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Digital Photography for the Dummy

2009-05-08T01:52:00.000-07:00

Even with the advent of digital technology and the sudden appearance of every kind, every shape and size of digital cameras in hobby shops, department stores and other shops in the metro, not everyone is a pro when it comes to operating this little gadget. In fact, even the most tech-tough can stumble every now and then.

One thing you should do when you own a digital camera is to of course read the manual from cover to cover. This will help you get familiar with all the functions of the camera as well as see the various effects that it can do. Most manuals will also have illustrations that will help you understand each function.

To further help you in your digital quest for information on good photography, here are some tips that will make geniuses out of digital photography dummies.

Tone up.

One of the few essential things that you must remember is to adjust the white balance of the digital camera. Adjusting the white balance will warm up the tones and increase the hues of reds and yellows. When you purchase one, most functions will be on the auto or automatic function. Change that to suit the environment that you are shooting.

For instance, if you are doing some outdoor shooting, change the setting from auto to cloudy. This means that the camera will compensate for the cloudy and hazy environment and produce photos that are richer in color.

Mad about macro

This is another really great feature that digital cameras now offer, the macro mode. This is a function in the camera wherein you can actually focus on object and get to picture the finer details. This is especially used when you are taking close-up shots. Macro mode is denoted by the flower symbol, which can often be seen on the main buttons of the camera.

One thing to remember in using this mode is that the focused object will be sharp while leaving the rest in soft detail. If you want all the elements in the photograph illuminated, this is not the function for you.

Flash it!

One of the great things about digital cameras is the fact that you can adjust the light to suit your subject. Although most manual cameras have flash modes, they do not have the slight flash, which comes in handy when you are shooting for a not-so-well-lit area but still pretty bearable. The slight flash will help put colors on the picture because too much flash can result to colors that are bland and pale.

Low Jeremy maintains digital-photography.articlesforreprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

How to Start a Home Based Photography Business

2009-04-30T03:09:00.000-07:00

While it is very common to see home-based businesses promoted throughout the internet, most of us are aware of the fact that many if not most of those opportunities are either bogus or far too difficult to capitalize on. Count me in as a skeptic when I found a website touting my ability to start my own home-based photography business. I love my digital camera, but I did not want to take photographs at weddings or parties, as I had already seen numerous opportunities like those cross my desk. Luckily for me, I read long enough to see just how different and incredible this offer was, and I hope you finish reading this article because I can guarantee you will be as amazed as I still am.

If you have reliable transportation, a phone or cell phone, internet access on your computer, and a digital camera, you can become part of a growing industry that few of us even knew existed. You will not need any special training or education, just basic photography and computer skills.

Insurance and banking institutions all across the nation have interests in cars, homes, commercial property, trucks, boats, stores, or any other entity that requires insurance or financing. They always need updated information on the condition of this property. You may think to yourself that it would not be difficult for them to just send out a photographer to snap a few photos, but it is not very cost effective for them to have field reps in every single town in the country that they own property in. For that reason, these institutions contract this work out to freelance photographers all over the United States.

Your services will be in high demand because of the incredible growth of online financing, insuring, and mortgaging practices! In this day and age, people are no longer restricted to going to their local bank when they are ready to buy a home and acquire a mortgage. It is easier today to go online and apply for that mortgage to any number of major banks. When that application is completed, that bank or mortgage company may require a few photographs and measurements of the property before giving out the loan. Are they going to fly someone from New York to Georgia to take those pictures? Of course not!

This is unlike any photography business most have ever seen. No matter where you live, there are national companies that have financed and insured property of all types around your neighborhoods. The demand for this type of work is enormous, and people like you are getting paid $25, $50, $100 and more every time they take a few pictures with their digital camera and fill out a few reports. Some representatives are doing this upwards of 20 times per day. You can add that up yourself and figure out just how much money you are missing out on!

All that I can guarantee you is that if you do not at least give this opportunity a try, you will not make a dime. Visit my web site below and receive contact information for over 100 national firms that are looking for field reps throughout the country. Once you are on their list, they will start sending you assignments immediately.

Ken M. is an entrepreneur who has attemped many home-based businesses. His latest venture as a freelance photographer has proved to be both lucrative and entertaining. To see more about this venture, please visit his site How to Start a Home Based Photography Business.

The Role Of The Wedding Photography Helper In Professional Wedding Photography

2009-04-21T04:32:00.000-07:00

Wedding photographers often employ wedding photography helpers to help them at weddings but what are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Some of the disadvantages may be: (1) the photographer will have to pay her, and this will reduce his or her own income from the wedding (2) he will have to get along with her, there could be personality clashes (3) she may not have enough work to do. This is because wedding photography helpers mostly help the photographer take formal photographs, but many modern wedding photographers only take a few formal photographs, the others are often photojournalism wedding photography photographs, or `candid' photographs.

To counteract these disadvantages (1) the wedding photographer helper can help the photographer make money. By arranging people quickly and efficiently she speeds up the process of taking the formal photographs. This gives the photographer more time to take more photographs, and more photographs often produce more income (2) Personality clashes can be avoided if the photographer selects the `right' helper, someone that he can relate to and who understands what is required. One way to ensure this is to meet the helper first, get to know her, try to find out if she is the kind of person that can handle the stress of wedding photography.

(3) She may also be useful after the formal photographs have been taken, she can also help the photographer take the photojournalism wedding photography pictures. If it's a large wedding, with plenty of opportunities for these kind of photos, she might act as his `scout.' While he is taking one photojournalism wedding photography picture, she can be looking out for the next one. To summarise, a good wedding photography helper is a great asset to the wedding photographer.

Paul Gooch is a professional wedding photographer from Skegness UK who has published many articles, some controversial, about wedding photography, Press, public relations and portrait photography on his web site http://www.paulgoochimages.com.

Stock Photography, Royalty Free or Exclusive

2009-04-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

Acquiring stock photography images can be costly; however, the cost is often worth it. Nevertheless, when do you pay for exclusive rights to an image, and when is it just not worth it? Images can be purchased with different license types, either royalty free, rights managed or protected or exclusive rights.

All stock photography services offer different types of licenses and these licenses are all different from each other-you can even negotiate some licenses. Before purchasing a royalty free image, read through the licensing policy to make sure that their license applies to how you intend to use the image. For 'exclusive rights' or 'rights managed' images, you may have to relate to them the exact intended use before they quote a price.

Royalty Free (RF)
Royalty free images are usually the least expensive choice ranging from as low as $1 to $450/ea. Many stock providers offer a subscription program for RF images that support multiple downloads for $20 to $600 per month. Although RF images are inexpensive to purchase, they do not offer any protected licensing, which means that an unlimited number of that image may be sold to others and used for a variety of applications. Keep in mind it is the buyer's responsibility to check for model releases before using an image. Usually RF images only have to be purchased once to be used multiple times in multiple projects.

Even though RF images do not carry exclusive rights, they are still a wise and budget-friendly choice for many applications. If you need an isolated object image, RF is an excellent choice. Some agencies even offer pre-masked images you can buy for a dollar or two. Object images are usually not the focus of an ad campaign, a picture of a lollipop or a stapler are literally a dime a dozen and there is no need to spend a lot of money on such an image if it is not the center of your project.

Secondary webpages or short-term ads can use RF images. For example, during the holiday season, an image of a wreath or a group of friends celebrating can be purchased for nearly nothing, they add a little spice and timeliness to your projects, yet are still usually not the main focus.

Background images, landscapes or other flora or fauna photos are not usually specific enough to warrant an exclusive license, unless you are using it for an application that requires a license such a greeting card, calendar and so on. For example, a picture of sunset may be used to evoke a mood, yet that mood is related to previous experiences, not that specific image.

Rights Managed or Protected

Rights managed or protected licenses will usually allow you to use a photo for a specific use for a specific amount of time; the stock agency will ask you where you intend to use the image and the duration. However, generally they are not exclusive rights. Some services offer different agreements depending on whether the image is for commercial or editorial use. These types of licenses may start at under $200 for a small image, but for something like a calendar or home page, use may reach $1000.

This is a good choice for home page, magazine or medium to high exposure use. Typically, rights protected images can only be used for one specific application so there are fewer chances that another company will spread the image all over its pages at the same time that you do.

Sometimes these types of licensing will support template use, greeting cards, calendars or posters and so on, but be sure to read or negotiate the terms before you use the image.

Exclusive Rights

'Exclusive rights' restricts others from purchasing the same image. This is necessary if you need an image that is going to represent your brand, logo or for high exposure use, like the front page of your magazine. Images purchased for a large campaign should be exclusive; you do not want to chance that the ad agency across town chooses the same image for its next billboard.

If you hire an assignment photographer or commission work, you will also want to negotiate exclusive rights. Exclusive rights should be secured for book covers, CD jackets and so on.

Exclusive Rights can get costly, but for the rights and protection, they are well worth it.

Overall, make sure that you read over all the terms that a stock agency sets to protect yourself and your image. Diversity is key, you may use a subscription program for isolated images and low exposure RF stills, another for right protected images and another for commissioned work or editorials. Working with several agencies may, in the end, save your time and budget.

Pamela Stevens

Pamela Stevens writes for TopTenREVIEWS.com, a review site that publishes unbaised reviews on a wide range of subjects, including software, online services, hardware, movies and actors.

How to Get Started in Digital Photography

2009-04-09T05:49:00.000-07:00

Whether you are a seasoned photographer or a novice, or just someone who want to do photography as a hobby, the first thing you need to be clear on is, what exactly is digital photography?

Digital photography is the use of a digital camera to capture / take an image that can be viewed on a computer screen. The main benefits of digital photography are:

You can see the result of your work right away

You can delete unwanted photographs instantly

You can easily and cheaply edit your photographs by improving the tone, retouching some areas, adding background etc.

Digital photographs can be send instantly via email

Except for batteries you do not need to constantly buy items to use in digital photography such as films.

Next you will need to decide on the type of digital camera to buy. This will of course depend on the following factors:

How much money you can spend

What is your goal, that is, why do you need to take digital pictures: business, hobby, personal What functionality do you want with your camera

There are two basic types of digital camera, the DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) and automatic. If you are really serious about digital photography you will want to get yourself a DSLR since this type of camera gives you more control.

In making a decision on type of digital camera also explore the types of storage media available and see which one may be best for you. The two most popular storage media for digital camera are flashcards (digital film) and microdrives. The storage media in a digital camera is really important; it is what holds the pictures. It is important to read reviews and talk to other users of digital cameras to determine the type of memory, and the capacity of the memory (how much images can it hold) you will need. I recommend flash cards since they have no moving parts and are more reliable.

After you have decided on the type of digital camera to purchase, you must now look at the other types of equipment you need to make a success of digital photography. A good personal computer and printer is needed, especially if you do not wish to pay to have your pictures printed elsewhere.

Your computer is important because this is where you will download, store, edit, review and any number of other things to your photographs. If you are using an older computer, make sure your operating system is compatible with the camera and software you will be using.

If you plan to do this professionally, you will also need to invest in software to help you get the most out of your digital photographs. Software used by professional digital photographers include Adobe Photoshop and ImageReady.

How to take great digital photographs

There are seven main steps to ensuing that you take professional looking digital photographs. These are:

Subject: Pose your subject with care. Even with the best software some faults cannot be totally corrected.

Lighting: Right light is important in digital photography as the appearance of your subject will be affected if lighting is wrong. Too harsh a light will show up wrinkles

ISO calibration: To ensure that your pictures don?t come out looking like they were done by a total novice, check to ensure that your camera is properly calibrated. Getting the right camera setting can be the difference between brilliant pictures and blah.

Composition: Good photography is an art form, so your background is as important as your subject. Too much clutter in your picture will make the result look unprofessional.

White balance: If you want to ensure that your photograph has natural looking colors, then make sure to manually set the white balance.

Don?t be afraid to experiment: Do creative crazy things with your camera, the results may just surprise you. Remember, with a digital camera you can always delete the images if you do not want to keep them.

Zoom and flash: Practice using these features until you find what works best in different situations.

One point to remember about digital photography is that it cannot turn a lousy photography into a professional overnight, but with practice and learning you can become good at photography using a digital camera. And, with enough talent, business savvy, luck, downright determination and love of the craft you might even be able to turn it into a business venture.

Robert Provencher has been a professional portrait and wedding photographer for over 25 years. He has trained hundreds of professional photographers throughout North America in live workshops and through his online forum. Robert has authored several manuals on digital photography and photogaphy marketing. http://www.nobsphotosuccess.com

Architecture Photography.

2009-04-01T23:27:00.000-07:00

As a photographer, architecture offers many different challenges, especially for the new photographer. Technically, buildings can be very demanding to photograph, but the key in solving this and attaining good images is understanding image distortion and finding the best time to capture the building at its most glamorous moment.

Image distortion: When we look at a standard building, we see lines running horizontal and vertical. These lines often appear distorted and will make your image look warped. Image distortion occurs when we choose the wrong point to take our picture or use the wrong equipment.

With most SLR cameras a certain amount of image distortion will occur. Shooting directly in front of the building will limit your options but will limit the amount of distortion in your image.

View cameras are ideal cameras for architectural photography. They minimise distortion and allow you to shoot from any angle. If you are serious about architectural photography, an investment in a View Camera is something to consider.

Your lens may also make your image look distorted. A wide-angle lens will make the front of the building look massive compared to the rear.

If you are photographing a tall building, don?t shoot too near to the base. This will make the base of the building look too large compared to the top. Find a high advantage point, if possible, to take your picture.

Different light brings out different moods in a building. Just as with all other types of photography, studio photography being the exception, the time of day can make a big difference to an image. A building that looks plain and uninteresting during the day can be transformed by lighting at night. Also look out for photos that tell a story such as an office block with a single light on.

Side lighting will create long shadows along the front of the building adding mood to your image.
Back lit buildings are extremely difficult to photograph and are only effective as a photograph when captured as a silhouette.

Most buildings are best captured at night and if possible shoot when there is detail left in the sky. You don?t need the most costly camera gear on the market to get great building pictures at night - bring plenty of film and a good sturdy tripod.

Architectural photography doesn?t finish when the outside of the building is finished. Images of the interior of buildings are also in demand with many agencies. Great care should be taken when photographing the interior as elements within the interior may be distracting to the final image result. Remove any object that may interfere with your image.

Industrial photography is also as demanding and rewarding as any other type of photography. Take extra care when approaching large structures, use standard photography techniques and use the light creatively to add humour and mood.

Architecture photography is very demanding, but the rewards are great for any person that masters the technique. But like all types of photography - practice makes perfect.
TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer. For more tips you can visit his photography site. To view his images visit his on-line gallery of pictures of Ireland or see his travel site.#BREAK#

Saving Money on Wedding Photography

2009-03-25T02:02:00.000-07:00

Weddings are momentous occasions to all people involved; especially the families of the bride and groom. One very important aspect of a wedding is to commemorate the event with beautiful pictures so that the day never really disappears.

Hiring professional photographers is usually the preferred way for couples to capture the moments of their wedding forever.

Professional photographers can charge an obscene amount of money for their services at times, but there are a few ways that you can save money on photography at your wedding.

Here are some of things that you can do to save some of your money for the honeymoon instead. Lets take a look at what you can do.

1. Place disposable cameras on tables at your reception and let your guests capture special moments for you.

2. Ask a friend or family member to take special photos of the ceremony for you or videotape it

3. Check at colleges and universities who are studying photography and hire a student to do it. You can get professional looking photos for a fraction of the price.

4. Have your photographs taken before the wedding by having your wedding party to gather together at a professional photographers shop

5. Have your photos taken before the ceremony and keep the negatives yourself so that you can develop them later and make prints

During one of the most important days in your life, pictures and videos can make the day last forever. The above mentioned tips can also make sure that you will not go broke in the process.

When it comes to the disposable cameras, you can often find cameras that are decorated with wedding themes. If you cant, you can have the bridal party decorate them instead.

Using digital cameras can limit the amount of pictures that you have to take while making them easy to reproduce. Digital camera technology can make even an amateur take professional looking pictures. You can even use the prints to create thank you cards later that are personalized that show the guests and/or the bridal party.

For more tips and ideas on planning your wedding, check out The Ultimate Online Guide to Wedding Planning

Digital SLR Photography and You

2009-03-18T23:52:00.000-07:00

Digital cameras have been around for a number of years. If the individual has a lot of fun using it, perhaps it is time to move up by investing in something better that is available in the market. Technology has paved the way for the creation of the digital SLR camera.

The SLR stands for single lens reflex. In fact, many photographers have decided to use this more often. This is because it gives the user more control in the look of the final product.

When the SLR first came out, this was sold at about $5,000 a piece. With the increasing demand in the market, manufacturers have came out with different models so the average person can buy one of these for less than a thousand. Those who want to do better with the more affordable version then will have to buy extra lenses.

The SLR stands out because of the lens used in the camera. This just proves that the piece of glass in this device really makes a difference when the pictures are developed. The user can change the lens to get a farther shot but this will really boil down to the contrast and color.

Another nice feature about the SLR is that it comes with controls allowing the owner to change certain things in the photo before it is downloaded and printed. This may be complicated for those who are not familiar with it so the user should get comfortable with the camera before using it.

Since the SLR is quite expensive, it will be a good idea to get proper insurance for it. This device fetches a good price in the market if someone should stumble into one which will really hurt anyone?s pocket should this be stolen.

There are many brands of SLR cameras in the market. All of these manufacturers have been in the business for quite some time, which makes it hard to recommend which one is the best to invest in.

Photographers and other hobbyists then should go with the brand that the individual is familiar with and use this to get those digital SLR shots. After all, this is the only way to use this piece of equipment and get the money?s worth out of this investment.

The owner should also know how to store and clean the SLR camera. It is only with proper maintenance and storage that excellent shots can be taken every time this is brought out.

Low Jeremy maintains http://digital-photography.articlesforreprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

In the Field of Editorial Photography... is Thievery a Problem?

2009-03-16T04:51:00.000-07:00

A photobuyer calls you and says, "We like the photos you sent us and have scanned two dozen of them into our database."

"You what...?" is your response.

The photobuyer responds, "You have a lot of pictures that we feel we could use in the future. We're building an in-house reference file. Any problems with that?"

Consider it a compliment. Scanning of photos by a photobuyer needn't be a threatening experience. Twenty-five years ago, when photocopy machines were new, a buyer copying a photo "for the files" seemed tantamount to copyright infringement to stock photographers. Gradually, however, stock photographers saw they were getting sales from the photocopied reference photos on file with photobuyers.

The same is happening today with scanning. The photobuyer scans photos to obtain low resolution (i.e. not reproduction-quality) "thumbnail-size" images to put into their reference "view-only" database. A software program cross-references them.

In the future, scanning your selections will be commonplace. No need to fear thievery any more than you do at the present. And particularly if you are working within the confines of a photobuying community where you know your buyers and they know you. It?s important to remember that the editorial photobuying community that you are working in makes all the difference in the world when it comes to the issue of thievery. It would be rare to hear of larceny.

In the editorial stock photo field, I?ve never heard of a photobuyer intentionally "stealing" a photo. There?d be no sense to it. The photo editor has a budget to work with; there?s no material profit to him or her to ?borrow? a photo on the sly. Besides, the photo will be seen by hundreds, thousands of viewers. Most gangsters say this is not a profitable way to get away with something illegal.

In commercial stock photography, however, there can be a different attitude and circumstances. The commercial field can brew more reasons and opportunity to "borrow" someone?s photo, especially for a local or regional brochure or promotion.

If you?re involved strictly in editorial stock photography, the above kind of information might be news to you. If you deal extensively in commercial stock photography, it?s not a surprise.

You have a choice which area you want to work in.

Scanned images come in a variety of forms. The 72 dpi-scanned image is an excellent reference image. However, the image can be ?decompressed? and in some cases be used as a 300-dpi image.

A graver problem regard digital images is that it's possible to easily pass them on to others (swapping). If an ad agency goes out of business (check the Yellow Pages and you?ll see how often this happens from year to year), or photobuyers begin trading images, your images, or parts of yours, could be involved in the action.

THEY KNOW YOU

Again, however, if you are working as a specialist and deal with repeat buyers in the editorial field, you will know your buyers and they will know you. You can encourage these folks, potential repeat buyers, to scan your photos for their reference files.

I should say that I am in the minority on advocating that you allow photobuyers to scan your photos. But most of those with the opposite view are in the commercial field, or are editorial stock photographers who spend a portion of their time on commercial work.

My own thirty-five years of involvement in and observing stock photography, tell me that for the editorial stock photographer, thievery has never been a problem. But if you are like most people, and want to deal in both the editorial and commercial divisions of the stock industry, it is an important issue to consider. With this in mind, here?s one photographer?s negative experience.

Ann Purcell is an author and nationally-known travel photographer. She relates this adventure with a commercial client who scanned some of her images:

?Here?s one of my experiences with scanned in-house reference photos. One of my photo agencies sent a selection of photos to a printer company for an ad. None of the photos were selected to be used, but they were all scanned. Lo and behold, about six months later, one of the photos came out as a full-page ad for the printing company. The company ended up paying me $15,000 for the copyright infringement.

?They also paid me $10,000 for use of the picture. Then they must have changed photo researchers, because....... Lo and Behold.....Six months later, another follow-up ad used the SAME photo, again without permission! This time they paid $10,000 for the use/copyright infringement of the picture. That's $35,000, all due to having had in-house reference scans and photo researchers who knew nothing about USA copyright laws!?

Yes, this does happen in commercial stock photography. But does it happen when you deal with editorial publishers such as textbook companies, book publishers and magazines? Rarely, and then it?s usually an honest mistake. We?re all entitled to a few of those. -RE

Rohn Engh is director of PhotoSource International and publisher of PhotoStockNotes. Pine Lake Farm, 1910 35th Road, Osceola, WI 54020 USA. Telephone: 1 800 624 0266 Fax: 1 715 248 7394. Web site: http://www.photosource.com/products

Wedding Photography And Video - Event Photography And Video

2009-03-08T23:18:00.000-07:00

Your wedding is one of the most pleasant and memorable events of yourlife. It is once???in???a-lifetime event. This is the day you remember for years to come. You spend a significant amount of time planning for this day. After months of anxious waiting for this day, it finally arrives. From the time you wake up till you say bye to your last guest, you hardly get the time to think that it is actually happening. Then you find that the event is over and what you are left with is all your memories of the day.

Every time you think about it, you start living those moments again and again. This is the time you realize why it is so important to have a professional photographer and videographer on that special day to capture those magical moments of your wedding. These people capture an d create the unforgettable images and video that will be treasured for years to come. As you won't be able to look at all corners of the reception hall at once to catch all of the special moments of the day, it the duty of a professional photographer to take care of all that. After years, it will be priceless to watch and listen your friends and relatives just as they were, gathered around you on this day of days. Your wedding video also tells the true story of your event from start to finish. V ideo is a great way to capture the moments of your event forever. It preserves the moments exactly as they happened. A videographer follows alongside you in your closest moments to capture all those personalities that make the day special for you.

Event photography and videography are two sides of the same coin. They run in parallel to each other. Event photography runs in many sessions throughout the day. It is not just limited to the wedding ceremony and reception. It includes informal engagement, pre???ceremonies at home or site, formal group photos of families and guests and a lot more. Event photography is like an art which demands proper equipment and the right skills. It requires the person to be creative and effective under pressure. A professional event photographer has all the training and experience required to create unforgettable images and preserve the memories of your event day. He has in depth technical knowledge of all aspects of conventional and digital photography.

To select the right event photographer and videographer is vital in ensuring that your event runs smoothly. As soon as your event date is finalized, you should start your search for a professional photographer and videographer. At this point, it becomes difficult to decide which one to choose for the day. What's good for one may not be the best option for another. A lot of your friend and relatives might tell you about different photographers, but whomever you choose, it is important to feel comfortable with the person. He should be someone whom you can trust as well as enjoy his or her company.

When you ask for photographers' portfolios for sample work, it is better to look for whole event albums. An album from beginning to end is much more accurate representation of a photographer's work. Try to judge the photographer's style from his work. Try to search for the images where the photographer has shown the alertness to capture natural spontaneous images. For videography, inquire about the type of video camera and technology that they will use. Use of highest quality technology such as wireless microphone in videography provides a better sounding movie throughout the video.

After you have selected a photographer and videographer, discuss about the prices, deposits, packages, quantity of pictures, etc. Most studios offer a number of packages to work within your budget varying in number of hours, images, and a definite number of final pictures in an album. Better photographers charge the higher rates.

After you have finalized the photographer and videographer, discuss your event day schedule with them so that everything runs smoothly without confusions.

After the event is over, receive proofs from your photographer so that you can choose your favorite images to be developed and enlarged. You can also purchase the additional copies in the future as photographers keep the negatives for a specified number of years.

Babylon Toronto Weddings Photography Dj Video Dj Limo Services Wedding Photography & Video Productions Toronto we specialize in individually tailored Wedding Photography, Videos and DVD's, offering an experienced, highly professional and afford.

Starting A Children's Portrait Photography Business

2009-03-04T22:04:00.000-08:00

Are you a photographer? Do you have the patience of a saint and enjoy children? Then starting a children's portrait photography business may be the right career move for you. Being a photographer is a great career choice. It also happens to be the most profitable and competitive business endeavors out there. The great things about photography whether you are starting a children's portrait photography business or just like photography as a hobby is that pictures transcend cultural, language, and personal barriers like no other art medium. If you are interested in staring your own photography business please consider the following points below.

If you are interested in doing photography professionally you want to first choose which type of photography you want to start your career with. There are several different types which include fashion, child, sports, high fashion, outdoor, wedding, and studio. All of these choices allow you, as a photographer, to use your skills each and every day. There is a huge market in all these fields, so there is no need to base your decision on what will make you the most money. There is just as much opportunity for profit in high fashion as in starting a children's portrait photography business.

You will also need a good bit of equipment. As a novice photographer you might have quite the collection of gear but be prepare to spend even more money on on studio equipment. Make sure you buy the necessary items for the particular type of photography you will be doing. In addition if you are starting a children's portrait photography business then you might want to consider having a ton of toys and snacks available for your young clients as well as fun outfits.

It is extremely important to market and advertise your photography services. Make sure you have professional looking business cards, letterhead, and business information packets. Make sure you take out advertisements in the local and regional newspapers and magazines. You might also want to consider taking some free photographs just to get people interested and acquainted with your new business. If you are going to be starting a children's portrait photography businesses then you might want to consider making arrangements with local schools or the boys clubs to do some freebies for community groups.

Regardless of your choice of career within photography it can be a very rewarding choice. It will give you the ability to meet a number of unusual and interesting people. It will expand your knowledge of the world, the understanding of your fellow humans, and of yourself. Live your dream today, make a great income, love what you do - start your own photography business!

Dustin Cannon is owner of Niche Article Club and writes on a variety of subjects related to home business. To learn more about home business Dustin recommends that you visit: WarrenSmith.ws

How To Sell Your Pictures As Stock Photography

2009-02-27T23:24:00.000-08:00

I love taking pictures. I just can?t get enough. The more pictures I take the better I want to get. This also means that the more pictures I take; the more high quality equipment I want. It?s an addiction. Many photography hobbyists have the same problem I do. If you don?t want to pour all your money into your photography hobby, there is another option. You can turn that photography hobby into a successful photography business. A great way to get started doing this is through stock photography. Businesses all over are looking for pictures to use in brochures, websites, advertisements, and more. These businesses will happily pay for your pictures rather than hire a photographer to take pictures for them. Here are some tips on how to get started on making money from your photography.

