Wall Art For Sports Fans: Sports Photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

A common technique that experts recommend for relaxation is visualization. The idea is that you close your eyes and imagine yourself in your favorite calming place. For many people this might be a beach or a mountaintop. For sports fans, one of their favorite places is likely the arena or stadium their team calls home. Stadiums and ballparks around the country have become architectural icons in their own right. What could be better than waking up each morning to a panoramic view of a legend like Boston?s Fenway Park, or relative newcomer, Camden Yards in Baltimore?

Giant prints aren?t limited to baseball stadiums. Sports fans can find landscape panoramas of NASCAR venues, NFL stadiums, NBA arenas, NHL rinks, and even college sites like Clemson University?s famed ?Death Valley,? also known as Clemson Memorial Stadium. You can also find aerial views taken from blimps or high in the rafters at arenas. Prints like these can give you an everyday view of these landmarks, or commemorate a special occasion, like the opening day at a new stadium, the first game under the lights at Wrigley Field, or the celebration after a Super Bowl, World Series, or Stanley Cup win.

Speaking of commemorating great events, some fans have not only a favorite team, but favorite player as well. You can find prints that preserve wins, personal victories, and record breaking achievements. How about Michael Jordan after leading the Chicago Bulls to the NBA championship? Barry Bonds breaking the home run record? Or maybe Lance Armstrong, cycling down the Champs Elysees to his 7th consecutive Tour de France victory? Sometimes these photos are even available in shadowboxes with memorabilia such as autographs or programs. Another option is posters that look like overgrown trading cards, with your sports hero in action.

Why are sports posters and prints so popular? For one thing, they are tough to make yourself. While the ability to take great photos yourself and even have them blown up to poster size has become markedly accessible, sports photography remains a particular challenge and it is unlikely you will get the same quality shot, even if you have great seats at a game. Photographers with passes will still get closer than the best seats, and thus will have an advantage of perspective as well as talent. Most sports are about motion, and fast motion at that, and that is tougher for the novice photographer to master.

Victor Nunn writes about Bikes Deals, Skate Board coupons and Golf Deals.

Your Guide to buying Digital Photography Books..

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Looking for the best digital photography books around? There are many claimants to the title at the moment; we'd even go as far as to say the market is flooded with books full of hints, tips and techniques. But which ones should you actually trust? After all it's your hard earned cash you'll be parting with! So here at YDP we've decided to do the hard work reviews for you and bring you the 5 bestselling digital Photography books currently leaving the shelves.

We got our hands on a copy of each of the best digital photography books at present, judged on sales and popularity, then set to work wading through the pages to bring you a concise review of these latest chart toppers. Although we were inundated with book submissions to consider, we found the titles below to be outstanding in terms of content, user information, illustration quality and overall usefulness. So if you're looking for the best digital photography Books, we'd thoroughly recommend any of these 5:

1. The Digital SLR Handbook, Michael Freeman.
2. The Complete Guide to Digital Photography, Freeman,M.
3. 40 Digital Photography Techniques, YoungJin.
4. Digital Photography for Dummies!
5. The Digital Photography Handbook: An Illustrated Guide

1. The Digital SLR Handbook, Michael Freeman:

The ultimate reference for serious photographers making the switch from film to digital, The Digital SLR Handbook tackles head on all the issues with which traditional photographers struggle when getting to grips with shooting digital and digital image processing. Drawing on his own experience and his discussions with fellow photographers, best-selling digital photography author Michael Freeman answers the questions that photographers ask most often, and explains matters they can find confusing or difficult to understand. From sensors, storage media, and resolution, through formats, histograms, and dynamic range, to digital noise vs. film grain, color management, and image workflow - this book gives you all the information you need. Comprehensive in its scope and unrivalled in its depth, The Digital SLR Handbook is the definitive reference source for every professional or enthusiast photographer. A bestselling digital photography book of top quality.

2. The Complete Guide To Digital Photography.

This guide has been completely updated and revised to reflect technological advances. It offers essential techniques and professional tips for digital camerawork and guidelines for choosing suitable digital equipment, including cameras, computers, monitors, scanners and printers. The book covers all aspects of photography from actually taking the pictures (probably the most important part!) through digital enhancing (the main part) to printing, including the necessary theory of each stage. I've been a photographer for many years and managed to find much useful information in here.

It is well designed, well laid out, and diagrams and illustrations are generally of a high quality. I agree that sometimes it is difficult to see the difference between "before" and "after" shots but this really is a minor gripe and close scrutiny will pay off in this respect. This was also one of the few that didn't waste 30 pages showing what you can do with the "artistic" and "3D" effects that come with most photo software. As earlier reviews have said, the author is clearly first and foremost a photographer and this shows. In terms of useful content, this is one of the best digital photography books we've reviewed.

3. 40 Digital Photography Techniques, YoungJin

"40 Digital Photography Techniques" will show you how to: choose, use, and accessorize your digital camera; understand and exploit various sources of light; get creative with filters; become effective with low-light and night photography; capture expressive portraits of adults, children, and yourself; photograph objects in motion and get great action shots; catch the mood of your vacation, a snowy or rainy day, a brilliant sunrise or sunset; shoot everything - panoramas, architecture, landscapes, products, food, cars, pets; take animated photos with your camera phone; transfer, edit, and print your images, or share them on the web; and more!

How is this book different? Written for new digital camera owners in a language that's easy to understand; presents inspiring, full-color images on every page; lets you dive right in and have fun with your digital camera; helps film photographers make a smooth transition to digital; combines technical instruction with creative ideas to help boost your skills; groups topics thematically for quick reference; provides a thorough explanation of how digital cameras work; uses practical step-by-step instructions, explanations, shortcuts, and tips; shows you how to shoot professional-looking images with any digital camera. Who is it for? Anyone interested in correcting, enhancing, or creating digital images - for home or professional use; photography hobbyists, professional photographers, print and web designers; contents; using Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 effectively; correcting lighting and contrast; coloring black-and-white photos; removing red eye, eliminating blemishes, and enhancing facial features; using lens blur cleaning up, combining, and resizing images.

4. Digital Photography for Dummies.

If you are fairly comfortable with the concept of photography but find the digital part a stumbling block, Digital Photography for Dummies should get you over the hump. Julie Adair King, a photographer and graphics-software specialist, deftly explains such concepts as resolution, f-stop, and compression. King is also refreshingly up-front about the differences between film-based and digital photography, spelling out the shortcomings of the latter in the early pages of the book.

Although the author claims this is one of 'the' best digital photography books around, her advice, from the most basic to the more advanced aspects of the field, is well thought out and simple without being condescending. She informs readers, for example, that you needn't use high pixel resolutions simply for placing images on a Web page. Such tips come as a relief to fledgling photographers on a budget, or novices who may be led to believe they have to use the highest-quality settings at all times. This was YDP's selection for 'best digital photography book' in January. This is probably the best digital photography book for beginners. A sure fire winner!

5. The Digital Photography Handbook: An Illustrated Guide.

The "Digital Photographer's handbook" is a comprehensive beginner's guide, assuming no prior knowledge. It brings together the best of classical photography techniques and the unrivalled potential of digital technology. The author has been a photography magazine journalist for 15 years and has extensive knowledge and an easy, jargon-free writing style.

Going Digital - the basics, including choosing a camera and equipment, setting up, taking shots and camera care Using your Digital Camera - tips for taking great photographs, with inspirational ideas for every genre: portraits, holidays, weddings, children, flora & fauna, abstracts, etc. The Digital Darkroom - improving, adapting and rescuing images on a computer: basic, advanced and professional techniques. Output - getting the best end result, on-line or in print, and creating a portfolio. This is a definite contender for 'best digital photography book' for summer 2006.

Want more? Check out our FREE Tips E-zine at..

http://www.your-digital-photography.com/digital-photography-tips-e-zine.html

Gary Bunn is a Digital Photography Expert and the Editor of the site www.Your-Digital-Photography.com

Should I Make The Switch To Digital Photography?

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Digital photography has taken the world by storm as consumers are finding digital cameras much more convenient than the old-fashioned film cameras. Digital technology is progressing rapidly; continued innovations in digital photography are likely for years to come. Let?s consider the advantages of digital photography.

