Capturing The Perfect Shot -> Pet Portraits

With diffuse light I can really bring out the details in Polly's coat

Polly is a black mutt and from a photography point of view it I couldn’t have picked a harder subject. If you’ve ever tried to photograph a black dog you know exactly what I mean. In half the shots doggie comes out as an unidentifiable black blob, while in the other half the background gets so “blown out” so that all you can see is an alien white mass (with black blob in front).

But thankfully I’ve got a trick or two. This past week in the forest we’ve had the absolute perfect conditions (soft, filtered light and a neutral background) so I snapped up a bunch of Polly shots and decided to share some of my tips on the blog with another addition to my photography series. So, here ya go:

This was taken on a cloudy day

1/ Target Soft, Diffuse Light - I’ve always gotten my best pet shots in a soft, diffuse light.  Bright, direct light tends to bounce hard off shiny pet coats and ”blow out” the picture. It’s just far too harsh and the effect is even worse on dark-colored pets. A much better option is to find somewhere the light is filtered (e.g. through a window or under a forest canopy), or use very late evening or early morning light. Cloudy days are another great time to shoot. This kind of light will even out the coat and allow you bring out the details in your picture.

Sometimes you'll only get a second for that shot. My shutter speed was 1/200 here.

2/ Go Fast - Pets, like kids tend to move around a lot and sometimes it can be hard to capture the moment without blur. You best bet with pets is to go fast. So, set your camera to a fast shutter speed (around 1/200th is pretty good, or even faster if doggie is very active) and snap away. If the pictures look too dark I’ll usually up the ISO (to 400 or so), but I’ll always try to keep the shutter speed fast. On my Nikon SLR camera I use a simple fast lens (50mm f/1.8) for all my pet shots. On my point and shoot I’ll fix the shutter speed and let it chose the rest of the settings. Some point and shoots have a “pet” setting which does the same thing.

Getting those eyes is key. I used soft window light and a toy bribe for this shot.

3/ Get Those Eyes - One of the secrets to any kind of animal photography is to get the eyes in focus. The eyes are the window to the soul, and for pets in photos that certainly rings true. Even if the rest is out of focus, if the eyes are sharp the picture is really appealing. So, try to focus there and worry less about the rest.

Keep a simple background

4/ Choose a Simple Background - When you’re doing any kind of portrait work you want the focus of the shot to be on the subject. A busy background is always distracting, so try to choose a neutral or very clean background. For up-close work an even neutral-colored background works great (leaves, ground, wall etc.). For wider shots you can include some clean background (e.g. ocean, forest), but make sure the pet remains the main focus.

Get down into your pets' world

5/ Get Low and Close - Most of my best pet shots come from playing with perspective. So, I usually try to get down low and close to the pets’ level, or shoot from above or the side or below. Getting down low and close will get you more into your pets’ world and that’ll show in the shot.

Interaction with family can create lovely, intimate shots

6/ Cheat, Play & Bribe – I almost always bring treats or toys when I’m shooting pets. With Polly I’ve trained her to look at the camera, and get a treat for it, which helps to get that connection with the shot. You can dangle the treat right next to the lens as you’re shooting or get great “action” shots while your pet plays around with a toy. With the cats I’ll usually dangle a toy or treat. Interacting with people can create wonderful moments too, so bring in your other half to capture some family moments.

Snap away and you might get something unusual and fun

7/ Snap Away – In the digital age it’s so easy to snap away and I definitely encourage that with pets. Don’t be discouraged if your first shot isn’t any good. Just snap away and see what you get. Sometimes catching unusual moments (such as kitty yawning, or doggie laughing) can create really interesting shots and it only takes that one moment to get the perfect shot!

That’s about it folks. Got any tips of your own?

The Wierd and the Wonderful

Moss never looked so cool

So, I’m going to do a bit of an Alice in Wonderland with you today. I’m going to take you back in time and down the tunnel to explore the strange and mysterious in life. I often do this kind of thing, not only because I find it fascinating, but also because it opens my eyes to things I never imagined, and lets me see the beauty that daily life hides beneath.

Fungus grows and curls on an old log

Now, I’ll tell you up front that I’m taking the dog with us on this journey mostly because she’s the perfect photographic companion. The hubby tends to become rather impatient as I lose myself in the roadside moss for the better part of half an hour. Why, I really don’t know. Personally I find the stuff fascinating and the dog completely agrees with me. She’s learnt to take advantage of my explorations of the weirder things in life by smelling the roses (or whatever else is at hand) and waits patiently until I’ve satisfied the lens and my own curiosity.

