This is a good example of the surprises you can get with macro images – you can’t see the little crystals of ice with the unaided eye.(click on the photo to see it full size)

You may have a dedicated macro lens – marvelous. However, if you don’t possess one of those pricey lenses that is especially created for close-up work, don’t worry, extension tubes are here! Just about any lens can become a macro lens if you have an inexpensive set of extension tubes. Basically, they extend the distance from the lens to the sensor so you, can position your camera closer to the subject of your picture.

One of the best things about taking extremely close pictures of objects is the detail that is revealed. There are facets of nearly every subject that are not normally noticed by people at a casual glance. But take a close up shot and you will experience many OMG moments.

It was on my first digital camera that one of those amazing, eye-opening moments happened to yours truly. As nearly everyone else who makes this discovery, I took pictures of every bug and flower that I could. It didn’t occur to me that there were other interesting small objects that I could shoot as well. There are buttons, zippers, door knobs, human eyes, animal eyes, and the list is infinite. There really is no limit to what can be photographed.

Now that you are convinced to get started, here are a few hints:

-> Don’t delay. This seems quite apparent, but lots of us tend to get bogged down with the learning process. Yes, there are many classes and tutorials available online and off line, but just go out and take some pictures. Training as the need arises is a great way to learn. Actually, “on the job” training works really well in photography.

-> Allow yourself to make mistakes. This sort of goes “hand-in-hand” with hint #1. Mistakes are an important part of the learning process. They may actually lead to some amazing surprises. Some of your best shots will come as a result of something you did “wrong.”

-> Use a tripod. As you get closer to an object, the chances for blur increase exponentially. In addition to the tripod, you can benefit from using the shutter release timer on your T3i, or you can get an inexpensive remote shutter release.

-> Set your lens on manual focus and activate Live View. There is a fantastic feature that makes Rebel T3i macro photography so much easier than most other cameras. When in Live View, you can use digital zoom. The way it works for this kind of photo is to set your lens on manual focus, then use the digital zoom at 5x or 10x so that you can fine tune your focus. Personally, this is the feature that made me a believer in the Canon Rebel T3i.

OK – It’s not rocket science. These tips are meant to get you out and shooting, so get going!

It is not hard to learn street photography. And, actually, street photography is one way to use your Canon Rebel T3i camera like the creative tool it is capable of being. But the camera is not all you need for street photography success. In addition, you need a quality Canon Rebel lens, and one of the 50mm models will meet the criteria for that component. There are three possibilities, those being the f/1.8, the f/1.4, and the f/1.2.

You can learn street photography at a very young age.

There’s one more hurdle along with obtaining proper equipment. If you aren’t comfortable talking with strangers, this might be a struggle for you to talk to a complete stranger to ask authorization to take their image, nevertheless, when you have tried it a few times, the idea is easier. This will be very true once you see the amazing results. Street images are much more interesting than your standard family picture. That is, except if your Granddad Ralph or Aunt Claire is just as colorful as many of the street inhabitants you will come across in the downtown locations and shopping malls.

There are 5 things that you might apply to make street photography easier for you so that you will be ready to get those awesome images (after you work through the issue of paralyzing fear).

1. Take your Canon Rebel with you.. ALL the time. We all do it, yet it’s a good idea to continue reminding oneself that you should never leave the house without one. After a few weeks of taking the digital camera every time you leave home or office, and it is going to become second nature. Absolutely nothing (well, practically nothing) worse than coming at a fantastic photo op out on the street when you do not have the photography resources in hand. And this does not necessarily mean you need to tote the complete camera travel bag with you. You simply need your Rebel and reliable Canon Rebel lens.

2. Keep the Canon 50mm lens on the dslr camera. You will find a couple advantages of making use of this lens instead of one of the alternative options. First, the 50mm is a nearly ideal portrait lens due to the high quality and great aperture. And next, it really is smaller and light. It does not wear you out carrying it for a number of hours. Plus, many people will be put off by a large, flashy piece of glass.

3. Avoid the use of your flash. You will definitely get natural photographs with no flash, and also on the street, this is especially true. You can make use of the large aperture of the 50mm lens to obtain a good fast shutter speed, in case the lighting is really low, just increase the ISO of the Canon Rebel to speed up the shutter.

