How i do it

[Tommi]

I'll post a small series of practical photography tips based on the way I do things.

Part 1 - Before leaving home checklist
- What gear do I need to bring? Only a camera: compact or DSLR? Several lenses, if yes which ones? Tripod, or will I be more mobile?
- Is the battery charged? For longer trips, do I need a charger?
- Is the Memory card emptied? Do I need several?
- Do the lenses and the sensor need cleaning? Do I have a cleaning cloth in the camera bag?
- Wet weather? Bring a towel for the camera!
- Do I need a camera bag?

[pakarang]

I'll post a small series of practical photography tips based on the way I do things.

Part 1 - Before leaving home checklist
- What gear do I need to bring? Only a camera: compact or DSLR? Several lenses, if yes which ones? Tripod, or will I be more mobile?
- Is the battery charged? For longer trips, do I need a charger?
- Is the Memory card emptied? Do I need several?
- Do the lenses and the sensor need cleaning? Do I have a cleaning cloth in the camera bag?
- Wet weather? Bring a towel for the camera!
- Do I need a camera bag?

A well thought through check list: most of them is a check, no matter where I am going or for long, including a small towel for wet weather.

Cleaning lenses? I really need to shape up on that point, I've become a slob and do it once in a while, and not as often as I should.

[Sterkoder]

Yepp, agree to that check-list.
I did that once, and now..., whenever I go out the door (even for work) I just grab my Tamrac rucksack/backpack and I'm all set.
You see, the nice thing is that the Tamrac also have a room above the 'camera and lense dept.' for wallet with drivers lisence, Leatherman tool and other small handy/needy things.
There are of course times when carrying that Tamrac is a bit 'overkill', and then (in example when we were in Paris) I only carried the original Pentax shoulder-bag with camera/18-55, the extra 50-200 and spare batteries.
As for the Tamrac, all I need to remember is to fill it with batteries every now and then. Other than that it's packed to go and ready for any emergancy in a matter of seconds

[pakarang]

As for the Tamrac, all I need to remember is to fill it with batteries every now and then. Other than that it's packed to go and ready for any emergancy in a matter of seconds

And with that, I proudly declare Sterkoder a true photographer...

You know you are passionate about photography when you can't leave home without a camera, even when you go out to throw the garbage 20 meters from the front door (in the garbage bin off course).

[Tommi]

Finally on location, it's time for:

Part 2 - Prepare your stuff
It's obvious that the first thing to do is to take out your camera from the camera bag. The first question that arises is of course what to do with the bag itself? Will I just stroll around, well leave it on the shoulder, if you're up for a longer walk then it's probably nicer to carry it properly. Sometimes it's great to just leave the bag on a good spot and walk around with only the camera. If conditions are a bit severe, then it's probably better to put away the bag somewhere where it's a bit protected.

Now power on the camera for the first time for the day and it's probably a occasion to check some settings:
- File format: JPG or RAW? If shooting jpg, always use the best quality & highest resolution
- Picture style/in camera sharpening/coloring/etc. Most cameras have settings to process the picture. I use two different sets: one quite neutral and one with some slight saturation and sharpening. White balance: set it to auto if you're not up to something special.
- ISO: this is probably the most important setting that actually can be altered when it comes to picture quality. The approach is easy: it should be kept as low as possible to reduce noise, but high enough to get shutter times short enough to reduce motion blur. I find ISO400 as a good starting point.
- Switches: image stabilization, autofocus, etc. Some control dials can tend to have the ability to get stuck on things and be altered without purpose. At more important shootings I sometimes use some tape to lock them in the correct setting.

By the way, when did you check your date and time in the camera? It's quite handy to have a correct time stamp in your files.

To finish off tonight, some words about tripods:
- I usually carry my tripod with camera on and legs extended, it saves a lot of time
- Some vertical grips can make the camera unsteady, remove if important
- A horizontal placement of the base is important if using the tripod for panning shots or re-composing, otherwise just adjust the tripod head until it's fine
- The tripod will be more stable if you hang your (heavy) camera bag on it.
- Self timer or remote control is a good thing for tripod shots, as well is live-view.

