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.

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.

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.

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.

By

Wandra Krack

August, the month of Milky Way and Web Pictures for Nature photographers, each season and sometimes each month brings forward specific things that are poised for picture-taking.  The month of August, the Milky Way is visible during the late evening and early night skies here and the weather is such that it’s comfortable spending several hours outside. 

By

LoisAnn Shannon

With the introduction of mirrorless systems, sorting out marketing hype is more important than ever when choosing a camera. Is mirrorless here to stay? Will DSLRs become obsolete? Is a separate camera even needed? The answer to these questions is best determined by what you like to shoot.

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”.

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.

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.

LoisAnn Shannon discusses using your phone to take and process images. This video is a great introduction to properly viewing a cell phone as a “real” camera and processing the image in your phone using the Snapseed app.

Follow this link to view her video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kZpDc-2_dlz6t-OmN4d2SIIrRASaBVwl/view