Monthly Archive for June, 2006

Quality of Light - the Size of your Light Source - Digital Photography Tip of the Day

Published
by
Chris
on June 28, 2006
in Digital Photography Tips & Info
. 0 Comments

Light is the foundation for all great photos. Great photographers can both read the light and manipulate it to meet their needs. Even if light manipulation is out of the realm of most photographers, knowing a little about the quality of light can still help you in your photography. The quality of light is one of the key distinctions between two photographs. Today I am going to briefly discuss the quality of light as it is influenced by the size of your light source.

In general, a larger light source relative to your subject will produce a softer, more flattering light with diffused shadows, soft highlights and low contrast than that of a smaller light source. A smaller light source will produce harsher, more contrasty light that will yield sharply defined shadows, more contrast and large, bright highlights. Relative is the key in this statement though.

The sun, though physically larger than any other light source you can find, is only a very small, point source in relation to your subject. It produces very strong, harsh, directional shadows and high contrast photographs. An overcast day on the other hand provides very soft, even light with diffused shadows. The clouds act as a diffuser and become a massive light source relative to your subject. If you have ever been to a professional photographer for a portrait session, you will have seen this in action. They will likely have used large 42″ umbrellas or 60″ softboxes to act as a large light source. This allows them to create soft lighting and shadows we find attractive in a portrait.

How can you apply this knowledge in your photography? Look for large light sources for low contrast, soft light images, and try to use smaller light sources for images where you want a harsher light. Soft (large) light sources include the shade of a tree, an overcast sky, or a large window, either with shears drawn, or without direct sunlight filtering in. Small light sources include light from a flash, either on or off camera or as I mentioned earlier, the sun.

Get out and try it to see for yourself. Shoot a subject in bright, directional sunlight, and again under an overcast sky. Soft light is not always the best light, but learning to identify it, and when to use will certainly improve your photography.

The digital photography tip of the week is written by the PCIN Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Chris is a long time photographer and is currently the President of the Niagara Falls Camera Club. You can see more of his photography at his Photo of the Day website.
If you have a tip to send Chris, or a question about digital photography he can address in the newsletter, send it to chris@pcin.net.

Computers break down less often: survey

Published
by
Graham
on June 27, 2006
in Computer News
. 0 Comments

From Reuters:

Computers have become more reliable in recent years as manufacturers have improved designs, but one in every six new notebooks still needs to be repaired within a year after purchase, a survey found on Tuesday.

Failure rates of both desktop and portable notebook computers have improved in the 2005-2006 period compared with 2003-2004, market research group Gartner found.

Five percent of desktop computers need to have a component replaced within the first year, compared with 7 percent two years ago. Four years after purchase the chance that a desktop computer needs to be repaired is 12 percent, compared with 15 percent in 2003-2004.

PC users ‘want greener machines’

Published
by
Graham
on June 27, 2006
in Computer News
. 0 Comments

From the BBC:

Consumers are willing to pay up to an extra £108 ($197) for a PC containing fewer chemicals, a survey has found.

People also feel manufacturers should take responsibility for the disposal of old machines, the research shows.

So-called e-waste is a growing global problem, with 30 million PCs being dumped each year in the US alone.

Make your GMail Signature For Free

Published
by
Graham
on June 27, 2006
in Email Tips and Recommended Web Sites
. 5 Comments

I think I’ve mentioned something similar to this before, yet I couldn’t find it, so here it is. The site has 3 images to choose from. You enter what your username is, and it puts it in the image for you. This displays your email address, but hides it from email harvestors (or spambots).

gawing_gmail.png

Make your own Gmail signature…

Coming soon: Mind-reading computers

Published
by
Graham
on June 26, 2006
in Computer News
. 0 Comments

From TechRepublic:

A raised eyebrow, quizzical look or a nod of the head are just a few of the facial expressions computers could soon be using to read people’s minds.

An “emotionally aware” computer being developed by British and American scientists will be able to read an individual’s thoughts by analyzing a combination of facial movements that represent underlying feelings.

“The system we have developed allows a wide range of mental states to be identified just by pointing a video camera at someone,” said professor Peter Robinson, of the University of Cambridge in England.

Online SiGGy Maker

Published
by
Graham
on June 23, 2006
in Recommended Web Sites
. 0 Comments

User Bars:These are the so called User bars :) , you can use them as your email or forum signature, it also helps in hiding ID’s from spambots.

