Stock Photography, Royalty Free or Exclusive

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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.

Photography 101: Picture Taking Basics

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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

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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

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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.

 

Professional digital photography book

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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

Digital Infrared Photography - A Cut Above The Rest

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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

How Does Sensor Size Affect Your Digital Photography

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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

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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.

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

Outdoor Photography

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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

Lighting In Nature Photography

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Lighting is one of the most important factors in taking photographs of natural subjects. Unlike with studio shots where you control the lights and the shadows, taking photos outside is a little bit more complicated. In addition to not being able to control your subject, you also have to take into consideration the elements especially the lighting.

Of course for the seasoned photographer, natural light is no longer a hindrance. In fact, most photographers use light to create great effects and put color into an otherwise drab picture. Hence there are photos that play up the shadows or those that capture the different colors of the sky. This is especially true with landscape shots or those that capture flowers and other objects in the environment.

Light can have a lot of sources. In the morning, there is the sunlight while in the evening, there is the moonlight. There is also what photographers call the natural light, which is not as direct as the two previously mentioned. One can use any of these sources of light. The trick is to know how to use it by angling the camera and the subject to achieve the exposure that you want.

This is often done by studying the effect of the light and its corresponding shadows to your subject. For instance, if you want a more dramatic effect, some photographers will use shadows as their main light instead of the natural light.

There are four main directions that photographers must learn in order to take advantage of the light outside. Overhead light for instance has high contrast and harsh shadows. This is achieved when the light is directly above the subject like when it is noontime. Using lights at the front will result with a flat shot.

This is usually seen with shots that use flash in the camera. Often, pictures shot in this direction will lack depth and dimension. Light at the back, on the other hand, may require an additional fill or reflector at the back to bring out the color of the subject. Often, with a light at the back, the shadows may ruin the photo.

Shooting with the light at the side is perhaps the most recommended when it comes to the direction as this will bring out the texture and the shape of the subject that one is using. For instance, with a light on the side, there will be parts that will be highlighted and parts that are not.

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

Digital Or Film Photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

The popularity of digital cameras may have enjoyed amazing increase but film has still an important part to play in photography and will continue to be important for some time, a few years at the least. Film has many advantages that photographers continue to recognize. Major players in the production of film like Kodak is still putting into it millions though experts all agree that digital film will reign supreme in the near future. These are the reasons though why some photographers prefer film over digital:

1) Facilities and Investment

Ordinary people, not only photographers, have invested considerably in photographic equipments that use film. Cameras and lenses still have capabilities that digital photography cannot match. Compared with a high-end professional 35mm camera, a digital camera still lacks facilities that only the traditional camera can provide. A photographer who decides to switch to digital may find himself spending big especially if his lenses, flashes and other accessories are not compatible with a new digital system.

2) Wide Angle

The absence of extreme wide-angle lenses and a slow start-up time are two of the most disadvantages of even the best digital cameras. 35mm cameras modifies to digital bodies usually employ a CCD image sensor that is smaller, usually around 245mm x 16mm) as opposed to the 36mm x 24mm x 35mm film that results to a narrow angle. Photographers who are fans of wide angles may find the traditional 35mm more of their liking.

3) Action

Film cameras also offer an advantage during fast-changing and unpredictable photography scenarios. Unlike digital camera that uses batteries than can ran out in the most unexpected time, a 35mm camera can be easily switched on and ready for use whenever you need take a shot. Moreover, digital cameras usually take several seconds before you can use it which obviously is a disadvantage for photographers who wants to capture actions which can't be repeated anymore.

4) Tough Conditions

Film cameras are also sturdier equipments than their digital counterparts and can withstand harsh conditions that photography may demand in the line of work. Count on film to be more reliable than digital especially when your are working in a not-so-good weather conditions.

5) Comparing Costs

When it comes to cost, film and digital advantages and disadvantages vary considerably depending on the usage. A photographer with a film budget amounting to thousands of dollars in one year may find digital camera more practical. But if you are not a busy photographer, your income may not defray the cost of going digital

Michael Colucci is a technical writer for Photography Tips and Digital Camera Reviews - Free sites that offer photography tips and camera reviews.

