Every newbie photographer needs to understand what different lens types are available out there. Otherwise, the world of lenses can be very overwhelming. Besides, you don’t want to end up with an expensive lens that doesn’t work too well with your camera, or at least, not for the purpose you intended to use it for. But there is so much to learn about lenses, so forgive for me for teasing you a bit, but I need to take the time to read up on related literature.

My vision for this series on lenses that I’m brewing is to shed some light on a couple of points:

• Define terms used in photography websites and forums when they talk about lenses. Terms like focal length, etc.
• Discuss the different types of lenses, and how (or where) they are normally used.
• Pull from various resources to help you decide on what lens is best for the type of photography you do, or would like to do.

Now, because I am a Nikon user (my newbie photographer boyfriend too) I might reference and show photos of Nikon lenses more than the others. But, since I will endeavor to cover the basics of lenses, hopefully there will be much info here that will also be useful for shooters using Canon, and other camera brands.

I will also try to feature photos of a single subject, using the same camera body with different lenses. Right now, I only have a 50mm, 35-70mm, and 18-55mm, lenses available to me. I might be able to borrow two more, but I haven’t attempted to just yet. To be honest, I am so excited to get this project started. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to go to work so I can do these things. But I must work, because it pays for my play.

I hope you stay tuned and keep checking back on The Newbie Photographer. Also, if you have topics that you’d like me to cover, just drop me a note. It’s fun to learn about photography! (I haven’t forgotten about filters!)

(photo source: http://discount-slr-camera.com/)

Boy, did that open up a can of worms. Haha! There are so many sites offering to give the newbie photographer all the information he/she needs to startup. There are sites to help you learn the basics of digital photography, and still those ready to jump in and help you make money from photography. The most useful of these sites seem to be those that are pretty interactive. One because you can actually post questions and someone in the know is bound to offer up an answer. Two because there’s not just one authority willing and able to provide you with what you need.

Yes, I’m referring to FORUMS as a resource for the newbie photographer.

I’m not here to tell you which forums to checkout, or which ones are more reliable than the others. I personally don’t hangout in just one forum; I find that most of my questions have already been asked and answered so there was really no need to sign up. Other forums have lessons and challenges, so you will definitely feel compelled to sign up.

Take my boyfriend as an example. That’s him on the photo, by the way. Like me, he’s also starting out in photography. He frequents a specific forum thread and diligently goes through their posts to find answers to his many questions. He also signed up to be able to share some of his shots. Forums are not only a source of information, but they are also a wonderful venue to receive comments and critiques for your photos. A word of caution though, you must be prepared for whatever feedback they’d dish out on your photo. After all, you invited it. Just bear in mind that it’s all in the hope that you will learn from the experience, and hopefully use it to improve on your photography skills.

Sometimes though, while browsing through forums, you may feel a little… lost. Veteran forum folks tend to use what looks like jargon to the newbie photographer. I’ve gathered some of the most common acronyms to help you along:

PP – Post processing (the boyfriend and I had to think about this, and it dawned on me while sitting in a cab one day)

SOOC – Straight Out Of Camera (no PP done maybe except for the watermark)

C&C, CC, CnC – Comments and Criticisms/Critiques (this is often mentioned after a user posts a sample shot, ie “Your C&Cs will be much appreciated”)

PS – PhotoShop (the software)

LR – LightRoom (also a software from Adobe)

EXIF – EXchangeable Image File format (as I understand it, this is the metadata/info stored in the image file itself)

These are but a few terms I’ve encountered on Photography forums. Now, you don’t have to be such a forum newbie as to post a question like, “Sorry, I’m a newbie and I don’t quite know what you meant by PP. Are you flipping me off?” Haha!

Okay, here’s the part where I share TWO very valuable photography forum finds:

This forum oh wait, I’m not sure if this site is classified as a forum. Anyway, it’s a membership site offering what seems to be a very comprehensive resource for photographers of all levels. But what I’m linking to here is their Glossary of Photography Terms. This page is free for all, no login or sign up required. Unlike my list above, these are terms used in photography, not just acronyms used in forums.

This second link IS a forum that I’ve found to be mentioned in many other photography blogs. It’s from the I Love Photography Forum, found at the very top of the Just Starting Out threads dedicated for the newbie photographer: What every aspiring photog should know I’ve found it to be very insightful, and encouraging.

Have fun exploring both sites, and I hope you learn something new.

