Safety

Well you might think that is a strange topic for a photo blog. But think carefully about what you are doing when you are taking photos and don’t just think about yourself, what about the people you are shooting. The simple act of putting your camera bag down on the ground may become a trip hazard. If you use a tripod the legs are potential hazards for those that are around. This is really important at crowded events such as weddings etc. So as a photographer you need to be thinking about safety of yourself and those that are around you.  As photographers we often have our eye glued to the viewfinder, so are we aware of were we are putting our feet? In some scenic locations you can imagine that this is dangerous. I often see photographers use small ladders to take pictures in certain situations – have they assessed the risk to them and the people around them. The more you think about it, the more hazards you can come up with when we take photos. Things like cables, bright lights, camera flashes etc all can present a hazard to you, your subject and the public. Even photographing animals could conceivably be very hazardous, you could frighten an animal and they could attack you or others.

My suggestion would be that photographers carry an Occupational Health and Safety policy around with thme. This policy would pertain to what they as a photographer is doing, the risks involved and reasonable control measures. This should cover you in the event of a problem, especially if you are a professional photographer. As a proffesional you should have insurance as well. Hobbyists should be ok with just a simple policy.

But my main advice would be to check with your OHS government authority to find out were you stand, they will be able to advise you. Also your photo club my also be able to guide you in the right direction.

Camera Clubs

A lot of people seem to shy away from the idea of joining a camera club. I don’t know why, but even I shy away from the idea of joining. but recently I have realised that maybe joining a club is actually a good idea. It has many positive benefits.You will always have access to people willing to help you develop your skills and you will be able to pass on your skills to others. There are always something we can learn about a piece of equipment or a photographic technique. Constructive criticism is also available, now we all like to think we have taken the perfect photo every time, but sadly that is not true. So other members will be able to give you ideas on how to improve that great image and make it brilliant. A lot of clubs run outings and the group go off and take photos by the dozen, here you can compare techniques and again see how others work. A lot of clubs will also get in guest lecturers etc. so again it is a learning experience.  another big plus is that you get a chance to see what gear other people are using in their photographic endeavours. This can be a great way of finding out if that new bit of kit you are after is any good or what you really want and do as you need. You will also hear a lot about the different photo competitions that are also run. All clubs have competitions and there are many inter-club comps as well. So all in all joining a club does seem to be the right thing to do. So myself I have decided to find a local club to join, even if it is only to sit around drink cups of tea and chat. You will still be improving your photo skills. So look for a club near you and join, I am sure you will enjoy the experience.

Steady as it Goes

The bane of a photographers life is to keep the camera steady to get that perfect shoot. As is often the case, the shot you want is going to end up being shoot under low light conditions. This is often the case with me. Also I tried and keep the ISO setting low so as not to introduce noise into the image. So how do we go about keeping the camera steady when shooting. Well a lot of people try a find a way to hold their camera steady and then hold their breathe when they press the trigger. Also you need to press the shutter release gently.This does not always work for me. so another option is to lean against a solid object or rest the camera on a solid object.

Camera Bean Bag

In fact you can small bean bag type things that you can sit your camera on to give a stable surface to shoot from.  And these bags don’t take up that much room in your camera bag. But if you want steady pictures at a reasonable cost, there is old standby – the tripod. This device has been around for ever and will always give you a stable platform from which to shoot pictures. The only real problem is that a reasonable one is bulky, takes up space and you need to carry it everywhere. So you really need to be a dedicated photographer to cart one of these around. But there is a lighter alternative to the tripod and that is the mono pod. This is only a one legged device but it does help keep the camera steady when you are shooting. In fact when wandering around you could use it like a walking stick until you need it. This is one of my favourite devices as it is not cumbersome to cart around. Now for an expensive solution is to get a lenses with image stabilisation. Now these lenses are rather neat if expensive. These lenses give you an extra couple of stops before you need t0 think about tripods etc. I own a Tamron lens with image stabilisation and it does work.  I shoot concerts and stage productions and it is great as I can use available light.

Tripod

Monopods

A Simple Picture

Blue Mountains

Holiday Time

So you are on holidays either at home or travelling. Well always make sure your camera is near to hand. You never know when that one amazing moment is going to happen. You don’t necessarily need to carry your best DSLR, a simpler point and shoot is just fine. But I must admit I carry my DSLR in auto mode, and it is near to me at all times. I also carry a small Canon video camera that also shoots photos just in case.

There are some of us that use holidays to pursue our hobby, so be be prepared. Make sure you have all our the gear neatly packed in your camera case. Clean and check the gear as you pack your camera case. Make sure you have gear to clean your lenses and filters. Maybe carry a plastic bag or 2 to protect the camera in case it gets a bit wet.  Pack the battery charger and cables, check you have enough memory cards. I carry a laptop with me so that I can get the photos of the memory card and then I also burn a DVD back up of the pictures as well. So many people do not take enough memory and the place you run out of memory will be the most scenic and you won’t be able to purchase one. Make sure your camera is comfortable to carry for long distances and time. If not it might be time to invest in a new one, but take your time and find the one that suits you and is comfortable on the back and shoulders.

