The holiday season is fast approaching, and for many this means it’s time to take a digital photo of the family to send out in the yearly holiday card. Doing something interesting and uncommon can make your cards more intriguing, but you can’t beat the traditional family portrait. The same rules for conventional digital photography tend to apply, but you also have to account for the difficulties created by trying to get everyone in the family into the shot.
You should probably think about the timing of your photos, whether you want a theme, and how you’ll get a “good” photo. You can take great holiday family photos to send out with the yearly card, year after year, without worrying too much about these details. But if you don’t have the time to waste an afternoon without getting anything, you probably need to invest some time and forethought so you aren’t just shooting blind.
First, decide if you want a recurring theme in your yearly family photo. Many choose to shoot their family photo in the same location every year, or to wear similar clothes every year, which is not necessary, but it helps to give your photo a unique and identifiable element that people will recognize. It’s easy to do and also means that after a number of years you’ll be able to put together an album of just those photos that will show how the family has grown and changed.
The next hurdle is getting everyone in the family ready and in position at the location for the photo. The easiest way to do this is to pay a professional photographer to direct the action and take the photos. If you want to do it yourself, you need a decent camera with a timer, a tripod, and some patience and experience. You don’t have to get too creative with your shot composition or anything like that. You just want soft, even lighting that makes everyone’s faces clear but doesn’t create harsh shadows. You should hone the skills necessary to do this before you get behind the camera with your family waiting, as it’s not immediately obvious how to use natural lighting and maybe a bit of cheating with bounce cards to create the right light.
Once you have the framing and lighting right, you just need to set up the timer and take several photos. This is important because especially with children, the odds that everyone will be smiling and looking at the camera at the same time are slim. If you have a camera that can snap several shots with each timer, this makes it much easier. Regardless, take the time to reposition everyone, let them relax for a minute, and then shoot again. The more photos you get, the better your chances of finding one you like that seems both happy and natural.
On the other hand, just picking a great photo from a family vacation or trip is completely reasonable. If that’s the easiest way to get a shot of the whole family having fun together and being natural, there’s nothing wrong with this route. The important thing is to be sure it’s a digital photo you will be happy with sending to all your friends and family, because you’re the one interested in investing the time and effort to make it happen.
Archive for the ‘Photo Tips’ Category
Getting a Good Digital Photo for the Family Holiday Card
Monday, December 3rd, 2012Organizing Digital Photos
Wednesday, November 28th, 2012Face it you have too many digital photos. There are several causes of this situation, but the biggest problem is that it can make finding and using your photos far more difficult. Fortunately, it just takes a little time and a good piece of software to tackle the data creep that is swelling and scattering your photo library of digital photos. So whether you’re a budding amateur photographer, you’re slowly cataloging all your family’s old photos with digital scanning, or you’re just snap-happy with your smart phone, one of these approaches will help you make your time more worthwhile.
The range of software options for organizing your photos can itself be oppressive. The best approach is to focus on the photos themselves, and not worry too much about which software you want. If your first choice ends up being too complicated, it’s easy to try something else. The average situation is a person who has photos spread across multiple hard drives and storage devices, as well as some in their inbox, still on their camera’s card, and on their smart phone. The divide between camera and smart phone might also be perpetuated on the primary storage drive. And then there are the awesome old photos of our childhood preserved with digital scanning in their own folder (hopefully). Most people in this situation want to both make casually browsing their photos easier and more fruitful, and gain the ability to find specific photos or types of photos for projects like photo books or calendars.
Your first step should be the arduous task of getting every photo you have in one place, one main directory, on one drive. That means move everything off your memory cards, download everything from emails, and consolidate. If you don’t have space, buy a used older drive online and use that. If you have a backup, just leave it for now, but get rid of duplicates anywhere else. Consolidating is the biggest change you can make in terms of being able to find and browse photos.
Next, pick organization software. Some people prefer the native folder system in their operating system, and that is fine too. But if you want tagging and any other automatic search and filter, you need third-party software. Picasa, by Google, is a favorite for many, but iPhoto appeals to a lot of Mac users. Flickr is a good cloud solution although getting enough storage costs $25, and you can get some of the same automation with upload and sharing features from cross-platform smart phone apps, if you tend to do most of your shooting and browsing with a phone.
Now comes the hard part. You have to organize and delete. Many amateurs will suggest that you should get in the habit of sorting and deleting photos on your digital camera. This is actually a terrible idea, because you’re relying on the fidelity of the camera’s screen and making judgments based on a 2X2.5 inch view of a shot. You run the risk of discarding really good shots with this method. Just get in the habit of uploading your pictures once a week and filtering through them at the same time. It will force you to actually look at your photos and think about them, which will also make you a better digital photographer.
