PHOTOGROUPS FOTOGRAPHY

MOBILE PHONES V/S COMPACT CAMERAS...just read!

2011-12-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

Well your mobile is your photographer.....There are lots of changes in quality in last two years in the pictures taken by smartphones because of increase in megapixels and the refined sensors rendering good images, leaving behind their cousins .....hahaha, yes the compacts, which were hitherto became a part of all affordable homes....in homes, picnics,travels etc. But the recent development in smartphones left the compacts behind reducing the sale of these cameras by 17 per cent. But still the DSLR, it may be natural, are the choice of all enthusiasts and the professionals....I feel, it will be futile to compare a mobile camera with a DSLR....DSLRs' sale has picked up......Oh, the mobile cameras also deterred the sale of camcorders. Many mobile cameras in video output are trying to produce the HD capability, which was generally incorporated in all types of digital cameras within last two years.... Camcorder's sale too reduced by 13%......The smartphones are cost effective too....With a 3.2 MP camera, the cost is nearly 3k, and for more MPs, pay more, with lots of handy features including the internet, the micro cards with videos and songs to pass your time in a better manner.....I do not advice the smartphone's anytype of use in 2 or 4 wheelers....there are sad incidents, both ears choked with the headphones and taking attention out of the roads.

NOW the choice is yours---smartphone,with a camera, (a necessary inclusion in all good mobiles), compact cameras, though still better than the mobile phones....left on u......But as the above facts reveal, the trend is changing fast.

Nature Photography

2011-12-15T11:39:00.000-08:00

(Photo by Surya Pareek at jjm.)That is all present here which makes a nice beginning in a forum and in shoot too....It takes courage and cleverness to catch the less seen birds beyond the city outskirts.....so naturally, urs is a very good shot......mostly in nature photography, besides the creature, the surroundings too help make the picture better....Nothing bad in the fourground, since it is a natural perch of the bird....

Different camerapersons find different or same birds, but with different situations, sites as is natural....this eagle will not sit on a electric wire and will find more secluded place which the different birds do not venture....As we differ naturewise so the birds, animals or any creature on earth differs. pl carry on....I do agree on lens, but till it renders u sharp images it will work better in your hands. All the best.

FOCUSING IN CLOSEUPS WITH KIT LENS.

2011-12-10T00:10:00.001-08:00

welcome to forum......My opinion differs here regarding your photograph.... IT IS NOT THAT U BROUGHT 550D in front of the flower and shot only one photo....What I feel here, if anybody wants good flowers photographs, focus on the stamen...the judgement of sharpness begins from stamen and the stamen in ur flower is diffused. IT is the case of simply not focusing correctly.
U r new to DSLR...however there is LCD screen to check sharpness and exposure....even with kit lens at 5 inches u will get good focusing on this type of flower at 5.6....however since it is a closeup photography, f8 and f11 r necessary.
--I recommend Shobin's point of underexposing by half stop....As I set my all cameras at half stop minus compensation....In low light I may change to 0 compensation....so it is a matter of choice and lighting conditions....You keep on aperture priority, u shd have to check the aperture each time u remove the lens cap. Otherwise for learning photography and correct exposure setting with Shutter speed and aperture, which play main role, try in MANUAL settings....Once u master and keep reading the light, aperture priority will certainly of great help, finding out the DOF importantly and for high speed shooting Shutter priority I prefer....all the best, Anand.

It is simple Anand...ur autofocus system told u that the flower is in focus...yes, the petals look sharp and there are many points of autofocus on the screen in viewfinder...I generally keep set the point in centre...so I feel less worried...As M_BHAKT says u might have went too close to flower......In closeup focusing with kit lens we move up and down and here ur autofocus system, u thought is working.....I tried with my kit lens, that when I went below the fixed range of focusing, say 5'', there is autofocus signal but no BEEP. Just went above to 5 inch, the beep was heard and that confirmed that the subject is in focus........just remember and pl go through the manual as many times u can...There are assortment of features...Definite they help a lot so we are more confident while shooting.....macros,closeups to landscapes, portraits..and and......just guess??....(with due apology to Anand)....JJmehta forum.

WHITE BALANCE IN CAMERA

2011-12-03T11:25:00.001-08:00

Vimal, as I mentioned I will explore the morning portrait, after viewing Krishna's portrait by u in the morning light with White Balance set on Cloudy.....However, u may hv taken at around 8 a.m., but I took, my grand-son, Vishesh,s portrait, with same setting at around 9.30 a.m. and found out that the yellow persists in 'Cloudy' WB...as I felt and elaborated in www.selfupp.blogspot.com, the yellow is present in morning and evening, and the yellow meant lower temperature was dominant in cloudy WB of higher 8000K temperature set in the camera in morning sunlight...Next this portrait I shot on AUTO WB and got good skin tones and a nice backlighting effect, which persists from Oct to Feb in India. May help many interested membersthnx Doc., Vimal, Aroon, Hansrajji, Ataz, Hellwrath, Sri, Mukund, Udayan, Shobin, Vikram, Mbhakt for your kind words.....
Doc...I feel u have got the answer in the posts above. In digital photography, with lots of features in the camera, many modes become a myth for the common men....For enthusiasts and Pro, where conditions differ, they read the light and do accordingly in camera in JPEG mode or in RAW and rest in pp....However, I agree with Hellwrath,Udayan and Vimal on their use of WB.
--90 per cent users do have compacts and bridge cameras, they hardly feel understanding the utility of WB, except in Auto mode...Even the studio people do use Auto WB while usung electronic flashes, and flash light in marriages and other functions, including outdoors, becoz many of them do not know the use of WB...Yes the serious amateurs r interested to understand the need of changing WB...as I hv noticed in many forums....The next door friend do not bother and the WB remains set on Auto.
-Few yrs back, I cared to use with films, the light blue filter in the evening light and pink filter while in fluorescent....Rest even in Industrial photography, with halogens, I used two, three flashguns and the slight yellow is cut by the printer. ....another blog...www.photogroups.blogspot.com,www.photoblog.com/gop2211.

CROPPING - TO IMPROVE PHOTOGRAPH-AN OPINION.

2011-12-03T11:15:00.001-08:00

Hellwrath....thnx for input& liked ur thinking....However,as I saw A LONG PERIOD with cameras,so when we inserted the b&w neg in the enlarger, every up and down of the enlarger head wud make a different photo, therefore, we made several photographs from the same negative....However there is no hard & fast rule, it is sometimes liking the image as it is or making more photos....This was possible in b&w printing and now again the tools in our hand,in the computer. While getting colour prints done, we had the printer guy at his leisure time to get crops....the photography is multifaceted art and provides opportunities for various type of experimentation...to be a purist, a realistic or an abstractist---Photo of Saanvi by Hellwrath--jjmehta forum.

PANASONIC DMC FZ 150

2011-11-20T10:10:00.001-08:00

I do not say them as new breed of cameras, but yes they are high powered zoom BRIDGE cameras. U can enjoy the SLR design with bigger zooms. So this dream-come-true LUMIX DMC FZ 150 from PANASONIC is worth a buy. I remember its long time old FZ50 with 10.1 MP and 12x zoom with 35-420 focal length. But now technology has enhanced the zooming power with good image quality. And I think you will feel proud to own one, if you have DSLRs or even compacts in your gear.

2) This high end camera comes with 12.1 MP resolution, with the advancement of technology bringing the zoom more wide to cover large area and great telephoto range---24x zoom with 25-600 focal length. CMOS sensor for better quality pictures....It has to its credit the 'nano surface coating' to reduce the effects of internal reflections in its long zoom lens....The camera shoots in RAW as well as JPEG formats. It captures 1080p60 HD movies and has optical image stabilisation, a boon for the shaky hands. Besides 24x optical zoom, it has built in 4x Digital zoom too, to extend focal length further, though with some loss in quality, which, in my opinion, can be rectified in photoshop, if u wish. It also has electronic viewfinder for shooting in broad daylight, if LCD panel is too bright to view. Macro facility comes near to 1 cm and the number of focus points are 23, which is the latest trend, with other cameras too. The lens has f2.8-5.2. A 3'' LCD screen with 460,000 dots and Shutter speeds range from 30 sec to 1/2000. Yea, it has pop-up flash with an hot-shoe for external flash, (it is a bonus for me). The built in flash has a range of 9.5 m coverage....this too is good for pro-photography. U will have Aperture, Shutter priority and Manual modes to control the light reaching the sensor to give optimum quality exposure....70 MB internal memory, with facility of now much in vogue the SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. It is powered by Lithiom-ion rechargeable battery and weighs 528gms....a good support in hand to handle big zoom for sharp pictures.

