Digital photography tips and review

AVOID LENS FLARE OR ADD IT FOR A MORE ARTISTIC PICTURE

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:26:00 +0000

Lens flare can destroy your picture by overexposing your subject or improve it by giving a dramatic effect,so it's very important to learn to control it.
What is Lens Flare?The lenses of your camera contains several lens elements,even if it is the simplest camera.Lens flare is caused by light not included in the image which does not pass (refract) directly along its intended path, but instead reflects internally on lens elements any number of times (back and forth) before finally reaching the film or digital sensor.Like the sun rays at the photo on the right.
Lens elements often contain some type of anti-reflective coating which aims to minimize flare, but they don't eliminate it entirely.
Although flare is technically caused by internal reflections, this often requires very intense light sources in order to become significant (relative to refracted light). Flare-inducing light sources may include the sun, artificial lighting and even a full moon. Even if the photo itself contains no intense light sources, stray light may still enter the lens if it hits the front element. Ordinarily light which is outside the angle of view does not contribute to the final image, but if this light reflects it may travel an unintended path and reach the film/sensor.
Prevent lens flare- it is necessary to shade the lens from the light source.Lens manufacturers create lens hoods to help minimize lens flare and are made to fit a particular lens focal length but may not always be sufficient to block all of the flare (careful-lens hoods made for zoom lenses do not work as well as those made for prime (single focal length) lenses and you have to choose the appropriate lens hood for your camera).Or you can use your hand, a hat, a reflector or any other object that can block the light from falling on your lens.Just be sure that you do not place whatever you use to block the light so close that is can be seen in your photograph. Another alternative is to position yourself so that an object within your frame blocks the light source partially or completely
Inexpensive UV, polarizing, and neutral density filters can all increase flare by introducing additional surfaces which light can reflect from.If flare was unavoidable and it produced a washed out image (due to veiling flare), the levels tool and local contrast enhancement can both help regain the appearance of contrast.

Artistic effect-As we said before lens flare can add a special effect to the picture so here we will give some ideas to create it:
1.Shoot in direct sun light or another powerful source of light-This is the main way to create lens flare.
2. Think Silhouette: Place your subject in front of you, with their back to the sun. Your subject will be backlit as though you were capturing a silhouette.
3. Use Manual Mode: Your camera will expose the scene for the total amount of light in the photo. If you follow the camera’s metering, you will be left with a silhouette as it tries to compensate for the amount of light. Shooting on Manual will enable you to over-compensate for the back light, so your subject is perfectly lit - even with the over exposed background.
4.Create it with photoshop-is a very fun way to add lens flare.After you have captured the perfect image you can decide where you need your lens flare to be and what dimension you need it to be.follow this is steps:

Open your image with photoshop
Go to Filters, then go to Renders and then choose Lens Flare
Move the target by using left mouse to wherever you want the flare to starts
Choose the britness level
Choose the lens type, from small to big
Press OK and there you go...You can add one or more lens flare depend on your photo.

VALENTINE'S DAY PHOTOGRAPH

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:02:00 +0000

On Valentine day there are a lot of ways to show your affection:a special gift,a romantic trip,a romantic dinner or...if you don't have much to spent and want to do something great,you can take a romantic portrait of the one that you love.You can take a great portrait of yourself and put it in a great frame.Or you can pay a professional photographer to take a special portrait to you as a gift for your boyfriend/girlfriend but this depends on your budget.
Here we are going to give you some basic tips for portrait photography so you can take photos of your self or your boyfriend,but remember if you want to take some self-portrait you will need a tripod.

Focus on the subject- you want the focus of attention in your photo to be your subject's face and expression. Suggest dark clothing that will be subdued - avoid checks, stripes and big patterns, unless such outfits are your subject's trademark. The subject's face should stand out, not the clothing!
Fill the frame- come in close and fill the frame with your subject. Generally, you'll be better off with a "head-and-shoulders" shot in which the hands don't show.
If the hands do show- give them something to hold - gloves, a small bouquet, a hat - anything that's appropriate.
Shutter speed-use fast shutter speeds:outdoors ISO 200, indoors ISO 400 or faster.
Flash-Shoot some pictures with flash, some without.When using flash, keep your subject a few feet from the background to minimize dark wall shadows.
Continuous shooting mode-Because you will shot yourself or your partner with continuous mode you have the possibility to take a lot of picture where to choose from.
Careful before printing-Examine your photos carefully you still have time to do some adjusts using a post-processing software that you are familiar with ,or use online sites.
At last-Then take the best photo and have it enlarged so that you can put a 4 x 6, 5 x 7, or 8 x 10 print in a tasteful frame for a great Valentine's Day present!

The previous tips are the basics for shooting a photo of your partner or your self independently if you are a male or female.
Now if you are a girl and want to do something special for your boyfriend here are some other tips,but as we said earlier you will need a good tripod,maybe if you will shoot just face and shoulder you can work without it but if you want to photograph the entire body you will definitely need a good one.

Make up-Put on makeup as though you are going out for a fancy evening. This is generally heavier than your usual "look", and will usually appear light and natural under the studio lighting. Use a bit more foundation than normal, carefully blending it from your face down to your upper body. If you plan to wear something revealing, you do not want your face to be one color and your upper body another color.
Avoid overdoing tanning at salons prior to a photo session. You may burn or freckles may become more prominent. Tanning lotions may cause your skin to appear splotchy when makeup is applied. Eye shadow should be a lighter color rather than darker to bring your eyes forward. Blush and lip color should be heavier than usual. Blush should be evenly blended and lip color should be a shade darker than usual avoiding light colors and especially anything that looks frosted. Most importantly, use enough powder for a matte finish. You should have a solid foundation of powder. This matte finish is very important to avoid shiny reflections of the lights, called hotspots. You will have an opportunity to touch it up and make small corrections prior to starting the session.
Heels-put on the tallest heels that you have in a variety of colors (black, white, and red for example). If you’re not sure what to wear, consider some of the following:
-An apron & high heels
-His uniform or favorite shirt
- Cowboy boots & hat
- A tux shirt with black studs and black cuff-links
- A tux bow-tie
- A body stocking
- Strings of different colored beads
- A leather jacket
- A vest
- Cutoffs
- A bath towel with wet hair
- Wet T-shirt
- Silk boxer shorts
- A T-shirt
- Anything thin, transparent or translucent
- Halloween costumes
- Anything fishnet (tops, stockings etc)
- Artificial flower petals or leaves
- A mini skirt
- An off-the-shoulder top
- A tank top which is either too tight, cut-off too much or both
- Sunglasses
- Scarves
- Lingerie
- Stockings
- A fun wig
- Anything unusual or outfits that you would never wear outside
For boudoir portraits, leg openings in panties and other items should a high cut style, French cut, to make your legs appear longer and more attractive. Be sure to bring matching jewelry, shoes, and accessories for any outfits. As with clothing, bring any props which have special meaning.Examples might include special jewelry received as gifts, sports equipment, or unusual accessories. If these photographs are for somebody special,think about their likes and dislikes and hobbies for ideas on what to bring.
Depending on your interest, I’d suggest signing up to receive free catalogs from companies such as:Victoria's Secret,purchase magazines like Playboy, Maxim,or King or find books of artistic nudes. Study them and pay particular attention to how the models pose in different style clothing. Look closely at how they hold their hands, arch the backs, legs and feet.
Black and white photography-Sometimes when your colors aren't so beautiful is better to make your photo in black/white as it gives a more intimate feeling and because the viewer will be more focused on the subject that in the colors
If you have an i-Pod create a play list to get you in the mood for creating great photos.You may like love songs but choose songs that will energize you.
Get your nails and toes done. Generally, short and neutral (nude polish or a French
manicure) is the best way to go.
Drink plenty of water; avoid salty foods and alcohol prior to a shoot so that you are n
ot puffy on the day of the shoot.
Trim split ends and dye your roots. Studio lights exaggerate both of these! It is not the time to try a new hair color or cut.If you end up hating your hair it will show up in your photos.
Make sure if you are going to have “special” favors such as hearts that those are photographed.I think color is important and red is the call for the day…well so is pink and white. I would try to incorporate as much of the color as possible in to the photography.

