The Sweet Spot

No, we’re not talking about some spot inside a girl's body every man is in constant search of. What we’re talking about is the exact spot your lens achieves its optimum performance and sharpness from corner to corner. This spot we have in mind allows you to capture a moment in its sharpest form possible. That means there are no fuzzy corners, no soft parts or no out-of-focus elements in your photo. That’s the power of your lens’ sweet spot.

Before you get your camera and tinker with it, let’s familiarize ourselves first with what should be familiarized.

There are three controls in your camera you should train yourself with constantly – the shutter speed, aperture and the ISO. According to handy-dandy Mr. Wikipedia, shutter speed represents the amount of time the shutter is open when taking a photo. Aperture, on the other hand, is an opening inside your lens in which the light travels. The smaller aperture value your lens has (f2.8, 1.8, 1.4), the more capability it has to let light in your camera. This is very useful when a good source of light is hard to find or you want to isolate your subject from a distracting background. Last, and definitely not the least, is the ISO. The ISO, by definition in its use in modern DSLRs, is the ability of the sensor to be sensitive to light. You can raise your camera’s ISO to be able to take photos in places where light is scarce. Be careful about doing this, though.The higher the ISO value used in a camera, the amount of digital noise will also increase. Just imagine you photos losing detail and becoming grainier if you decide to shoot in high ISO.

There’ll be more on those three in the future but for now, let’s get back to the sweet spot.

I mentioned your lens’ aperture and how it’s responsible for allowing light into your camera. Have you ever noticed some of your shots were sharper than the others or some parts of it were much more detailed than what you’ve thought? There are many factors for your pictures’ sharpness but the foremost among them would be your lens’ aperture.

Typically, the most common of lenses, like your handy-dandy kit lens, has an aperture of f.35 at its widest focal length and f5.6 at its farthest reach. There are other lenses too with a wider opening like zooms with a constant f2.8 aperture and primes with the ability to go all the way to f1.2.

While they are really useful for low-light conditions, these lenses perform like a bummer in its widest settings. To get the optimal sharpness from your lens, whether the one that came with your camera or something you’ve bought after, you have to lower your aperture a couple of stops down.

What does this mean?

It’s really simple. If you’re used to an aperture setting of f5.6 with your kit lens, lower it further down to f8-11. That also means if you’re using a 50mm 1.8 prime lens, you have to lower it to f4-8 to attain sharpness in every pixel. The keyword here is experimentation. Experiment until you find the result that satisfies you.

Here, we have two photos taken with the help of a Nikon D90, 50mm 1.8 prime lens and a Benro A-500EX tripod to stabilize the setup. An aperture of f1.8 was used in taking the photo on the left while f.8 was used on the right. See if you can spot the difference between the two.

Too small for inspection, eh?

Now, we have samples of the two photos zoomed in on the upper left corner of each. As you can see, the one taken with f1.8 on the left is a little bit fuzzy. The one taken with f8 on the right is sharper and you can see that the letters are very well detailed.

There you go

Once you’ve changed the aperture and have taken a photo with it, examine the result in your computer. Zoom in and check the corners of your photo as well. Don’t forget to check the EXIF data of the photo too so you would be reminded of the settings you’ve used. You’ll see that sharpness has increased and the details are crisper than the photos you’ve taken before. With the sweet spot in your mental arsenal, you’re sure to have sharper shots, especially if you’re into landscapes.

Some of you may find it hard to use lower apertures in your everyday shooting but worry not. The addition of a speedlight or a tripod can also compensate for a slower shutter caused by using a lower aperture value. Plus, you could also raise your camera’s ISO levels but beware of the noise that comes with it. Better yet, practice more so could improve your technique at taking photos with a slower shutter speed. Once you’ve mastered this ninja skill, shooting with the sweet spot will be sweeter for you indeed.

Nothing’s Sweeter Than Being Chosen

A few months ago, Marley Reyes (1/3 of the awesome Mad Minds Team) got word from her close friend, Mike, about his class’ graduation shoot and how we were being considered for the project. At first, I was really doubtful about bagging it because of our relative inexperience with portraits and studio work. Our lack of lighting equipment didn’t help ease my worries too. Call me a Doubting Thomas but I really didn't think we would be considered for this kind of project.

A couple of months later, Marley told Marvin Gonzales (another 1/3 of the aforementioned awesome Mad Minds Team and her cheesy better half) and I that Mike’s class needed sample photos first before they could give a go signal for us or they’re taking another team for the project. Since we all had day jobs to consider, time was against us in organizing and fulfilling the requirements needed by Mike and his class.

Guess what, though? We bagged the job!