You can organize your photos however you want, or just let the software do it by date. It’s a good idea to organize by big things like month, then by location, with separate folders or tags for specific vacations or photo projects. Tagging your photos can take a long time, but if they’re already in any sort of order, the process can be easier. Don’t let the idea of coming up with an appropriate tag for every aspect of your life intimidate you. Tags like “vacation” and “California” are often enough when combined with the date to make your photos navigable and searchable.
After a first pass on organization, it’s time to chop. You have too many photos. Getting rid of what are functionally worse duplicates will make organizing and browsing photos easier and reduce storage needs. So if you have three of the same shot, pick the best and erase the rest. Then, make sure your backup is up-to-date, preferably kept in a different place just in case.
Digital photos are awesome. There’s a reason most people prefer a digital camera to an analogue option that requires digital scanning to preserve photos: they are easier and less expensive. But just having photos doesn’t do you any good. Organize them and keep them organized, and you’ll be able to use them for projects as well as review and actually enjoy the memories they captured.
Kodak Exits Digital Photography, Printing, and Digital Imaging Business Completely
Tuesday, October 30th, 2012In August, the photographic giant Kodak announced that it was abandoning the photography business, exiting the consumer film market completely. Combined with the end of its consumer printer business and desire to sell off its document image scanning branch, this means the end of Kodak’s presence in the world of digital photography. The move out of “personalized imaging” and “document imaging” as Kodak’s CEO Antonio Perez describes it, will allow the company to focus on the branches that market to business and commercial interests, where recent financial success and strength has been more promising.
The one-time photo giant, who filed for bankruptcy in January of this year, also announced that its decision to stop production of consumer inkjet printers will lead to the elimination of more than 200 jobs above initial layoff estimates. Of course, this move is only the most recent in a series of drastic changes in its attempt to stop the bleeding and free itself by 2012 of the court protection that resulted from bankruptcy. It has already made many attempts to sell flagging assets or simply cease production, including giving digital cameras, pocket video cameras, and digital picture frames the axe, as well as selling its digital photography and online photo service, Kodak Gallery, to Shutterfly.
In other words, it is making an effort to completely divest itself of any and all assets and branches relating to film and digital photography and imaging for individual consumers. It will continue to sell ink for its printers, which it aims to stop producing within the next 12 months. Its core business will then be focused on supplying industrial grade film for aerial photography and motion pictures, for example, as well as on printing for packaging. Kodak has gone through some drastic changes as evidenced by reducing its workforce from a high of 150,000 workers in 1988 to about 13,000 by 2013, with the most recent cut helping the ailing company save more than $340 million a year.
With Kodak’s recent bankruptcy and years of slow decline, the most recent spate of cuts and sell-offs isn’t much of a surprise. It has been struggling for over a decade, beginning when digital photography started to displace film photography with the masses in the early 2000s. Despite efforts to adapt, the company that put cameras in the hands of millions for the first time in the 20th Century and developed the first true point-and-shoot couldn’t keep up with competition coming out of Japan. Repeated efforts to stem the bleeding have failed, and it has been hemorrhaging cash even as it attempted to sell off branches that nobody seems to want at anything near the asking price.
But that’s a small consolation for those who still rely on Kodak cameras and film, or who use Kodak photo-printing kiosks to print their digital photos, or worse yet, if you have a Kodak digital camera and hope to continue buying accessories and parts for it. But as a large portion of consumer digital photography activity shifts away from cameras, and especially from point and shoot cameras towards the extremes, it makes sense that Kodak struggles more and more to remain relevant. When most people are either using their smart phones or tablets for casual photos, or bigger, better cameras for anything mildly serious, the market for size-efficient cameras that don’t do anything else is shrinking, and another old photographic dinosaur is leaving the market as a result.
How To Take Action Shots
Wednesday, October 17th, 2012Capturing a moving subject with still photography can be a daunting task. For years, I would attend my sister’s soccer games, shoot away, and come home with nothing but blurred images. I finally gave up and just started shooting her pre and post-game activities in order to get crispy shots but pictures showing her in action would have been so much more effective and visually pleasing. The following article aims to make sure that you do not make the same mistake I did and instead take some quality action shots.
You may have noticed that it seems like digital cameras are inherently bad at shooting action shots—you are correct. Due to the shutter lag, most digital cameras take an entire second to process and actually take a photo, while analog cameras tend to take a picture within 50 milliseconds. But, there are ways around the shutter lag. One thing you can do to try and make up for the shutter lag is to give yourself extra time when framing a shot, so that when you press the button the photo will be taken at the right time. Learning how to anticipate an action will lead you to take better shots that are more well-timed. The key to action shots lies within your ability to be aware of your subject, being able to anticipate what will happen next, and having your camera ready to shoot at all times. One tip that goes together with anticipating an action, is to pre-focus on a scene before the subject gets there. The pre-focus technique is especially useful in sports since you know where players will end up (i.e. focusing on home plate at a baseball game). The other, more expensive, option is to invest in a higher end camera that may offer less shutter lag which allows you to take more precise photographs.
