Choosing Camera Lenses for Different Photography Techniques

If you're a professional photographer or really interested in this field of work, you'd need to think carefully about which types of photos you're generally more likely to take. When choosing camera lenses, you need to be aware of which photography techniques are possible with a specific lens before making a purchase. Let's have a look at some of the camera lenses on the market today.

1. The Fish-eye Lens: Originally used and preferred by astrologists, this camera lens basically distorts the image, creating a curved image as if looking through a looking-glass. This lens has a wide range, giving photographers the option to capture landscapes with ease.

2. The Wide-Angle Lens: When it comes to choosing camera lenses, the wide-angle lens is preferred by most landscape photographers as the lens has an extremely wide range of view, as the name suggests. The ability to focus on both background and foreground simultaneously, while being able to capture a wide landscape which is far beyond what the human eye can see makes this one a firm favorite. If you're looking to focus on a single object rather than an entire landscape, avoid using this lens as these photography techniques are rather limited with this one.

3. The Macro Lens: Since most new digital cameras have a macro setting it's not necessary to purchase one of these unless you specialize in taking close-ups and would like the best possible picture quality. The Macro lens is perfect for shooting dew on a flower, ants carrying food or anything that would otherwise distort on normal cameras when taking photos at such close range. This lens removes the blur which will usually be seen with other lenses when taking close-ups, making the macro lens the perfect toy for nature lovers to extend their photography techniques.

4. The Zoom Lens: Whether you're into landscapes or portraits, the zoom lens is a great addition for any photographer when it comes to choosing camera lenses. You have the ability to widen and shorten the focal length to adjust the magnification of your shot, one downfall however, is that the zoom lens has small lens opening which makes it difficult to get a quality photo in low-light. When purchasing a camera, don't be deceived by the "amazing" digital zoom capabilities, if you're looking to become a pro, you need to focus more on optimal zoom capabilities. Optical zoom provides much better quality as opposed to digital zoom, which crops the image and reduces pixels in the process; optimal zoom keeps the image as is.

5. The Telephoto Lens: There's not much difference between a zoom lens and a telephoto lens when it comes to photography techniques. The telephoto lens will make photos seem closer than they really are.

When choosing camera lenses, ensure that you get something that will complement your photos. If you're and expert at photography techniques, look for something that will make your job easier as a professional, something that will save time and improve quality at the same time.

If you want to learn more about trick photography visit the authors Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/PhotographyTricks

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Impressive Digital Cameras Best Buys On The Market

The Sony Alpha NEX-3 is one of the more impressive digital cameras best buys on the market. It is small and very compact, but the size is not reflective of the vast capability and technology of this camera. This camera delivers 14.2 megapixels with an APS-C image sensor that is actually thirteen times the strength of normal sensors in most digital cameras. This great function optimizes photographs giving them a polished look. Featuring 16mm interchangeable lens, as of 2010, this camera was considered to be the smallest and lightest digital camera with an interchangeable lens.

There are many capabilities packaged into the Sony Alpha NEX-3. It has several modes including Sweep Panorama, Handheld Twilight and Anti Motion Blur modes to enhance photographs. The Handheld Twilight mode allows consumers to shoot up to six photos very quickly once the shutter is released. This is accomplished by lining up and combining six shots into one.

This camera also features video recording capability in high definition by pressing only one button that is just for recording. It does not use ordinary buttons but features a turn and click style wheel and soft keys. Sony makes it easy to use this camera by incorporating on screen tips and an on screen help guide.

Another impressive digital camera on the market is the Olympus Stylus Tough. Featuring 14 megapixels this camera delivers vibrant photographs with great clarity. The 5x wide angle zoom gives consumers the ability to shoot pictures from a distance all while maintaining picture integrity. The 2.7 inch LCD has an anti-glare feature allowing glare free viewing.

This camera is capable of handling rough situations. Immerse this camera in up to 33 feet of water without worrying because it has waterproof technology. The shockproof technology keeps this camera safe up to a 6.6 foot drop.

The Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 is safe in cold weather due to freeze proof technology up to 14 degrees F (-10 degrees C). This camera is also crushproof giving it the ability to withstand 220 pounds of weight. Consumers are able to record video in 720p high definition by using one button that is dedicated to recording. Advance Face Detection will automatically detect up to 12 faces while automatically focusing to ensure the best picture possible. AF tracking is quite sophisticated and is able to keep up with fast moving targets without blurriness.

These cameras are impressive digital cameras best buys on the market.

William L Odom is a passionate photographer who enjoys both writing and photography. He writes articles on anything from a review of a digital camera under 100 dollars, to finding out the best digital camera under 200 dollars.

William also looks at digital cameras best buys outside this price range, and reports on those too.

William writes reviews for online photo press. He highlights the camera's features and gives his honest opinion of them, enabling the user to make a better qualified decision on their digital camera purchase.

Original article

Nikon Camera Bags to Protect a Prized Possession

Any photographer treasures their most costly possession which is their cameras. Nikon camera bags are one of the finest choices to protect such a valued item. Cameras are safeguarded from scratches, bumps, knocks and hits. They serve a very good purpose for photographers on the go who are able to freely move about while their equipments are tucked safely inside yet ready to take pictures anytime. They feature extra pockets to carry other essentials like batteries yet lightweight and made of tough materials.

The Right Bag for Your Need

Users' assessments of Nikon camera bags are positive and most agree that they would not shilly-shally on recommending them to other photography enthusiasts. There's always the right bag for the each need. There's an easy-to-carry waterproof bag with shoulder straps for easier handling while traversing the outdoors. If you need a bag that can hold both your camera and extra lenses, there's one especially made for you. Should you need to move about and carry your camera safely at the same time, backpack is advantageous. Whatever your carrying needs are, protecting your equipment with a strong and durable carrier may be the next best investment you can do after buying camera.

