Z is for ZOOM

Zoom-Zoom = the exhilaration and liberation from experiencing the emotion of motion.  (from Mazda's website)  As the last part of Round 10 for my theme of photography, I'm using the word ZOOM, which ties in nicely to Mazda's idea of it.  With the zoom feature or the zoom lens, the photographer is free to get up close and personal, be it an insect or your child out on the soccer field.  It also ties in a bit with my post on "telephoto" lenses (here). However, in my research on zoom, I found out that there is a difference between digital zoom and optical zoom. 

Optical zoom is true zoom. This function of a camera uses the lens within the camera to draw the image closer. Using the optics of the camera the image is bought forward much the same way as binoculars and other such instruments. When using optical zoom quality remains the same and the full resolution of the camera can be used on the zoomed image. Different levels of optical zoom can be achieved by changing the distances between the lens'. The motion of the front lens moving outwards on a camera is the lens achieving a greater level of zoom. The rating of optical zoom on a camera is measured like 2x 4x 8x etc. bringing the image 2x 4x and 8x closer respectively. The best cameras have a high level of optical zoom.  Here's an example of one of my photographs using the optical zoom on my camera:

Digital zoom is not a true zoom. The image itself doesn't actually come any closer as the optics in the camera stay the same. The way the digital zoom works is much the same way as it does on your PC at home. The idea behind digital zoom is that it takes a portion of the image and expand that image to the full size of the picture. What happens here is that the section of image that you are looking at becomes bigger, not closer. The image does look closer because it has been expanded however all that has happened is that the image quality has been reduced because it has been expanded with no new data for the image.  (from here) Here is an example of one of my photos where I used digital zoom:

This is a great (less than 2 minutes) little video explaining the difference very well. 

A zillion thanks to our zany hostess, Denise Nesbitt, for zeroing in on a niche for getting people from all around the world together in common interest.  Her zesty and zealous group of assistants zoom around the site to help her welcome everyone by commenting on your contributions.  We look forward to reading about zuchinnis, zebras, a history of the zither, how to sew a zipper, the mining of zinc, and even your zodiac chart.  You could even tell us about Zacharius, Zacchaeus, or Zechariah. Put some zing into your post to keep us from becoming a zombies zonked out from our visits!  To become a part of ABC Wednesday, click here.  Round 11 starts next week so I'm really looking forward to seeing old and new friends!

Y is for Photographing YOUTH

First of all, I want to take this opportunity to wish all Canadians a Happy Canada Day (July 1st) and all Americans Happy Independence Day (July 4th). 

Moving on to ABC Wednesday's round for the letter Y, I must say that I absolutely adore taking photographs of my grandchildren!  However, I've learned a major lesson from them - do NOT tell them to smile!  More often than not, they will either put on their "camera" face or run in the opposite direction.  I have found that the more I relax and let them just do their own thing, they will forget that I have my camera in hand and won't mind hearing the odd "click." "The best thing you can do to create beautiful art with a child is simply relax and be yourself. Kids are perceptive. They sense when you’re overdoing it and aren’t acting like yourself, and they’ll respond in kind." Read more: http://digital-photography-school.com/cut-the-cheese-5-tips-for-photographing-kids#ixzz1zD7nucfn

With a great deal of patience, I have been able to capture them as they are, in their own environment enjoying the things that children love to do.  I went through my old and new photos of my grandson and granddaughter and found some that I will share with you.  These particular photos show just what I mean about letting them relax and have fun with whatever is at their disposal.  I've also, in most cases, used the sports mode of my camera because they're always moving!  I didn't include any photos that clearly show their faces because their mom would
kill,
no, be mad at,
no, KILL me. 
Ansel Adams, photographer, said  "You don’t take a photograph, you make it."

X is for X-RAY PHOTOGRAPHY

I bet you've all been wondering if I'll pass on the X is for something related to photography!  Hah!  Fooled you all...this is something I've never done before and probably never will do.  But there actually is such a thing as x-ray photography.  You've always thought of it as a simple X-ray - of your lungs, your bones, your stomache, your teeth...Well, yes that's exactly what it is.

"While our society is taught to concern itself with the alluring surface of things, Nick Veasey uses industrial x-ray machines to peel back those upper layers, often revealing a far more beautiful, and complex, underside. Having produced the largest x-ray photograph ever – a Boeing 777 that required over 500 separate x-rays of individual elements."  Nick's career began like this:

“My girlfriend’s father used to be a lorry driver,” explains Nick with a mischievous smile. “At one time he drove a lorry for a couple of days which contained thousands of cans of Pepsi, one of which had a ring-pull prize worth £100,000.
“I thought I’d try a scam. I decided to hire an x-ray machine from a local hospital to find the winning can. I never did find it, but it sparked off the ideas for the career I have today.”

There is no way I'd ever do this type of photography, but it is fascinating!  For more information from someone else who does this type of photography (Jim Zuckerman who has appeared in Outdoor Photographer, publications of the National Geographic Society, Omni Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, Shutterbug, Petersen's Photographic Magazine, and scores of other magazines), click here.  You will find his photos absolutely incredible.  Here's a tiny taste.  And for more photos of Nick Veasey's work, you just have to go HERE!  There are some amazing photos on this site!

Exuberant thanks to Denise Nesbitt, the creater of this excellent ABC Wednesday meme.  This is exactly the type of writing I enjoy as it challenges me each week to come up with something extraordinarily creative. It does not exhaust me; it exhorts me to succeed; it excites me into explosions of ideas!  We on the team extend an invitation to all who have an interest in anything creative to expound and expose (no nudity, though - *wink*) your ideas, photographs, drawings, or writing.  We will examine your contribution and expand on your posts by executing our best comments. To check out ABC Wednesday, simply click here.

