Finished Newborns now tackling Ireland

[born2teachsc]

Hello All!
Well it's been a month since I've experienced my first photo session with my twin nieces. I can't begin to tell you the experiences I had and the addiction to want to do it again and again after it was all said and done. We ended up doing a split session and each time I felt like I learned something new that I needed to try different the next time. I sent my pictures to this lady on Etsy to get her to use some of them for a birth announcement and she also offered to give me some comments about my photos to help me out when I take pictures again. She basically said that I need to learn how your focus points work, get more light to your scene so you can up your shutter speed to avoid camera shake ( I had a lot of problems with camera shake. I have ADHD and take Adderal and unfortunately it causes me at times to shake. I used a friend of mine's camera though that was much heavier than mine and I had no problems with shaking whatsoever), learn more about depth of field so when you shoot wide open, you can understand how that limits the range that can be in focus.

Well those were her suggestions now here's what's on the agenda for now. I'm leaving in 2 weeks to go to London and Ireland for 12 days. Super excited. Trying to figure out what all I should bring with me. Seeing my comments from my last photo session, I know that I need to brush up on these areas. I've been reading articles and I feel like sometimes my questions about focus and how I can lock my focus * then recompose my shot gets a little hard to understand. I know switching from portrait to landscape is going to be a huge adjustment for me. I started cheating and shooting in program mode, which has helped but there was one time I went out with a friend of mine and she could get a clear picture using my camera and I just couldn't get it to focus and not appear blurry. I've been thinking about my lenses and how I've really only used my 18-55 and 50mm lenses the most and I also have a 75-300mm as well, I just haven't toyed around with it that much. I'm a little worried about the weather and how there might be very little sunny days (who knows though). I thought about getting a filter or something like that. I have a tripod but I really don't want to bring it with me because it's bulky and I want to travel light.

What suggestions do you have for me? Can be about anything really haha.

 

[Derrel]

Well, the longer the lens focal length, the greater the magnifcation, and the greater the potential for camera shake. So, when using the tele-zoom, make sure the ISO level is high enough that you can get a decent shutter speed that will result in a CRISP shot. A lot of people worry about image "noise", and worry and fret about minor bits of noise. Noise, noise, noise. NOT A REAL ISSUE when compared against the ruinous effects of subject motion blur and camera shake; either of those two things will utterly RUIN many travel images. So...keep the ISO to a level where the shutter speeds are high enough that you can get a crisp shot!

Second: shoot important photos in short bursts of two, or three frames, in Continuous drive mode.

In really low-light situations where you must hand-hold, and the speed is marginally okay, remember: this is digital, and images do NOT cost you 75 cents a pop! In crummy light, shoot 10,12,15 frames to get an important frame CRISP. SLow-speed shooting brings with it something like this. Out of 10 frames: 1 or 2 critically sharp, 3 or 4 marginally usable; 5 to 7 smeary and throw-away grade.

My advice: buy a spare battery or two, and get to conditioning them, and stock up on memory cards.

 

[Designer]

..a friend of mine and she could get a clear picture using my camera..

What did she do that was different from yours?

(edit) I'm guessing that the settings were very similar if not identical, so was it her technique? Generally, there is a preferred method to hold and fire the camera.

 

[grafxman]

Here is the way I shoot with my Canons. I chose manual mode, I set the shutter speed high enough so I won't get any shake depending on the focal length, I have the camera set to focus with the rear focus button only, I set the aperture to about f8 if there's plenty of light and use a lower setting if it's dark. The camera will automatically set the ISO. I have the 7D camera set to not exceed 3200 ISO. I never use a tripod. The technique I use in very dark areas may be of some help to you. I photograph museums, zoos and aquariums that are often very dimly lit. I use a slow shutter speed and open the aperture all the way. I tuck my elbows in pretty hard against my ribs, take a few deep breaths and exhale about half way. Then I take the photo gently depressing the shutter button. If there's a wall nearby I will lean back with my shoulders against it and slightly spread my feet. The idea is to make yourself as stable as possible. Since you have the shakes a high shutter speed may be required all the time. Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[JerryVenz]

When I did Italy I brought TWO BODIES, wt. TWO batteries in each body--using the accessory vertical grips.

My BASIC lens set was: My 80-200 f2.8 Nikkor ( I was using the Fuji Pro S3's then ), the 24-85 f2.8-f4.0 Nikkor Macro, and a Sigma 8mm f2.8 FISHEYE.

And I bought a compact Manfrotto tripod just for this trip--VERY GLAD I brought it. I did a lot of late and early MAGIC HOUR and some night time architectural that would not have been possible otherwise.