Bird Photography

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Many people have switched from mere bird watching to a more exciting hobby of photographing birds.The pleasure of bird watching, and the capability of preserving the visual image that brought that pleasure is possible only with photography.Therefore, bird watching and bird photography complement each other.

You don't need to be an experienced birder to enjoy photographing birds,but you need to know your subjects - study birds and know their biology,travel patterns,habits, and behavior.

The best way to start photographing birds is to begin in your backyard with subjects that are easily accessible.To attract birds - set up a feeding station in your backyard. Choose some location with a non-distracting background. Set up a blind close to the feeder and shoot.Or,you can shoot through an open window.

Also, you may have some of your best luck with photographing birds at bird sanctuaries.

Begin photographing from a distance, and with a wider angle lens, and photograph birds in a larger context.Wide-angle lenses and short zoom lenses are useful for some of the more creative aspects of bird photography.

For bird photography you'll want to own the absolute best quality lenses you can afford.A 400 mm lens is usually considered the minimum acceptable focal length for serious bird photography - a quality 500mm f/4 telephoto lens is ideal.

Alternatively,use extension tubes.They move the film plane further away from the lens resulting in magnification of your subject.However,extension tubes reduce the amount of light reaching the film.

Some form of camera support is required for bird photography. A tripod is recommended since you'll use a long focal-length telephoto lens. When photographing birds from a vehicle in a game park, a good window support is useful.And,for photographing birds in flight,the shoulder stock is very helpful.

Use the slowest film possible for the conditions you are shooting under.If the light is low, go with film in the ISO 200 and above range.On bright sunny days,you can use slower films such as ISO 50.

When photographing birds, study their reactions.If they become agitated - back off.Never put their safety into question. Avoid photographing nesting birds and also be sure not to stress a bird for the sake of a photograph.

With the right equipment and a little patience, you can get impressive results photographing birds.Felix Zhucha owns http://www.postersphotosartwork.com . Come and find popular art photographs and posters.

HAWAII PHOTOGRAPHERS DISSCUSS PROS AND CONS OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY Part Two

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

DISADVANTAGES OF BECOMING A DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHER

If you have been a 'film photographer', the first and biggest disadvantage is the cost of new cameras, at least. If you are already computer literate, and have a good computer with some kind of imaging software, good. But if not...well, I sorry for you, eh! Add all that expense, too. And if you've been a medium format photographer as I was, you're not only going to need new cameras, but new lenses, too! With computers and imaging software, even without printers, you have a large investment to look at.

On the up side of that startup expense is all the money you're now going to save by not having to buy film and pay for processing and proofs.

There is the time element that comes with a "digital workflow". You, or someone is going to have to upload your images to your computer to edit. Then color correct, retouch, and anything else you want done to your images. And especially at first, it is quite time consuming as you follow your learning curve.

In my humble opinion, these are the only aspects of digital photography that can be called disadvantages. And then there's the argument that "Digital has taken away business from professional photographers".

The argument goes that it is now so easy to take your own photographs, for whatever purpose and at such low cost, that companies are taking their own photographs for their advertising needs, and people are taking their own, or their friends family photos. And that this is taking business away from professionals.

There really can be no argument against the truth of this statement. It is easy to take pictures. And, really, it always has been since the invention of the "instamatic camera"! Anybody can aim and push the shutter release button. And that will make a picture. It's been that easy with film cameras since the 1960s. So, what's the difference now?

I don't know this for certain, but I bet that when automatic film cameras first came out, there was a small dip in business for a variety of pro photographers. Why? Because it was so easy now for anybody to take a picture! And I'm equally sure that some people who got a camera actually got good at making photographs.

In reality, though, if you want professional quality photography, you need to have the photography done professionally! There's a lot more to it than point and shoot. And I believe that eventually the novelty of 'easy' digital photography will wear off, and the more educated and critical people will take their photography jobs to professionals.

