This is a blog about my teaching, research and service with some occasional personal comments thrown in. These are my notes on a variety of topics. If you want to follow my blog posts on a specific topic, then see the Table of Contents in the right-hand column. While I try to work in the realm of facts, logic and moral absolutes, if there are any opinions expressed here, they are my own. -WilliamHartPhD
We shift now from the serious issues addressed in the previous blog post to practical issues of photographing people of different skin tones.
For some written advice read Photographing People of Color, if you are interested. But, here, let's watch a couple of videos with further instructions.
What is an HDR photo? What does HDR stand for? What type of photography is HDR good for?What apps (software) are needed?
How To: HDR photography for iPhone and Android (CNET TV)
What is bracketing and what does it have to do with HDR photos?
In short, bracketing is "taking the same photo more than once using different settings for different exposures"
Secrets of Amazing HDR Photography (revision3)
See the first 5 minutes or so. Save the remaining for later when we discuss photo editing.
Check out some fine HDR photos at BlametheMonkey.com. When looking at the photos on this site slide the vertical line back and forth to see the standard version of the photo vs. the HDR version.
Also see comparisons at Tim Clarke's site. What is the difference between a normal photo and a HDR photo? What preferences do you have? Do you like HDR photos? Pros and cons of HDR?
Quick HDR Landscape Tutorial
Play from 0:00 to 2:15. Save the remaining for later when we discuss photo editing.
What is spot metering and what does it have to do with HDR photography?
Spot metering is a setting on a camera in which "the photographer [takes] control over exactly which portion of the frame [or image in the view finder] the meter should use to determine proper exposure."
Pro HDR App Tutorial on iPhone 4 (with Example Images!)
Pro-HDR - an app that allows you to take HDR photos.
Note: Try the free version first, if you can find it.
Another HDR app that is currently available as a free version is HDR FX Photo Editor (Free) which is available on Android.
There is also a limited HDR feature on iPhones and iPads. Check this video, if interested.
Ever taken a photo like the one to the right where the photo looks a little yellowish? This is a lighting problem. More specifically, this is a white balance problem.
Miokte defines white balance as "the camera setting used to correct any subtle color shifts in an image that sometimes occur in different kinds of light. The white balance setting can be set by either the camera or the photographer, depending on the camera model."
Whenever you take a photograph and you have your camera set on automatic, your camera looks out into the world and makes decisions about what settings to use for ISO, shutter speed and f-stop. We've discussed this previously. Along with ISO, shutter speed and f-stop, the camera also makes decisions about the white balance. And, sometimes it makes a good decision and sometimes it makes a bad decision (like in the photo to the right). When your camera can't seem to get it right, that is the time for you to step in and change the white balance yourself. But, how? Why?
Now with some basics out of the way, let's see specifically how to use white balance setting when taking a photo.
As a photographer, your task is to control light. You are a master of light.
When you turn that dial from "auto" to "manual", you are taking control of the light coming into your camera. Two key ways of controlling the amount of light coming into your camera are by setting the f-stop and the shutter speed.
Here now we have two options for coverage of f-stops, shutter speeds and ISO. Check out at least one of these.
Also, if you are curious and want to get a little more techie, you can optionally check out the following video. Note the exposure triangle.
EXIF Apps and the Exposure Triangle
There are apps that allow you to see the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO settings for your photographs. If you recall, the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO data and other data (e.g., date, time, GPS location) is what is called EXIF data. For android devices one EXIF viewer app is Simple Exif Viewer. For iOS devices an EXIF viewer app is Exif Viewer. A Google search will also show EXIF viewers for laptops and desktops.
Use one of the EXIF viewers and check the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO settings for your photographs. See if the settings or values make sense. For example, would an ISO setting/value of 800 for an indoor photo make sense? Why? Would a shutter speed of 1/2 second for a blurry sports photo make sense? Why?
We shift now from the serious issues addressed in the previous blog post to practical issues of photographing people of different skin tones.
For some written advice read Photographing People of Color, if you are interested. But, here, let's watch a couple of videos with further instructions.
What is an HDR photo? What does HDR stand for? What type of photography is HDR good for?What apps (software) are needed?
How To: HDR photography for iPhone and Android (CNET TV)
What is bracketing and what does it have to do with HDR photos?
In short, bracketing is "taking the same photo more than once using different settings for different exposures"
Secrets of Amazing HDR Photography (revision3)
See the first 5 minutes or so. Save the remaining for later when we discuss photo editing.
Check out some fine HDR photos at BlametheMonkey.com. When looking at the photos on this site slide the vertical line back and forth to see the standard version of the photo vs. the HDR version.
Also see comparisons at Tim Clarke's site. What is the difference between a normal photo and a HDR photo? What preferences do you have? Do you like HDR photos? Pros and cons of HDR?
Quick HDR Landscape Tutorial
Play from 0:00 to 2:15. Save the remaining for later when we discuss photo editing.
What is spot metering and what does it have to do with HDR photography?