4. Be ready before you ask permission. Make sure all your dslr camera settings are correct prior to walking towards your prospect. It could actually ruin your possibilities if you need to stop and set fool with your camera whilst the individual is waiting for you.

5. Have your model release forms available. If you’re going to use your pictures in some community place, you must obtain a release from your subject. The good news is there’s currently an app for your iPad and the iPhone for this. It is possible to go paperless!

That’s all. You, too, can be quite a street photographer. Now grab your Canon Rebel and go out and shoot!

Oy Veh! Which Canon Rebel Lens???

It may not sound like too difficult to find a Canon Rebel Lens, yet when you start to look, you will find that the lenses to choose from are overwhelming. The decision just isn’t a piece of cake. Personally, when I was getting ready to buy my very first Canon Rebel (it was the 300D), I spent as much time on the lens decision as I did on whether to go with a Canon Rebel or a Nikon D40. Your first lens is an extremely important decision if you plan to spend a lot of time with your camera and get better at your photography as time goes on.

Be aware of the fact that the initial lens you pick up doesn’t have to be the one that’s bundled with the camera. That “kit lens” is a fairly decent item, to be sure, even so, should you ponder ahead toward your final photography objective, and apply a bit of patience, it is possible to bypass the package and buy the digital camera body independently from the lens. Many professionals will agree with the fact that the glass you apply to the front of the digital slr camera is really as vital as the camera itself.

Considering focal lengths, virtually all buyers begin by using regular zoom lenses for Canon instead of a prime (or single focus) lens. It’s a good idea because it affords you some flexibility in focal length, that is unless you know specifically which prime focal length is perfect for the type of photography you want to specialize in. But choosing a prime focal length instead of a zoom lens is a rare situation, specially when it comes to selecting a Canon Rebel lens, considering that a large percentage of Rebel buyers are buying their first digital SLR.

Requirements for acquiring a Canon Rebel lens:

• Focal Range – Standard zoom lenses are not really regular. Standard does indeed suggest that there’s a minimal focal length along with a maximum focal length. For your Digital rebel, a great minimum focal length is around 18-24mm. For a maximum, regular is 55-85mm. If you keep to within these numbers, you will get a nice zoom range which will take care of all your “normal” picture taking wants.
• Aperture - for an standard price selection, you’ll usually be confronted with a varying aperture. This means that the aperture changes when the focal length increases. This has an undesirable effect on shutter rate, meaning that your shutter has to remain open for a longer time to obtain enough light to the sensor for the adequate exposure. The best options are the models with a constant aperture of f/2.8 throughout the focal range. Of course, this will increase the price of your lens.
• Build Quality – Plastic is inexpensive. It appears cheap and it feels inexpensive. That doesn’t necessarily imply that plastic lenses take substandard photographs, in fact, many folks get low-cost and are really satisfied with the end results. If you get lenses constructed with excellent top quality materials, the value necessarily goes up, nonetheless, much better crafted gear lasts significantly longer and handles a lot more punishment.
• EF or EF-S Lens Mount – The difference right here is actually which camera the camera lens will function on. The great news pertaining to Rebel owners is simply this – ANY Canon EF or EF-S lens (and also third party goods produced for Canon) will work on your Canon Rebel. The EF-S models are created particularly for cameras like the Digital Rebel as well as other crop sensor cameras up to and including the Canon 7D. Nevertheless, should you want to improve to a full frame dslr, it is best to think of sticking with the EF designs, considering that they will work on all digital SLRs inside the Canon lineup.

Making the proper Canon Rebel Lens decision has not become any less complicated over the years. The modern technology of cameras has increased, but so has the technology in the lenses. The very best counsel is usually to examine your needs in light of the kind of photographs you intend to take in conjunction with your future goals along with your finances.

Try to buy the most effective Canon Rebel lens your dollars will allow. In contrast to the dslr camera bodies, lenses aren’t replaced as often. Whenever you get really good lenses for your DSLR camera, they are going to stay with you for a rather long period, regardless of how many digital camera upgrades you undergo.

