Amy Renfrey is the author of two major successful ebooks ?Digital Photography Success? and ?Advanced Digital Photography?. She is a photographer and also teaches digital photography. She?s photographed many things from famous musicians to portraits of babies. Amy also teaches photography online to her students which can be found at www.DigitalPhotographySuccess.com
Posts Tagged ‘Camera’
Best Camera For Outdoor And Indoor Sports ?
October 17th, 2009 | Author: peter
besides vacations and family shots, I'm looking for a camera that will work for sports (no blurred shots) and can handle low light. Price range $500 max.
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What Type Of Digital Camera Would Be Best For Outdoor Portraits, Sports, And Quality Enlargements.?
October 6th, 2009 | Author: peter
Posted in Outdoor Sports | 
Tags: Best, Camera, Digital, Enlargements., Outdoor, Portraits, Quality, Sports, Type, Would | 
2 Comments »
Tags: Best, Camera, Digital, Enlargements., Outdoor, Portraits, Quality, Sports, Type, Would |
2 Comments »
Video Analysis Of Sports – The Camera Specs
September 22nd, 2009 | Author: peter
Planning to pick up a new DV camera that can be used to film the kids and your Tennis serve too? Then getting the right camera is important to help you obtain excellent sports analysis footage and make your video analysis of sports performance clearer. We have picked out some of the most important camera specifications for sports analysis and listed them in this article.
Speed and Size
Like most sports, a good sports analysis camera needs speed and size. There are a few different speed and size measures of a camera and they are discussed below.
Frame Speed
Most off the shelf DV cameras have a standard frame speed of 30 frames per second or fps(NTSC) in the North America and 25 fps (PAL) in most of the rest of world. What this means is that the camera records 30 pictures every second, one picture every 0.03333 seconds. 30 frames per second is the speed at which most regular television is recorded and viewed. When these 30 frames are played back at full speed every second, our brain is unable to distinguish between the individual pictures and we see a flowing video.
However, if we want to analyze a tennis serve then we need to slow down our video and look at each one of these 30 frames of every second and this is where a problem may arise. As the serve is generally a quick motion, we will probably find that if we only record 30 fps then the arm will look like a blur during the serve motion and we will be unable to analyze it properly. To solve this problem we can record the motion at a higher frame rate, say 60 fps and get double the amount of pictures every second. This will give us more data to analyze and reduce the possibility that the motion will be blurred.
In general the more frames we can capture per second the better our analysis can be. Luckily though there is a limit. In most sports when analyzing the human body movement 250 fps is sufficient. If we then want to include say the golf club or tennis racket and analyze its movement, we once again need higher speeds maybe up to 500 fps.
Unfortunately though there are very few off the shelf, commercial cameras that can record high frame rates. You can find some cameras that can record 60 fps, but if you want to go higher, costs can increase substantially. We think a 60fps camera is a perfect start for doing your own analysis.
Shutter Speed
We can get away with the usual 30 fps as long as we have a high shutter speed. Shutter speed determines exposure time, or how long the cameras sensor is open to receive light and therefore record the frame. In sports analysis the higher the shutter speed the less blurred our image will be. However there is a trade off - a faster shutter speed will allow less light onto the cameras sensor and therefore if we use a high shutter speed we need to make sure that we have sufficient lighting as we discussed in the last blog. When looking at a camera for sports analysis, look at the shutter speed and whether it is manually adjustable. A camera that automatically adjusts its shutter speed to the lighting conditions can make you forget the importance of ensuring good lighting on your subject.
Resolution
We all know about resolution from high def televisions. High def television can only display those high definition images if they were recorded by a high definition video camera. The resolution of a video camera is a measure of how many pixels our camera sensor has. Luckily for us most video camera manufacturers are now making HD cameras with about 1920x1080 pixels or 2.3 Mega pixels. Of course a higher resolution is always better just like it is on our TVs.
Lens Choice
There are 2 important aspects of a lens for sports performance capture, aperture (f-stop) and focal length and optical zoom.
