More on Photography
We use all types of camera – smart phones, compact, bridge and SLRs (digital or film).
This page provides further information for the U3A’s photographers, both links to useful articles and short pieces of relevance to photographers.
Useful Articles from Risborough U3A
Here are some articles that have been used in our group meetings. This is only some of the material that is available – if you are intrested in other subjects or would like some advice (e.g. on buying a camera) please contact the Photography Group leader on photo@risboroughu3a.org.uk.
When you click on one of these links, the document will be copied to the downloads area on your computer (it will not open automatically on the screen).
- Apertures, Shutter speed and ISO explained
- Composition Guidelines
- Exposure Mode notes
- Infrared and Ultraviolet Photography
- 3D Photography
- Focus Stacking
- Panorama
- Photographing Star Tracks
- Software for processing photographs
- Photographing small things
- Macro Photography
- Judging Photographs
- Whitebalancing Notes
Information Bites
Here is some brief introductory information on a few themes. If you would like more detailed advice please contact the Photography Group leader via photo@risboroughu3a.org.uk.
A quick guide to using your digital SLR
This post from digital-photography-school.com is intended to be a brief one-stop shop to help you take your camera off auto, and take control of your DSLR. Don’t be intimidated by the number of buttons and dials, (or by the thickness of the manual).
Making Photobooks
Download this useful guide, produced by the Photography Group, on how to create your own photobook. (When you click on the links the documents will be copied to the download area of your computer – they will not automatically open on the screen.)
- Part 1 explains some of the options for creating a Photobook Photobooks Part 1 v3
- Part 2 of the Photobook Guide shows how a book was produced using the Blurb software Risborough U3A Photography Group Photobooks Part 2
Prints
A printed image needs to be lightened in order to appear the same as the on-screen image otherwise it may seem rather drab compared to the original image. Software (on the camera or computer) adjusts the image so that it averages out to a neutral grey and uses the assumption that the subject of the photo reflected 18% of the light falling on it. This may misrepresent snow scenes for example, and explain why a white cat on a red carpet will appear green. The camera should have its exposure set to get the most important part of the picture right.
Fashion photographers will often send a swatch of material to the printer along with the photographs to ensure that the printed image reflects the original.
Similarly for printing black and white images it is necessary to increase the contrast before sending them to the printer – colour images to be printed black and white should be changed to black and white before being sent to the printer.
The art of mounting photographs
The colour of the mounting card should contrast or enhance the image, generally with a light mount for a black and white photo and a darker colour for a colour image, often with a white border round the print. Three quick passes each way of spray mounting adhesive is all that is required. It is generally accepted that for a 1” border top and side there should be a 1 ¼” border at the bottom.