Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Photography:Digital Camera Troubleshooting Guide

The following is a set of useful tips for troubleshooting your digital camera and/or an external flash unit you may have attached to it. First, look for the title which best describes the problem, then follow the steps below it...

POOR BUT RECOGNIZABLE PICTURE QUALITY

1. The batteries may need replacement. Some digital cameras continue to function when their battery power is low, but produce grainy photos with incorrect coloration. Make sure you aren't using Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries, which are generally not recommended for cameras.
2. For the best picture quality, make sure the camera is set to its highest resolution. This may have been adjusted by accident. The process for doing this varies greatly among different digital cameras. Keep in mind that fewer photos will fit in the camera's memory and it will probably take longer to transfer them to the computer, at a higher resolution.
3. Digital photography tends to be more prone to blurring (caused by slight movement of the camera while the photo is taken) than 35mm film, especially with very small or lightweight digital cameras. To remedy this, try using a tripod and/or the camera's timer, if it has one. Adjust the camera's shutter speed if possible.
4. If colors are too pale, using an image editing/viewing program (such as PictureWorks MediaCenter) to increase the Saturation level may be helpful. If the camera has produced colors which are entirely wrong (everything is in shades of black and purple, for example), you can turn the saturation all the way down so that it becomes a black & white photo.
5. The lens may need cleaning. Make sure you use a cleaning material which will not scratch the lens. If possible, refer to its manual for specific cleaning instructions.

CAMERA WILL NOT TRANSMIT IMAGES TO THE COMPUTER

1. Make sure the data transfer cable is securely connected to the computer and camera.
2. If the serial cable was connected to the computer while it was on, you may need to shut it down and turn it back on again. This does not apply to USB cables.
3. If you have the choice to use a serial cable or a USB cable, try switching to the cable type you haven't already tried. For example, I have an older digital camera which can use a USB cable in Windows 98, but only works with a serial cable in Windows XP.
4. Make sure the camera's auto power-off feature didn't turn it off before you tried to start downloading the photos. Most digital cameras will not activate this feature if they are connected with a USB cable, but some will when using a serial cable.
5. If possible, try using the digital camera with a different computer and/or a different camera with the same computer, to help determine which piece of equipment is problem's source.

THE CAMERA WILL NOT POWER ON AND/OR DOESN'T RESPOND

1. If it is attached to the computer with a cable, detach it and try turning it on again.
2. Try powering it through a USB cable or an AC adapter, if it has one. If this works, it probably needs new batteries, unless the battery compartment is corroded.
3. Replace the batteries. Try to avoid this if it has photos stored on it and is a camera which loses them when the batteries are removed. If the batteries were recently replaced, make sure they were inserted in the proper direction.
4. If the temperature is very hot or cold, try it in an area with a more normal temperature.
5. Some digital cameras have a feature which automatically turns them off after a second if the batteries are low. This allows them to retain enough power to store the photos and transfer them to the computer when necessary.

PHOTOS ARE SCRAMBLED OR AREN'T STORED ON THE CAMERA

1. On some digital cameras, photos currently stored on the camera may become scrambled or have multi-colored streaks across them if the batteries are replaced before they are downloaded.
2. Check the camera's LCD before taking each photo to make sure it has not run out of memory or activated its auto power-off feature.
3. Turn the camera off, power it on again, and try transferring the photographs again.

THE CAMERA'S EXTERNAL FLASH UNIT DOES NOT FIRE
1. Make sure the flash unit is correctly seated in the flash port (a.k.a. "hot shoe") or its sync cable is securely plugged into both the flash unit and the digital camera. Confirm that none of its settings have been accidentally adjusted (it might not fire if it is in "auto" or "computer" mode and it determines there is already enough lighting) and the batteries are fresh.
2. Press the flash unit's test button. Most flash units have one of these on back of them, below the other controls; it is usually a clear or red-colored button, occasionally having the "Ready" light built into it. If the flash fires, it is more likely to be a problem with the camera or the connection between the camera and flash.
3. Try testing the flash unit on a different camera to help determine the source of the problem. Basic 35mm cameras with "hot shoe" flash ports can be purchased rather inexpensively at eBay.com, thrift stores, and some yard sales. Some expensive model- or brand-specific flash units will not fit on these cameras, however.

If none of these steps solve the problem, there are a number of potential problems with the camera and/or computer which could be causing it; some possibilities include that the computer's serial or USB port card may not be properly installed, the camera driver or software might be incorrectly configured, the camera could be damaged, or the computer's operating system may be incompatible with the camera. While the problem could be expensive to fix, on the other hand it might still be as simple as changing a setting on the computer or camera. It is probably best to contact the digital camera manufacturer's technical support; check the camera itself, its instruction manual, the manufacturer's website, or the camera's original package for a telephone number.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

evening sunlight

DSC_9792-sunset 104

This photo is taken at the singapore lower peirce reservoir at the evening 7.pm to 7.30pm,i am using Nikon D70S camerawith 19-200mm Nikon lens to cupture this image.

Morning and Evening Sunlight-gohraymond (photographer)

This photo is taken at singapore garden,i am using Nikon Digital Camera D70S with Nikon 18-70mm lens to cupture,is the first time i buy my digital camera to test this photo,at early morning on december,gohraymond-photographer.

Fun,Morning and Evening Lighting Shots

Here’s a fun exercise; Take your camera (digital or conventional film) out to a place you like to photograph early in the morning just before the sun rises. continue taking photos of this site as the sun rises and casts its morning light! Notice the variations!
Now, use the same site, only take the pictures at sunset and continue until the sun is nearly gone! Again, notice the changes in lighting (colors, textures, and contrasts). This is a fun exercise and you will be surprised in the dynamic variations in lighting and contrast you will see from morning to night!
I recommend taking oh, say 200 or so photos for a good sampling of night and morning light. You may then wish to down load them into your favorite photo program for a few tweeks. I like using picasa and Corel Paint Shop Pro (includes RAW treatment capability). Corel allows numerous types of treatments including contrast, color, gamma, and many others. It’s fun just playing around within this program to see just what you can come up with! This program will also allow you to maximize your morning and evening lighting shots to achieve dynamic results.
These types of programs also allow filter adjustments that will change the mood and feel of your photography quite a bit! They will add a bit of pazaz to your morning and evening lighting subjects!
I also recommend that you take your telephoto and wide angle lenses along with you and your tripod for the opportunity to vary your lighting captures from a wide perspective to a zoomed in affect that can be quite nice! If your are lucky, you may capture a sun flair or a sunset behind a mountain or hill that is an all around eye catcher! Bringing your star filter, UV, polarizer, orange, smoke, sepia, and other filters can also add dynamic punch to your evening and morning lighting photos!
Printing those morning and evening lighting shots on your ink jet printer is now another adventure! Just think of all of those colors and hues that you can represent with your color printer!
Using photo inks, specialized papers (mats, rags, silks, and others) will also add another spectrum to your final product and can really punch it up! Bright yellows mixed with oranges and reds with a slight intermixing of pinks and white light really brings it all to life! This exercise can be a very rewarding experience and one worthy of doing! You’ll be surprised with the quality and overall rewarding experience this activity will bring you!
Fill up that camera bag with the goods and get ready for the night trek and early morning photo experiences to be had each and every day! Don’t forget your extra batteries and lens cleaners. Clear images are very rewarding; however, smudged and marked up images just don’t capture the moment!
Contributed by Dave Corn