First and foremost, the team and I would like to thank the Big Guy up there. This project wouldn’t be possible without your divine providence. Second, we’d like to thank Mike and his class’ organizing committee for placing their trust in Mad Minds Photography. Last, but definitely not the last, we’d like to thank the Big Bang Studio for letting us goof around at their place and assisting us with the equipment needed for the shoot.

Wish us luck because the project’s kinda big. For now, here are some creative photos from last Friday’s shoot.

Yes, I work with these two.

The Balls

Having a big-ass lens attached to your full-frame camera with a dedicated speedlight on it could really make you stand out from the crowd, eh? With the gear you’re carrying, it’s a no-brainer you’re gonna get awesome photos that’s gonna kick the collective asses of every other photographer you’re with, right?

Wrong.

Even with all the greatest photographic gear in the entire universe, it would still amount to nothing if you don’t have the balls to back it up. Yeah, you read that right – Balls. B-A-L-L-S.

Not the kind of balls I'm talking about

You need to have the balls (and a big pair of them, at that) to carry your camera with utmost pride and professionalism to take the shot you have in mind. It doesn’t matter if you’re stuck with an entry-level camera with a kit lens on it. You have a camera and by its strictest definition, it can take pictures of anything you aim it at. Of course, you have to consider your environment first but that shouldn’t stop you from grabbing the chance to take that once-in-a-lifetime photo. It wouldn’t be right if you act like a big douchebag with a DSLR and you’re all over the place, snapping like crazy.

More what I had in mind

At the same time, you shouldn’t be shy or awkward when you’re out there. I don’t know how you got your camera but you have to make sure you rightfully deserve it. You have to let everyone in the vicinity of the event (or anyplace you’re at, actually) know you have a camera and you freakin’ want to learn from it by taking a shot at something or someone. And how do you exactly do that? You just have to do what it takes to make a great picture by using your balls and your vast imagination. Photography isn’t for the faint-hearted. It isn’t for the uptight or socially-challenged either. Photography is for those with the imagination to dream and the will to make that dream come alive in your camera’s LCD.

Remember those things well the next time you’re holding your camera. It doesn’t matter if you’re at the park capturing kids at their candid glory or you’re starting on your path to be a great photographer by covering an event. Remember that you have balls and you should use them well.

Tips On How To Capture Photos of Kids

You know what’s more stressful than making sure the free world remains, you know, free? It’s taking photos of children with inadequate gear. Along with covering weddings and building a house of cards in the middle of a typhoon, capturing kids who can’t seem to stay in one place without the right tools may lead to one big clusterf*ck. So beware and be prepared.

Don’t get me wrong though. Even with a simple kit, you can still capture the big bundle of cuteness and awesomeness we all know as children. You just have to arm yourself with lots of patience and a presence of mind to anticipate what’s gonna happen next. Here’s something that might help you.

Last May 2010, a friend of mine asked if I could take some photos of her niece while she was at the mall. I confidently replied with a yes to her. How hard would that be anyway? Heck, I knew how to juggle thesis-writing, drinking marathons with my friends and saving the free world in between. Surely, taking some photos of some kid would be a walk in the park, right?

Hell. Freaking. No.

Meet Hannah

I found that out the moment I met Hannah at some playground for kids along with her parents, Karen and Christian. Once the small talk was done with her folks, I proceeded to take my Nikon D90 with a 50mm 1.8 prime lens out of my bag and get the job done immediately.

Boy, was I surprised at how fast that kid could move. Little did I know that a prime lens on a cropped sensor body would be more of a hindrance to me than I first thought. With a 50mm prime as my only lens in my bag, I found it hard to compose a photo with Hannah in it due to an equivalent of 75mm focal length on my camera. That’s not a good thing because what I needed was a wider view to capture all the color and awesomeness in that playground.

Another point of hindrance during the shoot day was a lack of a dedicated flash in my arsenal. Without a speedlight, most of my photos were blurred due to Hannah’s movement. Plus, I could have gotten more well-lit shots of Hannah if just had a true flash.

A big no-no that can be solved with the help of a dedicated flash

Over-all, I still got some good shots of Hannah and still made her parents satisfied with my work, being a pro-bono favor for my friend as well. Here are some of the things I learned and some lessons you should never forget when covering kids.

- A mid-range zoom, just like your handy-dandy kit lens, is your best friend for this kind of situations. If you’re more of a prime guy, a fixed lens with a 24 to 35mm focal length will be sufficient for your needs. Of course, lenses with a fast aperture will always be welcome. The only drawback will be carrying a fast, but heavy lens all day while chasing kids for photos.

- Bring a dedicated speedlight and almost all of your problems will be solved. Not only would you have enough light for your subjects, freezing them in motion for your photos will be much easier than without a flash. Also, don’t forget to bring spare batteries because you’ll be taking plenty of photos to choose from later on.