Affordable Protection that is a Must

Prices of Nikon camera bags are fairly small and an affordable amount to pay in caring for a camera. To spend about $65 to protect a $650 Nikon D3000 10MP Digital SLR is a tiny investment. The benefits your camera will receive is great, making the bags truly must-have items for still image aficionados. The bags are stylish, unique and made of good quality materials that feature visually artistic appeal, rich colors and designs that can make any owner proud to carry them around.

Staying Abreast

The company has made sure that its products keep up with the times and this includes the Nikon camera bags. There may be other brands available but camera bags from Nikon remain to be the best choice in terms of durability, functionality and designs. Tried and tested by many users, the bags continue to be a preferred brand trusted over the years by a majority of consumers. With today's technology, the bags are even made better and more functional.

Modern design added with features that suit any photographers' needs, the up to date designs of the bags make them the ultimate carrying solution for both professional and amateur photographers. Some are designed with color-coded front pockets to indicate which pocket contains used up batteries or memory cards and which are available. Other Nikon camera bags have secure front flaps that contain small accessories which may be accessed quickly. You can even get a bag with side pockets that can carry your water bottle. Some bags are also made to resist water for added protection for your camera during the rains.

Whatever your preference, when it comes to protecting and carrying your expensive cameras with ease, trust only the name that has proven itself to provide the best. Go for Nikon camera bags and enjoy using your camera for a longer time.

Adrian Fields enjoys helping people understand the benefits of popular and useful products, such as Nikon Camera Bags. Learn more about selecting the right one, and why you should consider the camera protection of a Nikon Camera Bag.

Original article

Learn Techniques On How To Be A Great Photographer

If you've ever had a point-and-shoot, or a cell phone with a built-in camera, you've probably been disappointed with the quality of your pictures. Although compact cameras and camera phones take a lot of guesswork out of your hands, they don't always work the best in every situation.

Common problems that most amateur photographers will experience with small personal cameras include: underexposure, red eye and blur. Yet you can improve the quality of your pictures simply by adopting a few different techniques. Here you will find all the important strategies on how to be a good photographer.

Pre-focus Your Camera

Some of the best photos are composed with a subject slightly off-center. Nevertheless, most small personal cameras focus on whatever is in the center of the viewfinder. This can cause your images to seem out of focus.

Fortunately, most cameras allow you to pre-focus by placing your subject in the center of a picture and holding your shutter release button halfway down. The device will hold the focus as you recompose a photo.

Turn Up the Ambient Light

Small personal cameras are designed to strike a balance between the amount of light that enters the camera and the speed at which the picture is taken, which is known as the shutter speed.

If your images appear underexposed it means that there is not enough light in the room, which leads to one of two results; either the image will be underexposed, or it will have motion blur.

Motion blur occurs when the camera's shutter speed slows down to allow more light into the camera. If the shutter speed slows down to a rate slower than a person can move, the motion is recorded in a blur trail.

However, if the shutter speed is increased, as it often is in a camera's sports mode setting, the camera allows less light to enter the device. That results in an underexposed picture. By turning up the ambient light in the room, you give the camera more light to work with, simultaneously reducing both motion blur and underexposed images.

Increasing the light in the room will also decrease the amount of red eye that appears on an image. Red eye is most visible when a subject's pupils are dilated, which occurs most often in low-light conditions.

The situation is created when light from your camera's flash enters the dilated pupils of the eye. The light strikes blood vessels in the back of the eye, illuminating them. This is then recorded by the camera.

Professional photographers avoid red eye by using a camera that has a flash set far away from the lens. Yet by the mere fact that small personal cameras have a very compact design, their flashes are always very close to the lens. Some compact cameras have a red eye reduction feature that sends out a burst of flashes before taking a picture. This burst of flashes is designed to coax a subject's pupils to contract, and reduces the chances of red eye.

By turning up the light in a room, you help encourage your subject's pupils to contract, and reduce the chances that you will record red eye yourself.

If you are tired of your photos looking like a beginner's, you can improve the quality of your images with these few simple changes to the way you record your images. That way you have learned the first step on how to be a good photographer...

Original article

Thinking of Becoming a Wedding Photographer?

A wedding photographer is more than someone who takes photos at a wedding. Instead, a photographer works with a couple to create memories which will last a lifetime. In order to become a wedding photographer, you will need photography experience, a portfolio of your work, a computer, and good camera equipment.

Some wedding photographers have formal photography training and others do not. Many wedding photographers begin their careers by attending an art school or getting training in photography. After that, a wedding photographer may get experience by assisting other photographers. Eventually, an assistant will branch out and begin his or her own business. Other photographers may work a day job during the week and work as a wedding photographer on the weekends simply because they love the business. Yet others who have an innate artistic talent may begin their business by photographing friend's weddings. Eventually, their business may begin to expand beyond friends and family.

Taking wedding photos begins long before the big day. A photographer will usually meet with the bride and groom many months in advance of the ceremony. During this initial meeting, photographers discuss their experience, as well as their portfolio packages. Some photographers take engagement photographs which can be sent to family and friends or published in the local newspaper.

A photographer should also have a written contract. A contract will specify the terms of the contract so that the couple knows exactly what services to expect for the price that they have been quoted.

