Accomplishment As Artwork

So you have this great new camera. Now you’re standing in front of a display of more film that you’ve ever seen. All you want to do is take some great family photos but you don’t know where to start. Here’s short guide to help you get started.

Film speed is a number that represents the film’s sensitively to light. The higher the number the more sensitive to light, in that the less light is needed to take a well exposed photo. The number is also an indicator of the detail you will receive from the negative. The higher the number the more likely that you’ll see a graininess to the print when enlarged. Film speed goes from 25 to 1600 speed film.

25 to 200 Best for still life and portrait work, in studio conditions where the lighting is controlled. This is not the film for family shots indoors even with a camera mounted flash. You’d really need a complete lighting set up to use this film effectively. 200 speed film is very good for outdoor sunny conditions when you’re trying to get a shot of a beautiful landscape. It offers excellent detail and color saturation.

400 Considered the all purpose film. Most films touted as all subject or general purpose are really 400 speed film. When in doubt use 400 speed film. Though you may still be using your camera mounted flash in room lighting conditions. Also good for outdoor conditions, will give you some flexibility in darker conditions and where you are trying to capture a moving subject.

800 to 1200 Made for capturing fast moving subjects in all types of lighting situations. People running, playing ball, etc. This is the film you want if you want to freeze frame the action of a baseball game. This film speed can be used for capturing fast moving wildlife, like birds, but you will see less detail if you enlarge above a 16 by 20 size.

1600 This film is for super high speed shots. Unless you shooting a car or boat race you probably won’t need this film. Don’t use this for nature and landscape images the lack of detail will be obvious in enlargements.

Most of the time you’ll only need a 400 speed film for basic snapshots. But it doesn’t hurt to use the other speeds for special occasions, you’ll notice a difference.

Copyright 2004 Kelly Paal
Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Recently she started her own business Kelly Paal Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her web design.

Although desirable, digital cameras are not fully functional for an advanced photographer. Photographers select their lenses according to need, with each lens having a special use. For the most part, the advance digital photo trainings include the utilization of lenses.

For now, we will focus on landscape photographs. To ensure your landscape photograph is clear, you need to use the proper lens. You need to determine the proper lens for shooting landscapes. Focal lengths that are commonly used range between 20mm and 35mm. Many people would rather use a 24mm set at f11 when photographing trees at the altitudes because it focuses mainly on the subject and includes everything that will produce desirable effects.

No one set of principles governs how to take digital pictures. The quality of your photographs will correspond with your experience and the effort you put into capturing them. If you do not know about capabilities of your camera’s lens when it is in your hands, then go out and find it out. Try out the lens to see the maximum width and how much area can be covered. If the camera you use is not good quality, the pictures you take will have no depth, which is where the lens can enhance a photograph.. To take a landscape photograph, try using a 20mm.

Examine your photographs; compare them to the others you have taken. Keep in mind the lens you are using, your position and your subject’s position. Make sure you concentrate on all of these factors. It is also wise to compare the photos as to draw a separation between those that are bad, good and great.