The first update for my first app - Rick Sammon's 24/7 Photo Buffet - is now available on iTunes. The update is free.
If you are new to the app, read about it here.
The always-expanding app (like a never ending story) include lessons on close-up photography and shooting in the snow.
Here is a preview.
Close-Up Tips
Practice.
Before we set out to take some serious close-up pictures, we need to practice using different f-stops, shutter speeds and lighting at home. That's what I did before embarking on a trip to Florida to photograph butterflies.
I experimented with different camera, lens and flash (ringlight) settings at home so that when I arrived in Florida, I could focus most of my attention on composition, without having to worry about making camera adjustments. This picture of Spicebush Swallowtail was taken with my Canon 50mm macro lens and Canon Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX. That lens lets me get full-frame pictures off butterflies, as well as close-ups of a butterfly’s wings.
Depth-of-field.
When shooting with a macro lens, depth-of-field is extremely limited – and important. Even at small f-stop, depth-of-field is limited. Use your depth-of-field preview button to check what’s in focus – and what’s out of focus – before you shoot.
Ringlight.
A ringlight lets you shoot at small apertures for good depth-of-field. It also offers even or ratio lighting. Your choice!
Shooting in the Snow Tips
Don’t Be Fooled.
All that white can fool a camera's exposure meter into thinking that the scene is brighter than it actually is, therefore setting the camera for an underexposed picture. The remedy: Set your exposure compensation dial to +1. The increase should give you a better exposure, which, of course, you can fine-tune further with exposure compensation and in the digital darkroom.
Pack a Polarizing Filter.
Another important tip: Pack a polarizing filter to reduce glare on snow and ice.
Future 24/7 Photo Buffet updates will include:
Hyper HDR (because I am so hyper) and Flash Photography.
Hey, let me know what you'd like me to add to my 24/7 Photo Buffet app - or what apps you'd like to see.
Rick Sammon's 24/7 Photo Safari is in the works! It should be available in April.
Explore the Light,
Rick