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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Modernizing Your Decor and Your Photography with Shadow Boxes

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Most of us enjoy having beautiful photography displayed on our walls. It serves many purposes, but its main purpose is to of course decorate and improve the appearance of our homes. We try to always find that perfect frame which blends well into your interior decor, and at the same time emphasizes the detail, and the information, which the photograph conveys. There are many, many different styles of frames out there. Yet, most of us have very similar frames throughout our homes. While it may be a good idea to match the style of the frames in one area, we typically have several regions in our houses where we display photography, or other pieces of decor. As such, I want to offer you a more modern, and interesting alternative to your typical wooden, or metal frame. A shadow box is a type of a picture frame, with your photograph recessed into the box.

First of all, why a shadow box instead of a more traditional frame? Well, the answer is simple, if you live in a neighborhood where every house has an identical architectural design, how do you identify your house from the rest of the identical buildings. You make it stand out in some fashion. Whether you plant trees, repaint the house, add a deck, a patio, whatever. The point is, you are trying to make it look different from the rest of the houses on your block. Same idea applies here. A shadow box is an excellent product to make your photographs really stand out from the rest of the environment. A nice thing about a shadow box is its versatility. Most shadow boxes are fairly small. In other words, you will not find one sized to fit a large 20x30" photograph. However, you can always have one custom made for you, if you are really like the idea of a shadow box, and have a fairly large area to fill. Shadow boxes seem to fit very well in smaller spaces, where a picture frame with a fair sized photograph may appear over-sized. Some shadow boxes are sold in pairs or threes, and are perfect if you like stacking, or creating a stair effect on your walls.

Besides using shadow boxes to display your photography, they can just as well be used to show off other pieces of decor, such as small sculptures, crafts, wood carvings, you name it. It is important to be creative with them, and the possibilities are endless. Here's are some ideas which you may want to consider. If you have any photographs of the sea, the beach, something nautical, consider placing empty shells, some petrified sealife, or other small pieces such as sand and small pebbles inside the shadow box. Most shadow boxes are fairly deep, and will allow quite a bit of stuff to be placed inside. It is a great idea to complement real 3-D elements with your photography, as these pieces create depth, and demand your eyes' attention. Likewise, you may have photos of autumn leaves, which would be coupled very well with perhaps some tree shells, miniature pine or elm cones, dried leaves, and other gifts of nature. Again, be creative, and consider the possibilities. Even if you are not using the interior of the shadow box for anything other than a photograph, you can always use it as a miniature shelf, and place small figurines, little carvings, small plants, and other pieces of decor.

As always, quality is important, and in today's world of mostly low quality high volume products you will certainly encounter many shadow boxes which do not pass your quality standards. Do not be discouraged, and consider visiting specialty home stores. These stores are typically more selective about their products, and you will be more likely to find a good product there. Aim for a box with a glass, because you want your photographs protected. If you are going to have a custom box made, make sure to have glass installed either right away, or request that the craftsman building the box routes a grove inside, so you could have glass cut and installed later.

Written by Professional Photographer, and an owner of a Photography Selling Service. To learn more about this, and many other general, as well as more specific photography related subjects, or to explore a Fine Art Photography gallery, please consider visiting WorldonPaper.com Contemporary Fine Art Gallery

Starting A Pet Photography Business

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If you like pets, starting a pet photography business is a great way to make money. Not only will you get to make money, but you will also get to do so while enjoying your job. Moreover, it is not something that everybody is looking for in a career.

But before you start a pet photography business there are a few things that you will need to keep in mind. Remember, you cannot simply start a pet business because you like animals. There is much more to it than that. And if you want to be successful at what you are doing you will need to be the best of the best.

Before you start your pet photography business look into the market that you live in. There are two things in particular that you should look at. First off, are there enough people in your area that will want to use your service? Obviously, the bigger the city you live in the better your chances are of garnering a lot of business. You will also want to make sure that you do not have a lot of competition in this industry. If there is already an established pet photography business in your area you may want to reconsider where you open up shop. This is a specialized niche and if somebody has already tapped into it you may have a hard time grabbing a share of the market.

