Tuesday, May 19, 2009

DSLR Tips: How to blur water for a creative effect

When it comes to photographing moving subjects, you’d naturally assume freezing the action would give the best result. That’s certainly the case for some subjects, but others can end up looking static and lifeless. Waterfalls and rivers are classic examples which can take on a far more dramatic appearance when the water itself is blurred.

In the photo above left, we’ve used the camera’s automatic settings, and a relatively quick exposure has frozen the water in its tracks – as a result it looks lifeless. In the photo above right, we’ve adjusted the shutter speed for a slower exposure which has blurred the water, giving both a dreamy appearance and a far greater impression of motion. In our video tutorial below, we’ll explain how to achieve this effect, and at the bottom of the page you’ll find a reminder of the steps you’ll need to take.

Checklist: Blurring water for a creative effect

1: Switch your camera to Shutter Priority mode by turning the mode dial to ‘S’ or on Canon models, ‘Tv’.

2: Choose a slower than normal shutter speed to blur the water. 1/30 is a good starting point.

3: Check your photo. If the water isn’t blurred enough, choose a slower shutter speed like 1/15 or 1/8. Note you may need a tripod or an anti-shake system to avoid camera shake – see below.

4: In shutter priority, your camera will work out the aperture setting for you. If the f-number starts flashing though, it means it can’t balance the shot. In this example, the exposure may be too long, so if your sensitivity (ISO) is already at the lowest number, you’ll have to choose a slightly quicker shutter speed until the f-number stops flashing.

5: After taking your photo, remember to set the mode dial back to Auto or Program mode.


Watch out!

As you reduce the shutter speed, you become more susceptible to camera shake. People vary, but if you’re using a kit lens zoomed-out to wide angle without any kind of anti-shake, the slowest handheld exposure you’ll normally get away with is about 1/30. If you naturally shake, you may need at least 1/60, but if you’re very steady, then you may be ok at 1/15. If you zoom-in at all, you’ll need faster exposures to compensate for the greater magnification.

So when applying this technique to blur water, always hold your camera very steady. Tripods can provide a steady base, or alternatively cameras and lenses with anti-shake facilities can greatly help here – see below. If you are using a tripod, remember pressing the shutter release button can still wobble your shot. So always take the photo with either a shutter release cable or the self-timer to avoid all chance of shake.


Equipment tip

The simplest way to avoid camera shake is to use a tripod. Manfrotto models are widely regarded as the best around and allow you to separately buy the legs and the head unit. A great starter combination are the Manfrotto 190-series legs and the 460MG head unit. If you’d prefer to travel lighter, consider a Joby Gorillapod who’s flexible legs can be wrapped around almost anything from a railing to a branch for a steady grip.

Anti-shake facilities are now being built into many DSLRs and lenses. These allow you to handhold much slower exposures than normal, although for the longest you’ll still need a tripod. If you’re a Canon or Nikon DSLR owner, popular lenses with anti-shake include the following:

Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS USM review

Nikkor DX 18-200mm VR review


Watch out! Too bright? Use a 'Neutral Density' filter

As you select slower exposures in Shutter Priority mode to blur action, your camera will automatically close the iris in the lens in order to maintain a correct exposure. So far so good, but at a certain point, the iris will be at its smallest size, beyond which slower shutter speeds will mean an over-exposed image. When this happens, you'll normally see your aperture f-number start flashing as a warning your camera can't balance the exposure.

This can be a problem if you're trying to use the blurring technique on a bright subject as even with the aperture closed to its smallest opening, the shutter speed for a correct exposure may still end up being too quick to blur the motion.

Presuming your camera is already set to its lowest sensitivity (the smallest ISO number), the solution is to attach a special filter onto your lens which blocks some of the light. Since these filters only reduce the light entering the camera and don't affect the colour, they're known as 'Neutral Density' filters.

