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2 0 1 6 AP R I LE DI T I ON
DI GI T ALP HOT OGR AP HYMAGAZI NE E DI T ORT ANY AP UNT T I S L R P HOT OGR AP HY GUI DE . COM
Cov erPhot o©Ra c hel S c hwa r t z Aper t ur ef / 1. 8| S hut t erS peed1/ 1000| I S O100| 50mm F oc a l L engt h
i nt hi si ssue
S t udenti ma geŠS us a n Mc Gee I S O4000| F oc a l L engt h600mm | Aper t ur ef / 7. 1| S hut t erS peed1/ 1000
I t t a k e sal o t o f i ma g i n a t i o n t ob eag o o dp h o t o g r a p h e r . Y o un e e dl e s si ma g i n a t i o n t ob eap a i n t e r , b e c a u s ey o u c a ni n v e n t t h i n g s . Bu t i n p h o t o g r a p h ye v e r y t h i n gi s s oo r d i n a r y ; i t t a k e sal o t o f l o o k i n gb e f o r ey o ul e a r n t os e et h eo r d i n a r y . Qu o t e~Da v i dBa i l e y
S t udenti ma ge©Ma r ga r et S a wa t s k e L i v i ngs t on( Ca na da ) Aper t ur ef / 5| I S O800| S hut t erS peed1/ 125
S t udenti ma geŠMa r y  Ri v er a( US A) I S O200| Aper t ur ef / 2. 5| S hut t erS peed1/ 500s ec| 50mm L ens
When Aut oFocusFai l s WhenIf i r s ts t a r t edus i ngadi gi t a lSLRc a mer a , oneoft hemos tf r us t r a t i ng pr obl emsIof t enc a mea c r os s , wa swhenmyl enswoul dn' tf oc uspr oper l y . I ns t ea d, i twoul dc ons t a nt l ymov ei na ndout , t r y i ngt or ea c hf oc us . Ov ert i me, I not i c edapa t t er nt ot hi sa nnoy i ngpr obl em. •Thef i r s tt hi ngt oc hec ki st ha ty ouha v et hes wi t c hont hes i deofy ourl enss et t oAForA( a ut of oc us )a ndnotMF( Ma nua lFoc us ) . Thi sma ys eem obv i ous , howev ert her eha v ebeenma nyt i meswhenI ' v eus edma nua lf oc usa ndf or gott o c ha ngei tba c kt oa ut of oc uswhenr equi r ed. •Aut of oc usma yha v et r oubl ewor k i ngpr oper l yi nl owl i ghtc ondi t i ons . For exa mpl eni ghts hot s . Thi si snor ma l . •Youma yf i nda ut of oc usf a i l swhenphot ogr a phi ngnonc ont r a s t i ngs ubj ec t s . Forexa mpl e, ac l oudl es sbl ues k yorawa l lt ha tc ont a i nsones ol i dc ol or . •Phot ogr a phi nghi ghl yr epet i t i v epa t t er nsl i k es k y s c r a perwi ndowsorc a r swi t h r ef l ec t i v ebodi esc a na l s oc a us epr obl ems . •Per s ona l l yIf i ndmyl enss omet i mesha st r oubl ea ut of oc us i ngi fI ' mt a k i ng ma c r os hot sa ndt hei ns ec torf l oweri sc ons t a nt l ymov i ng. •Foc us i ngonov er l a ppi ngobj ec t sc a na l s oc onf us ey ourl ens . Forexa mpl e, i f y oua r et r y i ngt of oc usont hehor i z on, ors a ya na ni ma li nac a ge. Ti mesl i k e t hes ec a nma k ei tha r df ory ourl enst oc l ea r l yk nowwha ti ti sy oua r et r y i ngt o f oc uson. •Somet i mesa ut of oc usma ynotbepos s i bl ei fy ouha v ea next endera t t a c hedt o y ourl ens . Chec ky ourext ender ' si ns t r uc t i onma nua lf orl ensc ompa t i bi l i t y . Any ot herl ensa ddonsl i k ema gni f i c a t i ona ndc l os eupf i l t er sc a na l s oc a us e pr obl ems .
Ther ewi l lbet i meswheny ouronl yopt i onma ybet ous ema nua lf oc us i ng. Al s o t r yf oc us i ngona nobj ec twi t hi nt hes a medi s t a nc ea st hes ubj ec ty oua r e phot ogr a phi ng. Thens wi t c ht hel enst oma nua lf oc usMF, r ec ompos ea ndt a k e t hes hot . Ana l t er na t i v et ous i ngma nua lf oc usi st of oc usona nobj ec twi t hi nt he s a medi s t a nc et henus ey ourc a mer a ' s' f oc usl oc k ' s et t i ng( c hec kc a mer a ma nua l ) . Atni ghtt i mey ouma yneedt os hi neat or c hons omet hi ngnea r bys o y ouc a nl oc kf oc us . Don' tf or gett os wi t c hy ourl ensba c kt oa ut of oc usa ga i nf or y ournextphot os hoot .