The biggest advantage of digital photography is that the viewfinder enables you to see the photo you?ve just clicked. You can easily erase the photo and try again until you get the result you desire.

Printing your shots is just as fast and easy. Simply connect your camera to a photo printer and press the button. Prices for these printers continue to drop as the quality improves.

Digital photographs are easy to edit. You can delete certain sections or adjust the brightness of a photo. And this is just scratching the surface of what digital cameras will let you do.

You can easily transfer your digital photos to coffee mugs, greeting cards, t-shirts, calendars and many more things. You?re only limited by your imagination.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of digital photography is that you can easily send photos to friends and relatives anywhere on earth.

Technology is changing fast. Are you?

Digital photography has taken the world by storm as consumers are finding digital cameras much more convenient than the old-fashioned film cameras. Digital technology is progressing rapidly; continued innovations in digital photography are likely for years to come. Let?s consider the advantages of digital photography.

The biggest advantage of digital photography is that the viewfinder enables you to see the photo you?ve just clicked. You can easily erase the photo and try again until you get the result you desire.

Printing your shots is just as fast and easy. Simply connect your camera to a photo printer and press the button. Prices for these printers continue to drop as the quality improves.

Digital photographs are easy to edit. You can delete certain sections or adjust the brightness of a photo. And this is just scratching the surface of what digital cameras will let you do.

You can easily transfer your digital photos to coffee mugs, greeting cards, t-shirts, calendars and many more things. You?re only limited by your imagination.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of digital photography is that you can easily send photos to friends and relatives anywhere on earth.

Technology is changing fast. Are you?

http://www.travel-outdoor-tips.com http://www.recreation-news-magazine.com

Learn More About Digital Photography Through Books

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

There has been a tremendous increase in the number of books on digital photography in recent years, including books on specialized aspects. You can find excellent books on such specialized topics as digital black and white photography, digital night photography and digital infrared photography. And nothing beats the pleasure of reading a book at your ease and convenience.

?Complete Digital Photography? by Ben Long is one of the best books on digital photography. It provides basic as well as specialized information. It even gives a lot of useful tips for shopping your new camera. It?s the perfect book for people who are just venturing into digital photography

The book explains most technical aspects of digital photography. By the time you?ve finished it, you?ll be able to shoot properly and edit the photos. The entire process of digital photography from the moment the image is captured to printing the final image is explained in simple language.

?Complete Digital Photography? is divided into four sections. Part 1 covers the basics.

Part 2 tells what features you might want to look for in your new camera.

Part 3 talks about setting up your shot, choosing the correct exposure, using a flash and using a histogram.

Part 4 tells you how to edit and otherwise ?fix? your photos. It ends with instructions on printing them.

In addition to printed books, you can buy many good e-books on digital photography, if you are looking for economic and easily accessible information right now.

Good luck!

There has been a tremendous increase in the number of books on digital photography in recent years, including books on specialized aspects. You can find excellent books on such specialized topics as digital black and white photography, digital night photography and digital infrared photography. And nothing beats the pleasure of reading a book at your ease and convenience.

?Complete Digital Photography? by Ben Long is one of the best books on digital photography. It provides basic as well as specialized information. It even gives a lot of useful tips for shopping your new camera. It?s the perfect book for people who are just venturing into digital photography

The book explains most technical aspects of digital photography. By the time you?ve finished it, you?ll be able to shoot properly and edit the photos. The entire process of digital photography from the moment the image is captured to printing the final image is explained in simple language.

?Complete Digital Photography? is divided into four sections. Part 1 covers the basics.

Part 2 tells what features you might want to look for in your new camera.

Part 3 talks about setting up your shot, choosing the correct exposure, using a flash and using a histogram.

Part 4 tells you how to edit and otherwise ?fix? your photos. It ends with instructions on printing them.

In addition to printed books, you can buy many good e-books on digital photography, if you are looking for economic and easily accessible information right now.

Good luck!
http://www.travel-outdoor-tips.com http://www.recreation-news-magazine.com

Digital Photography: What Does It Mean?

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Digital photography is very popular these days. If you have recently shifted from film cameras to digital photography, it is essential that you understand the various terms and abbreviations associated with it:

A PIXEL It is the smallest part of a digital image. Pixels are combined with millions of other pixels to form a photo image. The resolution of digital cameras is expressed in terms of pixels.

The total quantity of pixels in a photo image is the RESOLUTION. The quality of the picture becomes sharper and better with the increase in resolution; more pixels mean better the quality.

One million pixels make a MEGAPIXEL. A picture with three or four megapixels will have much better quality than a picture with just one.

DPI (dots per inch) is used to describe the quality of a printer or computer monitor. Laser printers have about 300 dpi resolution, while monitors only have 72. Photo quality inkjet printers have a dpi of at least 1200 dpi. Here again, more the dpi, better the quality.

MEGABYTE represents computer memory. One megabyte equals one million bytes of file storage capacity.

JPEG stands for joint photographic experts group. It represents a format for storing images in digital cameras. JPEG files can be displayed easily on the Internet and e-mailed.

The digital files of all digital cameras need to be stored on a MEMORY CARD. The sizes of these cards depend upon the amount of storage capacity required. For convenience, buy as big of a card as you can afford. This is one computer-related storage space you?ll use all of, routinely.

LCD is an acronym for liquid crystal display. Most digital cameras have this feature so that the photographer can check the scene before clicking, then review the picture after taking the photo.

Happy clicking!

http://www.travel-outdoor-tips.com http://www.recreation-news-magazine.com

Travel photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

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:

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.

Do You Want To Start A Photography Business?

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

If you enjoy taking pictures what could be more thrilling than doing it for a living? Just think of how wonderful it could be to be a paid invite to hundreds of weddings and parties a year, to capture joyful family memories that will last a lifetime everyday, to watch children grow up, or even to just to experience others smile everyday of your career. With photography you can do just that. And what is great about the photography industry is there's more than enough work for the freelance/work-at-home photographer. To get started you need to get the right equipment. This will require you to decide exactly how far you want to take your business. If have a room in your home that you could set up as an office you might want to look into setting up a backdrop and lighting equipment. On the other hand perhaps you don't have the space in your house. Don't let this discourage you. You can still compete in the photography realm even without an office. One of the greatest thing about having a work-at-home photography business is that you can offer most of the same services that the photography shops offer, but at a fraction of the cost. Mainly, because you will not have to worry about a lot of overhead such as employees and rent, you will only have to worry about delivering quality photos.

Fortunately, delivering quality photos now days could not be easier thanks to the invention of the digital camera. If you have a low budget you can easily get started with a personal computer, digital camera, and above average printer. Of course if your budget isn't quite so limited it would be a great idea to invest in some extra equipment like camera filters and zoom lenses.

After you have decided what equipment is essential to starting your business you need to start selling yourself. The great thing about photography is if you belong to a local club, church, etc there are always people in need of your services. Also, don't forget your family since they can be powerful with putting the word out there. More than likely you will get most of your business through referrals. In this case customer satisfaction is essential. Word will spread like wildfire if your services stink. So remember whether your taking photos for free at your nephews wedding, or your getting paid to take photos at your local school prom always put your best foot forward. In fact one of the easiest ways to start building your portfolio is to start taking free pictures of friends and family. Last, if your business really gets rolling you might want to consider registering your business. Taking care of legalities gives your customers a sense of security. It lets them know that you mean business. Also, at this point you may want to start advertising in the phonebook, newspaper, or even listing your services on the internet. The internet can be a powerful resource because you can set up an online portfolio to display all of your handiwork.

You can do it! To start a work-at-home photography it is going to take dedication. Make a plan and stick to it! Remember, this is something you love! Treat your job like you love it and your job will love you!

Photography Information and Resources at http://www.myvirtualschool.com/Photography/

Photography Information and Resources at http://www.myvirtualschool.com/Photography/

Advertisement Photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Tips for the advertisement photography market.

Advertisement photography is by far one of the most competitive forms of photography. This is mainly due to the fact that you can earn far more money than in any other aspect of photographic industry.

Every day companies pay millions of dollars on advertisement; with one goal - to sell their product. Companies want to tell the reader that their product is best - so you must be able to match this.

