Ted's Digital Photography Blog

Jul 14, When should I center an image?

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:44:35 GMT

I'll kick things off for digital photography questions by posting a recent question sent on another Improve Your Digital Photography form. -Ted Here

Jul 13, Digital Photography Questions

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 03:24:07 GMT

Let's hear your digital photography questions. I started ImproveYourDigtalPhotography because friends were buying digital cameras and started asking me questions about how to use them. I've had fun answering their questions, and will have even more fun answering yours. So...

Jul 6, Digital Photography Tip: Get Closer

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:40:45 GMT

More than any other digital photography tip, this will have the most impact on your photo compositions: Get close to your subject. When you think you are close, get even closer. This will make clear what the subject of the picture is and will remove distracting background. If you can't physically move closer, ...

Jul 1, ImproveYourDP - The Roving Photographer Pursues Lotus Photos

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 03:41:13 GMT

You can't predict where the Roving Photographer will find his next challenge. One summer, quite by surprise, he found himself starting an endless pursuit for lotus photos

Jun 21, Photography Exposure

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:24:28 GMT

Learn how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings control not only photography exposure, but depth-of-field, motion blur, and noise. View examples of equivalent exposure with different depth of field.

Jun 16, "Exposure" in the Digital Photography Glossary

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:36:51 GMT

Ted is back from a well-deserved break and is diving back back into exposure, starting with updates to the Digital Photography Glossary with terms relating to exposure.

May 27, Digital Photography Tips - Harsh Light

Thu, 27 May 2010 02:26:54 GMT

Browse these digital photography tips to learn easy ways to improve your digital photography when the light is less than ideal. Explore composition, approaches to exposure, time of day, and filters to help limit the problems of harsh light.

May 13, ImproveYourDP - Photo Critique #5

Thu, 13 May 2010 03:38:33 GMT

Spiral compositions, as in this photo critique of a spiral stair, capture the eye with a mixture of strong motion, radial symmetry, and flowing parallel lines. Ted, the Roving Photographer offers his comments on composition, sharpness, and exposure.

May 7, More Depth of Field

Fri, 07 May 2010 03:17:21 GMT

Jim Zuckerman, in a "Shutterbug" magazine article, expands on the depth of field discussion found in "Improve Your Digital Photography". He begins by describing the importance of depth of field in photography, then follows with more than a dozen images to illustrate key depth of field concepts. There is more to depth of field than you may think ... but, of course, no more than meets the eye.

May 1, Reset Your Camera Every Day

Sat, 01 May 2010 03:20:29 GMT

Did you ever pick up your camera in a hurry, start shooting, then discover you had no memory card? Preparation for photography begins at the end of yesterday's photo session. Read this digital photography tip to improve your photo readiness.

Apr 25, ImproveYourDP - Photo Exposure

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:38:37 GMT

Once you have a handle on the digital photography concepts of composing interesting pictures and rendering them sharply, it's time to take on photo exposure. Your camera exposes images well enough without your help, but it doesn't handle all situations.

Apr 9, Outstanding Macro Photography

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:30:48 GMT

Photographer Miroslaw Swietek has demonstrated an amazing ability and apparent personal focus (of mind) to capture close-up images of insects as we have never seen them - covered in dew and in dazzling color.

Mar 27, ImproveYourDP - Photo Critique #4

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 22:12:24 GMT

A compelling subject and strong color contrast are the hallmarks of Carol's "Toad Stool from Wonderland", submitted for a photo critique by Ted, the Roving Photographer.

Mar 3, Digital Photography Tip: Look for Rhythm

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:45:04 GMT

I really found two things to drive this picture: First, is the strong rhythm of repeating elements. Second, is the diagonal motion. There are really

Feb 14, Digital vs Film Photography

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:58:12 GMT

Want to drive a fine arts photographer crazy? Ask her what camera she uses. Follow this train of thought from criteria for selecting Canon or Nikon gear, to arguments for film, to some surprise advantages of digital, then back to film again.

