Tips and Hints on Digital Photography

The Best Digital Camera for You!

2007-11-10T08:43:00.000-08:00

Frequently in life, we want the genuine available product of a particular type. Maybe we want to buy the fastest computer or the one that has the largest storage capacity. For specific events, we may purchase the most raveled tuxedo or gown that money can buy.

Likewise, after retiring and settling all of our debts, we might be interested in buying the fastest or most luxurious automobile on earth. Furthermore, when in the market for a camcorder, we may seek the best digital camcorder on the market.

Best Is Comparable

While finding the best digital video camera may seem like a measured task, it will involve some subjectivity. For example, it is probably unthinkable to find a unit that all electronics experts would consider the best digital camcorder. It is wiser to categorize camcorders, and then evaluate the best digital video camera for each category

One way to sort the best digital camcorder is to first rank the models by price range. The line of digital camcorder's stretches from a few hundreds of dollars, to many thousands of dollars. The distinction is typically linked to their functions.

Most video professionals primarily use the expensive models, while beginners usually use the cheaper, more basic models. Seeing that most amateur camcorder users often shop on a budget, we will focus on finding the best digital camcorder for those users.

Three price ranges

The first price range for the superior digital camcorder includes those that cost near a thousand dollars. These video cameras are perfect for shoppers who want to utilize their camcorders regularly. They can be used for unusual situations, such as vacations. Nevertheless, they provide quality that is also perfect for simple video projects or independent filmmaking.

Another price scope for the best digital camcorder has a price tag of $700 or less. They offer a moderate number of features and frequently include hard drive and DVD models, as well as those with a ample image sensor, known as a charge-coupled device (CCD).

Lastly, for those on a tight budget, you can still find the best digital camcorder for $450 or less. These models oftentimes include a feature for taking still photos, though the resolution is typically poor. A $450 video camera is suited well for those who will seldom use their camcorders, and mostly for personal use. It is also perfect one for new camcorder users.

To find the best digital camcorder is definitely a challenging task that is greatly based on how "the best" is defined. Notwithstanding, when you locate a digital video camera that meets your filming needs and budgetary constraints, you can certainly classify that as the best one for you. When you find the one you like and the pictures and videos look great keep it and be happy.

Take Control Of Your Photographs.

2007-11-10T08:41:00.000-08:00

Before investing in a camera, consider choosing one that offers manual features in which you can control the outcome of your pictures. The two basic features are aperture and shutter speed. Just by understanding how they work you can turn your photographs into a piece of art.

First let me explain depth of field (DOF). DOF is the distance from the foreground to the background of the picture that is in sharp focus. An increase DOF makes wonderful landscape pictures such as a view of a valley where everything is in sharp focus including the flowers nearby, the mountains in the distance and all of nature's beauty in between. A decreased DOF works well when you want to blur the clutter in the background so the subject will stand out clearly.

One way to choose your DOF is by adjusting the aperture. Aperture is the diameter of an opening in the camera which exposes the lens and allows light to enter. The smaller the aperture (for example, f/22), the greater DOF you will have leaving you with a sharp picture. Your DOF is less when the opening is larger (for example, f/2) thus giving you a blurred background.

Lens focal length and the distance of your subject you will focus on are a couple of other ways to control DOF. Using a wide lens will increase your DOF and using a telephoto lens will decrease your DOF. Focusing on your subject in a far distance will have a greater DOF than focusing on your subject in a close distance.

Shutter speed is another way you can make a difference with your pictures. You can capture action by either creating a blurred motion by using a slow shutter speed (for example, 1/15) which makes wonderful waterfall pictures or you can use a fast shutter speed (for example, 1/1000) and freeze the movement which can make a great shot of a gymnast in mid air as she flips over the bar.

A fun way to use a slow shutter speed is to pan your shot. Say you are taking a picture of a bicyclist passing by. Focus in on the bike and follow it with your camera as the shutter stays open. This way, the cyclist will be fairly sharp and the background will give the impression of him/her moving really fast.

Aperture and shutter speed work together when it comes to the amount of light that enters. A small aperture (opening) allows very little light to enter so you will need a slow shutter speed. With a large opening, less light is needed so you will use a faster shutter speed. When using a slow shutter speed be sure to stabilize your camera to prevent shaking which will give you a blurred background and a blurred subject. A tripod works nicely.

It may sound a little confusing at first but it really is easy once you get the hang of it. You will be amazed by how much better your photos will look by taking control of these features instead of depending on a point and shoot camera. Best of luck!

Keep your digital photos safe!

2007-11-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

In a previous article on this site (What to do with all those digital pictures) I wrote about handling digital photos. Like myself, many folks take hundreds or thousands of photos and some organization is needed to know what pictures you've got, and where. That information was covered in detail.

After reading that article, a reader contacted me via my web site (thank you!) and asked about photo security. What happens if your computer hard drive crashes. Wouldn't all the electronic photos be lost?

Consider following my plan if that's a concern of yours.

All of my photos are categorized by month in a larger folder for the year, and those folders are in a picture directory on my computer. What I didn't say in that earlier article is that the larger directory is regularly offloaded onto an external hard drive that I use for, among other things, backing up client data to separate it from the main computer storage, for additional security. That gives me one level of redundancy in keeping my digital photos safe.

I also make slide shows of all my stored photos, whether featuring a particular topic, or just as a photo time line for the year. In 2006 I had twelve photo folders, one for each month of the year. At the end of the year, I turn all of the photos that I wish to keep into a monthly slide show and those shows were burned onto CD's, which are stored elsewhere from my computer.

So, now I've backed up my main computer picture files onto an external hard drive, and I've created slide shows of all of the previous years photos.

Then, when the slide shows are complete, I then burn all of the original pictures from that year onto a CD as .jpeg files, so that should I ever want a hard copy or use one of the digital photos again, I can get just the one photo. The slide show software captures the photos, making it impossible (almost) to get one shot from the slide show after it's complete. Keeping all the photos as .jpeg's means I can get an original when I want it. That's another level of digital photo safe-keeping.