Thursday, December 20, 2007

The Basics of Selling Prints Online

People who don't want to take traditional photographs often decide to instead take art shots. These images are very artistic and quite fulfilling for the photographer to take. Most assume that art photography is only a hobby, and for some, it probably is best for it to be just a hobby. But you can make a lot of money when you sell prints online. In this article, we'll be going over the very basics of selling art prints online - you'll learn why to sell art prints online and tips for how to do it best. Should I Sell Art Prints Online? The answer to this is an unquestionable yes! You should sell prints online. But it's not enough for us to just tell you to sell prints online, so we'll tell you the reasons for doing it. Reason #1: In Demand Those who are looking for art prints used to find them by going to galleries or other places. Nowadays, they go online. They'll go to stock art print websites and browse through the many listings of photos. For them, it's a highly convenient way of finding the prints they need for their magazines, books, articles etc. Because of how well-used the internet is, and because of the demand for art prints, prints are quite in demand on the internet. Reason #2: Exposure When you put something online, you are exposing it to millions of people. These people can then choose to ignore what you've put up, or they can take an interest in it. Online stock photography sites are frequented by people who are looking for good stock photography, including art prints. By choosing to sell prints online, you're opening your products up to a huge base of people - people who may just buy the prints, if they're impressed by them. This is the kind of exposure you could get on the TV or in newspapers, but instead of paying for advertising, all you need to do is get your art prints online on a reputable stock photography site. Reason #3: Convenience Going through the process of submitting art prints to regular stock photography companies can be a bit tiresome - not to mention, time-consuming. What happens if the prints are reject? Then you've wasted your time. Wasted time translates to lost money. You don't want to do that, particularly if you're trying to make a living as a photographer. If you sell art prints online, you'll go through a very quick submission process that doesn't take up a lot of time. Reason #4: More Money Online stock photography web sites tend to offer the best profits to those who sell their photos there. That's because of the competitiveness of the stock photography market. You literally cannot be cheated by an online web site when it comes to the amount of money you make from each purchase made by customers. You'll make more money than you would by using conventional methods. This is a great reason for why to sell art prints online. Tips to Sell Art Prints Online 1. Unique Art Prints Sell. Those who are using art photos for their books and magazines want something that is unique. They don't want something that can basically be found in a hundred other places. When you take art photos, make sure they are original and are not like any other photos. That way, you'll be able to successfully sell art prints online because they are unique and people will want to buy them. 2. Quality. A huge mistake among photographers who have just begun to sell art prints online is that their photos aren't of a high quality. We're not talking artistically, but rather resolution-wise. Photographers take art photos with a lower end camera and it shows in the photo. People who use these images for books demand a high quality image. You must deliver by using a good quality camera to take your images. 3. Directions. To make the photo submission process easy, most stock photography web sites have submission guidelines. If the guidelines aren't followed, photos won't be accepted, no matter how good they are. A very important thing for those who wish to sell art prints online to do is to simply follow the directions. This will make it much more likely that your photos get posted and earn you money. If you follow the above tips, you should have no trouble at all in becoming successful when you sell art prints online. Good luck!
Author Resource:- Ron McNeil promotes software to sell photos online and to start your own site to sell art prints online and run your own stock photography software site powered by Web Scribble software located at http://www.webscribble.com/products/webstore/
Article From Article Directory

Seleting Photos Of Golf Tournaments

A certain type of golfer might play professionally but still might need photos to reach a certain level of inspiration during a golf game. Golfers like Tiger Woods might get a certain inspiration to play golf better by glancing at photographs of his beautiful wife occasionally. When charging for the lead scoring position in a golf game though, Tiger Woods might just glance for a while at a photograph of his newborn child to get all the inspiration he needs to win another title. Some amateur golfers get their inspiration to play golf in the same manner. They might be totally inspired by the way Tiger Woods plays golf and will study videos and photographs to learn the right stance that worked for Tiger on the course just a few weeks before. They might be inspired by the brand of golfing equipment that any professional golfer uses during a tournament and will be motivated enough to purchase a set of clubs that match. Selecting certain photos of golf tournaments that are held throughout the year could inspire some amateur golfers to play an amazing game of golf on any morning. The photos that offer stellar views of fairways with galleries of spectators migrating from one hole to another might put them in a dream state for a while as they fantasize that the professional golfer in the photo is actually them in real life. Other aspiring golfers might just visit the clubhouse and take photos of the trophy cases. Some dreams that center on professional golfing goals are vividly colored and suitable for real life situations. These dreams of greatness will most certainly be captured in many photo opportunities that are spaced out along the golf tournament trail. Some fans might ask a professional golfer to pose for a photograph after they have sunk a birdie on a difficult round of golf. These professional photo opportunities might seem glorious at the time but will still not present any daydreamer with a check at the end of the tournament he is viewing. The pleasing applause offered by the crowds in the gallery at every golf hole will be the only form of realism that some new golfers might be exposed when they are following an idol around during the day. The photos that picture the fan with the golf pro are the photos that will serve as a support system for the amateur that will make his daydreams of becoming the king of golf seem real. Some fans get so inspired from these treasured photos that they will often practice more and see their golf score improve dramatically over the course of a few weeks. The victory photographs taken at the 18th hole or at the clubhouse might allow the amateur golfer to dream some more about how great they will play the game of golf one day. Photos that allow amateur golfers to dream will always be surrounded by helpful commentaries of sports writers that might contain useful hints and tricks that will help them improve their golf game. An avid golfer in training will take any type of information they are given and use it to improve their skills each week.
Author Resource:- James Brown writes about 3balls Golf discounts, FogDog Sports coupon code and Golf Outlets online coupons
Article From Article Directory

Monday, October 22, 2007

Five Tips for Candid Photography

Whatever your photographic genre of choice is, there is always admiration for candid photography. Candid photography is the art of catching people unawares in a photo. It doesn't have to mean capturing them during a slapstick moment of falling over in the snow or something like that, it just means capturing people at their most natural. There is always a place for a well composed photograph with time taken over how the subject poses and smiles for the camera. For me that can never beat the capture of people falling around laughing at a joke or marveling at a sporting event. Here are six tips to taking good candid photographs.
Plan For Spontaneity
This may sound like a contradiction but it is a good idea to plan for spontaneity. What I mean is, think about the event that you are photographing. If you are at a friends birthday party, think about where most of the guests will be during the party and think about where you as the photographer can stand to take photos without being noticed. A lot of people stand in kitchens at parties to get away from the music so they can talk and tell jokes. Think about where you could stand and capture moments of spontaneity from the guests without drawing the dreadful posed "say cheese" kind of photographs.
Take Lots Of Photographs
Digital cameras with big memory mean that you have the ability to take a large quantity of photographs at no real cost to you. This is perfect for taking candid shots. Take as many photos as you can from many different angles and from many different zoom settings. From this you greatly increase your chances of getting some real gems.
Human Interaction
Some of the best candid shots I have taken have been when people are interacting with each other. It might be an animated conversation about politics or discussion of a book they have read. It could be a couple of children laying with a toy. The point is, human interactions result in some of the most incredible photographs.
Never Leave Your Camera At Home
This is a simple tip but probably the most important one. How many times in the past have you been out and about and seen something where you suddenly say to yourself, "I wish I had my camera with me". I know this has happened to me so many times. You don't have to carry a big Canon Eos SLR with you all the time, just a good quality point and shoot digital camera will suffice for some good spontaneous shots. Don't forget to take some spare batteries with you though!
Stealth Mode With a Long Zoom
For the ultimate in stealthy candid photography, use a camera with a long lens and hide behind some nearby trees or bushes. Paparazzi photographers use this technique a lot to take photos of celebrities in candid moments. You can use this technique to capture candid shots of friends and family also though.
If you truly want a rewarding experience then I urge you to try candid photography.
For more great tips and free photography advice then head over to Photography Blog
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Murray

