You may have noticed that we’ve shifted things around over in the forum this week. We’ve split up the Share Your Shots section into categories, much like those in Critique. So if you haven’t had a chance, come check out the new sections and share some of your shots.
Weekly Assignment
This week’s assignment was Streets. For the assignment we wanted you to show us a street. Whether it was rural or urban, busy or desolate. Something that shows us a road or street we would want to travel. Our winner this week was mseigafuse’s “Where the rubber meets the sky”. We really liked the overall shot. From the dramatic clouds to the pleasing colours, the shot was just really nicely done. It’s a road I think many of us would like to be driving down with our cameras. Our first runner up was another open road shot, Steph’s “Figueroa Mountains”. Again, the colours were very pleasing in this shot and it was nicely composed. The mountains are just gorgeous. You can imagine taking a road trip up to them. And last, but not least was a more urban street shot, Arabic Collaboration’s “Walking Home”. The shot was nicely composed, the reflections were wonderful, and the black and white treatment really gives it a sense of loneliness. Well done everyone!
This week also marked the start of our assignment on Centered Composition. Often you’re told not to put the subject in the center of the frame, but sometimes putting the subject there can create a very arresting and interesting shot. The assignment this week is to show us a shot where the subject is used in the center with a dramatic effect. Make sure that you’re using this compositional technique to the greatest effect. As usual, a quick overview of the assignment rules. First, your photo needs to be taken between 20 January – 3 February 2010. Second, your post must include the words “Assignment: Centered Composition” and the date the photo was taken. And last, your EXIF should be intact and it’s useful if you can include some of the main points (e.g. shutter speed, aperture, camera, lens, ISO, etc). In February we’re starting a month of themed shots on Food Photography. So the first assignment is Desserts. Make sure you check out magazines and cookbooks for ideas.
Hot Threads
- DPS Forum Competition: Over the next 4 weeks, you can have a chance to win part of $2900 USD in prizes thanks to DigitalRev. The theme of the competition is Life. Life can have many different meanings, so it’s open to interpretation. For all the rules for the competition, see this thread. To submit your images for Week 1 head over to this thread.
- 365 and Breaking Patterns: As we come up on the end of January, many people are nearly a month into a 365 project. As part of a 365 project you may fall into certain patterns and habits with the types of photos you take. But how do you break out of these patterns? Or are you happy to simply stay in the pattern you establish? Come share your thoughts and advice on how to break out of these patterns when you’re involved in a photography project.
- Question About Old Barns / Houses: One of the questions that can come up as a photographer is whether or not you’re allowed to go certain places to take photographs. This week someone asked about old barns and houses. But it’s good to know what you can and can’t do, and what’s proper etiquette when you’re shooting away from home. Come read some advice in this thread.
- When was the Last Time You Hired a Photographer?: As photographers, we may know what other photographers’ prices are because we want to know our markets. But when was the last time you actually hired a photographer? Come join in the thread and share with us whether you’ve hired a photographer and maybe a little bit about why?
- How to get Listed on Google Image Search: Obviously getting your photographs out there is important. But how do you get your photos on Google Image Search, one of the places where people will come across them. What shows up on Google Image search? And how do you get your images found? Come share your hints, tips, tricks, and questions in this thread.
- What Would You Do: Every week we give you the opportunity to practice your post-processing skills on someone else’s photograph. Whether you’re just starting out or a pro, you’re welcome to show us what you would do with the photo.
Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.
This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (24-30 Jan ‘10)
Original post by Nicole
If you’ve not yet got yourself a copy of our newest E-Book – Photo Nuts and Bolts: Know Your Camera and Take Better Photos – your time is running out to get a free bonus copy of the Photo Nuts Pocket Reference Guide – there is less than 8 hours to go!
We’re offering this handy little pocket reference guide as an exclusive launch bonus for the Photo Nuts E-Book for those who buy the E-Book in the first 10 days after launch. That means that we’ll be removing it as a bonus at midnight this Friday night (Eastern US time).
You can get full details on both the Photo Nuts E-book and the Photo Nuts Pocket Reference Guide here but in short….
The Photo Nuts and Bolts E-Book’s sole purpose is to help camera owners to understand their camera and help them get the best from it. It talks readers through 10 important lessons on how their cameras work.
The Photo Nuts pocket reference guide is a quick guide to get you started with camera settings in various situations. It is designed to be printed off, folded up and stored in your camera bag for when you’re out and about with your camera.
For example if you find yourself Indoor in a low lighting situation it’ll suggest where to start with setting your Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO. If at the beach it’ll suggest how to approach shooting in that situation.
It covers 10 situations and will help you to take what you’ve learned in the main book and put it into action in a practical way while shooting.
Learn More about these Photo Nuts Resources and Grab a Copy of them Here
Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.
Photo Nuts Pocket Resource Guide – Available for 8 more Hours Only
Original post by Darren Rowse
This weekend your challenge is to take and share an image with the theme of ‘Blur’ (as suggested by one of our Twitter followers @nzphotodude).
