Photo Tips - Angie Patterson Photography

Shutter Speed for Slow Motion

Shutter Speed for Slow Motion Nature is stunning in Jasper National Park, and the drive towards the Columbia Icefields from Jasper is exceptional for photography. The landforms and history of the region have always intrigued me. My attraction to Tangle Creek Falls began a few years before when I took the time to play by the waterfall with my camera. While reading the book A Hunter of Peace recounting...

Illustration of a digital camera mode dial

How to Take a Picture With a Digital Camera

Posted in Behind The Scenes.

How to Take a Picture With a Digital Camera Many years ago, I still recall the day when I attempted to take photos using a borrowed “good film camera.” Heading outdoors with high hopes and enthusiasm, I figured out how to turn the camera on. That was easy! I figured out how to turn the camera on. That was easy. And next, how to press the shutter release button and capture my subject....

Examples of Poor Composition in Photography

Posted in Photography Tips.

Examples of Poor Composition in Photography Often times we can learn as much, if not more, from what did not turn out quite as we hoped, planned for, wanted, expected……..fill in the blank however you wish. Let’s compare the Bohemian waxwings feeding on the crab apples as examples of poor composition in photography. Do you see how it’s obvious one of the Bohemian waxwings...

What Does Fast SLR Camera Lenses Mean?

Posted in Photography Tips.

What Does Fast SLR Camera Lenses Mean? What does fast SLR camera lenses mean, and how do you know if you have one? What types of situations require a fast lens? Are you considering a new lens, but you’re not sure what to buy? Whether a lens is fast or not relates to how much light a lens can admit through the opening or closing of the overlapping lens blades, called a diaphragm. What...

How to Find Photography Spots

Posted in Photography Tips.

How to Find Photography Spots I have always loved this quote from Mike Litman in Conversations with Millionaires, “you don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going.” And that’s what this series is all about – creativity as you discover how to find photography spots. Please continue reading below the sunflowers. Do you daydream about what you would like...

Tips To Photograph The Moon

Posted in Photography Tips.

Tips To Photograph The Moon Photographing the moon tends to challenge and confuse beginner photographers. The reason is that photos are often overexposed or too light, revealing nothing more than a bright white blob in the sky. So why is the moon hard to photograph? Many beginner photographers, including me at one time, have a different mindset when taking pictures of the moon at night. If you...

What is Aperture?

Posted in Behind The Scenes.

What is aperture? Aperture is the amount of light being admitted through the lens as you capture your subject. How can you tell how much light that is? In the example image, the aperture, also known as the f-stop, is the number 4.5 (F4.5). Adjusting the aperture allows you to get creative. Think of a crisp, focused image (foreground and background), compared to a focused foreground subject but...

What Does Shutter Speed Control?

Posted in Behind The Scenes.

What does shutter speed control? Shutter speed controls the amount of time your camera takes to capture your subject, or in other words, to take the picture. How can you tell how long that is? In the example image, my shutter speed is revealed by the number 90. Ninety by itself may not appear to give you enough information; instead, consider it a fraction. Therefore, the shutter speed is actually...

The Human Element in Landscape Photography

Posted in Photography Tips.

The Human Element in Landscape Photography In my early days of photography, I adamantly resisted the idea of adding the human element in landscape photography. The fact I learned about this from professional photographers did not sway me. Eventually, I began to change my perspective, deciding to experiment and be open to wherever it took me. My first experiments. In two of the three examples, would...

Hoar Frost

Posted in Behind The Scenes.

Hoar Frost As photographers, one of the challenges is whether we will stop long enough to take photographs. Of course, we plan to and assure ourselves that we will, but sometimes we say to ourselves, “next time.” Have you noticed how next time does not wait for us? The situation varies, the lighting changes, it is inconvenient, what will people think, and those precious moments slip...