photoreallity

Photo Tips For Documenting Life's Events

2009-01-19T21:53:00.000-08:00

By Peter Phun

There are really only 2 kinds of events: milestones and recurring annual events.
Milestones

Sorry for stating the obvious here, but these are the so-called once-a-life time biggies. Ones so important that you sometimes associate with a song or piece of music.

A partial list of milestones may be the following:

Graduations-happy, fun event but rife with access problems.

Weddings-can be easy or tough depending on your level of experience. Just don't get in the way of the professional whose job is to officially document the day.

Births-believe it or not, I had some friends who wanted this documented. I wouldn't want a stranger to do this though. I do wonder when and with whom you can share these pictures even if they're PG-rated.

First Communions-formal or posed portraits are the norm. Live coverage offers spontaneous moments which are often priceless.

First haircuts-the "firsts" are not necessarily very meaningful but they can be a lot of fun to look back at these pictures. The first fish your child catches can be fun too.
Recurring Events

The list below is fairly obvious. Your subjects may not change over the years but that doesn't mean your photography can't improve if you do a lot of these.

The key is to come up with a different way of looking at the same subject. No, don't stop taking the same pictures you took the year before, be bold and experiment.

Birthdays-hardest to find a fresh approach
Halloween-mostly for the costumes young children but priceless to parents
Vacation Trips-best prospects for great pictures simply because of different locales
Special Christmas programs-difficult due to poor lighting, accessibility

Better Milestone Pictures
Based on subject and setting of each event, your approaches will vary.
In the first group of events which I call Milestones, they are very important, just ask my wife. So don't blow it, there's no pressure.

When I worked at the paper and was very new, this sort of anxiety was normal. But a technic I learned in flying school called "bunk flying" helps. It's nothing more than pre-visualizing everything you think you'll encounter in your head at the event.

Everything right down to the equipment you'll bring and where you'll pose your subjects. It of course helps if you've been to the venue of the event preferably at the designated time. You want to get an idea of not only what the place looks like but also the lighting, hence the "time" element.

Mind you, when I worked for the newspaper, there are few instances when I can ask for something to be repeated or as they say in golf, ask for a "mulligan" or a "do-over."
Imagine asking for a repeat of the action when a baseball play occurs at home plate and you weren't paying attention.

So what's your best chance of capturing those once-in-a-lifetime moments?

Be prepared
Have all your gear in one bag. Keep your camera, flash, lenses and other accessories like extra memory cards in one bag. That way all you need to do is to grab it and you're ready.Remember, digital cameras without charged batteries are a paperweight. A camera with a full memory card is also a paperweight-both are good only for war stories.

Scout the location beforehand
Figure out where the light is for a particular venue or scene. In a church where there are stain glass windows and big doors, there will be spots where it is brighter than others. Be ready to shoot your subject at those spots.

Set Realistic Goals
If all you have is a short telephoto, realize you're limited by your equipment.
Either wait till your subject is closer, or try and get closer.

If you're shooting with a digital camera that has RAW capability, you could try taking your picture in that mode.

Shooting in RAW is like using a telephoto lens because you are capturing at the highest resolution you camera is capable of.

It will allow you to crop in, make your tiny subject bigger and just maybe allow you to get a decent image.

Because you don't have access to be front-and-center to most events, be realistic as to the kinds of pictures you can get. If all you have is a short telephoto, don't expect to get tight closeup shots. Instead wait for pictures with wide angles or pictures that you can take after an event is winding down.

As an example, graduations are great happy events to photograph, but you will be most hampered by lack of equipment and limited access.

Better Recurring/Annual Pictures
Just because you've shot some of these annual events over and over doesn't mean they need to be boring. Sure, shoot the same picture you did last year but push yourself to come up with something different.

Assess the lightingg
Have you stopped to think how those birthday cake scenes look with the room lights turned off?
Well, it actually looks very warm, inviting and nostalgic.

So next time you're ready to shoot this scene and it's indoors, turn off the lights.

If you have time, consider also changing the White Balance.

Don't forget there is no hurry. You can tell them to re-light the candles or wait while you check your camera's LCD as you make some tests.

Try a different viewpoint
If you've shot the quintessential blowing out the candles every year, try shooting from a different position or use a different lens.

A wide angle from close up from right up next to the cake by the candles can be a different view. This has the added benefit of allowing you to brace your camera in a low light situation.

Let the kids take their own pictures
Set up a makeshift photo studio. All you need is backdrop and camera on a tripod. Most cameras have a self-timer. You can try that or you can let them trip the shutter themselves if you can spare one camera on a tripod.

Do at least one group shot at the same location.
A group shot at the same location will show how everyone has changed year after year. If the same guests attend, this can be a great record to show how children have grown or changed. These need not be prize-winning pictures. They are mainly for the record type pictures.

Look for details and closeups.
An adult's hand holding a newborn's always makes for a nice intimate detail shot.
Finally while these are all events in your life, don't forget to gather important details like brochures of the places you camped. Years later, that information will add more meaning to your memories.

Peter Phun teaches photography at Riverside City College. He does portraits, weddings and editorial work. Read this more extensive illustrated article about photographing those special events. He writes about photography, Macs and the internet. He also designs websites and is a stay-at-home dad.

Previously, Peter worked as a staff photographer for 18 years at The Press-Enterprise, Southern California's 4th largest daily newspaper. He is the webmaster for the Mac user group in the Inland Empire. For more information about this Riverside based photographer, visit http://www.peterphun.com/.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Phun

Digital Photography - Getting Started With Food Photography

2009-01-15T21:54:00.000-08:00

By Michael Poh Wai Wong

When you see a picture of a delicious dish in a recipe book or magazine, don't you feel hungry? Isn't it amazing if you have the skill to take the picture yourself? Below are some of the tips you will need to excel in food photography

1. Tripod

Sometime you will need to photograph your food under low light condition and you are forced to use slow shutter speed for it. When you are using slow shutter speed, your camera is more sensitive to movement and you are going to be upset when the pictures come out blur.

So, when you are photographing under this kind of condition, you will need a tripod to stabilize your camera.

