T is for TELEPHOTO

Telephoto lenses are systems used for taking photographs from a long distance away. With SLR cameras, you need to attach a special lens, but other types of cameras usually have a telephoto function.

One of the most important things to remember when using a telephoto lens or function is that any slight movement when taking the photo can result in a blurred image.  Therefore, it's best to use a tripod and a shutter release.  Any movement is amplified when looking through the view finder of a camera using a telephoto lens. The simple act of pressing the shutter on your camera will cause even a tripod mounted camera and lens to shake when photographing a distant subject. To minimize camera shake use a shutter release. Quite simply a shutter release is a shutter release button on an extension cord. Minimizing movement of your camera and lens while mounted on a tripod will reduce unintended bluring of your photo. (from here)

I didn't use either a tripod or a shutter release in these two shots, but I balanced the camera carefully on the edge of a fence or by gripping my arms tightly into my body to keep the camera as still as possible. I was pleased with the results even though they could have been much better.  I'm still learning!

Another trick in using a telephoto lens is to tightly frame your subject.  In this way, you can highlight details that you might not otherwise be able to capture.  This is great if you're trying to photograph any type of wildlife, be it bears or birds.  Notice how I was able to capture the details of this crane's feathers, beak, and eyes. 

I thought you might like to see a few more shots I've taken using my telephoto lens - some from trips I've taken and some from around home.

Well, I guess that's enough for one post...I'm getting tired anyway.  But before I tally-ho, I must take this time to thank Denise Nesbitt for her talents in setting up ABC Wednesday for us all.  She is a terrific lady and I'm thrilled that in three months I'll meet her in person!  Thanks also to all the terrific cyber friends who take the time to comment on everyone's posts.  It's a treat to talk to them here on this meme.

S is for SATURATION

I can't believe we're already at the letter S in Round 10 of ABC Wednesday! Continuing with my photography theme, there are a lot of "S" words - like SLR, sharpness, shutter speed, secure digital/SD card, and smart media.  However, today I'd like to focus (pardon the pun) on saturation, which I've discovered I love to manipulate.

First of all, saturation is when you bump up the intensity of the colours in your shot by using some sort of computer software.  (I use Photoshop Elements 7.0) You have to be very careful not to overdo it because your shot can end up looking unnatural.  I've played around with saturation to adjust colour tones and I've also come up with some really "op art" pieces

and some that almost look like impressionistic paintings.

The "op" piece was originally a photo of a steel grey bow thruster and the bridge is at a local park where I visited on a dreary January afternoon.

Here's an example of how a photo would look with original saturation, with half saturation, and with whole saturation.

So there you have a semi-lesson on saturation.  Go ahead and try it out, have fun with it and see what you can come up with!

Seriously, sincere thanks to the sensual, seductive, and scintillating DeniSe NeSbitt for her singular efforts at creating this ABC Wednesday Site.  She and her smiling, spicy, and spectacular crew saddle up each and every week to samba or sashay over to everyone's posts. We all get extreme satisfaction in sharing our observations with you.  Tell us about your homemade soup, learning Spanish or Swedish, skateboarding, your favourite soda, salad or scripture.  Also, don't forget to viSit other bloggers and let them know if you enjoyed their S post this week.  If you haven't yet participated, just pop over to here and just DO IT!

R is for RED-EYE

Did you ever take some special photos of family or friends and were really excited about getting them developed?  You pay at the photo counter before rushing out to view them in privacy.  And then a huge "S**T" is vocalized within the confines of the car as you pound the steering wheel.  In every shot, eerie red devil's eyes stare out at you!  Or you upload your digital photos to a photo software program and all you can see are those devilish red eyes!  Well, at least you didn't have to pay for developing!

How did this happen?  It was such a gorgeous evening and you took such great care in posing everyone to make them comfortable.  Well, you probably used a flash and that light from the flash reflected off the retinas of everyone's eyes.  

How can we fix this so it never happens again?  Some cameras have a "red eye reduction" feature where the flash goes off twice.  The first flash causes people's pupils to contract, reducing "red eye" significantly. Another trick is to turn on all the lights in the room, which also contracts the pupil.  You could also move the flash away from the lens by detaching it and holding it several feet away.  Finally, if it's possible, try bouncing the flash off the ceiling.

In other words, to prevent red eye, you just have to alter the angle the light enters or exits the eye OR change the harshness of the light.  

You can also use a feature in Photoshop or other photography software that removes red eye.  I've done this and it's very effective.

  

 

 

Finally, radical thanks to the ravishing Mrs. Nesbitt for realizing this rolicking and rewarding road that keeps our creative juices running on a high roar.  Rock 'n Roll your way over to the ABC Wednesday site and record your thoughts about rain, rhubarb, your pet rabbit, your rash, your prize-winning roses, or your last marathon run!  If you haven't done so yet, please join in as we always say, the moRRRe the meRRRieR!

Q is for QUIZ

Okay, here we are at the letter Q for ABC Wednesday.  Lots of you have queried as to whether there would be a QUIZ on what I've written so far, so here it is.  All the anwers can be found in my previous posts.

1. Why would a photographer lie down on the floor or climb up high to get a shot?

2.  What is the best way to deal with the background of a shot?

3.  What are the 3 rules of composition?

4.  What measures the resolution of an image?

5.  The amount of light falling on an image during the process of taking a photo is called what?

6.  When a photographer uploads his/her photos to the computer, where do they save them?

7.  What are black and white photos also known as?

8.  What are the properties of colour called?

9.  Why is it better to save photos in JPEG rather than TIFF?

10. What do you call it when you put contrasting elements side by side in order to add interest?

11. What part of the camera makes images of objects on film or on a memory card?

12. What is my personal favourite form of photography?

13. What is the difference between what your brain expects to see and what is actually there?

14. What type of photography is it when an individual poses for a photograph?

15. How much fun is photography to you?

You can find the answers by linking to this: Answers to Quiz

Next, Awesome and Bountiful thanks to Denise Nesbitt for her Creative and Determined Efforts, never Futile, in Generating such a Heroic Idea for Jumpstarting Keen interest and Leading us in this Marvelous and Noble Opportunity to Publicize our Quintessential posts!  Click here to view other ABCW posts.

Finally, a view of some of the quiet quarters at the quay down by the river in my village. Click to expand.