As the big day draws closer, the photographer will be in close contact with the couple. The photographer usually will make an appointment to see the church or facility where the ceremony will be taking place and the facility where the reception will take place. This is important because a photographer needs to know where to set up equipment in the facility. A photographer will also need to assess the lighting in the facility to see what type of equipment will be necessary.

After the event, a photographer will develop the photos and use computer programs to re-touch the photos or to create special effects. After that, the photographer may meet in person with the couple to go over photographs, or he may send files to them using a computer.

It takes a very special person to become a wedding photographer. A wedding photographer needs to be artistically inclined, yet he or she also needs to have a bit of business sense. A photographer also needs to have good communication skills and should be able to deal with stressful situations with tact and grace. Overall, a wedding photographer needs to be a people person who really enjoys being around people and socializing.

Colin McDonald writes on behalf of Steven Brooks Photography - Wedding Photographer London

Original article

Follow Photo Albums Into The Twenty First Century

The ease and flexibility of digital photography is something which it is easy to take for granted, but one merely has to step back and think about it for a second to realist that it has in fact changed everything. The size and portability of the equipment has led to people taking pictures in places which would once have been thought inaccessible, and the ease with which images can be stored and then reproduced as either photographs or any one of a stunning range of gifts has meant that the actual number of photographs people take has exploded dramatically.

Just think of the average night out for a younger person today, and the amount of time they spend taking shots of themselves and each other to commemorate the event. Unlike the situation which used to prevail with physical, celluloid processes, actually choosing which pictures you want to keep and having them printed or uploaded to a computer is simplicity itself. All too often, however, people find it difficult to organist this plethora of material, ending up with pictures scattered across multiple devices, memory sticks and computers.

The answer to this organizational nightmare is to put your pictures onto photo albums. Arranging photo albums in the UK in this post digital era is as simple as you could possibly wish, requiring merely that you upload your images onto one place at the relevant web site. Once you've done this, the software provided means it is incredibly easy to arrange your images along whatever lines you wish to adopt, whether that means simply setting them out chronologically, or putting pictures with a certain theme in the same place.

Having created your personalized photo album or photo book, you're in position for the fun to really start. First and foremost, whenever you want to access an individual photograph you'll know exactly where to go. It doesn't matter if you want to locate a particular image to settle an argument over who wore which jumper, or whether you need a picture to base a unique photo gift around, the image you need will be exactly where you want it to be, safe, secure and in perfect condition. The other big bonus of digital albums, as opposed to their 'real world' counterparts, is that sharing them with friends and family all over the world is extremely easy. All that they need to have is access to a computer and the details which you can provide them with, and they'll be able to look through your favorite pictures as quickly and easily as if they were there in the room with you. It's an example of a technology which has been used to simplify rather than complicate matters, and the way in which the advance in the equipment and the techniques used has been shaped so as to bring people closer together.

If, like most people, you've got more pictures than you know what to do with, then putting them in photo albums in the UK is the simplest and safest thing you could do with them. Not only will they be looked after and kept in perfect condition, but sharing them with people who'll derive pleasure from looking at them is easier than it's ever been.

Preserve your golden memories of life by engraving those precious Photo Books and Photo Albums through Albelli.

Original article

Keep Your Pictures Safe Using Cutting Edge Photo Albums

Before everyone started using digital cameras, the process of developing and printing the photographs you'd taken was one which cost time, money, and convenience, and required the use of outside experts such as photo labs or high street chemists. Sometimes, turning the pictures you'd taken into actual photographs required posting your film away and waiting patiently for it to arrive back several days if not weeks later. Digital pictures, on the other hand, are a different matter entirely. Not only can you take as many shots as you like, relying on the fact that your camera can store dozens of individual shots, but the process of then going through the pictures and choosing the ones which you wish to keep and use is as simple as pressing one or two buttons.

Once you've collected together all of the photographs which you want to keep, the question of finding photo albums big enough to put them all in arises. Just think of the many hundreds of pictures you take each and every year - records of holidays, Christmas, birthdays and the like - and try to envisage a book large enough to stick them all into and you'll appreciate that it's a futile task. That's why online photo albums or photo books represent such a fantastic breakthrough. Using the software provided, the task of uploading the hundreds of images you wish to store, sorting and arranging them and then installing them in individual albums has been reduced to a few simple steps.

Simply choose the images you wish to include and then decide if you want to put them in any specific order - it could be that you want to base an album around each month of the year, or else gather together all of the pictures which feature a holiday, or wedding, or a particular birthday. Whatever way you decide to group your pictures, putting them all together is made easy by the software and once they're sorted and stored you can relax in the knowledge that they are totally safe and secure. By sharing the access details with friends and family around the world, you can allow them to look through your personalized photo albums just as they would the old fashioned type if they were to visit you at home. Another huge advantage of digital storage is the fact that you can return to the images time and time again. A relative, seeing a particularly cute baby photograph, might ask for a copy and ordering one will be the work of seconds. Similarly, should you choose to turn an image into one of the many photo gifts available, doing so will be simplicity itself, a huge difference from the days when re-prints had to be made from the original negative which, by that time, might have been scratched and damaged.

Digital photo albums, rather than taking up space and cluttering a home, exist online only, but can be accessed as quickly and simply as opening a book. Safe, secure and convenient, they are the twenty first century equivalent of a tin full of memories, with all of the pleasures, but none of the pitfalls.

Preserve your golden memories of life by engraving those precious Photo Books and Photo Albums through Albelli.

Original article

Where Can You Edit Pictures for Free?

If you are looking for an online photo editor to use to fix your pictures, then you definitely have your choice of options out there. There are many different free picture editors out there for you to use.