Aperture
The aperture or f-stop is a measure of the amount of light the lens of the camera will allow through. A lower number will allow more light into the camera and a higher number less light. Most DV cameras have f-stops as low as 2.5 which is good enough for sports analysis purposes. Once again just like with shutter speed there is a trade off. A lower f-stop can often result in a lower resolution image. This does not mean that the cameras sensor has less resolution but that there is a trade off with lighting and quality. Once again this points to making sure you have a good light source for your recordings. With a good light source you can use a lower f-stop and therefore obtain a better resolution image.
Focal Length
The focal length is the distance from the lens to the camera's sensor. A smaller focal length means that the camera will capture a wider angle of view and see more in the frame, while a large focal length allows the camera to see more details further away. Focal length and optical zoom therefore are linked. Optical zoom of course allows us to zoom in or away from an athlete.
Most DV cameras come equipped with optical zoom and will read something like 49-735mm, which is the range of focal lengths that can be achieved with this camera.
The more optical zoom we have the further away we can be while still recording excellent footage for analysis. Now its up to us to use that optical zoom effectively by positioning our athlete correctly in the field of view. Check out
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Mastering the Art of Sports Photography With your Digital Camera
September 14th, 2009 | Author: peter
For sports enthusiasts, there?s nothing more exciting than sports people playing their favourite game. The sight of the field, rink or golf course initiates the thrill and anticipation. This, combined with digital photography, can provide some amazing photographic opportunities. However it?s not a matter of point the camera at the person diving for the ball or puck and snapping away. It?s a lot more complicated than that.
In digital photography sports can be quite challenging. The sports people do not present an easy task of being photographed because of the amount of high movement. However, you can indeed achieve great sports digital photography. Most excellent sports digital photography requires good planning and execution.
Here are some exclusive tips for gaining fantastic sports shots in your digital photography.
First things first; know your digital camera. I recommend taking note and practicing first all the settings that sports photography needed. You may find yourself going for the faster shutter speed, increased ISO and burst mode. Let?s take a look at all these things on your digital camera and see how they can be applied to give you sensational sports photos.
High shutter speeds:
As with all moving objects, in order to capture the ?frozen in time? look in digital photography a fast shutter speed is required. The faster the movement the fast the shutter speed will need to be. In digital photography the general consensus is that the shutter speed needs to be faster than that of the subject. For example if you have a sliding puck across ice and there is a someone about to take a dive for it then its necessary to quickly mentally assess how fast that person might be traveling at. If they are traveling at approximately 50 kilometers (approx 32 miles) per hour then you may find a very fast shutter speed is needed for this digital photo.
A very fast shutter speed in digital photography may be anything from 500th of a second or higher. For high speed movement you may want to consider an even faster shutter speed of 1000th of a second or something in that range.
Keep in mind that in digital photography a fast shutter speed works to reduce some of the light which is why a higher ISO is often necessary. (I?ll talk about that in a minute.) Usually a if a ball, such as a baseball going at around 145 kilometers an hour (90.09 miles per hour) a shutter speed of around 1/4000 will get you that ?suspended ball in mid air? type of photo. For physical movement, such as someone leaping to catch a football, a shutter speed of 1/500 or over is a good place to start.
Now this is all very well if your scene if well lit. But what if you are taking your digital photography shots indoors at night and the light is not quite enough to provide enough light? In most instances, an indoor stadium at night time will be well lit, but that doesn?t always ensure good digital photos. In sports photography we need to understand that we can only control the artistic value and input of our digital photo and the control of the camera. We can?t control the lighting on the scene being such a public event. In digital photography sports photos we must realize that it?s going to be a challenge to begin with. So here are something?s you can in your digital sports photography to increase the amount of light.
If you have a light tool on your digital camera such as a histogram you can get a good idea of what the light levels are like on your sensor. With this handy tool you can adjust the ISO at the time of your pictures taking.
Increase your ISO: A high ISO in digital photography simply means the sensitivity to light that your digital camera has. In a nutshell the more ISO you have increased the image to, the less light the sensor needs. In sports photography an ISO of 400 or higher can work really well. The downside to this is that it does increase noise. To combat this you can use noise reduction software in the post editing process such as Noise Ninja or increase the LAB mode in the post editing process. Don?t be afraid to try a few shots at 400, 800 and even as high as 1600.
