Tag: marble falls texas digital artist

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Does Expensive Photography Gear Really Create Better Images?

In photography, budgets are always a consideration, and what happens when a budget is restrictive, can you still create good images? In short, expensive gear does NOT create better images, a knowledgeable photographer does. So how do you create better images on a budget? We will explore those answers now.

First and foremost, if you want to create strong images, practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more. Learn the gear that you own. Kow how, what and where to use it. Know how it is used. Know what gear to be used in various conditions. Know where different gear performs best. Understand the gear you own like the back of your hand, and you will create better images.

Secondly, practice, practice, practice, and practice some more, but this time practice photography skills. Learn lighting, both natural and flash, focus, composition, exposure, post-processing etc. When a photographer has a viable understanding of photography skills, it becomes easy to create strong images. From start to finish, photos can be created with intention.

Lastly, to examine the issue of budget. Purchase the gear you can afford. That purchase will most likely be different from one photographer to the next. When considering lenses and cameras, most of the time it’s better to opt for better glass, buy a better, quality lens. Gear can always be sold and upgraded. Brand comes down to personal preferences, and actual gear specifics come down to what you shoot. The answers to these questions today will most likely change in the future, so do what works best for you now, and allow for growth for in future where you can. Technology for photography is ever changing, and your budget will most likely be too.

Therefore, having the most expensive gear does NOT make the photographer. Sure, it can help but having a strong foundation in photography, the gear you own, and the skills that allow you to craft your images are irreplaceable. Purchase the gear you can afford and that fits your budget. Invest a tremendous amount of time into learning your gear and the skills of photography. Hone your craft. Do that and you’ll most likely find the success that you’re looking for in your photography.

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Can My Phone Camera Really Take Pictures as well as a Mirrorless or DSLR Camera?

In this blog, we will contemplate whether or not a phone camera can really replace a mirrorless or DSLR camera. In short, the answer is yes AND no, but what are the reasons? We will examine those reasons now.

First and foremost, just having a camera when you need one is a must. Many times, the moment arises that we want to capture, and all we have is our phone camera. So, especially in this case, yes! Having a camera becomes what is important and obviously, less emphasis is place on the actual type of camera, and with their compact size and multi-use, we almost always have one with us. But what if we have a mirrorless or DSLR camera with us?

So secondly, how does image quality compare? With all the new technology, phone cameras have no doubt come a long way. In certain circumstances, the image quality can be quite good, especially when photos are just used digitally or for social media. But how do phone cameras actually perform beyond that? Can a phone camera perform as well as a mirrorless or DSLR camera for media that isn’t just digital or being shared on only social media?

Thus, thirdly, we will discuss a comparison of the overall performance of a phone camera and a mirrorless or DSLR camera. In this photographer’s opinion, the no. 1 reason a camera phone fails is lighting. If it’s sunny and bright, a camera phone is great, but if it’s low light, images quickly become soft and grainy. Camera phones just do not, as of yet, perform well in low light. They also lack in pixels/resolution when it comes to printing a photo. Camera phones typically do ok with prints up to an 8×10 image, but if you need a larger print, mirrorless or DSLR cameras win hands down.

Therefore, when deciding which is a better choice in photography, a phone camera or a mirrorless or DSLR camera, the answer is always the one that you have with you. The camera phone is hard to beat with its availability, size and in the right circumstances/use for the photo, but when you have access to a mirrorless or DSLR camera, especially in low light conditions or when you want higher quality for prints, the camera phone just isn’t there yet. Perhaps someday, but not yet.

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3 Primary Reasons Photos Fail

In this blog post, we will discuss the 3 primary reason a photo fails — focus, lighting and composition. We’ve all seen them, photos that just don’t work, but why? Some believe that they just need better gear, but even with the most expensive gear, images can still fall short. Again, why? I will argue that there are 3 primary reasons, focus, lighting and composition, and if you can master those, then the pictures you take can only get better.

In no specific order, we will explore the matter of focus first. Many images just aren’t sharp, and a blurry focus will break the best shot. If an image is soft in focus or if focus falls in the wrong place, it can be make or break for the overall image. Granted some of the strongest images use a balance between sharpness and blur. It’s one of the key ways to establish depth of field in an image, and why is depth of field important? Simply stated, it directs the viewer’s eye through an image, it tells the viewer what the photographer wants them to see and where to look, and even when. So, if everything is blurry or if focus is not where it needs to be, the shot just won’t be good.

The second area of a photo to consider is lighting. If a photo is too dark or too light, it just defeats the image. Too dark and it can’t be seen, too light and it becomes so bright, it washes or completely blows an image out, but when an image’s lighting is defined properly, it establishes mood, it sets a feeling or emotion in an image, and it creates a setting that ultimately gives a photo impact. So, lighting is a very critical component of creating a strong image, and it simply must be captured correctly.

Lastly, the third factor that directly influences a photograph is composition. Simply stated, composition tells a story, it guides the viewer’s eye, and it is used to evoke emotion. In photography, it intentionally arranges core visual elements, form/shape, tone/color, texture, balance etc. The elements can further be used to define space through the use of leading lines, negative/positive space, framing, layering etc. Without composition, an image becomes nothing short of chaos because the viewer doesn’t know what he/she is looking at or even why. A successful photo needs organization between the foreground, midground and the background to be created in an image so the viewer can understand the image’s purpose. Composition creates a hierarchy of what is important in an image, and it provides the viewer with a roadmap of the image, so it too, is crucial in a photo’s overall success.

Therefore, if you want to create images that are successful and that make an impact on its viewers, when taking a photograph, attention needs to be given to focus, lighting and composition. When you accomplish these areas of photography, your images will allow the viewer to see what and how you want them to see the story that you’re telling, to understand the meaning and purpose of it, and how you want them to feel. Achieve that and your photography will ultimately, find success and have an impact on its viewer.