Successful Travel Photography-Do Your Homework

How many times have you come back from a trip disappointed with the images you’ve taken? How many times have you though to yourself “If only I’d been there an hour early. If only I’d known that event was on today”. While it is true that hindsight makes everyone smarter, and no one can control the weather, it is possible to maximize your chances of success just by doing a little homework.
Plan your tripThere is a major difference between planning to take photos on your travels, and traveling to take photos. This will be evident in the images you produce. Spend some time researching your destination and its photographic potential. Is it a place affected by the seasons? If so, when is the best time of year to go? How are you going to get there? What is the public transport like? Should you hire a car? Answering these questions can take you a long way to a successful shoot. For example, you may be grateful you decided to get that international drivers license once you get back and look through those beautiful sunset shots you took off a beaten track a few miles from town because you were able to hire a car and drive out there.
There are numerous resources available on the internet and in print, most of them free. An hour or so online can provide a wealth of information, not to mention inspiration. A pocket travel guide can also be an invaluable investment as a reference to have at your fingertips as you go.
Make a shoot listThink about the locations you want to shoot. Which landmarks do you want to visit? What time of day do they appeal to you? Are you interested in capturing your location’s architecture or its culture? Or both? Deciding all of this in advance can give you clear goals to aim for on your trip, rather that simply wandering the streets and shooting whatever you come across that you find appealing. This may prove successful but is more about luck than anything else.
Be flexibleWhat happens if you get there and the weather suddenly turns sour? Do you wait it out in your hotel room hoping it will pass before you are due to return home? What a waste of time that would be. If you are planning to travel somewhere that can be greatly affected by weather, you might want to think about how you can use this to your advantage. Some subjects can be greatly enhanced by sudden changes to the weather, or even just the threat of it. Imagine missing out on a sweeping panorama of a storm rising over the bay because you were sitting in a room cursing your bad luck.
It is possible for anyone to point a camera at a subject and take a picture. Not all can use that camera to tell a story or teach something to a viewer. Apart from technical skills and, to a much lesser extent, equipment, the difference comes down to planning. The most important factor in the success of your photographic journey is the goals you set for yourself and the steps you take in achieving them.
Mark Eden is a freelance photographer and the founder and director of Expanse Photography. A photographic services company offering fine art images as well as stock and assignment photography and a range of publishing and printing services. Mark can be contacted through the Expanse Photography website http://www.expansephotography.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Eden

Digital Wildlife Photography

Closeup digital nature photography or digital wildlife photography is very exciting. However, before going on a safari to practice your digital wildlife photography with your digital camera, you may want to begin at your nearest zoo. A zoo offers the easiest and least expensive way to photography exotic animals and so many wonders of nature as part of your digital wildlife photography venture. You can also learn some basic information about how animals act and react and how to take their snapshot or photography them before venturing into trying to photograph them in a less controlled environment. Consider it a good basic learning environment while going on a trip for digital wildlife photography..
Even in a zoo setting of taking digital wildlife photography, you will have to practice patience because animals don't pose when you want them too. you have to watch for the right moment and be ready because they won't hold the "pose" long. Below are tips you can follow in taking a close photographs or of the animals at the zoo which is also implies taking a digital wildlife photography..
Tips For Taking Digital Wildlife Photography (i.e taking photos at a zoo)
1. Be aware that flash and infrared light may disturb animals. Be sure to check with zoo personnel about that.
2. It may be difficult not to get cages and wires in the frame. If you are trying to get the look as if the animals were in a natural setting, you don't want cages and wires to show. Use your longest focal point lens very close to the wire, set the lens at its widest aperture.
3. When shooting through glass, stand at an angle to it. don't stand directly in front of it as the flash will bounce straight back at the camera.
4. Try to plan your trip to the zoo at a time when the least amount of visitors will be there so there will be less distraction for both you and the animal you are photographing.
You will definitely do great in taking digital wildlife photography if you and strictly adhere to the tips listed above while going on a tour for wildlife photography either at the zoo or some other game reserve centre....
I am a digital photography freelance writer, with 5 years working experience in photography industry. I have most of my ideas in photography published across the web so as to help the newbie in becoming expert in the digital photography arena or photography industry at large. "Did you find those information on " Digital Wildlife Photography" Useful? You can learn more about the "Digital Wildlife Photography" or for more information about "Digital Photography" visit http://www.digitalphotographix.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Lovejoy

Group and Portrait Photography-How to Set Up Groups

How to Set Up Groups
Arrive at the venue earlier than you need to be there and try to arrange your set along the following lines. You should already have enquired about the size of the group i.e. the number of individual members. For example a typical group at a Masonic Lodge would number approximately twenty-seven. Ideally a group of this size should be posed using two rows of chairs in the following manner.
Place a row of nine chairs in front, then place another row of nine chairs behind them with enough space between the two rows for a line of people to stand. The front row will sit on the chairs, the back row will stand on the chairs and the middle row will stand on the floor between the other two rows. The chairs at each side of centre should be angled slightly inward, so four chairs on left of the center chair in each row turned slightly in toward center and four chairs on right of center turned slightly in to center. This will give a nicer all round composition to the picture.
Well-composed and symmetrical looking pictures always sell more. People prefer them, even when they are not consciously aware why.
Check for Background Distractions
Now stand back and check through the lens, check for protruding or distracting background items. Be ruthless with this; clear the background of anything you suspect will look cluttered or intrusive. It is small checks like this that will improve the professionalism of your service. I have had to do some emergency work to omit fire extinguishers and fire exit signs from the background. You can often get round this by strategically placing people, or altering your angle of view.
Protocol Matters
Now check on protocol, for example certain people will sit at the front centre and certain others beside them. For example the pipe band drum major often likes to sit or stand in the centre. Get this part arranged first and then ask all others to place themselves on your prearranged chairs. The group members will know, but do remember to ask. I’ll now show you a way to save some valuable time, end up with a more marketable photograph, and lighten up the group ready for their shot! When you have arranged the group almost ready for the shot, ask each person to turn and inspect the one next to them for straight ties, dust on shoulder, squint badges and so on, have then preen each other and do your work for you.
This saves you the potential for embarrassment through asking someone to make what for them what may be quite personal adjustment. Much easier to get their friends to do the asking!
Final Checks
Now make the final small but important touches, check to make sure that someone who is really small has not ended up at the back and cannot be seen, sometimes you may want to give this direction at the beginning, I prefer to wait to see where people naturally gravitate to, because they often feel more comfortable in the photograph if they are standing in their spot of choice.
Consistency Sells
Aim for consistency. This tip will increase your sales. By this I mean check that all group members have their hands on laps in a similar fashion, check that they all have their feet in a similar stance and check that all jackets are either open on buttoned. Always remember this tip, composition, symmetry and consistency sell!
I hope this article will help you with setting up groups.
Bobby will help you improve your group, portrait and wedding photography. Bobby has been a photographer for over 25 years. He has an in depth knowledge of the subject, specialising in wedding photography. Access his site now for more information to help improve your group, portrait and wedding photography at http://www.photobiz4u.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bobby_Jonnes

How to Take Great Flower Photos

I know that many out there want to improve their photography in one aspect. Flower photography. With gardening as popular as it is this shouldn’t be a surprise. Flower photography while looking like one of the simplest forms of photography can quickly become one of the most difficult. Here are a few tips for you. (Keeping in mind that basic good photography skills are always used.)
Soft diffuse light. Today it’s very overcast outside, and if there were any flowers in bloom today would be the perfect day for capturing some great images. Soft diffuse light enhances color saturation, so if you wondered how or why pro photographers flower images seem so deep in color this is one of the reasons why. (There are exceptions to this rule. I do some flower photography is bright or dappled sunlight but I’m usually trying to get an effect of light passing through the petals.)
Slow film speed. 200 speed or less. The slower speed films have greater detail and for flowers you’re going to need to get close anyway and you want the nice sharp detail of a slower speed of film. I use 100 speed for my flower photography.
Tripod. Use one for this type of photography. Set up your shot, get everything in sharp focus, and then shoot. A tripod will keep your camera from moving on you and allow you to get the sharp detail you will need.
Look for great colors, a flower in full bloom next to a bud, and don’t shoot on windy days. Keep contrast and color in mind at all times and try different compositions each time you take a shot.
Flower photography can be a lot of fun especially if the flowers are your own.
If you have some specific questions please visit my Photography and Design Forum at: http://kellypaalphotography.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/index.php and post your question there.
About The AuthorCopyright 2005 Kelly Paal Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. She owns her own business Kelly Paal Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her web design.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Paal

