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Dirt Monkeys Photography tips! Part 1 of 2 Decide how far your gonna take it from the start, decide your style. Photojournalistic or arty-farty. It's the quality of the glass not the megapixels that make any camera. Some of the Dirt-Monkey gallery pictures were taken on a 3 Megapixel with decent optics. If your not going to print them 3ft x 2ft why do you need 10Mp? To test the optics look at the shot 1 to 1 and see if it still looks sharp. Best done on a PC as the camera screen usually shows a thumbnail (low res). Decide what size camera you need, Micro, Compact, Mega Zoom or DSLR, then look at the features you get with different models. If you want to ride with it in you pocket a DSLR probably isn't for you. Do you homework, magazine are good for new products and the internet is full of reviews/opionions, but remember that all they are. Other peoples so called faults may not apply to what you want to use it for and people think picking holes makes them clever Shop around for the best deals but consider extras like accessories and insurance. A good no quibbles insurance can be well worth while in this line of photography. Learn to use the camera and work out which functions to use when so you're ready for that one in a million shot. Work out the cameras limits, how far the flash goes, how short it will focus, how fast it is in different light conditions and how to get the best colour and contrast response from the camera. They all have an optimum focal lenght and apperture, it's called the sweet spot. Original hey. If it has a shutter delay, get used to it and learn to pre-meter. See later on. Disable any digital zoom unless you're partial to a camera phone picture style. Understand how your camera handles different colour tones by shooting black and white. If you want consistancy in your shots you need to turn off auto and take control. Take lots of pictures, digital's free! Then be harsh when you make the cut. Don't get sloppy because it's digital. The best shots are right off the card. Check the review screen after every shot, change the settings accordingly. Dial it in like you're cracking a safe. Learn about digital work flow to organise your post-production so you dont go losing your precious photos. Start to think about composition, understand the rules of design, then think about how you can break them. Look at other peoples work, it's everywhere. Adverts and articles in magazines are full of style and perfection. Look at colours and tones, composition and originality, then steal them. Make use of web sites like Flickr or DeviantArt Set the camera to the conditions as soon as you arrive to save you from missing the first shot of the day. Check the card for space before you leave your house. Pre-Focus and metering. Decide where you're going to shoot then a couple of seconds before, aim at the floor below, press the button half way to set the focus and metering ready for your subjects immentent arrival. When shooting in the open, thing about what time of day you pull out the camera. The sun at noon can make it contrasty and give harsh shadows. Overcast days can give the best results. Look for those moments of sweet light that usually pass quickly late and early on cloudy days. Carry spare batteries and a microfibre lense cloth. Look at what accesories the camera will take, super wide angle adaptors, graduated filters or polarisors, tripod, external flash, remote triggers, the list goes on. They all help to give your shot something different. Use NiMH rechargeables if you need to use AA or AAA batteries. They last much better. Learn to shoot from the hip, useful for awkward angles and sneaky low profile work. Plus if you shoot prone (laying down) someone will try to boardslide you, they cant help it. |