Tripods nowadays are built to be foldable, easy to carry, sturdy and light on your wallet. Now with this handy accessory by your side, you have more reason to enjoy digital photography.

2. Limit your zone

When you are doing food photography, you don't always need to capture the whole dish. Showing part of it will make the food more alluring and seems more delicious.

You just want the essence of the food.

Let's look at the example of chocolate pudding.

Now, imagine that you are looking at the pudding through your camera. Zoom in close to the edge of pudding and take your picture when the dark and hot chocolate sauce is flowing down to cover the rest of the pudding. You can make this a better picture if you can capture the steam from the sauce. Don't you think this is a delicious picture?

When your viewers look at your picture, they will surely want a bite of the pudding.

3. Experience

Photographers who just trigger your craving for chocolate pudding don't just drop from the sky. They practice and gain experience as they evolve. You can read all the articles or books about food photography and still be an amateur photographer. Because it is very important that photographers get their hands on the subject and truly experience the process of getting the best picture. When the picture gives you the right feeling then that is the one you are looking for.

So, start building your experience by starting with something simple like a fruit bowl. Remember to get a variety of fruits and arrange the bowl as how you want it to be. Then, take your picture from any angle you can possibly imagine. When you get that special picture you want, you are a step closer to excel in food photography.

Do you enjoy taking photos? Do you want more digital photography tips and techniques? Just look at
=> http://www.learn-digitalphotography.blogspot.com/
Michael Wong is happy to share his knowledge about digital photography with you and hope you enjoy them.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Poh_Wai_Wong

Tips For Breaking Into Freelance Newspaper Photography

2009-01-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

By Peter Phun

So you've honed your skills to the point where you are confident you can get a good picture in any situation.

Have you thought about freelancing for a newspaper? Photojournalism is one of the most challenging, exciting types of photography.

As a result, it is also the most competitive fields to break in to. So what do you need to start?
Reliable Transportation

This should be obvious, but it's intentionally high in this list. All the skills and the best gear in the world without the ability to get on scene is pointless.

Decent photo gear

I consider these minimum requirements:

2 bodies is a minimum requirement. Though you may use one, the other is your backup. (at least 8 megapixels)
a wide angle, a telephoto, a fast 50mm lens, and at least one flash. As to the exact focal lengths, that would depend a lot on what you plan to shoot. Sports shooters need upwards of 300 mm, sometimes even longer lenses depending on the sport.
a good number of memory cards. If all you're shooting is jpegs, then you might be able to get away with 4 to 6 4GB memory cards. They're cheap compared to the past, so don't sweat it. Exactly how many is hard depends on what you're shooting. Again sports shooters will require more of this as well.
a laptop with a WiFi card. The platform Mac or Windows doesn't matter. Just like for your camera, Nikon or Canon, it's just a tool.**optional Mobile broadband card for laptop**
Photoshop Elements is a minimum, the full version is nice but unnecessary. Most of the time, all you have time for is saving your jpegs to the newspaper's specs, attaching captions and then transmitting it to the paper via the internet by either an FTP client or emailing.
cellphone for communicating with editors at the paper.
Optional but not vital is a police scanner. I don't advocate running off and chasing fire trucks and ambulances but sometimes being at the right place a the right time with a camera is all it takes.
Writing, reporting ability

Writing and reporting go hand-in-hand.

You may not need to write a full blown news story, but you do need to be able to write accurate descriptive captions.

So proper grammar and ability to gather accurate caption information like names and ages is very important.

If you consistently provide wrong information and the newspaper has to print a correction each time, they won't be calling you back.

Good knowledge of current events and sports

If you're looking to shoot sports, then good all round knowledge of a variety of sports is important. Since popularity of different sports are very regional, I'll leave it to you to figure that out.

Obviously expect to know Australian Rules football and cricket if you're Down Under, baseball, hockey and American Football if you're in the US and etc. In sports expect to know quite a bit about all types of sports even if you've never played it.

If you're covering a tennis match, for instance, do you know how the players change sides on the tie-breaker? And how do they score the game? If you don't understand how the game is scored, how do you know when the last point of the match is coming up?

Keeping up with news is especially important. When big names come through your community and you're on top of it, this is a great way to get your foot in the door. The newspaper may or may not have the personnel to cover everything so your contribution may be welcome.

Even if they don't use your pictures, you've made first contact. Although it takes years of hard work and dedication to get into the business and there are college degrees offered in photojournalism, starting out as a stringer at a newspaper is achievable if you study publications.
If you're interested in sports, then subscribe to Sports Illustrated. In my next post, I'll discuss how to get your foot in the door at a newspaper.

Read a more detailed article on how to start freelancing for newspapers.

Peter Phun teaches photography at Riverside City College. He does portraits, weddings and editorial work. He writes about photography, Macs and the internet. He also designs websites and is a stay-at-home dad.

Previously, Peter worked as a staff photographer for 18 years at The Press-Enterprise, Southern California's 4th largest daily newspaper. He is the webmaster for the Mac user group in the Inland Empire. For more information about this Riverside based photographer, visit http://www.peterphun.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Phun

Make Money Taking Photos - Turn a Hobby Into Extra Cash!

2009-01-14T22:49:00.000-08:00

By Jamie Hunter

Are you a budding photographer? Do you have an eye for a picture or just like snapping interesting everyday scenes? And are you looking to earn some easy extra money?
I know the answer to the last question is yes, and with more of us getting into photography thanks to the affordable digital cameras that are on the market the first two will most likely be yes, too.

So how do you do it?
It's surprisingly easy, and you may be surprised to find out that many organisations across the world buy photos for use in promotion and advertising, and they do so from what are known as 'stock photo' websites. These are simply sites that you register your photos with and, when an organisation needs some fresh images, they will visit the site and pay the requisite amount for new photos!

You simply register with these websites and add your stock; you keep adding and when somebody finds the shots they want among your selections you get paid!
Really, it is that simple - here's what you need;

1: Computer and net connection
2: Digital camera or quality camera-phone
3: Some photos - check the requirements of the site to see what sells 4: Not much else!