Travel Photography-Some Basic Resources

I have been experimenting for a while now with travel photography, and every time I go away I take hundreds of pictures. The most I ever took on a trip were 900+ pictures on my trip last year to Spain! After that experience I realized that almost 1000 pictures was a bit much and it took me a very long time to sort out my images.
Since then I have become more discerning, and I no longer snap away at everything that moves (or everything that's stationary as well). But I still end up with a few hundred pictures after each and every one of my getaways. Fortunately, digital photography has made taking pictures easy, and the good thing is you can snap away and if you don't like the picture, you just erase it. (But make sure you don't erase the whole memory card, as my husband did after a fabulous first-time exploration of Paris....)
I am not much of a technical photographer (yet), I really rely very much on my camera's basic all-round settings. The only thing I have experimented with recently is macro (close-up) photography with the help of my brother-in-law. I try to follow some basic photography rules, such as getting closer to my subject, adding depth to landscape shots by placing people, trees or animals in the foreground, keeping the camera steady, or putting the sun behind me. Other than that I pretty much just try to frame the shot, pull the trigger and see what happens.
Last year I even tried to experiment using people as subjects for my photos. On the island of Ibiza I saw a really interesting family of Gypsies - 3 generations including grandmother, a young couple and their grandchild - and I asked in the politest Spanish that I could muster, whether I would be able to take a picture of them. What came next totally surprised me: the older woman started cursing me out and shook her fist at me. It took me a couple of seconds to realize she was serious, and ever since that time I have become quite shy when it comes to taking pictures of strangers.
That shouldn't deter you though. To help you improve your travel photography there are a large number of great resources on the web. Discussions cover topics such as whether to use regular film or digital photography, the types of subjects you can cover (animals, people, landscapes, architecture, plants, sports, aerial shots, underwater shots, etc.), techniques, techincal jargon and many more. In the end it doesn't much matter, as long as you get out there and have fun while you document your travel experiences.
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions(http://www.travelandtransitions.com). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews with travellers and travel experts, insights and reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and many other features. You will also find stories about life and the transitions that we face as we go through our own personal life-long journeys.
Submit your own travel stories in our first travel story contest(http://www.travelandtransitions.com/contests.htm) and have a chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on the Amazon River.
"Life is a Journey ­ Explore New Horizons".
The interview with photos is published at Travel and Transitions - Interviews
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susanne_Pacher

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Learn More About Digital Photography

Digital photography, as opposed to film photography, uses electronic devices to record and capture the image as binary data. It has opened up opportunities for amateurs to explore darkroom techniques which used to be reserved only for professionals with large amounts of money and experience. You are able to experiment with the camera settings, different styles of images can be tried out, and techniques improved all without the expense of film processing. Digital photography has also been adopted by many amateur snapshot photographers, who take advantage of the convenience in the form of sending images by email, placing them on the World Wide Web, or displaying them in digital picture frames.
Common Problems Associated With Photography:
Photography has long had its own language, and digital photography adds many new terms. Ever wonder what the difference was between a tripod and a monopod or just wondered what both of them do. Here are a few common terms and their meaning:
Image Sensors: Pixels and Image Sizes describe key concepts such as resolution, aspect ratio, and color depth that have a huge impact on your photographs.
Image longevity: Although digital image data does not degrade (film stock can fade), the media on which the digital images are stored can decay or become corrupt, leading to a loss of image integrity.
Image browser: An application that enables you to view digital photos.
Image editor: A computer program that enables you to adjust a photo to improve its appearance.
Digital manipulation: A digital image can be modified and manipulated much easier and faster than with traditional negative and print methods.
Say good bye to light problems:
Digital photography has made it possible to quickly and easily take a pair of images of low-light environments: one with flash to capture detail and one without flash to capture ambient illumination. Digital photography bypasses the physical world altogether and directly captures the light from a scene onto a light-sensitive chip and saves the image as a computer file.
Tools and Equipment
Camera equipment has made great strides over the past century in mimicking how the human eye perceives the three-dimensional world within a two-dimensional medium. Cameras with digital sensors that are smaller than the typical 35mm film size will have a smaller field or angle of view when used with a lens of the same focal length. Cameras with high mega pixel ratings take larger pictures with more detail. Cameras with a direct electronic camera-to-computer interface are preferable to those requiring the use of an external memory card.
Digital cameras now outsell film cameras and include features that are not found in film cameras such as the ability to shoot video and record audio. Digital cameras can be much smaller than film cameras of equivalent quality.
Junius Fullard is a dedicated entrepreneur that runs a site dedicated to Digital Photography http://www.jaysupdates.com/digitalphotography
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Junius_Fullard

How to Take Your Photographs To A New Level On A Budget?

Point and shoot digital cameras are great for the occasional family snapshot or the roadside landscape. But what if you want to expand your photographic horizons? Can your point and shoot digital camera expand with you ? No. These types of cameras can be very limiting if your desire is to reach new heights with your photography and expression. Point shoot digital cameras are difficult to impossible to shoot with selective focus, micro shots, and extreme telephoto photography (over 200mm).
So if you want to step out of that point and shoot digital camera but are having a hard justifying the cost to move up to a new digital SLR camera. Why not buy a used one? Getting good used camera equipment has been the cornerstone of success for many pro photographers who were starting out in the business.
Why a used digital SLR camera?
Well if you are like most people funds and budgets are limited. To maximize your investment in equipment buying a used digital slr camera is the way to go. Why a digital SLR camera rather than a point and shoot with a wide range fixed lenses? In buying a digital SLR you get flexibility and room to grow as you gain experience. One of the biggest advantages of most digital SLR cameras is that it lets you shoot your pictures in RAW format. This in invaluable when you are starting out and learning. Most of the major manufactures have stopped producing point and shoot cameras that can shoot in RAW format all together.
Who cares about shooting in RAW format I shoot in JPEGs?
In a nutshell image exposure control. Shooting your pictures in a RAW format produces a digital negative very much like a film negative. If you get the exposure wrong its OK, you can fix it on your computer using your RAW file with NO to very limited loss. RAW files give you at least 2 stops of exposure latitude, which is like shooting with C-41 film (Print Film) in the old days.
Buying a used digital SLR camera gives you the ability to change lenses and experiment with different lenses types, telephoto, Marco, and zoom lenses. This helps expand your creative possibilities. If your goals are to take your photography to the next level why not pick up a used digital slr camera? They are cheaper, sometimes 40% off the latest and greatest new models. Just look at EOS Canon 20D cameras they once retailed at $1400-$1500 dollars now you can pick one up for $400 to $500 dollars. This is a great way to break in at a lower cost, and advance your photographic skills.
Get the best deals on Used Digital SLR Cameras http://www.useddigitalslrcamera.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Karcich

