Filters For Landscape Photography

It’s time to spice up your landscape photography with filters.

Filters are used in photography to bring back an image to the way our eyes have perceived the original scene. Some times it’s not possible for our cameras to record an exact scene - so we have to rely on the manufacturers of camera products.

Filters also help us to create mood in our images and bring out the best in a scene. A small selection of filters is well worth packing when heading off for a trip. They don’t take up too much space and will definitely add a bit of spice to your images.

Filters work by being placed in front of your camera lens. You can also place several filters in front of your camera at any given time.

Lets take a look at the most important ones to use.

Neutral Density Filters (ND): Neutral Density filters will certainly help you with tough exposures. These filters work by cutting down the light that reaches your lens. These filters come in a variety of strengths with the most popular being 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 - these filters will help with exposure without affecting colour.

One half of these filters is dark and the other is completely clear. They basically work by reducing brightness. The different numbers stand for the amount of brightness they reduce - 0.3 ND reduces light by one stop - 0.6 reduces light by 2 stops - 0.9 reduces light by three stops.

Lets say you arrive at a high contrast scene, - you take a light reading of the sky and get an exposure reading of F/22 at 1/8 second; you take a reading from the ground in front of you and get a reading of F/22 at 1 second. This is a difference of three stops of light. You need to reduce the brightness of the sky. By using the 0.9 ND you will reduce the light in the sky by three stops without affecting the light hitting the ground in front of you.

Polarizing Filters: A polarizing filter should be top of the list - a polarizing filter can be used with colour or black and white and is probably the most important filter on the market today. The polarizing filter will also darken the blue sky to give it a strong rich colour. It will make mist stand out and can be also used to give fast flowing water a misty effect. This filter is most effective with side lighting.

Warm-up filters: In overcast conditions, don’t put your camera away. This is an ideal time for you to switch your attention to landscape detail. On an overcast day images often appear cold and dull. Try using a warm-up filter. These filters will remove the dull effect that you get shooting without the sun.

The 81-series are the best choice and will give your images an extra bit of life. An 81A warm-up filter is ideal to use in adding extra warmth to low light images.

Filters for B/W photography: Just because you use black and white film it doesn’t mean that you can’t use filters - there are several filters for B/W photography. The polarizing filter is one of the few filters that work for B/W and colour photography. It will help to darken shades of grey in your final print.

The red filter is one of the most popular. This filter will darken the sky giving your image more impact. The most common red filter is the number 25. Filters for B/W work by transmitting light of its own colour, and holds back light of the other colours.

There’s a large amount of filters available; these are the most important filters for landscape photography. There are also several filters on the market today that will do very little for your photography. Colour graduated filters should be left at home or placed in the bin - colour graduated filters work by creating un-natural colours, destroying your final print.

TJ Tierney. Award winning Irish Landscape photographer. If you are looking for more photo tips visit http://www.goldenirishlight.com/photographytips.html

A Career in Photography

A career as a photographer opens many different doors for you, and gives you the options for a whole variety of different photography careers. You can work in the world of journalism, big business, science and art. You can decide to run your own business or you can work for a salary.

Many people think of studio photography when they consider a photography career, producing studio portraits and other similar work. However, there are many more options that this. Journalism is a great area of photographers, who can specialize in news photography, or maybe sports photography. Some photographic journalists specialize in magazine photography, recording fashion and the lives of the famous. There is also a very venerable tradition of news photographers who became war correspondents, documenting war and other world crises through the lens.

Photographers can also work in business, documenting processes and events that concern large corporations or working with the publicity and media departments. You can have a photography career as a science photographer, recording visually the effects of research and development, or you can do similar work specialising in medicine. The career options are wide for a professional photographer, making this a popular career.

If you want to be a photographer, you will need to go through an education in order to acquire the skills and knowledge you need to do the job properly. However, you will also need other personal qualities to be a good photographer, including:-

-Artistic ability in order to be able to see the photo opportunities around you.