The first thing you need to do to start your stock photography business is to decide if you want to sell your pictures on micro or macro stock photography sites. Micro stock sites (ie. istock, dreamstime, and shutterstock) operate on the premise that if you offer photography at a low price, you?ll get more sales (which they do). These sites sell pictures for as low as a dollar for small sizes, up to ten or twenty dollars for a large copy of your picture. They also offer other options like allowing prints, and exclusive license (they pay you a lot more but you can no longer sell the picture to anyone else). Photographers get a percentage of the sale, which can vary from 20 to 80 percent of the sale price. Many photographers don?t like these sites because they sell photography for much less than they feel it?s worth, but many small businesses rely on them for affordable stock pictures. The other option is macro stock photography (ie Alamy and MyLoupe). You will probably sell A LOT fewer pictures on macro stock sites, but on these sites you make significantly more per picture, usually around $250 per photo (as opposed to the 60 cents I made off my first micro sale). Most of these sites will only accept pictures with over 6MP, but if your camera has fewer pixels, you can learn to upsize your photo in an editing program. While it is your own choice which route to take, many photographers start out on micro sites and then start moving their best pictures over to macro photography sites as their skills improve. You should note that some macro sites will not do business with photographers who sell their work on micro sites, so be sure to check their policies before uploading.

Once you?ve started uploading pictures, you need to remember not to stop. The more pictures you have online, the more sales you will make. Most sites have uploading limits and if you can, you should try to put up as many pictures as you are allowed. You should also put your pictures on as many sites as possible. Many people have their favorite stock site and only look for pictures there. This means you can put shots up on multiple sites; although many sites will guarantee you a higher percentage if you decide to upload a picture to their site exclusively. I would try not to overlap picture on macro and micro sites since someone probably wont pay $300 for a picture they can get for $1.

The next key to becoming a top seller is to take pictures with content that sells. Whatever you?re subject is, you will almost assuredly sell more pictures if the background is a solid color. Black and white are the best, but any solid color will work. Generally people want a subject without a background. If the background is a solid color, it?s much easier to remove with an editing program. If you want to know what subjects sell best, most sites have a section where you can see their most popular downloads. Just remember to get inspiration from these photographs, don?t copy them. If all else fails, you can never go wrong with pictures of people. You will need to get releases signed ahead of time for pictures of people with recognizable faces and also of recognizable property.

Hopefully these tips will help you get started making money with your photography. Just remember that, just like getting the perfect shot, starting your business takes time. You just need to work hard and not give up, no matter how slowly it starts. Many people started out slowly and are now making enough on stock photography sites to take photographs full time.

Lawren Graf writes for DigitalShotsGuide.com. To learn more digital photography tips, and cool photography techniques to use in your portfolio, visit us.

Photography Has Now Become Easier With Nokia N73

2009-02-20T04:25:00.000-08:00

If you are thinking of buying a mobile phone with a camera which can give you good photographs then Nokia N73 would be the best option for you? Nokia N73 has a sophisticated digital camera with dedicated controls to capture, zoom and a slide for fast camera activation. The large 2.4 inch viewfinder frames your composition in a beautiful manner.

The Nokia N73 comes with 3.2 mega pixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics helps in providing vivid photo quality. The images are sharper, with greater detail even in the low light condition. Here you can also share your photos. Just by pressing one key you can review, send and print them.

Apart from having so many features for photography, you can use Nokia N73 for your business purpose as well. You can keep your content and data with this mobile phone and use it with your PC.

There are a lot of good nokia contract 3g mobile phones and best nokia 3g mobile phone deals. The THREE tariff plan offers the best plans with exciting gifts. Video talk and text 1100 offers a 12 months contract with ?45 line rental. In which you get the mobile phone absolutely free with 8 months of half line rental as an incentive. Apart from that you also get 600 minutes and 400 texts per month free. Insurance for 3 months would be an added advantage with it, as it will give a saving of ?180.

With the video talk and text 1300, you get 9 months half line rental and the cost of line rental is ?60.Here also you get free ?270 of insurance. Apart from getting the handset free, you are going to get 1000 minutes and 150 texts monthly free.

In the video talk and text 700 you will have to give as less as ?35 line rental where you get 3 months half line rental as an incentive and 400 minutes with 250 texts per month free. When so many things are free in this 3g contract mobile phones, it would be a wise decision from your side to go for these deals.

If you want to know more about the deals, tariff plans on Nokia N73 3g mobile phone please visit: http://www.free3gmobilephoneoffers.co.uk.

Digital Photography Schools

2009-02-16T03:58:00.000-08:00

In recent years, with the advance of digital cameras and computer technology, the photo industry has been revolutionized. Modifications and enhancements to the photograph can be made without risking. To learn these techniques, you can enroll in a digital photography school.

At the beginning of your study in a digital photography school, you would still be taught the basics using an analog or manual camera. The reason being, most of the functions in a digital camera are simply enhancements of the old analog model. The fundamentals of photography are better understood with a manual camera. By learning how to do things manually, you can achieve the same thing with ease using a digital camera.

Familiarizing yourself with your camera would allow you to achieve to create black and white photographs, negative images, tricks you can do with your exposure and shutter speed, and different exposures. You would be taught how to use different flashes to create the best photo expects. You will also get familiarized with the importance of lenses. By learning the differences between each lens and what scenario to use each, you would be able to produce stunning pictures.

Part of learning digital photography is learning how to make enhancements in your pictures with the use of your computer. As part of your curriculum, you would be taught how to do digital workflow and file management. You would also dive into basic digital image editing. Knowing how to make enhancements to your photographs is one of the essences of digital photography. The ability to put one or more photographs together as if it was taken as one is part of the whole learning process.

Once you get down and dirty with digital photography, you can explore your options with different genres such as portraits, documentary, sports, landscapes, wildlife, travel, night shots, fashion and the like.

Photography School provides detailed information on Photography School, Online Photography Schools, Top Photography Schools, Digital Photography Schools and more. Photography School is affiliated with Interior Design Schools.

Photography School

2009-02-13T22:35:00.000-08:00

If you have the desire to capture special moments and freeze them in timeless photographs, then you already have one key ingredient to becoming a good photographer. But, if course, you have to supplement your desire with training. Hobbyists can learn how to shoot with the most advanced cameras and deliver captivating pictures effortlessly. To be able to move on from being good to being great, it is encouraged that you seek expert training in a photography school.

Photography schools are scattered all over the place and you should not have a hard time looking for one. There is no age qualification for most photography schools. What you would want to do is look at the portfolios of the instructors to see the level of their expertise and their reputation. Most distinguished universities offer photography courses and some even specialize in it. Here, more advanced students can go deeper in their photography training and get to brush elbows with the industry?s elite.

You would be taught how to use different cameras. You would learn the differences between a regular point-and-click camera from an SLR and the different lenses you can use to capture different images. Creative techniques, color theories, composition and the control of your photograph and pre-visualization could be part of your curriculum.

To become a great photographer, you would have to learn how to play around with colors by using different films like black and white, color negative or color transparency both for digital and analog cameras and zone system. You also need to familiarize yourself with the equipment you would be using, the different type of flashes, the lenses, exposures and shutter speeds of your camera and how to get the proper light ratios.

Online Photography Schools

2009-02-04T23:19:00.000-08:00

Have you been a photography hobbyist for a very long time? Are you now thinking of enrolling in photography school to enhance your skills but do not have the time? What is your choice of equipment? Do you prefer using those analog/manual type cameras or are you a techie who loves the flexibility that your digital SLR gives you? Whichever equipment you use, the principle you need is the same, and there are online schools you can enroll in and take classes at your own pace.

Learning photography from an online school would not limit you because of your age. As long as you have an Internet connection, you are good to go. By enrolling yourself in an online photography school, you will get access to their virtual library on the best techniques to utilize and what equipment you can use to enhance your pictures. You will probably begin by learning the basics using a manual SLR camera. With this kind of camera, you can easily see the different components of photography ? from the aperture to the shutter speed, exposures and cropping.

With a digital camera, you will learn that you can opt to produce sepia images with ease. You can access tutorials on lighting techniques and the different lighting utilities and lenses for photo enhancements. A lot of websites offer tips for even the most casual photographers.

You can find lessons on creative techniques used by professionals and how they produce photographs for different genres such as portraits, fashion, documentary, sports, landscape, macro, wildlife, travel, night photos, advertisements and the like. These techniques can help you capture breathtaking images to capture special moments in a person?s life or even something historical.

If you use your computer to help you in your photography, you can also find lessons in digital file management and basic layering and masking using your photo editing software.

How To Treat Yeast Infections: Natural Help That Works!

2009-02-01T22:35:00.000-08:00

Candida Albicans, also referred to as yeast, is an irritating medical condition that is very widespread and often misdiagnosed. It is so often misdiagnosed because of its many symptoms, and most doctors are not familiar with it unless it manifests itself as thrush, jock itch, or a yeast infection.

The yeast problem is really two faceted. It shows itself as localized infections, like rashes, or vaginitis. It can also show itself as the more serious systemic reactions like sinus headaches, ear aches, foggy thinking, mood swings, depression, cravings for sweets and other high carb foods, achy joints, rashes or hives, a white tongue and many other health complaints.

There are some common factors among people who suffer from Candida which include:

? Use of antibiotics

? Stress

? A diet high in sweets and carbs

? Junk food

? Steroids

? Birth control pills

? Heavy alcohol consumption

There is hope, however. As a nutritional consultant I see clients and help them to clear up their yeast naturally. Depending on their commitment to ridding their body of this yeast overgrowth there are a couple of ways to address it.

For those that are not quite ready to make a diet change, the first thing that I recommend is getting on enzymes.

Enzyme therapy is very helpful in killing off the yeast overgrowth.

Mega doses of amylase and protease enzymes taking 3 times a day on an empty stomach has proven to be very effective if taken for 1-3 weeks. Taking on the empty stomach is essential to the success of this program.

When taken on an empty stomach, the enzymes enter the blood and find the yeast and eat through the yeast cells wall and digest the yeast from the inside out.

If you are serious about killing off the yeast I also recommend a yeast diet. This diet is similar in many ways to the Atkins diet in that the foods eaten will be low carb. On this diet, foods that are ok to eat are meats, (except processed meats with nitrates) white cheese (except blue cheese), all vegetables (except beets, carrots, tomatoes, corn and mushrooms); the only fruits allowed are low glycemic such as grapefruit, berries, and granny smith apples. It is also important to avoid alcohol and caffeine.

I also like for people to take some supplements on this program.

It is wise to take the same enzyme therapy listed above, a good probiotic formula to help get some healthy flora back into the intestines, minerals to help alkalize the body, and a good multi-vitamin to ensure proper nutrition on this program.

While Candida Albicans is a serious health condition, and if left unchecked can create a wide array of other health problems, it can be kept in check.

If you suspect that you have this condition and would like help cleansing the body, I recommend seeking out a good natural doctor or chiropractor, or seek the advice from your local trusted health food store.

Jeff Wendland is a professional nutrition counselor who has worked in the natural health field for ten years. He publishes the Jeff's Healthy Living nutrition and diet Website (http://www.jeffshealthyliving.com).

Top Photography Schools

2009-01-29T22:28:00.000-08:00

Do you have an eye for compelling images or do you have the desire to capture special moments or keep old memories in prints? If you have the desire, but believe you do not have the skills, there are top photography schools where you can take photography lessons from the best the world can offer. There are mostly no restrictions in enrolling in one. You can choose between using the traditional analog cameras or move in to the more advance digital cameras. Whichever you may select, most of the training would be the same.

Most top photography schools are located in cosmopolitan centers all over the world. Cities like New York, Paris and London boast some of the best schools and teachers in this industry. Most top universities also offer great courses in photography.

Top photography schools would have you take a class on the historical background of the industry of photography. They do it to try and give you a sense of appreciation in the changes that the industry has gone through, through the years. These top schools would make sure that by the time you leave their campus, you are an expert in handling different kinds of cameras ? from analogs to a digital model ? and the different equipments that are available to you.

You would learn how to do flash photography and how to use different flashes, different lenses, studio equipments and lighting for portraiture. They would teach you not only the technical aspects of handling the camera, but the creative techniques as well ? the composition and the photographic controls and the pre-visualization of capturing the photograph. You would know how to capture and develop stunning images both colored and black and white alike.

You would be taught advance techniques such as red eye reduction, digital work flow, digital file management, and some basic computer techniques. With these skills, you would be able to not only capture images but make enhancements on them. Top photography schools convert you from a hobbyist to a world-class photographer.

Photography and Bad Weather Conditions

2009-01-24T02:56:00.000-08:00

When dark clouds roll into the sky most photographers run for shelter, but the ones who stay out and brave the weather can sometimes capture the most amazing photos. Bad weather can give photographers a chance to capture rain photos, snow photos, or even lightning photos. In the world of photography the rarer and harder to capture photos tend to sell for a higher price; so there is a potentially large market for bad weather conditions if you are a photographer.

Rain Photography

When it rains outside the moisture tends to create a shiny surface on most materials. In the cities the rain causes the streets to shine and the buildings to look gloomy. In the countryside the grass can shine with the right amount of light and droplets of water hanging from branches and leaves often sparkle. The clouds that accompany the rain also diffuse the available sunlight spreading it equally and removing shadows. I have found that rain can create amazing landscape, wildlife, and even portrait photos. Animals tend to curl up or tuck their heads into their fur in order to keep dry and warm offering some amazing nature photo opportunities. Portrait photos in the rain can also be very compelling because the light reflected off of people?s faces can often dominate the frame because the rain dampens the light reflected off of surroundings.

When it rains you will probably have to use either a longer shutter speed or a wider aperture because the clouds tend to also block out direct sunlight. In order to be prepared for rain you should have a waterproof bag for your camera as well as an umbrella or something else that you can use to shield the top of the lens so water doesn?t reach the front of the lens and leave water droplets. I also always carry a tripod in the rain so I can make sure that I can do a long enough exposure without having the results blurry from cold shaky hands.

Lightning

Many photographers spend hours trying to capture a bolt of lightning lighting up the scene in their photos. Lightning is definitely one of the hardest things to capture in a photograph. It definitely requires a tripod and often requires a very long shutter speed. Most photographers try to capture lightning by using the ?bulb? option of shutter speed where the photographer simply just manually holds the shutter open as long as necessary until a bolt of lightning streaks through the sky and then the photographer closes the shutter right after the lightning passes so it is as bright as possible in the frame.

Snow Photography

Snow can change a landscape photo into a winter wonderland photo. The whiteness of the snow tends to add a nice contrast to the normal colors of a scene which makes for very effective photos. Snow photos can also make for unique nature photos and can often sell for a higher price because they are so appealing. Unfortunately some snowy locations where the very rare animals live such as penguins and polar bears are very hard to reach and require a great deal of risk and effort.

Bright and white snow can be trickier to capture effectively then most photographers think. The light readers on cameras tend to see snow as very bright so it sets the exposure for the brightness of the snow leaving the background and other objects almost as dark as a silhouette. Most experienced photographers overexpose the snow photos they take leaving the snow as bright as it is in real life and the rest of the frame well-exposed as it should be. Snow can also disrupt the camera?s automatic white balance sensor so you should also make sure that you either adjust the white balance to suit the snow or switch the auto white balance mode to the snow white balance mode.

Storm Chasing

There are many serious and adventurous photographers that have devoted their careers to getting the best photos of hurricanes and tornadoes that Mother Nature has to offer. This type of photography is very dangerous but can also provide some high priced photos that are demanded by magazines and news conglomerates all over the country. Extreme storm photos are one of the only types of photos that can bring fear to the viewers who have the privilege of seeing them. They can also inspire wonder in viewers at the destructive power and forces of nature.

Storm photography requires some durable equipment and different techniques then other more normal types of photography. Some photographers stay relatively far away from the storm and just have to deal with rain and high winds. These photographers usually have covers and lens cleaners that they can use to clear the lens of water droplets quickly before they are ready to take a photo. Other photographers commonly leave cameras set up on tripods in the paths of a storm that they can operate by remote control from a safe location. These cameras are put in protective cases and have special tripods that can be drilled into the ground.

Conclusion

Bad weather should be looked at as an opportunity by photographers instead of as a nuisance that is avoided. Some of the best photos that I have taken have been in situations where there was rain, snow, or wind. I recommend that all serious photographers should carry a tripod and some kind of covering that can be used shield the camera from wind and moisture if they are going on a long trip with unpredictable weather. The successful photographers are the ones that are ready and willing to deal with difficult circumstances that other photographers would normally avoid.

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 there is free high resolution desktop wallpaper available.

How to Start a Home Based Photography Business

2009-01-12T22:05:00.000-08:00

Digital Photography Basics - Black & White

2008-11-07T22:00:00.000-08:00

One of the least explored creative uses of the digital camera is black and white photography. With a little practice in developing an eye for when it will be effective, taking photos in black and white can be a rewarding addition to your photographic repertoire.

The biggest problem beginning photographers have when experimenting with monotone photography is knowing how to look at a picture with grayscale in mind. Color tone, or contrast, takes on a much larger importance, since the ordinary color distinctions are lost. Training your eye to register color intensity takes some effort. To help speed up this process, use the black and white setting on the camera. Although there is no real advantage to this from the imaging standpoint, since even free photo editors admirably convert images to grayscale and sepia monotones, when you change the camera setting, the display changes, letting you actually see the picture as it will be. This helps to spot problems with color tones blending together, unwanted shadows, and other problems that wouldn't be noticeable in color. Practicing previewing in this way can help educate your eye, and soon you will become aware of the distinctions even without the camera.

With the removal of color, the photographer must look at his prospective image with new eyes: Linear patterns and shadows can be much more striking in black and white than in color. Look for lines and shapes that define the images - photos that would be quite ordinary in color take on drama in monotones. The ratio of darks to lights (contrast) affects your shot more drastically as well. To create a delicate sense, you can fill the image with light area, creating an otherworldly look. A more somber shot might have a higher ratio of dark space. Experiment with mood - it can often be more easily expressed with the simplicity of black and white.

Black and white portrait photography can produce extraordinary results. The loss of color can mean the loss of many potential defects - blemishes, flushes, red noses and the like can fade away, leaving a more flattering shot than one truer to the real thing. Careful lighting can either accentuate features like wrinkles, or reduce them. Try to choose the lighting to help show what you want to say. Generally, it is best to fill the frame with your subject, unless there is something in the background that is important to the story you are telling about him. Remember, simple images are often the strongest.

Scenery photography can also be more dramatic in black and white. One of the problems in photographing distant points is haze that washes out the colors. This is no problem in black and white! Bring out nature's drama by using light and dark rather than color. Anyone who has doubts about nature photography in black and white need only look at Ansel Adams' work.

Whether you've tried monotone photography before and haven't been thrilled, or it's a new experience for you, you can learn to take stunning photographs in this manner. The basic elements of good photography are the same - composition, contrast, depth of field, focus, lighting, exposure, etc. You just need to learn to see slightly differently - contrast, lighting and exposure have more impact on the final image, and need to be considered more carefully. However, with some practice (and with digital film there is no need to be stingy about the number of exposures), someday you may find your best photos to be in black and white.

Interested in learning more about digital photography basics? Then visit http://www.DigitalPhotography4All.com where you can get real information for regular folks, and lots of ideas to improve your own digital photography.

All The Secrets Of Digital Photography

2008-10-30T22:47:00.000-07:00

It's unbelievable how many people are beginning to take part in amateur digital photography these days. Most amateurs are actually becoming quite good and infact turning professional quickly due to the fact that technology has improved a vast amount over the turn of the century. So what is involved in amateur digital photography? This is a question that everyone wants to know and it's easy, very little! With this said however, there are still things that you must know so that you can constantly imrprove the quality of the photos you are taking.

So What Are The Advantages?

One advantage to amateur digital photography is knowing immediately which photos you may want or need to retake. On most digital cameras when the picture is taken it shows on the LCD screen and you know immediately if it?s in focus, heads are cut off and so on. You can retake the shot at the time and not whine about how bad it turned out later.

Amateur digital photography is a growing hobby as the price of quality cameras are coming down and the software to manipulate the images is becoming easier to use. More and more people are taking the time to learn the finer points of amateur digital photography and finding the results are better than expected.

Hobby Not Just For the Kids

It's a funny paradox that most people nowadays who take up photography are more likely to be older retirees who have a limited knowledge-base of technology. Fortunately there are classes that teach people all there is to know about digital photography. When this form of technology first hit cameras, many people were skeptical of buying cameras that they may not know how to use or would have difficulties with, just as they had difficulties with their computers.

This of course is not true at all, as digital photography was actually invented as an easier way to take, store and print photos and it's funny to see that many of these people who were skeptical at the time are now the ones praising such an amazing feat for technology.

One of the most popular recent editions to the digital photography world are the new printers that people can buy along with their cameras. These printers make it fast and easy for people who are wanting to print out the photos immediately as soon as they are taken. All that is required is to place the digital camera inside the corresponding printer, by that I mean the printer that supports the type of camera you have, and press print. Also it's important to note that you will need to buy proper printing paper that is only used for photographs. Using normal paper will reduce the quality of the photos once they have been printed.

If you don't wish to buy one of these printers, then there is another option. You can take your digital camera or just the memory stick into any digital printing shop and pay to have someone print them for you. This works out to be a little bit more expensive on the whole, however the quality of the photos you are having printed will be second to none.

If you want to learn more about photography including free information, reviews and much more, or you want to join our free weekly newsletter then please visit - photography courses (Recommended) or for more free articles all about photography visit Photography Blog.

Travel Photography: Packing Camera Gear for a Trip

2008-10-24T03:01:00.000-07:00

So you've decided to take a trip - that's fabulous! You're excited about capturing photos along the way, but how do you make sure you've remembered everything you need to pack? Well first, each person has a different approach to taking photos while away from home, so to help you figure out what you need to pack, consider the following concepts.

Concept #1: How many photos will you take?

When it comes to photography and trips, it's all about the balance of time spent snapping photos and time spent doing activities or relaxing; it's about how you want to experience your trip. Are you the type of person who spends hours waiting for the right light before taking a photo, or do you snap a single shot and move on? Are you trying to get the artsy shot or are you perfectly happy just to record the scene once? Part of your plans to take photos will depend on who you're travelling with and whether you're on a pre-scheduled trip, or free to make your own schedule. Are you travelling with someone who is a photo enthusiast, or will your travel mates grow impatient the instant you pause to take a shot? Have you signed up for an organized tour, or can you stay in a city for an extra 3 days if you wish? Are you planning to visit 30 cities in 30 days, or just 1 city in 2 weeks.

The number of shots you take will depend on who you are and the nature of your activities. For example, if you're hiking through forest or jungle for 8 days, you may be too tired to snap more than a few shots a day, let alone carry anything heavier than a small camera, whereas if you're staying in central Venice for 8 days, you may plan to take hundreds of shots a day and can easily change cameras or lenses should you need to go back to your hotel. Consider how active you plan to be - e.g. hiking vs bungee jumping vs rafting. Can you hold your camera securely, or do you need to rely on the camera strap, or even some other type of harness? Is your camera heavy, or do you have a lighter one? Are you willing to carry it in a large camera bag with various lenses and accessories, or would you prefer to have a small case that fits only the camera? The case or backpack that you bring to carry your camera and accessories in can make your trip very pleasant, or very unpleasant! The bottom line is that only you know yourself when it comes to snapping photos and what you're likely to do. Make sure you'll be physically comfortable with what you choose to bring or else your photography goals will be hard to achieve.

Memory card capacity is a major consideration for digital photographers when it comes to how many photos you can store; likewise film photographers need to know how much film to bring. Assess how many photos you plan to take per day, and come up with the total number you plan to take for the whole trip. Then look up how many photos will fit on each film or memory card; that should tell you how many of each you need to pack (or purchase). However, once you've calculated how much memory storage you have to pack, or how many film cartridges you need to carry, seriously consider doubling it; it's a lot easier to pack extra film or an extra memory card than spending time during your vacation buying an extra one. If you're anything like me, you'd rather spend your time looking through tacky souvenirs than searching for an internationally-known brand of film! Of course, if you're going the digital route, research the internet cafes near your lodging to see if they support USB downloads; perhaps you can burn a CD along your travels using these facilities. Or, if you're really gung-ho, pack a laptop or a video iPod and download your photos to a larger disk.

Concept #2: Airports and Customs

The obvious concern of travellers these days are the X-ray machines and what damage they can do. Digital cameras and memory cards have no reported incidences of damage from X-ray machines at airports, so you're pretty much safe if that's all you carry. Film photographers, however, do need to be concerned about film passing through X-rays, so be sure to pack your film in your carry-on luggage in a separate bag so that you can specifically request the bag be manually searched instead of X-rayed. Note that checked luggage typically have more damaging X-rays pointed at them, so checking your film is not a good idea. At modern airports, there tend to be fewer problems with X-ray damage, but I know a friend of mine who went to Iceland returned with blemishes on virtually all of his 12 rolls of film after airport authorities convinced him that X-rays would not damage the film. Better be safe than sorry.

The other concern is your destination country's customs laws and whether they limit the amount of camera equipment that you can bring, so do a little research on customs and check with your travel agent before you pack. Some countries may charge a fee or require you to bring special documentation, so it's best to go prepared. At a minimum, you should get your expensive equipment certified at your local customs before you go, so that re-entry is not a problem either.

Concept #3: Lighting conditions when you get there.

Flash will use up batteries faster than non-flash, as will using the built-in digital viewfinder on point & shoot digital cameras. So consider how much photography you'll be doing in low light. Museums and indoor photo opportunities may require flash, or use of a tripod, whereas sunny outdoor shots may need you to increase the brightness of your viewfinder.

Concept #4: Technical limitations on your hardware.

Let's face it: extreme temperatures can play havok with any mechanical or digital equipment. How hot or cold will it be where you stay? Will you be quickly going between air conditioning and hot humid weather, or will you be outdoors in frigid temperatures for more than a minute? You must weight the risk of fungus or heat damage to your film or memory cards versus convenience and the cost of replacing them. Also consider taking sealable bags to prevent condensation as you go between dry, cold hotel rooms, and steamy hot outdoor temperatures.

Do you plan to take underwater photos? If so, consider purchasing a disaposable underwater camera. These days, it seems most underwater cameras also float, but you need to figure out if that's what you want. Sometimes your camera will have a special underwater casing accessory for your camera that you can buy before your trip, but it likely won't float, so be sure you don't drop it in the ocean!

Digital photographers must consider battery life in foreign countries, and accessibility of throw-away batteries if rechargeable ones are not available. The DSLR that I own has a proprietary battery, but in case it dies, I purchased a AA battery accessory that lets you operate the camera on 6 AA batteries. Disposable AAA batteries are much more readily available than proprietary rechargeable ones, and I'd rather spend money on batteries than be without. Be careful, though; should you ever end up purchasing batteries in a foreign country, make sure you splurge on internationally known brands, rather than skimping on the cheap kind - I can't tell you how frustrated I was when I bought a brand I had never heard of in Switzerland only to find my camera detected they had no juice left!

Related to battery recharging, it's important to be aware of the power configuration in your destionation country. Do you need a power converter, or will your native power supply work? Do you plan to bring your AA battery recharger with you, or your priorietary battery charger? Check with your vendor to see if they recommend a particular power converter.

Concept #5: In case of damage...

Is there technical support available for your camera at your destination? If so, is it free, or do you have to pay for it? Can they fix your camera same-day, or replace it quickly if it outright dies? If your nearest camera shop is 500 km away, you may need to take a second camera with you, or tools to fix it yourself.

That's a lot to consider! But frankly it depends on your shooting style and your desitnation. On my trip Mexico, I took a disposable underwater camera, a small point & shoot, and a larger DSLR with a single primary lens. I left them locked in my room's safe, and only used one at a time, so it worked well for me. I took a small bag with which to dampen the affects of condensation because of rapid changes of air conditioning to humidity. But I also took a larger bag that had cleaners, spare batteries, and my AA battery pack - I used this when going inland to see Mayan communities since I knew I'd never go back and didn't want to risk coming away with no photos!

