Guidelines for selecting the size of a print.

2010-03-10T23:05:42Z

I imagine that ISO/ASA and mega-pixels can put constraints on the size of the print. Are there any guidelines or rules of thumb to follow in determining an upper bound on the size of a high quality print based on these or other properties?

Metadata: IPTC or EXIF?

2010-03-10T22:29:55Z

I only shoot in JPEG for the moment and the various image related services I use can all see and manipulate the EXIF data of my JPEG images. But with some programs I can edit metadata in something called IPTC, all of which provides very similar if not identical data fields as EXIF. My question is what's the difference between the two and which one should I stick with?

Why should I shoot RAW over JPEG?

2010-03-11T01:23:57Z

Right now I'm shooting JPEG instead of RAW but lately I've been getting mixed signals. Some have suggested I should shoot RAW because it gives more control (what kind of control I don't know). Others say I'm fine sticking with JPEG because I'm just not going to need anything the RAW format offers. So convince me (a complete novice) why I should be shooting RAW instead.

Can I change the aperture in full stop increments?

2010-03-11T23:57:50Z

I have a Pentax K200D and when I'm in aperture priority mode I can change the aperture in increments of one third. I've looked through the manual and can't find any mention of it, and this going to be a bit odd, but can I change the toggle to change in full stop increments?

What techniques can be used to achieve image effects without post processing?

2010-03-11T21:29:37Z

I'm looking for those effects that can be achieved by using camera settings, filters and the like and the environment. For instance to capture a "zoom" type effect on a zoom lens close the aperture down, slow the shutter speed and when actuating the shutter, zoom the lens in or out.

Does anyone have any others to share?

How often do you correct lens imperfections and other image related anomolies?

2010-03-11T20:58:53Z

I'm sure it's because I'm not too savvy but I don't find myself doing a lot of developing of my images after I shoot.

To quote Sean Phillips from another answer:

In short, lens imperfections, dust spots, white balance, cropping and rotation are adjusted in almost every image. This is not correction, or garbage, it's just a fact of life with digital imaging.

I tend to just shoot, import, cull, crop or straighten as necessary (it's uncommon) then publish. In other words I tend to accept what the camera gives me on most days. So what's all this business about white balance and dust spots and doing it every time? ;)

(I realize this question may be a little broad or will require too much detail to answer well so I'll gladly take links to outside sources as long as some description of the key concepts accompany them. I'm just looking for a high-level overview of the techniques and why you'd use them.)

Which Pentax lens for wide angle, low light?

2010-03-09T06:06:49Z

I'm a Pentax DSLR owner and am currently looking for a wide angle lens that will perform well in low light. I plan to use it mostly in close quarters and would like to avoid using the flash. I've checked a number of the Pentax primes and I can have either a fast lens (f/1.4 - f/2.8) or a wide angle one (~18mm), but not both. I haven't looked at too many zooms. Any recommendations?

What's the difference between the Pentax FA and DA lenses?

2010-03-09T06:22:47Z

I've been looking for Pentax lenses recently and it looks like there are a few different types, among them are the FA and DA lenses. FA is for film but are compatible digital bodies and DA are for digital. As a digital user is there anything I should be aware of when considering an FA lens?

Free methods to calibrate a computer display

2010-02-25T13:22:01Z

When friends ask me about getting started in photo editing, I usually recommend they calibrate their display first.

I know to use the built-in display settings on the Mac to eye-ball calibrate the colors there, and I know to use GAMMApage on Linux.

What free tool or method can I recommend to the beginner to eye-ball calibrate a display in Windows?

Tips for shooting wedding portraits outdoors

2010-02-02T23:03:49Z

I'm shooting at a wedding soon where the "formal" pics will be taken at a lookout. Given the location and likely position of the sun, I'm expecting to need to use some fill flash and/or reflector.

Any quick tips for improving my chances of good shots in this scenario?

dSLR settings for shooting an illuminated subject in a dark room

2010-02-12T19:23:06Z

My son has one of those Twilight Turtle night lights that projects the stars and moon onto the ceiling. I'd love to get some pictures of him playing with it when the room is dark and the only illumination is coming from the turtle.

I am shooting with a Nikon D5000 and the kit lens (18-55mm). I do not have any filters or other gear.

What settings would you suggest to get this shot right?

One solid color background. How to?

2010-02-23T08:24:12Z

I'm a total newbie to photography but I hope you'll help me even in my simple questions.

I often see photos with one solid color background, usually white or black, here are few examples.

In white:
http://flickr.com/photos/98011439@N00/664794510
http://flickr.com/photos/chun/13343457/

In black:
http://flickr.com/photos/34252364@N00/317206876
http://flickr.com/photos/88462876@N00/2058910774
http://flickr.com/photos/68965082@N00/319945610

I know I could accomplish a lot by post processing, but I know that good photographers use their camera in such a smart way they don't need to work on the photo so much after the shot.