The reader also commented that if there were a catastrophe (house fire or some such) that my photos would be gone. Yup, I guess they would.

When I travel overnight, I usually take my external hard drive with me. I'm more concerned about a break-in and thieves taking my computer than I am about a house fire, and I heat with wood.

Folks that have thousands of paper photographs stored in boxes and drawers in their house face the same problem. Should they have a catastrophic house fire, their photo memories would be burned to ash.

Losing my home and everything in it (including my computer and CD's with my family and business photos and files) to fire hasn't been a worry for me. The question is, should it?

The reader's question prompted me to look at alternate data storage, and I found some services. Interested in off-premise data storage? Just Google "data storage services" and have a look at the results.

My next article deals with how to make slide shows for your family to share by showing them on your computer screen or TV set. It's entitled "Now that I've got my photos on my computer....". Have a look for it, would you?

Points To Consider When Choosing Your Wedding Photographer..

2007-11-10T08:37:00.000-08:00

It is not easy to select the right wedding photographer. The photographer should be able to help you to record all the sweet and romantic moments in your wedding. A badly chosen photographer will ruin all these important records. As a result you should choose your photographer with care.

Without any surprise, you will consider your budget when you are searching for your wedding photographer. There is always a perception that a photographer who charges you more will perform better. This may be true in most of the cases. However, it is unwise to make your final decision based on the charges. You need to consider both the budget and reliability of the photographer. You will need to ask for opinions of couples who had hired him or her before so that you may have a better understanding and this will make sure that you will not make a wrong decision.

If possible, it will be better for you to hire two photographers instead of one. You should choose to hire two people who charge you lower prices rather than one who charges you a lot. This is very important since there may be a case that there is something wrong with the camera of a photographer and you cannot get the photos. As a result it will be safer to have two photographers since you can make sure that you will have at least two cameras. And it will be a rare case that both cameras are broken. You have to bear in mind that you will only have your wedding once and there is no point to take any risk if you can take safety measures beforehand.

No one will argue that the technique of taking photos of the photographer will be very essential. However, you should also consider the personality of him or her. This is because he or she will need to meet all your guests during your wedding. As discussed before, you should not take any risk if you know you can avoid it beforehand. A photographer with bad temper may ruin your wedding. It will be a mess if the photographer argues with one of your guests at the middle of your wedding. And such cases have in fact been happening before. As a result it will be unwise choose a photographer without considering his or her personality.

Another essential point you need to think of is the style of the photos taken by the photographer. You can choose whatever style you love. However, you have to make sure that the photographer understand and is capable of taking the photos in the style you like. Undoubtedly some photographers may be better at taking snapshots and some others might be excellent in taking photos with a more traditional style.

In order to understand the style of a photographer, you will need to visit their studios and take a look at their portfolios. You can probably have a rough idea about what kind of photos a photographer will take in your wedding. As mentioned before, you are advised to hire two photographers instead of one. Consequently you may consider hiring two photographers with two different styles of taking photos so that you will most probably get two sets of photos in two different styles.

Is Your Dream Job Staring You Right In The Face?

2007-11-10T08:34:00.000-08:00

Have you ever woken up, slammed down on the buzzing alarm, and looked at your work clothes hanging in your closet with a sense of impending doom? Or do you sit in your cubicle at work, staring at your computer screen, thinking "Is this it?"

If you do, you are not alone. You join millions of people every day who ponder the same thing. The reality is that most people think that their dream job is precisely that, only achievable in their dreams.

However, what you may not realize is that your dream job could be staring you right in the face. If you want to start living your dream, follow these simple steps and you may just be on your way to turning your passions and hobbies into income-generators!

1. List down your passions and hobbies, as well as your strengths.

Draw up a list of things you enjoy doing in your free time. It could be anything from playing the guitar, collecting comic books, taking photographs to baking cupcakes.

You may also want to list down causes that excite and motivate you. Do you love animals? Are you passionate about the environment? Do you get goosebumps when you think about your favourite sporting moment on TV?

And lastly, think about your strengths. Do your friends compliment you on the excellent photos you take on your travels or at social gatherings? Are your muffins snapped up whenever you bring a freshly-baked batch to a potluck lunch? Or have you always found it easy to express your thoughts through writing?

2. Draw out your path - where you are now versus where you want to be

Now that you have your passions, hobbies and strengths listed out, think about where you are now, and where you want to be. You can think of this in terms of a journey - with where you are now as the starting point, and your dream job, as the destination. Don't forget to give yourself little rest stops along the way.

3. Research what options are available and develop your plan!

Now that you are clearer on what your dream job is, it's time to go online or to your local library to do some research. For example, photography buffs will find a website like PartTimePhotography helpful, as it teaches you how to develop a successful photography marketing campaign in the form of a step-by-step online tutorial.

You'll learn the most profitable photography areas to initially break into, then discover ways to garner the most favorable attention and response from clients. This will enable you to easily turn your simple photography marketing campaign into cold hard cash.

Or look at what other entrepreneurs are doing. A simple Google search will throw up an array of listings of people who have turned their passions into a business. Fancy running a baking business? Go to cupcakes online and experience firsthand how they market themselves.

4. Draw up a business plan/marketing strategy.

With your research under your belt, you are now ready to develop a simple business plan. There is no fixed way to write a business plan, but you generally need to start by listing down your goals. Your business plan should then contain information that will help you decide whether or not to pursue a goal. For more information on business plans, just search the internet, there's a wealth of information there.

So there you have it. Four simple steps that may just change your life, and help steer you towards living your dream!

The Advantages Of Digital Camera.

2007-11-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

The digital camera has totally changed the way we take photographs; it has made the greatest impact in the world of photography since the Polaroid Instamatic camera. It is a great accessory to the present day computer; photographs can be taken in an instant and loaded on to the computer, and emailed to a friend or a relative in the space of a few minutes. If you add a photo quality ink jet printer to your computer, you will not need to develop a roll of film ever again.

The digital camera started out from a single 1 mega pixel quality photo; now they come in over 10 mega pixels with huge print sizes, with amazing photo quality.