Holiday snaps, interesting sunsets, beach scenes and more - this is much more cost effective than them hiring their own photographer.

So turn your snaps into money - it's easy, it's fun, and it will make your days out and walks in the woods far more interesting as you keep an eye out for images that might make you richer!
If you need money now, like I mean in the next hour, try what I did. I am making more money now than in my old business and you can too, read the amazing, true story, in the link below. When I joined I was skeptical for just ten seconds before I realized what this was. I was smiling from ear to ear and you will too.

Imagine doubling your money every week with no or little risk! To discover a verified list of Million Dollar Corporations offering you their products at 75% commission to you. Click the link below to learn HOW you will begin compounding your capital towards your first Million Dollars at the easy corporate money program.

Quickest-way-to-make-money-on-earth.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_Hunter

Tips on Digital Photography For Beginners

2009-01-14T22:44:00.000-08:00

By Alex Don

Now getting great looking digital photographs is not difficult. You may wonder, with complex features the digital camera has, whether you will get good images. You may be worried about messing up your shots. The advantages of digital cameras are many. For example, unlike the traditional film cameras, you can take as many photos as as long as your memory card permits. If some photos which have not come right those could be easily deleted so that you can have more space. In essence, the digital photography is not only cost effective but also has flexibility to experiment without any hindrance.

1.Frequent use of digital camera
The more you use it, the better you'll get. The more familiar you get with it, the more you become comfortable in using the complex features it offer. Taking many photos will help you to get familiarized with your new digital camera. You should experiment with the digital camera using many features it has, and see the outcome on your photos. Always look for the most appropriate setting suit for the condition, do not blindly follow the default settings, since these may no be the best option. This implies that using digital camera, you have to experiment and also use your creativity. More you play with the camera, more you learn the fine features of the camera.

2. Take Photos under natural light
When taking digital photos always try to use natural light which is these the best for photography. Shooting indoors, take special attention to light coming through windows. Some times direct sunlight streaming through a window may not be the best alternative For example, better photos are possible using indirect or softer light coming from a window. Better to experiment using different windows so that you can decide which window provides you the best natural lighting.

3.Get rid of red-eye
The red-eye reduction can be easily got rid of using the facility available on your digital camera. In most digital cameras this feature is provided. When using an external flash, hold it to the left or the right of your camera. And again, try using natural light if possible. If the red eye condition still appears, do not worry, this can be adjusted using the photo edit software.

4.Tripod for taking close-ups.
Sturdy tripods are available at an affordable price, and will be valuable accessory if you are taking close-ups or zooming in. You need to fix tripod on a firm surface when using the tripod. Always invest on a good quality tripods, as cheap ones are unstable. Minimize the risk of managing your valuable digital camera by going for stable and quality tripod. Don't be afraid to experiment.

With a digital camera, you can do many things without wasting your time and money. Some times you may face with lack of memory space, then just delete what ever you do not retain and get the required space. So if you have not yet into digital photography, start right now, it will certainly stimulate your creativity and for some it may be an income generator.

Alex usually writes about photography methods for http://reshade.com. The company is specialized in image enlargement programs offering a free online picture resizer service. It's also possible to get an image resizer software application . Try it out now!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Don

2008-12-20T17:08:00.000-08:00

Dynamic Photography is Exciting

2008-12-18T05:36:00.002-08:00

By Mary Sutton

Some of the best pictures are described as being dynamic. Photography is always open to interpretation. But photos that are lively will always get attention. Taking pictures that have moving subjects is difficult but not impossible. If you are interested in taking this kind of photo then there are certain subjects that are better than others. You could take photographs of sportsmen and women in action. Most of us are sports crazy and love looking at these kinds of pictures. This kind of action pic shows up all sorts of muscular and facial expressions that are one in a million. The chance of getting the same or similar photo of a specific sports personality is almost impossible. Of course, if you are a parent or grandparent shooting at your pride and joy's school sport's day it's just as memorable.

Dynamic photography is really what you make of it. There are people who are interested in cars and planes. They have gained the skill of taking photographs of moving cars and planes. The results can be absolutely awesome. We've all seen those glorious pictures of planes moving against a bright blue sky. Who doesn't enjoy looking at a picture of a very red, very fast sports car moving at breakneck speed on a winding road? These pictures are truly unforgettable and have a spirit of freedom and excitement.

Another moving subject that is becoming very popular is the steam engine. Did you know there are people who travel all around the world to see these metal giants? Photographing these machines from the past is a natural evolvement driven by a hobby. Photos could show a fast moving engine with the steam streaming behind. Or a one that is puffing hazy steam like a dragon in the early morning light. The opportunities for dynamic photography are endless. All you need is your digital camera and your imagination.

Mary Sutton is the director of the popular blog ThePhotographyClass.Com. She is an expert on digital photography and her blog contains stacks of information on things like Ansel Adams' photography and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Sutton

Dynamic Photography is Exciting

2008-12-18T05:36:00.001-08:00

By Mary Sutton

Some of the best pictures are described as being dynamic. Photography is always open to interpretation. But photos that are lively will always get attention. Taking pictures that have moving subjects is difficult but not impossible. If you are interested in taking this kind of photo then there are certain subjects that are better than others. You could take photographs of sportsmen and women in action. Most of us are sports crazy and love looking at these kinds of pictures. This kind of action pic shows up all sorts of muscular and facial expressions that are one in a million. The chance of getting the same or similar photo of a specific sports personality is almost impossible. Of course, if you are a parent or grandparent shooting at your pride and joy's school sport's day it's just as memorable.

Dynamic photography is really what you make of it. There are people who are interested in cars and planes. They have gained the skill of taking photographs of moving cars and planes. The results can be absolutely awesome. We've all seen those glorious pictures of planes moving against a bright blue sky. Who doesn't enjoy looking at a picture of a very red, very fast sports car moving at breakneck speed on a winding road? These pictures are truly unforgettable and have a spirit of freedom and excitement.

Another moving subject that is becoming very popular is the steam engine. Did you know there are people who travel all around the world to see these metal giants? Photographing these machines from the past is a natural evolvement driven by a hobby. Photos could show a fast moving engine with the steam streaming behind. Or a one that is puffing hazy steam like a dragon in the early morning light. The opportunities for dynamic photography are endless. All you need is your digital camera and your imagination.

