When to use flash or should I take it off ?

 Flash, the tricky question on whether to leave it on or off.

What to do ?  I mostly leave it off unless absolutely necessary.  In the photo on the left, if I had left the flash on then all I would have got is a big white shiny blob in the centre of my photo.  Try it for yourself both ways and see what happens.

The only problem is that when you turn off  the flash, your lens is open longer (to allow more light in) and this means you might get camera shake and it will give you a blurry image.

Go out and find yourself several examples and photograph them with:

1) your flash on

2) your flash off

3) with your flash on auto

You will find, that with pretty OK light you will be fine, but when the light is more dim the flash will come on automatically as in No 3)

Take a look at common, everyday things in your own home and see what you can come up with while finding out all about flash and whether or not to use it.  Wash dishes, take shots of soapsuds, glassware, crockery, stainless steel, lots of different texture, go for shiny and sparkly that will show up when you switch to flash and see how the flash completely destroys your image then switch to no flash.  See the difference  ?

 Taking Fuzzy, Ordinary, Common Photos?     Now you can find out how to  shoot photos that are breathtaking !

Photographing Crafts - Inspiration at every turn

If you know any craft people you will find there are photographic  opportunities everywhere.

Take any crafters space and you will find color, form, texture and be spoilt for choice.

Think of any craft, sculpture, painting, drawing, woodwork, knitting, spinning and weaving, take a new look at what is hanging about in your garden shed even for inspiration.  Last years plant pots can make an amazing textural image once you get the hang of it.

It just involves thinking differently to find amazing and snazzy shots - take this detail of a Felters scarf for example, it was just begging to find its way into my camera to capture the fuzzy texture, the luscious color and form of the felted fleece and hasn't it come out great.   to take the idea further you could edit it, change it to black and white, use it as a background, play around with it in your editing program or simply hang it on your wall as is.   The crafter will be over the moon that you have even bothered to show up and look at their passion never mind when you present them with images of their latest creation and you will have some great images to add to your collection.

The photo above was taken with the flash turned off and on a macro setting.

Learn to take amazing shots in just 20 minutes !

Light and Form in Brilliant Green

 

Magical Mangawhai - Northland Coast New Zealand

 

Local beach with wind tossed bare tree makes a beaut sculpture against the brilliant blue sky 

Gorgeous Sacred Lotus Flower

 

Fab Felt - amazing hues and woolly texture .....

I reckon this is super cool - I just love the colours and textures of this felted scarf I spotted lurking around in the corner of the room.    Get up close to get those textures and shades and stay away from those shots across the other side of the room :)  She doesn't even know its vanished yet and trust me, it will appear again  - maybe I'll even send her a link :)
Check out my new photography site here at http://photographyforbeginners.info/

It's all flown out the window .....

I was pretty excited when I spotted the photo opportunity here and you can see I was so excited all the advice flew out the window as I grabbed the camera and went for it.  You can see that you need to take some small part of your brain with you when you start learning digital photography and remember that all important thing - LIGHT !  Or in the case of these two photos the uneven light and shadow over part of the artworks.

I did, remember what I was told ( more like drilled into me!) that I needed to switch off my flash to photograph artwork or I'd get a big white circle where the flash shone on the artwork so I did get something right but it's a pity I didn't think of the shadow across the corner of each piece.
My Mantra  is ....................practice, practice, practice