Free online editors are a great place to get one click type fixes done. Since most individuals don't have the technique developed or the time or money to invest in purchasing and learning an expensive software like Photoshop, free online picture editors fill the gap just fine for simple fixes.

Some online editors are web-based application so there is no download required. This is definitely a plus for someone who is not very technically inclined. Other online picture editing software requires that you download their programs or files to your computer. Sometimes downloads can be tricky so you need to decide if you want to deal with downloading software or would be better off with a web-based online editor.

With a lot of the editors, you have the option of installing one of their "extensions", "toolbars", or "widgets" for your specific browser so that you can get pictures off the net to edit on your own without having to actually save them then download them. Most of the basic versions of online editing software are free but you have the option to upgrade for a small fee in order to get all the professional bells and whistles.

There are different photo themes available and during the holidays, most picture editors offer holiday themes as well as the basic ones to choose from. This is good for someone who is looking to make a holiday greeting card out of their picture but they don't want to pay to have actual photo cards printed.

Using online photo editors may give you the fun options of  adding color or sparkles, but there is more to this story. If you are looking to edit your photos, you are most likely wanting to touch up skin, changing lighting, maybe even shave off a few pounds. You typically can't get an online site to do that. Even if you can manage to find a site that will accommodate you, you won't get the greatest quality or you will have to pay to be able to use it.

You also need to know that the free sites normally shrink your photo down and make them low resolution. This is bad for your images when you go to use them or print them because it makes them very pixelated, and there's no fix for that. So, where can you edit pictures without having to buy the software and learn it yourself?

In summary, using an online picture editing website for fun type photos is fine. However, if you are looking to have your pictures professionally edited, you should hire a professional human photo editor. Hiring an actual person to edit your photos will give you the quality you want at the size you want with the price you want.

If you are interested in seeing just how affordable it can be to have your pictures professionally edited by a former Disney photo editor, please visit my daughter's websites. You can see her work and contact her through her site over at Where Can You Edit Pictures

Original article

Facts About The Birth Of Photography

The title of photography was derived from two Greek words- "photos" and "graphein". This item was first used by the scientist John Herschel. Photography is essentially the process of using light, radiation in addition to sensitive materials.

The birth of the first image-
It has been stated that around, the early 1800's that Joseph Semaphore was able to create the first image by working for at least 8 hours on its development. A fellow citizen of the same homeland as Semaphore, Louis Daguerre was able to come up with a way to lower the exposure time to as little as 30 minutes.

The Daguerreotype-
Daguerre was the first to create the best and most useful methods for developing pictures. Louis was born near Paris. Prior to photography, he was a painter of sorts. He came up with his process and methods after experimenting with light and the way in which it effected images.

In the process of doing so, he developed a more efficient way of developing photos. After he created his methods, he wrote a book about the process and his discovery. After further discoveries in the early stages, the Pinhole camera as well as the flash bulb were created.

The arrival of instant photos-
Edwin Land created what is known as the Polaroid camera. As a result of his awesome work, we were able to take photos and get them instantly. This completely eliminated the time it took for the image to be exposed.

Digital Photography-
as we moved into the 90's the most exciting form of photography was born. Digital photography has had more impact on modern photography than anything. As a result of digital cameras, anyone can enjoy the fun that comes along with photography. You no longer needed to go you your local film processor or buy film. You also no longer needed expensive cameras that were on the market place.

Digital cameras are easy to use. They consist of advanced technology, but they are made to be user friendly so even the technically challenged can have fun using them.These are just a few facts about the birth of photography.

If you learn these facts and others, you'll have a great appreciation for photography as an art and science. When you're pursuing your photography ambitions be sure to think about all of the work that was applied to creating this wonderful art that we can enjoy today. Consider adding as much to the art form as possible that way the next generations can experience what we've been able to experience.

To learn more visit your local library and borrow a few books about the history of photography.

About The Author

Keith S. Black has many different photography methods. He is a successful photographer and makes a full time living as a photographer. To find out about one of the best cameras to use for your photography you can visit: http://reviewdslrcameras.com/nikon-reviews/ to read one of Keith's Nikon Reviews and get more information.

Original article

Where the Hottest Trends in Clipping Path Service Work?

Photo editing has become a very specialized business involving advanced software and editing knowledge. The straightforward cutting software is no longer preferred by new age professionals. Specialized graphic companies dealing in photo editing now exploit expensive apparatus to supply sophisticated services. The hottest trends in clipping path service, which focus on perfection and visual excellence of pictures, now divide one professional from another in the industry. This has granted new-fangled prospects for offshore companies to do aggressive trade daily. A proficient company needs to invest in expensive software and editing techniques. At the same time training the editors to perform the jobs is also essential. Backed by these two indispensable needs business is guaranteed. One of the newest trends is to use clipping path service to put together specialized 2D and 3D images. This work is best outsourced to a specialized company that has the latest Photoshop software. All these jobs are done keeping the low cost factor in mind.

Where the hottest trends of Clipping Path Service work?
The 2D & 3D pictures are usually used to make a visual impact in websites and sometimes in multimedia presentations. Other extensive uses involve large posters, billboards to attract consumers. Graphic designing has become the advanced way of humanizing digital pictures. Amalgamations of indispensable to multifaceted clipping path techniques are required to compose montage shots. To construct these breathtaking and accurate results, makes the digital outsourcing firm a leader in the path.

