DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS FROM ePHOTOzine

 

Going on holiday with your family and your camera isn't the same as going on a photographic holiday. So here are a few tips on how you can still go out and enjoy your photography but keep the peace with your family at the same time:

 

1. Pick The Right Gear

A DSLR and a variety of lenses packed in a case are OK for photographic holidays but it can get a little heavy when you're heading out with bags of sun cream, hats, buckets and spades, too. If you want to use a DSLR try fitting a zoom lens that gives you a variety of focal lengths in one lens or pocket a compact or mirrorless camera so you can still capture the shots you want but in a less obtrusive way. Point-and-shoot cameras are easier to pack too as they don't take up too much room and many can fit in a pocket so can be accessed quickly if needs be.

 

2. Balance Your Time

Just because you're on holiday with your family doesn't mean you can't enjoy a few hours here and there taking photographs. It helps if you have an understanding partner, friends or whoever is travelling with you, as they can watch the children for half an hour while you take your photos. Try heading out while everyone else is still sleeping at sunrise, for example, but don't get too carried away with your photo taking as, after all, you're on a family holiday and not a photographic one.

 

3. Allocate Time

Set yourself certain times to go and enjoy your photography. Plan these into the trip so your family know about them to save arguments and set time restraints so you don't find yourself vanishing for a day with your camera. By doing so, you'll find you'll think more about what and how you're going to photograph your chosen subject and your hobby will also annoy your family less.

 

 

4. Have A Plan

Doing your research and making a plan will mean you can put the locations and subjects that really interest you at the top of your 'to do' list. Then if you have to forget about some of your lists, you'll have the important ones, hopefully, already in the bag. Having ideas on what angles work, what don't and what time of day your chosen location looks its best will stop you making wasted journeys and using the time that you could have spent playing around in the pool or on the beach.

 

5. Visit Places You All Want To Go

A little bit of compromise goes a long way so if you want to go on some day trips, pick ones which you'll all enjoy. That way you'll be able to go out and take some photos while the rest of the family will still be entertained.

 

 

6. Get Your Family Involved

See if you can get them taking photographs with you and if that fails, make them your main subject for most of your shots. This doesn't mean you have to pose them all the time though.

 

7. Be More Relaxed About Your Photography

You'll probably find that the process of you putting a tripod up then working out every setting to make sure your shot's as perfect as it can be is what your family get bored of waiting around for so instead of always worrying about everything having to be just right, work a little off the cuff to get fewer complaints. Try shooting from the hip or instead of posing your family every time you want to photograph them, shoot some candids of them eating ice cream and playing in the sand. By working more spontaneously, you'll probably find you'll have fewer complaints.

 

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The latest winner of our popular daily photography theme which takes place in our forums have been chosen and congratulations go to AdventureDriver (Day 9 - 'Outdoor Full-Length Portraits').

 

Daily Theme Runners-Up

If you didn't win this time, keep uploading your images to the daily competition forum for another chance to win! If you're new to the Daily Theme, you can find out more about it in the Daily Theme Q&A. 

Well done to our latest runners-up, too, whose images you can take a look at below.

  Day 10

River

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Day 11

Patterns & Shapes

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Day 12

People In Groups/Crowds

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Day 13

Interesting Angle Theme

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  Day 14

Event Photography

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Day 15

Plane

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You’ll find the Daily Themes, along with other great photo competitions, over in our Forum. Take a look to see the latest daily photo contests. Open to all levels of photographer, you’re sure to find a photography competition to enter. Why not share details of competitions with our community? Join the camaraderie and upload an image to our Gallery.

 

During the summer, there are all sorts of agricultural events held all around the country and they are great occasions to capture some good images. There are the events themselves, the animals and the people to photograph. It is a great day out too. Usually, there are also plenty of stalls to browse around so there are chances to spend a few quid too.

 

1. Gear Choices

Your camera and a couple of lenses is a perfect outfit, ie pairing of a standard zoom and a telephoto zoom would be a very versatile combination. If you want to travel light, a camera and a superzoom are worth a thought. If you want to travel lighter still, take a zoom compact or one of the mirrorless style cameras.

 

2. Light Can Be Tricky

With luck, the sun will be shining but that can mean exposure and contrast problems. You might find that your camera slightly under and overexposes in contrasty light, so a few test shots to start with is a good idea. If, for example, you find that your camera consistently leans towards overexposure, set -0.3 EV, -0.7EV or even -1EV on your camera so get a more balanced exposure.

