landscape photography lightroom
Nov/090
Canon Xsi Rebel A Camera For The Serious Enthusiast Who Knows How To Shoot
I have owned the Canon XSi Rebel now for almost two and half years. This has been by far one of the best camera’s I have ever owned. This review is for those who are serious about shooting and will use the camera on a near-daily basis.
I got started in photography by taking a required art class in college at the University of Mobile. Since I cannot draw, paint, or sculpt , the logical choice for me was photography. While taking the photography 101 class I used my room mates Canon film camera that is over thirty years old. Oh, and I got an “A+” in the class. Yeah who cares right, yes I know I am just saying.
While shopping for my next serious camera I decided to go with Canon for several reason’s. There are more professional photographer’s who use CANON camera’s than any other brand combined. I was first trained and taught on a CANON film camera. CANON offer’s more lens to choose from than any other brand. You can use any kind of CANON lens you so desire. The best part is that the sensor buried deep inside of the camera is NOT a full-frame sensor. Unless you are a photographer shooting for an ad agency that puts up billboard signs you will most likely never need a full-frame sensor. It gets even better. Because the Canon XSi Rebel is not a full-frame sensor you are getting a .6 of a zoom in. This means that you are getting at least an extra half times zoom free just for buying a 1.6 size sensor!
Initially, I bought the Canon XSi Rebel because of the price and features offered. I am not going go into every feature, just what was and still is important to me. I really liked the huge 3 inch display on the back of the camera. The display in terms of color quality really is just that good. I initially bought the camera so I could see my settings on manual on the display screen. However I have recently been shooting so many concerts and events that happen at night that it is easier to just look through the viewfinder.
I have small fingers and I like how all of the buttons are on the right side of the body on the back of the camera. Keep in mind the back of the camera is where you will see most if not all of your buttons and functions. All of the buttons are easy to find in the dark and become second-nature should you invest the time to find the appropriate button and learn how to adjust settings on-the-fly. Ideally as a photographer you should be able to adjust all of your settings in the dark (school plays, concerts, firework displays)
Most of the professional series camera’s have CF cards that hold all of the shots on the camera. I really like how the Canon XSi Rebel uses SD cards. I have found unless you are shooting high-speed photography (airshow, sports, etc.) a class 2 (known as classII) SD cards will always get the job done. However, if you shoot weddings, basketball games, soccer, hockey, concerts, airshows, etc.; you will most likely want to spring a little extra money for the Class III SD cards. Is it worth the money? In a word if you shoot all the time, yes by all means. I have taken my SD cards swimming in the ocean by accident and even forgot to remove said SD card from my shorts before drying a load of clothes! SD cards can take a beating and still perform flawlessly.
I have really become enamored with the menu button switch on the back of the camera. With this button I can select the file quality, AEB, Flash exposure, picture style, format cards, custom settings, etc.
The AEB stands for Automatic Exposure Bracketing. If you are in love with HDR photography , you can hit the AEB button, tell the camera how far apart you would like to set the exposure(s), and press the shutter once for 3 different shots taken without having to do any of the work. In other words, you press the shutter and 3 different shots are taken for you.
If you are still reading my review the file quality is there in case you need it. Serious photographers shoot in RAW and use Lightroom or photoshop to convert the images over to JPEG for saving to a PC and printing at a lab. The advantage with RAW is that RAW gives you way more control over the shot you took. In other words, let’s say you took a shot and the flash did not go off. You can used RAW to pull more information about that image to bring out the natural lighting and color all in this same shot!
What’s nice about this feature is if you need to dump tons of photo’s onto someone’s PC you do not need to convert the files!
White Balance is your ability to set the true color in any environment. Very few churches look the same on the inside. Likewise there are places that have crazy color’s. An example are children’s rooms, rooms that are completely covered with wood paneling, places where it is very dark, brightly colored rooms in orange, pink, purple and of course red. With white balance I can use a sheet of typing paper, lally cap, or a white balance card. All I have to do is press the “WB” button take my white balance photo and we are done.
P stands for program. So, you do not want to shoot in auto because auto is for idiots right? Use P for professional.