Already one can see that there are many articles, graphic tutorials, regular blogs to help professionals and new editors to enhance their skills. Each one is searching for the latest and hottest trends to help their clients. Today, clipping path service is no just knocking off a background and replacing it with another one. It has evolved with the development of new software. The advertising companies always come with challenging briefs to digital outsourcing firms. Both are interdependent on one another for survival. Naturally some of the hottest trends are inspired by the necessity arising from daring briefs.

Since clipping path is generally associated with vectorization, it can hide unwanted parts of a picture rather than just deleting it. There are different brands of software that have separate version of the same technique. For example the masking in the Illustrator program is just the same as the clipping path in image editing. Some editors can switch work on any kind of program. When one hires a firm, this is an advantage. Editors who work independently may stick to one kind of program only. In an outsourcing firm, there is a chance of trending better ways for clipping path service. Even though many hot trends keep appearing in the market, not all are applicable to clients. A consultant editor's advice should be taken before asking for application on any new technique that has been launched. Editors are best keyed in to perform their creativity within the framework of a brief. And that is how a company can stay in business for a longer time.

Atiqur Sumon
Chief Executive, DTP & SEO Expert at Outsource Experts Ltd.
Offshore Companies | Clipping Path Service

Original article

Take Your Own Christmas Card Photos

Going to a professional to have your Christmas card photos taken can sometimes be a waste of time and money. For amateur to professional photographers, taking your own Christmas family photos may just be the perfect way to go!

Get Out Your Camera

In order to take your own Christmas family portraits, you must first and foremost have some sort of a camera to take the pictures with. Most people have a basic point and shoot digital camera. With today's technology, most digital cameras are able to offer decent quality photos. For quality professional like photos, D-SLR cameras are the way to go. D-SLR cameras allow you to control the many different settings, which yield better photos. Manual D-SLR cameras are slightly pricey, but a camera in between a point and shoot digital and a D-SLR are also great options to look into! For those who are not familiar with how to work a D-SLR camera, it is best to spend some time prior to your photo shoot to understand the basics of lighting, aperture, ISO, and f-stop. This may seem a bit daunting at first, but you will get the hang of it after a few shots! If not, you always have the option of taking the photo in Automatic.

What to Wear

Depending on what theme you want for this holiday, have the family wear clothing that goes with a theme or a color scheme. This doesn't mean everyone has to wear the same color, wear matching Christmas sweaters, or look like the Partridge Family (unless you want to). Having the family wearing clothes that match usually conveys a sense of unity and cohesiveness. From a photographic artistically point of view, colors that mesh well will result in better looking photos. So plan ahead and pick out your outfit beforehand! As a side note, try to stay away from wearing reds. Red is a popular choice for Christmas, but it is a color that does not photograph well.

Location, Location, Location

The next important factor is where you choose to take your picture. Pictures have the best quality when there is natural light. Natural light works the best with our skin, creating soft and healthy looking subjects. Check your weather forecast to see if there is an optimal day where the sun is out and the weather is agreeable. Some great locations to take pictures can be as simple as in your yard, in a nearby park, or a local attraction. If you are planning on taking your pictures inside, make sure there is enough artificial light. Remember, the more light, the better the quality and the less grainy your pictures will come out.

Patience and Tweaking

An important thing to remember is to be realistic when taking your own Christmas card photos. Depending on the size of your family, number of young children, and photo knowledge, you might need to take a few hundred of shots before you have 10-20 shots that you can choose from. Keep in mind that even professionals have to take at least 10-15 shots to have one good one. Even after getting some quality shots, it is within your best interest to tweak them by changing the contrast, color, and other features by using any Photoshop or any basic photo software.

Taking family Christmas card photos can be great for family bonding. Have some silly pictures that you can share within your family. Have some embarrassing pictures for blackmail. Just remember to have fun with it!

Emilie lives in Atlanta, Georgia. She enjoys blogging about random holiday tidbits such as photography for Christmas photo cards.

Original article

Photography Cliches

Photography has fashion trends, just like any other creative industry. Some enterprising soul will be playing around and come up with a new look that catches on and, before long, the world is awash in copycat photos. Some of these techniques will continue on long after the novelty has worn off and become almost a visual cliche.

Sometimes that's okay. It's good to be aware of the over-done photography trends, even try a couple shots of your own just to see how it works for you. Do be cautious not to let them turn into a staple of your portfolio. If you want to stand out as a photographer, you have to develop your own unique style.

Here are some techniques to try but be careful including in your portfolio.

Color Isolation

Selecting one element in a photograph to leave colored and gray scale the rest of the picture.

This is a post-processing technique that works sometimes but tops the list of overdone visual tricks.

Instead try a variation of this technique that's a little less cliche which is to isolate one color instead of one colored object. A picture where the greens stay vibrant and everything else is gray scaled. It's a lot harder to do but can yield some very interesting results.

The Dutch Angle

Also called the Batman Angle or Dutch Tilt is when you hold your camera at angles between portrait and landscape in order to get more a subject in the frame. Sometimes it works if you're trying to challenge visual perceptions of your viewers, more often it creates a general sense of unease that's overall unflattering.

Change lenses, shift your perspective, try a lot of things before employing this technique which was used extensively in the old Batman TV show (hence the name). It's old, it's over-used and there are frequently better options.

Garish Watermarks

The height of vanity combined with a healthy dose of paranoia. In these days of metadata, digital watermarks and search engines like TinyEye, keeping track of image use on the internet, it's not all that difficult.

You don't need to plaster your images with obscene watermarks in an attempt to get your name out. It detracts from the picture and makes you look insecure and loutish.

Over-Saturated HDR

High Dynamic Range photography is an interesting technique but sometimes the pictures come out looking over-saturated. It's also one of those techniques that's been done to death lately. Yes, absolutely learn how it's done. It's a good study in controlling contrast and color depth, but don't rely on it as a staple.