Ok, now we are ready to take some pictures...

[pakarang]

I recognize a lot of the pointers you mention there, Tommi.

I do also sometimes walk around with the tripod's legs extended (especially between shots) because it saves a LOT of time at next photo stop. It's a bit inconvenient, but to set the legs again and again is quite time consuming.

I do have a small hook under the tripod, to hang something heavy (the camera bag for example) but I do not recall EVER using it. Something to remember and start doing perhaps.

[Sterkoder]

If someone can tell me about it:
What's the experiences with mono-pod in here...?

I'm thinking about buying one, but then I have a pod not reduceing sideways motion

[pakarang]

If someone can tell me about it:
What's the experiences with mono-pod in here...?

I'm thinking about buying one, but then I have a pod not reduceing sideways motion

I thought about on a long while ago - for about 10 seconds - and thought it ain't for a shaking hand like me.

I've stuck to tripods for all my time, and personally, wouldn't even consider a mono-pod. But that is my personal opinion though.

[Sterkoder]

Have to agree with you there, I just ended up on the no-buy side.
Thanks for sharing thoughts on mono-pod. They were close to mine...

[Tommi]

I use a monopod occasionally, for example most of the recent posts in the "on-stage" thread were taken with monopod. The trickiest part with using monopods is to get things straight, it's very easy to take pictures with a leaning horizon.
Otherwise, they are pretty cheap and easy to take with you.

[Speedbird]

I can only agree with Tommi, a monopod can be a very valuable tool!

You are worried about sideways motion but i can assure you it does a very nice job at reducing that too. In fact i very often use my tripod as a monopod (I don`t fold out the legs) as it is a quick and convenient solution in many cases where exposure time is below three seconds.

[pakarang]

.......easy to take with you.

And a whole lot easier to "set-up" and "get the shot done".

I must also add that similarly to what Tommi said, I have sometimes used the tripod as a monopod (but for me that has been only on rare occasions when I had no time to set up all the three legs - or were too LAZY to set up the whole tripod)).

[Tommi]

Part 3 - Shooting pictures - or the magic of sixth sense!
When we come to the actual shooting, there's probably not so many checklists to be written. Everyone have definitely their very own reason and style shooting things. Technically speaking, I guess all kinds of photography goes with the same principles regardless different light conditions that may occur. Technical knowledge itself don't really produce photographs, or well, perhaps photos to your passport or webshop. To be able to make cool pictures you just have to be creative and develop some kind of a sixth sense of what will come out.

I of course have some special things that I pay attention to:
- Timing. There's seldom such a thing as "I can shoot that later", that goes regardless landscape, where lighting often are changing, or action (or anything moving), where composition can be critical for good images.
- Placement. Standing on the wrong spot? Use your feet, move your camera! Some shots are hopeless to get successful, then you can as well skip them...
- Ideas. Is there anything particular that I want to use that shot for? Like making a panorama? Or a time-lapse? Or making 10 portraits look pretty much the same style?
- Perspective. Which lense? Wide angle makes rounder pictures, tele makes straighter lines with a compact look of distances. Sometimes it's better to use a normal lens for a panorama and stitch it together in the computer instead of using a wide. I also find it more and more important to avoid pointing the camera upwards or downwards, it's better to keep it aligned with the horizon, makes pictures look tidier. Do I need to change lenses, if yes when should I do it?
- Numbers. Yes, those in your display. What exposure time do I get? Is the lighting changing? How many pictures are there still room for on the memory card? Anything that have to be adjusted?
- Exposure! Particularly overexposed pictures can be hopeless to edit later. Very important. The only way to get this correct is to switch on the histogram display on your camera. You cannot determine exposure by examining your picture by the looks.
- Focus? Which distance is the image focused on?