The photographers work must be to the highest technical quality and he/she must have the ability to create a masterpiece from something simple. Close enough is just not good enough. Close enough will not sell a product.

To become an advertisement photographer one must first understand the market and understand what the client is looking for. The best way of understanding this is pick up a magazine and look at the ads. Study each image. Study the images you see on billboards or images that are used to advertise movies.

Most parts of advertisement photography can be classed as still life photography. So if you are interested in taking images for the advertisement market your first job is to set up your own home studio. This can be a great place to practice.

Every thing in your home can be photographed. Start off with a few glasses. But remember you are not trying to make the glasses look nice - you are trying to sell them.

The second thing you need is a large format camera. Buy a range of the best lenses. Slide film is your best choice for advertisement photography. The client may want to blow up the images to a billboard size.

The most important thing when starting off is creating a portfolio of your work. This can be sent to advertising agencies or can be shown directly to a company. Always have a few copies on standby. Also set up a web page. On-line advertising is growing at a spectacular rate. Your portfolio should also consist of a different range of images.

If you are thinking of using an advertisement agency, get their guidelines from them. These should be very helpful to you in understanding the market. Dealing with a well established agency should be very profitable for you if your photography is to par.

Advertisement can be seen everywhere - and about eighty percent of all ads use photography. Most advertisement these days consists of a few words and a stunning picture that should attract the viewer's attention.TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer and a freelance writer. He frequently writes for the shopping directory http://www.shop-4us.com and the photography directory http://www.goldprints.com To view or buy some of his images visit his on line gallery @ http://www.goldenirishlight.com

Photography Photojournalism

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Tips for photojournalism photography.

Did you every pick up a newspaper or a magazine where a single image is used to tell a story. This is known as photojournalism. Photojournalism can fall under all subjects of photography but the image needs to be news worthy to end up being published.

There are two types of photojournalism.

The first type is where an image is used to illustrate a story. Many feature journalists work closely with photographers and commission them to produce images that will be published with their articles. There is no limit to how many images can be used. This is usually the photo editors decision.

The second is where an image is used to tell a story without any words. One single image may be used or as many as ten images are often used in magazines. If you can write - do so; it will be an advantage when you submit some images.

One of the most important qualities of a photojournalist is his ability to react quickly when he comes along a scene that may be news worthy.

Other than the obvious, here is a list of items which may be news worthy.

Impact pictures. Pictures of the Environment People. New buildings.

If you are serious about photojournalism build a collection of images from your area. Many of these pictures will not be immediately news worthy but may be down the road. Take pictures of all the factories and buildings in the area. Some day a factory may close and you may not be able to get to the scene. Also have plenty of pictures of local businessmen and politicians.

Some photojournalists are lucky enough to get assignments from newspapers or magazines, most have to follow or find the news to make a living.

The world of digital photography has made the work of the photojournalist a lot easier. Being able to view, scan and e-mail images to a publisher instantly is a massive advantage.

The work of a photojournalist can be extremely harsh - taking pictures in all kinds of extreme conditions and in very dangerous situations. Many photojournalists die each year in war zones and at different natural disasters around the world.

We live in a world, where today's news is forgotten tomorrow and the need to get the images quickly to the publisher is so important. If you have images that are news worthy don't delay sending them to a news agency or publisher. They won't stay in the news very long.

TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer and a freelance writer. He frequently writes for the photography directory http://www.goldprints.com and the shopping directory http://www.shop-4us.com To view or buy some of his images visit his on line gallery @ http://www.goldenirishlight.com

Make Money With Freelance Photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

How can you get paid $50,000 a year to take pictures in your local area? Simple, companies such as banks and insurance companies have a vested interest in properties. They'll pay you to document the condition of the property by simply photographing and describing the condition. It isn't economical for insurance companies to have a paid representative in every geographic location, so they contract this photography work to people like you. Even those with no prior photography experience! Because the pictures you take are used for general documentation and are not placed in magazines just a basic inexpensive camera will do.

Why are companies willing to pay from $15 to $100 for each simple photography assignment? Think about it this way. If the company doesn't pay you $100 dollars to drive down the road, take a picture, and fill out a form, they'd have to pay hundreds of dollars to fly a representative to your neighborhood just for 15 to 30 minutes of work. These companies would rather just pay you instead. So why not start working towards your financial independence through home based career in photogaphy?
Click Here To Earn $50,000/Year Or More Taking Pictures.

Alex Dupris Maintains www.GetPaidToWorld.com, a site dedicated to helping people make money online without getting scammed.

Photography Techniques.

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Get to know your lens.

For most photographers the most important factor in their photography is the sharp quality of their images. To get the very best quality we need to know which lenses to use and the best time to use they. There are several lenses on the market today that should become part of our every day tool.

Standard lenses: are the most common use on today market. A standard lens has a focal length between 40 mm and 60 mm, which can be used for all types of photography. It's the most flexible of all the lenses and should remain on the camera body at all times.

Telephoto zoom lens: for any one interested in wildlife photography a telephoto lens should become your standard lens. With a focal length of between 60 mm and 300 mm, this is also a perfect lens for the sport enthusiast. The telephoto lens allows you to capture the far away object and can also be used for landscape images

You can use this lens for close-ups, but be careful with your composition. Large areas of the image will become blank and could destroy your picture.

When using a telephoto lens always make sure that you have the camera supported with a tripod. If you cant use a tripod try using a beanbag - rest the lens on the bag when taking your images.

Wide-angle lens: is the choice of most landscape photographers. They allow you to include as much of the scene as possible when you look in your viewfinder with a wide focal length of 17 mm to 40mm. The wider the lens you use, the closer you need to be to an object of foreground interest, to add impact to your photography. Ultra wide-angle lenses have a focal length of 8 mm to 28 mm.

Macro lens: is perfect for ultra close-ups shots with an average focal length of 100 mm. If you are looking to take images of small objects, such as: flowers or insects, a macro lens should become part of your camera bag. A macro lens will also allow you to take unique abstract images. By using a wide aperture with a macro lens on natural shapes can create the perfect abstract image.

Be careful with focusing when using a macro lens, it is tough on a good day and can be impossible if the weather is windy.

TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer and a freelance writer. If you are looking for some photo tips visit the photography directory he frequently writes for: http://www.goldprints.com or visit the shopping directory http://www.shop-4us.com To view some of his images visit his on line gallery @ http://www.goldenirishlight.com

The Digital Photography Revolution Is Now Here

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

With digital cameras becoming the norm or even a fashion item more and more children want to know how to use and set up their new cameras. Digital cameras are easy to buy but they come with a manual about an inch thick and like most children, they put the manual aside and fumble through hoping for the best.

They can take pictures with their mobile phones these days, so how hard could it be to use a digital camera?

Unfortunately that's the attitude and most miss out on how to change a few settings in their camera to get really great shots no matter what the lighting. Teachers are often at a loss to know how to take a class and teach a new technology that they themselves know very little about.

Digital photography is becoming more integrated with university courses. Having a digital camera will soon be like owning a calculator for the average student.

It is so important for a student to become proficient at the use of their new digital camera, as many lecturers are setting assignments that must have photos included, its just part and parcel of the new multi media revolution that is taking place at an enormous pace before our very eyes.

Knowing how to use the camera is half the battle, the other half is teaching students how to take photos that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Most children learn better by being shown how to do something rather than reading hard to understand photographic books.

As their photography teacher goes through step by step how to set up and use their digital cameras, they learn key skills that will help them in getting the most out of their cameras.

Sydney Pix is a professional photographer who teaches an 8 week TAFE course covering all the settings that a student needs to use their camera correctly. This course is now a comprehensive two DVD training course.

For more information go to http://www.profotocourse.com/school-photography-lessons.html

An Introduction to Pet Photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Introduction

Photographing your pet can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Done well, it will allow you to immortalize Fluffy or Spot - that significant member of your family - the pet that shared you food, chewed your shoes, and brought you the newspaper. In fact, the act of seriously photographing your pet will bring you both closer because the process opens you to noticing the small, wonderful things that you might have missed before - the way he wags his tail, etc. This is a grand adventure.

