If you take photographs in low-light situations, you already know the frustration that comes from trying to get a great image when light is limited and the action is fast. We’ve got a few ideas to help you capture the pictures you want in these difficult situations:
Adjust your ISO: A camera’s ISO references its sensitivity to light. For low-light conditions, you’ll want to experiment with increasing your ISO setting (this means you’ll have to switch out of automatic mode) to a higher number. There is no magic number here, so you may want to try shooting at several settings in a particular environment to see what works best. And remember to return your settings to the standard mode when you’re done!
Add an External Flash: A high-quality, external flash can improve your chances of getting that quality fast-action shot. Just check the rules regarding the use of flash photography. Some leagues may not permit it, but if you’re covering a local community or children’s league, chances are that it’s not an issue. Try shooting a few shots before the event starts to make adjustments and to see if the lighting is sufficient. We offer a variety of high quality digital TTL flashes and can help you choose the right ones for your needs. www.cooterscamera.com/flashes
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Using Photography to Support Your Kids’ School
Using 
Photography to Support Your Kids’ School by Laura Oles, author of Digital Photography for Busy Women
Like many parents, you invest time supporting your children’s school through volunteer work, fundraising, chaperoning field trips and other labors of love. Parental volunteers are a powerful and important part of helping educators give our kids the best possible experience in and out of the classroom. If you love taking pictures, you might consider using your hobby to contribute to your school’s efforts.
As the unofficial photographer for my kids’ classes, I enjoy the opportunity of shooting these events and sharing them with parents who were unable to attend due to work or schedule conflicts. Let’s face it—as involved as we are, we have many other work and personal roles and simply can’t be at every single event for every single child. Having someone take photographs of the class during a field trip can be a wonderful gift for those parents who were unable to attend. The images can also be used to help the school promote itself, its fundraising efforts or for other related purposes. In addition, the images can be used to create personalized teacher gifts at the end of the year.
Here are a few tips to turn your photography into both a gift for parents and a marketing tool for your school:
Personalize the Shot: Group shots are wonderful and necessary but make sure to take individual shots of each child if at all possible. Zoom in close to fill the frame with the child’s face and wait for that candid smile or impromptu interaction. These magical moments just require a bit of planning and patience. Ignore the bustle around you for a few seconds to see if you can portray the essence of what that child is experiencing.
Capture Interaction: Some of the best photos are those of children engaged in particular projects or working together. Even something as seemingly simple as sharing a lunch outdoors on a picnic table can translate into an extraordinary photograph. Look for kids who are enjoying a moment together and start snapping away.
Share & Upload: Once your event is over, make sure to upload your photos to your local photo store’s online website. It’s one of the easiest ways to share images and you can simply email a link to the album to all the parents and teachers involved. They can then order prints and other items from the photo store directly.
Get Permission: It is very important to get permission and to have a parent sign a standard model release anytime the child’s picture might be used for posters, flyers or other promotional item. There are standard model release forms that can be found online for your school to use. Some parents may prefer not to have their child included, and that’s okay. Your school’s office should already have these provisions in place, but if not, find the form and have copies made for each child in the class.
The next time you gear up for a field trip, make sure to take your camera (and accessories) and assign yourself the role of event photographer. It’s a chance to practice your hobby and an opportunity to give a gift to the kids and families all while supporting the school.
Photography to Support Your Kids’ School by Laura Oles, author of Digital Photography for Busy WomenLike many parents, you invest time supporting your children’s school through volunteer work, fundraising, chaperoning field trips and other labors of love. Parental volunteers are a powerful and important part of helping educators give our kids the best possible experience in and out of the classroom. If you love taking pictures, you might consider using your hobby to contribute to your school’s efforts.
As the unofficial photographer for my kids’ classes, I enjoy the opportunity of shooting these events and sharing them with parents who were unable to attend due to work or schedule conflicts. Let’s face it—as involved as we are, we have many other work and personal roles and simply can’t be at every single event for every single child. Having someone take photographs of the class during a field trip can be a wonderful gift for those parents who were unable to attend. The images can also be used to help the school promote itself, its fundraising efforts or for other related purposes. In addition, the images can be used to create personalized teacher gifts at the end of the year.
