You do not have to be a pro to take advantage of Adobe Photoshop.You can often make simple adjustments resulting in dramatic changes. In this example we started with a photograph of a baby captured on a couch with a white blanket. This photo lends itself perfectly to eliminating the background which results in a solid white background. The only tool that is needed is the Brush Tool. With the white color selected, simply brush out the entire background. Zoom in and out adjusting the brush size as needed. The end photo has the appearance of being taken in a studio with a white background. Not bad for a photo captured with only a Canon 430ex II flash attached to a Canon 7D.

Before –

After using the Brush Tool in Adobe Photoshop-

It is important to keep an open mind when you’re on a photo shoot.  There are often unexpected opportunities which can result in great photographs if you are prepared.  On numerous occasions I went out to photograph a specific animal and ended up spending most of my time on a different subject.  As with other things in life, we can get so caught up in the finish line or end product that we often miss what is right in front of us. If you go out and only focus on one thing you can end up with tunnel vision and miss other fantastic photo opportunities.

A while back I went out to photograph the local Wood Ducks and ended up capturing a Cormorant on a successful fishing trip. In the past I tried to capture the Cormorant in action with little success. However, this time ended up being successful when my intent was really Wood Ducks.

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What is Back Button Focusing? Back button focus literally means moving the focus button to the back of the camera.  This is done by changing the camera’s setting and designating  one of the buttons on the back of the camera’s body to become the AF (Auto Focus) button (compared to pressing the shutter half way for auto focus.)

What are the advantages of  back button focusing? At first glance back button focusing sounds like more work, requiring you to press two buttons to capture a photo. However, back button focusing has its advantages.

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Photographing in low light can be challenging, but there are several things you can do to help improve low light photos.  Low light photography is a very broad term that can refer to many different poor lighting conditions.  Indoor photography with little to no natural light and concert photography are both examples of low light photography.

You may notice that many low light photos are not clear or blurry. This is a result of  a slow shutter speed.  In order for the camera to properly expose the shot, the camera leaves the shutter open long enough to collect enough light. In poor lighting conditions the shutter is often open for a relatively long time.

Low Light Photography Tips-

1. Shoot at a low F-Stop- When shooting with an open or wide aperture you can shoot at a higher shutter speed resulting in clearer pictures.  The wider the aperture the less time the shutter needs to stay open to correctly expose the picture.  One thing to remember is the wider the aperture (lower f-stop) the shallower the depth of field.

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How do I take better pictures? This is a very common question, and below is a list of ten simple self explanatory photography tips that will help you take better pictures.

1. Limit distractions in the background.

2. Shoot at a low angle. Do not shooting down on your subject.

3. Focus on the head and eyes of your subject.

4. You do not have to center your subject in the frame.

5.  Use a tripod or the camera’s built-in timer.

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Many beginning photographers make the mistake of thinking they need to center their subjects in the frame.  Placing the subject off center can make for a more interesting and unique picture. Creating an off center subject can be done two different ways.  The easiest way is to frame the subject off center before you capture the picture.  However, if you have a centered subject and there is room in the frame you can crop the picture in post processing to off-set your subject.

Burrowing Owl Picture – Off Center Subject

I am always looking for a good deal on camera lenses to add to my collection, but recently I have been running into problems. The last two lenses I looked at both had problems that the owners were not aware of or did not want to share. However,  I truly think the owners were unaware of the problems.

I was fortunate enough to spot the problems before buying the lenses, saving myself the headache.  The first lens had an intermittent connection error when I attached it to the camera body, and the second lens had an internal part loose that was only visible when rotating the lens.  Both of these problems are great examples of the importance of checking and rechecking the lens before you buy it.  Below are several tips that will help you when buying used camera lenses.

Buying Used Camera Lenses Tips :

1. Bring your own camera to test the lens.

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Sequence photos are achieved by compiling individual photographs and processing them into one final picture.  The wake boarding sequence picture was originally eight pictures, but after post processing in Adobe Photoshop the end result is one photo.

Sequence Photography Tips:

1.  Capture many frames per seconds – You want to capture as many individual frames per second as possible. This will allow you to choose the desired position of your subject when you are compiling your  sequence photo.

2.  Use a tripod if possible – A tripod will ensure that the individual photos are taken from the same location making, it easier to compile them in Adobe Photoshop.

3.  Picture selection – You do not have to use every photograph in the series you captured.  Sometimes less is more.

4. Learn to love Layer Mask in Adobe Photoshop – Each individual photograph becomes a layer in you final sequence photo.  A Layer Mask allows you to remove or replace parts of each photo.