Goal

As with anything, it's best to proceed with a goal in mind so you know where to start. What are you trying to accomplish? Are you trying to capture your pet's playful side? Are you trying to setup a funny photo using a prop such as a birthday hat? Is this an interactive portrait between your pet and your child? Sit down and put on paper this goal, because it will help you in preparing properly. Nothing is worse than spending an hour going to your favorite scene with equipment in hand and realizing your forgot a favorite toy - do your self a favor, do not skip this step.

Setting

Now that you have decided on your goal, it's now time to decide the proper setting. Indoors vs. outdoors. Near the fireplace with an open fire in the background, or in a studio. At the beach or in the woods. As you think about the proper setting, think about how your pet will respond to that setting. If you decide the public park is the perfect place, you must think about your pet's resistance to distractions. Is he/she able to resist running after another animal or person? The more you know your pet and look through his/her eyes, the better off you will be.

Preparation

Now you are at the critical preparation stage. You've set your goal, you've decided on the appropriate setting - let's try to anticipate all that can (and will) go wrong. I use the word 'wrong' loosely - try not be too rigid and to have fun - we will talk more about that in a minute. Write out on paper every possible thing you can think of. Here are some suggestions: * Exercise your pet - just enough so they are still alert, but not hyper * Lighting - outdoor is best, but flash will work too - should be natural lighting * Grooming - only if it doesn't adversely affect your pet's mood - then do it days beforehand * Props/Toys - favorite of the pet * Food - favorite of the pet * Be prepared for sudden movement - shutter speed about 1/125th and use iso 400 or 800 film (if indoors) * Watch the scene clutter * Have pet at least 6 feet away from background to reduce shadows * Bring an assistant to help manage your pet * Zoom Lens * Camera, Film, Tripod, Equipment, etc. Etc., etc. Are you getting the idea? The first time you make out your list, the process will be a little tedious, but the beauty is that once the list is made, all you need to do is modify it slightly for the next sessions.

On Location

Whew, you've made to shooting location - congratulations. Hopefully, you've brought everything you are going to need, right? Right! Now, it's time for setup. Be organized; get everything laid out in a logical fashion. The last thing you want to be doing is fiddling around with equipment when you need to be shooting pictures - an animal has a zero attention span and you have got to be ready to snap that picture when the moment is there. How is you animal's demeanor? Is he/she super wound up? If yes, then perhaps some light exercise would be in order - nothing too heavy, but just enough to help him/her calm down. How are you? Are you stressed? Relax, and go with the flow - animals are super sensitive to your mood. Give your pet some last minute grooming - just touch-ups. If you are outdoors, how is the wind? Is it too strong? Is the sun too bright? Remember, overcast is much better for exposure. Make sure that your pet is far enough away from your background so as to not cast any shadows.

The Photographer's Mindset

Your mindset should be one of peace and serenity. I can't overstate that enough. Also, you need to climb into the mind of your pet as best you can. What are they thinking and feeling? Align your expectations properly. If you have never done this before, don't expect perfection the first time out - that will just raise your anxiety level and will stress out your pet.

Shooting

One of the most important things to remember is to get down on your pet's level, physically, as much as possible. A shot from above doesn't portray intimacy. In addition, when you are at your pet's level, it's easier for you to empathize with it. If you've never crawled around on the ground before, you might feel a bit foolish, but trust me, it makes all the difference in the world. Make sure that you and your handler work with each other - you have got to be in charge, but also try to be flexible - you have a lot of variables that you are managing.

Be patient, and have a lot of fun!!!

www.Kitten-Pictures.com

Stan Beck is a self-proclaimed animal lover and runs the website http://Kitten-Pictures.com.

Photography Q&A: The Basics Of Developing Photographs

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

* Can I develop my own photographs?

Yes, you can. By having your own darkroom, it is possible that you can develop your own photos. You first need to set up your own darkroom and buy darkroom equipment.

* What equipment and supplies do I need in a darkroom?

A darkroom requires many kinds of equipment to get you started in developing your photos. It is expensive, so you should prepare a sufficient amount of money to get into this hobby.

The darkroom necessities are:

* Enlarger * Negative carrier * Lens Board * Lens * Safelight * Print trays * Timer * Thermometer * Funnel * Chemical jugs * Developer, stop, fixer * Printing paper * Mixing rod * Print squeegee * Dust brush * Graduates * Negative Storage * Dark Bag/ Dark room * Film tank * Film reels * Film

Above is the equipment you need for a darkroom. However, you still need additional equipment to set up a complete darkroom above and beyond the former, which includes:

* Paper cutter * Color print drum * Motor base for print drum or rotary processor * Color head or filters * Color printing paper * Color chemicals * Jugs and graduates for color chemistry * Color print viewing filter kit * Light table * Dry mount press * Mounting tissue * Bulk film loader * Film cassettes * Darkroom sink * Water board * Film drier * Print drier * Toners * Jugs for toners * Exposure/color analyzer * Repeating printing timer * Photo Oils/pencils * Print tongs * Hypo clear, photo-flow * Easel * Polycontrast Filters * Film clips * Print washer * Blotter book * Projection scale * Antistaticum * Canned air * Loupe * Cropping guide * Film washer * Cotton gloves * Spotting dyes * Spotting brush * Contact printer * Grain focuser

* What makes a good darkroom?

A good darkroom should be light-proof, spacious, have dry and wet areas, have ventilation, have bench space, be organized, have a safe light, and be comfortable to work in. Since you will be working with chemicals, it is important that you have enough space to maneuver to avoid tripping over dangerous chemicals.

Travis Partrige is a regular contributor to photographer guides and photography-related sites such as Photography Question and Answer. Website: http://www.PhotographyQA.com

10 Tips To Improving Your Digital Photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Digital photography is the new way to take photos and offers many conveniences that the old 110 camera just cannot provide. Here are a few tips to help make sure your digital photography is the best it can be.

Try to place the focal point of your subject in the center of the picture. This is the best way to snap the perfect digital photography image and, while it can be difficult, a little positioning will get the subject in center focus.

Avoid any photo with random subjects, such as a waterfall with other tourists standing around taking pictures or that perfect picture of your new pup with someone petting him.

Select the highest resolution for your digital photography. On most digital cameras, there is a resolution selector that allows the photographer to determine a low, medium or high resolution for their digital photography.

Get as close to the subject as possible or use the zoom feature. If it isn't possible to get very close to the subject, either because of location or safety, most digital cameras offer a zoom feature that allows the photographer to get a close-up view without being close at all.

If you are photographing individuals, always use the red eye reduction feature. It's a well known fact that some people's eyes turn red in photographs and others do not, but do yourself and those in your photo a favor and use the red eye reduction just incase.

If possible, take digital photography from a unique angle. Rather than straight ahead, consider a low position as you are looking up toward the subject or a high position as you look down on the image.

Have fresh batteries and a spare pack with you at all times. Digital cameras operate on batteries and, when traveling, you will always want to have some spare batteries incase yours run out.

Use a tripod for a steady image. If you are naturally shaky and want to make sure that you get the perfect digital photography, set up the tripod and point the camera directly at the subject before snapping a pic.

Use the review feature that most cameras have so that you can make sure the image was perfect. This is the best feature of a digital camera. Why? Because a view screen gives you the opportunity to review photos that are stored in your memory card. If you missed the perfect photo or simply snapped it at the wrong time, there is no wasted film. Simply erase the photo and take another one.

Adjust the flash for the proper surroundings. If your digital photography project requires a night photo or one taken indoors, a flash will be needed. On a sunny day or even if just a few clouds are looming, you may be able to accomplish the perfect digital photography without the flash feature being used.To get more facts about digital photography, check out our website at http://www.best-digital-photography-tips.info for lots of free digital photography information and reviews.

Did You Ever Try Selling Your Photography?Part 2

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Anyone with the ability to use a camera correctly has the potential to sell their images. Picture agencies handle images of every subject and are always looking for emerging talent.

Pictures libraries and stock agencies are in the business of selling images. The don?t give you advice on how to take better images. Their purpose is business - they sell images to magazines, book publishers, the travel industry and many other industries that use images.

Many photographers look upon agencies as a last resort to sell their work; if you have been unable to sell any of your images, the chances are that most agencies won?t accept them.