Jennifer Clarkson is a Canadian Photographer living in Ottawa. She is compiling a website of articles for Amateur Photographers to share knowledge about digital photography (http://www.jclarksonphotography.com). You can sign up to her Photography Forum to post questions and images, and you can rate the photos in her Photo Gallery. She is also compiling a series of eBooks for Beginners, and the first eBook is now available: Choosing your Digital Camera and Accessories.

Digital Photography for the Dummy

2008-10-16T23:01:00.000-07:00

To further help you in your digital quest for information on good photography, here are some tips that will make geniuses out of digital photography dummies.

Tone up.

Mad about macro

Flash it!

Low Jeremy maintains digital-photography.articlesforreprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

The Role Of The Wedding Photography Helper In Professional Wedding Photography

2008-10-13T00:03:00.000-07:00

Wedding photographers often employ wedding photography helpers to help them at weddings but what are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

Stock Photography, Royalty Free or Exclusive

2008-07-21T22:59:00.000-07:00

Rights Managed or Protected

Sometimes these types of licensing will support template use, greeting cards, calendars or posters and so on, but be sure to read or negotiate the terms before you use the image.

Exclusive Rights

If you hire an assignment photographer or commission work, you will also want to negotiate exclusive rights. Exclusive rights should be secured for book covers, CD jackets and so on.

Exclusive Rights can get costly, but for the rights and protection, they are well worth it.

Pamela Stevens

Pamela Stevens writes for TopTenREVIEWS.com, a review site that publishes unbaised reviews on a wide range of subjects, including software, online services, hardware, movies and actors.

How to Get Started in Digital Photography

2008-07-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

Whether you are a seasoned photographer or a novice, or just someone who want to do photography as a hobby, the first thing you need to be clear on is, what exactly is digital photography?

Digital photography is the use of a digital camera to capture / take an image that can be viewed on a computer screen. The main benefits of digital photography are:

You can see the result of your work right away

You can delete unwanted photographs instantly

You can easily and cheaply edit your photographs by improving the tone, retouching some areas, adding background etc.

Digital photographs can be send instantly via email

Except for batteries you do not need to constantly buy items to use in digital photography such as films.

Next you will need to decide on the type of digital camera to buy. This will of course depend on the following factors:

How much money you can spend

What is your goal, that is, why do you need to take digital pictures: business, hobby, personal What functionality do you want with your camera

How to take great digital photographs

There are seven main steps to ensuing that you take professional looking digital photographs. These are:

Subject: Pose your subject with care. Even with the best software some faults cannot be totally corrected.

Lighting: Right light is important in digital photography as the appearance of your subject will be affected if lighting is wrong. Too harsh a light will show up wrinkles

Composition: Good photography is an art form, so your background is as important as your subject. Too much clutter in your picture will make the result look unprofessional.

White balance: If you want to ensure that your photograph has natural looking colors, then make sure to manually set the white balance.

Zoom and flash: Practice using these features until you find what works best in different situations.

Delving into an Underwater Photography Adventure

2008-07-02T22:49:00.000-07:00

As years go by, the world of photography continues to reinvent itself along with the changes in technology. Its pillars continue to come up with better sets of equipment like cameras and constantly come up with new methods and strategies to produce better photograph.

Along with these changes is the emergence of modern photography method that enables man to reach and rediscover the beauty of uncharted territories like the ocean floor. This is called ?underwater photography.?

As the term suggests, underwater photography refers to the kind of photography that is done or taken under water. This is quite a breakthrough in the world of photography because underwater lovers such as divers and scuba divers because they can now take photos under the sea and share it with others with the use of modern equipment that can actually work well down under.

TAKING PHOTOS UNDER THE SEA

Aside from possessing the love and passion for the water and the creatures under, reliable equipment such as an underwater camera is the key factor for successful underwater photography. If you?re a diver who is not so much into underwater photography, you can now purchase disposable underwater cameras just to take photos. But if you would want to pursue a career in underwater photography, you will need much complicated equipment and gadgets.

The first thing you should consider is the camera to be used. In underwater photography, two kinds are usually used: the underwater or waterproof camera and the encased camera that has housing to protect the camera inside. Aside from camera, you should also take time to research and canvass what is the best lens, film, and flash you can use during your shoot.

Aside from the major technicalities and equipment, you should also consider several environmental factors that will greatly affect the quality of your underwater photos such as depth of water and transparency of water, available light, the angle of the sunlight on the top of the water, the backscatter, and the magnifying effect of water.

Here are some additional musts before you dive and click that shutter button:

1. Good or at least average diving skills. In order to be fully prepared for an underwater shoot, the underwater photographer should also possess good diving skills to be comfortable in taking photos.

2. An experienced underwater buddy. This person can serve as your model and can even help you carry your equipment and gear, hold the lights down under, and can even share the momentous experience.

3. Good managing skills?in managing resources, that is. You should learn to manage vital resources such as dive time, body heat, air, battery life, and the like in order to endure the physical strains under water.

4. Reliable camera housing. If you don?t have waterproof cameras, better look for a reliable camera housing so you wouldn?t put your investment to waste.

5.Gain expedition skills. Since your photo shoot will include exploration of different places under water, you will need to have great expedition skills to make the trip worthwhile.

6. Expect and hope for better chances. Since Lady Luck doesn?t smile at everybody, you should learn to prevent unavoidable circumstances by asking those who tried underwater photography before and learn from their experiences.

7. Take time to assess the weather. Overall weather condition, the waves, and visibility greatly affect and influence your underwater shoot. Make sure that you are ready to face these problems when they occur during the shoot unexpectedly.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Photography, please visit http://photography.articlekeep.com

Photography Tip: Adjust the Background to Spotlight Your Subject

2008-06-25T22:59:00.001-07:00

Many times the emphasis you want to place on the subject of your photo can be improved by first focusing your attention on the background. Objects, colors and other elements in the background can often diminish from what would otherwise be a great photograph.

When you are composing your image through your camera's viewfinder or LCD monitor, take a moment to focus on what is appearing behind and around the main subject. Our minds filter out elements that we're not concentrating on, so it is quite easy to overlook telephone poles or other vertical objects that seem to "grow out of the head" of your subject. Other people or things in the background may also seem to be attached to your subject because of their alignment. Colorful signs, bright colors, and other unusual objects in the background can vie for your viewer's attention.

If you notice that the background is affecting your photograph in a detracting way, the easiest solution may be to simply change position. A slightly different angle or perspective can make a huge difference in the final shot. The zoom feature of many cameras can be used to crop the edges of the photo; simply zoom in and out until extraneous objects are cut out and the ideal composition is found.

While a simple, plain background will help your subject stand out without much effort, patterned or colorful background elements do not necessarily have to be avoided. By adjusting the aperture and shutter speed of your camera manually, the focal length of the photo can be shortened so that your subject remains in crystal clear focus while the entire background is transformed into a blend of abstract colors and distracting objects are blurred past recognition.

Daniel Kluz is an Internet marketing and I.T. professional who has personally helped dozens of companies increase their sales with Search Engine Optimization and other Internet marketing strategies. His interest in digital cameras has been reinforced by his work at http://www.RitzCamera.com, and he contributes frequently to the digital photography blog at CamerasOnly.com.

Digital Photography Art

2008-06-19T22:33:00.000-07:00

Well we used to all go out and shoot images on our film cameras, run the film to the corner store or kiosk to get it developed and then once the prints were hand we tended to stick them away without much more than a few minutes notice. Those days are no more as digital photography has grabbed hold of the consumer marketplace. Now we have tons of images in our cameras, on our hard disks and the options of what to do with them are growing and growing every year.

Digital photography has now found its way into more than half of the homes in America. However most people still order out to get their images printed. Maybe it is not the corner film kiosk of the old days but there is still a very strong market for image printing. Nowadays you can take your images to Costco, the nearby photo store where they might have a digital printing kiosk in the store, or you can upload them to the various internet sites devoted to printing your images such as Shutterfly, Ofoto, and Snapfish to name a few.

Since the year 2000 the number of images converted into conventional prints has been steadily sliding down and could go 5% further this year. However due to the interesting rise of alternative ways to print your images the industry predicts that revenues will rise overall this year. Now why would that be?

Well it turns out that there are some very lucrative ways for companies to make money in the digital age including printing reproductions from digital photographs onto posters, stamps, postcards, T-shirts, chairs, wallpaper, and bronze plaques. Even ceramic tile is being used as a medium for digital printing as designers are using images to decorate them for spas, restaurants, and fireplace mantels.

We have now entered the era of functional art versus just decorative art. Now you can touch it and get a more personal feeling from your digital photography. In addition you can put these digital images on wood, stone, plastic, and metal as well as conventional paper of every type. Either through software on your own computer or through vendors consumers can print their images on birthday cards, calendars, and storytelling photo books that actually get used instead of being tucked away in a drawer like most of our albums of old.

The camera makers have done a fine job of selling digital cameras to the population, but now that they are so infused to the marketplace it will take some creativity to for them to make money off of these sales going forward beyond just getting us to upgrade our digital cameras every year or two.

That will require some new methods for organizing digital photos, new methods of displaying images (perhaps along the lines of the wireless digital display frames that have shown some promise of late) and the ability to print our own custom books using our own digital photographs. That is something that would stay out on display in my home!

Did you know that in the past ten years digital cameras have managed to be sold into over half the homes in the US? The prediction is that number could go as high as seventy per cent by the yearn 2009. Old line film companies like Kodak have had to scramble to move into the digital camera game, with a fair amount of success as they applied old film lessons to their line of digital cameras such as consumer simplicity first, but even they are still leaning on the sales of inks used to print images on computers to hold the profit line.

They have over 75,000 in store kiosks installed throughout the country and are planning for new ones that can handle 900 prints per hour! Retail is strong for getting your digital prints as the big stores such as Wal-Mart and Costco battle it out for your business and in the on line market the field has been whittled down to the strongest. That means that the price per print that was once in the high twenties has now dropped to around 17 cents per print on line and 21 cents per print in store.

So where do you go for these art versions of your digital images? Be prepared to spend more for the experience but get a nice artistic version of your digital photography. Some of the spots to check out are Zazzle.com, Photopetgifts.com, and Matthewsbronze.com. For custom digital photo books you should check out Shutterfly. Imagine the look on your kids face when you give them storybook and it features images of them in the story!

Great Digital Cameras for your digital fix - great-digital-cameras.com

Geraldine Allen - Fine Art Photographer, Creating Wondrous Images With Digital Photography Art

2008-06-15T22:47:00.000-07:00

This is the first in a series of profiles of photographers from various parts of the imaging spectrum. In the future we will shine the light on news photographers, commercial photographers, nature photographers and so on in order to give you the digital photographer some valuable insights to help make your images better.

Geraldine Allen is our first subject artist in the spot light. Initially trained in art history and graphic design in the UK; Geraldine gained valuable experience in aesthetics and design principles. Later in life she undertook study of Psychology and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honors degree. However, Geraldine's long time interest and passion for photography drew her back. Enthused by the possibilities brought about by Adobe Photoshop in its early days of development, she was soon absorbed by experimenting with digitized photographic collages. It was then she decided to return to Salisbury College in the UK to formalize her experience and update her knowledge of the visual media industry.

Geraldine studied Creative Digital Arts to familiarize herself with industry standard multimedia software, and wishing to focus on still imaging, then chose to complete her BA (Honors) in PhotoMedia (Photography). Whilst computer manipulation was becoming increasingly popular, she chose to experiment [and now favors] "in camera" effects.

When did your ?aha? moment arrive; the time when you knew that your affinity for photography could take you further regarding your creative and professional career? ?I took a candid shot of my teenage son one day when I just happened to be at an elevated height; the combination of height, the long lens, and the way I had composed his posture in the frame brought an interesting result and I thought then that there are so many variables and I would never get bored if I did this for a living. I had always enjoyed photography but I didn't really learn much until digital came along. All of a sudden I learned so fast because the results were instant and I could relate which mistakes were associated with which controls.?

Do you prefer total control over your photographic subjects or do you sometimes shoot natural non-studio images? ?I don't have a preference. I am so passionate about photography and there are so many different aspects that I find it impossible to hold favoritism. I have to separate photography into genres and I take a different approach according to that genre. For example, creative photos are pre-conceived in the mind of the photographer/artist, so it does require the subject to be set up and controlled - to a degree. Although studio controlled images dominate my light painted portfolio, I often leave people as subjects to position themselves. The picture aims to portray a little essence of their natural character. I do help them with ideas if they are stuck though, usually by distracting them with conversation and saying "hold it there" when I think a particular posture, expression or mannerism would work well for the picture.

For nature pictures I rarely control anything except perhaps using a little fill flash or a reflector in conjunction with the available light. I make a conscious effort not to interfere with a natural scene as I wish to document it as real and naturally as possible. Having said that I must confess I can't help moving obtrusive litter, sticks or stones from the frame.?

Have you ever had a mentor who had an impact on your style and art? ?I received an awful lot of support from a wonderful tutor called Ian Smith at Salisbury College in the UK. Whilst I was given endless encouragement to experiment in whichever way I liked, I was also taught to question everything and to give that experimentation some decisive direction. I was to ask myself what my pictures were trying to communicate, and to plan them with specific intention and aims. In the final year at Salisbury College I reached the dreaded stage where I was forced to choose one field of specialization. God forbid, how was I to make a single choice when I loved all and sundry from traditional to completely abstract and contemporary? I remember actually struggling to hold back tears when it came to the point of my having to drop some genres. I was a cop-out really because I chose to stick with two fields instead of one; fine art and nature, and then I used a unifying concept to put them both in my final portfolio!

I was also privileged enough to work with landscape photographer Charlie Waite in his studio for some months. Although practicalities of work and business dominated our concerns, I observed his attitudes toward his projects and indeed within his natural day-to-day practicalities. If I had to choose one primary point that I will always remember, it would be how he would look at the sky and all around whenever he stepped outdoors. He would immediately and instinctively study the light and how it fell upon subjects in his immediate surroundings, no matter where he was or what he was doing. You could say he was obsessed with light! So, he taught me the most valuable lesson of all; to study the natural laws of light, how it naturally affected the world around and how different it looked according to the various conditions.?

Your best advice for budding digital photographers? ?Experiment, and then experiment some more! Make full use of manual controls instead of sticking with the safe Auto mode. Don't just refer to the manual when you are stuck on how to operate a basic control, but read it all from front to back and then test out each and every advanced control. That way you get to know your camera thoroughly, and you may happen upon some interesting effects. Try different levels of fill flash, use the white balance, and test the effects of speed/aperture on depth of field. Oh, and look at possible uses for any mistakes! I have been known to use prior unintentional mistakes, as deliberate controlled effects at a later date.?

What kind of digital camera gear do you favor? ?Predominantly, I am a digital SLR user of the Canon variety. I just like the look, the feel and the performance of Canon. A Canon feels right in my hand so what more can I say?

Currently I am shooting with a Canon D60, which I was very happy to own when they were first released. Unfortunately 6 months down the line the 10D was released with a substantial drop in price to boot. Now of course there is the 20D too! Such are the agonies of being a die-hard techie fiend. I use only fixed focal length lenses, having found the 'ever-practical' zoom to let me down with zoom creep on long exposures.?

Currently Geraldine is using four lenses: a 15mm f/2.8 fisheye, a 35mm f/2, a 100m f/2.8 Macro, and a 200mm f/2.8 L - all Canon EF. Of course using these lenses on a DSLR mean the focal length is longer than using on a film SLR due to the size of the sensor, which is why the fisheye is not truly 'fisheye' but just very wide, and the 35mm is used as the standard workhorse lens - the equivalent of a 50mm. Shooting an awful lot of nature pictures, her 100mm macro lens has proved a wise investment, allowing her to gain that extra close distance both for macro work and longer distance shots.

Geraldine says ?I have never had much desire to shoot very long distance. I tried a 300mm 'L' glass once, but sold it within a fortnight. The thing was a monster, and at f5.6 widest aperture, it was just not fast enough coupled with the focal length and weight of the thing. I simply could not achieve sharp enough pictures. Rather than bring faraway subjects close to me, I prefer bringing tiny things into my visual plane, so that I can study each tiny little detail. I therefore have a natural affinity for Macro photography and Photomicrography. I use an IMXZ Microscope with a zoom factor from x10 - x40 for real tiny subjects, or when I want to reveal what the eye cannot normally see, but with an aperture of f0, I am inevitably dissatisfied with the lack of sharpness throughout. Quite often I will just use the 'sweet spot' area and crop down afterward. I also have a bellows for an FD lens but I rarely achieve a satisfactory result owing to the lack of mobility and adaptability. I would really enjoy the more mobile MP-E65 but unfortunately it's not within the budget at the present time.

I missed the medium format experience altogether, but what a great discovery it was to find out I could afford a large format system! I ended up with a 4x5 Toyo View camera with a monorail extension, dark cloth, lots of double dark slides, an Schneider Symmar-S 150mm f5.6, and two boxes of Fuji Provia RDP II, all for ?400!!! The film and processing costs have been adding up since, and the results still look plainly 'LF novice'. ?

The only other shooting equipment I have are two strobes, a 1000 watt halogen lamp, a Canon Speedlite 550EX, softbox, reflectors and stands. These are not used very often, but are on standby for the odd studio request. Generally though I prefer natural light and natural settings.

Post shoot editing of course requires a digital darkroom. I use a fast processor Dell PC with tons of RAM, a Mac Powerbook G4, an Olympus Camedia Dye Sub printer, a Canon S9000 inkjet, and an Epson Perfection 4870 scanner for my 4x5 film. Let's also not forget that king of king piece of software - Adobe Photoshop. I just upgraded to CS and I'm not disappointed. ooops... I forgot to mention my trusty set of three halogen torches for light painting.... nothing special or expensive, just normal household torches of various strength." Says Ms Allen.

Geraldine has always been intrigued by the magical, unique and otherworldly qualities found in the work of photographers like Robert Damachy, Julia Margaret Cameron, Diane Arbus, and Sarah Moon. Specific influences on her photographic development with her light painting have been Berthold Steinhilber, Jorg Grundler, and Diana Thorneycroft.

If you visit her site you will see some of the wonderful macro photography Geraldine captures. Many of those are floral based subject matter. She says "for floral macros, I like to use extremely limited depth of field. This means I inevitably make use of a longer focal length [100mm], the closest shooting distance possible and a wide aperture [often f2]. This usually means the shutter speed is quite fast because there is plenty of light entering the lens. But, that does not mean I do not need a tripod in a natural setting. Often I like to have only the tiniest element in focus, which means handheld shooting is a definite no-no, as the plane of focus can slip at the slightest movement [in the camera or subject]. If the element to be focused on is flat, then generally it is easier to achieve sharpness where I want it. However if it is curved or rounded I try to make sure the camera is positioned at such an angle as to allow the element to be parallel with the back of the camera so that as much of the element as possible is on the same plane as the sensor or film back."

You can see the portfolio of her fine art photography at her web site: www.photo-art-gallery.com

Kevin Rockwell fuels his passion for digital cameras at Great Digital Cameras - great-digital-cameras.com

Here are some her favorite resources for photography:

<www.photo.net ?has been a brilliant resource for me. The forums cover just about everything photographic, new and old, technical and creative, you name it and you can find some information on it! You can also receive valuable feedback on your photos if you post them for critique.?

?My favorite magazine in the UK is 'Digital Photographer' published by Highbury Entertainment Ltd. It's relatively new to the market, but I was relieved to find more advanced equipment reviews and technical workshops than other magazines, and they appeal to the professional high-end consumer as well as the amateur. They have in-depth interviews and articles about the work of successful photographers and photo-artists, and they speak to working professionals to find out how they handle particular situations and conditions. Of course they also have the practical workshops and keep you up-to-date on the industry's news as well.?

Technical books are a matter of your particular field of interest, but for inspiration I would recommend any of the "AAPPLY Yearbook of Photography and Imaging" volumes, "The Photography Book" by Phaidon Press [ISBN 0714836346], or "Blink" by Phaidon Press [ISBN 0714841994].

Photography Equipment for Beginners and Pros

2008-06-11T00:18:00.000-07:00

Whether you're a professional or an amateur photographers having the correct photography equipment to accomplish the job is a must. Whether it's vacation shots or weddings on weekends you always want your photos to come out looking their best. Of course a pro will need more photography equipment then someone who just considers photography a hobby, how ever the more you want to accomplish with your camera the more equipment you'll need.

We all need a camera that supplies clear, crisp photos, but not every camera suits every type of photo you might find yourself taking. A regular camera often needs some assistance when taking a close up or far away shot. It's situations like these that the wide variety of photography equipment available can help. If you're serious about photography then purchasing an SLR camera with a detachable lens is probably your best bet. This will allow you to purchase the lenses you need for different scenarios. The cameras will vary in price, and depending on how many features you want available in the camera body will dictate how much you spend.

Of course it's not just accessories that attach directly to the camera that you might need. Other photography equipment such as a tripod, or steady cam are important for still shots. Also additional sources of light are a common piece of equipment as you become more advanced. Depending on what type of photographs you specialize in i.e. Landscapes or portraits there are pieces of equipment that go along with it. A good camera bag to hold all of your equipment, cleaning supplies and accessories is also a worth while purchase.

There is a photography equipment store in most cities, you may be able to find all you'll need in a single trip. How ever if you're a bargain hunter like so many comparison shopping on the Internet might be a better choice. Because there are so many amateur and pro photographers upgrading equipment so often, ebay is often a good place to start looking for deals. Especially if you're only new to the world of cameras and equipment, you can acquire some wonderful startup gear for great prices. If you're more looking for the newest available take the time to review some product review websites, and then get down to the nitty gritty of searching out the best price at a store online.

To discover more about the world of photography, and read articles about differet photo styles and equipment visit our website at All Photography Tips

Lighting for Portrait Photography (Part 2): Controlling Exposure within the Camera

2008-06-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

The term "photography" derives from the Greek "phos", meaning light, and "graphis", meaning to write or draw. If photography is defined as, the art and science of fixing images on a sensitive surface through the action of light, we see that at least some understanding of the nature of light and how to control it is fundamental to one's success as a photographer. In Part 1 of this article, the behavior of light as it concerns the portrait photographer is addressed. Now we shall begin to explore methods used by the portrait photographer to control the behavior of light in rendering artistic interpretations of their subject. There are many aspects involved in manipulating light for the purpose of portrait photography. One fundamental aspect is exposure. The degree of sensitivity to light (photosensitivity) of the surface on which an image is to be fixed, dictates the required length and intensity of exposure.

The aperture of the modern camera lens is designed to control the intensity of light falling on the film (or digital image sensor). In simple terms, the aperture is a hole or opening, through which the light reflected by the subject is admitted to the camera. The intensity of the reflected light being admitted to expose the film (or image sensor) is controlled by the size of this opening. The size of the aperture opening is commonly stated in "f/stops". F/stops may seem confusing at first. The f/stop value represents a fractional opening of the aperture, and therefore a decrease of one f/stop results in the intensity of light being admitted into the camera to approximately double, and an increase by one f/stop results in the intensity of light being cut by half. One may prematurely conclude, proper exposure is obtained simply by adjusting the size of the aperture until the intensity of light admitted is just right. However, the depth of field (range of distance in front of and behind the subject that is in focus) is also a function of the size of the aperture opening. In general, depth of field increases as the size of the aperture opening decreases.

Controlling exposure is also achieved by controlling the duration of the light striking the film (or image sensor). To control the duration of the exposure, modern cameras employ a shutter. The shutter may be thought of as a curtain with an opening or slit that passes in front of the film (image sensory) at a controlled duration or speed. Shutter speeds are expressed in seconds, and fractions of a second. A shutter speed of 1/100 allows twice the duration of exposure as a shutter speed of 1/200. The resolution of an image is partly determined by the duration of exposure in capturing the image. A typical approach in portrait photography is to set the size of the aperture to yield the desired depth of field, and set the shutter speed to achieve an acceptable exposure level.

A third fundamental parameter that is manipulated to control exposure when capturing an image is the film speed, commonly stated as an ISO/ASA number. Film speed is a quantitative description of the chemically derived photosensitivity of the material used in the film. The higher the ISO number, the more photosensitive the film is. Faster film speeds enable action shots and low light images to be easily captured. However, faster film speeds can also result in increased perceived graininess in an image and decreased sharpness and detail. Similarly, the ISO number on many modern digital cameras may be adjusted to control the sensitivity of the digital image sensor, with similar effect.

Light is controlled within the camera by manipulating the intensity and duration of exposure, and by selecting an appropriate speed of film for the light conditions, or adjusting the sensitivity of the digital image sensor. These methods work very well to control the average or overall exposure of the composition. A finer degree of control of the light to enhance specular highlights, falloff, and softness of shadows, is best achieved outside the camera. There are many methods employed to accomplish this. In Part 3 of this article, several such methods will be discussed. Until then, good day and happy clicking.

Steve Barnes is a professional portrait photographer, free lance writer, and co-owner of Hayley Barnes Photography, in League City, Texas. Please visit his website at: Hayley Barnes Photography. Elegant portrait photographer. Children, Families, High School Seniors, and Quincea?eras. "Custom Designed, Uniquely You"

Lighting for Portrait Photography (Part 1): Behavior of Light

2008-05-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

Light is the raw material of a photographer. Much as the painter works with paint and the sculptor works with stone, the photographer works with light. This analogy is not precise however, because as the painter and sculptor work with actual material substances, the photographer works with a form of energy. Understanding the behavior of this form of energy that we call light, is foundational to your success as a portrait photographer. A painter may not need to know the chemical and physical properties of each component of her paints, but she must completely understand how to blend the different colors, and how the paints behave as she applies them to the canvas. Just as a painter or sculptor must gain masterful insight into the behavior of the raw materials of their arts, so must the portrait photographer gain a keen understanding of the behavior of light.

The first prerequisite for photography is light being emitted from a source. Just think about it, without light, photography is impossible. Light may be emitted from a natural source, such as the sun, or from an artificial source, such as strobes or constant light sources. In 1931, the strobe was developed for use in still photography by Harold Edgerton, an electrical engineer from MIT. Today, the strobe is by far the most used light source in the portrait studio. Advantages of strobe lighting for portrait studio photography include: reasonably precise control of light intensity and light color temperature, low heat generation compared to a constant light source, and low power consumption for the amount of light output.

The most important property of light to the portrait photographer is the light's intensity or brightness. There are several ways of controlling the intensity of light striking the subject. In the studio, the power supply of modern strobes may be adjusted. The strobes may be positioned farther away from the subject. Outdoors, you may take advantage of cloud cover or the overhang of a tree or building, or even the time of day, to control the intensity of the incident light on the subject. These methods are effective for controlling the average (overall) light intensity of the composition. Many devices have been developed to control the relative intensities of light (specular highlights) of specific areas within a composition. Devices such as scrims, gobos, snoots, grid spots, and barn doors, are commonly used to partially block, direct, or otherwise control the relative light intensities within a composition.

Another property of light of great importance to the portrait photographer is the light's color temperature. Pure white light is the result of an equally balanced mixture of the three primary colors: red, green, and blue. In different lighting conditions (e.g. cloudy versus full sun), the proportions of the color mixture may vary. Normally, the human brain automatically compensates for this, and you do not notice the difference as you leave one lighting condition and enter another. Film can not make this same automatic compensation. Therefore, differences in color temperature must be manually adjusted for by the photographer. Color temperature of various light conditions is commonly stated in degrees Kelvin. There are three standard color temperature rated films commonly used by photographers. "Daylight" film is designed to be exposed by 5500K light, and "indoor" film is designed to be exposed by 3400K light, or 3200K light for professional "indoor" film. For a greater degree of control over the white balance when using film, color correction filters are used. Most if not all digital SLR cameras have a white balance adjustment to electronically compensate for changing color temperatures encountered in various light conditions. In digital photography, when shooting in RAW format, the color temperature can easily be corrected in Photoshop.

