The Complete FroKnowsPhoto 6-Hour 
Guide to DSLR Video

What image stabilizer and you should use it? If you are new to photography you may understand some questions about some of the technology and equipment.

In layman guide our latest tools fundamental questions we answer some of the most common photographers how to use image stabilization.

What is image stabilization?

Image stabilization is a technology that helps you take sharp handheld shots at shutter speeds below. Effectively, the technology allows the lens to compensate for any movement in the camera or lens that can produce images of out-of-focus.

Different manufacturers refers to technology by different names. For example, using a Canon image stabilization (IS), while Nikon called vibration reduction (VR).

Some rooms are equipped with image stabilization built in itself, but is most commonly found in the lens, where a small movement has the effect of disproportionately more than the camera body.

SEE MORE: A Layman's Guide to the depth of field - how to examine and influence the sharpness like a pro

When I use image stabilization?

You can use IS often when hand-holding the camera, but comes into its own when using a long lens that is difficult to hold steady.

Or when the low brightness level, which leads to a longer exposure time and therefore a long time for the vibration takes place. You'll find the on / off lens image stabilization system on the lens barrel ..

When you must not use image stabilization?

You do not need to use image stabilization when the camera on a tripod, so it is best to stop. (While some rooms meaning that the camera is moving and automatically disable it, many are not so IS manual controls.)

Movement image stabilization system "intern" has the potential to cause camera shake during long exposures. Also, it is best to switch it off when panning the camera to shoot action.

How effective is image stabilization?

Image stabilization is very effective. Depending on the system and conditions, we can help you get a clear view up to four stops slower than would normally be expected.

But remember: the only image stabilization helps prevent blur due to camera shake. You still get a blurred image when the shutter speed is too slow.

Here is a follow up (and an addition to) our post from Friday on photographing reflective surfaces.



One of the most challenging things to light is glass (and other highly reflective surfaces), because normally when we photograph a subject we are putting our light on that subject. But with glass we do the opposite, we are lighting around the subject.

I have put together some incredible examples of how to light reflective surfaces, so hang on, here goes:

The first resource is from us, here is the post of a shoot we did with our client Mastercam.

Resource number two is from one of my photography heroes David Hobby (aka Strobist), it was an assignment he shot of flavored vodkas, so follow this link to see all the shiny details.

Number three is from Strobist as well (see, I told you he was a hero), and it too involves alcohol, this time it's beer, check it out.

This link is from DIY Photography (yet more beer).

Another resources is from Pixiq and shows a dramatically different way of shooting the same product (Vodka).

Here are the last two well done tutorials for lighting glass here and here (sorry, no alcohol in these).

We will close with two video tutorials, the first is how to shoot glass, the second is how to shoot metal..

Subscribers, you know the routine, you will need to return to the blog to watch these videos (as they do not get pushed through with your subscription).

Last night we topped 900,000 views on our YouTube channel.

We need to thank all of you for taking the time to watch our silly little videos, and to Scott Kelby for doing his "long exposure tutorial", which is by far our most popular video.

If you want to see our worst video, check this one out, a great product but a really bad video.

:)

So we now roll on to the 1,000,000 mark, a HUGE milestone, made possible only because of you.

THANK YOU!

(click on image to view larger)
Nope, this is not a tutorial, there's no "big secret" or "trick" on how to edit, it has nothing to do with a Lightroom preset or a Photoshop action, and it's not a review of that next best piece of editing software.

It's a picture, just one single picture.

This is a photograph I took of my daughter Katie (aka: boo boo) on prom night a few weeks back.

I have taken a bazillion photographs that show how pretty she is (not that I am biased), but I think this is the first photograph I have taken of her that truly captures (and shows) her stunning inner beauty.

It's what I see every time I look at her... and I wanted the world to see it too.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have made it pretty clear on this blog that I am a HUGE Zack Arias "fan boy"!

We have posted about Zack more than a few times, reviewing his One Light Workshop DVD (which we also named "product of the year"), we reviewed his CreativeLIVE workshop, and also shared his tutorials on using white seamless (to name a few).