What's the technique for this kind of shot? I noted they are used for close shot mostly and that's what interests me.

Note: I've no super-camera, well actually it is not even a reflex, but I think I couldn't see the difference at my level, it's a DSC-300.

Note 2:
Since I'm a new user I had to use inappropriate tags (I could not create "background") and had to edit links because I still can't use links.

Recommendations for a rugged/waterproof compact camera

2010-02-22T06:20:20Z

I'm looking to buy a compact camera soon, and I'm contemplating the ruggedized/waterproof models that are on the market, given some of my outdoor and aquatic activities.

Are there any new models on the horizon that are appealing, or is there something good to be found in the current set of offerings? I'm kind of picky about image quality (within reason), since I'm used to DSLRs.

The level of waterproofing I'm after is such that the camera could be submerged at the bottom of a swimming pool (2-5m). Being used to Canon cameras, I'm particularly considering the Canon PowerShot D10, or possibly its successor (if there is one)

Where are the best sites to promote your photos online, given limited time?

2010-01-07T15:28:02Z

Given about an hour a week for online self-promotion, where should that time be spent?

Which are better for self gratification?

Which are better for the professional who relies on income from their photography?

What photography related items shouldn't be bought second hand?

2010-02-19T03:53:04Z

Of the 5 lenses I ever purchased, 3 of them were second hand. Maybe I've been lucky, as each has proven to be perfectly good for regular long term use.

This got me wondering though, are there some things that just aren't worth buying second hand? There might be several possible reasons, but I'm not sure if any really apply strongly to any particular item...

Price difference is insignificant
Warranty
Inability to check for internal/unknown issues
High obsolescence rate

What photography related Android apps do you use?

2010-02-10T06:51:37Z

Since recently obtaining a HTC Hero phone, I figured it's a good time to ask the Android equivalent to the iPhone question. I've used...

Camera Zoom FX (paid)
Depth of Field Calculator (free, recommended)
Google Sky Map (free, handy to know where the poles are for star trails)
OI flashlight (free, find stuff in the dark)

Are there any other good/emerging apps that are handy for the camera wielding Android phone owners?

What to consider when switching from a 1.6 cropping sensor to a full-frame sensor?

2010-02-17T11:56:27Z

What are the main points to consider when switching from a 1.6 cropping sensor to a full-frame sensor from the same manufacturer. What kind of scenes will work better/worse with full-format? How will my existing lenses change?

Broken Olympus Zoom

2010-02-15T11:16:19Z

My parents have an Olympus X820 camera which they recently dropped. It was dropped whilst switched on and it landed on the extended lens mechanism. The lens mechanism will now not retract or extend. When switching the camera on, it just tries to continually move the lens without success, and the camera is unusable.

Is there any way of fixing this easily (or finding out what the problem is)? We asked in a camera repair shop, but they said it would cost more that the original cost of the camera to investigate what was wrong.

I would have a go myself, but I don't know where to start.

Big Photography Gear Bags

2009-12-10T20:23:03Z

I have recently realized that my current camera bag (a Tamrac Velocity 9) is simply not up to the task of carrying all of the gear that I want to have with me. It's a great walk-around bag, and I will certainly keep it as a "day pack", but I want a bigger bag that I can use as my main bag for longer term storage of most of my gear.

I'm looking for recommendations for bags that meet the following requirements:

Airline Approved for Domestic Carry On
Backpack style (good shoulder straps are a must, good wastebelt preferred)
Holds the following gear:
- Two bodies, including one pro size body
- Two large pro telephoto lenses (Canon 200 f2.8L and Canon 100-400 L)
- Canon Wide Angle, Normal, and Macro lenses
- At least one Speedlight, and maybe 2
Separate storage area for gadgets
- spare batteries, flash cards, cloths, wireless flash triggers, and a couple of filters

The Gura Gear Kiboko comes to mind, but at $400 it's extremely expensive! That's probably going to be true of any bag that meets my needs, but I'm curious to see what else you guys have found out there.

E-Commerce Platform for Photography

2009-12-03T11:31:32Z

For a few months I've been considering getting started with an e-commerce platform to have the option to sell photos through the web. I'm looking for a platform that offers an easy, elegant way for users (potential customers) to navigate photos, sufficient options in terms of photo sizes, flexibility in setting prices, and full support for printing and shipping images.

I've looked at PhotoShelter (seems expensive) and SmugMug (doesn't seem particularly professional) and I would love to hear your opinion on good options in this area. Thanks.

How can I set white balance using a non-gray reference?

2010-01-28T00:10:28Z

I'm familiar with using a gray-card as a reference in post-processing to set a new white balance from my RAW images and applying them across the board. What I would like to do is identify the difference between a gray card and another surface (say an off-white piece of clothing, the palm of my hand, or colored flooring), and use that as a reference point for setting white balance in photos.

