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Nikon D5100 Digital Field Guide
by Thomas
(2)
Publication Date: July 19, 2011
Buy new: $19.99 $13.45
2 used & new from $13.45
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Product Description
Expert advice and full-color photos help you get the most out of your Nikon D5100
As a high-end entry-level DSLR camera, the Nikon D5100 offers full HDR capability as well as new and creative options. This handy, portable guide walks you through how to make the most of the D5100′s enhanced night vision shooting, automatic HDR system, and enhanced audio capability. Veteran digital photographer and author J. Dennis Thomas shows you how to capture everything from amazing still photos to cinematic-quality movies with the new 1080p HD video.
- Walks you through the essential controls, features, and functions using step-by-step instructions
- Features inspiring full-color photos as well as helpful full-color images of each menu screen
- Teaches you how to adjust white balance, autofocus, exposure, and choose various lenses and then goes on to explain when and why to adjust each of these settings
- Includes amazing examples and shares tips and tricks to capturing portraits, candids, sports, travel, macro photography, and more
- Serves as a refresher guide to the principles of digital photography by covering the essentials of lighting, composition, and exposure
- Includes a free gray/color checker card helps you achieve accurate white balance and color in all your photographs
If you’re ready to go beyond the basics with your Nikon D5100, then this book is just what you need in order to produce amazing photos.
From the Author: Uncommon Techniques to Add Interest
Barber Pole 
Praying Mantis 
Boston Terrier
There’s a common theme that runs through these three images, and that is that I used uncommon techniques to make them more interesting. Sometimes thinking outside of the box can add that something extra to your photos that makes people take notice.
In the first image with the barber pole that I shot on South Congress Avenue in Austin Texas, I mixed different shapes, leading lines going in multiple directions, and opposing colors to make an odd combination that adds a wacky element to the image, which makes it a little more intriguing. The image was shot with a Nikon 35mm f/1.4 lens with the camera settings of 1/2000 at f/1.4 and ISO 100.
The second image is a praying mantis that I found hanging around in a bush in my backyard. I used backlighting to silhouette the insect for an almost ominous effect that adds to the odd alien-like features of the mantis. In addition, I used a technique that’s very common in photography that is called framing. This is where you use elements from the scene to surround the main subject to make it stand out even more. Using the background foliage to create a dark frame around the background of the insect, which is extra bright, really draws attention to the main subject. For this shot, I used a Nikon 85mm f/3.5 VR macro lens with the camera settings of 1/160 @ f/18 and ISO 1600.
In this third image of a Boston Terrier named Clementine, I used a bit of backlighting, but the main technique is getting down and shooting from a low angle. Being bipedal and much taller than dogs, we humans tend to look down on them and when we take photographs, oftentimes we continue this trend. Looking up at a dog isn’t the norm so it adds something interesting to the photo. The Vari-angle LCD of the D5100 is a real help when framing shots like this! The other thing that I did to make the image more interesting was using wide-angle perspective distortion and an odd angle to add a little tension to the shot. This photo was taken with a Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 OS with the camera settings of 1/30 @ f/2.8 and ISO 400.
Keep your mind and eyes open, break some rules, and make your images a little off-kilter to keep things fresh!
From the Author: Top 5 accessories for the D5100
1. Nikon ME-1 Stereo Microphone: Although the inclusion of full-time AF on Nikon HDSLRs was a great feature, there was one very obvious problem, the on-camera mic picked up the noise of the lens autofocusing. The only way to combat this problem is to get the mic up and away from the lens. Nikon’s new ME-1 microphone mounts right in the hot-shoe and allows you to record video without the noise of the AF system working. Another big plus is that unlike the built-in mic, the ME-1 records in stereo!
2. SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-1: If you’re going to be shooting video or stills at a high burst rate, you need a fast card. This is the fastest SD card on the market. Available in 8, 16, or 32GB. Not only do these cards speed up your shooting process, they make downloading to your computer lightning fast as well.
3. NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G: This is by far the coolest lens to have in your bag. The fast aperture makes it awesome for shooting in low-light and great for artistic shallow depth of field shots. It weighs almost nothing making it a snap to carry, and the price is just the icing on the cake, at just around $200 there is no better lens you can get for the D5100.
4. Black Rapid RS-4 strap: In my opinion these are the only straps to have. The Black Rapid slings over your shoulder, letting the camera hang by your side. You can quickly grab it, slide it up the nylon strap and be ready to shoot in seconds. Unlike traditional straps, the camera weight isn’t on your neck, which can create tension headaches and neck strain. This is the slickest and most comfortable strap on the market.
5. Naneu Pro Military Ops Echo X camera bag: If you’re looking for a comfortable camera bag with easy access, look no further. This is a messenger style bag that allows you to slide it around and quickly grab your camera. The Echo X is styled so that it doesn’t look like a camera bag, which is perfect if you’re worried about being targeted by thieves. These bags are heavy duty and come with a lifetime warranty. The one time I had a problem with a Naneu Pro bag the quickly shipped me a replacement strap. A very stand-up company. They make a complete line of camera and laptop bags. Check them out.
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Example: Motocross Rider 
Example: Boston Terrier 
Example: Skateboarder
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In this almost surreal shot of a snail shell, the spiral draws your eye into the image. I purposely underexposed the shot to let the background go dark to further focus the eye on the center of the photograph.
In this photo of the Long Center for Performing Arts in Austin, Texas, the balustrade leads the eye up through the image while it and the columns make separations in the dark negative space.
The strong vertical pattern of these abandoned grain elevators creates a dynamic tension. Using the MC Picture Control and increasing the contrast serves to highlight the “lines within lines” of the texture of the concrete. Leaving the plants in the foreground adds a bit of an organic element to an otherwise harsh composition.