Dried weeds reflect the evening light

So, here we go on a little walk down Suwanee River Trail. The evening sun is drifting through the forest and gives a diffuse glow to everything underfoot. I get down on the ground with my lens and trusty extension tubes and let nature lead me. Like following the rabbit down the hole I find all kinds of weird and wonderful shapes just waiting for me to see them.

Backlight glow on saw palmetto

It’s a piece of plain moss, the light on a palm or a simple weed that amazes me. These may be the small things in life, but they all have a story to tell and in the right light they can all be beautiful. It’s the little curls, the whiffs of light and the colors that attract me, and all it takes are a few hours on the trail to find the treasures that are already out there.

The dog and I know, don't you know...

It’s quite the find and quite a revelation. After all, who would have thought all this would be free? That’s a secret and only the dog and I know.

Or rather, now you do too….

Capturing the Perfect Shot -> Cheap Macro

Shot in CO with my 50mm lens and 20mm extension tube

So, it’s another gorgeous day here in S.FL, and with a tad less wind it would have been the perfect opportunity to get in close and tight for some macro shots. That thought brings me smoothly into the next chapter of my photography series and a few more juicy tips for those budding shutterbugs out there. 

 

Close-up shooting is a fascinating little activity, usually involving yours truly lying flat on my stomach in the dirt, riveted to my “subject” and waiting patiently for a half hour or so for that perfect 1 sec lull in the wind to get the shot….ahhh, fun times indeed.

 

Nov bloom in TN. Taken with 20mm extension tube.

 The problem is that it can also be rather pricey. For those of you with SLR-type cameras a dedicated macro lens can cost upwards of $700+, and if you’re just a macro-hobbyist like me that’s a tad pricey. So, let me change your life and introduce you to “home-made” macro. You see there are  2 “tricks” you can do with removable lenses that allows you to get closer to your subject, and they can be done really cheaply!

Reversal Ring

1. Lens Reversal - Reversing your lens (putting it on your camera the wrong way around) will actually give you instant macro power. Instead of the lens taking big things (whatever you’re looking at) and making them small (for your sensor), it now does the opposite. How cool is that! You can buy a cheap $10 reversing ring (like this one), and off you go! Just make sure the reversing ring you buy fits the lens you’re going to use. Your auto-focus won’t work anymore, but with a bit of fiddling back and forth manually, you can get some amazing shots.

Typical set of extension tubes

2/ Extension Tubes
- Another little trick for getting closer is to put distance between your lens and your camera body. The more distance the closer your picture and any old, empty tube will do as long as you can get a light-tight fit at both ends. For the super-cost-conscious you can use an empty can of Pringle’s chips (like this example). For the more refined a $80 or so set of Kenko or Zeikos extension tubes (like these) will do the trick. Make sure to buy the version for your camera brand. I’ve used extension tubes for years and love the fact that they’re so light and easy to carry around. The other neat thing about extension tubes (if you buy the commercial version) is that your auto-focus will still work. It still takes quite a bit of fiddling since your range of focus gets a lot smaller, but it can be soooo much fun to try.

Summer bees in France. Taken with extension tubes and a bit of fiddling

Neither of these methods are, admittedly, as versatile as a “real” macro lens. The “tricks” allow you to bring your camera closer (so, for example instead of focusing out a few feet from your subject, you can bring the camera as close as a few inches to the subject). Macro lenses allow you the get close-ups without having to get so close, if you see what I mean, which can be useful for easily-spooked insects and such. But, the methods work and with a bit of practice can produce some really stunning results.

So, if you’ve been put off macro by the costs, hopefully these tips give you some ideas to get started. Happy shooting, everyone!

Capturing the Perfect Shot -> Embrace the Mood

A moody day in WY gives a glorious sunset

So, it’s another chilly day here in FL. The big blast up North has brought a front down here which makes me dream of hot cocoa, big fuzzy socks and photography. You see it’s a bit dreary out there today and a lot people with a camera get totally bummed when the sunshine goes behind the clouds. I’m the exact opposite. I love the changing moods of the weather since each one gives me the unique opportunity to take a different kind of shot. If you embrace the weather, your photographic horizons can open up dramatically. Here’s a couple of examples of what to do on the darker days:

Wild country and wide skies, WY

4/ Look for rays of Light - When the sky is dark and ominous, sometimes you get a ray of light peeking through which illuminates your foreground. Some of the coolest contrast comes when the sky is dark and your front is bathed in light. It’s a photographers dream.

Magic moment of morning mist in Iowa. My exposure compensation was -0.7

2/ Go Misty - The early morning, when dew is recent and mist is coming off the ground is a perfect time to get that “moody” shot which won’t be as interesting later on. Mist tends to “white out” your automatic camera settings (i.e. picture looks way too white), which is a result of how your camera calculates exposure. so there’s something called “exposure compensation” (normally a +/- button on your camera) which can help to darken the shot and keep that moody feel. Set your exposure to -0.7 and see how the picture changes.

