Abigail
I've just bought a Cannon Rebel XS and was looking into buying different lens' and accessories.... any suggestions?
Answer
The only accessories I suggest buying at this time are:
1) A Haze/UV filter to protect the front element of your lens. Remove it only when using my 2nd. suggested purchase or when indoors.
2) A Circular Polarizer. This is used to darken a blue sky and to remove/reduce glare/reflections from glass, water, sand, snow and painted metal - but not polished metal. The Circular Polarizer also enhances colors.
3) A microfiber lens cloth to keep your filters clean.
Remember this: "A cheap filter isn't good and a good filter isn't cheap". Choose from Hoya, B+W, Tiffen, Heliopan, Singh-Ray. Here are some trusted on-line sellers:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com
http://www.adorama.com
http://www.samyscamera.com
These sites will help you learn about photography:
http://www.digital-photography-school.com
http://www.illustratedphotography.com/photography-tips/basic
http://www.cambridgeincolor.com
http://www.photonhead.com
http://www.kamerasimulator.se/eng/?page_id=2
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html
These books will also be helpful:
'Understanding Exposure', 'Understanding Shutter Speed' and 'Understanding Photography Field Guide' all by Bryan Peterson.
'David Busch's Quick Snap Guide To Using Digital SLR Lenses'. http://www.dbusch.com He has written a Guide to your Canon XS so buying it would be advisable since he explains things much better than the Owner's Manual. However, you'll still need to READ & STUDY the Owner's Manual.
Another accessory you'll want sooner or later is a tripod. You'll find that using a tripod will actually improve your photography. I consider a tripod as mandatory for landscape photography. The Benro "Travel Angel" series is an affordable line and you can find all the different models at the previously listed on-line sellers.
My tips for good photography:
1) Ignore those who tell you to go out and just shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot. Their justification is that you'll be gaining "experience". Wrong. I call this the "machine gunner mentality" - take 300 shots and hope - HOPE - a few are worth keeping. The only "experience" you'll be gaining is how to take snapshots and you can do that with a $100 point & shoot. I've never seen a contest for taking the most pictures in a day. I have seen contests for making a good picture.
2) Always remember that good photography requires thinking. You must learn to think about the light, the exposure (ISO, f-stop, shutter speed), the composition and the depth of field you want to achieve. If you fall into the "machine gunner mentality" there is no way that you can be thinking. So I encourage what I call the "sniper mentality" - make one exposure, make one good picture.
3) Learn to pay as much attention to everything in the frame as you do to your main subject. Look for anything that might distract from your picture. Power lines. A dead tree branch. Litter. A tree or pole "growing" out of your subject's head. A blah, washed-out sky. A trash can in the corner of the frame. A brightly colored background which, even out of focus, could distract the viewer's eye. By seeing these distractions before releasing the shutter you can eliminate or at least minimize them, usually just by changing your composition.
4) Think, think, think. Think about the picture you want to make, see it in your mind, and then use your knowledge of and skill with light, composition, depth of field and exposure to make that picture.
"Pictures are not taken, they are made." Ansel Adams.
5) If you're out photographing don't be afraid of getting dirty. If those wildflowers are 6 inches off the ground then get down there to their level. If standing or even sitting in the middle of the stream gives you the best composition then get wet. If that toddler or dog or cat is your subject then get down to their level. You aren't a statue so don't act like one.
6) Very few pictures are enhanced by being made at odd-ball angles. Landscapes are ruined if the horizon isn't horizontal. The more time you take to "Get it right in the camera" the less time you'll spend using an editing program. Less time with your computer means more time with your camera.
7) Photography, whether as a hobby or as a profession, is an on-going, never-ending learning experience. Professional photographers with decades of experience still attend workshops and seminars.
8) Subscribe to at least one photography magazine. My personal choice is SHUTTERBUG but you'd be smart to visit the library and read the photography magazines they have and choose the one you like best.
Welcome to the wonderful, fascinating, frustrating world of photography.
The only accessories I suggest buying at this time are:
1) A Haze/UV filter to protect the front element of your lens. Remove it only when using my 2nd. suggested purchase or when indoors.
2) A Circular Polarizer. This is used to darken a blue sky and to remove/reduce glare/reflections from glass, water, sand, snow and painted metal - but not polished metal. The Circular Polarizer also enhances colors.
3) A microfiber lens cloth to keep your filters clean.
Remember this: "A cheap filter isn't good and a good filter isn't cheap". Choose from Hoya, B+W, Tiffen, Heliopan, Singh-Ray. Here are some trusted on-line sellers:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com
http://www.adorama.com
http://www.samyscamera.com
These sites will help you learn about photography:
http://www.digital-photography-school.com
http://www.illustratedphotography.com/photography-tips/basic
http://www.cambridgeincolor.com
http://www.photonhead.com
http://www.kamerasimulator.se/eng/?page_id=2
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html
These books will also be helpful:
'Understanding Exposure', 'Understanding Shutter Speed' and 'Understanding Photography Field Guide' all by Bryan Peterson.
'David Busch's Quick Snap Guide To Using Digital SLR Lenses'. http://www.dbusch.com He has written a Guide to your Canon XS so buying it would be advisable since he explains things much better than the Owner's Manual. However, you'll still need to READ & STUDY the Owner's Manual.
Another accessory you'll want sooner or later is a tripod. You'll find that using a tripod will actually improve your photography. I consider a tripod as mandatory for landscape photography. The Benro "Travel Angel" series is an affordable line and you can find all the different models at the previously listed on-line sellers.
