Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

How to Shoot Timelapse on the Canon 7D Mark II

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One of the great new features on the Canon 7D Mark II is the ability to shoot timelapse photos without the need for the overpriced Canon TC-80N3, which was required on prior Canon pro and prosumer DSLRs if you wanted to shoot in interval mode.

However, when the Canon 7D Mark II was initially announced, there was some confusion about its timelapse capabilities because some of the initial specs and documentation referenced that it could be programmed to capture photos in intervals between 1 and 99 images. That would suck and be pretty much a pointless feature since a second of video footage from a timelapse would contain at least 24 images (e.g., 1080p video at 24fps).  [Read more…]

 

How to Light an Amazing Portrait with a Low Cost DIY Lighting Kit

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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXv5WPoT1_E&w=700]

Phlearn is back with a great lighting tutorial using a cheap DIY light setup that costs less than $50. More importantly, Aaron Nace breaks down how to use the lights to get a certain look. He goes further to show his camera’s settings for the shots and how to work with your subject to get the best possible portrait with this setup.

The lights he mentions in the above video can be found currently for $15.99 each here on Amazon.com.

The Best Way to Use Lens Flares in Photoshop

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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl09WHy_neg&w=700]

Here’s another great video from Phlearn that shows you how to use the lens flare filter in Photoshop. As you’ll see, the key is to using an appropriate backlit image and making sure that you align your flare source with the actual light source. But check out the video for some crucial tips on making the lens flare more natural.

Watch How Lighting & Posing Can Fake Before & After Photos

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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt1eG1g9vNY&w=700]

We’ve all seen the before and after photos that plague online advertising. These photos are often part of ads that proclaim the latest and greatest fitness craze or weight loss pill. In the above video, BuzzFeedBlue shows just how easy it is to fake these photos using nothing more than some lighting and posing changes.

While there are certainly things you can do to enhance a physique for the after photo (e.g., lift weights, cardio and eat healthier), much of the presentation still relies on the professional eye of the photographer.

[h/t Jayson]

Camera Modes: P for Program

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Program Mode

If you have been using the full auto mode (aka the little green square) on your camera for very long, chances are that it has frustrated you at some point because it won’t let you do something that seems like a no-brainer. Have you ever tried to turn the off the flash when using full auto only to have it pop right back up when you press the shutter again? Thank the full auto mode for that.

If you are trying to exercise a little more creative control over your camera’s settings, then it is time to move to the P, or Program, mode. [Read more…]

How to Black Out Eyes in Photoshop

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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvaF0SCUv00&w=700]

Here’s a great Plearn tutorial on how to black out eyes in Photoshop, which could come in handy during the lead up to Halloween. It’s not as simple as just painting the eyes black. You need to actually show the catch lights to make it look legit. Aaron Nace guides you through step-by-step in the above video.

How to Use Filters in Photoshop

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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9y-7_c5G1o&w=700]

Check out the above video wherein Photoshop Principal Product Manager Bryan O’Neil Hughes shows us how to use filters in Photoshop (and which not to use). He covers the older Filter Gallery and using it with blend modes for creative effects.

Additionally, he shows the benefits of using Guassian Blur on a layer mask, along with the new Blur Gallery in Creative Cloud versions. There are several more in the short 7-minute video with which you may not be familiar.

How to Use the Patch Tool in Photoshop

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Check out this video from Aaron Nace at Phlearn on how to use the amazing patch tool in Photoshop. Aaron covers the scenarios in which you want to use the standard patch tool and why it is often a better choice than using the content-aware patch tool.

He also breaks down the difference between source and destination selections for the patch tool, as well as what the transparency selection does when using the patch tool.