You may find it tough to decide which digital camera will fulfill your needs the best. You will have to undertake a bit of research, to help you to find the best camera, with the proper lenses, filters, external flash, tripods - everything you need so that you can start taking photographs, like a professional! Just spend a little time and figure out how you will be really using your digital camera, before you purchase one. Will it be for daily use, for special occasions like birthdays, family reunions? Will the price of the digital camera make a lot of difference?

The digital camera is also part of a new field of photography, in which you use a green or a blue background, and with special software like Corel Paint or PhotoShop, you can do wonders and create a new imaginative background. You can edit out the background and put in its place any of thousands of prepared indoors or outdoors backgrounds. There are multifunctional digital cameras that can take not only photographs but also video and sound. Digital cameras can be categorized as still cameras, video cameras and professional modular digital camera.

Since the market is so full of different models of digital cameras, you have to select a digital camera that will suit your needs. They come in different price ranges, so you will not have any difficulty selecting one that will fit into your budget. Before buying a digital camera, your first consideration has to be the resolution. A digital camera with a higher resolution than what you require can prove to be a waste of money, processing power and storage. A large number of pixels do not necessarily mean a superior image, so be cautious. A lower resolution digital camera is the best for posting images to the web, to view images on your computer, or to email files. You don`t always need a high capacity memory card, a small capacity memory card can also give high quality performance.

A digital camera can use its own battery and charger, or it can use double A size batteries. A digital camera may connect to a computer for data transmission. The most usual method of connectivity is USB, but Fire wire port or Blue Tooth are also used. Some digital cameras can connect to computer networks wirelessly.

One of the good things about a digital camera is that you do not have to spend anything on developing the film at a local store, nor do you have to drive to the store and back. A digital camera gives you an instant feeling of gratification when you view the pictures you have taken on the viewfinder or on your personal computer. You also have the full freedom of editing your photographs until you are fully satisfied with them!

You can select, save or delete photographs without any cost involved. The photos are stored hundreds of media cards, so you can take as many pictures as you wish before you run out of space.

Motorcycles and Sunglasses.

2007-11-10T08:28:00.000-08:00

If you ride a motorcycle then you are sure to know how important it is to wear sunglasses, not only to protect your eyes against the bright glare of the sunlight off the road but also to protect the eyes from dust and pollution. There are two key features for motorcycle sunglasses: complete eye protection and maximum visibility.

Many different companies provide a wide assortment of polarized optics and eye gear for the novice or the seasoned motorcyclist. They offer excellent options and features and outstanding bargains can be found if one only looks. When choosing eye protection it is always advisable to choose motorcycle sunglasses that do not have heavy or oversized frames. This can create fatigue and strain for a motorcyclist while riding. The frame should be sized correctly and light enough so that the motorcyclist can enjoy the ride in maximum comfort.

A great choice is sunglasses whose lenses are made of polycarbonate material which are less likely to shatter if dropped or in an accident. It is critical that motorcycle sunglasses are properly tinted and have polarized lenses to minimize the glare of reflected light off the road surface and other vehicles, which makes riding safer. Be aware that when selecting motorcycle sunglasses always make sure that they will fit inside the helmet.

When buying polarized sunglasses you can buy retail or wholesale but beware that not all wholesalers are willing to sell to individual buyers. They usually supply to retailers who work with them to market the brand name for them. Still you can try negotiating directly with wholesalers as long as you expect to purchase large quantities. There are many retailer options available and many with exceptional pricing, almost at wholesale discounts, for polarized motorcycle sunglasses.

An important consideration for motorcycle sunglasses is that they should be designed to not slide down the face while moving at high speeds with the wind blowing; this can be very dangerous and totally distract the rider. Remember, if you are a motorcycle rider now or will be purchasing a bike soon, invest in a good pair of comfortable polarized motorcycle sunglasses as they will offer the eye protection that you need, the safe vision that you require and might even make your appearance look better too.

Now that I've got my photos on my computer.

2007-11-10T08:25:00.000-08:00

In an earlier article on this site "What to do with all those digital pictures?", we talked about our system of using the marvels of digital photography to take thousands of shots.

We created folders in "our pictures" directory on our computer, one for each month of the year, and simply off-loaded the camera's media into the appropriate month folder as it became full.

This process provided a historical time reference for any photos stored on the computer. In a year or two we could still correlate a specific photo to the month and year in which it was taken. A helpful process for those of us who's memory is starting to get a little wonky!

Now, what to do with all these photos?

Make digital slideshows with them, that's what.

Our "DVD" case is full of home made slideshows created from paper and digital photographs.

Some slideshows contain all the pictures from a complete calendar year, with the months of that year as the chapters for that show.

Others are slideshows of specific events; family gatherings, a trip to Upper Canada Village in Ontario, Canada; you get the idea.

Not only does having slideshows provide hours of entertainment for gatherings at our home, having the slideshows on Cd's provides a back up should any of the original digital or paper pictures be lost.

So, how do you make slideshows?

For those folks that haven't the time, or the inclination to learn some software the easiest route is to contact a provider of digital slideshow services. Their professional experience will ensure an excellent outcome for your shows.

If you are more adventurous, and would like to tackle making slideshows yourself, here are a some tips.

If it's paper photos you want converted into digital, or it's existing digital photos you want converted to slideshow, first select all of the photos in question.

On the back of paper photos, number them from one and up, in the order you want them to appear on your slideshow. Decide if you want on-screen captions for some or all the photos. If so, write the text for that caption on the back of those you wish.

If you are converting paper photographs into digital format, which is necessary for making a slideshow, you will need access to a scanner. If that becomes a bit daunting, reconsider using a service provider. They will be able to handle the scanning of your photographs for you. They can then provide you with an electronic album of your photos, or create the slideshow for you, or both.

For digital pics, select all of the digital photos you want for a particular show, and copy them into a folder you have created for the purpose. Once you have the copies in there, rename them from one and up, in the order you want them presented on your show.

Create a word .doc with the text for each caption beside the corresponding number of your photo should you wish captions visible as the slides are shown.

Do you wish any chapter headings, a cover shot for the slideshow? Make a note of these.