-An eye for composition, allowing you to create a picture with the right elements in the right place to send the message you wish.

-Attention to detail - it is often the details of a picture that can make it or break it.

-Patience - sometimes you will have to wait for hours, days or even weeks for the right images to arrive.

-Practical abilities to be able to "finish" a photograph using development or digital techniques.

-An ability to be able to read the market for the style and type of photographs that are acceptable and in demand.

For many people, being a photographer is not just a career, it is also a way of looking at the world, and in order to be able to do this well, you need to develop the right traits.

This author provides career information related services and career counseling.

The Wonders Of Winter

You may travel the world in search of the most glamorous locations, but sometimes there’s no place like home.

Its winter time again, and while some folks are ready to reside indoors, its time for all landscape photographers to gather their winter gear and start the quest for some great seasonal images.

For many of us, the greatest joy in photography is to travel to far-away lands, seeking idyllic locations, that we can only dream about, and then do our very best to capture them. But do we need to travel to capture perfect sights? All around us are places of beauty waiting to be captured and we pass them every day.

We don’t need to go to great expense or travel thousands of miles; dramatic places are found in every corner of every land. But then I do have one of the world’s best locations on my doorstep: the west coast of Ireland.

While the wet weather can keep me indoors for weeks on end, the winter months bring harsh, but inspiring light, where a rugged Irish Landscape thrives.

No more so than a scenic National Park, five miles outside Killarney town, on the west coast of Ireland. Killarney National Park, filled with towering hills and romantic lakes, still remains one of Irelands most unspoiled treasures.

It’s one of those places where my senses come alive; its varied landscape and rugged, yet accessible, mountain range, is a favourite spot with many and a place where I like to spend a lot of time. Its shapely mountain peaks make it a perfect spot to photograph, especially during the cold and icy winter months.

All we need in photography is a different approach. Each season brings its own elements, and winter is no exception. Using our photography skills at the correct time of day can vastly improve our pictures. If you are serious about photography, dawn is the time to be up and about. At this hour, the colours of the sky cast a brilliant orange-red hue that will add mood and character to any setting.

There are also other elements which make winter special. An early morning ramble through the woods can be a perfect start to any day. Our forests are full of great photo opportunities, and an early stroll around deserted woodland can be a remarkable experience.

Rivers and valleys are also prime locations for early morning snaps. If a damp day is followed by a cold night there may be some low-lying mist hanging around. Mist or no mist, an early start works best.

Last light of the day is also an excellent time to be out and about. The evening sun can explode a variety of colours across the sky as it sets for the day. If the sun shines at the beginning or the end of the day, the colour of the light will be much warmer, and will lead to a much more dramatic scene.

So as winter looms, I gather my belongings and head west to capture the mood of the harsh Irish winter, and start the quest for new seasonal images. It certainly isn’t time to put away the camera. Winter brings plenty of great photo opportunities, tougher conditions to work in, but just as satisfactory as any other season.

Each homeland can be a paradise in its own special way: Ireland is, and I’m sure, winter brings special elements to your homeland too.

TJ Tierney. Irish Landscape Photographer. http://www.goldprints.com

Get The Most Out Of Your Camera

Would you like to take wildlife pictures like you see in magazines, or even turn everyday objects into photographic art?

Did you ever see an image where only a small part of it is sharp? Using the aperture ring correctly can maximise the artistic look of your image.

Not only does it determine the depth-of-field, it also has the power to direct the human eye.

The human eye is instinctively drawn towards noticeable points of an image. These are usually the sharpest and most important parts of an image. Using a wide aperture to limit the area of sharp focus can direct attention to the most important elements of your image and blur out any off-putting backgrounds.

This isn’t that hard to accomplish, and can be blissful if done correctly.

Lets start off with understanding depth-of-field, aperture and f/stops.

Depth-of -field: The distance from the front to back that is in reasonable sharp focus is called the depth-of-field. There are two ways of controlling depth-of-field: Use a small aperture or focus on a point farther away from your camera.

