Photo Basics
Basic Photo Tips & Techniques for Outdoor Photographers
Whether you're new to photography or want to brush up on some basics, start with Outdoor Photographer. These articles offer tips and instruction on topics ranging from exposure and composition to the intricacies of depth of field. Begin your photo basics tutorial for outdoor photographers now!
Friday, June 1, 2007 RAW Vs. JPEG
 “Cameras don’t take pictures, people do” is a well-known photo adage. However, you not only need a camera to take pictures and to get good exposures, but you need to know what your camera can and can’t do—especially when it comes to setting what image format to shoot with. For this image taken inside of a hot-air balloon (technically called the “envelope” by hot-air balloonists), I shot in the RAW mode rather than JPEG. For me, it’s sometimes a quality and exposure flexibility issue, but more than that, it’s a personal preference. |
Tuesday, May 8, 2007 Choose A Metering Mode
 Digital SLRs and some compact digital cameras offer different types of metering modes: multi-segment, center-weighted average metering, spot metering, partial metering and auto-exposure lock. For example, I used the exposure lock mode for this sunset photograph that I took in Rajasthan, India. I pointed my camera at the area surrounding the sun and depressed the shutter release half way. That locked the exposure setting—the ƒ/stop and shutter speed. I recomposed the shot with the camel and rider in the frame, then I snapped the shot.
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Tuesday, April 3, 2007 Creative Exposure Modes
 Now let’s take a look at creative exposure modes. Except for the Manual mode, which I used for this picture of an iceberg in Antarctica, creative exposure modes are automatic—but not fully automatic. You can still take control and be creative.
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Wednesday, March 7, 2007 Digital Exposure Basics:
Understanding Shutter Speeds And ƒ-stops. Here are some tips to help you get consistently good exposure  Let’s begin with shutter speed. Shutter speed is the time the shutter, which lets light onto the digital image sensor, remains open—or the time the image sensor is activated. If you’re new to photography, look at it this way. If you’re in a room and open and lower a window shade, you’re basically doing the same thing a shutter does: letting light expose an area. The longer you leave the shade up, the longer the room is illuminated. |
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