What does ISO stand for in photography?
ISO = International Standards Organization. In digital photography ISO refers to how sensitive the camera’s sensor is to light. The lower the ISO number (100 or 200) the more light is needed to properly expose the shot. The higher ISO the less light the camera needs. Some cameras can reach 6400 to 12000 ISO. The higher the ISO the more noise you will see in your images. ISO can be used when a fast shutter speed is needed to capture action (bird in flight, running wildlife) and in a less than ideal lighting situation(sunset, cloudy, overcast, indoors). Remember, the lower ISO, the better the image quality.

Geese captured with a Canon 7D and 400mm 5.6L with ISO 640

What is HDR?

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. An HDR image is compiled using multiple photographs captured at different exposures and then merged to create single image. The images used to compile the one HDR image consist of an underexposed, overexposed and properly exposed shot. The result is a single photograph that has a greater dynamic range.

There are multiple was to create an High Dynamic Range image. Adobe Photoshop and Photomatrix are two common computer programs that are used to generate HDR images. There are also many online tutorials to help you learn more and walk you through step by step directions. High Dynamic Range images can look like a real photograph and can also be manipulate in a way that completely alters the image from its original form.

HDR Photography-

Pay attention to the time of day.

Animals are most active at sunrise and sunset. This is also a good time to be photographing, the light is not as harsh as mid day. If you know that the animals arrive at sunrise or sunset get there before the animal does and set up so you are ready for action when the wildlife arrives.

Burrowing Owl Picture at Sunset – Canon 7D and 400mm 5.6L

Bird in Flight (BIF) Tips -

Flying birds are one of my favorite things to photograph.  It is challenging and rewarding.  There are several things to consider when photographing birds in flight.

Tip #1 Keep a fast Shutter Speed.
The goal is to freeze the action and it will take a fast shutter speed to freeze the bird in flight. I have found that 1/800 or higher works best for me. You can adjust the ISO if there is not enough sun.

Tip #2 Check your Aperture
For larger birds you will need a higher F stop value to ensure that the entire bird is in focus. A higher F stop  will give your shot a greater depth of field.

Tip #3 High Frames Per Second (FPS)
Many cameras allow you to adjust the amount of frames per second.  For example  on the Canon 7D you have the option for “one shot,” “low speed continuous” or “high speed continuous.”   Capturing multiple frames per second allows you to later choose the best shot.  Within just a few seconds you can have numerous different poses allowing you to select best one.

Tip #4 Focus Early
Focus on your subject as early as you can. Do not wait until you see the shot you want to focus. Often times a bird can be so out of focus that you can not find it in the view finder. By focusing early on your subject you are able to track it until you see the shot that you want.

Tip #5 Practice
Find some local birds and practice different shooting techniques and find out what works best for you. Spend time playing with different settings in your camera so that when you are out in the field you are ready when the perfect shot presents itself. Remember to always check your settings. I have often missed a shot because I forgot to adjust my settings when the light or subject changed.

I have read many discussions about the advantages and disadvantages of Canon’s 400mm 5.6L Lens.  What continues to come up is the lack of IS (image stabilization) and how you are limited to only shooting at a high shutter speed.  I am here today to tell you that this is not true.   The Canon 400mm 5.6 can easily be handheld at a lower shutter speed even with the absence of IS.  I have had great success with the 400mm at shutter speeds as low as 1/250.  I take regular hikes with my Canon 7D and 400mm 5.6 and leave the tripod at home.  I love the versatility the 400mm 5.6 has to offer. It is light weight and has great auto focus speed.

Mandarin Duck photo taken with Canon 7D and 400mm 5.6 with a shutter speed of 1/250, handheld (no tripod)

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Adobe Lightroom 3 Graduated Filter Tool

The graduated filter tool in Adobe’s Lightroom 3 allows you to make adjustments to selected areas rather than the entire photo.  This tool is great for landscape photography, because it gives you options to adjust the sky or foreground.

Before and after using the graduated filter tool -

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Know your Camera-

It is extremely important that you know the ins and outs of your camera.  Start by reading the manual.  There are also other great options to help you better understand your camera.  You will find books that are camera specific and Youtube also has great video tutorials that can teach you a thing or two about your camera.

Many settings can be adjusted in the camera’s menu, but there is also many short cuts that do not require you to enter the menu.  It is these shortcuts that can save you valuable time when in the field and can result in more great photographs.  For example, with my Canon 7D I can quickly adjust the ISO, aperture, shutter speed, focus points, and focusing modes without entering the menu.   This allows me to continually adjust my settings without really looking at the camera.

There are many adjustable settings in your camera that you might not know about or understand.  Understanding your camera and the options it offers ensures that you are using your camera to it fullest potential.

Picture from Amazon