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Over
500
essential
tips
Welcome to
Digital
Photography
Most of us are familiar with the concept and practice of taking photographs whether
on a camera or a smartphone. However, knowing how to take a good photo requires
knowledge, patience and skill. This seventh edition of Digital Photography for Beginners
makes it easy for you to master your camera and start taking better photos. From
guides to get you started in the basic principles to step-by-step tutorials on using your
cameras modes and settings, this is an essential handbook for budding photographers.
Once youve grasped the basics, we give you detailed insight into how to take excellent
photos in all the major genres, from portraits to astrophotography. The book also
includes brand new starter projects for you to get your teeth into that will help you get
creative with your camera, top image-editing tweaks and the best ways to share your
photos. Dont forget to check out the free online assets on FileSilo, packed full of useful
tutorials and resources. This ultimate guide to photography will get you taking great-
looking shots in no time, so lets get started.
Digital
Photography
Imagine Publishing Ltd
Richmond House
33 Richmond Hill
Bournemouth
Dorset BH2 6EZ
+44 (0) 1202 586200
Website: www.imagine-publishing.co.uk
Publishing Director
Aaron Asadi
Head of Design
Ross Andrews
Production Editor
Alex Hoskins
Designer
Rebekka Hearl
Photographer
James Sheppard
Printed by
William Gibbons, 26 Planetary Road, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 3XT
Disclaimer
The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the
post. All text and layout is the copyright of Imagine Publishing Ltd. Nothing in this bookazine may
be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are
recognised and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the bookazine has
endeavoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change.
This bookazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.
Digital Photography for Beginners Seventh Edition 2015 Imagine Publishing Ltd
ISBN 9781785462108
Part of the
bookazine series
Contents
Contents
Getting started
10 Getting started
with photography
The essential techniques you need
20 Improve your
compositions
Alter your photos by reframing
26 Understanding
balance
white
Change your photos colour cast
Modes & settings Shooting skills
28 Experiment with lenses
Pick the right lens for the subject
30 Choosing
right times
the 40 Your settings
Learn all about the Auto mode 66 Composition
Learn the rules of framing
32 Applying
effects
in-camera
Use efects to enhance your shots 48 Program
Take more control over settings 78 Take great
action shots
Tips for taking better
34 Shooting from
different perspectives 52 Aperture
Aperture Priority mode explained
action shots
118 vistas
Black and white
Striking monochrome
132 Create
panorama
a living 154 Convert to mono
Put colour aside and use black
and white to your beneit
Explore Panorama mode
168 Prepare
for print
your photos
Get your snaps up to scratch and
looking their best
Reference
170 Create photo
books online
Make a lasting keepsake using
online resources 172 Photography glossary
The key terms explained
20 Improve your
compositions
Alter your photos by reframing
26 Understanding
white balance
Change your photos colour cast
28 Experiment
with lenses
Pick the right lens for the subject
30 Choosing the
right times
Use the time to your advantage
32 Applying in-
camera effects
Use camera-based efects to
enhance your shots
34 Shooting from
different perspectives
See a subject in diferent ways p20
36 Digital camera guide
Get to know your camera
p34 p32
p10
Leading line
The leading line
going through this
photo draws the eyes
across the entire scene
and to the main feature,
which is the different
colours in the sky
Getting
started with
photography
In this ultimate guide, we take you through
the essential skills and techniques needed
to take the perfect photo
Taking your first steps in photography need not be a is framed in order to make a compelling photo. Along
daunting venture. By following a simple set of with many aspects of composition, leading lines can
guidelines you can be on your way to taking fantastic draw the eye through a photo, and encourage the
shots in no time at all. viewer to take in the whole scene. Having an
Photography is a very broad subject, which can interesting focal point is key.
encompass everything the world has to offer. It is Lighting is a very important part of photography,
therefore difcult to give denitive steps as to what and exposing the light correctly is a fundamental
will make a good photo. However, despite this, it is step to achieving a good photo. Therefore something
important to consider how you are photographing as simple as shooting at the right time of day can
your subject or scene, and the different aspects of have a huge effect on how the scene looks.
what is being shot that will make it a good photo. These are the core things to consider when taking
Composition is important in every area of your shot and when you get these things right you
photography, and generally refers to how the subject will create some great imagery. We show you how
Composition
Simple composition has
placed an even amount of
sky and foreground in this shot,
using a leading line to force the
eye across the scene
Articial light
Articial light is often used
when shooting indoors or
when there is no natural
light available. It can be
used effectively to light the
Essential
photography
subject, although it can be
difcult to get even results.
Harsh lighting
natural light
Natural light can often have a
harsh effect on the photo. This
is common when shooting in
Low light
Sometimes a lack of light can
also make for dramatic
images, but they can be hard
White balance
Getting colours accurate
Your cameras white balance can affect the
overall tone of your photograph, and is
therefore important to consider when
choosing your settings.
Use the whole frame The white balance is a function that goes
Leading line
Make sure you use all of
the space available to
frame the image, ensuring there
about removing the different colour casts
created by the lighting in the scene. In simple
A leading line in the image
draws the viewers eyes
through the entire frame,
is no empty space which does
not add interest to the shot
terms, it is used to ensure the colours in the
scene are as accurate as possible. The white
encouraging them to take in balance does this by measuring the colour
the whole photo
temperature of the photo and adjusting the
colours accordingly.
Essential
kit for Editing
software
Kit bag
A camera bag such as this Lowepro
Stealth Reporter (www.lowepro.com)
is essential. It offers a convenient way
to transport your camera and
accessories, as well as a safe
environment for them to be stored
There is an array of
automatic and scene
modes, making all types of
Compacts and superzooms generally
do not offer a range of manual settings,
photography quick and simple.
and do not come equipped to use
Fixed lens cameras are
generally cost-effective
when compared to higher-spec
external accessories. They are simple
digital cameras. cameras that are designed with the
Due to sensor size,
image quality is not as
good as CSC or DSLR cameras.
consumer in mind. However, with the
advancement in photography, compacts
will lack manual control, and superzooms are adopting more and
Most xed lens cameras
meaning everything has to be more advanced technology. The Shuer release Lens
shot in an automatic mode.
As with almost any digital camera, a The lens on a compact camera is xed to
Due to their simplicity,
xed lens cameras are
not built to be used with
Panasonic TZ60 pictured here (www.panasonic.
co.uk), for example, comes with image stabilisation,
compact comes equipped with the basic
shutter release. This will allow you to half
the body, and therefore cannot be changed.
Commonly the lenses will allow for a fairly
accessories such as lters. depress it to focus and fully press it to extensive amount of zoom, offering wide
Intelligent Auto mode and HD video. take the shot angle to medium telephoto
DSLR cameras
At the forefront of image quality, utilising large
sensors and high-quality lenses
DSLRs are well-built, professional-level cameras designed to
produce images of the highest quality without compromise.
Although most come with automatic modes that allow you to quickly Large body grip
utilise the cameras abilities, they are primarily designed to be used Due to the size of the
internals, including sensor
with full manual settings to capture shots that look exactly how you and battery, the body of a
DSLR is fairly large,
want them to.
Pros & cons
allowing it to be rmly
Most people use DSLRs not only for the gripped in the hand when
taking photos.
higher image quality, but also for the level
Due to the large
sensors, image
quality from DSLRs is of control that you are able to have over
generally very good.
how the image looks. There is also the
DSLRs provide full
manual control,
allowing you to determine
large bene t of using multiple lenses, as
how the photo looks. well as a vast range of accessories all
There are countless
accessories and
lenses that can be used to
designed to allow you to achieve the
make it more efcient. photos you want.
DSLRs are not necessarily built to be
DSLRs are an expensive
system to use,
especially when coupled with
beginner friendly, although the entry-level
Accessible
controls LCD
DSLRs are DSLRs also come
lenses and accessories. models such as the Canon 1200D (www. Viewnder
designed to be equipped with an LCD,
They are difcult to use
for beginner-level canon.co.uk) pictured here are attempting very intuitive, and Interchangeable All DSLR cameras come designed to allow
photographers due to their therefore have the lenses with a viewnder, settings to be
manual controls. to bridge the gap. They can be expensive, majority of their The lenses used with DSLR allowing you to look changed, images to
Your rst
photo shoot
A step-by-step guide to getting a
great shot on your rst photo shoot
Taking photographs may seem like a simple time to capture, and are the work of the Setting up your very rst photo shoot can
process, and one which does not need photographer as much as the camera. be a daunting task. However, by laying out
much thought. Where this is true of simple Before simply taking the photo, consider the steps one by one, it is an easy process
snapshots, it takes a lot more thought to get the composition you wish to use, the lighting that will let you take control of how your shot
great photos each time. of the surroundings and what you want to comes out.
Many great subjects cannot be captured present with your photo. You will then be Follow this basic step-by-step tutorial of
well with simple snapshots, and it requires able to focus on the camera setup, and go how to take great photographs every time,
more control of the camera and subject to through the process of adjusting the and you should be rather pleased with the
get the most out of them. Good photos take settings to your preference. nal result.
05 Apply in-camera
effects
If you want to add effects, do so
06 Focus the camera
Ensure the subject is in
focus. This can be done by
07 Take the photo
When taking any shot,
be careful not to move the
08 Edit the image
Editing can offer simple
but effective improvements.
now. Most compacts come with allowing your camera to focus camera too much, but to retain Cropping in to the main subject,
a range and DSLRs have some automatically by half pressing the original composition and straightening a horizon, or
options. Choose the effect from the shutter or manually focus, ensuring the shot comes sharpening a portrait can have a
your menu screen. adjusting the focus. out as originally planned. huge effect to the overall look.
Colours
Colour is an important part of
your image. With this shot,
boosting the colours in editing
software has ensured they are
punchy and attractive, drawing
the eye in to the photograph
Depth of eld
Consider if you want your
background to be in focus or
not. By using a wide aperture
(low f-number) here the
background has been put out
of focus, drawing attention to
the main subject
Focus Composition
09 Share your shot
Once happy with how
your shot has come out, you
Ensure the key part of your subject
is in focus, such as the eyes in
portraits. Here the focus point is in
the middle of the ower
Composition is key
remove distractions from
your subject and try to fill
all areas of the frame
can then use the many different
sharing websites to display your
photographs for all to see.
Keep the
03
1/80sec
camera steady Speeding up the shutter even more to
At slower shutter speeds a
tripod may be necessary to
keep the camera still and stop
1/80sec captures the water in its tracks.
Bubbles are now visible but still some
movement is captured
unwanted blur from occurring in
your shots
01
f4.5
If youre close to the
model, make sure the
background isnt a
distraction using f4.5
creates a shallow depth
of eld
03
f16
With the aperture set at f16, the
entire image is kept sharp. This
works well when theres an
interesting background around
the main subject
01
01
Zoom in on small
details and use
aperture to play with
light exposure
02
03
This image is the standard way
to shoot a landscape with
a wide-angle lens
015:15am
Just before the break
of dawn, the sky is lit
from underneath. The
reected light turns the
mist slightly magenta
02
5:45am
Just minutes later the
saturation begins to
fade, with the mist
turning white. As the air
warms, the fog builds
Shoot in
RAW format
Even with a shot like this,
you can rescue a lot of detail
hidden by shooting RAW and
editing later
03
6:30am
Three quarters of an
hour later, fog engulfs
David Clapp
01
01
03
Think about the
angle you are shooting
from. Also, make the
most of art lters. Ones
like Vignette boost the
tone of the mid-section
perfect for architecture
shots like this one
Digital
Camera
Guide
to review photos
compensation White Balance Viewnder
Each type of camera has its own set Affected by the ambient light Optical shows you the view
of pros and cons, and which one you around you, your camera can through the camera lens and is
Flash switch it Movie mode alter this setting to ensure a good for accurate framing;
choose will be dependent on what on or off via this features natural colour result Electronic shows the view on
an LCD in the viewfinder
youre using the camera for and your Exposure
Night time/ Macro for
past experience in photography. If you close-ups
A balanced exposure has DSLR
low-light scenes detail in light and dark areas This stands for digital single
simply want to catch quick shots on lens reex camera
Zoom in on Sports for Metering
holiday or take videos of a grandchild, + fast action Refers to the way the camera CSC
your photos reads the light in the scene
then a compact or cameraphone will Compact system camera
probably suit your needs. But people Zoom out of Landscapes for
wide angles
looking for large printouts and more your photos
advanced shooting options will need to
look towards DSLRs.
