4x5 Press Camera

The view camera was one of the earliest camera designs and among serious photographers and hobbyists is still very much alive and well today.  Particularly the 4×5 view camera has a prominent place in the modern film camera market.  There are a lot of reasons for this including freedom for creativity and quality of the photographs.

So what exactly is a 4×5 view camera?  Even though most people used to dealing with digital cameras would find a view camera extremely complex, the truth is the complete opposite.  At it’s basis it’s the simplest a camera with a lens can get.  Very basically it consists of a front standard, a rear standard, a set of bellows in between and a lens.  The front standard is where the lens is mounted and where the shutter (typically inside of all modern lenses) is located.  The flexible bellows provide a light tight expandable and contractable space between the front and rear standards.  And the rear standard at the back of the camera is where the film is held for exposure.  Of course most cameras have a few more parts, particular modern cameras, but this is the typical layout.

The 4×5 part of 4×5 view camera is simply the size film it uses and the size negative which is produced.  4×5 is the most popular due to it’s ease of use and price but view cameras come in many sizes such as 5×7, 8×10, 11×14, 12×20 and many more, not to mention custom sizes.  But 4×5 film can, unlike most of these others, be fairly readily found at most specialty stores and processed for less than a fortune.

Now to complicate somewhat that simplistic view I laid out above, there are a couple of different basic types of 4×5 view camera.

The first type is known as a monorail camera.  This is the type of view camera that’s typically used in a studio.  In this design the front and rear standards are both attached to a single central rail which allow them to slide back and forth for focusing.  Monorail 4×5 cameras typically have a far greater range of moment and are more appropriate for doing many types of technical shots, including macrophotography, than their counterparts.  The downside is that they are usually quite heavy and cumbersome as well as not being very compact for carrying.  Sinar is one company that produces mainly monorail cameras

The other type of 4×5 camera is known as a field camera.  It basically reverses the advantages and disadvantages of the monorail type camera.  While a 4×5 field camera lacks somewhat in movements it is usually far lighter and easier to handle than a monorail.  In addition, the field camera can typically be folded up to quite small dimensions for comfortably toting around.  This is the camera of choice for landscape photographers.  Camera makers such as Toyo have a good line of field cameras.

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50 mm Lens

There’s a good chance that today’s high school students do not even remember film cameras-loading the roll of film, taking the pictures through a viewfinder, getting it developed, and receiving both the pictures and negatives in return. However, all of them probably have cameras on their cell phones and another digital camera of their own, which they can work with such skill and precision that allows them to show the world the pictorial version of their lives via Facebook. With all of the fancy options available within the tiny box that we call digital cameras, do they really meet the quality of their original film counterparts?

Film camera users may look at the “pros” of digital cameras with distaste, and digital camera users may not be able to see any benefit at all to using old-school film. Whether you are a snooty purist who loves having negatives and point-and-click cameras or a control freak that enjoys the instant gratification of digital cameras, you must take a look at the pros and cons of both camera types before you denigrate the opposite camera.

Digital photography is a wonderfully convenient development. You have the ability to see a copy of the just-taken picture on the digital screen of the camera, determine whether you like it or not, and delete or  keep it. Some digital cameras allow you to switch back and forth from color to black-and-white to sepia and back. Other digitals give you even more effects, such as having everything in black-and-white except for a color you choose to enhance, such as blue if you are taking a picture of a person with blue eyes.

Film photography captures the true, beautiful essence of whatever you decide to photograph. The quality of photos taken with older film cameras is decidedly higher than the printed-off digital counterparts. Also, film cameras are still cheaper than digital ones. Of course, digital cameras are constantly decreasing in price, but when compared feature-to-feature, film cameras offer more bang for your buck. Additionally, it is now possible to get your prints taken with a film camera put on a disc.

Either way, with the variety of both digital and film cameras available, you should be able to find exactly what you need based on your desire for quality or the ease of instantly uploading your pictures to your computer. A camera is an excellent way to capture your memories or create wonderful works of art. You even have the option of turning your photos into canvas pictures.

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Misty weather in the Pyrenees by iammi-z

Nature photography relies on your sensitivity to the natural light above all else. You have surely heard that for good landscape photography, you generally want sunny conditions, early or late in the day when the light is low and soft. However, this does not apply to every situation, and busy lifestyles do not always allow us to choose the conditions in which we take our photos.

Have you ever planned and set aside a day to get out and practice your nature photography, only to wake up to grey, cloudy skies? You are not alone, this happens to us all; professional and beginner alike. And of course when you are traveling, you often only have one chance to take your photos before moving on, so you have to make the best of the situation as you find it.

Photographers, don’t despair. There are many situations that suit cloudy skies just fine; in fact, there are some situations when cloudy skies are the best option for a good nature photo. Here are just a few situations that you could explore when cloudy weather threatens to derail your photography outing.

#1. Rainforest Photography. When the sun shines brightly through the rainforest canopy, it creates patches of light and shade that make perfect exposure next to impossible. You simply can’t manage the contrast in these conditions. Cloudy weather is actually the best way to take good rainforest photos. Some would say the cloudier the better, because if your rainforest is high enough to be in the clouds, you can capture some very atmospheric misty effects in the forest.

I live in South East Queensland, so I am close to both the beach and some fabulous rainforest. My rule is: If it’s sunny, go to the beach. If the weather is grey and cloudy, grab your camera and head for the rainforest.

