2009 November | The Digital Photo Experience

Why pose is so important

November 23, 2009

For me, pose is one of the most important elements in my images. My subjects pose can make or break an image, so much so that a great pose or behavior can make up for lackluster background or environment. The subjects pose can convey a mood in an image and can impart a sense of [...]

Respect wildlife

By Juan Pons

November 23, 2009

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No image, no matter how good, unique or special it may be, is worth stressing, endangering or otherwise harming wildlife. As wildlife photographers, we all need to be advocates for wildlife, after all, if we who love to photograph them, are not, who will? As wildlife photographers we need to set the example for others, [...]

Know the rules, break the rules

By Juan Pons

November 23, 2009

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Rules, we are surrounded by them, and photography is no exception. From the “Rule of Thirds” to exposure rules, sunny16, etc. photography seems to be governed by rules, and most amateur photographers get intimidated by them quite easily, but there really is no need to be. These 6 words sum up what I think about [...]

The Basics: Rule of Thirds

By Juan Pons

November 23, 2009

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You would think that most everyone who does any type of photography would be familiar with this rule, however the more photographers I meet the more I find that 1) have never heard of it, 2) had heard about it but did not understand it, or 3) had heard of it in the past and [...]

Editing Canon 7D & 5D MarkII video

By Juan Pons

November 23, 2009

15 Comments

I hear about so many people having problems editing 7D & 5D2 video that I thought it would be worthwhile posting a quick note on one of the easiest ways to edit it. The 7D & 5D2 video format is called h.264, this is the most advanced video compression format around, meaning that it can [...]

Quick Tip: “Option” key when sharpening in Lightroom

By Juan Pons

November 23, 2009

3 Comments

Quick Tip: “Option” key when sharpening in Lightroom

Sharpening is a crucial step in your digital workflow, however my experience is that it is also one of the most misunderstood. Every digital image requires a certain level of sharpness (or unsharp mask) applied to it, the reasons are quite technical and they revolve around the pattern in which the pixels are arranged in [...]

5 quick tips for wildlife photographers

By Juan Pons

November 23, 2009

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Sometimes the smallest of things can improve your chances at getting THAT image. Here are 5 quick tips that I hope will help you make THAT image. 1. Keep your eye on the viewfinder – Action can unfold in front of you at any time, and Murphy’s law dictates that you will miss the best [...]

Why I shoot in Av or Aperture Priority mode

By Juan Pons

November 23, 2009

2 Comments

I hear it over and over again “real photographers only shoot in manual mode”, and every time I just shake my head. Yes there are plenty of photographers, real or otherwise that shoot in “Aperture Priority”, “Shutter Priority”, or even (gasp…) “Program” mode. I, myself, shoot in “Av (Aperture Value, in Canon parlance)” otherwise known [...]

Connecting with your subject

By Juan Pons

November 23, 2009

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The most compelling photos are those that create a connection between your subject and your viewer. This not only applies to wildlife photography, but just about every other type, such as portrait, wedding, human interest, travel, Photojournalism, etc. As the old cliché goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”, so [...]

Getting the most out of a photo workshop

By Juan Pons

November 23, 2009

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As I prepare for my upcoming photo instructional workshops, I thought it would be appropriate to put together a short list on how to get the most out of a photo workshop. One of the fastest, easiest and most effective ways to improve your photography is by learning from experienced professionals, and what better way [...]