Canon Rebel Lens Recommendations For A Beginner

Canon EF-S 18-200mm – Great all-purpose lens – Could be the only lens you ever need.
Canon EF 24-105mm L – The Cadillac of Lenses
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 – Fast and Sharp

If there is one thing that I can identify as the motivating factor for becoming a photo-nut, it is macro, or close-up, photography.

Do you remember the times in school or just playing around outside as a kid when you used a magnifying glass to examine bugs and small objects? It is very fascinating to zoom in on things that you don’t normally see.

Then, getting older, we kind of get distracted with the cares of life and forget about the magnifying glass and exploring. That is pretty much what happened to me.

But something magical happened one day when I switched my little 3-megapixel Olympus camera to macro mode. It was like I was traveling back in time to my childhood. The flowers I photographed revealed detail and secrets I had not noticed before taking the picture. It brought back memories of the crazy movie “Honey, I shrunk the kids.”

I started photographing everything in macro mode. And I was not disappointed with any of the shots. I took pictures of nuts and bolts, flowers, bugs (when they stayed put long enough), spider webs, belt buckles, finger nails, eyeballs… you name it, and I took a pictures of it. My wife and kids got really annoyed with the camera that was always snapping shots of some body part or piece of clothing.

I have since moved up a couple of notches to a digital SLR, and I have a special Canon lens for macro. However, it is not mandatory that you have a macro lens. In fact, a digital SLR camera is not necessary either.

As I mentioned earlier, every compact digital camera has a close-up function. On you mode dial it looks like a little tulip flower. With your camera set to that setting, you can focus as close as an inch or two and get amazing results. You can fill the frame with a flower or bug, then be astounded at the intricacy of creation as you study the details on your big screen computer.

There is one caution you must be aware of when using a compact digital camera with macro images. It is not as common as in the past because of the advance in camera technology, but here it is. If your compact is equipped with an optical viewfinder and a live view LCD screen, be sure to use the LCD to compose your macro photo. The reason for this is that the optical viewfinder on compact cameras does not see the exact image that will be recorded when you press the shutter button. Compact cameras do not see the image through the lens like a digital SLR camera does, so what you see is not what you get, especially when viewing extremely close images. Using the LCD screen solves this problem. The thing is, most newer compact cameras don’t even offer an optical viewfinder anymore, so this issue will be obsolete soon. And if you have purchased a camera recently, you are probably saying, “What is he talking about?” The bottom line is this, if you have an LCD that shows the picture you are about to take, you are covered.. no problem-o.

Digital SLRs already have this problem covered simply because of the way the image is seen and focused using the “through the lens” technology. However, many newer digital SLRs are also now offering the live view feature in which you see the image on the LCD screen.

Lighting Up Your Macro or Close-Up Photography Pictures

When taking close-ups, you will have different situations with lighting than you do with normal photographs for a couple of reasons. One of those is simply because of how close you are to the subject. The second is due to the small size of the objects that are the subjects of macro photos.

Think about it. When the shadows change by a yard or so in a landscape photograph, you will barely notice it, but if the shadow moves an inch on a flower that you are about to photograph, it changes everything about the composition. Then, too, light changes are more intense as you get closer to the subject. You really need to be aware of what is happening to the light as you get ready to shoot the picture. Waiting a few seconds for a cloud to move one way or the other could make a major difference in the outcome.

Another thing to watch is the quality of the light. Bright sunlight can be your worst enemy because of the harsh shadows it creates up close. On the other hand, while shade or overcast skies make it easier to get a more evenly lit image, the colors are not as intense.
The direction of the light also has a huge effect on the results. Make sure you are aware of the where the light is coming from. Many photographers like to shoot with the sun at their back, but using side lighting or back lighting can give really nice results, too. If you choose your position with light direction in mind, you can get some very dramatic effects. The hint here is that you should take control rather than letting the light control you.

People are so thrilled with their Canon 60D that they put pictures of it on Flickr as if it was a famous celebrity.

As it turns out, getting a Canon 60D will certainly put you in one of the happiest groups of photography enthusiasts ever. Who would have imagined this probable when this camera was initially released? There appeared to be such an abundance of debate about its style and design.

