Photography Tips: Making full use of your gear and system

Shopping in a retail store, usually the salesman will recommend you with many good product like the exposedisc, filters or lenses or even the latest camera. As a commercial photographer, i do not blow my budget on any gear i will spend on. Take for example the exposedisc which cost about $200 plus for a 77mm diameter disc, where i can able to mimic something which did the same effect and cost me less than 2 buck.

Make use of what you have and what you own in your camera bag. Buy only things which you will always used. Buying a lens require many consideration factors, one wrong buys, and you will regret it. As for me, i never regret on any lens I bought. Because I know what kind of photography I will usually do in my field of work.

Buying a second hand lens from someone whom you never know or meet before is a risky thing. You don't know how he handle the lens or how he take care of the lens before he selling to you. Always check for loose parts and electronic contacts part and also most important, check for any fungus buildup inside lens elements and also the coating of the lens. I will say, buying at your own risk.

Photography Tips: Shooting with one focal length

To improve your level of photography, try to shoot have a photo assignment on your own or in your group. Force yourselves to limit to a single focal; ie, 50mm. In fact our eyes are looking at 50mm f/0.

It is good to restrict yourselves to a fixed lens like the 50mm, there is how you will learn to see things from the 3rd eye. I enjoy shooting from my 50mm f/1.8, because it not only give me a good bokeh of cause if you want a better bokeh, (a f/1.4 or a f/1.2 is far better) but it's does not have any image distortion. I like to shoot food and product with my trusty cheap plastic 50mm.

Have a small photo assignment of yourselves today. Get a prime lens and shoot at a interesting subject.

Happy shooting.

Photography Tips: Cemetery Photography

Soo Chin saw something
Originally uploaded by Edgedale

Creating a interesting shot not only it required a level of photographic skill and post processing skill, you need luck. Luck on the weather, the lighting and the moments of person's reaction.

Shooting at high bust give you more chance and selections of events happening in that period of time frame.

Usually how i compose my shot, i pick a subject which my friend, Soo Chin, comes into the picture. Using my 70-200mm lens, i fired away 10 frames at a roll with shutter speed of 1/500 on Shutter priority mode in AI servo focusing. Having shooting all 10 frames, i am able to select the best frames among all 10. In moments of events, every seconds counts. If you are slow, you will miss it.

To have strong contrast image, i shooting at -1/3 stops and i further push it's contrast level higher via post processing, like using Photoshop. High contrast level gives a higher detail in texture, and also giving a harsh image and mood.