Editing Photos for the Rest of Us

Before the digital age, photo editing was an arcane process, only performed by experts. It required exposure to chemicals, expert timing, and a lot of care. Now, however, you can use a computer program to easily produce effects that were a lot of work when 35mm film was the standard. There are a lot of different programs to choose from, for every price range and skill level. This article aims to talk about just a few.
In the arena of free photo imaging software, popular options are GIMP, Serif PhotoPlus, Paint.NET, Pixia, and ImageForge. All of these programs are available to the user legally and free of charge. However, some freeware programs are older or cut-down versions of software that's available for a price, so they may have limited functionality. Others are fully functional, and released under a GPL, or General Public License.
These programs, like GIMP, are volunteer-coded and supported, so there could be unexpected bugs or strange program behaviors. However, if you want a functional editor to help you modify and improve your digital images, but can't afford to buy a higher end program, these freeware programs are a great place to start.
In the arena of pay photo imaging software, there's a wide range – from programs meant to satisfy the home or occasional user, to high-end professional ones like Adobe Photoshop. At a retail price of $649, this is a bit pricier than most individuals can afford. However, Photoshop is well known for being the cutting edge of photo manipulation technology, so if you need its functions, it's worth the cost.
For the rest of us, there are programs like Photoshop Elements, the scaled down version of Adobe's premier photoeditor, which retails at a much more affordable $99, PhotoImpact, Digital Image Suite, PhotoPlus, Paintshop Pro, and Picture It! Ranging between around $20 and around $100, all these programs offer digital camera support, can import images from a scanner, and feature important tools. You can use photo imaging software to crop, resize, and rotate your photos, remove red eye, correct over exposure and under exposure, changing lighting and coloration, and even remove or add elements.
There's a photo imaging program for every user. Whether you're a professional who needs to work on photos and other images on a daily basis, or just a home user with some snapshots that need work, you'll have no problem accomplishing what you set out to do. Today, it seems inconceivable that photo imaging used to require so much expertise and so many chemicals. Now, simple photo manipulation is available with just the click of your mouse.
Learn how to easily or more elaborately edit your favorite photos at: http://www.photoeditingsoftwaretips.com Photo Editing Software
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rita_Lambros-Segur

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Start Your Own Photography Business From Home

Anyone with the right camera equipment, and the necessary skills can set up a home business, marketing photography. You need only to convert a room of your house into an office, and then you can work immediately.
With modern technology in the form of SLR digital cameras, you do not even need the room for a dark room. You need only to have a personal computer and a photo-editing program. The standard is Adobe Photoshop.
It is not necessary to clutter yourself with equipment you do not need. You can hire equipment on and when you need it basis. You have the freedom to work part time for a while until you can devote yourself full time to photography. All you need to be is a serious photographer. There are two types of photographers that makes their living from photography, the serious photographer and the very serious photographer. You can always bookmark this link and then you can quickly access just about all you'll ever need from here.
Whilst the technical skills needed to make a successful photographer have never been easier, other aspects have changed the business. The market for photographs of virtually every type has widened, the world seems to have an insatiable appetite for photographs. However the price has fallen as the marketing net has broadened. Photographers are needed in many more fields. For instance many people use car web sites, they simply did not exist ten years ago, and they sell their products as a result of photography. Cameras used by scuba diver’s are now an excellent quality, and whilst they are initially expensive, they have forged a new market. People celebrate special occasions more with photography, than they did years ago. The travel and advertising markets have a greater need for landscape, travel and nature shots.
It is now easier than ever to turn your dream into reality and create a worthwhile business out of an engrossing hobby. However in today’s modern world there is more to it than simply pointing a camera, and shooting a picture. You need to be aware of marketing techniques, and here marketing simply means transferring ownership of a product, in this case an image from a buyer to seller. You also need to be aware of any local gaps in the market in your local area. You should also try to be on top of your competitor’s prices, to undercut an existing photographer is one choice, but to neglect to value your skills and not charge enough to cover your overheads is another matter entirely. Remember this, its an important point.
Use your skills to the best advantage of the business and define what you want from it. Writing a business plan helps to keep you focused on the areas you specifically want to exploit. A business plan helps you to define your goals and strategies, it will be changed and updated, but it will help you, to keep things in perspective. You can then refer back to it when things become confusing or complicated. Everyone’s business plan will be different, as every objective will be different, but there are certain common factors that make up a good business plan which will help your business grow. It allows you to develop a professional attitude to your business, which not only helps you to increase your earnings, but also help you to finance your business.
For the photographer it should include, your business name, or your own, with full details of the proposed location of the business, a copy of your logo, as well as details of your copyright notices. What is the form of your proposed business (sole ownership, partnership, Limited Liability Company or Corporation). This should be followed by a table of contents, which focuses on a logical order. There are resources that will give you further details on such as profitable-photography.com
Included after this should be the type of business you intend to pursue, in a fair amount of detail, and it should contain the services you intend to offer. This section should include any future gaols or avenues you would like to explore, stating your clear objectives. This is so you can check at a later date whether your objectives are on course, or if you have got sidetracked.
If you envisage at any time you may need financial help, then you should include your personal business history.
You should also state a clear and concise marketing plan that should demonstrate how your business will differentiate from the businesses of your competitors. You should be able to establish whom your customers will be, as well as where your market will be, as in wholesale or retail or a combination of both. You should also be able to determine how long this type of market will be available to yourself.
The next section should clearly define your opposition, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. This should include the ways you may be able to exploit any gaps in the market in the specific area where you live. A section should follow this on how you intend to market and promote your individual services.
A financial segment should be included as to how you intend to manage the day-to-day bills of the business. How you intend to price your services, and what factors influence this pricing structure, which includes a section on your competitor’s financial structures. This means a fair amount of detective work as well as homework. Get your friends to ask from quotes from the local competition. Or try an even more direct approach, tell your competitor’s that you intend to start a new business, and that you do not want to undercut them, as this reduces the cake for everyone. They may well offer to help you construct a pricing structure that ensures everyone’s livelihood. It is in their interests to help. Not everyone will be cooperative, but it may mean you can get a truer picture of the market factors that govern your area.
Make a list of all the equipment you will need in your first year, as well as how and where you intend to purchase. Note any difficulties that may arise in obtaining your supplies. Note whether the prices of your supplies have a seasonal fluctuation, that may help you influence you when to buy. You should make a note of any local licenses that will be necessary, as well as any zoning restrictions, that may restrict the growth of your business. Your neighbours may not be thrilled at a procession of customer’s to your door, check whether they can restrict your services. Make a study of all your business insurance requirements.
The final segment should be devoted to how you intend to finance the growth of your business, as well as isolating what your financial needs will be. This should include a projection on your future earnings, as well as an accurate assessment of your outgoings’. This should be assessed on a monthly basis for the first year, and on an annual basis for the following three years. An important aspect of the financial statement is an assessment of the break-even point of your business, in other words the minimum you will have to take to pay your expenses.
The purpose of this documentation is to allow you to enunciate what the core elements of your business will be, in doing this it should help you to be able to quickly evaluate the success of your business objectives. If you are not clear on your objectives then you cannot possibly make a plan to bring about the success of those objectives.
Supplied courtesy of Roy Barker. Supplied courtesy of Roy Barker. Roy has supplied 30 tips for a successful photography business here . Of course, if you just want the focused nitty gritty but you want to ensure that your new photography business is going to be profitable first time round, then you should read Roy's guide - starting a profitable photography business. If you're just simply researching photography tips and forums try http://www.photography-business-tips.com .
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Barker