The main focus in the dissent was how the 60D was not an upgrade of the 50D because of a pair of aspects. First of all, it is actually manufactured from high quality plastic material instead of magnesium similar to the 50D. And the second cause is that there is no cutting edge sensor and processor inside.

However, the debate is now forgotten, and people are snatching the newest Canon mid-range Dslr off of the display units and proclaiming their compliments as well as full satisfaction. The evidence about this can be seen located at online stores which include Amazon dot com where consumers have announced their own feelings.

Here are the top 5 benefits which make recent Canon 60D users very happy with their buy:

1. Excellent Image Quality – It’s legitimate, the processor and image sensor just weren’t improved. But these two components are so well designed that they’re also included in the 7d and T3i. All of these cameras are turning out remarkable quality images that help to make photography enthusiasts pleased with their digital SLRs.

2. Ease of use – You will find many adjustments are actually made easier when compared to the ones on the 50D, and most buttons now have one single functionality rather than multiple uses. Additionally there is a Quick Control dial at the backside of the camera to make choosing popular options less of a challenge.

3. LCD With Full Swivel – The brand new fully articulated LCD is probably the single thing that every authority agreed upon as a major plus at the time this camera was launched. We all love it.

4. LCD is Big and Very clear – The LCD clarity and resolution has been enhanced above the 50D. One of the best uses for this LCD is when in Live View. Anyone can see clearly in order to manual focus and adjust your focus with the 5x or 10x zoom function.

5. Fast/Reliable Auto-focus – Buyers appreciate the immediate response of this camera. It is particularly good for action photographs for instance athletics and nature pictures. The quick continuous shooting rate of 5.3 frames per second is excellent for getting difficult to shoot or unpredictable adventure photos.

The average user rating is 4.8 out of 5 (you can see this rating on the B & H Photo website). And that is quite extraordinary and absolutely not typical at all for digital cameras. And maybe even more convincing is the fact that 99% of folks that took the effort to record their opinions definitely recommend this DSLR to a friend or family member.

The Canon 60D is recognized as an entry-level prosumer digital SLR. It is focused towards the advanced hobbyist class of photographers.

Pondering your own Canon 60D? Who could blame you. You can become a member of the throngs of joyful photographers? Examine the complete set of features at http://digital-photographic-resources.com.

Canon Rebel T3i equipped with Canon 70-200mm f/4.0 lens

So this morning I was out looking for napping bees or butterflies. I found a pretty nice looking bee on my butterfly bush, so I set about moving him to a position that would be best for a full body photo. What happened was not what I expected. The little fella was more alert than I thought, and with the jostling, he awoke from his nighttime stupor and flew off.

Above is actually a picture from a couple of days ago. This guy was quite alert, so not as much detail as I wanted from this morning’s shoot. Alas, tomorrow is another day.

Rebel T3i and Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro lens

No other critters were in sight, so I took the opportunity to take a couple of pictures of some Butterfly Weed and cucumbers. The butterfly weed is just blooming, so I got some nice buds and flowers to cooperate.

The cucumbers, on the other hand, are just about done. I have had some really good-tasting salads using my first-ever crop of cucumbers. What is left does not look very edible, but they are good enough for photos.

I lined these guys up and put toothpicks in them to keep them steady.

Panasonic Lumix G3 front view	Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 (red)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 top view with lens	Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 with fully articulating LCD

Always looking for special ways to develop camera technology, Panasonic has continued to be a front-runner in their field with this four-thirds SLR-type camera. Though new, the reviews are coming in very early, and they seem to agree that this camera is deserving of excellent marks. While Canon and Nikon are the acknowledged top producers of digital cameras, especially DSLRs, this newfangled Panasonic G3 is getting excellent marks from the experts.

There are two previous models of this camera, the G1 and G2, but judging by the camera geek commentaries, this one might be the most fantastic in this line.

If you are considering an entry-level digital camera that can compete with digital SLRs and compete in image quality and versatility, then read on.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 – Small Size But Big Inside

Really, the G3 looks more like a compact camera rather than a pro model. The explanation for the small girth is that there is no mirror needed to reflect the image onto the sensor. It is “mirror-less” technolgy. Quite simply, less “stuff” inside allows for the camera to be smaller.

