Photography Equipment for Beginners and Pros

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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

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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"

How To Click It Right With The Best Digital Photography Camera

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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

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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?

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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

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

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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.

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

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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

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

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.

Improve Your Digital Photography Skills for Outstanding Pictures

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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

Travel Photography For Beginners: Choosing A Camera And Getting Started

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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

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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

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

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).

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

Architecture Photography

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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.

Top Ten Digital Camera And Photography Tips

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

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/

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?.

Introduce Your Child to Photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wedding Photography: Preserving the Memories

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Wedding Photography: Preserving the Memories
by Colin Hartness http://www.asaphotography.com

A persons wedding can be one of the most important times in their life. They will have memories that they want to treasure forever and then pass on to their children. Wedding photography helps them do this. Having pictures taken at the wedding and then at the reception can capture those precious memories in freeze-frame and help you keep them forever.

Pictures are important so you want to be sure you get good photos, high quality photos that you can enjoy forever.

Most people will have a wedding book designed out of the collection of the best wedding photos. Usually the photographer will do this for you. You will then have a beautiful scrapbook from your wedding to hold your memories.

Choosing a photographer is a very important step in your wedding pictures. You want someone experienced that will do an excellent job for you. Its possible that you may be on a budget and price may be a factor as well.

How Do You Choose a Wedding Photographer?

There are several things you are going to want to look for with the most important being the quality of the work. It would be great if you could find a photographer that you had seen in action, perhaps at a family member or friends wedding. The hardest part of choosing a wedding photographer is that you sign a contract and agree to pay before you have ever seen the photos. Thats how it works in the world of wedding photography; you must make your decision based of faith in the photographer. So how do you make a decision like this?

Referrals

First, you are going to want to look at referrals. Ask your friends or family members who did their weddings and start compiling a list. You will also need to verify that these people are still photographing. Ask everyone you can about their wedding and their wedding pictures. Most people will even let you see their wedding photos and you can check out the photographers work.

Experience & Samples

Aside from samples from people you know, you can ask the photographer himself about samples. You can call the photographers on your list and do an interview over the phone or make an appointment to meet in person. This is your chance to ask the photographer any questions you may have such as their experience, what training they have and what different types of photography they have studied. If you are doing an in-person interview, the photographer can show you portfolios of samples of their work. If doing a phone interview, that ends well, you may want to go in person and see a portfolio.

Schedule and Appointment

When you have chose the photographer you think you want to use, you will have to schedule several appointments. The bride and groom, the brides parents and anyone else who may be taking part in paying for the wedding should be present at these meetings regarding the wedding photography.

At these meetings, you will discuss price, payment schedule and possible deposits. Next you will discuss the plan for taking the photos. Many people also get video and digital photographs now. Do you want these? Will your photographer be able to provide these? Will there be extra fees?

Many people have specific plans as to what they want pictures of (e.g. bride and father coming down the aisle, bride and groom, rings exchanging, the kiss, the bridesmaids, etc.) This is your chance to get all this written down so that the photographer is sure to get all the shots you want. Other people give their photographers a little more freedom to decide what pictures will be good to take.

Be sure to ask any questions you have about this important event. Your wedding photography is important to you so dont hesitate to be clear about what you want.
by Colin Hartness http://www.asaphotography.com

A persons wedding can be one of the most important times in their life. They will have memories that they want to treasure forever and then pass on to their children. Wedding photography helps them do this. Having pictures taken at the wedding and then at the reception can capture those precious memories in freeze-frame and help you keep them forever.

Pictures are important so you want to be sure you get good photos, high quality photos that you can enjoy forever.

Most people will have a wedding book designed out of the collection of the best wedding photos. Usually the photographer will do this for you. You will then have a beautiful scrapbook from your wedding to hold your memories.

Choosing a photographer is a very important step in your wedding pictures. You want someone experienced that will do an excellent job for you. Its possible that you may be on a budget and price may be a factor as well.

How Do You Choose a Wedding Photographer?

There are several things you are going to want to look for with the most important being the quality of the work. It would be great if you could find a photographer that you had seen in action, perhaps at a family member or friends wedding. The hardest part of choosing a wedding photographer is that you sign a contract and agree to pay before you have ever seen the photos. Thats how it works in the world of wedding photography; you must make your decision based of faith in the photographer. So how do you make a decision like this?