A 2x Neutral Density filter will halve the light entering your camera, while a 4x will quarter it. They're very handy accessories to have if you like the technique described on this page. Simply buy a model with a screw thread which matches your lens - most DSLR kit lenses have a filter thread diameter of 58mm, but it will always be written on the front of the lens.

A polarising filter can also act as a Neutral Density filter, although depending on its position and the surroundings, it may have other effects too. Either way, both types of filter reduce the light entering your camera, allowing you to use slower shutter speeds without suffering from overexposure.

Monday, May 18, 2009

DSLR Tips: How to take photos at night

Photos taken at night can produce spectacular results – in fact many cities present their best views after dark. Night photography can also be very forgiving in bad weather, so if rain’s prevented you from grabbing the shots you want of a city, it’s well worth trying again after sunset. Night photography can prove quite a challenge in Automatic modes, but it’s surprisingly easy with a few simple tricks and in this workshop we’ll explain how.

In the photo of Christmas lights above left, the camera’s automatic settings have selected an exposure that’s way too quick, and as a consequence the image is too dark. The trick to successful night photography is to get much more light into your camera for a decent-looking image, as seen in the image above right. In our video tutorial below, we’ll explain how to achieve this effect, and at the bottom of the page you’ll find a reminder of the steps you’ll need to take.

Checklist: Night photography

1: Switch your camera to Manual mode by turning the mode dial to ‘M’.

2: Choose the smallest f-number available and a relatively long shutter speed to record the lights. One second is a good starting point and most cameras indicate seconds using double quotes, so look for 1”.

3: Keep your camera very steady. Preferably use a tripod or a Gorillapod. Use the self-timer to avoid wobbling the camera as you press the button.

4: Check your photo. If the lights aren’t bright enough, try a slower shutter speed. If the lights are too bright, try a quicker shutter speed.

5: After taking your photo, remember to set the mode dial back to Auto or Program mode.


Watch out!

Always temporarily switch off any anti-shake or image stabilisation systems when using a tripod. If the camera is perfectly steady these systems can actually introduce wobbling as they attempt to counteract something which isn’t there.

Some cameras will also have difficulty focusing in dark conditions, so if yours is having problems, switch the lens to manual and focus on the lights. If they are distant, focus the lens to infinity.

Another way to maximise available light is to increase your camera’s sensitivity by using a bigger ISO number. Increasing the sensitivity will however reduce your picture quality and may still not give you a quick enough exposure to handhold. So stick to using a tripod and a low ISO number for the best quality.

DSLR Tips: How to take perfect sunsets

The colours during sunrise and sunset can look spectacular with our eyes, but prove surprisingly tricky to capture with your camera. Often the result looks washed-out and faded.

The photo above left was taken with the camera’s automatic settings and the result is a washed-out image which bears little resemblance to the view we saw in person. In the photo above right though we’ve deliberately underexposed the photo using the camera’s ‘exposure compensation’ settings.

This has produced a far more desirable result with deeper colours and a darker silhouette in the foreground. In our video tutorial below, we’ll explain how to achieve this effect, and at the bottom of the page you’ll find a reminder of the steps you’ll need to take.

Checklist: How to take better sunset and sunrise photos

1: Switch your camera to Program mode by turning the mode dial to ‘P’.

2: Press the exposure compensation button. This is normally labelled with a plus and minus symbol – check your manual for details.

3: Set the compensation to a negative value to deliberately underexpose the shot – a setting of -1 is a good starting point. Some DSLRs require that the compensation button be held as you make this adjustment.

4: If the result is still too bright, choose a bigger number, like -1.5 or even -2. If the result is too dark, choose a smaller number like -0.5 or -0.3.