With that being said, lets talk about the latest book to do the "UPS thud" on my porch, Photography Q&A: Real Questions. Real Answers from, you may have guessed, Mr. Zack Arias.

Believe it or not, the first thing I read when I open a book is the dedication, I think it speaks volume about the belief structure of the author.

Now, about the book itself.

Q: Who is the target audience of this book?

A: Anyone who takes their photography seriously, being an amateur or professional photographer has nothing to do with it, being serious about the craft of photography does.

Q: What was the origin of Photography Q&A: Real Questions. Real Answers?

A: It started with Zack's Tumblr blog Photography Q&A: Ask me anything about photography (where you can still ask questions or read the other questions along with Zack's answers).

Q: Did you like this book?

A: No, I absolutely LOVED this book, so much so that I will find it hard to give away to one of our readers.

Q: Is it really just questions and answers?

A: Yup, a 100 of them, about gear, about business, about the best places to go on the web to get good honest critiques of your work, and I can't tell you how many times I said "oooh, that's a good question".

Q: Did you have a favorite part of the book?

A: Yup, page 62, Zach talks about why we should photograph the people we love.

Q: Anything else?

A: I really liked his answer to the question about building a portfolio (page 216), probably the longest answer to any question in the entire book, really really well thought out answer. Lots of visual cues and examples along with the rational for why. It drove home the point that our portfolio is the most important thing we as photographers "put out there".

Q: Is the book worth the money to buy and time to read?

A: OMG YES! Because of the diversity and range of the questions it would be impossible to cover everything that's in the book, but I can tell you truthfully - not once did I read a question/answer and think "well, that was a waste of my time".

The questions are the same ones I (and I bet you) have, and the answers are phenomenally educational.

Seriously, it's like sitting across the table from Zack Arias and peppering him for hours with every question you've ever had and listening to his thoughtful and insightful answers, how could that NOT be extremely valuable?

The things you'll learn that will add to your photography are priceless, and the time and money you'll save by not making the mistakes Zack talks about will be worth far more than the cost of buying a few cases of this book.

There are educational opportunities that don't require you to ever touch your camera, it requires you to listen, to think, to learn from the experience of others, and if that interests you, you can't do any better than Photography Q&A: Real Questions. Real Answers.

First, I want to wish a warm and wonderful Father's Day to all you dads out there. If I could give the new ones (those that still have the shine on them) just a small piece of advice, cherish being a dad, drink it ALL in, don't miss a thing.

You may think the road is long, but I had one daughter graduate last week, and now my twins will do the same in less than a year and I swear I don't know where the time went, obviously I must have been in a coma because surely 18 years could not have past by this quickly.

Along with other changes in my life Father's Day will be different moving forward, not that it's a bad thing, but change can be scary.

And what I wouldn't give to have them come running into the room wearing their one piece footy pajamas just one more time.

Here is a "re-run" of a previous Father's Day post:

I was having lunch with my friend Bob, our ritual is lunch every Thursday and I always enjoy our conversations as Bob is thoughtful and insightful man.

When Bob talks, I listen.

At this one particular lunch I was telling Bob about my dad, who left when I was 6, and how it had been decades since I last saw him.

I told him that on my 40th birthday a card containing a letter arrived from my dad telling me of his regrets, that a lot of water had passed under the bridge, and that he would love to visit. Reading his words didn’t provoke any emotions, the anger of him leaving us had long since gone, but I didn’t feel the need for a reunion either. The letter went into a drawer and I never replied.

Bob asked why; I told him that “at this point in my life I didn’t feel the need for father”. He nodded and then thoughtfully responded, “ya, but maybe he has a need for a son”.

It was like I had just been struck by lighting. I got it.

I found out where my dad was living and made arrangements to go see him.

But he died before I got there.

Regrets don’t come from the things we do, sure there are some things we won’t do a second time, but we learn from them, there was a lesson in there for us.

The true regrets come from the things that we don’t do.

You too may be at a point in your life where you don’t feel the need for a father, but maybe you have a father who needs a son.

Something to think about.

Happy Fathers Day dad.

(me and my dad)