Author: SenK

Engineer, Photographer, Cook and a Foodie. I try out different ideas and concepts of photography and regularly sort out questions on Quora. Check my Facebook Page below! Share it, like it...show me some love!! Welcome to the blog :)

April AtoZ Challenge: PH – V: Vibration Reduction

V for Vibration Reduction (VR)

VR, is also known as IS (Image Stabilization) in Canon lens, is a system of arrangement of lens and motor which constantly moves the lens elements to compensate for the tiny hand vibrations. It becomes visually significant in slower shutter speeds and at extreme telephoto focal lengths. Normally they allow for 2 or 3 stops worth of stabilization. On the downside, when taking long exposure photos, on a tripod, the lens may try to compensate and actually cause blurring. Contrary to certain beliefs, keeping the VR mode on, hardly drains the battery in an excess, but the advantages are immense.

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This is a part of April AtoZ Challenge. Previous letters, right here.

Cheers!!

by Categories: AtoZ Challenge, PhotographyTags: , , 2 Comments

April AtoZ Challenge: PH – U: Underexposure

U for Under-exposure

The photographic condition, when enough light is not received by the photo, we term it as an under-exposure. The overall photo appears to be darker and needs corrective tweaking in post processing. Most likely causes being high shutter speed and/or small aperture values. In some cameras, the RAW files capture more details in the shadows than in the highlights, hence having an under exposed photo is more usable than an over exposed one. When in doubt, under expose the scene by one stop, that’s my suggestion.

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This is a part of April AtoZ Challenge. Rest of the preceding letters can be found here.

Cheers!!

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April AtoZ Challenge: PH – T: TTL Metering

T for TTL Metering

TTL is for Through The Lens. This is a type of auto metering where the camera decides the exposure values and white balance etc based on the incident lights, measured through the lens, hence the name. It is also used for flash metering, where a pre flash is fired and the response acts as the deciding value for the flash power. In a fix, Auto mode works fine, but often we want more control and this setting is left untouched. Do explore it though, might come handy someday.

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This is a part of April AtoZ Challenge. The other letters can be found here.

Cheers!!

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April AtoZ Challenge: PH – S: Shutter Speed

S for Shutter Speed

This is one of the basic stuffs that is required for a photo to be correctly exposed and also for unleashing the creativity. As the name suggests, this is the measure of how fast the shutter will actuate. Denoted in terms of parts of second and notation is 1/250, 1/500, 1/2, 1′ etc. Faster shutter speed freezes motion, while slower will blur things out, both with specific uses. It is imperative to learn to master this aspect. A fully detailed and better post can be found here. Check it out, and you ll be able to do these!!

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This is a part of April AtoZ Challenge. The letters upto R can be found here.

Cheers!

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April AtoZ Challenge: PH – R: Rear Curtain

R for Rear Curtain

Rear Curtain is a term used to describe flash setting when the flash is fired at the end of the exposure. In general, the flash is fired at the beginning. In a fast shutter speed, it doesnt really matter, but in the slower ones, having a rear curtain flash has very interesting effects. It shows movement, and then freezes at the end moment. On the flip side, is the front curtain, which also shows movement, but in a different form. I suggest all to try these out. A full detail post can be found here.

Rear Curtain
Rear Curtain

This is a part of April AtoZ Challenge. The letters up to Q can be found here.

Cheers!!

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Peekaboo!!

I dont take selfies often, but when I do, they are a bit…shall we say….uncommon!!

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I saw a similar photo while browsing through the internet, and creating this was not tough at all. Two separate images merged in photoshop, thats all. This is an example of Double Exposure though. Some cameras, the high end ones offer this function in body, others, like me, we merge. For perfection, ask someone to take the shot, selfies, can actually be a bit tricky 🙂

Happy Shooting. Cheers!!

by Categories: Photo EffecctsTags: , , , 4 Comments

April AtoZ Challenge: PH – Q: Quiet Release Mode

Q for Quiet Release Mode

I ll be truthful about it, I couldnt find any other describable photography related word with Q, so here goes. Quiet Release Mode is a shooting mode, available in Nikon DSLR bodies, not sure about the others though, which significantly reduces the sound of the shutter slap. It may be used in sensitive environments, such as in a museum, or when taking a close up of a sleeping beast maybe. It acts similar to the single shot mode, but is a bit slower too. In my camera, its the least used mode.

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This is a part of April AtoZ Challenge. Letters upto P, can be found here!

Cheers!!

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Early Bird

Early Birds are often lucky. In terms of seating positions in conferences, bus seats, parking spots, catching the worms, virtually everything. Also, in photography. Try reaching a spot early in the morning, with the sun not yet shining brightly and the morning calm still being present, and you will see the spot in a completely new way.

The following shot, was at Varanasi. I left for the river banks while it was still dark. I had a 5 kms walk ahead of me. By the time I reached, the sun was coming up and the birds were still around. The sight was simply marvelous. Perks of being an early bird, I ll say 🙂

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Happy shooting!!

Cheers!!

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April AtoZ Challenge: PH – P: Post Processing

P for Post Processing

Any editing or tweaking done, after the photo has been taken, is called Post Processing (PP). This includes changing the contrast levels and conversion of RAW files to JPEG to editing parts of the photo in softwares like Photoshop. This is analogous to the developing phase of the film rolls. It is to be kept in mind that, even though, most of the photos can be tweaked during the PP phase, its always a good habit to take a proper shot right in the camera. No point becoming complacent or dependent on it. In detail, here.

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This is a part of April AtoZ Challenge. Letter upto O, can be found here.

Cheers!!

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April AtoZ Challenge: PH – O: Overexposure

O for Over-Exposure

By definition, Overexposure is a condition when the photo receives more light than it should have. Causes, slower shutter speed or wide open aperture or high ISO. Effects include excessive highlights and washed out details. Some bits of the photos are recoverable, given they have been shot in RAW format (for comparison with JPEG, check here), but often, complete recovery is not possible and some compromises are done. Exposure compensation is an in body technique to control exposure issues, else, we depend on the post processing to sort things out.

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This is a part of April AtoZ Challenge. A to N can be found here.

Cheers!!

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April AtoZ Challenge: PH – N: Noise Reduction

N for Noise Reduction

With improved sensors, came noise too. What is noise, in terms of photography, if you are curious, head over here.
Noise reduction is inbuilt in the camera bodies generally, and also applied during developing the final image. It takes care of the grains at a compromise with the sharpness. The changes are generally subtle and the results are actually better. I find, keeping sharpness and noise reduction sum up to 100 or max of 150 makes my low lights photos fine. I recommend, try out the different settings and softwares too. Trust me, you ll need this someday.

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This is a part of April AtoZ Challenge. The letters from A to M can be found here.

Cheers!

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AtoZ Challenge: PH – M: Macro

M for Macro

This is a pretty common term in the photography circuit. A photograph, where we take photos of small subjects, and the photos come out to be bigger than the subjects and in sharp details, that is a macro photograph. For achieving this, there are special lens available. Close up filters, extension tubes and lens reversal are also put to use. Each have their own pros and cons. Do note, while in Macro, the DOF offered is extremely shallow.
Check out a refreshing take on macro, here.

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This is a part of April AtoZ Challenge. Letters A to L can be found here.

Cheers!!

by Categories: AtoZ Challenge, PhotographyTags: , , 2 Comments