Digital Camera - Ken Gilbert

26
Adam Burton
photo teChniques
05 Get out into
thecountryside
Better weather means photo opportunities
We’ve seen how great flower macros
can look, but don’t forget the bigger
picture. The countryside looks lovely
at this time of year, so it’s the perfect time to
hone your landscape skills. Remember, around
dawn and dusk will give the best light. Then,
frame your shot to include foreground as well
as background interest (see page 52). Use a
narrow aperture to maximise your depth of
field and try an ND grad filter for a nice, rich sky.
Finally, never leave your SLR at home, as the
best photo opportunities are often unexpected.
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* Shoot in Aperture Priority mode and you can
easily adjust the depth of field to ensure a crisp
image from foreground to background.
* Use a tripod to avoid camera shake and
make the most of slow shutter speed effects
(slowed-down, ‘milky’ water, for example).
* As well as ND graduated filters, get a polariser
– this will help to reduce reflections.
* Always shoot RAW so you can bring out
maximum detail from your landscapes in
Photoshop or Photoshop Elements later.
photo teChniques
Bouncy castles, tombolas, brass bands
and cream teas – that’s right, it’s summer
fête time. To make sure you don’t end
up at a fête worse than death, do a bit of local
research to find the best events, and then go
equipped to get great shots of your family or
just interesting local characters. Shoot
handheld, in a discreet, candid way that won’t
cause subjects to pose or be self-conscious.
County shows can yield great photo
opportunities too. Get out there with your SLR,
but be tactful if you’re taking photos near other
above and top Deep depth of field,
layers of visual interest and punchy
colours… As Adam Burton’s images
reveal, these techniques can really
lift your scenic shots. See your free
landscape supplement for more tips
06Be a fête-alist!
Make the most of colourful local events this summer
people’s kids – it’s best to ask permission
before you start shooting.
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* Use faster shutter speeds to freeze kids at
play or slow them down for creative blur and
panning effects.
* When shooting local characters, use a wide
aperture (low f-number) to isolate the subject
and blur the background.
* Zoom in on evocative details of the day,
such as backslapping locals at the beer tent.