Aperture and f/stops: The aperture is an opening in the centre of the lens through which light passes. The amount of light, which passes through an aperture, is indicated by f/stops. The lower the f/stop the more light that passes through the aperture. Opening up one full f/stop doubles the amount of light entering the camera. F/4 admits twice the light of f5.6.

By selecting a small or narrow aperture (f/16 or up), all or most of the scene will be reasonably sharp. This is ideal for landscape photography. By using a small aperture you increase the depth-of-field.

By selecting a large or wide aperture (f/5.6 or below) you decide which part of your image is sharp. This is ideal for taking pictures of wildlife, portraits, sport and small objects. By using a large aperture you decrease the depth-of-field

The smaller the f/number, the wider the aperture.

There is about twice the depth-of-field behind the point of focus as there is in front of it, using any aperture.

Now you know how to isolate your subject, so it’s time to put it to use. Set your camera to aperture-priority (AV) mode, and then select a large aperture (f/2 - f/5.6). By doing this the camera will select the shutter speed automatically. If you are shooting wildlife choose a low viewpoint to maximise the image, try putting the camera lens at eye-level with the subject.

While the above will help to isolate you subject, it’s only a start. Know your subject, especially when shooting wildlife. Don’t be fooled into thinking all elements of an image must be sharp to be considered a good photo.

The shutter is a mechanical device that controls the length of time that light is allowed to act on the film. Most standard cameras allow us to use a range between 16 second and 1/1000 second. You might be wondering, why anyone would use a long shutter time of 16 seconds: I’ve used this and even longer shutter times when taken lowlight landscape images. I would always advise the use of a tripod with these long exposures time to avoid blur images.

Using a shutter speed of 1/125 second should safely avoid overall blur due to camera movement if you hold the camera by hand. Any longer shutter time should require a tripod.

Each time you open the shutter by one, we double the light, when we close down the light by one we half the light. Open the shutter at 1 second allows twice the light as that of a ½ second.

The shutter can also be used creatively when taking landscape images or sport images. If you want to add motion to your image a slow shutter speed can give an image an extra bit of sway. No more so than taking images of streams. Using a slow shutter speed when photographing water will cause the water to blur, resulting with the image expressing motion.

By contrast, a fast shutter speed of 1/250 would be used in shooting wildlife or where the subject that you’re shooting needs to be still and sharp. Most wildlife photographers would use a fast shutter speed.

By using the shutter and aperture together we control exposure. Both allow light to enter the camera: the shutter by time and the aperture by the size of the hole in the lens.

For example: you’re shooting a landscape scene; you get an exposure reading at f/11 at ¼ second. You know that by using f/11 that the entire image wont be sharp. You want to shoot at f/22, which is four times less light than f/11. You need to quadruple the light through time; each time you open the shutter by one you double the light, so open it by two stops and your exposure time will be 1 second. Your final exposure should read f/22 at 1 second.

At the best of times, calculating the correct exposure can be a difficult task, but with a few simple tips our images can produce eye-catching colours that we see all around us every day.

TJ Tierney. Irish landscape photographer. http://www.goldprints.com

Photography Books: Learn fine skills of photography

The photography books give you the best knowledge on photography allowing you to enhance your skills and get the best imaging experience. These books contain all the necessary information on how to use a camera and its advanced features.

Books have always been a great companion for all. Whether you are a student or an adult, there are books for everyone. No matter what subject you are interested in, you would find your favourite book very easily. These informational books can fill up your mind with ideas and sometimes transform your life. Be it adventure, romance, action, photography or art, you name it and there is a book on that topic. So one can further enhance his knowledge in his field of interest by reading his choicest books.

Photography is a passion for many. Some of the titles of the famous photography books include “How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera" by Bryan Peterson, “The Digital Photography Handbook,” and “An Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide" by Doug Harman etc.

