Photography Tips and Tricks

As soon as you start using your digital camera in ISO mode or with low exposure times you may notice something different. For some reason, your pictures come out looking grainy or have little dots of color. You’ve never had this happen with an SLR. What’s up with that?

What your are experiencing is what is known as noise.

What Causes Noise?

Digital photography noise is caused by the same type of electrical noise that creates crackling on your radio or static on your television. It is created by currents or voltages in an electrical device that is interfering with the process of the device.

In your camera there is an image sensor that is made up of many little light sensors. Light sensors are what takes the light and converts it into electrical charge. When a picture is being made, light hits the sensor, an analog signal is produced, which is converted to a digital image. If, during this time, something messes up the particles creating the analog signal, then noise is produced.

Noise is also indirectly created by weak light. The particles creating the analog signal is weaker when there is less light, so the camera is set for a longer exposure time to collect the weak particles to create a better picture. This creates more time for electrical noise to gather, as well.

How to Avoid and Fix Noise

In general, there is no way to prevent noise 100 percent of the time. There are some ways to lessen noise in the final image, though.

Many cameras now have built-in noise reduction systems. These systems sometimes need to be turned on to work, so check your manual for instructions.

If you already have an image that has noise, you can buy photo manipulation software that is specifically designed to reduce the noise in digital images. Photoshop has come out with one called Imagenomic that repairs an 8 megapixel photo in under 4 seconds.

Knowing that high ISO and long exposure times can cause noise is your best way to combat against it in your photos. Simply try to light your subjects as best you can to avoid these two settings.

You probably spent a lot of money on your digital camera, so you probably want to protect it, right? Here are some simple tips for keeping  your digital camera running well.

Basics

To avoid basic wear and tear, you should get into the habit of doing some preventative steps every time you use your camera.

• Always use the lens cap when your digital camera is not in use. This protects the lens from scratches.
• Store the camera in a cool, dry place, in its storage case.
• Buy a LCD cover for your camera. EFilm makes a very good LCD cover. They attach with adhesive and pop open, creating a glare shield for the screen.
• Always use a lens cloth and lens cleaner to clean the lens.
• Keep the digital camera’s strap around your neck to protect it from falling to its death if you drop it.

Elements

The elements can be the harshest things to contend with when keeping your camera safe. Moisture, dust, and dirt can all interfere with the delicate mechanics of a camera.

Always, always, keep your camera covered while you shoot in the rain. Even if it is just sprinkling, keep your camera under wraps. Here’s a few way to do that:

• Wear a poncho and keep the edges over the tops of your hands and camera while you take photos.
• Shoot with only one hand and hold an umbrella with the other.
• Buy a clear cover made for your digital camera or make one from a gallon sized freezer bag. Make sure to wipe it off if water accumulates over the lens, though.

A plastic cover will also come in handy to avoid dirt or dust blown by the wind during a shoot. In-between shoots, make sure that your camera is stored away in its camera bag.

Travel

Every photographer, whether professional or hobbyist, will have to travel with their digital camera at one time or another. This can be extremely rough on a camera. To protect it, choose a camera bag with stiff sides and a soft interior, such as the ones produced by Samsonite. On planes, always take your camera as a carry on to avoid the rough treatment that checked bags are subjected to.

If you follow these tips, you and your camera should enjoy many happy years together.