Tips

Many cameras offer one or more bracketing functions. The most common is auto exposure bracketing (AEB), which involves taking a series of pictures of the subject while changing the exposure level. The normal practice is to take three shots, one under-exposing by 1/3EV, the second at the metered exposure and the third over-exposing by 1/3EV. This basic strategy is a kind of ø¢â‚¬Ëœinsurance policy’ for obtaining a correct exposure (there’s a good chance at least one of the three shots will be correctly exposed).

Correct exposures make good photographs so it’s important to understand the controls that determine image brightness.

Photographers often use the Japanese term, ø¢â‚¬Ëœbokeh’ to describe the quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field. Though it’s difficult to quantify, some lenses produce more attractive bokeh than others.

Photography has always been the art of selection; as the photographer, you choose what is in each image you capture – and also what’s left out. And it’s the skill with which you make these choices that determines whether other people will react favourably to your pictures – or view them with indifference.

PANASONIC FEATURE: Panasonic’s Lumix 12 megapixel DMC- FT1 sets a new benchmark in the waterproof/shockproof compact category. Not only is it rugged enough to survive a tumble from your pocket, it will stay watertight at depths to three metres. And, because it’s not much bigger than a pack of playing cards, it stows easily and is light and small enough to take anywhere.