42nd Street Photo

ISO in the Exposure Triangle by 42nd St Photo

The ‘Exposure Triangle’ is a term common to photographic discussions because three functions of your camera affect the way it captures that image.  The analogy might better be that of a camera tripod because the three legs are adjusted to fit the specific photographic needs at the time.  42nd St Photo takes a look at one side of that ‘triangle’—ISO.

ISO is the understood short form for the International Organization for Standardization, an attempt to regulate world-wide proprietary, industrial, and commercial standards. In photographic film the ISO (or ASA) numbers indicate how sensitive the film is to light; 100, 400, 800, etc. with the 100 film being much less sensitive than the 800 film to the light available and the resulting image containing finer grains as a result.  When the image is enlarged the size of the grains composing the image become very evident.

In a digital camera the ISO is understood to be the sensitivity of the sensor to light.  Your eyes are sensitive to light and adjust automatically, in bright sunlight you might put on sunglasses to adjust even further.  Just as putting on those sunglasses allows you to see better, adjusting the ISO allows you to take better pictures in certain situations. 

Generally, a 100 ISO is acceptable and will give crisp photographs. A higher ISO setting will result in ‘noise’…the graininess in the picture caused by the speckles of pixels that did not record correctly.  There are times you may want that high ISO setting; a low light or no-flash setting like a concert or a candlelit room where a flash would destroy the mood.  You compensate for potential graininess with the other legs of that tripod/triangle, aperture and shutter speed.  

The cameras at 42nd St Photo give you an option in ISO settings, from automatic-don’t-think-about-it to the ability to adjust all the facets of your equipment and get the image you are shooting for.

Sharpen your focus with 42nd St Photo

Did you know that improving your photography involves sharpening your focus?  Probably…but that focus is not necessarily the definition of the details in your picture.  42nd St Photo has some suggestions to help you zoom in on what you can improve in your photos.

Do you like looking at other photographer’s work?  Do you have preferences?  Can you define WHY you like one type of picture more than another? That process of definition is a form of sharpening focus.  You have clarified the details and intelligently critiqued their work.

Like all skills, photography is a combination of practice, evaluation, clarification, and honing detail. Buying all the best equipment at 42nd St Photo will not make you a good photographer but it will equip a good photographer and give them the tools to be the best.  Your intelligence and diligence are the tools YOU bring to art of photography. 

Look at some of your own past photographs and separate them into two categories, those you like and those you dislike at first glance.  Hopefully, there will be some in both categories of the same subject or the same event.  Now focus on two photographs: choose a liked picture and a disliked picture of the same general subject.

When put side by side, what are the differences between the two photographs?  Things like composition, shadowing, light, background, facial expression, detail, all come into play.  Critically examining your work and discerning the individual aspects of an image in order to improve that image are ways to sharpen your focus on being a better photographer.

42nd St Photo carries many things to help you sharpen those skills, from dvds to expert advice.  Let us help you focus on improving your photography!

Focus on One Thing with 42nd St Photo

Have you noticed those photographs where one object or person is in focus, but the surrounding area is blurred? This makes the picture emphasize and frame only one thing, and often that is a good idea.  42nd St Photo has a tip to help your photographs pop.

Does your camera have ‘auto-focus’?  This allows you to point and shoot…but sometimes the camera will focus on the background and leave your subject a blur of color in a clearly defined frame.  This can be avoided by understanding how your camera’s auto-focus works.  Read the manual and experiment until you know your capability with the auto-focus, how to use the limitations to make your best shots.

Many of the cameras at 42nd St Photo have the capability to change the auto-focus to Manual Point Selection, which allows you to choose where the one spot of focus is, wherever in the photograph you choose.  Check your camera and see if you have this useful option.  Most of the time it is easiest to set the manual point selection in the middle of the frame but you may want to change it for emphasis or composition.

When you press the shutter button halfway down, the camera adjusts audibly to focus on that one spot.  You may not want the composition of your photo to be what you see in the viewfinder; just move the camera, keeping the button halfway down, until you like the shot then press the shutter button down the rest of the way to take your picture.  As long as you are not changing the distance from the shot, you won’t have to readjust the focus.

42nd St Photo wants you to know that understanding the focus features in your own camera will allow you to take a variety of types of photographs and deepen your ability to capture the one detail you want to emphasize in a particular shot.

One Simple Tip from 42nd St Photo

Many times the simplest idea is overlooked when it comes to taking a great picture.  This single tip from 42nd St Photo is obvious, but easy to miss:

Fill the frame with your subject.

This might not be possible with a basic point-and-shoot camera, but check your available settings and do your best.  The difference between a picture of a subject so far away that the detail is obscure and a subject that is close enough to be most of the photograph can move your shots from ‘run-of-the-mill’ to ‘fantastic’.

