How to… use a Polariser
The polariser is one of the most commonly used filters in photography, and for good reason. It is a very versatile tool and the effects that are possible through a polarising filter are often impossible to replicate in any other way, including photoshop. read more…
Shutter Speed, Aperture and ISO
When you get right down to it, there are really only three things that control the exposure of your photographs: your shutter speed, aperture and your ISO*. Everything else – your metering modes, exposure compensation – is really just a set of tools to help you tell the camera how to set these three variables.
Rule of Thirds
Of all the rules of composition the Rule of Thirds is easily the most commonly quoted and used. It’s also the most commonly broken, and frankly that’s fair enough. They’re not really rules, just guidelines: tools to use when it suits you (or perhaps more appropriately, when it suits the photograph). I will tell you right now that the rule of thirds – or any compositional rule – will not work in every situation.
Having said that it is popular for good reason. It’s simple, it’s easy and it’s exceptionally effective under a huge range of circumstances. Once you have learned it you will find that you use the rule of thirds in everything from landscapes to action shots and everything in between. It is, for want of a better word, a good default compositional tool.
If in doubt, use the Thirds. read more…