Summer is a good time to take up a new hobby, or renew your interest in an old one. And photography is a pastime that nearly the whole family can enjoy. To improve your skills and make the most of your summer photos, check out these tips from the pros.
In order for an image to be captured on film, it must be exposed to light. Yet too much or too little light can ruin a photograph. Light is measured and controlled by its brightness (F-stops) and its duration (shutter speed). Start with the Explanation of Exposure Theory, then experiment with the Sim Cam. Change the F-stops and shutter speeds on the simulated camera, and view the resulting picture. Notice how you can get the same results with different settings by giving the camera two stops less light through the aperture and two stops more light with a longer shutter speed. Isn't this great?
With the Fourth of July just around the corner, here are some tips on taking pictures of fireworks. The basic requirements are time exposure and a solid platform for the camera. How much time? That depends. For all the details, and some great photos from the New York Institute of Photography, come see for yourself.
Can you really make a camera from a Quaker Oats box and an aluminum can? You bet. You will, however, need a darkroom to load the film and develop it. If you don't have access to a community or school darkroom, you can create one in your bathroom. These pinhole cameras work just like a "normal" camera with a wide-angle lens. In fact, the resulting photos are almost as good as ones made with lenses that cost hundreds of dollars! If you're looking for a summer project for your family or scout troop, this looks like a winner.
How many once-in-a-lifetime pictures have you missed because you didn't have a camera with you? Tip number one is to keep your camera ready. Tip two is getting close to your subject to eliminate distracting backgrounds. This useful list for the summer shutterbug is sponsored by Kodak, which explains their last tip on choosing the right film.
The following links are either new discoveries or sites that didn't make it into my newspaper column because of space constraints. Enjoy!
Camera BagHistory of Kodak | Magic of Trick PhotographyTime Line of Film and Photography |
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