Wedding Photography

Achieving The Wedding Photography Of A Couple's Dreams

By Savel Benaya

A wedding is undoubtedly one of the most precious moments in a person's life. Capturing it on film to be stored forever is even more important. Today, brides and grooms have so any options to choose from when it comes to choosing the kind of photography that they want for the most important day of their lives.

Here is a guide in achieving the wedding photography of a couple's dreams:

1. Choosing the right photographer

In order to select a wedding photographer, a couple must first decide on the picture style that they want.

Portrait photographers are perfectly capable to take both formal and casual pictures, but he will most likely concentrate on the formal ones.

Photojournalists take shots that are candid and not planned. This kind of photographer usually has experience in journalism photography.

Hobbyist photographers are those who are often a friend or a relative of the couple, and would likely offer his services for free or a very low price. It is hard to tell the kind of pictures that they will produce, and there is a risk that the pictures may not be as good as a professional's.

2. Getting the perfect camera

Wedding photographers usually use two basic camera types: the 35mm and the medium format. The 35mm has the tendency to produce pictures that are a little grainy, but the only person who may notice the difference are the photographers themselves.

3. Color or black and white?

Color is usually used in wedding photos, but those who want a more artistic feel may go for the black and white film. Black and white photos lasts longer than color ones, though color films capture the details of the event more appropriately. One option would be to take the pictures in color first, then have copies made in black and white.

4. Personality of the photographer

Most couples want a photographer who can take great pictures but who is also friendly and sociable. Set an interview with the prospective photographer, and make sure to ask effective questions. Also, make sure to ask for references, and take a look at his previous work.

All these tips can help couples in getting those perfect pictures on their special day. Make sure that these pictures can be shown proudly to families and friends, and can be passed down to future generations.

Wide Angle Lens

The Best Time To Choose A Wide Angle Lens

By Savel Benaya

When is the best time to choose a wide angle lens, and how does one choose the appropriate wide angle lens for a particular shot?

First things first, the best time for a wide angle lens is to be used is when you are planning to take a beautiful shot of a landscape.

Another important aspect of landscape photography is the selection of the appropriate

light as well as the perfect location of the landscape shot. As much as

possible, and depending on what it is being shot, the selection of the appropriate day to catch that landscape picture perfect landscape view is everything.

Lights, location and action

When the location has finally been chosen for the wide angle lens shot, try to notice the light effects visible on the area that you plan to shoot in over a whole twenty four hour day. This ensures that you know how the lights play over the range of mountain, sand or seas. This also helps you plan just how it is you are to go about taking that shot, when and how.

When you finally know, it is therefore time to be a little bit creative. You may include elements in your picture’s foreground in order to have an additional scale and depth to your pictures. Also, feel free to look around from other points in the area where you think the shot could just as well be taken. This may add a little bit of interest to the final picture. Also consider taking a variety of levels and positions.

Time is always of the essence

Believe it or not, in order to avoid any shadows that may appear harsh on the picture, the best time to shoot is early during the morning as well as late in the golden afternoon.

During this time, take your camera out and set it up using a tripod. Then, take a reading of any area of the shot using a light-meter. Once the appropriate measurements have been taken, adjust the speed of the shutter and the aperture.

After all these, all you need to do is to press the release button and take a beautiful picture.

Make use of natural effects

If there are any natural creations occupying your shot, try to use a backlight or side lighting that provides the leaves, – for example – grass, water or smoke an appearance that these seem to be translucent, almost ethereal.

Pictures of a beautiful sunset are best taken just when the sun has gently touched the horizon and immediately a maximum of five – count them - five short minutes just after the sun has finally set.

It is best that you use or position yourself to a geographically high point.

A filtered polarizer may also be used in order to heighten the sky’s color or tone, thus delivering a picture befitting a postcard.

A wide angle lens helps a lot in increasing the picture’s scope.

Do not forget to relax. This prevents the camera from unnecessarily shaking and helping you focus on the subject more than anything else.

