settings will need to be different too.

What I really want is instant feedback. And I can have that with digital! Right there in the field, I can see whether my settings are working, and adjust them if they are not. If I’m not getting enough motion blur, or I don’t have enough depth of field, I can correct the problem there and then. This helps me to make better images, and not “blow” a great photographic opportunity. Getting instant feedback is also an excellent way to learn digital photography for beginners.

Freedom to choose settings on a per-shot basis

In the days of film (Yes, I talk about them like they are over! For me, they are!), certain choices you made had to last for an entire roll of film. For example, you chose your ISO setting through your selection of film, for example, Agfa Ultra 50 (with an ISO rating of 50), or Fuji Superia 400 (with an ISO rating of 400). You were then stuck with your choice for 24 or 36 exposures. Many photographers kept two bodies around, each loaded with a different film speed, so that they had some choice.

One of the pluses in basic digital photography is that today, with digital, you have the freedom to switch your ISO setting on a per-image basis, which gives you complete flexibility.

Similarly, you can switch your white balance on a per-image basis, rather than being locked in to an entire roll of tungsten film, for example.

Basic Digital Photography

Basic digital photography starts with understanding your camera. Do you need a DSLR (what is a DSLR, anyway)? How many megapixels are enough? What is a sensor? What does “full frame” mean? I try to answer these digital photography for beginners questions for you in this section.

Digital Camera Basics: Understand the differences between a DSLR and a compact point and shoot digital camera, and which one is right for you.

What is a pixel, anyway? How many megapixels do you need? Learn about pixels, resolution, color depth and more.

Learn some more digital camera basics to find out what a sensor is. Understand the difference between a cropped sensor and a full-frame sensor. How do you know which one is right for you? Find out more about crop factors.

Digital Photography Basics
© Julie Waterhouse Photography

Next in our overview of basic digital photography come a few pointers on aspects unique to the digital world — everything from noise to sensor dust.

Digital Photography Basics: Noise isn’t just something your teenagers make! It can also show up in your digital photographs.

Find out the pros and cons of RAW vs JPEG. Which format should you shoot in? Learn about both file formats, and which is best for you.

Sensor dust can spoil your images and cost you time in post-processing. Learn about camera sensor cleaning, and keeping it clean. This is one of the more practical tips for taking digital photography.

Finally, take a peek inside my camera bag, and find out what tools I use.

In these informal reviews of professional photography equipment, I share my thoughts on the gear I use, from my camera to the bag I carry it in. You might find some ideas for new photography toys you want!

Ziploc storage container lids
© Julie Waterhouse Photography

Hope you enjoyed those basic digital photography tips!

Next, you may want to read some tips for taking digital photography to learn about histograms, resizing photos, a simple digital photo workflow and much more.  Also, check out the blog from Nate Torres for more photography tips.

Contents:

Don’t Get Bogged Down by the Technology

When you start out in digital photography, it can seem a bit overwhelming. You need to learn a new camera, and what all the buttons and menus are for. Next, you need to learn some technology to get your images onto a computer so that you can share them and print them. If you decide to take things further and polish and process your pictures, then you also need to learn complicated software. Histograms, calibration, color spaces, resolution, live view… Phew! What does it all mean, and how much do you need to know?

Don’t panic. Breathe! It’s certainly possible, and quite acceptable, to learn things one step at a time. You certainly don’t need to know everything before you can get started (or none of us would ever start!). There’s no denying that it’s important for you to be familiar with your camera, and understand the basics of digital photography. It will certainly improve your pictures to have a grasp on what’s going on behind the scenes, because it can help you choose sensible settings to get the results you want. In addition, the more familiar you are with your camera gear, the less you have to think about it while you’re shooting. That allows you to concentrate on the important parts: having fun and being creative. But please don’t get too bogged down by all the technology. Read and learn all tips for taking digital photography that you can, but make sure you remember that your most important tool is the one between your ears. First and foremost, enjoy yourself.

Beginner Tips for Taking Digital Photography

These tips for taking digital photography are intended for anyone who is starting out. Whether you are brand new to photography in general, or just brand new to the digital world, these articles should help get you started.

The first of our digital photo tips explains what Live View is and how you can use it to achieve more accurate focus of stationary subjects. For point and shoot, or compact digital cameras, using the live view screen on the back of the camera is actually the norm. DSLRs work a little differently, and you typically look through the viewfinder instead.