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Manipulating Your Images

Browsing through envelopes of prints fresh from the drug store and then tossing them into a picture drawing is not going to work anymore, thank heavens. As you begin to develop a strategy for culling, editing, storing, organizing and most importantly enjoying the mountain of images you will soon face, keep in mind that the goal is to end up with an effective retrieval system, not just a storage system. Never, ever edit your original images. Always work on copies. Archive the originals for safe keeping in their original format. Absolutely nothings gained by converting camera-fresh JPEGs to a lossless format until you begin editing them. Most digital photographs deserve at least a trial pass through your photo editors auto-balance, instant fix or general enhancement feature. If you are new to post-processing, you can begin to get a feel for what works and what does not by noting what adjustments your auto-balance made to the good, the bad and the ugly results. Even a suboptimal auto-balance result can be a good starting point for your manual adjustments. Most digital cameras come with computer software to edit and to organize your images. These programs will assist you in correcting and manipulating the brightness, sharpness and color of your photos. The possibilities for image editing and manipulation are limitless once you become acquainted with the program. With your software, you can crop the photos to remove unnecessary background images and focus on the subject of the picture itself. You can also adjust the contrast, brightness, and colors to make the photo more eye-catching and appealing. Removing red eye is also possible with these programs. Plus, you can enlarge or reduce your photos at the touch of a button. If your camera did not come with a program, you will have to go buy one. We recommend Photoshop. Its the most widely used program out there and provides you with lots of options when working with your pictures. Many experts say that you really should not stick to only the software that came with your camera. When there are so many different software programs out there, you owe it to yourself to play around with them and find one that will give you the effects you are looking for. What specifically are we talking about? Well, the photo imaging software can help you make your pictures look wonderful and you will be proud to share them with friends and family! Consider the following: First, cameras do not take square pictures, they take rectangular pictures. If you forgot to rotate the camera before snapping, its alright. Rotate the picture to the left or right by a 90 degree angle. In the rush to take a picture, getting the camera perfectly level is not always possible. That adds up to a photo where the horizon is slightly askew. What you need in this case is to rotate the picture a degree at a time. This feature is probably somewhere in the Edit or Image menus. Look for an option to rotate the picture and enter a small value like 1 degree to the left or the right depending on which way you need to adjust. We did say that cropping is a huge benefit with image software. When you took the picture of your daughter on the swing, once you view it on your computer, you realize that you did not zoom enough and theres more trees in the picture than your daughter. Use the image editors cropping tool to cut away the unwanted part of the picture and isolate the subject. In most programs, this tool is in the Tool menu and it might look like a picture frame. You will click on the image (after clicking on the Crop icon) and hold your cursor down as you draw inside the picture to get rid of the background and leave the subject intact. If your photo is too dark, you can adjust the brightness to give it some life. Try using your image editors gamma control. This is a tool that is designed to brighten the darkest parts of the picture without over-exposing the parts that are already bright. You can usually find the gamma control in menus like Color or Image. Using your cameras flash can sometimes cause dreaded red eye in your pictures. Many programs today have a one click correct of red eye. Look for red eye removal somewhere in the Effects menu. If your program does not have this feature, try zooming in on the subjects face and using a coloring feature to match the color of their eyes. When you zoom back out, you probably will not be able to tell the difference - unless you painted brown eyed Suzy,s eyes blue! You can also use image editing programs to add a caption to your photos. This is helpful if you want to identify the people in the picture, the location, or the date. Look for a text tool, which is often the letter A. When choosing a font, choose a fat one because skinny ones are often hard to read in a digital picture. If you want to e-mail photos to someone, be considerate to the recipient by resizing it. If you attach a bunch of huge 3mp images to an e-mail message, you can bog down their inbox with a huge file. The message will take forever to send and receive. The image editor will allow you to resize the picture - usually under the Image menu. 640 x 480 pixels is good for e-mailing. If your digital camera takes pictures at this size, you will not have to resize. Keep in mind too that some programs will automatically resize pictures that are being e-mailed - like Windows XP. Most of your picture files are given a default name containing strange numbers and symbols. Rename your files when you go to save them so that they are easily identifiable. Renaming will also help you avoid over-writing any files when you download more pictures. There are also some fun effects that can be found in software programs to make your photos more interesting. To add some spark to your digital photos, you may want to consider adding a stylistic border or edge around the photo. Instead of the traditional rectangular photo, artistic edges can make your pictures stand out from the rest. While many effects can be done with a lot of work with your digital photo editing software, some software packages can automate this process. Play around with blurring and layering. The best part about working with imaging software is that theres always an Undo button if you do not like what you see. Clicking on Undo will take your picture back to where you were before you started editing. Remember, though, we very strongly suggest that you manipulate only copies of your pictures instead of the originals. You do not want to take the chance of ruining the one copy you have of a cherished moment. You can also use this software to make a picture look old. How do you do that? Here is a step by step process: 1. Find a photo that works. Do not take a photo of your family next to a modern skyscraper. Great effects can be created with photos of country landscapes or of historical structures, such as cannons or log cabins. 2. Give your colors a brownish tint. If you have a color balance tool, you can do this by turning your reds and yellows up at the expense of blues. Or, if your image software supports duotone, give your image a brownish tone. 3. Reduce your images brightness and/or intensity. You want your photograph old and weathered and such images should not look bright and sunny. 4. Choose an Add Noise filter, if you have one, to your image. Most software programs should have this option. 5. Use your photo softwares Dust and Scratch tool, if applicable. 6. For a truly weathered look, see if your photo software has a rain, snow, or fog filter. Apply a few touches to the photograph to make it seem like it has seen better days. In fact, digital photography opens up a whole new world for your memory preservation. Consider scrapbooking to save your photos.
Author Resource:- For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website bestcamerabargains.com
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Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Aerial Photography-A Great Perspective

I have been interested in photography for as long as I can remember. And have experimented with many different forms. Among my favorites are photographs that I have taken from a unique perspective such as a single engine airplane or glider. These are among my most fascinating accomplishments in the field of photography. And I have learned that aerial photography can lend some assistance to your personal creativity. History Aerial photography is defined as the taking of photographs from the air with a camera mounted or hand held on an aircraft, helicopter, spacecraft, balloon, rocket, kite, skydiver or similar airborne vehicle. Aerial photography is an important artistic and commercial skill, which was first developed by a French airman by the name of Felix Nadar who took his first aerial photos from a hot air balloon 1858. This new technology was first used extensively during World War I where in 1918 units in France took as many as 10,000 photos per night during peak activity. Throughout World War II aerial photos where used extensively for military operations to spy on the enemy and assess their installations and ground fighting capabilities. These photographs provided updated and realistic impressions of the topography as well as troop movement on the ground and potential targets. Once an attack against the enemy was complete aerial reconnaissance photographs were used to assess damage and to form an opinion as to success of the mission. In 1957, aerial photography reached new heights with the Russian's first satellite launch of the Sputnik. This was the beginning of satellite imagery. Then in 1972, with the first launch of Landsat satellites by NASA satellite imagery was sold commercially for the first time. Today's Uses There are many potential commercial and non-commercial uses for photographs taken from above. Today they are used for developing topographic maps, planning land use, archeology, production of movies, espionage, environmental and weather studies, commercial color advertising for magazines, billboards, posters and postcards, hobbies, and many other fields. The use of technology has also crawled into this field of photography. Advances in radio control technology have allowed for the use of aircraft models which are controlled from the ground to conduct low-altitude photography. This solution is primarily used for advertising and in the real estate industry to address safety regulations that prohibit manned aircraft from flying at low altitudes over populated areas. These radio-controlled aircraft work well in this environment and offer a low cost solution to the photographer. Public Domain Aerial photographs are considered public domain because the pictures are taken from aerial views which are considered public places. As a result you will find that there are many ways to view aerial photographs on-line. One of the most popular today can be found at Google Earth, which provides satellite imagery as well as aerial photos of the planet. You can actually use the service to search for places in a given area such as parks, restaurants, schools and hotels. It can also be used to identify the best routes for reaching a given destination. You can also view the aerial photographs from different angles by tilting and rotating them on screen. If you are interested in learning more about this topic you can browse through some basic materials at your local library or use the internet, which offers a wealth of information on the history, benefits and commercial service providers. Additionally, if you are just starting out or wish to expand your hobbies as a photographer just stop by your local community airport. There you will find a number of flight schools and other flight services where for a reasonably small investment you can enjoy a one hour flight and add many interesting photos to your portfolio. To Your Success as an Aerial Photographer!
Author Resource:- Did you know that you can continue learning about Photography for Free? Find out exactly how easy it is to improve your skills and knowledge and continue your photographic education at: Photography - For the Average Guy!
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Friday, August 31, 2007