Mary Sutton is the director of the popular blog ThePhotographyClass.Com. She is an expert on digital photography and her blog contains stacks of information on things like Ansel Adams' photography and much more.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Sutton

Use Quality Mat Board For a Professional Picture Framing

2008-12-18T05:28:00.000-08:00

By Susan Slobac

Mat board is one of the picture framing supplies that you will want to choose carefully and use purposefully as part of professionally framing your artwork. There are several types of mat board available, but they all serve two primary functions: decorative and protective.
Matboard can be used to help decorate your artwork within the frame. One way that a mat board can do that is through the use of color. Paper mat board comes in a host of colors, and it makes a particularly attractive choice for use with paintings. The color chosen can be used to contrast or complement the colors used in the painting, to help add to the overall effect of the presentation of the piece of artwork. Paper mat board of descending sizes can also be layered, one on top of the other, to create a multi-colored effect that also helps to bring the focus in to the artwork in the center of the frame.
Photographers will often frame their art photos, and especially black and white photographs, using thin black metal frames with wide and thick white mat board to frame the picture. The white matboard is used so that it does not detract in any way from the print, and it also helps to focus the viewer's attention on the photo within the frame. Museum curators whose focus is photographic art will also use wide white matboard and simple but elegant black frames to frame all of their photographs for a unified look in a gallery setting.
While it can be decorative, mat board also serves an utilitarian function in terms of protecting artwork. Every artist wants to keep the glazing from ever touching the surface of the artwork, and a paper mat board can work well in this regard. A paper mat helps to keep the air flow working within the frame, and proper air flow is important because without it, condensation can develop inside the frame. Moisture can easily damage the surface of a painting, and this is especially true with photographs.
A custom or pre cut mat board can also help to keep the artwork centered in the frame, to protect it from wrinkling and other surface damage. Artwork can be glued to the mount board, but this is not a good option if you ever want to change the frame, mat or mount boards out in the future. Instead, many artists choose to use mounting tape to tape the mat to the mountboard, or they use photo corners whereby the artwork is placed inside the corners, and the corners are then hidden by the mat. All of these materials can be made out of archival quality materials, such as those used to produce bainbridge mat board. Conservation materials are decorative and will help to prolong the life of your artwork.
Susan Slobac is an avid photographer.Susan believes a picture frame is more than just fashion; it's a safeguard for something you love. In this article Susan talks about mat board and paper mat.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Slobac

Studio Lighting Or Lounge Illuminations

2008-12-13T01:59:00.000-08:00

By John P Wood

I started off with a couple of 500 cool light soft boxes and reflector but found I was limited on the speed and often produced perfectly focussed but blurred shots - I had thought that models would stand still, but the girls i was shooting wanted to jump around!

So i progress on to an umbrella with and SB800, a SB600 and a couple of old Vivitars on remotes which all work great usually! The flash umbrella certainly stopped the motion but sent light everywhere and I struggled to light the background separately.

I found using the D300 menu to control the flashes was cumbersome and now use the Commander unit which sits on the hotshoe and is much quicker to use.

So to to stop sending light everywhere, I now I have a soft box attachment for the SB800 and find i can control the direction of the light a lot better.

I liked the umbrella when shooting teenagers who wanted to bop around. It seemed to light them pretty well no matter what angle they were at, combined with a flash, high up behind them.

I have also added a pringles tube covered in black tape as a snoot, and foam cards to act as flags.
With all this kit I have enough to experiment with and am constantly learning. It is beginning to amaze me just how tilting a light this way or that really affects how the photographs look. I have read a lot but doing it in practise is where i am learning what i read.

What I would really like now is a room big enough to use the equipment!

I am not sure at what stage I would need to progress to studio lighting, I have not hit any limits in my lounge so far.

John P Wood Wedding and Portrait Photographer - Ascot, Berks, UKWebSite: John Wood Photography
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_P_Wood

Starting a Photography Business - Are You Ready to Start Your Own and Make $250 a Day?

2008-12-13T01:57:00.000-08:00

By Amy Yang

To start your own photography business can be a very lucrative venture. It is very possible to make $250 a day. Some devoted photographers are known for making as much as $7,000 a month and sometimes even more! Can you imagine all the things you could do with that and the freedom that affords you?

Do you have a digital camera? Can you take photos of things in focus? If so, then you are in a great position to start your own photography business.

There is a world of opportunity for you here with so many different avenues you go into. You can choose to work strictly from home with your own little studio setup, or you can take your photography on the road and take travel pictures. It is your photography business, your freedom to choose!

Is there a market for your pictures? Most definitely! You can most certainly make money with your camera by just uploading the pictures you take to the internet. There are numerous sites that will pay you to upload your pictures to them. Of course, the more sites you sign up with, the more money you can make all with the same picture!

This is just one avenue you can take. There really is a lot of choices you can take. There is something for every kind of photographer. Insurance companies need photographers, couples need pictures, pet owners need pictures, families need pictures, businesses need pictures. The list is long!

And no, you do not need a fancy expensive studio and photography equipment to get started. All you need is a digital camera, a DSLR is the most desirable, and some basic computer skills, and an internet connection, and you are good to go!

Have you heard of the Camera Dollars System? If you are really serious about making money with your camera, then this system is definitely worth a look.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Yang

Successful Travel Photography

2008-09-17T23:57:00.000-07:00

By Peter Phun

Travel photography is quite different from other photographic endeavors especially if you plan to make a living from it.

Most successful travel photographers are writers as well. Actually in the print world, you can't separate words from pictures. They complement each other.

What the picture can't show, the words explain in greater detail. So it's no surprise that some travel articles are sometimes from husband and wife teams.

That's the perfect job for couples. Think exotic locations, the love of your life with you and endless adventures together.

My biggest problem with travel photography is that a lot of the imagery you see have been so photographed that they're the equivalent of visual clichés. What comes to mind when you think of China? Great Wall of China, or the Forbidden City in Beijing? Egypt? The Great Pyramids. India... the Taj Mahal. Indonesia...Borobodur. Cambodia...Angkor Wat.

