Photoscout

• Wildlife and Animal Photography

  Taking impressive photographs of animals can be a real challenge, especially if you’re shooting in the wild. For one, you can teach a cat to climb a tree but you can’t tell a tiger, “Hey you, please go stand beside that rock, show your claws and say cheese.” This article offers some helpful tips to help you capture great photos of your furry, feathered, or scaly friends.

  Snap quickly and often

  Snap plenty of photos to go with the unpredictable movements of the animals. When you have the opportunity, get an exposure and focus lock on the animals and snap very quickly and often. Their movements are random - they may move without warning, shake their heads, groom themselves, run away, fight with other animals, etc. You increase your chances of getting great pictures by taking extra photographs.

  Use a fast shutter speed

  You can capture movements at incredible speeds - animals attacking each other or flying away - with a fast shutter speed. For example, when you’re taking shots of flying birds, the shutter speed should be as fast as possible with the available light. A shutter speed of only 1/30 of a second is likely to ruin what could have been an incredible image, reducing the photo into a garbage-worthy blur.

  Disable flash and camera sounds

  Don’t use flash whenever possible to prevent animals from getting startled. In addition for the potential for red-eye, the flash could agitate an animal. Camera sounds may also scare animals. Agitated animals may run away or even worse, attack you. You don’t want that to happen, do you? When shooting animals in the wild, do everything to be quiet, still, and non-threatening.

  Use your zoom

  Use your camera’s optical zoom in capturing details. This is a show of respect to the wildlife. If you want to take a close-up photo, rather than encroaching on the animal’s space and scaring it away, use your zoom in taking a shot from a safe distance.

  Shoot at varying angles

  Shooting at different angles can create amazing effects. Taking a picture of an animal at varying angles can modify the overall look of the shot. If you shoot downwards, the subject can appear diminutive. When you point your lens upward, the subject appears to have ends to have an imposing stature. Even insects could appear larger than their actual size. Taking a photo at an animal’s eye-level shows the animal’s perception of its environment.

  Get the focus right

  Getting the focus right can be a big challenge considering today’s auto focus cameras. Since there are often vegetation, grass, and branches veiling the animals, your camera can focus on these things instead of the subject.. So be very careful that your camera doesn’t focus on that branch of tree in front of the elephant.

  Posted in Outdoor Photography

  October 30th, 2008 / No Comments

• Sports Photography Tips and Help

  All of us have at one time been enthralled by sports photos. It may be Kerri Strug’s gold-winning performance in the 1996 Athens Olympics, and the image of her limping after damaging her ankle on vault. It may be an image of the hot-tempered Marat Safin smashing a tennis racket after losing a point. Or it may even be a naked man chased around by policemen in the middle of a Wimbledon match.

  We all love the human drama in sports images. Here are some photography tips to help you capture images of slam dunks, home runs, soccer goals, tumbling passes, perfect 10’s, outrageous sports fans, and more.

  Know your camera

  Understanding your camera’s features can definitely help you take outstanding sports images. Before going to a game, it is very important to read the camera’s manual and become familiar with its settings. While the rules and the position and movement of the players are predictable, there is somewhat degree of unpredictability that can catch you off guard.

  At the snap of a finger you may need to adjust the shutter speed, aperture, brightness, or contrast in anticipating an awesome photo moment. Scrabbling through unfamiliar menus and settings in the heat of the game is a waste of valuable time and can be very frustrating as perfect photo opportunities come and go.

  Find the perfect spot

  You can only capture images of things that you see. The nearer you are to something or someone, the nearer you can see them. Taking sports photos is no different. You need to get as close as possible to your subject. Photographers with a press pass usually get to the sidelines and other good spots to take pictures, but you won’t be allowed on the playing field all the time.

  Once you made it to the sidelines, expect to jolt with many other photographers for space - those photographers who have worked sweat and blood just to secure that million-dollar space. No matter what, get as near as you can.

  Be familiar with the sports

  Taking great sports photos requires an understanding of the sporting event. It is very crucial to know the game’s rules, the positions of the players, where they are likely to move after a particular action, and when the action is going to speed up or slow down. You also have to know who the star player of the team is or the history of the rivalry between the opposing teams.

  Understanding the sports allows you to know where to position and what to focus at a particular time. It also helps you to snap the shutter at the right time. Becoming familiar with the sports enables you to capture a memorable event.

  Don’t forget the fanatics

  Sports is not only about the athletes, it is also about the fans who boost the players, trash talk the other team, sulk when the team or player they are supporting suffered an embarrassing loss. Sometimes, trash talking among fans result in brawls. Fans can tell the story of an event just as well.

  Whether a wide-angle shot of the crowd doing “the wave’” or an extreme close-up of a fan’s facial expressions during or after a brilliant play, such images can help narrate a story. You can also take pictures of fans interacting with players: basketball players giving high-five’s to supporters, a fan handing out water to a triathlete, or a girl giving flowers to a gymnast.