 

3. Try Capturing Images In RAW 

Shooting in RAW format is a good idea too, so if you do have exposure or contrast problems they can be controlled during the RAW workflow process. RAW conversion software allows you to adjust exposure, brightness and contrast very easily – and you can do it non-destructively.

 

4. Arrive In Plenty Of Time

For the events, you might have to find a spot early if you do not want to be shooting over people's heads. Often, there is plenty of room to find a decent viewpoint where you can get an unhindered view. Depending on the show, you might find displays of shire horses, carriage driving, dog agility and much more. The dog agility events are great fun to photograph, firstly because there is plenty of action but also there are brilliant candid moments of the owners to be photographed too. Just find yourself a good spot - close to the see-saw, weave poles or a fence - and just get ready for some frenetic action.
 

5. Messy Backgrounds Spoil Shots

Some events and participants are more photogenic than others, but one common problem you may experience is messy backgrounds and you may find avoiding them quite challenging. Stripey or white marquees, enclosures and fellow visitors can all spoil your shots so keep an eye on the background and use your feet and zoom lens to exclude as much clutter as possible. Using your telephoto lens at wide apertures for shallow depth-of-field is a technique to try to minimize bold subjects coming out too sharp.

 

6. Don't Forget Close-Ups And Detail

Concentrating on details within the scene is another photographic approach to consider. Close-ups of shire horses decked out on their finery can look excellent, just take care with exposure. Very dark horses can cause overexposure so appear lighter than they are, while light/white horses can cause underexposure and appear grey. Just use exposure compensation to ensure a good result.

 

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If you're planning a day-trip at the coast you don't have to take your DSLR and a bag full of lenses to get good close-up shots. The majority of compact cameras and smartphones now have macro modes, some better than others, which can produce good results. The cameras are also smaller and usually lighter too making them easier to carry when you have arms full of buckets, spades and seaside treats. Plus, only shooting macro/close up shots really makes you stop and think about what you can photograph.

  1. Macro Mode

Find your camera's shooting modes and select the Macro Mode. This is generally the one that looks like a flower and by selecting it, your camera will know you'll be working with objects close to the lens and it will also use a larger aperture so the background's out of focus. How close you can focus to your subject will depend on the camera you're working with as they all have various close focus distances.
 

2. Tripod

Even if you're using a point-and-shoot camera using a tripod for close-up/macro work is a sensible idea. When you're working at close focusing distances any shake/movement is amplified and as a result, is more noticeable. As mentioned above, a tripod will reduce the chances of shake spoiling your shot and you'll be forced to slow down, so you think more about the shot you're trying to produce. 

 

3. Self Timer

Even though you're using a tripod, when you press the shutter button it can shake the camera so use your compact's self-timer to stop movement spoiling your shot.
 

4. Focus

It may sound obvious but do make sure the right part of your shot's in focus. If your compact has the option, switch to manual focus to have more control over what's sharp and what isn't. Once you've taken your shot, use your screen to view the image, zooming in to make sure all the bits that need to be sharp are.
 

5. Backgrounds

If possible, use a simple background that's not cluttered. This is easy on the beach when you can use the sand or position yourself so you're facing out to sea and use the water/sky as your backdrop. In busier locations such as harbours, this is a little more tricky to do but by putting space between your subject and the background it'll be easier for the camera to throw the background out of focus. You could also create your own background with a piece of card or even a jacket. 

6. Extra Light

Flash may seem the obvious way to go but as the flash on compact cameras is fixed, it's a bit too direct and can add too much light to the scene. If your camera allows it, you can dial down the flash but most of the time you'll be better off just shooting when there's plenty of natural light around. You can always use a reflector to direct the light and use a piece of card to shield your subject if you find there's too much light in the scene.

  7. Subject Choices

• Shells
• Pebbles
• Patterns/footprints in the sand
• Crabs
• Seaweed
• Interesting flotsam
• Water bubbles
• Chipped/cracked paint on boats
• Rust on railings
• Bolts
• Patterns in wood 
• Get in close to lobster pots and ropes to photograph the patterns
• Sticks of rock
• Jars of old-fashioned sweets

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