Ratnesh's Photography Blog

10 Fireworks Photograph Tips – UPDATED « Photofocus

2010-07-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

10 Fireworks Photograph Tips – UPDATED « Photofocus

Olympus Stylus 7000 12MP Digital Camera

2009-01-11T12:26:00.000-08:00

Olympus Stylus 7000 12MP Digital Camera

Please click image for info @Amazon.com

Technical Details

12-megapixel resolution for photo-quality, poster-size prints
7x optical dual image-stabilized zoom (including mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization)
3.0-inch HyperCrystal II LCD screen; Face Detection with Shadow Adjustment Technology
HDMI compatible for easy hook-up to your HDTV
Compatible with xD Picture Cards and microSD memory cards (not included)

Impressive zoom power that brings action incredibly close and a compact body designed to be taken along for the ride makes the Stylus-7000 one of the most powerful premium Stylus cameras ever. With 7x optical zoom, 12 megapixels of detailed resolution for capturing brilliant images, and features like Dual Image Stabilization, Intelligent Auto, Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology and In-Camera Panorama the Stylus-7000 takes the guesswork out of great photography.

John Szarkowski: Photographs

2008-12-25T01:00:00.000-08:00

John Szarkowski: Photographs

click image for info @Amazon.com

According to Publishers Weekly

Szarkowski was director of photography at New York's Museum of Modern Art for 29 years, and soon he will be returning to it, this time as the subject of a retrospective exhibition traveling across the country. This book collects the exhibit's photographs as well as snippets from his correspondence, a chronology of his career up to this point and a critical biographic essay by Phillips, senior photography curator for San Francisco's MoMA. Before going to New York in 1962, Szarkowski was well known for two books, one on the architect Louis Sullivan (The Idea of Louis Sullivan) and one celebrating Minnesota's statehood centennial (The Face of Minnesota). Numerous images from those efforts are included here, and they stand the test of time, particularly the sweeping Minnesota prairie landscapes where the stripes of grass, hills and sky pile up to resemble stratified rock. During Szarkowski's years at New York's MoMA, he presided over many shows for photographers whose names are now more familiar than his, limiting his own ability to work; only two photos from that period, both of apple trees on his farm, appear here. Much of his post-MoMA work is of trees and barns, and though some of the images are arresting, few match the grandeur of his early output. The accompanying letters provide an intimate sense of his career development as well as his sense of humor and personal grace. In one, he writes, "Being alive is getting to be such an unexplainably enjoyable thing." This zest for existence is evident in the elegant photographs collected here. 84 tritone photos.

Photojournalist Reza Deghati War + Peace

2008-12-24T01:00:00.000-08:00

Reza Deghati Montage

According to Wikipedia

Reza Deghati was born in Tabriz, Iran. He studied Architecture at University of Teheran. A French citizen, today Reza is a renowned photojournalist highly regarded, world-wide. Published by the most prestigious International magazines, he travels the globe from the Bosphorus to the Great Wall of China, from Lebanon to Afghanistan, from Rwanda to Sarajevo, and Central Asian steppes to the greatness of the Arabian Empty Quarter.

Reza War and Peace

click image for info @Amazon.com

Book Description - With the Middle East and Asia as his far-ranging home territory, Reza has chronicled 30 years of turmoil, hope, and splendor for a host of international publications including Newsweek, Time, Geo, and National Geographic magazines. Now, he displays some of his most dramatic works in Reza War and Peace–a powerful and moving photo collection that illuminates current events and recent history in places of conflict we see represented in the news every day. These remarkable pictures convey torment and upheaval, but also the art, culture, and traditions of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and other areas–as well as the photographer’s understanding of humanity and deep commitment to justice. Reza trains his lens not just on war and conflict, but also on friendship and loyalty, family life and love. The book follows Reza’s photographic career and is narrated in his own words, focusing our attention on the costs of war and the human condition. Sebastian Junger contributes an introduction, offering intimate insight into what it's like to work with his longtime friend and collaborator.