3) It comes with 16GB memory card, camera case, table-top tripod and spare li-ion battery. So just try at a nearby Cam shop. The cost is approx.$500.

HEADS OFF---MIRRORLESS CAMERAS

2011-10-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

WHY I TITLED HEADS OFF....There is no reflex mirror and pentaprism to provide u a viewfinder,as hitherto has been made in FSLRs and DSLRs....so the design is flat....Do u love new design...Yes I do love....It is a new thing in interchangeable lens cameras...They are more close to compact design cameras, which too do not have mirrors in between lens and sensor, as is found in FILM SLRs & DSLRs. You can view this Samsung beauty, which is a super 20.3 MP mirrorless interchangeable camera with a kit lens--NX200, and has APS-C CMOS sensor, yielding outstanding image quality. In 20.3 MP, the resolution will come to 5472x3648 pixels....With OIS, it has ISO speeds in Auto, 100,200,400,800,1600,3200,6400,12800. The good thing is that it shoots in RAW and JPEG formats. Have 3 inch LCD monitor...and no built in flash, but alternatively has hot-shoe for external flash (my choice)...Other features include optional electronic viewfinder, because there is no reflex mirror and u can view pictures on LCD panel....Shutter speeds from 30 sec to 1/4000 of a second. Shoots high quality HD video and audio channels provide stereo effect, will shoot in high speed continuous i.e 7 fps.also...Samsung has provided magic frame technology, which the user can encapsulate their pix with 13 different stylized frames for magazine covers to holiday themes for fun photos..Storage media is as generally used - SD/SDHC/SDXC....

-Now I feel there are and will be more mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras from other manufacturers, so there will not be any necessity to lock up the mirror to get shake-free photos, as is envisaged many a times, while shooting handheld.....SO WHEN U R GOING FOR A MIRRORLESS CHAMP?

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY DISCUSSION IN FORUM

2011-10-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

thnx Henry for input....reg the inner personality attitudes, I hv gone thru ur post like, low angle:most powerful, dominant,commanding; high angle-submissive etc; eye level-approachable,friendly etc....and the verb 'could be perceived' is not clear to me relating to the adjectives.

-For a novice closely using high angle may either LOOK image distortive i.e. foreshortening....particularly nose reaching out from the face...Portraiture, with angle of view and focal length is a matter of practice. For a full length going 6 feet is still a problem for a photographer for a full length portrait,whether to stand, half bow down or sit down and which focal length (it comes 35mm in 35mm format, which in my opinion is not ideal for full length portrait, as shown in the sketch in the beginning of the post)For bust, it may be alright.

-Reg perspective: this is the art of making some objects or people in a picture look further away than others....here I agree with ur point of space....but if a photographer determines different lengths from the subject, then focal length play a great role rather than moving closer or further from the subject as with prime or fixed focal length lenses....so zooming in and out and changing the focal length maintaing from his particular chosen place makes it necessary to get a correct perspective of the person being photographed. That may define the point of space between the subject and his background. Once again I thnk u.

NOISE /GRAINS IN MODERN SENSOR DCAMs

2011-07-31T14:12:00.000-07:00

The photo uploaded here is shot with a compact dcam at ISO 400, which inevitably shows the grain when enlarged to 100%. The face of my grand son I picked up from the full frame. The details look merged. My point here is that in compacts if we go above ISO 200, the noise appears. The compacts are sold more so concern for general public. However, if you use prosumers or DSLRs, this problem will arise at ISO 800 and above. During film days the photographers generally got the film rating at ISO 100 for most purposes and for professionals ISO 200 and 400 were readily available in small towns too. So most of photographers used ISO 100 film and got best results and enlargements in weddings, travels and all functions, with good sunlight and bright shadows or indoor or outdoor with good brands of powerful flashguns....

The improvement I made in the image by denoising and slight sharpening it, so my worry of getting a grainy/noisy pic is reduced
and I can get a good enlargement of the full image shot on the small sensor of a compact camera....The sensor size is the main issue of having noisy results because of the compactness/thinness of the small cameras. SO IF YOU shoot with a compact, shoot at the minimum noise level set by the manufacturer i.e. may be ISO 80 or 100. The pros who use DSLRs are aware of the problem and therefore set and shoot according to their requirements.

in response to Suraj's macros at jjmehta.com...server cudn't upload.

2011-06-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

Sigma DG macro is a good lens...I too ordered for APO, BUT DUE TO NON-AVAILABILITY, THE RETAILAR SENT THIS LENS AND SHOT at 300mm at f8 and f5 with good results.....u took good macros...The thing u have to maintain is use of tripod with such a heavy lens in low light conditions...and check when shoot, the focal lenth should match with the shutter speed u are using. For example, for a focal length of 300mm, select a shutter speed of 1/500 or 1/300 to take shake free pix handheld...if it is at 70mm, 1/100 or 1/125 will work well. rest u know small aperture for more DOF and wide aperture for shallow DOF

Self Portrait in jjmehta.com

2011-06-06T15:42:00.001-07:00

good...first the light spot at corner of left of lips distracts, cud be cloned...second side lighting is good with two light set up, having good details in the shadows at left of the face...i wish u cud hve more straightened up ur spine, because of wrinkles affecting belly...u cud elaborate the lighting set up as the second light seems behind and more away from the camera...or of low density...the catchlights in the eyes tell the story....thnx....www.selfupp.blogspot.com

SUNSET AT 300mm

2011-05-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

1) The stock agencies make a mention that do not upload sunset or flower photographs...My meaning to say this is that these two subjects are more photographed and agencies have plenty of them....Anyhow my concern here is to show u sunset in a different perspective, because most sunset photographs are shot keeping the sun direct in the camera, and if a lake is there, the reflection within it, beautifying otherwise the monotonous sunset. Here with the above picture in mind, my intention was to shoot the sun in confinement, with reflection in the lake. Moreover a good addition in sunset photographs are clouds, which were absent when I shot this. There were so many trees around and it was a joy to take as many sunsets as possible, which I did...Yes here I am...I was some 1 kilometer from the sun on a road with 300mm lens on my DCAM...I found good silhouettes of plants, trees when viewed through viewfinder. So here is one picture I caught when we started in the car and I was at rear seat, as the scene came around, I clicked a second beforehand in Aperture priority mode and luckily I got sun correctly placed with horizon too in good position. I liked the multiple of branches and leaves on the tree,making a good silhouette...so it was a good moment for me and may be for you too, when you go to shoot more of sunsets.

HIDE & SEEK-(2)

2011-04-18T14:18:00.000-07:00

Yes guys may ask u 'in which paper this will be published'...Cautioned by many factors I carry a office bag 10" long with 3 pockets, one used to keep a prosumer and a p&s or a DSLR with 70-300 and p&s in my pocket. The cam bag,camera,lens all black, so less inhibitions,generally keeping distance, mixing when children are pleased...p&s, i use stucking to my chest,stomach and shooting just pointing not letting them know the shutter is pressed and taking many shots,so get few useful..For hiding, a car is best solution, where there is no rush, better if someone else driving and u at rear seat. If anybody finds shooting and annoyed, better leave the place....I do not get came-bag companies angry, since they are making wonderful/versatile bags, good for vacations, functions, weddings, but not for places like small hutments,walking on road,cautious with thieves, public buses,local trains, gardens, where u need not sit and open the gorgeous bag with costly equipments sitting before the standing people around or passers-by...making a show.

