Technology Explained, Practice
Daniela Bowker
Resolution and pixels and image quality! Oh my! ...

When you hear the term 'high-res' thrown about with such abandon when it comes to images for web use, have you ever stopped to think just how big or how high quality and image meant for the web needs to be?

Resolution and pixels and image quality! Oh my! Saving images for the web
Feature Articles, Photography Theory
Haje Jan Kamps
Low-contrast photographs don't have to be boring

There's an assumption that high-contrast images are more dynamic, more compelling, more inviting. Have a go at some low-contrast photography. You might surprise yourself with the results.

Low-contrast photographs don't have to be boring
Feature Articles, Theory
Daniela Bowker
Seeking balance in your photos

Balance doesn't mean symmetry; it means an internal consistency and tension within your photos. And it's a vital element of composition. 

Seeking balance in your photos
Feature Articles, Photography Theory
Haje Jan Kamps
Training your photographic luck

Great photos might be down to a little bit of luck, but most of that 'luck' you make yourself. Don't believe us? Read on...

Training your photographic luck
Feature Articles, Practice
Daniela Bowker
The ups and downs and ins and outs of ...

Photographing buildings doesn't have to mean wide-angle lenses and fretting about correcting for the keystone effect. Any lens, and angle. Don't believe us? Let us show you!

The ups and downs and ins and outs of photographing buildings

strobes

Running in circles? Try a ring flash!


When you're taking photos with a flash, there's a problem: Because the flash is mounted on top of your camera, you get some pretty horrible shadows. One way around that is to move the flash as far away from the lens as you can, in the now-famous Strobist approach to photography lighting, but there's another way, too: Move the flash closer to your lens. A lot closer.

A ring flash is designed to be ring-shaped, and to sit around the lens of your camera. Originally developed as a tool to facilitate dental photography, it's great for all sorts of macro work. However, it quickly got another use, too: in portraiture and fashion.

canon_mr_14ex_ttl.jpgBecause the light from a ring flash is coming from exactly the same direction as your lens, you don't get the harsh shadows traditionally associated with flash photography. Perfect!

The only problem is that ring flashes can be very expensive. A Canon MR 14EX ring-flash will set you back the best part of an arm and a leg (that's about £400), and even third-party ring flashes will cost you at least a couple of fingers, if not a hand.

The El Cheapo Deluxe option is to use the strobes you already have, and use a light shaper that'll turn your normal directional light into a lovely circular light source. There are loads of ways to make your own ring flash; Out of a plastic bowl (better instructions here), with some bits of plastic, with a whole load of light sources or even using a metric tonne of white LEDs.

20110923_img_7964_1000px.jpg

Whist it's lovely to spend a rainy morning up to your elbows in glue and bits of aluminium foil, there's an easier option as well; DIY Lighting Kits does a flat-pack kit that's quick to assemble, and pretty easy to use, too.