What about music? Select the music you would like as background for your slideshow. Try to get music long enough (or a number of pieces of music that are long enough) to last the length of your show.

Each slide in your show should play for about 6-8 seconds. That's ample time to see the shot and to read the caption without the picture becoming boring. Therefore, if your slideshow has 30 pictures in it, your music selection should be around 3 1/2 minutes.

Please note that if your slideshow is for other than personal use, you cannot use copyrighted music, which is pretty much all the popular music of the day. If your slideshow is for business use, consider finding public domain, copyright free music for your show. It's available if you Google those search terms.

Before you begin building your slideshow, decide if you want voice-over narration instead of word text. Or maybe you want both? Your call.

Limit each of your slide shows to about 3-5 minutes so that viewers don't get trapped into watching for huge lengths of time. Unless they have a vested interest in the show (for example, they were with you on the trip to that luxury resort) most folks won't hold the same interest in your photos as you do.

So how do we convert paper photos or digital photographs into a marvelous screen slide show that you'll be proud to display for guests or at the next company function?

That's for the next article; "Making a slide show".

Six Photography Tricks For Digital Pix.

2007-11-10T08:16:00.000-08:00

It was admittedly difficult when we first began the transition from straight film to digital photography some years ago. My wife, a brilliant amateur photographer with a special flair for expressive and candid black-and-white photos, had trouble finessing the "delay" that occurred between pressing the button and the digital camera actually snapping the picture. The candidness, shall we say, gave way to more staged poses and less exhilarating results.

However, as time went on, we learned more about taking better pictures and also using Photoshop to enhance the images with special effects and other production techniques.

Tip #1: Pump Up the Volume. The advantage of not having to worry about the expense of film was something we began to exploit at a large scale, and we found that we could snap, say, 100 "relatively" rapid pictures and get one or two treasures - something we wouldn't be overly apt to do if we were spending money to purchase and develop film.

Tip #2: Focus on Lighting. We realized that we could enhance all of our images across the board by paying far more attention to lighting. So we would be more oriented toward taking pictures at different times of day - for example, dusk - when there's that "magic hour" element that can give photos a richer hue and tone.

Tip #3: Anticipation. Unlike the Heinz ketchup commercial, we learned to be impatient with certain of our subjects (particularly our kids, whose mannerisms and personalities we knew well) - meaning, we learned to anticipate what they would do and snap the photo in advance of where we thought the live action would go - so that the camera would catch it on time. This is a skill that needs to be developed over time - and it's not something that can be done perfectly with strangers.

Tip #4: Download and Dump. We learned to download our photos often, after several times of missing out on awesome pictures because the camera was full. We also had to learn to be ruthless with "our babies" and cut out photos on the fly to keep the camera available for even better opportunities. That said, we also developed an excellent archiving system using CDs and DVDs, so we have thousands of photos stored and easily retrievable.

Tip #5: Grayscaling, Sepia Toning, Lassoing, Saturation and Other Effects. Some of our favorite techniques in Photoshop are actually pretty simple, but they are useful time and time again. We love grayscaling images to convert them from RGB to black and white, we love altering the hue to do sepia toning for that old-time effect, and we especially like to use the lasso tool to create "feathering" and other cool effects like drop shadows, bevel and emboss - even craquelure. Photoshop can be used in a million different ways - but having digital images has really helped us take more advantage of Photoshop than we did before when we had to manually scan printed photos. This alone has helped us really fall in love with the digital.

Tip #6: Batch Processing. From time to time, we would have a ton of photos that we wanted to do the same effect with. We got the hang of something called "batch processing," where we could essentially program Photoshop to automatically open (and resave) every picture in a folder and do the exact same action to it. This is really cool and helpful if you have the need to do it - makes everything go super-fast.

Needless to say, there are many other tricks we've learned, but these six will hopefully be helpful to learn and adopt into your own digital photography tactics.

Ideas For Using Wedding Poetry.

2007-11-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

Weddings symbolize your love for one another. You are starting out a new life together and entering holy matrimony. What better way to show your love and devotion to one another when using wedding poetry at your wedding. Poets have been writing about love and marriage for centuries. You need not dig deep to find a fitting poem to use on your special day. If you love the idea of adding sentimental touch to your ceremony, here are some ideas for using wedding poetry on your big day.

Use Wedding Poetry on your Invitation

Many couples find that they are at a loss of words when it comes to wording their wedding invitations. You know you need to give the basic information about your wedding invitation, but you want to make your invitation as unique as you possibly can. You can include a line from your favorite poet on your wedding invitation. Your guests will see how much you love one another by this sweet touch.

Use Wedding Poetry on your Programs

Another way you can inject a little of your personality into your wedding is by using your favorite love poem on your wedding programs. This will entertain your guests as they wait for you to walk down the isle. Find something that the both of you love or if you are creative, come up with your own poem to reflect your love. You can easily have your favorite poem printed at the bottom of your program and you can even make your programs yourself on your computer.

Use Wedding Poetry in your Ceremony

Many couples love the idea of saying a few sentimental words to one another during the ceremony. The ceremony is a perfect time to share your love by reciting an enduring love poem. If you have trouble saying what you want to say, get online and research a wealth of poetry that you can use. You will find so many poems; you may have a hard time making a choice.

Use Wedding Poetry at your Reception

Another great idea is to use wedding poetry at your reception. Consider adding a few lines to your wedding party favors. For a completely different approach, try a humorous approach. You might give fortune cookies with love poems inside as a wedding favor. This is a fun way to get everybody in the mood to celebrate. Find funny poems about marriage and love and include those for a laugh or two. The reception is a time to lighten up and enjoy the evening.

Whatever you decide to stay or how you decide to read the poetry will add a personal touch to your wedding day. If you know what you want, you have the first part done and now you can decide how to convey the poetry in front of your guests.

Of course, there are many other inexpensive wedding favor ideas that you can use. Edible candies and cookies, custom-made love song CDs, disposable cameras, small photo albums, and personalized mugs and shot glasses top the list. You can even provide special wedding favors for the children that are attending your wedding such as coloring books and crayons. Whatever you decide to get out for wedding favors at your reception, make sure it is something that reflects your personality and is fun for your guests.

