Review Digital Camera World 10-12-2013

Digital Camera World

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So you've just bought your first DSLR… now what? Oct 11th 2013, 23:01, by jmeyer Buying your first serious camera, whether it's a DSLR or a compact system camera (CSC) is very exciting, but all those controls can be a bit intimidating.  In their latest guest blog post, the photo management and Canon Project1709 experts at Photoventure outline how to set up your camera ready to take your first few shots. Memory card When you pop the card into the camera for the first time it's a good idea to format it so that any existing images are deleted from it and it's ready to work in your new camera. Just press the menu button, locate the Format option and follow the on-screen directions. Set the image quality and size You want to get the best from your new camera so set the image quality (via the menu) to Extra Fine or Highest Quality JPEG and the size to Large. If you want to try your hand at processing raw files you can set your camera to shoot raw and JPEG images simultaneously, but we'd recommend at this stage that you don't just shoot raw files. Raw files capture more data than JPEGs, but if you want to share them with others you'll have to convert them to a universal file format like JPEG or TIFF. Your camera should be supplied with raw conversion software that's compatible with your camera's files. You can also use third party packages such as Photoshop Elements, but you need to check that your camera's raw files are supported. READ MORE 8 photo management tips you can’t afford to ignore First camera crash course: simple solutions for mastering your new DSLR New camera anatomy: 12 key camera settings to get you started right 24 camera features every beginner must memorize 10 killer photography tips the pros won’t tell you Directional lighting: how the angle of the sun can affect your photos Oct 11th 2013, 10:35, by jmeyer Should you stand with the sun directly behind your – or should you shoot into the sun and do battle with shadows? Our infographic on directional lighting helps illustrate the effects you can expect from different angles of the sun. The angle of the sun falling on your subject in relation to the direction you are shooting will have a dramatic effect on your resulting photographs. At one extreme, you can shoot with the sun directly behind you, using frontal lighting – as photographers were once advised in order to get the most consistent results. At the other, you can shoot towards the sun to create such sought-after photographic effects as silhouettes and rim lighting. In between, there is a multitude of angles at which the sun hits your subject – each of which will give a different degree of contrast, colour and shadow patterns. Learning which works best for different scenes is a useful skill for the photographer. It enables you to then plan to be at a particular spot at the right time of day – or year – so that you are more likely to get the result that you're after. Understanding directional lighting: photography cheat sheet Our cheat sheet below illustrates the effects the sun creates at different angles in the sky, and how you can ensure good exposures. Simply click on the infographic to see the larger version, or drag and drop it to your desktop. The sun behind you Frontal lighting creates the most even illumination across the scene. Shadows are hidden, so form and texture can be hard to make out – but colours in the sky and in the scene itself are usually at their most vibrant. Shooting into the sun Backlighting throws the surface of much of the scene into shadow. Expose for the brightest part of the scene and you get a silhouette. Crop in and expose for the shadows and you get a softly lit image. With the sun to the side Side-lighting creates dramatic results, illuminating some surfaces and throwing others into shadow. It is great for revealing texture and form in the landscape – and provides strong colour in the best lit areas. See our 10 common exposure problems every photographer faces (and how to fix them) Final Tip: use your feet! With some scenes and vistas, you have to wait for the right time of day for the sun to be in position. But for many, getting the shot that you want is simply a case of moving yourself into the right position. With smaller structures – such as a church or castle, a short walk around the subject is all that is needed. For others – such as a mountain – a well-planned drive is essential. Work out sun angles in advance using an utility such as Photographer's Ephemeris (free for computers, £5.99 iPhone/iPad, photoephemeris.com). READ MORE The 10 Rules of Photo Composition (and why they work) How to track the sun for perfect landscape photos See the light like a pro: everything you were afraid to ask about natural light Photography lighting: how to take control of everything from natural light to using flash

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