Despite the challenging subject matter, Reza’s message is not despairing, but ultimately hopeful. For readers interested in world history, current events, and the human experience, this photographic tour de force is a must.

About the Author - Reza is an Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society. He is a renowned international photojournalist, who has captured the world in photographs for many leading publications and in more than 15 books. He has devoted much of his life to documenting conflicts and to humanitarian efforts. In Afghanistan he established Aina, a local NGO aimed at training journalists and establishing newspapers and other media outlets.

Alfred Stieglitz: The Key Set - Volume I & II

2008-12-23T01:00:00.000-08:00

Alfred Stieglitz: The Key Set - Volume I & II:
The Alfred Stieglitz Collection of Photographs

please click image

Description - Few individuals have exerted as profound an influence on 20th-century American art and culture as Alfred Stieglitz (1864-1946). This luxurious two-volume boxed set is the definitive catalogue of the Alfred Stieglitz Collection of Photographs at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, the most complete Stieglitz holding in existence, donated to the gallery by his widow, artist Georgia O'Keeffe.

Numbering 1,642 photographs, the collection represents the full range of the master photographer's work-from early studies made in Europe, to views of the majestic New York skyline, to incomparable intimate portraits of O'Keeffe. Coinciding with a major traveling exhibition and providing complete scholarly apparatus and a chronology, this sumptuous volume demonstrates how Stieglitz absorbed the most advanced artistic concepts of his time into photography and transformed the medium forever.

Taj Mahal 2002

2008-12-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

Archival Pigment print on watercolor paper stock
29x20" Image
Unmatted
$500

Click here to purchase

file under:
India
Taj Mahal

Sony Cybershot DSCW120/B 7.2MP Digital Camera

2008-12-21T01:00:00.000-08:00

Sony Cybershot DSCW120/B 7.2MP Digital Camera
with 4x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot (Black)

click image for info @Amazon.com

Technical Details

7.2-megapixel Super HAD CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 14 x 19-inch prints
Carl Zeiss 4x optical zoom lens; Dynamic Range Optimization
Face Detection; Smart Zoom feature
HDTV compatibility; HD slide show with music
15 MB internal memory; capture images to Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo media

Description - Capture smiles as they happen. The 7.2-megapixel Cyber-shot W120 features innovative Smile Shutter technology which photographs smiles as they happen. Built to impress, this model boasts a Carl Zeiss 4x optical zoom lens for high quality close-ups and Sony's Double Anti-Blur solution for crisp, clear images. For speedy recovery, the BIONZ image processor gets you ready for the next shot. In addition, it has Face Detection technology that detects up to eight faces and optimizes focus, exposure, and color for accurate, natural photos of family and friends.

Steve Mccurry: Ritrati ("steve Mccurry: Portraits")

2008-12-20T01:00:00.000-08:00

Steve Mccurry: Ritrati

click image for info @Amazon.com

Window of Time 2002

2008-12-19T01:00:00.000-08:00

Archival Pigment print on watercolor paper stock
29x20" Image
Unmatted
$750

Click here to purchase

file under;
India, photography, art, print

Nikon Coolpix L18 8MP Digital Camera

2008-12-18T01:00:00.000-08:00

Nikon Coolpix L18 8MP Digital Camera
with 3x Optical Zoom (Ruby Red)

click image for info @Amazon.com

Technical Details

8.0-megapixel resolution for stunning prints as large as 16 x 20 inches
3x optical zoom; Anti-Shake AE mode
High-resolution 3.0-inch LCD makes it easy to view and share pictures
In-Camera Red-Eye Fix; enhanced Face-Priority AF automatically focuses on up to 12 faces
Capture images to SD memory card (not included)

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes

2008-12-17T20:07:00.000-08:00

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Orange)

click image for info @Amazon.com

Product Features

Simple to use, pocket-sized camcorder with one-touch recording and digital zoom
Holds 60 minutes of full VGA-quality video on 2GB of built-in memory; no tapes or additional memory cards required
Convenient USB arm plugs directly into your computer for easy viewing and sharing
Built-in software lets you easily e-mail videos, upload to YouTube and AOL, and capture still photos from video
Watch videos instantly on TV with included cable

Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens

2008-11-12T10:34:00.000-08:00

Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP Digital SLR Camera
with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens

Click image for info @Amazon.com

Technical Details

15.1-megapixel CMOS sensor with improved noise reduction
EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM standard zoom lens included
Enhanced Live View shooting includes Face Detection Live mode
New Lens Peripheral Illumination Correction setting; HDMI output
Capture images to Compact Flash Type I or II memory cards (not included)

Manufacturer Description

Canon’s new EOS 50D bridges the gap between the novice and the seasoned pro with a perfect combination of high-speed and quality. It features an APS-C sized 15.1-megapixel CMOS sensor for tremendous images, new DIGIC 4 Image Processor for fine detail and superior color reproduction, and improved ISO capabilities up to 12800 for uncompromised shooting even in the dimmest situations. It features a refined 3.0-inch Clear View LCD (920,000 dots) monitor, supercharged Live View Function with Face Detection Live mode, plus a number of new automatic Image Correction settings and HDMI output for viewing images on an HDTV. Pick up the EOS 50D and you’ll experience true digital inspiration!

Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR Highlights

New 15.1-megapixel CMOS sensor with improved noise reduction
The EOS 50D features a newly-designed 15.1-megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor which is capable of recording up to 4752 x 3168 pixels with full 14-bit A/D conversion for extremely fine tonal gradation. Ready to capture images in an instant, the sensor is designed to work with Canon’s EF and EF-S lenses with a conversion factor of 1.6x. It’s capable of recording at sensitivities previously too noisy for shooting in low light or subjects in motion. With a maximum ISO rating of 12800 combined with a 4-level High ISO speed noise reduction function, images that would have been impossible without the use of a strobe or flash become simple to record.

Next generation DIGIC 4 Image Processor for faster processing
The EOS 50D operates with such effortless speed that operation is nothing short of intuitive. With instant startup times, speedy autofocus and minimal shutter lag, the EOS 50D is one of the fastest cameras available today. It can shoot up to 6.3 fps, in bursts of up to 90 JPEGs (using an UDMA CF card), 60 JPEGs (using a CF card) consecutively or 16 RAW files, so you’ll never, ever miss a shot.

Capture up to 6.3 fps, in bursts of up to 90 JPEGs

DIGIC 4 Image Processor

This next generation DIGIC 4 Image Processor offers finer details and even more natural color reproduction, compared with the previous DIGIC III Image Processor. Since Canon’s DIGIC 4 chips use advanced signal processing technologies, they provide even faster operations, including write times to UDMA cards. It also enables Face Detection Live mode to detect and focus up to 35 face(s) to capture the best possible shot. Further, DIGIC 4 offers the improved Auto Lighting Optimizer that corrects brightness and contrast automatically, and Peripheral Illumination Correction for up to 40 EF lenses. DIGIC always maximizes performance between the capturing and recording stages of digital photography.

3.0-inch Clear View LCD The EOS 50D features a bright, high resolution, 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor with 920,000 (dots/VGA) pixels and a broad viewing angle of 160 degrees horizontally and vertically. It offers a brighter and more detailed display than the EOS 40D, includes a new smudge-resistant coating, and is perfect for accessing camera settings like ISO, Metering modes AF Point selection and flash options. Plus, it’s superb for reviewing, editing and deleting photos or composing new images in Live View Function.

Live Face Detection Mode AF
Enhanced Live View shooting includes Face Detection Live mode
The EOS 50D features Canon’s most advanced Live View shooting thanks to the number of focusing modes available including Quick mode, Live mode and Face Detection Live mode. You can zoom in and navigate the composition 5x or 10x normal size, enabling critical focus. There’s even 2 overlay grid options, perfect for lining up vertical and horizontal lines. In the studio, the camera can be controlled remotely with Live View Function when the camera is connected to a computer through a USB cable, or wirelessly if the optional Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3A is used.