A third property of light that is very important to the portrait photographer is contrast. A light source has high contrast if its rays all strike the subject at approximately the same angle. A light source that is diffuse has low contrast, because its rays strike the subject from many different angles. High contrast light sources produce shadows with a hard edge, while low contrast light sources produce shadows with a soft edge. This is because with a high contrast light source, where the rays all approach the subject from approximately the same angle, no light enters the edge of the shadow and the shadow's edge remains distinct. A light source's relative contrast is generally determined by the size of the light source and its distance from the subject. The sun on a clear day is relatively small in our sky, and therefore it is a high contrast light source producing hard edged shadows. On a cloudy day, the light from the same sun is spread out and diffuse. Effectively the entire sky becomes a low contrast light source, producing very soft edged shadows. In the studio, we have many light modifiers available to us, to control the effective size of the light source and thereby control the level of contrast. For any given size of a light source, as it is positioned farther and farther away from the subject we see that it effectively becomes smaller and smaller, yielding higher and higher levels of contrast, albeit lower and lower intensity.

Light acts on any subject it may strike. This much may be obvious. But every subject also acts on any light that strikes it. A subject may act on light in three distinct ways: refraction, absorption, and reflection. Refraction is the bending of light waves as they pass through a transparent material such as glass. In fact, the refractive property of glass is what is manipulated within the photographic lens, to focus an image onto the film (or digital image sensor). Absorption is the process whereby certain materials convert light energy into some other form of energy (usually heat). The absorptive property of a black painted foam core board may be used by the photographer to selectively "subtract" light, so that it does not bounce around the studio in an undesirable way.

Of the three ways a subject may act on the light striking it, reflection is the most important to the photographer. Reflection is an abrupt change in the direction of propagation of light waves that strikes the surface of the subject. In direct reflection, the light rays bounce from a smooth surface at the same angle at which they hit it. The intensity of the direct reflection mirrors the intensity of the light source. Glare, such as observed on the surface of a body of water, is a polarized direct reflection. Unlike direct reflection however, glare reflection always has a lower intensity than the light source producing it. Glare reflection may be controlled or eliminated by using a polarizing filter. Diffuse reflections occur when light from a source is reflected equally in all directions by the surface it strikes. In theory, diffuse reflections are the same intensity no matter what angle they are viewed from. The intensity of a diffuse reflection increases as the light source is moved closer to the subject. The Inverse Square Law says that the intensity of the diffuse reflected light is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the light source and the subject. This implies, a light source at any given distance from the subject will light the subject with an intensity that is four times greater than the same light source moved to twice the distance from the subject.

An understanding of the behavior of light is a prerequisite to understanding how to control the light. We see that light can act on any subject it strikes. Intensity or brightness, color temperature, and contrast are the three properties that are of most concern to the portrait photographer. Any subject also acts on light that strikes it, either through refraction, reflection, absorption, or some combination of the three. In portrait photography, light is controlled to achieve optimum overall exposure of a composition, to develop of specular highlights, to reveal and enhance textures, forms and color saturation, and to build a three dimensional perspective. In Part 2 of this article, the fundamentals of controlling the overall exposure of a composition using the camera are discussed. Until then, good day and happy clicking.

How To Use Colour Effectively To Enhance Your Digital Photography

2008-05-29T22:49:00.000-07:00

Digital photography has a lot of fantastic opportunities. When I say ?opportunities? I mean artistic opportunities. You see succeeding in digital photography goes way beyond just knowing how to take a digital photograph in the technical sense. You see need artistic ability and knowledge too. Digital Photography, if applied artistically, can open up the doors of creativity for many, many years to come.

The first thing I recommend to start with if you are a serious digital photography enthusiast is to understand how colour works. When you understand how colour works in digital photography you can then use different colours to create very different feelings and emotions in the photo itself.

Colours such as blues, greens, mauves, etc are introverted colours and can often give your photo different feel to reds and yellows. For example think of a field of green with a tree that has purple flowers. It tends to represent, and even induce, feelings of tranquillity and calm. These, in digital photography, are regarded as introverted colours.

Colour such as yellows, red, oranges and pinks can often instil an energetic feeling. For example think of fruit such as red berries, oranges or cantaloupe. These are simple examples, but think of the feelings that these colours create in your digital photography.

This is another reason why not all things look as good in black and white, and why some things in fact do look better in black and white. (More about that another time. For now lets focus on creating colour that enhances your digital photography. )

In a very simple sense if you want to create a sense of stillness and calm in your digital photography then aim for subjects that have these colours. And the same goes the other way too. If you want to have a bright energetic feeling, then go for colours that are warm.

Contrasting colours in digital photography work very well too. Primary colours together such as blue and yellow seem to look great side by side, or one as a back ground and the other as a main subject. For example I took a photo on a beach with a bright yellow sign against a blue sky and a blue ocean. It gave the feeling of energy as well as having the calmness of the blue. Being a contrasting primary colour the yellow was not absorbed by the blue, it was the opposite. The yellow sat nicely against the blue as the focal subject.

When doing digital photography, think about the colours you are creating in your photo. Try to aim for digital photos that have colours that look good together, and do not clash like hot pink and bright red next to each other for example. If you want extrovert bold colour in your digital photo, don?t overcrowd the viewer with too many bold colours. In digital photography it works best if you have the main subject having the bold colour, rather than multiple points of bold colour in the background for example.

Choose good digital photography subjects with simple composition that have colours that work well to compliment each other. And remember digital photography is all about creating a feeling. And working your colours together well will enhance your digital photography images ten fold.

Best wishes,

Amy Renfrey

If you want to learn more about working with colour effective in digital photography, just go to www.digitalphotographysuccess.com

Digital SLR Photography - How To Take Stunning, Lively And Ravishing Pictures

2008-05-29T22:42:00.000-07:00

Photography is digital SLR photography, at least to any self-respecting photographer. Suggest otherwise, and he is sure to give you a piece of his mind and proceed to praise the virtues of digital SLR photography.

Digital SLR photography uses a digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera that uses a movable mirror placed between the lens and the film to project the image on to a focusing screen.

Digital SLR photography churns out the most amazingly realistic photographs, in fact much better than the ones turned out by the conventional fixed lens cameras. But its prime appeal to photographers, both amateur and professional, is in the fact that he can work out a large amount of control over how his pictures end up as.

Digital SLR photography is all about customized photographs that are stunning to look at, to say the least. This is because the cameras come with extremely good lenses. This is why the discerning photographers are not miserly about getting a lens, frightfully expensive they may be.

However, digital SLR photography enthusiasts should never think that a swanky Nikon or a Canon is the passport to great photography. The apparatus notwithstanding, good photography depends a lot on the skills of the person brandishing the camera. The basics of digital SLR photography are not hard to pick up.

The first and foremost tip about digital SLR photography is to equip yourself with the nitty-gritty of lighting. If you are shooting outdoors during the day it is best to have the sun directly behind you. It is also essential that your subject also does not have to face the sun so that he has to squint. You should know that the best time to film landscapes, buildings and outdoor portraits is either dawn or the twilight hours.

If you want to impart the warmth of the rising or setting sun to your midday photo shoot, then a skylight or a warm filter is your key.

Tips to great digital SLR photography insist on maintaining control over the camera's flash property. To be precise, don't have your camera have the last word about where the flash should come on. Take the reins yourself and ensure that your photograph subjects are not lost in a maze of bright light.

Good photography, digital or analog, SLR or otherwise, is all about being able to use the filters right. You never know when that polarizer or the gradual filter or the skylight/UV filter might come to your rescue at times when the light situations are tricky.

The Macro Mode atop the camera just happens to be the most underrated and under-used feature. But unknown to many, this mode is great for taking enchanting close-ups of tiny objects. Realistic and stunning digital photography is actually the norm with plethora of controls that come with modern day digital SLR cameras. And photography tips harp on tinkering with the controls to get a hang of the controls and the outcomes they produce.

Experimenting for instance, with really slow (30 seconds) extremely fast (1000th-8000th/second) shutter speeds can produce dramatic results. The ISO setting is another area for experimentation. In fact, high ISO values come in quite handy when you cannot use a flash in low light situations.

Get well up on your digital SLR photography tips and tricks and shoot at sight willingly.

Summary of Author: Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to http://www.digitalphotographyguy.com.

Digital Photography Tip - Which One To Follow

2008-05-28T22:37:00.000-07:00

Itching to churn out photographic masterpieces? Then a digital camera is a handy and inexpensive aide to your photography cruises. Digital cameras combine a range of features to ensure that you capture the scenes and moments of life in all their stunning reality. But to expound a popular myth, a frightfully expensive digital camera is not a guarantee to skillful digital photography. Remember the phrase about the sloppy workman who always blamed his tools! Let the tips on digital photography come to your rescue.

Tempting Tips to Dazzling Digital Photography

Seasoned digital photographers are unanimous on one thing: they honed their photography skills mostly by tinkering with the camera and taking a whole lot of trash shots in the beginning. Thus after you have acquired your camera, fiddle with it to your heart's content and snap at anything and everything under the sun. Tips to increase your digital photography proficiency levels include the following:

- Flip through the instructor's manual and know your camera by heart. In particular, be aware of its potentials and limitations. For instance, most digital cameras come equipped with different scene modes to complement varying settings. A thorough knowledge about them will help you to come up with the optimum results.

- Pack in a sizeable memory card into your camera. This will enable you to shoot at the camera's highest resolution and come up with top-notch pictures. Also think of the logic, if you have paid through your nose to get a 8-megapixel camera why on earth should you be stingy about making it go all the way only for want of a voluminous memory card.

- Most tenderfoots with the digital camera have a hard time with keeping the camera still while shooting. The result is pictures where the Leaning Tower of Pisa looks upright while all other towers look inclined and about to topple over. This is especially true when these amateur photographers are using their LCD for composing the photos. The best way to counter this is to take multiple shots with varying angles of a single scene. One is bound to turn out right. Practice will make you perfect.

- For acquainting yourself with the basics of lightning, you do not need to attend workshops and seminars. Just remember that if the sun is behind the subject, the photograph will turn out to be a silhouette and if you intend to capture the shot with the subject facing the sun, be prepared for narrowed eyes and a little bit unnatural looking photograph. An interesting variation would be rim lighting, wherein you can have the sun light up the hair of the subject from a side.

- Let not your flash shots be only flashes in the pan! Make it a habit to take good and discernible photographs in the flash mode and for this you need to stand a bit close to your subject when using the fill flash outdoors (most in-built flashes have a range of 10-feet or less). This way you can ensure an even exposure all the elements in the scene.

- Explore the Macro Mode and add a new, exhilarating dimension to your photographs. But as you maneuver this mode, it is important to remember that you are dealing with very shallow field depths. So focus on the part of the object that you deem most significant and let the remaining parts go soft. Sit back and marvel at the result!

- Be an actual part of the picture you are taking. And for this you need to use the self-timer on the camera, which just happens to be the most slightly used feature of a digital camera. A self-timer is also a great way of ensuring that there is no jerking of the camera while you zero in on the correct exposure parameter.

- Don't always go by the settings that come with the camera. You will be missing out on a lot of exciting and visually appealing openings. For instance, the white balance setting is usually "auto", but try adjusting it to "cloudy" when taking shots out in the sun. You will be amazed by the results, more precisely, the warm tones of the image. This is because the "auto" white balance mode leans on the "cool" side.

The road to National Geographic status photography is not easy. But these tips on digital photography will just give the impression that you have arrived on the scene.

Summary of Author: Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to http://www.digitalphotographyguy.com.

How To Click It Right With The Best Digital Photography Camera

2008-05-27T22:37:00.000-07:00

The digital photography camera has ushered in an absolute revolution in the world of photography. With its excess of futuristic features, the digital photography camera has also brought in considerable cost reduction of photography. No wonder, people are flocking to digital camera stores.

To elaborate, digital cameras make for easy storage and editing of pictures on the PC, you cut back on film costs with the reusable memory cards and innovative features like sound and video recording. Photography just had quite an interesting makeover.

Delving into the intricacies of the entire digital camera mechanism is worthwhile so that the salesman doesn't lead you up the garden path with tall claims. And being well up on the features of your digital camera will also give you food to brag.

The first thing to know about your digital camera is the kind of CCD (Charged Couple Device) you have. This fancy-sounding device is actually the be-all and end-all of your photography unit and the pixel count in them is what that determines how good your snap is going to be.

It is also vital to know what pixels count to opt for. Anything upwards of 3-Megapixels is good for prints of 8 x 10 inches or larger, of course, the more the merrier. But if your requirement is minute 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 photos for the Web, then 1 or 2-megapixel camera will suffice admirably. On the other hand, nothing less than 5-megapixels should be on your minds if you plan to have prints of your digital stuff.

The Zoom feature is closer to your digital camera than any other feature. Optical zoom refers to the camera's capacity to magnify a subject. This zooming in or zooming out takes place within the lens itself and it is visible from the lens advancing and retracting just like the conventional film camera. This is one feature, which is best when you have it in plenty.

There are many who would swoop on a digital camera lured by its pixel count and optical zoom capacities. But the power consumption of a camera is also worth taking a peek into, for there are cameras with voracious appetites for batteries and you could well end up spending a fortune on them. So when you are buying a digital camera, ensure that it works on rechargeable batteries. A charger included in the package is a great buying option.

Stacking up on the memory card is a good idea if you are the traveling kind. A CompactFlash memory card, offering a lot of storage sizes ranging from 16MB to 1GB and greater compatibility with a large number of makes, is definitely a popular choice.

LCD monitors come in a variety of sizes and resolutions, besides the captivating ones that bend and twist at impossible angles. What you will go for of course depends on the kind of work you will be doing with the camera. If you are involved in on-site architectural work and it is shooting around angles that you are aiming at, then a moveable LCD is the one to go for. But the primary thing to take care of is that you don't have to peer too hard to make out what is on the screen.

These are the basic things that you look out for when purchasing a digital photography camera. Things when gone awry will virtually render your camera quite inefficient. There are certain other features of a digital photography camera that when present in the right dosage, make for some excellent photography sessions.

Scene modes, for instance. Having a choice helps, especially when you have not yet familiarized yourself with the intricacies of exposure, focus and shutter speeds.

A Red-eye reduction feature is quite a handy mechanism to have around when you shoot a lot of portraits. If red-eye is much of a bother, then opt for a camera with a hot-shoe connection, that is one that facilitates the installation of an external flash. A flash that is away from the lens reduces the incidence of red-eyes.

Be well up on the internal mechanism of a digital photography camera and enjoy your tryst with it.

Summary of Author: Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to http://www.digitalphotographyguy.com.

Digital Wedding Photography - Archiving Your Memories

2008-05-26T22:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever imagined to capture all those treasured moments of your wedding ceremony in your own camera, I mean digital camera? Stop imagining, for digital cameras have made way to your wedding party to turn your world around. The quality of photos by digital cameras simply speaks for themselves. And beyond that, with digital wedding photography, couples can save their pockets by doing away with the wedding studio for the wedding proofs.

There was a time when the brides and grooms could do nothing but wait for weeks or even months following the wedding for the films to be developed. But things have changed now as digital wedding photography can bring pictures the very same day without much trouble.

The best part about digital wedding photography is that even amateurs can click photographs without having to compromise on the quality of photos. That reminds of the quality of digital pictures. The pictures are simply as good as it gets. You shouldn't be surprised, as many professional photographers have taken to digital operations too.

Interestingly, you will come across three types of wedding photography namely photojournalistic wedding photography, traditional wedding photography, and artistic wedding photography. Photojournalistic wedding photography or better known as candid wedding photography is all about documentary style wedding photos. Traditional wedding photography is poised to take only formal photos whereas artistic wedding photographers tend to add a bit of their artistry in their photo shoot.

If you are to venture into digital wedding photography then you must follow some of these winning tips. Always make sure that you hold the background into consideration before taking your photos. It is the most commonly made mistake you definitely want to avoid. What amateur photographers tend to do at times is focus on the subject leaving behind the negative space and the surroundings. The best you can do is finding a place where subjects are free from clutter and obstructive backgrounds.

Mind you, the glares from spectacles can bring about an intense spot in your photo hence ruin it. All you need is a bit of adjustment without having anyone remove his or her glasses.

You can snap some fabulous photos at the reception. This is where the cutting of the cake, the throwing of the wedding bouquet and many other real life moments come into picture. Make sure that all the colorful wedding accents fit into your photos. You should know that digital cameras fabricate colorful photos, so why not chance at the colorful d?cor of the wedding party. Now, if all of this is not enough then there are scores of good books out there that can teach you to film weddings as it should be.

Digital wedding photography with its manifold advantages is all that you need to take you over the edge on your wedding extravaganza.

Summary of Author: Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to http://www.digitalphotographyguy.com.

How Helpful is a Digital Photography Book?

2008-05-23T22:38:00.000-07:00

I wonder how many of you go through books to know more about photography. It's strange that a lot of us tend to believe that all information can be found only on the web world. If digital photography is your subject then make sure that you seek the help of a book. You can literally browse more information in a 300-page book than on a few web pages. Whether you wish to master the art of Photoshop, color management or just how best to use your camera, a right book at the right time is what you need.

All that is needed is a book that answers the exact questions you have in mind about digital photography. There is no dearth of digital photography books out there, which guarantees you the book you are actually looking for. You can either go in for the books that cater a detailed outline of the field or the more specialized ones.

But keep in mind that the best digital photography books can be puzzling with their array of titles. 'Digital night photography', 'digital infra-red photography', 'digital black and white photography', 'digital photography lighting', 'digital portrait photography' and even 'setting up digital cameras' are some of the specialized topics that you may come across.

If you are on the verge of buying a digital camera or willing to upgrade to a better model, you can invariably find a book that can be your best guide. How about the best digital photography books that can help an amateur to get a first-rate grip of the subject? Some of these books also put in plain words the technical aspects of digital photography. You can learn every bit from how the image is captured on the sensor to printing and not to mention presenting the final image.

Interestingly, some of the books may also come with CDs that help you complete the tutorials in the book together with scores of full-color images from the book. And if that doesn't quench your thirst then you might as well avail the book that offers a comprehensive course to cultivate your photographic skills.

There is hardly anything that you cannot find in a digital photography book. Be it how to give your prints an edge, shooting at night, buying photo printers, controlling digital camera image noise etc. all can be learnt from these books.

A professional photographer who is making the change from traditional to digital photography can use the digital photography book to his best advantage. These books provide answers to photographers as a whole in this digital world of today.

As they say you need to begin with one small step to reach the thousandth step? If that's the case then digital photography book must be your first small step towards being the next Steve McCurry.

Summary of Author: Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to http://www.digitalphotographyguy.com

How To Master Digital Photography Basics

2008-05-22T22:40:00.000-07:00

With the advent of digital cameras, the cost of photography has plummeted considerably, with the result that there has been a surge of interest in the field. Greenhorns in this area however, need not fret. Sharpening up on your digital photography skills is easy, provided you have the basics at the tip of your tongues, or is it, at the tip of your lenses!

Mastering the basics of digital photography, first and foremost involves knowing all about pixels and resolutions. These are the parameters that have a direct bearing, and quite a lion's share on the quality of the images being generated. The more the pixel count, the better the resolution or clarity of the picture and the better it turns out when enlarged. So it is obvious that the fastidious photographers prefer robust pixel values. However, with the market flooded with digital cameras of various makes, you can hope for a good bargain. Let us discuss a few basics of digital photography.

Zoom And Tele Lenses

Going digital has also meant that you can click away merrily at anything and everything under the sun. This will only help you get well up on the nitty-gritty of the zoom modes. The Optical Zoom of a camera is worth tinkering with. The "Telephoto" mode makes your subject appear larger while the "Wide Angle" mode is all about cramming a lot of a scene into your picture and hence the elements of the picture appear smaller.

Focusing

Toying with the controls of your digital camera is a good way of getting a hang about the different picture modes and hence be able to put them to good use. For instance, instead of relying on the instruction manual, see for yourself that the Portrait Mode actually sharpens your subject and de-focuses the background. For those who are not yet comfortable with the exposure, focus and flash parameters can take the help of the Auto Mode in the awkward initial stages.

Lighting

There is no such thing as a photography gene. Good photographers weave magic with their cameras, but this magic is all about getting the lighting and flash issues straightened in their photographs. Shooting in the early morning light is advisable if you want to avoid the harsh glare of the midday sun and in case of night photography, filming during the twilight hours or just as the moon is rising gives you the best results. You should not shoot with the sun directly in front of the lens.

Using the Flash

The flash is quite a lure for the novice photographer but results are not always satisfactory. This is because improper use of the flash function leads to the marring of good photos. In fact, the flash really leads to underexposure, and thus ungainly shadows in night photography. While you are using this feature, inch closer to your subject and thus make sure that all the areas of the picture are equally lighted up.

Shutter Speed

The shutter speed is one area that many newcomers to digital photography is quite oblivious to. But you will be amazed at the dramatic results that mere varying the speeds can bring about. The rule of thumb: fast shutter speeds "freeze" the action, while slow values will result in a blur. Slow shutter speed also let more light enter into the camera, so this is an option worth considering when you need to shoot in low light conditions.

The basics of digital photography are not hard to master. And being well versed in them will help you capture reality in all its essence.

Summary of Author: Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to http://www.digitalphotographyguy.com.

Stock Photography - Who Wants To Know How To Sell Online? Learn The Business Of Stock Photography

2008-05-21T22:50:00.000-07:00

In the past getting into Stock photography was a huge undertaking. You either had to set up your own mini Agency or sign on with one of the big agencies. If you set up your own agency you were required to do all the leg work of sorting, filing and marketing your images. If you signed on with a big agency you were required to have at least 1,000 images before they would even talk to you. With the advent of the Internet and the growth of high-speed broadband connections these barriers have been eliminated. Today anyone with a quality digital camera can enter the stock photography market place and make money selling their images online.

There are literally hundreds of agencies online offering photographers a place to sell their images. In addition photographers have the opportunity to set up their own online mini agency or add a Stock Page to their portfolio site.

The big agencies have also moved online, but their requirements for acceptance have also become more difficult. Getting your images in Gettys or Corbis is very difficult and for the most part the domain of well established professional photographers.

However you chose to sell your images online, one thing is for sure you will have to adhere to the three basic principles of the successful stock photographer ? Quality, Quality, Quality. Oh and lets not forget Quantity.

What photos will sell?

The first step in selling your images on-line is understanding what images sell, and which sit and collect cyber dust. Truth be told there is very little restriction on what sells and what does not sell. The key here is to understand which type of images sell the most and in the case of Licensed images the most often. As you sell your images on line you will need to understand that just about any image can sell as long as it meets the technical requirements of the agency and you can find a buyer.

A search for ?Stock Photography? on Google returns 15,400,000 sites. The biggest agencies like Corbis and Getty are of course listed first. These agencies are still the domain of professional photographers with huge libraries, and will not entertain enquires from amateur photographers. They have huge libraries of images from professional shooters and even hire their own photographers to shoot stock on assignment for the agency, which the agency then owns. All the regular photos that you would think are really great and will sell have been done and are sitting in these agencies files. These are what are generally know as commercial stock photos and your chance of selling these is not so good.

What you will be able to sell are EDITORIAL stock. Editorial stock does not sell for as high a price as Commercial Stock, but you will sell more images more often than when trying to sell Commercial Stock.

The images you will be able to sell are the ones that no one else has or that no one else has access to such subject matter. What you need is a niche. Pictures of regular people doing regular things, shot in a professional and appealing manner are what you will be able to sell online. Photos that sell are the ones that tell a story or as stock photographers like to call them; photo illustrations. A photo illustration is a photo that has something going on in it. We have all heard the term ?A picture is worth a thousand words? well when you hear this, think Photo Illustration. These are the stock photos that sell well.

Always try to include a person doing something. A picture of a tractor in the field is good, but a picture of a tractor with the farmer sitting on it, is much better. (Image Farmer in the Field). If you insist on taking scenic pictures and expect to be able to sell them, if you include a person actively doing something, your chances of a sale are greatly increased. For instance, a shot of a beach sunset in great, but remember there are hundreds of just such images already in circulation, take the same shot and add a silhouette of a boy chasing a football and you have a much more saleable shot.

Also when you are taking pictures try to imagine a theme or mood. By this we mean try imagine a feeling you want to convey with your photos. Some are happy shiny people holding hands, while others will be more somber or moody. A photo that has a clear mood or theme will sell well. You can use colour, shapes and texture to illustrate different moods and themes. Images that convey feelings have high resale value. Images that are stereotypical have less. By stereotypical we mean the stuff we have all seen a thousand times in a thousand magazines and other places. While you may think that the silhouette of lovers kissing against a backdrop of a gorgeous sunset is a good marketable picture, it has been done to death and if we searched any of the major stock libraries we would find many examples of this exact picture. What might be better would be to show the couple doing something a little less typical, maybe one taking the picture of the other???

Also remember the rules of composition. The law of thirds works well and so do tightly cropped images. The old rule of ?keep it simple? applies. This is not a book about how to shoot good images, there are thousands of such references available, what we are teaching you here is how to sell them online. Just remember, the images that sell are the attractive appealing ones with good composition and good exposure.

One thing to remember though is that as most of the agencies websites display the images on thumbnail pages, having images that are attractive as thumbnails increases your chance of a sale, this follows from the rules of compostition and cropping already discussed.

Selling images online is the next big thing, something that every keen hobbyist is looking to get into. The principles of photography apply, but you must temper them with some business sense, knowing which photos sell is the best start.

Sean David Baylis is a photographer living and working in Hong Kong. Stock Photography - Who wants to know how to sell online? Learn the business of stock photography. Sign up now for the second lesson, also free...

Marketing Your Photography Business Website

2008-05-21T00:40:00.000-07:00

So you finally got your photography business website up and running. Congratulations! But how do you get visitors?

1. Include your website address on everything! Your business cards, brochures, outgoing email signature line, your signature line in all blog and message board postings, all mailings, and even your car (either a magnetic sign or bumper sticker)!

2. Of course you should tell all your friends and family about your site, but don?t forget past customers, too. You could announce your site launch by email or by sending out a nice postcard.

3. Use Google?s Adwords. This is easy and relatively inexpensive to do. Adwords are those little ads that show up on the right side of the screen when you do a Google search. Just do a google search for ?adwords? to find the registration page. Once there, you create your ad and choose the geographical area where your ad will show. When people click on your ad, you pay Google a small amount (you choose the amount). By limiting where the ads will show (only in your town or city, for example), the clicks you get will be in your target area. For your keywords, choose phrases like ?photographer in (your city)? or ?wedding photographers in (your city).?

4. Make sure to use keywords and phrases that will help people (and the search engines) find your site. For example, ?baby photographer in (your city)? or ?(your city) family photography.?

5. Get other sites to link to your site. You can do this by advertising on photographer?s listing sites, the yellow pages sites, city-search sites, etc. You should also contact other businesses in your area and ask to trade links with them. For example, you can have a ?links? page where you put up links to various businesses such as clothing stores, bakeries, florist shops, etc., and in return, they will put a link to your site up on their links page. This serves two purposes. One, people will see your link and click on it, and two, the search engines will give your page a better ranking depending on the number of sites that link to you.

By doing these things, you should be getting traffic to your website in no time!

Cindy Bracken is the founder of http://www.shuttermom.com, an online community for photographers of all levels of experience. Stop by to create a free blog, enter the photo contest, join in the discussion forum and more!

Start your photography business today

Perfect Digital Photography Secrets: How To Use Your Camera's Flash

2008-05-19T22:30:00.000-07:00

I hope you will like and benefit from these flash tips for the perfect digital photography!

