Professor Ken Kobré's LightScoop

I just purchased this wonderful diffuser tool. It just sits over the camera's pop-up flash and helps soften the flash, reducing the glare and that's always a good tihng. I found it online at http://www.lightscoop.com/ and can't wait to try it out. I have been using home made flash diffusers for several years - everything ranging from empty yoghurt containers, white measuring cups and even big plastic noodle bowls. The difference between with and without diffusion is like night and day.

Here are some photos taken with the bowl diffuser

With on-camera flash:

With on-camera flash and diffuser:

Lesson: White balance, lens distortion and cropping

coin macro with white balance, originally uploaded by vanessapr.

"coin macro" by vanessapr [?]


"coin macro with white balance" by vanessapr [?]


With Filter>Distort>Lens Correction to straighten the photo and then crop to fill the frame.
"Coin macro after white balance and lens correction (angle)" by vanessapr [?]

Photoshop Actions - babysoft

Meerkats - after Shadows and Highlights applied

Meerkats - after Shadows and Highlights applied, originally uploaded by vanessapr.

see the before
www.flickr.com/photos/lilcrabbygal/509569017/in/photostream/

FujiFinepix s5600 Tutorial - Adjusting Area Focus Mode with FujiFinepix s5600 cameraAF - AREA

FujiFinepix s5600 Tutorial - Adjusting Area Focus Mode with FujiFinepix s5600 cameraAF - AREA, originally uploaded by vanessapr.

A screenshot from the FujiFinepix s5600 Manual pages 64 and 65 for easy reference

www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/bin/S5200ownermanu...

More tutorials at www.vanessapikerussell.com

Selecting AF modes - CENTER and AREA

Selecting AF modes - CENTER and AREA, originally uploaded by vanessapr.

screenshot from the FujiFinepix s5600 Manual pages 64 and 65 for easy reference
If you are taking a series of photographs where you want the camera AF to be off-center then consider using the AF-AREA funciton of the FujiFinepix s5600/s5200 camera. You can now move the little crosshair to focus on the focal point (in this photo the bud of a cactus) but in other photos I place the AF - AREA to the sky or a darker part of the photo to reduce blown out skies or overblown highlights.


www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/bin/S5200ownermanu...

More tutorials at www.vanessapikerussell.com

FujiFinepix s5600 Tutorial - Using Area Focus Mode with FujiFinepix s5600 cameraAF - AREA

FujiFinepix s5600 Tutorial - Using Area Focus Mode with FujiFinepix s5600 cameraAF - AREA, originally uploaded by vanessapr.

If you are taking a series of photographs where you want the camera AF to be off-center then consider using the AF-AREA funciton of the FujiFinepix s5600/s5200 camera. You can now move the little crosshair to focus on the focal point (in this photo the bud of a cactus) but in other photos I place the AF - AREA to the sky or a darker part of the photo to reduce blown out skies or overblown highlights.

If you are wanting to add bokkeh or depth of field to a photo it often helps to focus on something close to the camera and slightly zoom in or focus on something in the background, leaving the foreground slightly out of focus.

More tutorials at www.vanessapikerussell.com

FujiFinepix s5600 Tutorial - Using Area Focus Mode with FujiFinepix s5600 camera - AF - CENTER

FujiFinepix s5600 Tutorial - Using Area Focus Mode with FujiFinepix s5600 camera - AF - CENTER, originally uploaded by vanessapr.

Using Area Focus Mode to create DOF with FujiFinepix s5600 camera. In this image CENTER AF is set. The camera will focus on what is in the center of the screen. You can adjust this by moving the camera to focus on what you want to be the focus and then half-pressing the button to lock the focus and then moving the camera to frame your subject properly then press the button all the way down. An easier way to do this is with the AF - Area Focus (next image)

If you are wanting to add bokkeh or depth of field to a photo it often helps to focus on something close to the camera and slightly zoom in or focus on something in the background, leaving the foreground slightly out of focus.


More tutorials at www.vanessapikerussell.com