#2. Wildlife Photography (Pets and People Too). Bright sunlight can be a problem when shooting wildlife. In the middle part of the day, the sun can create heavy shadows which make exposure difficult, and rob your photo of essential colour and detail that gives the subject its character. Worst of all, sunlight can create shadows on the face of your subject. As you know, the critical part of any good wildlife photo is the eyes. If the eyes in your photo are lost in shadow, the personal connection with the subject is lost.

Animals do not like looking into the sun any more than you do, so even early in the morning and late in the afternoon, when the light is softer, photography can be difficult. More often than not, you will probably find your subject turning away from the light.

If you take your photo on a cloudy day, you can capture your wildlife subject in soft, even light that allows perfect exposure without ugly shadows. There will also be less glare reflecting off shiny surfaces (a snake’s skin, a bird’s feathers etc.) so your picture can actually appear more colourful.

#3. Sunset Photography. Clouds create a much more interesting sunset photo than clear skies. All you need is for the sun to break through the clouds as they cross the horizon. A good nature photographer learns to read the sky and try to predict what is coming. Often on a grey, cloudy day you will notice that the only patch of clear sky is far away near the horizon. If that is the case, you can go looking for a good location and set up for your sunset photo.

With a bit of luck, there will be several breaks in the clouds before the sun goes down. If so, you could be on the spot to photograph spectacular sunbeams, a truly wonderful effect that every nature photography hopes to capture.

Like all things in nature photography, all the planning in the world means nothing without a bit of luck. You may get your photo all set up, only to see the gap in the clouds close and your chance of a good photo disappear. Persistence wins in the end, so keep trying and from time to time you will end up with some breathtaking sunset photos.

I hope that next time you wake up to cloudy skies, you will not let that stop you from getting out there to take some great nature photos. As your experience grows, you will find it easier to read the light and know what sort of photography suits the conditions. Until then, practice, practice, practice!

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(ARA) – Do you ever wonder how professional photographers capture such amazing images? It doesn’t take a fancy camera or expensive photo-editing software to get incredible photos you’ll be proud to share with friends and family.

Tracey Clark, a professional photographer and founder of the popular online photography community ShutterSisters.com, offers five simple tips to help you get great photos.

* Shoot unexpected portraits to capture authentic beauty and personality.
Part of the art of capturing great photos of your friends and family is learning to watch and wait for moments to reveal themselves. In addition to traditional posed portraits, take photos when your subject is not performing for the camera. Ideal photo opportunities present themselves when your subject is engaged in an activity like reading, singing, dancing, or interacting with other people.

* Capture unique perspectives to create artistic images.
Shoot above and beyond traditional eye-level snapshots. Kneel and shoot up, or step on a stool to shoot down. Get up close to your subject. Tilt the horizon line of your image slightly for a unique angle. We’re so used to pointing and shooting, but it is just as simple to create artful images by composing your shots a little differently.

* Frame the shot to give your images visual interest.
Consider your surroundings and how you can use visual elements like doorways, trees or even negative space to frame your image. This simple technique can truly enhance your everyday photos by adding context.

* Edit photos to bring out the natural beauty in your photos.
Often, the image captured by a camera loses the details and colors of what you saw in real-life. Or perhaps you captured a photo of special moment and the lighting was not ideal. Photo editing can rescue your images and take your photos from good to great. One new and very affordable photo editing solution is Aurora. It is intuitive and powerful photo editing software developed by Light Crafts. Aurora has an intelligent visual photo editor that suggests improvements to your images, making it easy for anyone to feel like a photo-editing expert.

* Experiment and play.
Use your intuition and curiosity when capturing and editing photos. Pushing the boundaries of photography and photo-editing techniques can be a lot of fun and a great way to learn.

For more photography tips and editing ideas, visit www.lightcrafts.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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(ARA) – In today’s digital era, it’s easy to design and publish your own photography book at an affordable price. In fact, Americans will produce 17 million photo books in 2009, according to a Futuresource Consulting estimate. Wedding books, family photo books, and artistic collections of photos published in a coffee table book are especially popular for commemorating special memories.

Samira Kordestani, a professional book designer, offers these tips to help you get started on your own masterpiece:

Choose a publishing platform that gives you professional-quality options.
Blurb.com offers free Blurb BookSmart software, which makes it easy to design an incredible book using professionally-designed layouts. Select from many book sizes, small or large, and simply drag and drop your photos into the layouts of your choice. Once you order your book, it takes only one week to publish and deliver it to your doorstep.

Decide on a story or message for your book.
Great photo books tell a story. Whether it’s an event or a themed collection of images, think about your vision for the book before you begin and then select your favorite photos to help tell your story.

Remember that you are creating a visual experience, not just a book.
Play around with design options on your first several pages. Try out different backgrounds, photo borders and page layouts. Once you’ve discovered the look you like best, keep it consistent throughout your book so that each page has a connection with the next.

Typography is just as important as your photos.
If you are adding captions, stories or other text to your book, select a font and text size that works well with your overall book design. The placement of text should visually complement your photos and other design elements.

Select compelling cover photos.
The front cover of your book should tease the subject of your work, and create an emotional hook that inspires you to want to see more. The back cover is your opportunity to share a final message.

If you are interested in having a photography book published but are short on time, you can always contact a professional book designer through BlurbNation, a community of experienced designers available for hire. For more information, visit www.blurb.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Fall foliage
Fall colours on a tree by Marja Flick-Buijs

Fall Foliage

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Thistles …..

….on a country road (in September)
by Andrea Kratzenberg

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