I think that's all for tonight...

[wherrygirl]

I also find it more and more important to avoid pointing the camera upwards or downwards, it's better to keep it aligned with the horizon, makes pictures look tidier.

I find this sweeping statement rather surprising, Tommi. If it is not good practice to point the camera either upwards or downwards, then how else could I have achieved this one, this bird, this one or the second photo here at ground level. Then, of course, there are cloud pics. etc. etc. and numerous others taken by members.

In your post you mentioned use of the histogram. On my camera it appears on playback but is not set to show in recording mode. So I must re-set it, should have done this at the beginning - see how much of a learner I am! But there is so much on the screen that I can hardly see the picture I want to take! Probably why, if the histogram were ever there, I switched it off.

[Tommi]

Hi Ivy,
great to have some comments in this thread.
Some say that photography has its own "rules" and others that those rules should be broken by artistic reasons. So there are really no musts, rights and wrongs, if it looks good, then it is good. And in many cases it's also a matter of taste.
My thoughts about perspective and pointing cameras upwards and downwards perhaps mostly go for photographing landscapes and interiors.

A couple of examples might be more explaining?


This is my former Saab. I figured that it was best to sell it before everything went crazy in Trollhättan. Nice car but it kind of looks silly when photographed from a close distance with the lens pointing down to the car giving it a slight view from above.


This is clearly better, taken a bit longer away. I should really have needed to bend my knees a bit more to get it perfect.


This picture is quite typical for my photography as it looked a couple of years ago, look at those walls of the houses going wild.


This might be a more boring composition, but I think that it's far more natural looking?


Of course pointing cameras to the sky can be used for making special effects, and of course capturing birds and other things. Generally speaking, I find it less important if you're also lacking natural references for what's straight or not.

[Sterkoder]

You're giving us many a good tips, Tommi! Thanks!

Now, I have no intention of promoting myself, but when it comes to photographing cars, I belive this link below is worth looking into.

http://www.captainsvoyage-forum.com/...eranvogn-Klubb

Yes, it's my pictures, but as an example I would just mention that I thought my 18-55 worked out just great..., for a while.
Standing up taking pictures of cars with that lense gave rather dull images, I though.
So then I changed to my 10-17 and crawled around on my knees for a while. Thought those pictures were more exiting.
(I'm sure you see which ones those are)

[wherrygirl]

Hi Ivy,
great to have some comments in this thread.
Some say that photography has its own "rules" and others that those rules should be broken by artistic reasons. So there are really no musts, rights and wrongs, if it looks good, then it is good. And in many cases it's also a matter of taste.

Ah, now you're talking! But you didn't qualify your original statement, did you??? You are talking to a free spirit here, who loves experimenting but is only just acquiring the know-how to do so.

My thoughts about perspective and pointing cameras upwards and downwards perhaps mostly go for photographing landscapes and interiors.

Ah, but you didn't say so, did you? Tch. tch. tch....

A couple of examples might be more explaining?

This is my former Saab.

I agree your remarks about the Saab, but it depends on the purpose for which you are taking the photo. I certainly like the second one better but then just for fun a shot from an even lower position would have been even more interesting, eh? I'm no car photo enthusiast but I like those of Sterkie's. You also saw some of Janihudi's photos of his new Merc truck, and one I particularly love is this one There is a similar photo elsewhere but I cannot find it quickly at the moment. Thijs won't have to mind my pointing you to it, he wouldn't dare, anyway. But there is power and character in all these photos and I think it is very much to do with the angle at which they are taken and, in the truck one, looking upwards. As you say, Tommi, there are no musts, rights or wrongs, if it looks good, then it is good.

