This give away is now closed. The winners was Chris:
This book would be so useful as I am extremely keen to get the most out of my camera so that I can take clear and precise shots of my beautiful family and the amazing landscapes and scenery my country (NZ) has to offer on a daily basis. I so often miss spontaneous opportunities of cute shots especially of my kids because of them not turning out properly on auto settings. Frustrating!!! I took photography at high school, but have completely forgotten anything I was taught so it would be great to re-learn those basic photography skills.
I have had a very basic DSLR Camera for a couple of years now. I have taken it of auto to use the preset settings for Macro (closes ups of food), flash off (so you don’t get the funny look from using a flash in the photos) and sports action (for trying to catch the kids when they are moving).
But up until reading Beyond Snapshots by Rachel Devine and Peta Mazey, I had never adjusted a setting on my camera manually. In fact, I had to hunt down the manual to even work out how to do it! I had been wanting to learn more about using my camera for some time, but it seemed too hard and time consuming.
It took me only to read the first chapter of Beyond Sanpshots and I had to get my camera out and take the camera of auto! For the first time I understood the basics of ISO, shutter speed and aperture. Since then I have been practicing lots with taking photos off auto.
I certainly don’t always get it right and I have to play around a bit, but I am learning lots as I go along. The book has this fantastic table which you see a snapshot of above. I keep a copy in my camera bag and refer to it constantly!
Here are some photos I have taken recently in both modes – auto and then my adjusted settings.
Taken on the auto no flash setting – f/5.6 ISO 200
On manual – f/4.5 ISO 400
Taken on auto. It used a flash.
Taken on the auto no flash setting. 1/60
On manual – using the reference sheet guide, I chose shutter speed as priority 1/125.
And these are some photos I took at Master 6′s soccer on the weekend. Even when using the sports mode on the camera, my action shots still aren’t as clear as I would like. While I can see things I would do differently next time, here are some of my favourites taken with a higher shutter speed:
The best thing the book has given me is the confidence to experiment and think more about the photos I take. I haven’t finished reading the book yet and I am looking forward to doing so over the school holidays. I will have the kids around to practice on as I read and take on Rachel and Peta’s advice on taking photos of the kids with me in them! I have so few photos of me with the kids, that I think I will really regret not getting more photos of me with them together and individually.
The Details
- Book Website: You can read more about the book and the authors at http://www.beyond-snapshots.
com - Price: The book RRP is USD$24.99 and is around $40.00 AUD bought locally.
- Where: It can be bought online at Amazon and Book Depository (currently has it for $25.18 plus free delivery). Local book stores can order it here in Australia if they don’t already carry it.
- Video: You can see Rachel talking about the book on The Circle here.
- Personal instruction: Rachel mentors and teaches online and in person as well if you are Melbourne based. You can find out more info about this on her gorgeous blog sesameellis.com.
The Give Away:
I have had the pleasure of meeting Rachel Devine on a number of occasions and Rachel is kindly giving away one copy of Beyond Snapshots – How to Take That Fancy DSLR Camera Off Auto & Photograph Your Life like a Pro, to a reader of Planning With Kids.
To enter simply:
- Leave a comment below letting me know what is you want to learn most about using your DSLR.
- The giveaway is open WORLD WIDE.
- You may only enter once.
- Entries close at 5pm Sun 24th June and will be announced on the blog later that day.
- Good luck!
90 comments...read them below or add one
Adjusting to capture the best of the natural light, where to position myself and how to take full advantage.
Would love to learn more about depth of field! Thanks!
I want to be able to take pictures that are clear and not too dark. I want memories that will last a lifetime and beyond
I “found” Rachel few years ago. And still can not find better and more natural child photographer.
I’m in love in her work. And would really, really like to take at least few photos like her. That my children have something to lean on.
Some sort of memento.
I dislike that when I use the flash inside with my digital carmera that my children’s faces look too bright and over exposed. I would love to know how I can take my camera off ‘auto’ to ensure that I can see the lovely smiling faces of my loved ones.
I try and play in my manual mode but find I resort back to auto when shooting my kids. I can’t quite master non-blur. Also I really want to master a portrait shot of the kids with a blurry background.
I want to learn how to use the shutter, aperture or manual modes. I am shooting in shutter mode right now (to freeze the action of my kids) but cant master how much shutter speed to have or aperture especially in mid day sun.
How to capture the pure joy and magic in my sons face
My 15 year old daughter wants a career in Photography. She has only just begun and needs all the advice she can get.
Definitely light, it’s what makes or breaks a photo and I’m still unsure of what setting to change when!
I’d love to learn more about using my flash! I love a good photography book!