If you are interested in an agency selling your images, you must be able to produce high quality images which are suited to the agencies market. Check out their website to view samples that are currently in use.
If you feel your work meets their standards and suits their customers - then approach them by e-mail or by standard mail.

But, before placing your work at an agency make a short-list of the agencies that seem to suit your work. Contact each agency outlining your work and which magazines have already published your images. If an agency is then interested they will ask you to send them samples.

If an agency accepts your work, don?t take this as a guarantee that your images will sell.

Don?t approach an agency until you have a large collection of images. Minimum first submissions can consist of anything from 50 images to 500 and regular submissions are normally required thereafter. Most agencies work on a commission basis - 50 % being the standard rate. If an image sells for two hundred euro - the photographer receives a one hundred euro fee.

When an agency takes on a photographer?s work, they normally require a four or five year retention period. Agencies normally sell the reproduction rights of a pictures - the image being licensed to a buyer for a specified purpose.

It may take as long as six months before an agency sells a picture belonging to you. First they need to scan your images if they are submitted by film; then they need to contact their clients and let them know that there is new material available - all of this takes time, so you must look at supplying a picture agency as a long term investment. It is only when you have several hundred images placed in a library that you?ll start to see regular sales.

Remember: agencies can?t sell images if there isn?t a market for them and placing images at an agency does not guarantee you sales.

Did You Ever Try Selling Your Photography...Part 2

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Have you ever tried to sell your images to an agency.

Anyone with the ability to use a camera correctly has the potential to sell their images. Picture agencies handle images of every subject and are always looking for emerging talent.

Pictures libraries and stock agencies are in the business of selling images. The don't give you advice on how to take better images. Their purpose is business - they sell images to magazines, book publishers, the travel industry and many other industries that use images.

Many photographers look upon agencies as a last resort to sell their work; if you have been unable to sell any of your images, the chances are that most agencies won't accept them.

If you are interested in an agency selling your images, you must be able to produce high quality images which are suited to the agencies market. Check out their website to view samples that are currently in use. If you feel your work meets their standards and suits their customers - then approach them by e-mail or by standard mail.

But, before placing your work at an agency make a short-list of the agencies that seem to suit your work. Contact each agency outlining your work and which magazines have already published your images. If an agency is then interested they will ask you to send them samples.

If an agency accepts your work, don't take this as a guarantee that your images will sell.

Don't approach an agency until you have a large collection of images. Minimum first submissions can consist of anything from 50 images to 500 and regular submissions are normally required thereafter. Most agencies work on a commission basis - 50 % being the standard rate. If an image sells for two hundred euro - the photographer receives a one hundred euro fee.

When an agency takes on a photographer's work, they normally require a four or five year retention period. Agencies normally sell the reproduction rights of a pictures - the image being licensed to a buyer for a specified purpose.

It may take as long as six months before an agency sells a picture belonging to you. First they need to scan your images if they are submitted by film; then they need to contact their clients and let them know that there is new material available - all of this takes time, so you must look at supplying a picture agency as a long term investment. It is only when you have several hundred images placed in a library that you'll start to see regular sales.

Remember: agencies can't sell images if there isn't a market for them and placing images at an agency does not guarantee you sales. TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer and a freelance writer. If you are looking for some photo tips visit the photography directory he frequently writes for: http://www.goldprints.com To view some of his images visit his on line gallery @ http://www.goldenirishlight.com

Your Guide To Buying A Digital Camera That Matches Your Photography Skill

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

For many folks buying a digital camera can be a confusing and bewildering purchase since there are so many models to choose from and so many different kinds of digital cameras too. Unless you are a photography hobbyist you probably won't be familiar with all of the acronyms and language used to describe the features of each camera either. So here is a general guide to help you know how to buy a digital camera that matches your own photographic skill level.

First of all, there is no one size fits all solution in digital cameras. It would be much easier to choose if that were the case, but it would also severely limit what each person could do with their own photography. And this means that is you aren't a serious hobbyist, you probably don't need to spend the extra money on digital cameras that have all the advanced features simply because you will probably never use them. And on the other hand, if you are a skilled amateur photographer, buying a simple point and shoot type of camera will not be a great decision either as it will not let you really be creative enough to satisfy your needs. So here are a few simple guidelines to follow.

If you don't consider yourself a photographer, and you just simply want to take good pictures of family and friends, and maybe some special occasions, you can most likely do very well with a 4 - 6 megapixel point and shoot fully automatic digital camera. This will be the most inexpensive option and so will save you plenty of money initially by not purchasing features that you really don't need. And the resolution of a 4 - 6 megapixel camera will let you make great prints on up to 8 X 10 or so.

If however, you know a little bit about photography and like to take some control yourself over the camera functions at times to create special photo effects in the composition of the photo, a more advanced digital camera that has fully manual features for exposure control, and allows you to save the image files in TIFF, GIF or RAW formats that do not lose image quality when compressed would be a good choice. Unless you do a lot of enlargements above 8 X 10 you probably can still get by with a 4 - 6 megapixel camera here too.

However, if you consider yourself a photographer of sorts and like to be creative with your photos, you probably should consider buying a digital single lens reflex camera(SLR) that uses interchangeable lenses, has full manual control capability, and advanced features that most serious photographers really appreciate. And if you like to do lots of manual cropping of photos and magnification of smaller parts of your photo images before you print, an 8 - 10 megapixel camera can be a good bet.

Of course, these guidelines and tips are just general suggestions but hopefully they can help point you in the right direction so that you can more easily select and buy the digital camera that will most closely match your photographic skills.

You can find the best rated digital cameras and buy digital camera online by visiting our Digital Photography website.

Night Photography: Low Light Tips and Techniques

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Photography at night can be used to create mysterious and amazing photos. When I say photography at night I mean the hours from around sunset until when the stars are clearly visible. The long exposures associated with low light can create unique effects and unusually sharp photos. And when I say long exposures I mean exposures lasting from half a second up to even 30 seconds. An exposure that long would seem impossible to prevent shaking, so my technique that I use very often is to compose the photo like I would normally and then to set the self-timer so the camera takes the picture on its own and I don't even have to touch it.

-Equipment Options

For low light photos, a tripod (or some kind of substitute) is very necessary. I almost always keep a tripod in the trunk of my car or carry a miniature tripod around on trips. A miniature tripod can be very handy because it is typically small enough to fit in a pants pocket so it can be taken anywhere. Some photographers carry around a bean bag or something like it so that can set their camera down and tilt it in any way they like. Some of my best pictures I have taken simply by setting my camera down on a newspaper stand and setting the self-timer.

Many photographers are convinced that they need a cable release to take long exposures but the self-timer release option on just about all cameras works just as well. All you have to do is set the camera up, configure the self-timer, press the shutter button, and wait the specified amount of time (usually 10 seconds) and the camera will take the photo automatically. And you don't have to touch the camera so the photo won't be blurred from hand shaking.

-Night Photo Opportunities

Landscape Photos - My favorite kind of night photo usually includes a landscape with some kind of foreground element, some sort of framing element, and lots of lights throughout the scene. Adding some kind of foreground item to the frame helps to create a greater depth of field, this technique works for any kind of photo but I have found that it makes night landscape photos much better. Another tip you should keep in mind is that the main subject of a night photo should probably be the most well lit. Lots of light is good for a night exposure but there should still be some focus applied to the major objects in a scene.

Capturing Motion - A very popular kind of night photography includes a steady camera with some sort of fast moving object streaming through the frame. When cars are photographed at night with a long shutter speed, the headlights make a bright pathway of light and in most cases the car can't even be seen. Another option would be to set up your camera next to a lighted area with lots of people moving like a night club or an illuminated street. Just about any kind of motion captured with the camera steady produces a very interesting photo.

-Balancing Aperture and Shutter Speed

When taking photos at night you should keep aperture in mind as well as shutter speed. It is without question that you will need a long shutter speed, but the aperture that you choose will provide the depth of field. When I take night photos I usually have a very long shutter speed (5-15 seconds) and a very narrow aperture (high f-stop). This combination creates a huge depth of field and makes everything very crisp and in focus. Of course sometimes you will not desire a great depth of field and in those situations you should widen the aperture (small f-stop).

