I copied this directly from this blog: http://1000wordsphotography.typepad.com/allie/2008/02/boring-lensy-st.html
...Then I started learning about lenses.
The kit lens that comes along with most of these range of cameras is about an 18-55mm 3.5-5.6. That means boring. Nothing amazing will come of these. At least not from me.
I learned more information quickly and was pleasantly surprised to find a very highly recommended lens that was the cheapest one out there. 50mm 1.8 for about $100. I got one and used it and loved it right away and still do. (And it has everything to do with the bright, gorgeous pictures, double el) :)
So then I learned what aperture could do. Aperture is how wide your lens opens when you're taking a picture. That's the 1.8 in the name of the lens. That's fairly wide. Small numbers=wide aperture. So for taking pictures of my kid, that meant that I could take clear pictures with no flash (since it was letting so much light in so fast), stay inside with just a little bit of light (whatever was coming in the window was enough), and I got to use bokeh. That's the word I learned for when your face is in focus and the background is blurry. Wide apertures have a very narrow depth of field. So only a slice of the picture will be in focus. In front of that and behind that are blurry. And I loved using that.
A lens that doesn't zoom is called a prime lens. And since they are not multi-tasking and trying to really be more than one thing at the same time...they are good at what they do.
So when I take pictures with my prime lenses (either this one or a 35mm 2.0), this is what I do:
Bored? Hopefully if this doesn't interest you, you've moved on by now :)
So in my camera bag:
1. I have a kit lens which I rarely use.
2. I have the 50mm 1.8 which I use most of the time. I'd love love to have the 50mm 1.4 but it's about 4 times as much....maybe this year :) One f-stop is the difference between the 2 lenses but the quality that comes out of that $300 would be amazing.
3. I have a 35mm 2.0 which I use for more snapshotty stuff. The difference in focal length (the 50mm vs the 35mm) means that I'm scooted back more. Unless you're outside or in a big room, it's difficult to get back far enough with the 50mm to get much more than half a person. I like the 35mm for Lily playing or to get more of the room in the shot. The 2.0 aperture doesn't give me as much flexibility with lighting conditions or bokeh, but it's pretty good.
4. I have my remote that I use for family photos that I'm in and the rare occasion when I want to photograph myself and my arms are not long enough.
I wish I had a flash in it. I would only use it for occasions that required it. Christmas parties at night, special events in places that you can't control the light. Also, I'd be very good about bouncing it around the room (pointing it at the wall and using the light that bounces off rather than pointing it right at someone's face).
On learning...
I'm very much an internet-research girl. I wasn't previously into photography, though I should have been...too much band and boys :) So I have not read any technical photography books. I've just stuck mostly to my one little lens and practiced a lot. Digital is wonderful to learn on because your results are so immediate. I can take pictures with 8 different settings and learn what I like. Huge props to the film people...I'm not patient enough.
I tried to use Microsoft Paint for a couple of months and was disgusted when I learned every control the program offered in a few weeks. So I stumbled into a copy of Photoshop and started learning that. Whoah. I just started doing lots of tutorials I'd find online on scrapbook sites and blogs. I subscribed to a few podcasts that actually have taught me a lot...just always random things though. And I do now own one book that I use less than just looking up how to do something I'm interested in online. I have a little notebook of things I want to remember.....because you never remember these things unless you do then 600 times.
I don't know how other programs work so I don't know how they compare. I do know that it sure seems like 95% of the world uses Photoshop or Photoshop Elements for all their photography/designing (I guess Illustrator...some Adobe program anyway)/digital scrapbooking needs. So jumping in with the majority is only going to make your life easier. Lots more access to tutorials and websites with helps and bonus plug-ins and podcasts and books and everything. Give into peer pressure and just do it.
I have a bunch I want to type about the creative part of my own photography. Which will be even more me. Truly 'how to be like me'! Haha. But this is so long already and I'm feeling the need to hide under a blanket and sneak up on Lily and dad :)
(These were with the 35mm at 2.0 left and 4.0 right and ISO 200...if you're into that kind of thing)
The kit lens that comes along with most of these range of cameras is about an 18-55mm 3.5-5.6. That means boring. Nothing amazing will come of these. At least not from me.
I learned more information quickly and was pleasantly surprised to find a very highly recommended lens that was the cheapest one out there. 50mm 1.8 for about $100. I got one and used it and loved it right away and still do. (And it has everything to do with the bright, gorgeous pictures, double el) :)
So then I learned what aperture could do. Aperture is how wide your lens opens when you're taking a picture. That's the 1.8 in the name of the lens. That's fairly wide. Small numbers=wide aperture. So for taking pictures of my kid, that meant that I could take clear pictures with no flash (since it was letting so much light in so fast), stay inside with just a little bit of light (whatever was coming in the window was enough), and I got to use bokeh. That's the word I learned for when your face is in focus and the background is blurry. Wide apertures have a very narrow depth of field. So only a slice of the picture will be in focus. In front of that and behind that are blurry. And I loved using that.
