Technique Archives - Page 3 of 4

Remote Capture

What Does Remote Capture Means When Talking About Photography? In photography the terms ‘remote capture’ refers to the action of operating the camera’s shutter remotely, i.e. without physically depressing the shutter button on the camera. Remote capture can be achieved using either wired or wireless remote controls. Remotely capturing an image can be useful in a number of situations for example when taking a selfie where you don’t want to obviously reaching for the camera in the final image, or in situations which require a long exposure time; In this situation, with the camera mounted on a tripod operating the …

Rule Of Thirds

What is the rule of thirds and how is it used in photography? The rule of thirds is a technique used to achieving a pleasing composition within a photograph or graphic design. Application of the rule involves dividing a scene into three columns both horizontally and vertically, and then composing an image by placing the subject at a point where the lines dividing the columns intersect. An off-centre composition appears more pleasing to the human eye and the rule of thirds is a simple method of achieving such a composition. Most digital cameras feature guide lines which can be turned …

Selective Focus

What Does Selective Focus Mean When Talking About Photography? In photography the term ‘selective focus’ refers to a technique where the photographer selectively focuses on the subject of an image, essentially ignoring all other aspects of the scene. Using a shallow depth of field the subject can be rendered in sharp focus with the rest of the image blurring into the image foreground and background. This technique isolates the subject within the image, drawing the eye of the viewer to the exact point which the photographer wishes to be observed. The contrast of the sharp subject against the soft image …

Selfie

What Is A Selfie? A selfie is simply a self portrait. A photo of yourself taken by you! It’s most often associated with photos taken with cell phones and GoPros when the camera is held at arms length (see sample below), but they can also be much more creative than this. Usually a selfie is taken as some sort of photographic evidence of fun or travel to a specific location. If you are taking a selfie, make sure you have a nice background that clearly shows what you are trying to tell people about. So-called “selfie sticks” were also popular …

Sequence

Have you ever wandered what people are talking about when they mention a sequence while talking about photography? Here’s the answer, and how to create them.

Sharpness

What Does Sharpness Mean When Talking About Photography? When talking about photography ‘sharpness’ refers to an image’s overall clarity in terms of both focus and contrast. When the subject of an image is sharp the image appears clear and lifelike, with detail, contrast and texture rendered in high detail. Images which lack sharpness or are ‘soft’ can appear blurry and lacking in detail, although experienced photographers are able to manipulate sharpness to allow a feeling of warmth or movement within an image. Image sharpness is extremely reliant on achieving accurate focus on a desired subject, especially challenging when shooting scenes …

Shutter Priority

What Is Shutter Priority Mode and How Is It Used in Photography? In photography ‘shutter priority’ refers to a metering mode where the photographer fixes the camera to a specific shutter speed and then allows the camera to choose the correct aperture to produce a good exposure of a scene. Shutter priority mode is usually accessed via the camera’s mode dial and is denoted by an ‘S’ or ‘Tv’. Shutter priority mode is often used in situations where fast-moving subjects need to be frozen in motion, the photographer can choose a shutter speed at which they know the subject will …

Slave Mode

What is Slave Mode and How It Is Used in Lighting and Photography? When talking about photography, specifically lighting, Slave mode is mode that instructs a flash unit to monitor incoming light, and fire when it senses the light produced by another flash unit firing. Slave mode can be used to fire an off camera flash using the cameras built in flash unit, or to trigger a flash unit as part of a group when you don’t have enough flash receivers. The biggest limitation of slave mode is that it requires direct line of sight between the slave unit and …

Spray and Pray

What does the phrase “Spray and Pray” mean in photography? Spray and Pray means the same thing as Grip and rip. It means to have your camera set up in a fast burst mode, shooting several photos per second, and then to simply hold down the shutter button, hoping to capture the perfect image within the sequence. Sometimes it is used in a more beginner/intermediate manner when someone is not familiar with the subject they are shooting, and therefore unable to predict exactly when the right moment might occur. However, sometimes there might also be legitimate practical uses for the …

Star Trail

What Are Star Trails? A star trail is a photography technique which shows the movement of the stars through the night sky. As the earth rotates, the position of the stars changes over time and in the photo they appear to draw lines in the sky that depicts their path through the night. Often, photographers will aim at the North Star, and this gives the impression of the stars rotating around one central point in the sky. How Do You Shoot A Star Trail? There are two distinct ways to create star trails. The first method is to take one single extremely …