Of the two street scenes was the first taken with a wide angle lens and the second telephoto? I agree, the latter is the more natural one, I see little reason for taking photos of similar perspective to the first one, although it is seen so often in magazines - purely for effect, to attract attention. Which, if you're advertising something is, I suppose, justified. Or maybe when the scene is of skyscrapers, such wide angle photos would convey a delicious, instant feeling of being a small creature overpowered by massive constructions. A claustrophobic impression which would be highly effective. So, again, there is no hard and fast rule. What is the photographer wanting to convey, that is the important thing, isn't it?

Of course pointing cameras to the sky can be used for making special effects, and of course capturing birds and other things.

Yes. How else???

Generally speaking, I find it less important if you're also lacking natural references for what's straight or not.

Very much so, as you will have seen in some of those pics. of mine I pointed you to - if you peeked?

I look forward to hearing more from you, Tommi, for it's the techie side I'm interested in. I hope to learn, even if at the moment I haven't got the sort of DSLR camera which will do the things you talk about. My little box is not so bad, though!

[pakarang]

Perhaps, this link is more for people in NORWAY... but, also for all others of us....

It's time to convert our old video tapes to digital files and upload them to the Internet!

Japan Photo, one of many others, have also started doing this kind of work now:

http://support.japanphoto.no/fremkal...per-8-mini-dv/

[pakarang]

Perhaps, this link is more for people in NORWAY... but, also for all others of us....

It's time to convert our old video tapes to digital files and upload them to the Internet!

Japan Photo, one of many others, have also started doing this kind of work now:

http://support.japanphoto.no/fremkal...per-8-mini-dv/

I have to shoot in here, that I have conversion equipment myself at home - to do it myself. I use ELGATO Video Capture.... : http://www.elgato.com/elgato/na/main...oduct1.en.html

[Tommi]

Part 4 - Returning back home
After have experienced a nice photo session, whether short or long, you probably return back to your home to do something with the pictures you just shot.

The first thing is really to think if your equipment needs some care and attention.

I usually do the following when getting back home:
- anything needing outside cleaning or drying?
- any batteries that need to be charged so they are ready for the next occasion? Generally normal in-camera-batteries (Lithium-Ion) will retain their charge for several months unused, while chargeable AA/LR6 batteries often self discharge quite quickly.

The most of us are located in a part of the world that is quite cold for the moment. Bringing in a very cold camera inside a warm and humid room is not so good for the equipment. The humidity in the warm air will condensate on and sometimes inside the camera. This is not good for the optics and electronics. I usually just leave the camera in the closed camera bag for 0,5-1 hours letting it warm up slowly without getting in direct contact with warm air. If you have a small camera, just leave it your jackets pocket.
If you are really in a hurry there are a couple of tricks: either put the camera in a plastic bag, then the camera will warm up faster while the humidity stays outside bag - or just take out the memory card before you get inside the house.

The next thing is to transfer the files from the memory card to the computer. Normally I do this everytime I come home with the camera, it's easier to keep different shooting occasions separated and also gives me the possibility to wipe the memory card right away.

I always use a memory card reader. It has several advantages over connecting the camera directly to the computer:
- often faster
- camera batteries can be charged during the file transfer
- no need to install drivers in several computers/for several cameras

I have a separate hard drive in my computer just dedicated to photos. It's organized in two levels of folders, the first for the year and the second named after date and brief description, some examples:
f:\2011\2011-06-01 Visit in Stockholm\
f:\2011\2011-07-31 Mariefred and trains\

Last weekend it was actually 10 years ago I made the first folder including some blurry shots from my Powershot A40. Now I have almost 80000 (!) pictures in the archive, so some kind of filing strategy is clearly essential to stay organized and to be able to find anything at all.

If I have shot some pictures that in some way are really important for me I usually do a backup to DVD as soon as possible, even before deleting the pictures from the actual memory card. Everyday-pictures are usually backed up on a monthly basis.
I will save the editing part to my next part post in this thread, but I just want to say that I never edit my original files. When it comes to jpg's I always make copies of the files to be edited and leave the originals as they are, for raw-files - the editing is of course non destructive.