Self timer for self
portraits etc
Portrait perfect
for people
We believe that its
No matter what type you choose, with Image Manual mode not just about the
this Quick Start guide youll get to know
all the key aspects of your camera and
stabilisation for control
camera, its about
youll soon be taking amazing shots.
Burst mode
button knowing how to use it
36 Digital Photography for Beginners
Camera types Accessories Modes
Cameraphones 01 02 01 02
Pros Cons
Light and compact Small lens and sensor
Cool app add-ons Flattens perspective
Instantly share Less features
03 04 03 04
Cameraphone
Your cameraphone
p can shoot,
edit and share images instantly
05
Fixed lens
Pros Cons
Easy to use Fewer manual options
Light and versatile Can be slow
05 06
Lots of features Less adaptable
06
Fixed lens camera are
easier to use and cheaper
07 08
Compact Superzoom
Interchangeable lens
Pros
Great image quality
Cons
Can be expensive
01 Card reader
You can pick
these up cheaply for one
editing program on a
disc in the box 01AutoYour camera
makes all the decisions
05Shu er
Priority
You control the
Fast shooting speed Can be complex Lens cloth
Manual and Auto Can be heavy
card, but youll pay more
for multiple slots 05 Keep your
camera clean. You could
for you in this mode Shutter speed, but
your camera controls
03 Bag
Protect your
you decide on a tripod 03Program
You have control
over aspects like white
the camera doesnt
choose any
Aperture
Top Tip
DSLR Compact system camera
camera bag
04 Priority
If youre shooting with
a compact camera
Interchangeable
g lenses do offer
04Editing
software
Your camera usually
08Connection
Check you have
all the leads you need to
You control the aperture,
but your camera
controls all of the other
that doesnt have a mode
dial on it, you should be
able to locate your modes
in the Menu system
more creativity, but at a cost comes with its own free connect your camera settings for you
settings
Take more creative control of your
camera by getting to know how it works
40 Your settings
Learn all about your camera
44 Scene modes
Tips on the various scene modes
52 Aperture
Aperture Priority mode explained
56 Shutter speed
Use Shutter Priority for great efects
60 White balance
We break these settings down
p60
p40
p56
p52
Settings explained
We take you through what your cameras settings can do,
and how you can tweak Auto mode for better results
All digital cameras come equipped with an
automatic shooting mode thats designed
to do all of the work for you, so you can
ISO settings
simply concentrate on what is being shot. The ISO is the cameras sensitivity to
Auto often utilises the cameras best light. The larger the ISO, the more
settings in all situations, but these dont sensitive the cameras sensor is. If the
always yield the best results. ISO is low, the shots will be clear but
We will be showing you each of the darker. Images will be brighter with a
functions Auto mode carries out behind the high ISO, but will appear grainy.
scenes, how these functions change the
outcome of your photos and how slight
manual adjustments can help you get the
most out of your camera.
Technical tip
ISO changes how sensitive a
sensor is to light. Higher ISOs
gather more light and are
better for low-light scenes.
Metering
The camera automatically
measures light intensity using
different parts of the scene,
and then nds the best
settings for the image
exposure. Getting the
exposure right for the end
photo can often require one
or two attempts.
What the camera chose
Due to the focus being set on the sky,
the camera has metered for the bright
sunlight. This means the detail of the
foreground has been lost
Aperture Flash
The aperture controls how wide If theres not enough light, the
the lens is open, and ultimately camera will re its built-in ash
the depth of eld. A large to illuminate the subject at the
aperture (a low f-number, eg time of taking the photo. The
f2.8) will let in more light and ash symbol may appear to
give a main point of focus with inform the user that its going
a blurred background. to be used.
The settings we chose What the camera chose The settings we chose What the camera chose
By using a low f-number, the main Leaving the camera on Automatic By turning the cameras in-built ash Because this was a bright day the
subject is in focus and the rest of the mode has given us a large depth of on we have lled in the shadows on cameras ash has not gone off.
photo is blurred, putting emphasis on eld. This means that most of the the faces, caused by the sun being However, the sun was behind our
the ower photo is in focus behind them subjects so their faces are in shadow
sxc.hu
White balance
White balance is designed to
ensure white objects appear
white in the photo, and other
objects are free of colour
The settings we chose
By using a different white balance casting. Most digital cameras
setting, such as cloudy or come with a variety of white
daylight, the detail in the sky balance settings, each tailored
can be clearly seen
to shooting conditions.
Shutter speed
The shutter speed determines
how long the lens is open for,
and therefore how long the
picture is taken for. A faster
shutter speed is useful for
shooting fast-moving subjects
(cars, people playing sport)
while a slower shutter speed is
best for being creative with
long exposures.
Moving subject
Active subjects can be hard to
focus on. Go into your menu
system and select AF Tracking or
Subject Tracking Focus.
Low-light focusing
In low light, you might find your
focus hunts and cant find a
subject. You can switch to
Manual focus in these situations.
Focus
Digital cameras have the ability
to automatically focus on the Sharp/In focus
subject, and many now come Make sure you focus
with different focusing abilities on the right subject to
ensure crisp details
that are suited to different where it is most
subjects or situations. important to the photo
Technical tip
Every manufacturer calls its
focus modes by slightly
different names, but the
icons will usually be similar.
Scene modes
We take you through each of the scene modes
youre likely to nd on your camera and give tips
on how best to use them
Modern digital cameras, from compacts
right up to DSLRs, are very user-friendly.
With many cameras, there is a focus on
Landscape
preset camera settings which help users of
Landscape mode will set the camera up
all levels get the most out of their camera in
for capturing large and detailed scenes.
any given situation. These presets are called
Using a small aperture (large f-number)
the cameras scene modes, and they are
ensures as much of the scene is in
becoming more diverse with new cameras.
focus as possible. To compensate for
Setting your camera to a new mode when
this, a slower shutter speed will be
out and about can be cumbersome, and
used, meaning a tripod may be required
often cause you to lose the shot. However,
to keep the camera steady.
we will be showing you the advantages of
taking the extra time to set up your camera
to the correct scene mode. Automatic mode
In Auto the sky and the land are
exposed, but theyre a little bland
Technical tip
Want to get a similar effect
with lters? Try using a
polarising lter, which will
darken the blues and greens.
Portrait scene mode Automatic mode Sport scene mode Automatic mode
This mode selected a longer
exposure instead of using ash
and created a more attering shot
The Automatic mode has prompted
the ash to re, resulting in an
overexposed shot with at skin tones
On the sports scene mode, the
camera uses a higher ISO and
shutter speed to freeze the motion
On Automatic, our camera hasnt
recognised the fast-moving subject
so hasnt upped the shutter speed
Automatic mode
This photo shows how your ash
on Auto can light the subject, but
you miss the background detail
Night portrait
Night portrait modes designed
for taking shots of people in
dark situations. It will slow
down the shutter speed and
Night Portrait scene mode allow more light to get into the
This shot, taken using ta night portrait
mode, shows how the dynamic range
can be increased for a better photo result
camera, as well as re the
ash. This can give some great
shots, but may require a tripod.
Automatic mode
Although the Auto mode has
captured the sky well, the
foreground and sand are a little on
the dark side
Beach/Snow
When shooting bright scenes
such as sandy beaches or
snow, the camera will
automatically underexpose,
darkening the image and losing
Beach scene mode the detail of the bright areas.
Placing your camera on beach/
Beach and snow scene modes
are often combined as the
camera is dealing with a lot of bright/
snow scene mode will brighten
light colours, which it exposes for up the shot and expose the
colours correctly.
Automatic mode
By merging the photos
together, either in camera or
using editing software, the nal
image should turn out like this
HDR mode
Shooting using an HDR
mode usually takes three
exposures, one normal, one
under-, and one overexposed
Program
Program mode can be found on some
compacts, CSCs and DSLRs so its one
feature everyone should get to grips with
Program mode can be found on almost all modern cameras. Its signied
by a small P in either the shooting mode menu or on the mode dial. In this
mode, your camera still chooses the shutter speed and aperture for the
scene in front of it, but it enables you to take control of aspects like white
balance, focus modes, ISO settings and ash modes. By controlling these
features you can get more creative with your images and ensure that you
produce better-looking photos than ever before.
Chosen mode
We wanted to avoid
noise so lowered the ISO
in P mode. This also
meant a slower shutter
speed was set by the
camera, resulting in the
lovely blurred water here
Technical tip
If you have to up the ISO, try
The higher the ISO number, the
converting it post-shoot to
black and white, as grain
more light the camera can gather,
looks retro-cool in mono.
which is great for low-light scenes
48 Digital Photography for Beginners
ISO White balance
The ISO setting refers to how sensitive the When left on Auto, your cameras white balance will choose the
camera sensor is to light. The higher the setting it feels is most appropriate, like cloudy, incandescent or
number (eg ISO 800 and above), the more tungsten. However, the camera cant always choose for mixed
light the camera can gather, which is great lighting or for situations like sunsets and sunrises, which will
for low-light scenes where youre unable cause washed-out colours that dont represent real life. By setting
to use a ash. Your camera will try to opt the right white balance you can also add creative colour casts,
for low numbers to keep the photo noise which could add a new dimension to your shot.
free (higher ISOs do suffer from noise or
grain), but sometimes upping the ISO is Automatic mode Chosen mode
the only answer. The camera has selected a warm
white balance, probably due to it
being quite cloudy
We chose Daylight instead,
which produced more neutral
tones that were closer to real life
Focus
On most system cameras, you can select the Focus mode while
shooting on Program. This can benet you in a number of ways.
Manual focus can be a great option for macro shots and those
with poor light. Continuous autofocus or tracking focus can be
great if you know your subject will be moving. Your camera will not
be able to anticipate these aspects so may choose the wrong
focus and cause you to miss the shot.
Automatic mode
Letting the camera
choose the ISO has
resulted in a higher
setting being used
enabling a faster shutter
speed for hand-holding
the camera but at the
expense of noise
appearing in the shot
Automatic mode
When shooting in bright conditions,
your cameras Auto mode can
easily over or underexpose a scene
Exposure
Compensation
Exposure Compensation is
represented by a plus and
minus symbol, and often has a
button for access. By pressing
this button you can rotate the
control wheel or use the d-pad
to move up or down a scale. To
correct for overexposure
(image too bright) use a
negative number; to correct for
underexposure (image too
dark) use a positive one.
Automatic mode
Your camera will automatically
shoot single frames which can
mean you miss the action
Drive mode
Some cameras enable
photographers to alter the
Drive mode when in Program
mode this is great for action
lovers in particular. In Single
Shot mode the camera will re
just one shot, which is typical
when on Automatic. If you Chosen mode
select Continuous Drive mode
instead, the camera will re a
By switching to Burst
mode you can take a
series of photos and stitch
rapid succession of shots. them together afterwards
for creative effect
Self-timer is usually available
here too.
