Monthly Archives: November 2011

Slow flash – a misnomer

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Michael Willems

Nikon calls it “slow flash” when you use a slow shutter speed while using flash. You engage this in semi-automatic and automatic camera modes (P and A) by pressing the flash button an turning the wheel until you see the … Continue reading →

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Gear, Technique | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Willems Rule for Indoors Flash

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Michael Willems

So.. for indoors flash in a ‘normal’ environment (i.e. a room with not too much, not too little light), here is my new, “restated-as-an-easier-mnemonic” rule of thumb: The 400-40-4 rule (a.k.a. the “4-4-4-rule”). As a simple starting point, do the … Continue reading →

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Light, Technique | 7 Comments

Auto ISO

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Michael Willems

When you are using “auto ISO”, meaning the camera sets ISO for you, be careful. In this mode, the camera will raise ISO and lower it – but it will get it wrong in some situations. Low light. The camera … Continue reading →

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Legal, Technique | Tagged | Leave a comment

Mountains. Move them.

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Michael Willems

You know the saying, attributed to Francis Bacon? “IF THE MOUNTAIN WILL NOT COME TO MOHAMMED, MOHAMMED WILL GO TO THE MOUNTAIN”. Photographers know this too – but we sometimes forget it. So let me remind you. When you have … Continue reading →

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Picture of the day, Technique | 2 Comments

Studio setup

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Michael Willems

A few readers asked about the “background post” of the other day – how was it lit? Here’s how: Four lights: A softbox strobe as main light. An umbrella strobe (not pictured) as fill. And two speedlights: one with a … Continue reading →

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Light, Technique | Tagged | Leave a comment

How to learn?

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Michael Willems

Learning is key in photography – and that learning does not stop until you die, or retire entirely from making (not taking) photos. So how do you best learn photography? I have Ten Tips that may help. Read some good … Continue reading →

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Learning | 2 Comments

Be A Cyclops

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Michael Willems

You know that feeling? You see something impressive, like the Grand Canyon, and when you get home your pictures are… blaah. Not impressive, they just don’t do it justice. That is because when you are there, you are moving around … Continue reading →

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Composition | Leave a comment

Background woes

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Michael Willems

Backgrounds. We like to have control over them in portrait shoots, don’t we? One question I often get is “why can I not light up my background? Nothing I do works!” This is quite simple. To light up a background, you need … Continue reading →

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Light, Technique | Tagged | Leave a comment

Sensor sizes and DOF

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Michael Willems

One factor that affects depth of field is the sensor size. Simply put: the smaller the sensor, the more extended your depth of field in any given image. This is an approximation and simplification (it also depends on angle of … Continue reading →

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Gear | Tagged | 7 Comments

Blurry Backgrounds

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Michael Willems

If I want a sharp foreground subject with a blurred background – you have heard me say it many times, there are several ways. The reason this subject is always confusing is that it is very complicated. “Sharp focus” and … Continue reading →

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Learning | Tagged , | Leave a comment