Live Face Detection Mode AF

9 cross-type high-precision sensors for accurate target subject acquisition
The EOS 50D has a high-precision 9-point wide area AF that uses cross-type points at f-stops of f/5.6 or faster, enabling the camera to focus faster, more accurately, and in difficult lighting situations. AF sensitivity is a stunning EV-0.5 to EV18. Adding to this AF performance, the EOS 50D incorporates a diagonally mounted cross-type sensor that is sensitive to both vertical and horizontal lines at f/2.8, perfect for enhanced operation in dim light. The EOS 50D has a number of focus modes, including One-Shot AF, AI Focus AF and AI Servo AF.

New Lens Peripheral Illumination Correction setting
Canon’s exclusive Lens Peripheral Illumination setting takes into account any light falloff in the corners of the frame and corrects it, making for a perfectly exposed image. Correction data are detected automatically on a number of Canon EF lenses and can be entered manually through included the Canon EOS Utility software.

Updated EOS Integrated Cleaning System
The EOS 50D’s Self Cleaning Sensor Unit eliminates stray dust that enters the camera when changing a lens or when out in the field. The sensor’s IR-cut/Low-pass filter cleans itself automatically with ultrasonic vibrations every time the camera is turned on or off and features a new flourine coating to minimize dust adhesion. Dust missed by the cleaning unit is captured by Canon’s Dust Delete Data Detection software and can be erased from the image file.

Self Cleaning Sensor Unit
A key element of minimizing dust is preventing it from clinging to the front surface of the imaging sensor. To combat this, the EOS 50D features a Canon-designed Self Cleaning Sensor Unit. The low-pass filter at the front of the sensor shakes off dust automatically with ultrasonic vibrations, removing dust from the sensor assembly. The EOS 50D also has a coating on the front surface of the low-pass filter, to increase its resistance to dust sticking to the sensor.

Self Cleaning Sensor Unit

Dust Delete Data Detection
Dust that may still remain on the front of the sensor can also be erased with software included in Digital Photo Professional (DPP) Version 3.3 or later software. A simple test shot of a plain, white object can be taken, using a menu setting. This Dust Delete Data image is analyzed in-camera, and the location and size of any remaining dust is added to any subsequent pictures taken. This data is transmitted along with the image, whether JPEG or RAW, and can be either manually or automatically erased in Canon’s DPP software. This added software option ensures the cleanest possible image, perfect for printing or archiving.

Dust delete data detection

Creative Auto goes a step beyond full auto with on screen setting display The EOS 50D has a new Creative Auto mode and a quick control screen that helps novice users narrow the gap between fully automatic and manual control. While the camera will remain by default in fully automatic mode, frequently changed settings like flash, exposure compensation, image quality and more are all accessible through one easy screen interface designed for intuitive, quick action. A provided shooting guide serves as a quick-reference for on-the-fly operation.

HDMI output for displaying full high-resolution images on a HDTV The EOS 50D includes a new HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) output device that enables High Definition display of your photographs on any HDTV with HDMI ports. It’s remarkable to behold the details of your photographs in Full HD, and it’s easy with the EOS 50D. Resolution is set automatically to match the TV to which you’ve connected, and images are displayed in a full-frame 3:2 ratio with blacked out bars to the left and right of the image.

Compatible with over 60 Canon EF/EF-S lenses and most EOS System accessories

EF & EF-S Lenses
The EOS 50D is compatible with all Canon lenses in the EF and EF-S lineup, ranging from ultra-wide angle to super telephoto lenses. Canon lenses employ advanced optical expertise and micron-precision engineering to deliver unprecedented performance in all facets of the photographic process. Special optical technologies, such as Aspherical, ultra-low dispersion, or fluorite elements are featured in the universally acclaimed L-series lenses. And Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer technology is featured in select lenses to minimize the effect of camera shake. Through Canon lenses, photographers can truly maximize the quality and liberating performance of the EOS 50D.