5: After taking your photo, set the compensation back to zero or all your photos will be darker than normal. Finally if desired, set the mode dial back to Auto.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Foto Lama JFFF 2008

Waktu JFFF (Jakarta Fashion & Food Festival) 2008, saya datang untuk hunting foto disana.
Acaranya mulai "ramai" sekitar jam 3an sore. Malamnya ada pawai disepanjang jalan Boulevard - Kelapa Gading. Sebetulnya saya sudah dua kali datang ke acara JFFF ini, di tahun 2005 pawainya sore-sore, masih terang...
Ditahun 2009 ini gak tahu gimana, websitenya seperti 'o-on' gitu...jadi gak tahu detail acaranya.
Kalau rekans atau 'kita' jadi hunting kesini, sebaiknya jangan lupa bawa speedlight. Lumayan buat belajar moto diruangan, n' model2nya banyak yang lumayan loh...
Berikut hasilnya dari penyelenggaraan JFFF tahun 2008.
Gear: Nikon D80, Nikkor 18-200, without speedlight (lupa bawa). 












Hasil hunting weekend ini....

Lokasi: Plaza Semanggi 8th Fl.

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 21.0 sec
F-Stop: f/8.0
ISO: 100

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 8.0 sec
F-Stop: f/9.0
ISO: 100

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 21.0 sec
F-Stop: f/8.0
ISO: 100

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 21.0 sec
F-Stop: f/8.0
ISO: 100


Lokasi: Kota Tua

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec
F-Stop: f/5.0
ISO: 200

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/20 sec
F-Stop: f/5.0
ISO: 200

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/12 sec
F-Stop: f/5.0
ISO: 200

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/6 sec
F-Stop: f/4.0
ISO: 400

Camera: Canon 40D
Lens: Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 0.5 sec
F-Stop: f/2.8
ISO: 200

Sunday, May 10, 2009

[Seksi Pelatihan & Hunting] Dasar Fotografi #1

Kepada Rekan-Rekan KTB Jepret,

Sesuai dgn komitmen kita untuk belajar fotografi bersama-sama,
berikut saya berikan artikel bagus dasar fotografi.

Disadur dari : http://blog.yusfiardiansyah.com/?p=3

Hal yg dibahas mengenai : ISO -Aperture - Speed - Metering & White Balance.