I'm not sure I'm explaining myself, so by way of example... Say I'm in a situation where light is changing constantly and there is an off-white (non-gray) wall. If I knew the wall's offset from gray, in theory I could set the white balance using the wall as a reference instead of a grey surface. To do this, I'd need to be able to tell my software what the "target" color of that surface is. In other words, instead of using a white balance tool to say "make this point gray", I'd like to use a similar tool to say "make this off-white".

I don't have a particular software restriction, I'm more interesting in knowing if this technique exists or is supported anywhere?

Similarly, it would be nice to be able to do this for exposure. Eg adjust exposure so that a nominated point is exposed to a certain level of brightness.

DSLR recommendations

2009-10-26T20:39:51Z

I would like some advice on which camera to buy. I'm looking at the $1000 or less range, considering Nikon D90.

I mainly take pictures of my new baby, and other people, but also do a lot of hiking and want nice outdoors photos. I'm unhappy with the quality of photos my little point-and-shoot is getting and want something that takes good pictures in a wide variety of circumstances.

Experience with Sigma AF 28mm 1.8 EX DG

2010-02-08T08:14:54Z

Hi!

Does anyone has experience with the Sigma 28mm F1.8 EX DG ASPHERICAL MACRO?

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3282&navigator=4

What do you think? Something you would buy or not? Googling around does not bring up pages with critics (at least German pages).

I have a Canon EOS-20D.

EDIT:

I have a Canon 50mm 1.8 Lens. I like it.

The reason why I want to buy a 28 - 30mm/1.8 Lens is that I need a "Party" Lens. One that do not need much light (available light). 50mm is too long for that task.

iPad vs netbook vs laptop for photographers

2010-02-10T07:35:08Z

I've often found it useful to have a laptop handy when I'm out and about shooting. Mainly I use it for downloading photos, doing some processing and occasionally getting online. Most of my photo work is done on a bigger/better desktop at home.

A couple of friends have netbooks for much the same purpose as my laptop, and it seems to serve them well.

Now, along comes the iPad. There's been lots of hype and lots of criticism. I'm more than likely to stick with my laptop because I need to do far more than the iPad offers, but I'm wondering if there are photographers who find the iPad a more appealing option? A touchscreen could certainly be handy, but the lack of ports and reliance on an undeveloped (as yet) application framework seems to be a deal-breaker for uptake in the photography world.

Thoughts?

Supplier of quality acrylic face-mounting for photographs?

2009-10-20T11:32:38Z

I've seen some top-quality borderless mounting where an acrylic panel is applied to the front of a photograph with a clear adhesive.

Can anyone recommend a supplier of such mounting (preferably one that ships to Australia), and/or a supplier of a suitable adhesive for such mounting?

What's the first few photography books someone should read?

2009-10-07T18:32:14Z

The books that helped me most initially were the Bryan Peterson books and more recently the Joe McNally books.

Both of these working photographers give a lot of honest and helpful examples. These books don't lose their appeal once you've finished reading them, they're good for reference and continual inspiration.

Does anyone have any other favorites?

Can someone recommend a good Photoshop HDR Tutorial

2009-12-29T10:42:05Z

I think I understand the concept of HDR reasonably well but I recently picked up a copy of Photoshop CS4 and tried to use the "Merge to HDR" automation tool and I just couldn't get the pictures to "pop" just right.

Anyone able to recommend a good photoshop hdr tutorial that goes through all the settings in hte HDR wizard as I felt I was fumbling a bit.

For reference: I'm happy enough with the first one, but the second one just looks a bit fake/plastic

What photography related iPhone apps do you use?

2010-01-07T07:39:43Z

Yes I'm one of those sad people that have an iPhone, currently I use a handful of photography related apps. Specifically:

BestCamera, Chase Jarvises iPhone app.
Photoshop Mobile, I don't think anything needs to be said about this app.
CameraBag, a fairly simple app that applies a single filter to images.

Those of you who've got iPhones, what photography related apps are you using?

Wordpress Themes and Plugins for a Photoblog?

2010-02-06T00:44:19Z

I'm setting up a new website using wordpress.

Any recommended themes that are good for photographers or otherwise any good plug-ins?

Which photographers are your current sources for inspiration?

2010-01-04T17:20:12Z

While there are a number of photographers that are well-known in many countries, I guess that most of us look up to and get inspiration from skilled photographers that are perhaps known on a national, regional or even local level. It could be interesting to see images from those photographers that inpsire you, right now.

I'll start off by tossing in a couple:

Terje Hellesø - Norwegian nature photographer living in Sweden; publisher of a handful of books.
Brutus Östling - Swedish photographer specializing in birds. Extremely productive (has published nearly one ambitious book a year the last few years). Not so many images on his website, though.
Hans Strand - Swedish photographer, mainly landscapes, has published a couple of books.

Now, these are nature photographers, mainly because that is my personal interest. It would, however, be interesting to see inspiring work from all kinds of photographers.

Top Questions - photographr.info photography