You have to take full control of your digital camera's flash. Why? Because digital cameras and their build-in software are pre-programmed and make a few assumptions..

For example:

There are sensors inside your camera that measure the percentage of illumination in the scene at which your camera points. If the sensors measure low illumination then your flash will fire. That is because your camera is pre-programmed with the assumption that flash will improve the photograph in a low-illumination environment. On the other hand in a high-illumination environment the flash will not fire because the camera will assume it's not necessary. After all it's dark out there!

The issue with these assumptions is that there are certain situations when you want an opposite result..

For example there are times when you want to shoot the perfect digital photography in a low-illumination environemt without using the flash.. e.g. when you are in a dark room with a candle burning and no other light sources.. If that's the case you need to be really steady for the photograph to be sharp. You may want to use a tripod to achieve better results. If you do it right you will have a perfect digital photography with beautiful warm orange/red colours.

Remember that the straight light coming from the flash gives a cold commercial look to your photographs. That could be ok in some cases but not in all cases.. You should decide whether to use flash, not your camera.

But what happens when working in Bright Light, high-illumination environments?

Then, the flash will not fire! Of course that saves battery-power but what are the results of your perfect digital photography? You definitely don't want to lose in quality right?

Imagine when you want to take the perfect digital photography of a person wearing a hat and the sun is overhead in the sky shining.. Then you will notice that the person's face will be in dark shadow because of the hat! But even if there's no hat, you will usually see shadows under the chin or under the person's eyes.. So what you should do is fill those small shadows with light using your camera's flash!

Again, YOU should decide whether to use flash or not, and not your camera.. YOU should take control of your camera's flash..

Today's digital cameras have five basic flash settings:

- Setting #1:

Automatic Flash: This is where your camera is pre-programmed to make assumptions depending on the level of the environment illumination and use the flash accordingly.

- Setting#2:

Automatic Flash with Eye Reduction: Again, the camera uses its software to determine when the flash will fire but there's also some type of red eye filters to reduce the red eye effect.

You camera will probably automatically select, by default, one of the above two settings. I recommend to never use the above settings if you're aiming for the perfect digital photography.. And why is that you may ask..

As I said before YOU should be the one who decides whether to use flash or not.. And furthermore the eye reduction filters will not always do a good work and will confuse your subjects in most cases..

I recommend to make use of the following settings depending on the scene and the subject you're trying to shoot..

- Setting #3:

Flash Always: With this setting enabled your flash will fire in all cases. You may want to choose this setting when you want to fill small shadowed areas with light.

- Setting #4:

Flash Disabled: Your flash will not fire no matter how illuminated the environment or the scene is.. Make use of this setting when you want to shoot in a low-illuminated environment e.g. a dark room with a candle burning..

Just remember that in a low-illumination environment you have to be really steady in order to shoot the perfect digital photography..

- Setting #5:

Slow Shutter Flash: This is a very underestimated setting and the least used.. If you choose this setting your flash will fire ocassionally but the shutter will remain open for a longer time than usual. This will allow you to capture the subject illuminated by the flash, but it will also allow other lighting sources (like a candle's light) to record themselves.

This setting is perfect if there is high illumination on the background while infront of the subject there's certain darkness. For example when you want to shoot a person in front of a casino at night.

So.. If you're aiming for the perfect digital photography you should be able to switch between those five flash settings found in almost all digital cameras these days. Have a look at the camera's manual for more information on these settings. They are really importand.

How would you like to use your camera's flash like professional digital photographer? There are tons of information and digital photography secrets and guides out there. You may want to have a look at this Perfect Digital Photography Secrets Manual.

Photography and the Art of Speaking Our Peace

2008-05-18T23:53:00.000-07:00

Long before I started photographing, I was moved by images that captured my attention and enlightened my awareness of the world at large. On many a rainy afternoon, lost as a child in the photo essays of Life Magazine and National Geographic, I entered the lives of people around the world, pondering the contrasts between my life and theirs.

In my teenage years, there was an abundance of images that sank into my heart, cut short my innocence. Images from the March on Selma, the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, from the Vietnam War and the Kent State shootings, all showing a level of violence and intolerance I was not prepared for. I was impressionable then, as I am now?moved by what I see, changed by what I experience, led to action by what I believe.

Most of us, at some point, have a desire to make a difference in the world. We want our lives to matter, our words to be of use. And for those of us who traffic in images, we want them to speak eloquently of that which matters to us, to be the metaphor for who we are, what we believe in and stand for.

Dorothea Lange was invested in creating images that would alter the public?s attitude about migrant workers. Walker Evans was committed to making photographs of tenant farmers that would inform and inspire people to action. Lewis Hine, in his crusade against child labor, created images that did what dry statistics and lengthy speeches never could do. Robert Capa, who despised war, photographed five of them in an attempt to record its horror and monstrous stupidity, believing that ?the truth is the best picture, the best propaganda.?

Having seen their work and read of the national response and reforms their pictures generated, I understood the power that photographs could have on a level beyond the personal, saw how images could help shape a national consciousness, create an awareness that could lead to enlightenment, action, change.

Buoyed with this knowledge and faith, in the mid-80s, during the massive global buildup of nuclear weapons, I embarked on a peace pilgrimage around the world. Armed with 200 rolls of film and a slideshow of the U.S. peace movement, I was determined to use my photographs in the service of the people, to share with as many folks as I could these images of activism, of commitment to harmony and a safe home for all the world?s children.

In order to create a culture of peace, a culture that reflects our reverence for life, we need stories and symbols that heal and guide, that help us remember we are part of a whole. It?s hard, in a society bent on power and profit, to remember what life is really for. Harder still to connect with one another when most things serve to keep us separate. But stories help. Pictures help. And every contact with a lover of life brings us one step closer to loving our own. My journey was a search for those images and stories, an attempt to discover and reveal our oneness around the globe.

In Japan, I was invited to speak to a group of A-bomb survivors at the Nagasaki Association for the Promotion of Peace and to present my slideshow, Focus on Peace. Before that we would watch the premiere of a Japanese film, one which included recently released American military footage of the Nagasaki bombing.

I sat in the back of the room with Mr. Matsunaga, director of the organization, who served as my translator. The lights went out and the film began with a slow pan of the Nagasaki Peace Park. Paper cranes and colorful flowers filled the frame until a jump cut took us to the cockpit of a U.S. plane on August 9, 1945.

We watched the bomb drop. Watched the deadly cloud devour the city. And then from the ground we watched what followed. Mr. Matsunaga, his calm voice silenced, collapsed into tears by my side. The survivors in front of us sat still as sculptures. Frozen in time, they stared ahead, some gasping as they saw themselves on the silver screen, stumbling through the rubble of charred corpses. Dazed and burned, they were calling for families they would never find. Quiet sobs filled the room while we witnessed the re-run of a nuclear holocaust.

When it was over, no one moved. No one turned on a light. We sat there in the dark amidst sobs and tears, trying to recover. When the lights came on and I was introduced, I stood there before them and started to cry, and it was only at their urging I could carry on.

I spoke slowly about the slides we were going to see, with Mr. Matsunaga at my side translating my words and my hopes in whatever way he could. Then the lights went out again, the music started, and images of millions of people working for peace began to dissolve into each other.

There were no words being spoken. Just the pictures and voices from the International Children?s Choir singing Let There Be Peace on Earth. These images of colorful, festive, life-affirming demonstrations had more power that day than any I remember. Symbols of a solemn commitment to peace washed over and comforted us. They delivered us, if only momentarily, from the fear of such a holocaust happening again, for how could these millions not make a difference, their passion so clearly exposed and revealed?

After the slideshow, the survivors came to the microphone and one by one spoke of the profound impact these photographs had on them. ?I did not know so many people cared about what happened to us...we thought we were all alone in our struggle to prevent this from happening again...seeing all those Americans caring about peace encourages me in my struggle...how can we fail if there are so many of us??

I had been so immersed in the peace movement during those years of nuclear frenzy that, until that day, it had not occurred to me that others weren?t aware of it, had no idea of its magnitude. These survivors did not even know there was a U.S. peace movement doggedly resisting the production and proliferation of nuclear warfare. And it made a difference to them to find out, to see all those pictures, to witness others in solidarity with them, working as hard as they were for the same cause.

One photograph could not have done it, but those eighty images, one after another, blended with that music?it had an impact, told a story that bolstered their courage, honored their experience. What had happened to them did matter after all, and these photographs were evidence of how much.

Nothing in the world could heal their physical wounds, their irradiated organs, their burned and disfigured faces and limbs, but a healing occurred in their spirits that day, passed on through these portraits of comrades in action.

We can and do inspire each other in this life, and if a photograph does nothing more than inspire one person to feel that, somehow, his life mattered, her pain served a purpose, then that one photograph ought not go unseen. We can never know the reach of our work, never know when we share a photograph to whom and why it might make a difference, never know how our small images contribute to the global picture as a whole.

But what we do know, from our own experience and the experience of history, is that photographs can change the course of the things, turn one?s head, alter one?s thoughts, enlighten one?s darkness. To shoot with that awareness, to know our images, made of light, can contribute light?that is the true joy of photography. The End

Jan Phillips is an award-winning writer, speaker, and multi-media artist. She is the author of The Art of Original Thinking-The Making of a Thought Leader, Divining the Body, God Is at Eye Level - Photography as a Healing Art, Marry Your Muse, Making Peace and A Waist is a Terrible Thing to Mind. She has taught in over 23 countries and conducts workshops nationally in creativity, consciousness, and spirituality. You may subscribe to her free monthly Museletter at www.janphillips.com

Improve Your Digital Photography Skills for Outstanding Pictures

2008-05-16T22:26:00.000-07:00

Once you have a digital camera, you?re on the right track to taking much better photos. But perhaps you?re unsure of how to get the best out of your camera and feel that your skills are lacking. Improving the quality of your photos can be achieved with some fairly basic and simple steps.

Keep a level picture unless you are looking for a special angle: Try to hold the camera level by aligning it with natural horizontal lines, like the horizon. This will give you a classic picture. However part of the fun of photography is experimentation, so take a few snaps of different angles to get an interesting perspective on your picture.

Portrait photos: Avoid putting the subject in the center of the frame. This is a habit most people find hard to break. Remember to move close and put the subject slightly off center. Again take more than one photo with a portrait if possible. Zoom in for a close up of just your subject or make a complete picture a little further away by including a favorite pet or another person. Always experiment with different angles and poses to make your photo more interesting.

Be careful of lighting and exposure with your photos. If indoors, make sure you have a strong light on your subject. If outdoors, be careful of strong sunlight. The best time to take your photos outside is first thing in the morning.

Think about the focus of your picture, when you frame the shot. If you are trying to capture the expression on your child?s face, you can leave out the other children, the swing, the dog, etc. You can do this by zooming in and taking a close up or you can put the background out of focus so that only your subject is standing out. This can make quite an interesting picture.

Always be conscious of the background. Many good photos are ruined by clutter in the frame. Change your position to avoid a messy background.

A small tripod can give you a much better shot, by lending stability. Tripods are not meant only for professionals, as some people think. Using a self-timer can put you in a number of pictures, where you are usually not visible. This is great for a family or group photo.

Get a media card with plenty of memory, so you will not run out of space, at a crucial time. Shoot at the highest resolution allowed by your camera, to get the best results and sharper enlargements. Upload your photos to a picture gallery like Yahoo. You can just send the link to friends and family instead of sending large picture attachments. You can also select the photos you want printed and have them developed within 24 hours.

If you want to find out more about great digital photography, click over to Jackie's site at greatdigitalphotography.com Get more digital photography tips

Black and White Photography

2008-05-15T22:37:00.000-07:00

With today?s digital technology, transforming colour images into black and white photographic prints is pretty straightforward but don?t throw away your rolls of black and white film.

Black and white photography is still regarded as a favourite with many photographers - dull landscape scenes become more dramatic with black and white photography.

Most subjects that are shot in colour can be taken with black and white film. Portraits are still widely taken by professional photographers all over the world.

One of the most popular uses of black and white photography is with wedding photographs. More couples are now opting for a combined wedding album of black and white images that really capture the mood and emotions of the special moment.

Black and white landscape photography is becoming popular again and is more suitable for taking images when the day is dull or too bright. If a scene does not have an entire spectrum of different colours, consider viewing it as a black and white photograph.

Do we need to learn black and white photography tips in a world of colour? You must choose the answer to this yourself - but here are a few pointers that will help you to make your decision.

1 Black and white photography is becoming more popular with the general public, and for that reason alone? new opportunities will open up for you.

2. In some situations, black and white photography has the tendency to make photos look more like works of art - fine art images will sell better in galleries.

3. Landscape images often lack a multitude of colours, using black and white film when shooting daytime photos will add impact to your photography.

4. There is also the value of using your own darkroom - the thrill of developing your own film and processing your images.

The same principles for colour photography apply to black and white photography. If you have mastered the art of photography, taking images with a roll of black and white film should be easy.

Filters are just as important with black and white photography. There are fewer filters available for black and white photography, but one that you should use is the polarizing filter. This filter is very effective for both black and white photography and colour photography. The polarizing filter makes the sky stand out to give your landscape images serious impact. It also helps to reduce glare from the sun?s rays - which is very handy for urban or architectural photography.

Exposure with black and white photography is a small bit easier. Black and white film handles light more easily than colour film can - which gives you greater room for error. Most black and white film allows you to capture detail when you underexpose at two stops. With overexposure the range is greater - between five and seven stops are allowed. This is known as film latitude. With colour film you are limited to a latitude of one stop each way.

This does not mean that you can become lethargic when taking black and white images. It means that if you do make a mistake the results may be acceptable.

TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer. For more tips you can visit his photography site. To view his images visit his on-line gallery of pictures of Ireland or see his travel site.

Travel Photography For Beginners: Choosing A Camera And Getting Started

2008-05-15T02:27:00.000-07:00

Travel photography can be as much fun for non-professionals as it can be for professionals. So what do you need to take up travel photography as a hobby and what else do you need to know? If you are a professional photographer this article will definitely be too basic for you. If you are a beginner then please read on.

Most of us travel these days anyway, so it is not a case of needing to travel anymore than what we already do, to start enjoying travel photography. Travel need not even be far, with the other side of your city still worthy of being called travel. The idea behind travel photography is that you are capturing images of culture, scenic views ie the essence of a place no matter what its location or size.

The more expensive the camera then generally you can of course expect better quality images, i.e. higher pixilation and more available optical zoom. Personally I find pocket cameras excellent because it is not realistic to carry a bulky camera everywhere, unless you are a real hard-core photographer (perhaps one who also carries a tripod everywhere, as though it were the car keys). I have found myself that I have some of my best photos from opportunistic moments and I have only managed to get these photos because I had a pocket camera ready on hand. If you are looking for a pocket camera so that you can begin snapping away wherever you are and whenever you want, then I personally think the Sony series of pocket camera's such as the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W70 Digital Camera (with 7.2 Million pixels & 3x Optical Zoom and affordable) is a worthy buy.

Hard-core photographers will say that using a manual camera is better. The fact is though, that unless you are a series paid photographer, then digital camera's are fast closing the gap on manual camera's and many digital camera's now also have add on manual lenses and also manual features.

Many beginners to photography get confused also about zoom and the meaning of optical zoom, when buying a camera. Optical zoom refers to the zoom that you get which does not affect the quality. You zoom in on an object for example and the quality is not affected. Normal zoom is when you zoom in closer but the closer you zoom is, the less focus you get. Optical zoom is the zoom that matters. Buying a camera with optical zoom of 3 or 6 is usually sufficient. If you really want to zoom in from a distance then you might possibly need a camera with 8-10 optical zoom.

Others may disagree with me but I think that the way best to start off is buying yourself a pocket camera and just to start snapping away. Get a feel for what works, what comes out well, what doesn't. Do not be afraid to experiment with the features on the camera. Try night shots for example, and try shots of different subjects i.e. sunsets, objects, landscapes and people. From experience and experimenting you can move out of the beginners level.

Travel photos - stock free images
home sauna and jacuzzi

Digital Photography Gift Ideas

2008-05-15T02:22:00.000-07:00

You have been snapping digital pictures for years now. Your hard-drive is overflowing with gigabytes of images, pictures of pets, vacations, relatives, birthday parties, and embarrassing moments. Perhaps you should consider rummaging around all those pixels of color and preparing some unique and creative gifts for those around you.

You can always use the standard mug, tee shirt or mouse pad as a gift, but why not consider some of these more unusual digital photo gift ideas.

Cards and gift tags

Don’t send just the standard holiday greeting card. You can add a special photo and message. Christmas, Hanukkah and Valentine's Day are not the only time to send greeting cards. How about Easter, Thanksgiving and Independence Day? Or, a Just-thinking-of you card. Personalized gift tags and bookmarks make a delightful gift. For a child, consider preparing a simple picture book that is personalized with the childs picture and contains pictures of his favorite things or people.

Household items

An apron for your favorite chef is a great gift; digital photos can be placed on dishes, glasses, coasters and trays. Prepare a private label for home-baked, canned or preserved foods in a decorative container. A 12 or 13-month photo calendar with favorite pictures will be appreciated for the entire year.

Games

Have you considered a private version of “Old Maid”? Picture cards can be prepared in many categories i.e. “My favorite people” “Where I spent my summer vacation?” etc. The nice thing about card games is being able to prepare up to four game sets at the same time since digital prints often are ordered online with four copies. Another card game tests memory. The object of the game is to recall placement of and match pairs of facedown shuffled cards.

Posters and magazine covers

Make stars of your recipients by putting their picture on a movie poster. Software lets you add screen credits, co-stars, and other text to create realism. Similarly, you can make a magazine cover featuring the recipient and appropriate “cover stories”. This could double as a book or magazine cover.

Photo Magnets

Photo magnets are great way for Grandma to display little Johnny’s picture on the refrigerator, and to post important information as well.

You can prepare a collage of favorite photos. Sometimes a grouping of these photos framed and displayed will have more impact than a single picture, and easier to hang one picture than a dozen. You can prepare a visual collage with a photo movie and even add music and sound effects.

Gag gifts

Ever considered giving a friend with political ambitions his very own campaign sign? Or how about helping a friend appears in a favorite product commercial?

Other gifts

Another gift related to digital photos might be to give a prepaid digital print plan. Perhaps a personalized photo album cover would be just the thing. A gift for that very special person is a simple digital camera of their very own, so you can receive photos from them as well. You could present another digital photography aficionado with software to edit, sort or display his online images.

Working as a content writer for GK VALE

Starting a Photography Business - Home Based vs. Studio Space

2008-05-12T22:39:00.001-07:00

When deciding on a place to run your successful photography business, there are a few options:

Home Based Photography Studio

Many photographers are deciding to run their photo businesses out of their homes. This has several advantages:

? Low overhead ? no rent
? No commuting time
? Your work space is tax deductible
? Great if you have kids at home
? Family oriented and relaxed

Disadvantages of a home studio include:

? Lack of sufficient space
? You have to keep a clean house at all times!
? Having strangers in your home
? Some people may view a home studio as not being a ?real? business

Buying / Renting a Photography Studio

If your business increases and you can no longer operate out of your home, then it is time to look into purchasing or renting a space for your photography business. Advantages of renting or buying a studio space include:

? More exposure for your business (window displays, foot traffic, drive by traffic)
? More adequate space for your equipment and props
? More adequate space for parking
? Some may view you as having a ?real? photography business
? Your work life and home life can be kept separate

Disadvantages include:

? Higher overhead (rent or mortgage) eats your profits
? Commute time
? High prices may keep you out of more desirable neighborhoods or shopping centers
? A less desirable location may mean that you have to lower your prices

Other options

Many photographers choose to shoot ?on location? only. This means that they either go to the client?s home or shoot mainly at outdoor locations. This can work nicely because it allows you to avoid renting a space and keeps clients out of your home.

Other photographers may choose to temporarily rent a studio space for a day or more. Some photo studios rent out their space on an hourly basis, but if this isn?t available in your town, consider renting a small conference room at a local hotel (this would be good for a portrait event where you will be photographing numerous families).

Start your photography business today

The Art of Nude Photography

2008-05-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

Nude photography is the ultimate expression of you as an individual and your connection to the world. Nude photography simply gets to the essence of the person. There is little to hide but a lot can be said or represented about a person, their beliefs, beauty, individuality, togetherness and expressions. A professional photographer will help you express sensuality, sensitivity, compassion and excitement, desires, innocence, appreciation of skin and celebration of self.

These days, expert nude photographers can make the experience very rewarding, and in some cases, quite spiritual even. Nude photography sessions are exciting, sensitive, intimate, personal and totally individual and unique. Every person is treated individually to produce the type of imagery that they like or envisage for themselves. Images can be artistic, sensual, sexy, stylish, natural, highlighting your best features and downplaying any less flattering attributes. Photographs are normally taken in artistic black and white tones. The session should be enjoyable and fun. The idea is to have fun and express yourself and be surprised at the extraordinary results that can be achieved. In nude photography it is important to be made to feel at ease and relaxed. The session is not about the photographer, but about the individual or the individuals concerned.

It?s important that the studio of your choice is fully equipped with the latest technology. High quality digital equipment will ensure high definition images. Also, make sure the studio environments are fresh, clean and welcoming. There?s no reason you shouldn?t be made to feel welcome and be treated to a special experience by friendly staff.

A professional nude photographer will make you feel relaxed and comfortable with yourself and your session. Making you feel comfortable and relaxed is the most important element and is important in creating timeless imagery. They should focus all their attention on your experience so that they can create the right mood and atmosphere that promotes outstanding photography.

Nude photography can also be enhanced with special props and accessories; something that can represent your individuality and uniqueness. As nude photography can already be very flattering, props should only be added if they do something to enhance your body, attitude or style. Sometimes the minimalist approach offers the greatest opportunity for uniqueness.

Along the same lines as props, your photographer (or you) may choose to capture your unique features such as skin art, tattoos, piercings - all which accentuate and adorn a person?s skin. It?s important that your photographer understands and appreciates your preferences and use all your unique feature?s to create a most individual work of art.

Posing, placing and positioning for nude photography is very important as is image design and style. It?s essential that your choice of photographer is well trained to allow this type of posing to occur naturally and capture these important attributes in a spontaneous and uninhibited way. Nude photography should end in wonderful pieces of timeless art for your pleasure and enjoyment.

Framing and composing images is also very important. The choice of settings and backgrounds should benefit and highlight your personality and uniqueness. Many photographers have a range of studio backgrounds, however often the simple backgrounds such as basic black or white are most popular.

Lighting is also essential when it comes to nude photography. The correct lighting can emphasize features and bring out the best in you. Studio lighting is totally controllable to highlight or neutralize areas as required to ensure superb creative imagery.

Spontaneity, mood and feelings are what nude photography is all about. Make sure you find a photographer that creates the mood and brings out the feelings that will become timeless memories forever.

Vittorio Natoli is the owner of Viva! Life Photography located in Fremantle, Western Australia. Award-winning Perth photographer and businessman, Mr Natoli has spent the past four years refining the systems that have made Viva Life Photography one of the most successful portrait and female and male nude photography studios in Australia. Visit Viva's website www.vivaphotography.com for more information on Vittorio, Viva! photography franchise opportunities or Nude Photography

Photography as a Fine Art

2008-05-11T22:21:00.000-07:00

Compared to most art forms, photography is a relative newcomer. Having been around for less than 200 years its place in the art world is still being established. Interestingly, there have been many arguments against photography being considered art, one of which is that the camera is a ?machine?. However, one must ask if a camera is any more a machine than a musician?s instrument, a sculptor?s chisel or a painter?s brush?

Another argument is that because of the nature of photography, endless prints can be made from the one negative. While true, it is for this reason that many photographers will produce their work as limited editions just as screen-printers, etchers and wood-block artists will. Some photographers have even been known to destroy their negatives after they have completed printing the edition. However, the ability to produce numerous prints is usually considered part of photography?s uniqueness.

Historically, many photographers themselves once considered photography a lesser art form. Called ?Pictorialists? these photographers produced work using soft focus, and often, poor quality, lenses hoping their work would look like Imressionist paintings. Although the Pictorialists won a small battle in having photography recognised and given wall space, they certainly didn?t help win the war of photography being recognised purely on its own artistic merits.

There is a great quote that states: ?There is no art, only artists.? Very true words, as there are many great artists who use photography as their chosen medium. It would be very hard for people to argue that the landscape and nature work of Ansel Adams; the natural world, nudes and still life?s of Edward Weston; the abstract forms and textures of Brett Weston and the compositions of Paul Strand are not art.

Because of the passion and extremely high quality work produced by these and other American photography pioneers, the American public and those within art circles could no longer deny that photography was a valuable and expressive art form. Oddly, Europe never seemed to have any trouble accepting photography as art. The work of Henri Cartier-Bressen, Brassai, Latrigue and others has always been held in the highest esteem.

The modern-day ease of photography has also led to a lot of very poor photographic work being passed off as art. Automated cameras have also lent considerable weight to the argument that it?s the camera doing the work, not the so-called artist. It is little wonder that many gallery owners are reluctant to give wall space to photographs. It must be remembered that the camera doesn?t make a good photographer any more than a piano makes a good pianist or a brush makes a good painter. An artist is an artist no matter what the medium.

Where Photography Becomes Art

What constitutes a fine art photograph would be quality: quality in composition, quality in the negative and quality in the print. Edward Weston once said that, ?composition is the best way of seeing.? Like other mediums, how the image is composed is of vital importance regarding how the print will be viewed. The photographer then needs to be able to put onto film what he or she is seeing and ?visualising? for the final print. Lens choice, film choice, aperture and shutter speed relationships, what to exposure for and which filters to use (especially for black and white film) all play a vital part in what the final print will look like. Finally, the photographer needs to bring that ?feeling? and expression out in the ?fine? print using a very demanding darkroom technique.

How a Fine Art Photographer Prints

Ansel Adams was fond of saying that the negative is like a musician?s score and the print is like their performance. Good photographers will know how to do both very well: photograph to produce good negatives and then make an expressive print that conveys what they saw and felt at the time of exposure.

A photographer will go through a few stages before arriving at the fine print. This begins with making a ?proof print? of the negative and evaluating it to determine how best to properly print from it. The photographer then moves through a series of ?work prints? as he or she fine-tunes the print exposure, cropping and contrast. More often than not, certain areas of a print will require more or less exposure than other areas. Giving more exposure to specific parts of the print, ?burning?, will darken those areas. Holding back exposure on specific areas or ?dodging? will lighten them. When the photographer believes that the print is as expressive as possible, they will make a ?fine print? using their (often) extensive notes regarding dodging, burning and contrast.

Most fine art black and white photographers will use fibre-based paper for their fine prints. Fibre-based paper tends to have the edge over its cheaper cousin resin-coated paper. Fibre-based paper also has more archival permanence, however, modern resin-coated papers claim to be the same. Fibre-based paper is harder to print on successfully, however, generally looks better, is preferred or demanded by museums and galleries and is also somewhat demanded by photographic tradition. Good photographers will have no qualms about this and would feel as though they were cheating if they produced their work on resin-coated paper.

There are myriad other variables in fine art photography that include: choice of film developer, choice of paper brand, choice of paper developer and whether to tone the print. All affect the look of the final print and it is the experience of the photographer to know how best to pull all these together to produce a print worthy of being called ?art?.

Matthew Smeal is a fine art black and white photographer and journalist based in Sydney, Australia. His work can be viewed on his website at http://www.matthewsmeal.com

Best Digital Photography Wedding

2008-05-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

The wedding is one of the most memorable occasions between two lovers. The years may go by since that day but people will be able to remember as long as pictures were taken.

More people are investing in digital cameras. This is because the images can be stored in the computer or in a compact disc that will not be damaged through time when the pictures are placed in an album.

The images captured can be edited on the digital camera instead of wasting the paper used in developing a bad picture.