1. ISO/ASA/DIN (ISO=istilah internasional, ASA=istilah jepang, DIN=istilah eropa, kesemuanya sama aja)
ini adalah standar internasional untuk “kepekaan film negatif/CCD menyerap cahaya”. tambah tinggi angkanya, tambah peka media tersebut menyerap cahaya. kalo jaman dulu lo suka beli film negatif ke fuji, dengan ASA 200, ASA 400, dsb. ya itulah dia. karakternya kayak begini:
a. kalo lo make ISO tinggi (misal: ISO 800, ISO 1200, ISO 1600)
penyerapan cahaya makin peka. bagus buat night shot. kemungkinan gambar shaking akan lebih kecil, karena karakternya yg kuat menyerap cahaya, lo jadi bisa motret dengan speed tinggi yang mengurangi efek shaking dari tangan lo yang bergeter saat motret.
kekurangannya, semakin tinggi lo pake ISO, noise warna makin banyak karena sifatnya yang sangat peka itu. jadi, kalo lo motret pake ISO tinggi, hasil cetakan foto akan lebih jelek kalo diperbesar. efek noise atau grainy-nya sangat mengganggu.
b. kalo lo make ISO rendah (misal: ISO 200, ISO 100, ISO 75, ISO 25)
penyerapan cahaya makin kurang peka. bagus buat daylight shot, atau ketika cahaya cukup memadai. tapi begitu lo motret di tempat yg rada gelap, akan sangat sulit buat lo memotret dengan speed tinggi. kemungkinan shaking lebih besar, dan pemakaian tripod jadi sebuah keharusan.
tapi kelebihannya, semakin rendah lo pake ISO, noise warna makin sedikit karena sifatnya yang tidak peka itu. jadi, kalo lo motret pake ISO rendah, hasil cetakan foto jika diperbesar, akan tetep bagus dan bening. efek noise atau grainy-nya bisa dibilang tidak terlihat.
kelebihan kamera digital sekarang, lo bisa nge-set ISOnya kapanpun lo mau. begitu cahaya rada gelap, naekin ISOnya. begitu terang, ya gak usah pake ISO tinggi2 tinggal di set aja di menunya. beda sama jaman film dulu, kalo lo dah beli film yg ISO 200, ya musti ganti film dulu buat ganti ISO.
2. aperture/bukaan diafragma (simbolnya: f/…)
diafragma, fungsinya sama persis dengan pupil mata kita. yaitu, mengatur seberapa banyak intensitas cahaya yang akan masuk jatuh ke retina-mata/film negatif/CCD untuk selanjutnya di olah di otak/memory-card sebagai sebuah visual/gambar. di dunia fotografi, ditetapkan angka2 tertentu untuk menentukan seberapa lebar bukaan diafragma. contohnya, ada bukaan f/2.8, bukaan f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22. setiap angka bukaan itu, punya karakternya masing2. yang perlu menjadi catatan penting di sini adalah, semakin kecil angka diafragma maka semakin lebar bukaan diafragmanya, dan semakin besar angka diafragma maka semakin kecil bukaan diafragmanya.
misal: angka 2.8 memiliki bukaan lebar, sedangkan angka 22 memiliki bukaan sempit.
bukaan lebar (misal: f/2.8), memiliki karakter yang akan membuat intensitas cahaya banyak masuk ke film-negatif. efek pada gambar adalah, objek fokus akan sangat detail sedangkan background/foregroundnya akan kabur/blur/bokeh. bukaan ini sering dipakai untuk foto potret dimanaa lo pengen gambar yang hanya tajam di objek dan kabur di backgroundnya.
bukaan sempit (misal: f/22), memiliki karakter yang akan membuat intensitas cahaya sedikit masuk ke film-negatif. efek pada gambar adalah, tidak hanya objek fokus yang akan sangat detail, background/foregroundnya akan juga ikutan detail. bukaan ini sering dipakai untuk foto landscape dimana lo pengen gambar yang tajam dari ujung dekat ke ujung jauh.
ngerti cara kerja diafragma, berarti lo harus paham apa itu Depth of Field (DOF). atau bahasa indonesianya, ruang tajam gambar. bukaan lebar, DOF akan semakin sempit. bukaan sempit, DOF akan semakin lebar.
kalo lo liat foto kadal gue yang dulu, foto itu sangat menunjukkan apa itu DOF. gue pake bukaan lebar (kalo gak salah gue pake bukaan 3.3), dimana ruang tajam gambarnya jadi cuma di kepala kadalnya aja, sedangkan badannya hingga ke buntutnya, jadi kabur/blur/bokeh. kalo gue motretnya pake bukaan f/16, udah pasti jadinya semua kepala sampe buntut, tajam semua.
nah, diafragma sama speed, hubungannya sangat kuat. semakin lebar bukaannya, maka semakin gampang lo ambil gambar high-speed karena intensitas cahaya yang banyak. sebaliknya, semakin sempit bukaannya, akan terasa sulit mendapatkan high-speed karena intensitas cahayanya yang berkurang, yg mana pemakaian tripod untuk menghindari hand-shaking menjadi sangat mutlak.
