Aspiring Photographer: Photography Advice and Inspiration

Blur Your Background with the Nifty Fifty 50mm f/1.8 lens for Canon or Nikon DSLR cameras

What's that lens everyone is always recommending, and why might you want it?

The "Nifty Fifty" 50mm f/1.8 lens is THE recommended lens for those getting into DSLR photography, especially if you're wanting to achieve a shallow depth of field. Also, it is the one lens that lets you do that but that is still quite affordable. In general the lenses that let you open up your aperture are expensive, but for whatever reason, the 50mm f/1.8 is the one exception to that rule. And yes, there is also a 50mm f/1.4 lens that you can get if you have some additional spare cash, but I'm here to tell you how to get into a fast lens on the cheap. Oh yeah, and what's a "fast lens" anyway? That's one where you can get a lower f/stop number, or "open up" more. You may also hear it referred to as "fast glass." 

In every workshop I teach, someone always asks "But I already have an 18-55 lens, so I already have a 50mm length lens. Why would I need a fixed 50mm?" Well, here's why. You see on your lens where it says "1:3.5-5.6?" Those numbers show you the most open aperture you can get from your lens at the two far ends of your zoom. At the wide angle end, which is 18mm, your smallest f-stop (most open aperture) is 3.5. At the most zoomed-in end, 55m, your most open aperture is 5.6. The more you can open your aperture, the more shallow depth of field you can achieve (the more you can blur your foreground and background). The 50mm f/1.8 lens lets you open up to f/1.8, which is a much larger opening than the f/5.6 opening you could achieve at that same length with your 18mm-55mm kit lens. You can blur out your background a WHOLE LOT more at f/1.8 than you can at f/5.6. So that's why you want it even though you already have a lens that goes to 50mm!

So, what specifically, do you want to purchase? Well, if you're not wanting to spend a ton of money, then the lens you want is the 50mm f/1.8 lens.

With Canon it's straight forward, you want this one, and it's currently $119 at B&H: 

Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.8 II (B&H)

With Nikon, it depends on your camera. It's a difference of about $100 depending on which one you need:

Nikon has manufactured several camera bodies where they excluded a drive motor for the lens, and if you have one of them then you need to purchase the more expensive version of this lens. If you don't buy that lens and get the cheaper one, then you'll be stuck with a lens that doesn't autofocus, which is probably not what you want. The cameras that require the AF-S version of the lens are: D3000, D3100, D5000, D5100, D40, D60. Basically, they made these cameras less expensive by leaving off the drive motor, but effectively made them more expensive by requiring you to purchase the more expensive lenses!

AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens for D3000, D3100, D5000, D5100, D40, D60 (B&H). Warning, this lens is in high-demand, and as of this writing is currently on back-order through every source I've checked. I'd go ahead and place your order and get in line now!

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D for other Nikon DSLRs (B&H)

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Mary Lynne Ashley is a certified professional photographer in Colorado Springs. She offers private photography lessons and group workshops on the basics of digital SLR photography. See a listing of her current photography courses.

 

 

 

Colorado Springs Camera Classes | Learn How to Use Your Digital SLR

Learn How To Use Your Digital SLR Camera
One Day, $99
NEW DATES: Saturday, February 19th OR Saturday, May 7th
9am – 2pm
Snacks and drinks included. Bring a sack lunch.

This is a group class for anyone interested in understanding how to get better results with their digital SLR, and will be especially geared towards those wanting to get better photos of people. You probably paid a lot of money for that camera, and a little training will help you get so much more out of it! This is a very hands-on class, where I’ll help demystify all those controls on your camera. We’ll talk about focusing, getting correct exposure through both manual and automatic methods by understanding ISO, shutter speed and aperture, white balance, lens selection, and more. With each discussion we’ll change settings on our cameras and get practice applying each concept. We will also cover some of the basics related to photographing with natural light, and "seeing the light."

