Photography Stack Exchange
Photography Stack Exchange

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What is the 'Diagonal Method' and should I use it instead of 'The Rule of Thirds?'

I recently was in a discussion with a photography mentor who asserted that over the years he has composed most of his award-winning and/or 'most popular' photographs using the 'Diagonal Method,' and that in his opinion because photographs composed…
Jay Lance Photography
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Why is the blue channel the noisiest?

It is widely observed that the blue channel in digital cameras is the noisiest. I've certainly noticed that with my camera. Why is this? Is it an artifact of some particular technology (e.g. Bayer array or CMOS sensors), or is something to do with…
mattdm
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What is an efficient way to digitize a family photo collection?

There is a good answer to a similar question here: What is the best way to digitize old photographs for preservation This came up on reddit. The problem posed however is different: Dad died, leaving boxes of pictures. Son wants to digitize the…
Sherwood Botsford
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Is it normal business practice for a contest site to solicit submissions and then, later, ask for a fee?

I am a hobbyist photographer. Some days ago, I was contacted via Instagram by a representative of 1340art.com who asked me if a specific image was indeed made by myself and that their site features artworks like this. He provided a link where I…
Wottensprels
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How do mountains affect lighting at sunrise and sunset?

I just got back from a trip in the Rockies. The tall and close mountains mean that the sun sets earlier than flatter places at the same latitude -- perhaps by an hour or so. The same applies to sunrises, depending of course on the precise location…
Craig Walker
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What does a hexagonal sun tell us about the camera lens/sensor?

In this picture, we see that the sun comes out as a hexagon. I am sure it is not arbitrary. What does the hexagon tell us about the instrument that captured the image?
Lazer
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Is it true that the best images from all digital cameras can be obtained at ISO 200?

Recently a very professional photographer who shoots stunning pictures told me that the best images can be obtained from digital cameras at ISO 200. He also stated that this is what all the manufacturers (Nikon, Sony, Canon, ...) say. He explained…
PhillipM
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How do Micro 4/3s cameras compare with DSLR cameras?

What are the major (and perhaps more subtle) differences between the newer Micro 4/3s format in comparison to the well-established DSLR cameras? What are the pros and cons of the Micro 4/3s format, the camera body and lens capabilities and…
Ciaocibai
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What do you learn in a BA in Photography that can't be self taught?

What do students learn in a photography degree that they can't learn by themselves? Most amateur photographers (and many, many pros) are self taught. A bit of reading, experimentation, practice, practice, practice, and reflection goes along way in…
Ken
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What is "reciprocity failure"?

What is "reciprocity failure" when used in the context of film?
Ken
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Is it worth to upgrade from Canon 50mm f/1.8 to Canon 50mm f/1.4 on 550d?

I'm a newbie in the world of DSLR photography, having played around with my Canon 550d for few months. After posting my first question here and getting some superb advices I decided to buy Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens. My primary interest is a street…
Darius
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Does a photographer take pictures or make pictures?

Most people speak of the process of photography as taking pictures. However, many serious photographers instead refer to making pictures. One might be inclined to dismiss this as jargon, but there's clearly a difference in attitude. "Making" implies…
mattdm
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Why can I adjust the white balance of a RAW file but not a JPEG file?

I recently started setting my DSLR to save RAW files, and using Adobe Lightroom to process them. I still, however, use my little point and shoot camera a lot which does not have an option to save RAW files. I've also noticed that in light-room the…
Eric
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What cheap colour calibrators are available for Linux?

I have several computers (at work, at home, laptops, etc.) that all display my photos differently. So, it's time to get a colour calibration device — but which to choose? I am no professional, so cheap/imprecise/old stuff is perfectly OK. I have…
Morten Siebuhr
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Why do RAW images look worse than JPEGs in editing programs?

I've found that when you load a RAW image into an editing program such as Lightroom/Aperture, the image is usually worse than if you just took the image as JPEG. Now I understand that the camera does some magic during the JPEG conversion. But I'm…
erotsppa
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