Feb 13, Photography Exposure

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 04:18:41 GMT

Many of you have written to ask why I have not written about the 'E' in "CSE". In fact, if photography is about painting with light, why isn't exposure the first thing I've written about? It's easier to answer the second question, as it's related to the 80/20 rule - that's the rule that says 80 of cases take 20 of the work, while the remaining 20 take 80 of the work. You can look at this two ways. First is that exposure is the most complex of the Composure/Sharpness/Exposure triad, so I could get more done on composition and sharpness in a shorter period of time (measured in months or longer) than I would accomplish on exposure. That is true, but the real reason for putting exposure last is that even today's point-and-shoot cameras do a decent job of exposure in most cases. That is, you can expect decent exposure 80 of the time, and need more advanced guidance only 20 of the time. On the other hand, cameras cannot compose pictures for you, and there is only so much they can do to assure sharp images in low light or fast moving situations. These are the areas where you can have the most influence on the outcome with the least effort. But, ImproveYourDP will not meet your needs until it begins to address the subtleties of exposure. As well as most digital cameras do with average scenes, there are too many situations that require special technique to give your images the most impact. You need answers to questions about back-lit situations, unevenly lit situations, how to handle white balance with mixed lighting situations, how to use on-camera flash (and off-camera flash), how to use fill flash, when to use which metering modes, how to handle low-light situations, and more. Wow! there is lots to do. Oh, I haven't answered the first question - why haven't I written about exposure. I'm afraid the real answer is that I have been lazy. That 20 of the work requires more planning that the other sections of ImproveYourDP. I'd better get cranking! Do you have a special concern about exposure that you'd like me to address first? Click on the "Please click here to leave feedback" link at the bottom of this page. Cheers, Ted The following link is where I first introduce the concept of CSE...

Feb 9, ImproveYourDP - Snow Photos at Midnight

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:19:39 GMT

In contrast to the effect of golden hour sunlight seen on other snow photos, shooting at midnight during a snowfall takes away all warmth from an image, not to mention from my body!

Jan 24, Digital Photography Tip: Use long exposure to show motion

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:00:04 GMT

If you want to make something look like it's moving in a still picture, use a long time exposure. I did this in Times Square, and look what happened. The

Jan 24, Share Your Digital Photography Tips!

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 04:31:38 GMT

Now it's your turn to help ImproveYourDP readers improve their digital photography! What is your favorite technique, camera setting, or piece of gear that has helped improve your digital photography? Don't hold us in suspense - share it here!

Jan 16, Five New Years Resolutions for the Digital Photographer

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:14:57 GMT

At the time I write this, mid-January, we're already at the point where 97 of New Year's resolutions are forgotten. So, what better time to think of new ones! Dave Johnson writes the "Digital Focus" blog on PCWorld.com and suggest five resolutions. Yours may not be the same, but read his and I'll bet you'll think of one or two of your own. I'll add one or two of my own after his.

Jan 13, Digital Photography Tips

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:24:40 GMT

Browse these digital photography tips to learn easy steps to make each shooting session more productive and rewarding

Dec 22, "Snow King" - Thoughts on Shutter Speed

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:22:37 GMT

What thought do you really give to shutter speed? Do you follow a particular rule for minimum handheld shutter speed? How about shutter speed for action photography? How fast is fast enough to stop motion? As I shoot mostly still (or slow) subjects, I tend to focus on the criteria to avoid blur from camera motion, without really thinking about how to stop action. This article, describing the work of British Columbian Jordan Manley, a specialist in skiing photography, was a gentle reminder that I need to expand my horizons and work more with moving subjects.

Dec 6, "Backup for Photographers"

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:20:45 GMT

Review of an article by Marc Rochkind and Uwe Steinmueller in 'Photo Techniques' magazine, November/December 2009. As we amass our thousands or tens of thousands of digital image files, the question of how to protect them from loss or damage looms larger and larger. If you are a casual photographer, this may not be something you think about, but as your commitment to photography grows, so should your concern for your images. Authors Rochkind and Steinmueller attack this problem by describing six threats to your digital files as well as ways to protect against the threats. As an avid photographer shooting for pleasure and not for money, Ted adds his perspective on this topic.

Nov 29, ImproveYourDP - Cropping Photos and Aspect Ratio

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:44:17 GMT

Improve the proportions of your images by cropping photos to change aspect ratio

Sep 15, Now finished --> Cropping Photos

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:30:20 GMT

Cropping photos is the fastest edit you can make and yields high reward for little effort. View an example of a subtle crop, and one of an extreme crop.

Aug 29, UPDATED: Digital Photography Glossary

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:46:33 GMT

The digital photography glossary crossed the 30-word threshold with the addition of the four primary exposure modes: Programmed, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual. Looking for a definition, or want to submit your own? Please click the feedback link at the bottom of the page.

Aug 23, UPDATED: The Rule of Thirds

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 04:37:54 GMT

J.T. Smith introduce the rule of thirds for landscape painting in 1797. Now, 212 years later, ImproveYourDP has added a beach photo that shows this rule in practice.

