At moodboard we are always trying to help ourphotographers take better photographs. Many people ask me all the time “Craigwhat is the best camera to buy?” Now different cameras will do different thingsand so that would open up a whole large discussion, however I would like toshare some steps that you should do when looking to buy a digital camera.

1 Decide on what you need

If you want to submit quality images to moodboard.com then youwill need to be submitting shots at around 50 MB. So for this you will need abetter Camera, Canon D5 Mach 2 Is a great camera.  However if you just want to take holiday andfamily snaps a cheaper camera may be cheaper. I particularly like these newSamsung cameras which have 2 screens, one on the back and one on the front.Perfect for taking photos of yourselves when travelling.

2. Stick to your Budget

Your purse strings will ultimately decide what you buy. Have aprice in mind and stick to it. Look online for cheaper deals, such http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/

3. Look at the mega Pixel rating

These are one of the main selling points for any digital camera. Thenumber of pixels that you camera’s sensor has will help you determine whatquality of photographs it will produce. The larger the mega pixel will alsohelp you when looking to blow up files for larger print pieces. Moodboard constantlygets asked for A1 and A0 shots from clients. It is in these cases where higherprices can be negotiated as many photographers just do not have the kit toproduce these file sizes.

4. Try out the zoom

This will give you a good idea how much magnification the camerahas, and will be vital for those long shots.

5. Motion

With Motion and moving images set to be the next big thing. Whynot get a camera that has a great motion recording.

6. Check the Accessories

How easy is it to get extra lenses, filters, HD memory cards? All theselittle things should be considered.

If this helps improve your photographs, we would love to see them.Please head over tomy.moodboard.com to see whether you can submit to our site.If you want to get in contact try us at hello@moodboard.com

At moodboard we are always trying tohelp our photographers take better photographs. Now when you may buy a digitalcamera you may find it quite difficult to understand all those buttons, switches,lights and technical jargon that comes in the manual. So to make it easierplease see moodboard’s quick fire guide to understanding your camera. 

1. Aperture

This is how much light your lens allowsin. The lower the number, the brighter the image but has a more limited depthof field. Thus the higher number gets more detail in the shot but requires alonger shutter speed. 

2. Continuous Shoot 

This is also known as Burst mode, andallows your camera to capture a sequence of shots in rapid succession, such asfireworks or kids sports day! 

3. DSLR

This is a common number on letters onany camera and stands for “Digital Single Lens Reflex", which basically meansthat you digital camera allows you to see through the lens.

4. Exposure Compensation

Also known as "EVCompensation" , this is important as it allows you to manually overridethe automatic exposure so to increase or decrease light hitting the sensor.

5.Focal Length 

This is the measure of the distancebetween the optical centre of the camera lens and its focal point. With fixed lensesthe focal length is constant, however a zoom lenses will have a variable focalrange.

6. ISO Sensitivity

The is the light sensitivity of thecamera. Just like a 35 m film, low sensitivity is around 50, normal isfrom200-400 and high is around 1600.

7. Megapixels

The resolution of a digital camera’s image sensor is measured inmegapixels, with one megapixel equalling a million pixels. More megapixels representmore details but does not necessarily better quality.

8. Resolution

This is the amount of pixels, captured displayed horizontally andthen vertically.

9. Shutter Speed

This is the length of time is takes for the camera shutter toopen, let the light in and close. Faster the shutter speed is preferred forsports so that the action is not lost, where as slower speeds s better forlandscapes where more detail maybe required.

If this helps improveyour photographs, we would love to see them. Please head over tomy.moodboard.com to see whether you can submit to our site. If you want to getin contact try us at hello@moodboard.com

Today we will cover problems encountered when photographing pets. Michael James from Devon wrote in to ask:

I can’t seem to capture my cat in the perfect frame before he moves. How can take more successful pet photos?

The team here at moodboard have found the best way to photograph pets is to lure subjects into more suitable positions using attractants. Bear in mind that the most memorable images of pets don’t occur as a happy accident, but rather because of planning. You need to be ready and correctly positioned. Frame your subject, then press the shutter button halfway and hold it to lock focus and exposure. Then, as long as light and distance remain similar, keep your finger in this position until your ready to shoot and the shutter will almost instantaneously fire. Pre-framing your pet in this manor so you’re prepared for that fleeting moment, can make for a winning shot. 

Please keep your questions coming in and the team here at moodboard will answer them even if they are not featured on the blog.

For our weekly instalment of problems you have been encountering whilst shooting, I have chosen a question from Sarah Dudley in Epsom. She asked: 

How can I take better landscape photos? 

Our team here at moodboard have suggested the best way to take a great landscape shot is to wait for the so called ‘golden hour’ (dawn or dusk), because the light is warmer and there are fewer people around. Patience and preparation are also key and the best photo can come out of a fleeting moment when the sun pokes out from behind a cloud and attractively bathes the scene.  Another tip is to use the rule of thirds.  Imagine a shot divided up into three vertical and three horizontal lines. Place points of interest along the lines or where they cross. Use natural lies, such as a path or hedgerow to direct viewers.  Take a look at some of moodboards great landscape shots for inspiration. Notice how the foreground, middle distance, and distance each take up a third of the frame.  

As always please keep emailing in with more questions.

This weeks tip focuses on the issues people have avoiding reflections. I don’t mean catching a bad glance of yourself in the mirror; I’m referring to the light bouncing back while shooting and ruining your shot. Gemma Brown emailed in to ask:-

How can I avoid reflections when shooting through glass?

