PhotoChimper - Blogs http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/ photography forums for the digital photographer. en Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:45:49 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.photochimper.com/forum/images/styles/vbblue/misc/rss.jpg PhotoChimper - Blogs http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/ Recent activities (non-instructional) http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/boomboom/recent-activities-non-instructional-17/ Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:18:50 GMT Well, Offutt Air Force Base had it's "Defenders of Freedom" Airshow this weekend. It was pretty good saturday other than the wife got sick a couple hours in (probably too much sun) so we left early. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the second day because of work demands.
I got some good images of the earlier performers and will try to get some posted soon, though work is sending me on a trip for a week or two so you probably wont see anything from me until I get back. I have come up with my next couple instructional topics, now I just need to take the time to type them up and submit them.
That's all for now! ]]> boomboom http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/boomboom/recent-activities-non-instructional-17/ Uber Basics Part III http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/boomboom/uber-basics-part-iii-16/ Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:39:41 GMT So far we’ve defined the meaning of the three main photographic controls that affect exposure (aperture, ISO and Shutter speed) and talked a little... So far we’ve defined the meaning of the three main photographic controls that affect exposure (aperture, ISO and Shutter speed) and talked a little about the changes they cause in the final image. What is important to remember is that these three work together in what is called the light triangle. I will try to explain it as an algebra problem (don’t worry, I’ll keep it simple as I was never good at math!).
So here is our formula:
A+S+I=E
For this example let us agree that A, S and I do not equal zero (they are all one or higher). Now let’s say that E equals 10 and make the equation true. With E=10 one possible answer is that A=8, S=1 and I=1, which would look like this:
A+S+I=E
8+1+1=10
With these numbers the equation is true. But let us now decrease A by two units so that it is now equal to 6, with that change the equation is no longer true. To make it true we have to add those two units in elsewhere, let’s say by adding one unit to both S and I so that the formula now reads:
A+S+I=E
6+2+2=10
Once again the formula is true, but it is no more “true” than the first answer, or any other combination that adds up to 10. So what does this have to do with photography? Well if the units of measure are f-stops and A=aperture, S=shutter speed, I=ISO and E=exposure, then the equation is a mathematic depiction of the light triangle, the foundation of photography.
It is important to understand that when you change one of the variables (A, S, or I) you have to change one or more of the other two variables by the same amount (but in the opposite direction) to achieve the same exposure.
Let me restate that in a more practical example: You take an image with your camera in automatic mode and then look at the image data which reveals the camera used the following settings: ISO=100, Aperture=f 5.6 and shutter speed=1/60. Looking at the image you see that it is well exposed but blurry.
Knowing a shorter shutter speed will freeze motion you switch the camera to manual and set the exact same settings the camera did on automatic but increase the shutter speed to 1/250 (this reduces the light to the sensor by two stops). If you took the picture with these settings it would be underexposed by two stops, so you decide to change the aperture setting to f 2.8 (a two stop increase in light). Unfortunately your lens has a maximum aperture of f4, which is only a one stop increase in light. Finally you change the ISO to 200 making the exposure equal to that set by the camera automatically, but with different camera settings.
These two examples ( ISO=100, Aperture=f 5.6 and shutter speed=1/60) and ( ISO=200, Aperture=f 4 and shutter speed=1/250) are equal or equivalent exposures. Both these exposures will result in a well exposed image, but the images will appear different in the amount of noise, whether motion is stopped or blurred, and in apparent depth of field. Your job as a photographer is to recognized when you need to change from the default exposure set by the camera, to a different equivalent exposure to achieve a more creative image. ]]> boomboom http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/boomboom/uber-basics-part-iii-16/ need to find a new newspaper to shoot for http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/chimper/need-find-new-newspaper-shoot-15/ Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:29:34 GMT Its odd to me that because i shoot for mostly small papers I fall victim to young power hungry editors that Play games with me. I was going though a... Its odd to me that because i shoot for mostly small papers I fall victim to young power hungry editors that Play games with me. I was going though a few problems and it seems that they wont return my calls about work. Mainly becouse I told them I need to lay off from shooting 5 games a week to a min amount. I guess if they feel your used up than your no good to them :dunno: ]]> Chimper http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/chimper/need-find-new-newspaper-shoot-15/ Uber Basics Part II http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/boomboom/uber-basics-part-ii-14/ Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:13:20 GMT Last time I discussed the three elements of a photographic exposure, namely aperture, shutter speed and ISO. This time I’ll cover aperture in more... Last time I discussed the three elements of a photographic exposure, namely aperture, shutter speed and ISO. This time I’ll cover aperture in more detail, and talk about how changing the aperture alters the final image and requires you to adjust either the ISO or shutter speed.
Aperture is the diaphragm in the lens that expands or contracts to let in more or less light. The smaller the number the wider the opening and consequently more light reaches the sensor. This is often expressed as an f number such as f2.8, f4, f5.6, f8, etc.
The maximum width the aperture can open to is usually listed on the lens itself, the Canon EF 50mm f1.4 lens for instance has a maximum aperture of f1.4. Any lens with a maximum aperture f number less than f4 is generally considered a “fast” lens (more on this later).
The maximum aperture on a zoom lens is often expressed as a two number range such as f3.5-5.6. What this means is that at the minimum zoom setting the lens can open to f3.5, while at maximum magnification it can only open to f5.6. Professional quality zooms generally have a constant aperture, such as the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 lens which can open to an aperture of f2.8 throughout its zoom range.
So why does all this matter? Two reasons are foremost:
1) A wider aperture allows you to use faster shutter speeds under identical lighting conditions. A lens with an aperture that opens wider allows in a larger volume of light than one with a smaller aperture. With a larger volume of light you can either reduce the amount of time the light is allowed to hit the sensor (shutter speed) or make the sensor less sensitive to light.
2) Changing the aperture changes how much of a scene is in focus at one time. This is referred to as depth of field and is primarily controlled by changing the aperture you use. A wider aperture (smaller f number) results in a smaller depth of field, often used for portraits to blur the backdrop behind the subject. A narrower aperture (larger f number) results in more depth of field, often used on scenic images to make as much as possible in focus, from foreground to the horizon.
Shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter remains open, from a fraction of a second (less light) to several seconds or longer (more light). Slower speeds allow you to use creative blur to show motion, whereas faster shutter speeds allow you to freeze fast action. When hand holding a camera a faster shutter speed is often required to capture a quality, blur free image.
ISO is the sensor’s sensitivity to light. Increasing the ISO (making the number larger) allows you to use a faster shutter speed to stop motion or a smaller aperture to increase depth of field. A side effect of increased ISO is increased image noise (kind of like static on your tv) and degraded color fidelity. Newer digital SLRs can operate at moderate ISOs with minimal image degradation but point and shoot cameras degrade rapidly even at moderate ISOs. ]]> boomboom http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/boomboom/uber-basics-part-ii-14/ Uber basics part I http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/boomboom/uber-basics-part-i-13/ Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:56:35 GMT I'm writing this to help those new to photography to understand the fundamentals, eventually building to more advanced techniques and tips.
I will add to the blog as topics occur to me, and of course as time permits. Feel free to post suggested topics, but please no topics regarding photoshop techniques. On to the topic!

