Are Your Photos Getting Shared Online? [Infographic]

Choosing the right place to put your photos online to make sure they get shared is a scary proposition.  Did you know women are more likely than men to use Pinterest, while Instagram and Tumblr attract equal shares of men and women?

In fact, here are some of the latest statistics for 2013 Social Media use (facts and figures from the GlobalWebIndex Q1 2013 study):

1.  Twitter is the fastest growing social network in the world by active users. (Tweet me!)
2.  Twitter's fastest growing age demographic is 55-65 year olds. (Tweet me!)
3.  Facebook has 1.1 billion monthly active users. (Tweet me!)
4.  Facebook has 665 million daily active users. (Tweet me!)
5.  Google+ remains the number 2 social platform in the world with 359 million monthly active users. (Tweet me!)

What this all means is that you have to make sure that you post your photos in the right place using social media. Read the latest infographic from Muvee to learn more.

Originally posted on blog.muvee.com.

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by Richard S - Dakota Visions Photography, LLC

Fundamentals of Macro Photography [Infographic]

According to Wikipedia, macro photography was invented by Fritz Goro and it is considered to be extreme close-up photography, usually in which the size of the subject in the photograph is greater than life size.  The ratio of the subject size on the film plane or camera's sensor compared to the actual subject size is known as the reproduction ratio.  By some definitions, a macro photograph is one in which the size of the subject on the negative or image sensor is life size or greater.

A macro lens is classically a lens capable of reproduction ratios greater than 1:1, although it often refers to any lens with a large reproduction ratio, despite rarely exceeding 1:1.  Macro lenses are specifically designed for close-up work, with a long barrel for close focusing and are optimized for high reproduction ratios. True macro lenses can achieve higher magnification than life size, enabling photography of the structure of small insect eyes, snowflakes, and other minuscule objects.  Most modern macro lenses can focus continuously to infinity and provide excellent optical quality for even normal photographic situations.

Macro lenses of different focal lengths find different uses:

• Continuously-variable focal length – suitable for virtually all macro subjects 
• 45–65 mm – product photography, small objects that can be approached closely without causing undesirable influence, and scenes requiring natural background perspective 
• 90–105 mm – insects, flowers, and small objects from a comfortable distance 
• 150–200 mm – insects and other small animals where additional working distance is required

For those of you looking for a good reference on Macro Photography, our friends over at Photo Affiliates have put together a great infographic.  The infographic follows the step by step rules of macro photography beginning from lens focal length & depth to aperture settings. As it wraps up the lesson on macro photography it suggests alternative ways of shooting macro without a proper macro lens.

Fundamentals of Macro Photography infographic by usamanasir.

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

Thoughtful Thursday Photography Quote: July 25

Hey, I live in the Black Hills of South Dakota - what did you expect when I came up with a metaphor?!  But keep looking for that one nugget of gold when you take your photographs.  When it comes, it will be well worth it.

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

Top 5 Car Show Photography Tips

Living in the Black Hills of South Dakota means a car show about every weekend.  Rapid City Police hosted the Cruiser Car Show 2013 in downtown Rapid City, SD on July 14.  It is an exceptional show on the beautiful downtown Main Street with the historic buildings, tree lined avenues, and side streets full of vendors.

The great set-up, but now what?  How do you shoot a car show and what tips can you provide me for making memories that come even close to what I saw!?  Here's five great tips for car shows - Dakota Visions style!

1.  Pray for overcast, cloudy skies.  If your religious, pray - pray - pray!  If you are not a believer, then ask someone who is to pray for you.  The bright shining sun may create sparkle to your own eyes, but that high contrast and glare creates all sorts of hassle with your camera and post-processing.

If you don't luck out (or maybe didn't go to church enough this month) then go early in the day or late in the day to keep the sun as low to the horizon as possible.  We lucked out this year with a hazy, cloudy fore noon with even a few sprinkles.

2.  If you enjoy a car, or it pleases you aesthetically - then shoot it from many different angles.  A car show is so much more than just the side view of classic car show stance.  Look for what you can integrate into the shot as well - hey, this Chevy pickup is not only "Paris Chic", but it's on the "edge"!  (OK - you may have to go to the full size view to pick those out...)

And sometimes, things can just get "riveting"!

3.  Get creative - and that may mean that you have to get down on your knees. (This may or may not be directed at some of you from tip #1 - pray.  LOL!)  That creative angle is what most people won't do in a car show, but it shows off some of the most beautiful angles of a car.  Think speed - low, lean and long on those muscle cars.  (I know, your knees may feel like they are on "fire", but that shot will fly like a "bird.)

4.  Bring ultra wide lenses and a macro.  See our previous posting on "Going Macro at Kool Deadwood Nites Car Show". Walk all around the car and look for the different interesting shots.  Think of it in pieces (you know, like when a "Barracuda" eats its prey and pieces get strewn all over the river).

Think of the car as a diagram - what to shoot with a wide angle, and what to shoot with a macro.  Think of logos, hood ornaments, mirrors, and door handles.  Make sure to get the engine and interior with your wide angle.  Oh, ride Sally, ride!

5.  Post-processing: It's OK to CROP!  Yes, I said you could CROP it!  Chop it, crop it, and hide all those distractions.  With reflections, people walking all around you, and those distractions in the background (yes, he really was picking his nose...)  Unless you are shooting the event as a photojournalist and regardless of what your local camera club tells you - it's OK to crop!  Sometimes it makes or breaks that shot of the car that you just love...

And talking about going old school - think of it in your processing too.  That sexy Lincoln Continental looks good not only cropped, but retro black and white too.

And one bonus tip: Hang onto your camera equipment.  Lots of people, lots of distractions, and no one paying any attention to anything but the cars.  Your camera gear can disappear in an instant, and even in downtown, small town America - no one will see a thing.  Sorry for that drool on the Corvette, guys...yeah, it was me.

Most of all - have fun.  Don't spend so much time setting up the shot that you miss time with your friends, family or significant other.  And gosh and by golly - DON'T MISS THE CARS!

This whole show was shot with our new Nikon COOLPIX S9200 16 MP Digital Camera.  We took our last bonus tip to heart, and wanted to go light this year to the Cruiser Car Show.  All photos were adjusted for exposure, and contrast via Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 and defined with Nik Software Dfine 2.0 .  We highly recommend this camera as the 'carry anywhere' and unobtrusive street photography camera for any discerning photographer.

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