Demystifying Photography

I’m working hard on the BlindMonkeyMedia website, as well as a few other projects, but in my spare time I really enjoy photography.

When my friends see the pictures I take, they quite often exclaim that they should buy a camera similar to the one I’m using. My first instinct is to chuckle.

You see, quality image is not all about gear. You may have the fanciest of the fanciest cameras, but if you don’t know squat about how to use it or how to light your photo then it doesn’t matter.

So does this mean that the latest point-and-shoot cameras will do? Of course they will.  Most professional photographers scoff at point-and-shoots as if they are toys, but don’t mind them.

The only issue with point-and-shoot is the flash. If you can control the amount of light coming from that flash, then I bet you can take quality photos as good or even better than some photographers I know.

So how do you control the light from your point-and-shoot flash? Here are a couple wacky ideas:

– Use your wife’s or mom’s stocking as flash cover; it diffuses the light.

– Hold a white coupon bond right in front your flash, that way it bounces of and create a bigger softer light.

– If you can get away with it, then don’t use your flash at all.

– If the scene is too dark, increase your ISO. Don’t worry too much about pixel noise, you can reduce the pixel noise in Adobe.

– When NOT using a flash, use a tripod. A tripod is a photographers best friend. That way even without flash you can still get those quality images you crave for.

Here is an exception, though: if you are facing the sun or something very bright, or your subject is behind something very bright, then and only then can you use a direct flash.

Anyhow, that’s all for today, hope you like the post. If you have any questions / comments / suggestions, then please don’t hesitate to leave a comment.