Category Archives: Photography Tools

Workflow with Digital Images

Aug
28
2011
by Jessy | 2 Comments

Many of us always remember the basics of our workflows.  Its the items like “keywords” and “naming conventions” that we don’t take the time to add to our photos when we initially upload and start working on them.

I am just as guilty if not more guilty of this than everyone else.  I finally got annoyed with it and started working through my many gigs of photos.  Luckily I have them grouped in directories that assist with some of this so I can add keywords in 1 fail swoop, then go back for the specific different ones later.  This is still taking a tremendous amount of time that I would rather use processing  photos.

Please remember to complete your keywords and any naming convention changes the day you drop your photos on your machine, it will save so much work later!

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Photoshop Brushes

Aug
26
2011
by Jessy | 1 Comment

I found some great brush sets at Paxton Prints!  He has put together some great brushes and textures that you may want to check out.  I even found some Light Room workflows on the site that are open for (Free) download and provide great installation instructions if this is something that you are new to.

All of these items are easy to install and use to help you provide some more artistic touches to your photos without spending the time to create each of these yourselves!

If you have other resources that you primarily use please share them here so that we can build a library of links for everyone.

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Photography Contests

Aug
15
2011
by Jessy | 1 Comment

ViewBug appears to have several active Photography Contests at all times.  Its a great community with several different photography groups.

Each photo contest has specific types and rules as well as differing prizes per contest.  Many of the contests are free though some cost but you can get around these “per photo costs” by purchasing a membership.  I have found that regardless of winning there is the ability to request critiques and a great opportunity to receive feedback from other photographers!

ViewBug also has the ability to sell your photos online.  Check it out!

ViewBug

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Lens Filters

Jun
12
2011
by Jessy | 5 Comments

Back when I used my Sony A300 I just bought filters off of ebay, and very cheap ones at that. I never knew that there really was a difference. When doing sunset pics one of my fellow photographers mentioned that I needed filters for my new camera (Nikon D7000). I agreed but since I’m finally getting serious I wasn’t sure what to get. I did some research before on the Hoya filters because at some point I would like to get into IR photography.

I must say the good Hoya IR filters are expensive and since this is still just a hobby that is on the back burner.

I did some further research lately on the hoya filters again. I wanted a UV and a circular polarizing filter. I will get my ND filters when my funds replenish again. I was able to find that Hoya has a great “introductory kit” for filters. This includes the CP, UP, and Warming filter from Hoya. The kit also comes with a nice little filter case that holds up to 4 filters. These filters were more expensive than some of the others that you find on ebay or other places but after using them only twice I must say that they are well worth the money!

I always thought of the CP being used with water and the sun but then I thought, why not the moon. With my rather cheap 55-300mm lens and the CP filter I got this image!

You can see the detail of the moon with amazing clarity. Taking this photo and seeing the clarity I was able to get with a long exposer, ISO of 100 f/22 I was taken back! Now I just want a new lens to try some more of this, that of course, will be when my funds replenish. Check out the hoya filters and do your research though, you can also find them cheaper on Amazon, but I would say they are well worth the money!
Hoya Filter Kits

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First tripod

Jun
05
2011
by Jessy | 1 Comment

So I finally got my first tripod!

This has been a difficult purchase as they can be so expensive.  Still being a new photographer I wanted to get something cheaper (as I’m not sure what I will want/need) and something still very portable.  As you can see many of my images are done outside and I wonder around a lot.

I finally found a site called B&H, they have so many tripods it’s unbelievable.  After reading several reviews I finally settled on the Vista by Davis & Sanford VIRV Ranger Tripod. It was very cheap in terms of tripods and has worked out very well. My first image using the tripod is below. I took one with the tripod and one without just to prove to myself how much I needed the tripod. Needless to say, on the same settings (slow shutter) I’m not going to post the pic without the tripod.

I must say that the controls on the tripod for positioning and holding the camera are made out of plastic and thus it’s difficult to hold the exact position that you wanted, but for an amateur like myself it’s fine. For the $27.00 I spent on this tripod it will last plenty long enough for me until I’m ready to buy a higher price tripod.

Image using tripod
Orange Sunset

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