W is for WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

About the closest I get to photographing wildlife is the local squirrels, raccoons, and birds that live in my area.  I've been able to get some decent shots of eagles, snowy owls, herons, and ducks but anything more "dangerous" like bear, moose or elk has eluded me.  However, there are some photographers who actually specialize in wildlife photography, especially those who work for magazines like "National Geographic."  Here are just a few whose websites you might like to see.

Michael “Nick” Nichols (http://www.michaelnicknichols.com    Africa, Australia, biodiversity, endangered species
Joel Sartore (http://www.joelsartore.com/)  Africa
Andy Biggs (http://www.andybiggs.com/)  Africa
Daniel J. Cox (http://www.naturalexposures.com/)  Arctic and Costa Rica
Anup Shah (http://www.shahrogersphotography.com) Africa, especially primates
David Doubilet (http://www.daviddoubilet.com/)  Under the sea

And here are a few of my own wildlife shots.

A couple of backyard critters - cheeky raccoons and squirrels

Finally, a panorama of snow geese that landed in a farmer's field.

Wonderful words of thanks to Denise Nesbitt, our wild and woolly hostess with the mostest! Welcome to new contributors and just to let you know, we (her wacky team of assistants) warmly warble and whistle happy little tunes to let you know how much we wish you'd joined us sooner.  We will make comments on your wondrous posts and will leave wiser but wretched that it will be a whole week before we see you again. To check us out, click here.

V is for VIDEO

Continuing with my theme of photography for Round 10, I'm writing about taking videos.  Most digital cameras these days have the capability of taking videos, but before doing so, you need to rethink your methods.  If you want to video a wedding, your children or grandchildren, travel adventures, wildlife, sports or a concert, it's always best to be prepared. Whether you use a point and shoot or a fancy DSLR camera, I know that I found these hints to be helpful.

First, when taking a video you must never move your camera into a vertical position.  Keep it horizontal and try to tilt the camera up and back down to get the full image.  Also, never use auto focus but rather use manual mode.  With a DSLR, set your camera to 24 frames per second, the shutter speed to 1/50 second, and adjust the aperture depending on the lighting of your surroundings. 

Remember, with video it's all about movement so find an interesting angle, shoot the same scene in different ways, and get close to the action.  Use a slow pan or a still.  Going from still life to real life makes photography much more interesting.

Even though cameras can work straight out of the box, accessories can be helpful to expand your shooting options.  Try using a telephoto lens, which is sort of like using binoculars to get up close to the action.  A wide angle lens gives a greater range and an external mic gives better sound quality.  Finally, a tripod can move your camera with the action while at the same time keeps it steady.

I guess the next step for me is to start experimenting with the video capability of my camera.  Let me know how you do with your videos! 

Vast thanks to Denise Nesbitt for her valuable contribution to world-wide friendships.  I love visiting as many posts as I can and try to be vigilant about voicing various observations.  By the way, did I ever mention that I once saw the volcano in Sicily erupt?  Take a look at the following from BBC about its eruption and check out the techniques used in this VIDEO.

U is for UNION JACK & UNDERSTANDING

 Before I begin this week's post on the theme of photography, I would like to honour Queen Elizabeth and her Diamond Anniversary on the throne of England.  As part of her Commonwealth, we Canadians are proud to have had a special part in the parade along the Thames.  "Canada One" was the only canoe in the 11 km long flotilla.  Click on the link to watch a brief video about its history.  Also, there was a dragon boat in the parade full of Canadian breast cancer survivors!  Here's to the Union Jack, the flag of our mother country!

One of the very first things one must do in the field of photography is learn how to use one's own camera.  It's essential to understand the parts of your camera and all the things it can do. First, you need to familiarize yourself with the camera you use.  I've graduated from a Samsung Digimax V700 to an Olympus SP-800UZ.  What's the difference, you may ask.  My newer camera has a lot more functions in it with regard to settings for aperture, ISO, zoom, image size, shadow adjust, compression, plus automatic, scene, magic, and beauty modes.  Within these modes are more functions!  My newer camera also has greater zoom capability and image stabilization.  The older camera has 7.1 megapixels while the newer one has 14 megapixels.

Do you understand the parts of the camera?  The "body" is the your camera's house.  It holds all the functions and settings.  The lens is the eye of the camera and the sensor is the digital equivalent of the old-fashioned film.  The flash card saves your images and the battery is just like any other electronic device that keeps your camera working. Your camera might come with a flash, but if not, you can always purchase an external one.

The group that I attend every week has decided that we are going to be just that - a group, a group of women who have a common interest and who have a desire to learn how to take good photos.  Anyone can join in at any time and those of us who may know a bit more about photography will help the beginners.  We'll also share ideas and get instruction on an as-we-need-to-know basis.  I think this makes it much more fun and inviting and forgoes the trepidation that comes with feeling like we don't understand a concept as well as someone else does. 

As you begin to understand your camera, its functions and how to use them all, you will begin to experiment with these functions and gain great joy in learning fascinating ways of photographing objects, people, or places.

Thanks to the ultimate in leaders, Denise Nesbitt, for creating this unbelievably fun meme! Her untiring and united team of assistants understand how useful it is to receive feedback on posts.  Therefore, we do our utmost to visit you all and give you our undivided attention along with some unparalleled commentary.  To join in, just click here!

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.