Your photos
Automatic mode could be vastly
Although its a bright day, as
were shooting inside there are improved
a lot of shadows caused by harsh
side lighting by taking
control of the
Chosen mode
ash settings
By using a ash to ll
in the light a ll 3 alternative
ash the end result is
much more pleasing Flash modes
Slow sync
When using Slow
Sync, your camera
will use both a ash
and a longer shutter
speed, which can be
great for creative
movement effects,
like capturing a
sharp photo of your
subject and blurred
background.
Rear curtain
Rear and front
curtain refer to
when your camera
will fire the ash
during the shot.
With rear curtain it
fires at the end of
the exposure, but
with front curtain it
fires at the start of
the capture.
Fill in
Great for backlit
Technical tip subjects, fill in ash
refers to the filling
in of dark areas. For
You can alter the ashs instance, if youre
strength, or you can bounce it shooting inside a
or diffuse it by putting some church against a
window, the
masking tape over it. background will be
light but faces may
be in the dark.
Aperture
Take control of your f2
The wide aperture
used to take this shot
aperture and start creates a beautiful
shallow depth of field
f16
A lot more of
the image is in focus
now, and due to a
smaller aperture the
shutter speed has
extended, making
shots more prone to
camera shake
Aperture
p is affected byy how much light
g
is let into the lens. It can be made
bigger or smaller byy changing
g g the
settings on your camera
f8
The focus is now
beginning to extend to
the background,
although this f-stop
still has a great effect
f5.6
Noticeably
more of the
foreground has
focused and is
beginning to bring
back details from the
bush on the left-hand
side of the frame
Portraits
Create picture-perfect and
professional-looking portraits
by using a wide aperture F2
setting. The artistic shallow
depth of eld effect will draw Keep the focus on
your subject using
a wide aperture and
you into the frame and bring get an artistic shallow
focus to the models eyes and depth of eld effect
features. A smaller aperture,
however, is great for shooting
group shot portraits, as it will
help to ensure everyone
remains in focus.
F5.6
The blur effect is distracting
and restricts the view,
making wide apertures
unsuitable for landscapes
Landscapes
Landscape photographs are
best when theyre sharp and
perfectly in focus. A small
aperture setting is ideal for this F10
genre, as it will ensure most of
the frame is in focus from the
This sharp
landscape shot is
well focused and
foreground to the background. enables you to explore
Remember to use a tripod the frame from corner
to corner
where possible, as the slower
shutter speeds when working
with a smaller aperture will
result in motion capture.
F22
Not ideal for fast-moving
subjects like wildlife and
pets a smaller aperture will
require a longer shutter speed
Macro
You can capture beautiful
macro shots with wide
apertures. Theyre ideal for F3.5
location lighting, and will result
in well-exposed images. The Softly blur your
background with a
wide aperture setting,
faster shutter speed will also making your macro
freeze any motion from the subject the focus
breeze or camera shake when
shooting up close. The
out-of-focus background also
adds depth and makes your
subject the focus of the frame.
F11
A smaller aperture will bring
all of your subject(s) sharply
into focus, but the results may
not be as interesting
Still life
Still-life objects can be found
around the home and are great
for practising your photography
techniques on. Why not try F2.5
photographing more than one
object to best see how
Using a wide
aperture you
can create a great,
aperture control works. For artistic still-life shot
the most artistic results you like this one
should use a wide aperture
and focus your camera on
just one of the objects within
the composition.
F8
A smaller aperture adds
drama but can make an
action-themed image look a
Technical tip
A small aperture setting will
little static and uneventful require longer shutter speeds
so you may need a tripod to
Shutter speed
Select the Shutter Priority mode on your
camera and take control of your creativity
Shutter speed controls how much light is let and light painting) and manipulating your
through the lens. The speed is measured in shutter speed, you can get some great,
seconds and fractions of a second, with creative results in camera.
most cameras enabling you to shoot as slow Freezing motion is another matter, and its
as 30sec and as fast as 1/4000sec. not always as easy as setting a faster speed
Depending on how fast or slow the setting, the lens you shoot with can also play a big
you can then control how under-, over- or part. When setting your shutter speed, pay
well-exposed your image is. attention to the focal length of your lens.
As a rule you should avoid shooting at Your shutter speed should always be faster
speeds slower than 1/60sec unless using a than the focal length. If, for example, youre
tripod, as the shutter is also responsible for shooting with a 55-80mm lens then set your
capturing movement. Camera shake and shutter speed upwards of 1/125sec to
motion blur have ruined many a good photo; prevent any motion from being captured.
however, you shouldnt always overlook Take a look at our examples over the next
capturing movement in a still image. few pages and switch your mode dial to the
Depending on the genre youre shooting, Shutter Priority setting. Your camera will
movement can add an element of energy determine the correct aperture for the Shots like this are
into an otherwise static shot. By using the exposure, so youre free to experiment and captured
p usingg slow
right shooting techniques (such as panning explore how your shutter works.
shutter speeds
One second
An extremely slow shutter speed
to use on a bright day, a 1sec
shutter speed will overexpose an
image and create a largely blank white
space. Motion will also be recorded as
just light strips of colour.
At 1/200sec the
carousel is frozen and
all of the detail can
be seen
Portraits
You will ensure that your
portraits are sharp and
picture-perfect by avoiding
camera shake and motion blur. 1/400sec
Work in Shutter Priority and Increasing your
shutter speed will
open up your aperture,
increase your shutter speed
resulting in a
setting your camera will professional, softly
compensate for the exposure focused background
by opening up the aperture,
creating a beautiful shallow
depth of eld effect that is
perfect for portraiture.
1/250sec
Faster shutter speeds can
create snapshot-style
images that are a lot less
interesting and engaging
Landscapes
Slower speeds are ideal for
landscapes, as they enable
you to close down the aperture
and get an evenly focused, 1/20sec
much sharper shot. The longer
the shutter is open, the more Slow shutter
speeds are
perfect for landscapes;
dramatic the results perfect the shot will be sharp
for capturing moody sunsets in and in focus from
low light. Try shooting a corner to corner
seascape with an extended
shutter speed and see how
you can capture water as mist.
1/20sec
When shooting with a large
focal length lens, increase
your cameras shutter speed to
avoid getting camera shake
Macro
When taking macro
photographs in Shutter
Priority mode, you should avoid
using shutter speeds slower 1/800sec
than 1/60sec handheld. The Faster shutter
speeds will allow
you to take sharper
longer the shutter stays open
shots that have an
the more likely it is that you artistic shallow depth
will record movement and of eld effect due to a
camera shake, which will wider aperture setting
prevent your macro shot from
looking professional, sharp
and in focus.
1/125sec
This image is not unsuitable,
but when working in Shutter
Priority mode you can experiment
and avoid playing it safe
Still life
Experiment with your cameras
shutter speed settings when
shooting still life in a controlled
lighting environment like a 25sec
studio. Faster shutter speeds
are great for getting a A much slower
shutter speed
like this enables you
professional, shallow depth of to paint with light
eld effect, but you can try and get creative
slowing down your shutter results in camera
speed and experimenting with
the light source for some really
creative results.
1/1250sec
A faster shutter speed
will freeze movement
and result in detailed but
Technical tip
Avoid recording movement
static shots like this one when shooting handheld by
setting your shutter speed to
White balance
Understand how white balance Does my
settings can affect your captures camera do it?
Before you make white balance alterations a more accurate representation of the
in camera its important to know how white scene. However, it isnt perfect and
balance can be affected by the light source sometimes the camera will struggle to
DSLR Compact
youre shooting within. remove all traces of a cast. This is where Whats good about it system camera
All light has a colour temperature, which your manual white balance settings become Offers custom white
balance settings for more
Whats good about it
can range from warm orange and red tones useful. Simply match the white balance advanced users and most have
in-built colour correction
Most have a button on the
body for quick access to
white balance setting
(tungsten bulbs) to cool blue and green settings to suit your light source. What could be better What could be better
tones (uorescent bulbs). Without the right
white balance setting these lights will create
You can also get creative and apply the
opposite white balance setting to the light
With so many other
settings to adjust, a DSLR
can be overwhelming
The auto white balance
setting won't be as
accurate as a pro DSLR's
a colour cast in the photo. The white areas source. This will create a controlled colour
will have a noticeable blue or orange tone. cast that adds an edge to your image. Most
To overcome this, most cameras have an photographers use this to warm up an
auto white balance setting to compensate otherwise cold scene or to enhance a mood Compact camera Cameraphone
for the casts and neutralise the image so its or feeling that the photograph portrays. Whats good about it Whats good about it
Compacts have pretty
accurate auto white Smartphones have plenty
of editing app options to
camera can struggle to remove all of a cast White balance often has to
be changed within the
Settings menu interface
Most dont come with
optional settings so you
have to rely on Auto
Tungsten/Incandescent
Represented by a light bulb, the tungsten/
incandescent setting is ideal for shooting
indoors under warm bulb lighting.
Fluorescent
Daylight/Sunshine Cloudy/Shade This setting is perfect for shooting public
The Daylight/Sunshine white balance Overcast cloudy days often appear dull places where Fluorescent lights are used,
like cafes, gyms and subways.
setting is, rather unsurprisingly, perfect for and cool in photographs, but the Cloudy
shooting on bright and sunny days. This setting helps to warm up the scene. This
setting is relatively neutral and ensures
your daytime scene is recorded without
also makes it ideal for shooting low-light
scenes like sunrise and sunset as it brings
5 Daylight/Sunshine
This symbol represents an ideal setting for
summers day shooting, ensuring you
any unwanted colour casts. out the warmth in the sky. wont capture any colour casts.
Cloudy/Shade
Perfect for shooting on a cloudy day. This
setting is also great in low light, like when
shooting sunrise or sunset.
Flash
If you are using ash in the studio or
working with your on-camera ash, use
this to keep shot results warm.
Custom
Ideal for removing more complex colour
casts, you can also experiment with
custom settings to add creative casts.
Flash Custom
When you're shooting with your studio or Although its a more advanced white
on-camera ash, you can create a cool balance setting, most cameras will offer a
cast on your images. However, by custom mode that enables you to make Jargon buster
Colour temperature of light
switching your white balance setting over specic adjustments to your white The colour temperature refers to how warm or cool an image
appears. Lights that produce colour temperatures over 5,000
to Flash, the camera will compensate and balance settings, whether you want to Kelvin create a cool blue cast; lower colour temperature lights
warm up the shots. cancel out casts or add them in creatively. create warmer orange casts.
Warming casts
The image above was shot in
natural daylight using the
Automatic white balance mode.
Due to the time of day the
natural light appears cooler and
makes the cupcakes less
appealing. You can switch your This image was
taken using the
Shade white balance
white balance to Shade to setting, which has
warm up the image and give helped to warm up the
the cakes an inviting feel. tones in the natural light
Cooling casts
You can apply the same
technique to create a cooler
colour cast. In this image the
blue cast adds a creative edge
to the photograph and also
works with the subject matter.
Technical tip Shot in natural daylight, the
Remember to preview your
white balance setting was
settings on the back LCD switched to incandescent,
before you shoot to ensure which cancelled out the
colour casts are corrected.
warming effect of the daylight
and added a blue colour cast.
The Fluorescent
white balance
setting adds a magenta
cast that creates a
more aesthetically
pleasing image
When to use custom white balance Zoom into your photograph and locate the
brightest highlight area within the image. Use
the Set White Point eyedropper tool to select
what should be the brightest part of the photo.
