Tag: Back to basics

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 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 »

Back to Basics: Key Components of Exposure

 Gavin   Back to Basics, Techniques

Following on from last week’s article on exposure and likened it to fillling a bucket of water, this week I’d like to talk a little about the key components of exposure and more importantly how they combine together to let us fill our bucket and how we may balance one against the other. Continue reading Back to Basics: Key Components of Exposure »

Back to Basics: Photography for Beginners Series

 Gavin   Back to Basics, Techniques

In the last couple of weeks I’ve started to write a new series of blog posts for theLightMatters. It’s aimed at beginners and people who would like to improve their photography, taking it up to th next level. It will cover many basic and fundamental topics in a lighthearted and non technical way. It’s a series for beginners written without the clutter of unnecessary jargon. There will be jargon as it’s important to use the right terminology but hopefully not to the extent that it turns people away. If it does, please let me know because that is specifically something I wish to avoid. My back to basics series is geared specifically to provide clarity with easy to understand terminology and everyday concepts.

The first two articles in the series have been posted and I’ve included a comprehensive but unfinished list after the jump. I’ll be updating it from time to time as my ideas gel so it’s not definitive, exhaustive or contractual in any way.

Continue reading Back to Basics: Photography for Beginners Series »

Back to Basics: Exposure

 Gavin   Back to Basics, Techniques
Basics of Exposire
Examples of Exposure: Under, Over and Correst

Exposure is one of those fundamental concepts of photography that many people struggle with. Get it right and you have a beautifully lit image. Get it wrong and you end up with a ruined shot because it is either too bright, pure white in extreme cases or too dark, maybe even black. We’ve all had them.

The big question is what causes under or over exposure and how can it be avoided? Continue reading Back to Basics: Exposure »