If you have more photography forum lingo that you’d like to add to the above list, drop me a comment and I’ll add them up. Why don’t you go ahead and share with us the photography forums that you hang out in?

Then a week or so ago, I found myself gravitating towards Lomography again. I was fascinated by the dreamy photos that Lomographers usually produced. But more than that, I was attracted to the process: point and shoot. Capture the moment. Don’t worry about how to take the shot, or what settings you’re supposed to use. No editing required or needed. There is a carefree sense to it since you won’t know how the shot went until after the film’s been processed. It would either make you be more careful with each shot, or if you were more like me, just be excited about how it would turn out. After all, lomo to me is about the here and now. The resulting photos will just be a wonderful way to commemorate those moments.

I found myself browsing through Lomography sites and flickr pools, until I focused on online toy camera shops and zeroed in on the perfect toy to start me off in another wonderful adventure. Before my birthday month ended, I dragged the boyfriend to Oh! Shoot for a belated happy birthday gift to myself: my Pink Dress Superheadz Super Fat Lens, Ultra Wide and Slim.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. What is Lomography?

I guess you can say that Lomography is a movement within photography and art circles that promotes the culture of snapshots. From the Lomography hub, it is said that Lomo started when two students discovered an old Russian camera which they had then used for this new style of experimental and artistic photography. Lomography as a brand came about, reproducing many lo-fi cameras of old for worldwide distribution, and coming up with new models too. Though digital cameras were already sprouting at the time, lomo lovers remained true to their love of film.

The ten golden rules of Lomography (before you react violently, “what? how could there be rules? Read first.)

1. Take your camera everywhere you go
2. Use it any time – day and night
3. Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it
4. Try the shot from the hip
5. Approach the objects of your lomographic desire as close as possible
6. Don’t think (william firebrace)
7. Be fast
8. You don’t have to know beforehand what you captured on film
9. Afterwards either
10. Don’t worry about any rules

While adopting the ten golden rules, lomographers the world over live by rule #10. And that’s what I love most about it.

As I read up on Lomo for this post, I came across this post from the Lomo Flickr pool discussion board. The post author, Gimel Vav, raises an interesting distinction between Lomography which is a brand, and toy camera photography as a whole. I think that’s what my friend Edsel tried to explain to me before. How certain renegade photographers preferred to use cheap plastic (hence the term toy) cameras to show that you didn’t need expensive, high-tech gear to produce quality images. There have been photographers doing that even before the term Lomography was coined.

But whatever you choose to believe, for me Lomo is just that – lo-fi photography. You deal with moments, there will always be light and composition considerations, but what’s important is that you take the shot.

So on the very hour I bought my Pink Dress, I got a Fuji Velvia 100 film (pricey), slapped it on and started shooting. I knew it was meant for bright light, being an ISO 100 film, but I didn’t care. I just snapped away. As a result, I didn’t get the full Velvia experience. None of the vibrant colors I have hoped to get. I’m not sure though if it was my error, or maybe the film was not processed correctly. Nonetheless, I am happy with the results. Truly, I am. I am even more motivated to keep on shooting with my toy camera.

Here were my first images (sorry I haven’t installed any image viewer plugins on this blog yet):

that may help those still on the market for their first (or next) digital camera. Funny how he mentions the expense of film, when I just purchased a toy camera for some lomo fun of my own. Hehe.

Getting to Know Your Digital Camera

Photography is a beautiful art… simple in all its complexities and breathtaking in the results it produces. From preserving those priceless moments with your loved ones to creating exquisite works of art, the applications of photography are many. Once confined to bulky, expensive cameras and yards of film, photography has seen a new dawn with the advent of digital cameras. Swifter, a lot easier to use, and growing ever more compact with every passing day, digital cameras have indeed opened several avenues to the casual photographer as well as the seasoned expert. And now that you’ve decided to take the plunge with the digital brigade, your very first concern is choosing the best camera to suit your needs.

The multitude of models and makes that swarm the marketplace definitely don’t make your choice any easier so how do you decide which camera is the best for you? To start with, you first need to understand that every make of digital cameras is developed to cater to a certain set of needs. Hence, in order to determine which camera you need to buy, you first need to establish the purpose you’re going to use it for. A high speed camera which is developed in keeping with the interests of sports photographers will certainly not be a viable option for you, if all you’re going to use it for is the odd vacation photograph. Also, if you’re looking for more minute detailing in your photographs as well as a higher resolution, then the sleeker options that you find may not completely cater to your needs. This is because a majority of these models have been developed to ensure portability, and many include little more than the basic features.

