Photographing Stairs

Stairs and steps are a popular subject for photography. They provide a strong repeated pattern, offer a symmetry and lead the eye somewhere in or through the image. Stairs, outside of a Hollywood movie are also static. Ok so an escalator contains moving stairs but they are contained within a stationery framework.

This provides a predictable and unvarying subject around which a photographer can often move to explore all angles to make the most of the shapes and the light.

Let the shapes and colours of the stairs themselves guide how the image is composed.

Stairs and steps are a popular subject for photography. They provide a strong repeated pattern, offer a symmetry and lead the eye somewhere in or through the image. Stairs, outside of a Hollywood movie are also static. Ok so an escalator contains moving stairs but they are contained within a stationery framework.

This provides a predictable and unvarying subject around which a photographer can often move to explore all angles to make the most of the shapes and the light.

Let the shapes and colours of the stairs themselves guide how the image is composed.

For more information about photographing stairs visit www.dftours.com.au/free-photography-lessons/stairs 

Photographing Doors and Windows

If eyes are the window to a person’s soul then windows and doors are the, well the windows and doors to the soul of many buildings. As such they can be an interesting photographic subject. Architecturally the frames of a window or door create strong lines. In unusual building designs and partially ruined structures the windows and doors (or the gaps where they once were) create an easily identifiable and recognisable shape.

The window and doors can tell the story of the property. Their design may show the architectural norms of when it was built or the artistic whims of the designer. The materials used can give insight into the location and culture. Their state of repair might portray some of the buildings history.

To learn more about photographing doors and windows and other free photography lessons visit

www.dftours.com.au/free-photography-lessons/doorswindows

Free photography lesson - Live Performance

source: dftours.com.au

Photographing live performance can be a difficult prospect for a number of reasons, the lighting is not particularly helpful, the performers are continuously moving and getting to a position to take the photograph that neither interrupts the performance nor blocks the audience. 

To learn more about camera settings and techniques to photograph live performances visit http://www.dftours.com.au/free-photography-lessons/live-performance

Photography: Vignette

dftours.com.au

A lot of photography articles and manuals will talk about Vignetting without really describing what it is. Vignetting is light fall off and it is common. It means that the corners and edges of an image are darker than the centre of the frame.

Vignette is either caused by optics, or in photography it can be added during post-production editing.

To learn more about vignetting and other free photography lessons visit www.dftours.com.au/free-photography-lessons 

Graduated Neutral Density Filter

Photography is all about light, and light can be one of the hardest things to control, particularly outdoors. Photographers prefer to take out door shots during the golden hours – dawn and dusk, the light is warmer and the contrast is manageable.

On bright days and in certain scenes managing the contrast becomes quite difficult. To get the foreground appropriate lit leaves the background over exposed and vice versa. The compromise can leave the image lacking detail and depth in the colours. This is where a graduated neutral density filter can be useful.

Visit http://www.dftours.com.au/free-photography-lessons to find out more about what a graduated neutral density filter is and how to use it.

Photography - Lens Hoods

Nikon lens hoods source dftours.com.au

I suspect that many people use a lens hood to make the lens look bigger. And size does not always matter. The lens hood does actually have a purpose. The primary use of the lens hood is to shade the lens, preventing light from hitting the front lens element from the side. This side lighting can reduce the contrast and create flares in the image.

For more information about choosing and using lens hoods correctly and other free photography lessons visit dftours.com.au/free-photography-lessons

Photographing Fireworks

Fireworks make for spectacular photographs but can take some practice to master.  Fireworks create a lot of smoke that will continuously build throughout the display. Photographs taken early in the display will be cleaner, particularly close ups.

In taking photos of the large colour bursts, when using a slow shutter speed time in relation to the opening of the shutter with sound of the firework being shot into the sky. This will mean that the shutter is open as the firework explodes into colour and will capture the arcs of light. If you wait until you can see the bursts it might be too late!

This article discusses camera settings, equipment and composition for taking pleasing photographs of fireworks. To read more visit www.dftours.com.au/free-photography-lessons/fireworks