150 for 5

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Michael Willems

When I shoot a shoot like this – special hairdos – how many images do I shoot?

As so often.. it depends. I wanted various expressions to choose from, so I shot 150 images to get these 5 hairdos down. Then I selected just 10 (2 for each hairdo) to show the client, including the above and this:

After that, I usually await a final choice to do the final edit on those final choices only.

But do note that all 1590 images were technically good (except 3 blinkers) – that’s the beauty of studio-style shooting (100 ISO, f/5.6, 1/125th sec).

 

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Decisions and cats.

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Michael Willems

Every image you make involves decisions – you decide how to expose. Aperture, shutter, and ISO.

Cats – f/2.8, 1/125th sec, 1600 ISO (45mm)

The first decision here was f/2.8, to allow in enough light and to get selective depth of field. Then I needed a fast enough shutter speed, and that led to the 1600 ISO.

Cats – f/4, 1/200th sec, 1600 ISO (45mm)

The first decision here was f/4, to get a little more depth of field. Then I needed a fast enough shutter speed, and that led to the 1600 ISO.

And finally, one more cat:

Cats – f/2.8, 1/60th sec, 1600 ISO (45mm)

This time, I lowered the shutter speed, because I did not want to go beyond 1600 ISO.

So as you see, every snap involves decisions; deliberate decisions about aperture, shutter and ISO, that make your picture into what it is.

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The Father’s Day Special is still on: book training by tomorrow evening and pay a deposit, and get 35% off regular cost. Email or call me if you want to take advantage of this offer!

 

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9 years ago

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Michael Willems

Hong Kong, 200. Causeway bay. Like yesterday. That’s the beauty of photography.

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Back to basics

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Michael Willems

One thing I notice is that often, even working photographers get focus wrong. So let me go back to basics with you today. Focus basics.

There are two focus “settings”: where to focus and how to focus. Today, where to focus.

In the basic “auto” modes, you let the camera choose. You see all focus areas (all three, or all 9, or all 11, or all 42 – depends on your camera) and when you press the shutter halfway, the camera indicates which ones it uses.

These are the ones that have a close object. So you would get this:

But is that clever? Surely you should choose? Perhaps you want this, instead?

That can only be done if you:

  1. Select one focus point (read your camera manual if you need help doing that)
  2. Aim that focus point at the subject you want to have sharp
  3. Press half way down (you will hear a beep, if you haven’t disabled the beep)
  4. While holding the button half way down, recompose, if you like
  5. Press the shutter all the way down to take the image.

This is how you shoot most of the time. Letting the camera choose where to focus is not a great idea. It does not have a brain, and even if it did, it wouldn’t be your brain.  And no, “more focus points” does not mean “greater depth of field, i.e. more focus”! It merely means “camera gets to choose”.

So go set your camera to one focus point pronto!

 

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Lens Choices Matter

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Michael Willems

Look at this Lake Ontario Shot from last year:

Not bad eh. You can see, I trust, that I used a wide-angle lens. 16mm on a full frame camera – you get that “wrap around” feeling.

Now look closely at the boat in the bottom right corner. See it?

Then let’s replace the wide angle lens with a 200mm telephoto lens on a crop camera (meaning, 320mm effectively). And aim at that boat.

Now I get a very different shot:

That difference should alert you to the fact that a different lens gives you a different world.

 

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