Category Archives: SLR

Anatomy of a photo #12: Lava tube II: Scale

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

This lava tube was a great contrast to Valentine’s, both in scale, and what I had to do to take a picture that made sense. If you look at yesterday’s post you will notice from visual clues such as the … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy of a photo, How To, My favorite Parks, National Park, nature photography, photography, SLR | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anatomy of a photo #11: Lava tube I: Temperature

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

I took this picture for a micro travel piece that I knew I would be writing. This is one of several lava tubes that you can explore in Lava Beds National Monument near the border of Oregon and California (eastern side). … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy of a photo, How To, My favorite Parks, National Park, nature photography, photography, SLR | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Anatomy of a photo #10: Freezing the flow of water in an image: Gull and crab claw

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

This post relates to the importance of shutter speed. A fast shutter speed can freeze action, making something like water appear solid- almost like crystal or an ice sculpture. The picture above for example was taken with a shutterspeed of … Continue reading →

Posted in Anatomy of a photo, birds, How To, kayak photography, marine life, nature photography, photography, portraits, SLR, wildlife photography | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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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Do I need image stabilization in my camera or lens?

Posted on June 5, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

The answer to this question lies in what you intend to use your cameras and lenses for. Most people can escape without IS, VR, (or what other term your camera manufacturer uses to say that the camera and lens you … 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

Practice panning so that you can get smooth crisp movement

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Galen Leeds Photography

Now that SLRs are video capable, it becomes necessary to practice more skills. One that can be especially useful is panning. First, whenever possible use a tripod. You will have more control and a smoother result. The actual speed of … Continue reading →

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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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