Do you use the histogram that your camera can display for each image? The histogram is one of the most important tools you have available to you to help you get a good exposure. I’ve collected a few pages of information on histograms, since they are so important. What is a Histogram? Learn how to take full advantage of the information provided to you by your digital photography histogram. See some histogram examples that show a photo and corresponding histogram together to clarify your understanding.

After you’ve captured your image, you may want to post it on the web or email it to a friend, or even submit it to a contest. That often involves resizing the image. Some of the questions I get asked the most frequently are around resizing photos. How is image size related to resolution and to file size? How do you resize an image to print or email? In this in-depth article, I unravel the confusion around resizing photos.

No photo is truly complete until it’s in printed form. These days it’s easy to create professional looking digital photo books to show off your work. Read our tips to help you create books that will “wow!”

© Julie Waterhouse Photography

Advanced Tips for Taking Digital Photography

These tips are intended for people who are post-processing their images.

If you are going to process your images on the computer after you’ve taken them, you really must be shooting in RAW format, rather than in JPEG. To understand why, read more about RAW vs JPEG.

Calibrate Monitor: Get this “todo” on your list! Understand why you might be wasting your time with photo editing if you don’t complete this critical process. Learn what monitor calibration is, how (and how often) to do it, and why!

Learn about post-processing in the digital darkroom. Here’s a very simple digital photo workflow for processing your images. It will cover everything from camera settings, to organizing your files, to correcting your images, to converting your files from RAW, to printing.

Learn what photo sharpening is, and different methods to accomplish it. We cover the unsharp mask, high pass sharpening, and photo sharpening software. Understand when and why to apply sharpening.

© Julie Waterhouse Photography

Hope you enjoyed those tips for taking digital photography!

Next, you may want to visit our collection of video tips on digital photography technique: “Two Minute Photo Tips.”

Articles by Barbara Bender

Barbara Bender is a freelance professional photographer and writer, and one of the most creative people I know. I’ve been privileged to belong to the same photographic evaluation group as she does for nearly 8 years now. This is a group where we meet monthly, and each bring along a few of our images to share, and receive friendly but constructive critique. Getting an inside track on Barbara’s creative process has been a gift to me, and her images consistently inspire me and help me grow. Barbara has a unique eye for seeing the extraordinary in the everyday world around her, and capturing it marvelously in her photographs. She also happens to be a great writer, and I encourage any of you who are learning digital photography to read her articles and be inspired!

“Do it Anyway”

© Barbara Bender

How many of us say “I’m not very creative?” Is it true, or are we really held back by the fear of disapproval or the fear of failure? In this article on photographic creativity, Barbara encourages us to overcome our fears, take risks, and do it anyway. What a great inspiration for learning digital photography! Forget the “rules” for a few minutes, and soak up some of Barbara’s encouraging words.

“Photographing ‘Real’ Kids: Embrace the Chaos”

© Barbara Bender

No stuffy, formal, posed portraits of kids, please! Will you really recognize your kids like that, anyway? How much better to capture some “real” moments of their lives, where they are expressing genuine emotions and reactions; such portraits are far more engaging, and will provide you with memories of actual, fun, real experiences, instead of the struggle you had getting them to button up their collar and sit still. Have fun learning digital photography with Barbara! In her article on children portrait photography, she shares her tips and techniques to create these kinds of portraits.

“Get Moving!”

© Barbara Bender

Are you stuck on getting perfectly sharp images? Obsessed with having a sturdy tripod to eliminate camera shake, or using fast shutter speeds to freeze your subject? What if you were to try something completely different? Barbara brings us an article on creative digital photography techniques that embrace camera and subject motion. She provides concrete advice and beautiful examples to illustrate her suggestions.

“Project 365”

© Barbara Bender

If you need a little boost to get yourself out shooting on a regular basis, read a behind the scenes account of Barbara’s 52-week variant of a project 365. Barbara has committed to taking one photo a week for a year. Having reached the halfway point, she describes her project in this article, and the positive impact it is having on her photography. Maybe you’ll be inspired to try it yourself! It’s a fabulous tool for learning digital photography.

“Water: Not Just for Drinking!”