S t udenti ma gesŠS ha r on Da v i es( UK) 500mm F oc a l L engt h| I S O1600| Aper t ur ef / 6. 3| S hut t erS peed1/ 200
S t udenti ma geŠKr i s t y  Br i en( Ca na da ) I S O100| F oc a l L engt h85mm | Aper t ur ef / 4. 0| S hut t erS peed1/ 800
S t udenti ma ge©Hel en Chr i s t ma s( Aus t r a l i a ) I S O800| S hut t erS peed1/ 100| Aper t ur ef / 2. 8
S t udenti ma geŠMi r ei l l e Pi z z o( Aus t r a l i a ) I S O2500| Aper t ur ef / 6. 3| S hut t erS peed1/ 320
Ter r i Ander son ( s t ude ntpr o f i l e ) ht t p: / / pl umbgoodphot os . c om Ther ei ss omet hi nga boutaphot ogr a pherwhoenj oy sl i f et os uc ha next entt ha t t heywa ntt oc a pt ur eev er y t hi ngt heys ee. Ther e’ st hos ewhonev erv eerf r om t hei r c omf or tz ones , c hoos i ngt hes a megenr esa ndc a mer as et t i ngst heya r ef a mi l i a r wi t h. Thent her ea r et hos el i k eTer r i . Idon’ tt hi nkt her e’ sagenr es he’ snott r i edt o phot ogr a ph. Thi spa s ty ea rs he’ sphot ogr a phedpor t r a i t s , weddi ngs , ma c r o, f a s t s hut t er , l ongexpos ur es , l a nds c a pesa ndl i ght eni ng. Whi l eIa gr eebus i nes s esneed t ot a r gett hei rma r k et i nga tas pec i f i cphot ogr a phi cf i el d, bec a r ef ulnott ot a k e t hi st ool i t er a l l y . Wi t hea c hgenr er equi r i ngi t ’ sowns k i l l s et , i t ’ sea s yt os eeTer r i ha sga i neda t r emendousa mountofv a l ua bl ek nowl edget ha ti ss et t i ngherupt o beoneoft hebes t .
Howdi dy ouf i r s tbec omei nt er es t edi nphot ogr a phy ? It ooki nt er es ti nphot ogr a phywheniwa sy oungbec a us ebot hofmypa r ent s di edwhenIwa sat eena gera ndIonl yha v eonephot ogr a phoft hem, whi c h ma demer ea l i z et hev a l ueofaphot ogr a ph.
Wha t ’ sy ourf a v or i t ephot ogr a phy ou’ v et a k ena ndwhy ? Iha v et os a ymyf a v or i t ephot ogr a phwoul dbet hedownt owns hotwhenIwa s a bl et oc a pt ur et hel i ght ni ng, s omet hi ngwi t houtt hi sc l a s sIwoul dnotof k nownhowt odo. Thi spi c t ur es howst hebea ut yofourc i t ya tni ghta nd peopl et el lmeIma k eourc i t yl ookbea ut i f ul .Tohea rt ha tma k esmewa ntt o c ont i nuemygr owt ha ndl ea r nev enmor e.
Wha tdoenj oymos ta boutbei ngaphot ogr a pher ? Ther ei snobet t erf eel i ngofa c c ompl i s hmentt ha ns eei ngt hepos i t i v er ea c t i onst oa phot ogr a phy ouha v et a k en, t ogi v es omeoneaphot ogr a pht ha tt heywi l lt r ea s ur et he r es toft hei rl i f e, amomenti nt i met heyc a nnev ergetba c k .
Howha sourphot ogr a phyc our s ehel pedy ou? Thi sc our s eha sgi v enmet hec ompl et eunder s t a ndi ngofmyc a mer a , t hes et t i ngsa ndhowt heya l lwor kt oget her .I tha sgi v enmeba c kt he c onf i denc eIneededt ogetouta nds t a r ts hoot i nga ga i n.