A huge factor in taking successful action shots is to learn how to accurately use the shutter speed on your camera. Typically, the faster your shutter speed, the easier it is to capture faster motion. However, with a slow shutter speed you still have the ability to capture action shots though the use of the panning technique. Panning consists of tracking your subject, shooting the picture and continuing to move your camera in the direction that the subject is going. Once you get the panning technique down, you can gain the ability to have your subject in focus while the background is completely blurred, which can be a great effect.
Slow Panning BIF Shot. photo: pbase.com/danieltong
One last word of advice for shooting action shots on digital cameras is to avoid the act of “chimping.” Chimping is when you take a photograph and then immediately review the image on your LCD screen. When you are constantly reviewing your shots, you may miss a pivotal moment. Instead of constantly reviewing your shots, take as many shots as you can and review them later; the law of averages will rule in your favor and you will not miss a potentially great shot.
So, next time you decide to take some action shots, keep these tips in mind. Thanks for reading!
Secrets to Taking Successful Cold Weather Digital Photos
Monday, October 15th, 2012We’re solidly into the end of fall, meaning it’s your last chance to get a thousand digital photos of pumpkins and leaves and other seasonal things and the first look at what cold terrors this year will bring. Whether it’s Autumnal imagery that calls to you or you want to create digital scan-worthy winterscapes with your camera, getting the best shots and preserving the integrity of your camera requires specific knowledge and planning. And of course, you have to think ahead to keep yourself comfortable so you don’t miss the perfect photo because your teeth are chattering or you’re bending over for a thermos sip of hot tea.
The first absolute necessity if you want to take great shots is having a working camera. Dramatic temperature changes and extreme temperatures in general cause all kinds of camera problems. When you leave your home or car for the cold outdoors, you don’t have to worry about anything right off the bat. Condensation is of very little concern when taking your camera from warm to cold because you’ll be moving to an area where the air holds less moisture. It’s probably a good idea to make the transition slowly anyway, because the air inside the camera could hold a bit of moisture. If you can either let the camera cool off slowly in the car or on a screened-in porch so the temperature change is gradual, you should be fine.
Regardless, you certainly have to worry about the cold’s effect on battery life. Batteries die faster when they’re cold, especially when the temperature gets below 50 degrees. So you need to prepare by bringing extra batteries even if you’re not going to be shooting for too long. You should keep those batteries warm in a shirt or pants pocket so they don’t drain from the cold. Do the same with your camera, using body heat to keep it warm between shots. Also, be cautious about where you exhale if the temperature is close to or below freezing, because the moisture in your breath could lead to condensation or even freeze on the camera, damaging it.
You need to pay attention to keeping yourself warm too. Regardless of the time of year, a mild wind breaker or rain jacket will always serve you well because it can go over other layers and keep out the elements that most often contribute to physical discomfort. Layers are the most effective way to dress anyway, because they give you the most control over your body temperature. Removing one layer will create a very small change in temperature so you can cool off or get warmer as needed. Think about the area where you’re going to shoot so you’re prepared for any obstacles that could result from weather. If there has been rain or snow, wear waterproof boots so you can walk around unimpeded and find the right spot for the perfect shot. Also consider how the light behaves at this time of the year so you go to the shoot location at the right time of day. And be aware of precipitation, as moisture can kill the camera and ruin your chances for beautiful new digital photos.
After you’re done shooting and ready to get inside, condensation becomes a concern. The cold camera will pull moisture out of the warmer air, which can be disastrous especially for DSLR cameras full of circuits. Bring a zip-seal plastic bag with you on the shoot. Put the camera inside the bag when you’re done before moving indoors. The condensation will collect on the outside of the bag instead of the camera. If you don’t have that option you can try to warm up the camera slowly. For example, when you are packing up, put the camera as close to your body as possible so it starts to warm up, and then in the car either keep it in your zipped up jacket or open the window and keep it near the cold air coming in. Then, leave the camera on a windowsill with the window cracked a bit so it will not be immersed in warm air as it heats up.
When you want to get the best digital photos the changing seasons have to offer, a little bit of forethought and planning is necessary or the unpredictable weather can cause problems. Just be wary of damage to your camera or conditions that could make shooting uncomfortable and you will put yourself in a position to take awesome fall and winter photos.
