PhotographyTIPS & TRICKS Inside the Musee D’Orsay Photographer Julia Xiao ISSUE TEN T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S Implying Motion Vacation Photography Impressionistic Art Adding Rain Patience is necessary Doug Ward has a few Creating Monet like A few simple steps to when trying this tips if your planning on paintings with your cam- add rain to your photos. technique out, but the going on vacation. era and a little post proc- results are worth it. Page 7-9 essing. Page 10-12 Page 13 Pages 3-6 Either Good Timing or the Wildlife is Sick of Me! Well I’ve managed to get out and take some photos this summer and have been having good luck with wildlife. A couple of Blue Herons, ducks and geese galore and this guy who after spending twenty minutes photographing him finally showed me his feelings for my presence! Anyways, in this issue we have a new contributor, Doug Ward. With vacation season pretty much upon us right now, Doug has put together a few tips that he uses when on vaca- tion with his family. If you have any tips or ideas you want to share with us, let us know at [email protected] © 2008 Tips & Tricks Photography 2 T I P S & T R I C K S P H O T O G R A P H Y Implying Motion - The Art of Panning Written by Jeff Tindall This year I’ve decided to try ter speeds when photograph- in focus, but as you can imag- and jump into more unfamil- ing waterfalls or making light ine, having both the subject iar territory with my camera. trails when painting with and camera in motion and My goal aside from learning light. In these cases, the cam- obtaining a clearly focused new things is to also share era remained static and we subject can be tricky. This ar- with you my experiences and used long exposures to imply ticle is titled “The Art of Pan- advice when trying out new movement. ning”, after my experience an things. One of my favorite The panning technique works alternative suitable title could things about taking pictures differently in that both the be, “Testing your Patience”. is the idea of implying mo- camera and subject are mov- tion through the use of slow ing; the effect is stunning, The ideas behind panning are shutter speeds. I previously creating a streaked blurred fairly simple: Locate your talked about using slow shut- background with the subject moving subject in the view © 2008 Tips and Tricks Photography 3 T I P S & T R I C K S P H O T O G R A P H Y finder, compose the photo, of you interested in learning to make sure there aren’t any keep your camera following panning. obstructions (e.g. trees, poles, the subject, release the shutter people etc...) between you while your still following I found that panning is all and your subject even minor your subject. Simple! about anticipation and think- obstructions can ruin a photo because the obstruc- tion will drag across the sensor area. 2) Choose a slower shutter speed then normal, this is a mat- ter of taste and prac- tice. A slightly slower shutter speed will al- low you to capture a blurred background. Choosing a fast shut- ter speed may stop the subject dead in its While the idea of panning is a ing ahead. Before you start tracks causing a static frozen simple one to grasp the tech- tracking subjects check out picture. It’s tough to judge niques in perfecting it are these ideas that might help what a proper speed is be- hardly the same. When done make it more successful. cause it depends on lighting correctly, the result is a well conditions, steadiness of the focused subject that conveys 1) Scope out your area, re- photographer and the desired a sense of motion, when done member you are dealing with effect. I would suggest a badly it just looks like a a subject that is going to be good guideline to start with is blurry drunken photo with constantly changing positions choose a shutter speed no sense of order. and often there will be a large slightly slower than what the After practicing for a while I area between you and the cameras meter recommends managed to come up with a subject that could be full of and in the range of 1/30th. few ideas that may help those obstructions that may inhibit Take a few shots and change your photos. Survey the area speeds until you find the ef- 4 © 2008 Tips and Tricks Photography T I P S & T R I C K S P H O T O G R A P H Y fect that you like and can work with before motion blur becomes a problem. 3) Consider your back- ground. I’ve found that a panned photo works best when it has a good back- ground to contrast off of. The subject itself can al- most take second priority, because if the back- ground is not done well than it will certainly dis- tract from the subject. For motion blur rather. If you’re i’ll include it in an up and example, consider a forest hand-held panning keep your coming issue. background it’s dark rela- feet comfortably spaced and tively uniform in colour and stuck on the ground. Use 5) Try and position yourself brightness if the photo just your torso to rotate and track. or you subject to follow a has that as a background it Rest your camera comforta- straight trajectory. I found will likely work well. If how- bly and steady in your hands. that panning works best from ever there is a secondary light Try not to move your camera side to side, similar to you source (like a light pole) in up or down as motion blur standing at the side of a road the picture that dramatically will be evident. If you have a and watching cars pass from contrasts it will also streak tripod with a pan-tilt head left to right. Having your across the scene and distract. you can often get smoother subject (or positioning your- results. For those of us with a self in a manner) that has 4) Your speed and motion. ball-head I’m working on a your subject moving at an This is the most crucial and simple DIY attachment you angle (like up or down a hill) frustrating aspect of panning. can make yourself to secure will make things more diffi- To make this shot work the your ball-head to function cult. That’s not to say that photographer needs to be more like a pan-head. When you can’t do it, in fact I imag- fluid, smooth and consistent. I get something figured out, ine some pretty creative shots Deviating from this will cause could be made, but for the © 2008 Tips and Tricks Photography 5 T I P S & T R I C K S P H O T O G R A P H Y purposes of someone like shoot again later on in the se- ject. It’s all about probability myself just starting mastering quence. and chances. side to side first should be a priority. 7) Lens choice. This generally 9) Practice. Clearly this is a applies to all photography, must, just reading these ideas 6) Follow through. Just like the bigger the lens the better and tips will not allow you to those of you who golf, play chance for motion blur, tele- go out and taking great pan- baseball, hockey or billiards. photo or zoom lenses may ning photos. These tips are The trick to this working well not be a good choice to begin directed at helping you out is to follow through with with. Since camera shake can with common problems that your motions. Once the shut- be pretty evident with them. may occur when panning at ter is released does not mean Try wider lenses that are first. Expect and prepare to you’re done. Remember more forgiving. be disappointed at first, most you’re using a relatively slow of the shots will look bad, but shutter speed and a moving 8) Continuous Mode. For as with most things, the more subject, the shutter will stay those of you who have a practice you have, the better open longer than normal and camera with continuous you will become. Play if you deviate in your pan- shooting. It might be a good around with shutter speed ning speed or shift up or idea to use. There likely will and get a feel for how to down this will affect the shot. be a lot of garbage shots, but move your body to reduce up Following through not only there is also a better chance and down motions and im- ensures that this is not a that you will take a picture prove a continuous fluid mo- problem but also keeps you when your panning speed tion. ready incase you want to matches the speed of the sub- Good Luck and be Patient 6 © 2008 Tips and Tricks Photography T I P S & T R I C K S P H O T O G R A P H Y Vacation Photography Ideas about how to pack and capture memories Written by Doug Ward Vacation season is once again what’s the purpose of the trip The last thing you want while here and a must while on va- (sightseeing, relaxing at the on vacation is to be uncom- cation is to take pictures.