After mastering shutter speed and lighting situations or when the cameras
aperture settings you will want to start other white balance settings are not quite
exploring ISO and white balance. If right. The Kelvin values represent the
you already change the white balance colour temperature of the light, with higher
according to where youre shooting, you numbers reecting cooler light sources
may now want to understand the custom and lower numbers representing warmer
white balance setting a little better. lights. Select the right number to cancel
White balance moves from cool to warm out or create a colour cast, depending on
and is displayed in Kelvin (K), but you need where you are shooting. Bringing back the detail
You will now need to select the set black point
to know how and when to use it. Your Check out our quick reference guide eyedropper tool and click on the darkest area of
the image. Zoom in to ensure you select the right
cameras custom white balance setting is below to see what value Kelvin you would area and use the Preview button to check that
the adjustments are correct.
ideal for correcting colour casts in tricky need for certain lighting situations.
86 Master
astrophotography
Aim for the stars
92 Capture
sunsets
perfect
Shooting the golden hour
p66
p94 p70
p82
Composition
Learn how to compose stunning Does my
images in camera with our examples camera do it?
A good composition is key to any great master painters of the past. You can apply
photograph. Your composition should draw in the same techniques to your photographs
the viewers gaze it should be engaging yet while shooting in any genre. Learn how to DSLR Compact
easy on the eye. shoot using some of the essentials as a Whats good about it system camera
Composing what is essentially a restricted guide, including the rule of thirds, lead-in Option to use both a
viewnder and LCD screen
Whats good about it
view on a real-life scene is not always easy, lines and the golden spiral. Well also show
to compose, with an added grid
feature for the rule of thirds
Great-quality LCDs with
some able to tilt/rotate for
shooting at awkward angles
but knowing some of the rules can simplify you three of the best ways to improve What could be better What could be better
shooting. Understanding how to balance a incorrect compositions in Photoshop. Expensive, and you may not
always have it on hand for
impromptu shooting
With a smaller sensor than
a DSLR model, images
composition is important, and knowing The following rules can be applied to all wont be as high in quality
where to place your point of interest is shooting scenarios and work with any
essential to a successful outcome. camera type. Take a look at our inspiring
Over the next few pages were going to image examples, follow the rules and start
take you through some of the oldest composing some great captures in camera Compact camera Cameraphone
Whats good about it Whats good about it
composition rules that were developed by for yourself.
You can crop your
compositions in camera Offers downloadable
image-editing apps for
Technical tip
Ensure the horizon line in your
shot is straight before you
shoot to avoid making extra
adjustments in Photoshop.
Jargon buster
Rule of thirds
The rule of thirds is a compositional rule that
states an image should be divided into nine
equal parts with vertical and horizontal lines.
If you position your subject along the third
lines you will create a balanced composition.
3 of the best
Tips for great
in-camera
composition
Compose rst
Create a paper viewfinder or use
your hands to form a rectangle.
Look through and pan around
yourself for compositions.
Grid guidance
Activate the available grid in your
cameras viewfinder or back LCD
screen. Use the lines as a guide
to follow the rule of thirds.
Correction
Press Playback and zoom into
your composition. This will enable
you to determine if you have the
best possible composition.
How to use the rule of thirds Other ways to apply this compositional law
01 Top third
You can apply the rule of thirds in a
multitude of ways. In this image the point of
02 Portraits
The rule of thirds works just as well
when applied in portraiture. Position your
03 Balancing thirds
The rule of thirds still applies to this
image, which works because the subject
interest rests on the top third of the frame model off-centre in either the left or right lls the entire right third of the frame before
in the composition. It works particularly well third of the frame. Use the background to falling onto the left third line. The aeroplane
because the columns help draw your eye up lead your eye up to your subject and create trail creates an added point of interest in the
to the point of interest. a more interesting composition. space and balances the shot.
Golden spiral
The golden spiral composition
is great when shooting macro
images. Place the point of
interest in either the top or
bottom corners of the frame
and use the shape of the
petals or background to
gradually draw your eye around
the frame. This image works
as theres more visual space.
Taken at
an angle, the
lines run diagonally
through the image,
leading you from
the top-left-hand
corner of the frame
to the bottom right
Lead-in lines
Lead-in lines are great for
navigating your eyes through a
composition. You can use
them to add depth to an
image, lead up to a focus point
in any photograph or wander
through a landscape scene.
The photograph to the left has
been taken with an abstract
approach, using lead-in lines to
create a more artistic image.
Crop in
Select the Crop tool from the Tools menu and
Colour begin by selecting the entire image. Hold down
the Shift key to maintain the correct proportions
and slowly drag up on the corners of the frame.
Consider carefully the colours Move the selection area until youre happy.
you frame in your composition.
Too many conicting colours Rotate
Before conrming your
can often create a distraction crop, hold the cursor in the
top corner of the frame until
from your focus area. the rotate icon appears.
Complementary or repetitive Click and slowly rotate the
selection until the horizons
tones create great shots. straight, then click OK.
Extra tricks for sharp shots Avoid blurry shots with these easy tips
Set the speed Use a tripod Hold it steady Delay the shutter
Use Action scene mode or Shutter Setting your camera up on a tripod or If youre shooting handheld, stand Even pressing the shutter button can
Priority and pick a fast shutter speed. sturdy surface will help keep it steady with your feet shoulder-width apart, jog your camera. Put it on a tripod and
This will freeze your subject in the and avoid any camera shake that can hold the camera with both hands and use self-timer or a remote release to
frame for blur-free shots. result in blurry shots. tuck your elbows into your sides. take the shot without jogging it.
Photo settings
These icons let you know
the shutter speed and
aperture setting
(f-number) that you should
use to achieve the results
in the picture.
Jargon buster
AF point
An AF point is the area of the frame on which
your camera focuses. Most cameras let you
choose from several AF points, but others will
only allow you to use the one in the centre.
Co
Soft focus the bacnksider
This is another term for out-of-focus and Your cam ground
occurs when you do not focus accurately. to lo era is m
ck focu o re likely
Soft-focus images have fuzzy details and
if it stan s on your subje
unfortunately cannot be completely fixed. ds out. Lo ct
simple b ok for a
ackd
Focus locking a sharp, rop to create
unclu
Your camera focuses every time you photogra ttered
half-press the shutter. If you hold it there then
ph
it will lock the focus on this point to keep it
sharp, even if you move the camera.
Keep stationary
subjects sharp Capture perfect still-life
Use face detection portraits and more
Keep portrait subjects in focus
When your subject isnt moving, it is very easy to focus on.
The tricky part is keeping the right part of your shot in focus,
as your camera may not know which bit you want to keep
sharp. For example, if you are using a wide aperture this will
create a shallow depth of field and blur some of your shot. To
make sure it is just the background of the photo, and not your
subject, that appears soft, you will need to tell your camera
where you want to focus. You can do this by using Selective
Autofocus or Single AF mode, also known as One Shot on
Canon cameras and AF-S on Nikon.
When taking photos of people, you could use Selective
Autofocus and focus on their face or eyes to keep them
sharp. However, most cameras now feature a special
mode to help you, known as Face Detection. It gets your
camera to pick out any faces in front of the lens and
automatically keeps them sharp and well exposed. This
is particularly useful for shooting group portraits, when
you have more than one face to focus on.
Tap to
On cam
focus
cameras e raphone
w s and
you can ith touch screen
choose s,
Blur the background want to w h
focus by ere you
tapping sim
Switching to Aperture Priority the scre ply
mode and using a small en
f-number (wide aperture) will blur
everything in your shot except
for the area you focus on.
01 Choose an AF point
Some cameras let you choose
where in the frame you want to focus.
Bring up the AF points and select the
one that is over your subject, or move
the central AF point into position.
Focus on
The hardest subjects to keep in focus are ones that are
moving, which is why your action shots are the most likely to
be fuzzy. Luckily, your camera has a handy focusing mode to
help you keep them sharp. Continuous Autofocus mode,
moving
known to Canon users as AI Servo and Nikon users as AF-C,
will detect your subjects movement and adjust the focus
accordingly. Instead of locking the focus when you half-press
the shutter, the camera will keep hunting around for your
subject while you hold it in place. This is very useful for
subjects
Produce blur-free action shots
photographing children and animals, as youll still have a
good chance of getting a sharp shot despite their
unpredictable and speedy movements.
Trac
the focku
Some s
separate cameras have
fo a
that pre cus tracking m
d o
path of tr icts your subjec de
avel ts
speed a based on their
nd dir
of move ection
ment
What is back-button
focusing?
Take the focus power away from your shutter
When you half-press the shutter on your camera, your camera focuses the shot,
but this is sometimes problematic. It is quite easy to accidentally fully-press the
shutter and take the shot by mistake, or your nger may slip off the button and
you will have to lock the focus all over again. To solve this issue, most DSLRs and
some CSCs have a handy feature called back-button focusing. This takes the job
of focusing away from your shutter and gives it to a button on the back of your
camera. This is labelled AF-ON on Canon cameras and AF-L on Nikon, but you
must assign this function to the button via your menu rst. If you press this
button you can lock the focus on your subject and then recompose your shot in
as many different ways as you like, with each one appearing sharp and in focus.
close-ups
As well a
s ma y
cro photo
manual graph
foc
low light, us is also usefu y,
as autofo l in
struggle cus
to nd yo may
subject u
in the da r
rk
Go macro
For an extreme close-up, you
will need a proper macro lens
or another macro accessory,
such as extension tubes or
close-up filters.
Switch it on Twist the lens Use the focus scale Check the results
You usually have to ick a switch on Twist the focus ring on your lens and Work out the distance between your It can be difcult to tell if your subject
the side of your lens to M or MF, but look at the image on the LCD screen subject and the end of your lens and is in focus just by looking at it on the
on some cameras you have to nd the or through the viewnder. When your then twist the focus ring to nd that LCD screen. Make sure you zoom in to
focusing menu and pick it on screen. subject appears sharp, stop twisting. distance on the focus scale. really check that its sharp.
handy
Use a on
functilil highlight thine
Peakin
gw t are s
ot tha Adjust the sharpness
Focus of your sh Assist zoom
are as us heck
Foc Go to Enhance>Unsharp Mask and
, and eally c
focus o you can r ness drag your subject into the preview box.
in s he sharp
t Now increase the Amount slider until
you can clearly see all the details but
it still looks natural.
1/200sec F20
Use aode
m
sceneera doesnt hacvtea
cam t sele
If your modes, jus e mode
a nua l sce n
m on ct
or acti n sele
sports d. It will the gs
instea best settin
the
for you
Take great
Action shots
Discover how to capture sharp images of fast-moving subjects
Photography isnt just a fun hobby; it can the finish line or a drop of water suspended worry if your camera wont let you adjust your
also be useful for recording images of in the air. This also gives you the opportunity shutter speed though, not all cameras do,
scenes we cant register with the naked to produce some really striking images of fortunately you can use scene modes to
eye, whether its extreme close-ups of tiny memorable moments, from sporting events achieve the same effect instead.
details or a single split-second of action. to your kids or pets playing in the park. Over the next few pages, we will show you
When photographing fast-moving subjects, The main secret to great action photos is how to freeze action for pin-sharp shots and
your camera is capable of freezing them in shutter speed. A fast shutter speed will take you through some inspiring projects you
the frame to capture those blink-and-youll- freeze your subject in the frame, while a slow can try to test out your new skills, no matter
miss-it moments, such as a runner crossing shutter speed will record motion blur. Dont what camera you own.
Humans in action
To capture a blur-free shot of a human subject
in motion, you will need to use a shutter speed
of 1/60sec or faster.
Prevent blur
Make sure blurry
shots are a thing of
the past by learning
how to keep moving
subjects sharp
Be prepared
Keep your camera
switched on and in the
right mode so that you're
always prepared for
unexpected action
Water droplets
To record individual water droplets in mid-air
you will need to set your shutter speed to
1/500sec or faster.