Great Wedding Photography Ideas In New Orleans.

2007-11-09T19:26:00.000-08:00

If you're getting married in New Orleans, why go with the same old wedding shots? There are so many great photography opportunities in the "Crescent City." You just have to get out of the chapel and find the right spot. Here are some great wedding photography locations in New Orleans.

On The Mississippi Riverfront

The riverfront area of New Orleans was not always as nice to look at as it is today. This is because of a renovation project started in the 1970's to improve it. They have since added Woldenberg Park and the Moonwalk, two great places for scenic pictures.

Woldenberg Park is a large open field where you can take your pictures on the grass with the Mississippi gently rolling in the background.

The Moonwalk is a plaza that goes along the edge of the river. In the background, you can see the calm waters of the river, the bridges and the distant shore. On the land side, there are stately historic buildings for background.

Another great riverfront spot is Spanish Plaza with its giant fountain. The fountain was a gift from Spain, and it makes a great backdrop for a picture, along with real Mississippi riverboats docked behind it.

If you really want to get out on the river, you can take the Natchez, an old Mississippi steamboat that has been preserved and offers rides. You can have your photos taken rolling down the mighty Mississippi.

Among The Great Oaks Of City Park

New Orleans City Park is also a great place for bridal pictures. City Park has beautiful historic buildings, as well as bayous, bridges and lush greenery. It is also big enough that there are lots of places to choose from. It is also known for its large, old live oak trees.

Audubon Park also provides beautiful scenery. Audubon Park is a place for bridal pictures in a totally natural setting. It also has the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium of the Americas and other great sites.

The Fabulous Architecture Of The French Quarter

The French Quarter, with its renowned architecture and truly New Orleans feel, is one of the most popular places for wedding ceremonies and pictures in the city. One of the best spots in the French Quarter is Jackson Square, the famous park where New Orleans trained its troops for the war of 1812.

Today, the park is used just for civilians, and its authentic feel and lush green vegetation make it a perfect spot. Many couples get married at the St. Louis Cathedral, a grand landmark still used for weddings, and then take their photos in Jackson Square with the Cathedral in the background.

Everywhere in the French Quarter, you will find photo opportunities. The French and Spanish architecture give the French Quarter a romantic, European feel that is great for wedding photography.

New Orleans may be one of the best cities in the world for wedding photography.
Your Big Easy pictures will be as beautiful as they day itself!
Thank You.

Creating Your Own Tabletop Photo Studio.

2007-11-09T19:25:00.000-08:00

The creation of your own tabletop photo studio is much easier and cheaper than what you might think. Through its creation you will find it much easier and convenient to take photos of indoor flowers and other smaller objects that you may have around your home. The real advantage of using a tabletop studio is that you can avoid the elements of nature which you would otherwise be facing if you were to be photographing similar subject matter outdoors.

To create a tabletop studio you really only need three items. They are a camera, a tripod and a reflector. But there are other items that need to be considered as well. These are the supporting surface, lighting, background and the subject. We will look at each of these to see what is needed.

The camera. Pretty much any digital camera will do. If it has macro capabilities then all the better. Having macro capabilities will provide more flexibility when photographing flowers or other smaller objects. When shooting always remember to set the ISO to its lowest possible setting and to set your white balance setting to CLOUDY or to a setting that accurately reflects the light source that you will be using. Never leave this setting in AUTO as this may not produce consistent or accurate results. Another item that would be really nice would be a remote shutter release but it is not essential as most digital cameras have self timers built in.

The tripod. Use a tripod that is easy to move and adjustable. It also needs to be sturdy enough to support the camera equipment that you will be using. Typically, the heavier the camera means the heavier the tripod. Your tripod should have an adjustable head that will allow you to quickly switch from landscape to portrait, and visa versa, with little effort.

The reflector. The purpose of the reflector is to create even lighting on your subject. To achieve this effect it is best to locate the reflector on the opposite of your subject to where the light source is. The reflector itself does not have to be big but it does have to be big enough to reflect a sufficient among of light back onto your subject. Typically, the bigger the subject, the bigger the reflector needs to be to light it. To help hold and position the reflector a second tripod with a support arm can really be handy.

The supporting surface. The surface itself not only needs to be sturdy and large enough to support whatever it is that you are putting on it but, also, portable enough to be moved as the need arises. I personally prefer a good sturdy folding table due to the fact that they typically have good supports and are portable.

The lighting. You do not necessarily want the light source to be facing directly into the sunlight as this can produce harsh lighting conditions. If this cannot be avoided try placing fabric, or other materials, over the windows to diffuse or soften the light. This will produce a much more pleasing effect.

The background. Try to use coloured, textured backgrounds wherever possible. This could be a table cloth on your supporting surface to coloured papers and backdrops. I personally prefer to use backdrops whenever possible. The disadvantage to backdrops is that some require hanging and special supporting mechanisms for them to be deployed.

The subject. You should, in most cases, shoot your subject from the side facing the light. Do not be afraid to move your subject or any other item in your tabletop studio setup to get the effect that you want.

There are numerous other items that you may also wish to include but as long as the basics are covered you should be good to go.

Happy snapping.
Thank You.
__________
__________

Joining A Photography Organization.

2007-11-09T19:24:00.004-08:00

If you know how to operate a camera then it is not difficult to become a photographer - at least as a casual hobby. Knowledge and skill are developed over time, but grow more slowly when a camera hobbyist is alone. One of the better means of closing the inexperience gap, though, is through an association with other passionate photographers. These can be found through photography clubs or organizations around the world.

One great way to develop your capabilities as a successful photographer is to investigate and then join such a club. These organizations typically provide interesting lectures on various topics related to photography, including camera types, peripheral equipment, shooting techniques, different types of photography, and professional opportunities (among many others). These lectures are then followed by open forums and discussions among the members and their guests. Experiences of members in attendance are also shared to provide insights concerning photography nuances that others might not ordinarily notice. Additionally, activities are planned to develop "on the job" learning experiences for members in honing their photography skills and to also simultaneously observe some of the masters of the trade.