HIDE & SEEK

2011-04-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

1) STRANGE TITLE....IS IT NOT...HAHAHA...yes practical photography that too outdoors is an hide and seek pleasure...or otherwise 'hide and seek run'. Both apply on the mood of the subjects u face, while hunting for photographs...It is photographer's hide and seek. Not to get enraged by the incumbent subject...IT is the photograph above of my g-son fixing a tripod for a shoot, not for local market but e.g.for going to some hilly area or in a night shoot, or having a big lens to shoot in low light...Then it is alright. But to bring good nostalgic pictures from the local temples, or other religious places or in the local market with full swing is rather difficult. WOULD U LIKE TO LOOK LIKE A PHOTOGRAPHER WITH BIG BAG, MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN A DAMSEL, MORE HEAVY THAT U CANNOT HANDLE, AND GOING ON A SHOOTING SPREE, EXPECTING LOTS OF PHOTOGRAPHS. Here the hurdle comes in..and we have to think of taking photographs with a bag dirty enough, not like a photographers's bag...rather a school bag..(there are good bags around for schools, for executives, that may not pronounce the presence of a photographer...or A BUG on seeing ur profile DOES NOT ENTER THE LOCAL PEOPLE U R PHOTOGRAPHING....Contd.....

2) When I opened up my gear, there were surroundings with children,ladies,men asking 'what photo u want...here nobody will give u a photograph'....This is what i am narrating when i opened up my big shining camera bag (telling of a photographer is around)...The people became cautious,shouts at children to let them in and ladies too walked inside. TIME TAUGHT THEM THAT IF THEY ARE PHOTOGRAPHED, THE PHOTOGRAPHER WILL GET THEM PUBLISHED AND EARN FROM THEM..(they fear the exposure of their ladies).

TAMRON TREASURE

2011-03-05T14:00:00.000-08:00

iT IS tamron's endeavour to break the ice. With prosumers stepping up the challenge with high-power zooms, DSLR lens mfrs have also started presenting superzoom lenses. The new Tamron 18-270mm f3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD lens is compact and lighter and is claimed to be the world's lightest & smallest 15x zoom lens. Available in canon,nikon and sony mounts. the lens is made in 16 elements,13 groups. It features 'vibrant compensation'. In this lens Tamron improved their ultrasonic autofocus motor to a new featuring a Piezo Drive (PZD), AN ULTRASONIC AUTOFOCUS MOTOR THAT IS DRIVEN BY A PIEZOELECTRIC CRYSTAL the enables faster,quieter AF compared to DC motors.

The lens has minimum aperture of f22 at 18mm and f40 at 270mm...minimum length 88mm & maximum length 96.4mm. weighs 450gm. lenshood-flower-shaped. The cost in India-- MRP Rs.45,950. (photo &^ detail courtsey,SP)

Water-proof camera from Kodak

2011-02-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

Kodak is a pioneer company for photography products since its inception. Amongst the chain of digital cameras, Kodak has come out with the cheapest of water-proof camera, Easyshare Sport, which has 12 MP, 5x digital zoom and 2.4 in LCD screen. The camera shoots photographs underwater as deep as 10ft, featuring Company's smart capture technology. The camera is to launch in March 2011, & will cost $79.95 (Rs.3625)breaking the myth that only costly cameras can shoot underwater photography. By look, it is a compact P&S design camera. Lens aperture is yet to be announced, though it will not disappoint the user as there is sufficient reflective life during day time under the water. Hope many will enjoy and many may look skeptically because of cost and p&s factor. However enthusiasts can keep as a backup camera in underwater photography.....(photo courtsey BP Mag).

EVERY DETAIL COUNTS

2011-01-19T12:45:00.000-08:00

I THINK MY BLOGS may have helped many, as these go into the basics of photography, though not starting from the scratch, like advent of photography, film, or cameras, whether film or dcams. However when anybody has a camera in his hand, he understands, what he has to do. While photographing outdoors, concentrate solely on smaller details, and observe them minutely. This is the way, u are shooting, making ur photograph, or doing an assignment. You wud require to wait hours for the subject, lighting, keeping in mind the surrounding areas, which may include unexpected frames and moments, patterns, lines, horizontal or vertical, may be diagonal, curves, spirals, geometrical designs like triangles, perspectives, polygons, circles, textures and much more as ur patience awaits. The scene above I shot at 5 pm and it gave me good chance to observe its details and the beautiful lighting. Getting ahead will pay a lot, as described above with inclusion of ur imagination.

VISUAL CREATIVITY

2010-12-04T12:08:00.001-08:00

THERE IS PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND EVERY PICTURE. What satisfies me may not satisfy other person. Therefore the question is legitimate? Where does the visual creativity come from? This being an almost unanswerable question and nobody has yet explained and the reply does not emanate from the camera itself. The reason may be we are too impatient and distracted...We do not wish to give enough time for the factual assessment of the picture. Photography is enriched with all around objects concerned with light and form, textural pattern and interplay of colours. U are a photographer. there it needs that u deeply involve and bring out the possible and impossible.
In the adjacent picture u will find interplay of not many colours,but form,and texture. It is an intentional proposition.

VIEW LIGHT BEFORE CLICKING.

2010-11-10T13:38:00.001-08:00

Here in the position of the car, the light is low because of clouds and adjacent trees...Yes low lighting is tricky and challenging. U need to apply all ur understanding to find out the right exposure without missing ur subject from clicking..U may encounter low light situations when photographing cityscapes in the evening, during rains with heavy clouds or in dusk and night time. Besides this may happen in private lowlit parties and events....THE LIGHT WILL NEED BIGGER APERTURE to allow maximum of light to pass thru camera to sensor....If this does not work and u get still underexposed photos, try to decrease the shutter speed to low which because of dull light, may be at lower side. Here, u will require a tripod. the most essential help in trouble....The other thing remains to satiate ur desire to capture the low light photograph, is to increase the ISO setting on the camera...This will increase chances of u getting more slower shutter speed for perfect exposures....therefore u can come home with some good stuff....In the photo of the car above, i used evaluative metering which read most of the light falling on the car body, then i did one stop minus exposure compensation to have subdued whites.

MODELLING CAN BE A PART-TIME JOB TOO.

2010-10-22T14:01:00.000-07:00

There is a hussle and bustle amongst the crazy youngsters, particulars girls to be printed on the pages of newspapers and magazines, besides earning something. U cannot hold up without money in the glamour world. No doubt u may need patronage, a good figure, a calculative brain since this is a COMPETITION world.

2. It has become general and frequent to arrange auditions in town and cities to pull up the young gals and guys in the name of MISS, MR, MRS & MR OF SO AND SO....and earn huge profits..The trend is alluring as they advertise that this or that celebrity is also joining or judging to fetch more audiences. Local shops, business men or newspapers also become part of the trade to let the confidence set in the entrants. Any how if the gals have decided to try their luck and make a better future, here are some tips to do it as a housewife or as a part-time change......next

MAKING PICTURE IMPRESSIVE-CROP

2010-10-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

A SILHOUETTE OF BOATS. In general people do not follow the purist's photography. No doubt, purists have their opinions on clicking images and what they shoot, do not touch part of it for anything whether for statement or enhancement. However, there are many who follow part of purism and part of their own addition/correction, until they are satisfied.

2.Nevertheless, in my opinion, u might have made a good picture but the presence of some unwanted elements ruin the beauty of the composition. In some cases, obstructive elements like these can easily be eliminated by use of 'crop' tool in photoshop. Thus u can employ changing the focus and format of ur image, besides emphazing the subject in different ways. The crop tool help to cut imperfections and make the picture perfect.

3. Would u like to view the composition of the above picture, converted to b&w, removing two elements by the crop tool. Now the emphasis is at the right side boats and the man entering from left balancing the picture with his presence in front of the inanimated objects. The middle boat joins them and the distant water adds depth to the scene...some vignetting puts ur attention in the centre and then to the rest of elements. That is why in some cases vignetting is important.

DRESSING UP DURING FESTIVALS-RAKHI

2010-09-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

DRESS SENSES PREVAILS EVERYWHERE whether a family in India, Western countries or far East such as China, Korea, Indonesia etc. because it is a sort of decoration of the human body, in gents or in ladies. But being a witness to thousands of occasions, I witnessed that it is the ladies who overrides man in sense of colour, gorgeousness, draping, where men can but to see without closing their eyelids. Nobody leaves behind in getting the best of ornaments, new, polished, gold, silver, hybrid...but they have to decor the women bodies, whether in more tradional ways or keeping pace with modern gadgetry. They are to look wonderful. Mirror is the witness? How many times a lady came before it. Count for example 10 ladies and the mirror score??? From photography pov look for coordination in the colour of clothes and try to pose your subject in the way that the importance is given to colour hormony. Most suit them are the vibrant, bold or even pastel colours. If u wish to break the monotony, try mixing around the colours to get a more casual and elegant look... This is one of the most important of hindu festivals where the sisters' tie 'rakhi' on the right wrist of their brothers and in case ladies to ladies they tie on left hand (what an importance is given in India)-the man-on right hand, woman-on left hand. Thus the brother assures security to the sisters in their life to come. The brother give gifts to sisters for bond of love. gshroti@gmail.com

PHOTOGRAPHY:EXPRESSIONS

2010-08-31T14:08:00.000-07:00

In pictorial or rather general photography, expressions count much, whether they are human beings or other things part of nature, besides animals.

