SIMPLE BUT FUN THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR DSLR AND LENSES
Have some spare time and enough enthusiasm to get creative with your DSLR? Armed just with your Nikon DSLR and kit lens, you can try a few whacky experiments. These are not just fun to do, but can also turn out to be quite creative if you know what you’re doing. Here’s a few you can try to begin with. Zoom bursts You can try this with a DSLR and any zoom lens. Shoot in low light conditions. Mount your camera on a tripod, and focus on your subject. Make sure there’s enough light on the subject. Frame it by zooming in. Use Shutter priority auto (S mode) and select a shutter speed of 2 seconds or longer. Use exposure delay mode for blur free shots. Press the shutter release button and wait for the exposure to start. As soon as the exposure begins, start zooming out. Stop zooming out once the exposure ends. Check the results, try again, if you’re not satisfied! Radial blur Use a slow shutter speed around ½ sec or 1/4th second, in low light conditions. Try to move the camera a little bit on both sides in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. If done correctly, the subject at the […]
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HAVING FUN WITH AUTOMATED MODES
If you own any Nikon DSLR starting from the D3300 series upto the D750, there are many automated modes that will help you take good images, even if you have no concept of the basics of photography. Let’s learn about a few of the most useful automated modes. Auto mode: This mode allows anyone who can hold the camera and aim it at a subject to shoot and get a good exposure. This mode controls all aspects of shooting, and if the camera detects low light, pop goes the flash, giving you correctly exposed images under any circumstances. It’s symbol is a green camera and you can spot it instantly. Portrait mode This mode uses a wide aperture and focuses on the portrait subject, to make the portrait stand out against a blurred background. To intensify the defocused background, zoom in and ensure the background is far away from the subject. In low light, this mode will switch on the built-in-flash and ensure the flash fires in the red eye reduction mode to prevent red eye effect. Focus modes are selected to ensure focus is on the main subject. Landscape mode The camera uses small apertures as per the available […]
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Meet the NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S
Go ultra-wide and achieve superior performance while staying agile with the new NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S Johannesburg, South Africa, 08 January 2019 – Nikon Z series photographers can now enjoy a new ultra-wide-angle zoom lens that packs superior optical performance along with added portability, agility and operability in the new NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S, announced by Nikon Middle East FZE today. Empowered by the new Z-mount system that fully utilises short flange focal distance, the NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S is part of the S-Line1 lenses and is a compact and highly practical lens for landscape and cityscape photography. Covering a dynamic ultra-wide angle of 14mm to a wide angle of 30mm with a constant maximum aperture of f/4 throughout the range, the lens is versatile for capturing a variety of scenes without the need for a lens change. Additionally, the use of Nikon’s exclusive coating technologies, including Nano Crystal Coat, effectively suppresses ghost and flare, contributing to extremely clear photos and videos. The lens achieves rendering performance that will change the perception of ultra-wide-angle zoom lenses with a maximum aperture of f/4. The lens is the world’s first2 FX-format lens to support direct filter attachment despite starting at a […]
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EMBRACE THE DARKNESS
If you are looking to add some drama to that dull old portrait images, then you have come to the right place. Introducing low key portraiture, a way of capturing portraits with a dark and dramatic look and feel. This technique is all about creating a contemplative mood through the clever use of shadows and lighting. If the technique looks familiar, it’s because many mainstream movie posters utilise this technique to add that extra hint of drama. Distance and lighting are the two most important factors when trying to achieve this technique, by carefully adjusting both, you would be able to create this effect easily. D3S, f/2.8, 1/100, ISO 1600, AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II LIGHTING In simple terms, low key photography is all about making your background far darker than your subject. The first thing to factor in is your light source. The choice of light source is entirely up to you, as long as there is only one. By no means is this a strict rule, but having one primary source of light allows you to properly control your environment, and gives you the flexibility to focus solely on the direction and strength. When choosing a […]
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GETTING CLARITY ON BOKEH
Create stunning and artistic masterpieces with a technique known as bokeh. Referring to the blurring or haziness in an image, bokeh gives character to your composition and even helps you to place emphasis on your subject matter. FINDING THE APT APERTURE The first step to achieving a bokeh is using a wide aperture, such as f/2.8. A wide aperture will give you a shallower depth of field, thereby allowing you to isolate your subject from a distracting background. Everything beyond your chosen focal point will then be softened and blurred. This large aperture will let in more light, which in turn, helps decrease depth of field, resulting in a smoother and more wholesome bokeh that’s pleasing to the eye. Another thing to note is that the number of blades on your aperture may affect the shape and looks of the bokeh you will achieve. The more blades, the rounder the bokeh. D610, f/8, 1/250, ISO 250, AF Zoom-Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4D IF MASTERING DEPTH OF FIELD The key to mastering bokeh is learning to use depth of field to your advantage. To put it plainly, you must have adequate space between the foreground and background, as it is this distance that […]