Image by Jeff Kubina
Most of us are familiar with photos that are a little fuzzy, blurry or ‘unsharp’ – yet there are times when Blur can be good and this challenge is to attempt to take some shots that use blur for good rather than evil!
To help you get started – here are a few articles that might be useful to you that explore some ‘blurry’ techniques:
Image by Extra Medium
It’s up to you what type of blur you’re going to go for (and we’re pretty broad in our definition of blur) – whether it’s motion blur, blur from focus (or lack of it), camera shake blur…. feel free to take what ever approach you like – just have some fun with it!
We’d love your shot to be a new one – don’t just share old shots, this challenge is about inspiring you to grab your camera and use it!
Once you’ve taken your photos – choose your best 1-2, upload them to your favourite photo sharing site either share a link to them even better – embed them in the comments using the our new tool to do so.
If you tag your photos on Flickr, Twitter or other sites with Tagging tag them as #DPSBLUR to help others find them. Linking back to this page might also help others know what you’re doing so that they can share in the fun.
Image by Matthew Fang
Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.
BLUR: Weekend Photography Challenge
Original post by Darren Rowse
The Canon post man arrived today with a little package just for me, it contained one of their shiny new Canon Ixus 200 IS compact cameras. The same camera is called the Powershot SD980 in other parts of the world, but for this review, I’m in the UK with the UK model.
Canon Ixus 200 IS / PowerShot SD980IS
Canon released the new 12mp Ixus 200 IS recently and followed it up, here in the UK at least, with a very vigorous ad campaign. I must admit it made me want to know what all the fuss was about! Well, I’ve got to say that after using the camera for a week or so that it’s compact, cute, solid and quite well priced, and I’d be quite happy to have one in my pocket 24/7!
I am a little wary of “touch screen” products and I think this is all because of the iPhone and how very good its touch screen capabilities are. On the iPhone, with a quick finger stroke you can be on another page or another track or another photo, well because of this thinking, the first thing I did when I powered up the little Canon was to take a couple of quick shots and try out the “flip through” of the image review, and I must say that the Canon Ixus 200 IS started out by disappointing me to be honest, because you can’t just lightly touch it to change things, you have to press a little harder to get the camera to realise what you’re after. I’ve since changed my mind on this! here’s why… Imagine if you’re half way through taking a photo and brush a fingertip against the screen and the camera changes its focus to be on a passing car or a running dog or even a flying pig! and you miss the shot you’re after – so, I understand the thinking behind the sensitivity level required by the touch screen, and with that little issue out of the way, let us move on!
The camera is small, but not silly small. It’s a good size to pop into a pocket in fact, I’d say that it’s even better to carry around than my Ixus 960IS which is a little thicker and slightly bulkier. The little Ixus is 99.9 x 53.4 x 22.9mm in physical size and weighs in at about 130g Which isn’t going to break your back. For such a small camera, the 3.0″ 16×9 (230,000 dots) screen is impressive and in various shooting modes holds some of the icons required for setting things like your flash settings in auto mode and exposure in program mode.
The Ixus 200 IS / Powershot SD980 has a 5x Optical zoom and an aperture of f/2.8 – f/5.9 and shift type image stabilisation as well which is all very lovely and seems to work well together. I won’t go into digital zoom because I firmly believe that it should always remain switched off – hey, that’s just me.
The advert on television shows a sprightly group of people running through the forest using the “Face Tracking” auto focus… It actually works quite well on something like a face, it’s a bit tricky on less contrasty scenes but still, works very well! With all of the gadgetry included (There are 20 different shooting modes to choose from, including Foliage!) you’re not going to be lost for things to try out and then switch off, I say this because I think the little camera does a very good job in standard P mode, or even auto mode for that matter, the image quality is great and with an image of 4000×3000 you could print yourself out a nice poster 
Canon have packaged HD movie mode into the sleek compact, and it gives you decent enough 720p HD MOV files to pop up onto YouTube if you so desire.. The Ixus 200 IS will record a 10 minute / 4gb movie. I found the automatic exposure to be very slow (About two seconds to evaluate and switch between a dark subject and a bright one) but if you were outdoors (I was inside taking video of my little boy watching television) I would imagine that the semi-constant lightsource would give you a great movie. It does tend to ramp up the ISO and give you a pretty grainy film in less than ideal lighting conditions. I’ve made a quick video and uploaded it to YouTube in HD format so you can see what I’m on about – It’s quick and choppy, but it’s got a great soundtrack! (That’s my friend, Lou Rhodes)
Canon Ixus 200 IS / PowerShot SD980IS
And here’s a quick image or two from the little Canon. I popped down along side the Thames on my lunch break.
Headed into the sun - the old Harrods repository
Sit with me a moment - Strong colours
You can find the full spec on the little canon here – www.canon.co.uk
If I were in the market for a compact this would be on the list. Four Stars (Of a possible five)
Grab it for yourself at Amazon –
Canon Ixus 200 IS / PowerShot SD980IS where it’s $279.00 USD (15% off).
Sime
Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.
Canon PowerShot SD980 / IXUS 200 IS Review
Original post by Sime
