These photography tips are a record of new entries to the Daily Photo Tips RSS feed since November 2007. There are currently 1469 tips in the database! Contact Me to comment or add tips.
Daily Photo Tip
2013
Try making a long-term time-lapse video of a slow-changing event such as the seasons, blooming plant life, or weather by making a photograph from the same vantage point every day, hour, week, etc. Slow change can be expressed rapidly and dramatically in such a format. (First published Oct 23, 2010)
02.Mar.08An object that focuses in the middle of the frame won't necessarily be in focus when you move it to the edge. If your subject is near the edge of the frame, compose first, then focus manually.
01.Mar.08Take an umbrella along if the weather looks bad - unlike a rain jacket, an umbrella will cover your camera too. Try a small one that you can easily hold in one hand.
29.Feb.08Try a photo project that required you to make a large number of photographs, perhaps 60 in a hour. This will teach you to think fast and operate your camera spontaneously.
28.Feb.08Don't confuse getting in a rut with developing a style for your photography. A style will gradually unfold into new ideas - in a rut, you'll simply make the same kinds of photos over and over.
27.Feb.08If you use the depth of field preview button on your camera, you may notice the viewfinder getting darker. This is because the DOF button closes down the aperture, allowing less light through the lens.
26.Feb.08Even the best, most enduring photography won't be around forever. Every kind of art will someday disappear, so it's important to enjoy your work (and others' work) while it's here!
25.Feb.08Some newer lenses are being manufactured exclusively for digital cameras with a magnification factor. Since the lenses have a smaller image circle, they will produce truncated photos on an older camera body.
24.Feb.08When photographing a lot of people, someone is almost always bound to be blinking or striking a strange pose. The more people in your photo, the more photos you should make to ensure good results.
23.Feb.08Traditional photographic prints stopped with acid will usually fade long before prints from other processes. For important work, research acid-free processes.
22.Feb.08An MTF, or Modulation Transfer Function, is a measure of how well a lens reproduces a target of very fine lines. MTF charts are available as a measure of a lens's contrast and effective sharpness.
21.Feb.08When making photographs from the air, be aware that morning or evening light will produce a more contrasty, textured scene, while mid-day light will make the ground appear flatter.
20.Feb.08Once you've found a composition, a tripod is a great aid to getting it just right. Even if you're using a fast shutter speed, a tripod lets you control the position of the frame exactly.
19.Feb.08Try undertaking a '20 steps' project, where you walk in a straight line, making one (and only one) photograph every 20 steps. This exercise teaches you to see creatively wherever you are.
18.Feb.08If you're only going to use a piece of equipment occasionally, consider renting instead of buying. Renting is also a good way of testing equipment before you commit to a purchase.
17.Feb.08A blue filter will tend to lighten blue or cool coloured objects in black and white photography. A blue filter will also create a marked reduction in contrast.