To have a successful pet photography business you need to be good at taking pictures. That is the bottom line. If you do not have the skills to take top notch photos nobody is going to pay for your services. In addition, you will need to have the necessary equipment in order to be a success in this industry. This can cost a lot of money but it is something that you need to have to move to the top of the industry.

And speaking of expenses, a good pet photography business has a professional atmosphere in which clients can bring their pets. You will need to have a space to do this, as well as different props and backdrops. Plus, keeping the area clean is an absolute must if you are going to be having pets in and out all day long. Giving off a good sense of professionalism is a great way to garner repeat and referral clients.

Overall, a pet photography business is a great way to make money in an industry that is interesting. If you love pets and have a knack for photography, you should look into this industry right away. Who knows, you may carve out a niche in your area and garner more clients than you ever thought possible.

Obinna Heche. Los Angeles - California

Delivering the best home based business ideas and opportunities so you can work at home successfully.. http://www.pet-services.eoltt.com

Stock Photography -- Stock photos offer quality, choice, and savings in time, budget and client satisfaction

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Whether you're a PR consultant, a web developer or graphic designer, chances are you've experienced the time-intensive quest for the perfect image. And I'd be willing to bet that you've also experienced the angst that accompanies the quest. Will you find the right image in time? And will it blow your budget?

Despite your mega Microsoft clip art library, and the vast (and depending on your use, illegal) repository known as Google Images, the just-right image, art or photo has eluded you. Meanwhile, the deadline is fast approaching...and along with budget constraints, there's no time to hire a professional, and taking the shot yourself doesn't yield the expert quality you need.

Consider the plethora of images and variety available through low-cost, royalty-free stock photography. Stock photos provide quick access and speedy delivery, superb quality and a broad selection, usually categorized by descriptive keywords or found quickly with a searchable database. With high-quality stock photos starting as low as a buck each, the price just can't be beat.

Advantages of Using Stock Photography

-->Save time- Stock galleries provide a way to move quickly from an abstract concept straight to the presentation. Thousands of images and photos are readily available and quickly downloadable via the Internet, so the designer, developer or marketer can leap from the work plan to the storyboard, PowerPoint, brochure or web page.

You'll no longer need days to set up a photo assignment, or spend the hours it used to take perusing clip art books, graphic files or endless CD-ROM galleries. With most online stock photo providers, you can create an account and download samples or purchase the perfect image in a matter of minutes.

-->Excellent range of selection & choice - Stock photography provides an unbeatable selection. Just imagine the advantage of having hundreds of photographers, models or designers on staff -- along with hundreds of artistic styles and expressions. Stock libraries and galleries allow you to choose descriptive keywords, or combine keywords to get even more specific search results. Do a quick Search at LuckyOliver to see what we mean. And while you're at it, go ahead and test-drive (or grab a comp of) one of LuckyOliver's watermarked images -- there's no purchase required for that!

-->It guarantees a level of quality - Sure, there are plenty of free photo web sites--and many of them are filled with all kinds of garbage, like junky low-resolution photos, animated gif files and other stuff that may not have anything to do with what you need. You can expect remarkable quality from microstock libraries since the providers have high standards for accepting and approving any photo and art submissions.

-->It's legal and ethical - Buying stock photos helps you avoid any legal issues associated with copyright. At stock photo suppliers such as LuckyOliver, you don't have to worry about collecting and filing model releases. You simply make the purchase and use the photo, hassle-free. LuckyOliver compensates the photographer--which saves you time and money once again, with less forms to sign and fewer checks to write.

-->It's affordable - Some stock photos are inexpensive, but not cheap looking--though prices do vary. While some stock providers charge a lot -- or whatever their market will bear -- there's oftentime little artistic difference between the high-dollar finds and the less expensive stuff.