No experience or prior knowledge is necessary. I usually cover this same information in my personalized two-hour one-on-one classes, but this class is great for those who prefer a group environment, or who would like a little extra time to absorb and experiment with each concept before moving onto the next one.

Contact Mary Lynne Ashley at marylynneashley@gmail.com, or 719-205-7236 (cell) for more information, and/or to register.

Mary Lynne Ashley is an award-winning Colorado Springs professional portrait photographer specializing  in babies, children and families.

You can see examples of her work at www.ashleyphotography.com, and also on her Ashley Photography Facebook fan page.

Photographing Families Outdoors

I find photographing families outdoors to be one of the more difficult and intimidating lighting situations for me. In the studio I have total control, but outdoors there are a lot more variables going on. During most parts of the day, if you don't use a flash you end up with several problems. If the sun is high in the sky you run the risk of having raccoon eyes, which are dark sockets in people's eyes where the shadows land from the overhead sun. You also have the challenge of balancing the light on their faces with the light in the background. Frequently what ends up happening is that if you get the family's faces properly exposed, then the background is too bright, or the other way around. And when you add a flash, what frequently happens is that the family is properly exposed, and the background goes really, really dark.

So here is one method for using flash to light families outdoors. This article by Peter Friedman was just published on ShootSmarter.com, which is a really great site with terrific educational articles. You may find that you have to sign up with their site to read the article, but registration is free.

Colorado Professional Photography Workshops Summer 2010 - The Details

I am offering a series of three workshops here in Colorado Springs this summer from July 30th to August 2nd, 2010. Sign up for one, two or all three! Each class will be jam-packed with loads of information, providing you with an amazing jump-start into this field. I’ve taught numerous courses over the years to rave reviews, and do not hold back in sharing TONS and TONS and TONS of valuable information and tips!  So that we can keep focused and not lose time due to traveling back and forth to lunch, I will provide lunch, drinks and snacks each day. If you sign up for the weekend course on starting a photography business, you are also welcome to stay for an evening cookout for no additional charge.

Listen to an overview of the workshops

Here are the dates, prices and topics. To register, or for more information, contact me at 719-205-7236 or MaryLynne@aol.com.

Learn to Use Your Digital SLR to Photograph People with Natural Light

Date: Friday, July 30th, 2010 9am - 4pm

Cost: $125 (lunch is provided, along with morning and afternoon snacks and drinks)

Max Class Size: 8

Location: 1355 Lindenwood Grove, Colorado Springs, 80907 (Casa Verde Club House)

Course Overview: You have invested in an expensive digital SLR, but you’re not quite sure how to use it to get great portraits. Once you understand your camera better, you will be much better able to get the shot you visualize and gain creative control over your camera. Whether you are just wanting to take better photos of your kids, or you are thinking about taking photos professionally, a strong foundation in the basics will help immensely!

We will focus on natural-light photography in this one-day workshop. I will talk about the relationship between aperture, shutter speed and ISO, and we will spend plenty of time doing hands-on exercises to help you gain a grasp of this important trio, and how each of the three affects exposure. We will look into how to get sharp focus, and how to selectively focus so that you can get that wonderful out-of-focus background that eludes many new photographers. We’ll talk about setting your white balance so you don’t end up with photos of funky blue people. We’ll cover lens selection as well.

Just as important as the technical aspects of photography are the artistic aspects, and we’ll explore those as well. Nailing the technical settings won’t get your anywhere if your lighting is bad, so we’ll look at that, as well as simple rules for image composition.

We’ll have subjects available to model for us so you can try out the various techniques you’re learning.
I would love to start out the class with an image critique, so if you have images you’ve taken that you’re willing to share with the group, we can look at them and discuss what can be improved. If people are nervous about being critiqued in front of everyone else, I’m happy to bring samples I’ve taken that I can critique and point out mistakes.

What the class is not: I will NOT be talking about how to photograph landscapes or how to use on-camera flash. This is NOT a portfolio building class so don’t expect exotic models and exotic settings. We are focusing on giving you the skills you can build upon to go out and create your own great photographs.