Master panning
Smooth panning
Support the camera Pan and shoot
Panning helps you show
your subject's speed and
direction of travel 03 Set your camera
onto a monopod or a 04 Fire the shutter and
swivel your camera
tripod with a panning head. along with them when ready.
Selective Autofocus
When your subject is in position, half-press the
shutter to lock focus before fully pressing it.
Manual Focus
If you can predict your subject's path, you can
manually focus on the area they will move into.
Unwanted blur
If you dont focus
correctly then both
your subject and the
background will be blurry
Swivel the
camera
Moving the
camera along
with your subject
will help you create
some directional
background blur
Make a splash
Switch on
your ash Drop fruit into
yoghurt or water to
Switch off
the ash
Use slow 02 As you will be
using a very
fast shutter speed,
sync your ash might not
If your camera has slow-sync be able to keep up.
ash, you can use a slower Either switch it off
shutter speed to record the
and use natural light
ambient light and re the
ash at the end to instead or set it to a
freeze subjects high-speed ash
setting if you can.
Pick your
settings
03 Switch to
Shutter
Priority mode and
pick a fast shutter
speed of around
1/500sec to freeze
the splash. You may
also need to raise
your ISO if your shots
are too dark.
Focus and
take the shot
Fill-in ash
If your subject is
backlit, firing
04 Set up your
shot in a
well-lit area, such as
your ash will allow near a bright window,
you to fill in the or use desk lamps to
shadows for a more light the shot. You
even coverage of light can also set up a
colourful backdrop
with a piece of
coloured card.
ctive
Leave aace Engaging
composition
sp ace in front of
the su
ome sp
Leave s ct of your ph of
bje
view e r a
oto to
sense
Shoot from an angle
that will create the
most engaging image
.
give the they are going possible. Maintaining eye
where lo ok static
a n
They c rwise contact with your subject
othe usually helps with this
Take a burst
of images
When the action you're photographing is unexpected
and fast, it can be easy to miss the perfect shot.
Switching your camera to Burst or Continuous
Shooting mode will cause it to take a series of photos
in quick succession when you hold down the shutter.
This will give you a selection of images to choose
from, and chances are that one of them will capture
the perfect split-second of action. Start shooting just
before the action starts and carry on shooting for a
few seconds after it has nished to increase your
chances of capturing the perfect moment. Just make
sure you have enough space on your memory card for
all those images, or you could be disappointed.
Capture the
perfect moment
When using Burst
mode, start shooting
just before the action
happens and dont stop
until after its finished
Camera with manual A light but sturdy tripod Remote shutter release
Look for a camera that has manual You will need a tripod that is sturdy A remote shutter release will let you
modes so you can set shutter speed enough to withstand a fair breeze, but open the shutter without touching the
and aperture. A DSLR or CSC gives you light enough so that its not dangerous camera. It also allows you to achieve
more control than a compact. to lug around on dark nights! longer-duration exposures.
Wide-angle lens
When photographing an astroscape, or
landscape astrophotograph, try to use a very
wide lens/short focal length to fit in as much
of the sky and the stars as possible
Visit during the day Set up your shot Pick your settings Shoot your frames
A preliminary trip to your location Find the best place from which to Use slow shutter speeds (up to Dont settle with just one angle or
during the day is worthwhile. It helps photograph your location. Look at the 30sec) and wide apertures (f2.8 or position constantly be on the
you plan your night-time shot and alignment of elements in the sky, such less) to capture detail in the stars. lookout for better compositions of the
identify any potential hazards. as the Milky Way. Use high ISO sensitivities if needed. foreground and the night sky.
Careful composition
Plan
your
When you get to your location, consider how
the foreground and sky interact. The focus of
this image is in the centre, and the Milky Way
surrounds and balances it
shoot
Get the place and
time right
A great deal of a successful night photo shoot relies on
planning ahead. Research your location to see how far
away it is from a potential source of light pollution, such
as a town or city, road or even a floodlit event, then
check the weather forecast throughout the day of your
visit. Its important that if youre going for the clearest
night skies, there cannot be any clouds or haze present.
The best clear nights are in the winter, but bear in mind
that the best time to photograph the Milky Way is at the
height of summer, as it fades away from skies in around
October. Unless you want to shoot the moon itself, avoid
nights when it is present in the sky, as it casts a huge
Shoot panoramas glow in the sky and makes it difficult to observe most
This image comprises of six portrait- stars. And remember to pack a torch!
orientation shots, stitched together in Adobe
Photoshop. The result is a single image
covering over 180 degrees of view 3 of the best
Apps for astrophotography
PhotoPills iOS (6.99/$9.99)
PhotoPills is a relatively new app on the market, but has just about everything
a landscape photographer could possibly need, particularly for
astrophotography. This includes a moon calendar and a star trails mode.
Lock focus
Use your cameras autofocus to lock onto the
moon. If you have it available on your camera,
use Live View to fine-tune the focus
Upgrade your
astrophotography kit
Telescope
If you want to capture
deep space and planets
in lots of detail, a
telescope is a
worthwhile investment.
They come in all shorts
of shapes and sizes to
suit any budget, but
look for one that can
support a camera.
T-mount
A T-mount adapter will
allow you to attach your
camera to your
telescope. Simply screw
it into where the lens
usually goes and then
fix the eye-piece to it.
You'll need a T-mount
that fits your specific
camera model.
Filters
Capture detail There are all sorts of
filters available for
Get your camera settings right and telescopes that can
you can quickly capture fantastic help enhance your astro
detail of craters on the moon, or shots. Some are
the shadows cast by different designed to help cut out
light pollution, while
moon phases coloured filters can
draw out hidden colours
in nebulas and galaxies.
Capture perfect
sunsets
Master essential skills for capturing
striking shots with a natural golden glow
It is well known that the best time to take is likely to look better when taken at this the kit and settings youll need to use and
photos outdoors is just before the sun sets time of day, so it really is worth getting up a how to compose your shots for the most
or just after it has risen. These times of day bit earlier or staying out a bit later to make impact, then guide you through some fun
are known as the golden hours, because the the most of it. projects to try to get creative with sunset
sun is low in the sky and projects a As conditions are a little dark, it can be photography. Finally, you can discover how to
wonderful golden light across the scene. difficult to produce perfect shots with plenty enhance your shots to get them looking their
This light tends to be lovely and soft too, so of details at sunrise or sunset. Thats why very best, with simple tweaks and edits that
it is very flattering for portrait shots, and also we have put together this easy guide to help will take you just a couple of minutes to do.
turns the sky incredible colours, making it you get set up and shooting striking shots of First though, lets get you prepared for your
ideal for landscapes as well. In fact, any shot stunning low-light vistas. We will show you sunset shoot.
DULL COLOURS
1. Plan ahead Prepare for your sunset shoot to guarantee great shots
Find a location Research the time Check the weather Pack your bag
Research your local area to nd the Find out when sunset is and get there Youll need to know the weather so If youre planning to shoot the sunrise,
best spots to shoot from. Flickr is a at least an hour before. Apps such as you can be prepared for any rain. It will it is best to get all of your kit ready the
handy tool for this, as you can see Sunrise Sunset and Sun Seeker will also help you determine whether evening before so you can simply grab
where other people have taken shots. help you track the sun. there will be clouds for extra interest. your bag and go in the morning.
golden vistas invest in a wide-angle lens that will let you fit
everything in the frame.
When you pack your kit before your shoot, make sure
that you have everything youre going to need. The
last thing you want is to find the perfect location just
as the sun is setting and then realise you have left
something important at home. You dont need to
spend a lot to get great sunset shots, but here are a
few useful items worth considering.
Digital camera
You can use any digital camera to take
spectacular shots of sunsets, even your
cameraphone. However, for more control
over your shots, a camera with manual
modes is best as you can get the exposure
spot on.
Sturdy tripod
When shooting in low light, you may need to
use slow shutter speeds to capture
well-exposed images, but this will cause your Remote release
shots to be blurry if you shoot handheld. Set Even firing the shutter can jog your camera,
your camera on a sturdy tripod or stable and if youre using a slow shutter speed this
surface to keep everything sharp. will result in blurry shots. To keep photos
sharp, use a remote shutter release or your
self-timer function to take the shot without
touching the camera.
3. Pick your settings Control your camera for shooting stunning sunsets
Most cameras have a sunset scene mode that will pick the best settings
for you and capture the colours in the scene as vividly as possible. SET YOUR MODE
However, to take more control over your shots, it is best to use Manual
mode. Start by selecting a narrow aperture (high f-number) to keep
everything in focus and capture as much detail as possible. Then pick a
slow shutter speed to capture plenty of light.
If youre shooting handheld, youll have to use a speed of 1/60sec or
faster to keep your shots sharp, but a tripod will allow you to use much
slower speeds and still produce blur-free images. If you can, keep your
ISO as low as possible. If your shots are too dark, use a slower shutter As you should have plenty of time
speed to brighten them. However, if youre shooting handheld, raise your to set up, sunset photography is
a fantastic opportunity to
ISO instead. Be aware that high ISOs can cause your shots to become practise using Manual mode
grainy though, so avoid pushing it too far.
02 Exposure compensation
Often, the best way to x your
exposure is with exposure compensation.
Press the button with the + and , then
increase it to brighten your shot or
decrease it to darken.
03 Try HDR
Take several photos at different
exposures on the compensation scale
then merge them together to create one
perfect HDR shot using editing software.
Use
spirit leav
Using a trip el
keep yo od will help you
ur c to
and som amera straight,
with a sp e models com
irit le e
so you c vel attachment
an make
it is perf sure
ect
04 Include reections
The colourful sky reected in a
lake or pond will create a great image,
but try to reect a subject too.
Before you shoot, make sure your ash Switch to Spot metering mode, point your
is switched off. Otherwise it could camera at the sky and half-press the shutter.
automatically fire and illuminate your Then recompose and take the shot, and your
subject, ruining your silhouette effect subject will be left underexposed
Ask a
friend end
ed to get a fri
You might ne ht bulb for you
to hold the lig
ke the shot.
while you ta e on your
ke ep an ey
Just ct them
LCD and dire n
into positio
Capture a sunburst
A striking shot with added are Lovely
Lens flare is often considered a problem that should be lens are
Shooting
into the sun ca
avoided in photography, but sometimes it can look quite reduce th
e co n
shot, givi ntrast in your
effective. Sunbursts are a particularly attractive form of atmosph
ng it a dre
amy
ere
flare, and they are very easy to create. First you need to well for p that works
ortraits an
d
remove the hood on your lens, if you have one, which is still life
designed to prevent it. Then you will need to shoot directly
into the sun, but make sure it is partially obscured by a tree
or the horizon so that your shot is not overly bright. A
narrow aperture (high f-number) and slow shutter speed
will also help to strengthen the effect.
BEFORE
01 Brighten it up
If your shot looks a little dark, go to
Enhance>Adjust Lighting>Brightness/Contrast
02 Boost the colours
Head to Enhance>Adjust Colour>
Adjust Hue/Saturation and increase the
03 Adjust the levels
Go to Enhance>Adjust Lighting>Levels.
Move the left and right arrows under the
and increase the Brightness. Saturation until the colours are bolder. histogram in and adjust the centre arrow.