© Barbara Bender

I love to photograph water! It presents so many different options for images. In this article on water photography, Barbara guides us through photographing water in all its states from liquid to solid (ice and snow) to gas (clouds, fog and steam). She provides helpful tips so that you can nail the technical details down, and illustrates it all with more of her stunning images.

Articles by Katherine Keates

Katherine Keates is a freelance photographer and writer who has travelled extensively to photograph all over our beautiful planet. She has an incredible eye for capturing moments, details, people and places that reach out and tug at the viewer’s heart. She creates images that are truly works of art. She is well-published as both a photographer and writer, and I’m sure you will enjoy reading what she has to say.

“Insights and Inspiration from nature“

© Katherine Keates

Do you spend too much time plugged in to technology? Have you forgotten what it’s like to open your eyes, and take in the beauty of the natural world?

In this article of photo inspiration, Katherine gives us a wake up call, and encourages us to reconnect with Mother Nature to make creative and inspiring photographs.

“The Dance of the Butterfly People”

© Katherine Keates

Africa dance! In this travelogue, Katherine writes about her journey to Africa to explore the Samburu tribal dances through a series of stunning, long exposure and selective focus photos. She brings the story of the Samburu culture and traditions to life through her images and her words.

“The Crossing” (with co-author Avi Cohen)

© Katherine Keates

Get a taste of the excitement, as photographers Katherine Keates and Avi Cohen recount their experience photographing the dramatic phenomenon of the wildebeest crossing Kenya’s Mara River. Flying hooves, clouds of dust, and cameras clicking; this is safari photography at its best! Katherine and Avi also recommend what you should stock in your safari camera bag.

Articles by Larry Monczka

Larry Monczka is a freelance photographer and writer whose articles have been published in numerous magazines. I have had the honour of knowing him, and the opportunity to see much of his creative work, for a few years now. I have great admiration for his photographic vision, and his incredible attention to detail. I know a “Larry” photo as soon as I see it; he manages to bring out incredible detail in natural textures, and he’s the master of simplicity in composition. He has a lot to share for those who are learning digital photography. His wit and wry sense of humor make his articles a delightful read. Enjoy!

“Some Tips to Perk up Your People Portfolio”

© Larry Monczka

If you’re learning digital photography, and you feel like your people pictures lack “pop,” then Larry has some great advice you need to read!

In this article on portrait photography technique, Larry offers some creative tips to add a little spice to your portrait images. Learn about panning, zooming, using light and color, and more.

“Details, Details”

© Larry Monczka

Why do some pictures “work” while others don’t? In this article on basic photography tips, Larry gives us a number of tips to help us pay attention to the details that can make or break an image. How far should you go when simplifying? Is beautiful light enough to make a beautiful photo? How neutral should you go with your background? Reading Larry’s take on these questions can accelerate the process of learning digital photography.

“Abstract Expressions in Nature”

© Larry Monczka

Are you ready to go beyond the usual “record shots” of nature, and start expressing your personal vision when you photograph flowers, plants, rocks, trees and landscapes? If so, Larry’s article on abstract photos is for you. He offers some specific techniques that you can try, which will help you step out of your comfort zone.

“Give Winter Photography a Shot”

© Larry Monczka

Have you been shying away from winter photography because of the cold? Maybe you’re not sure what makes a good subject when color is absent or subdued. Never fear! Larry is here with a great article to inspire you to brave the temperatures, and get some fabulous winter shots. He’ll show you how winter can reconnect you with visual design basics, make you appreciate a muted color palette, and catch the sunrise and sunset at a more reasonable hour of the day! You can have a whole new season of learning digital photography.

Interviews with Experts

Listen to a podcast interview with Tony Sweet, as he talks to us about his ideas on creativity in photography.

Tony tells us not to listen to any one else! We each need to forge our own path. Get out there and try new things!

Listen to expert travel photography tips in this podcast interview with Nevada Wier, photographer for National Geographic, Geo, National Geographic Adventure, and many more.

Nevada explains how our cameras see differently than our eyes, and how we must embrace this to produce creative images. She gives helpful tips for travelling, and photographing people. Enjoy!

This is a brand new feature on Ultimate Photo Tips where I’ll be sharing some great digital photography technique via a series of short videos. I hope you enjoy them! So that you can see what’s planned for the future, I’ve listed all the anticipated categories and topics below. Come back and visit often, as I’ll be adding a new video each week. Enjoy!