Experiment with what your camera can do in various situations.  Use the zoom if you have it, and try moving closer to your subject if you can. Usually a few steps closer will make you realize that you previously had too much space around your subject.

This one technique is the reason many will upgrade to a DSLR and the ability to change lenses.  The variety of lenses and cameras available at 42nd St Photo cover all the types of pictures you will need but the idea of filling the frame with your subject is applicable to most of your photography.

Even a landscape or a group shot will benefit from carefully including only the details that you want. Think of it as pre-cropping; you are trying to get only the subject in your photo, whether it be a lake or a friend.  You can have some wider angled shots for reference, but the pictures you will appreciate the most are the ones that give a closer look at the things you love.

Camera Care by 42nd St Photo

You have invested thought and money into getting the best camera for your needs. 42nd St Photo has some tips for you to maintain your investment and its value.

Read the manual that came with your camera!  This is the place to start.  If you no longer have your manual, there might be an expanded guide for your camera at 42nd St Photo but the basic care of a camera is logical.

Protect your camera when not in use by using a padded case or bag.  Be careful when it is not in the case to avoid dropping it…think about where you put it down.  Your home insurance may cover accidental damage but it is better to keep it safe.

Thieves are a real threat to your expensive photographic equipment.  Be aware of the possibility and consider engraving your camera for identification if stolen.

Ocean shots are beautiful…but clean your camera at least daily of salt, sand, and any sunscreen that has accumulated. Use a soft brush or cloth to gently wipe that dirt away before it corrodes or scratches anything.

42nd St Photo sells cleaning kits and tools that will allow you to safely remove dust, etc. without scratching.  Dust is one of your camera’s biggest enemies and you need to be vigilant to keep it out of your equipment.

Moisture is another enemy that attacks when the camera is dropped into water (bathtub, river, pool, puddle, etc.).  You can avoid it by being aware of where your camera is, but a more insiduous source of moisture is the condensation formed by moving from one temperature to another.  Wipe off your camera whenever you notice a dampness.

Did you know that you can purchase protectors for your camera’s LCD screens?  42nd St Photo also carries protective skins for some models.  These act as an additional barrier to damaging influences.

Nothing protects your equipment more than your attitude.  Knowing what will damage your camera and avoiding it will keep you taking beautiful photographs for a long time.

Lighting tips with 42nd St Photo

Have you ever put the flashlight to your chin in a dark night to tell a scary story? That odd effect, changing your face into an unfamiliar creepy mask, is a perfect example of the importance of lighting. 42nd St Photo has some tips for making your pictures spectacular instead of spooky.

The reason a face looks so different in that instance is because the shadows are cast by a light coming from an unusual direction. We generally have light coming from above, and are accustomed to faces lit that way. If you are taking advantage of some reflective light yet want to avoid that ‘spooky’ look, either add another light source from above or beside, or use a ‘fill-in’ flash.

If you are new to the term, “reflective light”, it is the light bouncing off a surface to shine on something. This could be water, snow, a white tablecloth…or anything that reflects light. Because it is a diffused light, the shadows are softer and the face is more attractive. Professionals use equipment like 42nd St Photo’s light kits, with reflectors surrounding the light source to spread the light into a bright glow that illuminates clearly. This separate light source also prevents the dreaded red-eye, caused when the flash lights up the inside of the subject’s eyeball by being on the same plane as the lens.

Your camera’s flash settings very likely will have aids to enhance your pictures, whether a hand-held attachment or the built-in feature your basic camera comes with. Have you looked at your options there? One kind of reflective light you DON’T need is the complete absence of any shadows on a face so brightly lit that all the light bounces back to the camera. The opposite effect, a dark cutout of your subject against a bright background, is caused by the contrast of more light behind the person than in front. In that case, you want the ‘fill-in’ of a softened flash.

When you are taking multiple pictures of objects, perhaps for sale online, a light box like the Portable Lighting Studio that 42nd St Photo sells is a good investment. You have both light and dark backgrounds, multiple light sources, and a good basic package to produce great images with professional quality. Objects don’t get impatient so you can take as many photos as you need to in order to capture all the detail necessary.

People, however, DO get impatient when the photographer says, “one more time, please” so the more you know about lighting before you take your photos, the happier your subjects will be!

Camera Selection Tips from 42nd Street Photo

When you think about selecting a new camera, it can be a little intimidating. Digital cameras have an incredible variety of features, with accessories that need to be seen before you realize they exist.  So how do you decide what to purchase for your own needs?  The professionals at 42nd Street Photo have an abundance of tips for photographers, and here are a few “camera choice’ suggestions for you to consider:

First, think about the kinds of photos you want to take.  Are you interested in capturing the fleeting moments of childhood?  The zen of a still life composition?  The details of an item to sell?  Do you want video as well as still photos?  Do you think you’d like to take a photo and enlarge it to poster size?  Make a list…brainstorm and dream.