Stan P. Cox II runs a Portrait and Commercial photography studio in Honolulu, Hawaii, and has been a professional Hawaii photographer for 31 years. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

 Stan P. Cox II runs a Portrait and Commercial photography studio in Honolulu, Hawaii, and has been a professional Hawaii photographer for 31 years. His web address is: http://www.ParamountPhotography.com.

photography business

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Flash Photography Tips and Techniques

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Flash photography is the use of a camera flash bulb in a variety of possible situations where there doesn't seem to be enough light. The most common use of flash photography is group portraits at gatherings where there is not enough light to take a satisfactory exposure.

But there are many other situations where the flash could be used such as: fill-flash situations when the background is brighter than the subject, using the flash to light up a room and creating better coloring, or using the flash to freeze a moving object in a dark situation.

-Indoor Flash Photography

In typical indoor situations there will probably not be enough light to take a normal hand-held well-exposed photo. There are many indoor flash photo opportunities you may be faced with. You may want to cast light on a group of people for a portrait photo. You may want to throw light into a room for an architectural photo. Or you may just want to cast light on certain objects in a lighted room that appears too dark for an exposure.

If your camera's auto-exposure settings say that the photo would require a shutter speed slower than 1/60 of a second then you probably shouldn't hand-hold the camera or the photo would come out blurry. The reason it would come out blurry is because the shutter would be open long enough for any minor hand shake to distort the composition. The use of a tripod or faster film will probably be needed but many of us do not regularly carry a tripod. Most photographers simply use their flash bulb when they are inside.

In order to take effective indoor flash photos there are some techniques you should keep in mind. When using the flash do not point it directly at a mirror or glass that will create a lens flare or just ruin the photo. Stand close enough to your subjects so the flash is actually effective (four to ten feet). Try to make sure your main subjects are about the same distance away from the flash as each other or some that are closer to the flash will appear brighter than ones that are farther away.

-Fill Flash Situations

Fill flash fills in the areas of a photo that would normally appear too dark. Fill flash can be used for sunny day portraits for shadows on a subject's face or to fill any shaded area that is out of the sunlight. Fill flash can also be used to cast light into a room where there are no windows. Fill in flash is ideal for back-lit and side-lit situations. In a backlit situation there will be a lot of light in the background but no or little light cast on the front of the subject. This would normally create somewhat of a silhouette effect, but with a fill flash it would balance the photo nicely. But in order for this technique to work, you must be careful to stay in flash range which is usually around four to ten feet. With common cameras in order to add fill flash to a photo just toggle the flash to go off when it normally would not be needed.

-Other Types of Flash

Many newer cameras now have a red-eye reduction mode where the flash may fire before the picture is taken in order to cause the subjects' pupils to contract. The red-eye reduction modes in newer cameras are surprisingly effective and many work in different ways to contract pupils.

A slow sync flash is for more complicated exposures and is used commonly to create blurry long exposures. The flash fires at the beginning of the exposure, but the shutter still stays open for a moment after the flash has fired. This can freeze a car at dusk and create a blurry streak in the cars path. Or the slow sync flash could capture a sunset and freeze a closer subject that is moving through the frame. There are countless situations where a slow sync flash could possibly be used to enhance an exposure. There are also other versions of the sync flash such as the rear sync flash (where the flash fires at the end of an exposure) or the stroboscopic flash (where the flash fires multiple times throughout an exposure).

Many photographers also choose to bounce the flash off a wall or ceiling to get a softer diffused kind of light commonly sought after for portraits. This kind of flash technique requires a flash that can be aimed in a direction that the camera is not pointed. It takes practice to refine this technique and only a small percentage of photographers actually use it.

-Conclusion

Practice using flash in your photos even when it is not necessarily needed and pay attention to your results. The best way to become better at flash photography is to analyze your photos and try to figure out what you could have done differently in order to create a better flash-filled exposure.

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, photoshop tutorials. Please also visit http://www.picturecorrect.com/freewallpaper.htm where there is free high resolution desktop wallpaper available.

