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Show JUNE Five Easy Pointers On “bleach By Howie Garber your camera been collecting dust? Well, now that it’s summer and you’re ready for vacation or other outdoor fun and it’s time for picturetaking. Here are some simple tips on how to take better pictures on your next outing, whether it be to Southern Utah, Hogle Zoo or just the back yard First, replace the batteries. The best way to ensure that your equipment is working properly is to shoot a practice roll of film One of the quickest ways to improve your skills as a photographer, is to take a few notes when you shoot, then have the film processed the same day. After reading your notes and comparing them to the photos, go back the next day to shoot the same subject. Highlight your subject Perhaps the most common mistake made in photography is a picture that out” qual- ity of bright light and harsh shad- Outdoor Photography Hi 1996 ows. An overcast day is ideal for softening shad- is too cluttered. There are several ways to simplify composition and highlight your subject. Change your vantage point. Walking around your subject can be useful in selecting a background. Usually there are extraneous objects that can be eliminated from the frame. A background that is out of focus or darker than the submake your ject will subject more prominent. Use a large lens opening, or aperture (F 4), to give minimum depth of field for a soft, out of focus background, often used in portraits. A telephoto lens makes the subject more prominent. By moving back from the subject, the telephoto can capture the same size image but with less background than a wide angle lens. ows, intensifying colors and recording detail. Rainy days are perfect for pho- tographing a cac- tus bloom, water stains on red rock photos by Howie Garber or your tent Rule of thirds adds drama. against the red rock. But large areas of gray sky rarely Greater magnification requires faster add to a photo, so keep them out. shutter speed. Geese taking off may be Rather than thinking in terms of sharp at 1/125 second with a 100 mm good or bad light, it is useful to think of lens. But with a 500 mm lens, you may the quality of light and which photo need 1/500 second or faster. opportunities are maximized under differing conditions. For example, the low light of early morning and late evening enhance texture in sand and snow. Rule of thirds A simple rule of composition that can greatly improve your photos is called the rule of thirds. Imagine the frame divided in thirds horizontally by two lines. Now imagine the same vertically, with two vertical lines dividing Quality of light the frame in thirds. (See photo of kids The final method to highlight your subject is to eliminate shadows, which can cause a jumble of distractions. Most photographers try to avoid shooting in fishing.) Your photos will become more dramatic when you place the subject at the middle of the day because of the zontal and vertical lines. Try to have your subject facing into the center of the photo. Don't put the subject in the center of the frame. 1995 Stumpjumper FS one of the intersections of those hori- Prepare for action was $1,150.00 An eagle perched in a tree can be part of a lovely landscape photo. But if the eagle takes to the wing, it may appear as a blur in your photo. If you are ready with a fast shutter speed Now Just $999.00! Rockshock Mag 21 Direct Drive / Prestige Frame (1/500 second), the flying eagle will be LX & XT Components 24 speed Grip Shift SRT-800 sharp. You wouldn’t want to miss the shot of the salmon jumping into the bear’s mouth, while you’re shooting the waterfall. So, for wildlife, sports or your child Power Cam (PC-T) Brake Levers Shock masters & Pro Controls Tires Limited Stock — Don’t Wait blowing bubbles, think of the shutter speed necessary to stop the action. The shutter speed required is also dependent on the length of the lens. Depth of field For landscapes and stationary subjects, the most important variable is the aperture, or lens opening. The depth of field — the area in focus in front of and behind the subject —increases as the aperture Most landscape decreases. photography is done with a small aperture (F 16 or F 22) to maximize depth of field. For example, at CITY, F 22, everything .PAGE.8 in focus A fast film will give you more latitude with F-stops and shutter speeds. But the faster the film, the more grainy the photo will appear. For more information on outdoor photography read these books: “Photography Outdoors” by Mark Gardener and Art Wolfe, published by The Mountaineers; “The Nature Photographer's Guide to Professional Field Techniques” by John Shaw, published by Amphoto; and “Adventure Fravel Photography” by Nevada Wier, pub-lished by WatsonGuptill Publi-cations. @ FRAME 421 Wasatch Touring supports 5.7 million acres of designated wilderness. be F-stop or large aperture. RY CaCl ae Mell) and More 801-359-9361 will shutter speed. By determining the optimal! F-stop for a landscape photo, you may not have much choice about the shutter speed. The opposite is true of selecting a shutter speed for action shots — it may demand a low number UTAH 702 East 100 South « Salt Lake City, Utah lens at from 2 1/2 feet to infinity. Exposure is a factor of F stop and IF YOU CAN'T EAT IT... SALT LAKE with a 28 mm F 8, everything will be in focus from 6 1/2 feet to infinity. With the same lens Main Street ¢ Park City 649-2155 IT! |