Ef & EF-S lenses

Flash Photography
The EOS 50D features the acclaimed E-TTL II flash metering system. With any of the flashes in the EX Speedlite line, E-TTL II provides reliable flash output whether shooting fill-in flash pictures in sunlight, or using flash in total darkness. With E-TTL II, the exact same 35-zone metering sensor used for measuring ambient light is also used for flash metering--giving even finer metering command of the image area. If you prefer a broader area for flash metering, there's a menu setting to change to "Average" flash metering--where the entire 35-zone area is measured evenly for flash exposure.

Software

Canon EOS Digital Solution Disk (Version 17.0)
The EOS 50D comes bundled with an updated Canon EOS Digital Solution Disk, which features powerful software programs designed to extend the EOS experience to the computer. These include Canon's EOS Utility (Version 2.5), Digital Photo Professional (Version 3.5), ZoomBrowser EX for Windows (Version 6.2), ImageBrowser for Macintosh OS X (Version 6.2), the Picture Style Editor (Version 1.4), PhotoStitch (version 3.2), WFT Utility (version 3.2). Each application is designed to perfect the captured images and streamline the digital workflow.

EOS Utility (Version 2.5) for Macintosh or Windows handles the connection between the camera and computer, whenever they’re connected via USB. It allows remote controlled shooting from the computer, handles downloading of images from the camera to the computer, and allows seamless linking to either Canon’s ZoomBrowser/ImageBrowser or Digital Photo Professional software once images have been copied to the hard drive. Furthermore, it’s used to upload settings back into a USB-connected camera.

Digital Photo Professional (Version 3.5) is an image processing program that enables high-speed RAW image processing, high-speed previewing for real-time image adjustment and support for sRGB, Adobe RGB and Wide Gamut RGB color spaces. Because it’s CMS (Color Management System) compatible, Digital Photo Professional allows for easy image layout and printing in Adobe RGB in conjunction with Easy-PhotoPrint and PictBridge printers. It also features the Dust Delete Data Detection tool for cleaner images.

ZoomBrowser EX (Version 6.2) for Windows and ImageBrowser (Version 6.2) for Mac OS X are the easy, user-friendly options for viewing and editing of JPEG and even RAW image files. Both allow viewing of numerous types of images including finished TIFF and BMP files. Both also have a variety of search options for finding images, allow re-naming of single images or batches of files, and offer a variety of options for printing without using a separate image-editing program.

Picture Style Editor (Version 1.4)
Canon’s Picture Style Editor enables photographers to create custom Picture Style profiles that can be used to customize the appearance of JPEG and RAW images captured with EOS Digital SLR cameras. Picture Style files created with Picture Style Editor can be loaded into the EOS cameras that support Picture Style and may also be used when processing RAW images in Canon software applications Digital Photo Professional, ZoomBrowser EX (for Windows) and ImageBrowser (for Mac).

Coby 1.5-Inch Digital Photo Keychain

2008-11-11T13:51:00.000-08:00

Coby 1.5-Inch Digital Photo Keychain (White)

Click image for info @Amazon.com

Technical Details

1.5-inch CSTN LCD full-color display; stores over 60 photos
Displays JPEG, GIF, and BMP image files
USB port for fast file transfers
Built-in rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
Included Photo Viewer software compatible with Microsoft Windows 98SE, 2000, XP, or Vista, and Mac OS X

Product Description - PRODUCT FEATURES:1.5" CSTN LCD full-color displayDisplays JPEG, GIF, and BMP image filesStores over 60 photosIntegrated rechargeable lithium-ion batteryUSB port for fast file transfers. Also comes in multiple colors.

Review of New Canon SLR Camera

2008-08-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

Stephan Shankland in an article titled Canon wises up with 50D sensor and new zoom reviews the new Canon Camera.