As in most printed media, the pictures tend to be more important than the words. A visually striking image will draw a casual browser of publication into reading an article even if the headline is not well-written.

A great selection of pictures of one destination can save a article with mediocre writing. But the same can't be said if the pictures are of poor quality.

No matter how good and compelling the writing, if the pictures are just mediocre, readers will not be drawn to the story.

Poorly composed images, especially ones with lots of technical flaws like low resolution, artifacting and digital noise cannot be rescued. As powerful as Photoshop is, it simply can't fix or add something that isn't in a picture.

Even if it can, there is the ethical question of are you allowed to? Most magazine have strict guidelines against such manipulation of images especially in their editorial content.
But poorly written articles can be "massaged" and fine-tuned by editors into some quite readable.

Tips for a successful trip:

1. Careful planning and research of your destination.

Obvious yet a lot of people don't consider this when making their plans. Festivities like Oktoberfest in Germany, Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California takes place annually at the same time.

And by planning I don't just mean planning for the length of time you are going to be at your destination. If you're a digital photographer, you'll need power to charge your batteries and a way to download and clear off your memory cards or you will be up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

If you're headed abroad where electrical power is different from home, you'll also a voltage converter. I recommend the Kensington 3317 International All-in-one Travel Plug Adapter.

2. Precise note-taking.

Whether you use a laptop or pen and paper, having good habits like keeping receipts and other bills incurred during the trip is important.

Even if you're not writing the article, precise notes on how to get from town A to town B, how much the fare was, the duration of the drive are all details which add value to your pitch to magazines or collaborative effort with a writer.

Remember your recall will not be so good once you're home. Foreign names have a way of sounding the same when you get home, so good note-taking is critical.

Your article will have more credibility if you provide details since a travel article is part "how-to" and part narrative. Another reason for those notes is documentation when you claim the trip as a business expense.

3. Digital SLR with wide and telephoto zoom lens

Think "light." If you're lugging around a lot of gear, you'll be too beat to use your camera. Traveling light doesn't mean you leave essentials like a healthy supply of extra memory cards, batteries and flash units at home.

If you're bringing along a laptop, then a supply of writable CDs or DVDs is important.
Even if you don't have a chance to edit your images after you download them to your computer, you should burn those images as a backup and mail them to yourself.

That way if all your gear is stolen, you'll still have images to show when you get home.
Prior to his arrival in the US, before attending college, Riverside portrait photographer Peter Phun traveled extensively, documenting his travels through photography.
He specializes in location portraits, weddings and editorial work. He writes about photography, Macs & the internet. He also designs websites and is a stay-at-home dad.
Previously, Peter worked as a staff photographer for 18 years at The Press-Enterprise, Southern California's 4th largest daily newspaper. He is the webmaster for the Mac user group in the Inland Empire.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Phun

Digital Photo Tips - Digital Macro Photography

2008-09-11T17:34:00.000-07:00

By Decio Fernandes

Digital Macro Photography is special because just by taking a different perspective of something ordinary, it turns into something powerful and artistic.That is why digital photography is an art!
And because of that, this type of photography is not easy. There are concerns that you should address. You need to have steady hands on top of the ability to capture what people would be interested in.

Even though you can easily edit a digital photo in the computer, there is no need to waste time with that when you have the skills to adjust the camera properly when taking the photo.
Of course, to some people it comes naturally, but it is always good to learn new tricks and different perspectives by taking classes and reading about it!

Even though, there is equipment out there that can be used for any type of photography, it is best to have the right tools for digital Macro photography in order to have the best results. With the appropriate equipment you will be close to getting the pictures come out the way you want.
The subject you pick is also very important in this kind of picture. When you choose the right subject, you will be able to increase the appeal in something that was apparently ordinary.

The information about digital photography presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about digital photography or it will teach you something new. So always keep learning, reading about it and practicing!

Have fun!!!

For more digital photo tips and complete course visit the author lens at http://www.squidoo.com/better-digital-photo-tips
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Decio_Fernandes

Senior Citizens and Digital Photography

2008-09-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

By John Huegel

With respect to photography and digital imaging, older folks may be thought of as in one of these three groups:

1. Non-technical and having little or no previous photography or computer experience.

2. Somewhat computer literate, and/or had some film photography experience in their earlier days.

3. Computer-savvy and eagerly dives into each new technical innovation.

This article focuses primarily on developing the confidence and skills of the first and second groups. If you are in one of these groups, or know someone who is, and would like to develop digital photography skills, here is a checklist of experiences that will build upon each other to create confidence and competence in digital imaging.

Step 1: Be comfortable with a digital camera. Spend some time with the camera. Most of them will work just fine with the automatic settings. Wander around and take some photos of regular items. Find out where the batter compartment is and how to change or charge the batteries. Figure out how to change the "mode" so that you can have the camera take images appropriate to the subject, such as portraits, sunsets, sports and babies. By spending a couple hours one time, and a few minutes a day after that, you can become very comfortable with your digital camera.

Step 2: Know how to play back images. Every camera has a Play function where you can see the images on the display, but if you are like me, it's tough to really enjoy them that small. Most cameras will plug into a TV with a black cable that has yellow and/or white ends. The small end will fit into the camera and the round, larger end (yellow) will plug into a yellow plug on many televisions. Sometimes you need to set the TV input to "AUX" or some other setting to see, but the slide show that is the result is a real treat. This should take you about an hour to master. Don't forget to take that cable with you on trips!

Step 3: Know how to print images at a Kiosk. Pharmacies and discount stores have those neat kiosks where you can transfer, edit and print photos. Spend some time with the technician in the photo lab and they will show you how to take the chip out of the camera, put it in the kiosk, and choose your photos. Then you can edit and play with layouts, and print them right in the store. They can also back them up onto a CD for you. All of this without having to sit down at a computer! Plan on another hour to master this skill.