travel photography

Summer time is the perfect time for snap happy people, and for anyone heading to an exotic destination for a well deserved break. Tourists all over the world capture priceless memories forever and their top-quality images are then stored away never to be seen by anyone. Travel photography is a great hobby for any holiday goer, and with a few helpful tips you can bring home some great images that you can enjoy forever. If your images are better then normal you may be able to make some cash from them. The key to travel photography is to make your images appealing to a wider audience than normal. You want to capture the mood and culture of a new place. You need to be able to sell a holiday through a photo. Tips on what to photograph when travelling: Taking landscape images in a far-off land can be tricky. The light conditions may be very different from what you are used to. Exposure may also be very tricky to calculate. If you are in doubt, bracket your shots to ensure that you will get the perfect image. Travel photographers should start their day as the sun is rising. This is the best time to capture mood in a landscape image. Night time urban landscape pictures will always make an interesting shot when exposed correctly. Use a tripod to ensure that your image is sharp. Food shots can be very memorable, try to include the waiter or anything that you normally don’t see at home. The interior and the exterior of restaurants can also be photographed. Take pictures of local signs, buildings and famous landmarks. Be very careful with the position of the sun. Try taking images when the sun is to your side. This will cast long shadows along the front of the building. Use a polarising filter to cut out any glare from the glass in buildings. Photograph the people. Travel companies are always seeking interesting people images. Photograph people eating food - people working - children playing - local police, fire fighters and any other service people in the area. Make sure that they are doing something interesting. Visit local markets. This can make very interesting photography. Take plenty of images of the local stalls and the sellers. Take pictures of the different foods and anything else that you think may be unusual. Travel photography may also be an immense financial trip for the professional photographer. Photo publishers are always seeking new material and are always on the look out for new talent. When you return home with your images make a copy of each. Label each image with a brief caption. Its best to do this straight away when the holiday is fresh in your head. Any holiday goer with the ability to use their lens correctly has the potential to sell their images. All you need to know is what makes a good travel image. You don’t need to be a top class photographer to profit from taking pictures of far-off places.
Author Resource:- TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape and nature photographer. To find out more photography information you can visit the Goldprints.com photography directory To view his images visit his on-line gallery of flower pictures

how to photography

Most people have embraced digital photography with enthusiasm. The lower cost of printing and storage is a big factor in the popularity of digital photography, especially for amateurs. With digital photography you don't have to pay for the printing of a snapshot that has turned out awful. You can view the shot as soon as you've taken it and if it's not up to scratch, delete it from the memory card with a simple click. If you want to wait and look at it on your computer or on the printout machine in the store, you can do that too. The low cost of taking a photo means that you can practice more and hone your skills without spending lots of money. The LCD window is there for checking the quality. You can take lots of photos before your memory card is full too. No counting to thirty or so photos and then having to change the film. What if you forgot to buy an extra one? You can easily miss that great snapshot just because your camera ran out of film. With a traditional film camera, you have to take the shot without knowing just how it will turn out. You send the film away to be developed and have to wait a week to get it back, depending on where you live. You have to pay for the whole film, no matter whether you've cut Uncle Joe's head off, or one of the kids decided to poke out their tongue just as you clicked. The storage capacity of your computer is almost unlimited. You don't have to have a cupboard full of photo albums (or cardboard boxes full of old photos) that you never get around to updating. It can all go on the computer, and then be copied to a CD-R to back it up or take it with you. With a digital photo, you can crop out that stranger's head or the rusty drum you didn't notice. You can change the color from cold to warm and do all sorts of other fancy stuff to improve that snapshot you want to keep but is not perfect. Another great thing about digital photography is the position. You can hold the camera at almost any angle to take a shot. With a traditional camera, you might have to lie on the ground to get the right focus for some difficult shots. And what happens if you've bought film suited for bright sun and it rains nearly all the time on your holiday? Wasted film equals wasted money. You can get distant shots and close up shots, shots on dull days or bright sunny days without changing the film or the setting if you use the auto feature. Of course, this doesn't mean that there is now no use for the traditional film. Many professional photographers need to keep using their expensive film cameras for the types of shots they need to take. But technology will soon catch up to them, too. Digital cameras don't last as long as traditional ones do, but they are a lot of fun for the amateur.
Author Resource:- Saleem Rana would love to share his inspiring ideas. You can get more information on how to photography here and take excellent pictures here: http://www.theempoweredsoul.com/photography.html How To Photography

the digital photography consideration for you

By using digital photography, even the novice photographer has the capability to produce professional quality pictures at a fraction of the cost. Photography has been around for a long time, and people have always wanted their memories captured to last for generations. By using digital photography, the photography community has opened up the doors for photo sharing in every technological form if one has the right equipment. The first thing that a person must invest in when thinking of using digital photography is the right camera. In order to understand what constitutes the right camera for someone, a person must understand how exactly the digital camera works. A digital camera works is by using an electronic device to store and capture an image into binary data. In other words, the picture is turned into a form of information that can be understood by a computer's electronic brain. This allows the pictures to be uploaded onto a computer for the purpose of sharing. Conversion also allows the camera to automatically allow the user to see and or delete the image as necessary. Unlike film cameras, digital cameras have a unique capability to allow someone to get just the right shot. No more closed eyes or open mouths to deal with. When thinking of choosing a digital photography camera, a person must think about just how much information they will store. Will they be an avid photographer that takes a ton of pictures? Or will their digital photography experience be limited to just a few pictures every now and then to capture those extra special moments? The special units that house the pictures can range from holding a few pictures to many. The space used will depend on what type of camera will be used. A digital photography camera is a tricky choice for some. Many people are more concerned with price than they are with how much memory the camera will have. The cameras range in price from a hundred dollars all the way to thousands of dollars. Depending on what is needed, the choice can seem overwhelming. One photography site that can help determine just what is right is Shortcourses. This site helps the consumer decide from the four major types of cameras as to which one fits their lifestyle. Digital photography is a great way to capture the images of an individual that will be seen for generations to come. By using digital photography instead of regular film, those memories will be perfect the first time. The choices of cameras are endless, and with the help of the internet, a person can make sure and choose the right camera that best fits their lifestyle and price range.
Author Resource:- The art of digital photography brings great memories to anyone. Browse to Mike Selvon portal to find out more about digital photography choices. We greatly appreciate your feedback at our photography blog.
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Wednesday, August 8, 2007