1/200sec F6.3
4
2
2
1 2 3 4
Perfect Effective
portrait lens Powerful ashgun Versatile reector ash diffuser
50mm is the ideal focal length An external flashgun will provide If there are harsh shadows The light from your flash can be
for shooting portraits as it allows a powerful flash of light to across your subjects face, then quite harsh, but you can easily
you to capture a natural illuminate a poorly lit subject. a reflector will allow you to attach a diffuser to soften the
representation of your subject Most models will even allow you bounce the light back into the effect for more flattering results.
with no distortion. A 50mm lens to tilt the head. This means that dark areas for a more even There are lots of different types
with a small f-number is ideal, as you can bounce the light off of a coverage of light. Many reflectors of flash diffusers available,
it will allow you to create lots of wall or ceiling for a more have different coloured sides for including hard plastic covers and
background blur. flattering effect. a stronger or subtler effect. soft cloth alternatives.
Get in h
with setlf e shot
If you wa -t
nt to pra
imer
portra it skill ctic e your
simply s s on yourself
e rs
tripod an t the camera on t,
d
function use the self-tim a
so yo er
time to g u have enough
et into s
hot
1/250sec F4.0
Focus continuously
If you want to get a candid shot of your subject
as they move around, use Continuous
Autofocus to track them and keep them sharp.
Consider
colours
Think carefully about the colours
Get them
moving
Your portrait subject doesnt need
in your shot, making sure that your to stay static for the photograph.
subject's clothing doesn't clash or Encourage them to run, jump and
blend in with the backdrop. Too move around for a more energetic
many colours or patterns in the image. Just remember to use a
scene will create a cluttered and fast shutter speed or switch over
unattering image, so make sure to Action scene mode to help keep
that the tones work well together. them sharp in the frame.
Leave
space
some
If youre taking a candid shot with
Check
the results
Once youve taken your shot, be
your subject looking away from the sure to check it to make sure that
camera, make sure that you leave your subject isnt blinking. You
some looking space so that the could try using your cameras Burst
viewer can follow their gaze mode, which will take a series of
through the photo. Otherwise you shots, so youll have several
will just lead them out the frame options to choose from to nd the
and away from the subject. perfect shot.
Where to crop
your portrait
If youre not completely happy with
the composition of your portrait
shot, you can easily change it using
editing software. Cropping in to your
shot can help you remove
distractions in the background and
create a more intimate and
engaging image. However, its
important to crop in the right way
so as not to chop off your
subjects limbs at awkward
points. To help you, weve put
together this easy guide showing
you where and where not to crop.
Good Bad
1/160sec F7.1
Flash effects The dos and donts of using your cameras ash
Make your
own ash
diffuser
Soften your ash Cut up the carton Create a hole Attach your diffuser
Cut out one of the largest sides of a Place the end of your lens in the Poke your lens through the hole so
with a quick DIY x plastic milk bottle. You will need to middle towards one end and draw that the rest of the plastic is above it.
make sure it is larger than the around it, then cut out the circle you The translucent plastic will then
You dont need a fancy flashgun diameter of your lens. have created. diffuse the ash.
if you want to take flattering
flash portraits, as you can
achieve professional-looking
results with your cameras
built-in flash. All you need to do
is bounce or diffuse the light to
soften it a little. You can do this
by holding a piece of tracing
paper in front of it, or angling a
piece of white paper
underneath it. However, if you
want a hands free solution, then
follow our step-by-
step guide to
discover how
to make your Make ar diffuseurn
ashg
very own for yyoouuhave an externpoapl -up
flash diffuser If of a
instead se
ashgun t cut off the ba
to keep in as h, ju s
bo ttle and
ilk
your kit bag. of the m t instead
use tha
Capture catchlights
Catchlights are the reection of your light source in
your subjects eyes. They help to bring the eyes to
life by adding some depth and definition, so are
great to include in your shot. The larger your light
Add depth source, the more defined the catchlights will be, so
using a large reector or large window will be better
than a small ash.
White reector
A plain white reector will create
a subtle effect, lighting shadows
just a little for natural results.
Silver reector
Enhance your shots For a stronger effect, use a silver
reector or tin foil to reect the
Master basic retouching techniques for perfect portraits light back into the shadows.
Master
landscape
composition
Follow the advice in this easy guide and instantly
improve your scenic shots in no time
Landscapes are high on most peoples list of captured, instead feeling that they somehow
favourite subjects to photograph. A beautiful dont quite do the spectacular scene that they
location and a camera to hand is, witnessed justice.
understandably, a winning combination. When This is where we can help you. Over the next
youre out and about with friends and family few pages, well talk you through the ins and
for a day trip or holiday, its tempting to think outs of composing fantastic landscape
that all you have to do is point your camera at photos, so that you can start to turn your
the stunning scenery around you, press the scenic misses into hits straightaway. Well
shutter button and be guaranteed an start at the very beginning and go through the
incredible photo but unfortunately its not crucial rules that turn snap shots into stunning
normally that simple. Capturing great landscapes that youll be proud to show to
landscape images often requires much more friends and family. Not only will you discover
than just turning up in a pretty place with a the best practice for great scenic images, well
smartphone, CSC or DSLR, and so it is not also show you some clever workarounds to
surprising that many people end up help you achieve the best possible images
disappointed with the images theyve even if you dont have the ideal kit to hand.
Going live
If youre using a DSLR or
CSC, make use of the
cameras Live View facility
when shooting
landscapes, as this can
make composition and
focusing easier
Lack of structure
Lead-in lines should always draw you into
the photo and up to the focal point but in
this image they lead you out, which means the
subject is lost in the background
Find support
If youre caught short without a tripod on
an impromptu landscape shoot and need
to steady your camera, position it on a
nearby secure structure, such as wall.
Balanced composition
The rule of thirds has helped to add
structure to this image and emphasise
the importance of the focal point within the
background. The inclusion of the stonewall in
the foreground also gives the image more of a
three-dimensional, layered feel
Compose your landscape shot Follow these steps when out shooting
Patience is a virtue
A simple setup and patience is all you
need to take great shots. Simply assess
your scene and take time to consider
how to frame its elements
an engaging
best to shoot in colour
composition
is even more
important
Light trails
Blur trafc headlights for a creative low-light long exposure
120 Digital Photography for Beginners
3 steps for
Set up early Shooting
Get to your shooting location before it
gets dark so that you can see what
youre doing while setting up. Then,
your own
when the light fades, youll be ready to
take the shot.
Stay safe
When choosing a location to shoot
light trail
from, make sure you stay a safe
distance from the traffic.
Footbridges over busy roads provide
a great safe vantage point.
We used
Canon 5D Mark II
Use the lines Aperture: f16
Shoot from an angle so that the Shutter speed:
light trails guide the viewer 2secs
ISO: 100
through the photo, rather than out Manfrotto tripod
of the frame. This will keep them
engaged with your composition You could use
Any CSC or DSLR
for longer Sturdy surface
138 Alandscape
vintage-effect
photo
Give a photo a nostalgic feel
p134
p128
04 Use a stepladder
Youll need to use either a
stepladder or stool in order to get a higher
05 Position your model
Ask your model to lay on the ground
with their hand stretched out towards the
06 Take the shot
Look through the viewnder of your
camera and frame up the shot. You may need
perspective to shoot from. So place your chalk balloons, making a st as if theyre to use a wide-angle lens to t everything in
stepladder on a solid surface and carefully grabbing the strings. Once youre happy with the 18mm end of an 18-55mm kit lens will do
climb it to shoot down onto your model. their position, ask them to stay still. ne. Focus and take the shot.
Personalised mugs
Why not spruce up your kitchen with a
personalised coffee mug? It also makes a great
birthday or Christmas gift, letting you share your
creative photography with friends and family.
01 Rotate your photo
With your image open in Elements,
the rst step is to make sure that its in
02 Clone out distractions
Grab the Clone Stamp tool from the
toolbox, then while holding Opt/Alt, set the
portrait orientation. If your photo is landscape, sample point over an area of tarmac. Using a
go to Image>Image Rotation and click either soft brush, carefully paint over any
90 CW or 90 CCW to rotate it. distractions (like the grass) to remove them.
3 of the best
Apps for
photo gifts
PhotoBox Free (iOS)
Upload your images to the app and
order photo prints, as well as a range
of other photo gifts, directly from your
smartphone or tablet.
01 Visit Photobox.co.uk
Open up your web browser and go to
www.photobox.co.uk. On the PhotoBox
02 Choose blank card
On the next page, click the Blank
Card option from the list and youll be taken to
03 Upload your photo
On the left-hand side of the screen,
click the Get Photos button, then click Choose
homepage, hover your mouse over the Cards the following page, where you can select the Photos in the window that appears. Locate
tab at the top, then from the drop-down menu, size and number of cards youd like to make. your image and click Open; now simply wait for
click on the View all cards option. Once done, click Create yours now. it to upload to the PhotoBox website.
Show youre
artistic sid ch
r elements su
Adding othe ouds to your
an d cl
as birds ay
op is a fun w
chalk backdr d cr eativity
pt h an
to add de
to your shot
Personal
message
Add a custom greeting
Clean up
When using a public
area to shoot, make
sure you clean up your
drawings afterwards
05 Write a message
Beneath the card template, click
where it says Inside to see the inside of the
Stretch!
Having your model
stretch out makes the
balloons appear as
card you can add text by clicking on the though they are pulling
boxes on the template. Once youre happy, them away
click Order to complete your order and pay.
We used
Canon EOS 5D MKII
17-40mm lens
Photoshop
04 Use a tripod
Tripods are important to keep the
camera steady and shake-free. Once in place,
05 Keep horizons level
A common mistake in landscape
photography is wonky horizons. Try using a
06 Settings
Landscapes need smaller
apertures (high f-numbers) to keep them
using a remote release will guarantee sharp small spirit level that attaches to the hotshoe sharp from front to back f16 is a good start
images. You can also use the cameras of your camera to see when your camera is point. You may be tempted to increase the
self-timer to shoot the image so you dont level. Alternatively, grid lines in the viewnder ISO to brighten shots, but try to keep this low
move the camera when you press the button. or in the Live View mode are useful. and use a slow shutter speed.
13 Save as a JPEG
Many online canvas-printing services
will only be able to work with JPEG les, so
14 Search for a service
There are many companies online
who can create a canvas from your images.
15 Find your photo
Many printing services now provide
you with the choice to print images that
save your enhanced image in this universal Prices vary, of course, so youll need to do a youve previously uploaded to Facebook,
format by going to File>Save As at the top-left search online to nd a service that suits your Instagram or Flickr. For printing a canvas, its
of the Elements interface. Ensure that you budget. We opted for www.photobox.co.uk for best to work with a le thats uncompressed
select the maximum quality settings. our canvas. and saved directly to your computer.
ing
Try usW
RA r cameras
ing you ns that its
ing us
Shoot format mea ct colour
le re
RAW asier to cor lems on
uch e pro b
m
d exp osure puter
an om
your c
Select No
16 Upload the image
Once youve selected to upload a file
from your computer, a pop-up window will
Wrap
With this option, a
white border will be
appear, enabling you to navigate to the precise stretched over the
location of your image, which you can then either edges so that none
select or drag and drop to an upload window. of your image is lost
Correct the
orientation
Ensure that you set
the correct
orientation when you
order to avoid any
printing mistakes
Use a
good le
The service informs
you that the le youll
be printing is of
sufciently quality for
a good result
Cycloramic
04 Frame your model
Swivel your hips so that the camera
is facing in the right direction for the start of
05 Pan steadily
Sweep slowly and steadily for a
seamless result and instruct your model to
Free 1.99/$2.99
Become part of the image by capturing a
panorama hands-free with the Cycloramic app.
Simply position your iPhone 5/5s upright on a at
surface. The app will then use the phones internal
the panorama. Frame your model on screen, move to their next position as soon as they vibration feature to rotate the device and capture a
then hold down the shutter and begin to appear on screen. Keep panning until your seamless panorama. This feature is currently in
development for Android devices, although other panorama
pan slowly using the cameras guidelines. model appears three times in the shot. features are still available to use in the meantime.