Photography for Your Jewelry and Craft Website

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Not only is it important to take good photographs for your website, it is equally important to make sure that your pictures load quickly. In this article we will cover a number of important issues:

Photography set up
Camera settings
Editing for Website
Other Important Resources


Photography set up:

Your backdrop is your first concern. Where will you take pictures of your product, craft or object? Outdoor light seems to be the most recommended background. The outdoor lighting helps to create beautiful pictures. For jewelry, this option is not the best. It is harder to photograph jewelry than other crafts. For jewelry there are many other options for setting up a small photography studio.

How to Make My $15.00 Photo Studio http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com/jewelry-photography.html

Lapidary Art: Basic Jewelry Photography
http://www.lapidaryart.com/projects_2.html

Photographing Jewelry for Print and Web
http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/lessons/vault/index.html


Camera settings:

Each camera comes with their own terms. You will have to read your manual to decide what term they use for each of these settings. There are a few settings that you need to make on your camera.

Quality - I use the middle setting. This takes really nice pictures, but does not use up as much disk space.

Picture Resolution - My camera has either High (1760 x 1168 pixels) or Standard (896 x 592 pixels). Use the Standard setting.

Using a scanner to take pictures - Use the highest setting for you scanner to scan your pictures. Then edit as you would pictures that you have taken with a camera.


Editing for Website:

Before we begin editing your photos there are a few things that you should know:

Do NOT save your photos in JPEG format until you are DONE editing. JPEG files do not take any changes very well. If you save it as a JPEG, then change the size, the picture quality goes down. Each time you open and change it, the quality keeps getting worse. Save all of your original files in your photo editing programs format such as .psd for Photoshop.

Save all of your website pictures in the size that you will use them on your site. Do NOT change the size of them once you get them onto your website. This will cause them to lose their quality. I like my "thumbnail" pictures to be 125 pixels x 125 pixels. The smaller the picture, the quicker it will load.

When you use the "thumbnail" tool, you are VIEWING the picture smaller, but your file size is still large. This causes your pictures to load just as slow as when you put the large picture on that page. This is why you save your picturethe size that you want it to appear on your website. If you want a "thumbnail" sized photo, save it that size.

I recommend Photoshop or Photoshop Elements (the less expensive version approximately $80 at Buy.com) photo editing. There are many more products out there that are less expensive.


Following are the steps to take to edit your pictures for you website.

1. Once you have taken your pictures, download them to your computer. Save these files in your photo editing programs format. Since I use Photoshop, I save them as .psd files.

2. Open your photo editing program and open your picture. Crop your picture two sizes.

-Crop one picture for the "thumbnail" sized picture. I crop at 125 pixels x 125 pixels for square or 140 pixels x 125 pixel. You will have to decide how large or small you want your pictures. Just remember that the larger that they are, the slower they will load. (crop, save this file, then click "undo" to crop your next picture)

-Crop one picture for the larger picture that people will see once they click on the thumbnail. I use 300 pixels x 300 pixels, or 300 pixels x 275 pixels.

3. Use your photo editing tool to sharpen, and adjust brightness. These are all tools that you will have to play with to get the look that you want. I suggest that you read the tutorial on the photo editing program that you are using. Once you have the setting that you like, write them down and use them for most of your pictures.

4. Once you are happy with the appearance of your picture, it is time to save it for your website. In Photoshop they offer an option to "Save for Web". Once you have clicked Save for Web, it will take you to a tool that allows you to save it at the quality that you want. You can save most pictures for websites at 60%-80%. You will also have to play with this to find the right balance between picture quality and load time. For example:

-Picture saved at 60%, not real clear, loads in 3 seconds
-Picture saved at 70%, pretty clear, loads in 4 seconds -- Best Bet!
-Picture saved at 80%, very clear, loads in 10 seconds

If your program does not offer, Save for Web, you will have to read the directions on saving for a website. **Just make sure that you save all of your website pictures in the JPEG format.**

5. Always keep a copy of your original (saved in your photo editing programs format). You may decide to go back and change it.

Lisa Jay is a freelance writer and the jewelry designer behind Lantana Designwear. You can visit her websites at http://www.LantanaDesignwear.comand www.JewelryMakingHQ.com
Be sure to sign up for her newsletter at http://www.JewelryMakingHQ.com/signup_newsletterto receive helpful information on making your business a success.