Make sure you get lots of photos because not everything you shoot will be perfect.
We wish you a happy Valentine's day

SHUTTER SPEED

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:05:00 +0000

Shutter Priority mode- is a semi-automatic exposure mode.In some cameras you will find it Tv,and in some S on the camera dial.You select the shutter speed and the camera automatically sets the aperture for a proper exposure.For digital cameras without Shutter Priority,you can use use Sports, Kids and Pets or Fast Shutter mode.
Shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter remains open to allow light to reach a digital camera sensor. Shutter speed is measured in seconds, or fractions of seconds.
How an image is exposed is determined by the combination of the lens aperture and shutter speed. A fast shutter speed will use a larger aperture (small F-stop number) to avoid an under-exposed image. A slow shutter speed requires a small aperture (large F-stop number) to avoid over-exposure.
Typical shutter speeds are: 1/2000 second, 1/2000 sec, 1/500 sec, 1/250 sec, 1/125 sec, 1/60 sec, 1/30 sec, 1/15 sec, 1/8 sec, 1/4 sec, 1/2 sec and 1 second. On some digital cameras you can manually set shutter speed a lot slower than a second for very long exposures.But if you want to use a shutter speed slower than 1/60 sec you will need a camera support,so you have to consider a tripod to prevent camera shake.
Slow shutter speeds are often used in low light conditions, extending the time until the shutter closes, and increasing the amount of light gathered. This basic principle of photography, the exposure, is used in film and digital cameras, the image sensor effectively acting like film when exposed by the shutter.
But slow shutter speed can be used to intentionally blur a moving subject for artistic effect.
A slightly slower shutter speed will allow the photographer to introduce an element of blur, either in the subject or if the camera ispanned to follow a moving subject, the background is blurred while the subject remains sharp.This is called motion blur.The exact point at which the background or subject will start to blur depends on the rate at which the object is moving, the distance it is from the camera and the focal length of the lens in relation to the size of the digital sensor or film.When slower shutter speeds, in excess of about half a second, are used on running water, the photo will have a ghostly white appearance reminiscent of fog. This effect can be used in landscape photography.
Zoom burst is a technique which entails the variation of the focal length of a zoom lens during a longer exposure. In the moment that the shutter is opened, the lens is zoomed in, changing the focal length during the exposure. The center of the image remains sharp, while the details away from the center form a radial blur, which causes a strong visual effect, forcing the eye into the center of the image.
Very short shutter speeds are used to freeze fast-moving subjects, for example at sporting events,or sometimes to capture moving objects.Careful excessively fast shutter speeds can cause a moving subject to appear unnaturally frozen. For instance, a running person may be caught with both feet in the air with all indication of movement lost in the frozen moment.

DEPTH OF FIELD (DOF)

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:31:00 +0000

The depth of field (DOF)-is the portion of a scene that appears sharp in the image.
The DOF is determined by the subject distance (that is, the distance to the plane that is perfectly in focus), the lens focal length, and the lens f-number (relative aperture). Except at close-up distances, DOF is approximately determined by the subject magnification and the lens f-number. For a given f-number, increasing the magnification, either by moving closer to the subject or using a lens of greater focal length, decreases the DOF; decreasing magnification increases DOF. For a given subject magnification, increasing the f-number (decreasing the aperture diameter) increases the DOF; decreasing f-number decreases DOF.
The advent of digital technology in photography has provided additional means of controlling the extent of image sharpness; some methods allow DOF that would be impossible with traditional techniques, and some allow the DOF to be determined after the image is made.
For some images, such as landscapes, a large DOF may be appropriate, while for others, such as portraits, a small DOF may be more effective.
The image on the right can show you better what does it means.In the first photo you have a large DOF,same as the one used for landscape photography where all the chess pieces are very sharp.In the second photo you have a small DOF like the one used for portrait photography where just the first piece the rook and maybe the second piece are in focus and are sharp background instead appears blurry.

APERTURE PRIORITY

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:57:00 +0000

Aperture priority often abbreviated Av (Aperture Value) or A on a camera dial,is a setting on some cameras that allows the user to choose a specific aperture value while the camera selects a shutter speed to match.The purpose of using aperture-priority mode is to control the depth of field.
The camera will ensure proper exposure.Aperture Priority mode is different from manual mode, where the user must decide both values, shutter priority where the user picks a shutter speed with the camera selecting the aperture to match, or program mode where the camera selects both.
It is also useful to suggest how the camera should decide a shutter speed, without risking a poor exposure. In landscape photography a user would select a small aperture when photographing a waterfall, hoping to allow the water to blur through the frame. When shooting a portrait in dim lighting, the photographer might choose to open the lens to its maximum aperture in hopes of getting enough light for a good exposure.
In addition, aperture priority mode allows the photographer to force the camera to operate the lens at its optimum apertures within the limits of maximum/minimum aperture for a given focal length of the lens. Commonly, lenses provide greatest resolving power with a relatively medium-sized aperture.
When would you use Aperture Priority Mode?
Use Aperture Priority Mode when they are attempting to have some control with regards to Depth of Field (DOF).If you want a shallow DOF (for example in the shot to the middle which has the bird in focus but the background nice and blurred) or in portrait photography, where a wide aperture is desired to throw the background out of focus and make it less distracting,you have to select a large aperture (for example f/1.4) and let the camera choose an appropriate shutter speed. If you want an image with everything in focus like in landscape photography, where a narrow aperture is necessary if objects in foreground, middle distance, and background are all to be rendered crisply(for example the image in the bottom) you have to pick a smaller aperture (for example f/22) and let the camera choose an appropriate shutter speed (generally a longer one).
When choosing an Aperture keep in mind that the camera will be choosing faster or longer shutter speeds and that there comes a point where shutter speeds get too long to continue to hand hold your camera (usually around 1/60). Once you get much slower than this level you’ll need to consider using a tripod. Also if you’re photographing a moving subject your shutter speed will impact how it’s captured and a slow shutter speed will mean your subject will be blurred).

HOW TO MAKE PERSONALISED GREETING CARDS FOR HOLIDAYS

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:53:00 +0000

Since we are near Christmas holiday aren't you tired of sending the same kind of greeting card every year,every birthday or sending the same party invitation.Here we are going to give you some tips on how to make greeting cards using your own photos.Why do it?
It's Something special-Everyone one loves to see picture of their loved ones,especially members of your family who live far away.This will show that you care enough to create something unique and it's great to make somebody lough even for some minutes.
It's cheap- A box of store-bought cards can cost, on average, about $12 for a box of 10. Customized cards purchased online cost about $6 for the same number. And that includes shipping.
It's easy-Creating your own holiday cards is as easy as a few clicks of your mouse. There's no need to trudge though slush or snow to pick up a box of cards. Just follow our tips below and you'll receive your personalized greetings in days, delivered straight to your door.
It's lovely-There's nothing grandparents love more than a picture of their adorable grandchildren (other than a visit with the real thing, that is). These cards are sure to be plastered on the fridge or carefully placed in a purse for an impromptu show-and-tell.