There is no age restriction in joining a photography club. Whether young or old, all are permitted - and even encouraged - to become active participants. Even those who do not yet own a camera but nevertheless have an interest and aptitude for photography are permitted to join.

You should be aware that most photography organizations that offer membership require fees or dues to offset at least some of the expenses of their meetings, guest speakers, and to provide basic monies necessary to help fund their year round activities.

The popularity of photography clubs continues to increase, as demonstrated by their availability internationally. Consequently, there is normally little difficulty in finding a photography club relatively close to your home. A person can even join an organization on a trial basis and attend few preliminary sessions. This enables the potential member to see more of what the organization offers before actually joining. For experienced photography organizations, this is a real opportunity to "show off" its experience to newcomers.

Photography organizations typically hold monthly or weekly meetings. Frequently information about the clubs, their meeting plans, and activities are readily available on the Internet or simply through making a phone call to an existing member and getting onto a mailing list.

At the meetings, a variety of camera types are represented, and their conditions range from brand new to very old, from digicams to a simple black and white cameras, and from fully featured to very manual. Really, the only "requirements" for joining a photography organization are to have the heart to learn, dedication to extend some time and effort to the group activities to expand your skills, and eventually to contribute your own insights.

There are many different techniques which can help a person become a gifted photographer. The lectures offered in these photography organizations can be very helpful, certainly for beginners. Some speakers come with impressive backgrounds, even working for well-known magazines, such as National Geographic or Time. By committing a small amount of money to join a photography organization, you can definitely learn to become a better, more efficient, and highly skilled photographer.
Thank You.

Five Reasons Every Digital Photographer Needs A Card Reader.

2007-11-09T19:24:00.003-08:00

In the early days of digital photography, the only way to transfer images from the camera to a computer was with a cable. The interface was usually USB, but some early digicams used SCSI or Fire wire connections as well. As reusable memory cards became popular, card readers appeared, allowing users to quickly move images from the card to their hard drive.

Surprisingly, even today, many digital photographers still transfer their images to their computer via a USB cable. Card readers are inexpensive, faster and more reliable, yet many digital camera users still haven’t acquired one.

1: Card readers offer speedy transfers

Undoubtedly, the biggest advantage to a card reader is speed. Images transfer at a rate several times that of a camera USB connection. Obviously, It is advantageous anytime you can shorten the image acquisition period. As memory cards increase in capacity and cameras offer greater pixel density, however, transfer speed becomes a major issue. My first digital camera only had 8MB of storage memory, and I felt it took a long time to transfer the images to my hard drive by USB cable. Today a single raw image could be twice that size. A card with thirty or forty images of that size would take an eternity to transfer by cable.

2: When reliability is a priority, choose a card reader

While speed is important, reliability is crucial. The problem with connecting a camera to your computer is that the camera has to be on all the time the transfer is being executed. If the battery dies during the transfer, the current transfer will be lost. Even worse, there is a danger that the memory card will be corrupted if the power goes down during a read. It’s true that many newer cameras have longer lasting batteries, but memory cards are also getting larger, so that might not be much help. Some camera manufacturers actually recommend that the camera be powered by an AC cord during the transfer, in order to alleviate any problem of the battery dying during the copy.

There are no power consumption worries with a card reader. Power comes directly from the USB or Firewire connection. Unless there is a major power outage or the computer crashes, the power to the card reader will remain stable.

3: Digital camera connections are plug and pray

Connecting a camera to the computer is fairly simple, but I have experienced many instances where the computer refused to recognize the camera. Rebooting the computer typically fixes the problem, but that is still an annoyance.

In contrast, card readers are generally found immediately by the computer. Plug the reader in, insert the memory card and you can start transferring your files.

4: Card readers allow you to walk away

Once you’ve begun a transfer, you are free to do other things. Eat dinner. Watch TV. Take a walk. Even go to bed for the night. You don’t have to “baby-sit” the file transfer process. I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving my digital camera unsupervised in the “on” mode for an extended length of time. Maybe I’m being too conservative, but leaving my camera on overnight just doesn’t seem wise. With a reader, there is no off or on. When your file transfer is completed, everything just waits until you return.

5: You are free to use your camera while your files transfer to the computer

If your camera is tied to your computer, transferring files, you obviously can’t be off shooting. In contrast, you can load a memory card into your reader, start a file transfer and then load a fresh card into the camera and continue making images. The ability to transfer pictures while you are off shooting new ones is yet another major advantage to a reader.

So what are you waiting for?

If you are serious about digital photography, I suggest you ditch that USB cable and get a good card reader. You’ll soon wonder how you ever got along without one!
Thank You.

Tips and Hints on Digital Photography.

2007-11-09T19:23:00.001-08:00

Digital photography was used in astronomy long before its use by the general public and had nearly totally overtaken the use of photographic plates by the early 1980s. Since then digital photography has also overtaken film photography for ordinary day-to-day use. Digital photography, as opposed to film photography, uses electronic devices to record and capture the image as binary data. Digital photography has now been accepted by many amateur snapshot photographers, who take advantage of the convenience of the form when sending images by email, placing them on the World Wide Web, or displaying them in digital picture frames. Digital Photography is a great aid for the creative adventurer who resides in each of us. Digital photography enables you to experiment with the camera settings, different styles of images can be tried out, learnt from and techniques improved all without the expense of film processing. Digital Photography is more than just using a digital camera; it also entails some post processing in an image editing software to the image you captured with your digital camera. Digital photography storage media includes CompactFlash cards and CDs. Digital Photography Websites are the places to compare photo related equipment and services.