When it ships in October, the 50D will sport a 15.1 megapixel sensor, up from 10.1 megapixels in the current 40D. The increase in megapixels is nice for the poster-print and microstock-sales crowds, but what's most notable is the increase of the top ISO from 3,200 to 12,800.

Photographic Quote: Alfred Stieglitz

2008-08-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

Photography is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.

Alfred Stieglitz

Georgia O'Keeffe 1920 Giclee Print

Stieglitz, Alfred

Buy at AllPosters.com

Backs To Camera

2008-08-08T23:28:00.000-07:00

Archival Pigment print on watercolor paper stock
20x30" Image
Unmatted
$750

Click here to purchase print

File under;
India, photography, art, print

Types of Digital Cameras

2008-08-03T12:52:00.000-07:00

The best photos will be taken by a photographer who is using a camera that fits the personality of the photographer and who understands the capabilities of the camera. To help photographers understand the various types of digital cameras we have put togehter this post.

It is our intention to not be so technical in this post but to make this post accessible to amature photographers everywhere.

Ultra Compact Digital Cameras - Digital cameras keep getting smaller and smaller. You have to wonder just how small will they be able to get. They are small, lifhtweight, easy to use and vonvenient to carry.

The features continue to increase and the prices continue to go down. For the most part Ultra Compact Digital Cameras are moderately priced. The cool thing is that these small cameras are serious cameras and can take some great photos.

Amazon.com Widgets

Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras - DSLR cameras are for the most part used by professionals and photo enthusiasts who have professional level skills. These cameras have outstanding optics, can produce high resolution images and accept interchangeable lenses and sophisticated accessories.

They perform better in low light than most other digital cameras that have small sensors. DSLRs function automatically but also have a full range of manual controls. You can buy only a DSLR body, and purchase lenses separately. The price of professional level lenses can be very expensive. Models include entry level, semi-professional and professional. They are high priced upto extremely expensive.

Amazon.com Widgets

Digital Camera Accessories - Accessories make owning a digital camera even more fun and they also allow you to get more use out of your camera. Items like cases help to protect your investment by limiting damage due to drops, scrapes and other mishaps. Cases also allow you to stay organized.

Accessories such as extra batteries help to extend the shooting time that you will have with your camera, and memory cards help you to save and reproduce you images easily. Digital frames and display units help you to show off your work.

Amazon.com Widgets

Tips for Digital Photographers

2008-07-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

The following tips come from Efficiency Tips For Digital Photographers by Dave Johnson. In this article Dave gives some great tips that were sent in by readers;

1. Don't Procrastinate

Delete obviously bad shots before you download them to my computer. In the past, I promised myself I would weed out the good from the bad while sifting through folder after folder of photos on my laptop, but by then the job is very daunting. These days, I make myself stop and delete unwanted pictures from my camera, and I am much happier with the scope of my photo library.
--Patricia Moorhead, Ontario, Canada

2. Choose Your Best Shot

When uploading photos to Flickr, be sure to upload your best shot last, since that's the one that will be at the top of the page. And remember that uploading a bunch of photo to Flickr all at once is okay, but it'll be a waste because no one will generally see all but the very last few that you upload. It's better to upload a few at a time, spaced out over the course of a week.
--Susan Monroe, Louisville, Kentucky

3. Don't Share Memory Cards

If you share a camera with someone else in your home, each person should have their own memory card. That way, instead of having to sort through dozens of photos that aren't yours just to find the pictures you recently shot, swap out the card and you'll never have to waste time that way again. Memory cards are so cheap even your kids can own their own.
--Matt Boulerice, Orlando, Florida

4. Don't Overtax Photoshop

I've found that when using Photoshop, it's best to only open a few images at a time. Opening many large digital images at once will slow Photoshop down, sometimes to the point that everything slows to a crawl.
--Matt Boulerice, Orlando, Florida

