Monday, November 7, 2011

Photography Tips: Say No to Auto & Giveaway

**This giveaway is now closed. However, you are still welcome to leave a comment about what photography things you would like to know more about, since we read every comment that is left on our site. :) **

It is no secret these days that the "auto" setting on your camera rarely produces the results that you are looking for in your photos.

One of the BEST ways to get the most from your dSLR camera is to learn the relationship between 3 things,

Shutter Speed, ISO and Aperture.

Do you know what these are and how they work with one another? If not, would you like to find out?

To kick off our photography tips and tricks series, I asked Kristen of Kristen Duke Photography if she would be willing to give one of our readers a copy of her E-book, Say No to Auto: Three Basic Steps to Understanding Manual Camera Settings, and she agreed!

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Kristen's book will give you the best of the basics, a perfect springboard in your photography journey. She even has color coded examples for both Canon and Nikon users to assist you in finding exactly which buttons to use to change which settings. What a lifesaver!

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Would you like to win a copy of this book?

Many of you commented before that you would like to learn some more about photography, but I'd like to know what exactly you are curious about.

Are you interested in seeing the settings for photos? Composition tips? Lighting tips? Equipment in action? Editing tips? Workflow? What would you like to learn about in this series?

For a chance to win, simply leave your answer to this question in a comments section.

Be sure to leave your email address so that we can notify you of your win!

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58 comments:

  1. I have a nikon d50 and I desperately need to know how to take good photos other than on accident!

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  2. What a wonderful giveaway- from an inspiring woman!

    I am desperate to know about lighting- when we moved from Australia (where natural light is abundant most of the year) to the UK (where we have many darker months with a lot less natural light) - I wasn't quite sure how to tackle the issue for my photos...

    I'm still unsure and take most of my photos on Auto-although I would prefer not to!

    Any help would be so lovely!!!!

    I just don't want to risk missing a photo of something my kids do here- I am wanting to capture all our moments living abroad- that I seem to live on Auto because of the light!?

    Many thanks for this - Melissa (Miss Sew & So) x

    PS-just in case- you never know :) my email:

    mrsea321@gmail.com

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  3. I would like lighting tips and composure. And really knowing settings helps so much. Post-processing ain't my thing (yet) -not enough time... thanks for the giveaway!

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  4. LIGHTING TIPS, for sure!! We live in a condo that only has windows on one side, and it gets so, so dark in here. Oh, and we have no overhead lighting. It is awful, and I haven't been able to figure out how to get pictures without using the flash in here.

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  5. I would like to know about camera settings for different situations....diferent lighting, moving objects (my four your old :) etc. thanks for the giveaway!! jlkeehn3 at hotmail dot com Jessica Anderson

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  6. I would love to know lighting tips and tips for action shots. I'd like to know what's the best default settings to leave my camera on too. I'm a new Mommy to a 5 month old, and I don't always have time to adjust the camera settings before trying to capture a moment. That's why I stick with auto, which I know isn't best...but if I try to adjust my camera, the moment is gone!

    kara6306@gmail.com

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  7. I would love to learn more. I have a Nikon D3000 that I treat like my third child. I would love to learn to take awesome pics with it.
    livry1428@gmail.com

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  8. I would love to see the settings for certain photos! I've had my Nikon for a year - and am still not very good at it and rarely go off Auto. It scares me! ~ Andi

    andreatrautman812@gmail.com

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  9. Ive been searching high & low on how to use my settings on my camera! Found a few tips here & there on Pinterest, but a book is what I really need!

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  10. I would LOVE to win this book!! I seem to have the most trouble with lighting. I never get it right!

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  11. I would love to win this book! I have a new Cannon Rebel XS and I really need help with shutter speed and aperture.

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  12. I would like to see tips on the settings you use in different situations and WHY to use those settings. Learning the reasoning behind a setting in a certain situation helps me out a ton!

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  13. I would LOVE to learn how to compose great photos!

    amandaroseseidler@gmail.com

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  14. I'd love to learn about camera settings for different situations. I try to use aperature priority on my camera, but my little one is so wriggly whenever I try to take photos that I get tons of blur. I'd like to know what to switch to and other settings to use.

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  15. I want to learn how shutter speed, ISO and Aperture work together to create the perfect photo!

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    Jen
    jenjengoemann[at]gmail[dot]com

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  16. I really don't know anything, so anything would be nice. But we can start with what settings to use when.

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  17. I received the most awesome gift of a Canon rebel last year for Christmas and I barely know how to turn the thing on. I would love to win this as my children are getting big before my eyes and i want to capture their innocence.

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  18. I need to know EVERYTHING!! I bought a fancy Nikon when I had my son (who is almost 4) and I still don't know how to use the dumb thing.

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  19. I have Nikon DS3100. I have been trying to figure out things on my own and that really isn't working out to well. I am a mom of 3 with a 4th on the way and want to capture almost every moment for their day. I need tips on lighting and composition for sure, but I am sure there are many other things I need to learn.

    jillpeyton@gmail.com

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  20. just got a dslr camera from a grant for my 1st grade classroom...so want to put it to good use...i want to learn it all- want to beautifully document our learning...pick me!

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  21. I really want to learn about what settings to use and some editing tips. Thanks for the opportunity!