The best photography book would be the one which answers to all your questions regarding digital photography. The book should take you step by step about how to get the best shots with different angles. The field of digital photography is getting popular day by day. This is the reason that there are some of the best photography books being published recently. These books also give the users some essential information which will help you to make a buying decision. By reading these books, you can decide easily which camera would suit to your tastes and what factors you should be aware of while buying your camera. One can also find some specialized topics like digital night photography, digital portrait photography, digital infra-red photography, digital black and white photography, etc.

If you are a novice in photography, the best books to read is Ben Long's revised and highly acclaimed 'Complete Digital Photography'. So if you want to buy a camera or upgrade it to a better model, you can take some useful tips from this book. One can also find books that give knowledge about the technical aspects of digital photography. Learn how to do actual shooting, when and how to use a flash and lots more. These books would surely help you bring the best knowledge about photography.

You can find various portals offering photography books with special deals and offers. All the popular books in this genre can be found online. Avail various benefits on purchasing them and get them delivered free of cost to your doorsteps.

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Capture the Perfect Snowboarding Moment Using These Tips

Another growing aspect of snowboarding is photography. Yes! Snowboarding pictures are part of the sport's culture. Taking snowboard riders at their best form has created a great interest for photographers. Now if you are newly venturing into this quest, there are three things that you should consider.

Extreme Weather Condition

You should know how to handle your camera in cold conditions. The primary problem that you will encounter with your camera is cold temperature. Batteries most often do not work in very cold conditions. It may also affect the camera's shutter and your film.

To keep your camera and batteries warm when dealing with cold weather, keep them inside the parka and close to your body. Take them out only when you are prepared to shoot. However, it will be a problem if you have a huge camera. But if you are only taking pictures for souvenir, then a smaller camera will do. Meanwhile, if you are taking professional pictures, then get the best camera you can afford and try to keep it as warm as you can.

Timing and Sharp Focus

When taking a snowboarding picture, you want to capture the agility of the rider and the illusion of speed. To capture that moment, you need great timing and very sharp focus. You have to get yourself in the right position and be in the right location to have a clear visual of the subject and to have a good chance of photographing the moment. However, it will still be very difficult to take a shot without coordinating with the snowboarder. So instead of waiting for the right time, plan the right time.

Have an agreement with the snowboarder about simple signals, location, and the time you will need to set up for the winning shot. Once you have this arranged, agree on what kind of poses you are looking for. It is important to communicate to the subject what you want to capture on film. Before choosing a location, try to survey whether there is enough room for you to move and cover. Meanwhile, when giving signals, it is better to use verbal signs but if that is not possible try to have clear non-verbal signals that both you and the snowboarder will understand.

Pay also special attention on your camera. You have to be adept in using your camera to avoid losing a split second chance of shooting a great snowboarding photo. Run a few shots to check if everything is working. Most importantly check the film. You don't want to put all your efforts in vain when you find out that your film has been exposed or you simply forgot to bring enough of them.

Film Exposure

Another terrible problem that you might encounter when taking pictures is film exposure. Most often than not, your camera is dealing with too much light. The snow is bright. The sky is bright. Both these elements appear nicely on your film but when you take a picture of your subject, he becomes a dark silhouette. To remedy this problem, you can use a light filter to control the light of the background as well as the subject. This will place light on where you want it to be. You should also you fill flash, this way you will avoid having dark silhouettes on your subject.

You may also encounter having bluish colored pictures especially when you are in a high altitude and surrounded with snow. A good solution to these problems is using a UV filter. It will lessen the blue light. This is very useful when you are taking snowboarding pictures at higher altitudes.

Considering these factors will help you come up with great snowboarding photos. Treat your camera as an extension of yourself by protecting it from cold, so that like your body it can function well. Plan the things that you need to do to capture the moment that you want. Lastly, invest on your camera. Add devices that will help you immortalize the perfect moment on your film.

If you want more skiing tips, visit http://www.ski-trip-planning.com for information on skiing vacations.