Light is photography (which literally means light writing) and to understand how a camera makes an image you have to understand what is happening to the light as it moves through the camera. There are three principle adjustments that directly affect the light: Aperture, Shutter speed, and ISO. These three constitute an exposure.
Let's look at each of these in turn.

Aperture: this is how wide the diaphragm inside the lens opens. The wider it opens, the more light it allows in to the sensor, and vice versa. The smaller the number, the wider the opening, so f2.8 is wider than f4, and so allows in more light.

Shutter speed: This is how long the shutter opens to allow light to fall on the sensor. The slower the shutter speed the longer light is allowed in resulting in more light to strike the sensor.

ISO: A hold-over from film, this is a measure of sensitivity. As you increase the ISO to larger numbers you increase the sensor's sensitivity to light. e.g. ISO 100 is less sensitive to light than ISO 200.

It is necessary to understand these three adjustments and what effect they have on the image and each other in order to make better images than the camera can in automatic mode. Each adjustment changes the appearance of the final image in different ways, and forces an adjustment in one or both of the other adjustments in order to maintain a proper exposure. More to come soon!

Synopsis:
Aperture – Control that increases/decreases the volume of light that passes through a lens
Shutter speed – Control that increases/decreases the amount of time light is allowed to hit the sensor
ISO – Control that increases/decreases the sensor’s sensitivity to light ]]> boomboom http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/boomboom/uber-basics-part-i-13/ In A rut http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/clarrieu/rut-12/ Wed, 28 May 2008 01:53:45 GMT I feel like I'm in a rut.

Due to an injury and a lack of money I am unable to travel even relatively short distances

Some is due to my humble low end equipment (Olympus C-740 Ultra Zoom).

Some is due to being limited to things very near.

While creekwalking I slipped and fell and sprained my wrist. I also had a very close call with the camera, which did submerge, but has recovered and is shooting just as well as before. Wish I had a video of me flopping around in the water trying to keep the camera dry. I'm sure it would have been a hit on youtube. :D

I need to go someplace new, shoot through different eyes, different mindsets.