Step 4: Know how to transfer images to a computer. This can be a very frustrating step to learn, because there are so many ways to do it, and so many places on your computer for the photos to hide! Method "A" involves plugging that chip into a memory card reader (internal to your computer or external), and copying from there to a folder. Method "B" involves plugging the camera directly into a little "USB" cable that goes to the computer, and copying to a folder. Method "C" involves putting your camera on a docking station (not many cameras have this), and Method "D" involves some wireless technology that automatically transfers the images once you get close enough to your computer. You'll most likely be using Method "A", as it is most common, and fast. The main thing is to be in control of where the pictures go. I like to create individual folders for each session so I don't end up with thousands of pictures in one folder. You can name the folders anything, but my recommendation is "2008-09-15 Mabels Party" or something like that. This way the folders show up in date order. Plan on a few hours to get this right. You'll know you have mastered this if you can boot up your computer and quickly find out where your photos are.

Step 5: Know how to back up your images. Every computer gets sick at some point. You need to make sure that you are transferring your images from the chip or computer to some other kind of backup. I recommend "burning" them onto CD or DVDs. Most computers made in the last 4 years can do this. You'll need to know how to start up the burning program, select the folders and/or images, start the backup, and then verify that the DVD or CD actually has the images on them. Then you can label the DVD or CD and put in a safe place. Plan on an hour or so. Make sure you also learn how to take that CD, pop it in and get from it any images you want.

Step 6: Know how to share your images. There are many free websites that will let you send your images there so you can share with others. Look for websites that let you set passwords for your folders so that only the people you want can see them. The key tasks (after enrollment) are to know how to "upload" your pictures to your web site and to make them available to others. Plan on a few hours to choose, enroll, load and and play with the website. Don't forget to try out the website's printing and goodies shop. Note that in some cases, the website will act as a backup site for your images.

Step 7: Know how to make stuff from your images. The step above showed how to have a website make things for you. If you have a home printer, you can print on paper, magnets, note card stock, stationery, T-shirt transfers and more. You can also take your pictures and make screen savers, wallpaper (the main image on your computer), slide shows that will play on DVD players, and lots more. Some examples of photo products that you can make or buy include: Quilts, blankets, sweatshirts, T-shirts, puzzles, coasters, dry-erase boards, canvas prints, playing cards, coffee mugs, bag tags, key chains, and many more. Plan on several hours to explore how your talents can be put to use!

Step 8: Know how to edit your images. Once you have mastered shooting, transferring, saving, sharing and producing, you can get really creative. There are a number of image editing programs out there. Your camera probably came with one. Most of them will perform some automatic editing for you, and will let you change many things about the photograph. You could spend many hours at this step, depending on your interest level in growing at this skill.

Step 9: Know how to take better photographs. There are formal and informal classes for camera owners. You can browse magazines and go to museum displays. Talk to local photographers. Join a photo club. Spend time volunteering somewhere where you can use your camera to help people. Check out some online discussion groups on photography. You can spend many hours here as well.

So, how do you remember all of this? Flash Cards! Get some old-fashioned note cards and write "Step 1: blah-blah" on it, and take notes about your specific camera. Then you can refer back to them if its been a while. And, if something changes in your world, like a new camera, computer or printer, you can revise the Flash Card with notes, or make up a new one.

So, there is no need to be intimidated by digital photography. Get out there and shoot!
John Huegel is a photographer in the Erie, Pennsylvania area who specializes in Seniors, Dance Studio, Families and other groups. He is active in many charitable and volunteer activities in the Erie area. His work can be seen at http://jhphotomusic.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Huegel

What is the Best Online Photography Class

2008-09-09T17:59:00.000-07:00

By Robert Grazian

If you are curious about photography and want to know what the best online photography class is, then you should try searching these keywords inside the search engine on your computer. You can learn so much more about photography by a signing up for a photography class online. Not only will you be able to save more time using an online photography class, but you can save on gas too. With gas prices rising so much, this can be a huge benefit.

Now, you can sit in the comfort of your own home, and go to school. No more feeling uncomfortable in a class room setting, or feeling unsure about certain tasks while achieving your photography degree. When using a photography class online, you can feel assured that there are multiple instructors just waiting to help you through any problems you might have concerning photography and in attaining your degree.

Still want to know more about what is the best online photography class? Try asking people you know who are comfortable with using computers. Most people, who have computers, can show you how to search for keywords to help you get to where you want to go. It is very easy and fast. Once you get the hang of using keywords all you have to do is type in "want to know what the best online photography class is".

Once you learn the basics of searching for the keywords "want to know what the best online photography class is" then a whole list of online photography classes should show up and you will have a large amount of classes to choose from. By going through each one, you will be able to differentiate what pros and cons each online school has to offer you.

Most online classes are offered to people at a lower cost than at some community colleges would be and most online colleges will even accept payment plans. This option can be more suitable for people that want to engage in a photography class but may be short on funds. Going to a school and paying out of pocket to get your photography degree can be more difficult and more expensive.

Also take into consideration, the fact that most online photography classes are set up to help their students get their grades back more quickly through email. Some papers are even processed electronically, which in turn can cut down on a lot of waiting time.

The web is a fantastic opportunity for you to get the information you need in finding the best online photography class. Your just one click away in gaining more knowledge and pertaining it to your ability to being an outstanding photographer. Now is the time to grab a hold of your future and make the best of it. If you truly feel like photography is for you, then sign up with the best online photography class today.

Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about photography visit Digital Photography Classes Online for current articles and discussions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Grazian

Digital Photography Tips - Landscape Pictures

2008-09-04T17:19:00.000-07:00

By Augusto Clarke

I'm guessing that I'm a lot like you in that I want to take good pictures.
Not necessarily because I want to sell them, but just because I want to take better pictures when I go on vacation or when I go to parties or just when I'm going around town. I've done a lot of searching and have found some tips that I thought you may find handy, so I figured I'd share with you in this article.

