Photography

Canon EOS 7D Auto Focus video tutorials

icelava — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:28:14 GMT

The 7D's AF functionality can be confusing for most who do not frequently switch photography modes and styles. This series of video tutorials serve to provide a better understanding of which AF mode to use and how to configure them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xYWQ3NUuMk&p=187CC5882A843D19&playnext=1&index=10

Note to photo printers: NOT ALL PHOTOS ARE 3:2

icelava — Sat, 15 May 2010 03:43:27 GMT

The days of film used to be simple. Undeveloped 35mm film were practically always submitted as the same size and format - 3:2 aspect ratio. Photographers typically get back their printed photos before deciding whether to crop the composition.

Cropping is part and parcel of photography and composition. Good photos leave out distracting or unflattering elements that contribute nothing to the story of the picture. And the process of cropping usually ends up with a picture format that is not quite in the standard aspect ratio one "expects". But guess what? Photographers do it after the fact of printing; the photo labs just deliver the physical photos, and never care what happens thereafter.

Digital photography is changing all that.

With digital photos, photographers are at complete freedom to manipulate their softcopy pictures - including cropping - well before it ever hit the printers. Technology has altered the photo-processing workflow sequence. And it is at this point where i simply need to pen down my beef: too many of these photo labs continue their old-school film practice and re-crop those meticulously cropped photos back to the 3:2 format.

Depending on the composition format, it might not be that bad. But for squarish or very unusual aspect ratios, this can result in disastrous views. Such printers are essentially exhibiting a complete disregard and disrespect for the photographers' composition work. There is absolutely no requirement for a printer to fill every white space of a 3:2 paper photo. It is entirely possible to fit the original composition onto the paper and leave white bands horizontally or vertically by the sides. Yet, why printers default to take it upon themselves to knowing better and recompose into something else? That is like altering the sleeves of a shirt for your size, of which you are not going to wear.

I am sorry to state, but that is really an ultra moronic thing to do in this profession. Actually, i take back my apology. It's not my fault others are nonchalant in this industry. I sure do not want to patronise any of such stores.

Securing lens cap while phototaking

icelava — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:17:24 GMT

Right from the start of picking up photography this year, I encountered the age old problem of where the ideal location would be to secure the lens cap. Most people seem fairly happy to keep it in their pockets, but I am uneasy about the amount of lint and dust picked up with each stay in my pockets. Or maybe i should buy a better washing machine. Another means which perturbed me even more is the drilling of the lens cap to create a small hole for a thin rope to loop through and hang off the camera body.

There has to be better ways to do this. And so I sought what other alternatives would be achieved.

Velcro stickers

The initial kit and prime lenses I had when I first bought the camera where small and light. Naturally so were the lens caps. After observing how i hold the lens in both orientations, as well as the profile of the lens bodies, I recognised a "free zone" where my fingers do not touch - the upper right quadrant when held horizontally. The flat area of the lens body allowed me to paste a small circular velcro sticker. The other velcro patch went onto the outer side of the lens cap. Volia, a lens cap that sticks to its body. Some might prefer to stick it to the camera body but I personally did not recognise an area that would not interfere with my phototaking.

Of course this is only possible when the profile of the lens body affords a clear area which does not interfere with any finger operation, or cause unnecessary shadows in close up captures. When I acquired the larger Canon L lenses, I noticed the lens body profiles as well as the heavier 77mm lens caps make velcro stickers less viable. Your mileage may vary.

Plastic clip and cable tie

So lasted a duration where I was back with the "pocket solution" whenever L lenses were in use. I was wondering if there was, ever some sort of two-way clip that can cling onto a larger object or strap while gripping a lens cap. I have yet to find such an "innovative" design, unfortunately. Eventually I ended up resorting to a strong plastic clip that has handle holes. I would loop a cable tie through the holes together with one of the strap loops of my Blackrapid R-Strap.

This manner is much more universal; I can attach any lens cap hanging off my shoulder. It need not necessarily be on my R-Strap though; I can do the same on other strategic areas of my bags or belt. And I do not have to wear an old-school photographer vest.

You are never steadier than your flash

icelava — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:09:47 GMT

Today I found myself in a very impromptu situation.

My company reserved a hotel ballroom to brief employees on the progress half way past the FY. Since it was not exactly a big event, there no was photographer officially engaged to capture the scene. Except, I happened to be carrying my digital SLR camera. It was no surprise when I was asked to snap a few pictures when our retiring area president was presented with gifts from the senior management.

Here is the problem - I only picked up photography last month after purchasing the camera from the IT Show. And my first subjects of interest had long been still objects. A disaster in the asking? Nonetheless I took up the "assignment" and made nearly 200 snaps.

The results have been less than spectacular. In fact most pictures are unusable; simply too shaky and blur. Photoshop may be able to correct colour and lighting, but there is no way to save motion blur due to my weak arms. How did they end up in this state anyway? Because I broke a basic rule of photography

The slowest shutter speed of a lens without inducing camera shake is approximately 1 / focal-length.

I fitted my Canon EOS 450D with the EF 50mm f/1.8 Mk II. It does not have IS (Image Stabiliser). So in order to get a steady shot, the shutter speed should have slowed down at most to around 1/50 or 1/60. But hey, I am equipped with the 430 EX Mk II external flash, set to a fixed sync rate of 1/200. No problem!

Here is the problem - the ceiling of the ballroom is not flat. It is highly irregular in shape and I was really facing difficulty figuring out the correct compensation at the correct angle for the position I was standing away from the people on stage. For every movement to a new angle of perspective, I had to reconfigure the settings and tilt all over again. What was somewhat close to satisfactory lighting in one photo became too dark or overbathed in light for the next. The uneven ceiling was simply bouncing light in unpredictable paths.

That was when my frustration got the better of me and I turned off the flash altogether and decided to go "natural" mode to capture the ambience lighting in its original mood. And that was the moment I sub-consciously forgot about the shutter speed dropping below the recommended limit for a non-IS lens. Why did I not notice this on the preview LCD screen? It was just too small to properly observe the finer details.

Thus the mantra: You are never steadier than your flash. Don't ever give it up in low-lighting + free-hand conditions. Especially when fast action and moments are happening.

Despite the unsatisfactory photos, I am so glad I agreed to the phototaking request. How else would I have gained these valuable first-hand lessons? (yes yes, take photography classes.) Even though I was not confident of it, the experience opportunity was right there; the only way to improve is simply to snap away; the higher my shutter count, the better. This is probably an "expensive" price to pay, but I would have been worse off had I refused to whip out my camera.

It is preferable to capture bad photos and gain experience than to not snap at all and learn nothing.