Changing your Perspective

Do you ever feel like you’re in a photo rut? Having trouble breaking away from the standard horizontal, centered family photograph? If you’re photo catalog is starting to feel too familiar, you can liven things up simply by changing your perspective.

Up Close and Personal: Don’t be afraid to zoom in close on your subject; this technique can help create a more intimate feel in the photograph. If you’re worried about personal space becoming an issue and making your subject feel a bit nervous, use your zoom lens to keep your distance and get closer all at the same time. For suggestions on some great zoom lenses, see a selection of zoom lenses on our website.

Get Down Low: If you want to communicate the grandness of an oak tree or the spectacular sight of a historic building, consider getting low to the ground and shooting upward. Your knees might hurt for a few minutes but the result could take your breath away.

Or Stand Tall: Take a tip from real estate agents and grab a chair. Standing on a chair allows you to photograph from a broader viewpoint and capture images that would escape you if you shot at eye level. It’s also a great way to get those ‘children lying in the grass’ shots. Ever wondered how they did that? Now you know!

Summer is still in full swing, so have some fun with your photography and don’t forget to come by and show us your favorite pictures. We’d love to hear how you used our photo tips!

Lighting Tips for Super Summer Shots

You may think the hot summer sun is all you need to create perfectly-lit shots, and in many cases you’d be right. However, sometimes that noontime blaze can work against you, creating over-exposed images or ‘blown out’ pictures that lack rich color and detail. Here are a few tips to make sure that the sun remains your friend:

· Backlighting: If the sun is behind your subject (and is facing you, the photographer), your subject is backlit. When shooting outdoors in harsh sunlight, backlighting can be advantageous in that your subject won’t be squinting due to the sun being in her eyes. Just make sure that the sun’s rays don’t shine directly into your lens as you may end up with flare; consider bringing a lens hood or some other shading device for those daytime photo shoots.

· Wait for the Clouds: If you’re shooting on a cloudy day, consider taking some pictures in overcast light. Skin tones look very natural in this lighting scenario and the overall image may have a softer look than one shot in bright sunlight.

· Fill Flash is Your Friend: Ever see photos of your family with dark shadows on their faces or underneath their eyes? Shooting in bright sunlight can sometimes result in the ‘raccoon eye’ effect. Use your existing camera flash as ‘fill flash,’ and this will light those areas and eliminate those unsightly shadows.

· Sunset Shots: The color of sunlight changes dramatically during those sunrise and sunset times of day, giving you an opportunity to quickly capture your subjects in a variety of lighting situations. As the sun sets and the clouds move, light direction is affected and color changes result. Using the setting sun as your primary light source can give you a plethora of results, each one unique from another. Try sunset shots for images that display a richness of color or warmth not easily attained during the daylight hours.

Getting Great Vacation Pictures

You’ve got your car packed, the kids loaded and the GPS mounted on the windshield. You’re ready for a great family holiday and want to capture those smiling sibling faces when they see Yellowstone National Park for the first time.

To make the most of your vacation photo opportunities, consider the following tips:

Charged, Rested and Ready: Make sure your digital camera is fully charged and that you have the charger or extra batteries packed. To keep your photo library in order, start with a clean digital camera card; offload any previous pictures before packing up your gear.

Bring a Quality Tripod: A high-quality tripod is one of the most important accessories you can own. Having a sturdy tripod can minimize camera shake, thereby making your shots extremely sharp. This is particularly important for posed group shots or any landscape photography. If you’re going to a national park, a monument or some other special venue, consider investing in a good tripod. You can call us here at the store if you have questions on which one would be best suited for your needs.

Play with Composition: Family vacations are fantastic opportunities to experiment with your photography. Shoot off-center; catch your kids observing nature and try new angles

Know This Feature: Unless you want to be excluded from all the family photos, make sure you know how to use the time delay function on your digital camera. Hate reading the manual? We understand. Come by Precision Camera, and we’ll walk you through it. You may even find an accessory or two for your trip!

KEYE Gadget Guy Visits Precision Camera

Local news station KEYE's Fred "Gadget Guy" Cantú visited Precision Camera & Video Tuesday, June 10. Fred interviewed General Manager Gregg Burger about tips for your vacation photos. Gregg and Fred talked about the the dangers of sand and water damage. The Olympus Shockproof and Waterproof cameras were showcased.



"Instead of taking a snapshot, which you'll probably never print...take five seconds and take a photograph," Gregg advises. You can view KEYE's "Gadget Guy - Protect That Camera" news segment on the KEYE website.



The interview starts



The interview continues


Fred Cantú interviewing a Precision Camera & Video customer


Setting up the shot: Olympus Shockproof/Waterproof cameras on display




Gregg Burger showing Fred how to use a Point-and-Shoot Camera



Fred taking pictures