Wha tpl a nsdoy ouha v ef ort hef ut ur eofy ourphot ogr a phy ? Fory ea r sIt houghtofmy s el fa sal uc k ys hoot erwi t hagoodey e, t hi s c l a s sha sma demer ea l i z eIha v emor et oof f era ndi ti st i met ot a k emy hobbyt oanewl ev el .Mygoa li st oha v eaf ut ur ei nt heAr t sMa r k et s a ndbui l df orourr et i r ement ,Ihopet oha v eas ma l l , qua i nta r ts t or e t ha twoul dbr i ngj oya nda ppr ec i a t i onoft hebea ut yofFl or i dat opeopl e a ny wher e.
Any t hi ngel s ey ou’ dl i k et os ha r ewi t hev er y one? Ic a n' tt ha nkt hef r i endsi nt hi sc l a s sa ndTa ny af ort hei rpa t i enc e, di r ec t i on, c ompl i ment sa ndc r i t i quet ha tha v ehel pedt odi r ec tmei nmy r oa dt os uc c es sa saphot oa r t i s t .It r uel ybel i ev et ha ti fy ouenj oy t a k i ngpi c t ur es , c a pt ur i ngmoment si nt i mea ndades i r et ol ea r n, y ou c a nbec omeagr ea tphot ogr a pherwi t hy ourowns t y l e. Phot ogr a phyi s myha ppypl a c ea ndwhenIa m outa nda boutt a k i ngpi c t ur esi tr el a xes me. Tha nk sa ga i nt oTa ny aa ndt hi sc l a s sf orr el i ght i ngmypa s s i onf or t hewor l dofphot ogr a phy . Tov i ewmor eofTer r i ’ si ma gesv i s i t : ht t p: / / pl umbgoodphot os . c om Noty etenr ol l edi nourOnl i nePhot ogr a phyCour s e?Rea dmor ea bouti t ov era tht t p: / / www. s l r phot ogr a phy gui de. c om/ onl i nec our s es . s ht ml
S t udentI ma ge©Debby L ev ens Va n S et t en( US A) S hut t erS peed1/ 1250| Aper t ur ef / 1. 4| I S O100| 50mm L ens/F oc a l L engt h
S t udentI ma geŠS ue Os bor ne( US A) S hut t erS peed1/ 640| Aper t ur ef / 2. 8| I S O400| 70mm F oc a l L engt h
S t udenti ma ge@L i nds a y  F el dner( US A) Aper t ur ef / 11| S hut t erS peed1/ 15| I S O200| F oc a l L engt h18mm
S t udenti ma geŠJ oha nna  F r oes e Aper t ur ef / 4. 2| S hut t erS peed1/ 30| I S O100| F oc a l L engt h38mm
Shoot i ngFastAct i on Begi nner sa r eof t ens ur pr i s edwhenIs a yt hr ees por t sphot ogr a pher sc oul da l l s t a ndnextt oea c hot herc a pt ur i ngt hes a mes hota ndea c hwoul dmos tl i k el y c hoos edi f f er entc a mer amodes !Tha ti st hea dv a nt a geofus i ngaDSLRc a mer a . Ther ea r el i t er a l l ys ev er a lt ec hni quesf orc a pt ur i nga nys hoty ou’ v eev ert a k en. Bef or ec hoos i ngac a mer amode, Ir ec ommendk eepi ngt hes wi t c hont hes i deof y ourl enst oAut oFoc us( AF/A) . Ther ei snous ema k i ngf oc us i nga nyha r der t ha ni tneedst obe. Cons i derus i ngc ont i nuouss hoot i ng( a l s oc a l l edbur s tmode)s oy ouc a nt a k e s ev er a ls hot spers ec ond, f ora sl onga sy ourf i ngeri shol di ngdownt hes hut t er but t on. I nCont i nuousorSer v omodes , a ut of oc uswi l lk eept r a c k i ngmov i ng t a r get s .