Now follow these tips and you will do a great job.
1.Decide what kind of card you need-All the work you are going to depends on what kind of card you want to make.For example you want to send greeting card for Christmas,for New Year or every other kind of fest,or you need a invitation card for a party or an event.Having a vision ahead of time can speed up the process even if you'll be using templates straight from the software.
2.Choose the photos you are going to use-Go throw your whole gallery photos or if you don't have nothing suitable start shooting some photos and our previous tips will help you do that.Some quick tip for holiday cards of your kids or family are:

Keep outfits simple- With babies, less is better. “Newborns look best naked,”For toddlers and bigger kids, think basics and solids; no metallic fabric, writing, logos, characters, stripes, prints, or polka dots. They’re distracting and date the photo. Similarly, have your kids dress for their age in clothes they like. Don’t put a toddler girl in a stiff frilly dress or a toddler boy in a suit or a buttoned-down collared shirt. Besides being uncomfortable, grown-up garb will camouflage your child’s personality, which should shine through in the photo.
Coordinate the clan-If you’re taking a family photo, have everyone wear different shades of the same color, such as light blue to navy, or pale pink to burgundy. And avoid white if you’re shooting outside; it can be too reflective.
Don’t worry about the backdrop- If you’ll be taking your own holiday photo, don’t fret about finding a perfect pastoral scene in your neighborhood. People receiving your photo will concentrate on your family, not the scenery.But focus on the children’s faces and do make sure the surroundings aren’t too busy. An adorable expression gets lost when it has to compete with with a jumble of toys, furniture, traffic, and other people in the background
Don’t tell your kids you’re taking holiday-card photos. It’ll make them self-conscious, which will come through in the photo. The less kids are preoccupied by the camera, the better off you are. In lieu of a posed shot, pack your camera on family outings and watch for impromptu card-worthy photo opportunities, or tell your kids to go play while you casually click away.And always take holiday photos hen your kids are happiest.
Take holiday photos when your kids are happiest. That could be right after a meal rather than before or immediately post-naptime.
Use previous vacation photo. If you got a great summer vacation shot, it’s fair game for your holiday photo card, even though it may be six months old by the time it’s sent. But if you have a baby or a toddler is better to make new photographs as they change so much within a few months.

3.Choose an online site if you want them to print your cards and a lot of other options-Is important to google for a site that will help you make your greeting cards.When you find a site with designs that appeal to you, create an account and upload your photo to the website. Most sites will provide terms of use that you will have to read and accept to proceed. Sites also normally provide editing tools to crop or remove red-eye. Play around with these tools until you’re satisfied with the results.

Kodak.com offers Best Quality, Best Options, Most Expensive-You'll find different options on here, like making a coloring book out of your favorite photos (cool!!), and Kodak does have an exceptionally high quality printing service. This is definitely one of the best products on the web, but not necessarily best for your money.
Shutterfly.com offers Good Quality, Good Options, Good Price-I'm a big fan of Shutterfly, because they have options that continually surprise me, and their photo books have a lot of customization without being outrageously expensive. This is the most popular online photo service, with good reason--they are a great intersection of quality, options, and price.
PhotoWorks.com offers Good Quality, Great Options, OK Price-Generally, I find PhotoWorks a little more expensive than it's worth (especially for photo books) but for their holiday cards they have a surprising amount of really elegant options that I really fell in love with. Still a little expensive, but they have options I haven't seen elsewhere.
Walmart.com offers Decent Quality, Fair Options, Unbeatable Price-Yes, it's Walmart. Their printing quality is decent and wholly comparable, their options are limited but still solid, and their prices are totally beyond compare. They are definitely the cheapest option in the business, so if you are printing a bulk amount of holiday cards, they would be a good choice to consider.

4.Use appropriate software- If you are already familiar with the operation of PageMaker, InDesign, or other professional desktop publishing software.An extremely useful piece of software that shows you how to turn your digital pictures into charming Christmas photo cards is the MonkeyPhoto Version 3.0, from Monkeymen Software.But we are not going to talk about this in this post,maybe we will do that in another post.
5.Find an appropriate greeting-Based on the occasion choose a message .Depending on the style of card you chose, you'll have between 50 and 500 characters to create a personal message. Folding cards allow much more space as the message goes on the inside. You can often choose your own font as well. Want to make it even more personal? Not only will Shutterfly allow you to develop a separate message for each card, but they'll also address, stamp and mail your cards. (Note: This option is more costly.)
6.Preview your card-View your card complete with photo and personalized greeting. Most sites allow you to change your photo or edit your text. And many also allow you to choose a different design for your card if you're not happy with the original. Note: Once you click “choose another design/card,” Wal-Mart and Snapfish automatically insert your picture into all of their greeting cards, making it much easier to visualize which card will look best.
7.Specify quantity and pay- Choose the number of cards you'd like (they all come with envelopes –Kodak Gallery lets you choose the colour of the envelopes while Shutterfly will add a return address). Then, enter your shipping address. Once you've chosen a method of shipping (expedited – more expensive or regular – cheapest) it's time to approve the overall cost. Then, enter your payment information and wait for your shipment. Note: Wal-Mart is substantially less expensive than the other sites. Cards cost roughly $0.33 each and shipping is cheap (or free if you pick the cards up from a nearby store). I ordered 20 cards and only paid $9.10 with shipping, while mailing me 10 cards from KodakGallery cost $15.81.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:54:00 +0000

Christmas is coming and we all want to capture some great photos of a beautiful Christmas tree,

of Christmas decoration, and we all want to capture our family and friend.
There are a lot of opportunities to photograph during Christmas like the opening of gifts that are filled with emotion,excitement especially for the kids.You can shoot great photos inside the house with your family or you can shoot great photos on the outside,because the Christmas lights and decoration are great.You just need to be prepare in both cases and here are some tips that will help you do that.
1.Prepare your photographic equipment-if you think you have it all,I advice you to check twice to be shure.

Pack your camera (goes without saying)
Charge your batteries and is better if you have two of them
Check your memory card and be sure you have one with a big memory or if possible keep two of them
Consider if there is enough light and if you will need a flash or no?
If you can bring a tripod with you and if you don't want to bring a big,heavy tripod you may use a mini tripod but you will definitely need one

2.Know The Location- It is important to realize that wherever the holiday celebration takes place, If possible, prior to the event...if not take a walk and choose the best places where you can shoot from.So you learn what kind of light is there,what kind of white balance to use,and what other camera setting to use.

3.Always shoot in RAW-As any other kind of photography is better to shoot in RAW format so you can make changes later on some elements of your photos.But also you have to try shooting the better you can because some thing you can not change like a bad background,blur on your subject face etc...

4.White balance-Is very important to have the right white balance when photographing on Christmas.If you aren't sure you can set it to automatic white balance or if your camera allows you ,shoot in RAW so you can make changes later.
5.Flash light or light diffusion-Sometimes we see some photos with a harsh light that causes the photo to loose details,

so is better not to use flash but use the night mode setting on your camera or a slow Shutter Speed(in this case you will definitely need a good tripod).Or if you can to use a external flash and try bouncing it off walls or the ceiling.
6.Macro Shooting-Some of digital cameras have a preset option of macro or if yours doesn't have it,use a large aperture (low F-stop) when shooting non-people subjects like ornaments on the tree, table decorations, sweets in the bowl on the table, a nativity scene on the mantle piece, holly above the doorway - sometimes it’s these small things around your party that are the real ‘money shots’.
7.Be careful on your background-So when you shoot your family or friend portraits or Christmas decoration you don't have nothing on the background that distracts the viewer from the subject like columns, fixed objects, plants,etc...If the background is good use it,if not maximize your depth of field (smallest possible F-stop) to blur the background.
8.Make a list of Christmas pictures you must have-As we are distracted from the party and excitement most of the time we dont remember all great shoots we wanted to take during the celebration,so if you have a pocket list you can check it whenever you want and remember everything.

9.Shoot as much as you can of "non-people" photos before anyone arrives-Sometimes we want to take some pictures of the ornament during Christmas but we cant because of the chaos that people cause.Some tips on what to shoot are:Capture the preparation stages like:Food preparation

Putting up decorations
Wrapping gifts
Kids throwing a tantrum while getting dressed in their Christmas outfits
Setting the table
Ornaments-Is better to use a large aperture(low f-stop) so you blur all the background.

