Category Archives: education

“Why Use Aperture Priority”

By

Bettye Sue Austin

I was using the manual mode each time I shot photos.  Then I tried aperture priority mode.  Now I use this mode 99 percent of the time.

Aperture priority (AV or A) is a semi-automatic mode found on DSLR cameras.  Its main function is to give you control over depth of field (DOF) and sensitivity to light (ISO) while letting the camera automatically adjust the shutter speed (SS), ISO, and sometimes white balance, based on the selected aperture.  DOF is controlled when you select the desired aperture manually.  When you set the desired f-number, the camera can select the shutter speed settings and ISO to produce a properly exposed image.  The lower the f-number like 1.4, the shallower the background.  This causes a blur of the background so you can isolate the subject with a soft background.  Higher f-stop numbers like f/8 and above means everything will be in focus.  The f-stop limits are different for different lenses.  Shooting in the AV mode frees you up to check the composition and other aspects to get the most appealing image.

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“A DISCUSSION OF COMPOSITION IN PHOTOGRAPHY”

By

Roland Pearson

Photographic composition involves arranging visual elements such as form, line, color, and brightness on a two-dimensional surface to create an engaging image. It is the photographer’s skill in structuring and organizing these elements within the frame to convey a specific meaning or evoke a particular emotion.  Renowned photographer Ansel Adams once remarked, “There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept,” emphasizing the importance of a clear and well-executed composition.

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Don’t Toss Your Camera Yet

By

Steve Kuss

I will start with a “plagiarized” paragraph for you:

While the rule of thirds is a commonly used guideline in photography, there are times when deviating from it can create a more impactful image. Overusing the rule of thirds can lead to predictable and boring compositions. Certain subjects or situations may benefit from different types of framing or symmetry, and breaking the rule of thirds can help achieve this.

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Making Connections with Photography

By

Leann Walker

Anyone who knows me knows my passion, not only for photography, but for the outdoors. At times, being indoors feels painful. Relaxation, for me, is picking up my camera and heading outside to capture nature, especially wildlife.

In order for people to see wildlife and nature through my eyes, I try every attempt possible to let my connection to wildlife and nature show through in my images. No matter what my subject is, I want the viewer to feel my excitement and love for the new and exciting things I see through the lens.

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No matter the critics, your photos are okay

By Steve Skuss

I really get a kick out of some REAL photographers. They’re so intense. Things have to be JUST SO. As you might guess, I have an example:

I was attending a public talk aimed at bringing up the quality of the snapshots taken by hikers and other casual wildlife shooters. The subject of waterfalls was discussed, and the attendees were presented with two versions of the same falls. One had the traditional smooth, silky water that real photographers always present. The other had the crunchy, rough and tumble “frozen” water that is what most casual shooters get when they fire off a pocket camera or cell phone. “Which one,” the presenter asked? Sadly (for him), easily two-thirds of the group chose the frozen water. He quite forcefully informed the audience that they were “wrong”.

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Photographing Temples in Singapore

By Geok Hwa Kee Ventrice

Growing up with an illiterate mother, I had to get creative in order to get through the endless weekly math and science quizzes.  My grandmother who came from a long line of shamans suggested the following.  Sandwich between the front and back covers of my textbooks with fresh leaves plucked from an old hunching tree of a Taoist temple next to school.  I failed my quizzes ten out of ten times because being short and scrawny I was only able to collect leaves that had fallen on the ground most brittle and dried.

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Improving Your Wildlife Photography

By Lean Walker

Mohamed Ibrahim once said “Wildlife surprises you when you least expect it” and nothing could be truer when photographing it. Wildlife photography is an exhilarating hobby, especially when looking through the lens and capturing details and beauty of a “wild” animal. Wildlife photography requires patience, research, and a few fundamental skills but minimal travel. Amazing wildlife photography can be captured wherever you are.

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