In terms of sensor size, the G3 sensor is about the same as one of the APS-C cameras. This new sensor provides excellent image quality, lots better than its predecessor. Actually, compared to digital SLRs in the entry-level category such as the Canon T3i or Nikon D3100, this one will hold its own. And don’t look now, but it does all this for a price tag of several hundred dollars less.

DMC-G3 Performance

Photographers who are buying their first exchangeable lens camera will plausibly like the petite, condensed size of this camera, nevertheless if you are used to a more traditional DSLR, you will without doubt experience a shock at first due to the small size and feel. However, this size factor might be preferable for individuals who naturally choose light and compact. It will save on the physical weariness that comes from hauling a large camera around all day.

The LCD panel on this camera is also a great feature. It is a full swivel screen that helps make getting shots from all weird angles and positions really easy. The LCD also has touch-screen technology.

It allows interaction by allowing the user to change settings, but it also gives more user control over live view. The photographer can touch the point on the live view screen to focus on that special point. Want to zoom in on a point of interest? Just touch the screen. This can be very helpful when shooting macro images.

Although the camera has adequate settings to gratify the most control hungry photographer, it is possible just to use the iA setting and not need to be bothered about any added selections. Just “set is and forget it.” If you still want a bit of control, don’t fret, it is still available in iA. Again, using the touch-screen, you can change Aperture, ISO, or Shutter speed with the slip of a finger.

Is Mirrorless The Trend Of The Future?

The excitement is mounting with regard to the new cameras that are being produced. Will this camera style replace the traditional digital SLR models with their mirrors? Probably not, but time will tell. However, if you are interested in being part of photography history, or if new gear gives you a buzz, this could be your next camera.

Thinking about how new the technology is, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 has worked out a lot of the bugs of the original four thirds cameras. This is truly an exciting time to be looking for an entry-level SLR-type camera. See all the specs and features at digital-photographic-resources.com.

Sample Photos from the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3
These photos are from the CameraLabs review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3. To see their review, click here ==>Camera Labs Review<==

Canon Rebel T3i with Sigma 105mm Macro Lens

The beauty of buying a new Rebel has been being able to use all the same lenses, lenses that I already own and don’t have to spend a dime for… yea!

What is the best Canon Rebel T3i lens for macro?

I spent literally days agonizing over which macro lens to get. (By the way, a macro lens was the type of lens I wanted because I absolutely love taking close-up photos of… well, just about anything.) In the end, the decision was between the Sigma 105mm and the Tamron 90mm macro. With one of these two lenses, I could save roughly $100 at the time. Why did I settle on the Sigma? Basically, it was a coin toss. Both lenses had identical reviews and user satisfaction.
If I had it to do over again, I would definitely go with the Canon 100mm macro, because now it has a USM (utlra-sonic motor) for quick focusing. The price is still higher, but that quick focus motor is worth some extra cash.

The bottom line, though, is always image quality, and the Sigma 105mm macro lens gives me that. I simply have to avoid fast moving objects. Well, not really, because I use this lens often when photographing butterflies, and the results are good with those, too.

Now, with the Canon Rebel T3i, I can back off just a bit and take in more of the surrounding area. That is a function of the sensor size. I always know that I have plenty of pixel real estate to work with if I need to crop.

Here are a couple of recent macro images taken with the Canon Rebel T3i and the Sigma 105mm macro lens.

More about the Canon T3i at http://canonrebelt3i600d.com/

]]> http://digital-photographic-resources.com/blog/sigma-105mm-macro-on-my-canon-rebel-t3i/feed/ 0 http://digital-photographic-resources.com/blog/canon-rebel-t3i-more-flowers/ http://digital-photographic-resources.com/blog/canon-rebel-t3i-more-flowers/#comments Mon, 30 May 2011 00:24:02 +0000 gearnut http://digital-photographic-resources.com/blog/?p=597

Exploring the Live View Capabilities of the T3i

The Canon T3i has a zoom feature when in Live View that is pretty handy.

In these two photos, I was using this new feature – it isn’t even available on the 60D… yet.