A misty day gives these mushrooms a cool glow

3/ Go Small - when the sun is diffuse it’s a great time to focus on the little stuff. Sometimes that eerie light can give a kind of “glow” to the things on the ground and a nice, soft light for flowers. So, when the sky turns grey, look below for your treasures.

4/ Take a Portrait – Believe it or not some of the best light for portraits is a soft, diffuse light. When I was doing professional photography I used to actively seek this light for my family photos. So, when the light is soft, zoom in and take those portraits.

Diffuse light was perfect for this shot

4/ Wait for sunset - A lot of times a “moody” day can give a really cool sunset. Lots of clouds can make for brilliant colors as the setting sun reflects against the cloud layer. If you have a “sunset” setting on the camera try it at this time. The “sunset” setting tends to darken and saturate the shot which really brings out those deep, gorgeous colors.

Capturing The Perfect Shot -> Photo Equipment on the Road

“Sometimes I do get to places just when God’s ready to have somebody click the shutter” Ansel Adams

One of those perfect moments..captured thanks to my good 'ol point-and-shot

I have to admit I’m a bit of a photography fanatic. I once made the joke that, having mediated for many years on inner peace, I had come to the conlclusion that a 105mm f/2.8 lens would greatly enhance my spiritual growth, whilst a complete set of Lee ND filters would likely complete the circle of my life karma. Yes, I’m that nerdy and wierd. So, with that disclaimer I’ll try and be brief and do a few posts on a topic that is close to my heart.

The first thing almost anyone asks when they see a shot is “what camera did you use?”. Now, Ansel Adams would be the first to point out that the camera is the smallest part of the equation. The reality of the matter is that there’s really no perfect camera (well, OK maybe the $30,000 Hasselblad H4D-40, which does come with free shipping by the way) but with a few $$ you can get yourself a pretty decent set-up. My own equipment consists of a “fancy” camera for my more elaborate shots and a simple point-and-shoot for  the rest. I’m not going to bore you by going through all the choices out there (feel free call me if you have a few months to chat, though), but I’ll go through the basics:

1/ Point and Shoot - These are the most basic and I think every RVer can do well having one. The “point and shoot” means just that. If you want to, all you have to do is frame your pic and press the button. Violà, photo done. I recently upgraded our version to a Canon S95. It’s a mid-to-high-end point and shoot which takes great little shots on-the-go. If you’re going to buy one I think it’s worth spending the few extra $$ on it. There’s a huge difference in picture quality between the cheapo versions and the higher-end. Other good point-and-shoots are the Nikon Coolpix P7000, Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 and Canon Powershoot G12. dpreview.com has an in-depth review of all of them.

The sum total of my "fancy" photo stuff. My D80 with 18-200VR lens (left), 50mm (middle), extention tubes (on right) and trusty camera bag.

2/ SLR Cameras -These are the “fancy” cameras, so called because they use a mirror to direct light through the lens to the viewfinder. If you’re into photography this is no doubt the way to go, but you are going to have to lug around alot more weight and bulk for your hobby. There’s literally hundreds of choices and most manufacturers offer entry-level, mid and high-end version. I’m a Nikon girl and have been since I started out mainly because the red colors are so nice (yes, I’m an easy please). I have a Nikon D80 which was mid-end several years back and am literally drooling over the new Nikon D7000, but need to convince Paul to sell a few more puts before I can get one. Canon and Sony also make very good SLRs. Again, dpreview.com is a great resource for reviews.

3. Lenses for SLRs – The problem with “fancy” cameras is that you find yourself suddenly salivating over all kinds of lenses which you never needed before, but suddenly become essential for your very photography survival. I have 2 lenses which cover me just about everywhere, a 18-200VR (zoom) and a 50mm (really fast, simple lens). I also have a nifty little set of equipment called “extention tubes” that allow you me to do low-cost macro photography. If I had the choice I’d get a dedicated wide-angle, a dedicated macro and a bigger zoom, but that will be for the photography fairy to bestow sometime in the future. Here’s a good beginners guide to lenses for those just starting out, and for the more advanced slrgear.com does in-depth lens reviews.

Me and my camera. It's how you'll usually find me.

4. Extras – My very basic extras are a good tripod (Gitzo) and a 15-year old camera bag to lug everything around (still haven’t found a better design).

When I have the gumption I treck around with my “fancy” camera. I’ve used this baby for both amateur and professional photography, as well as hiking trips all around the world. The rest of the time I have the point-and-shoot in my pocket. I’ll do a few more posts on this series over the next few months (depending on interest). In the meantime, don’t let that shot pass you by.