Tv stands for time value. If you are shooting with a flash indoors at a wedding birthday party, etc use Tv at a setting of 1/125 of a second. If you are shooting in very low light you would use 1/13th of a second.
Aperture Priority is for the experts. No need to explain.
M for manual use for concert studio photography. This is also for those who are hard-core shooters.
The Canon XSi Rebel can be remotely fired with a remote for group shots (with yourself in it). The remote is $30 and is not a bad investment. You can use a small 5-6 foot cord to prevent shutter shake if your camera is placed on a tripod. The Canon XSi Rebel also has a several settings for a timer with a flashing light on the front to indicate time left before flash goes off. The mount for a tripod on this camera is just outstanding I have never had any issues with it.
ISO button can be slightly hard to reach but, I have found you will never need to see where it is located. It will almost always be bright enough for you to see. The ISO button has saved my behind so many times it is not even funny. ISO button is always of great importance when selecting a camera.
OK have you ever noticed how some of the pop-up flash(es) out there are really weak? Well with the Canon XSi Rebel you can dial up or down just how much power (light) the flash puts out. If you are shooting a wedding or some other high-profile event, the external flash can be controlled through your lens and your camera. This feature is called E-TTL II. It stands for electronic Through The Lens Light meter! Your sensor tells the flash when to go off how bright, flash duration, etc. In fact you can simply use the flash and forget that it’s there; it simply works automatically. I have found with CANON flash systems however I like to set my flash exposure at 1 F stop greater than zero.
Now for the review of the 18-55mm AF IS lens. People who tells me this lens is a piece of garbage have no clue as to what garbage is. I am not sure what the fascination with zoom lens is. I mean it is totally ridiculous. If I am shooting a ballet or a wedding I can expect a minimum of 4 or 5 people to ask me how well a 70-200mm lens works. If I am shooting an airshow and I am using a 100-400mm lens I can expect at least 10 or more people to ask how well the lens works. It’s kind of annoying to have people distract you while you are shooting.
Getting back to the 18-55mm lens this is the lens to use for architecture, night scenes, fireworks, family photo’s, landscape, vacations, etc. Just because there is very little zoom does not mean this lens sucks. It is great for which it is intended. If you wish to have greater zoom simply buy a lens that has greater zoom built in. A 17-85 IS AF lens is a great example and it is relatively cheaper than say a 24-105mm lens.
In a word will buying this camera make you a better photographer no! No camera out there can do that for you! Is this a great entry level camera to use? Heck Yeah! I did not mention the Live View function for good reason, it sucks. Live view is a useless feature that is useless on nearly every camera out there. While your friends are setting up their shots with their fancy I’ll purse pocket camera’s you are long done with the shot.
The only thing I do not like about this camera is the body is made of plastic and it does not have movie mode. But, the newer CANON camera’s are equipped with this feature.
About the Author
See More Great Reviews Click Here!
HDR Landscape with Lightroom
[affmage source="ebay" results="100"]landscape photography lightroom[/affmage]
landscape photography dslr
Feb/090
Mastering Landscape Photography – How To Take Good Pictures
If you have a digital compact camera, then taking landscape pictures is your camera’s time to shine. For most photographers, an SLR or DSLR is the obvious camera of choice, but when it comes to landscapes, compact camers work wonders because they have a much better depth of field. All you need to do to get some great landscape photos is to set your compact to landscape mode and follow these tips.
Remember that the quality of light is one of the most important elements of photography.
- For lighting that is soft, even and has a touch of warmth, take your landscape photos during the Golden Hours: the first hour after dawn and the last hour before sunset (unless you’re taking sunset pictures).
- For intensified colors and subdued highlights, shoot under an overcast sky.
- If you want dramatic shadows, take pictures under a cloudy sky.
- You can add drama and interest to your landscape scene by adding contrast. For example, you could have red and gold autumn leaves against a brilliant blue sky.
- To get a very soft light, shoot on a foggy day.
The next most important element is composition. Here are some composition tips for perfect landscape photos.
- Compose your landscape picture so that the horizon appears straight. Creative, fun angles have their place in photography, but not when you’re taking a horizon.