Digital Cameras
Camera equipment has made great strides over the past century in mimicking how the human eye perceives the three-dimensional world within a two-dimensional medium. Using Your Digital Camera Guide clearly explains everything you need to know about using your camera's controls to capture great photos. Cameras with a direct electronic camera-to-computer interface are preferable to those requiring the use of an external memory card. Cameras with digital sensors that are smaller than the typical 35mm film size will have a smaller field or angle of view when used with a lens of the same focal length. A tiny bit of camera shake really makes a difference. But that’s due to three issues: (1) my tripod is old and heavy, (2) I’m impatient…it takes too long to set-up, and (3) I feel like I lose versatility when I lock my camera to a tripod, especially with macro shots. It’s good regularly to check out what digital cameras, lenses, accessories, books and other gear the DPS community has been buying over the last couple of months.

This is an exciting time to get involved with digital photography. What is not commonly understood is that digital photography and photos that speak directly to the customer is a critical part of one-to-one print communication. For a more detailed technical description of any of these photographic techniques, please also view my digital photography site http://myworldpressphotography.blogspot.com/
Thank You.

Photo Tips: How To Frame Your Shots To Avoid Excessive Cropping.

2007-11-09T19:22:00.001-08:00

We're all familiar with the cropping tool in our digital image editing program. Unfortunately, it is one of the most widely used editing software tools, mainly because it's easy to forget to frame pictures before snapping the shutter. Yes, it is fairly simple to crop images to get rid of ugly background extras like empty water bottles and focus only on the part we want. Or sometimes we do some heavy-duty cropping to zero-in on a subject's face. But if you are planning on printing your photos or enlarging them, you'll get a sharper end result if you to do a little pre-planning and properly frame your shot.

Whenever you crop your photo, you limit the size you can print your image without it looking fuzzy or jagged. If you have a high mega-pixel camera and shoot on high resolution, or only plan to show your photos online or in a digital slide show, it is not as big of an issue. However, by properly framing your shots in the first place you will have greater flexibility in what you can do with your photos and you won't have to spend so much time cropping your images.

Here are some tips on how to properly frame your pictures:

1) Take a minute to compose your shot and see what's in the background before you have people get into position. Then you won't have to rush to get your shot when your subjects get restless.

2) Check out what's in the background on the left and right sides of your subject. Is there a trash can or telephone pole in the way? Better to adjust your shot now than to have to crop it out later.

3) Are there objects in the background that could provide an attractive backdrop to your image? Is there something in the background that can provide a natural frame for your picture, such as an attractive doorway or staircase?

4) When photographing people with scenery or buildings/monuments in the background, the foreground should be minimized. Try to focus fairly close up on your subjects so they don't look like tiny ants in front of a giant building-unless you are attempting to show how big something is in comparison to the people.

5) Landscape photos benefit from showing more of the foreground in order to provide a better perspective.

6) Keep the horizon above the center line of the photo to enhance the composition.

7) When photographing landscape, placing an object in the foreground can greatly enhance the image. It can be interesting to focus on an object in the foreground and let the background blur, or try the reverse: focus on the background and let a foreground object blur.

By keeping these tips in mind, you'll find you'll use your cropping tool much less, you'll keep your printed image sharp, and you'll increase your creative options - from making enlarged prints and posters to calendars, and even blankets and pillows with your favorite pictures.
Thank You.
http://myworldpressphotography.blogspot.com/

Hazy Photos Call For A Camera Lens Filter.

2007-11-09T19:21:00.001-08:00

Photography is one of my favorite hobbies. Whether you shoot pictures for fun or for a living you need to learn about the different camera accessories.

This is because using the right accessory at the right time ensures the highest quality pictures. No you don't have to break your wallet and buy every gadget out there, but you should at least become familiar with the different types of camera lenses and lens filters.

Why should you get familiar with and purchase a camera lens filter? Because lens filters can greatly affect the quality of the pictures you take. Like anything else you purchase there are certain things to look for when shopping for camera accessories.

Tips For Buying Camera Lens Filters

There are several kinds of lens filters to be aware of. For one, the first thing you should look for when you are buying camera lens filters is the quality of the UV and haze protection of the lens. For example, a great lens filter will be ale to take in a lot of UV rays and protect the pictures from looking hazy.

Another great camera lens filter that you could buy is a polarizing filter which can reduce the reflections from the sun and other objects that are polarized light sources. Pay attention to the different types of polarizing filters because auto focus cameras tend to use circular polarizing filters, while manual focus cameras function best with manual focus filters.

Where To Buy Camera Lens Filters

If you are interested in buying a great camera lens filter many can be found at local camera stores in your area or you can look online as there are a lot of great online digital accessory sites. Either way you are sure to be taking better pictures as a result of the filter.

How Do You Get The Best Deal On Lens Filters?

If you have questions as to what filters are right for your camera, I am sure a specialist at your local store can help you. Then you can shop online to compare prices with your local stores and online sites to find your lens filter for the cheapest price. Wherever you buy your filter just make sure that they have some type of return policy so you can return your filter if it is not right for some reason.

When shopping online you can often find sites that have free shipping so you don't have to pay that little but extra. Also whenever you purchase anything online make sure that the website has a privacy policy to ensure your financial security. If you give a camera lens filter a try I bet you will be glad you did because your pictures will come out crystal clear.
Thank You.
http://myworldpressphotography.blogspot.com/

How to enjoy your digital pics without a computer.

