Category Archives: How To

Anatomy of a photo #8: Morning calf and fence

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

This is not one of the technically best images, as there are highlights in the calves face that are blown out (detail is lost in the white, because it is a little overexposed). Also, the calves face is more centered … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy of a photo, How To, nature photography, photography, portraits, road side | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Anatomy of a photo #6: Lizard portrait

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

This picture was taken in a friends back yard. There was nothing special about the location, no miles of hiking, no hours of paddling. It was just right there, outside the door. Sometimes you don’t have to go very far … Continue reading →

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Anatomy of a photo #4: The Golden Gate Bridge at sunrise

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

I often feel silly taking pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge… It’s been photographed so many times, by so many people (likely it is one of the most photographed object in the bay area), at so many different times of … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy of a photo, California, How To, How To, landscapes, Location, My favorite Parks, nature photography, photography, road side, SLR | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Focus on the eyes: Anatomy of a photo #2

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

Lesson #1 to taking a picture of a child. Get down low. Be on their level don’t take pictures of the tops of their head. Lesson #2 is to focus on the eyes. This is true of almost any portrait. … Continue reading →

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Avoid clutter in your images now. Don’t rely on Photoshop later

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

One of the simplest things a person can do to improve their images is to look over the scene where they are shooting, before taking the picture. The things to keep your eyes out for are wires in the air, … Continue reading →

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Use presets if you have them to switch between video and still shooting

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

For video and stills you want to use two very different shutter speeds. Often when shooting stills, it is best to have the highest shutter speed you can while maintaining the aperture and ISO that you want. Not so for … Continue reading →

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Don’t let your photos sit in your camera

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

One of the most important things to do when taking pictures is to not leave the pictures on your camera for months, before viewing them on your computer. This is especially true when you are first learning a new camera, … Continue reading →

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Anatomy of a photo: How do I photograph an otter eating a fish?

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

I can only answer this question by explaining how I got high definition video and 20+ megapixel images of a North American River Otter this past weekend. The first key factor was, well, luck. I was kayaking in an area … Continue reading →

Posted in documentary, How To, How To, kayak photography, marine life, nature photography, otters, photography, SLR, video, wildlife photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Getting clarity by turning off your focus

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

One of the best camera tech tips I ever got was to turn off the focus capability of the shutter release button. I’ve been doing so for years now, and today, I suggest that you do the same. (Gasps of … Continue reading →

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