If you want to be a freak about anything color related, be freak about flesh tones. For natural looking portraits nothing beats quality skin tones.

Heavy Vignetting

Nothing screams "amateur hour" quite like heavy vignetting, whether it's a genuine artifact or done in post processing, an even greater sin.

Crop tighter or buy a frame. Good photography doesn't need this type of trick to get people to focus on the subject.

Writing On Pictures

Another distracting amateur move that not only adds little to a photograph, it robs the viewer of their ability to interpret the meaning for themselves. Instead of encouraging people to think, you're telling them what to think.

This is right up there with bikini clad women holding assault rifles for making your photography scream "trailer trash".

Quality photography stands on its own and doesn't need any help eliciting emotion from the viewer. Avoid the temptation to grab them by the nose and drag them where you want them to go.

You'll learn even more with Proud Photography - one of the best online photography schools available today at http://www.proudphotography.com/

Original article

Video Tripod and Camera Bag

Getting a camera or video camera is a great way to be able to keep a record of things, to make videos and take pictures and to create media that can be a part of websites, magazines or other creations. There are plenty of reasons why anyone should own a video camera and they are a fantastic purchase for hobbyists, professionals and beginners alike.

However getting cameras or video cameras on their own is a risk and a mistake and there are many other things that you should certainly consider purchasing if you are going to buy a video camera. Here we will look at two very important purchases if you have a camera or video camera.

Tripod: A tripod is a highly important purchase for those with cameras for many reasons. The main time you will use a tripod is to steady the camera. This is very useful when you are making videos of things and you want to do away with that shaky 'hand held' effect. If you want to record normal steady video then you will need to use a tripod in order to achieve that. Likewise a tripod is necessary for some photography. This is often the case when there is no flash on the camera as this forces you to turn up the light sensitivity when you are in dark areas. That then in turn means that the camera is far more sensitive to tiny movements and these end up making the pictures look very blurry and almost 'smudged'. If you want to take photos that don't have this problem then you will need to use a tripod when taking such photos.

Lastly a tripod is very important for being able to make videos and take photos of yourself. If you are on holiday for instance, then there is a good chance that you and your fellow travelers might want a photo together in front of a landmark. To do this you'll need to stand the camera somewhere and put it on timer and that's why you need a tripod. Without one you will end up having to balance the tripod and this will mean it risks falling over or breaking.

Camera Bag: A camera bag is also very important if you are going to be carrying the camera with you anywhere. Portability is an important feature of a camera and most people unfortunately don't have much of note worth photographing in their own bedrooms etc so they won't be taking photos from home. This then means that they need a camera bag in order to take the camera around with them. Without it if you left the camera loose in your bag then you would risk scratching the delicate lens or the LCD screen and this would then mean you were unable to use it. At the same time a camera bag protects the camera in case you drop it and usually comes with an additional chord allowing you to hang it from your wrist or around your neck when it's out of the bag but not in use.

Cameras can be quite expensive and costly to repair or replace. By keeping your camera in a Video Tripod or Camera Bag, it will protect it from damage. Camera Bag and Backpacks can be fairly cheap too.

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Make Art From Your Memories With Photos On Canvas

Even a frankly average canvas print can have a high impact on the decor of a house. This is mainly down to the nature of canvas itself, the fact that it is an organic material and thus emits a unique warmth and classic aesthetic which has resulted in it being the medium of choice for artists going back very many centuries. Over and above this, however, the choice of image which is represented on the canvas will be the thing which says the most about the kind of person you are and the type of image you want to portray to the rest of the world. Many people opt for canvas photo prints or photo calendars to decorate their walls, on the basis that they offer a combination of the classic and the modern which will fit in with almost any type of decor.

The key to selecting art for your own home, however, is a desire to mark yourself and your living space out as something very different, and the selection of photos on canvas which is available mean that this can be very difficult indeed. Even if you find something which you like, and which you think chimes in with your life, the knowledge that it is mass produced will take away from any satisfaction you derive. After all, as you hang it on your wall, you'll be keenly aware that very many other houses throughout the country are boasting the very same picture, which rather defeats the aim of purchasing art in the first place. One answer to this conundrum is to create your very own art but, for most people, this really isn't an option. After all, production and framing them is a specialized job requiring both training and expensive equipment, and is therefore well outside the reach of the average person. Or, at least, this used to be the case.

The development of digital photography has altered things to the point where it is now incredibly easy for absolutely anyone to produce photo canvas prints. The trickiest part of the entire process may well end up being making the choice of which image you wish to turn into a work of art. It could be a favorite picture of your children, one which captures the fun and spontaneity of family life, but which will be blown up to gallery size and framed on canvas in the manner of a professional gallery. If not that, you may wish to enlarge a fantastic shot of a special beauty spot, or a large scale group shot of your whole family together at a special event.

As stated, making this choice may well be the trickiest part of all, since, once you've opted for an image, you merely have to upload it to the website and then choose the size and shape of the finished print. Once this has been done the canvas prints will be produced on canvas which is wipe clean and will not fade through exposure to sunlight. Mounted on a strong wooden frame and featuring a gallery style 'wrap around' effect, it will be a fantastic object fit to decorate any home, or to give as a once in a lifetime bespoke gift.

Your pictures are precious to you, and this means that you want to share them. One of the most effective means of doing so is to turn your favorites into photo canvas prints. Not only will you have a great piece of art, but you'll have one which is unique, personal and deeply meaningful.

