Photography and Outdoors

[Mary Beth]

I have always had a love for photography, and being outdoors often, I see tons of stuff I would love to photograph. I do not have any fancy camera, just a Kodak Easyshare V1003. I really do not have the money to spend on a new camera or any fancy software, but do you think I can get some of the fancy techniques produced by high end cameras? I am especially interested in HDR and taking photos of moving objects, like waterfalls. Any tips greatly appreciated, especially since I know nothing on this subject.

[ppine]

Even the new modestly priced cameras are very forgiving when it comes to motion. Make sure the camera is on a rest like a rock. A tripod, even a small one is better. You can manually override the auto functions on some cameras to increase the depth of field.

Try waterfalls with different shutter speeds to get the effect you want. Nightime shots are easier than people think with a proper rest. You need to start experimenting because it is a lot of fun. Best wishes.

[firedancer]

Check your park district, library, or city rec center - the ones around here are always offering inexpensive photography classes. Half the time, very few people show up so you can really get good 1:1 time with the instructors.

Agree about a tripod - it's critical for anything with a longer shutter speed (i.e. waterfalls or night shots) - when I was still using a point and shoot, I loved my gorillapod, which I could set up just about anywhere.

[IndianaHiker]

To do HDR you need to shoot your subject at least three times. You will shoot these at three different exposers. You want on under exposed, on correctly exposed, and one over exposed. Then the photos then are layered and with this method all parts of the photo are then correctly exposed. Many of the newer point and shoots have a setting that will do the multiple shots for you.