Spot metering is a setting on a camera in which "the photographer [takes] control over exactly which portion of the frame [or image in the view finder] the meter should use to determine proper exposure."
Pro HDR App Tutorial on iPhone 4 (with Example Images!)
Pro-HDR - an app that allows you to take HDR photos.
Note: Try the free version first, if you can find it.
Another HDR app that is currently available as a free version is HDR FX Photo Editor (Free) which is available on Android.
There is also a limited HDR feature on iPhones and iPads. Check this video, if interested.
Ever taken a photo like the one to the right where the photo looks a little yellowish? This is a lighting problem. More specifically, this is a white balance problem.
Miokte defines white balance as "the camera setting used to correct any subtle color shifts in an image that sometimes occur in different kinds of light. The white balance setting can be set by either the camera or the photographer, depending on the camera model."
Whenever you take a photograph and you have your camera set on automatic, your camera looks out into the world and makes decisions about what settings to use for ISO, shutter speed and f-stop. We've discussed this previously. Along with ISO, shutter speed and f-stop, the camera also makes decisions about the white balance. And, sometimes it makes a good decision and sometimes it makes a bad decision (like in the photo to the right). When your camera can't seem to get it right, that is the time for you to step in and change the white balance yourself. But, how? Why?
Now with some basics out of the way, let's see specifically how to use white balance setting when taking a photo.
As a photographer, your task is to control light. You are a master of light.
When you turn that dial from "auto" to "manual", you are taking control of the light coming into your camera. Two key ways of controlling the amount of light coming into your camera are by setting the f-stop and the shutter speed.
Here now we have two options for coverage of f-stops, shutter speeds and ISO. Check out at least one of these.
Also, if you are curious and want to get a little more techie, you can optionally check out the following video. Note the exposure triangle.
EXIF Apps and the Exposure Triangle
There are apps that allow you to see the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO settings for your photographs. If you recall, the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO data and other data (e.g., date, time, GPS location) is what is called EXIF data. For android devices one EXIF viewer app is Simple Exif Viewer. For iOS devices an EXIF viewer app is Exif Viewer. A Google search will also show EXIF viewers for laptops and desktops.
Use one of the EXIF viewers and check the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO settings for your photographs. See if the settings or values make sense. For example, would an ISO setting/value of 800 for an indoor photo make sense? Why? Would a shutter speed of 1/2 second for a blurry sports photo make sense? Why?
We shift now from the serious issues addressed in the previous blog post to practical issues of photographing people of different skin tones.
For some written advice read Photographing People of Color, if you are interested. But, here, let's watch a couple of videos with further instructions.
What is an HDR photo? What does HDR stand for? What type of photography is HDR good for?What apps (software) are needed?
How To: HDR photography for iPhone and Android (CNET TV)
What is bracketing and what does it have to do with HDR photos?
In short, bracketing is "taking the same photo more than once using different settings for different exposures"
Secrets of Amazing HDR Photography (revision3)
See the first 5 minutes or so. Save the remaining for later when we discuss photo editing.
Check out some fine HDR photos at BlametheMonkey.com. When looking at the photos on this site slide the vertical line back and forth to see the standard version of the photo vs. the HDR version.
Also see comparisons at Tim Clarke's site. What is the difference between a normal photo and a HDR photo? What preferences do you have? Do you like HDR photos? Pros and cons of HDR?
Quick HDR Landscape Tutorial
Play from 0:00 to 2:15. Save the remaining for later when we discuss photo editing.
What is spot metering and what does it have to do with HDR photography?
Spot metering is a setting on a camera in which "the photographer [takes] control over exactly which portion of the frame [or image in the view finder] the meter should use to determine proper exposure."
Pro HDR App Tutorial on iPhone 4 (with Example Images!)
Pro-HDR - an app that allows you to take HDR photos.
Note: Try the free version first, if you can find it.
Another HDR app that is currently available as a free version is HDR FX Photo Editor (Free) which is available on Android.
There is also a limited HDR feature on iPhones and iPads. Check this video, if interested.
Ever taken a photo like the one to the right where the photo looks a little yellowish? This is a lighting problem. More specifically, this is a white balance problem.
Miokte defines white balance as "the camera setting used to correct any subtle color shifts in an image that sometimes occur in different kinds of light. The white balance setting can be set by either the camera or the photographer, depending on the camera model."
Whenever you take a photograph and you have your camera set on automatic, your camera looks out into the world and makes decisions about what settings to use for ISO, shutter speed and f-stop. We've discussed this previously. Along with ISO, shutter speed and f-stop, the camera also makes decisions about the white balance. And, sometimes it makes a good decision and sometimes it makes a bad decision (like in the photo to the right). When your camera can't seem to get it right, that is the time for you to step in and change the white balance yourself. But, how? Why?
Now with some basics out of the way, let's see specifically how to use white balance setting when taking a photo.
As a photographer, your task is to control light. You are a master of light.