You can play with color, lights, and shades in the background to contrast and set up the subject of the Christmas photo.An overlooked technique in Christmas pictures is to use a spherical reflective surface to act as a convex mirror and show everything behind the photographer.
If you look carefully at this ornament, you can see much of the room in front of the ornament.
Play with your macro camera setting to focus very close in on the ornament, thus creating a fish-eye view Christmas picture.
10.Shoot in Continuous Mode the opening of the gifts-You need to shoot on continuous mode if you want to take all the face expressions of your family and friends as they can be very cute,especially if kids are present.Some of them will show joy or occasionally disappointment but you want to have anyone of them.Take as much photos as you can and don't delete anyone of them during the celebration as you will have enough time later to do that.

11.Focus on your subjects and fill the frame-often we find our self with some Christmas photo taken from a big distance and with a lot of space around us,that the viewer can't define our face.So when you shoot be sure to fill your frame by using optic zoom,or if your camera does not allow you you can move in closer.Also to get a good photograph, remember to place the subject off center. Move the camera a little to the side so your subject is placed off center.
12.Portraits and Groups Shots- For portraits and groups shots, pick a location. Feel free to set up a location for your group shots. Props such as a tree or packages will enhance the Christmas theme. Pick a location with an uncluttered background. Take your time arranging your subjects and try to keep to as few rows as possible.

To get yourself in the photograph, use a self-timer.
13.Shoot on every oportunity you have-Christmas carols services, houses covered in Christmas decorations, shopping malls filled with busyness etc. Get out there with your camera and capture it. What a wonderful time of year to practice using your camera.

14.Christmas lights-They must be an important subject of your Christmas photo album and you have to try your best on shooting them as they will reveal to be the best picture you will take.But keep in mind that this is not as simple as it seems,so we are going to talk about this in another article.
15.Injoy and have fun.

Oh I almost forgot...

Marry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Home Page: Digital Photography Tips

KEEP PHOTOS IN LEVEL WITH BUBBLE LEVEL

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:16:00 +0000

Some times is difficult to keep your photos in level and this isn't your fault at all.You can try to expand your tripod legs but still you notice that your photos are 1 ore 2 degree of center.
What can you do in these cases?
There are two solution in these case:
1.You can buy a good tripod with a build-in bubble level-you can find different types from different brands.The best one that I could find online is the type shown in the photo.It is called the Slik PRO 700 DX.It is highly ranked for:Photo Enthusiast, Amateurs, SLR Cameras and Backpacking but the problem is that it cost 100$-140$.If you can't afford one or if you already have a tripod and you are pleased with that one even if it does't have a buil-in level,you have the second solution:
2.Cube Hot Shoe 3-Axis Bubble Level-It does not cost to much so I think everyone can buy it.It costs somewhere between 11$.It is useful and fits in any hot shoe of dSLR cameras or in any advanced digital camera like the canon G9 or canon G10, every photographer can shoot photos more accurately and check the angles of their camera seconds before taking that shot whether you are on uneven ground or just drunk.It can be used in horizontal shoot but also it can keep vertical level in the that exact position, making your photos straight and true.Your camera will look a little strange with the bubble level but it is not uncomfortable,as it is very light near 20 gram and its dimensions are: 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm.

PS:The only thing you have to keep in mind when using bubble level , with the tripod or Cube Hot Shoe 3-Axis Bubble Level is to center the bubble between the inside line pair,as it indicates level.When it touches one of the outer lines, it means the level is pitched at a 2-percent grade (about ¼ inch per foot of run), the slope required for waste lines, sidewalks, and rain gutters to drain properly.
Source:Gizmoholic

WHAT IS NOISE AND HOW TO REDUCE IT

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:00:00 +0000

Noise are called those grainy spots,those annoying color speckles that appear where they

shouldn't be.For example instead of blue sky you notice some pink ,purple or some other colored pixels,and these can occur when your photo contain many shadows or a brilliant patch of a pristine sky.Noise can be vary problematic for your photos as sometimes it an destroy them or the stock sites don't approve them if you intend to sell.So here we are going to give you some tips on how to avoid all these problems.
1. Choose the best camera you can afford-Your camera can make a difference on your photography noise.One of the major difference between a consumer digital camera and a dSLR ( digital Single Lens Reflex) is that the first one produces images with a lot of noise when using high ISOs and long exposure times,the second one is practically noise free.IN digital cameras this noise can come from a variety of sources.The main source of image noise is the sensor and it can be unavoidable.The individual photocells on a digital camera sensor are incredibly small, especially with high-resolution compact camera sensors. This is the main reason that physically larger sensors are much better than smaller ones. The individual photocells are larger and collect proportionately more photons during the exposure, reducing the effects of these statistical variations and producing an inherently higher signal to noise ratio. Some of it is internal noise generated by imperfections in the electronic components of which the camera is made, or simply as a by-product of their normal operation. For instance, capacitors generate a small amount of signal noise as they charge and discharge.Circuit noise can be minimized by efficient circuit design, superior manufacturing techniques and rigorous quality control. Unfortunately some cheaper camera brands, or even budget camera ranges from better-known brands, may use components that are built down to a price rather than up to a standard, which is why these types of camera generally produce noisier images than more expensive models.
2.Use the lowest ISO possible- ISO which deals with measuring the sensitivity of the image sensor, should almost always be set low for stock photography purposes, as any grain found in the image will likely cause it to be rejected. When we shoot with high ISO sensitivity,we increase the amount by which the signals from photocells are amplified.But the amplification process can't tell the difference between image signal and noise ,so the noise gets amplified too.If the signal to noise ratio was already very low then this just produces more noise without improving the image.That is why high ISO sensitivity images have always more noise than the ones taken at low ISO sensitivity. There are cases where a photographer wants a certain amount of noise in a photo and this is not wrong at all.

3.Avoid longer exposures-Longer exposures tend to lead to noise issues in your images. If you must have the option of using high ISOs (e.g. to capture fast action in low-light situations), then get a dSLR.Also get a good tripod cause you will need one. Sometimes, due to irregularities in the manufacturing process, errors in signal transmission and other factors, the photocells that make up the sensor may not all respond to light to an equal degree, causing single pixels to appear very bright or very dark. The charge build-up over a longer exposure makes this problem more noticeable. This type of noise can usually be remedied by applying a masking filter during image processing. Most modern cameras do this automatically, but it can be a problem on many older models.

4.Get the right exposure when you shoot- Use a light meter to ensure that the image is properly exposed.If you have significantly lighten the image in an image editing program,most probably the midtones and shadows will contain a great amount of noise.

5.Noise reduction software-There are lot of software that can do that,for ex you can use Photoshop, Lightroom ,Bridge or if you want something faster you can use Neat image etc.The better way to reduce noise during post processing for example with Adobe photoshop is to use smoothing filters that can be different types but the most commonly used is the one called Median filter.This works by comparing each pixels to the ones surrounding it, and if is has a brightness value that is radically different from its neighbors, then it is replaced by an artificial pixel with the average value of the neighbor pixels.This method is great in reducing noise but also it causes some negative effect such as reducing detail and contrast so you have to be careful with the value of the filter you want to use.In the end the most effective way to have less noise in your photos is to use larger and more sensitive photocells,so to use SLRs camera and getting good shoots from the beginning ,so you will spent less time in post processing.