  Snap, snap, snap

  There will be a better chance that several fantastic pictures will come out if you take more photos. Make the most of your camera’s digital technology. Games have a “blink of an eye” nature so you may find it extremely hard or almost impossible to capture each single moment perfectly.

  Posted in Photography Tips

  October 21st, 2008 / No Comments

• Outdoor Photography in Challenging Environments

  What does it really take to have breathtaking landscape photos? Those photos that make you want to pick up your hiking shoes and bag and head out for the wild. Those photos in the house that remind you that there are mountains and wilderness beyond the skyscrapers and giant billboards blocking the view.

  Some people will say that the subjects are the main thing in outdoor photography. Others will argue for talent, style, and creative vision. On top of that, hundreds of thousands of photography forum gurus will insist that you don’t have a chance if you don’t have the latest Nikon or Canon DSLR. While they might be right, there are much more than these evident elements of photography.

  You need mental fitness

  Anyone can take great photos of the sunset from the side of the road, but it is much more exciting to take shots 15 miles or more away from the road. Only things get even more complicated. Exhaustion eats you up, hiking gears fail, and seemingly good-natured animals may turn into savage beasts that seem to disapprove the idea of you making one last step to take a splendid image of the sunset.

  You need to be mentally tough in outdoor photography. You need to have the ability to concentrate even when your body is very tired. You also have to stay open minded and flexible when you come face-to-face with an extreme weather or have technical difficulties. You must deal with the social and cultural aspects of an expedition. Know the people and share your intentions.

  It is also important that you enjoy challenging outdoor conditions instead of resisting them. It is alright to suffer from time to time. Another important tip is: Don’t overdo it. There are always next trips and it is not a bright idea to burn all your motivation this time.

  You must be physically tough

  Climbing a mountain or penetrating a forest is physically challenging for outdoor photographers. Physical exhaustion can destroy your concentration and if it does, your trip is gone to waste. Therefore, you have to maintain a regular workout and invest into light gear. Planning your route well also saves you time and energy.

  You also have got to have the ability to sprint up and down a hill, get low, climb trees, or become silent as an eel. There are no miracle recipes here. You only have to practice, practice, and more practice.

  Be at the right place, at the right time

  Improvisation isn’t always the right approach to outdoor photography, especially when in a challenging environment. Think ahead and be prepared for your expedition. Consider the gears you have to bring, the size of the group, the route and terrain, camp location, weather, the local people as well as the animals. A careful planning allows you to maximize opportunities.

  Posted in Outdoor Photography

  October 14th, 2008 / No Comments

• Finding a Suitable Model for Your Nude Photography

  Right, so it is your first time to try your hand at nude photography. You have carefully studied the human form and have all the theories you need for application. Now, here is one of the most difficult parts before you can start taking shots: finding a suitable model.

  This is not much of a problem if you are a well-known photographer who have an impressive portfolio, a state-of-the-art studio, and professional business card. But what if you are just starting and relatively have less photography experience? Do not be surprised if potential models run away from you if you approach them on the street. Here’s how you can find a suitable model for your nude photography:

  Project a professional image

  You have to appear professional when approaching and talking to potential models. Show them your portfolio. The portfolio does not need to be a collection of nude photos; show your portfolio to gain the trust of the models. It is better to let the photos do the talking, and take it from there depending on the responses of the prospective models.

  You also have to show them a business card. It should not be just a business card, but a professional-looking business card. A makeshift business card or one that is ripped off part of an old photo paper invites suspicion.

  Do not go for glamor or amateur models

  One option is to get professional or glamor models. Sure, they are definitely good for your portfolio, but there are some major drawbacks. First, professional models can be very expensive. Remember, you are a struggling photographer and you do not have the resources. Second, they may not be in line with nude photography, as they are keeping some image. Third, many professional models are known for their bad temper and attitude.

  Another alternative is to get the services of amateur models. You can even hire nude still life models. But the problem is that while they have no inhibitions whatsoever getting in their birthday suits (or can sit or stand still, holding a specific pose for minutes), they may not be able to animate themselves - an important quality that a nude photography model should possess.

  Go for someone with self-interest

  The third alternative is to find models who would be prepared to pose nude in exchange for a portfolio. These models are likely to put extra effort, resulting in an efficient photo session that translates into great nude photos. These models have the enthusiasm to explore various techniques and perspectives, producing better results compared to perfect but wooden models.

  Build a good relationship

  You have to forge a good working relationship with your models. And build this on confidence. It is very important when you evaluate and criticize the work. Remember that the very first photo session will set the tone for your future work.

  Posted in Photography Tips

  October 2nd, 2008 / No Comments