In stereo photography you often want to do many of the same things you do in 2D photography—increasing depth of field, reducing blur and so on. Luckily you only have to master a few techniques to achieve your desired ends. Following is a check list of those things you are most likely to want to do, and the techniques you use to do them. Page numbers listed for each technique points you to where it's discussed in the author's book "
Some of the techniques presented in this chapter are not available on every camera, especially point and shoot cameras. Although some techniques may not be important for your current camera, understanding what they do may help when it's time to buy a new camera or accessories.
When trying these techniques, don't try just one. Try them all, and try them in combinations. For example, to reduce blur you can select a faster shutter speed, but increasing the ISO makes even faster speeds available and adding flash adds even faster speeds.
ISSUE
TECHNIQUE
USING
Choosing a camera
Begin by choosing a basic type
13
Increase working distance
Increase lens focal length
96
Use teleconverter
109
Increase camera-subject distance and crop image later
65
Increase depth of field
Increase the ISO
62
Decrease the aperture
73
Increase distance to subject
73
Use flash/continuous lights
111
Decrease focal length
73
Focus at hyperfocal distance
74
Decrease depth of field
Decrease ISO
62
Increase the aperture
73
Decrease distance to subject, focus on nearer part of scene
73
Use neutral density filter
109
Increase focal length
73
Reduce camera/subject blur
Increase the ISO (B)
62
S=Reduces subject blur
Increase shutter speed (B)
64
C=Reduces camera blur
Use flash/continuous lights (B)
111
B=Reduces both
Use mirror lock-up (C)
59
Use cable release (C)
59
Use self-timer/remote control (C)
59
Use tripod or other support (C)
59
Use image stabilization (C)
61
Use manual focus (C)
70
Use minus (-) exposure compensation with flash (B)
55
Use continuous mode (B)
24
Decrease lens focal length (B)
73
Increase distance to subject (B)
73
More head-on angle to subject (S)
64
Improve exposures
Use histograms
55
Use highlight warnings
—
Use exposure/flash compensation
54, 119
Use flash
110
Use automatic exposure bracketing
57
Use AE Lock
56
Use spot metering
47
Use Manual exposure mode
43
Increase size of subject in image
Increase lens focal length, zoom in
73
Use macro mode or macro lens
106
Use close-up lenses
109
Use minimum focus distance
98
Reverse lens
—
Use teleconverter
109
Use digital zoom
99
Increase area captured in image
Decrease lens focal length, zoom out
73
Move farther from subject
73
Remove reflections
Use circular polarizing filter
109
Improve colors
Use circular polarizing filter
109
Set white balance
80
Use Adobe RGB color space
81
Reduce contrast
Shoot on overcast days
93
Use fill flash
116
Use reflectors
124
Move light source closer to subject
127
Improve image quality
Use RAW format
83
Use High Dynamic Range (HDR)
—
Lighten or darken a scene
Use exposure compensation
55, 119
Lighten background in flash photos
Use slow sync flash
113
Use slow shutter speed
36
Use plus exposure compensation
55, 119
Darken background in flash photos
Use minus exposure compensation
55
Lighten or darken foreground in flash photos
Use plus or minus flash compensation
119
Remove red-eye
Use red-eye reduction mode
115
Respond faster
Anticipate needed settings
43
Manual focus/prefocus
70
Use custom settings
43
Increase the range of the flash
Increase the ISO
62
Increase the aperture
73
Use an external flash
121
Use a flash with a higher guide number
112
Increase the focal length if the flash auto zooms
73
Use a flash extender
—
Adjust stereo window
Press the + and - parallax buttons
—
Use focus lock
69
Change baseline
Shoot second image after a specified interval
—
Shoot second image after aligning it on the monitor
—
Improve focus
Use focus lock
69
Use focus zones
68
Use face detect
70
Servo focus
68
Use manual focus
70