Your second step would be to understand the world of digital photography. This would include familiarizing yourself with the most commonly used photography terms. For instance, you would need to know that an LCD is a screen attached to most cameras in addition to the viewfinder. This screen allows you to view your image before and immediately after you capture it, allowing to fine tune your focus and even re-capture the image if need be. However, several cameras are equipped only with the viewfinder, thus compelling you to hold the camera at an arm’s length while capturing the photograph. As one of the key requirements to a clear photograph is a steady and sure hand, without your face to rest the camera on, your image is at a higher risk of being distorted.

You must also learn to distinguish between an optical zoom and a digital zoom. An optical zoom functions like traditional cameras, magnifying the image you are shooting. A digital zoom enlarges the final image by doubling the size of the pixels, which may also lead to fuzzier images. Digital images are comprised of mega pixels which in turn determine the quality of the image. The higher the number of mega pixels, the clearer the image. You may also want to check if your camera comes along with a stand which is invaluable in ensuring a steady and clear picture.

Once you gather this basic information, you can then start looking around for models which catch your eye. Start making a shortlist, comparing and contrasting the different makes and strike those off that do not meet your budget or requirements or both! At this stage, you can also start referring to photography journals and magazines for expert reviews and advice, which will also enable you to learn about first hand experiences with some of the relatively unknown models, you may come across.

If you aren’t too comfortable with the notion of parting with your reliable old bulky camera, expense of film notwithstanding, but would still like the clarity that digital images offer, you can scan digital versions of your existing photographs and have them retouched with editing software or opt for an online photo service which will convert your film into digital reality. You can even use photo services to edit your photographs for minor glitches like red eye removal and adjusting the brightness and color.

Digital photography is a great way to explore your creativity, without worrying about how much you’re spending on developing the film you’ve shot and printing charges. You can easily transfer your images from the memory card or stick onto your laptop or computer and then email them to friends or even upload them onto online albums. The key to mastering your digital photography skills is to keep practicing whenever possible and soon, you’ll develop a style which is intrinsic to you and the envy of others!

Recommended for More Help
Need to improve your digital photography techniques? Pick up your free digital photography guide for better photos…almost instantly.

There are so many photography enthusiasts who launch projects that ultimately end in people like us being awed by the beauty of Earth. Pacific Star II is no exception.

Pacific Star II from Colin Rich on Vimeo.

This is the second trip of my home made high altitude weather balloon photography project, Pacific Star.

The balloon was launched at 5:37pm (PST) from Oxnard, CA and reached an altitude of 125,000 feet snapping photos and recording video along the way.

The balloon burst, the parachute deployed, and the payload floated down for 35 minutes, landing near an old olive orchard Northeast of Santa Paula.

Created by Colin Rich

http://www.facebook.com/colinrich1

Presenting: Snow Pea!

Snow Pea was a very little pup when this photo was taken in January. We had just given our Zune a bath (also a Shih Tzu, but already 3 years old) and Snow Pea came along for a quick bath too. He belongs to the neighbors (my nephew). He does NOT like the water, nor does he like having his hair combed. Alfred tried his best to be both firm and gentle the whole time, while I was just there watching, and restraining our Zune who seemed like he wanted in on the fun again.

Five months after the photo was taken, Snow Pea is still cute and every bit as playful. He still doesn’t like baths, specially now when it almost always means he gets a girly looking topknot!

Do share your pet photos and enter this week’s I Heart Faces challenge!

When I first started looking for a camera to purchase, I entertained the idea of getting pre-loved gear. Thing is, I had no idea what to watch out for so I asked friends to help me out. I didn’t want to be scammed into buying a camera that wasn’t worth the money! One of the first things I was told is that, you need to ask the seller the number of actuations the camera already has, specially if they didn’t post it. Ahh, I said. But deep inside, I didn’t know what actuations were and why they were important.

So why is it important to know your camera’s actuations? It gives you an idea of your camera’s Shutter Life, or how many more photos can you capture before your shutter bombs out. I researched about this just now, and read an interesting discussion over at The Digital Photography School on whether reaching the maximum actuations means the end of your camera or not.  I found the comments more interesting than the article itself.

