Photographer in Geneva, Switzerland - Red Dot Studio » Photography Tips

Top 10 essential add-ons for Firefox

Photographer — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:39:54 +0000

Firefox is still one of the best web browsers out there thanks to the many add-ons available. Here's a list of top 10 essential add-ons for Firefox.

Xmarks Sync - Keeps your Firefox bookmarks synced across all your computers.

Trackmenot - Protects your privacy during web search in popular search engines.

Snap Link Plus - Select a number of links with a rectangle and open them all in separate tabs.

FireFTP - Free FTP add on to Firefox.

Exif Viewer - Display the EXIF data of JPG images on a web page.

Download Statusbar - View and manage downloads from a tidy statusbar.

Adblock Plus - Blocks advertisements.

DownloadHelper - Download and convert Web videos from YouTube-like sites.

gTranslate - Translate any text on a web page by selecting and right-clicking over it.

Speedyfox (not an addon) - A program that makes Firefox startup much faster and snappier.

Quick guide to time lapse photography

Photographer — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:06:04 +0000

Here's a summary list of settings for time lapse photography from Photojojo.com and learntimelapse.com.

Time Lapse - Geneva, Switzerland from Red Dot on Vimeo.

Intervalometer settings:

Number of frames (or shots) = 30 frames per second x Duration of your time lapse movie
Interval between frames (or shots) = Duration of actual event / Number of frames

Camera settings:

Use a tripod
Medium or small RAW file (at least 1,920 x 1,080 pixels for HD quality)
Manual white balance
Manual exposure (for constant light) or Av mode (for sunset/sunrise)
Shutter speed should be slower than 1/100s
Cover the back eye piece
Manual focus

Photoshop

Enable Windows | Animation
Click File | Open
Select first jpg image and click image sequence check box
Enter frame rate = 30
Click File | Export | Render Video
Click Render

Using reflectors in a photo shoot

Photographer — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:13:42 +0000

Reflectors can be a useful part of a photographer's lighting arsenal. Here's a video on how reflectors can be used during a photo shoot.

Model shoot using just an iphone

Photographer — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:23:10 +0000

This photographer did an interesting experiment to demonstrate that good lighting is all is needed to get good results.

The iPhone Fashion Shoot - Lee Morris Shoots With The 3GS Fstoppers from FStoppers on Vimeo.

How to Dodge and Burn in Photoshop

Photographer — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 11:10:07 +0000

Here's a pretty interesting technique on how this photographer dodges and burns his portraits on Photoshop.

Sean Armenta | Dodge & Burn Technique from Sean Armenta on Vimeo.

What is the shutter count of your Canon DSLR?

Photographer — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 11:05:34 +0000

Knowing the shutter count of your Canon DSLR is important so that you are aware if your camera shutter has reached its limits and it's time to change it i.e. get a new camera or replace the shutter curtains. This is even more important if you are buying a second hand camera, to know beforehand how long before the camera dies.

There is a neat little application for windows that does just that. When installed EOSInfo from astrojargon shows you the shutter count on your camera (you have to connect your camera to your PC). But what I really like about this application is that you can set your copyright info straight on the camera as well. This means that each picture that you take will be embedded with this information.

In general, Canon cameras lasts between 50,000 (low end older models) to 300,000 (high end pro cameras) clicks. You can check out a more comprehensive list here.

But before installing this application, do check out the astrojargon website to find out if your Canon camera is supported.

Understanding Exposure

Photographer — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:09:31 +0000

Byran Peterson is one of the best authors for photography. He has published many books especially his famous "Understanding" series which covers various topics from shutter speeds to close-up photography. However, "Understanding Exposure" is no doubt his most popular book.

: Understanding Exposure - Bryan Peterson

The book is filled with color photos which are a great help in understanding the concepts that he discusses. Each picture is captioned with useful exposure information. He also demonstrates variation of the same photo by using different settings.

The book is easy to read and follow without any confusing technical jargons. In general, this is a definitely must have book for photographers.