2.Here I uploaded a photograph of two statues, one is cutting the tree and other stopping it. Though they do not have life, but convey much to protect our environment, than the thousand words.

3. A human being or animals cannot remain without expressing their inner feelings which are normally manifested through their faces. First when a child is born, we are tended to see his face what expressions he conveys as ordained by God. When he/she smiles, our hearts are full of happiness...When he cries, with mother we too become dull, what has happened. So the expressions of happiness, sorrow, anxiety, boredum, yawning, crying, laughing etc are felt throught the life. They are captured in the camera of men, women, children. As with above, the animals too rejoice, suffer and express in their silent way...birds too show feelings by their voice, their leg movements, their wings.

4. Even in nature, the plant express themselves. See them or their forms in the morning, before and after rising of sun, see sunflowers, how do they express that even a child can describe their movement. The noon sunlight affect them--the flowers, leaves, branches etc and evening it may be a different formation of expressing themselves. In India, we feel that the trees sleep as the night sets in, so we do not touch or even refuse our children not to disturb a sleeping tree.

VISUALISE IMAGES BEFORE U CLICKS.

2010-08-20T13:37:00.000-07:00

Many photographers in enthusiasm or mesmerised by the digital camera start shooting randomly..Not a single shot will be worth the viewing, only because of so many or unnecessary elements and otherwise going idle in composing the picture either in the LCD panel or viewfinder...Result? They feel dismayed....WHY? Only some of your brain skill, which is already in you, may help a lot with some carefulness. Here I wuld like to emphasise that pl learn to see your shot without having to look through your camera's viewfinder or LCD. You shd use your hands to make a virtual viewfinder frame and see your scene through it (like a film director). This will pave way for you to understand composition, position of lighting, selecting or removing unnecessary objects from ur ultimate image. These are the basic steps. If you wish to go ahead, there are several branches of photography, which will entertain you or help you to be a professional photographer earning livelihood from your camera, as I did.
www.selfupp.blogspot.com

RAINS--LET COME ALIVE

2010-08-02T13:51:00.001-07:00

IT is interesting to photograph in rains. It is a different sort of feeling holding camera during rains, hiding yourself in some shop, bus stand or ant protective where your equipments are safe. Since the atmosphere may go darker, u wud need slower shutter speeds. Therefore, it is essential to avoid camera shakes and improper focusing.U will have to use a UV filter over the lens to protect the lens from rain drops and then getting it scratched while wiping out rain drops. A good filter is ND filter when it is raining and light is brighter to use it to get slower shutter speeds. Rain photographs need not be restricted to rainshowers only....u can shoot ripples and coronets that are formed when rain water hits the ground/roads.

2. The light during rain is so low, that u may need to increase the ISO during daytime too. This will add noise to the photograph. I think noise is a part of a photograph...u can use noise to your advantage converting images to b&w.

3. The above photo i shot from the windscreen of my car, while it was drizzling. You can view the light reflection of scooter on the road and the distorted lamp post because of slipping water on the glass, with more diffusing effects. This is an example. finding out possibilities is endless.

MOISTURE IS ENEMY OF CAMERA EQUIPMENTS-(40)

2010-07-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

YOUR CAMERA EQUIPMENTS are not safe round the year, particularly in rainy season or when more humidity persists in the atmosphere. Therefore, the camera owners have to be more cautious about their costly gear, in handling and storage especially. If they are travelling to a wet humid place, carry a large plastic bag, which can be quickly draped over the camera bag and can protect them too from a light shower. It would be better if silica gel pouches are kept inside the camera bag. It will protect the camera from moisture. At the end of their shoot, they can sit in a dry place in home/hotel and wipe all the equipments with a dry lint free cloth. It may happen that the camera bag might have gotten wet. Take out and pl do not store the equipments in it. Let the bag dry fully, while cameras can remain in some dry place like a table. If they have a table lamp with a tungsten bulb in it, switch it on and focus the light onto the equipments. It will keep them dry and ready for the next shoot. A cupboard's column may be used by placing a tungsten light bulb and keep it on for half an hour over the equipments. When sun comes out from clouds, particularly in winter, the equipments can be placed in an open verandah for some time. the light of the sun should not be too hot, like summer or in other months. The above procedure will prolong the life of the equipments and save them from fungi and costly repairing charges.

MONSOON ENTERS--BE PREPARED.

2010-07-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

THE RAINS JUST STARTED. I switched my ISO TO 3200...therefore a good amount of noise. Took it on manual mode at f3.5 and 1/13. The light is against the lamp-post. you can visibly see the yellow effect of an halogen lamp...the rest blue area is lighted by tubelights and was 200ft away. Therefore i got the distance in the picture. The rains were close to my gate...and it was a good downpour. The halo effect i could not get because there were tree branches near the lamp-post.

2. However one way to capture the droplets of water on a glass pane, try to include the light source like a street lamp in the background. This will show droplets more vibrant and make them stand out clearly. One easy way is to keep the light source out of focus so that the water droplets stand out clearly. Next, you can create another interesting effect by shooting the droplets as bokeh by blurring them out.

3. The lighting conditions during daytime with a good directional sunlight will capture rain effectively. The backlight plays a good role here to bring out the drops of water more clearly. Thus you can try several angles for the prominence of the rains. The sidelight will help light up raindrops partially and add a three dimentional effect to the overall picture. You can use your on camera flash to freeze the droplets during night or after it is dark...Making still life objects, freeze raindrops in closeup mode inside the room by using on/off camera flashes.....LOOK out for the perspective of your subject including with rain water. Avoid camera shakes and wrong focus, not to lose your best efforts.

PHOTOGRAHY:HOW CLOSE SHOULD WE GO?-37

2010-06-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

IT is a common question in every person having camera and going to shoot...For example he is snapping a friend standing in the garden....He may be in confusion whether to cover whole garden or his friend only....However, generally the closer the better. The nearer the camera to the subject, the larger its image grows in the viewfinder/LCD screen. At the same time surrounding details disappear.

2. NOW TO THE PERSON PHOTOGRAPHING HIS FRIEND HE WILL HAVE A VIEW FROM THE FAR END OF THE LAWN, most of the lawn, larger part of the adjacent house together with greenery in the form of bushes, assorted weeds etc... But before the person clicks, his friend would like to prefer a picture of himself. As he goes closer, gradually the trees of the drive move off the edge of the picture. The bushes at the other edge will follow suit, while the roof of the house and quite a lof of surplus garden will disappear at the top and bottom. As we move further closer, the viewfinder will just show full personality of the friend....If the person wants to end here,he should leave it at that. Or wish to go nearer still for a head and shoulder portrait or even a close up of the face, he can go more closer. But in close up of face, use the lens at tele end not to show any distortion of the face...This small pace will teach the person a lot.

POINTS TO HAVE STRONG COMPOSITION..

2010-05-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

We just go on shoot...the subject is enchanting, we cannot move our eyes from it, wish to use flash, can include some more things, so beautiful a perspective, high angle will suit it, sunlight or diffuse light will suit???---These and more questions come in the mind when we have a camera in our hand...There is no end of temptations.

2. Therefore in the experts' view the compositional balance is perhaps the single most important aspect of an image. SIMPLICITY AND A CLEAN COMPOSITION is often more difficult to achieve than a complicated effect. TOO MANY ELEMENTS FIGHTING FOR ATTENTION can confuse a viewer...However in order to have a good classification from composition pov, have a look at the following:

2.1 Subject placement for emphasis: here rule of thirds and following diagonals are some of the basic guides to look out for;
2.2 Distractions in the frame: A good photographer knows what to include or exclude...Anything that is not the part of the subject or its context is a distraction.
2.3 Framing, orientation, camera angle and perspective, these should the subject and the theme.
2.4 Ignoring of these will hamper ur final selection of the image...since a complete photograph is loved by the viewer, the judges in competition, or the audience in ur own solo photo exhibition.