Is it what that means? Will reaching your maximum number of actuations signal the death of your well loved camera? A Nikon D90 has been tested up to 100,000 clicks. What this simply means is that the Shutter mechanism has been tested to keep working even up to taking a hundred thousand photos. Once it reaches a hundred thousand, will your camera refuse to turn on and take more photos? Not necessarily. We have to understand that the camera is a mechanical device and its components can be quite fragile. That’s why we have to take care of it right? Now a hundred thousand clicks is just a number, that may mean that the camera has been tested up to that point. It may actually take more or less than that number before the shutter mechanism completely gives. The scary part is if it fails before the number of clicks it was tested for.

It’s very important to note though, that the death of your shutter mechanism does not have to mean the end of your camera. You can still have the shutter replaced at a trusted camera repair shop. It costs anywhere between 200-300 USD. A fairly recent thread at the Digital Photographer Philippines forum discussed D80 owners who have had their shutter mechanism replaced/repaired. Another important thing to remember, that cameras have been tested to take soooo many shots, upto 100k for the D90 and it will take years for me to reach that. By then, it will probably be time to upgrade

So there’s really no need to worry. Just take all the photos you want to take. As a newbie photographer, it rarely happens that the first take is the best shot. Sometimes it takes a few tries before you warm up, specially to find the settings that work for you given your current location and lighting conditions. So I probably won’t be checking on my shutter count all too often. And all this talk about actuations will surely not change the way I shoot, or prevent me from letting my nephew try taking photos using my camera. Increasing your shutter count is just like mileage on a car, the more you rack up, the more fun you’ve had.

Anyway, I ended up buying a brand new camera, and I didn’t even bother checking the shutter count after purchase because I trusted the store not to have given me a refurb or second hand body. I realize now, that perhaps I should have. Not so I would know how much time I will have left with my camera, but so I would know if it really was brand new or not.

Useful links:

• Shutter life discussion at the Nikon D90 Flickr group
• Actuations post on the Digital Photography School (don’t forget to read the comments)
• Check your Shutter Count online
• Another site to check shutter count online
• Camera Shutter Life Expectancy Database

Do you have more useful links on the subject? Tell me about it in the Comments box and I’ll add them up here.

*Shutter mechanism photo courtesy of Dpreview.com

Except that I did spend money on some gear, if you may call them that.

I bought a macro filter. I’ve always just been fascinated by macro photography and sadly, the kit lens wasn’t allowing me much of that. Then on a visit to this photography specialty store near the office one afternoon (wow, it’s exactly been a year since then!), I saw those macro filters. I just had to have one.  Macro filters usually come in sets, and there’s a number corresponding to how many times the image is magnified. Rather than getting a set, I just bought one piece, a +10. Here’s how a set looks like though:

Click photo to learn more about this set

The one I got cost less than ten dollars. Yes, it’s way cheaper than buying an actual macro lens.

Another “gear” I’ve spent on is a second lens. Well actually, since upgrading to a D90, it’s been the only lens I’ve used. I got me a prime 50mm lens. My friend had it for a few months (about three or so) but needed to sell his gear in preparation for upgrading. I have loved using it on my D60 then, and now on my Deena too.

My biggest expense so far? My camera bags. Yes there are two. The first one is a Crumpler bag, part of the Million Dollar Home series.

That’s how it looks like. Not bad, eh? Click on the photo for a closer look. Set me back around 50 USD or so. Here, that’s a lot of money for a bag. I convinced myself that it was necessary. I needed a bag to carry my bag in. The freebie black bag I got when I bought it simply wasn’t chic enough Nah. The black bag wasn’t good enough to carry my other day to day stuff in. I had this brown bag with me a lot, including three weddings I attended in the past year.

But you know what? When I’m on “business attire” for work, or a little dressed up for a wedding, the bag just doesn’t work with the outfit. You know what I mean? So when I read about Epiphanie Bags, I just had to have one. A few months back, I had the funds, and friends who attended a training in the US – perfect combination which afforded me the chance to get my Ginger. She looks like so:

I love having her. I carry her with me all the time, even to the beach! My only worry is that I might wear her out before her time. I don’t have a second camera bag, because the boyfriend is using the Crumpler for Maxine, which he now owns. I would also love to get a Lola, specially since they came out with a black version of the original red stunner. But it’s just too expensive.