Create a
cool prole
picture
Impress your friends
with a fun portrait
Perform some
digital trickery in
editing software
134 Digital Photography for Beginners
What youll need Self-portraits are becoming increasingly popular in the photograph of yourself holding a large photo frame and
Digital camera modern world. This is especially true when it comes to then using editing software to cleverly copy the image
Tripod social networking sites, as most require you to upload a inside of the photo frame over and over again so that it
Editing software
photo of yourself to be used as your prole avatar. This resembles a never-ending tunnel of images. The result is
We used picture is often the rst thing that people will see when one thats truly mesmerising and makes for an interesting
Canon EOS 600D browsing your networking page, so why not get creative prole picture on social networking sites. Whats more,
Slik tripod
Adobe Photoshop and try capturing something thats a little bit different? the great thing about this technique is that you dont
CS6 For some people, the idea of taking a self-portrait might need any expensive or sophisticated photo equipment
be slightly daunting. This is usually because were so either; it can be done using just about any type of
You could try
Any digital camera used to being behind the camera that the idea of posing camera, including a simple point-and-shoot or even a
Adobe Photoshop for our own shots may seem alien at rst. But in practice, cameraphone. You will need a tripod, however, to set your
Elements its actually a lot of fun, and with yourself as the main camera up on, or alternatively you can rest it on a
What youll learn subject of the picture, its something that you can try out straight, at surface.
How to create whenever you like. To nd out how to shoot, edit and share your own
a picture- One of the biggest benets of digital photography is creative avatar now, just follow along with our simple
within-a-
picture image that it allows us to perform some digital trickery using step-by-step guide below and well show you everything
editing software. One great example of this is creating a you need to create your very own mind-bending picture-in-
portrait within a portrait. This requires taking a a-picture self-portrait.
01 Choose a location
Using a location with a chair or
bench is a good idea as it will act as a
02 Set up your tripod
A tripod will enable you to take the
shot and be in the photo at the same time.
03 Select Aperture Priority
Set the camera to Aperture Priority
(A or Av) and dial in an aperture of around
marker, so you always know where to be. Its Once youve set your camera up on a sturdy f5.6 this should nicely blur distractions.
also handy if youre holding a heavy frame as tripod, frame the image, making sure you Dont worry about the shutter speed as the
it means you can take the weight off. leave enough headroom to t in the photo. camera will set this for you.
Tripod
When it comes to taking a self-portrait, investing
in a sturdy tripod is absolutely vital, as itll allow
you to keep the camera held securely in position
while youre busy getting ready for the photo!
01 Duplicate the layer
Create a duplicate of the image on
a new layer in the Layers palette
02 Resize to fit
Head up to Edit>Free Transform,
then click and drag one of the corner tabs to
(Window>Layers). Do this by Ctrl/right- resize the layer to roughly t the photo
clicking the Background layer, choosing frame. Holding Shift while you resize will
Duplicate Layer and then clicking OK. make sure that the layer stays in proportion.
3 of the best
Apps for
sharing
Twier Free (Android/iOS)
Twitter is a microblogging service that
lets you send and read tweets from
other users, which are either short,
140-character messages or photos.
01 Log in to Facebook
Open up your web browser and type
www.facebook.com into the web address
02 Go to your page
Once youve successfully logged in
to your account, head up to the top-left of
03 Edit your profile picture
Hover the mouse over your current
prole picture in the top left-hand corner of
bar. Type in your log-in details at the top and the window and locate your current prole the window and youll see the Edit Prole
click Log In. If you dont have an account, picture. Next to it you should see your name Picture option appear. Click on this and from
create one using the Sign Up section. click on it to visit your personal prole page. the list of options, select Upload Photo.
A vintage-effect
landscape photo
Capture a stunning vista and give it a nostalgic feel
04 Zoom out
To make sure you t everything into
the frame and leave enough space at the
05 Use the gridlines
If your camera has the option to turn
on gridlines, then use them to help you
06 Steady your shot
As you are using a narrow aperture,
you may need to select a slow shutter
edges for the vignette, use the shortest compose your shot. The grid will help you to speed to let enough light into the lens. Use
focal length that your camera or lens has. keep your horizon straight, position it a third a tripod or rest your camera or elbows on a
Youll have to zoom right out or twist your or two thirds of the way up and get your steady surface to reduce the risk of camera
lens so that it is set to the smallest number. main focal point in the centre square. shake when the shutter is open for a while.
Architecture
Old building and bridges make great retro
photo subjects as the image will look as
though it could have been taken years ago.
07 Add a vignette
Open your photo and click on the
Create a New Adjustment Layer icon at the
08 Adjust the vignette
In the Gradient Fill box, change the
Style to Radial and tick Reverse. Now adjust
top of the Layers palette. Select Gradient the scale to change the strength of the
from the menu and choose Foreground to vignette. Choosing a high percentage will
Transparent from the drop-down menu or by create a subtle vignette, while a small
double-clicking to open up the Gradient Editor. percentage will blacken the frames edges.
Portraits
The soft focus look is very attering for
portraits and you could get your model to
wear vintage clothes for a timeless photo.
3 of the best
Retro camera
applications
Vintage Camera Free
Take a photo and add one of a number
of vintage effects. Then share your
shots with your social network
profiles for all to see.
13 Sign up
Go to www.pinterest.com from your
internet browser. If you already have a
14 Invite your friends
On the homepage, click your prole
at the top and select Invite Friends from the
15 Create a board
Click Add+ at the top of the home
page, and then select Create a Board. A board
Pinterest account then log in. If you dont, you menu. You can then type in your friends will let you group your pins together, so give it
can join Pinterest by signing up with your email email addresses or nd them on Facebook, a relevant name and select a board category.
address or sign in with your Facebook or Gmail and Yahoo!. If they create or already You can decide if you want it to be private and
Twitter accounts, if you already have them. have an account, they can then see your pins. allow others to add pins to your board too.
Technical tip
17 Tag your pin
If you want a particular Pinterest
follower to see your shot, type an @ symbol in
Adjusting your cameras
white balance settings to
the description box and type their name. It give your photo a warm
should then appear in a drop-down menu for colour cast will allow you
to make it look more retro
you to select. Now you can pin your photo and
in camera.
tick to share it on Facebook and Twitter.
01 Find a location
In order to create a large enough
shadow, youre going to need access to a
02 Position your light
Turn on your light source and
position it at a low angle, pointing up at the
03 Use a tripod
To create the nal image, youll
need to take two images and stitch them
sizeable wall to shoot against ideally one wall. Stand in front of the light and together later on in Photoshop. To make that
with no windows or doors for a clean experiment to see where your model needs job easier its best to shoot from a tripod, so
backdrop thatll let your shadow stand out. to stand in order to create a strong shadow. set this up now and compose your shot.
Torch
A high-powered, handheld torch is a good choice
of lighting for making shadows as its lightweight,
easy to transport and is battery powered, so it
doesnt have to be hooked up to the mains.
01 Open both images
With Photoshop open, open up your
rst image (the shot of your model posing
02 Copy and paste
With the rst image in front of you,
select the entire image (Image>Select All),
normally in front of the light) by going to then copy it (Cmd/Ctrl+C). Bring the other
File>Open. Then, open up the second image image up by clicking its tab at the top, and
(the image with the creepy shadow). press Cmd/Ctrl+P to paste in the image.
Lamp
Its likely that youll have a simple desk or table
lamp at home, which will make a good light
source. Using a bulb with a higher wattage will
produce a brighter light for better shadows.
3 of the best
Apps for
editing shots
Filterstorm 2.49/$3.99 (iOS)
Filterstorm is an incredibly clever app
that allows you to import and edit your
images in either JPEG or RAW on your
mobile device.
01 Go to Vistaprint.co.uk
Start by opening your web browser
and head to the Vistaprint website, www.
02 Upload your image
On the next page, click halfway
down on Upload your own complete design.
03 Make any adjustments
With the image uploaded, youll be
shown a mock-up of how the nal product
vistaprint.co.uk. On the homepage, click on Once the next page has loaded, click Browse will appear. To the left of this youll nd
All Products at the top, then scroll down to and open your image, then wait for it to options to make adjustments like rotate and
Photo Gifts and click on Mouse Pads. upload (this may take a few minutes). crop. Once youre done, click Next.
Dont block
the shadow s!
04 Add text or more images
On the next page youll be given
further crop and rotation options, as well as
When taking
yo
make sure yo ur shots,
ur
doesnt obst model
shadow to al
ruct their
low fo
post-process r easy
the chance to insert text or additional ing
images into your design. Once youre happy
with how it looks, click the Next to proceed.
Low light
Positioning your light
source upwards onto
the model will create
larger shadows
& sharing
148 Enhance landscapes
Get rid of ugly
gy
colour casts
p154
We used
Photoshop
Elements
04 Stamp it down
Move the mouse to what needs to
be xed and click. You can paint with this
05 Build up areas
When cloning in Photoshop
Elements its very easy to get a repeating
06 Erase areas
We worked non-destructively so by
clicking the eye next to the new layer we can
as well as repeatedly clicking. For best pattern; this can be quite a distraction in temporarily hide the cloning that we've done.
results, follow the shape of the clone area. itself and is a sure-re sign of image editing. If it went a little wrong, grab the Eraser tool
Here were following the curve of the hillside. Build up textures slowly from sources and, staying on the new layer, erase the
Well resample when we get to the roadside. around the area to make it more organic. cloning to reveal the original image.
02 What's straight?
Click and hold at the end of
something you know is vertical or
01 Select the Smart Brush
Smart Brush is an automated,
but non-destructive selection and
02 Pick the desired effect
Clicking the small arrow to the
right of the image on the left opens up a
horizontal and move the mouse so that enhancement tool. Click it and a new menu. Choose Nature and then
the line runs along the straight edge. contextual menu appears at the bottom Make Dull Skies Blue. Set the brush size
Making the line longer may help you see of the screen. The brush will make a to suit your image; if in doubt, the default
more clearly. Release the mouse. selection, not an effect. works ne.
01 Duplicate background
Before heading to the High Pass
lter, make a duplicate of the Background
02 Convert for Smart Filters
In Photoshop, layers can be
converted to Smart Layers. What this means
layer (which in Photoshop is found in the is that you can apply lters non-destructively
Layers palette). Go to Layer>Duplicate Layer, to an image, so you can edit it later on. Go
type in High Pass and hit OK. to Filter>Convert for Smart Filters and hit OK.
02Opt to sharpen
Tap on Effect underneath the open
image. There are lots of options available by
panning left to right. Find the 'Sharpen' one.
We used
Photoshop CC
01Select a photo
Load up the app and tap on the Effect
button. You'll be prompted to select your photo
from a folder somewhere on your device.
02Straight conversion
Select the B&W option by scrolling
along the effects. This will instantly zap the
colour out of your image.
We used
CyberLink
PhotoDirector 5
Ultra
05 Control detail
If your image has bright highlights,
lower the Brightest slider to -42 and set the
06 Midtone tweaks
Set Midtone to -8, Dark to 17 and
Darkest to 30 to control details in those
07 Better exposure
Go to the Curve section and lift up
the diagonal line to brighten the image
Bright slider to 5. This will help to balance regions. You can boost up the Clarity slider without damaging the exposure. You can
detail in those regions. Look to keep as to around 50 to bring out the details even control the shadows using the sliders
much detail as possible. more in your image. underneath the graph.
spotless skin
What youll need
Photo-editing
program
Learn the tricks behind using the Spot
A portrait image Healing Brush for retouching a portrait
We used
Photoshop
Elements 12
Pick a tone
Sample a light skin tone colour from the face by
holding [I] (to activate the Eyedropper tool). Make
sure youre using a soft brush, with its Size set to
around 300px to cover larger areas of the face.