WHAT TRIPOD TO USE

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:14:00 +0000

Photographing can be very challenging in some special conditions,for example:in the night,in low light condition etc...So you will need a good tripod with you to make all easier.In these article we will give you some advices on what tripod to use.
1Always look for good construction and stability-These are very important factors,and them determine if it is a good tripod on not and if you can trust it with your camera or not.A good construction is important for a long life of your tripod and your camera.Stability is important during your shooting to take better photos and avoid camera shake.So you will need to avoid plastic tripods and light one.The heavier the tripod the better is its stability.
2.Tripod heads-Depending on what kind of photos you like to shoot you can choose between two varieties of heads:pan and tilt heads and the ball and socket heads.Both of them have their advantages and disadvantages. The pan and tilt heads move up and down, left to right. It doesn't have as much fluid movement as the ball and socket type as it,can take any direction you like.Some tripods have removable heads so you can change them,some have fixed ones so you are stuck with it all the time.
3.Weight-It true that the heavier the tripod the better is it's stability but these doesn't mean you have to use the heavier you can find because now days you can find tripod models made with carbon fiber that are light and offer a good stability.So is better for you to use a tripod which weight matches with the camera and it accessories if it has any like lenses,flesh or other.
4.Height-Use the height you need depending on what you want to photograph.You can choose between different types from the tallest one to the shortest one.
5.Joint and sections-Look for joints that don't flex,even they cost more they have a better stability.Choose you tripod sections for your needs.If you like traveling is better to use a 4 segmented tripod as they can be packed smaller.But with a 4 segmented you loose from your stability so you will need to do a compromise but also you can buy higher quality segments to compensate a little.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 22:02:00 +0000

Photographing wedding can be a great opportunity to shoot great photos but it is also a great responsibility,this because you don't have a chance to re-shoot,so you have to do everything right the first time.We will give you some tips to improve your skills in shooting wedding photography.But at first I advice you not to start as payed photographer in your friend or somebodies wedding if you are an amateur,is better for you to shoot photos for yourself ,your pleasure and then if you capture some good photos you can show them to the married couple.So you should not be the only photographer on the weeding,and even if the couple asks,you must advice them to hire a professional photographer so you are free of any responsibility if something goes wrong and you can learn from the professional photographer by looking how he works,but you also accept their invitation without being payed and make your best to shoot some great photos so your friend could be proud of you and enjoy their memories for a long long time .A wedding needs a lot of energy and money to be done and all that could not be wasted.Here are some tips for you:
1.Practice on every other kind of photography before trying wedding photography,this can be very helpful.You have to learn how to use diffused light.The ability to bounce flash or diffuse it can be very important.In many churches the light is very low.If you’re allowed to use a flash (and some churches don’t allow it) think about whether bouncing the flash will work (remember if you bounce off a colored surface it will add a colored cast to the picture) or whether you might want to buy a flash diffuser to soften the light. If you can’t use a flash you’ll need to either use a fast lens at wide apertures and/or bump up the ISO. A lens with image stabilization might also help.
2.You have to be fully prepared on how the wedding is going to be:

so you have to see the church and the place where is going to be the celebration, so you can find the best spots and the best light to shoot,
you have to know the groom and bride houses so you shoot some photos during their preparation for the big moment,
you have to know who is invited so you know who are the couples family and friends so you know better what photos you need to do,
maybe you should do a list of things the couples want's to have as memories:For example cake,bride dress,rings etc...
Consider having an assistant or a back-up photographer.Two are better then one and if you loose a special moment he can help.

3. Prepare your equipment -You should always check your equipment before the wedding:

This goes without saying -you must have a camera.I recommend a DSLR (the image quality tends to be higher on DSLR's than on point and shoots) that is at least 8 megapixel's.Is better two have to cameras,so if something goes wrong with the fir
s one you can use the other one.
A selection of lenses ranging from ultra wide angle to medium telephoto for a start, and if possible with a large aperture of F2.8
Charge your battery,and maybe is better to have two batteries charged or even more
Use high capacity memory cards,because you will shoot a lot and handle them with c
are when processing them later.I think is better to download your images from the memory card to your laptop just after it is full with images,so they are safe because everything might happen and the couple might loose their wedding photos.
Take a good tripod with you and an external flash shoe is required for bounce flash.

4.Turn off your sound camera- as it can cause distraction,and because that day all eyes should focus on the couple not on you.
5.Shoot the little detail-On the wedding day not only the people are important as memories of the couple,but some little detail can be important too,for example:the rings,the cake,the bride dress etc...
6.Always shoot in RAW-So it is easier to make some modifications later.
7.Always shoot and don't delete the photos you don't like while you are shooting-you will think about deleting later when you have more time and could be more concentrated,because you might even use some of those picture and they can sometimes be really great.And most important don't stop shooting and you will capture great images
8.Consider your background-Most of the time during the wedding you can find people everywhere even on your picture background destroing them so you have to be careful with that,as it is a very important element of your photographs.
9.Continuous shooting mode-having this option on your camera can be very helpful,because most of the time you will need to shoot a lot of photos very fast.Sometimes it’s the shot you take a second after the formal or posed shot when everyone is relaxing that really captures the moment!
10.Aperture Priority-If you haven't still mastered light and proper exposure,you must use aperture priority when shooting,you cant afford the chance of improper exposure in some crucial moments,like when the priest says: "You may kiss the bride"
12-Find a step ladder-That can be very useful when you want to include a group of people on the photo or maybe find a balcony on the church or the place where the ceremony will be so you can shoot some photos.The beauty of getting up high is that you get everyone’s face in it and can fit a lot of people in the one shot. The key is to be able to get everyone to the place you want them to stand quickly and to be ready to get the shot without having everyone stand around for too long. I found the best way to get everyone to the spot is to get the bride and groom there and to have a couple of helpers to herd everyone in that direction.
13-ENJOY-I advice you to enjoy while taking shoots and they will be better,but enjoy also enjoy photos of the wedding while viewing them.

BEGINNERS UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:43:00 +0000

Underwater photography can be great but you need a little experience to shoot underwater and you need the right equipment for your camera and yourself to keep you safe because sometimes it can be dangerous if you are not prepared but also it is like another world and it can be beautiful.Here in this article we are talking about beginners underwater photography and just the pleasure in doing it.
1.You have to know the basics of photography- as all of them generally are applied in underwater photography but you will also need to learn some other technique and to have special materials as the light diffuses differently in the water not like in the air.

2 .You should have some diving lessons-Because is very important that you learn to stay in a stable position in the water and because most of the photography are close ups you will need to stay motionless.With diving lessons comes the diving gear that should be chosen carefully so you are safe underwater and comfortable to be capable of photographing .
3.Additional light-Is very important when shooting underwater because the colors become very muted at normal diving depths,but sometimes this is not true and you can have great photos without the beneficial of additional light,and to do these we might help with this trick:

Shooting the above-water and underwater portions-Typically, an extremely wide-angle lens like a full-frame fishEye is used behind the widest possible dome port in an underwater housing. The air/water interface bisects the composition. Ideally, something of interest will occupy both the topside and underwater portion of the composition.You should use a Shutter Speed that prevents camera motions,let say 1/200 of a second and a low ISO,but if you will need a smaller aperture for a bigger depth of field you should increase ISO up to 200 or even 400.