3. speed
nah kalo yang ini, dah pada tau lah artinya apa. adalah kecepatan interval mirror di kamera membuka dan menutup saat menangkap gambar. semakin cepat speednya, lo bisa dapet gambar yang freeze/beku.
kalo lo motret air mancur dengan speed tinggi, gambar airnya bakalan dapet bulet2 gitu kayak gambar air gue yang di sebelah ini (gue pake speed 1/8000 sec, f/3.8, ISO200).
kalo lo pake low-speed, lo bakalan dapet gambar dengan efek gerakan, contohnya gambar model gue yang main air itu, kalo gak salah gue ngambilnya dengan speed 1/15 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200.
nah, yang terakhir untuk kesimpulan dari segitiga fotografi:
4. metering
usahain saat motret, metering ada di posisi nol. nggak mutlak sih, tapi untuk dapet cahaya yg pas, mending diusahain di posisi nol. metering, cuma ada di kamera SLR. kamera pocket, gue blm pernah liat. icon metering, ada di viewfinder saat lo motret. kurang lebih bentuknya kayak gini: (+__________-) nah usahain, pointernya ada di tengah. kalo pointernya agak menjorok ke arah plus, berarti hasil gambar lo akan Over Exposure (terlalu terang). kalo pointernya agak menjorok ke arah minus, berarti hasil gambar lo akan Under Exposure (terlalu gelap). pengaturan metering adalah dengan cara maen2in bukaan diafragma, speed, dan ISO-nya, diturunin atao dinaekin, terserah elo pengen jadi gambar gimana.
sebenernya, di jaman digital gini dimana kamera semakin canggih, masih ada satu bahasan lagi tentang dasar-dasar fotografi, selain segitiga fotografi yang gue terangkan di atas, yaitu:
5. white balance (WB)
white balance adalah seberapa besar kamera menyesuaikan sensitifitasnya terhadap cahaya yang ada (available light) untuk menyamakan warna putih yang “sebenarnya” pada kondisi cahaya tertentu, agar bisa mendapatkan warna-warna yang true color. sayangnya, kamera2 jaman dulu belom ada fitur setting WB ini. tapi, untuk kamera2 digital jaman sekarang, udah ada.
ngomongin white balance, musti tau dulu definisi apa itu“warna putih sempurna”. ketika sebuah besi baja dibakar, maka baja tersebut akan berubah warna sampai memerah, jika terus dibakar maka baja tersebut semakin panas hingga berwarna putih, dan jika masih terus dibakar maka akan berubah berwarna biru.
nah warna putih sempurna, akan didapatkan ketika baja tersebut dibakar berubah menjadi warna putih suci. kalo gue nggak lupa (CMIIW), suhu baja tersebut saat berwarna putih adalah berkisar antara 5200-5400K (derajat kelvin). nah, itu yang dinamakan putih sempurna. kalo warna putihnya kemerahan, berarti suhunya di bawah 5200K. kalo warna putihnya kebiruan, berarti suhunya di atas 5400K.
saat memotret, kita akan mendapatkan kondisi sumber cahaya yang berbeda-beda, yang mana akan berpengaruh pada objek yang warna putih. kalo setting WB kita asal2an, atau kita set auto, kadang kita nggak puas sama warna yang kita mau, alias warnanya nggak keluar. kalo kita nggak nge-set WB secara manual, kadang warna putih yang kita dapatkan akan kebiruan, atau kemerahan. di saat seperti itu, kita perlu setting WB secara benar. di setiap kamera, cara setting WB berbeda-beda, bisa dibaca di manualnya masing2.

Selamat berkarya,

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Potret Bali

Ini ada beberapa potret yang saya ambil selama di Bali akhir April kemarin. Sebagian rencananya mau coba ikutan kirim ke Garuda Photo Contest 2009. Karena cuma boleh kirim 10 foto, tolong donk rekan2 jepreters pilihin yang mana ya...?!
Semua foto diambil dengan Nikon D80, Nikkor lens 18-200, no speed light.
Lokasi: Bali. 

Sarong sir..?!

Kuta beach

Beach boy

Beach dancer

Beach Volley Ball

Kuta beach at a glance

Nice 2 meet ya...

Hi dear, wanna some fruit...?!

Hmm, yummy...

On jogging track

Me and Mom

Sunset at Kuta

Lukisan telur

Follow me Felix..!

Mandi dan cuci bareng...

Hi, long time no see...
How's life..?!

Sesajen

A Couple

Mass Massage

Dua Dara


Marching band