My tips for good photography:
1) Ignore those who tell you to go out and just shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot. Their justification is that you'll be gaining "experience". Wrong. I call this the "machine gunner mentality" - take 300 shots and hope - HOPE - a few are worth keeping. The only "experience" you'll be gaining is how to take snapshots and you can do that with a $100 point & shoot. I've never seen a contest for taking the most pictures in a day. I have seen contests for making a good picture.
2) Always remember that good photography requires thinking. You must learn to think about the light, the exposure (ISO, f-stop, shutter speed), the composition and the depth of field you want to achieve. If you fall into the "machine gunner mentality" there is no way that you can be thinking. So I encourage what I call the "sniper mentality" - make one exposure, make one good picture.
3) Learn to pay as much attention to everything in the frame as you do to your main subject. Look for anything that might distract from your picture. Power lines. A dead tree branch. Litter. A tree or pole "growing" out of your subject's head. A blah, washed-out sky. A trash can in the corner of the frame. A brightly colored background which, even out of focus, could distract the viewer's eye. By seeing these distractions before releasing the shutter you can eliminate or at least minimize them, usually just by changing your composition.
4) Think, think, think. Think about the picture you want to make, see it in your mind, and then use your knowledge of and skill with light, composition, depth of field and exposure to make that picture.
"Pictures are not taken, they are made." Ansel Adams.
5) If you're out photographing don't be afraid of getting dirty. If those wildflowers are 6 inches off the ground then get down there to their level. If standing or even sitting in the middle of the stream gives you the best composition then get wet. If that toddler or dog or cat is your subject then get down to their level. You aren't a statue so don't act like one.
6) Very few pictures are enhanced by being made at odd-ball angles. Landscapes are ruined if the horizon isn't horizontal. The more time you take to "Get it right in the camera" the less time you'll spend using an editing program. Less time with your computer means more time with your camera.
7) Photography, whether as a hobby or as a profession, is an on-going, never-ending learning experience. Professional photographers with decades of experience still attend workshops and seminars.
8) Subscribe to at least one photography magazine. My personal choice is SHUTTERBUG but you'd be smart to visit the library and read the photography magazines they have and choose the one you like best.
Welcome to the wonderful, fascinating, frustrating world of photography.
PLS Help me with choosing a toddler training clock!!?
thetagirl0
Children waking up at 5am, I have to get my self one of these great clocks.. but I am driving myself crazy looking on the net, and there is l only 3 different types you can buy.
OK to Wake Clock
Gro Clock &
Momo the Monkey Clock
Help!!!
i I am looking at some sleep training clocks for my 4 year old and 3 year old.
These are the ones I have looked at.
http://www.bambinipronto.com.au/Product-children-alarm-clock-nightlight-ok-to-wake-1447.aspx?utm_source=getprice&utm_medium=cpc
http://www.thesleepstore.com.au/shop/Sleep++Travel+accessories/Sleep+accessories/Momo+Monkey+Zoo+Baby+Sleep+Trainer+Clock.html
Would love to hear any bodies experience or thoughts on which one you think is best!!
http://www.bambinipronto.com.au/Product-gro-clock-1920.aspx
this is the other one!
Weird that not many parents have heard of them - I have heard they work and read reviews! but I cant choose which one.
http://www.bambinipronto.com.au/Product-gro-clock-1920.aspx
this is the other one!
Weird that not many parents have heard of them - I have heard they work and read reviews! but I cant choose which one.
Answer
I've never used one but it's funny, I was just online the other day looking at something completely different and came across some links to this type of clock. I thought it was a good idea too, until I saw the price tags. lol.
So, as for the clocks, the reviews actually seem best for one similar to your last link. You're in Australia? Can you use Amazon there? If you can, the prices are cheaper on Amazon even with converting the dollars (I'll add links) but at the least, they have a bunch of reviews that may help you choose. If it was me, I'd probably choose the Teach Me Time clock by Onaroo/American Innovations (they look like the same exact clock with different brand names). If you read the reviews on your first clock, the OK to Wake clock, at least one mentions that the Teach Me Time clock is better, if only for the AC adapter feature. It also gets better over-all reviews than the OK to Wake one. Check out the reviews for both (my first two links). I also added a link for another similar theory clock you hadn't listed in case you're interested. It actually gets some of the best reviews.
But, since your kids are a little older, 3 & 4, you could also just try a regular clock. They probably already know what some of their numbers are, so you can buy a digital or a big-faced regular clock and tell them they need to stay in bed until the number reads "7" or the little hand is on the "7" etc. I know a few people who did this, especially with "older" kids, like 4/5, and it worked perfectly.
I've never used one but it's funny, I was just online the other day looking at something completely different and came across some links to this type of clock. I thought it was a good idea too, until I saw the price tags. lol.
So, as for the clocks, the reviews actually seem best for one similar to your last link. You're in Australia? Can you use Amazon there? If you can, the prices are cheaper on Amazon even with converting the dollars (I'll add links) but at the least, they have a bunch of reviews that may help you choose. If it was me, I'd probably choose the Teach Me Time clock by Onaroo/American Innovations (they look like the same exact clock with different brand names). If you read the reviews on your first clock, the OK to Wake clock, at least one mentions that the Teach Me Time clock is better, if only for the AC adapter feature. It also gets better over-all reviews than the OK to Wake one. Check out the reviews for both (my first two links). I also added a link for another similar theory clock you hadn't listed in case you're interested. It actually gets some of the best reviews.
But, since your kids are a little older, 3 & 4, you could also just try a regular clock. They probably already know what some of their numbers are, so you can buy a digital or a big-faced regular clock and tell them they need to stay in bed until the number reads "7" or the little hand is on the "7" etc. I know a few people who did this, especially with "older" kids, like 4/5, and it worked perfectly.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
No comments:
Post a Comment