Photographer Rick Sammon has some quick tips for digital photographers who want to spend some time shootin’ in the city, illustrated by photos taken in Old Havana, Cuba.
My guess is that you live near a big city, a photographic destination filled with endless photographic possibilities, not to mention tons of fun.
Usually, I like to shoot when the light is soft and even, as illustrated by these pictures. That usually means shooting in the shade (or asking the subject to move into the shade).
It also means shooting on overcast days, before sunrise and after sunset. If the sun is shining brightly, I’ll use a reflector, diffuser or a flash to reduce the contrast range – as a last (but sometimes necessary) resort. And by the way, I never leave home without these accessories.
As recently as a year ago, shooting for HDR (high dynamic range) images would not have been on the top of my city shooting list – or even on the list. Recently, however, I’ve dived into HDR big time because it’s so cool and so easy – and because city scenes are perfect for HDR.
What’s more, HDR seems to the latest and greatest digital photography innovation, with new/updated HDR software introduced ever few months.
New to HDR? Here’s the basics: use a tripod, don’t change the aperture, bracket with the shutter speed, use the camera’s self-time or a cable release and take pictures at, over and under the recommended setting. Also, always shoot at a low ISO setting and remove chromatic aberrations before creating an HDR image.
View more tips and images in this slideshow: Cuba Photos: Old Havana Slideshow.
Find more tips in our Photography & Photo Galleries section.
Related Links on PeterGreenberg.com:
