Big D Photo - Creating Lifetime Memories

Thanksgiving Photography

2011-11-24T09:22:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is a great time for taking photos! One type of photograph you can take is a picture of the feast and your family and friends enjoying it. Thanksgiving is, after all, a harvest celebration of sorts, and food plays an integral part in the holiday. So, one of the first pictures you should consider taking is of the table loaded with all of the goodies that everyone is about to consume.

Ten tips for budding photojournalists

2011-09-27T20:32:00.000-05:00

Times news snapper Ben Gurr’s top news photography tips:1: Photographers have to be totally familiar with their equipment. You should not need to think about the technical side of things. Take lots of photographs and your thinking will soon be devoted to the image.2: Study your subject with childlike curiosity and do not forget the background.3: Use the light that exists naturally and record the

Choosing Your Horizon

2011-09-21T18:51:00.000-05:00

When out in the field and faced with a fabulous scene in front of you, there are three choices to consider when it comes to where you should place your horizon; Top, middle, bottom. Positioning the horizon in one of these three places will dramatically effect the perspective of the picture and will help to give your photographs a more dynamic edge. Generally speaking, the casual snapper and

Point-And-Shoot Vs Digital SLR (DSLR)

2011-05-28T08:07:00.000-05:00

Regardless of the manufacturer you prefer, if you've been in the market for a new camera lately I'm sure you've had to sit down and ponder this question; point-and-shoot or DSLR? If you're living in the United States like I am right now, you've probably got a little tax reimbursement burning a hole in your pocket and would just LOVE to make it turn into a slick, shiny new camera that would make

Easter Family Portrait Tips

2011-04-21T09:26:00.000-05:00

Whether you have a family of five or 15, you want your clan to look its best when shooting Easter portraits. In order to snap frame worthy family shots during the holiday weekend, consider the following tips: Coordinate: You don't want to set up a shot that features little Johnny in his Easter Sunday best while grandpa is sporting his work overalls and boots. Consistency and coordination is

How To Camera’s Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB) Function

2011-04-17T14:05:00.000-05:00

How To Camera’s Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB) Function There are many advantages to digital photography compared to traditional film photography, but both require a correct exposure to capture the picture you want to take. Many of these PhotographyTalk.com articles explain the nuances of exposure. Digital Photography—Taming the Three-Headed Exposure Monster, Part 1 is a good place to

10 Tips to Great Prom Photos

2011-04-15T08:52:00.000-05:00

Prom night is the biggest night of the year for a high schooler. Here are some great ideas to make your "informal" prom shots fabulous! 1. Watch the BackgroundYou've probably heard this idea a lot but its always true. Watch your background! No one looks good in a tux with a full garbage can behind them or an advertisement-littered telephone pole growing out of their head. Pick a spot where

Artistry – Behind the Lens and After

2011-04-12T12:08:00.000-05:00

Billy York - Big D Photo For the amateur post processing is a way to make a bad photo better. For the photographic artist the magic begins behind the lens and continues through post processing. The greatest role model for post processing may be Ansel Adams. He was a excellent craftsman at taking compelling images but his art continued on the darkroom. Ansel was a master at developing

Demystifying Ansel Adam's Zone System

2011-04-03T08:01:00.001-05:00

Ansel Adams was a genius. He was methodical in his work and extremely demanding in terms of the quality of his prints. Those who admire his work or attempt to imitate his methods are often perplexed or intimidated by the results. It seems that a vast majority of people believe that Ansel Adams’ techniques, often shrouded in mystery, are impossible to master. This is simply not so. This article is

Photojournalism Tips

2011-02-21T16:41:00.001-06:00

You can review thousands of photojournalism tips, but unless you find a way to apply the concepts to your own shots, you likely won't succeed in the field. About Photojournalism Photojournalism is the visual documentation of newsworthy events and subjects. Images snapped by photojournalists illustrate what is taking place during an exact moment in time. Nothing speaks louder or captures an

The 3 Absolutes of Coaching Youth Baseball

2011-02-17T14:16:00.000-06:00

I know this is a little off topic...but please bear with me. If you have a child that is involved in youth sports, then you know there is more than ample opportunity for taking photos of those special times! The 3 Absolutes of Coaching Youth Baseball Baseball is one of the most demanding sports to coach. The purpose and function of youth baseball is to provide a quality sports team experience

How To Take Great Springtime Photos

2011-02-15T13:06:00.000-06:00

With the cold weather slowly fading away and winter melts into spring, nature begins to bloom once again and photographers rush out to capture it. Find out how to take advantage of the natural light and colors that appear in spring, and how to take unique and interesting photos during this season. Flowers are one of the most popular photography subjects in the spring. They provide photographers

Wildlife Photography Tips

2011-02-07T20:35:00.001-06:00

With Springtime approaching soon, I thought I would pass on a few photography tips for anyone interested in wildlife images. 1) Be Patient Sometimes nature is on its own time table and you can not speed it up or or slow it down. 2) Nature Rules Nature always wins. There will always be photo opportunities for you each day. You will never get them all because you weren't ready or you came by 2