- Travel light. A camera body, one lens, a speedlight, spare batteries and you’re all set. If you’re shooting kids in a very open space, you might need a telephoto lens but if you’re shooting indoors, a mid-range zoom is more than enough.

- Be funny. Smile more, make weird faces or be wackier than your usual self. Keep in mind that you’re dealing with kids and it would greatly help them be more comfortable if you don’t treat them as adults.

- Wear something that won't make you sweat like a pig. Remember, you're not covering a wedding or a pageant. You're taking photos of children at their most candid nature. It would serve you well if you're free to move in your own clothes.

Photogasm

Holding a camera in my hand feels like an orgasm amplified by a million times. Viewing a great photo in it amplifies the feeling further.

Yep, that's exactly how it feels

That’s how it feels like for every event the Mad Minds team is tasked to capture. With every sound my camera’s shutter makes, I am empowered to make a better photo than the last one I made. I carefully observe the venue and the people passing me by to mentally capture the scene in a split-second. My fingers seem to have a mind of their own as they adjust the shutter speed, aperture and ISO much faster than my granmomma can say “Ayusin mo ang kwarto mo ngayon din kundi malilintikan ka sa akin!” I carefully measure in my mind the power of my flash and how it’s gonna look like on my target. In the end, all those steps boil down to my index finger as it presses the shutter button.

Click!

And that’s where a photographic orgasm takes place inside of me. I’ll view the photo through my camera’s LCD and review what I could have done more to make it better. It’ll only last for a couple of seconds as I repeat the first step over and observe the venue once again for my next target. There, the whole cycle goes on and on again until I’m satisfied.

A Love Affair With Photography

Everyone’s in love with something. Hence, the need for a hobby to keep one’s mind sane.

Hi, my name is Julio Luis Rodriguez Munar, currently 23 years old, and I’m in love with the art of taking photos.

This affair started when the family bought a Canon Ixus digital camera sometime around 2006. Whenever I had the chance to bring the digicam with me, I always took photos of things that may seem mundane at first but will look more interesting in a different angle. That was my first kiss with the art of photography.

After spending some quality time with the point and shoot camera, I felt strained with the Ixus’ (I forgot the specific model since it was a couple of years ago) limited manual controls. I wished back then it had a viewfinder, a stabilizer for its lens and a useable ISO range for some low-light action. Since a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) was way out of my reach, the only logical choice for me to drool on was a super-zoom prosumer camera like what Sony was offering in their H-series.

Then 2008 came along and a chance to really have a true DSLR camera was in my grasp.

A friend of mine was selling his Nikon D40x kit because he needed funds to pay for his apartment. Of course, the parents were doubtful at first due to a couple of cellphones and cameras my sisters lost in the last couple of years. The only choice I had was to play the requirement card.

I carefully explained to the parents how much my sister needs a working camera because she needed one for her college course. Plus, I said how the family needs a camera to capture memories and other kinds of flowery words to convince them we needed one. My gambit paid off and I finally had a Nikon D40x, coupled with an 18-55 kit lens, in my hands to learn from.

Two years after playing with my Nikon D40x, whom I christened Nicole, I felt the need to step up. That’s where the Nikon D90 came into the picture. Months of saving and deliberately ditching a number of drinking sessions with my friends finally found its fruit. I’ve upgraded to a Nikon D90 (her name’s Francesca) with a 50mm 1.8 Nifty Fifty prime lens to better meet my photographic demands. Life was indeed sweet.

Since this hobby costs a lot of moolah and it would be really wrong to indulge into it without any financial benefit, my friends and I decided to make money out of it. It was the logical decision since photography is a common passion of ours and we intend to learn more from it. With that thought in our minds, we came up with our own company – Mad Minds Photography.

A couple of projects and a number of additional gear later, I find myself in front my office workstation documenting what I’ve experienced all this time.

Three months into the business and we’re learning more and more everyday about the wonderful world of photography. Thanks to our undying passion, DSLRs and the chance to take photos of wonderful people and their respective events, we’ve been falling deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole we’re in right now. And the great thing about this whole thing is we’re having fun while we’re falling deeper into the hole we all decided to jump in. As such, this is where the blog comes in.

In this blog, you’re gonna find out what it feels like for a photography enthusiast to start a business and meet the demands that the universe throws his way. You’re gonna read everything about photography and its corresponding gear, their respective reviews and how they actually handle in the field. You’re gonna discover what to do and more importantly, what NOT to do the moment you take your first step into this wonderful world. Heaven knows you need not make the same mistakes I and my friends did when we were still learning the ropes of the business.

If you’re in love with something and that particular something is photography, bookmark me and I’ll keep you updated with how I and the Mad Minds navigate the inner workings of this crazy world.