Tennis Lessons at Moorehead Park, Albemarle

This was taken with the small mirror-less Samsung NX210 and the 50-200 OIS lens. The little camera worked surprisingly well for action with a fast shutter response.

Perspective

One of the most important aspects of composition is perspective. This normally involves the photographer in moving about to change angles or viewpoint on the subject. There is a great scene in the movie Big Country when two men are having a fist fight out on the prairie, and the camera is moved back with a wide angle perspective to show how small they are in that great landscape. That is perspective. Here is a Stanly County example, the horse sculpture in the Locust town center. The first shot is at almost eye level. For the second shot I put the camera almost on the ground to create the sense of a much more commanding horse.

Do you have questions or topics you would like to see on this blog? Contact me at dansphotophile@hotmail.com, or go to my website at danwrayphoto.com.

Stuck at Home Photography

What does the photographer do when stuck at home? I injured my ankle and have to stay around the house while I wait for an orthopedic appointment. So this is a good time to play with cameras in ways that I usually don't. I have, for example, a Samsung NX210. This is a compact mirror-less camera with a large sensor and interchangeable lenses. It also has a feature that I never have used until now, called Magic Camera. This creates gimmicky pictures based on present templates. It also has a set of digital filters that create various effects. So being bored with my housebound condition I found a beautiful fresh tulip blossom in one of my flower pots on the deck, and tried out these playful camera features. Here are some results.

Here is another using the digital Fisheye filter on the same flower:

Do you have questions? Contact me at dansphotophile@hotmail.com or visit my web site at www.danwrayphoto.com

Digital Sensor Sizes

Many of us started photography in the age of 35mm film cameras. So as the digital age has come upon us we have had to adjust our thinking to the fact that the sensors in digital cameras come in many sizes. To make this adjustment the industry standard has continued to be the 35mm film standard. So in sensor terms a "full frame" sensor is the same size as 35mm film. There are many things to keep in mind when considering sensor sizes. But two are especially important. First of all the larger the sensor the better overall quality in can produce in the final picture. Not all sensors are created equal, but this is an important rule of thumb. The typical "point-and-shoot" camera has a very small sensor (see illustration below). Professional and advanced amateur cameras have larger sensors, often the APC sizes as shown on the chart. Larger sensors can take in more information from light, and record a larger range of colors and tones. They often produce better results in low light. They can retain more detail. Of course all of this comes at a cost. Larger sensor cameras are more expensive, with full frame cameras being especially expensive.
There is another important issue concerning sensor sizes. Most lens makers continue to label lenses like they did in the days of 35mm film (with some exceptions). But these lenses perform differently depending on the sensor in the camera. For example, a lens labelled 50mm performs as a so-called "normal" lens on a full frame sensor or on 35mm film. However, on an APC size sensor (the typical Nikon or Canon DSLR) its focal length is effectively 75mm, thus it has become a short telephoto lens. The smaller the sensor the more this effect is magnified. There are other sensor issues relevant to camera performance, but this should serve as a basic introduction.

Note: these are not actual size, but relative sizes. Do you have questions or feedback? Email me at dansphotophile@hotmail.com, or visit my website at www.danwrayphoto.com

It is all about the Light

Photographers today, both amateur and professional, have an abundance of options for fine equipment. Digital cameras are getting better all the time, and most people can find one that will do the job within their price range. No matter what equipment you use, it is all about the light. While good pictures can be taken any time of the day, it is a truism that the best pictures are most likely taken early and late. The warm light of sunrise and sunset cannot be equaled. If there is some early morning fog so much the better. Here is an example from the Swift Island launch area on a fishing tournament day.

Do you have a suggestion for a future blog topic? Sent me a note: dansphotophile@hotmail.com

This is why you should always have a camera with you. There are interesting things to photograph everywhere. For some the camera will just be the phone. The best camera for any situation is the one you have with you.

Hummingbirds

The PhotoPhile by Dan Wray

Monday, May 28, 2012

Hummingbirds

The Ruby-throated hummingbirds are back. In fact they were back early this year. If you want to photograph them on your back porch here are some tips. Set up your camera on a tripod and pre-focus on a flower or feeder that you have seen the birds using. You will need either a remote electronic release for the camera, or a physical wire release. If you use the former you can go inside and trigger the camera from a distance. If you have to use a physical release you will have to stay close to the camera and not move much. In fact you can even trigger the camera by hand if you have the patience to stand still by the tripod for a time. The birds do get used to people, and sometimes will give you the treat of flying right up to your face to take a look! A flash is vital to this exercise. Most cameras today will balance flash and available light exposure. So set the camera for available light and then turn on the flash for balanced fill light. Assuming you are using a digital camera, take a test shot light this one.

If you are not satisfied with the test exposure make some adjustments and try again until it is right. In this case the background was the sky on a grey overcast day with slight underexposure. That is why it looks like a neutral grey background. Once you are satisfied with the test, sit back and wait for the main attraction and maybe you will get something like this, or even better.

Remember, I am eager to hear from you with ideas, questions, or stories of your photographic successes or failures. Email me at: dansphotophile@hotmail.com