The best way to do this is to turn off the AF of the lens. Then you turn on Live View and get “kind of” focused. You then press the zoom button on the back of the camera and it zooms in 5x so you can fine tune the focus. If you press the zoom button again, it zooms to 10x. Pretty amazing detail.

Did I mention that a stabilized camera is best for this technique? I tried some hand-held and got about 50% keepers. But I must admit, I do not have the steadiest of hands. When I used a tripod, it worked great. I would also recommend a remote shutter release (at least for guys like me – I tend to press the shutter button with gusto and ruin lots of pictures with camera shake).

Anyhoo, here are a couple of the shots I took using Live View with Zoom focus:

My title for this one is “Poppy Has-been”. To me it looks like a ballerina with a pink tutu. The tutu part is only about 1/2″ across.

This one is a Zinnia – in fact, it is the first of the season. It is about 3″ across.

]]> http://digital-photographic-resources.com/blog/canon-rebel-t3i-more-flowers/feed/ 0 http://digital-photographic-resources.com/blog/the-canon-rebel-t3i-for-nature-photos/ http://digital-photographic-resources.com/blog/the-canon-rebel-t3i-for-nature-photos/#comments Sat, 28 May 2011 20:50:32 +0000 gearnut http://digital-photographic-resources.com/blog/?p=594

Most of my photography has to do with nature. It is almost summer, and the flowers and butterflies are starting to get much more plentiful. It is my favorite time to get out in the yard early in the morning. I have been really getting to know my Canon Rebel T3i.

It has not been a month now since I got my new Rebel T3i. Believe it or not, it was an “upgrade” from a Canon 30D.

I know, it doesn’t seem like I would be going down to an entry-level digital SLR once I have owned a 30D. And, quite honestly, I was not intending to keep this camera. I just wanted to give it a try. But I am keeping it, simply because it takes great photos.

Compared to my Canon 30D, my experience has been nothing less than surprising. I did not expect the quality to blow the 30D away, but it has.

A couple of things I like about the T3i that I don’t have on the 30D:

1. The first major benefit (for me) has to be the added high ISO quality. I can bump the T3i up to 1600 ISO and not see much noise. On the 30D, 1600 is as high as it goes, and the noise level is unacceptable except if you really need the picture, like when my granddaughter was performing in the elementary school play.
2. Image size. With an 18-megapixel sensor compared to a 10-megapixel on the 30D, there is much more room for cropping. That means I can take in more of the surrounding area to make sure I can crop exactly as I want. I am still getting used to this with macro shots, since I tend to try to get as close as possible. I lose some of the edges because I am trying to fill the frame totally. With the T3i, I can back off a bit and still crop the photo with plenty of file size available.
3. Swivel LCD panel. This is totally awesome, especially when I want to put the camera below a low-hanging bud. Linten Roses are a good example. They open toward the ground and they are only a few inches from the ground. All I have to do is place the camera below the flower, and I can put the camera in Live View and twist the LCD screen to get a perfect view of the photo.
4. The Price. if the T3i didn’t capture my fancy as it did, I would have gone to the Canon 60D or even the Canon 7D. But those are more expensive, especially the 7D, and right now, I am happy with the results of the T3i enough to stick with it.

Is there anything I don’t like? Sure, a couple of things so far:

1. Photoshop can’t open my RAW files. I don’t own the latest version of Photoshop (I have CS4), and if I shoot in the RAW format, I have to use the Canon software to open the photos. Don’t like this, so I tend to shoot in JPEG now.
2. Live View does not focus as fast as looking through the viewfinder. I my experience, Live view does not focus as fast as even my Panasonic ZS7 (which is a pretty awesome camera, by the way). Therefore, I only use Live View for shots at difficult angles.
3. The Kit Lens. It’s ok, but I’m sorry I didn’t just get the camera without a lens. I have two great all-purpose lenses already, so what was I thinking? My favorite all-purpose lens at the moment is the Sigma 18-250… it is truly “all-purpose.” Plus it has pretty good image quality considering the wide range of focal length.

So, that’s my story, and I’m sticking with it. I will be posting more photos in the coming days.

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