Bunchland

Robert Rafton shares tips for making greeting cards using family photos

Oh, no!  It’s almost holiday time.  Those obnoxious cousins of yours will soon send out another form letter about how great their year was and how awesome their kids are.  You, on the other hand, are planning to send out a simple and tasteful greeting card with a nice family portrait on the front.  Here’s what you’ll need to get it done it right.

A camera. Yes, obviously, you’ll need a camera.  Try to avoid phones, but just about any point-and-shoot should give great results.  A DSLR is even better.

Location, location, location. It’s not just true for real estate.  Don’t stick everyone on the sofa one night after dinner.  Take the family portrait during daytime in the spot at home which gets the best natural light.  This means  somewhere as bright as possible that’s not in direct sunlight.  It could be as simple as picking an area where everyone can sit on the floor against a wall perpendicular to a large window. White walls are best.  Also remove any clutter that will be in the shot.  Read more...

Photographer Robert Rafton shares tips for the best Halloween nighttime shots

Once the kids are in their costumes and ready to bring you back candy, you’re going to want pics for the family album.  The problem is it’s going to be dark out.  Your safe option is to take a few shots in the kitchen or somewhere else inside where there’s a lot of light.  But to get images that are more in the spirit of fright and terror, head outside.

Because it will be night, if you just snap a picture with your camera in auto, it will fire its flash.  This will result in that “flash look,” too bright and kind of phony-looking, like in our high-tech sample below.

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Toronto photographer Robert Rafton offers a how-to for photographing city-dwelling birds and animals

Growing up in Toronto, I never paid any attention to wildlife. If you’d asked me, I would have said there’s nothing to see anyhow! But when I bought my first real telephoto lens and actually started looking, I found there are all kinds of wildlife city dwellers.  If you live in an urban environment, rest assured there are cool animals around you too – including some you’d never guess could be so close.  The question is how to find them. Here are five things you and your kids can do to track them down and hopefully get some great shots using your digital camera.

1. Get up at the crack of dawn. Try looking in the largest nearby park, especially one beside a lake, river or swamp.  You’ll have the best chance of seeing something right at dawn (sorry) or right before dusk.  Read more...