Here are a few tips to turn your photography into both a gift for parents and a marketing tool for your school:
Personalize the Shot: Group shots are wonderful and necessary but make sure to take individual shots of each child if at all possible. Zoom in close to fill the frame with the child’s face and wait for that candid smile or impromptu interaction. These magical moments just require a bit of planning and patience. Ignore the bustle around you for a few seconds to see if you can portray the essence of what that child is experiencing.
Capture Interaction: Some of the best photos are those of children engaged in particular projects or working together. Even something as seemingly simple as sharing a lunch outdoors on a picnic table can translate into an extraordinary photograph. Look for kids who are enjoying a moment together and start snapping away.
Share & Upload: Once your event is over, make sure to upload your photos to your local photo store’s online website. It’s one of the easiest ways to share images and you can simply email a link to the album to all the parents and teachers involved. They can then order prints and other items from the photo store directly.
Get Permission: It is very important to get permission and to have a parent sign a standard model release anytime the child’s picture might be used for posters, flyers or other promotional item. There are standard model release forms that can be found online for your school to use. Some parents may prefer not to have their child included, and that’s okay. Your school’s office should already have these provisions in place, but if not, find the form and have copies made for each child in the class.
The next time you gear up for a field trip, make sure to take your camera (and accessories) and assign yourself the role of event photographer. It’s a chance to practice your hobby and an opportunity to give a gift to the kids and families all while supporting the school.
Small Accessories that Produce Big Results!
Small Accessories that Produce Big Results!
Spring is just around the corner, and with the promise of milder temperatures also comes the opportunity to return to our outdoor photography. We’re ready to cast aside our cabin fever and stretch our photography skills in the warm sunlight.
This month we’ll focus on how a few accessories can greatly improve your photography and the options to expand your craft. We know that the economy has each of us watching every penny, and we’re dedicated to making sure you’re able to get great results with minimal expense.
Digital Auxiliary Wide Angle Lens: This economical lens is designed to work in conjunction with the current “standard zoom” (18-55 or 18-70) lens that came with your digital SLR. This particular lens is perfect for allowing you to expand your normal field of view in situations where space is limited such as shooting in a small room indoors or outside for panoramic photographs.
Digital Teleconverter: Not to be confused with the Star Trek teleporter, this particular accessory will not help you circumvent the time/space continuum. However, it’s the perfect partner for those photographers looking to capture longer shots in instances such as sports photography. When a teleconverter is attached to the lens, it will increase the focal length. A teleconverter, also referred to as a multiplier, reduces the light transmitted by the lens so that there is a balance between the magnification of the teleconverter and the maximum aperture of the lens being used.
Let us help you choose the right teleconverter for your needs. It’s a great accessory that will allow you to capture longer shots and give you more options.http://www.cooterscamera.com/products.html?catalog[decision_model_guids][0]=95c915ef-2a38-4625-b046-31a775c4e872
Spring is just around the corner, and with the promise of milder temperatures also comes the opportunity to return to our outdoor photography. We’re ready to cast aside our cabin fever and stretch our photography skills in the warm sunlight.
This month we’ll focus on how a few accessories can greatly improve your photography and the options to expand your craft. We know that the economy has each of us watching every penny, and we’re dedicated to making sure you’re able to get great results with minimal expense.
Digital Auxiliary Wide Angle Lens: This economical lens is designed to work in conjunction with the current “standard zoom” (18-55 or 18-70) lens that came with your digital SLR. This particular lens is perfect for allowing you to expand your normal field of view in situations where space is limited such as shooting in a small room indoors or outside for panoramic photographs.
Digital Teleconverter: Not to be confused with the Star Trek teleporter, this particular accessory will not help you circumvent the time/space continuum. However, it’s the perfect partner for those photographers looking to capture longer shots in instances such as sports photography. When a teleconverter is attached to the lens, it will increase the focal length. A teleconverter, also referred to as a multiplier, reduces the light transmitted by the lens so that there is a balance between the magnification of the teleconverter and the maximum aperture of the lens being used.
Let us help you choose the right teleconverter for your needs. It’s a great accessory that will allow you to capture longer shots and give you more options.http://www.cooterscamera.com/products.html?catalog[decision_model_guids][0]=95c915ef-2a38-4625-b046-31a775c4e872
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