The key here is, as when photographing zoo animals through the wire mesh of an enclosure, is to make sure you are focusing on the subject beyond the glass, and not the obstacle of the glass itself. When shooting through a reflective surface, it should go without saying that you disable the flash. Next you should carefully press your camera lens up against the glass surface, then focus. Also if your camera lens has a filter thread, you can attach a polarising filter to reduce reflectivity even more.

Alternatively you could try experimenting with the reflections as they can make some great abstract photography.

Please feel free to add any comments or experiences you have had shooting with problematic reflections in the comments section below. Or maybe when it has enhanced your photo? Again please email lauren.evans@moodboard.com with more questions for future articles.

After an overwhelming amount of questions that have been sent to me this week, I have chosen to share a question from Rebecca Pearce in Manchester who asked:- 

What can I do to avoid lens flare or how can I incorporate it to better my photography? 

Shooting in natural light especially in strong sunlight makes it easy to fall prey to lens flare. Snapping a perfect picture can be ruined by allowing light to morph into the lens and this can show up as discoloured blobs on your photograph. By taking a few extra seconds to realign yourself and your shot, you will save yourself from the hassle of taking a poor picture that could have been avoided Apart from not shooting into the direction of the sun, another way to avoid flare is to fit your camera with a protective lens hood or to attach a polarising filter. These are practical solutions for avoiding lens flare in most situations. When you invest in a high-end digital camera, adding these accessories are an essential part of the process to help you take better pictures.  Sometimes you can luck out and take a photo with lens flare that is worth sharing, changing what could have been a mundane photo into an unusually creative shot. See below for some of moodboards great flared shots.

Another day another photography related emergency. Well not quite but it can be very frustrating when small issues get in the way of what could have been an amazing photo. I’m here again this week to answer one of your questions.

This time from Naomi Woolman in Aldershot. She wanted to know: Why does my flash produce really unflattering results? 

A flash, if not correctly used can produce bleached skin, highlighted facial blemishes and introduce a deer in the headlights look. Also if the flash is positioned too near the lens, avoiding red-eye can prove problematic.

To produce more flattering results a flash head can be angled upwards so light can be bounced off a low ceiling rather than fired directly at the subject. The light that filters down will produce a softer, more professional look and feel. Another quick fix would be to change the image to a more forgiving black and white or place tissue paper over the offending bulb. If your shooting against the sun your cameras fill in or forced flash setting can be used to lift shadows and add balance to your image.

Please contact me with any other photography related questions and I will happy to answer them and feature some of them on the blog. Email lauren.evans@moodboard.com for the chance to be featured in next weeks feature.

Although the ‘rule book’ states horizons should be level some photographers here say bending these rules with a slight tilt to your camera can add dynamism to create a more modernistic style of image.

Over the last few months I've been answering emails submitted to our website about how to take better photos. I usually announce these questions to the office and the expert team here at moodboard comes up with an explanation which I forward on. I thought I might share these useful tips with our faithful readers.  

John Harrison from Stafford wrote in to ask:- How can I take better baby photos?  

Moodboard Tip: For the most effective results crouch down to their level. Unless your trying to capture fear, hovering over them with a large camera to your face can cause distress and an unhappy photo, and not to mention an unhappy baby. As with any portrait pay attention to what is behind and around your subject, cutting out clutter by stepping closer, zooming in and turning the camera on its side to shoot. Since little ones are constantly on the move, switch to a sports mode. This reduces blur from fast movements and also captures fleeting emotions better. Allowing them to move also keeps them from getting bored. Another technique which has been tried and tested by many a parent in our office is giving the child a present to open and photographing their reaction. This fly on the wall technique lets a scene naturally run its course and creates a photograph full of real emotion.  

We have some really great images taken by our photographers here at moodboard in our moodboard Plus collection. Please follow the link below to view these.

Baby Images in moodboard Plus

Photographer: moodboard/Vladimir Godnik

This week we met up with Joe Konczak who is a student at Brighton University studying B.A Photography and got his thoughts on the nature of photography and his plans and thoughts following his graduation from University.

What made you study Photography ?

I was introduced to photography by my dad when I was 14 or so and have been hooked ever since !

I am a massive fan of Paul Insect, but can i ask who is you greatest photographer/creative inspiration ?

My greatest influenced on my photography has probably been the American photogrpaher William Eggleston. His use of colour is pretty outstanding and his acute eye too. If you havent see his stuff it is well worth a look.

There are alot of cool exhibitions around at the moment, wha is your favourite Art Exhibtion you have been to ?

A few years ago I saw an exhibtion at the V&A titled Twilight: Photography in the Magic Hour. It was very well curated and contained some of my favourite photographers. 

What camera do you shoot on ?

I mainly shoot on a Mamiya RZ which is a film camera that takes 120 film previously I used a Hasselbald 500c/m. Although I use this film camera for my personal projects , I tend to use digital equipment when undertaking comissions as it is alot cheaper and faster!!.

Why do you perfer using the darkroom ?

I enjoy the attention to detail needed in the darkroom but also watching an image develop under your own eyes is very rewarding.Although there are downsides to printing in the darkroom such as the time it takes and expense!

What would you like to do after uni in Photography ?

Well, I hope to work in some aspect of the Photography Industry whether that be a photographer or retoucher, only time will tell!

You have seen alot of our collections, can i ask what is your favourite Moodboard image and why ?

The image above has to be my favourite moodboard image - due to its compostion , simplicity and it really does capture that decisive moment !!!
http://www.moodboard.com/details/19530001/worker-clearing-rocks-from-cliff/

 19530001

Finally i know that you are probably not looking forward to leaving Uni, but have you got any advise for any one who is interested in studying photography at University?

Well, I would totally recomend studying at Brighton! London is also a good place as photographically it has a alot happening.But apart from that open days are a good way of working out where to study I think UCAS gives a list of these.