-Calculating the Exposure

Figuring out what exact shutter speed and aperture you should use can be very challenging in Manual Mode. I would recommend that you just try many different combinations for each scene and eventually you will refine the settings that you prefer. Another technique I use is Bracketing, if you bracket all your photos so the camera takes multiple exposures at different settings, you are more likely to end up with a photo that has a satisfactory brightness.

-Conclusion

There is no exact science to night photography; I hope some of these tips will guide you in the right direction. But the best night photographers are usually the people who experiment a lot when they are taking low light exposures and eventually they figure out the best scenes and best exposure settings to match. Just remember that you need a very long shutter speed setting, and that you need to keep the camera very steady.

Richard Schneider is a digital photography enthusiast and founder of http://www.picturecorrect.com/ which offers tips and news about digital photography, digital camera reviews, and photoshop tutorials. Please also visit http://www.picturecorrect.com/freewallpaper.htm where you can find many examples of the techniques described in this article to use as your desktop wallpaper.

The Top Five Reasons To Switch To Digital Photography Now

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Consumers are clearly switching over to Digital photography from film photography in droves. All you have to do is take a look at the number of ads for digital cameras and compare them to those that you find for film cameras these days. It becomes very obvious then that digital photography is the wave of the future. What if you're still using film to take your snapshots and photos though? Well here are the top five reasons that you should start seriously considering switching over to digital photography in the near future.

1. Perhaps one of the most outstanding features of digital photography that makes it so much easier and more convenient for the average person is that you can actually see the photo or snapshot that you just took in the viewfinder of your digital camera. This is an invaluable aid to help you make sure that you get the shot that you want. With film cameras, you have to wait until the film is processed and developed to know whether it actually got the shot that you intended. And by then, its usually too late to do anything about it. But a digital camera gives you immediate feedback and lets you see exactly the photo that you just took. If it didn't turn out the way you want, just delete it and try again until you get it right. Now isn't that easy?

2. A second big advantage of digital photography is the ability to print out your photos almost immediately. With film cameras, you have to take the film to be developed, and then go back to pick them up. Even with a one-hour photo store, it still takes longer than with digital photos. In fact, if you have a digital photo printer, all you have to do in many cases is just connect your camera to the printer and press a button.

3. Another huge benefit of digital photography is the ability to edit and change your photos and snapshots in any way that you desire. Because the photos are in digital files, they can be opened in photo editing software programs that let you adjust the image in lots of ways to make it better. For instance, you could crop out sections of the photos that you don't particularly care for, or you could adjust the brightness or contrast of the snapshot to your heart's content. There's lots more that can be done with a good photo editing software package. And all of this gives you far more creative control over the finished product than you could ever get with film cameras.

4. There are lots of products on the market today that let you unleash your creative side too, and turn your digital photos into coffee mugs, T-shirts, greeting cards and so much more. You can make calendars out of your family photos if you wish, and all of this creativity is due to the fact that the files are in digital format allowing you to use them in a variety of ways other than just printing them on photo paper.

5. Finally, one of the great advantages of digital photography is the fact that you can quickly and easily share your photos and snapshots with friends and family no matter where they are around the world by e-mail. Try doing that with your film camera. Of course, you can have your film photos converted into digital format but that is an added expense that is just not necessary for digital photographers.

As you can see digital photography has opened up a whole new horizon for the average person, making photography easier, and letting then take much higher quality photographs at the same time. We hope you will agree that there is no better time than now to make the switch to digital photography.You can find out how to buy digital camera online and about digital camera technology by visiting our Digital Photography website.

Introduce Your Child to Photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Give a child a camera and you have given them a time machine which will create wonders and may, at some time in the future, be considered family treasures. Expect that, at first, film will just be used quickly in order to see the pictures, but be patient, this will soon be over and selectivity will begin to be shown.

You will undoubtedly be treated to some early shots of grandma as a headless wonder, but these will also be accompanied by some unexpected jewels. As the young photographer learns more about his or her new hobby and why grandma's head was not in the picture, skills will begin to develop and you will start to see a legend of the world through the eyes of a six year old, or whatever age your young photographer is, begin to emerge.

Expect to see more pictures of the family pet than you will see of any other member of the family. Hey, don't let it get to you! The kid really doesn't love the family dog more than he or she loves you, I'm sure of it.

Buy the young photographer an album and fill it with these pictures. Don't forget to put the date on the back. You might also want to keep a written journal of your own to include with these picture when special occasions are observed and are photographically recorded for all posterity.

You may want to consider buying or borrowing from the library a book or books on photography for children and share it or them with the young photographer. If the book or books is/are written for someone older, you can simplify it.

Helping your child to set up a scene with toys can make for good shots also. Let him or her see how toy trucks and cars can be set up and photographed in such a way that they look like their full sized counterparts.

Is there a younger sibling in the family? Read up on taking pictures of babies and small children, then share the tips that you have learned with your young photographer. Such things as putting a piece of scotch tape on a little one's finger for example can lead to some fantastic facial expressions, as he or she tries to figure out what has happened and how to get rid of that thing. Armed with a camera, encouragement and a little bit of knowledge, your young photographer may be the one to get THAT picture, making it doubly a family treasure.

Getting a child interested in photography, is giving them a gift that may well last them a lifetime.

For more Articles about Children by Ian Williamson please visit http://www.real-articles.com/Category/Kids/37

Digital Photography Terms That You Should Understand And Know

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Digital photography brings with it a whole new set of terms and abbreviations that requires getting used to if you've been using film cameras in the past. Many of the terms are totally unique to digital cameras and photography, and if you don't understand them there is a good chance that you won't be able to get the equipment that you really need for taking digital photographs. So let's review some of the most important digital photography terms to help you understand them.

* Pixel - everything in digital photography actually begins with the pixel. Simply put, it is the very smallest part of a digitized image. You can think of it as a.dot that when combined with lots of other dots around it, makes up an entire photo image

* Resolution - this usually has to do with the total number of pixels in a photograph, and the higher the resolution, generally the sharper and better quality the picture is.

* Megapixel - this simply stands for one million pixels. The more pixels that make up a photograph, the higher the resolution and better quality the image will be. So a digital camera that takes a one megapixel image will usually not have anywhere near the image quality of a camera that takes a four or five megapixel image. And the differences become even greater when the photograph is enlarged.

* DPI - this stands for dots per inch and often applies to printers or monitors. For instance, most laser printers have a resolution of around 300 dpi, whereas most monitors display only 72 dpi. Photo quality inkjet printers usually come in at least 1200 dpi.

* Megabyte - this stands for an amount of computer memory that is somewhere around one million bytes of file storage.

* JPEG - this acronym stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group and is now a recognized format for the storage of images is in most digital cameras.The JPEG format allows for quite a bit of image and file compression, making files that are in this format much easier to display on the internet and send to others by e-mail. However, the kind of image compression that is used by the JPEG format can also cause some loss of image quality and so is not suitable for high quality prints.

* Memory card - all digital cameras have to store the digital files on some kind of removable media, and most often it involves the use of a small memory card. These cards come in various sizes depending on how much storage space they have available. A few digital cameras are also able to store files directly on CDs instead.

* LCD - this stands for Liquid Crystal Display, and these are usually found on most digital cameras to help the photographer preview the scene before taking the photograph, and then review that image later on after the photo was taken.

These are the digital photography terms that are most commonly used today, and understanding them will help you better select and use the digital equipment that you buy.

You can find a digital photography tutorial and the digital photography basics by visiting our Digital Photography website.

Fuji Underwater Cameras - Photography Above And Below The Waves

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

People are never satisfied! We came from the primitive world of black and white pictures to the colored ones that we have today. But did we satisfy ourselves? No, still we look for a higher trend, to add something new to our technology. Now we have the underwater cameras that allow us to see the world underneath the waves. To capture the time spent with the creatures of the sea.

Fuji is recognized globally for its technological innovation and high quality. Fujifilm actually introduced the world's first one-time-use 35mm camera - the QuickSnap. Fujifilm's technology is now licensed to many other manufacturers of one-time-use cameras.