Then today, while out blog hopping, I saw this post about another camera bag. It’s a post by Michelle Johnson, co-founder of the site Open Scrapbook and she was talking about her pretty new bag. I am thankful that she included a link to the store she bought it from: Martilena’s shop at Etsy. I’ve had their site open for hours! The bags are more affordable than my Ginger. They have designs well in the range of the Crumpler, but with prints You also get to choose a fabric from the seller’s stash for use in the bags. I checked them out, and I’ve got two top choices already. Sigh.

The bag on sale for $44 is this one:

Photo courtesy of Martilena's Etsy page. (Knox)

The only thing setting me back is that my Uncle is already coming home on Sunday. I have purchased stuff off the Internet before and had them delivered to his house in California. He then brought them home to me when he comes home for vacation. Since the bags take three to four weeks to ship, I can’t count on having him bring it back with him and save on shipping. So I guess I’ll have to wait for another opportunity.

Wait, I almost forgot the point of this post. Don’t let yourself get carried away with talk of photography gear. That includes bags, lenses, flash, and other accessories. If you really haven’t found your own voice, all those things won’t really make your photography any better. A good photographer is more than the sum of all her gear.

Another way to learn about this craft is to read up. There are many photography magazines out there that provide tips and tricks of the trade. Often, they feature professional photographers who willingly share some secrets to their captivating photos.

The cost of the magazines is something to consider though. They do not come cheap. In our local bookstores, I’ve seen digital photography magazines from the US and the UK that are way beyond what I would be willing to pay for a magazine. They do often come with CDs of software that you can use for post-processing so I guess in a way that balances the cost.

Here in the Philippines, the Digital Photographer Philippines or DPP is probably the leading magazine for photography enthusiasts. The boyfriend and I recently bought four issues. We were lucky that there were ‘back issues’ being sold at this magazine stand. They were offered at full prize though. You see, there really are no back issues for the mag. I guess they don’t print too many of those so there’s a big demand for them. Years after the first few issues of the ‘zine have been sold out, people (like me) are still looking for copies. We once bought an issue, but the great flood damaged it greatly.

A copy costs 295 pesos, or USD6.50 by current exchange rates. Not cheap. Is it worth it? I think so. One thing to take note though is that more often than not, you need to have some knowledge of the craft already for you to fully appreciate the tips that you provide. I must admit, I need to reread their articles and really give it some effort before I can take it all in. I guess then, it’s not exactly for the newbie photographer. I suggest reading online magazines (run a search on “photography magazine” and you’ll see results for online versions of those in print) first and reading blogs on photography to grasp the basics. This way you don’t spend a dime.

In time, these magazines will turn out to be good investments. I know mine already are.

Photography enthusiasts can find a good number of communities all over the ‘Net that helps newbies and pros alike to connect with each other. These groups serve up inspiration and a good dose of tips, to keep the passion burning. More importantly, they provide newbies like us with the information and encouragement we need to keep on capturing moments through our cameras.

Apart from engaging in Project 365, you may want to join in the weekly challenge at I Heart Faces.

If you’re like me who spend countless hours blog hopping, you’ve probably seen this logo before. I’ve always enjoyed looking at beautiful photography, but I’m not one to really participate consistently. Being exposed to so many beautiful works of art can be intimidating, and sometimes I may feel inferior, but that totally misses the point of these challenges.

What is I Heart Faces?

…a photography site focused on the art of capturing faces and their various emotions. Each week, people from across the world have the opportunity to enter their favorite face photos into a themed photo challenge. A “Guest Photographer Judge” will choose ten of their favorite photos that will then be displayed on our home page. 

That’s how the founders of the I Heart Faces Photography site describe their community. Having faces on each photo entry is a theme in itself, but adding another on top of that theme makes this challenge even more interesting. Photographers of all levels are welcome to participate. To be honest, I’m not even looking at the challenge as a competition. Simply being able to submit an entry is triumph on its own. The awesome thing about joining challenges like is that you gain a targeted audience. Other participants, though not required, will visit your photos and leave comments on your entry. It will totally help you receive much needed feedback on your work. Of course, you can increase the likelihood of this happening by visiting their entries too and giving meaningful comments yourself.

There are also participants who write about the process of taking their photos. There’s a lot to be learned there. Definitely.

Apart from the weekly challenges, site owners and contributors publish tips, tutorials, and other photography related news. To know more about IHF, checkout their FAQ page.

This week, I missed the deadline (opens on Mondays, closes on Tuesdays) for entries. The theme is Yellow, and there are 619 entries. Wow. Check them out!

If I wasn’t late, I would have joined with either one of these: