Sunday, May 30, 2010

Can I prevent my DSLR sensor from getting dusty and dirty?

Nikon D200 pointing down, ready for a lens changeEarlier this month, in my article, What do I do about those dust spots on my digital photos? I discussed how to clean your dirty DSLR sensor. Since then, I’ve received numerous emails asking how photographers can prevent their DSLR sensors from getting dusty and dirty.

There are techniques to use to slow down an accumulation of dust and dirt on your DSLR sensor, but if you take enough photos, eventually you’ll need to clean it.

Each time photographers change lenses on their DSLRs they open up the camera to allow dust to enter. In addition, zoom lenses can bring in dust to the camera. Many zoom lenses literally vacuum in dust to the sensor area of the camera when the photographer zooms their lens in and out. Different zoom lenses have different affinities for pulling dust into DSLRs. Consumer quality zoom lenses which use external lengthening/shortening to change focal length are particularly prone to this, compared to pro level zooms which zoom internally.

Photography Exhibition: Museum of Contemporary Photography - Sarah Pickering: Incident Control

Sarah Pickering: Incident Control The Museum of Contemporary Photography, in Chicago, IL has some of the most exciting exhibitions of contemporary photography in the US. Sarah Pickering: Incident Control looks like it will be another wonderful exhibition at the Museum. If you’re in the Chicago area, don’t miss this exhibition. I plan to go myself, if at all possible.

The exhibition will run through June 20, 2010.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Photography's Seven Deadly Sins

Waldemar Raemisch (1888-1955), The Preacher (1952)I was recently having a very interesting theological discussion with a friend. Eventually we discussed the concept of “sin.” He mentioned the “Seven Deadly Sins,” to some, known as the “Capital Vices” or “Cardinal Sins.” He told me the final list consisted of: wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony.

That discussion got me thinking it might be fun to see if I could take that list and apply it to photography as this week’s main article in the Blog. So here goes. I hope you find the list interesting, and possibly helpful.

Photography Exhibition: California Museum of Photography: ON-SITE

ON-SITE ExhibitionThe California Museum of Photography, located at the University of California Riverside has some of the best exhibitions of photography in the country. ON-SITE is an incredibly interesting photographic exhibition, and could be one of the best in the US this year.

The exhibition will run through August 22, 2010.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Do I need “model” releases, and if so, how can I easily obtain them while traveling?

On a photo safari at the San Diego Wild Animal ParkGenerally, when people are located in public spaces, they have no expectation of privacy, so the photographer doesn’t violate their right of privacy when taking their photo in a public space.

While that’s generally true in the US, I hasten to add, however, that different states have passed their own laws regarding personal privacy, and the laws of other countries often are considerably different than the US, so you need to know the laws in your specific location.

The “rule of thumb” above, has to do with taking photographs, however, not using them.

Art Institute of Philadelphia Fashion ShowAfter the photo is taken, new concerns of privacy come into play, and one’s person right of publicity. For example, generally, a photographer violates a person’s right of publicity when, without permission, the photographer uses a photo of a person for the photographer’s own benefit, sometimes referred to as “commercial” use as opposed to an “editorial” use. Like many concepts in law, this one isn’t precisely straightforward.

Photography Exhibition: The National Gallery of Art - Beat Memories: The Photographs of Allen Ginsberg

Jack Kerouac by Allen GinsbergThe National Gallery of Art has an extensive collection of photographic images, however, most are not regularly on display. This exhibition, Beat Memories: The Photographs of Allen Ginsberg, takes 79 photographs from Allen Ginsberg’s collection snapshots and professional portraits. It will be treat to see them.

This exhibition will run through September 6, 2010

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

What do I do about those dust spots on my digital photos?

Zeeion BlowerIn recent months, numerous readers sent emails to me about dirt and dust problems on their photos. They had cleaned their lenses, but the spots remained. They examined their DSLR’s sensor/filter and saw little specks of dirt, and asked what they should do.

You can generally remove spots during post processing, but it’s better to not have the problem to start, as sometimes “Photoshopping” doesn’t work particularly well.

Photography Exhibition: The Museum of Modern Art - Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present

Marina Abramovic. Portrait with Flowers. 2009The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), in New York, NY has some of the most amazing exhibitions of contemporary photography in the US. Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present, looks like it will be another in their series of wonderful exhibitions at the Museum. If you’re in the New York City area, don’t miss this exhibition. I plan to go myself, if at all possible.

This exhibition will run through May 31, 2010.