Capture a master piece a work of art on canvas print or photo calendars online that Albelli offers.

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A Little About Photography

Photography, the more I love photography the less I actually think about it. What is the essence of photography? It is related to how we consider photography and what photography is to us. For most people photography is a way to remember, you go on a trip and you take pictures to remember that trip. To remember the moments.

Is it exactly a way to remember though? If you were to show those photographs to someone unrelated to the trip or to you, they may try to find a story behind them, but they would not understand them. Then a photograph is not a memory in itself, it is a way to trigger the memories of people who shared it.

Although I love photography, I never opened the dictionary to read how it was defined. Oxford dictionary states: "photography: the art or practice of taking and processing photographs."

There are a few things we can see in this definition. First, Photography is either an art or a practice, it serves a multi purpose. The practice is to take pictures to trigger the memories of things you saw. The art is to show something to others through a photograph. To organize the frame in a way, so that it is not about what is inside of the frame anymore, but even more about what is not. Organizing what is real to match your vision of the world.

The second is that photography is about taking and processing. The processing (or lack of processing if a choice) is said to be part of the photography process.

Mentioning processing raises the issue of truth. Is there truth in photography? Capturing what is real is to be honest a very tricky issue. If you were to ask a photographer in charge of taking the photograph of a painting how he feels. He would tell you, hard: hard to obtain the right colors, hard not to flatten the photograph but to retain the strokes of painting.

And what is truth in photography exactly? Is it to show the world as it is? If so, then it would look very different from how we see it, since the range of colors which we, humans, perceive is narrow. It depends on the number of cones in our eyes and their range.

If the truth is to show the world as humans see it, then we face an issue. Not all humans are born the same, some are taller, some are skinnier, some have blonde hair. And we have different eyes with a different perception.

Most camera manufacturers use the CMOS sensor for the cameras they manufacture. Understanding the global functioning of this sensor helps us to understand our current issue. A CMOS sensor is electronic, when electrons reach the censor inside the camera, the photo-sites of the censor record their value.

The problem is that those photo-sites are colorblind. To produce colors, most sensors have photo-sites each focusing on one of the three primary colors: In other words red, green and blue. Then the information recorded by the censor is filtered and mixed to produce the photograph you see.

The most common way of processing, also called demosaicing is through the Bayer filter pattern. This technique gives priority to the green color, green accounts for twice as much as red or blue in the formula.

Because the human eye is very sensitive to green compared to the two other primary colors, camera manufacturers have to adapt how cameras perceive the world, so that it indeed looks like what we see. Understanding how the camera processes photographs, there is no universal truth in our visual perception of the world.

For such reasons, looking for truth in photography is an enterprise promised to fail. Instead, it is using the world as a raw material for us to shape. We are lucky as photographers, for we were given the whole world as a playground, to be the eyes of our world.

Thibaut Fantian is a landscape & portrait photographer currently based in Kyoto, Japan. His work and services are available online at http://www.frameaway.com/.

Frame Away aims at providing pure photographs for your vision.

Email contact@frameaway.com today for further details.

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Tips From a Pro Photographer

Growing in the world of photography means learning a few tips that can be the difference between getting the shot and missing the moment.

Hold The Button Half-Way

In journalistic photography it's frequently necessary to shoot under fairly barbaric conditions. A crowd of other photographers all shouting questions and jostling one another for position, and holding the camera over your head. In situations like that it's sometimes necessary to switch your camera to automatic settings, particularly auto-focus. That can introduce a delay between when you push the button and when the camera actually fires as the auto-focus hunts for focus while arms, heads and other cameras are moving around in the field of view.

Pressing the shutter button half-way allows the camera to calculate exposure and focus while you're waiting for the opportune moment. In most cameras holding the shutter button half-way also locks the exposure and focus, eliminating the delay between pressing the shutter button and the camera firing.

Though do be aware that some cameras go into continuous focus mode, which means the focus is constantly shifting as long as the button is half-way down. That's why it's imperative to know exactly how your camera operates in any exposure mode.

Golden Hour

Show me a picture with rich colors, a warm golden tint to the scene, a gorgeous, deeply tinted gradient in the colors of the sky and I'll show you a photographer who got up at 4:30 in the am and hauled a ton of gear out into the wilderness by flashlight.

There are two times during the day when the light is at its best for photography and film, both are called the "golden hour". Usually it's the hour just after sun up and the hour just before sunset. That's when you'll find photographers and film crews working furiously. Even a momentary delay will have someone saying, "We're losing the light!" It's not about to go dark, what they mean is they're losing the golden hour light.

Accentuate Motion

You might have seen a shot of runner where the background is a blur while the runner is in relatively sharp focus.

A pro tip for making athletes or other moving objects seem like they're going faster than they are is to find a place where the subject is separated from the background, back up as far as you can and then zoom in.

When you then pan with the moving object, the background is moving faster in relative terms than the subject of the photo. So with a little experimentation you can find the sweet spot where the subject is frozen and the background is blurred, lending the subject the impression that they're speeding along so fast the landscape is a blur.

Lamp Shade Tripod

This last tip is more of a humorous curiosity than serious tool, but it's a neat trick to amaze your friends.

If you're ever in a pinch for a tripod, see if you can find an old lamp. As it turns out, many lamp shade posts are the exact same size as your camera's tripod mount. Take the shade off and presto, instant tripod.

Do be careful. Don't ever force fit a tripod socket. But, in a pinch, it's a clever way to craft an emergency tripod.