Another thing, which makes digital photographer better, is that the person can take a lot of shots without having to reload and change the roll of film. The time it takes to replace it may make the individual miss the right shot that can never be done again.

Here are some tips for those who want to use a digital camera during the wedding.

1. The individual should pay attention to the background before taking the shot. There is no question the couple will look good but this can all change if the area where it is taken is not.

Things that should be avoided when taking the lovers or any of the guests is a cluttered area. This will make it easier for the viewer to see who is the picture focused on when these are ready after the wedding.

2. Some of the guests may be wearing glasses. This might cause bright flashes to come out when the pictures come out so this can also be avoided by making some changes. The people in the photograph can tilt the head down or to the side so this will not happen.

3. The best way to get a great shot will be to know when it is appropriate to take. This doesn?t only happen when people are looking at the camera but also in those candid moments.

4. The person will probably shoot more than a hundred shots during the wedding. After each shot, it is best to review the image on the LCD screen so this can be edited if it isn?t good and another one can be taken.

Photography has come a long way from the conventional form that was done for so many years. It has given people the opportunity to become an amateur photographer that could be just as good as a professional one.

Those who want to save on getting an expert should invest then in a digital camera so that a family member or a relative will be able to get the best shot.

Low Jeremy maintains http://digital-photography.articlesforreprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Black and White Photography in the Digital Age

2008-05-08T22:17:00.000-07:00

The world is celebrating color in full spectrum, not just in the environment but also in the computer. In the 60's, people are happy to see their photographs in black and white copies and it extended for quite some time until technology can already reproduce and provide people with colored digital photography.

Why still use black and white? If you have watched the controversial movie "Schindler's List" (1993) by Steven Spielberg, it has been presented in the screens in black and white color. Critics were expressing dissatisfaction, and to some degree, one could think it is such a waste denying the audience of more than 1 million colors reduced to nothing but grayscale monochromatic theme.

Nowadays, black and white photography is directly proportional to vanity, because everyone desires colored output. In case of "Schindler's List," it was released on purpose as black and white, to give way to a dramatic impact for the setting of 1945 Nazi occupation. The effect of black and white reel, has added spice to the thematic goal of the director. The essence of using black and white is important for character shots.

The world is ironic and ridiculous at times, but we cannot simply take away black and white especially in the era of digital photography. We know all Graphic Arts editing applications, scanners, digital cameras, and other photography gadgets have grayscale options.

To start with your own black and white digital photography shots, you will not need extra effort and complications other than shooting as is. Take the shot in color then you can switch the setting of the digital image in an editor, using array of choices. If you are using Photoshop or Fireworks, you can change the whole image into black and white by editing "Hue and Saturation" or simply switching it to "grayscale" format.

Old photographs from developed films can be converted into digital images by scanning them. If you want a black and white portrait out of it, set your scanner into grayscale. The result is black and white photo.

Setting your digital camera into "evening shot" mode automatically converts the image as monochromatic. You can remove saturation to convert it to black and white. Digital camera works efficiently with a computer. You can do everything about it in full control---that is if you are adept with the manipulation of the technical side of it. It will be quite expensive but worth the effort.

Technology is getting better and better, if you choose conventional effects, as long as you have the 360-degree options to enhance possibilities, then black and white digital photography is very simple to produce.

Low Jeremy maintains http://digital-photography.articlesforreprint.com This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Digital Like Photography Techniques Just Like the Pros

2008-05-07T22:29:00.000-07:00

Eric was finally able to buy a digital camera. Though the price of this was very affordable, the delay was caused by other priorities, which also needed to be dealt with.

The reason why Eric decided to get a digital camera was to see if it was possible to shoot the same images as those seen in the magazines or in the newspaper. This may just be a hobby and not full time but this person wanted to learn and be just as good as the experts.

The first thing that Eric did is being familiar with all of the functions of the digital camera. The individual can make the adjustments or let the machine do it in order to get a clear shot.

There are no limits to the number of practice shots that need to be taken. This is because a digital camera has a huge memory, which can hold up to 300 pictures in one session. When the individual is ready to take real shots, the old ones can be deleted.

Another technique to be just like the pros is to observe proper lighting when taking a shot. Some pictures will look better when a flash is used while others need to be adjusted to get a night shot. Digital cameras have this feature, which are not available in the old 35mm cameras made many years ago.

The individual should also know when to zoom in or out. There are two important factors such as the number of people and the type of background. The focus must be on the subject with the landmark or whatever is behind as the accent for the shot.

A lot of photographers both professional and amateur shoot with the model in the middle. Some have noticed better pictures when this is done with the subject on the side, which may work depending on the location.

The techniques in shooting just like the pros can be self-taught. There are also books and magazines available but it will be better if someone critiques the pictures by participating in a seminar or in a contest. The objective isn?t to win but to improve in the skills already learned by the individual.

The person can concentrate on taking great shots especially when there is no need to worry anymore about buying a roll of film or developing.

Low Jeremy maintains digital-photography.articlesforreprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Architecture Photography

2008-05-06T22:15:00.000-07:00

Image distortion: When we look at a standard building, we see lines running horizontal and vertical. These lines often appear distorted and will make your image look warped. Image distortion occurs when we choose the wrong point to take our picture or use the wrong equipment.

With most SLR cameras a certain amount of image distortion will occur. Shooting directly in front of the building will limit your options but will limit the amount of distortion in your image.

View cameras are ideal cameras for architectural photography. They minimise distortion and allow you to shoot from any angle. If you are serious about architectural photography, an investment in a View Camera is something to consider.

Your lens may also make your image look distorted. A wide-angle lens will make the front of the building look massive compared to the rear.

If you are photographing a tall building, don?t shoot too near to the base. This will make the base of the building look too large compared to the top. Find a high advantage point, if possible, to take your picture.

Different light brings out different moods in a building. Just as with all other types of photography, studio photography being the exception, the time of day can make a big difference to an image. A building that looks plain and uninteresting during the day can be transformed by lighting at night. Also look out for photos that tell a story such as an office block with a single light on.

Side lighting will create long shadows along the front of the building adding mood to your image. Back lit buildings are extremely difficult to photograph and are only effective as a photograph when captured as a silhouette.

Most buildings are best captured at night and if possible shoot when there is detail left in the sky. You don?t need the most costly camera gear on the market to get great building pictures at night - bring plenty of film and a good sturdy tripod.

Architectural photography doesn?t finish when the outside of the building is finished. Images of the interior of buildings are also in demand with many agencies. Great care should be taken when photographing the interior as elements within the interior may be distracting to the final image result. Remove any object that may interfere with your image.

Industrial photography is also as demanding and rewarding as any other type of photography. Take extra care when approaching large structures, use standard photography techniques and use the light creatively to add humour and mood.

Architecture photography is very demanding, but the rewards are great for any person that masters the technique. But like all types of photography - practice makes perfect.

Top Ten Digital Camera And Photography Tips

2008-05-05T22:36:00.000-07:00

Digital cameras have definitely simplified the manual labor of the photographers who can now do their job at mere click of a button. But, that does not mean that you can have perfect shots with just the aid of your camera equipment. It's just that you can feel a bit more confident with a digital camera in your possession, but the job of ?clicking? has become specialized.

Here are some standing instructions, some important workable tips that need to be followed by the man holding a digital camera. Experience, combined with technical expertise is what makes you a perfect photographer.

1. Look your subject in the eye, don't spray your attention all over. Sometimes, you get a fraction of a second to click an important event. There are occasions, you have to vie with hundreds of other photographers. You need to develop the meditative concentration, to 'hunt' your object.

2. Use a plain background. If the background is a hotchpotch, it will have a direct bearing on the main photograph.

3. Use flash outdoors.

4. Move in close. Adjustments from the close range can be done easily. They will be more effective.

5. Move it from the middle. That is always the safest way. If you move from one side, there is every chance of missing the activity on the other side.

6. Lock the focus. That is very important as it is your main job.

7. Know your flash's range. This is a very important technical aspect, that is mastered by experience. A bad flash can spoil an important shot beyond repair.

8. Watch the light. It changes constantly.

9. Take some vertical pictures. This adds variety to the total number of pictures that you have shot.

10. Be a picture director. A sense of involvement is necessary. You need to be in a position to anticipate the results, just as a movie director directs his actors for getting a perfect shot.

Don't credit those magnetic eyes and bewitching smiles to the account of digital camera alone. It is the skill and the sense of timing of the photographer that matters the most. You need to know when to tell your photo-audience to ?say cheese?, and those fraction of seconds before their response to the cheese. Have an eye contact of a sharp shooter who is ready to make the prey fall flat.

To get detailed information on digital camera photography, digital camera equipments and more visit http://www.digitalclub4u.com/

Digital Photography and Its Advantages

2008-05-05T22:33:00.000-07:00

Gone are the days when one has to buy films, put up with bad or exposed shots and waste money having them developed. The creation of digital cameras has changed the landscape of photography not only for enthusiasts but also for beginners.

In fact, with the features of digital cameras, beginners can already make professional-looking shots and even put effects that are only reserved before to those who have done photography for a long time or those who have actually studied the techniques. Below is a rundown of some of the advantages of digital camera.

Zooming in

One advantage that digital cameras present is its zooming lens, that provide clarity even when shooting far away objects. Point and shoot cameras that are often used by beginners do not have this feature. Additional lens will have to be placed on the camera. But now, digital cameras have special lens that can zoom up to 8 megapixels.

No mistakes

Digital cameras allow users to erase shots that they feel are not good enough. This is perhaps one of the greatest features of digital technology. Now, people are able to choose not only the shots that they will develop but also those that they will keep. This is a huge savings not only on the film but also with developing.

No more films

With digital technology, one does not need films anymore. Picture files may be stored in memory sticks and in the camera?s internal memory. What is more, one can store digital files of the pictures. And unlike films, which may easily be destroyed, digital files are not as easily lost when stored properly.

Effects

Digital technology in cameras allow for the use of several techniques in photography that one will not be able to do if one is using a standard camera with film. One can shoot in black and white and sepia with just a click of the mode buttons. There is no need to develop them in the dark room in a special way. Digital cameras also allow photographers to shoot in macro settings, something that ordinary cameras would not have done.

No more developing

With digital cameras, you don?t have to develop the pictures anymore or use a dark room. You can actually print the pictures at your own home with the use of a colored printer. No need to go to the developing center.

Low Jeremy maintains digital-photography.articlesforreprint.com .This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

How To Sharpen Your Digital Photography Images

2008-05-04T23:17:00.000-07:00

Let?s start this digital photography lesson by looking at the digital camera. All digital cameras photograph images which have a normal pattern of pixels that make up this image. In some digital photography images a moir? effect is created. To avoid this, modern slr digital cameras come with an in built filter that givens a softer effect to the image.

When you are faced with having to sharpen a noisy digital photography image you?ll find that some photos are easier to sharpen than others. This might be caused from having a too higher ISO. The usual way of adding sharpness to a digital image has it problems too; it can actually increase the noise in your image quite a bit. To clarify this point, what is actually happening is the noise isn?t being increased as such, it?s being enhanced.

There is a way to sharpen noisy digital photo images without going into the noise itself. To begin with its important to understand colour modes in Photoshop. The easiest way we remember colour modes is when we think of RGB mode. This is a ?channel? of colours which are Red, Green and Blue. As I was taught by my good friend Lyndie Jeffry, there are more colour modes where your digital photo can be altered, adjusted and sharpened.

When I was first learning about digital photography Lyndie taught me that you can involve the CMYK mode which uses four colour channels. This stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black. (Yes I know ?Black doesn?t start with a ?K?.)

Lyndie explained to me that the best one to use for this purpose is the L-A-B mode. LAB mode really just related to the 3 channels it uses. In a nutshell Lab stands for the individual channels. The ?L? really means ?luminance?, "A" the green-red aspect "B" the blue-yellow aspect. When working in LAB mode you can modify the brightness of your digital photo and keep the saturating and colours the same. The way this is possible is because practically no image information is depleted or lost when you convert to Lab mode. It also stays good when you convert back again, which is extremely handy. (Especially with highly valuable photos such as other peoples wedding photos.) Not everyone uses this, but it?s a neat trick with some digital images.

In some digital photography images you can simply choose to sharpen the L channel in LAB mode. By doing this much of the noise in the image is in the other channels that are usually not affected by this sharpening effect.

Now this may not work for every single noisy digital photography image you have. But in some situations it works very well. I suggest you try it to see the effect you give. I?ve used it a few times and it?s saved my ?you-know-what?. So if you?re in a tight spot with a noisy image, give this a go, you might be surprised with the results!

By Amy Renfrey

If you want to know how to get suberb clarity and detail in your digital photography just go to http://www.digitalphotographysuccess.com

Photography 101: Picture Taking Basics

2008-05-04T23:14:00.000-07:00

Just because you aren?t a professional photojournalist doesn?t mean you can?t take striking photographs. Anyone can learn basic techniques that will turn your summer vacation pictures into extraordinary images.

Focus on Subject
The subject of your photograph is the most important part of the picture?it may be a person or a spectacular part of the scenery. This is where you want the viewer?s eyes to focus and you can do this through some simple techniques.

A busy or distracting background will draw attention away from the subject. When you take a picture, look at the entire viewfinder and not just the subject. Ensure there isn?t a tree growing from someone?s head or something distracting going on in the background. A plain background tends to show off the subject.

Make sure your subject is in focus. This is especially important if your subject isn?t in the center of your picture. Point and click cameras focus on whatever is in the center of the viewfinder. If your subject is off to one side, you?ll have to lock the focus on your subject then reposition the camera so the subject is off-center. See your camera?s owners manual to learn how to lock the focus.

Consider the Light
Light is the second most important aspect of a photograph. Whether the photographer utilizes natural light or a flash?the type, amount and location of the light source should always be considered. Different lighting can change the entire appearance of a photograph.

The bright sun can create deep shadows on the face and intensify wrinkles, scars and blemishes. When taking pictures on sunny days, it?s a good idea to use your flash to lighten your subject?s face and reduce unattractive shadows.

Overcast days often provide pleasing results without the use of a flash or other artificial light sources. If you do use a flash, try the camera?s fill-flash mode if it has one. The flash will lighten the subject?s appearance and make it stand out.

When using a flash, make sure the subject is within the flash?s range. Most cameras have a range of up to 15 feet. Check your owner?s manual for the specifics on your camera?s flash range. To be safe, don?t position your subjects further than 10 feet away.

Remember if you don?t like the light positioning on the subject, you can always move the subject or yourself. Try different angles until the light works to enhance the picture instead of take away from it.

Position Subject
The subject is the most important aspect of your photograph, but doesn?t always have to be in the center of the photo. Sometimes you can add dramatic effects to your picture simply by shifting the subject to one side or the other. Play with your pictures and see how repositioning the camera slightly can alter the image.

Taking a picture of a person close up can have a completely different feel than if the person is in the distance. Sometimes the subject?s eyes or expression can tell the whole story. Don?t be afraid to get close to your subjects, whether they are people, pets or even flowers. Another tip?get down to the level of your subject. This means bending down to photograph children. This will make your photos more personable.

Sometimes tipping your camera on its side to take a vertical picture can improve the quality of the photo. Tall subjects can fill a vertical frame much better than a horizontal frame.

Candid photos make entertaining pictures, but sometimes it?s OK to direct your subjects, add props and choose locations. Hats, big ice cream cones or having the group look in the same direction with animated faces can add personality to a picture.

Remember the Basics
Many rare photo opportunities are bungled by forgetting the basics. Remember not to move the camera while taking a photo and it?s a good idea to use a tripod when shooting at night. Make sure the lens cap is off, the lens is clean and your fingers are away from the lens. In addition, it?s a good idea to carry extra batteries and memory cards or film.

References

Kodak, (n.d.). Top 10 tips for great pictures. Retrieved Apr. 05, 2006, from Talking Great Pictures Web site: www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=2/3/38&pq-locale=en_US.

Cristopher Fowers

Cristopher Fowers is a Writer/Reviewer for TopTenREVIEWS.com. TopTenREVIEWS features expert reviews for technology and entertainment products and services. For more information and an in-depth review on photo hsring services, see the TopTenREVIEWS Photo Sharing Services. We do the research so you don?t have to?.

Digital Photography Book You Will Need

2008-05-02T23:43:00.000-07:00

Ben got interested in photography back in college. That time, students still had to load the camera with film and develop the pictures in the dark room.

Ten years later, things have changed. Professional and amateur photographers have shifted to digital cameras. Since Ben was slow in terms of welcoming new technology, this individual decided to do some research first to know more about it.

The bookstore will surely have a lot of books on this topic. After searching through the second shelf, there it was, publications on digital photography.

Ben noticed that most of the books were written at the turn of the century. This is because manufacturers only released a complete line of these products after Y2K.

There were publications available talking about digital photography in general but people who want to know more should get specialized ones.

The specialized ones will teach the individual how to shoot at night, how to achieve black and white color prints in the digital age, infrared photography, how to set up a digital studio and proper lighting in taking each shot.

There are pictures as well as texts so that the person can read first then apply the techniques illustrated in the book.

Famous photographers who have worked for major magazines and newspapers wrote. Be it for money or to spread the word about this art, these are really worth knowing for those who have done this as a hobby or are just starting.

Some other books will also teach the person the different kind of digital cameras that are available in the market. This proves there are pros and cons in choosing one brand over another and how the systems used are very different.

There are other sources aside from books to learn about digital photography. There are people who write articles on the Internet or have websites that have an open forum for those who enjoy this as a hobby.

The main reason why the demand for digital photography is high is because of its affordability. The individual can choose from a wide range of brands that costs less than $500 a piece. The price will be higher for the more high tech versions that professionals will need.

It is one thing to read the book and another to put it into practice. People who decided to get a digital photography book should apply everything that is written to be able to be just as good as those who have been doing for many years.

Low Jeremy maintains digital-photography.articlesforreprint.com .This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Differences between Digital and Film Photography

2008-05-01T23:39:00.000-07:00

Photography is a way of life for some and at least a part of life for everyone else. In this day and age, technological advances await us at every turn, and the field of photography is no exception. Cameras have gone digital, and the potential is astounding. The following will take a look at some of the differences in the old and new ways, and weigh them out as either pros or cons of digital photography.

Scientifically speaking, the differences between the two are enormous. With film photography, light traveling through the camera's lens is actually burning the images onto the film. With digital photography, the light of the images is being encoded as binary data and stored in memory as with a computer. These differences, while huge, can be unimportant to some though. No one is actually interested in the technical aspect of how the cameras work. The photographer is more interested in what it means to him in regard to the pictures he can take and what he can do with them.

One of the primary advantages of digital photography is versatility. Digital cameras can record not only the still images of film cameras, but also motion pictures and audio in some cases. While a film camera can be a specialized piece of equipment for taking still pictures, digital cameras can offer you an entire range of different equipment, all in the palm of your hand.

Digital cameras are also commonly found on other pieces of equipment. As technology advances, cellular telephones and MP3 music players now often have built-in cameras, which are always digital. This may offer some extra convenience to digital camera users, considering that they can decrease the overall number of devices that they must carry with them and use.

Printing your pictures is also very different from digital to film photography. In both cases, though, you have many options. Professional film photographers may develop their prints on their own, in their very own dark room. Amateur or casual film photographers may simply drop their film off at a one-hour photo place. With digital, your pictures are recorded as electronic data, so you can use your computer to print them. Or, if you prefer, you can still drop them off at a photo shop and have it done for you. So as far as printing goes, it seems it is up to you how deeply you want to dive in. Both film and digital offer you a range of options, from the hands-on to letting others do it for you.

So in the end, choosing between digital and film may mean considering the application. Hobbyists may stick to film, while technology buffs and burgeoning photographers will choose the brave new world of digital. Either way, it looks like both styles of photography are going to be around for awhile to come.

Markus writes and publishes articles about Digital photography , and other unbiased topics on Independent-views.com.

All The Secrets Involved in Digital Photography

2008-04-30T22:47:00.000-07:00

So What Are The Advantages?

One advantage to amateur digital photography is knowing immediately which photos you may want or need to retake. On most digital cameras when the picture is taken it shows on the LCD screen and you know immediately if it's in focus, heads are cut off and so on. You can retake the shot at the time and not whine about how bad it turned out later.

Hobby Not Just For the Kids

Discovering The Beauty Of Landscape Photography

2008-04-30T22:41:00.000-07:00

Symmetry, repetition, contrast, asymmetry, coherence, symbolism, and a dash of irony?these are the major components that construct a beautiful photograph taken by exceptional photographer. These are also the very same components that one needs balance when taking one of the easiest yet most difficult subjects to photograph? landscapes.

LOOKING BACK

Since they are permanent, familiar, accessible, and part of nature, landscapes have been one of the most favorite subjects by most photographers. Landscape photography can be traced as early as 1849 when the book ?Egypte, Nubie, Palestine et Syrie? containing prints of paper negatives was published. In the 19th century, many eminent landscape photographers emerged which dominate large photography collections in museums and galleries worldwide. Today, many budding photographers continue to fall in love with nature. And as they pursue the road to landscape photography, more and more works and techniques continue to emerge.

FALLING IN LOVE WITH LANDSCAPES

Unlike other kinds and styles of photography, most people would say that it is easy to take landscape photographs because you don?t need to instruct you subject and you can choose whatever angle you want. On the contrary, most photographers believe that landscape photography is one of the most difficult because you will need an intense set of equipment and a very keen eye to make an ?ordinary? scene quite extraordinary.

Imagine capturing the natural beauty of a majestic landscape with your camera and in your own preference. Here are some of the elements you need to pay attention to before you delve into the realms of landscape photography:

1. Camera, lens, and lens shade are great deals. Although you can use any camera, most photographers would recommend SLR or digital SLR because these give wider selection of lenses and ensure superior results. Wide-angle lenses are also advised because it gives a great view into any picture. In order to protect your lens, look for a good lens hood or shade.

2. Tripod is a must. This is a very invaluable and important asset for landscape photographers to avoid the blurred outcomes and to ensure the maximum depth of field.

3. Invest on film and filters. Any film today can be used because it can record nature?s color vividly. You just have to be wise in using the right ISO film to avoid grains in your photo prints.

4. Consider camera position. This greatly affects the overall quality of your photo because it requires your creative decision. (TIP: If there is a horizon line in your composition, keep it leveled so there is a room for greater possibilities.)

5. Set the direction and the type of light to be used. Proper direction accompanied with balanced lighting will make or unmake your landscape piece so make sure that you visit the location and predict the weather before your shoot.

6. Be hands-on in post exposure manipulation. To get the job done, try to learn mastering the do?s and don?ts in the darkroom so you?ll get the result you desire.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on photography & other useful information, please visit http://photography.articlekeep.com

Focal Length for Portrait Photography - Zoom for Refined Pictures of People

2008-04-24T03:42:00.000-07:00

What is the best focal length for portrait photography? In other words, if you are using a zoom lens, what is the best zoom position for taking a picture of one or more persons? What's different between a close-up and a full-length portrait? Answers to these questions will let us make more refined images of the people we love to photograph.

In order to answer these questions we first must focus on what we want to do. Usually we want two things:
1) Reproduce the persons with no distortion.
2) Throw the background out of focus to avoid a distracting backdrop.

To fulfill point 1) we should avoid getting too close to our subject. So this in turn leads to the question: what is the correct distance from the subject? The answer is twofold, according to whether you want a close-up or rather a 3/4-length to full-length group portrait.

If you are making a close-up, a short telephoto is the best choice, let's say an 80mm lens. Such a lens offers normal perspective, while a standard 50mm lens would force the photographer to get too close to the subject thus altering the perspective (a phenomenon known as "foreshortening"). If foreshortening occurs, the closer parts of the subject's face (the nose, the chin) would appear greater than they are, and the opposite would happen to the back of his or her head. Or, in case of a large group, the faces of the people in front would appear much greater than those on the back. That's why, in case of a large group, an even longer lens than the 80mm would be better. If a 200mm is used for a close-up group portrait, the background will be completely out of focus, if this is what you desire, thus fulfilling the previous point 2). This is because the longer the focal length, the shallower the depth of field (even though this is rather improper). Be careful, however, to put all the faces in the same shallow plane of focus. Finally, avoid using extreme telephotos (300mm) because, again, perspective becomes distorted, with all subject's features appearing compressed. Moreover, keep in mind that the closer to the frame edges, the stronger the distortion. This is even more so for wide-angle lenses.

If you are making a 3/4-length or full-length group portrait, a standard 50mm lens is the optimum choice. This time you will be farther away from the subject and the aforementioned foreshortening will not take place. Unfortunately, with such a lens it will be impossible to separate the subject from the background, thus rendering difficult the fulfillment of requirement 2). The best you can do is using it with wide aperture, because this too helps reducing the depth of field. This recommendation holds true even when the photographer is forced to use a wide-angle lens to fit a big group into the frame and still maintaining a reasonable working distance.

Just in case you are using a compact digital or film camera with a zoom lens, if it has a 3x zoom, its focal length will be something like 35mm when completely zoomed out (wide-angle position) and 105mm when completely zoomed in (telephoto position). On the other hand, if you possess a 10x zoom lens it will be about 35-350mm. These equivalences will help you apply the recommendations of this article.

Andrea Ghilardelli runs an online photo retouching service. For more articles and to get your photographs transformed into something special, please visit his site: www.ilghila.com.

The Importance of Wedding Photography

2008-04-24T03:41:00.000-07:00

What's important about a wedding is everything about the wedding. The union of the two individual's celebrating their love for each other. The announcing and sharing of that commitment with their friends, loved ones and wider community. Making a declaration of love, starting a new life together, giving birth to endless opportunities and new life. Weddings are the pinnacle point of dedication and celebration between a man and a woman. This event usually brings together all of the family, friends and individuals that have been a part of the bride and grooms life.

The wedding day is such a special occasion that most couples spend a great deal of time preparing for this magical event. Details become very important and people find themselves dedicating a great deal of time and effort in creating this once in a lifetime event.

The guest list is important, the ceremony is important, the vows are important, the music is important, the transport is important, the attendants are important, the venue is important, the decorations are important, the brides parents are important, the grooms parents are important, the buffet is important, the speeches are important, the dancing is important, the kiss is important, grooming and bridal wear is important, catering is important and photography of course is important.

There are many individual components that go in making up your individually unique wedding day. It is vitally important that you choose the best possible wedding photographer that also values all of the elements and details that you value. You need to be able to communicate freely with your photographer and you need to trust that your photographer already understands and knows what your views and values are and will naturally capture all of the elements and all of those moments that you have spent time and effort to create.

A good wedding photographer will have a great deal of wedding experience and knowledge and will naturally be able to impart confidence and knowledge immediately. All wedding photographers should be able to readily and easily be able to show you an example of their past work and should be able to give you personal referees of happy clients if required.

Photography is extremely important and a good photography studio will be able to show you the latest examples of photography styles available today, including trends and looks that are both contemporary and traditional. Digital manipulation is now available and most quality photographers will use whatever techniques and technology is available to produce cutting edge wedding photography.

Expert wedding photographer Vittorio Natoli is the owner of Viva! Life Photography - Wedding Photography specialists.

The Art Of Child Photography

2008-04-07T22:38:00.001-07:00

Child Photography is one of the most exciting opportunities to capture expressions, attitudes and individual uniqueness. The secret of child photography is to understand children and what children do, how they act and behave. Children are fun and exciting to work. They give us the most amazing looks and expressions naturally. All the photographer has to do is to allow the child to be, understand and capture the moments at the appropriate time and in the most appropriate light an settings. An experienced photographer will understand child photography. Children are very popular to photograph, they can often be challenging subjects. It's important that the photographer allows children to be children and have fun, remain uninhibited, playful and natural - after all, it's all about capturing your children's nature and uniqueness. Their successful approach is to let children be, so that their true essence can be captured with minimal direction and posing. Child Photography should be spontaneous and relaxed allowing for natural composition to evolve. To create the best results the child photographer should take many images so that the best moments are captured.