But the most important thing is to have fun, it is a holiday and you are suppose to be relaxing.

Have fun and take lots of photos.

When to take a picture

You often hear photographers say the best time to take pictures is early in the day or late in the afternoon when the light is really nice. But you cannot always be in great locations at these times to take pictures. This is especially true if you are on holiday. So should you take photo’s at other times, of course just because the light is not at it”magic” position does not mean don’t take photos. You can take photos at other times, you might need to think a bit more about shadows and light, but you will still be able to take great pictures. If you are shooting people you may need to use a flash or reflector to help the lighting. With landscapes etc you can also get great photos. So my advice is to shoot no matter what time of day it is.

Some people also seem to have an aversion to shooting pictures on cloudy and/or wet days. Well again my suggestion is take pictures on these types of days. You can get some great pictures on rainy, misty days. This can add a real atmosphere to the picture. You do not need bright sunlight to take great pictures. Look through a photo magazine and you will notice photographs taken in all sort of weather conditions.

So go and take your camera with you when you next venture out and just take pictures for the sake of taking pictures

Wildlife Photography

Wildlife photography is an area of photography that a lot of people aspire to. We have all seen those lovely photos in Australian Geographic and National Geographic and gone ” I would like to take pictures like that”. so how do you start? Where do you get practise? Well I first of all would suggest that you visit the local zoo with your camera. This will give you an idea of what the animal behaviour is like, what they look like and also you will develop an idea of what you would like to take pictures of.  One of the most important thing about taking wildlife pictures is anticipation of what the animal or bird is going to do onece you have come across one.  The zoo therefore is a great place to find out more information on wildlife. The next place would be to  visit a national park or wildlife park. Here again animals and birds are more likely to be easily accessible and again you can get a good feel for what the animals and birds do in their natural habitat.  You will also be able to work out what bits of your equipment is best for the job and how it all works together. One thing you have to learn is the art of patience. You are at times going to have to sit or stand and wait for that shoot to come along. You also have to be quiet while you are waiting, so a lightweight stool and a tripod can become your favourite bits of equipment.  Waiting quietly means that there is a better chance of the bird or animal coming much closer than normal, therefore you don’t necessarily need to by that 800 mm lens. You might get away with your 250 to 300mm lens and a little bit of cropping. It is also a good idea to some test exposures to make sure that you have set the camera correctly for the light. If it looks like you will be shooting with the light behind the animal or bird you will need to open up the aperture to compensate. Or if you are shooting a branch against a bright sky to catch a bird shot , again you will need to open up the aperture.  If the image looks like it might be a shade to dark you could use your flash unit to add a bit of fill light. Also using the flash might help catching those critters that move fast.

Watching You

Now after all this practise it is time to head out into the wild and try and capture that magic shot of a creature in the wild. But be patient. remember what you have learnt about the birds and animals and put that into action. Make sure before you head out that you have all your gear. Now if you are going into remote areas to take pictures make sure that someone knows where you are in case of an emergency. Make sure you carry water and snacks etc. to insure your survival. Also make sure you are not breaking any laws or trespassing when you go out in the wild. No point in dying or being arrested for the “Shot”. And also remember if you carry it in to the bush you need to carry it back out.

But the main thing is to have fun and enjoy the the process of photography.

Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 AF Di II VC LD – Lens Review

I recently purchased the Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 AF Di II VC Lens and have been using it for most of my recent shoots. Now I have always like Tamron lenses, I had some some in my early days when I was shooting with film. So I had no reservation on  buying this Tamron lens. This is the first lens that I own that has image stabilisation, this is the main reason for getting it. It was what I need to do some of the photography that earns me money. When the lens arrived I unpacked and was immediately surprised at the weight and balance in my hands. Once I had attached t to my camera it all seemed to feel comfortable in my hand. Everything was easy to grab and use. Considering I am a left hander this is pretty good.  The focus ring is easy to grip and the front element does not turn. The zoom ring has a simple lock mechanism to stop it extending itself while you carry it. The only gripe I have with the zoom is that it sticks a little around the 50 – 70mm when you are zooming in and it does not happen when zooming out. It has 2 switches on the body, one for auto focus or manual and the other for image stabilisation. The lens does come with a lens hood and both a front and back caps. The lens is not overly heavy.

18 - 270mm Tamron

In use this lens is pretty good and performed as I expected. The images all seem to be sharp and clear. Fort what I want this lens is very good. The only problem I occasionally get is the auto focus hunts at times of low light.  The optical stabilisation control or Vibration Control, as Tamron call it, is very good. It gives me at least 2 extra stops under low light situations.

