Equipment Tip - Shutter Release & Image Sharpness

A few posts ago, I touted the advantages of using a tripod whenever possible to increase the sharpness of your images. I briefly commented on using a shutter release cable to add to camera stability. Consider triggering the shutter even when the camera is mounted on a tripod. Even with the support offered by the tripod, camera shake can still occur -- especially with lower quality, inexpensive tripods. Here are three ways the shutter can be released when the camera is mounted on a tripod:

1. Push the shutter button with your finger. Advantages: You never forget to take your trigger finger with you, and it doesn't cost anything. Cons: The action of pushing the button can shake or move the camera to impact the quality and sharpness of your picture.
2. Use the camera's self-timer feature. (And you thought it was just for taking pictures of yourself.) Advantages: Again the feature is always there, and it came free with the camera. Cons: Takes some time to set up, and when you physically push the button to activate the self-timer the camera might move slightly.
3. Use a wired or wireless shutter release. Advantages: Since the device is a switch that actuates your electronic shutter, it provides a truly motionless shutter button release and the sharpest alternative. Cons: The cost of purchasing the accessory.

The cost was prohibitive enough that it wasn't until recently that I made the investment. (Up to this time I had been using the camera's self-timer exclusively.) The shutter release cables made by my camera manufacturer were expensive and were never on sale.

Then I saw an ad on Pro Camera Gear's website for a wired and wireless remote made by a company called Micnova. The wired model was selling for $12.99 and the wireless remote version was priced at $29.95. That's over 60% less than I had thought I was going to spend. Being a wild and crazy guy (as well as never knowing when I might need the wireless feature to safely capture Sasquatch in the mountains of Washington), I purchased the wireless remote.

The Micnova wireless remote consists of two units:
1) the receiver and 2) the transmitter.

The wireless remote came with batteries and just needed to be attached to the front connector of my Nikon D200. Bingo. Ready to take pictures.

The unit can be user set to any of 16 channels to avoid interference with the other Sports Illustrated photographers at the Super Bowl game. The button on the transmitter works just like the button on my camera's body. Push the button part way down to activate the meter and auto-focus, and then press the button the rest of the way down to trigger the shutter.

So, here's a way of getting the advantages of a shutter release cable when taking tripod mounted pictures without spending too much money. Best of all, you don't have to worry about accidentally leaving a finger at home. In actual shooting conditions, I've been as far away as 30 feet from the camera, and the shutter has functioned without a hiccup. Both the wired and remote versions are available for most popular DSLRs.

Hope this is helpful. If you have comments or questions, you know where to find me.

Shooting Tip - Density Range

In true blogging spirit, I want to pass along a comment I recently heard at a photo seminar I was working. It was one of those "Why didn't I say that?" moments.

The speaker was Stephen Johnson. If you don't know Stephen's work, check out his website. Stephen is a respected landscape photographer, author and instructor. You'll be amazed at his images of our national parks.

I was able to sneak into Stephen's presentation while he was discussing proper exposure. At one point, he commented that "there's no rule saying that an image has to include the entire density range". Meaning a good photograph doesn't automatically mean it contains densities from pure white to pure black. Neither reality nor a photographer's vision is constrained to taking pictures that contain a full range of densities.

Although I've never been guided by the belief that every picture must contain pure whites and pure blacks, I have never said it to my students. I revisited many of my pictures to find a couple that would illustrate Stephen's point.




Neither of these pictures contains pure whites nor pure blacks. This shallow range of densities only adds to the emotional feel of the images. (Again, check out Stephen's website and see how he approaches density range in his own work.)

So the tip is: Don't be misled into thinking your pictures MUST contain the full range of densities from pure white to pure black. Pictures need a density range that's appropriate for the mood, subject and conditions -- and no more.

My thanks to Stephen for reminding me that what I take for granted isn't necessarily understood by others.

I hope this is helpful to you as it was for me. If you have any questions or comments, you know where to find me.