Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tips for Stunning Camera Phone Pictures
I recently found an excellent article on how to take great photos with a camera phone. I figured that you all would appreciate what the article had to say, so here it is:
Camera phones have become very popular these days and a lot of people take them everywhere they go. So, how you can take great, amazing, stunning, jaw-dropping pictures using your camera phone?
- Pick up your camera phone and turn it on
- Walk three steps to the left
- Walk three steps to the right
- Put the camera phone back in your pocket or purse
- Pick up a DSLR or a real digital camera
- Adjust the camera settings for your environment
- Compose the picture
- And shoot
Sunday, July 20, 2008
RAW vs JPEG Shooting
Warning: Camera geek post below. If you do not know what either RAW or JPEG is, then you probably should ignore this post.
A few months ago, a friend and I were discussing the tremendous size that RAW files can take up for storage. We were both feeling overwhelmed by the amount of photos we were taking and the amount of demand from our wives (who like to scrapbook) for JPEG files that they need to be able to upload and order them. For both of us, the majority of the reason we shoot in RAW is because of the tremendous flexibility that it gives you for processing the photo later on the computer. Shooting in JPEG allows the camera to do most of the image processing, and leaves you with little room for corrections or changes without degrading the quality of the image. Essentially, if you're going to shoot any images in the JPEG format, you're probably not planning on doing any processing to the photo after you get it on your computer.
We both agreed that it was probably in our best interests to shoot both RAW for our own fine art work, and then JPEG for more informal events such as family get-togethers, etc. This would ensure that we can keep up with our insane amount of storage needed for our photos (JPEG's are smaller than RAW files), and allow us to make the photos our wives would want readily available for their scrapbooking.
So the other day I decided that I would shoot our entire visit to the National Zoo in the JPEG format, which would allow me to shoot more photos (since they take up less space on the memory card), and since I figured that we'd be outside most of the time with good lighting. Needless to say, I was both right and wrong. I only shot about 100 photos (yes, that's not much for me), so even had I shot in RAW, I would have had plenty of room on the memory card. I ran into many situations where the light was less than ideal, and I ended up regretting it when I had to go through my images and try to correct them. Some shots were taken indoors where a flash would have ruined the photo and other settings would have caused me too much blur. Thus, I had to underexpose a few images. Generally, if you shoot in RAW you can lighten the underexposed images enough to fix the photo. JPEG is nowhere near as forgiving. I ended up having to discard several images that were good shots, but too dark in important areas.
On the bright side of this story is that because I was limited in what I could do in JPEG for processing, my processing time on the computer was much shorter, and many of the images came out great without needing much help. In any case, I think that the conclusion is that from now on, I'm going to give up on JPEG shooting unless I have no choice. The lack of control over my post-processing options makes me a little nervous in thinking that that one great image I may one day get might be tanked due a complicated lighting or color issue that could have been easily been adjusted in RAW.
A few months ago, a friend and I were discussing the tremendous size that RAW files can take up for storage. We were both feeling overwhelmed by the amount of photos we were taking and the amount of demand from our wives (who like to scrapbook) for JPEG files that they need to be able to upload and order them. For both of us, the majority of the reason we shoot in RAW is because of the tremendous flexibility that it gives you for processing the photo later on the computer. Shooting in JPEG allows the camera to do most of the image processing, and leaves you with little room for corrections or changes without degrading the quality of the image. Essentially, if you're going to shoot any images in the JPEG format, you're probably not planning on doing any processing to the photo after you get it on your computer.
We both agreed that it was probably in our best interests to shoot both RAW for our own fine art work, and then JPEG for more informal events such as family get-togethers, etc. This would ensure that we can keep up with our insane amount of storage needed for our photos (JPEG's are smaller than RAW files), and allow us to make the photos our wives would want readily available for their scrapbooking.
So the other day I decided that I would shoot our entire visit to the National Zoo in the JPEG format, which would allow me to shoot more photos (since they take up less space on the memory card), and since I figured that we'd be outside most of the time with good lighting. Needless to say, I was both right and wrong. I only shot about 100 photos (yes, that's not much for me), so even had I shot in RAW, I would have had plenty of room on the memory card. I ran into many situations where the light was less than ideal, and I ended up regretting it when I had to go through my images and try to correct them. Some shots were taken indoors where a flash would have ruined the photo and other settings would have caused me too much blur. Thus, I had to underexpose a few images. Generally, if you shoot in RAW you can lighten the underexposed images enough to fix the photo. JPEG is nowhere near as forgiving. I ended up having to discard several images that were good shots, but too dark in important areas.
On the bright side of this story is that because I was limited in what I could do in JPEG for processing, my processing time on the computer was much shorter, and many of the images came out great without needing much help. In any case, I think that the conclusion is that from now on, I'm going to give up on JPEG shooting unless I have no choice. The lack of control over my post-processing options makes me a little nervous in thinking that that one great image I may one day get might be tanked due a complicated lighting or color issue that could have been easily been adjusted in RAW.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Its Zoo Time Again!
We spent a VERY HOT Friday at the national zoo in D.C. The trip involved all kinds of adventure for Audrey and Liam, including a ride on the D.C. Metro and an 8.5 mile hike all through the zoo in temperatures nearing 100 degrees. We met up with Jordan, Ashley and Bev and had a fun time surviving enjoying the sites. Click the album link below to view some of our favorite photos from the trip:
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Skateboarding Photo Shoot
Ever since about 8th grade, my cousin Ryan has been into skateboarding. He and I grew up skateboarding together all over town, and although we never really got that good, he continued to pursue it as a pastime even to this day. Recently, we went up to visit my family for Independence Day, and we found the time to go out and get a quick photo shoot of Ryan still on his skateboard at a local skate park. I had a lot of fun shooting this and some of the angles actually made him look like a pro (even he will admit that he's nothing near that good). Below are some of the photos from that shoot:
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