What to bring:

• Digital SLR camera
• Your camera manual
• Any lenses you use with this camera
• Notebook or laptop for taking notes
• Image samples for critique (optional)

Starting and Growing a Business Photographing Babies & Children (Two-day intensive seminar)

 Dates: Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1, 2010, 10am-6pm both days. ***You also welcome to stay for a cookout afterwards on Saturday evening for no additional charge, and can invite your family and children if you would like. There is a big grassy area and nice playground outside the club house. I will be inviting other professional photographers from town to join us for dinner, so it will be a great networking opportunity.***

Cost: $249 (lunch is provided both days, along with morning and afternoon snacks and drinks. See note above regarding Saturday evening cookout.)

Max Class Size: 10

Location Day 1: 1355 Lindenwood Grove, Colorado Springs, 80907 (Casa Verde Club House)

Location Day 2: 1355 S. 8th Street, Colorado Springs, 80905 (My studio)

(NOTE: The class will be held in a meeting facility the first day, and at my studio the second day. It is pure coincidence that the street numbers are the same! They are in different parts of town.)

Course Overview: Starting and running a photography business is so much more than just picking up a camera at Costco, printing up some business cards and setting up a $100 website. That’s why hundreds ... no, I’d say thousands ... of people are doing right now, creating a real disservice to consumers who think they are hiring a professional photographer, only to find mediocre service and less-than-stellar photography. There is SO MUCH to learn to start up this business the right way, and I have spent 10 years studying and working in the industry. I have years worth of valuable information to share, and will pack your brain with as much as it can hold in this two-day intensive seminar.  My specialty is babies, children, families and maternity, with the occasional business headshot thrown in, so this is where my focus will be.

Perhaps the most important information you will receive from me is the vast set of lessons I have learned along the way. I will talk about the things that have worked great for me, and perhaps even more importantly, the many things that didn’t, especially money wasted along the way. I hope to help you avoid many of the mistakes that I made.

We’ll cover a wide array of topics, including:

• Marketing (my favorite topic -- not kidding!)
• • Product presentation and packaging
  • Launching and growing your business
  • Keeping in touch with clients
  • Favorite marketing books and resources
  • Pricing
• Where to get photography training and what you need to know
• Equipment selection
• Sales techniques
• • In-person sales
  • Online sales
• Software overview
• • Photoshop
  • Lightroom
  • Add-on tools
  • Sales presentation software
  • Other software I use
• Business details such as bookkeeping, licensing, etc.
• Managing overhead
• Outsourcing options
• Professionalism
• Avoiding and overcoming burnout
• Industry vendors & other resources

What the class is not:
I will NOT be discussing photography techniques in this particular class. All discussions will be geared towards the business side of the business. I am not a wedding or event photographer and I rarely photograph high school seniors, so I will present little if any information on these subjects.

What to bring:
You do NOT need to bring a camera to this class, as we will not be covering photography techniques. You are welcome to bring a laptop for taking notes. At a minimum, be sure to bring a notebook and pen, as you will want to take plenty of notes!

Photographing Babies & Children in the Studio

 Date: Monday, August 2, 2010, 10am-6pm

Cost: $125 (lunch is provided, along with morning and afternoon snacks and drinks)

Max Class Size: 8

Location: My studio at 1355 S. 8th Street, Colorado Springs, 80905

Course Overview: We will spend the whole day in my studio learning how to create great portraits of children in the controlled studio environment. Much of the content for the course will be pulled from the book I am writing with plans to self-publish one day, Don’t Say ‘Cheese!’ -- How to get Genuine Expressions and Non-Posey Poses When Photographing Kids in the Studio.

We will cover background selection, working with kids and parents, using props, image design, clothing recommendations, lighting and equipment. I’ll talk about how to light different types of backgrounds, including a high-key background (white background), black background and other backgrounds. We’ll talk about my favorite background providers, and the pros and cons of different types of backgrounds.

I will bring in children to model for us so you can see how I work with them.