Pre summer doldrums? Bad economy and lack of sufficient income? :confused:

Anyone in the San Francisco area wanna do something new with me? Point Reyes? Limauntaur? Ano Nuevo? Sea Ranch? :dunno: ]]> clarrieu http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/clarrieu/rut-12/ Computer Crash http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/bartimaeus/computer-crash-11/ Sun, 25 May 2008 13:23:00 GMT Ah well most of the weekend has been spent fixing a computer crash. Not much fun but I have expanded the disk space as a result Ah well most of the weekend has been spent fixing a computer crash. Not much fun but I have expanded the disk space as a result ]]> Bartimaeus http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/bartimaeus/computer-crash-11/ Well a week has gone by .... http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/bartimaeus/well-week-has-gone-10/ Tue, 20 May 2008 12:57:08 GMT and we did manage to get to the dam near sunset. Took a lot of photos - will post a couple on the forum. Richard and we did manage to get to the dam near sunset. Took a lot of photos - will post a couple on the forum.
Richard ]]> Bartimaeus http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/bartimaeus/well-week-has-gone-10/ Long weekend but no photos taken! http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/bartimaeus/long-weekend-but-no-photos-taken-9/ Mon, 05 May 2008 12:09:43 GMT I had it all planned that this weekend we would go to Fogg Dam to get some bird photos - Someone else had other ideas so I put in a new sliding door... I had it all planned that this weekend we would go to Fogg Dam to get some bird photos - Someone else had other ideas so I put in a new sliding door - took a load of palm fronds to the tip and did gardening. Satisfying in itself but a day out with the camera would have been better........
Oh well there is always next weekend. ]]> Bartimaeus http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/bartimaeus/long-weekend-but-no-photos-taken-9/ Weathers Nice http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/chimper/weathers-nice-8/ Thu, 01 May 2008 11:36:39 GMT Its been nice in New York hows the rest of the weather out there! Its been nice in New York hows the rest of the weather out there! ]]> Chimper http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/chimper/weathers-nice-8/ New Photos Posted At My Personal Website http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/clarrieu/new-photos-posted-my-personal-website-7/ Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:26:19 GMT Got some newer work up at my website http://www.chuckslongroad.info/gallery8.htm (photos have been processed) ... Got some newer work up at my website

http://www.chuckslongroad.info/gallery8.htm
(photos have been processed)

http://www.chuckslongroad.info/gallery9.htm
(photos are as is - not retouched)

Hope everyone enjoys. ]]> clarrieu http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/clarrieu/new-photos-posted-my-personal-website-7/ Its getting cold here http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/chimper/its-getting-cold-here-6/ Sun, 18 Nov 2007 19:01:29 GMT Its been getting cold in ny. I hope the snow comes soon for some good photos! Its been getting cold in ny. I hope the snow comes soon for some good photos! ]]> Chimper http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/chimper/its-getting-cold-here-6/ Need to get shooting http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/chimper/need-get-shooting-5/ Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:32:48 GMT OK as some of you may know I'm in a separation and it seems that my photography became one of the topics of income so i have had most of my projects on hold.

Quote:
As if i really made any money shooting hours on end for minimal pay for the local newspapers and magazines.
I need to get out shooting even if its just for the love of it. It seems I'm in a rut and I cant get out.

Starting in the morning Im going out shooting just for the love of it like its suposta be. :thumbs: ]]> Chimper http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/chimper/need-get-shooting-5/ <![CDATA[If I could, I'd do it to live.]]> http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/erik/if-i-could-id-do-live-4/ Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:17:46 GMT Thanks Chimper (Rich) for adding Blogs to Chimper. I think I might really enjoy this. . . . . If you are reading this you must the photography... Thanks Chimper (Rich) for adding Blogs to Chimper. I think I might really enjoy this.
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If you are reading this you must the photography process as much as I do. I love talking about it. I love learning about it and teaching it. Most of all, I love doing it.

Photography is a persuit and a personal adventure. Personally, I believe it appeals to the primitive brain, you know, in the same place where "hunting instinct" lives. Only this sort of persuit is passivistic and only feeds the soul.

The fact that others may enjoy your photos and even pay you for it is simply an amazing fringe benefit of this hunting. Make enough money and you can feel your belly too!

If I could, I'd love to enguage in the practice of photography for a living. It'll be a hard gig to get going. I have a lot riding on my day-job. Despite this, I have to wake up and give it a serious shot at doing something I love doing. ]]> Erik http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/erik/if-i-could-id-do-live-4/ Its fun http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/chimper/its-fun-3/ Tue, 09 Oct 2007 23:15:40 GMT This is fun This is fun
Attached Images
 
]]> Chimper http://www.photochimper.com/forum/blogs/chimper/its-fun-3/