3. In the above photograph, u will find simple placement of the sketch-pens. However, colour makes the difference...The red cap is dominating so placed at rule of thirds....both corners are neutral colours and does not allow eye to go out of frame but help to come on the red...On the paper there are diagonal lines...they give strength to the placement of the pens---a combination of horizontal and diagonal make it a pleasing composition. Otherwise there are so many colours such as: green. white, orange, blue, white of paper but compressed in single composition dominated by red.

BE YOUR OWN CRITIC

2010-04-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

''BE YOUR OWN CRITIC'' is not a simple word...It has lot to say. As you go to a tailor for getting your shirt or pant stitched, you will notice that he follows certain norms, they may be general in category, but that please you...''OH THAT MASTER IS A GOOD TAILOR'' and suggest his name to others...So a photograph needs certain norms to be followed to look pleasing. As I viewed thousands of photographs on sites and in competitions...there is great difference in the photographs submitted for competitions and photographs uploaded on sites...WHY? The photographs submitted in competitions are by serious enthusiasts and pros, who know the norms of formal photography and follow the rules of composition.

2. There are forums on sites, where the learners, the enthusiasts and pros share their photographs. What I want to explain that the pros have that eye, that perception, that post-processing process, which makes their photographs out of the ordinary and they do hard work on it from the time of shoot......where if we wish to find some lacunae, it is difficult for us since the pro concerned took care of the photograph from finding of the subject, exposure, DOF, placement of focal point, leading lines, balance of the objects, colours (colours have a psychological effect in a photograph, since they are warm, cool, vibrant, dull, pastel toned etc.).While the photographers in a learning process, copy other photographer's work, shoot the images and take them as final without giving them a second thought....Copying is not bad, but study the ingredients, follow them and make ur own style with those norms.

3. One photographer wrote, 'i do not follow the rules but ''shoot with intuition''.' I think everyone's intuition does not take him astray...The dictionery meaning of the 'intuition' is "'immediate mental apprehension without reasoning, immediate insight''''. Then what is reasoning in your photograph...Is it a hollow question mark? If it so, give it time to think, to reason, to calculate the work of art, put the ingredients responsible to make it spicy, that interest the people, your own colleagues, your own family members. Otherwise you SIT WITH A CAMERA IN HAND AND YOUR PET DOG IS PLAYING NEAR YOU...NOW YOUR INTUITION ORDERS YOU TO TAKE A PHOTO OF IT....TILL YOU OBEY THE INTUITION AND CLICK THE BUTTON, THE DOG IS OUT OF FRAME AND ONLY HALF HIS BODY IS WELL CAPTURED....following intuition is fine till other parts of your brain adjust with it and u take a complete picture.

AMBIENT LIGHT NEEDS FLASH TURN OFF

2010-02-23T12:23:00.000-08:00

SOMETIMES PHOTOGRAPHERS MAY NEED TO GIVE THE AMBIENT LIGHT EFFECT to their images...the images will have a warm effect, which will look different from what anybody gets in sunlight, daylight shadows and with flash which throws light equivalent to daylight.

2. Warmer effect may depict a different mood, that is why i chose the ambient light i.e. tungsten light to lit this portrait of my daughter...The background too matches the warm effect, because i used a cream coloured walled at a distance from the subject...The effect i wanted is easily achieved.

3. Here while shooting this sort of photography, the the photographer will have to switch off his builtin or separate flash....these moody shots anybody can take in home with sufficient light by slightly increasing the ISO(generally 400 or 800 will work better without tripod or with tripod), in the parties, where flash light is not allowed or flash will mar the original effect of the hall concentrating light upto a particular distance, in the theatres, where the artists' moods are shown by their own light arrangements, on the roads or in night where again the restricted flash light will distract the overall luminance of the ambient lighting, reading under the table lamp light and shot the mood of study...there are so many like occasions where ambient light is photographers main light source....exploit it to ur best.

INNOCENCE LOVED

2010-02-02T00:09:00.001-08:00

THE EASIEST OF THE TARGET OF THE CAMERA ARE THE INNOCENT CHILDREN...they are around u, in home, on streets....and i feel, it is one of the most pleasurable moment for the photographer to click them.......few days back i was passing thru a village, where i wanted to capture a small girl of 9 yrs.....but on looking at the camera, she ran away....the girl from poor farmers' family....then my wife offered some money....she was clever enough...said she ''give me the money, but do not take photo....she came 3-4 times near the car for money, but as i raised the camera, she ran away....however, i managed to get one shot, but since the camera was on average metering, the image underexposed, being backlighted....

2.Anyhow, i enjoyed shooting these three children on the stage in a programme...they are more curious...though they know that they are being photographed....but their emotions are wonderful...they represent flowers here and as i raised the camera, they expressed themselves, which amused the audience. I got my shot...thank u little ones...long live ur innocence.

SOLAR ECLIPSE

2010-01-17T11:44:00.000-08:00

This great moment was held on 15.1.2010. the time was 1.30 pm when it was at its maximum at my place...otherwise there were lucky persons where it was full and made a magnificent ring.

2. Photographers like me have their bindings having maximum focal length of 300mm....we try with this range...In the beginning the exposure seemed difficult....however when i saw the camera button, the setting was on Av and the sun was being overexposed....Immediately, i shifted to manual and turned the shutter speed at 1/3200 and aperture at f16 with the viewing filter over the lens, which made the image slightly soft. However, my first setting went right I shot 5-6 pictures and this is the enlarged version on photoshop.....Which we used to do with Enlarger on B&W FILM AND PAPER TAKING IT HIGHER for image magnification, some 30 yrs back.
NOW THE THINGS OR WORKING OR GADGETS HAVE SQUIZEED and minimum of effort is put to get the grand image.

3. However not all the digital cameras are providing multi-exposure facility, except in nikon D80, Canon i do not know....With milti-exposure facility we can make many images or sequence on one frame....this facility was there on many film cameras....or we cud make stable the frame by pushing up the sprocket button below at base plate....I feel, this will come slowly in many more cameras....it is very much relevant for creative photographers.

SEPARATING SUBJECT FROM BACKGROUND

2009-12-09T12:50:00.000-08:00

THERE are times when the subject faces the sun from its back....the term can be called as backlighting effect, against lighting or contre-jour effect...The effect is again used as rim lighting, making a halo on the borders of the subject's body.

2. In broad sense, this can be used to define your main subject, making it stand out against, particularly, dark background....this subtle rim lighting simply defines the shape of the subject, a stronger effect can help u create a beautiful halo around it, as stated above...This adds a magical touch and can make an otherwise normal subject look extraordinary.

3. Here the monkey is well defined with the subtle backlighting effect and has its independent identity, separated from the background.

SHOOTING IN BLACK & WHITE

2009-11-23T10:36:00.001-08:00

THE FIRST TONE, THE MAN LEARNT AFTER DISCOVERY OF PHOTOGRAPHY PROCESS WAS THE MONOTONE IMAGE....The development brought us to digital stage and still it is the favourite medium of thousands of photo enthusiasts....colour cud not beat monochrome.

2. no doubt, colour presents the true representation of the atmosphere on the earth...but to talk from an artist's point of view, many of them still do not like the full presentation of the colours and turn to monochrome for solace....Monochrome images are more evocative becoz they rely on differences in tonal values, irrespective of colour. You need to visualise the tonal differences in the frame while composing ur picture because when colout contrast fades away, subject that usually stand out clearly from one another, begins to merge...Learning how to visualise tonal values in a scene...Balancing them in the essence of making great monochromatic image which consists of white, black and the grey as can be seen in the above picture of Taj Mahal---representative of all three tonal ranges..........gshroti@gmail.com

STILL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WITH A PUNCH--2

2009-11-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

6. TRY TO KEEP MOVING THE LIGHT SOURCE UNTIL U GET THE MOST ATTRACTIVE EFFECT.

7. Top lighting is a very good way to start, since this resembles the natural light best.

8. The light from the source can be softened either by the use of translucent material or a tracing paper if needed...

9. Add a second or third source only if u have clearly realised the need for it.....

10. The same method can be applied using reflectors... Use it only if u need it and watch the reflections are playing on the subject.....Use them when u need light in darker areas or to separate the tones.