What the class is not: This is NOT a portfolio building class so don’t expect exotic models and exotic settings. We are focusing on giving you the skills you can build upon to go out and create your own great photographs.

What to bring:

• You may bring your camera if you would like to practice photographing in this environment, but you do not need to bring it.
• Laptop or paper for taking notes

About the Instructor

Mary Lynne has been professionally photographing babies, children, and the families that come along with them since 2001. She has volunteered as an instructor for the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) several times for their Super Monday Program. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Kodak Gallery Award. Her work has been published in the Photoshop Wow Book, and will also be published in the upcoming International Loan Collection, published by the Professional Photographers of America. For more information about the studio and to see samples of her work, visit her website www.ashleyphotography.com. Be sure to visit her Facebook fan page to see some of her most recent work.

Mary Lynne Ashley
MaryLynne@aol.com
719-329-0396 Studio Voicemail
719-205-7236 Cell

Colorado Professional Photography Workshops Summer 2010

Just announced! I am offering a series of workshops here in Colorado Springs this summer from July 30th to August 2nd, 2010. Sign up for one, two or all. Each class will be jam-packed with TONS of information, providing you with an amazing jump-start into this field. Here are the dates and topics. Pricing and more details are coming very soon....

Friday, July 30, 2010 Learn to Use Your Digital SLR to Photograph People

Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1, 2010 Starting and Growing a Business Photographing Babies & Children (Two-day workshop)

Monday, August 2, 2010 Photographing Babies & Children in the Studio

Learning How to Use Your Camera

Want to be a better photographer than 90% of the new photographers out there? It's simple. Learn the relationship between f/stops (aperture), shutter speed, and ISO. From what I can tell, most new professional photographers are not taking the time to do that. If that is you, I am not trying to insult you. I am begging you to educate yourself for the benefit of you and your clients (and for our profession in general!). At some point you'll find yourself in an embarrassing situation if you're advertising yourself as a professional photographer and you don't have a grasp on the basics.

I am always on the lookout for straightforward lessons on learning exposure. Most of them are so dry that they will put you to sleep in two minutes. I think that's why so many new photographers give up so quickly on learning the technical aspects of their trade. They'll go around bragging about how they're "not a technical photographer," they're an "artistic" photographer. But that's not going to be you, right?! You know that you can't be in total control of your photos artistically if you don't understand the basic technical skills. Yes, there are plenty of extremely accomplished "technical photographers" whose work is boring as heck. But that doesn't mean that knowing how to use your camera will force you to create boring photos, does it? That logic is pretty weak! And those technical skills really are so easy to learn. So if you are starting a business as a portrait photographer, let's make that your first goal.

I really enjoyed these articles by Pattie Beadles because she walks you through things step-by-step, using language any non-techie can understand. Don't be insulted that she starts out talking to a 6-year-old. Hey, if that's what it takes, right? Walk yourself through these lessons, absorb them, do the exercises, and you will be far ahead of the competition.

So, let's say it together: "I will commit myself to learning the relationship between shutter speed, aperture and ISO, and I will start today!" Visit Stop Shooting Auto! for these simple and well-written lessons. 

Blurring the Background in Your Photographs

One of the most most fundamental technical skills in natural light portrait photography is understanding how to blur the background of your image while keeping your subject in focus. This technique is one of the most important ways to distinguish your work from someone who just picked up a camera and started shooting. Many of today's cameras have an automatic setting with a little person's head on it, and many new photographers understand that they can use that setting to help them blur the background. But even if you already know that, do you know what the camera is doing to make that happen? And do you know the different factors that affect that blurring?    

When we want to blur the background we call that a "shallow depth of field." In other words, you select the area that you want to have in focus, and the objects that are closer to the camera and farther away from the camera are out of focus. With a larger depth of field, more objects are in focus. A typical point and shoot camera setting will keep as much of the image in focus as possible. The benefit to that is that it's a lot easier to get your intended subject in focus, but it doesn't give us that fuzzy background that we love.

There are several ways to blur your background, and you should try to understand all of them.