4.Shoot upword-As creates the effect that the subject is large ,when you shoot down it makes the subject look smaller and it can be lost in the big background.
5.You have to shoot close-as water sucks up lighting and flash falloff is much greater underwater.
6.Choose a place to shoot and practice a lot there-You have predetermine lighting setups,know the area so you can choose the best angle to shoot your photos and know the animals around there so you will know how to photograph them.
7.Choose the right photo gear-The biggest issue to consider, especially in point-and-shoot systems, is digital lag-that annoying little delay that occurs between the time you push the shutter button and the time the camera actually takes the picture. Even a small delay can mean the difference between a well-composed image and a shot of the tail of a fleeing fish.Newer digital compacts have greatly reduced digital lag, and with digital SLRs it’s rarely an issue.
The viewfinder of your housing can also make a big difference in terms of critical focus and precise composition.
Memory card should be with high capacity,because the more you shoot the higher is the possibility to have great pictures and you have to buy better batteries so you can shoot more
8.Capture a diver- if you want to photograph a diver.both of you have to work on your signs language and use some sounds to drive diver attention without scaring the creatures around you.
9.Always practice-Most of the time underwater photography is luck but good planning and inspired execution can make luck happen.So you have to practice and practice

FUNNY PHOTOGRAPHY

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:27:00 +0000

Funny picture can give the laugh you might need.Capturing them can be rewarding too.We will give you some tips on how to shoot humorous picture.Humor can be be found everyday you just need to be a little careful to notice it and you have to take your camera always with you so you don't loose a single funny moment.In these occasions a single photo can tell its own story.This doesn't mean that you have to wait until a funny thing happens to photograph it,you can set something yourself and shoot.Follow these simple tips:

1.If you see something funny going on photograph it-You have to notice funny signs, position or situation.Look for contrast or just moments that make you say "huh?".

2.Center your subject-Sometimes just centering and getting very close to your subject can create a funny feeling to your photo.This is not a rule,sometimes you just need to put your subject off-center that creates a silly effect.A wide-angle lens can cause distortion which may not be desirable for portraits but can create funny faces if your subject is willing.I advice you to shoot both ways and then choose who's better.

3.Animals and children- are the best subjects for humorous photos.Kids are always cute and they can make you smile every time.Animals too are very funny when they take some silly expression or positions.

But they can be unpredictable with their fast movements so you have to be prepared by using high Shutter Speed and big aperture so you avoid motion blur that destroys your picture.
Capture the baby showing an adult facial expression or behaviour. This can be very funny.
Use mirrors-for example a curios baby looking at himself on the mirror,of course you have to be really careful so he doesn't get hurt.If you are lucky enough to photograph identical twins you don’t even need the mirror to give the photo an unexpected edge.
You can photograph a baby having fun in a peculiar place.
Very funny can be a baby wearing big adult shoes,sunglasses, or funny clothes.
Shoot the baby from a different angle,from above from behind or don't make him appear as small but as a giant.
Shoot babies when they are playing and they get very dirty,can be very silly.

4.Look for big differences in size-For example you can shoot hilarious photos of big animals,like big dogs with babies,or something less dangerous with very big objects and babies.This kind of situation can be very funny.
5.Set something up-Like I set before you can create funny situations and shoot them,they can be set up of strange objects, signs,animals or people.
6.Have fun capturing them and share your photos-so other people can laugh with them because you know that laughter and humor are the secret of a long life.

BIRDS PHOTOGRAPHY

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:48:00 +0000

Birds can be a very interesting subject to shoot because they offer a great variety of shapes, colors and dimensions.In order to do that you have to know some basic things about photography and some necessary equipment.This what we are going to talk about in this article.
1.The right time-The best season for shooting birds photography is in Spring,because is the season that you can find them almost anywhere trying to mate,and their colors are the best.This doesn't mean you cant get great pictures during other seasons,for example:during autumn when they migrate in groups.So you have to find the opportunity that fits you the most.And the perfect time of the day are after the sunrise and before sunrise,time in which

they are very active and the lighting from the sun is not to strong.
2.Know your subject and the right place-In order for you to get great photos you have to know all you can about the birds you want to photograph,because knowing their habits helps you a lot in finding the right place and time to take great pictures.
3.Camera and equipment-If you want to shoot bird photography you need to have a SLR/DSLR with a 300mm (or more) lens, but in the back yard the rules change. You can even get good shots with an advanced point and shoot with 10x Zoom.
A good tripod or a monopod is very important also a shutter release.
Flash unit are very important to fill shadows because often bird hide through trees and leaves create shadows that are not good for your photo.So you have to learn using fill flash as it will dramatically enhance your bird images.
4.Camera settings-As with all photography, you need to consider the basic elements that make for a good photograph, including lighting, exposure, composition, color, details etc.I advice you to use manual exposure but if you don't have much experience with it you can use auto-expos

ure.
You can set white balance manually but you can always do it later if you shoot in RAW so do that.this way if you do forget to set white balance or exposure is off a little you can fix it within your image editing software.
Using Aperture Priority Mode helps you control the Depth Of Field.
Use fast Shutter Speeds they are great for bird photographs.Because birds are fast maybe they're flying,so you will usually need at least a 1/500 second shutter speed. Even small songbirds, when perched, will often make sudden and unexpected movements.But some times they are more quite so you need to control Shutter Speed depending on the situation
5.Consider your background-Never forget that background is very important when shooting birds,because a nice a background can make a huge difference and in case of boring background blur it.
6.Learn to be patient- If you are not patient you better don't try shooting birds. Because you may stay for ours in one place and don't take a decent shoot.All you need to learn shooting birds is PRACTICE and PATIENT.But this happens only if you love what you do.

WINTER PHOTOGRAPHY

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:02:00 +0000

Winter can offer some really great pictures but it is very difficult shooting them and could be very challenging.With our tips we want to help you through the process.
1.Dress warmly-The mos important thing is to keep your self warm because you could stay many ours in very low temperatures freezing your self to death.You have to be very careful especially for the head because it is the primary source of heat loss so I advice you to use wool pull-down hat that covers your ears.And you can use chemical hand warmers,they are very practical.
2.Protect your camera-If you want to shoot during snow fall you have to protect your camera because the snow on it can freeze it and block it so you may use a commercial rain cover.Another important thing is not to warm your camera as it can create condensation and damage it.
3.Careful with batteries-I advice you to take some extra batteries with you and keep them in a warm place,lets say in your coat pocket,as the cold can zap out energy from your batteries.
4.Watch your breath-don't release it in front of the view finder as you can create vapor which instantly becomes a film of ice and becomes unusuable for a long period of time.And also careful and do not warm your lenses as it can be

very problematic and even loose all day without shooting.
5.Tripod-Always carry your tripod but careful with it as it can also be damaged by cold temperatures and snow.Maybe you would want to keep is legs all together,push them slowly to the snow and then spread them so you can protect them from damages.
6.Exposure-Is the most important thing you have to learn to shoot in cold winter.Because you often have big surface with snow which is very white your camera meter sees it as overexposed and tends to make it a medium gray tone which we don't want.The way to avoid this is to overexpose the meter reading(but be sure to meter just snow ) depending upon the lighting conditions,let say ,+1.5 to +2 for sunny midday condition or if lighting is more subdued:Early morning or late day,or heavy overcast you have to go to +1/2 to +1.If you are using an automatic point and shoot camera and you have an exposure lock button,you can compensate by filling the frame of the view finder with a Darker area and depress the exposure lock button.The camera meter will overexpose the scene upon the dark area that you metered.You can shoot a photo with this procedure and another exposed automatically and choose whose the best.Careful so that the metered scene is not to dark.If your camera has a spot meter function sometimes shown as a rectangle with a center dot use it to pre-focus on a non-white object and then shoot.This will help you a lot.
7.Remember you have to shoot in Raw so you can change some things after and make your photos better.