Aug 21, Weekly Digital Photography Composition #20

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:37:56 GMT

Nothing like a clear, deep blue sky and an unusual angle to enhance your photography composition. This Danish church steeple makes the point beautifully.

Aug 21, UPDATED: Weekly Photography Composition Index

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:35:41 GMT

With the latest weekly image, the Danish church steeple, I have completed a set of 20 weekly photographs that I hope provide great composition ideas. Now, I am putting the weekly series on hold so that I can develop other reference content to help you improve your digital photography.

Aug 13, Using Depth of Field - Weekly Digital Photography Composition #19

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:46:33 GMT

A wide, f/2.8 aperture and a long focal length produce a narrow depth of field that makes this seagull pop out from the background.

Aug 6, Digital Color Photography - Weekly Digital Photography Composition #18

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:23:06 GMT

We tend to take the 'color' in digital color photography for granted when we really should look to capitalize on color with boldness. Let's look at RED in this weekly digital photography composition.

Jul 30, Weekly Digital Photography Composition #17

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:47:11 GMT

Junk in an antique store parking lot makes for a colorful, abstract photography composition.

Jul 23, Sunset Photo - Weekly Digital Photography Composition #16

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:55:58 GMT

The brightness of a near sunset photo creates wonderful silhouette effects - Weekly digital photography composition #16

Jul 16, Seagull Photo - Weekly Digital Photography Composition #15

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:53:23 GMT

Perched atop a post for a beach volleyball net, I found a patient subject posing for this seagull photo - Weekly digital photography composition #15

Jul 13, ImproveYourDP - Photo Critique #3

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:19:41 GMT

The Rippled Reflection - a compact mirror under water. ImproveYourDigitalPhotography readers submit their own images for a photo critique by Ted, the Roving Photographer.

Jul 9, Digital Travel Photography - Weekly Digital Photography Composition #14

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:23:05 GMT

This photo of Malbork (Poland) Castle illustrates a challenge of digital travel photography: how much of a story should you capture in one picture? - Weekly digital photography composition #014

Jul 4, Weekly Digital Photography Composition #13

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:07:10 GMT

A bright afternoon sun and a clear, blue sky create strong contrast in this weathervane photography composition.

Jun 25, Weekly Digital Photography Composition #12

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:28:10 GMT

Ted uses a time-exposed photography composition using sunrise colors creates a bold skyline silhouette.

Jun 23, ImproveYourDP - Photo Critique

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:28:16 GMT

The Brahma Steer - ImproveYourDigitalPhotography readers submit their own images for a photo critique by the Roving Photographer.

Jun 18, Weekly Digital Photography Composition #11

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:14:02 GMT

Antique cars like this Mercedes present great opportunities for photography composition using radial symmetry.

Jun 11, Weekly Digital Photography Composition #10

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:21:11 GMT

Cobalt blue, chrome, and grass green merge into a bold, colorful photography composition.

Jun 10, UPDATED: Image Stabilization Introduction

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:45:15 GMT

Image stabilization gives the photographer more latitude to reduce shutter speed in low light, but it is not a panacea. I've added a new section on what image stabilization won't do for you - scroll to the bottom of the page...

Jun 10, Image Stabilization

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:34:02 GMT

Manufacturers use a variety of image stabilization technologies - does it matter to you?

Jun 5, Weekly Digital Photography Composition #9

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:00:01 GMT

For a glowing sunset photography composition, expose for the sky, not the sun.

May 28, Weekly Digital Photography Composition #8

Thu, 28 May 2009 04:28:22 GMT

Create an abstract digital photography composition by removing all normal frames of reference.

May 21, Weekly Digital Photography Composition #7

Thu, 21 May 2009 03:53:18 GMT

A wide-angle lens and small aperture allow for strong detail at close range in this directional photography composition.

May 17, Weekly Digital Photography Composition #6

Sun, 17 May 2009 04:46:53 GMT

The radial symmetry of a single, brightly-colored gazinia blossom presents an ideal photography composition.

May 17, Image Stabilization Introduction

Sun, 17 May 2009 04:38:08 GMT

Use digital camera image stabilization to compensate for camera shake and reduce your minimum 'safe' shutter speed.

May 7, Weekly Digital Photography Composition #5

Thu, 07 May 2009 03:26:02 GMT

In an airport, on a schedule not timed to match the best lighting conditions, a good photography composition takes many tries and much luck.

Apr 30, Weekly Digital Photography Composition #4

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:09:25 GMT

Ted finds interest in a photography composition that shows only part of a whole, unusual, ceramic fish sculpture.