I’d just like to be able to understand my camera better, I love photographing my family and my friends families.
I would love to learn how to document everyday moments using available light and how to do that better and more creatively especially when you live in a dark house. Thanks for your generous giveaway.
i would love to come off “guide” mode and really use the full fundtionality of my camera to take great pictures of my gorgeous son
Night photography has always baffled me, I just have not got the knack of taking awesome night shots! I’d love to learn more about flash photography too, when best to use it, etc.
I want to capture nice photos of my children. I get frustrated by my current camera and all it’s fancy settings so I’d love to know how to take a better photo to ensure I’ve got lots of lovely photos to look back on.
To be able to take those great shots when the kids are playing sport, a really good action photo that is not blurred everytime I take it.
My kids are 3 years and 15 months. Every day they are changing and growing and turning from babies into little people. And everyday that I don’t have a good camera to capture this transformation I regret that I will not be able to look back on these times with some great photos. I need to learn everything about using a DSLR and would really appreciate the guidance it would give me.
I have never had the confidence to purchase a DSLR but I want one so much – I love taking photos of our property, our 3 beautiful children and I love sunrises. I would love to win the book so that I can learn about how to use a DSLR to it’s full potential and then I can purchase one knowing I will have fantastic photos that will provide memories for ever..
I am looking at buying a DSLR and would love to learn any handy hints that will help me capture beautiful images of my family. For years I have had a SLR camera but have rarely been brave enough to take it off auto…it’s time to get out of my comfort zone and get clinking….maybe Beyond Snapshots can give me a nudge in the right direction
I would love to take the most gorgeous photos of my 3 gorgeous boys, instead of using auto and never getting the quality I want.
A always look for a good way to take good and natural-looking photos of my 4 lovely kids, who never want to sit still and say “cheese”…..
I want to learn everything. I got a DSLR 5 years ago and initially got right into taking photos of my children and using all the different settings but alas over the last couple of years l have lost confidence as l have taken less photos and find myself just using the auto function. So would love to win the book to remind myself what each function is and does so l can take some great photos again.
I have a good quality dslr camera and I know I don’t get the most out of it due to my limitations. I would love to learn to take the best photo’s possible for my families memory keeping.
I would love to know how to adjust the white balance quickly and easily. I keep making green or orange people!
p.s. I really like the new site format. It’s easier to read and navigate and looks very professional.
Having just purchased our new camera I really need to learn and know how to get the best shot everytime
Ooh, what a great giveaway! I just started playing with my camera & did a beginner’s course, but everything is all so fuzzy to me
I would love to finally grasp the shutter and aperture!
I’ve had my DSLR for 3.5 years now and honestly I’m quite disappointed with myself for not taking the time to learn how to use it properly. On the few occasions that I’ve been brave enough to have a play with the manual settings I’ve come home with less than average photos – because I don’t know what I’m doing – I’d love the chance to build a bit more confidence with it all, and the chance to prove to myself that I CAN do it, not to mention the chance to take beautiful photos of my daughter and all her crazy adventures.
I’m most interested in learning how to take better photos in low light, our house is unusually dark in all but one room so most of the time my photos are washed out from the flash or my subject is a blur, most times creating a freaky looking ghoul-like portrait. Kind of gives me the heeby jeebies!
Wow. Long comment. Sorry
Thanks for the chance to win.
I would love to know how to take vivid photos of landscapes.
I would love to learn how to take better photos at night!
Learning how to not behead my children will be a necessary and big improvement! They would look so much nicer with their entire heads!
I would love to learn about taking action shots, as my kids are always on the go, haha.
I would love to learn how to use my SLR on manual settings instead of relying on the automatic ones all the time.
would love to have great photos of my newborn and kids without the hefty price tag of a professional photographer.
i take many photos almost daily… but yet to find one that has been taken without error
Potraits and clever use of lighting, that’s what I want to learn. I use my camera alot but know I’m not getting the best out of it. When together with friends I am the snap happy one! I’d like to take great photos and hear …. Wow! Can I have a copy of that.
How to capture perfect action shots. My daughters love tennis but often my photo’s of them playing are blurred and boring. I’d love to learn how to use my camera to take amazing action shots of my girls.
I would love to learn about lighting/wxposure:-)
Knowing when to use what settings, there is nothing worse then missing a shot because I couldn’t get my settings right.
Would love to know more about my DSLR as i know there are loads of functions i don’t use
With two little ones I’d love to learn more about capturing (very fast!) movement. I’m sure there’s a much better way than using the auto function and relying on the continuous shooting setting, taking a ‘zillion’ shots and then having only a few good ones from the masses!!