Archive for September, 2009
How to Photograph Fireworks
Photographing fireworks can be a tricky business, especially if they are as crazy as the Crackers show, which was staged at Delapre Park in Northampton. The show was brilliant but there was a bit of guess work in regards to framing a shot! I’ve taken photographs of fireworks quite a few times now and have established the following tips in getting better shots…
- Use a tripod – you will need a long shutter speed so this is essential to get a sharp shot. Also if you’re using a lens with image stabilisation turn it off.
- Use a remote – again this will help for sharpness as you won’t knock the camera when you press the shutter release.
- Use a long lens – its best to get in as tight as possible as the fireworks will go bang high up in the sky or if its on the ground like a Catherine Wheel it will be far away behind a barrier.
- Use a long shutter speed – the length can be tricky to judge, I normally start at 4 seconds for rocket fireworks – this lets you capture the trails(see below). Make sure you look at your screen to check the exposure.
- Be quick! – Make sure you try to get as many shots as possible – firework displays don’t last long.
Hopefully this guide will help you for Bonfire night which is nearly upon us!
Tags: Crackers, Fireworks, Northampton, Tips
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Bronze on iStockphoto
This image is my 250th sale on istockphoto – which now ranks me as bronze. Over the next few months I will be increasing my portfolio. Next stop 2,500 sales!
Tags: istockphoto, sales
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Wildlife Photography
Earlier this year I had my first go at wildlife photography with a borrowed 400mm lens at Pitsford Reservoir. The 400mm focal length was created by using a Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM with a Canon 2XEF II 2x Extender. The photo below was shot handheld. The exposure settings for this shot are not the optimum as before this I was photographing birds sitting and spotted the Canadian Goose out the corner of my eye about to land. Even though the photo isn’t great on sharpness I still like the composition.
The widest aperture available with this set up is f/5.6, which was used for this shot of the Signet below. Thankfully I had plent of time to capture this shot, which allowed me to change my exposure setting. Again this was taken handheld – next time I will try using a tripod for extra sharpness.
I’d have to admit that photographing wildlife is probably one of the most difficult things to capture – however its defiantly one of the most rewarding. When I have the chance to get my hands on a long lens again – I’ll be back to have another go!
Tags: 400mm, Pitsford Reservoir, Wildlife
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Winter Racecourse Northampton
Still got a back log of photographys to get through from earlier this year. This one is from February, when the bad snowy weather came in.
Tags: Northampton, Racecourse, Snow, Winter
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EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens Review
- Diagonal Angle of View: 24°
- Lens Construction (elements/groups): 10/9
- No. of Diaphragm blades: 8
- Minimum Aperture: 32
- Closest Focusing Distance: 0.31 metres
- Maximum Magnification (x): 1
- AF Actuator: USM
- Filter Diameter: 58mm
- Price: £450 approx
Review
This was my 3rd lens I purchased for my 400D and I have no regrets. Build quality of the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens is sturdy and the design of the focus ring is excellent. The lens does not extend while focusing, which is very useful when getting in close to a subject.
A favourite application for this lens is food photography – the lens enables you get close up compositions without needing to physically get extremely close to the subject. This is handy when taking photos of hot food as the lens will not steam up.
A way to get more magnification in your macro photos using the 100mm lens is to use an extension tube or attached a 50mm or 35mm lens using coupling ring. I attach the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens to the 100mm Macro Lens for photographing insects. This method does require manual focusing, a tripod, good lighting and a lot of patience. The photography below was taken using this setup. The wasp was dead – which made it a lot easier to focus!
Accessories
58mm filter size makes buying filters for this lens affordable. Extension tubes can be added to increase the magnification of your subject.
Pros
-Good value for money
-Light weight.
-Great lens for a rainy day.
-Lens does not extend when focusing.
-Cheap when compared with alternative.
Cons
- Can be slow to focus at times.
- There is a better version of this lens, but you will need deep pockets.
Tags: 100mm, 50mm, Canon, Macro, Review, Wasp
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St Giles Northampton
Recently I took some photographys to enter in to the guardian monthly photo assignment. At the church that I go to I created this HDR image from 8 different exposures.
Tags: Church, HDR, Northampton, St Giles
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