Digital Photography Tutorials
The tutorials I write are mainly based on my own photography and techniques, which you may find a little different: I'm not obsessed with equipment, and I don't use Adobe Photoshop.
I generally practice landscape, objective abstract and architectural photography, so my writing will tend to reflect that to some degree.
As I add each tutorial, it will be linked from its introductory paragraph and will appear in the left hand tutorials menu. I will expand and update each section periodically.
I'll be making a start with the following topics:
Digital Cameras
This is one of the subjects that sells magazines and generates a lot of interest on the internet. But to me, a camera is just a means to photography; once you've got a suitable one, you can get on with what really matters: taking photos!
In this tutorial, I give my take on the different types of digital camera, and outline the comparative merits and limitations of each. I also address some of the popular assumptions and misconceptions.
Coming soon ....
Camera Settings
From basic file type, size and quality settings, to your best options with auto-focus, metering and exposure.
Stepping up from full auto - understand all those manual settings and choose the ones that are best for you.
Composition
The most important part of photography! Subject placement and lead-in lines; avoiding even numbers, distracting elements and lines that lead the eye out of the frame; Fibonacci and other religions.
Depth of Field (DOF)
What it is, and how it is affected by aperture, distance from subject, and camera format.
How to maximise DOF by setting focus at the optimal distance, known as the hyperfocal distance; choose to use a shallow DOF compositionally; beware depth of field tables written for film and 8 x 10 prints!
Shooting JPEG or RAW?
Speed and pragmatism, or greater options for archiving and post processing? That sums it up. I explain the pros and cons, and explain the best photo taking routines for each format.
RAW work-flow: Lossless editing of archive files - master working images - preparation of purpose dedicated images for internet and print. Using the histogram to capture maximum "information" and dynamic range for optimal post processing options, exposure latitude and image quality.