Two Minute Photo Tips: Photography Video Tutorials

Contents:

Camera Settings

Before you can practice your digital photography technique, you need to get a grasp on the basic camera settings. Here are a few videos to help.

Camera Metering Modes

Are you guilty of ignoring which camera metering mode you have selected? Learn about the different modes and their impact on your final image.

Watch the video on the camera metering.

Aperture Priority

What is aperture priority? In this video, Julie explains how you use it, how it works, and why you would choose this camera mode.

Watch the video on aperture priority

Bulb Mode

What is bulb mode? In this video, Julie explains how you use it, how it works, and why you would choose this camera mode.

Watch the video on bulb mode.

RAW vs JPEG

Are you wondering whether to shoot in RAW or JPEG? Not sure exactly what the difference is? Julie compares these two file formats in a short video, and recommends which you should be using.

Watch the video on RAW versus JPEG.

Future Topics:

1. shutter priority
2. exposure compensation
3. what ISO to choose
4. white balance

Exposure

Exposure and composition are the nuts and bolts of digital photography technique. I’ll start with a few videos to help you get a handle on exposure.

Camera Metering Modes

Are you guilty of ignoring which camera metering mode you have selected? Learn about the different modes and their impact on your final image.

Watch the video on the camera metering.

Histograms Part 1

In the first video of this three part series, I explain how to understand and interpret the data in your camera’s histogram display.

Watch the video on the photo histogram.

Histograms Part 2

In the second video of this three part series, I explain how to use the data in your camera’s histogram display to correct your exposure.

Watch the video on the photo histogram.

Histograms Part 3

In the third and final video of this three part series, I explain the technique of “exposing to the right,” which should be used if you are shooting in RAW.

Watch the video on the photo histogram.

Future Topics:

1. exposure = aperture + shutter speed + ISO (+ light!)
2. shutter priority
3. exposure compensation
4. what ISO to choose

Composition

Digital photography technique doesn’t stop at exposure. Composition is key to a great photograph. Here, I share a few thoughts on some of the dos and don’ts to help you tell the story you want.

Subject Placement

Are you ready to go beyond the rule of thirds with your subject placement? Learn how the position of your subject relative to the frame relates to the story you want to tell with your photograph.

Watch the video on subject placement.

Leading Lines

Direct your viewer to your subject; use lines in your photographs to lead your viewer’s eye exactly where you want it to go.

Watch the video on leading lines.

Bright Spots

Used deliberately, bright spots in photos can draw your viewer’s attention to your subject. Included accidentally, bright spots can be distracting. Make sure you get it right!

Watch the video on bright spots in photos.

Background is an Integral Part of the Image

Never under-estimate the importance of the background in your photograph. It can make or break your image. All too often, we pay too much attention to our subject, and not what surrounds it.

Watch the video on background in photography.

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is one of the most touted rules in photography, so is it ever okay to break it? Find out my thoughts, and see some examples.

Watch the video on the rule of thirds.

Future Topics:

1. the KISS Principle
2. diptychs and triptychs

Technique

This section holds a collection of videos on all kinds of digital photography techniques, from how to hold your camera, to photographing holiday lights, to capturing star points.

Winter Photography

Are you planning to do any winter photography in cold weather? If so, I have 4 must-know tips before you subject your equipment (and yourself!) to the cold.

Watch the video on winter photography.

Snow Photography

Is it snow season where you live? If so, get outside and enjoy it with your camera!In this week’s video I bring you eight hot tips for some cool snow photography.

Watch the video on snow photography.

Photographing Christmas Lights

Looking for something fun to do with your camera this holiday season? Here are some tips and techniques for creating both realistic, as well as abstract photos of the holiday lights in your neighborhood.

Watch the video on photographing Christmas lights.

Live View for Focusing

Do you ever struggle to get accurate focus? Whether you have trouble trying to focus close up, or in low light, or just because of poor vision, this technique with live view can improve your focusing.

How to Hold Your Camera

Are you making this common mistake when you hold your camera. It could cause blur in your photos! Find out how to hold your camera correctly.

Watch the video on how to hold a camera.

Digital Night Photography

Have you ever wondered what shutter speed to use to capture star points, and not star trails? In this short video on digital night photography, Julie reveals the formula to use to calculate the maximum shutter speed you can use to keep those stars looking like points.