11. The most important is the arrangement of the subject...GEOMETRICAL patterns such as form, lines, rows and gentle curves in the subject appeal to the eye.......therefore, if u have not started still life photography, start now with the points noted above keeping in mind.

STILL LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WITH A PUNCH

2009-11-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

1. THIS subject has a people with particular bent of mind....The best choice for them is to photograph inside a home, or in their studio.....no disturbance--but full concentration.

2. Simplicity is always the best. IN THE BEGINNING, ONE SHD START WITH A SIMPLE SUBJECT.....The most important is the background and that shd be plain.

3. The set shd be rigid such that it cannot be modified or reconstructed as the shooting progresses.....BESIDES a range of options shd be explored to determine the best angle....besides instead of a table, one can choose to place the subject on the ground for a better viewpoint.

4. Do not be too experimental at the beginning...Start with one kind of light until u are more confident --either a tungsten or a fluroscent shd do the job........

5. Begin at eye level, but do not ignore other view points, which could be directly above or below...........to continue.............gshroti@gmail.com
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PHOTOGRAPH....INFANTS/CHILDREN--THE EASY & DIFFICULT SUBJECT

2009-10-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

I have encountered many studios and the pro not taking assignment to photograph infants or a child...

I also faught with an incident when the boy being forcibly photographed by the parents...they wanted to send his photographs to relations outside...The boy kept weeping and the mother was furious....i tried to console her, she replied that he does like this and i cannot get him photographs....and lo....the child came down from the small chair and bleeding from nose....I was worried about the mother's disgustment....At last they had to depart for another time.

In another the 3 yr old boy will throw aways all toys, chairs and jump with laughter...he was another kind...the mother and father were happy (see contrast from above), consoling the photographer.....''wait sir, he will be right in moments'' and after half an hour's torture to the photographer, the coupled left with no good photograph to be hanged on the wall.

Another saying goes ''one way to get in to the hearts of every mother is to take lovely photographs of her children.''.....and in this tough competition with camera's in every hand, u have to come out successful with a dozen excellent photographs.....THERE is no doubt that a children's photographer in many was has to be a psychologist.

NATURE ABOUND - TO EXPLORE

2009-10-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

I think ours is a busy life and only bird-watchers/photographers are interested in these creatures...but their company soothes our soul...since they are a part of our life--though many of them immigrate and others migrate, but still remain a part of us and this can be vouchsafed by a devoted environmentalist.

2. When we think or nature or wildlife photography, we only think of specialized and extensive shoots that take us to national parks, hill stations, and similar places...Next we must realise that nature is all around us...Photo opportunities exist in our very own gardens or backyard. Your garden is an ideal place to shoot macros of insects, or even abstract photographs of plants and tree branches, dry as well as green, ponds with birds as shown in the photograph..........to continue.....gshroti@gmail.com

DO U LIKE CAMERA SHAKE?

2009-10-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

I shd admit that i have a shaky hand, in terms of the weight of the p&s cameras...nearly 3-4 cameras I bought, weighing 100-115 gms...and when i pressed the shutter, the result will be a shaky one, leaving few in sunlight.....Generally, I am comfortable with dslrs OR PROSUMERS WEIGHING 500 gms. and above.

2. Next i want the shutter release button on top plate of the camera, which is common on the front of the hand grip....and also wud like to have a viewfinder in small p&s dcams...The LCD monitor works as a viewfinder, then u have to learn the trick to hold the camera steady, having eye on the LCD panel...which may also result in a shaky shot.

3. The most easy way to use a tripod....but 99 percent, in candid and general photography and fast moving shoots, it is not possible to handle the heavy weight of the tripod....and in public in the market, u become a showpiece....The dcam mfrs. have therefore developed anti-shake systems incorporating in their cameras.

4. PANASONIC has achieved this by getting the sensor to move thereby cancelling the effect of camera shake. Panasonic has further invented a new antishake system, in which the CAMERA automatically boosts the ISO and the shutter speed to avoid the blur....Olympus has followed it by boosting the ISO in order to check camera shake.

5. In dslrs some companies have incorporated IS or vibration reduction system within their lenses....A group of elements move to combat the camera shake....Other manufacturers have adopted a different system...They have incorporated the anti shake system within the camera body...
Therefore, they have their own views for incorporation of the anti-shake system, either in the lens or in the camera body. However, this is a great advantage for people like me.

TEXTURE IN FACES

2009-10-11T13:28:00.001-07:00

Find out the subjects who have good texture on their faces, may be man or woman....there are many people around...only u have to click them....

2.Texture makes a significant contribution to the expressive qualities of any photograph whether in support of other visual elements or as the main element on its own....

3. Texture is directly related to the sense of touch...It is a three-dimensional relief of surfaces that is visible to the eye and can be experienced with touch.....

4. U can experienced the above with the photograph of this great grandma (though i do not know her), who posed for me.

A PHOTOGRAPH CAN CONVEY A STORY

2009-09-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

A photograph can convey emotion, mood, ideas and messages, all important aspects of story telling...Stories come in all shapes and sizes and u can settle upon the form that suits ur style best....U can make singular, standalone pictures that capture the essence of an event or an experience.

2.Single image stories are powerful not only because of all the elements excluded by them...Unseen elements of a photograph can evoke a lot of thoughts as well. Avoid trying to put every single element of a story in every picture that u make....Instead try shooting a series, each photograph having a few elements encompassed within it.

RAINY SEASON SHOOT

2009-09-27T14:18:00.001-07:00

THIS IS A DIFFERENT ENJOYMENT from ur round the year shooting schedule. U are afraid of lenses, cameras being wet, lenses catch fungus...and lots of worries.

2. Leave them aside and find out waterfalls, flowing rivers, lakes, foliage, grass are great subject to shoot in rain...Vegetation comes alive with the rains and new leaves and shoots will have beautiful green colour.

3. The even diffused lighting from the cloudy sky only helps to enhance this. Rain also has the ability to wash dirt and dust away so u can capture the original colours of the subject, be it a tree or a building.

4. Use a polarising filter to remove any glare coming off rocks or leaves, unless u intentionally want to retain the reflections....Avoid including the sky, since an overcast sky will appear white or almost white in ur final picture without lending any depth (can do some pp work on it later on, if shot).

5. Lots of insects growup in the rains which make a good subject for macro.

WATER PHOTOGRAPHY

2009-09-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

Water is perhaps one of the most commonly photographed subjects -from waterfalls to ripples, waves, reflections, rivers, lakes, sea and so much more.

2. U can be extremely creative to exposures to bring out different images--use short exposures to freeze water in motion- unexpected shapes and droplets will reveal themselves...

3. In daylight add a Neutral Density filter to increase exposure times and give moving water a glossy marble effect....At dusk or night, u can achieve similar effects without the filter....

4. Try different shutter speeds to control the amount of effect u will achieve....U CAN CHOOSE COMPOSITIONS AND VANTAGE POINTS THAT WILL MAKE IT look like a water is coming right out of the image....Don't ignore rivers and falls in winter, when freezing temperatures turn swirling flows into excellent frozen shapes......The techniques are not difficult, but need some practise before venturing into thr job...

COMPOSING A PHOTOGRAPH PICTORIALLY

2009-09-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

Every photographer's desire is to become a popular and esteemed cameraperson in the society....But there are some exercises which u have to observe to keep fit ur photograph to that extent....pl go thru below:

1. one main center of interest shd be there and it shd be placed in a suitable and strong position.(see below).

2. the rest of the things in the photograph shd be in harmony with the main subject and not confusing.

3. there shd not be too many things to compete with each other and distract the attention from the main subject.

4. background and foreground shd be simple and not disturbing.

5. leading lines shd carry the eye to the main subject.

6. tonal gradation shd be well balanced and in proper order.

7. never place the main subject right in the centre. Best wud be to use rule of thirds i.e. divide the picture area, vertically and horizontally into three parts. This way u get four points of intersection., and any of these points are good for the placement of ur main subject.

8. in landscape outdoors,always keep the horizon line either below or above the centre of the picture and never in the middle.

9. if the picture has action, i.e. moving figures in it, than allow more space in front, towards the direction of the movement.

10. similarly in portraiture, leave more space towards the side in which the model is looking.

11. always see that the horizon line is parellel to the base of the picture. Never tilt it to any one side.