Fujifilm is also becoming a Hollywood standard. Up to date movie blockbusters, including Punch-Drunk Love, The Wedding Planner, and Holes were all filmed on Fujifilm motion picture film. Fujifilm has received both an Academy Award and an Emmy for Technical Merit. How dependable are these cameras? Lets take a short look at the latest innovations - Fuji Underwater cameras.

The Fuji Fine Pix F440 packs just a bit more zoom than any other cameras in its class. When it comes to charging the battery, you have two options, either use the AC adapter built within the camera, or to use the included camera dock. In both case, it takes two hours to charge the battery. The camera has only two accessories, a carrying case and an underwater case. The underwater case lets you take the camera upto 40 metres underwater. The F440 doesn't support conversion lenses or an external flash -- not surprisingly.

This camera is an all-metal camera that can go anywhere you want. Its construction is definitely good and of higher quality than cheaper Fuji cameras. The controls are well-placed, although the micro buttons on the four-way controller are a bit too small for some. One thing that bothers some consumers is that cameras like this can easily be scratched!

Another camera is the FinePix F10. This camera can shoot at 6.3 Megapixels at ISO 1600 -- something no other point-and-shoot camera can do. It has a unique "natural light mode" for taking sharp pictures for lower light conditions without having to dwell on flash. There are a few accessories that can go along with this camera. But the most amazing of all these accessories is the WP-FXF10 waterproof case, which let you take the camera for 40 meters down under water.

With these great Fuji underwater camers you can enjoy the sights from under the water over and over again.

Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports and provides news, views and information about photography and Fuji underwater cameras at Underwater Cameras Information.

Landscape Photography: Tips To Enhance The Experience

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

One of the great things about landscape photography is that the possibility is endless on where you can go, what to take a picture of and it all starts with a few steps from your own back door. The horizon is your limit.

Lighting speaks volumes in landscape photography. Getting up with the sun at dawn, watching the animals hurry around as they gather their food for the day, and while the sun is just peaking its face over the background would make for great photo with perfect light. When the sun is on its way down, this is great for a landscape picture of peace and serenity. This time of day is when animals and people are heading home for the night where the land is clear of ?clutter? and the trees, skies and land are open. Shadows will add depth to any photo of the landscape and give it more of a three-dimensional feel to it.

Landscape photography should be relaxing and fun to do. It also requires some time to get the precise composition. When a camera is slightly shifted one way or another, you can see how it will dramatically improve the picture you are looking to take. When it comes to taking a picture of the landscape, taking one photo is just as good as taking ten. You do not have to waste film on something that can be done right the first time, this can be achieved with a bit of patience, and some practice.

When photographing landscapes, give your photo a feeling of depth by including close objects in the frame as well as the distant objects.

A fine lens for landscape photography is the 50 mm lens that comes as standard equipment on many SLR cameras.But if you are seriously interested in photographing landscapes, a good lens to have would be a wide-angle lens.

Losing detail due to camera shake is the biggest problem in landscape photography.So, a tripod and a shutter release cable are very helpful tools to have.

Albreht Moy offers photographs for sale at his website.

Photography: From Hobby To Your Very Own Business

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

That?s right. Who could say that there?s no chance that your hobby could also be the foundation of your first business venture? There are a lot of people out there who are in need of a good photographer to capture images of their son?s wedding, their daughter?s graduation or their very own wedding. Why couldn?t you be the one to supply your photography services to their needs?

For the transition of photography from hobby to your very own business, there are several tasks that you have to accomplish first.

Market Your Photography Skills ? Sell yourself, in other words! Let people know about what you can do in the field of photography, why they need your skills and why they should hire you. Make sure, however, that you charge them reasonable rates since you?re still more or less an amateur in the field of photography.

To effectively market your photography skills, don?t be afraid of spending a little money on posting ads in the classified sections. Don?t stop there but post about your photography business in as many places as you can.

Join Interest Groups ? This could be the local photography club in your community or the association of young photographers in your school. It could also be a Yahoo Group that you could easily join.

Usually, these groups are able to hold regular or annual exhibits of their works and it wouldn?t hurt to expose to the world the beauty of your works in photography.

Join Photo Competitions ? Two things that you could enjoy when joining photography competitions: fame and fortune. Both are equally important. Fame would do wonders to your career in photography because it would let the world know about your skills and winning a photography competition may also offer the prize of having an apprenticeship under a world famous photographer. And when it comes to wealth ? well, when did extra money ever hurt?

Offer Your Skills For Free to Government Projects ? The government is always on the lookout for professionals who are willing to work for free and you should take advantage of this. Offer your photography skills for free because this would give you the opportunity to show them what you got.

Offer Samples of Your Work to Newspapers and Magazines ? This is just like joining a photography competition. When you offer samples of your work to newspapers and magazines, you?re improving the chances that you?ll get noticed by the people who matters.

Although we can?t say that the road to victory is easy, never give up, never stop taking pictures and you?re sure to go far!

Michael Colucci is a technical writer for http://www.photography-tips.org and http://www.digitalcamera-reviews.net - Free sites that offer photography tips and camera reviews.

New Image Photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

photography death photography by mic ardant in photography people nude portraiture photography autumn photography photography copyright laws nn photography of girls stereo photography alice in wonderland photography photography graphic design francisco rangel photography outdoor nude photography drugs photography history of color photography nude girl photography short course in photography portraits photography photography tricks boudoir photography las vegas photography sort time in photography people emotive photography projection ballerina photography tilted horizons photography technique sherry taylor photography ethics in photography photography art dance female models photography remember when photography magnum photography bryn alan photography flash web templates photography nude glamour photography cemetery photography crazy photography la headshot

photography new image photography international center of photography teen model photography foot photography diane arbus photography fischer photography photography of face photography design greg flint photography photography gay photography business card photography as a career holiday photography preteen art photography shadow photography dandelion photography gothic in photography misc reflections photography dave watts photography ohio institute of photography and technology erotic photography of women balloon photography photography jobs in tracy ca bill miller photography pittman photography young girl photography lighting photography basic photography terms digital photography tutorial digital photography equipment young girls photography digital photography competition capture nature mountain photography gay male photography beautiful digital photography concert photography interesting photography diva photography photography prices artistic images photography photography figure study movement photography photography categories photographers commercial free photography lessons original photography war attribute print in photography journalism military photography graphics sky photography venture photography tattoo photography style photography asian

Portrait Photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Almost anyone that can point a camera and take a picture can take a portrait picture. There are a few things to learn about when it comes to this type of photography that will help you understand the basics of what makes a good portrait. In reality, you do not need a studio or the equipment and technical resources to take an outstanding portrait photograph.

A portrait is taken to define the likeness of a person or people and even more so, it is a picture of someone?s face. However, in general the word has a deeper meaning when it is shown in a photo. Portrait photography is understood to be of good quality and not only does it capture a person?s physical look on film, but will also show a characteristic in the manner that is pleasant to the eye, attractive and a unique mannerism of the subject. A very well done portrait will at least contain one element that reveals what the subject?s personality and attitude or any other traits or features that is natural to the person.

One of the benefits of doing portrait photography is the conversation that will take place. It takes an understanding and skill of human nature to be able to take a good portrait. It will require engaging in a conversation with the subject you are working with, find a suitable topic that will spark and interest and a reaction. Common ground is a great way to start when building a rapport with the person, the more you know about them the easier it will be to take a great quality shot. It is important for the subject to be at ease with you so their natural characteristics will show through and appear natural on film.

Albreht Moy owns http://www.postersprintsphotos.com website.

