Category: Techniques

Photographic techniques with a camera

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 »

How to take better pictures: Getting great colour with White Balance

 Gavin   Back to Basics, Techniques
How White Balance Affects Colour

Do you want to learn how to instantly improve your pictures? Have you ever wondered why some photographers’ images just look so real? This article is for you.

How to instantly improve your photos…

What would you say if I told you there is a magic button on your camera? A magic button that will instantly improve your pictures. A magic button that will make the colours in your camera so much more real and lifelike?

Well, there is. Only it’s not called the magic button, it’s called “white balance” and it’s really simple to use. Many photographers won’t change their camera’s white balance for fear of being unable to recover its original settings. Some worry they’ll forget to change it back and still more don’t even know what it does.

In this article I’m going to dispel a few myths and get you to step outside your comfort zone. I’m also going to keep it light and non-technical so stay with me and hopefully you’ll learn something along the way. Continue reading How to take better pictures: Getting great colour with White Balance »

Light is Light! Stop complaining and get on with it

 Gavin   Available Light, Techniques

I had the privilege of photographing an amazing wedding yesterday. We had the perfect conditions too. Lots of cloud cover so the loveliest, softest light a photographer could hope for.

The subject came up during the bridal prep about bright sunny days and how a lot of wedding photographers hate them. The highlights are too bright. The shadows are too dark. People squint. Etc. etc.

Well, guess what…

Continue reading Light is Light! Stop complaining and get on with it »

Announcing theLightMatters Photography Training and Workshops

 Gavin   Back to Basics, Courses, Journey, Strobist, Studio, Techniques, theLightMatters, Tips

I’m really excited to announce the launch of my new photography training, photography workshops photo-shoot experience days through theLightMatters Workshops.

It’s not just a photography workshop though. It’s the foundation of a local photography community, centred around Guildford, Surrey. My vision is to create a lively and exciting group with a varied repertoire of subject matter. We’ll be shooting in the studio and on location. We’ll be using many different kinds of light from pure, natural light to speedlites to studio flash and mixing them up a bit too. Oh yes, and we’ll be making some great images along the way.

My goal is to run a mixture of group shoots and workshops, Continue reading Announcing theLightMatters Photography Training and Workshops »