Animal Photography

Animal Photography

There is more to animal photography then just meets the eye. I am writing this from the perspective on that the reader all ready knows how to light a human subject. Now how about lighting a animal or insect? 

Raw or not to Raw

Today I am going to write about raw picture formats and whether to use raw or not and how to make the right choice for your needs.


What is raw? 
First we need to know what raw pictures are. Raw pictures are in a way digital negatives if you look at it in a film sense. It is the photograph in its purist form. It has not been compressed or altered in any way. Usually they will be odd files. Like .DNG, .PEF, .CRW, .ORF, ect. The would not be your typical .jpg or .tiff files your a used to seeing. A raw file is usually going to be a lot bigger in size then the jpg versions. My raw files on my camera are around 15mb in size, whereas the compressed jpgs are about 2mb in size.

Manual or Auto Focus

Manual focus or auto focus is a question that comes up all the time. From new photographers to even the most experienced. First let me say what I use. I only have manual glass. I use manual lenses for photography because I like it. Does that make them better. No. I think it is important to know the pros and cons of both. Now I use them because it is good for what I do. At the same time a photographer that uses manual lenses because of some weird status or image rather then because he needs it is no better then the person who uses auto lenses because they don't know how to focus. Sadly a lot of people picking one side or the other are the same people who fight over digital or film. Is one better then the other? Well try to have the film enthusiast edit a photograph or have the digital guy take a 2 week long exposure with out running out of batteries. "The picture on the above right is of me pulling focus for a Fox News video called Home Grown Terror shot in early 2011, with a manual lens on a jib hooked up to servos"