Howt os hootf a s ti nAper t ur eMode Tos hootf a s ti na per t ur emode, c hoos et hel owes ta per t ur ef numbery ourl ens wi l la l l ow. Thel owert hea per t ur ef number , t hef a s t ery ourc a mer awi l ls hoot . Ta k eaf ewt es ts hot s . I fy ouf i ndy ourc a mer ai ss t i l ls hoot i ngs l owert ha ny our s ubj ec ti smov i ng, i nc r ea s ey ourI SOnumber100a tat i meunt i ly ouf i ndt he per f ec ts peed. Howt os hootf a s ti nShut t erPr i or i t y Shut t erpr i or i t ya l l owsy out oc hoos et hes peed, t hent hec a mer aa ut oma t i c a l l y a dj us t sy oura per t ur et os ui t . Thef a s t ery ous ety ours hut t ers peed, t hel ower y ourc a mer awi l ls ett hea per t ur e. Howev er , t her ei sami ni mum a per t ur eea c h l ensc a ngo. Wheni t ’ shi tt hel owes tf number , y out henneedt oa dj us tt heI SO s et t i ngory ouma yendupwi t ha ni ma get ha ti st ooda r korar edl i ghtt ha twon’ t s t opbl i nk i nga ty ou. Forexa mpl e, i fy ouha v ey ourc a mer as ett os hut t erpr i or i t y wi t h1/ 800t hofas ec onds peeda ndy ouf i ndt hei ma gei st ooda r kory our c a mer awon’ tt a k et hes hot , i nc r ea s et heI SO100a tat i meunt i ly oua r es eei nga bet t erexpos ur e.I fy oua r es hoot i ngi ngoodl i ght i ngc ondi t i ons , s i mpl yputy our I SOonAUTOa ndl ett hec a mer ac hoos et heper f ec ts et t i ngt ha tc ompl i ment st he s peed. Howt os hootf a s ti nMa nua lMode Ma nua lmodea l l owsy out oc hoos ea l lt hr ees et t i ngsy our s el f . Thec a mer a does n’ tma k ea nya dj us t ment sf ory ou. Obv i ous l yi nma nua lmodey ourf i r s t pr i or i t yf ora c t i onss hot swi l lbes hut t ers peed. Unf or t una t el ynoonec a nt el ly ou wha ts hut t ers peedt os etbec a us eev er y onewi l lbes hoot i ngdi f f er ents ubj ec t s . I us ua l l ys etas hut t ers peedof1/ 400t hofas ec ondt os t a r twi t hwhi c hi sf a s t enoughf ormos ts ubj ec t s . Onc ey ouha v es etas hut t ers peed, y ouneedt oc hoos e whi c hs et t i ngi smor ei mpor t a ntI SOora per t ur e. Per s ona l l yIa l wa y sl ooka tmy a per t ur es et t i ngf i r s ta nds etal owf number . Lookt hr oughy ourr ea rv i s i on, pr es s i ngt hes hut t erbut t onha l fwa ydownt of oc usnea ry ours ubj ec ta ndl ook a l ongt heexpos ur el i ne. Adj us ty ourI SOs et t i ngunt i lt heexpos ur el i neha s z er oed.
Bl endi ngExposur es Onat r i pt oSy dneyl a s ty ea rwedi s c ov er edt heper f ec tpl a c ef oral ongexpos ur e s unr i s es hoot . Pr eda wnt henextmor ni ngwewa l k eda l ongMa nl yf or es hor e, c l a mber eddownont ot hes er oc k sa nds etupourt r i pods . Ic hos et hi spl a c e bec a us eIl ov edt het ext ur ei nt her oc k s . Ia l s ok newf r om pa s tt r i pst ha tt hes k y woul dha v egr ea tc ol ouri ni ta st hes uns t a r t edt or i s e. Thepr obl em wi t ht hes ek i ndsofs c ena r i osi st ha tt heda r k err oc k sof t enr equi r e amuc hl ongers hut t ers peedt ha nt hebr i ght ers k y .i . ei fIexpos ef ort hes k y , t he r oc k sa r et ooda r k . I fIexpos ef ort her oc k s , t hes k yi st oobr i ghta ndl os esmuc h ofi t sc ol oura ss howni nt heexa mpl esbel ow( or i gi na li ma gess t r a i ghtoutof c a mer a ) .
Expos i ngf ort her oc k si nt hef or egr oundl os tt hegr ea tc ol ourIs a wi nt hes k y .
Expos i ngf ort hes k yc a pt ur edt hec ol our , butl ef tt her oc k sunder expos ed. Thi s i sa c t ua l l ynor ma lduet ot her oc k sbei ngmuc hda r k eri nl i ghtt ha nt hebr i ght er s k y . You’ l lha v es i mi l a rr es ul t sf ora nys c enewher et her ei sawi dec ont r a s t bet weens ha dowsa ndl i ght . Sowha t ’ saphot ogr a phert odo? I t ’ snotunus ua lt os eebegi nner st r y i ngt of i ndami ddl egr ound i . et hey ’ l lk eep a dj us t i ngs et t i ngsunt i lt heyf i nda nexpos ur ewher et hes k yi s n’ tt oobr i ghtnor t her oc k st ooda r k . Wheni tc omest os unr i s esy oudon’ tnor ma l l yha v eal otof t i met of i gur et hi sout . I fy ou’ r ewa nt i ngt ot r yt hi smet hod, I ’ dexpos ef ort he br i ght erpa r toft hes c enef i r s t( t hes k y ) , z er oi ngt heexpos ur el i nei nma nua l mode, t hent a k ea not hers hoton+1a ndat hi r don+2, l i ght eni ngt hef or egr ound r oc k sal i t t l emor ewi t hea c hs hot . Thi swa ywheny oua r eba c ka ty ourPCy ou’ l l ha v eas er i esofi ma gesf r om whi c ht oc hoos ef r om. Not e, i t ’ sbes tnott or el yon y ourc a mer a sLCDs c r een.
