Lamborghini Gallardo on a lonely street in Ybor City Tampa Florida Car Photography

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Stylized image of a Lamborghini Gallardo in Ybor City Tampa Florida Car Photography - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 9-exposure HDR tripod mounted with cable releaseGoing through my unused archives from a Lamborghini Gallardo shoot from December I spent a little time experimenting with the filters in Color Efex Pro 4.  It took me awhile to get used to the UI changes in this new version, but after not liking 4 I now prefer how you can add multiple filters at once.  In this Lamborghini shot I used no less than four filters, starting with the usual Pro Contract and Polarization filters, then the Glamour Glow filter before finishing with the Cross Color filter.  The image started out as a 9-exposure HDR.  The biggest impact of the filters was a contrast improvement, a softening of details and an overall warm tint to the tone of the image.  What do you think . .  too much or looks cool?

Photography Tip - use a single focus point for moving subjects not filling the frame

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There are a number of reasons why a moving subject may appear out of focus in a photograph.  One reason could simply be because the focus point(s) were not on the subject.  For still subjects, I always use a single focus point.  For moving subjects where the subject is not largely filling the frame, even in the examples above of runners, I use a single focus point as well.  By using a single focus point (in the center) when photographing the runners I could track them as they ran past me and I knew for sure that I was getting them in focus because the only focus point available was right on them.  There was no risk of back-focusing on the background which can happen when using multiple focus points (11, 21, 51, etc).  In this case, I did not want the camera trying to pick out the subject from the background which is what happens when using multiple focus points.  I selected a single focus point, kept it center, and kept that locked onto each runner.  Of course I was using AF-C (One Shot) focus mode and a minimum shutter speed of 1/500th--the other two things needed to have any chance at freezing of moving subject in a photograph.

So if you find you are having trouble getting a moving subject in focus (or even a still subject), use a single focus point (often in the center) and put it right on the subject you want to be in focus in the frame.  

1-on-1 Nikon D5300 DSLR Photography Lesson in St. Petersburg Florida with David

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Dave showing great portrait orientation shooting form with his Nikon D5300 during our photography lesson in downtown St. Petersburg FloridaI met David in downtown St. Petersburg Florida for our 1-on-1 DSLR Photography Lesson on a February Saturday morning with very changing weather.  He received the photography lesson as a gift certificate present from his wife to help him get started in the DSLR world with his newly purchased Nikon D5300.  This was my first time with this very new Nikon DSLR and I would have to say I was disappointed by its lack of dedicated buttons.  Changing the ISO and the focus mode requires going into the menus.  The build quality felt like typical Nikon quality though.  Now that I think about it more, though, no 5xxx series Nikon ever had more buttons, but still I would like to see less menu reliance on a DSLR in that price range.

The lesson began as all first lessons do with me explaining to David in detail my 5-step process for getting a well exposed and sharp shot in any shooting conditions.  After this rain started to fall, but the breezeway in the front of the Museum of Fine Arts was plenty big enough to still practice all we would have had it been sunny.  In fact it allowed us to work on natural light portrait practice a little more than we would have otherwise.  I was able to show Dave the big impact composition has on the overall look of a portrait even with the subject staying in the exact same spot.

I look forward to seeing David's photos and his progress with his DSLR.

1-on-1 Canon 5D Mark III DSLR Photography Lesson in St. Petersburg Florida with Gail

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Yours truly as the model for this off camera flash strobist portrait lesson on Sunset Beach Treasure Island FloridaOn a beautiful evening in Treasure Island, Florida I met Gail for an off camera flash portrait lesson on Sunset Beach.  She had found out about my photography lessons doing some online searching and decided to come all the way over from Vero Beach on the other coast of Florida!  We had two lessons.  The first was on the beach at sunset time showing Gail my 2-strobe technique for making off camera flash portraits.  I helped Gail setup her radio triggers and showed her how I position two speedlights for a variety of shots, including the walking one above.  The second strobe is directly in front of me (not visible in photo).