In order to photograph famous or popular sites in Europe you must do so when there are not MOBS OF TOURISTS AROUND!! So avoid the great locations during the day--go to the museums, take walks, long lunches--then hit the hot-spots at SUNRISE or SUNSET or AT NIGHT---MY BEST IMAGES OF THE ROMAN COLLISEUM WERE AT MIDNIGHT---Nobody was there but me and my wife! Plus it was beautiful at night because they LIT IT UP AT NIGHT---whereas during the day ( when there were THOUSANDS of tourists milling about ) it was just plain UGLY!!
So, that was my traveling lite gear. Have a great trip!! Jerry V.

 

[born2teachsc]

..a friend of mine and she could get a clear picture using my camera..

What did she do that was different from yours?

(edit) I'm guessing that the settings were very similar if not identical, so was it her technique? Generally, there is a preferred method to hold and fire the camera.

I'm not sure if she changed the focal point or what she did when she used my camera. I know she used her elbow to rest the camera on the palm of her hand. I could hear when she clicked it though my lens just zoom in and out like it was still trying to focus and it will do that sometimes. I guess that's the depth of field and being too close to the subject being the reason for that it making that sound? I know after she took the picture she looked in the viewfinder and the histogram showed it to be properly exposed but it looked blurry on my screen. When I moved them on my computer the problem fixed itself and her picture was crystal clear and mine wasn't because there was a noticeable shake in it. I hear what you're saying about the shutter speed though and working on manual mode.

 

[born2teachsc]

When I did Italy I brought TWO BODIES, wt. TWO batteries in each body--using the accessory vertical grips.

My BASIC lens set was: My 80-200 f2.8 Nikkor ( I was using the Fuji Pro S3's then ), the 24-85 f2.8-f4.0 Nikkor Macro, and a Sigma 8mm f2.8 FISHEYE.

And I bought a compact Manfrotto tripod just for this trip--VERY GLAD I brought it. I did a lot of late and early MAGIC HOUR and some night time architectural that would not have been possible otherwise.

In order to photograph famous or popular sites in Europe you must do so when there are not MOBS OF TOURISTS AROUND!! So avoid the great locations during the day--go to the museums, take walks, long lunches--then hit the hot-spots at SUNRISE or SUNSET or AT NIGHT---MY BEST IMAGES OF THE ROMAN COLLISEUM WERE AT MIDNIGHT---Nobody was there but me and my wife! Plus it was beautiful at night because they LIT IT UP AT NIGHT---whereas during the day ( when there were THOUSANDS of tourists milling about ) it was just plain UGLY!!
So, that was my traveling lite gear. Have a great trip!! Jerry V.

I thought about buying a different lens such as the fisheye but I couldn't decide what to buy. I also know that my camera has a crop frame and I thought buying an expensive lens would be a waste on a camera body that was just a starter. The hubby won't let me buy a new body until I master the one I have. What about a filter? Should I get one to use with the lenses that I have?

 

[Designer]

I thought about buying a different lens such as the fisheye but I couldn't decide what to buy. I also know that my camera has a crop frame and I thought buying an expensive lens would be a waste on a camera body that was just a starter. The hubby won't let me buy a new body until I master the one I have. What about a filter? Should I get one to use with the lenses that I have?

Wide angle lenses are naturally better at minimizing motion blur. Fisheye lenses distort the view quite a bit, so I doubt if that is the one to get. Instead I recommend a high-quality wide-angle zoom. Your 18-55mm should produce good, sharp images, so if it is not, there may be other factors involved such as lens or focusing module not functioning properly, camera firmware needing update, VR not working, improper holding technique, or possibly something else.

Better quality lenses will usually produce better images. The lenses you already have should be giving you acceptable photographs, including sharpness, and if not, you need to eliminate possible causes.

Holding technique should include bracing yourself in several ways:
elbows held against your body
hold camera with two hands in a comfortable grip
the right hand usually trips the shutter, the left holding the weight at a balance point
breathe normally, but just before tripping the shutter, pause briefly
press shutter button half way, pause very briefly, then finish pressing smoothly with no "jabbing"
continue to hold steady until you know the shutter has tripped (the sound)
brace yourself by leaning on a fence, railing, lamppost, table, tree, or whatever
carry a small tripod that you can set on a table or other flat surface
some long lenses include vibration reduction - "VR" - make sure to use it "on" when hand-holding and turn it off when using a tripod


Filters: Don't use any filters under normal conditions and use one as required only if you thoroughly understand when to properly use one. IE: you won't really need a UV filter in most conditions, so don't use it as a default.