Supply yourself with much needed supplies

Since landscape photos are usually taken far from the city and well into the country, it is best that you pack up a host of equipments that enables you to take pictures even during temporary obstacles. A flashlight always comes in handy, bottled water is another (to keep the photographer replenished and not thirsty), as well as a lot of extra rolls of film. This is one equipment that photographers generally can't do without.

Basically, a wide angle lens has a focal length that measures less than forty millimeters. Be aware as well as be wary that the length of the lens changes how an image is seen.

All in all, determining the best lens to use for a particular shot requires a lot of patience, skill and practice. The art of mastering landscape photography doesn't have to be difficult. And the best lens to use for such kind of photography is a wide-angle lens. Getting that that shot right takes not only skill but the strength, stamina and endurance to get to where the location of the landscape is and the energy – upon reaching that location – to get the job done. And when that moment arrives, the job has only just begun.

Filters For A Camera

Different Kinds Of Filters For A Camera

By Savel Benaya

If you are a professional photographer, you must have a set of filters in your camera equipment. Even if you are just an amateur, you probably have one or two filters. What are filters? Why do photographers buy different filters? How do they work?

Camera filters are transparent optical elements that change light properties entering the camera to improve the recorded image. Filters affect the different properties of an image such as sharpness, contrast, color, highlight flare, and light intensity. It can alter one or a combination of these properties, and can also create various special effects.

Camera filters are connected to the front of the lens. Aside from its features, it also protects the lens from elements such as salt air. Some cameras need lens adapters to be able to use filters.

Filters work the same whether you use them on a digital camera or film. There are just a few differences to be considered. Filters that can reduce excess contrast such as polarizers are helpful in a digital camera because digital is more inclined to blow out highlights. Digital cameras are also known to be less sensitive to ultraviolet light, thus, ordinary UV filters may not be needed. Also, infrared filters are easier to use in digital cameras.

Some Filter Types

There are different kinds of filters for a camera and each has its own purpose.

- Ultraviolet filters. As the name implies, this type of filter absorbs ultraviolet light. Cameras, especially ones that use film, have high sensitivity to the invisible light known as ultraviolet light. This is common in making outdoor shots, especially in highly elevated places where there is only a thin layer of atmosphere that absorbs the ultraviolet light.

Without UV filters, viewing far images can be difficult because UV causes a haze that diminishes details with farther distance. UV filters are available in various absorption levels measured by the percentage of transmission at 400 nanometers. A filter that transmits 0% is ideal for long distance and aerial shots. For normal situations, a UV filter with 29% transmission is generally good enough.

- Infra-Red filters. These filters are used to reduce visible light. Filters that can totally absorb visible light and transmit only infrared lights are useful for situations like recording heat effects and aerial haze penetration.

- Natural density (ND) filters. ND filters are used when light intensity is high and proper exposure needs to be attained or when a specific lens opening is required for sharpness purposes. This type of filter evenly absorbs light throughout the visible range which alters the exposure effectively without the need to change lens opening or do color shifts.

- Polarizing filters. Polar filters or polarizers enhance contrast, color and reflection control. It has a different optical principle compared to other filter types. Polarizing filters allows light to pass through in just one vibratory direction. Different alignment can produce different effects to the image. If the filter is aligned perpendicularly to the polarized reflected glare, the result would create stronger colors because true-colored reflection will pass through.

Polarizers are increasingly being used for outdoor shots to improve contrast and color saturation. A blue sky can be darkened by a polarizing filter, but it has to be blue in the first place.

Polarizers can also minimize and control reflections from water or glass surfaces. To get the best results, an angle of 33 degrees incident to the surface is advisable. The effect can be seen by viewing through while the polarizer is rotated. An object in water can appear as an object out of water without having the reflection.

Optical filters can be a good investment for those who want to make a living out of photography. It allows for different kinds of shots with special effects. It also makes an image look more alive by the different features and effects these filters have to offer.

But even when taking pictures just as a hobby, having some of these filters will be necessary to get the image of clarity desired. Taking a shot without a filter is indeed different from a shot with one.