It's very important that your photographer provides a relaxed environment where your children are encouraged to relax and be themselves. This way, the photographer can capture the very best of them. Shooting candidly and spontaneously is part of the experience that you and your children will enjoy. This promotes confidence and individual expression.

Another thing to keep an eye out for when it comes to choosing a child photographer is to see what kind of equipment are they using. Is it the latest technology? You want to make sure the photographer is using high quality digital equipment, which ensures high definition images. Also make sure the photographer is fully trained to ensure a high quality of excellence in imagery. A good photography studio will provide an environment that is fresh, clean and welcoming. Also ambience and refreshments are always a nice touch.

Making your children feel comfortable and relaxed is the most important element and is important in creating timeless imagery. Ideally, your photographer should focus all their attention on your experience so that they can create the right mood and atmosphere that promotes outstanding photography.

Child Photography requires special props and clothing. Many photographers encourage individual family members to be dressed in the most appropriate clothing that represents their individuality and uniqueness. Their clothes tell us a lot about them. So it is important to dress them in a way that is matched and meaningful. Remember these images will be with you and your children for a long time so it is important to dress accordingly as some clothes can date.

Sometimes the minimalist approach offers the greatest opportunity for uniqueness. Props are kept to a minimum.

An expert in Child Photography will endeavour to capture any unique features of your children. From smiles, attitudes, expressions, emotions, laughter and togetherness and anything that is characteristic of your children is included.

Posing, placing and positioning for Child Photography is very important as is image design and style. Some photographers are well trained to allow this type of posing to occur naturally and capture these important attributes in a spontaneous and uninhibited way. It's important to take many images when it comes to Child Photography so that they can create and design some wonderful pieces of timeless art for your pleasure and enjoyment.

It's good also to find photographers who are experts at framing and composing images. You want their choices of settings and backgrounds to benefit and highlight your children's personality and uniqueness. Many have a range of studio backgrounds, but some often prefer working with simple backgrounds such as basic white or black. When photographing outdoors it is important not to make the backgrounds distract from the main focus, your children, but use the background to enhance your characteristics and individuality. Sometimes they use scenic character buildings, parks or seascapes to add to the composition.

Lighting is essential when it comes to child photography. The correct lighting can emphasis features and brings out the best in your children. Studio lighting is totally controllable so as to highlight or neutralize areas as required to ensure superb creative imagery.

Spontaneity, mood and feelings is what child photography is all about. Your photographer should create the mood and bring out the feelings that will become timeless memories forever. They should also encourage spontaneity at all times and make the photos unique, by capturing that special moment. This is the essence of Child Photography.

It is also essential that the photographer's professionalism is guaranteed. A professional will understand how important it is to maintain their client's confidentiality and privacy. They should also know how much your images mean and value them, you and all their clients very highly. Security and privacy is should be guaranteed.

Ideally, while the images are being created the portrait photographer is visualizing the effect of the photography in colour, monotone or sepia tone. The images taken can also undergo digital enhancements and retouching to make sure that every detail is as perfect as you would like it. Blemishes or slight imperfections can be removed so as to enhance the end result.

Many photographers offer an extensive range of album presentations and framing to enhance your Child photography. The end result will then be tailor made and presented in beautiful albums and frames. The packaging and presentation of your images is designed to enhance the expression of the timeless moments created, guaranteeing value and longevity.

It is important to remember your children and their personal journey in a way that can be treasured forever. Sibling relationships are also captured and become powerful and very valuable as we age. Images are timeless, powerful and beautiful.

Child photographer Vittorio Natoli is the award-winning owner of Viva! photography franchises, specialists in child photography.

Digital Photography to Get Great Scrapbooks

2008-03-31T03:11:00.000-07:00

Scrap booking is becoming increasingly popular in many areas of India. It's a hobby, which combines, creativity, history,

family togetherness and art. Prior to the common use and acceptance of digital photography, scrap booking was a process of collecting pictures mementos and artwork into a creatively decorated book. The book often told a story of family history or events and was customized to fit the age, interests and understanding of the recipient. Many times, a parent and child would work on the project together. Most of the fun of scrap booking was in the creation, not the finished product.

Digital scrap booking uses all the same elements as traditional scrap booking and gives them extra emphasis. Digital scrapbooks are easier to store, edit, organize and share with others and the only limiting factor is your imagination.

Digital scrapbooks may a great way to share digital pictures, to prepare and decorate photo books and also make a great photo gift.

How to get started with digital scrap booking

1.Digital images - You can use images from your digital camera,

from scanners, or from online files, emails, photos and other information. JPEG images will work, but TIFF images provide

higher resolution 2.Computer - You will need a computer with a CD or DVD burner. You will use the computer to make and store images, as well as

to edit and reorganize existing pages in the scrapbook. 3.Editing software - Adobe Photoshop software is a popular choice for scrap booking fans. 4.Printer -- You'll want to have a good quality color printer, preferably inkjet, to print out your finished scrapbook pages.

Preparing Scrap book Images

It's important to scan images at 8 x 10. Images scanned at this size will show more detail and be less grainy. It's easier to

reduce the size of an image later than it is to increase the size of a too-small image.

Save master images as TIFF files (Tagged Image File Format). TIFF files are easiest to edit and manipulate.

Use a meaningful name for your TIFF files. Most scanners and digital cameras assign a number to your image files. Find a

name, which helps you to know what image is in the file.

Images and Art Digital scrapbooks use other digital elements besides your

pictures. You may use many things which will help to make your scrap book exciting and appealing.

Some of the other common digital elements used by scrap bookers include:

Backgrounds - Great backgrounds help to make your images stand out and add visual interest to the pages.

Photo mats - These are the small pieces, sometimes called borders, which surround and set off the photographic images.

Embellishments - Embellishments are the decorations, which add interest and excitement to your scrapbook pages.

Word Art and Fonts - Another thing, which makes your scrapbook pages really pop is the use of a variety of different style

and color, type fonts.

Your digital scrapbook is really just a collection of images displayed in a way, which is meaningful, decorative and

informative

Sandeep,Working as a web designer and content writer for Anaga Solutions

Step By Step Guide To Digital Photography

2008-03-29T04:47:00.000-07:00

When I first got my digital camera, I was very excited by all the things promised to me in the manual. Instant focusing, picture editing, tones and textures. To read the manual there was very little this camera would not be able to do for me. I had ideas of taking the photos for my friend's up and coming wedding, and hopefully every other momentous event in all of our lives.

However it turned out to be somewhat more difficult than I had imagined. The camera did have all the functions promised, that wasn't the problem. It was more that I didnt really have any idea how or when to use them effectively. Oh the simple stuff was fine, setting timers and zooming etc. Even some of the tone settings were quite easy to use. Yet when it came to the more complicated things I was at a dead loss. Even more disheartening, my landscape shots simply weren't coming out in any interesting kind of way. I wanted to be able to take the postcard kind of shot that makes everyone grab the photos for a look, but all I was getting were boring flat shots which didn't capture what I'd seen at all.

Moreover I simply wanted to be far more technically proficient with the camera also, in the hope of improving my art. I looked into a few local college photography courses and though they did seem to offer the kind of information I was looking for, the price was always far to high to invest in what was simply a hobby. What I needed was a step by step guide to digital photography which hopefully wouldn't break the bank.

I tried book stores, but the only books relating to a step by step guide to digital photography seemed very out of date when compared to the top of the line camera that I had bought. So at this point it seemed my only solution would be the internet. I tried logging onto various photographic forums and asking questions, but the information was too sporadic and disjointed to really be any use to a beginner such as myself. So I started looking for a step by step guide to digital photography in the form of an e-book.

I found my answer in Digital Photography Success, a very good e-book based step by step guide to digital photography which was far cheaper than any other option I had seen. After following the instructions in this book I really feel like I am taking advantage of all the features offered in my camera, and producing some great photographs. You should see my landscape photos now, amazing.

So I would without a doubt recommend this course to anyone who wants to get more out of their digital camera, and produce some photos which will really be appreciated for years to come. If you would like to visit the site simply click here to read more about their step by step digital photography courses.

John Samuels is a systems analyst and sometimes amateur photographer

Professional digital photography book

2008-03-29T04:46:00.000-07:00

You have bought an expensive "Digi Cam" and all the jargon in the digi's manual is making you dizzy! It's time you invest a small amount and a bit of your time in a "professional digital photography book." A "digital photography" hand book is a must for a novice or a professional. The content is clear, precise and easy to understand. Once you learn all the essential tips you can soon start shooting like a "pro".

Important FAQ's you need to know before you pick a "professional digital photography book".

a) Is the book suited for a novice as well as a professional and is it simple to read and understand.

b) Does it explain precisely all the important digital terms.

1: Image Quality

2: Image Size

3: White Balance

4: ISO

c) Does it have tips for saving battery power (prerequisite for an exotic trip.)

d) How to take care of the sensitive parts of the camera.

e) Will it guide me to shoot "a stunning sunset", "a sports event", "a family vacation in the mountains" or any special moment.

f) Tips to take a lowlight shot without a tripod.

g) Does it include a guide to finishing touches & editing required to give the photograph a professional touch.

h) Can the book be returned with a full refund if you don't like it.

Investing in a good book can guide you to take beautiful images in just a few days without breaking your head.

For additional help, please log on to http://2goldcoins.dpsecrets.hop.clickbank.net

The author is a travel photographer and has valuable experience which he likes to share. "Digital photography secrets revealed" " 4 free bonuses included". For more information log on to http://2goldcoins.dpsecrets.hop.clickbank.net

All The Secrets of Aerial Photography

2008-03-28T02:53:00.001-07:00

Aerial Photography is becoming one of the most popular forms of photography today due to its daring capabilities and cause for sudden excitement as well as having the ability to create great affects in photos. What most people didn't know however is that aerial photography has been around for quite some time now. It started back in world war 2 where photographers would hitch a ride in a war planes, hoping to capture that one great shot of a plane going down, or an enemy fighter aiming his guns at the camera. It seems today that aerial photography has changed a lot.

Aerial photography will always be a form of photography that most people aspire to doing one day in their careers as the photos photographers are able to create can be magnificent when done correctly. There is a myriad of settings all over the world that would look great from the air and many photographers are beginning to take advantage of these opportunities.

In fact aerial photography is actually a stream of landscape photography and you can see why. From the air the most impressive photos are taken of vast landscapes, perhaps of mountains and deserts. One of the most popular places in the world for aerial photography nowadays in in the steep slopes of the Himalayas. Parasailing has become a well known hobby in this part of the world and along with it people are capturing some spectacular photos of amazing scenery mostly of the enormous Himalayan mountains in Nepal and Tibet.

Some Fields where Aerial Photography is Important

Of course aerial photography is not just a hobby for many people and organizations. The military use aerial photography for a more important reason. These days many countries use spy planes to take photographs of enemy units on the ground. It's an important piece of the military and in many cases has meant the difference when the time has come to send troops in to battle.

Television stations use aerial photography as a means of discovering what the weather is like in certain areas and even to predict what the weather is going to be like in several days.

Aerial photography is also used by real estate development companies in order to take photographs from the air of certain developmental sites. This is very important because it enables them to map out and plan how they are going to develop in a certain area.

The same goes for construction companies who need to make sure the position they are building in is going to be safe and of the right width and diameters.

The tourism industry likes aerial pictures because it can show off its vast golf courses, resort beaches, RV parks and campgrounds from above.

City and state governments can use it for planning and development purposes.

Trained environmentalists use aerial photography to study the earth's climate and land conditions.

Sports events can employ the use of aerial photography when they want to show the grandeur of a brand new stadium or illustrate the density of the crowds in the stands.

Photography Equipment

2008-03-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

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Wedding Photography, The Memory Of Your Special Times

2008-03-27T04:21:00.000-07:00

Your wedding is one of the most special times in your life and that it is why you need to capture the entire ceremony on camera and video. Most couples elect to hire professional photographers to help them capture their special day. Rates vary but a professional who has the experience and education you want will usually cost $150 or more an hour. These photographers will spend the day at your wedding and will take hundreds of photos so you and your family can relax and enjoy the wedding.

This can be a very good option, especially if you do not have the professional camera or equipment that is needed. Professional photographers and agencies have the latest digital cameras and video recorders and this can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars as these professional cameras are very expensive and often cost much more than $1000 and can go as high at $8000 and beyond. Hiring a professional photographer also allows your friends and family to relax and not worry about taking hundreds of photographs and videos.

To find a photographer, again simply do a search in Google or Yahoo! for "wedding photographers in [Your City]". This should provide a number of results for the most popular wedding photographers in your area who specialize in capturing the special moments of a wedding. When hiring a photographer, be sure to look for samples and see real pictures that they have taken for other weddings to get a sense of quality. Also, like every other aspect of planning a wedding, make sure you act for a list of references and contact all of the references.

You probably need to hire two different people, one to take photographs and another to take videos using a digital video camcorder as it can be very difficult for one person to multitask these two duties and although it may save you a little bit of money, you will ultimately end up with lower quality photos and fewer photos. wedding photography companies realize this and most of them offer some sort of discount or package if you hire both a professional photographer as well as someone to capture the wedding on video.

Hiring a photographer will enable you to remember your special day forever so it is very important that you hire a professional photographer who will able to do their job well and archive your happiest moments.

Toronto Wedding Photography Offers Wedding Photography services in GTA.

Black and white photography.

2008-03-27T04:20:00.000-07:00

With today?s digital technology, transforming colour images into black and white photographic prints is pretty straightforward but don?t throw away your rolls of black and white film.

Black and white photography is still regarded as a favourite with many photographers - dull landscape scenes become more dramatic with black and white photography.

Most subjects that are shot in colour can be taken with black and white film. Portraits are still widely taken by professional photographers all over the world.

One of the most popular uses of black and white photography is with wedding photographs. More couples are now opting for a combined wedding album of black and white images that really capture the mood and emotions of the special moment.

Black and white landscape photography is becoming popular again and is more suitable for taking images when the day is dull or too bright. If a scene does not have an entire spectrum of different colours, consider viewing it as a black and white photograph.

Do we need to learn black and white photography tips in a world of colour? You must choose the answer to this yourself - but here are a few pointers that will help you to make your decision.

1 Black and white photography is becoming more popular with the general public, and for that reason alone? new opportunities will open up for you.

2. In some situations, black and white photography has the tendency to make photos look more like works of art - fine art images will sell better in galleries.

3. Landscape images often lack a multitude of colours, using black and white film when shooting daytime photos will add impact to your photography.

4. There is also the value of using your own darkroom - the thrill of developing your own film and processing your images.

The same principles for colour photography apply to black and white photography. If you have mastered the art of photography, taking images with a roll of black and white film should be easy.

Filters are just as important with black and white photography. There are fewer filters available for black and white photography, but one that you should use is the polarizing filter. This filter is very effective for both black and white photography and colour photography. The polarizing filter makes the sky stand out to give your landscape images serious impact. It also helps to reduce glare from the sun?s rays - which is very handy for urban or architectural photography.

Exposure with black and white photography is a small bit easier. Black and white film handles light more easily than colour film can - which gives you greater room for error. Most black and white film allows you to capture detail when you underexpose at two stops. With overexposure the range is greater - between five and seven stops are allowed. This is known as film latitude. With colour film you are limited to a latitude of one stop each way.

This does not mean that you can become lethargic when taking black and white images. It means that if you do make a mistake the results may be acceptable.

TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer. For more tips you can visit his photography site. To view his images visit his on-line gallery of pictures of Ireland or see his travel site

How To Manage Digital Photography Lighting

2008-03-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

Photography blends science with art. The photographer is the artist who engraves his creation with light and shade. Science has gifted the artist a technically advanced digital camera for him to captivate life with it. But he must know to decipher the codes of light

And, Let There Be Light...

Natural light sources like the sun and the moon are considered the best light sources. These lights often invade indoors and make natural shots come alive. Men have created artificial lights like the ordinary bulb, the tungsten halogen lamp or the bright photoflood.

There are various types of lighting, the photographer can employ. The most common is the Directional lighting provided by flash, tungsten or several sources and can be used from the front, back or side.

Front lighting is the most in vogue but it reveals every detail. The light is at the back of the photographer beaming at the face of the subject highlighting every detail. This often results in an unexciting and flat look of your subjects. Another technique is to mystify your subject by lighting up from side. The main illumination from side adds interest and vigor with presence of dark shadows.

In Back lighting the source light remains in the rear of the subject shining in the face of the camera. So, you must be very careful while using this mode otherwise the subject will appear like a silhouette. The main advantage here is, you will be able to capture the natural expressions of your subject in an outdoor shoot, as he will not squint facing bright light.

You can employ Cross lighting where strong directional light comes from both sides. But this method is only suitable for studios with bright flash or tungsten lights.

Lighting For Digital Photography

Digital cameras may offer a wide range of easy lighting modes but there are challenges for the artist in his path to perfection. You must adopt the trial and error method and acquire the knowledge of lighting.

Most digital cameras have preset digital photography lighting modes or 'scenes' for different lighting situation. There is the indoor mode to click without flash, which is particularly useful in art galleries or museums, the night and portrait mode allows you to take pictures of your subject with a gleaming backdrop at night using a slower shutter speed.

The digital cameras provide an automatic setting for white balancing .You can determine the baseline white in your image against which, other colors will be rendered. Your camera may have a histogram to evaluate exposure in different digital photography conditions. Most cameras have various options like daylight, cloudy, tungsten and more.

What Is Auxillary Lighting?

If you want to create art using light and shadow, the Flash unit alone is not enough. Here, auxiliary lighting comes in. If you decide to shoot portraits or product shots in a studio then auxiliary lighting is not optional but necessary.

For great results use head and kicker lights. Flashlights do not generate heat like floods and spots, so are more suited for portraits. Make sure the flash suits your digital camera. If you want to shoot still shots or product shots, continuous tungsten light is the cheapest and best. A range of wattage bulbs and reflectors will help you control the intensity and direction of light too.

If you don't have money you can rent lights. Top studios have various assortments of flash units, flood and spotlights.

How to use light

Light is made up of all colors. If seen through a prism it bursts into different colors. You are free to experiment with the rainbow. Artificial lights have their own characteristics. The photographer can utilize different light sources. You can alter white setting for a different effect. Most digital cameras have color setting modes to achieve accuracy of the colors.

Direction of light is important in digital photography. People look best in diffused sidelights and backlight produces a halo effect while overhead lighting produces sharp contrast of light and shadows. Strength of light is also an essential factor. You can have placid effect from diffused lighting and sharpness from strong light.

Indoor lighting gives you ample scope to shoot nice pictures. You can assemble light as per your choice and can even harness sunlight when it enters your house to soften your image.

Outdoor shots are more challenging. It leaves you at the mercy of Mother Nature. While landscape looks good in soft light, the wildlife is captivating with fine details in bright light. So photographers try to capture wildlife just before dusk or before dawn.

In digital cameras, you do not need to worry about ISO film speed. Most digital cameras have preset ISO setting. However, experimentation is the perfect way to curb imperfection. So inflame your imagination and hone your skill. You are ready to enter the luminous empire of photography.

Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to www.digitalphotographyguy.com

The Vibrant World of Black And White Digital Photography

2008-03-24T23:28:00.000-07:00

Classics are classics because they never go out of fashion. This explains why black and white photographs are deemed classics. They still hold good against the influx of color all around them. But for many, black and white digital photography is a less-trodden, little-appreciated and much underestimated domain of photography.

But thankfully, patrons and connoisseurs apart, black and white photography has recently acquired quite a fan following courtesy the digital cameras and their Black and White mode. People have suddenly discovered the "magic" of black and white photography. The timeless appeal of black and white photographs has caught on and people have come to appreciate its stark but shipshape appearance that exudes polish and sophistication.

So if you want to join the legion of black and white photograph fans and try your hand at some serious, thought-provoking and beautiful black and white digital photography, it is worth remembering a few handy tips.

- Those who were looking for an easy way out should remember that minor alterations in the color profile of the color editor doesn't translate into a breathtaking black and white digital photograph. The black and white setting of the camera is also by no means a one-touch means to a striking black and white snapshot. Be prepared to tinker with a few controls on your digital camera.

- Understand that a black and white photograph is actually an amalgamation of gray tones. This realization will in turn help you to grasp the basics of filters, known to bring in startling results in your black and white digital photograph.

- In your wanderings through your digital camera setup you must have come across a number of filters. Unknown to many a digital photographer, these filters can be used to produce dramatic black and white snaps. For instance, you can experiment with various filters to see how they affect a particular color in the context of a black and white setting. A red filter over the lens will make the red shades in the picture appear as light gray tones and you will end up with skies that look ominously cloudy.

- The scope of black and white digital photography is not only about portraits and landscapes. There are thousand and one things that you can express with black and white photographs. So the next time you have the digital camera in hand, focus on abstract shoots. Treat black and white digital photography, as a mode to portray the world in a different light and you will never be short on potential photography subjects.

- If you still haven't got the hang of how to produce realistic and spectacular black and white digital photography with only the camera as your aide, you have numerous image-editing software packages to give the finishing touches. Your crude photographs will get the most amazing makeover.

Step into the wondrous world of black and white digital photography and discover the vivid colors, emotions and moods that these two colors can portray.

Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to www.digitalphotographyguy.com

Digital Photography Class - Cracking the Photography Code

2008-03-24T04:26:00.000-07:00

Don't roll up your eyes and groan at the mere mention of "class". Not all classes are as bad as those in your school and college were. In fact, a digital photography class promises bounties of fun and it is guaranteed that it will be one class of your lifetime, which you would not want to skip at any cost.

The soaring popularity of digital photography has seen digital photography schools springing up in almost every nook and cranny of your locality. So, which one to enroll to ensure your money's worth?

Any good digital photography school worth it's salt will offer intensive training and impart comprehensive knowledge in almost all the aspects of digital photography. And this also includes enlightening you on the internal mechanism of a digital camera. You can expect there will be no shortcuts either.

Your digital photography class will start out with an introductory session that will give you an overview of the camera setup and what digital photography is all about. You will be trained on the functions and settings of your camera so that after the completion of the course you will know your camera like the palm of your hand and will be better able to appreciate the scope of digital photography.

Being well versed in the parts and workings of a digital camera ensures that when you go to buy one for yourself, you can make the right choice.

Digital photography classes, as a principle, concentrate on teaching you the manual mode of photography. This is because the hallmark of a great photographer is definitely his skills in wielding control over how his photographs turn out. And wielding control entails that you do not let the camera decide when the flash should be used or being spot on with the focus and exposure settings without the intervention of the camera's in-built scene modes.

There are many digital photography classes that arrange field trips for its students. And you will surely agree that a hands-on experience in outdoor shooting is actually far more beneficial than a theory class. Besides, a few bouts of outdoor filming will also ensure that your lighting issues are sorted out. Thus, the nitty-gritty of lighting like using filters to tone down the tints of a photo taken in the harsh midday sun or the details of night photography are best appreciated when tried first hand.

A stint at a digital photography class will hone your photographic skills manifold times with in-depth training in composition and blending the rules of traditional photography with the digital photography mode. The fine points of filming in different settings and churning out optimum results should also be a part of the curriculum.

Digital photography classes are particular about details. Therefore, you will not be stopping at filming lessons only. You will be taken through the editing and processing of digital photographs too. You will be taught the ways and means of accessing the images stored in the camera's memory cards and the PC editing tweaks that will transform even the drabbest image into an enchanting piece of art. Besides, you will also be educated on how to compress the digital image files and have them uploaded on the Net.

There are hundred and one things that you can do with your digital images. Printing is definitely one of them. And you can be sure that your digital photography class instructor will teach you the fundamentals of getting digital prints.

A digital photography class is an excellent way of acquainting yourself with the 'ins' and 'outs' of digital photography. Attend one and flaunt your skills with the lens and the shutter.

Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to www.digitalphotographyguy.com

Digital Infrared Photography - A Cut Above The Rest

2008-03-24T04:25:00.000-07:00

Do you know what infrared is all about? Infrared is a spectrum of light further than that which you normally see. If you wish to take "infrared" pictures all you need to do is filter out the visible light and allow the infrared spectrum all the way through to the lens. The best you can do is use a Wratten filter, which you can avail from any professional camera shop. These Wratten filters are very dense filters, nearly opaque in appearance.

Digital infrared photography has revolutionized the art of photography in the recent past. The film or CCD sensor is sensitized to infrared light in infrared photography. In this type of photography the wavelengths vary from 700 nm to about 900 nm. An "infrared filter" ensures that the infrared (IR) light pass through to the camera but obstructs the entire observable light spectrum.

The moment these filters are clubbed with the infrared-sensitive film or sensors, the in-camera effects can be achieved. Like for instance the false-color or black and white images with an illusory or sometimes garish appearance. This happens mainly because of the foliage strongly reflecting in the similar way light is reflected from snow. What else the infrared photographs does is that it produces very dark skies and dispersion of atmospheric mist, brought about by reduced Rayleigh scattering and Mie scattering in the environment in contrast to visible light.

The things you should consider in digital infrared photography are as follows: - Focus, once the filter is put on. - Now, all that is needed is to lay the infrared filter in front of the lens. - You need to enable the manual exposure mode to get the proper exposure. - Remember to rest the camera to a higher ISO rating than standard. - Finally, when you are through with your infrared shot and you want certain manipulations, you can do it with the help of any image editing Software. Whether you want to remove the color, balance the image levels, sharpen the edges or even make it look grainy or add edge glow, all can be done via such software.

Setting your camera to B&W mode is a safer option as infrared filters get rid of most of the usable color information. Make sure that the incandescent lamps don't put out much infrared. You may come across another problem, as you'll find out that when you filter all the visible light, exposure times will be quite extensive.

You can convert an appropriate digital camera for digital infrared photography. But factually speaking, it makes more sense to leave any camera conversions to experts to be in safe hands.

Digital infrared photography, no doubt adds a new dimension in the world of photography.

Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to www.digitalphotographyguy.com

Digital Photography - What's So Great About It?

2008-03-21T04:37:00.001-07:00

I admit it - I've been slow to embrace the digital photography phenomenon. As a hobbyist, I have two film cameras, an old manual focus Nikon and a newer autofocus Canon Rebel, and I resisted the temptation to indulge in a digital camera up until recently, even though each of my children had them for years now. But recently my father gave me his mid-priced Olympus (he didn't like the menus), and I've been giving it a try. And, to my surprise, I even like it.

My favorite thing about the camera is pretty obvious - no film. My father gave me two (bless him) substantial memory cards, and I just don't run out of film. I don't pay to develop photos that I don't really want now that I've seen them (I don't pay to develop photos period), and since I can actually see how they look on the spot, I can delete bad shots to save the space for more. Taking lots of shots helps me improve, and improves the chances of a better than average photograph as well, and now it's free. My camera has settings on it that allow me to pretend I have film - I can set film speed and worry about aperture/shutter speed combinations just like with my other cameras, so I can still use what I already know about photography, which I really like. And I love not having to wait to see how the pictures came out.

The other really cool thing about digital photography is photo editing. I haven't invested in Photoshop yet, but I have my eye on the Elements program for next year. I just use Google's free Picasa and sometimes my PhotoDeluxe editor (came free with my scanner), and even then I can do an incredible amount of really exciting things with my pictures. The best is being able to correct poor exposures (I admit, I often don't notice backlighting). With a couple of adjustments, what would have been a throwaway photo can become a keeper! I remove red-eye easily, sharpen focus, adjust contrast, warm up colors, and remove excessive unwanted tint (such as from lamplight). Cropping is my favorite - those lucky few who have their own darkroom crop their photos routinely, but us regular folks used to have to take what we got - no longer! We can pick and choose, and glory in removing unwanted background, excess sky - we can even remove most of the shot and make it a close-up. Resizing is a snap - want some wallets? No sweat. 8x10, 5x7, some oddball size - just a simple selection will do it. And don't forget special effects. Depending on the editor, you can turn your photo into a painting, add glow, filters, neon - your imagination can go wild!

