Cell Phone Camera Tricks

I am going to start this post very irritated. There is a cell phone company that has a commercial that makes erasing unwanted subjects and objects from an image look like magic. In case you have not seen it, a family member is sitting in an audience and watching a graduation ceremony. Someone jumps in front of the graduate and the person taking the picture says no problem, I will just erase it and like magic the person who jumped in front of the graduate is gone. Well first of all that is absurd. If you take one image and someone jumps in front of the subject, that photo is one dimensional so there would not be a graduate behind the person jumping in front. What the cell phone company does not show you is that you have to take several images of the same pose in order for this to work. Firstly, what would be the point if you had other images of that exact pose. If there was only one image of the graduate receiving the diploma and someone jumped in front of that image, there is no way to have an image of the graduate receiving the diploma.

I pay professional graphic artists to remove people from family portraits all summer season. This commercial makes their job seem easy and makes it look like anyone can do this. This is simply not true. It take professionals hours to to this correctly and commercials like this trick the public into thinking it is automatic.

I just want the public to know that these functions are not what they seem. When you see your proofs and there are lots of unwanted objects in your image, Our professional graphic artists are not just clicking a button to remove them. They work very hard and use their professional skills turn your raw image into your perfect family portrait

Now my rant for the day is done.

Here is a video that shows exactly how this works:

http://www.talkandroid.com/guides/samsung-galaxy-s-4-guides/how-to-take-a-drama-shot-and-erase-unwanted-objects-with-the-samsung-galaxy-s-4-camera/

Should a professional photography studio sell raw unedited images…..

The big question is (drum roll please) Should a photography studio sell raw unedited images? I read many articles, and this one explained it best…..

http://digital-photography-school.com/should-we-ever-sell-raw-unedited-images

The Exposure Triangle by Myrtle Beach Photography

Before you begin reading this post, be sure and click on the previous post that explains the elements that go into the EXPOSURE TRIANGLE. The post is called The Mystery of Manual Photography. It covers aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. This will help you understand and apply the exposure triangle theory.

To understand exposure it is important to understand “The Exposure Triangle” and how ISO, shutter speed and aperture come together to effect each other. In order to maintain the “correct” exposure, any change in one element needs to be compensated with an opposite change in one of the other elements. By adjusting the shutter speed we can better freeze or express movement. By adjusting aperture we have play with depth of field thereby either highlighting a small element of our subject or expressing the grandness of our subject. But in doing so, we now know how to get back to that “correct” exposure! Once you start understanding exposure in this way you are well on your way to increasing your photography skills.

Pet Photography Tip – by Myrtle Beach Photography

I decided to write about pets because it seems that every time I open my Facebook, there are hundreds of photos of friends pictures of their pets.  Taking pictures of your 4 legged family members is not always easy. Pets, unlike humans, do not understand what we are trying to do and won’t just pose for the camera! Here are some tips that will help you help you get the most of your pet photography:

1. Take the Images Where Your Pet Feels Most Comfortable

Go to your pet in his/her natural environment.  It is very important that you pet feels comfortable and at ease, so instead of forcing him to come to you go to him. The best tip is to get down to his level.  Show us the way they see world! Sit on the floor or lie on your belly and remember to shoot from your pets eye level.

2. Use Natural Light

Try to avoid using a flash.  A flash can sometimes frighten the animal so a flash can end you session before it ever begins. In addition, flash causes red eye which we have all encountered.  Instead try to go outside or, if it is not possible, in a room well lit by a large window.

3. Show Their Character

We all know that whether we are taking pictures of our children or our pets, the most valued pictures are the ones that show them as they are.  Try and catch them doing the things they most enjoy.  If your dog, cat, bird etc. likes to play, photograph them playing or sleeping.  Tell their story through photography.

4. Focus On The Eyes

Having sharp eyes is important in any kind of portraits photography. As they say, “Eyes are the Window to the Soul” and pets eye can be very expressive. So make sure to focus on your pet’s eyes and keep the tack sharp

5. Fill The Frame

Fill the frame with your pet’s face and fur, close up shots often make beautiful  portrait.

6. Be Patient

Patience, Patience, Patience.  Talk lots and lots of shots.  Pet photography requires a lot of patience.   No matter how excited your furry friend is, if you are patient enough, he will end up by relaxing and you will have the opportunity to get that shot.

7. The Element of Surprise

Keeping your pet still will be the most difficult task.   Here is a great trick.  Let your pet play or sleep and once you have everything ready, have someone call for him or whistle. This will surprise your pet and catch his attention and you will have a few seconds to that perfect shot.

9. Experiment

Use different angles and compositions. Shoot a lot you will have time to worry about the results later.

10. Have Fun With The Shoot

Don’t stress because your pet will pick up on the tension.  If you have fun, they will have fun.  Remember, lots and lots of shots. 

Top Ten Photography Tips by Kodak

I can’t take credit for these tips.  I found them on the Kodak site.  They did such an excellent job of simplifying and showing examples so I decided to just guide you to the site.  The top ten simple tips are:

1.  Get down on their level
2. Use a plain background
3. Use flash outdoors
4. Move in close
5. Take some vertical shots
6. Lock the focus
7. Move it from the middle
8. Know your flash range
9. Watch the light
10. Be a picture director

Follow these few simple rules and you will look like a pro in no time.

Credit for this post and information goes to Kodak.

Kodak Tips Link (great visuals)