Shutterbug Sunday: Night Flash

I know it automatically pops up everytime you press down on the button to take a night photo.  But you don't always HAVE to have your flash activated for every picture.  Learn how to turn it off.  Why?  Because even if it is late at night, particularly if it is getting dark...your flash may be doing you more harm than good.  Take these pictures as an example.  The one above shows the lovely burning coals.  The colors are vibrant and glow.  But, the one below is washed out by a bright flash from my camera.

The challenge with many cameras is that you have to be very still when the flash is off.  The smallest movement can cause streaking in the photo.  But, the difference is obvious.  Try a tripod.  At night, if you are taking a picture of something that provides it's own source of light, capture more color and turn that flash off.

Meet Mary

I became a fan of the photography of Mary Nichols after she took some pictures for a friend who was grieving the terminal illness of a close family member.  It was a sensitive situation and Mary took extra time, used extra patience, and captured extra special memories.  Because her approach was less about business and more about showing some humanity...I thought she would be the perfect fit for our little blog family, which is full of a bunch of ladies from different backgrounds, sharing pieces of themselves.  We hope you enjoy her posts once a month on our Shutterbug Sundays.  Here is Mary, in her own words:

About Me: I was your typical stay at home Mom with a little hobby called photography. After having my son I very quickly became obsessed with learning how to improve my skills. I wanted to be able to take better photos of him which is what spiraled me into starting my own business. I love all things photography especially black and white photographs. To describe myself in a nut shell? I am madly in love with my husband and son, addicted to latte’s, a writer, art lover, dog lover, procrastinator, ditsy at times, inspired by vintage, wearer of pearls, hobbyist of interior design, and I love and I crave simplicity in life.


Welcome Mary!  You can find more of Mary's beautiful work on her website:  www.marynicholsphotography.com

Canon Christmas

It was one year ago this weekend that my life changed.  I was given a 15mp Canon Rebel.  I was giddy with excitement from day one...running around the house, the yard, and the neighborhood shooting closeups of anything...closer than any traditional camera had every allowed me to get.  A new world opened up to me.  On what is our traditional Shutterbug Sunday...I'm sharing with you some of the first pictures I shot....like my dog...with a shutter so speedy I captured her mid-lick...

Or the outdoor lights I shot without my camera going into a focusing coma....

Or the series of shots I took of my niece's new kitty exploring a Christmas tree for the first time....taking pictures has never been so fun as the first time I used my brand new REAL camera.  Happy Holidays.

Shutterbug Sunday: Shadow Play

Shadow Shot by Tammy Lee Bradley

Looking for a fun photo exercise to go with the kids? Consider shooting some shadow self-portraits. They are quite easy to do. With a bit of creativity and a nice sunny day, you can end up with compelling shots.  Today, I recruited a few of my fellow muses from Mortal Muses to help demonstate.

shadow jumping by michel feist

For the longest and most interesting shadows, try to take advantage of the low-slung sun, right after sunrise or just before the sun sets. As shown in Lucy's photograph below, you will also be rewarded with warm light and tones.

long good night by lucy.loomis

Feeling silly? Use yourself or models to create "shadow puppet" images. This technique is also good for a rainy day? With the appropriate lighting, you can also get some nice shots indoors.  

shadow puppet by à la mosey

Do you have some shadow shots that you would like to share with us? I have added a mcLinky for your submissions. 
Until next week. Stay Sweet and Keep Shooting!
Tammy Lee Bradley of Bliss and Folly and Mortal Muses


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Shutterbug Sunday: Off Center

My favorite Cherry ♥ by Tammy Lee Bradley

Every photography and art class teaches the basic composition guideline called the rule of thirds. Even if you don't quite understand the concept, I find that simply keeping your point of focus off-center is a good way to create interest in your photos. I love the illusion of negative space that this technique creates. When combined with shallow depth of field, it can be used to make your photographs more dramatic.

The Softness of Autumn by Tammy Lee Bradley

I have added a mclinky below, share with us your own "OFF CENTER" shots.

Have a great week! Stay sweet. ♥ tlb

Shutterbug Bonus: Depth of Field (DOF)




"racing the rain" - deep depth of field

  Depth of field is the front-to-back focus area in your photographs in which objects appear crisp or "in focus." “Shallow” depth of field is when only a sliver of your image, usually the main subject, is in focus while the foreground, background, or both are not. The opposite is true for “deep” depth of field. The foreground, subject, and background are all in focus, as with beautiful sweeping landscapes.



"quiet time" - shallow depth of field

  Achieving your desired DOF is quite easy.  A very simple way to increase depth of field is to move away from your subject. I know this seems obvious but the further away you are from your subject, the more you can focus on.  Using this technique will change your composition so you will need to use additional elements, such as visual lines, architectural elements, or color, to draw your eye to your subject and add interest.



"with the tides" - deep depth of field

  You may also use your aperture settings to control your depth of field.  For a landscape, select a small aperture setting, f/16 or f/22, and adjust your shutter speed to compensate for the extra light needed. To draw the eye to a single subject, set a large aperture, such as f/1.8 or f/2.  In this instance, your shutter speed will need to be adjusted to reduce the amount of light needed since you are now shooting with the lens "wide open" and taking in much more light.  You will need to refer to your specific lens to determine your range of aperature settings.  In my own work, I use my 35mm f/1.8 lens the most and tend to shoot "wide open" with a very shallow depth of field.  You will find the setttings that reflect your personal style.



"picnic" - shallow depth of field

  If you are using a camera (such as my Nikon) with Advance Scene Modes (Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Close-up, Night Portrait), you can also use the landscape and close-up modes.  The camera will automatically adjust the shutter speeds and aperature settings for you to achieve similar affects.
Until next time. stay sweet ♥tlb. http://www.blissandfolly.com/