Please check out our bookstore for more of Bryan Peterson's books.

Incidentally, he also has a Youtube channel where you can view some of his photo tips. Here is a sample:

Best Digital Photography Books

Photographer — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:28:30 +0000

These set of books is one of the best ever written for digital photography in the market right now.

Scott Kelby is a Photoshop guru but he has produced 3 volumes on digital photography packed with very useful information, tips, tricks and corny humor. Although they are really intended for amateurs to serious hobbyist in photography, even professionals will learn a new thing or two from them.

The books are full of examples, straight to the point tips, equipment recommendation and they will definitively improve the quality of every single shot you take. These books encompass almost every aspect of digital photography. Definitely a highly recommended buy!

All 3 volumes are available in a set in Amazon.com:

Top 10 Photography Blogs to Bookmark

Photographer — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:47:13 +0000

Here's a top 10 list of most bookmarked photography blogs.

10. The Online Photographer

A photography news and information website in the form of a weblog with multiple authors who write on a variety of photography and art-photography related issues.

9. Photocritic photography blog

Photocritic is photography taken back to its roots - fun projects, quirky ideas, and tips to spark your creativity back up the scale.

8. PixelatedImage Blog

Blog of David duChemin who is a world & humanitarian photographer, best-selling author, and international workshop leader.

7. The Big Picture - Boston.com

The Big Picture - News Stories in Photographs from the Boston Globe.

6. Photoshop Insider Blog By Scott Kelby

Scoops, tips and comments published exclusively for friends of Scott Kelby.

5. DIYPhotography.net | Photography and Studio Lighting

A place for photographers to share, and learn from each other. To bring cheap studio equipment to those who can't really buy all the expensive stuff out there. And to bring back the joy of making something out of nothing.

4. Stuck In Customs

Unique photography for unique people.

3. Joe McNally's Blog

Professional photographer Joe McNally shares his thoughts, tips, and tricks on the photo industry and how to use light to get the best possible images out of any situation.

2. Digital Photography School - Digital Photography Tips for You

Digital Photography Lessons for New Digital Camera Owners.

1. Strobist

Strobist: The off-camera flash lighting blog. Learn how to use your digital camera and small flashes like a pro.

12 Tips for Models to Prepare for a Photo Shoot

Photographer — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:01:23 +0000

While we try to get the best out of the photo shoot, there are some basic preparations for you to look great. We have compiled a list of do's and don'ts at least a day before the shoot.

Don'ts

Don't drink or party - The night before is crucial how you perform the next day. So plan for an early night and avoid staying up late, partying or drinking. Alcohol will only make you dehydrated.

Don't try out a new hair style - Although you want to look your best during the photo shoot, trying out a new hair style is not advisable.

Don't go for a sun tan - Tanning tends to leave you looking like a ripe tomato for a few days. Plan in advance and avoid it just before the photo shoot.

Don't scrub or exfoliate your face - Scrubbing your face to remove dead skin cells is indeed healthy for your complexion. However, plan this way before the photo shoot or else you may end up with dry and peeling skin.

Don't squeeze any blemishes from your face - Squeezing blemishes can inflame your skin and make it worse. Small blemishes can be touched up.

Do’s

Do shave - Shave in appropriate places and do be careful when shaving. The last thing we want are cut marks all over.

Do clean in between your nails - Dirt in between the finger nails can show up in the photo. So clean them beforehand to get rid of any dirt.

Do get enough sleep - Sleep early and get enough rest to look bright and alert during the photo shoot.

Do practise your smile in front of the mirror - Sometimes people get conscious in front of the camera. A good trick is to practice your smile and flashing your teeth in front of the mirror.

Do drink plenty of water - Water will keep your skin hydrated and looking healthy.

Do prepare what to wear - Decide what to wear in advance so that you don't have to rush on the day of the shoot.

Do moisturize the lips - Moisturizing your lips will help ensure you don't have flaky or chapped lips.