PC_Advisor_Issue_264_July_2017

Feature: Best photography techniques
24. Experiment with framing
We’ve all seen enough photos where people are half-inshot
or missing the tops of their heads to realise how
important framing can be. But, sometimes picking an
interesting angle or cropping the subject can improve
a photo rather than detract from it.
Here are three images of a hot air balloon. The first is
the balloon in its entirety, nice but not very exciting. The
second is better because the burner creates extra interest.
The third is equally pleasing because the angle says
something about how balloons travel, up-up-and-away.
You have very little to lose by framing in less obvious
ways, so try it.
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They’re also useful on drone cameras to avoid choppy
video caused by high shutter speeds removing all the motion
blur. Reducing the light entering the lens can be useful
limitations being that the autofocus won’t
work and the automatic aperture control
might also be disabled. For prime lenses,
these aren’t massive issues, and the result of
using a cheap 50mm f/1.8 lens over the stock
18- to 70mm f/3.5 is huge when shooting
portraits. And when we say cheap, you really
can pick these up for around £60 to £70.
Get cheaper old or lower quality new lenses
to start, and then when you’ve learned to
appreciate what they can do it’s easier to
justify an investment in better glass.
want, as they cut the amount of light entering
the camera. However, there are some
situations where you’ll require a short focal
length at ISO 100, but not a high shutter
speed. Because motion blur being visible
on the wings of a hovering bee might be
preferable, for example. The ND filter enables
you to reduce the incoming light without
altering the aperture and ending up with a
deeper than intended depth of field.
They’re also very useful on drone cameras
to avoid choppy video caused by high shutter
speeds removing all the motion blur. It might
seem counter-intuitive, but reducing the
light entering the lens can be useful. J
25. When to use ND Filters
Neutral density filters appear to do
something most photographers wouldn’t
July 2017 www.pcadvisor.co.uk/features 91