When you turn that dial from "auto" to "manual", you are taking control of the light coming into your camera. Two key ways of controlling the amount of light coming into your camera are by setting the f-stop and the shutter speed.
For a partial introduction to f-stops and shutter speed, check out the following video excerpt from Brian Ratty's video series (Digital Photography - The Camera (Tutorial DVD)). The videos are now a little dated, but still cover the basics well.
F-stops and shutter speeds are not the only ways you can control light. You can adjust the ISO settings or use flash, for example. You can adjust f-stops, shutter speeds, ISO, flash, etc. to get just the right amount of light into your camera -- that perfect exposure.
"Let's Get Techie" does a good job of adding some further details. Note the exposure triangle.
There are apps that allow you to see the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO settings for your photographs. If you recall, the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO data and other data (e.g., date, time, GPS location) is what is called EXIF data. For android devices one EXIF viewer app is Simple Exif Viewer. For iOS devices an EXIF viewer app is Exif Viewer. A Google search will also show EXIF viewers for laptops and desktops.
Use one of the EXIF viewers and check the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO settings for your photographs. See if the settings or values make sense. For example, would an ISO setting/value of 800 for an indoor photo make sense? Why? Would a shutter speed of 1/2 second for a blurry sports photo make sense? Why?
What is an HDR photo? What does HDR stand for? What type of photography is HDR good for? What apps (software) are needed?
How To: HDR photography for iPhone and Android (CNET TV)
What is bracketing and what does it have to do with HDR photos?
In short, bracketing is "taking the same photo more than once using different settings for different exposures"
Secrets of Amazing HDR Photography (revision3)
See the first 5 minutes or so. Save the remaining for later when we discuss photo editing.
Check out some fine HDR photos at BlametheMonkey.com. When looking at the photos on this site slide the vertical line back and forth to see the standard version of the photo vs. the HDR version.
Also see comparisons at Tim Clarke's site. What is the difference between a normal photo and a HDR photo? What preferences do you have? Do you like HDR photos? Pros and cons of HDR?
Quick HDR Landscape Tutorial
Play from 0:00 to 2:15. Save the remaining for later when we discuss photo editing.
What is spot metering and what does it have to do with HDR photography?
Spot metering is a setting on a camera in which "the photographer [takes] control over exactly which portion of the frame [or image in the view finder] the meter should use to determine proper exposure."
Pro HDR App Tutorial on iPhone 4 (with Example Images!)
Pro-HDR - an app that allows you to take HDR photos.
Note: Try the free version first, if you can find it.
Another HDR app that is currently available as a free version is HDR FX Photo Editor (Free) which is available on Android.
There is also a limited HDR feature on iPhones and iPads. Check this video, if interested.
Ever taken a photo like the one to the right where the photo looks a little yellowish? This is a lighting problem. More specifically, this is a white balance problem.
Miokte defines white balance as "the camera setting used to correct any subtle color shifts in an image that sometimes occur in different kinds of light. The white balance setting can be set by either the camera or the photographer, depending on the camera model."
Whenever you take a photograph and you have your camera set on automatic, your camera looks out into the world and makes decisions about what settings to use for ISO, shutter speed and f-stop. We've discussed this previously. Along with ISO, shutter speed and f-stop, the camera also makes decisions about the white balance. And, sometimes it makes a good decision and sometimes it makes a bad decision (like in the photo to the right). When your camera can't seem to get it right, that is the time for you to step in and change the white balance yourself. But, how? Why?
As a photographer, your task is to control light. You are a master of light.
When you turn that dial from "auto" to "manual", you are taking control of the light coming into your camera. Two key ways of controlling the amount of light coming into your camera are by setting the f-stop and the shutter speed.
For a partial introduction to f-stops and shutter speed, check out the following video excerpt from Brian Ratty's video series (Digital Photography - The Camera (Tutorial DVD)). The videos are now a little dated, but still cover the basics well.
F-stops and shutter speeds are not the only ways you can control light. You can adjust the ISO settings or use flash, for example. You can adjust f-stops, shutter speeds, ISO, flash, etc. to get just the right amount of light into your camera -- that perfect exposure.
"Let's Get Techie" does a good job of adding some further details. Note the exposure triangle.
There are apps that allow you to see the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO settings for your photographs. If you recall, the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO data and other data (e.g., date, time, GPS location) is what is called EXIF data. For android devices one EXIF viewer app is Simple Exif Viewer. For iOS devices an EXIF viewer app is Exif Viewer. A Google search will also show EXIF viewers for laptops and desktops.
Use one of the EXIF viewers and check the f-stop, shutter speed and ISO settings for your photographs. See if the settings or values make sense. For example, would an ISO setting/value of 800 for an indoor photo make sense? Why? Would a shutter speed of 1/2 second for a blurry sports photo make sense? Why?
This last post on this topic is not a lecture post. It is more an advertisement or endorsement.
If you get the chance to see the following new documentary, please do. Unfortunately, right now, it is not available for purchase or online screaming. Hopefully, soon it will be.
