Shooting modes to help you create better photos with your digital camera - Part 1.

Shooting modes to help you create better photos with your digital camera - Part 1.

Yes, there are other shooting modes on your camera besides Auto. Here in a two part series we will go over a few of them, when to use them and what they do. Choosing the right mode for the right shooting situation will greatly improve your chances of getting the photo you want and cut down on the disappointment of a bad or missed photo. 

With the "Basic" shooting modes that most digital cameras have today all you do is point and shoot and the camera sets everything automatically. Here are just a few of the basic modes that most of today's digital cameras have and what they do.

Automatic Mode

Most new camera owners use this setting all the time.  Auto mode tells your camera to use its judgement to select ISO, aperture, shutter speed, focus, flash and white balance to take the best photo that it can. This mode will give you nice results in many shooting conditions, however you need to keep in mind that you’re not telling your camera exactly what type of photo you’re taking so it will be guessing as to what you want. As a result, some of the following modes might be more appropriate to select as they give your camera better direction on what you're photographing, without you needing to do anything further.

Landscape Mode

Landscape mode sets the camera up with a small aperture (large number f 22) to make sure as much of the scene you’re photographing will be in focus. (It provides you with a large depth of field.) It is ideal for capturing shots of wide scenes, particularly those with points of interest at different distances from the camera.  At times, your camera might also select a slower shutter speed in this mode (to compensate for the small aperture) so you might want to consider using a tripod or other method to ensure your camera is still to prevent camera "shake" and wind up with a blurry photo.

Portrait Mode

When you switch to portrait mode your camera will automatically select a large aperture (small number f 2.8) which helps to keep your background out of focus. (It sets a narrow depth of field ensuring your subject is the only thing in focus and is therefore the center of attention in the photo.) Portrait mode works best when you’re photographing a single subject so get in close enough to your subject, either by zooming in or walking in closer, to fill your view finder with just the person's head and shoulders. Also, if you’re shooting into the sun you might want to use your flash to add a little light onto the subject's face to fill in the shadows.

Macro Mode

Macro mode lets you move in closer to your subject so you can take close up photos. It’s great for shooting flowers, insects or other small objects (a simple background makes the flower, etc. stand out better). Different digital cameras will have macro modes with varying capabilities including focusing distances (usually between 1-3 inches for point and shoot cameras). When you use the macro mode, you’ll notice that focusing is more difficult, because at shorter distances the depth of field is very narrow. Keep your camera and the object you’re photographing parallel if possible or you’ll find much of it will be out of focus. You will probably find that it is best not to use your camera’s built in flash when photographing close up objects as they will be washed out.  Also, a tripod is invaluable in macro photography as the depth of field is so small that even moving slightly towards or away from your subject can make your subject out of focus. 

Next time - Part 2….. Aperture and Shutter Priority plus Manual Mode.

Pet Rescue Alliance

Pet Rescue Alliance


I had a great time photographing these little guys and thought you all should know about this wonderful organization, Pet Rescue Alliance.

They specialize in the rescue, rehabilitation, and placement of homeless dogs, cats, small birds, and pocket pets. They are reaching out to animal lovers in all states to help them form a national alliance to achieve this goal.
Please go view there web site and like them on Face Book. The links are below.

http://www.petrescuealliance.com

https://www.facebook.com/petrescuealliance

     

How to Save 20% to 40% on Your Kitchen Remodel Without Even Trying

How to Save 20% to 40% on Your Kitchen Remodel Without Even Trying

By: Oliver Marks

Published: September 11, 2012

You can picture your new, beautifully renovated dream kitchen. But your budget won’t allow it unless you cut costs. Here’s how to save on your kitchen remodel.

Below are 7 great recommendations for ways to shave costs off your kitchen remodel. Each recommendation includes a percentage of the savings you can expect to trim off the overall cost of your kitchen remodeling. Because of variables, such as the price of materials in your area, the percentages are given as a range.

If you do all the recommendations, you’ll knock 20% to 40% off the cost of your project.

1. Skip the custom cabinet shop. All of the major cabinet manufacturers offer a range of styles and finishes in their stock product lines. The only compromise you’ll make is that you can’t get cabinet widths sized to the exact fraction of an inch.

“Stock cabinets come in 3-inch increments, so you may need to get something slightly smaller than the space you have to fill,” says Cambridge, Mass., kitchen designer Jean Courtney. But nobody will ever notice. “Your contractor will use matching filler pieces and moldings to hide any gaps and make everything look custom fitted.”

Your savings: 5% to 12%

2. Keep the sink and appliances in their current locations. That avoids having to run new electrical wiring, natural gas lines, plumbing pipes, and hood-vent lines, knocking thousands off your construction costs.

Your savings: 5% to 10%

3. Select a simple cabinet door design. A classic shaker door, which is plain and elegant, comes at about half the cost of something more complex, such as an arch-top panel with intricate moldings. And you’ll get a more timeless, never-go-out-of-style look.

Your savings: 2% to 4%

4. Choose a stock stain or paint finish on the cabinets instead of a trendy two-tone glazed finish. Most cabinet manufacturers offer an array of good-looking, durable stock finishes.

Your savings: 3% to 4%

5. Keep the existing window locations. Using the current openings -- and resisting the temptation to increase window size -- reduces construction costs considerably because the contractor won’t have to frame out new openings.

Your savings: 3% to 6%

6. Simplify the edge profile of your countertops. A waterfall, ogee, or other fancy edge choice can add hundreds to the fabrication costs of your countertops. Trim that cost by opting for a square or simple round-over treatment.

Your savings: 1% to 2%

7. Shop for discontinued hardwood flooring and backsplash tiles. “When a particular line of subway tile or oak flooring is going out of production, stores slash the prices to move the merchandise -- but it’s perfectly good stuff,” says Courtney.

Another option: Look for salvaged building materials, such as sinks, faucets, and lighting fixtures.

Your savings: 1% to 2%