When you have your masterpiece ready to go, you can print it on photo paper at home, or you can send it out for processing. Through Picasa, you can click and send it to a processor via the internet, and get your professionally printed photos in the mail - but only the ones you have decided you want. You can upload your photos to a web page, email them, use them in a blog or on MySpace - they are easy to share.

So, as you can see, I am a digital photography convert. There is so much fun in having this kind of control over your work that it has actually rejuvenated my love of photography. If you haven't already converted too, think about it. It really is a blast.

Interested in learning more about digital photography? Then try visiting DigitalPhotography4All.com where you can get real information for regular folks, and lots of ideas to improve your own digital photography.

Carol Miller is a long-time photography fan, and the owner of many websites, such as http://www.DigitalPhotography4All.com

Dodging and Burning in Digital Photography

2008-03-20T04:27:00.000-07:00

'Dodging and Burning' are essential techniques to finish off any black and white image, especially useful for atmospheric or moody images. This is a fantastic method of producing black and white Landscapes in particular. It's a fairly simple technique that requires an image editing program like Photoshop, but most good editing programs have a 'Dodging & Burning' tool, which aren't too difficult to use. In simple terms, dodging and burning is a process of improving the light (dodging) or dark (burning) areas of a black and white image (mono). You can apply this technique to pictures digital images taken in black and white, or to those taken in colour and converted to mono later. It's great for improving contrasts and producing striking areas within the picture, however it's important to remember that although dodging and burning can be used to improve an image, it cannot work miracles, so your original image must be of a decent quality to begin with. We always suggest taking time to get the shot right when you take the snap. It'll make any editing easier and ultimately produce a better final image.

So how do we use the 'Dodging & Burning' technique? Firstly open your picture in a digital editing program and find the Dodging & Burning Tool. You might like to use the programs 'auto contrast' or 'one click fix' button first. This may just improve your image slightly before you start the dodging and burning. Its normally a good idea to let the program balance your image first in this way.

If you are able, it will be useful be to print a copy of your image first and mark the areas you want to enhance. A paper copy is easier to work with than the on screen version. Mark the areas of the printed version that are highlights and shadow. When Dodging & Burning you are trying to increase the contrasts in the picture, so having lots of grey areas isn't the desired effect. Also do not overkill the area selections. Choose a few areas you think could be improved, but be selective. Dodging & Burning should be very subtle so use no more than 6% opacity on the brush, and be sure to use lots of sweeping strokes to keep the effect even and blended. Using large brushes helps too, around 400 to 500 diameter soft brushes are best. The opacity and brush settings are variable in all editing programs that allow dodging and burning, so don't worry if your not sure what this means. You'll spot them when you select the dodge and burn tool. Most importantly, remember to only ever 'dodge' highlights and only ever 'burn' mid-tones and shadows. If you try to burn highlights you'll end up with a horrible dirty grey result, and dodging shadows and mid-tones only creates noise in the image, neither of which looks good.

Using the subtle settings mentioned above, apply the Dodging & Burning tool to the image ONLY on the areas you previously chose on the paper copy. Please don't get carried away with this as the final result will look harsh and artificial! Stick to the areas you chose and then once your done, print the image! Photo-paper and high quality printer settings will display your hard work best.

You may not notice too much difference..until you place your final print next to the original print. You'll be amazed at the improvement! Finally, this is a guide to standard 'Dodging & Burning' but as with every aspect of digital photography, experiment for your self! Try different images, try different opacities and try different brush types! The more you experiment and practice, the better you'll become, and the better you'll be at identifying areas of images that would benefit most from a little Dodging & Burning!

Are you interested in Digital Photography? Check out http://www.Your-Digital-Photography.com for a comprehensive site full of tips, tricks, tutorials, news and the latest reviews of digital photography cameras and equipment! Visit Your-Digital-Photography.com today!

High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photography or Imaging

2008-03-20T04:25:00.000-07:00

Makes a Scene Look Exactly Like What the Eye Sees

When you take a photograph from a digital camera of, say a beautiful pastoral scene, and straightaway view it on the computer, or in print, what you see would be a subdued image of the scene, removed to some extent from the reality that your eyes beheld while shooting. This is because the digital image is not able to capture in full the quantity and distribution of natural light in the actual scene. In fact, no camera can capture the full tonal details of the actual scene in one exposure.

Light distribution in nature is dynamic, which means that the light falling on any object has different and changing intensities which cannot be faithfully recorded by the camera lens. But we can capture the total range of light, (the tonal details) through any camera in one way : by taking a number of identical pictures of the scene with different shutter speeds, and then merging all of them to make a single image. That single image will encompass the whole range of light at the scene, thereby bringing it close to what the eye sees directly. Thus, the tonal details of a scene cannot be captured in a single exposure. It has to be a multi-exposure and merging job.

The technique by which the entire range of light distribution (or tonal details) of a scene can be captured faithfully in a photograph is known as High Dynamic Range Photography or Imaging (HDR Imaging). Through HDR imaging the photographer captures the actual light distribution in a scene to make it realistic. This merging of images into a single image is done by means of the Photoshop CS2 software. The "merge to HDR" feature of the software brings together a series of exposures of the identical scene into one image containing the tonal details captured in each exposure. Such a "merged" final picture will have the depth and tonal quality of the real scene.

For creating an HDR image, at least 3 exposures will do, though for maximum accuracy, 5 or more exposures are recommended. More the exposures, more the quantum of light that the camera can convert to digital values to enhance the blending of tonal details. The Photoshop CS2 creates a separate HDR file for each image, recording the shutter speed, aperture and ISO setting in each exposure so that the light intensity in them can be assessed (as it may vary from exposure to exposure). The software creates an HDR file by using 32 bits to determine each color channel, instead of the 8 or 16 bits which lie in the Low Density Range.

Though the HDR technique helps us get realistic tonal qualities in photographs, it should be used with great care and skill because overdoing the merging job could distort the image of the scene photographed. There can be no substitute for good lighting, and nothing can come close to the High Density Range of the real scene which the eye naturally perceives. It must also be remembered that improvement of tonal details of a photograph also extracts a price by way of reduction in the contrast among the tonal values. Like everything in life, any technology available for betterment has always to be used with balance.

Moses Francis is the owner of http://flickrville.com and recomends 101 Photo Tips DVD for all aspiring photographers and photoshop enthusiast

Basic Skills In Digital Photography

2008-03-19T22:01:00.000-07:00

Basically, there is not much difference between using a digital camera and a manual camera. In fact, most experts believe that using a digital camera actually spoils the photographer, making everything so easy for him. Still, there are many who remain daunted by the prospects of using a digital camera especially when their training comes mainly from manual photography.

There are a number of skills that one needs to learn before switching to the digital format. Read through and find out some of the things that you need to develop.

Computer skills

Digital photography involves dealing with computers. In fact, operating the digital camera is like operating a small computer. There are functions that are actually similar to the computer like formatting and delete and a whole lot of other things. You need to be familiar with the functions in order to be able to maximize the digital camera.

In addition, you also need to be really familiar with computer when storing your picture files and adjusting your photos. With this, you need to be able to perform computer tasks such as cutting, pasting, copying, renaming and opening and closing of files and folders.

There are a number of good books that provide tutorials that will enhance computer skills as well as teach you some of the basics in using the computer with regards to photography. Some books in photography, digital photography will for sure contain sections that deal with computers.

Knowledge in graphic programs

One can actually adjust photos and create a whole lot of effects with the use of graphic programs such as Photoshop. One can actually change the size of the photo, alter the pixels and even change the format into different file types. One good thing with digital cameras is the fact that one can actually alter the pictures taken before printing it.

With the use of these programs, one can erase flaws, sharpen some features of the photo, blur the background and even transfer one photo with another. If one is really good, you can even create one new photo by cutting different elements in various photos and put them all together.

Working knowledge with the various functions of the camera

As mentioned before, working with a digital camera is similar to working with a small computer. In order to maximize the digital camera, you need to master the functions including adjusting the various levels such as the shutter speed, the brightness, the contrast. There are even digital cameras that you can actually use as a manual camera; you just need to learn to adjust the functions.

Nokia N73 - For an enriching experience in mobile photography

2008-03-18T22:36:00.001-07:00

Mobile phones that can be used as digital cameras have become quite common. The popularity of these handsets has also increased significantly. And there are ample reasons for this trend. In many instances and situations in life, camera mobile phones such as the Nokia N73 become quite invaluable. Let us imagine an instance, wherein a person has to capture the essence of a particular moment for eternity. He may not be carrying his digital camera; but if he has got his camera mobile phone with him, then he need not worry. The sophisticated imaging options that are a part of his Nokia N73 mobile phone enable him to make the most of the given situation. He can take out his Nokia N73 handset and capture the particular moment in time, which more often than not comes unannounced.

The Nokia N73 is part of the Nokia N Series phones. It is equipped with a 3.2 megapixel digital camera and Carl Zeiss optics. The handset is quite easy to operate in the camera mode. The pictures so obtained are clear and crisp; an owner of the handset can upload the photos to the internet or print them at home with the Nokia XpressPrint option. He can also share these images with friends and family. The Nokia N73 truly offers an enriching experience in mobile photography.

The brilliance of the Nokia N73 in the realm of photography is just one aspect of this versatile mobile phone model from Nokia. The handset also comes with an in-built digital music player with stereo speakers for an optimum listening experience. A person is free to listen to the songs of his choice as and when he wants to or transfer music tracks to his handset from his personal computer. The handset is Bluetooth compatible and can be used handsfree.

Innovative contract deals are available on this camera mobile phone from Nokia. In the UK, for instance, people can easily acquire Nokia contract phones and benefit doubly. With attractive contract mobile phone deals on handsets such as Nokia N73, they benefit in more ways than one. They can enjoy all the cutting edge features and capabilities that come with the handset; in addition, they do not have to pay through their nose for doing the same.

Mobile Phones

Buy Nokia N73 With Orange and 3 mobile phone networks From Mobile Rainbow.

Keith Rickwood is Webmaster of Mobile Rainbow.This website deals in contract mobile phones and Sim free phones on major six mobile phone networks in UK

Quick ABC's of Photography

2008-03-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

Follow these ABC's of photography and you will have beautiful pictures to add to your scrapbooks. Capture adorable and memorable details of the special event in your life by following these easy steps. If you try one or two new ideas each time you break out the camera, you will soon find yourself snapping photos in exciting ways. People will be amazed at the beautiful images and fun moments you capture with your photo skills.

A Angles Take your photos from above or below your subject. Some of the best shots are taken sitting on a chair or kneeling on the ground.

B Backlit For a glowing silhouette effect, have your subject stand in front of a widow or sunny sky. Be sure to use your flash with this one.

C Chronology Take pictures form the beginning to the end of each event, rather than isolating short to "picture taking time"

D Diagonal Lines Arrange people to form a visual triangle to create balance and a sense of movement in your pictures.

E Everyone Make sure you include everyone at the event in pictures. Write names down in a notebook so you don't forget the names.

F Frames Draw attention to your subject by using frames such as windows, fence posts, and railing.

G Groups Take pictures in groups such as siblings, grandparents, cousins etc.

H Hands Get close ups of people using their hands. This would be great for sports, sewing, cooking or body language when talking.

I Individuals Capture what makes each person unique. Just remember every quirk is fair game!

J Juxtaposition Arrange people and objects in surprising or unexpected ways.

K K-9's and Kitten Always remember the family pets; they are a very important part of the family.

L Little Details Don't forget the decorations or the background settings. These will tie all the photos together.

M Mirrors Use mirrors, windows, and reflective surfaces to add a fun and unusual effect to your photos.

N Natural Light The suns natural light is the most flattering light for ant subject.

O Outdoors Use natural backgrounds as your setting.

P Playtime Make sure to capture those football games, dance classes, and other playful moments these are memories no one wants to forget!

Q Quick Be quick with your camera, you don't want to miss a thing.

R Reactions Keep your camera ready, you never know what special reaction you might miss.

S Self timer Use this special feature to include yourself in group photos.

T Toys Kids are so preoccupied with toys; this is a perfect way to catch those candid pictures of your kids.

U U You shouldn't always be the one with the camera, pass it off so that you are included in shots.

V Values Show your family's faith, beliefs and charity.

W Weather Include all the seasons in your photos

X X-treme Close ups Get close enough to see the freckles or the left-over Birthday cake.

Y Youthfulness Catch kids' high jinks and scrapes. If your first impulse is to scold, try snapping instead.

Z Zoom Use your zoom lens when you are far away to catch candid moments.

Remember that there are several different ways to capture all those special moment in your life. Take picture with a formal backgrounds and candid as well. You will find a style that fits you best for all your photos.

Marcy Larsen Close To My Heart Consultant. CTMH offers much more than just scrapbook supplies, including opportunities to make money while scrapbooking. Please visit my website - Marcy Larsen.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Digital Photography

2008-03-13T05:07:00.001-07:00

1. Lesser cost

One of the advantages that digital cameras provide is the fact that it is largely practical and convenient. There is lesser cost in the long run as one need not buy films anymore and will need not develop the pictures the old fashion way. They would only need to charge the batteries, get a reasonably large memory stick and they are good to go.

2. Better storage

Photographers can now store the pictures that they have taken in their computers and in their cds, allowing them to use the memory stick over and over again. There is no more need to store rolls of film and worry that they might disintegrate.

3. Printing convenience

Another convenience that digital cameras provide is the fact that it can be printed at home the same way one would print any kind of file.

4. Trial and Error

Another convenience that digital cameras provide is the fact that one can actually view the photos right after taking it and have the option of erasing it when it is not good. This, according to experts, spoils photographers. Because they can do a take over and over again, they don?t learn the discipline of planning for their shot before actually pressing the button.
Still, for the amateur photographer, this is like manna in heaven as this enables them to easily take good photographs and see their mistakes.

Disadvantages

1. Need for Computer literacy

Similar to film photography where you need to be also familiar with working in the dark room, one needs to have a modicum of computer skills. Not only will you be storing your photographs in the computer, operating the camera is like operating a small computer. You really have to be computer literate in order to maximize the functions of your camera.

2. Artistry is lost

There are some that argue that artistry and spontaneity is lost when using a digital camera because photographers do not shoot using various effects. For instance, some would not bother to blur the background anymore because they can fix the photo in Photoshop and other graphic programs. One can do a number of things with the computer, erase flaws, fix red eyes and sharpen some features.

Stock Photography - Who wants to know how to sell online? Learn the business of stock photography.

2008-03-12T04:56:00.000-07:00

Stock photography is a huge industry, one that generates steady incomes for those photographers with the willingness to succeed. As with any worth while undertaking nothing comes easy and nothing comes for free. To succeed in this game you need to be able to; a) take saleable photographs, b) be organized enough to get them to the market. c) be patient and keep adding more images to your library In the past getting into Stock photography was a huge undertaking. You either had to set up your own mini Agency or sign on with one of the big agencies. If you set up your own agency you were required to do all the leg work of sorting, filing and marketing your images. If you signed on with a big agency you were required to have at least 1,000 images before they would even talk to you. With the advent of the Internet and the growth of high-speed broadband connections these barriers have been eliminated. Today anyone with a quality digital camera can enter the stock photography market place and make money selling their images online. There are literally hundreds of agencies online offering photographers a place to sell their images. In addition photographers have the opportunity to set up their own online mini agency or add a Stock Page to their portfolio site. The big agencies have also moved online, but their requirements for acceptance have also become more difficult. Getting your images in Gettys or Corbis is very difficult and for the most part the domain of well established professional photographers. However you chose to sell your images online, one thing is for sure you will have to adhere to the three basic principles of the successful stock photographer - Quality, Quality, Quality. Oh and lets not forget Quantity.

What photos will sell? The first step in selling your images on-line is understanding what images sell, and which sit and collect cyber dust. Truth be told there is very little restriction on what sells and what does not sell. The key here is to understand which type of images sell the most and in the case of Licensed images the most often. As you sell your images on line you will need to understand that just about any image can sell as long as it meets the technical requirements of the agency and you can find a buyer. A search for "Stock Photography" on Google returns 15,400,000 sites. The biggest agencies like Corbis and Getty are of course listed first. These agencies are still the domain of professional photographers with huge libraries, and will not entertain enquires from amateur photographers. They have huge libraries of images from professional shooters and even hire their own photographers to shoot stock on assignment for the agency, which the agency then owns. All the regular photos that you would think are really great and will sell have been done and are sitting in these agencies files. These are what are generally know as commercial stock photos and your chance of selling these is not so good. What you will be able to sell are EDITORIAL stock. Editorial stock does not sell for as high a price as Commercial Stock, but you will sell more images more often than when trying to sell Commercial Stock. The images you will be able to sell are the ones that no one else has or that no one else has access to such subject matter. What you need is a niche. Pictures of regular people doing regular things, shot in a professional and appealing manner are what you will be able to sell online. Photos that sell are the ones that tell a story or as stock photographers like to call them; photo illustrations. A photo illustration is a photo that has something going on in it. We have all heard the term "A picture is worth a thousand words" well when you hear this, think Photo Illustration. These are the stock photos that sell well.

Also is is important to enjoy your photography so go out and shoot things that interest you; your trip to the fair, grandma doing her needle point, dad cooking burgers on a backyard BBQ & your brother mowing the lawn. If you work in a factory or mill and can get permission from your managers or boss to take pictures, these type of images have great potential. Industry, commerce and business are areas of high value in Stock Photography. Always try to include a person doing something. A picture of a tractor in the field is good, but a picture of a tractor with the farmer sitting on it, is much better. (Image Farmer in the Field). If you insist on taking scenic pictures and expect to be able to sell them, if you include a person actively doing something, your chances of a sale are greatly increased. For instance, a shot of a beach sunset in great, but remember there are hundreds of just such images already in circulation, take the same shot and add a silhouette of a boy chasing a football and you have a much more saleable shot. Also when you are taking pictures try to imagine a theme or mood. By this we mean try imagine a feeling you want to convey with your photos. Some are happy shiny people holding hands, while others will be more somber or moody. A photo that has a clear mood or theme will sell well. You can use colour, shapes and texture to illustrate different moods and themes. Images that convey feelings have high resale value. Images that are stereotypical have less. By stereotypical we mean the stuff we have all seen a thousand times in a thousand magazines and other places. While you may think that the silhouette of lovers kissing against a backdrop of a gorgeous sunset is a good marketable picture, it has been done to death and if we searched any of the major stock libraries we would find many examples of this exact picture. What might be better would be to show the couple doing something a little less typical, maybe one taking the picture of the other???

Also remember the rules of composition. The law of thirds works well and so do tightly cropped images. The old rule of "keep it simple" applies. This is not a book about how to shoot good images, there are thousands of such references available, what we are teaching you here is how to sell them online. Just remember, the images that sell are the attractive appealing ones with good composition and good exposure. One thing to remember though is that as most of the agencies websites display the images on thumbnail pages, having images that are attractive as thumbnails increases your chance of a sale, this follows from the rules of compostition and cropping already discussed.

Sean David Baylis is a photographer living and working in Hong Kong. Stock Photography - Who wants to know how to sell online? Learn the business of stock photography.

How Does Sensor Size Affect Your Digital Photography

2008-03-12T04:55:00.000-07:00

Digital sensor is an important matter of consideration for a digital camera owner. The quality of the photography depends on the size of the sensor. The larger the sensor the better will be the quality of the photograph. This fact plays a vital role in choosing the perfect digital camera.

The size of the sensor affects digital photography

The final image is an outcome of the various pixels that are arranged by the sensor of the camera. Soon after clicking on the shutter button, the pixels start to accumulate the photons in a cavity. After completion of exposure, camera confines those pixels and find out the number of photons that are attached to each other. Now these photons are compiled in accordance with the levels of intensity. But all these can only give you a colorless image. There are some filters on the cavities that release the specific color of light into those cavities. All the contemporary digital cameras are unable to capture all the three primary colors. Only one of the three primary colors gets into each cavity. Thus the camera needs to estimate the remaining two colors to get the adequate information about all the three colors at every pixel.

Bayer array is one of the commonest color filters used in digital cameras and passes on all the information about different primary colors to each pixel. Higher or lower resolution of photograph depends on the array.

In a very precise meaning a sensor is a silicon semiconductor meant for acquiring photons and converting them into electron. The size of the sensor is, perhaps, the second most important thing just after the quantity of mega pixels. Though the size of the sensor has a huge range, generally it is of two basic categories. The sensor of DSLRs comes under the range of 24x16mm to 36x24mm, but it remains of the range of 8x6mm in the case of a consumer camera. The size of the sensor affects the performance of the camera and decides the intensity of sensor produced noise. Noise, actually, worsen the images of digital camera. If the sensor is smaller than actual requirement, then the camera is unable to capture the full view of the image. Fisheye lens can actually compensate this to some extent. But one, who really does not want to compromise with the quality of the image, should only go for the camera having adequate size of sensor. In case the sensor is small, centre of the lens captures the image. Since maximum portion of the image passes through the centre of the lens, quality of the lens becomes very important factor to consider. The quantity of light that reaches into the pixel is very less. Therefore useful image is only available after proper enlargement of the same.

There is a relation between sensor and crop factor. In this case, because of limited size, while using 35mm lens, the sensor crop out the inferior quality portion of the image. This is simply because the fact that the image passes through the centre of the lens in case of smaller sensor and the image remains sharpest at that position. The use of lens becomes a meaningless practice if the sensor of the camera is undersized. But a 2/3 or even ? size can give optimum output if it is used with a 35mm lens.

In upshot, it can be concluded that finding out a pixel pitch of a given sensor, while buying a digital camera can be tricky. However, one can seek the help of certain review sites that provide the information about recent models including their sensors.

OpenDP Digital camera buying guide web site. Visit OpenDP and get the hottest photography tips on shooting and buying guides on sports, portraits, weddings, birds and wildlife, underwater seascapes, landmarks, flowers and nature and more

Essentials Of A Photography Lab

2008-03-11T04:19:00.000-07:00

When people take a picture, this has to be brought to the shop so it can be developed. When a professional photographer takes shots, some of these individuals have a photography lab inside where this can be done.

But the photography lab is better known as the dark room. This term is given because the film can only be extracted under dim conditions rather than opening this and having the film exposed.

But how does the process from shooting a picture become an image? For this, the dark room must have the proper equipment in order for it to be developed.

Upon taking this out of the camera, the film, which is called a negative, is placed on a holder. Once in place, this can now be made bigger using an enlarger. Most models come with a timer to be able to regulate the amount of light on the image.

Photographic paper is what people receive when the shots have been developed. This is held using an easel and the light from the enlarger will make this image appear on paper. To avoid making any mistakes, a n image magnifier is used to double-check the settings before proceeding to the next stage of the process.

After a few minutes, the finishing touch will be putting this on a developing tray that has some chemicals in it that will make the picture clearer. This is hung to dry and when completed, can be shown to people.

People will usually get two things from the developer. The first are the pictures which may come in 3? x 5?, 5? x 7? or larger. The second are the negatives, which must be brought again to the shop so this can be redeveloped.

The practice of developing film hasn?t changed that much through the years. The only difference is perhaps the age of digital photography that has allowed individuals to develop this using a printer. This has given hobbyists and others the option of having the developing done in dark room or done at home.

The dark room doesn?t occupy that much space in the studio. It should just be enough to set the equipment and hang the pictures to complete the entire process. Those who find this too difficult can just have this done somewhere else.

The person shouldn?t feel bad asking others for help because some of the well known photographers in the field have been doing this more frequently due to time constraints and other projects.

Outdoor Photography

2008-03-10T05:16:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in beginning an interesting and exciting hobby while taking advantage of the outdoor opportunities of your city, it is time to consider buying a camera and photograph nature, people, sights, sports , landmarks, the sky, the sun and the landscape. The possibilities are endless and your intuition can lead you anywhere you believe you are going to take your next amazing photograph.

Being an amateur photographer, less than a year ago I decided to invest in buying a digital camera and a couple of extra lenses. Since then, I have taken more than 2,000 pictures of places and people trying to focus on what I wanted to portray and tell a story through the selected imagery. Although my photographic illustrations have not always been really great, I am extremely happy I decided to take this hobby as I have been walking the city streets since then looking with a different eye the things I have been crossing indifferently in the past.

Outdoor photography has evolved since the creation of the first photographic camera to an activity anyone can do as it offers tremendous possibilities and gives people the initiative to explore the unknown or known world with the eyes of a conscious observer.

During the summer, I usually go out looking for interesting spots to shoot my photographs and every digital album I create has a summer theme. The same I plan to do during the fall and winter times and in a year from now, who known, perhaps I will be able to show my photographic collection to friends, family and strangers in my first personal expedition.

Consider taking photography as a hobby as you can enjoy the fulfillment you will feel every time you press your camera's button. Moreover, your kids, friends or partner can act as the models of your frames and you will always save in your memory the times you will spend watching your children laugh while playing. Through the look of your camera you will become more conscious of your surroundings and you will remember how it feels to look at a tree or the sky and be content that you are alive and able to admire nature's miracles or humans' amazing constructions.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Outdoors, Recreation, and Fitness

Fashion Photography.

2008-03-10T05:15:00.000-07:00

Do you want to be a fashion photographer? Fashion photography is an extremely tough market to break into, but if you are willing to work hard, have a good imagination and hold the ability to take perfect images you are off to a good start.

A fashion photographer must be good in two photography disciplines. First, you need to be a great portrait photographer - second, you need to be able to create images for the advertisement market. You must be able to combine the two if you are going to succeed.

To be a successful fashion photographer you must also have a love of fine design clothes - without it you will never achieve the heights that bring success. A fashion photographer must stay up to date with all the latest fashion and have the ability to use his/her imagination to sell new designs.

Selling is the key - the fashion photographer must be able to sell his images to the fashion editor. Fashion photography is advertising and selling clothes.

To establish a reputation in fashion photography, the first thing you must do is set up a portfolio. Your portfolio should display your best work and be your first selling point. The second, and equally as important as the first, is to set up an online portfolio - your own personal Website.

To set up a portfolio you first must hire a model. Contacting your local modelling agencies can do this. You don?t need to hire a well-known model for your fashion portfolio - you need someone who will act well in front of the camera.

To be very successful you need to build a good relationship with models. Some models can be tough to work with so people psychology will play an important part. If you intend to shoot from your home studio supply a changing room for them.

If a model becomes unhappy for any reason the photo session will be a waste of time. Allow your model to make their own suggestions - regardless of how trivial it may be, it will help to keep them relaxed and you may get results that may be useful.

Once your portfolio is created you need to get exposure for it. If you have previously published work - use them as a statement with the picture editors. You need to establish a good working relationship with all fashion editors that you?ll be working with. So be professional.

Fashion photo editors are looking for concise images that clearly communicate an idea. You must, as a fashion photographer, have the ability to create unique settings.

When you do gather a large amount of fashion images, submit them to a fashion agency: Women's magazines all over the world buy hundreds of stock shots every month. Photo agencies exist to sell photographers images - some of the larger fashion agencies have buyers all over the world. Some agencies can also re-sell your work in several different markets, and others will give you great career advice.

Keep up to date with fashion magazines, study the market and always be on the lookout for changing trends.

Don?t be afraid to take the first step. If a fashion editor has no interest in your work - don?t worry - try contacting different magazines or agencies - most great photographers have their work rejected some time during their career.

TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer and a freelance writer. He frequently writes for the Art site Goldprints.com and the Gift ideas site shop-4us.com To view or buy some of his images visit his on-line gallery of - pictures of Ireland