A strobist portrait of my DSLR photography student Gail on Sunset Beach made during our evening lesson.Gail switched out and became the model as I showed her more shooting tips for using her Canon 5D Mark III.  The second part of the lesson was showing Gail my editing workflow and helping her use her MacBook Pro much more efficiently too!  It was very nice to meet Gail and I am flattered she came all the way from the other coast.  She did of course stay a few nights in the area and made a trip out of it as well.

Photography Tip - leave your DSLR camera on!

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If my Nikon DSLR was not on and ready I would have missed this surprise chance in Vinoy Park FloridaPoint & shoot digital cameras, especially early ones, really used up batteries a lot.  So much so that people would turn them on and off between shots all the time.  I have noticed this practice continues with some of my DSLR photography students as well.  However, with a DSLR camera, there is no reason to turn it off between shots.  These cameras automatically go into a meter-off (sleep mode) that you can choose to happen in a set amount of time, and with the meter off and the backscreen off, a DSLR uses basically no battery power.  Thus, there is no reason to turn your DSLR off until you are putting it back into your camera bag at the end of shooting.

In fact, this practice of turning off the camera can lead to missing shots.  I was walking along the seawall in Vinoy Park one time and all of a sudden a dolphin surfaced right below my feet!  My Nikon was on and already set in default settings for getting a good shot in the light I was in, which allowed me to in just a split second be able to make the above dolphin photo.  Having to turn my camera on would have caused me to miss it.  Be sure and keep your DSLR on from the time you take it out of your camera bag until the time you put in back in to make sure you are always ready to capture any sudden photography opportunities.

Sunset Beach Treasure Island Florida Winter Family Beach Portraits

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Watching the sunset on Treasure Island family beach portraits - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/6.3 ISO 200 1/200th - Strobist: SB-800 & SB-600 left & rightVisiting Florida from South Dakota, Sarah and family had to brave an unusually chilly and windy evening on Sunset Beach Treasure Island for our candid family beach portrait session.  At least Mother Nature provided clear skies and a bright sunset for a background.  

Mother & daughter test the waters at Sunset Beach on Treasure Island Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 200 1/400th natural lightEveryone was pretty tough and still put on a smile, except for the youngest who was not impressed at all by the beauty of the beach!  She was crying the whole time, but in mom's arms tried out the water.  When she's older I wonder what she will think of these photos?

Bright sunset on Treasure Island family beach portraits in Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/6.3 ISO 200 1/200th - Strobist: SB-800 & SB-600 left & rightThe family chose color over the usual white and blue jeans.  I think it was a great choice and I will suggest such attire to future clients.  I think colorful clothing pulls the color out of the sky even more.

Not a happy baby at Sunset Beach Treasure Island Florida portraits - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 200 1/320th - natural lightOne smile out of two is not bad!  As you can see the wind was blowing pretty strong from the west.  

The kids out of the picture for a little romance time on Sunset Beach Treasure Island Florida portraits - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/10 ISO 200 1/160th - Strobist: SB-800 & SB-600 left & rightA little break for romance letting the kids play on the sand behind camera for Sarah and Matt to have the frame to themselves.  

Photography Tip - shoot at eye level to your subject

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Seeing eye-to-eye with Kiki (left) and two friends. Shot from one knee at the same eye level as the dogs.One very easy way to start making photographs like a pro is to simply stop only shooting from your own eye level.  Getting down to the same eye level as your subject immediately transform a photograph, for the better.  I often see people in the dog park standing and shooting down on their dogs playing.  That will just show you what you already see when looking at your dogs, so why would you want to see a photograph of that?  Get down on one knee (or your stomach if you have a very small dog!) and suddenly you will see in photographs your dog from a very different perspective.  

In the above photo Kiki is running with two friends.  The expressions on their faces are all very clear and it looks like the dogs are looking right at the viewer of the photo in the eye.  This creates a connection to the subject of the photograph not possible if shot from me standing up over five feet in the air.

The next time you go out shooting trying taking a knee or even lying down to get to eye level and see a world from a new perspective!