FIREWORKS PHOTOGRAPHY

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:48:00 +0000

Firework can offer a great view and we all want to have some memories of them,but capturing them in a photograph can be a little bit difficult and needs a lot of practice.Here are some tips to help you throw this process.
1.USE A TRIPOD-and must be a good one if you want to do the best.It would be very helpful to use a remote cable so you avoid all the camera shaking caused by your finger,if not you have to work without it and try to do the best or use your camera timing by setting it 1 sec.
2.CHOOSE THE RIGHT SPOT-It's very important to be in the best position.And also could be great if you enter in your frame some important object like a palace or a bridge.Having water in the foreground could create a beautiful reflection of the firework and is also great.But you have to avoid crowded places so you will not take shoulders or heads of people.Stay in a high place let say a high palace or somewhere else where you can be alone.
3.CAREFUL WITH THE WEATHER-The most import factor is the wind that can spread the smoke and damages your shoots.so you should be extra careful and avoid taking it on the frame.
4.SHUTTER SPEED-you have to use a shutter speed between 1-4 sec,not less that doesn't give the effect you want and not more because it will just cause a washed out image.But in some cameras you can use a preset option called bulb or just use night mode.
5.APERTURE PRIORITY-The best values are between f8 and f16.If You narrow it more than f16 you image will not me sharp enough.
6.ISO-You have to use ISO at 100 because if it higher it will introduce noise to you photo.
7.TURN OFF FLASH LIGHT-as it want help you with distance photos,on the contrary it will cause damages.
8.SHOOT A LOT-in order for you to get the best picture you have to take a lot shoots so I advice you to take a high capacity memory card and extra batteries,you may need them.
9.FRAME-Some would prefer a vertical shoot but this is not important,it depends on what do you want to include on the frame.
10.HAVE FUN

BLUE SKY EFFECT

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:06:00 +0000

1-Shoot with a blue sky-this means that in order fort you to
obtain blue sky on your photos you should have a blue sky,doesn't matter if its a little pale because you can fix it easely,but in order for you to improve an overcast sky you must go throw a lot of trouble.In this article we will talk about adjusting your existing blue sky.How to make it a deep blue.

2-Shoot in Raw-always shoot in raw as you have more possibility to make changes on your picture without damaging it,for example you can change your color temperature,or exposure or you can use even presets to make your work look better in an easy way.But if this is not enough we will pass to the other tip that means working it with digital darkroom.
3-Photoshop-With the help of photoshop we can change sky color without using any polarising filter but still have a similar effect. Here we are not going to use hue end saturation layer but we are using something else that gives a close effect with the polarising filter.All we have to is go to IMAGE option on the top of your photoshop window and select ADJUSTMENT and then SELECTIVE COLOR.Inside the SELECTIVE COLOR change the color to blues.Now I advice you to change black bar but it all depends on the photo you want to adjust so you have to play will colors until you create the color of the sky you wanted.This is just a simple and fast way to change the blue of the sky and make it darker,for other cases like overcast sky,over exposed and other we will talk in other articles..

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:10:00 +0000

First we will give you some tips on how to shoot B&W photography than why a photo will be better if presented in B&W.

The tips to shoot in B&W are:

1.SHOOT IN COLOR-yes even if you want a B&W photography you should shoot in colors because you can turn it in B&W later very easily.IF you shoot in B&W you cant turn it back in colors,plus there is another problem that some cameras don't have an option in shooting B&W.

2.SHOOT IN RAW-like every other kind of photos you should shoot in because it gives you more freedom processing it after.Another great thing of shooting in raw is that you can shoot with B&W option so you can control how your subject looks in B&W and still have it in color when transfering it on your PC

3.USE LOW ISO-this is a very important factor,because a high ISO can give noise to your picture and when you transform it in B&W it can ruin your photo and could be hard or even impossible to remove all the noise.

4.SHOOT IN LOW CONT RAST SITUATION-you have to choose days with overcast sky,even that these pictures don't look good in colors they can be amazing in B&W.The over exposed sky in these situation is much easier to ignore and the viewer can be more focused on the subject.

5.COMPOSING-most of the tips given for other kind of photography van be applied in B&W.You have to be extra careful to shapes and texture.and you have to be careful with shadows and highlights.

Now this last tip takes as to the second part of the article,

and learn why we have to do B&W photography.

1.B&W photographys can express emotions sometimes better than color photography.So you can use it with portaits very well.They heighten the drama of your subject and lets your viewer focus better in you subject without the colors that can distract.Skin tones with B&W are better without blemishings,blotches...

2.Photos in B&W are more romantic that why more and more couples prefer their wedding photos in B&W.It makes the photos classic, timeless and therefor romantic.So you can shoot baby portrait,family portraits,wedding photographs

3.B&W can be beautiful in landscape photography,especially with an overcast sky.You have to try it both ways and choose which is better :color or B&W.It gives interesting texture, lines or patterns in nature giving it a poetic feeling.

4.You can use B&W photos and let just one color stand out so that the viewer can focus on what you tell him to.This could be a great way to present your picture.
At last after all B&W is great
because it creates images that are so personal and meaningful.So remember you have to practice and one day you will get your perfect picture.GOOD LUCK

FALL PHOTOGRAPHY

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:20:00 +0000

Now that the fall has come you have the chance to shoot breath- taking photos because of the great variety of colors it offers.With our tips we will help you doing the best picture ever.
1.Like every other landscape photography the best time for shooting is in the early morning or during the sunset.I would prefer during sunset cause of the golden glow it gives to the photo
2.It is better to shoot with an overcast sky because the diffusion of the light is better and you avoid bright sunny light that washes out your colors.But with an overcast sky you have to leave the sky out of the picture or it will be a disaster.
3.You can use a polarising filter as it help make colors more intense.Or you can under- expose by a half stop to intensify colors without a filter.
4.You have to use a tripod if you want sharp results.
5.Use the rule of thirds to frame your image. Imagine your viewfinder is divided into thirds vertically and horizontally. Compose the image so that the main subject is located at one of the intersections of the third lines.
6.Play with the white balance so you can warm up the colors temperature just a little.
7.The mos important thing of all,concentrate on your subject,what do you want to use as foreground and background.Try different position until you find the perfect one.Simplify you picture by letting out all distracting objects.
8.You have to search for contrast for example leaves in a bright blue sky cause they are very pretty
9.Remember you have to use all the tips above so you can take the best picture you can but than you have to develop it with digital darkroom like photoshop, lightroom,etc.I advice to shoot in Raw.You can use curves an levels for better contrast colors without damaging your photo.But this will be subject for another article.

RED EYES REMOVAL WITH JUST A CLICK

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:19:00 +0000

First of all you have to check if your camera settings
can allow you to fix red eyes on your photos before transferring them to your PC.Some digital cameras allow that for example:Canon G9 has an option called Red-eyes correction.I advice you to use that but if your photo has still red eyes after trying it I have a smart method to do it.Photoshop CS3 has an option under the healing brush tool called Red eye tool.With just a click over the eyes and te reds goes away and the eyes look natural.For better results you may want to change the options on the top like pupil size or darken amount. You have to try it is very simple and it really works.Good luck

HOW TO SHOOT SPORTS PHOTOS

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:32:00 +0000

1.Shutter speed — Most sports happen quickly, so set yourself up to capture the action. Make sure your shutter speed (length of time a shutter is open) is the same or higher than your lens' focal length (e.g. if you're using a 50 mm lens, make sure to shoot at 125 or faster)
2.Tripod — If you don't already use a tripod or a monopod, now's the time to get one. With a monopod, you have more flexibility to move than a tripod and you can lock your focus, check your focus, on where the action might be in a few minutes or seconds with ease. Some lenses also have a feature called image stabilization which will partially correct minimal camera shake.
3.Tell the story — Don't be afraid to get in close to an athlete. The sweat on a brow, the guttural growl of aggression, the arms-raised cry of victory, the pain of exertion — each of these moments help to tell the story behind the story of sport.

TOP 5 DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:14:00 +0000

1.Focus on the subject and compose carefully - No one said that the subject on photos you shoot have to be untouched, you have to all you can to make a beautiful photo.So you have to keep the elements on a photo as balanced as possible.Some tips to do that are:

Crop out extra elements that you are not interested in.
Keep the horizon level;
Place your subject where you think it most belongs rather than just accepting it wherever it happens to land in the photo;
Play with perspective so that all lines show a pattern or lead the eye to your main subject
Keep anything that would distract out of the picture.
Focus on your subject

2.Reduce your flash light-I dont know why but people when they first start with photography think that the use of flash light it's important.Well IT IS NOT. You have to reduce your flash output-The build-in flash of the digital camera puts out to much light very close to the lens causing a bad shoot,so you have to go to your camera settings and program it the lower possible,let say -1 or -2:But if still there is to much light you can cover the flash head with your finger,not totally,just a part of it so this lowers the light causing your image to be softer and much warmer.Or you can turn it off entirely you can work without it.