For use of most stock photographs at a site like LuckyOliver, prices range from $1 to $12 per photo, with discounts available for bulk purchases. Affiliate programs may also be available, and could prove worthwhile for web developers who offer custom templates to customers or for advertising agencies, marketers and PR firms with clients who want to choose their own images and photos.

Bryan Zmijewski is the fearless leader of stock photo provider LuckyOliver. Bryan is founder and big cheese of ZURB, a customer experience firm. Not content having one successful business and being a designer/photographer himself, he grabbed another cup of coffee and started LuckyOliver, where artists and photographers buy and sell photos and images for as low $1 each. Contact Bryan at feedback@luckyoliver.com or visit http://www.luckyoliver.com.

Make Money With Freelance Photography

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

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

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

The Digital Photography Revolution Is Now Here

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 Tips To Improving Your Digital Photography

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Image Photography

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Portrait Photography

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

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

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

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

Web Cam Astrophotography Basics

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Web cams have changed amateur astrophotography profoundly. You can now have a CCD for a fraction of the cost. Web cams can take awesome planetary and lunar astrophotos right out of the box. You can use the capture software that comes with the cam for capturing your shots and then use freeware to process the results. Can't get much cheaper than that. Of course for better results it is you should use specialized software, but that is available on the cheap as well.

And if you are a do-it-yourselfer, web cams can also be adapted to take long exposure astrophotos, pretty cool right? Plus there are ready to go, web cam based planetary imagers now available from Celestron, Meade and, Orion. Meade and Orion also have imagers for long exposure, deep-sky imaging. All these include software. They are however more expensive.

If you already have a web cam great, you only need some software which can be downloaded for free, and an adaptor to connect the web cam to your telescope. If you don't own one the following cams have proven to be good for astrophotography and good deals can be found on eBay for example.

-ToUcam Pro by Philips PCVC740K or PCVC840K ToUcam PRO II. I have both of these. I am leaving the new one as a dedicated planetary imager and adapting the PCV740K for long exposure astrophotography.

-Vesta pro also by Philips. I haven't personally used this web cam but others have with great success. It can also be adapted for long exposures.

-Quickcam pro by Logitech. I used to have one of these, but I prefer the ToUcam. It does a good job though and can also be modified for long exposures.

-There are other web cams which are good for astrophotography but these three are the only ones I have experience with.

Now for the adaptor to connect the web cam to your telescope. I use a Mogg adaptor, made by, surprise Mr. Steve Mogg. More information and purchasing can be found at: http://webcaddy.com.au/astro/adapter.htm For either ToUcam you will want the UWAT-F, for the Vesta Pro the UWAS-F, and for the Quickcam Pro the UWAL-F. He has adaptors for other astrophotography web cams as well.

Next you will need some software to make this all work. Good news it won't cost you a single penny. First you will need some capture software. K3CCDTools version 1 is absolutely free. It works very well to capture astrophotos with web cams. I use version 3 which costs $45.00 because I use some of the other features it offers but you won't need that for basic planetary work (yet). You can download it at: http://www.pk3.org/Astro/index.htm?k3ccdtools_download.htm.

To get really nice detail in your shots you will need to combine(stack) multiple images. A really nice piece of software is called RegiStax. It is also freeware. You can download a copy at: http://registax.astronomy.net/html/download.html.

The next article in this series will be on setting up your web cam and software, capturing your first image during daylight, then getting your first astrophoto (the moon).

Carl Gilbertson has been involved in amatuer astronomy for over 30 years and astrophotography for over twenty-five years. Learn more at his site: http://webcamastrophotography.blogspot.com

A Great Photo, but do you need a photography course?

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Photos can look great. An astonishing landscape can transport the viewer to another time and place. Maybe it is just for a fraction of a second. A great photograph of a person can look into the person's soul, and let you share their smiles or tears. A great photo communicates to the viewer. There is an enormous market out there for photographs. Publishers know that the people who buy their materials want photographs that reach out to them. Visual communication is something that we all can relate to. Subjects out there to take photos of are never ending. The only limitations are within your mind.

But what is it that makes a photograph successful? A photography course can definitely help you, but the answer is fairly simple, and you can improve your photography today, if you just learn a few very basic rules.

However, rules are meant to be broken. Some of my favorite photographs very purposely break a lot of the basic rules. But to break the rules in a way that enhance a photograph and effectively turns it into a great photo, you first have to know the rules and second you must have a reason for breaking them.

Number one: Get in close, really close, much closer than you think.
The first, and most essential, rule: Simplify. The more you simplify a photograph, the more attention you draw towards your subject. And the more attention you draw towards your subject, the more successful you will be in communicating your message to the viewer. There are approximately a million ways to do this, so I will keep it simple and stick to my preferred technique here, and that is to get in as close as possible. When you do that, you eliminate anything in the background that may distract from your subject.

Number two: The photographic composition
Most strong photographs position their main elements in certain specific places of the frame. When you think about where you want to put your subject in the photo, you are composing your picture. When a painter starts out with a blank canvas, he or she has full control to decide where to put that river, those mountains, the trees, clouds and whatever thing that needs to be included. Creating a photograph, you ought to go through the same process.

Number Three: Is there a better way to do it?
The last thing we will talk about is point of view. The photographers' point of view more exact. How often have you seen something worth taking a photo of - perhaps a barn, a tree, or your dog - and picked up your camera to take a picture right then and there? If this is the way you go about taking photos, you can noticeably improve your technique with one simple process. Just walk around the subject. Notice how the background changes as you move 360 degrees around your subject. Try to lie down on the ground and point the camera up at your subject. Climb up a ladder and look down, trying the same thing. Tilt the camera vertically, even diagonally. Take a whole roll of film or fill a whole memory card if you use a digital camera, of the same subject from different points of view and compare the results. You will surprise yourself. You will certainly surprise the viewer by trying something different and that will add power to your photo.

So, should you take a photography course? I think so. It does not have to be a long tedious one with a lot of technical stuff and hour after hour with boring behind the desk lecture. No, go out and play with you camera - I will see you out there!

Huge amount of information on Photography Course - check out for your self.

Photography Job

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The Big C's to Success in Photography

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The Big C's to Success in Photography By Chuck Groot www.Chuckgroot.com www.Successfulphotography.com

In his book Small Business Management, Michael Ames gives the following reasons for small business failure:

1:Lack of experience

2:Insufficient capital (money)

3:Poor location

4:Poor inventory management

5:Over-investment in fixed assets

6:Poor credit arrangements

7:Personal use of business funds

8:Unexpected growth

Gustav Berle adds two more reasons in The Do It Yourself Business Book:

9:Competition

10:Low sales What is the common thread - Poor Planning! Let's look at the words starting with "C", insufficient CAPITAL, poor CREDIT arrangements, and COMPETITION.

Unfortunately, too often we underestimate our competition (the competition is not necessarily other photographers), causing us to get a poor credit rating, and we die because there is insufficient capital to get us over the start up phase of opening a new business.

One area that is sadly overlooked when starting a business is start-up capital. Start-up capital is the amount that you need to have before you open your doors. This is the money set aside in the bank that will carry you through the lean months so that you can pay your fixed expenses, variable costs, and your salary.

We start by trying to get a good handle on our fixed expenses. These are the expenses that will occur regardless if we make any money what so ever. A list of these would be: rent, telephone, hydro, advertising (I believe that advertising is a necessity, therefore qualifying as a fixed expense. You have to advertise when you first open up to let everyone know that you are in business), auto insurance, office supplies, and utilities.

Oh yes, I almost forgot (just kidding), your salary. Most photographers I know pay themselves if and when there is any money left over at the end of the month. This is not acceptable! Be proud of what you do. Be positive about what you do. Most important - pay yourself. If, and I say this in only the most hypothetical of situations, if you go broke do you think anyone is going to take pity on you and give you any money back. Hell no! So pay yourself and make sure that this is a habit that you continue. It provides a huge psychological boost each and every month, one that pays dividends in the end. (No pun intended.)

From there you try to figure out how many photo sessions you will be taking. Break it down into specific numbers, how many sessions a day? After that, determine what your costs are per session. How much film and processing? How many prints or paper will you use? These are called your variable expenses, expenses that are incurred only when you do something. Then figure that if you work 20 days that month what your costs will be on a monthly basis.

We now add the third dimension - hard costs. If you are starting a studio or office location, you will need furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Equipment can be cameras, computers, desks, and file cabinets etc. Go through catalogs and find out how much you will need to spend on these items.

After this is all done we add them together, six months of fixed expenses, six months of variable costs, and your hard costs, to come up with what your start up capital will be. Then make sure that you have that covered. This can be done with a combination of your cash, bank loans, line of credit, or investors. Just make sure that you have six months worth of start up capital.

Any money you earn by taking pictures will be gravy. Hopefully it will be enough to cover all of your fixed and variable expenses, but if it doesn't you have your back up plan. It is better to spend a lot of time planning and being prepared as the old saying goes, "Failing to Plan, is Planning to Fail!"

Generally it takes three to five years to get your feet firmly planted on the ground and your roots dug deeply into it. If you use my proven system you should be up and running within a year, check into my personal coaching program to ensure your success.

? Chuck Groot writer, teacher, lecturer, photographer, consultant. Email chuckgroot@shaw.ca www.chuckgroot.com, www.successfulphotography.com

Chuck Groot's credentials as a professional photographer, teacher and entrepreneur are noteworthy. His work demonstrates both artistic composition and rapport with people.

Chuck guarantees the help needed to access individual potential so that students will appreciably increase their understandi

Is Photography becoming too technical?

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Having started my "career" in photography at the tender age of 13, way back in 1980, I remember thinking that things seemed so complicated to start with.

F-Stops, shutter speeds, ASA (ISO) ratings, double exposures, depth of field and the "wet" darkroom all took a little getting used to, although it was still great fun.

Nowadays, as a full time professional photographer, I spend quite a bit of time online and in photography forums researching digital cameras, lenses, software and new techniques and I am constantly bewildered by the amount of sometimes unnecessary technical jargon.

I feel for any newbies to digital photography as there seems to be added pressure to be able to manipulate your images beyond recognition before they are deemed as "quality".

Books and websites are now packed out with technical data, facts and figures that are really not so important when starting out. It is all too easy to become confused and put off by thinking that you need to know all this...you don't, not for now at least!

It all started when digital technology hit the mainstream buying public and even more so when Digital SLR's became more affordable to the masses.

Everywhere I go now I see arguments and discussions for;

* The amount of mega-pixels necessary to get a good shot.
* Noise (or grain) issues from digital sensors.
* Dynamic range is a favourite, probably because using the term sounds like you know your onions!
* Purple fringing or chromatic aberrations.
* The "crop factor" of a camera's sensor.
* Menu layout, buffer and start up times, image stabilisation...the list goes on.

What many people need to realise is that all of the above is simply irrelevant when beginning as a photographer. It is still mostly irrelevant as you progress too, and you only really need to fully understand these things if you intend to sell your images or services.

The point of my ramblings is to let people know that all you need to do is this;

* Understand the basic principles of photography. Exposure, composition and lighting.
* Know how to upload and "develop" your images digitally using even basic software, to the point where they resemble how it would have looked if your old film lab had done the job.
* Print, show online via a website or email to friends, family or clients.
* And simply enjoy yourself.

If you can put a camera to your eye, see a good picture and know how to capture it as you see it, you are half way there.

As testimony to much the above, most of the large professional stock libraries in the world only accept original, unsharpened, un-manipulated images...no fancy stuff.

(Smaller designer-based stock agencies including Microstock companies are partial to both original photographic files right up to heavily manipulated digital images).

All you need to do is take your Digital SLR camera, lenses and accessories and go out and have fun. Enjoy getting "back to basics" and learning the true art of photography and worry about the rest later.

The following may be of use to those who have just bought or about to buy a new DSLR (Digital SLR). IT will hold you by the hand and walk you through all the need to know areas of digital photography at grass roots level.

http://www.all-things-photography.com/advanced-photography-books-for-beginners-and-amateur-photographers.html

All the best and good luck with this fantastic hobby!

Nick Stubbs
www.panphotography.com

Nick is a professional, qualified photographer for more than 24 years specialising in stock, wedding, people and commercial photography. He was recently awarded the title of "Commercial Photographer of the Year 2005" by the S.W.P.P & B.P.P.A. (Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers and British Professional Photographers Association)

What is Macro Photography?

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One of the most satisfying forms of photography, and one of the easiest to master is macro photography.

A practical way for defining macro photography is by the strength of the lens, or how nearby it can focus. For true macro photography, you'll want to have a lens that focuses down to a 1:1 range. For example,for 35mm film,your camera has to have the ability to focus on an area at least as small as 24?36mm ,because this is the size of the image on the film.After having the film developed,the picture of the subject on the negative or slide will be exactly the same size as the subject photographed.

What makes macro photography seductive is the level of detail that you see, sometimes for the first time - familiar objects become unusual and abstract and unusual objects become even more interesting.

There are many applications for macro photography: flowers,plants,butterflies, minerals,snowflakes... Your own backyard, a local garden,beach or forest can provide you with hours of fun with macro photography.

Of course macro photography isn't always centred on the natural world. Collectors use macro photography to record coins,stamps and other collectibles that are very small.Some people use macro photography for documenting their possessions for insurance purposes or to illustrate their auction listings online.

Working with macro photography can be a whole new visual event for even the most advanced photographers.Every day can yield another subject and an endless supply of captivating images.The possibilities of macro photography are limited only by your imagination.

If you are interested in macro photography, then by all means consider purchasing a dedicated macro lens.SLR digital cameras with interchangeable lenses are ideal for macro photography.If you're primarily interested in outdoor photography, consider a 180mm or 200mm macro lens.

Alternatively you can use extension tubes,reversing rings, or close-up diopter lens.

An extension tube is placed between the camera body and the lens.There is no glass in the tube - its purpose is to move the lens farther from the film (or digital sensor) so that magnification can be bigger.

Reversing ring is attached on the front of a lens and makes it possible to attach the lens in reverse.

Close-up diopter lens are placed in front of the camera's main lens. These screw-in or slip-on attachments provide close focusing at very low cost.However,the quality of the pictures is variable.

Felix Zhucha owns http://www.postersphotosartwork.com . Come and find popular art photographs and posters.

Photography Tips : Getting The Best Shots

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Here are some helpful tips that should assist you when trying to get the perfect shot.

Lighting:

Try to use natural lighting if you can, if your indoors place yourself near a large window

If your taking shots outside try to doing your snap shots around 5pm as the light isn't as bright and it tends to help the overall shot.

Preparing the person:

Be sure to wash the face and apply makeup before taking the pictures

Keep the hair away from the face unless of course you want it there.

Seriously if you have puffy eyes, try using Preparation H it does take it down

Foundation:

Use a thick foundation to cover up any blemishes or spots

Be sure to blend in the foundation starting from the Chin down to the neck so that it blends in nicely.

Powder:

If you want a nice Matt finish, apply a good amount of powder regularly

Concealer;

If your going to use concealer be sure to use 2 shades lighter than the skin and apply it before the foundation goes on this way it will hide spots and marks.

Countouring:

You want to contour certain areas of the face, such as the eyes and cheeks to give it that sculpted look

Also consider using a foundation that is 2 to 3 shades darker than the skin

Eyes:

To create lively eyes you will want to highlight the brows using a light shadow

To avoid shine on the face avoid at all costs shimmering or frosty eyeshadow

Try to use waterproof mascara

Application of makeup needs to be heavier than normal makeup application.

