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Articles by Steve Berardi

Have You Updated Your Camera’s Firmware Lately?

May 4, 2011 by Steve Berardi 5 Comments

Update FirmwareFirmware is the low-level software that runs inside your camera, and basically controls how everything works. It’s the stuff that controls how images are written to your memory cards, how the lens talks to the camera and more.

Most digital SLRs these days allow you to upgrade the firmware. But, why would you want to do that? Maybe your camera seems to work perfectly already, so what’s the big deal about upgrading the software? [Read more…] about Have You Updated Your Camera’s Firmware Lately?

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: camera, digital, embedded, feature, firmware, flash memory, memory card, slr, software, update, video

Why You Should Read Your Camera’s Manual

April 11, 2011 by Steve Berardi 7 Comments

Canon 7D (instruction manual)The instruction manual is probably the most boring thing you get with a new camera.

It’s funny: you spend a few hundred (or thousand) dollars on a nice camera so you can take brilliantly colorful photos, and all it comes with is a tiny, poorly printed and poorly written instruction manual full of black and white photos!

Your first instinct might be to just ignore that manual, or even throw it away before even peeking inside.

But, buried inside that thing might be some cool features of your new camera that you’re totally unaware of. [Read more…] about Why You Should Read Your Camera’s Manual

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: 7d, back button, book, camera, custom functions, dslr, features, how to, instruction, landscape, level, manual, read, slr

9 Tips For Photographing Perched Birds

March 16, 2011 by Steve Berardi 20 Comments

Black-throated Sparrow / Photo by Steve Berardi
Black-throated Sparrow / Photo by Steve Berardi
We’ve talked about bird photography fairly often here on PhotoNaturalist, including posts on how to photograph birds in flight and how to photograph hummingbirds in the wild. Well, today’s topic is photographing perched birds, like in the photo above of a black-throated sparrow.

Bird photography can be frustrating at times, and it may seem like you always need a longer lens, but with a little patience and a few little tricks, you’ll be coming home with good bird photos in no time. So, here are a few tips to get you started: [Read more…] about 9 Tips For Photographing Perched Birds

Filed Under: Tips, Wildlife Tagged With: autofocus, bird, birds, blind, monopod, passerine, perch, perched, photography, songbirds, telephoto, Tips, Wildlife

New eBook on Wildflower Photography!

March 7, 2011 by Steve Berardi 15 Comments

Wildflower Photography (eBook)Today, I’m happy to announce that the new edition of my eBook on wildflower photography is now available.

The eBook is a complete guide to photographing wildflowers with a digital SLR. It will teach you how to take stunning photos of wildflowers, and how to post-process them in Adobe Photoshop (CS 4 or later and Elements 8 or later). [Read more…] about New eBook on Wildflower Photography!

Filed Under: Wildflowers Tagged With: cs, digital, ebook, edition, elements, equipment, examples, exposure, flower, new, photography, photoshop, second, slr, wildflower

How to Give Your Photography a Turbo Boost

March 1, 2011 by Steve Berardi 1 Comment

Lake Tahoe
Photo by Steve Berardi
You know those turbo boosts that you get in car racing video games? You’ll be driving along, struggling to get out of 9th place, but then you use a few turbos and BOOM––all of a sudden you’re cruising in 1st place! Woohoo!

Do you ever wish you could use those turbos in real life too?

Well, in photography, you can! Sort of.

The secret is to dedicate at least one full week to nothing but photographing nature. It’s kind of like a mini photography boot camp.

Take a week off work, and go on a long road trip, visiting places you’ve never been before, but have always wanted to check out. It’s important for these places to be “fresh” to you, because it’ll excite you to visit someplace new and that usually translates to a stronger urge to create a photograph. [Read more…] about How to Give Your Photography a Turbo Boost

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: boost, charge, composition, landscape, learn, photography, scouting, skills, turbo

The Perfect Tripod For a Hiking Photographer

February 10, 2011 by Steve Berardi 11 Comments

After the camera and lens, the tripod is the most important piece of camera gear you’ll own. In some of my favorite words from Scott Kelby, you should “become married to your tripod.”

Nothing will keep your camera more still than a tripod. If you want the sharpest photos possible, then you gotta use one whenever possible. Tripods have another benefit too though: they force you to slow down and think more about your composition.

But, carrying around a tripod can also be pretty annoying. They’re big, they’re heavy, and it usually takes a while to get it in the exact position you need it. So, it’s helpful to get a tripod that’s easy to setup and carry around. [Read more…] about The Perfect Tripod For a Hiking Photographer

Filed Under: Gear Reviews, Landscapes Tagged With: 1541t, bh-30, bh-40, bogen, center post, gitzo, hiking, landscape, lightweight, manfrotto, really right stuff, rrs, scott kelby, sharp photos, travel, tripod

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