This is by no means a definitive list, but these are the most pertinent digital photography tips about landscape photography that I've found most useful. Without further ado, here are 8 tips about digital photography of landscapes:

Landscape pictures:

1. The best light is early in the morning, or late afternoon just before sunset. No one ever photographs the Grand Canyon in the middle of the day for a reason. The hour just after sunset is known as the golden hour because of the golden hue of the light. Make sure you turn off the flash so you can capture all the colors. Make sure that you use a tripod to steady the camera during times of low light. A window sill, fence post or wall will do the trick in a pinch. Of course, you can take pictures at any time of day, just make sure that you play around with the effect of the natural light on your photo. So, tip #1 can be summarized as: Choose the right light.

2. Use the software on your camera. Depending on the camera, it may have a special setting just for taking digital pictures of the landscape. It's usually called the landscape shooting mode. This camera mode usually ensures that all items both near and far are focused and color balanced. So, tip #2 can be summarized as: Use your camera's settings properly.

3. If you want to show the magnitude of a scene, use objects that are close to the camera to show the magnitude and scale of the scene. Use something like a fence post or the branch of a tree to juxtapose in your picture.

4. Another great way to show the magnitude of a scene is to feature people in the landscape pictures. This is great for showing the majesty of the scene.

5. Place your subjects off center. Place the people or the objects in your pictures just off center to make for a more interesting shot. Some scenes are just more interesting when there's a person in the picture.

6. Frame the shot using framing techniques to help the photo seem complete.

7. Enhance your photos using the color effects that come with your camera's software. For instance, you can enhance the color of the sky or of the ground using the digital settings on your camera to make the scene look richer.

8. Have fun taking pictures!

Want more? Check out vacation photography for tips on taking better pictures while you're on vacation.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Augusto_Clarke

Flowers

2008-09-03T19:46:00.000-07:00

Thailand sky and sunshine

2008-09-02T17:49:00.000-07:00

Photography For Beginners - Capturing Motion With a Slow Shutter Speed

2008-09-02T17:33:00.000-07:00

By Andrew Goodall

A digital SLR camera gives you the power to capture some amazing effects, once you know how to use it. You can develop all the skills of a professional once you understand your manual settings.

If you have grown up with a 'point and shoot' camera and have just taken the plunge with a new digital SLR, don't just leave it on auto. That is a waste of good technology; it means you are still using your equipment as a point and shoot camera. The key to improving your photography is to learn to use your manual settings.

One of these settings is Shutter Speed. It is fun to experiment with and easy to see the results in your photos. Although we usually try to freeze our subject with the fastest shutter speed possible, you can get some great effects by using a slower shutter speed to capture movement effects.

To try this out, you can set your camera to Shutter Priority, in which case you can set the shutter speed and the camera will take care of the aperture for you. Or, you can go to fully manual and adjust both settings yourself. Just remember to keep your exposure balanced by compensating each movement in the shutter speed setting with a corresponding movement of the aperture setting.

Remember to always use a tripod for slow shutter speed photos.

Here are five ideas for great capturing great motion effects, simply by slowing down your shutter speed to capture the movement of the subject. If you haven't tried this before, you will have some fun and be thrilled with the results.

Slow Shutter Speed Subject #1. Waterfalls. This is the obvious first choice. You have certainly seen the silky effects of flowing water in photos, but perhaps you have wondered how it is done. Just set your camera to a very slow speed; about one second or a half-second, and see the results. The silky slow-movement effect is not always your best option. For each waterfall you should try a few shutter speeds to see which one works best for that particular subject.

Slow Shutter Speed Subject #2. Cars at night. When doing night photography, you usually need fairly slow shutter speeds anyway. If you try shutter speeds of one second, two seconds, ten seconds, and even longer, you will see some amazing results. The lights of the vehicles will create streams of bright colour, stretching away into the distance. The more traffic you see, the more remarkable the effect can become.

Slow Shutter Speed Subject #3. Lightning. People often ask me how I take my lightning photos. Some people imagine it takes superhuman reflexes to snap the picture at just the right moment. The truth is, my approach is exactly the opposite.

First, I wait for a storm (at night) with lots of lightning; in particular, fork lightning that will appear well defined in a photo. I set the shutter to the 'B' setting, which lets me open the shutter for any length of time I choose. Then I wait for the lightning to flash. I can capture just one flash of lightning, or several flashes, just by leaving the shutter open for longer.

Slow Shutter Speed Subject #4. Waves. The movement effect of water in a waterfall can also be applied at the beach, although you don't see it so often in photography. When you visit the beach, experiment with different shutter speeds. Sometimes you will find that soft movement effects are just as satisfying as freezing everything with a fast shutter speed.
The misty appearance of fast moving water captured with slow shutter speeds can be most effective where waves are crashing over, or swirling around rocks.

Slow Shutter Speed Subject #5. Crowds Of People. A crowd of people moving in different directions can create a fascinating motion effect in a photo. You don't need extremely slow shutter speeds to capture some nice results. Photos taken around 1/4sec will show substantial blurring, but of course you can exaggerate the effect by going even slower.

For a really impressive image, have a friend stand very still, while everyone around them is moving. Your subject will appear frozen in a sea of moving humanity. Very striking!
So there you have some experiments to go out and try yourself. If you haven't done it before, you are bound to have fun and be excited by the results. And of course it will force you to get to know your camera a little better, which is guaranteed to make you a better photographer.

Andrew Goodall's top selling ebook "Photography In Plain English" is a great place to start learning the art and skills of nature photography. Find it at http://www.naturesimage.com.au along with a great collection of Andrew's landscape and wildlife photography. You can also sign up to the online newsletter for free gifts and tips on photography.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Goodall

ไปหาอะไรกินที่ตลาดกองทัพอากาศ (ทอ.)