12. however, there are times for the subject to be strong in position, that u wish to avoid some of the rules listed above, u are free to do it in the interest of the picture..........gshroti@gmail.com

TECHNICALLY EVALUATE UR IMAGES

2009-08-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

Generally the photographers, particularly the enthusiasts become critical over their images, especially in following the pictorial photography rules. We do not deny, that the rules cannot be broken...But first go through the below:

Good images have certain basic requirements, beginning with a good exposure. The focus, control over depth and main subject sharpness are also important properties of a good image. Images that conform to these wud interest a viewer.
Conforming to compositional rules and guides are also quite important and come next...SOMETIMES, u will deliberately BREAK THE RULES. EITHER TO SUIT THE SUBJECT OR TO EXPLORE UR CREATIVITY. Your reasons for doing so shd be strong and valid for the image to stand out.

Also ask, are there details in the image? Is the tonal range, colour rendition, and saturation of colours, true to the original scene? Is the technique that has been used to shoot apt for the subject?......THE CRITICAL QUESTION is: have u managed to capture the image that u previsualised? If not, what exactly went wrong with ur capturing methods?

You answer these questions in ur mind and try to emulate the above to make a picture perfect. Not necessarily u may be an artist, but aesthetically u are mature enough to have a correct judgement.

PHOTOGRAPHY - COPYRIGHT

2009-06-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

Many of the photographers are unaware of the copyright of their images and those who are aware may not be serious about their hard efforts in clicking the images which come under their copyright....please note that the owner of the copyright has the unquestioned right to do several acts with regard to his/her created works....This right is the exclusive one ensured in section 14 of the 1957 Act.

Nature of the aforesaid exclusive right or rights varies according to the type of work or works. Grouping of the said works run as under:
Copyright dwells in literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works. It is also found in a cinematograph film and in the case of a record, CD, DVD etc.

A photograph - good,bad, or otherwise - falls into the group in an artistic work. The exclusive rights afforded to the owner under the 1957 Act go as follows:

1. to reproduce the work in any material form;
2. to publish the work;
3. to include the work in any cinematograph film (not to mix cinematograph film and photograph - both are different -and here we concentrate on photographs taken by still cameras and handicams.)
4. to make any adaption of work;
5. to do in relation to an adaptation of the work.-any of the acts specified in relation to the work in sl.no. 1 to 3 above.....besides this copyright is a statutory right. It is an intellectual property right. And offence against it can be set right under the Act and its provisions.

It is obvious that such a right vests in someone and that someone is classified as the owner of such right. AS far as photography is concerned Section 02(d)(iv) states that in relation to a photograph, the person taking the photograph, ''remains its author''.

If a photograph taken in a studio of a client of the photographer, though the client has paid the charges, he cannot claim to handover the film or CD to him by the photographer, unless he had a contract in writing with the photographer about his/her photographs...The copyright vests into the photographer.

EXPOSING DANCE PHOTOS IN AUDITORIUM

2009-06-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

Dance itself is a great subject, on which lots have been written....But here I wish to convey my co-photographers some code of conduct and regarding exposure in this sort of photography, where the dancer is giving his/her performance and the auditorium is full of the admirers of this art form.

Some expert said that why the photographers shouldn't have the code of conduct of their own?..there is nothing more annoying that the photographer attending a function or performance disturbing everyone by cutting across their view and firing his flash in their faces.

For an example during a dance recital, the noted Bharat Natyam dancer Bala Saraswati was so annoyed with a photographer's flash that she stopped dancing and refused to proceed till the photographer was thrown out of the auditorium.....Here the clear answer wud be to do away with the flash completely and increasing the ISO of ur camera to 400 to 800.Thus u can standardise ur technique for getting consistently good results. And with the onset of the DCAMs it has become more easy than in the days of film, finding out the higher ISO film of ISO1000...so photographers of that time used ISO 400 film by changing after every 36 exposure...But in dcam just u turn the dial,or press a button and any ISO is ready upto 3200 to 6400. so getting 400 or 800 is easy and set the shutter for ISO 400 as 1/60 AT F5.6 AND WITH THE BRILLIANT LIGHT OF THE STAGE, u can capture the perfect performances....however still in doubt, there is the LCD screen to tell u to increase or reduce the ISO or shutter speed....

Make sure for ur sitting, there is a press gallery, where u can set ur tripod or some solid support if u use big zoom and are afraid that pictures may go blurry...Here the fast lenses are of great help e.g.f2.8 in zooms or if u are close enough to the dancer, the prime lens with f1.4 is again of great value....and hand held shots upto 1/125 can be taken easily....there is no binding in exposure since u already have a 2GB or higher GB memory card....the editing u can do later at ur home since u are not a prss photographer...u can do it leisurely and use them for magazines, brochures etc later on....U are lucky enough, if the background is black where u can shoot multi exposures....with different postures.....so good with dance photography......shroti08@live.com

2009-05-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

THE SPORTS photography is the need of today and thousands are specialists in their respective fields and earning a good sum....U must have witnessed in cricket ground the photographers with big-big lenses worth lakhs of rupees....However before u start taking shots of sports , a basic understanding of the sports is important...and particularly, what u can anticipate is when the exciting moments may happen. For example, in football match, the best photographs can be captured near the net when the strickers shoot a fast ball at the goal and the goalkeeper jumps to save in mid-air...Even for fast moving sports such as cycling, bike and martial arts....better to know ur position which angle will suit u for the best shot....As happened in the side photo of bike race, I chose this turn point, where the most excitement was seen in the bikers and the audience....And in fast races, it is also the danger point...so the best shot cannot be missed.

HIT THE CLOUDS

2009-04-28T14:27:00.000-07:00

THE most forgotten aspect in photography....generally the clouds are included in landscape, or in cloudscape, where the vast sky is covered....what u see in my photo at left....i was out to shoot this type of dispersed clouds.... This type of clouds happens when the rains are over and the clouds are scattered in bunches sometimes covering most of the sky and sometimes in pieces like this.

BE sure if wind is there the clouds after formation will disperse in seconds, but it is important to note that such formation happens once in a year, and in India, it is in august and september.....be ready with at least a 70-200 zoom, so u can catch well....i recommend 70-200, because sometimes there are small pieces which will not cover with a kit lens.....even ur compact camera can work wonders.....so when u see such play of ''hide and seek'' go in the nearby ground or on ur rooftop......rest is left to ur luck and the target.

PORTRAIT LIGHTING.......next

2008-12-14T10:43:00.000-08:00

Ideally, the light source shd be no more than thrice the size of the object........The object shd be at a distance of around three to four times the size of the light source......Since an average adult's face is about eight inches in height, the size of the light source shd be around 24 inches in diameter for circular light sources, or the longer side of the retangular soft box.....This sort of arrangement works well for b&w and in certain instances for colour, when fairly graphic quality is needed.

However generally for colour photography, one needs softer lighting, since sensor has much less exposure latitude......TO achieve this softness, a larger light source is required, placed around the same distance (as mentioned above), softening the shadows ....since the area required to be covered by lighting is large , it is obvious that the distances of the light sources need to be greater than that for portraits......As the source of the light source has to be that much larger one cud use a strip light, which is a soft box about 25cm wide and 100cm long.....It is used in the vertical position so that it more or less evenly lights the figure from top to bottom......The light and shade effect around the figure is thus retained.....TO fill-in from opposite side, a thermocol sheet of 5x3ft is placed......

Since the reflector cannot be too close to the model/person being photographed, use a second light source covered with milky-white or tracing paper as closed to the camera axis, so that it can lighten the shadows. THE object of the portrait photography is to make the sitter look as charming as possible.....To achieve the softer effect, the kind of lighting we are using shd not create hard shadows.....However to glamorise the pic, it is recommended the use of a soft focus filter.

Besides the above, more is dependent upon the photographer to experiment and achieve the best possible effect with various subjects/sitters by the scrupulous use of lights available with him, as mentioned above.

Digital Photography Forum : photozo :: View topic - yawning in captivity

2008-12-10T04:49:00.000-08:00

Digital Photography Forum : photozo :: View topic - yawning in captivity

2008-11-14T12:23:00.000-08:00

u have gone thru about the placements of lighting for portraits and its satisfaction to the clients....we have already discussed ''available light source'' somewhere else......we are in the STUDIO AND CLIENTS vary according to age, height, mood, physique, etc. ....and it is the duty of a pro/studio owner, to satisfy his customers......let us see how lighting works in different distances.