Burst mode:
In most sports digital photography this will be one of the settings you will turn to. Burst mode is also known as ?continuous shooting?. This ?continuous? shooting mode allows you to get a sequence of shoots in succession. You can increase your chances of getting that ideal ?split second perfect shot? that you might not be able to get by pre-emption or in normal shooting. This also works so beautifully if your digital camera has a painfully long lag time. I?ve used this so many times to get around the high lag my Sony Cyber shot has got. Some cameras have 3 frames per second and some go up to 12 frames per second. You simply select this mode and hold your finger on the shutter button and it will fire off as many shots in 1 second as it can.
Okay so I?ve been talking about your digital camera and the setting?s used for ideal sports digital photography, so what about any external equipment? If you have been thinking about this you?re spot on. You can take as much time with your settings but there?s not much point if you can?t get close to the action. There?s no point having a picture with perfect lighting and perfect action if the players are like dots on a sheet of paper. You need a good telephoto lens if you can?t get close up. A telephoto lens brings you closer because of its long distance capability. It will get you closer to the action but will need a faster shutter speed.
Many fantastic sports digital photos are taken with an emphasis on a very fast shutter speed, an f stop of around the 2.8 mark to blur the background and focus in on the subject. You may find that if your sportsperson is visually separated from the background and you take the digital photograph with a telephoto lens you?ll have a more shallow depth of field which can give you a more powerful feeling in your digital photo. You can get away with a good optical zoom lens, but you?ll get far better digital sports shots with a proper telephoto.
So what about the artistic side of sports photography with your digital camera? Plenty!
Pre-emption and Emotion is the key to good art.
When taking sports photography you probably won?t find a more public display of human emotion. The emotions of a sports person range from intense anticipation to extreme disappointment or extreme exhilaration. Pre-empting when these emotions take place is they key to getting artistic and impressive sports photos. This comes with practicing your digital photography.
SO much pressure is placed on our athletes, expecting them to perform so we can enjoy the show and the investors can enjoy their returns. This is another reason why I say to get a telephoto lens so you can capture the emotions on their faces and their body language. It makes for superb photography. For ideas on ice hockey, have a look at some ice hockey images that are great study tools.
Don?t just look at these digital photos, you must study them. Take on the attitude that studying sports photography will improve your digital sports photos ten fold. You will have a style to emulate and copy to start with then eventually, when you become confident, you?ll start to adopt your own style.
Happy shooting,
Amy Renfrey
To study digital sports photography check these sites out: http://www.espn.com/ and http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/ and http://cbs.sportsline.com/
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Kodak Water & Sport One-time-use Camera?
September 8th, 2009 | Author: peter
i was wondering if anyone has used this camerahttp://www.walgreens.com/store/product.j…
are the colors good, is it good quality, is it worth the 16 bucks? do underwater pictures turn out well or are they blurry? please give me as much info as possible. thanks!
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What Is A Good Starter Dslr Camera And Telephoto-lens For Outdoor Sports?
September 1st, 2009 | Author: peter
Posted in Outdoor Sports |
Tags: Camera, Dslr, Good, Outdoor, Sports, Starter, Telephotolens |
1 Comment »
Tags: Camera, Dslr, Good, Outdoor, Sports, Starter, Telephotolens |
1 Comment »
I’m Looking For A Good Camera For Sports, Mainly Winter Sports?
August 22nd, 2009 | Author: peter
I’m looking for a good camera for sports, mainly winter sports. I need a good quality build and an excellent shot, but shutter speeds have to be fast though, any ideas?
Connon S3 IS any good? or do i plum for DSLR?
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What Camera Should I Use For Outdoor Sports Photography?
August 15th, 2009 | Author: peter
My brother and i like to snowboard a lot during the year. We are looking to buy a camera for the use on the mountain. So the camera has to be durable and can withstand a fall or two into the snow. We also like to take scenic photos on hikes. we are both beginner to intermediate photographers. I would really like something that can take multiple shots back to back.
What do you recommend?
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