Category: Back to Basics

What is ISO? How to set it correctly on your camera

 Prof. Pixel   Back to Basics, Techniques
Camera Sensor ISO Setting

What is ISO on a camera?

ISO is a scale of numbers that refer to your camera’s sensitivy to light. They usually start at ISO100 and increase from there to ISO25600 and even higher. Following the megapixel wars of the Naughties, the leading camera manufacturers turned their attention to ISO. We’ve since seen some incredible advances in sensor technology with some cameras now able to record images in near total darkness.

The general rule of thumb for ISO is the higher the number, the more sensitive your camera is to light. Doubling the ISO doubles the sensitivity and increases the exposure by 1 stop but not without a cost. As the ISO increases so does the noise in the image. Set your ISO too high and you’ll either have to Continue reading What is ISO? How to set it correctly on your camera »

What is Aperture Priority and when should I use it?

 Prof. Pixel   Back to Basics, Techniques
What is aperture Priority? When should I use it?

First things first, Aperture Priority is your ‘go to’ mode for almost all your photos. It’s the mode I use all the while unless…

  • Time is an important element of the image
  • I’m using studio flash
  • I’m in a situation that demands or requires full control over the camera

If you use the fully automatic mode (green rectangle on most DSLRs) at the moment, I’d encourage you to switch over to Aperture Priority (Av on Canon or A on Nikon) for a while at least Continue reading What is Aperture Priority and when should I use it? »

How to remember camera settings

 Prof. Pixel   Back to Basics, Techniques
How to remember camera settings

How to remember camera settings (or not with this sneaky workflow)

Do you struggle to remember camera settings?

Are you frightened of changing a camera setting in case you muck something up?

Do you wish there was an easy way to set your camera up for any situation?

If you can relate to any of these question, I’ve written this post for you. So if you read it and find just one thing useful, please take a minute to leave a comment below and let me know 🙂

Continue reading How to remember camera settings »

How to use Auto Focus to make sharper images

 Gavin   Back to Basics, Techniques
Auto Focus gets it wrong

How to use Auto Focus to make sharper images…

Are you struggling to get sharp images with auto focus?

Do your images sometimes look soft or not quite in focus?

Does your camera sometimes focus on the wrong thing?

Auto focus is great but the way you use it makes a big, Big, BIG difference in the pictures you make.

In this article we’re going to look at how you can use your camera’s auto focus (AF) to make sharper images. We’re going to cover simple techniques to give you an immediate improvement in any situation; we’ll cover more advanced techniques for specific scenarios and we’ll look at how to configure the AF in your camera for best results.

AF points: one is enough!

As you look through the viewfinder of your camera, how many auto focus points does it have? All mine have 9 arranged as a diamond but yours may well have more. (Leave a comment and let me know together with which camera you have ;-))

When it comes to auto focus points, more is bad. Continue reading How to use Auto Focus to make sharper images »

How to use Extension Tubes for Macro Photography

 Gavin   Back to Basics, Equipment, Techniques
Macro Photography - 70-200mm Lens + Extension Tube

In the early days of my photographic career my weapon of choice for macro work was a close-up filter. Nowadays it the Extension Tube. Here’s why…

Extension Tubes – What are they…?

Extension tubes are very simple devices. They’re short tubes, usually in the region of 5mm to 25mm in length, with a lens mount at either end. One end of the extension tube fits on the camera body where the lens would attach. The other end replicates the camera interface and is where the lens mounts. The tube fits between the camera body and the lens, moving the lens further away from the film/sensor plane, effectively magnifying the image from the lens. The longer the tube, Continue reading How to use Extension Tubes for Macro Photography »