Future Topics:

1. backlight
2. grey cards
3. star trails: how to get lines vs. curves, vs. circles
4. bracketing
5. tip to catch out of focus foreground material
6. shooting in cold weather
7. get it right in camera
8. photograph children/pets from their eye level
9. photograph people from slightly above (no nostrils!)
10. find your light first, then the right subject
11. look behind you!

Story-Telling

I believe that photography is all about story-telling. In these videos, I share some tips so that you can better translate the vision in your head into a final image for your viewers.

Photo Composition: Simplify for Higher Impact

Do you want to take your photos to the next level? You need to simplify to eliminate all elements that don’t contribute to your story.

Watch the video on photo composition

Convey Emotion and Mood Using Color

Color in photography can be used to convey emotion and mood. Choose colors that are consistent with your message to tell a strong story.

Watch the video on color in photography

Include People in Your Nature & Landscape Shots

Do you always avoid including people in your nature and landscape photos? Find out two good reasons to include people in your shots.

Watch the video on people in nature photography

Light and Dark Tones in Photography

Light and dark tones can convey emotion in your photographs. Make sure you understand how to use high or low key exposures to reinforce the story you want to tell.

Watch the video on tones in photography

Future Topics:

1. less is more!

Creativity

Creativity is the secret sauce that makes your image stand out from the crowd. Here are a few videos with digital photography technique to get you thinking outside the box.

Sunset Photography

Who doesn’t love taking photos at sunset? Here are ten tips to help you improve your sunset photography.

Watch the video on sunset photography.

Subject First or Light First?

Which should come first? Your subject or the light? Turn your thinking on its head, and find the light before the subject.

Watch the video on photography subjects.

Restrictions Breed Creativity

If you think that creative photos are all about having complete freedom, think again! I think it’s actually about imposing restrictions. See if you agree.

Watch the video on creative photos.

Creative Use of Shutter Speed

Are you confused by what shutter speed you should be using? Are you avoiding the issue by avoiding manual mode altogether? Learn to choose a shutter speed that tells your story.

Watch the video on the creative use of shutter speeds.

Future Topics:

1. creative use of aperture
2. it’s all about attitude!
3. communicating how you feel

Gear

We photographers do love our gear! Here are a handful of videos that talk about the toys.

Photography Diffuser

Having trouble photorgaphing in the bright sunlight? Let me show you how a photography diffuser can help you reduce contrast when the light is very bright.

Watch the video on the photography diffuser.

Understanding Camera Lenses (Part 1)

Having trouble understanding camera lenses? Let me help you sort out the relationship between focal length, field of view and perspective.

Watch the video on understanding camera lenses.

Understanding Camera Lenses (Part 2)

Are you ready to learn more about what differentiates one camera lens from another? Let me help you understand glass quality, and the significance of a lens’ maximum aperture.

Watch the video on understanding camera lenses.

Variable Neutral Density Filter (Part 1)

It’s bright outside, but you want to use a long shutter speed or a wide aperture. What can you do?

Watch the video on the variable neutral density filter.

Variable Neutral Density Filters (Part 2)

Variable neutral density filters aren’t just for long exposures and selective focus in bright light. They can also help with your portrait photography.

Watch the video on variable neutral density filters.

Graduated Neutral Density Filter

Do you sometimes struggle with landscape photography because the sky is so much brighter than the foreground? Try this filter as a solution!

Watch the video on the graduated neutral density filter.

The Virtues of a Camera Tripod

Is your tripod feeling lonely and neglected? It’s time to take it out with you again! Find out two good reasons why.

Watch the video on using a camera tripod.

Using Your Wide Angle Lens

Do you want to draw your viewer into the image? Here are 7 hot tips for using your wide angle lens effectively.

Watch the video on the wide angle lens.

Camera Protection

A shower cap? Really?

Check out this video for two ways that you can use a shower cap as camera protection from the dust and rain.

Photoshop

We can’t talk about digital photoghraphy technique without talking about the software. Here are a few Adobe Photoshop tutorials to inspire you.

Orton Effect

New video!

Looking for an easy way to give your photos a soft glow? Try creating a digital orton.

Watch the video on the orton effect.

Next, you may want to watch a video on using aperture priority mode on your camera.