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  22. We have a Nikon D80 and I'd love to learn how to use it. I love taking pictures of our 2 girls and would love it more if i could get the pictures to turn out better.

    ewing.christina@gmail.com

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  23. oh my..where to start...settings and lighting please!!

    What a fabulous giveaway!!

    cmauney1@sc.rr.com

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  24. I would love this book. I have many auto aspects down, but I struggle with lighting and focus at times. This would be amazing to have!
    amynaum@gmail.com

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  25. I would love to learn more about composition!

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  26. Composition and Lighting would both be areas I need to focus.

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  27. Everything! I use to do some photography when I was a kid with just a plain old completely manual SLR, but now I feel like I can't get the same results with the newer cameras.

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  28. I would love to learn everything! My husband and I are wanting to buy our first DSLR for Christmas and we have a lot of learning to do! This would help so much!

    Thanks-
    Laura
    annielaura87@gmail.com

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  29. Oh i need this! I know NOTHING about my camera that I've had for awhile now, it's actually embarrassing to say exactly how long! ha

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  30. I would love to learn about the Manual settings, I'm clueless! I just bought a new camera, and so far I've been stuck on Auto. Help!

    brlracincwgrl@gmail.com

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  31. I want to learn IT ALL!!! We have a fabulous camera, but I'm totally guilty of AUTO. "Figuring out my camera" is on my "35 before 35" list, and I have less than 6 weeks to accomplish the goal. EEEK!!!

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  32. I want to learn everything. I would love to become a professional photographer. Composition tips is the one I would like to learn the most. I still need to buy a DSLR camera, one day. I am hoping even though I have a Nikon that I say is in between a point and shoot and a DSLR. I know that with this book I would be able to learn how to take great pictures with the camera I have.

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  33. I take great pictures by accident all the time. When I am trying to take a great picture, I totally bomb! I would love to learn more about the settings and how to use my Canon EOS 60D!

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  34. I'm still learning my camera, so I would love to have this book! I want to learn more about the different settings, and also I think I need some help knowing how to set my shutter speed!

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  35. I'm still learning new things with my camera, but definitely lighting (indoors/dark esp.) and composition would be great!

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  36. I would love to learn how to take better pictures without the flash. Mine always come out blurry so I use the flash to be safe and the pictures never look quite like I wish they would.

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  37. I would love to learn everything!!! I would love to learn about the settings of my camera and how to actually use it well!

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  38. I have such a hard time saying no to Auto. Help!!

    leannejanelle(at)gmail(dot)com

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  39. I just got my dslr on craigslist this summer. I don't even know how to turn off auto. Help me please.

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  40. Definitely Lighting tips I struggle with that and action shots! UGH I need some serious help this would be awesome to go with the new camera I am saving for :)

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  41. oops jdmcculley2@gmail.com Thanks!

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  42. There are a million and one things I want to know how to do! I ADORE photography, but that stinking auto button has me in it's grasp! I've ventured into manual once or twice and my pictures never turn out just right! I have three little boys running at the speed of light at all times and I NEED these photos! After all, I am their mom! Documenting their lives is my job!


    smc610@yahoo.com

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  43. I really have so much to learn, but I would love to learn more about lighting and depth of field.

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  44. I would love, love to win this book. I have a Canon and I dont know how to use it correctly. I love taking pictures but when I get the good pictures they are always blurry.

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  45. I would love to learn about lighting-especially how to gage the natural light available to take pictures that look vibrant and crisp, or soft and dreamy...really I just want to learn it all! :)

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  46. Let's just be honest...I need HELP! in the world of photography. I think I have the eye, now I just need the knowledge of how to make what I see through my lens a beautiful reality.

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  47. I have a Nikon D80 and after 2 photography classes I still go back to auto. I spend so much time editing to get the look I want and I need to learn to do that with the camera. Melanieblane@gmail.com

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  48. i need to figure out lighting and what shutter speeds are best to use when! xo

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  49. Where do I start...I try so hard to take good photos but they never turn out. Help!!

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  50. Please composition and lightening tips. Two those things are related I think.
    I own a Canon Rebel 450D but I´m not sure that I can use up all of his super functions
    taraembendesigns(a)yahoo(dot)com

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  51. I would like to learn about editing, capturing all the color of me photos like sunsets and sunrise, the lighting, and everything else in between!

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  52. This post made me laugh because I was answering every question with, "YES, that's me!" I have a new SLR Nikon which is bomb diggity but I am not. Help, help. I need to know more about the basic three to escape auto mode.
    cami.panther@gmail.com

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  53. Photo composition is what I'm currently working on and would love tips for!

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  54. I need help with lighting and settings. I have a Nikon D90 and I don't know how to use it to it's correct potential. Thanks for the Chance to WIN!

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  55. I'd love to know what aperture means. When my husband tells me he's adjusting it I just smile and nod - I don't know what he's doing!

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  56. I would love to know about the workflow and editing. I'm always curious to how others do it.
    kelli(dot)west@gmail(dot)com

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  57. I would love to be able to throw my camera out of the auto option :) It wouldn't hurt to pick up some lighting techniques either!! Thanks for the opportunity...

    heathersharbor@gmail.com

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