Referrals

First, you are going to want to look at referrals. Ask your friends or family members who did their weddings and start compiling a list. You will also need to verify that these people are still photographing. Ask everyone you can about their wedding and their wedding pictures. Most people will even let you see their wedding photos and you can check out the photographers work.

Experience & Samples

Aside from samples from people you know, you can ask the photographer himself about samples. You can call the photographers on your list and do an interview over the phone or make an appointment to meet in person. This is your chance to ask the photographer any questions you may have such as their experience, what training they have and what different types of photography they have studied. If you are doing an in-person interview, the photographer can show you portfolios of samples of their work. If doing a phone interview, that ends well, you may want to go in person and see a portfolio.

Schedule and Appointment

When you have chose the photographer you think you want to use, you will have to schedule several appointments. The bride and groom, the brides parents and anyone else who may be taking part in paying for the wedding should be present at these meetings regarding the wedding photography.

At these meetings, you will discuss price, payment schedule and possible deposits. Next you will discuss the plan for taking the photos. Many people also get video and digital photographs now. Do you want these? Will your photographer be able to provide these? Will there be extra fees?

Many people have specific plans as to what they want pictures of (e.g. bride and father coming down the aisle, bride and groom, rings exchanging, the kiss, the bridesmaids, etc.) This is your chance to get all this written down so that the photographer is sure to get all the shots you want. Other people give their photographers a little more freedom to decide what pictures will be good to take.

Be sure to ask any questions you have about this important event. Your wedding photography is important to you so dont hesitate to be clear about what you want.

Looking for information about Photography?
Go to: http://www.asaphotography.com
'ASA Photography' is published by Colin Hartness -
An excellent resource for Photography!
Check out more Photography articles at: http://www.asaphotography.com/archive

Nine Ways to Save Money on Wedding Photography

         >>  Digital Photography Secrets Revealed <<

 

Weddings are memorable events couples and their families want to remember forever, and what better way to capture these moments than by a camera. Weddings may be gone, but the feeling of joy will always stay because of the wonderful moments captured on film. And photography expenses shouldnt be too high if you want to have the nicest photos on your wedding day. Here are some ideas to help you get started in producing great photos on a budget.

1. Hiring a professional photographer is the best option because he has the equipment, the experience, and the knowledge in this field. So look around in your area for professional photographers that suit your needs, and dont charge too high.

2. If you choose the above option, do a lot of research on the price, the portfolio, and the over all behavior of the photographers you selected. Dont just compare them on the price alone. Take note of his portfolio. Are the photos professional and outstanding? Observe his professionalism by asking his past clients (if you know one) on his punctuality and behavior. Did he come on time for their wedding? Were the arrangements made smoothly? Did they have any disagreements later on the price? Was he polite or bossy during the picture-taking? Asking questions not only about the quality of his work but also on his professionalism and personality will greatly determine your over-all satisfaction, and will ensure every dollar you pay him is worth it. You dont want someone you hired to act grumpy and ruin your important day, do you?

3. Book as early as possible, say 6 months from your day. This way you wont have to worry about the other clients who might also need him on the same day as your wedding.

4. Hire a photography student in a nearby university. He/she is more than willing to take on your assignment and unleash his/her creativity. As much as possible have a look at his/her works first, and observe his/her personality as well.

5. Gather your friends on your pre-wedding party and have him take photos of you.

6. Make an arrangement to keep the negatives to yourself afterwards so you can reprint them and edit them if you like. You can even use the pictures to make personalized thank you cards later that show the guests on the wedding.

7. Have your guests take photos as many as they want by placing disposable cameras on the tables during your reception.

8. Have a talented family member take your photos. Nowadays because of digital cameras and photo editors, it is more possible than ever for an average person to take great pictures.

9. Ask for help from your friends who recently married. Advices from them will surely help you a lot because theyve gone through what you are going through now. Ask for references, if they know of some photographers who fit your qualifications.

The first most important point to remember when setting a budget for your wedding photographer is to talk to your partner first, and determine your requirements early on and how many prints you want to make. Then seek for cost-effective alternatives. Do a lot of research, and compare your choices reasonably.

Dulce Azogue is the owner of http://www.weddingofherdreams.com, where frugal brides learn to cut wedding costs while having a nice wedding. Visit the site now to join her newsletter that teaches you more cost-effective ideas like these at http://www.weddingofherdreams.com/gift.html, and download a free ebook.

dulce@weddingofherdreams.com