Now, try to put that list in a sort of priority. It doesn’t have to be exact, but if you don’t care about making posters, for instance, put that on the end of the list.

Next, think about what you DON’T like about previous cameras.  Make that list prioritized, too, if you can.  Did that last one always run out of memory?  Were batteries a hassle?  Do you want to be able to point-and-shoot or do you like to tweak with settings?

Now that you have a few ideas on paper, be realistic about what you can afford right now.  42nd Street Photo has a wide range of price points in stock, so don’t be afraid to see what they offer.

So…you now have a price range, some top features you want and don’t want, and a way to narrow down the selection that 42nd Street Photo has for you.  You can browse the site, contact customer support, and end up with a camera that you really like.

42nd Street Photo: Improving Your Creativity

Whether you are a professional photographer or a beginner who enjoys it as a hobby, you will one day hit a creative block. We all do in different areas of life and photography is no different. Unlike some other things, there are ways to get the creative juices flowing again without a problem. Here are some helpful hints to get you through when you think you have nothing new and creative left in your picture taking:

• Visit a new place. Visiting a museum or park that you have never been to will inspire you to take new photos. As you walk through the premises, take it all in. Look everywhere and all around. You will see colors, shapes, and creativity both natural and created. Your mind will begin to see these objects in different ways and you will be led to take tons of photos! Another place that you can visit to inspire photos, is the zoo. You may have been hundreds of times before but each new visit brings new experiences as the animals are random and unpredictable. 
• Do not leave home without your camera. Truly pretend that this camera is a part of your body! Take it everywhere and capture everything you do and everywhere you go. By carrying your camera with you, you will be more likely to take photos more often. Keep your photographer eyes on in order to the full potential in your surroundings. 
• Choose a color of the day. Each day or week, assign a new color to yourself for photography. Focus you photos for that given time period solely on that color. For instance, if you choose green, you will focus on nature. Grass, leaves, and more will pop out at you in a new light and in a new way. Focus in finding many shades of the color. You will be surprised at how beautiful these photos come out. Your eye will have been looking in a new way and the photos will reveal it. 

42nd Street Photography: Jewelry Photos

One thing that can be fun yet difficult to photograph is jewelry. Whether you are preparing to sell jewelry, take wedding photos of rings, or any other jewelry photos, these tips will come in handy:

• You will get the best results by utilizing the manual mode on your camera. 
• Be sure to set up a custom white balance setting on your camera that is based on the lighting. 
• Use a closed photography setup with soft wrap-around continuous lighting if possible.
• For rings, be sure to set your maximum aperture to its highest capability. 
• Turn your flash off.
• Check your batteries or plug into the wall so that you do not run out of power. 
• A model may make the session easier and produce better photos. 
• For professional advertising, use of an EZcube will produce a clear background, eliminate glares, and make the best photos.
• Using LED lighting may make diamonds sparkle exceptionally well.
• Try to create sparkle with whatever you have available. 
• Crisp and sharp focus is necessary for the best jewelry photography.
• A tripod is necessary to shoot jewelry. 

It is clear that you will need to use manual settings when shooting jewelry to get the best results. If your camera does not have many options for manual settings, you may need to visit 42nd Street Photo. We have a variety of cameras that allow you to control every detail of your photography. You can visit 42photo.com to browse our wide selection of cameras and equipment.  

42nd Street Photo: Necessities

Photography can be a blast whether you are a professional or just someone who enjoys it as a hobby. You can have quality equipment and photographs either way. Whatever your reasoning for taking pictures, there are some items you will need to get the photos right every time and get the best quality you can. 

First, it is apparent that you will need a quality camera. There are hundreds available at 42photo.com through 42nd STreet Photo. There are many types of cameras and their information is listed in detail on the store site. We carry brands such as Canon, Nikon, Lumix, Sony and more. Maybe you already know which camera you would like to purchase or possibly you have no idea. Whatever the truth may be, you can find the camera that will fit your needs at 42nd Street Photo. 

Another item you will want to invest in is memory for your camera. When you go on an outing to take photos whether it is a paid gig or for fun, you will likely be taking a lot of photos. You need to make sure you have enough memory with you at all times to take many pictures. Running out of memory on a shoot is the worst because you have to go through and delete in order to take more. This is time consuming and may cause you to miss out on other great photos. 

Other accessories you may need for photography include a case, lens, and cleaning kit. It is important to obtain a case for your camera, especially if it is a large investment. Protecting your camera is vital, more so when travelling. Lenses are an important part of photography as they allow you to do more than your camera alone can possibly do. There are all different types of lenses such as zoom, fish eye and more. They can cause special effects, allow you to see further and other great things. A cleaning kit is important to the care of your equipment. 42nd Street Photo often has great specials on these kits.