This is the start of a regular feature where we answer questions from the Twitter community. Not following us already, you can do so here.

Locking the Shutter?

phx_M: how the heck do i lock my D300 shutter so i can take star trails fotos in the dessert at nite ??

Jim: You’re in luck, your D-300 has a “Bulb” mode, which, when used, will hold the shutter open for as long as the shutter button is pressed. The best way to do this is with a remote-release, like the Nikon MC-30, and you’ll have to watch those very long exposures because your battery will be draining pretty quickly, so it would be nice to have a Nikon ac adapter as well.

Showing Your Work

aithne: How’s best to approach venues about doing shows? (I’m thinking local coffee shops, etc.)

Amy: I asked my fellow photographer friend Lauren DiMatteo this question, since she literally just finished hanging her photography at a local coffee shop last night. Do you just go up and ask? Do you wait to see if these places hang fliers or do a call for art? She recommends that the best thing to do is to just go in and ask. “But I would recommend staying away from chain stores,” she says, “because they usually have to go through corporate to clear anything.” She also strongly suggests to be professional, have a portfolio with you ready to show (bring printed photos or even your laptop), follow through, ask for names and remember them, and always wear a smile. Also, suggested: “be sure you can SELL artwork there, and know what to expect if you make a sale. Places will usually have a contract if they intend to take a percentage of your earnings.” Another important reminder if you are hanging your work in a public place: be insured. Lauren says, “It’s the only thing that allows me to sleep at night, knowing that if something happens to those images, I’m covered.”

Out in Public

barbeegomes: Question: How do you get over the fear of getting your camera out in public when you’re alone?

Amy: I’m not sure if you mean fear of having your camera stolen or the intimidation of taking your camera out in public and feeling like everyone is scrutinizing you. Either way, the only way to become confident with your camera is to start bringing it with you everywhere and to start photographing everything. You’ll definitely start getting looks. So if that was your fear, sorry! Some people just don’t understand the need to photograph every last blade of grass or stretch of light. But you’ll be used to your camera in no time and you’ll never have to fear pulling it out in public again.

How Much Photoshop?

vegasgeek: Do you spend more time trying to get the shot perfect straight off camera, or tweaking in photoshop, etc…?

Amy: Great question. This answer will most definitely differ greatly from one photographer to the next. I think it all depends on your style. I really love vintage looking images and sometimes I get a hankering for an over-saturated image or two. So, I would probably be in the Photoshop camp. But that is my preference. I love photography. I love to see the world through my view finder. And then I especially love taking those images and playing with, tweaking, and processing them to create something new. Also, I have a preschooler and an infant. I don’t usually have the time to set up elaborate shots beforehand (besides wonderful sleeping shots when they’re not running around!). So Photoshop comes to my rescue time and time again. I don’t consider the use of Photoshop to make me less of a photographer. In fact, I think it really enhances my photography!

Jim: Amy’s exactly right, it does depend on the photographer. I like to try and get all the elements correct in-camera as much to minimize losses in post-processing as well as just to see if I have the chops to do it. But I’ve been using Photoshop since version 2.0 and have always liked it, but you won’t learn “photography” if you use it as a crutch, you’ll learn Photoshop.

Ansel Adams captured his “foundation exposure” in-camera, correctly lit, correctly exposed, well composed and sharp as a tack, but he made the “picture he saw” in the lab.

Battery Lifespan

DominiqueGoh: I would like to know what is the average lifespan of the battery for a digital camera and the best way to prolong usage.

Jim: When you talk about “lifespan” are you talking about how long the battery stays charged or how long the battery will last until it has to be replaced?

When the batteries are new, the useful charged-life is longer and shortens as it degrades through usage and charging cycles. I’m currently getting around 400-photos from the battery in my Nikon D-400.

If you recharge your battery too early (say, when it indicates a 50% charge on the battery-meter on your camera) if it’s a NiCd, it can develop a “memory-effect” which can shorten it’s charged-life not unlike putting a brick in your toilet tank, it will have less capacity to hold water.

On the other hand, running a battery as long as you can, will also shorten the battery’s life.

Heat is a major killer of batteries, in both it’s “charged-life” and it’s total useful life. Keep your batteries cool (room temperature is fine) and they’ll have a lot longer life.

On any digital-camera where you can minimize the use of the display-screen, it will increase your life tremendously, as the screen and it’s backlight are a big drain on power. Vibration-control, auto-focus, power-zoom, and all the other “power-assists” use up your batteries too.

All batteries (disposable and rechargeable) have a lifespan. Lower ampere-hour batteries are usually rated for around 1000 charge/discharge cycles, where-as higher capacity batteries are usually rated for around 500 charge/discharge cycles. Fast chargers and exposing your batteries to heat (inside a car-interior for example) are 2-things to avoid if you want your batteries to last.