Holiday Photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

What do you want to take from your holiday? Good photos or anger! By Rob Clement The majority of us mainly use our cameras on holiday and for family occasions. The rest of the year we put them away and do not give them a thought. At least a month before your next holiday dust the camera down, and look at the pictures you took of the last holiday. Are you happy with the quality? Is it time to put new batteries in your camera? Should you be putting a new camera on your list of wants for Christmas or birthday? You may have already decided to go the whole hog and buy a new camera. Many of our articles concentrate on digital cameras which are now available, but if you do not own or have access to a computer, leave the digitals alone and stick to the film camera. As one of the articles will tell you - you cannot justify a digital camera by savings on film. There are many good film cameras on the market and film is still widely available. PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Do not buy a new camera and assume it is like the one with the same name that you bought 20 years ago. Any new piece of equipment can be faulty. So try out your new camera before you set out on your holiday. If you are going to a warm climate from a cold one you may need to think about a UV filter to get the best color from your prints. Take at least one roll of film or about 30 shots from a digital camera or about 10x3 minute clips from a video camera (please remember that most video cameras have the option of taking stills as well). If you are not happy then at least you can go somewhere and ask for advice rather than miss the memories from a holiday of a lifetime. Photography is all about memories and it is always good to be able to remember people, especially children, as they were. Take lots of photographs and keep them. Time will tell if they are the best ones. There will be photos covering all of the emotions from good times to disasters. Do not be tempted to throw away a photo or a digital image until you have looked at it carefully. Many images can be cut and resized to bring out what you want to see. We also have some articles about video cameras and they will give you a lot of the basics but please remember that there are video cameras that will put the scenes directly to DVD discs (some are mini discs but that are still readable) and I have not found any articles about them yet. When you have finished your holiday, remember that it is possible to put your 35mm film onto CD when your films are being processed. You can create from both 35mm and digital cameras a CD showing the highlights of your holiday that can be shown on your TV using a DVD player as well as on your computer. It will save your photos getting little finger marks on them while you are showing them around. Have fun and make memories for those winter nights. To recap Rob's checklist Check your camera * Dust it down * Replace batteries New Camera * Take about 30 shots * Does it need a UV filter * Does it need a tripod Buy yourself plenty of film or flash memory cards

Rob Clement is the web master at http://www.silkroadconsultants.com. A web site full of interesting and helpful travel tips.

If you use this article please link back to http://www.silkroadconsultants.com

Rob is the web master at http://www.silkroadconsultants.com. A web site full of interesting and helpful travel tips.

Winning Photography Competitions

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Entering photo competitions is a great way to practise and improve your photography and have some fun in the process. One of the greatest morale boosters a photographer can get is to win or even placed in a highly regarded competition. It means that others have seen your work and judged it worthy. There are a few pointers that you need to know about competitions that will increase your chances of winning however

First find your competition. Luckily photographic competitions can be found in many places such as in magazines (both photographic and other specialities), local newspapers, local promotions as well as here on the Internet. Why do people run competitions and give away lovely prizes? Well photographic clubs use competitions as one of their chief sources of entertainment and encourages the members to take photographs. Competitions are also used as promotional or advertising tools for products or companies.

The prizes offered can vary from cash, certificates, film, photographic goodies to cars and exotic holidays. Some photographers make a handy bit of extra cash by entering competitions on a regular basis. Though prizes are a definite draw, many just enter competitions to test their skill against others.

If you are thinking of entering a competition or you have had little success before, here are a few tips to set you on the right track toward entering and hopefully winning a photographic competition.

Shoot for the competition!

The best pictures in a competition are often those that are shot especially for the competition in question. Most competitions have a theme and certain guidelines to be followed. Sometimes even the organisation running the competition must be considered before even composing that winning shot.

The Theme - This is the most important thing to remember. Most competitions have a theme or a specific subject they want portrayed. For example, entering a dog picture for a landscape is a sure fire way of joining the rejection pile. Far too often shots are sent into competitions which, seen on their own merits are technically superb and artistically excellent. But, if the picture doesn't fit the them then the judges have to reject the image.

The Organisation - Often the company or organisation running the competition will conjure an idea of the type of images they want to see. For example, a travel business that runs a competition for the best holiday snaps. They are probably expecting to use the winning images to promote their business. So knowing what holiday destinations they cover and supplying nice bright images of those destinations will probably score higher than others.

Use Impact in Your Entries When you enter a competition just think how many other may or will be entering. It could just be a few entries in a local camera club competition or it could be thousands in an international competition. Whatever the numbers your image must stand out amongst them. In order to achieve this the subject of your photo must have an eye catching feature or form of impact.

Landscapes for example are a popular subject for competitions, everybody knows what a landscape is and can usually find a nice location not too far from home. But to stand out from the crowd you have to consider the impact and with landscapes its all about the lighting. Sunsets are pretty, and can be spectacular but if the judges have seen hundreds of them then the sunset is very 'samey' as all the other sunsets and become mundane.

For other subjects for impact use colour, shapes or creative lighting, try unusual angles for shooting common subjects. You must find something that will make your image jump out from the crowd.

Technical ability The last important aspect of your entry is purely technical. If the image is badly exposed, has washed out highlights for example or is out of focus or exhibits camera shake then the image will be rejected.

So with all the above in mind, happy shooting and just remember, shoot for the competition and go for impact with nice sharp well exposed images and you will increase your chances of winning those prizes. David is the co-founder and CEO of the online School of Photography.com in the Republic of Ireland (http://www.schoolofphotography.com) and holds a Licentiateship of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain (http://www.rps.org). School of Photography.com has a range of tutor assisted online courses in photography for all ages. The courses are suitable for both film and digital camera users.

Still Life Photography In A Home Studio

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Still life photography has a long dated history and goes back to ancient times where a camera obscuras where used. This type of still life was done by standing in a dark room and through a pinhole placed in the wall the outside world was projected onto the opposite wall, but it is given that they where shown upside down and in vivid color. So as it stands today, still life photography has the same concept and idea, but done a lot differently and much more hi tech. Still life photography in the home studio is an old and ancient form of art and very prestigious.

The beauty of having to do still life in the comfort of a home studio is that you can capture a certain mood you are looking for and express it on film. All that will be needed is any object or objects that strike you as beautiful, strange or even the most common thing found in or around your home. Add some unique lighting sources at different angles and you are well on your way to take a great still life photograph. It is easy to produce a very creative and beautiful picture because you have the control over all the elements in your studio.

The subjects of still life can convey a classic look and flowers do the perfect job for this look, they are extraordinary and very easy to photograph. This type of still life subject will always be a reminder of a simple but a powerful beauty that we see almost every day in a photo. To create a bold still life that gives off flair try placing your subjects on a white background. This will accentuate the color of the object and create a unison look overall in the photo.Remember - with still life photography - everything has a special beauty.

Albreht Moy offers framed fine art print collections on his website.

Pet Portrait Photography - Tips for Your Own Masterpiece

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

For some pets, a good photograph representing their best qualities comes naturally, while for others it can be frustratingly elusive. Many people choose to have professional photos taken, and although this can lead to a wonderful portrait, with a little preparation and plenty of patience you may be able to achieve similar results yourself. After all...your four-legged companion is a member of your family, and who else knows their unique traits and idiosyncrasies better?

Here are a few simple yet effective suggestions which I've found can offer good results...

The most important factor in pet photography is lighting. Often the best possible light is achieved outside in natural daylight, so try experimenting with this even if your pet is an indoor only pet. Remember to avoid direct sunlight, as this can alter natural colouring - a bright but overcast day is perfect. Don't use a flash, as this can cause red-eye and distort true colouring & shading. An exception to the above, however, is if your pet has a black coat, in which case a flash or strong sunlight can actually bring out shading and texture which may be lost in photos taken under other lighting conditions.

Next to consider is pose and positioning. Keep in mind it is most effective to take the photos on their level, rather than having your pet looking up at you which can distort natural form. Don't make them come to you. Instead, go to where they are most comfortable. Sit on the grass, lie on the floor, whatever it takes. Capture their most characteristic expression & pose. If they are generally happy, try to catch them doing their version of a smile.

Understandably, many pets have no patience for 'photo shoots' and find it hard to sit still. If your pet is having trouble focusing, a good idea is to have favourite treats or toys at the ready. Hold them up near the camera to catch - and hopefully hold - interest in the right direction. Most importantly, don't be afraid to be silly. Try making funny and unusual noises or movements to get their attention. Cameras can be distracting for some animals, so if you cannot get your pet to behave normally, try having someone else present to divert their attention.

Above all else, remember to have fun and don't be in a rush. Patience is most definitely a virtue when it comes to taking a spectacular pet photograph. Good luck!

Sarah Theophilus is a successful pet portrait artist who's work is featured online at Pets in Pastel - http://www.petsinpastel.com/. Take a moment to browse her original works, art cards, prints, free e-cards, wallpapers and more.