3. Avoid high contrast situations-You have to avoid shooting when there are extreme highlights and shadows,because will lose detail both in dark and light areas.Avoid shooting in direct sunlight.

4. Move in closer-You have to try different shoots,and you have to move in close to frame the subject better.
Very often detail are more interesting than an overall view.Keep moving in closer until you are sure the photo will successfully represent your subject.

5. Keep your camera settings simple-This doesn't mean that you have to keep your camera on AUTO settings,but you can have better results If you pick a semi-automatic program like shutter speed or aperture priority or you can just use the camera programs like landscape,portrait,night etc until you learn a little more.Also bring a tripod. This one item can solve camera shake issues and help you get beautiful evening shots.

WHITE BALANCE AND TONE CONTROL

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:12:00 +0000

White Balance

Keep White Balance on 'Auto' most times, but change them when shooting in a light source that does not look right on the LCD (i.e. the picture looks way too yellow, red or blue).
Test before you decide to move on,cause digital cameras allow it without expenses.
If you find that the color still looks a bit 'off', use the camera's Custom White Balance setting. This makes a one-off reading for that specific lighting condition.
Try different White Balance settings until you find the one that looks better,it can include Tungsten,Fluourescent 1, 2 and 3,bright sun,etc...

Tone Control

You can set your camera to shoot in a range of special tone modes: Contrast, Sharpness, black-and-white, Sepia,etc... Most are a marketing gimmick. While they produce fun results, I'd suggest not using most for the simple reason that it's easier to change the tones later (on a copy) using your picture-editing software.If you really have to (and remember that all three tone settings can be changed easily using a picture-editing software program like Photoshop Elements), the only one really worth adjusting is probably Contrast.Set this to 'low contrast' when shooting in the bright sun (ie. at midday), or to 'high contrast' if the weather is heavily overcast and the lighting flat.

NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:56:00 +0000

There are some things to know that help create better shots at night and there is certain gear that helps get you from a good shot to an incredible shot.
The important thing for shooting at night is the tripod.The tripod is a must because most of the time you have to shoot without flash and with long exposure.So you have to buy a good one.
Another important equipment is a cable release,which lets you push a switch on the end of a cable to open your shutter without the need for you to touch the camera.It is very good as it keeps the shutter open for as long as you want and it avoids camera shake that can damage you image.If you cant afford one you can shoot by setting the time at your camera(lets say 10-12 sec) which allows your camera to stabilize.But if you want no camera movement at all you should always use a cable release
Much of the glow from the shot comes from the long exposure, which is a bonus. And when you are shooting digitally, you can check in a second to see if you are under or over-exposed.Take lots of photos. Be sure to take a lot of photos when you are doing night photography, and try them at different exposures. Somewhere in the group, there may well be a spectacular photo, that was the result of a experimental combination of shutter speed and aperture. Remember, film is cheap, and for digital camera users, there is always the trash can for unwanted images.Oh the endless advantages of shooting digital...

A good night shot is not captured by accident. The right planning creates the perfect night shot.
-Check the weather forecast. That way you will know if you need to dress for cooler weather after dark, and how much cloud cover to expect.It is easy to get cold standing around waiting for the right photographic opportunity after the sun has gone down.
-Use bug spray in the appropriate seasons. If you are going to be anywhere near water or in the woods, apply a heavy application of bug-spray. You are likely to be sitting or standing for a while in the same place, no point in making yourself an extra attractive meal for the local bugs.
-Bring a bubble level. Bubble levels let you know if your camera is level, so you don't have the annoying problem of images running down hill in your pictures.
-Bring your cell phone. Remember, you are going to be out in the dark, having a cell phone with you for emergencies is only common sense. If you are going out with another photographer, it helps if you both have phones with you. That way if you get separated, it's much easier to find one another in the dark.
-Bring a flashlight. A pocket flash light is a great tool to have when you are doing photography. Not only can it light up your camera dials so you can see how your camera is set, it can also help light the path on the way back to the car.
-The best times for landscape digital photography without additional light sources, or looking at it in a different manner, away from city lights, is either when the moon is full, the two days before the full moon and the two days after the full moon. Any clouds in the sky will also affect the amount of light available for your night photography, just as they would if you were shooting during the day.
-Try some photos before the night is pitch black. Sometimes having some color left in the sky can add to the photo.

HOW TO SHOOT WATERFALLS

noreply@blogger.com (eni112) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:56:00 +0000

Waterfalls are a very beautiful subject to photo- graph,but you have to be patient to do that.You have to try over and over again so you probably should stay in that place for a long time or you should return in the same place several times.
Practice can make perfect!This will help you compose your shoots in different ways so you later can choose which is the best picture.
Lighting:The best lighting for shooting waterfalls is overcast,but you can have good results even if the water is in the shade.It allows for the longer exposure times without blowing out the highlights.You should not photograph waterfalls on a sunny day.Sunny days in the forest may be nice for close-up studies, but adding sun to a waterfall landscape is not a good idea , the range of light and dark is so extreme that your compositions will be washed out or hidden in blackness.

Shutter Speed: In order to get that blurred-smooth-flow look to your waterfall scene, you need to shoot at a shutter speed of 1 to 1.6 seconds.The longer the shutter speed the smother the surfice will be and the prettier the picture. In order to achieve a properly exposed scene at those slow shutter speeds, you’ll need to set your aperture to a setting of f/16 or smaller, up to f/22. You’ll get great depth of field, with the entire frame in focus too. If the lighting is too bright to bring your shutter speed down to 1 to 1.6 seconds, try a neutral density filter.You should never use the auto-setting of apeture and shutter speed.Metering is something that cameras generally do very well. They begin to fail, however, when you start to introduce very white or very black subjects in an image. The reason for this is because humans see in 16-stops, whereas cameras "see" no more than 5-stops. This means that images with high contrast are not correctly exposed when left to the camera's automatic settings , if you have a lot of white in your subject of focus, the camera tends to make it grey in the final image, and correspondingly underexposes the rest of the image. Similarly, if you have a lot of black in your image, the camera tends to make the black turn out grey in the final image, thus overexposing the rest of the image.

ND Filter: A neutral density (ND) filter is a must for waterfall shooting. Placing an ND filter over your lens reduces the amount of light, thus decreasing the shutter speeds to accommodate the reduction of light, without affecting color in your scene.Often is made a mistake by not using a polarising filter.In a nutshell, polarizing filters cut the glare. Wet surfaces tend to reflect the sky colour, so you'll actually need the polarizing filter more for rainy days where the sky colour is grey than for sunny days. But we've already agreed you shouldn't photography waterfalls on sunny days Removing glare from an image allows you to see the colourful world underneath the glare, and no amount of Photoshopping after your shoot will fix it..

Tripod and Remote Shutter Release: At shutter speeds of 1 to 1.6 seconds, use of a tripod, a good tripod is a must.With those speeds, you’ll also need to use a remote shutter release. Using a remote shutter release eliminates any vibration introduced to your camera from your hand when your finger actually presses the shutter.A remote release is available for almost all camera models and it makes a huge difference in obtaining sharp images. If you don't have one you should use your camera's self timer.

Self-Timer: Using your cameras self-timer feature will accomplish the same effect as using a remote shutter release. When this feature is set, you press the shutter, and the camera doesn’t expose your film or image sensor for a pre-set number of seconds. Setting your self timer to 5 seconds will allow for any vibrations to cease when pressing the shutter button.