You'll learn even more with Proud Photography - one of the best online photography schools available today at http://www.proudphotography.com/

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Optimizing Nature Photography With Canon High Definition Cameras

Throughout history it is evident that man has always endeavored to encapsulate the beauty of nature that surrounds him. Nature photography has been in existence ever since the first cameras and with advances in technology has now become highly specialized. Canon High Definition cameras play a big part in the evolution of nature photography.

There are many aspects to nature photography that are combined for the perfect image that an artist may wish to create. Most important of these are depth of field, color constancy, dimension, tone and range. A photographer should have a fair understanding of these aspects that help to change the presentation of an image. Canon High Definition cameras are powerful tools in the hands of photographers who know how to compose that perfect image. It is useful to learn how a digital camera perceives nature as opposed to the human eye.

Many people think that having an expensive camera will help the photographer to compose the best picture possible. This however is not the case as any veteran photographer will tell you and with a little research and imagination a user can produce excellent nature photographs with Canon High Definition cameras.

Depth of Field and Dimension

Canon High Definition cameras help to create images with composite planes. The human eye perceives surroundings in three dimensions while cameras see it in two. The disparity between these two often makes photographers lament that the image they took does not quite resemble what they saw. Thus, it is important to have equipment that can help the user to create depth and dimension and this is certainly addressed by Canon High Definition cameras when used to capture nature.

Color constancy

Color constancy of the human eye allows people to perceive objects in color that remains constant regardless of lighting conditions. However, it is paramount that a photographer understands clearly how nature photography using color film changes according to light temperature. This will help to create images that are true in color to life. Canon High Definition cameras help the user to manipulate shifts in color with white balance in order to take realistic images. The behavior of light is important in representing the final scene.

Tone of image

This is one area that a nature photographer should be careful in as the output of light in any given scenery differs from what it records. The human eye captures intense light with marginal increases while digital cameras have a linear approach to capturing light. Therefore, getting the precise tonal response correct is important in nature photography. Canon High Definition cameras will help to obtain the correct feeling of an image that the photographer seeks to convey to a viewer.

Range

The dynamic range of the human eye is quite sophisticated while digital cameras have a lesser range. This is an important factor to take into account for all novices of nature photography. The scene that is being captured has to be evaluated correctly in order to obtain the desired image. Canon High Definition cameras can be helpful in finding the best way to overcome shadows and other obstacles that may not be that clear to the human eye. With time however, a photographer will learn to optimize different lighting conditions. Another technique used is taking multiple exposures of a scene and then making one composite image out of them. This method will help to create the different ranges as closely as possible to the experience of the human eye.

Nature photography is an area where artists can excel by using Canon High Definition cameras. Time and care being taken to understand the human experience of scenery and the manner in which it will be translated by a digital camera will be well worth the effort.

Joanne is a well- known photographer and writer; she is an expert on digital cameras and a very attentive reviewer of popular products. You can visit one of her most popular site on Canon Refurbished Cameras, where she analyzes the pros and cons of buying refurbished cameras, talks about high definition cameras, camera batteries, etc.

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Successful Promotion for Photographers

You will find a whole lot of helpful reads on photographic strategies from simple camera use to lighting style, portraiture, post-processing and promotion. Depending on the kind of photography you would want to pursue and your level of expertise, books are largely dependent on personal preference. When coping with the intricacies of business contracts or marketing, no matter your photographic liking, there are many books that are must haves for the bookshelf.

Elyse Weissberg's "Successful Self Promotion for Photographers" is an excellent book. When presented with a number of choices of books to fulfill a requirement for a studio management class many moons ago, I opted for this publication and since then I haven't encountered reading so informative or jam-packed with needed information. If you want support enhancing your photography endeavors - pick up a copy right away.

The book is separated into ten sections, each one dealing with issues in developing, selling and promoting a photography business. "Dos" and "don'ts" can be found at the end of nearly every module for easy reference. I found this book to be well worth the $35 and strongly suggest it to any novice or expert portrait or wedding photographer.

Chapters one and two are stuffed with start up recommendations for beginners. Weissberg assembles a power packed list of promotional techniques and a solid outline with directions to enable readers to determine personalized objectives, the significance of staying true to a brand, an image, a service, an experience and a style that speaks to a targeted audience.

Seeking approaches to learn your market and form a portfolio to satisfy a specific clientele? Chapters three and four offer up in depth understanding of successful practices created to help appeal to the needs of your potential customers by showing your availability to fulfill their needs. This is accomplished easily by way of advertising and portfolios. The writer echoes at length about how such displays can be understood differently in a variety of market segments such as magazine, fine art, fashion and design and presents ideas for approaching the particular market.

If identifying your values is essential to being highly valued a photographer, then chapters five and six will offer you a restored viewpoint and enable you to discover your vision and voice. Only by realizing who you are can you find who your clients are. Weissberg sends you along with critical skills to creating a plan based upon audience, budget and taste.

Chapters seven through ten close with some other professional marketing and advertising ideas for photographers: from building brand identification, to creating promotions, mailings, and conversing in your customer's vocabulary. Not only will you develop packages and ads that speak volumes to your brand but this same voice or vision will ring in their minds and ears.

This is not only practical, but also an engaging read that will leave you with dozens of ideas for expanding your photography business and marketing methods. The biggest advantage of this book is the commonsensical matter offered; after completion I felt as though I had a talk with a fellow photographer or friend.

Ziem Nguyen Malkani is an Austin wedding photographer and available for travel in the US and Caribbean. She has a solid background in digital image processing and photography. Her wedding images have been featured in Town and Country and have also been given awards and national attention. To see more about Austin wedding photography visit her website at http://www.ziemphotography.com/.

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