Saturday, November 1, 2014

Blogging Questions

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I have two blogging questions, for now…


Here we go, In no particular order. 

Warning:  Whining ahead.

Photography:  ( I have a Canon T3i).

Although I enjoy photography very, very much, I NEVER know if my photos are going to turn out well.


They are often out of focus or the color is wrong.


We have some natural light in our home, but not enough to take photos without using all sorts of special camera settings, plus a tripod, and a timer.


I am just not that adept, and trying to read up on the exposure triangle makes me want to stick a hot poker in my eye.


I have been tempted to buy a high quality, low light, wide angle point and shoot.


I can honestly say this has been the single biggest deterrent to blogging more frequently.


Any suggestions?

Miscellaneous:

Does Blogger have a gadget to add a recipe format?

I often see recipes posted within blog posts that look like they are using a template.




Thank you!

19 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Sorry, got no advice on either point. But your photos always look great to me!

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

If your planning to make money blogging then a better quality camera is an "expense" worth going for. A lot of the bigger blogger will say USE A TRIPOD , FIDDLE WITH LIGHTING ETC . I'm not a big blogger and my pictures aren't all that-- I'm terrible at staging photots too. I'd like to make money blogging- but my picture quality isn't there yet.
On the other hand if you like photography so much and money isn't an issue- what is wrong with getting a bigger better camera. It will be fun taking action shots on the baseball field and of all the grand children!
As to recipe format ... I've seen what you're talking about- but not sure how they do it.
I use Microsoft live writer- it has features that blogger doesn't have like watermarking photos as you plug them I and some photo editing. it also has different and more varied fonts.
You can set margins differently too I believe and that might help with recipe posts. That's all I got!
I'm not a professional blogger- but I play one on the internet! ;)

Helen said...

I have a basic camera ~ Coolpix S6100, a Nikon. Rarely have a bad experience inside our out. Just make certain settings are where you want them. No tripods or extra equipment necessary!

Loui♥ said...

Laura..Love your Blog! have been a follower for a long time..
my photos are with Nikon D3100..
no tripod, no special settings..
i use Picasa for editing,cropping etc..
I love photography! have been remiss for awhile with blogging since moving to Florida..this is the second and final home..with no real view..
2015 will be a new slate for me and blogging..
You might check with Pat Freymouth @Backporch Musings..her blog is divine!!!
hugs and smiles..Loui

Jean Campbell said...

You must work at photographs, whether you use what you have or buy new equipment. Read the documentation.

Don't make recipes harder than necessary. Use the little Quote button at the top where you write your Blogger post.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Sorry I am of no help on either question. I don't see anything wrong with your photos.
My camera has lots of different settings, but if I took the time to figure out which setting would work best to take a simple picture I would not take any. I just shoot most on auto, take several shots of the same image to choose from, no tripod, etc., and hope for the best with lots of failures :(. If I need to crop out people,or a closer image, etc. I usually use the program on my computer, picmonkey, picasa, etc.
Hope your are enjoying the weekend.

Anita Diaz said...

Laura, I know how you feel! So I have some tips that might be helpful. I use a Canon T3, not even as good as the T3i, so you can take great photos with what you have. Trust me, I used a friend's Canon 5D MarkII and compared plus I have heard several pro photographers (not blogger/photographers) say buying a more expensive camera will not automatically make your photos better. It's how you use what you have.

You have to use a tripod, especially if you don't have great light, and just use the built-in timer.

Shoot in the "Manual" mode and shoot your photos in RAW format. Shooting RAW will allow you serious leverage in post editing.

Set your ISO at 100, then set the aperture about f/8, because that is the sweet spot for that camera. I use f/22 if I want everything to be in focus, and f/1.8 if shooting closeups so the background is blurred. It depends on the lens you are using. I use a 50mm for closeups and a 20mm for wider shots. F/8 is a great mid point to start.

Then set your exposure meter in the middle so the photo is not over or under exposed.

For editing I use Adobe Lightroom 3.6, which is an older version, but my imac is old so that's what I have to use. If your photos are RAW and the ISO was 100, you can then edit them exactly as they need to be, light, sharp, etc. There are some great tutorials for LR and I like it for quick editing better than photoshop. I have some specific steps I go through that I would be glad to share if you have LR.

I had the worst photos ever in all of blogland and did not know what to do, then my husband and I went to a workshop with a professional photographer and that really started me on my quest for better photos. Educating my eye by looking at pro photos made a difference too because they do not over expose like is so rampant in the blogs.

I did buy some nice lenses and that has also helped. It is a learning process and one that never stops for me, but I love it and am working hard at getting better, so I always like to pass those tips on to others because they are not the tips I see in the decor blogs.

I hope that helps and that I'm not over zealous in my attempt to share:-) I have some photography posts on my blog with some tips also if you're interested.

Just Judy said...

I used to use an older Canon PowerShot G10 with a tripod and a timer and it is good if you have the time but lately I have been using my cell phone which takes decent pictures and I use Picasa for editing. One day I would like to learn more about my Canon.

Elizabethd said...

If I am posting a recipe I just use Copy and Paste.
I'm not a good photographer, so can't help with that, sorry.

Elizabethd said...

If I am posting a recipe I just use Copy and Paste.
I'm not a good photographer, so can't help with that, sorry.

Pura Vida said...

I admire you for wishing for better but it seems all great to me. Your blog is very attractive. I never get into any recipes because I don't cook much anymore

Miz Helen said...

Hi Laura,
Although I don't comment often, I love your blog. I have a Nikon D3000 and edit them in Picasa, if you export the photo there is a watermark feature for each photo. I knew nothing except how to push the button before I started to blog, it has been so much fun!
I use Google Sites as a way to print the recipe from my blog.
Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing.
Miz Helen

Connie in Hartwood said...

So much is said about manual Mose and ISO and the like, but it really just comes down to knowing how to make the best of the equipment you have. I use my ancient Nikon D70 for macro and garden shots, my iPad and/or my iPhone for most everything else. There is the occasional photo on my blog taken with my Canon Elph, but it's acting up and I haven't used it in a while.

The photos on my blog today are iPad photos. I do a teeny bit of sizing and editing, for color and contrast and sharpness, with an older version of Photoshop. It's more about capturing the moment to me than it is about making the shot perfect.

Theresa said...

I feel your pain! I have several cameras but seldom use them. My blog pictures are most often just taken with my iPhone. I would love to have a really nice camera but not sure I have the patience to learn how to use it! You get one and teach me:) Have a blessed evening dear Laura, HUGS!

Brenda Pruitt said...

I looked around, but didn't see anything that I thought would be useful for you for the recipes. I don't use anything on my Canon EOS Rebel but the automatic setting with Flash always off. I don't want to learn all the settings.
Brenda

Brandee Shafer said...

Your T3i will do AMAZING things if you learn to use it. I don't agree at all that you need a bigger and better camera. I intend to purchase a 6D within a couple months, but only because I want full frame. For now, people are paying me for the photos I take with a T3i. I can help. Call me! Friend me on facebook or e-mail me (normalgirl@hotmail.com), and I'll give you my #.

Laura said...

Test reply.

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