Have you been on a blog or bulletin board web site and noticed users who have nice graphics as part of their “signature”? Well, GFXedit.com has a few that you can customize.

google0xf.png

As of the time of this posting they have 6 styles to choose from along with 7 fonts. You can add your name (or other short text) to them as well.

Free Printable Coloring Pages

Published
by
Graham
on June 23, 2006
in Recommended Web Sites
. 0 Comments

I found this at FreeAfterRebate.info…

If you have small children or work with small children, then you should check out FreePrintableColoringPages.net. They claim to have over 1,800 pages to download and print. The pages are in categories and all seem to be in PNG format. Even if you have children that are a little older, there are maps, military pictures, and more that may be good for project. The only drawback is since these are “coloring pages”, they are all in black and white.

Most Microsoft Workers Search With Google

Published
by
Graham
on June 22, 2006
in Computer News
. 0 Comments

From TechWeb:

An overwhelming majority of Microsoft employees use rival Google to search the Internet, bloggers and a Web metrics company claimed Tuesday.

Andrew Hitchcock, a 20-year-old student at the University of Washington, got the ball rolling by posting Google Analytics statistics on visitors to his Web site. Of the users originating from Microsoft’s domain who reached Hitchcock’s site via a search engine, 80 percent came through Google. Only 20 percent used a Microsoft search engine (either MSN’s or the Live.com’s).

“Do companies drink their own Kool-Aid? (or eat their own dog food, depending on which company culture you follow),” Hitchcock asked on his site.

The PDF of 55 Ways to Have Fun With Google

Published
by
Graham
on June 22, 2006
in Internet Tips
. 0 Comments

From Google Blogoscoped:

The full PDF of my book, 55 Ways to Have Fun With Google, is now available on 55fun.com. As the book is Creative Commons licensed, you are encouraged to copy, read, share, remix, convert, quote, browse, and print the PDF to your liking. If you do create conversions, e.g. an HTML version, please send me the URL so I can link to it from 55fun.com.

Visit Google Blogoscoped to follow the links to the free PDF.

Bracket Your Exposure - Digital Photography Tip of the Week

Published
by
Chris
on June 21, 2006
in Digital Photography Tips & Info
. 0 Comments

Last week I discussed environmental portraits. We had one reader write asking us “What do you do to photograph an idle layabout?” You can read my answer when viewing the comments for the entry. Remember, if you have any questions or comments about any of the tips appearing here, please send me an email.

This week’s tip is about bracketing your exposures. Hopefully you are using either manual mode or one of the priority modes of your camera (aperture of shutter) for some of your more critical photography. Bracketing is the process of purposely under exposing and overexposing your subject while also taking a photo at the metered exposure. The reason is simply to be sure you can get a good exposure from a hard to meter subject. You may do this manually in manual mode by adjust either your shutter speed or aperture up and down one value from it’s proper exposure reading. For example, if your camera tells you that 1/60 at f8 is the proper exposure, then you could shoot 3 frames, 1/30 @ f8, 1/60 @ f8 and 1/120 @ f8. You may also have the ability to adjust exposure by adjust your EV (exposure value). For this, take your first shot, then make your second shot at an EV of -1, then your third of and EV of +1. Some camera also have an auto bracket mode that once set, will let you take three consecutive shots and the camera will automatically adjust the exposure for you.

As you become more aware of exposure, you can begin to bracket by smaller increments such as 1/2 or 1/3 stops.

Bracket Exposures

In this case, a Large Yellow Lady’s Slipper, I have bracketed my exposure in 1/3 stop increments. As this subject mostly filled the frame, I knew the lighting conditions were pretty easy to meter, however, the waxy texture of this particular orchid tends to produce a bright highlight which could throw the exposure off. The first image is 1/3 stop under exposed, the second is properly exposed, and the third is 1/3 stop over exposed. This series of three photos, while very similiar, are different enough to show that the shot that was exposed at 1/3 of a stop over my meter reading is the best exposure.

Bracketing isn’t necessary for every shot, but for those with tricky lighting situations such as when a bright object appears in the frame near the middle where it is likely trick your camera’s light meter, or when the shot is important and you want to maximize your chances of making sure you have all the light values recorded that you need for a great exposure, bracketing is the way to go.

Next week I will talk about the quality of light as it relates to the size of your light source.

The digital photography tip of the week is written by the PCIN Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Chris is a long time photographer and is currently the President of the Niagara Falls Camera Club. You can see more of his photography at his Photo of the Day website.
If you have a tip to send Chris, or a question about digital photography he can address in the newsletter, send it to chris@pcin.net.