Photo Tip Friday - EXIF Info

Photo Tip Friday - EXIF Info







In the days before digital cameras, the best a photographer could do to remember all the camera settings for an image was to write them down for each shot.

Very time consuming and confusing and not always practical to do.

Digital photography allows the photographer to have all the camera settings, date, time, and even the lens focal length at their fingertips with a click of the mouse - for every photo they take with their camera.

This is known as the EXIF info or metadata for the image.

It records the shutterspeed, f-stop number, ISO, size, and many other settings including the flash settings too.

I tried to show the EXIF screen for the above image, but I could not get it to come through on this post.

When viewing your images on your computer, right click on the photo, and click "properties" on the drop down box.

From there, click on the "image" tab and scroll down a bit. The header reads: EXIF.

All of the camera settings are listed under that header.

It is a great learning tool for a beginner, and it makes life a lot easier for the more experienced!

ABC Wednesday - O is for Oak Leaf Floating

O is for Oak Leaf Floating............







I know it doesn't look like it is in the water, but this leaf is floating on top of it.

The polarizer is doing such a good job, it completely removed the glare from the water and allowed us to see under the surface.

The incoming tide had a gentle flow against the rocks and the seaweed beneath the surface was slowly swaying back and forth.

I was lucky to enough to grab the shot before the leaf was pushed against the rocks by the water.

I like the splash of color that the leaf gives to the whole scene, and if you view the larger image, all of the little details become much clearer.





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Old Bridge Reflection - My World

Old Bridge Reflection - My World







Once used for just trains, this old bridge was converted to vehicle traffic many years ago.

It's old and rusty but still quite sturdy as it stretches the short distance over the small river.

There was plenty of water to catch the reflection - usually it is quite low in the summer with mostly rocks showing.

Almost looks abstract with the upsidedown bridge.

Pussy Willows

Pussy Willows








These were taken this past spring - soft willow buds that we grew up calling pussy willows.

They only last a couple of days before the leaves begin to emerge and cast off their soft furry shell.

We loved them as kids, and I still look forward to them each spring.

Photo Tip Friday - My Favorite Filter - The Polarizer

Photo Tip Friday - My Favorite Filter - The Polarizer








In last week's post I mentioned a problem that my polarizer filter was causing with my lens.

Theresa, over at Out in the Backyard asked what a polarizer was used for, and I am glad she did because it is my favorite filter.

Everyone loves a deep blue ocean and a beautiful blue sky overhead.

Many times the sky seems a bit washed out, and the glare on the water doesn't allow the deep colors to show up in an image.

So, how does a photographer get those vivid blues?

They use their trusty polarizer filter.

And not only does that polarizer make the blue colors more vivid, it enhances the reds and greens also.

It effectively removes reflections from glass and water so you can see beneath the surface with more depth.

A little piece of magic that I would never be without - especially since I love nature and landscape photography.

I keep it on my lens at all times - I have one for each lens.

Since this filter "spins" to increase the polarizing effect, you can effectively turn it so that it doesn't work at all if you do not need it.

One thing to keep in mind if you keep it on the camera at all times - you need to adjust your exposure.

As with all filters, it is another "layer" for the light go through, and adjusting for the exposure compensates for this.

A circular polarizer is a must for digital cameras with autofocus lenses. A Linear one does not work with an AF lens.

Keep in mind that the polarizer also tends to "cool" down the overall tone of the image, so I recommend a Moose's Polarizer filter which includes an 81a warming filter built into it to put the "warmth" back into the photo.

Spending a little more for a quality polarizer is really worth it in the end - it is the best little helper a photographer can have!

ABC Wednesday - N is for Nest

N is for Nest............







This is the most unique sundial I have ever seen. Mama bird feeding her babies in the nest with the stretched worm casting the shadow that is needed to tell the time.

This is a scan from a slide that I took over 25 years ago.

No matter how much I try, I cannot remember where I found this little work of art.

It would be great to go back there and capture them from a different angle.

Perhaps someday the fog will clear and my brain will remember.





This is the fifth round of ABC Wednesday. If you would like to join in please visit this site for the details.

Thin Ice Forming - My World

Thin Ice Forming - My World







I stumbled upon an interesting meme while visiting a new blog, and I decided I would give it a try.

My World, Tuesday is the name of the community, and it takes us all over the globe.

My contribution for this first post was taken late last autumn.

Thin ice was just forming over the lake, but the reflection was still just as beautiful in the late afternoon sunlight.