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FINDING THE PERFECT BALANCE
WHAT IS BALANCE In the world of photography, balance is key. Balance is a technique that can help you construct a more visually appealing shot. It’s also a great point of reference for you to improve your images. But what exactly is balance in photography? To begin, there are many types of balance. It can be defined by colour, positioning of elements and subjects, lights and shadows, overall tone, and even perspective. The easiest way to describe visual balance is when the eye of the viewer is drawn to the main subject but is also aware of other elements in the scene. It is about bringing complementary elements together to create a composition that is pleasing to the eye, rather than having them compete for attention. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, but that’s the nature of art and photography. Photographed with the Nikon D90 and the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR at 105 mm, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/500s COLOUR Since the invention of colour photography, colour has been integral to helping create a mood or feeling in a composition. Colour is also one of the easiest ways to give balance. One simple way you […]
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How to take brilliant photos of Fireworks
Try our tips for capturing the atmosphere and making your photography go with a bang! Organised displays are your best bet for spectacular effects. It’s worthwhile doing a recce beforehand to identify interesting backdrops and angles. Don’t forget the foreground, either – shooting solely against a black sky can make fireworks look a bit flat so try framing your shot with trees, buildings or even the crowd in the foreground to inject some depth. You’re going to need a longish exposure – a couple of seconds – so you’ll get the best results with your camera mounted on a tripod, using a remote release to minimise the risk of vibration. In terms of DX lenses, a wideangle lens like the AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR is ideal, although if you’re a bit farther away than you would like, a telephoto zoom such as the AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR can save the day. If you’ve got a full-frame D-SLR, then wide-angle lenses like the AF-S NIKKOR 24–70mm f/2.8E ED VR or the AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR are both good choices. There are a number of different approaches to photographing fireworks, all of which produce good results, one way is to set your lens […]
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Your Essential Guide to Photographing Christmas with Nikon School
Family, friends, gifts, good food, twinkly lights and Christmas trees – the festive season is full of fantastic photo opportunities. Make the most of them with these top tips from our experts at Nikon School. The tree Christmas tree shots can be surprisingly tricky, especially with a very large tree, where trying to squeeze the whole thing into the frame can lead to a confusing image devoid of any main point of focus. Instead, either use it as a backdrop for portraits or try homing in on just one or two tree decorations. Do watch out for your reflection in shiny baubles – you may need to move them or yourself slightly. Family and friends First of all, think about your background. A Christmas tree can look great and suitably festive. Next, select your shooting mode: aperture priority mode (A) is your best bet, but go with Program (P) if you’re less confident, as it will do the work for you, leaving you free to compose and shoot. If you do use A mode, you will have more control over your depth of field, however, as you can control the aperture yourself. For group shots, to keep everyone sharp if […]
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What to Have in Your Travel Kitbag
When you’re travelling, weight and bulk are important. Heard of the 80:20 rule, which suggests that 80% of your images will come from around 20% of your kit? Less is definitely more when it comes to holiday kit… Do your research As with any holiday, it pays to do your research. So your kit-list planning should kick off with a good look at your destination’s location, climate and photo opportunities (for example, beaches, underwater scenes, mountains, cityscapes, ancient monuments, culture and people). The main thing to watch out for is “just in case” packing: those two extra lenses, that third ancient camera body, your entire filter kit, that hefty tripod… The more gear you take with you, the more onerous it is to cart about and the harder it is to keep a safe eye on it. One good tip is to get out everything you think you’ll need for your destination, pack it, weigh it (to see how well it fits in with hand-luggage requirements for air travel, for example) and then walk round the house with it to get an idea of how carrying it everywhere will feel. Now put it away for a couple of days and […]
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NIKON ASSIGNMENT: DECEMBER 2018
Would you like to have your image displayed in Nikon House Centurion? Participate in our monthly Nikon Assignments and you could be one of seven lucky photographers who will get the opportunity to have their image displayed. Each Nikon Assignment will have a unique theme to challenge photographers to get creative and use their photographic skills. COLOUR We all see in colour, yet we all take it for granted. We are bombarded by colours everyday, and they have a profound effect on us. They influence where we look, how we look, even how we think. The primary way to exploit colour in your pictures is through composition. Assuming that you are not going to carry around a bright red apple to place artfully in your every frame, you have to observe and notice the colours that are there, and then compose your picture in such a way that they are presented effectively. Use contrasting colours. Find a pop of colour. Use colour to create an abstract photo. Use bright colourful backgrounds. The creative opportunities are endless! The brief Submit an image includes an element of colour. To participate in the assignment, you must: SNAP – Take a photograph incorporating colour. […]
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