- Fill two thirds of your viewfinder with the landscape you want to be the subject of your photo.
- Look for distinct lines. Lines could be anything from the obvious river or road to a shadow running along the sand dunes. If your image has lines, try to have the major lines lead the eye toward the subject of the image. For example, a road winding its way up the mountains and the mountains are the subject of your photo.
- Compose your photo with a point of interest in the foreground. This focal point could be a road or other line as mentioned above, a tree, person, animal, house, etc. Although the focal point won’t be the main subject, it adds depth and draws the viewer into the picture so they’ll look at the picture longer. In short, a focal point makes your landscape photo more interesting and more enjoyable to view.
- Look out for clutter. In a landscape photograph, clutter could be something like an airplane or power line overhead or a pile of branches or rubbish can on the ground. If you can’t get the shot you want without the clutter, use a decent photo editor like Photoshop to remove it.
There’s always more to learn with photography, but just by following the tips above you can start taking great pictures of your favorite landscapes.
About the Author
Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames and loves taking photos. Shop online and see our huge selection of sizes like our small picture frames to our super large picture frames.
Landscape Photography- Medium/Large Format
[affmage source="ebay" results="100"]landscape photography dslr[/affmage]
Sepia Photograph
Nov/080
HOW MUCH IS AN SIGNED SEPIA PHOTOGRAPH OF VICTOR TRUMPER WORTH?
Just curious, How valuable is a:
VERY OLD BUT NOT DAMAGED , ORIGINAL
Autographed sepia photograph of Victor Thomas Trumper Worth?
Anyone Out There Know??!!!
A lot.
Toning Photographs with Sepia Tone & Coffee : How Sepia Tone Prints Vary With Strength of Solution
[affmage source="ebay" results="100"]Sepia Photograph[/affmage]
landscape photography techniques
Oct/080
what is a 35mm lens?
Just entered photography class. I need to know some good reccomendation cameras? willing to pay nothing over 1000$.
what is the 35mm lens do? what are good landscape techniques?
im so glad your going to photography classes, that shows you are smart,,,,,people who say they dont need it because they are smarter than teachers or digital does everything or something need their heads read,
after the course you will be light years ahead of even some that call themselfs pros – but dont even know basics like fstops??
the question is not clear……a 35mm lens is a lens that the frount element is 35mm from the film planein a film camera…..another possible answer is, its a lens that fits on a 35mm camera
landscapes use a tripod and the changeof light
a
Shooting Different Styles of Photography : Landscape Photography Techniques
[affmage source="ebay" results="100"]landscape photography techniques[/affmage]
landscape photography guide
Sep/080
best lens for canon 450D ?
soon i am going to buy new canon 450D camera, but i am not going to buy with kit lens like 18-55 because lots of people told me its not worth to have that lens so instead of that lens i have figure out 4 lenses for my use and i also considered all four in my budget also. kindly guide me which two lens are best buy for me. my requirement is landscape, wildlife and bird photography some macro also.
options are
CANON 28-105 : F.4/5.6
CANON 50 MM : F 1.8
CANON 55-250 IS F:4/5.6
SIGMA 70-300 APO F.4/5.6
CANON 75-300 F.4/5.6
any more suggestions will be appreciated.
First off, definitely the 50mm for the speed, and the fact that if you go body only it’s probably the cost of your slow kit lens. It’s a staple for photographers because of it’s cost, speed, and it forces you to consider your framing and positioning more since it isn’t a zoom. Sure, it’s a plastic body and feels like a Fisher Price toy, but if you decide you want to pay the extra couple of hundred bucks down the road for the more sturdy f/1.4 version then you can sell it on eBay for close to what you paid for it.
The 55-250 is a very good lens, as is the Sigma 70-300, but people like to write off Sigma because it doesn’t have the Canon or Nikon name on it. Plus, the IS for that price is good. I would go with the 55-200, with the Sigma coming in second. I would definitely stay away from the Canon 75-300. I had that lens for a while and it was pretty soft on the long end, which you don’t want for birds.