There are just some considerations that need to be thought about before buying filters. Different types of filters are obviously for different purposes. It is best to determine what the main purpose is and what type of situation is commonly encountered.

Buying A Camera

The Things That You Have To Consider When Buying A Camera

By Savel Benaya

Photography is a much loved hobby around the world. Many people would want to get their hands on a camera

and start shooting away, or get some supplies to be able to build their own darkrooms and develop the films themselves.

Photography is a fulfilling hobby, however, there are many equipments out there which can be sources of confusion especially for beginners. The mere number of equipments can stir up one’s head.

What better way to guide a photography student than to give tips on how to buy a camera, which is of course, the most basic equipment in photography. This article tries to give some basic tips regarding the things that you have to consider when buying a camera.

1. What do I need?

If you want to buy a camera, you must first ask yourself- “what am I going to use it for?” there are many different kinds of cameras out there and they are used for different purposes. What we would recommend, especially for beginners, is to get a good, sturdy point-and-shoot camera.

These cameras are very handy and can be used in any occasion.

Well, the most intriguing pictures are the ones which capture unique events from unique angles. You may not be able to bring a more intricate piece of equipment when exciting things happen, but a point-and-shoot camera is always carried by photographers. There also are many other features that you might want to look at or avoid in choosing cameras such as stands and shutter features.

2. Research

A photography enthusiast needs to be able to know about what he wants to do when taking pictures. Reading different materials such as photography magazines (example: Apogee Photo or Popular Photography” can give you updated and fresh information about photography in general and photography equipments.

3. Know your budget

Getting the best pictures doesn’t mean that you have to buy the latest and the most expensive model on the market. It all depends on who is taking the photograph and the equipment is just a tool. More features mean more expenses. A buyer must be able to assess what features he needs to be able to get comfortable with a camera. It’s really a waste of money if you buy a top-of-the-line camera and don't know how to use half of its features.

These are just some basic tips on how you can start assessing what camera to buy. You must look into the details of a certain camera and assess the features and prices.

Travel Photography

Tips On Exercise Good Travel Photography

By Savel Benaya

Traveling is one of life's greatest pleasures. Capturing those precious and exciting moments is even more pleasurable, especially if it's a once-in-a-lifetime trip. For the photo enthusiast, taking pictures of everything in sight is as important as going to these places.

So how can you exercise good travel photography? Here are some tips:

1. Choosing the right variety of camera

Purchasing the perfect camera can be as hard as deciding where to go on a vacation. A primary consideration for travel photography is whether to get a single lens reflex camera or a SLR, or a point-and-shoot type. They each has their own benefits and disadvantages.

In SLR, lenses can be interchanged. A photographer can view exactly what the lens is seeing because of its reflex viewing system. Point-and-shoot, meanwhile, have viewfinders that adjust the view of the image automatically. They are easier to use than the SLR, but its viewing range is a bit limited.

2. Selecting the right kind of film

The dilemma in choosing the right kind of film can be solved by determining the output desired and the traveling conditions in which the pictures will be taken. You need to choose between a color negative or a color side if you want to take colored pictures. The benefit of using a color negative is that it tends to be forgiving of corrections in color or errors of exposure. Professional photographers, however, go for slide films because almost all commercial reproducing is produced from transparencies.

3. Researching for the trip

Knowing the right information about the place your visiting is as important as shooting the pictures. Planning the trip in detail enables the photographer to improve on the quality and quantity of opportunities where he can take great pictures. It is essential to read before a trip. Browse through materials such as travel guides, magazines, maps and newspapers. Also, try to talk to someone who has actually been their. The information that they can give will be very valuable.

4. The right way in creating a travel journal

The pictures taken during a trip should tell a story, and should not be just a jumble of random pictures. It should chronicle the trip from start to finish. It is important to track the dates that the pictures were taken.

One should not turn down the experience of travel, just the same, as one should not forget to capture precious images from that trip. Perfect planning and having a keen eye for a good image can be the key to achieving everything.