Category: Technology

Geometric patterns are visually appealing and can be found almost anywhere you look (Figure 8.14). You see patterns not only in fabricated objects but also in nature, where some of the most beautiful and balanced patterns appear. You can also use patterns, shapes, and even textures as a contrast to the main subject of your…

Geometric patterns are visually appealing and can be found almost anywhere you look (Figure 8.13). You see patterns not only in fabricated objects but also in nature, where some of the most beautiful and balanced patterns appear. You can also use patterns, shapes, and even textures as a contrast to the main subject of your…

If you find yourself in a situation where you want to use your flash to shoot through a window or display case, try placing your lens right against the glass so that the reflection of the flash won’t be visible in your image. This is extremely useful in museums and aquariums.  

One thing I love about photography is that I get to show the world what I see, and it’s always fun to try photographing a subject from a different point of view to see what I can create. You don’t have to change your perspective drastically to get results—sometimes you can capture a great image…

One problem when shooting with a flash in low light is that often there will be a large discrepancy between your subject, which is well lit from the flash, and the background, which sinks into black. The Slow Synchro feature provides a way to light the foreground and background in the same shot (Figure 8.8).…

Strong angles in an image can add a lot to the composition, especially when the angles and lines are going in different directions (Figure 8.4). This can create a tension that is different from the standard horizontal and vertical lines that we are so accustomed to seeing in photos. You can accentuate the angles in…

We’ve all seen the result of using on-camera flashes when shooting people: the dreaded red-eye! This demonic effect is the result of the light from the flash entering the pupil and then reflecting back as an eerie red glow. The closer the flash is to the lens, the greater the chance that you get red-eye.…

As mentioned in previous chapters, it’s usually a good idea to avoid placing your subject directly in the center of the frame. Sticking to the rule of thirds principle— placing the subject or horizon line one-third of the way from the edge of the frame—typically results in a pleasing composition (Figure 8.21).  

When taking pictures we usually pay close attention to our subject. This, of course, is a wise thing to do when using your camera, but it’s also very important (and sometimes even more important) to pay attention to the background or backdrop behind your subject (Figure 8.3). The background can make or break your photograph.…

Selective focusing with a wide aperture can add a lot of creativity to your images. You are telling the viewer where you want the focus of the image to be, and the meaning and story changes depending on what is in focus. Using a telephoto lens can compress your background even more, decreasing the depth…