Lips:

When it comes to getting a nice full lip look be sure to use a darker shade on the lip color and the outline.

Tamara Williams Contributes articles for Digital Camera Reviews which is a site dedicated to providing consumers with digital camera and photography reviews. For all your tips, comparisons and advice stop by digicamlab.

Emotive Photograph

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Photography 101 Part 3Kelly Paal

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Part 3
Content

Even if you feel that you already know what kind of photography you like to do, its always a good idea to try your talent at different aspects of photography.
Pictorial, this is a general term but it applies to any photographer whos goal is simply to create beautiful photos. This breaks down into smaller subsets but the most popular form is landscape and nature photography. This is what I do and its tempting to go on and on but I will just say that this form of photography, to me, is a real art. At least that is goal to create art in photographic form. It is the goal of the photographer to use their abilities to capture an image in its moment of beauty and simplicity.
Portrait, this can be people and even animals. It also includes wedding photography as well. This is an aspect of photography that can be a lot harder than it seems. Not only do you have to know your basic photo composition but you need to understand what makes each person look their best. You must know how to bring out their personality and character in the shot. If you love working with people this may be your field. Its fun and challenging.
Photojournalism, now this isnt just press photography, though that is one aspect of it. It is also documentary photography as well, the latter doesnt always need an event to occur right in front of you. Either way the purpose is to tell a story. Really good photojournalism shouldnt need the text below it to tell you what is going on. It should be compelling and storytelling. Composition still plays a part, you cant tell a story if the story cant be seen. And while these photos can be beautiful in their technical aspects they arent necessarily beautiful images. The story telling is as important.
Abstract, probably not as common of a form of photography but Im seeing it more and more. This is usually characterized by extreme close ups of detail of something, so much so that you cant identify the original subject. But in this case that doesnt matter since the abstract detail or pattern is the subject of the photo. (Color can also be the subject as well.) Basic composition still plays a part, maybe a bigger part in this form of photography.
This weeks assignment: Four rolls of film again. Roll one, pictorial, get outside and try your best using all your abilities to capture moments of beauty and simplicity. Composition is key here. Roll two, portrait, get somebody to volunteer for you. Remember composition but really focus on finding the shots that make that person look their best. Different light, background, camera angles, or even clothes. Roll three, photojournalism, outside or inside anywhere you see stories. This can be as simple as a child playing with their toys. Find the appropriate moment to take a shot that tells the story. Roll four, abstract, details, details, and more details. Get in close, make sure that you cant identify the subject but find beauty in the color or details of the item.

If you have some specific questions please visit my Photography Forum at: http://kellypaalphotography.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/index.php and post your question there.

Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Recently she started her own business Kelly Paal Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her web design.

Photography Business: Taking Baby Photos - for Professionals & Families

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Babies make the best and the worst subjects to photograph. They are the best for two reasons, people are more tolerant at looking at baby photos, as well as the fact that babies are not aware their image is being captured, and therefore they do not tend to put on the camera face so typically used by elder children and adults. They are the worst subjects because their behaviour is unpredictable. Because their behaviour is uncensored, they show their emotions, and can just as easily cry as gurgle happily into the camera.

One of the most challenging aspects of photographing a baby is to control the subject. On the one hand you want them relatively still, but too much control and the photo loses its impetuousness. Lighting and background are both important, you want the background as uncluttered and simple as possible if the photograph is indoors, or as natural as possible outside, a piece of grass is ideal. The lighting should be coming from at least two directional sources, but if it is too strong it will throw shadows that complicate the picture, and often lose the wonderful facial expressions it is possible to capture. However dont miss those impromptu shots either especially with a digital camera, you can always edit the background later.

It is usually helpful to restrict babies activities; they are not portrayed at their best nappy high in the air crawling across the floor. A good way to restrict them is a highchair, or holding them in the arms of another person. Baby photography is often better taken very close up, and it is a wise move to look at the manual for your camera, and see how close you can get. It is better to get everything set up first, and then place the baby in position when the lighting and setting have been chosen. However that of course is not always possible.