In real world use I have found that this is a very good lenses that delivers what I expected from it. The images all seem to be sharp and the colour right.It is an easy lens to use and the purchaser will be very happy with the results that they get from it.For some of the photography that I do which involves concert photography the focal range is perfect. I can get the whole stage or a single artist. No matter what you use the lens for you will be pleased.

Specifications

Model	B003
Lens Construction (Groups/Elements)	13/18
Angle of View APS-C size equivalent	Diagonal	75°33′ – 5°55′
	Horizontal	65°36′ – 4°55′
	Vertical	46°21′ – 3°10′
Diaphragm Blade Number	7
Minimum Aperture	F/22 ~ F/40 (18mm-270mm)
Minimum Focus Distance	19.3in.(0.49m) (entire zoom range)
Macro Magnification Ratio	1:3.5 (at f=270mm, MFD=0.49m)
Filter Diameter	ø72
Weight	550g (19.5oz)*
Diameter x Length	ø3.1 x 3.9in. (ø79.6 x 101.0mm)
Accessory	Flower-shaped Lens hood
Mount	Canon – Available Nikon with Built-In Motor – Available

Digital Photography Masterclass by Tom Ang – Book Review

Digital Photography Masterclass by Tom Ang

I recently received a copy of this book as a present. So I was not too sure what the book would be like. Well let me tell you I was pleasantly surprised by the book and the information in the book. I found that this book is really a great aid for those that are starting out in digital photography and need some guidance.  The book is really well written and very easy to follow. The layout and pictures make it very understandable and also give you great ideas on taking photos.

It is set out in a neat tutorial format with some lessons to try. It covers each topic concisely and is written to make it very understandable with pictures to illustrate what is being explained.

It explains things ranging from camera settings, photography styles and software use. It takes you step by step. It is easy to read and follow. So if you are new to digital photography this book will be of great assistance. It does not refer to specific cameras or software, but covers all that you need to get started. It is not intended to replace the camera manual or software manual, it is intended to show what can be done and lead you into the area of what is possible. It will open your mind to what you can do.

Even I how has been doing photography for a number of years found this book very helpful, and also gave me some great ideas to try out.

What else to Get

Now that you have your camera what else should you get to make the job of getting great photos easier.

Flash

Well most cameras do come with a built in flash, but I would recommend that you get a separate flash unit. The built in flash’s are usually just adequate and are responsible for the red-eye effect. The reason for this is the fact that the closer the light source is to the lens the more likely that the light will bounce of the persons retina. So if you move the flash further from the lens there is less likelihood that the light is going to bounce off the retina. So getting a separate flash is really a good investment. Of course if your camera does not have a flash shoe, you are of course not able to make use of a separate flash.

Tripod

A tripod is one of those aids that until you have one you do not realise how useful they are. Do you often have pictures that are slightly out of focus due to camera shake and taken in low light. Well a tripod can be of great help.Once you have mounted your camera to the tripod it provides a very strong base that will hold your camera steady. Now you may think that a tripod is a pain to carry around at times and it is, but the resulting shots that you will get are worth it.

Camera Bag

You have spent a lot of money on your camera and you should protect this investment. The best way to protect your camera is with a decent camera bag. Now ideally this bag should be water proof and have lots of pockets to hold all of your camera accessories. Also if it is padded it will protect your equipment from bumps. You will most likely get a case with your camera at the time of purchase, but as you get more and more bits and pieces you will need to invest in a good quality bigger bag.

Lens hood

A lens hood is a great accessory. It fits on the front of your lens and stops stray light from hitting the lens and causing Lens flare. It also helps protect the lens from damage.

Filters

Filters have many uses for the photographer. The first filter most people buy is a UV or skylight filter. This filter is clear abut what it does is cut down the amount of UV light reaching the sensor or film. Therefore the amount of haze in the distance is cut down.  But the other good thing about this filter is that you can leave on the whole time and it will protect your lenses from dust etc. There are also other great,useful filters available for cameras. Such as Polarising filters – which cut down glare and help improve the look of sky and clouds in landscapes, neutral-density filters which reduce the amount of light that reaches the sensor – for when you want to use a very slow shutter speed, and there are also close up filters which give you the ability to photograph closer than your lens would normally go.

Cleaning Kit

You need something to clean the lens and body of your camera. So my suggestion would be a puffer brush and a decent lens cleaning cloth. I suggest you check out a decent camera store and see what they have. They will advise you which is the most suitable. But since you have spent a lot of money on a camera you will want to spend a reasonable amount on keeping it clean and in a tip top shape.

Well that should get you thinking about what accessories that you might want to get for your camera. There are a lot more and I have only touched the surface. If you have any ideas please post them in the comment section so others can read about it.