Sunday, August 31, 2014

3 Camera Lessons For Every New Photographer [Free Cheat Sheet]

So you just bought your first camera...now what?!

Here are three key fundamental concepts that every new photographer should understand. How your camera's shutter speed scale works, how focal length affects your composition, and how your aperture controls what's sharp in the photo.

3 Camera Lessons for Every New Photographer [Free Cheat Sheet]

Media Source: Digital Camera World

1. Shutter Speed:

Shutter speed is one of the two ways of controlling the exposure (with lens aperture being the other). Just like aperture settings and ISO's, shutter speeds go in a fixed sequence. The longer your shutter is open, the further your moving subject will travel during the exposure (causing blur).

To freeze your subject, you use a faster shutter speed. Or you can become a bit artistic, by setting a slower shutter speed and 'pan' the shot. That is, follow the subject in the viewfinder, as you press the shutter. This keeps the subject sharp but blurs the background.

2. Focal Length:

Lenses are grouped according to their 'focal length'. The shorter the focal length, the wider the angle of view. These are commonly called wide-angle lenses.

When you shoot with a wide-angle lens (such as a 20mm), you get more in the frame but objects appear smaller.

The longer the focal length, the narrower the angle of view. These lenses provide a photograph with less in the frame, but the subject is magnified (such as a 300mm). This is commonly referred to as a 'telephoto' lens.

3. Focusing & Aperture:

Lens aperture is one of the controls used to get exposure right in photographs. Aperture controls the amount of light hitting the camera sensor, while the shutter speed controls the length of the time that the sensor is exposed.

The size of the lens aperture affects the depth of field in the picture. For example, shallow depth of field is where the main subject is sharp in the foreground, while the background is out of focus. You can achieve this affect by using wide lens apertures, such as f/4.

You can also increase the depth of field by using a narrower lens aperture such as f/16 or f/22 which makes objects at all distances look sharper.

Lens aperture is important if you wan to blur backgrounds to draw attention to your main subject or make your shots perfectly tack sharp, from foreground to background.


We hope this cheat sheet will help reinforce these three fundamental photography concepts. Most importantly, it gives you a reason to pick up your camera and get behind that lens!

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...


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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

References: Digital Camera World

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Accepting the ALS #IceBucketChallenge



If you are having troubles viewing the embeded video above, please follow the direct link to YouTube at: http://youtu.be/IBsoDAKwHIA.

As of Wednesday, August 27, The ALS Association has received $94.3 million in donations compared to $2.7 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 27). These donations have come from existing donors and 2.1 million new donors. The ALS Association is tremendously thankful for all of the generous support and awareness that this summer phenomenon has generated for the cause.

“The ALS Association has been given a great deal of money and with that comes tremendous responsibility,” said Barbara Newhouse, President and CEO of The ALS Association. “We are absolutely committed to transparency and will be communicating regularly with the ALS community, our donors, the media and the public about progress to invest these dollars wisely in areas that will have maximum impact on the fight against this devastating disease.”

The ALS Association’s mission includes providing care services to assist people with ALS and their families through a network of chapters working in communities across the nation and a global research program focused on the discovery of treatments and eventually a cure for the disease. In addition, The Association’s advocacy efforts empower people to advance public policies in our nation’s Capital that respond to the needs of people with ALS.

Please join myself and Dakota Visions Photography, LLC in supporting the ALS #IceBucketChallenge by visiting http://www.alsa.org today to help #StrikeOutALS.

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...


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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Hail Storm: Hermosa, SD August 17th

So what does a photographer do when it sounds like a bowling ball just landed on the metal roof? Well, you grab the closest video or photography equipment and head outside!

Hail pummeled our home, office, but luckily no damage to vehicles - and as far as we know, nobody hurt in town. Guess we'll be calling the insurance agent on Monday!


*Disclaimer: If you see the horses running in the video, no need to worry. They had shelter and immediately took shelter. No horses were harmed in the capture of this video!

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Top 5 Biggest Camera Lenses Ever Produced for Photography [Infographic]

Have you ever wondered how large those camera lenses can get? Well, you don't have to wonder anymore!

The heaviest, fastest, longest, most obnoxious, largest and most impractical; these are the top five 'biggest' non-military lenses ever produced for photography.

5 Biggest Camera Lenses Ever Produced for Photography #Infographic
Infographic Source: CameraPro.com.au

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Monday, August 4, 2014

Social Media Ads Cheat Sheet: 2014 Size Guide

In 2014, the number of social networks that offer advertising grows every day. And hey, let's admit it - it gets more confusing formatting ads for each specific community as well.

The bottom line: The look and feel of your delivered ad is everything.  In order to get the best ROI on social media ads, your ads not only need quick, smart copy but they require a formatted image optimized to display on a variety of different devices.

Take a look at Flightpath's Social Media Ads Cheat Sheet infographic which features ad image sizes and other specs for Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn and Instagram:

Don't know where to start with your social media ads? Right here - 2014 Social Media Ads Cheat Sheet #Infographic
Courtesy of: Flightpath

Join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ , Twitter, or sneak a peek at our photography on Dakota Visions Photography, LLC. Until next time, we'll see you behind the lens...


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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC