One of the most significant  image output enhancement options is often ignored by amateur as well as many professional photographers, - the RAW file format.

Shooting in RAW is perceived as  extra work, more data to store and unnecessary since we all know how to shoot good jpegs . . . right?   We don’t ever make an exposure error or concern ourselves with color temperature.   Hummm.

Here is an example:
Photographing people is fluorescent environments . . . as I recall many, many corporate and small business offices are lit how???

I created  this image in one of the worst lighting scenarios on the planet - an office with fluorescent light - with a digital camera set to Program Auto Exposure mode.

Image shot in RAW - no Correctio

Problem-

• Overhead light casts shadows under the eyes and tends to make people’s faces look flat and tired. 

• Fluorescent light casts a greenish yellow color, which makes the skin look pretty bad.

Image file shot in RAW - corrected for flourescent

Solution-

• I used a fill card to redirect the diffused fluorescent light to fill in under the model’s eyes, nose and chin.

• I removed the greenish yellow cast from the fluorescent light source by clicking a button in Photoshop.

Click here to learn more

The Camera: Set your DSLR to 400 ISO - from the camera menu, select the RAW file format -  put your camera on a tripod - elevate the camera to slightly higher than the subjects face - use the  longest focal length available between 85mm - 135mm.  

The subject: Place your subject under the edge of a fluorescent panel - have the subject hold the fill card to redirect the  light to fill in under the chin and the eyes - take lots of pictures - work with the subject  to get a range of emotions - do the left & right side.  Pick the one with the best expression!

Happy Shooting!

Sylvester Garza 
P.O. Box 920778
Houston, Texas 77292-0778
office: 713.957.2777
cell: 713.899.9706
info@sylvestergarza.com

I decided to share some websites I felt would be useful.  I hope to be posting my own material soon.  Anyway, check this out:

PhotographyTips.com is for everyone with an interest in photography. It is intended to help beginners get started in photography, and become so good at it that they turn into advanced amateurs. But, accomplished photographers will also find useful tips and hints here. Our primary objective is to help people like you to take better photographs.

Photography Tips, Tricks & Techniques.

When I first started this blog I thought I would post frequently.  Yet, here it is, months later, and this is just my second blog post and probably not a long one either.  As a very busy Houston photographer I spend much of my week away from my studio.  In spite of this, I strive to keep an easygoing style creating an atmosphere of comfort for my clients.

I hope to post again very soon!

Welcome to the official Blog of Houston Photographer Sylvester Garza.

My vision for this Web Log is for it to be a forum of sorts to discuss concerns, issues, new technology, professional development, education, work-flow, photo shop editing tips, Raw file formats,  and any other topics relevant to Professional Digital Photography.

From time to time, i will also post observations from my various photo shoots, as well as photography tips, and training concepts and other ideas that might support  the creation of successful images.

I look forward to your comments . . . SG