Landscape Photographs and Digital Landscape Photography Guide
[affmage source="ebay" results="100"]landscape photography guide[/affmage]
landscape photography photoshop
Jun/080
Digital Photography: Passion and Hobby Becomes Art
Photography is an interesting hobby. It eases your mind and soul and brings out the creative instinct in you. But this art gets more and more interesting when done with the use of a digital camera. It also introduces one into the world of digital photography. Here age, sex or skill does not matter. There was a time when people hesitated to get into the hobby of digital photography, the basic problem being the investment, but now, the time has changed and people have seriously started Digital Photography as their hobby. Do you like to be one such person?
All that matters is your passion for the art of digital photography.
Process of Digital Photography
The process of Digital Photography is a chain that starts from the shooting of images and ends with the display of the photographs. In the digital world, it is the image that forms the key element. And the picture quality of the image is determined by its resolution. The resolution in turn is the number of horizontal and vertical pixels on an image. Therefore resolution is the key factor that decides how big you can print your image or how much of it can be cropped.
Steps involved in Digital Photography
In order to understand how the digital camera suitably fits into the system of Digital Photography it is necessary to understand the steps involved in making digital photographs.
First Step: Input of Images
The input device in a computer is probably the keyboard. However, in Digital Photography the input devices are those that capture the images.
Digital Still Camera – It shoots images in a digital format.
Digital Video camera – It can capture images like a digital still camera.
Video cameras – It captures images onto a video format.
Second Step: Processing the Digital Photograph
Digital photographs can be stored onto your PC after they are taken. They can be then edited using in whatever way you want using the photo-editing program, Adobe Photoshop. Here the options are endless.
Few ways by which you can process your images
1.Crop parts of the image that you feel unnecessary and highlight the main frame.
2.If you wish to post the photos on the Web then trim down the number of pixels in the image so as to make it smaller.
3.Use filters to give the images the look of an oil painting, watercolor or the look of your desire.
4.You can stitch-up multiple frames in a single frame to create a landscape effect.
5.For a 3D stereo effect or an animated image merge two images and you can display this on the Web.
6.To improve the images make slight alterations in brightness and contrast.
7.Mish mash the images to create a photo medley.
Third Step: The final output, the Photograph
In Digital Photography there are many ways through which you can display and share the photographs you have taken.
Some of the well-known ways are as follows
1.Just e-mail the digital photographs to your friends or to family members.
2.Post the digital photos to the Web Service that will allow printing the digital photographs on T-shirts, mouse pads, posters and even on cakes.
3.Add the digital photographs to a word processing program or to the desktop of your PC so as to publish it as a document.
4.Mail the digital photographs on a Website or onto a Photo network.
About the Author
Capture your favorite moment with an
oil painting portrait
. We have an expert
portrait artist
waiting to create your masterpiece.
Photoshop Tutorial: Landscape Editing
[affmage source="ebay" results="100"]landscape photography photoshop[/affmage]
landscape photography articles
Apr/080
Shutter Speed for Landscape Photography?
I have read in many articles that photographers use a fairly long shutter spped when taking photos of landscapes.
I understand that one would need a tripod for this but wouldn’t a long shutter speed cause your image to be very over- exposed??
I highly recommend the book “Understanding Exposure” by Peterson to help understand the creative effects and trade-offs of which aperture and shutter speed you want to use. Most of the time landscapes don’t change, and the detail you capture is the most important aspect. Since landscape photographers prefer the sun to be low in the sky (morning and evening hours) to provide a nice favorable light, it is also less intense. These factors are why landscape photographers tend to use longer exposures to compensate for the other aspects. You can capture more detail with less grain (or digital noise if you use digital cameras) if you use a low ISO.
Add to that the fact that you can get some really cool results with wind blowing through a field of grain or water flowing through a brook when you have longer exposures, it only bolsters that preference more. It really has less to do with preferring long shutter speeds as it is preferring smaller apertures and low ISO film/capture. BTW, film photographers can use ISO 25 film that rivals the most advanced digital sensors, of course that is only if you shoot black and white.
Photography Tips on Understanding Light – Photography Tips by Karl Taylor
[affmage source="ebay" results="100"]landscape photography articles[/affmage]