A lens that doesn't zoom is called a prime lens. And since they are not multi-tasking and trying to really be more than one thing at the same time...they are good at what they do.
So when I take pictures with my prime lenses (either this one or a 35mm 2.0), this is what I do:
- my camera's Autofocus Area Mode is set to Single Area. So rather than my camera choosing what it thinks should be in focus, or focusing on whatever's closest...I get to pick. I put this point right in the middle of the camera screen (so I point the middle right at somebody's eyes), then hold my shutter button down halfway to lock that, then recompose (since I normally don't want their face right smack dab in the middle), then push all the way to take the picture.
- my metering is set to Spot. The other options are matrix and centerweighted. Matrix looks at the whole shot and balances everything...like it takes an average. Centerweighted assumes you are putting your subject right in the middle and exposes for that. Spot metering works like how my focus does. It meters (reads how much light there is) exactly where I point it to. So even if she is in front of a bright window or surrounded by dark stuff, her face will look right and everything else will just fall in to place.
- My flash is OFF!! :) Or using that foil thingie I talked about a while ago if absolutely necessary.
- I usually shoot in Program Mode. This is a step up from auto, and simpler to use than full-on Manual. Manual can give better results since you're controlling everything...but since I generally take pictures of a 2-year-old, there is no time. Using Program mode I get to adjust a couple of settings and the camera figures out the rest for me. I set the ISO to 200 or 400 or maybe even 800 depending on how fast she is that day. I then adjust the aperture anywhere from 1.8 to 22 with this lens. I love 1.8 for most everything but if there are 2 people in the picture not standing right next to each other...I'd have to adjust crank this up a little so that they can both be in focus together.
- Also, I guess I have the AE/AF Lock on. That would be important if you wanted your exposure and focus to lock where you put it.
Bored? Hopefully if this doesn't interest you, you've moved on by now :)
So in my camera bag:
1. I have a kit lens which I rarely use.
2. I have the 50mm 1.8 which I use most of the time. I'd love love to have the 50mm 1.4 but it's about 4 times as much....maybe this year :) One f-stop is the difference between the 2 lenses but the quality that comes out of that $300 would be amazing.
3. I have a 35mm 2.0 which I use for more snapshotty stuff. The difference in focal length (the 50mm vs the 35mm) means that I'm scooted back more. Unless you're outside or in a big room, it's difficult to get back far enough with the 50mm to get much more than half a person. I like the 35mm for Lily playing or to get more of the room in the shot. The 2.0 aperture doesn't give me as much flexibility with lighting conditions or bokeh, but it's pretty good.
4. I have my remote that I use for family photos that I'm in and the rare occasion when I want to photograph myself and my arms are not long enough.
I wish I had a flash in it. I would only use it for occasions that required it. Christmas parties at night, special events in places that you can't control the light. Also, I'd be very good about bouncing it around the room (pointing it at the wall and using the light that bounces off rather than pointing it right at someone's face).
On learning...
I'm very much an internet-research girl. I wasn't previously into photography, though I should have been...too much band and boys :) So I have not read any technical photography books. I've just stuck mostly to my one little lens and practiced a lot. Digital is wonderful to learn on because your results are so immediate. I can take pictures with 8 different settings and learn what I like. Huge props to the film people...I'm not patient enough.
I tried to use Microsoft Paint for a couple of months and was disgusted when I learned every control the program offered in a few weeks. So I stumbled into a copy of Photoshop and started learning that. Whoah. I just started doing lots of tutorials I'd find online on scrapbook sites and blogs. I subscribed to a few podcasts that actually have taught me a lot...just always random things though. And I do now own one book that I use less than just looking up how to do something I'm interested in online. I have a little notebook of things I want to remember.....because you never remember these things unless you do then 600 times.
I don't know how other programs work so I don't know how they compare. I do know that it sure seems like 95% of the world uses Photoshop or Photoshop Elements for all their photography/designing (I guess Illustrator...some Adobe program anyway)/digital scrapbooking needs. So jumping in with the majority is only going to make your life easier. Lots more access to tutorials and websites with helps and bonus plug-ins and podcasts and books and everything. Give into peer pressure and just do it.
I have a bunch I want to type about the creative part of my own photography. Which will be even more me. Truly 'how to be like me'! Haha. But this is so long already and I'm feeling the need to hide under a blanket and sneak up on Lily and dad :)
(These were with the 35mm at 2.0 left and 4.0 right and ISO 200...if you're into that kind of thing)
No comments:
Post a Comment