2008-08-19T18:12:00.000-07:00

ตลาด ทอ. เป็นตลาดสวัสดิการสำหรับข้าราชการทหารอากาศเปิดให้แม่บ้านทหารมาจับจองพื้นที่เพื่อหารายได้พิเศษช่วยเหลือครอบครัวอีกทาง มีอาหารให้เลือกซื้อเลือกหาน่ากินเยอะแยะค่ะ ในละแวกใกล้เคียงก็จะมีสวนสาธารณะให้ประชาชนได้มาพักผ่อนออกกำลังกายกัน มีซุเปอร์มาร์เก็ตอยู่ไม่ห่างกันเท่าไหร่ มีสินค้าราคาไม่แพงมาจำหน่ายให้ข้าราชการและประชาชนบริเวณใกล้เคียง ไปที่นี่ที่เดียวได้ครบค่ะ

ผู้คนกำลังเดินเลือกของถูกใจกันอยู่ค่ะ คนเยอะทีเดียว

ร้านขายยำ (ทำไมถ่ายมาแค่นี้ไม่รู้)

นี่ค่ะเด็ดสุด...เรามาเมื่อไหร่เป็นต้องซื้อ...น้ำมะพร้าวกับไอติมกะทิ มีเครื่องใส่ให้ด้วย 10 บาทเอง...ขายดีมากๆ

อ่อ! นึกออกละ..ร้านขายยำ (รูปบนสุด) กับร้านส้มตำเป็นร้านเดียวกัน...ร้านนี้มีทั้งส้มตำ ยำ ลาบ น้ำตก คอหมูย่าง
มีคนมานั่งกินเยอะเหมือนกันค่ะ

นี่ร้านขายผักสด...เขาทำสลัดจัดเป็นชุดๆ (รูปข้างบนน่ะนะ) ไว้ด้วยค่ะ...สีสันน่ากินเนอะ

ขนมปังปิ้งร้อนๆ จ้า...น้องเค้าตั้งใจน่าดู

ร้านนี้ๆ...ซื้อประจำเหมือนกัน...มีน้ำเต้าหู้ เต้าฮวย เต้าทึง วุ้นมะพร้าว เต้าหู้นมสดฟรุ๊ตสลัด ฯลฯ
ทำเยอะมาก...แต่เชื่อมะขายเกลี้ยงค่ะ

ร้านลูกชิ้นทอด...ขายดีเหมือนกัน...เจ้แกกำลังบอกให้ลูกค้าหลบก่อน เพราะจะเปิดฝากระทะ มันร้อนมาก ดูหน้าแกดิ
แม่เรากำลังรอซื้ออยู่...พี่ผู้ชายข้างๆ บอกว่า เอ้ย!! ฟ้าแลบแล้ว ฝนจะตก...เจ้เค้าก็เลยบอกว่า น้องเค้าถ่ายรูป ไม่รู้เรื่องเล้ย...
พ่อค้าแม่ค้า 2 คนนี้เค้ากะว่าจะขายลูกชิ้นส่งลูกเรียนจนรับปริญญาสักคนค่ะ ใกล้ความจริงละ...ตอนนี้ลูกอยู่อนุบาล...สู้กันต่อไป

ก๋วยเตี๋ยว บะหมี่...แม่กำลังรอเค้าทำให้ (คนเสื้อเขียวๆ เนี่ยแหละแม่)

ร้านนี้ขายอะไรอ่ะ...จำไม่ได้ค่ะ

ร้านขนมครกเจ้าเก่า...ขายมานานละ แต่เราไม่เคยซื้อกินเลย แหะๆ

ตาคนนี้ขายมาลัย...ก่อนนี้มีถาดใบเดียวค่ะ เดินขายอยู่ข้างใน
ตอนนี้ขยายกิจการ มีเก้าอี้มาวางขายเป็นร้านของตัวเอง เพิ่มเป็น 2 ถาด ออกมาอยู่ริมๆ ละ เห็นกันชัดๆ...(เริ่มมีคู่แข่งมาอีกหนึ่งเจ้าข้างใน)

เดินช็อปกันอยู่พักใหญ่...ก็ได้ของกินกันมาเพียบค่ะ...ฝนก็ใกล้จะตกละ
รีบกลับบ้านก่อนนะคะ...วันหลังจะไปเก็บภาพตลาด ทอ.อีกฟากหนึ่งมาให้ดูค่ะ...
ฟากกะโน้นก็มีของอร่อยเยอะเหมือนกัน...เดินลัดสวนสาธารณะ ทอ. ข้ามถนนไปหน่อยเดียวก็ถึงค่ะ
แล้วเจอกันใหม่น๊า...

ตลาดนัดจตุจักร

2008-08-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

มีรูปไม่มากค่ะ...เป็นคนชอบกางเกงเล
นี่กะว่าจะทำขายมั่งเหมือนกันค่ะ...จะซื้อกันมั้ยเอ่ย
ชอบจริงๆ...

ภาพหลักฐานวันงานไปรษณียากร (อีก)

2008-08-15T18:37:00.000-07:00

น้องเค้ามาแสดงในงานคะ...เห็นเรากำลังแอบถ่าย...น้องเค้าก็ใจดีโพสต์ท่าให้ถ่ายเลย
น่ารักเนอะ

รถรางไปรษณีย์ไทย

แสตมป์ของประเทศภูฏาน

เป็นหนังสือรวมเล่มแสตมป์...มีทั้งแสตมป์จริงๆ แล้วก็ภาพถ่ายอยู่ข้างใน สวยดี

ขายค่ะขาย

นี่ของพรีเมี่ยมที่ไปรษณีย์นำมาจัดแสดง แล้วก็ขายด้วย...

ร้านตัดผมสมัยก่อน...คลาสสิกมะ

ผู้คนในงาน นักสะสม..มากันเพียบค่ะ

กำลังเลือกว่าจะซื้อชุดไหนกันดีค่ะ

บูธของพ่อค้าแสตมป์

ภาพจากงานไปรษณียากร ณ หอประชุมแห่งชาติสิริกิติต์

2008-08-15T18:10:00.000-07:00

ภาพจากงานไปรษณียากร ที่หอประชุมแห่งชาติสิริกิติติ์

ไปรษณียบัตรเป็นลายฝีพระหัตถ์ของในหลวงของเราตอนที่ประทับอยู่ต่างประเทศสมัยทรงพระเยาว์ค่ะ
ดูลายละเอียดเองนะคะ นำมาจัดแสดงในงานค่ะ อยู่ในตู้กระจก...

บูธของ ธนาคารออมสิน นำสมุดคู่ฝาก และก็สมุดบัญชีของสมเด็จย่ามาให้ชมกัน
เท่ห์มากๆ