Distractions in the form of noise, and toys can be a tool, but never forget that a babys emotions are always lightning fast, and it all makes for great photographs, whether it is tears of frustration, pouring a drink over your best camera, or laughing.

They are often easier to photograph when there is a minimum of people around because they are so easily distracted. The old school of thought was keep the mother well out of the way, however I personally can't see any mileage in that, as babies are calmer with someone they know, and in most cases that is the mother. Above all remember that photographing babies is fun, the unexpected if caught at just the right moment, makes great memories. Although I doubt if a father who has just picked up their offspring for a photograph will forget the time that their child was sick all over them. Control can only go so far with babies.

Babies are babies for short a period of time, you can never have too many photographs, and here a digital camera can save enormous amounts on both film and development. It also allows for wastage as you can view the results immediately and can the ones you dont want. You will have huge embarrassment value in later life showing your daughters first boyfriend her as a baby with no nappy! Another enormous advantage to digital photography is that you dont have to shoot the photograph with a little black box in front of your face. This will catch a babys emotions perfectly, but is not the best way to capture their best expressions. A small child will respond better when they respond to your expressions. By being able to hold the camera away from your face you have a chance to capture the best of their expressions as well; an LCD screen generally reaps huge benefits.

Another misunderstood statement is that the best photographs are taken by professionals, whilst there is no denying that professional take great formal photographs, and every baby should have at least one set to keep as an adult. It is hard to beat the formal professional photo. Some professionals offer annual sittings for family shots and supply regular updated montages specific to that family. A service that is hard to beat. However this formal stylised pose isn't always the answer, somehow, because children are not camera aware, they are not camera shy. Young babies are sometimes better photographed in an environment that they are entirely comfortable with and that place is often their own home or the garden. The great thing about photographing your own child is that it does not need any special equipment, special effects, or even any really special effort, and it certainly does not involve trailing somewhere in the middle of the night to capture a beautiful dawn. A point and shoot will work wonders.

Probably the most important technical point to remember when photographing a baby is that because of their size, you have to get down to their height to get that wonderful close- up. The easiest way and least dangerous way is to physically get down on the floor with them, not necessarily the most dignified way, but certainly the most rewarding. There are no imperfections in a babies face, you can get as close as you can without showing crows feet! You cannot engineer this type of photography it has to happen, but you can be creative in your approach and let the baby respond to you, because it has no knowledge of how to respond to the camera.

With a very young baby still in its crib, there is very little option, but to shoot from the above, unless you want the baby to look as though it is captured in a wooden box, but it is an approach to be avoided if at all possible.

You have more opportunities to photograph babies in more settings than at almost any other age. After all you dont photograph your mother on the toilet. Few props are useful with babies, but baths and pottys are great because they are both tools that they are familiar with and with a little patience they can be put to great effect regarding play. Surely you can put up with getting a little damp at bath- time, but of course try and remember to make sure the potty is empty! Above all remember that it fun and relaxed, you will never have the opportunity to have so many natural photos again. Enter into the spirit of it and you will be amply rewarded. Another great prop to use if you have one is the family pet, providing it is not intimidating to the baby.

There is no fun at all in photographing someone screaming the house down in fear. Whilst every parent should have at least one set of professional photos taken, dont rely on someone else to capture those truly enchanting moments, especially at momentous milestones. If it is your childs first birthday they will reward you with better photographs if you take them yourself. Get someone else (professional) to do it on a less important day.

The professional would do well to keep a file for the parents and offer services such as a montage on the childs or childrens yearly progress (updated every year). There is great value in personalisation and there is an abundance of software available to help you organise this service.

Publisher & author: Roy Barker. Roy is the author of the popular ebook, Income from Photography - a downloadable ebook which guides the reader on how to start up and market a Profitable Photography business. It can be viewed at http://www.profitable-photography.comOther related and reviewed services & research sources can be found at http://www.profitable-photography.com/html/117/