Top 5 Black & White Photography Tips

2011-02-03T08:51:00.000-06:00

Black & white photography, for me, is one of the most interesting and inspiring aspects of this art form we call our hobby and passion. It’s raw & refined, natural & unusual, bold & subtle, mysterious & open, emotional & impassive, simple & complex, black & white & everything in between. The monochromatic image has been with photography since the beginning, but what began as the only way to

Photography 101: Lens Characteristics

2011-01-15T20:05:00.000-06:00

For those of you considering a lens purchase in the near future, the following lens characteristics are important to understand and consider when researching the best buy for you. The terminology and concepts are used to sell better-quality lenses, so study the list below, and be on the lookout for what counts! Internal Focusing (IF) Characteristics: The movement of the lens for focusing

Valentine's Day Photo Tips: Take a Heart Felt Portrait for the One You Love!

2011-01-14T09:00:00.000-06:00

For Valentine's Day, what better way to show your affection than to take a heart felt portrait for the one you love? Here are five tips to help you do it right. 1. You want the focus of attention in your photo to be your subject's face and expression. Suggest clothing that will not take attention away from the subject- avoid checked patterns, stripes and big patterns, unless such outfits are

Cold Weather Photography

2011-01-11T09:07:00.001-06:00

Cold weather photography presents numerous challenges to photographers and their equipment. From drained batteries to frostbit fingers, cold weather photography is a completely different prospect than hot weather shooting. While there are some simple solutions to most cold weather photography problems, these solutions may not be the ones you would first think about. Equipment Problems

Which Lens Do You Like Best?

2011-01-07T11:43:00.000-06:00

There have been a few times when I get asked “which lens do you like best?” Well, there is one lens that is at the top of my list.... The Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Lens. This lens works great in low light, but is very responsive as well. It gives a very shallow "depth of field", is highly recommended for taking portrait pictures, while giving a large and nice bokeh. The best thing about

The Beauty Of Large Aperture In Digital Photography

2011-01-07T09:16:00.001-06:00

In digital photography there is one thing that, for crisp images, you simply must know about. And that’s the proper use of your aperture. When you use your aperture the right way in your digital photography you can really influence a lot of creative factors. What I am about to tell you will help your digital photography a lot, because you’ll be discovering a professional digital photography

Different Digital Camera Modes -- Shutter Or Aperture Priority And More

2011-01-02T15:17:00.000-06:00

Digital cameras can be put in different photo shooting modes. The most used mode is automatic – the only thing you need to do is point and shoot. However understanding and using the other options will allow you to get better photos in certain scenarios. Here is how. Some modes might not be available on your camera. You can set the mode either by using the camera menus on its LCD in which case

10 Things You Could Be Using Photoshop For, But Probably Aren't!

2010-12-28T09:26:00.000-06:00

Most people don't use Photoshop to its fullest capabilities. Here are just ten uses to which you could put this highly versatile software. 1. Restoring Old Photographs. Have a look through that old family photo album - the really old one from up in Grandma's attic. Inside there are probably a few photos from way back when that haven't stood the test of time so well. They've got cracks and

Big D Photo - Creating Lifetime Memories: Turkey-Veggie-Rice-Stuffed Rosemary Buns

2010-12-20T19:16:00.000-06:00

Big D Photo - Creating Lifetime Memories: Turkey-Veggie-Rice-Stuffed Rosemary Buns: "Ok...this was too good not to share! I have to thank my friend Ken Withrow with this idea and recipe. We made a few changes, and don't s..."

Turkey-Veggie-Rice-Stuffed Rosemary Buns

2010-12-20T19:15:00.000-06:00

Ok...this was too good not to share! I have to thank my friend Ken Withrow with this idea and recipe. We made a few changes, and don't see why you can't mix things up a bit to get what you want. We used beef instead of turkey, and the rest was pretty much the same. Thinking of doing again in a few weeks, but change up the rosemary for Italian seasoning, and the stuffing will be pizza filling.

Photographing Christmas Lights - Use Your Digital Camera To Capture Festive Art Works

2010-12-14T17:55:00.000-06:00

Every Christmas householders create artistic light sculptures, adorning their homes with a host of illuminated Christmas decorations, making challenging photo subjects. These temporary displays offer many unique variations using readily available lights. With a large range of lights on offer, the creative expression comes from how they are used. This depends on the design and layout of the

14 Great Tips for Better Holiday Photos

2010-12-13T14:05:00.001-06:00

Do you want better holiday photos? Are your snaps a bit of a let down? Follow my 10 top tips to get photos that will live up to the memories. You'll be amazed how good they'll look and your friends and family will too. 1. To get clear photos avoid camera shake or moving the camera as you take the photo. Squeeze the shutter gently and steady yourself against solid objects. 2. Frame the shot