THE importance OF THE SIZE OF THE LIGHT SOURCE and the distance from the subject cannot be emphasised more strongly. .....the larger the light source and greater its distance from the subject, the softer quality of light obtained is less contrasty, because the rate of the light fall-off at a greater distance is much less than at shorter distances due to one of the major laws of the optics.....THE INVERSE SQUARE LAW......which states that the intensity of light is inversely proportional to the square of the distance. hence, light falling on a subject from a light source two feet away will be four times as bright as when it is placed four feet away.

MOST photographers including some pros., however, do not understand this. they believe that larger the light source for instance, a larger soft box, and closure it is to the subject, softer will be the quality of light......it is not really so....what really happens is the sheer size of the light source at such close proximity simply smothers the subject from all directions, thus making the face flat and featureless. .......sometimes this effect works as an advantage for certain situations in fashion and beauty photography. and perhaps a good makeup artist accentuates the features which are likely to get lost with this kind of lighting.........to continue......gshroti@in.com.....

PHOTOGRAPHY--PORTRAIT LIGHTING

2008-10-18T12:19:00.000-07:00

THIS is a little bit difficult of all lightings. here u have to manage, whereas in other subjects, u have the 'ready' lighting. ur subject/client/model are more important and u have to take out the 'real' out of their personality. so u need a master's eye. this may be the difference between an average photographer and a professional photographer. here u are in full control of the 'situation', whether u shoot head, head & shoulder, bust, upto waist, knee or full length. therefore, before the client arrives, u have to keep everything 'ready' i.e. cameras, backdrops, lights and props, if possible, with an assistant, who may help in setting lights, changing backdrops, while u study the mood of the person(s), may be single, couple, child, old man/woman, or a model for portfolio. in this case, u have to allot a different time to shoot the model without any disturbance, because his/her portfolio is the first step in the world to follow.
YOU shd make the client to be at ease, all smiles, all emotions 'required'. this will help u getting to know from child to adults, and making notes in ur mind, which side of the face will be more photogenic. next ur lighting setup will be on this base. place ur main or key light in such a way that the angular half of the face is lighted, while the other half is partly in shadow. such type of lighting and shading will give a fuller and slimmer look. while shooting this ur full attention is on the person/s, rather than fiddling more with lighting equipments. read the shadow portion with photo meter to understand the ratio in comparison to the lighted portion e.g. 1/2, 1/4,and arrange lighting distance according to that, using fill-in by thermocol board. this part u can leave to ur assistant, only give hints and be ready to press the shutter release, as u composed this also in camera LCD. however, u have a second light and a light for hairs. use them if necessary. but i wud recommend to keep the hair light also ready so there is no mix up of the subject with the BG. or u can use light, in a circular tone on the BG so the subject look more independent (pose-waist-level and above)......(continue...how to use this and other lighting for ur advantage.....(gshroti@in.com)...

PHOTOGRAPHY--STUDIO LIGHTING

2008-10-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

STUDIO LIGHTING: Studio flashes were generally used to be utilised for taking passport photographs or sometimes for a family portraits.....these photographs were not of the standard one and had very simple poses, either a tight closeup, a full length portrait or a family group photograph. .......while shooting in the studio needs to fulfill a certain criteria and that is to portray the person in best light.....however with the fashion boom in the country, people have been demanding for more out of these photographs.
Every individual needs passport size photo sometime or manytimes for use in documents....these need full lighting, showing full face in light bringing out full features to their best with a plain background.
Get the person well seated in a comfortable stool/chair. place the main light with umbrella/soft box in front of the subject slightly higher to eye level and a reflector of thermocol in front of him at chest level below ur tripod, or closure to subject with some support to throw back the light on his face, particularly to avoid dark shadows under his chin......a second light can be used to background lighting, if required.
After passport photographs, people's common choice next is a full length photo, family or group photographs. these.... are special occasions for the individual, the couple or the family who will preserve these photographs as permanent memories. ......HERE the photographer has to light up the person, couple or family well enough so as to prevent useless shadows to creep into the frame. ......a minimum of two flash units one on each side of the subject wud suffice. ....and both lights shd be placed at eye level of the tallest person in the group.
Once, he does mastery in such sort of photos and customer satisfied, he can move further for GLAMOUR portfolios, which requires some different kinds of lighting and here experimenting will teach a lot how to play with light on the models (gals or guys).......to continue.......(gshroti@in.com).

SUBJECTS TO PHOTOGRAPH

2008-09-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

THIS is a general problem for newcomers and sometimes with amateur photographers to find out the subject to photograph and the mind remained confused, what to photograph. here i am giving some subjects from which the photographers can select according to their location/circumstances/nearness of the subject...........otherwise serious photographers in India and abroad go for shooting spree, once in a year or as per time available to them and send to magazines/calendars/editorials etc. and earn a bit good amount. here are they:
1. arts...2. books....3.culture...4. entertainment(fairs etc)...5. family....6. food....7. friends....8. people....9. life around...10. love...11. music...12.news.....13. personal(belongings etc)....14. cars....15. random....
16. religion....17. sports....18. thoughts(creativity)...19. travel....20. health...
21. technology....22. writing(to get ideas)....23. cities....24. young/old women
25. children...26. business....27. backgrounds....28. youth/old men....29.....
girls....30. sea...31. sky....32. water....33. clouds....34. sand....35. beaches.....
36. houses/buildings....37. monuments.....38. weddings....39. rituals.....40.
festivals....41. portraits(infant to old)....42. animals...43. pets....44.lakes....
45. bridges...46. birds....47. flowers....48. designs....49. abstract....50. party....
51. computers....52. hands/feet....53. icons....54. offices....55. money.....56.
trees...57. nature....58. wildlife....59. coastline....60. railways....61. hospitals....62. schools....63. playgrounds...64. local matches....65. holi,diwali,id,x-mas,guru nanak jayanti(under festivals)....66. gardens.....
67. landscapes....68. bikes...69. mountains....70. environment....71. seasonal theme(summer,rains,winter)....72. night scenes....73. fairgrounds/lightings...74. sunrise...75. sunsets....76. storms....77. lightening
78. different regions....79. interiors...80. architecture.....81. farms.....82.
macros...83. couples.....84.home...85. beauty/beauty pageants....86.rivers....
87.highways....88. flyovers....89. beggers...90. tribals....91. pan/thela shops...
92. village life...93...crops....94. fire....95. kitchenware....96. temples......
97. vegetables.....98. local markets...99. vehicles(diff.types)....100. traffic...
etc. etc.(think urself).......

TIME IS MONEY

2008-07-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

TIME is the coin of your life and u can only know how to spend it. otherwise, u will lose and others will spend. but time is an expected money......in other terms. and if u use juduciously, u can be a good earner of money.........suppose if u misuse ur time, u lose the chances of further adding to your income.
FOR example, if u lose 1 hour daily, through which u could earn $50, that clearly means that u are losing $18,250 in a year......................2 hours wasted in a day means losing $36500 in a year. ....................and we do not expect that u would like so big amount to lose in a year.................u can find out ways how to earn and save this much money...........and that is the way to hard work. find out ways with full honesty without harming others. this is your capability which will reveal the creativity in u. ..............and sooner or later, u will be a good earner, without wasting your ego and self-esteem.

2007-04-07T14:56:00.000-07:00

flowers click.

2007-04-07T13:36:00.000-07:00

Love photographing flowers. Not myself, I am asking you too. This is the only sub- ject on mother earth,which contain abondance of colours, varieties, the softest of silk,the human have never dreamt of it. They have the simplicity of nature, very mute but standing to tell a whole world of their own, which starts from winter to summer, summer to rains and all the seasons of this globe. I THINK we are surviving because of the existence of this bounty by the mother earth. If you are tense, watch a flower, or sad,look at a flower with full eyes, or just forget, you are just glad, the whole flowerdom wii enrich yr thoughts, make heart bubble with unbounded joy. Take yr equipment, of whatever make, and just push yr fingers on button and you are the kind of king never dreamt of so beauty in your hands. I JUST DREAM THAT God has first created the beautiful flowers genre and then adam & eve, since the beauty and charm have been bestowed by the Almighty from the essence of these lovely gift from nature to the post genre of A & E. Keep it up and squeeze down very gently and flowerly.