01 Duplicate background
Load up your image in Photoshop
Elements. The program has three modes
02 Set up the brush
Create a new layer to work on. For
the Spot Healing Brush, in the Tool Options Apply your brush
(Quick, Guided and Expert). Make sure the tick the Sample All Layers button and set By applying the Brush over the patchy areas of
skin, you can lighten them to create a more even
Expert mode is active. Press [J] to locate the the tool to Proximity Match and choose a skin tone overall. This usually goes hand in hand
with spot removal and other retouch techniques.
Spot Healing Brush tool quickly. soft round brush.
Reduce noise in
your indoor shots
Discover how to soften
the effects of noise five
in your photos using minute
project
the Reduce Noise
lter in Photoshop
and Elements
What youll need
Start image with
noise
Photo-editing
software
We used
Photoshop CS5
04 Preserve details
To rescue some of the detail, drag
the Preserve Details slider to the right. Keep
05 Select Unsharp mask
Make more tweaks to the sliders if
necessary then click OK. You can now sharpen
06 Sharpen edges
Carefully increase the Radius slider
to around 1.2px to ensure the edges within
the percentage low, as you dont want to your image with the Unsharp Mask tool via the image are sharpened. Keep the
reintroduce noise. Click and hold in the Filter>Sharpen>Unsharp Mask. Start by slowly Threshold slider at 0 and click on the Preview
Preview Image box to see the results. increasing the Amount slider to 80%. box to review results before you hit OK.
We used
Elements 12
to shoot wide and crop later if necessary. Crop tool. Follow along with the steps below
However, as your shooting skills develop and and nd out how to straighten your images
your condence grows in composing, youll and crop in closer for a better result.
01Load tools
Load up your image and select the
Brush Effect tool from the bottom-left button.
Tap Effect and pick Shadows/Highlights.
02Make adjustments
Tap on the Lights adjustment and lower
it to -60%. Set Highlights to -40% and tap the
tick. This reduces the highlights brightness.
We used
CyberLink
PhotoDirector 5
Switch off
Speedy the lights
screening and watch a
With just a few basic slideshow of
items you can create a your shots
cameraphone projector appear on
in a matter of minutes the wall
On a budget
A magnifying glass is
needed to project your
shots on the big screen.
Get one from www.
amazon.com for less
than 2/$4!
Create a slideshow
Make a seamless slideshow of
images on your cameraphone
using the PicFlow app so you
only need to press play once
01 Trace an opening
Start by getting all of the items you
need together. A shoebox is ideal, but a
02 Cut a hole
Take a Stanley knife and carefully
cut inside the circle so that the magnifying
03 Secure the magnifying glass
Open your shoebox and position the
magnifying glass against the hole. Remove
large cereal box can work just as well. Now glass can sit ush against the shoebox. You the handle or tape it securely against the
trace around the magnifying glass on one of can cut a small hole at the back of the box box. Add tape around the edges of the glass
the short outer edges of the shoebox. for your phones power cable or speakers. as well, to ensure its rmly in place.
Make a
slideshow
Create a slideshow on
your cameraphone
Build a slideshow of images using apps such as PicFlow, which
are available to download onto your cameraphone via the App
Store or Google Play. By using a specialist slideshow app,
youll be able to select only the shots you want to share on the
big screen, as well as include music, adjust the timings
between the photos and include creative transitions for a
better ow.
Base camp
If you ever get lost
within Dropbox, simply
click on the Dropbox
icon here to return to
the home screen
Browse
Browse your les,
photos and shared
folders and links from
this menu on the left.
Double-click on
images in Photos to
view full screen
3 of the best
Cloud-sharing
websites
04 Upload option 2
Click on the Upload icon. Hold down
Shift to select multiple images, and hit OK to
05 Upload option 3
Download a Dropbox desktop icon
by selecting Install from the drop-down
Google Drive
It has the same features as Dropbox and is also Mac and PC
upload. To keep your images tidy, click on menu. Follow the instructions. When set up, compatible. It has a whopping 15GB of free space before you
may need to upgrade.
the New Folder icon, then drag and drop drag and drop photos into this folder. It will
images into the folder. sync automatically when online.
iDrive
Available on Mac and PC with 5GB of free storage space. Back
up and share images and videos from your devices and
directly from Facebook.
06 Share a link
To share images, click on the album
or photos you wish to share, then click on
07 Share selected photos
An alternative way to share photos
is to click on Photos from the menu on the
the Share link at the top of the home screen. left of your screen, Cmd/Ctrl-click on the OneDrive
Choose to send an email or share via images you wish to share, then press the OneDrive, previously SkyDrive, is a Microsoft program for Mac
and PC. It has 7GB of free storage and allows quick
Facebook or Twitter, then press Send. big blue Share button. social-media sharing.
We used
Photo prints are a lasting keepsake and a results there are a few necessary editing crop in for a better composition. Weve even
fantastic way to share your recent steps you need to take using your preferred covered sharpening shots using the Unsharp
adventures with family and friends. Whether computer software. Mask tool, as well as how to adjust the
you want them to adorn your walls in frames In this easy-to-follow tutorial, well show image dimensions and resolution before you
or ll up the family album, theyre quick and you how to get your shots up to scratch in save and print.
easy to produce at home or even order from Photoshop. Youll discover how to change an And if you also happen to be keen to share
an online print service. images colour prole from RGB to CMYK to your favourite images online, check out the
But before you rush in and prepare the ink ensure that prints match up perfectly with three-step mini tutorial on the right, as we
and paper, its important to ensure your what you see on screen. Youll also learn explain how to optimise your photos for
shots are actually ready to print. For the best how to enhance contrast, colour hues and viewing on the internet.
Mode
Ensure you change
your photos colour
space to CMYK
before printing via
Mode from the
Image menu
Image Size
Check your image is
the correct size and
resolution from the
Image Size dialog
Layers palette
All of your adjustment
layers that enhance
contrast and colour
hues will appear in
the Layers palette.
Flatten these before
you save
Optimise for
web viewing
04 Crop in closer
Strengthen the composition by
clicking the Crop tool and selecting the
05 Sharpen the shot
Always sharpen before you print.
Select the Background layer and go to
Adjust Image Size
Go to Image>Image size. In the dialog box change
the Width within Pixel Dimensions to 600 pixels;
the Height will adjust automatically.
entire image. Hold down Shift to constrain Filter>Sharpen>Unsharp Mask. Increase the
proportions as you drag in one of the Amount slider to 100% and then slowly drag
corners. Move the selection, then hit enter. the Radius slider up between 1.2-1.8 pixels.
books online
We used
MacBook Air
01 Get started
When you visit the Blurb website,
click Get started to see the list of options
02 Choose options
Select the book size and style
from the drop-down menus. Dont worry if
03 Find images
Upload the photos to appear in the
book, either from your computer or a social
for creating your book. We suggest selecting youre not sure, as youll be able to change media account. We recommend clicking
Make a book online to start the process, as the page layout after this point. Bookify will Upload to get images from your computer to
its fast and easy for simple projects. open after you click Choose. ensure that they are the highest quality.
3 of the best
Photo book
providers
04 Make it personal
While you wait for your images to
upload, select your cover type from the
05 Create the inside
Select a layout for each page, then
drag and drop your uploaded images to Bob Books
Unlike Blurb, you can choose to have the pages lie
menu on the left. You can then add titles where you want them. We recommend that at when the book is opened. Youll need to
download a program to create your book.
and choose the background colour. Select you tick Show Help from the top menu if
Next Page to begin the inside. youre unsure what each button does.
Albelli
You can create a book online of up to 70 pages, or
use the downloadable software to a maximum of
120 pages, and theres a wide range of sizes.
06 Manage pages
When youve nished, go to Manage
Pages for an overview of your book. Select
07 Publish your book
After signing in, your book will be
saved to your private bookstore, ready to buy
and delete any blank pages. Next, click or set up for sale. Click Order to complete the Photoleaf
Preview and Order in the top-right corner. process, choosing the paper you want it to be The downloadable design software is easy to use,
if a little more basic than Blurbs. There are extra
Youll then be prompted to make an account. printed on, then adding it to your cart. options for printing on thick paper.
Photography
glossary
What does it all mean? We take a
moment to talk about key phrases youre
likely to come across in photography
Large apertures Contrast Filters
create blurred Contrast is the vividness of the colours and Filters can be applied over the lens for
backgrounds
tones in an image, and how much they replicating certain styles or effects. Some
stand out from subject to subject. types include colour, grain and lighting
effects. A lot of compacts will also add
Exposure in-camera filters.
Exposure describes the amount of light that
has entered the camera to form an image. Focal lengths
This is dependent on camera settings being Measured in millimetres, camera lenses
Aperture correctly balanced, so that enough light is have various focal lengths, which are used
Aperture decides how much light is let in to captured for a perfect exposure. to zoom in or out on a subject. Focal
the camera, and is measured on a scale of lengths can be fixed, made to extend to
f-numbers. This setting also dictates how OVEREXPOSE If an image is huge distances, or to capture subjects
much of the image is in or out of focus. overexposed, too much light has close up.
entered through the lens and the
SMALL APERTURE A small-sized subject appears bleached out, or far TELEPHOTO Lenses which are
aperture of f11, f16 or f22 keeps too white. telephoto are used to capture
objects in the distance looking sharp. UNDEREXPOSE Underexposure is subjects that are in the distance.
LARGE APERTURE Shooting with a when not enough light has entered These lenses are popular with sports
large-sized aperture of f2, f2.8 or f4, the lens, and images look dull and and wildlife photographers, using a
will make objects in the distance lack-lustre in their contrast and colour. lens with a focal length of 200-
appear out of focus, placing emphasis 400mm, for example.
LONG EXPOSURE Light has been
on the main subject closer to the lens. allowed to enter the camera for WIDE-ANGLE Lenses that have a
APERTURE PRIORITY MODE This lets extended periods. This is usually put wide angle cover a very broad eld of
you choose the aperture with which to use to create movement in view. Focal lengths include 15-30mm
you need to shoot. The camera will landscape or sports photography. and these are extremely useful for
automatically control other important landscape photography.
settings in the process. FISH-EYE Fish-eye lenses distort the
scene you are shooting in order to
produce a sometimes-abstract
Colour cast composition, almost creating a
Colour cast describes the tinting that an
bubble effect. The focal lengths
image may have due to the type of lighting
This shot is very This underexposed involved in sh-eye photography can
used. This could be due to either wrong
overexposed photo is far too dark be 10mm or less.
settings or for creative effect.
ISO RAW
This is how sensitive the camera sensor is RAW images are uncompressed and
to light, starting as low as ISO 64 (not very high-quality. They have a level of detail that
sensitive) and up to ISO 3200 or above is second-to-none in post-shoot editing.
(very sensitive). Sensitive ISO ratings This is a standard feature of DSLR cameras.
produce the most distortion, however.
Saturation
JPG The strength, or amount, of colour in an
JPG is used in all digital cameras to capture image is described as saturation. A highly
images in a compressed but high-resolution saturated image has unusually strong
format. Images are portable but they colour, and can look unnatural.
cannot be enlarged.
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Live view These are common memory cards that
Live view is available with DSLR cameras many compact and DSLR cameras use to
and it allows you to use the screen to store images. Measured in gigabytes, the
compose an image. This is instead of using larger the card size, the more photos you
the viewfinder. can shoot.
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