Six Cool Sites with Tips and Tutorials For Better Photos
Summer's almost here and it wouldn't hurt to spend some time brushing up on your photo-taking techniques.
1. Good Tutorials: This site brings together some of the smartest, single-issue tutorials I've found. Some are nice and short, but with plenty of meat to chew on. For instance, Depth of field in Photography explains how different lenses impact the depth of field. If you're willing to take your camera off automatic and play with its manual settings, The Correct Exposure - a tutorial - Part 1: Shutter, Aperture and ISO will get you started.
2. Dave Johnson's Digital Focus: Every week, PC World's photography expert cranks out a newsletter full of handy and clever tips. For instance, if you liked the tutorials in the blub above, try Dave's Treasure Trove of Photo Tutorials. And if you haven't had enough about depth of field, Dave has tons to say: Fake Your Depth of Field, Master Your Camera's Depth of Field and Take Pictures With Unlimited Depth of Field.
BTW, you can also find useful ideas for other digital photography issues at the Digital Cameras Info Center.
3. The Digital Tool Shed has a stack of resources for digital photography, including image editors, photo viewers, slide shows, audio and video tools, and other links. There's more about free photo editors and organizers here.
4. The One Dollar Steadycam: It's one of those why didn't I think of that tools. Watch the video below and get the details from PC World's Dave Johnson.
Reader Update: Tabby S. wrote and said:
"This is a variation on an old method I learned about at one of the traveling Nikon School presentations -- about 25 years ago."Instead of string, their method was using a 1/4 x 20 bolt with a flat head and a hole in it or an eyebolt, a keyring that goes through the hole and about 6 feet of window chain. (I put a nut in my set up to act as a spacer to keep the setup from going too far into the tripod connection slot.)
"It's a little more complicated, but the chain will last for years, while the string is likely to break.
"The other advantage over a tripod is that the 'poor man's tripod' is legal in most museums and other places that won't allow the use of a tripod.
"The trick is probably good for 1-2 stops of decreased shake. I don't have any image stablized lenses, so I don't know how much added benefit you'd get from the combination."
5. PhotoSig is a great spot to post your images for critique -- and a super site to learn from other photographers.
6. The message board forums on DPReview are organized by topic and camera brands. If you're buying a digital camera, you'll find the reviews, critiques, and no-nonsense advice refreshing.
Talkback
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