2007-11-09T19:20:00.001-08:00

Digital cameras have changed the way we take our photos. And so has the way we look at our photos. Old-fashioned photo frames and bulky photo albums are so 20th century! Throw those out-dated dust catchers in the bin and say hello to the modern way of presenting your best pics. Nowadays it simply has to be a Digital Photo Frame.
With a Digital Picture Frame you don't need a PC or Mac to enjoy your photos, you don't have to give your precious memory card to a pricey photo lab to print them out and you don't have to print them out on your own inkjet printer, wasting lots of expensive ink cartridges.
Digital Photo Frames allow you to enjoy your snapshots almost instantly. Just take your memory card out of your digital camera, insert it into your Digital Picture Frame, turn it on and a presto!here they are, displayed in vivid colour on your Digital Photo Frame crisp and crystal clear high resolution screen.
You can showcase your pictures as a never-ending slide show with intervals of 5 seconds or up to one hour between pictures or you can choose to only display one picture at a time. Most Digital Photo Frames also feature multiple transition effects in between pictures.
Some Digital Picture Frames do not just show photos, they can also display video files and play MP3s, so you can enjoy your favourite pictures while listening to your favourite tunes at the same time.
Most Digital Picture Frames display your photos directly from your cameras memory card, other, more expensive models have built-in memory and you can upload pictures via USB connection.
Digital Photo Frames come in an assortment of sizes, styles, materials and colours. Some Digital Frame frameworks are even made of old-fashioned wood!
You can display any kind of picture on your Digital Photo Frame: Snapshots of your hols in Alaska, your wedding photos, the thousands of digital photos that were buried on the hard drive of your computer, pictures you would never ever give to a photo lab, stuff you downloaded from the internet or even scans of your grandparents old-fashioned black and white photos from before World War 2.
Put a Digital Photo Frame on your desk at work and look at portraits of your loved ones or your next holiday destination while waiting for lunch break.
Insert a memory card with your best family photos into a Digital Picture Frame and give it to your parents as a personalized Christmas gift. They will be choked with emotion the moment they turn it on.
Digital Photo Frames are also perfect for business presentations and marketing purposes!
Let Picture Digital Frames change the way you look at your photos! The easiest way to showcase your favourite pics!
Thank You.
http://myworldpressphotography.blogspot.com/

Make Money With Your Digital Camera

2007-11-09T19:18:00.000-08:00

Amateur photographers with an entrepreneurial spirit have found new ways to turn their hobby into an additional revenue stream. The quality and flexibility of digital photographs, along the wide reach of the internet has created numerous opportunities for photographers to cash in on their pictures and services. Here are some creative ways you can get in on the profitability of this new work-at-home market.

Follow the People

The key to finding big money in digital photography is as simple as finding where the people are. Think of all the places that crowds gather where people may want to have a memorable photo taken. Competitions, concerts, parades, and tourist attractions are just some of the hot markets for this service. It is literally as simple as bringing some business cards and start snapping. Post your pictures on a website or file sharing service where folks can browse the pictures and buy the ones they want.

Create Novelty Items

There are a number of internet businesses that help you superimpose digital pictures on practically any item. Use your expertise with these services to sell a variety of fun souvenirs to groups and companies. Of course you will add the cost of your time and travel into the price for each piece, giving you a nice profit margin for doing all of the coordination.

Custom Greeting Cards

Similar to the novelty products, you can find services that will allow you to create customized photo greeting cards for your clients. People love to send these types of cards to family and friends as Christmas cards, special announcements, and even invitations. You will have to work hard to market your services at first, but once the community sees your great work the orders will start coming in on their own.

Create Slideshows

Software like Microsoft PowerPoint makes it easy to design a photo slide show that can be a great addition to any social event. However, some people don’t have the time or expertise to create their own shows, and this is where you can make money. Think of all the business and organizations in your area that may need a service like this. Give them your business card or sample of your work. Even if they don’t call you directly, one their members may use your services in the future. The key is to spread the word and take on smaller jobs until you build a solid reputation.

Offer a Class

Even if you are not a professional photographer, if you have significant experience as an amateur then you probably have plenty of tips to share with others. Groups like seniors and busy adults often look for a friendly face to help them survive the learning curve of technology. You can capitalize on this need by offering a class at a community center or coffee house once a month. Charge about $10 a person for a one hour session and offer private instruction for a similar rate. The more people talk about your class, the more students you will attract.

There are literally hundreds of ways you can use your digital camera to make money. The key is to be creative and fill the needs of a hungry market. Once you find a niche that suits you, roll out a marketing plan and continue to build on your business plan. If you do it right, you can turn your hobby into a steady income stream.
If you all will think that, this article is good and helpful to everyone then plz rate my article.
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http://myworldpressphotography.blogspot.com/

Choosing a 35mm Slide and Negative Scanning Service

2007-11-09T19:16:00.001-08:00

If you are one of those people with boxes of old negatives in your basement or hall closet, you are not alone. Photography has been a popular hobby with people ever since the invention of the first camera.

One problem that professional and amateur photographers alike have always faced is deciding the proper way to preserve their art once it has been shot and developed.

The good news is that if you are one of those people with boxes of old negatives and pictures old enough to be in the historical archives, many companies offer 35mm slide scanning services, and digital photo restoration.

Scanning a negative not only allows for the development of the image, but also enhanced digital clarity, even for the oldest negatives. Photo restoration can also repair sun damage and scratches. While there are many companies that offer these services, here are some things that you should look for when choosing a photo restoration and slide scanning service

3000 dpi slide scanning services for 35mm slides, as well as 110,120,126,127, and 200 format slides

Industry standard automated dust and scratch removal, utilizing programs such as Kodak Digital ICE. The slide scanning services that you choose should include a manual color rotation, cropping, red eye removal, rotation, and additional dust and scratch removal as points of service.

Quality slide scanning image processing performed by qualified technicians who employ a trusted photo restoration program, such as Adobe Photoshop.

Additional photo scanning services, preferably 600 dpi photo scanning services for both priceless, antique photos, as well as newspaper clippings, postcards, and other medium.

An experienced photo scanning and slide scanning, photo restoration service should also be able to offer its customers black and white slide and black and white negative scanning. The option to view and choose prints online, preferably with the understanding that you will pay for only the prints that you select.

Does it really make a difference what size memory card you use? If you take a lot of pictures, then choosing a memory card with more storage space will likely be a priority for you, so the short answer, simply put, is yes.

When choosing the most logical memory card size, you should first take into account how many pictures you usually take at a time. As stated in the previous paragraph, If you are a world traveler, your memory card needs will be different from those of a person who only uses a camera for holiday get together.

You will also need to decide how big the files are of the pictures that you take. Smaller files, such as those for online pictures will take up less space and enable you to fit more on a card. Larger files for printing will need more room.

If you have a 2 mega pixel camera, 128MB is usually enough. For a 3 or 4megapixel camera, a 128MB or 256MB memory card is usually plenty. For a 5megapixel camera, start with a 256MB memory card.

If you want to know something more about photography then plz visit my site:-http://myworldpressphotography.blogspot.com/
Thank You.