How To Take Beautiful Portraits

Tips On How To Take Beautiful Portraits
The definition of a portrait is a formally posed picture. Outdoor portraits are often posed against relevant or beautiful backgrounds, and are known as "location portraits." Fine indoor portraits can easily be made by window light. Flash can be added to fill dark shadows in portraits, but if flash is used as the main light source, it should be off-camera and diffused by a bounce card for best results.Choose a fine-grain film for almost all formal portraits. Overexpose by about V2 f/stop to minimize skin flaws. Use at least an 80mm lens or zoom setting for closeups of heads, because shorter focal lengths tend to exaggerate the size of noses. 28mm or 35mm lenses or zoom settings work well for location portraits showing, say, a landscape in the background.The aim of most portraits is to capture a flattering likeness, plus show something of a personality on film. Some portraitists have a strong personal style while others are unobtrusive. The best way to relax anyone and get spontaneous expressions is to talk about whatever you can bring up that interests your subject. During the course of a session, there may come moments when silence is appropriate, but, in general, don't ever let people stiffen up and start worrying about their appearance in front of the camera. Talking is good; having music in the background is relaxing, too.Soft lighting works great for most portraits. A carefully angled reflector may be helpful to "fill" (lighten) the shadows on the dark side of a window light or outdoor portrait.With 35mm cameras, single portraits call for vertical compositions. Suggest and shoot several different poses - some with the subject's eyes looking into the lens, and some with the eyes looking slightly right or left.Everyone can be made to look interesting in a portrait. Do this by angling the subject so the existing or added lighting is flattering, and by keeping your finger on the shutter release so you can capture fleeting animated expressions.Some helpful tips: Pose a big person with his or her left shoulder turned away from the camera, but with the head facing the camera in order to create a slimming effect. If someone has a big nose, photograph him looking straight at you. If he has big ears, shoot a three-quarter profile view. Aiming slightly down on everyone except bald men is flattering.For someone who is truly a model type, photograph the person from all possible angles. Some of those pictures should be good for exhibit or your portfolio. Take plenty of pictures in any portrait session. Shots that were made near the end of a shoot are usually the best because, by then, both you and the subject are warmed up and relaxed. You will soon learn to sense when you have caught what you want in the camera.Whenever you are shooting formal portraits, it is best to mount your camera on a tripod. With a tripod, you can preselect and compose backgrounds in advance. A tripod also helps hold your focus, eliminates blur caused by camera shake in low light and windowlit situations, and frees you to concentrate on nuances of expression. In addition, using a tripod leaves you free during the shoot to talk to your subject(s) and put them at ease.
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How To Take Family Pictures Professionally

How To Take Family Pictures Professionally
Everyone makes snapshots of family members and close friends, but the problem is making "real" photographs of them. Sometimes it's easy to make the transition to serious photography using your friends and family as models; sometimes it's not. Advantages are that they are close and frequently available, so you can photograph them over and over, and at least sometimes get them to reveal their personalities to the camera.Some disadvantages are that, at the beginning anyway, your family may not consider your photography important. You can win them over by giving them copies of your best pictures. Another problem is that family members become over-photographed and camera-shy. Don't press too hard for pictures.In addition, you must deal with people's feelings about how they look, which may or may not be realistic. For example, my sister, who was a good looking woman, complained that my pictures of her made her look like an old turtle. The problem, of course, was that she didn't like being old and had really nothing to do with the picture itself.The best way of photographing parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even family pets is to keep your camera close at hand. You must be persistent, and be just as polite to them as you would be to strangers. As with strangers, approach family members only when they are in a receptive mood. Then, clearly explain what you are trying to achieve, and why it may take several rolls of film to get there. When you are finished, make sure that you thank your "models" formally, of course. Show them their flattering pictures later, and give them prints or enlargements as thank-you gifts.Examples of great opportunities for family group pictures are at weddings, birthdays, graduations, name-giving ceremonies, showers, holidays, and family reunions. Try to scout out in advance the place you want people to gather. Place senior members of the family (or the bridal couple, the birthday boy, etc.) up front and center, filling the frame, with everyone else arranged as interestingly as possible. Check the viewfinder carefully to make sure that everyone is included. Ask everyone to look at the lens when you shoot. Take several pictures of any big group; you should do this quickly so people don't freeze up. If you use the flash, minimize hard shadows by posing people away from walls, and using a bounce card or dome over the flash head.For outdoor settings, choose a shaded location for group wedding and reunion pictures. Steps are great for posing a large family. Since almost everyone treasures family group photos, you should have no problem setting up these shots.If you mount your best family prints in a good album, over the years it will become a valued heirloom.
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10 Advantages Of Using Digital Photography

10 Advantages Of Using Digital Photography
Digital cameras are everywhere. Store shelves are lined with them, and Sunday newspaper circulars are filled with advertisements for them. But why buy one? Well of course if you are perfectly and completely happy taking pictures with your film camera, then don't buy a digital camera. But remember, you have to finish the whole roll, bring the film to the processor, and wait for the prints to come back, just to find out everyone in the "once-in-a-lifetime picture" had their eyes closed. Let's also not forget that you have to pay for the processing and buy film. Oh, by the way, you had better buy a few extra rolls, some for indoors and some for outdoors.So what are the advantages of digital?1. No more film! That's right, you'll never need to buy film again. Using a digital camera means that you can take pictures without paying for film or wondering which type of film to buy.2. If you are careful with your storage, you will also never run out of film. The PCMCIA storage cards, which slip into the side of your camera, can hold up to 80 images. With a few of these in your camera bag, you can go on taking pictures for days. There's nothing like that special feeling you get when you run out of film while on vacation!)3. No more processing costs. No matter how you get your film processed, itgets to be expensive. You can't get around paying for processing unless you aretaking digital photos, and you'll never have to decide about matte or glossyprints again.4. You get to see your pictures immediately. Digital photography enables you to see your photos instantly; no more waiting for your film to return from the lab. Many cameras have LCD preview screens, so you can see the image instantly, or you can download your images to your computer as soon as you take them.5. You can instantly re-shoot your pictures. If somebody walked into your carefully composed shot or if the baby's eyes were closed when the shutter snapped, you'll know it immediately. You can simply retake the image. (On the flip side, you can also preview all the poses you just took and delete the ones you don't like.)6. You have more control. If you couldn't get close enough to your subject or the camera wasn't level when you took the picture, have no fear - you can fix it! You can easily crop or rotate your picture; remove spots; fix color; and lighten, darken, blur, or sharpen your images. With a little skill, you can even add people into the family photo even though they were not t here. Try that with a drugstore print!7. Get out of that dark room! For those of you who spent hours splashing about in your darkroom to produce only a few prints, you are free. You can set up your computer in the light of day and image edit all you want. Just imagine - you can be social and manipulate images at the same time. You can see and be seen by your family and friends. If you have special talents, you can even work on your computer and watch the football game simultaneously!8. Everyone can see it. With the advent of email and modems, you can easily send a photo of a newborn to distant relatives or post it on your Web site. You no longer need to take the time or spend the cash to make multiple copies of an image and distribute them.9. It will last forever. Negatives and prints fade. They are subject to ultraviolet light, humidity and grubby fingers. Digital images, however, will last forever if carefully stored. And if your printout of the image gets damaged or you want to make a duplicate, all you need to do is pull up the file and reprint it. Your only cost is a sheet of paper.10. Digital photography is environmentally sound. There are no processing chemicals to wash down our sewers, and the massive amounts of water and electricity used to process film are no longer needed. Plus, you won't need to worry about recycling those little plastic film containers.
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Tuesday, August 7, 2007

national day celebration

the group of performance capture with ths nice look photo taking the end of celebration 0f 42nd national day dinner at the braddell heignt's,thank for all helper and good perform.

national day celebration


braddell height's celebration 42nd national day celebration on 4 Aug 2007,i am the person to incharge for this even to be the official photographer,i like the Nikon camera and lens,they give me a good photo turn out,i like it,how about you.

national day celebration

what will you thing about this photo,i can cupture this image using the same Nikon 70S camera with 18-200mm lens,thisis the good lens for event photo shots,i am used the number of time,please give me some comment.

national day celebration


the 2nd shot with the performance,celebration for 42nd national day dinner,at the braddell height's,i am using the same Nikon camera fot this image.

national day celebration

during the national day celebration i am the official photography to incharge this even,i am using the Nikon camrea with 18-200mm lens to get this image ,the person jump up at the stage,
any comment,please let me know.

singapore river


i am capture this photo during evening time,i having the rest for the other assignment ,i am using the nikon camera to have this image.

braddell height"s celebration 42nd national day dinner on 4 aug 2007,i am using the Nikon 70S camerawith 18-200mm lens to capture this image,what will you thing,can give me some comment,thank you.

Thursday, March 15, 2007