Anot hers ol ut i oni st oexpos ef ort hebr i ght erpa r toft hes c ene. Theni fy oua r e s hoot i ngi nRAW f i l ef or ma ty ouc a nbr i ngoutt hedet a i l si nt hes ha dowsl a t er oni npos tpr oc es s i ng.Nodoubtt hi si st heea s i es tmet hod, howev erIha v ea l ov eha t er el a t i ons hi pwi t hi ta sy ouc a nnev ergua r a nt eet hequa l i t yoft he s ha dowa r ea sa f t ery ou’ v el i ght enedt hem. Thea mountofdi gi t a lnoi s ey ous ee i nt hec ol our soft hel i ght eneda r ea sv er ymuc hdependsont hequa l i t yofy our c a mer a .
Not ewhenus i ngt hi smet hod, Is a i dt oexpos ef ort hebr i ght erpa r toft hes c ene whent a k i ngt hes hot . Thi si sbec a us ei t ’ smuc hea s i ert or ec ov erdet a i l si n under expos eds ubj ec t st ha ni ti st obr i ngba c kdet a i l si nov er expos eda r ea s .i . e i fy ouwa s houtt hes k yc ol our , c ha nc esa r ey ouwon’ tbea bl et obr i ngi tba c ki n pos tpr oc es s i ngei t her . Yeti fy ouunder expos et her oc k s , a l ly ouneeddoi sus e t he‘ Sha dows ’ s l i deri ny ourRAW f i l eedi t ort obr i ght ent hem.
At hi r ds ol ut i on( myper s ona lpr ef er enc e)i st os hoott woexpos ur es . Thef i r s t s hotexpos i ngf ort hes k y , a ndas ec ondf ort hef or egr oundr oc k s ;bl endi ng t hem t oget hera sonei ma gei npos tpr oc es s i ng. Tous et hi st ec hni quey ou’ l l needs of t wa r et ha ta l l owsy out ol a y eronei ma geont opoft heot her . Fort he i ma gebel ow, IopenedPhot os hopa ndpl a c edt hei ma gewi t ht hewel l expos eds k yont opoft hev er s i onwi t ht hel i ght err oc k s . NextIa ppl i eda l a y erma s ka ndbr us hedof ft het opl a y era l ongt hebot t om ha l ft or ev ea lt he l i ght err oc k sbenea t h. Nextt i mey ous eeal ongexpos ur et a k ena ts uns etors unr i s ewi t ht ext ur ed f or egr oundi nt er es t , c ha nc esa r ei twa sdoneus i ngt hi smet hod, bl endi ngt wo ormor eexpos ur est oc r ea t eas i ngl ei ma ge.
Chal l enge-Sel fPor t r ai t Leoni e Mor r i schal l engesyout hi smont ht ot akeas el fpor t r ai t( wi t h yourDSLR, nophonesal l owed) . I ns t eadoft aki ngas naps hot , t hi nkaboutwhatyouwantt hi si maget o s ayaboutyou?Choos eal ocat i on, l i ght i ngandcamer as et t i ngst hat pur pos ef ul l yt el l syours t or y. Obvi ous l yi twi l l beeas i ert ous eat r i podandr emot er el eas e, however youmayal s ochoos et ot akeahandhel ds hot . Upl oadyouri magest oourf acebookgr oup( s t udent sonl y) andt i t l ei t ‘ Sel fPor t r ai tChal l enge’ . Don’ tf or gett ol i s tyourcamer as et t i ngsanda l i t t l eabouthowyout ookt hes hot . Havef un!
Di dyouknowouronl i nephot ogr aphycour s e nowcomeswi t hdownl oadabl echeats heet s ? " I fyouhaven' tt akenadvant ageofpr i nt i ngt hecheats heet s , Is t r ongl ys ugges tyout aket i met odos o. Thes eal onear ewor t h t hepr i ceoft hecour s e. " ~JohnSmi t h( s t udent ) Checkoutouronl i nephot ogr aphycour s eoverat ht t p: / / www. s l r phot ogr aphygui de. com/ onl i necour s es . s ht ml