5. Make a Simple Tripod

I may have read this here, but it bears repeating. You can make an incredible tripod (monopod?) for free, and it's small enough that you can always carry it with you. All you need is a quarter-inch bolt, some string long enough to reach the ground, and a small weight for the bottom. Screw the contraption into your camera, stand on the bottom to keep it taught, and most camera shake is eliminated. Alternately, you can use a retractable key chain instead of a string--that works great too!
--Tom Schmidt, Manheim, Pennsylvania

6. Resize Before Sharing

Don't share your photos at their full size. Whether you upload your photos to Flickr, Photobucket, or even Facebook, larger file sizes mean long load times for you and your viewers. Your high-speed Internet connection might be able to handle 8-megapixel photos in a flash, but Grandma might still be on dialup. Use a program to shrink them down to screen size or smaller.
--Emily, Clearwater Beach, Florida

7. Make Smaller Copies

After I download my full-size photos from the camera, I immediately use software to reduce all the images to a smaller file size, and I move the originals into a folder named "Originals." This way, I already have the images in a smaller size that I can e-mail to friends or upload to photo sites, but I still have the originals for printing or editing.
--Kyle R Paschall, McGregor, Texas

8. Back Up Your Photos

It is really important to back up your photos often. All you need is an external hard drive and a free program like Sync Back.
--Ezra Kennedy, Virginia City, Nevada

9. Make Duplicate Backups

Before I delete the photos from my camera's memory card, I download them both to my computer and to an external hard drive. I organize all photos by date, and every new year I make two sets of CD backups of that year's photos. I keep a complete set at work. This way if some disaster strikes my home, I still have a complete set of my photos. And this system works: A few years ago, I was wiped out by Hurricane Andrew, but I didn't lose a single photo. Many people don't realize how important their photos are until they lose them.
--Lester, Glendale, California

10. Shoot Faster

If you are disappointed by how long it takes your camera to take a photo, try holding the shutter halfway down and hold this position until the perfect shot comes along. There will be less of a delay before the shutter actually opens. This is a great if you are photographing kids or animals that never stop moving. Beware, though, that this step locks the focus, so if your subject is moving towards or away from you, you might need to let go of the shutter and then press it down halfway again occasionally.
--Cassy Simon, Lonsdale, Minnesota

11. Rename Your Photo's.

Rename your photo's from your July 21, 2008 trip to San Francisco as follows: from "DSCF6816" to "20080721 San Francisco Vacation 816", thereby you can easily easily sort all your pictures in chronological order, as well as partially preserving some of the original.

Flautist 2002

2008-07-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

Archival Pigment print on watercolor paper stock
29x20" Image
Unmatted
$750

Please click here to purchase a print.

File under;
Photography, Musician, India, Flute

Did you know...

2008-07-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

...that the first real zoom lens, which retained near-sharp focus while the effective focal length of the lens assembly was changed, was patented in 1902 by Clile. C. Allen.

Photographic Quote: John Szarkowski

2008-07-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

The camera has interesting ideas of its own.

John Szarkowski

The First Photograph...

2008-07-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

From the Wikipedia Photography Portal;

The first photograph was an image produced in 1826 by the French inventor Nicéphore Niépce on a polished pewter plate covered with a petroleum derivative called bitumen of Judea. But for centuries images had been projected onto surfaces - artists used the camera obscura and camera lucida to trace scenes as early as the 16th century. These early "cameras" did not fix an image, but only projected images from an opening in the wall of a darkened room onto a surface, turning the room into a large pinhole camera.

The advent of photography, from the Ancient Greek words φως phos ("light"), and γραφη graphê ("stylus", "paintbrush") or γραφω graphō (the verb, "I write/draw"), together meaning "drawing with light" or "representation by means of lines" or "drawing", has gained the interest of scientists and artists from its inception. Scientists have used photography to record and study movements, such as Eadweard Muybridge's study of human and animal locomotion (1887). Artists are equally interested in these aspects but also try to explore avenues other than the photo-mechanical representation of reality, such as the pictorialist movement. Military, police and security forces use photography for surveillance, recognition and data storage. Photography is used to preserve favorite memories and as a source of entertainment.

Beginning of the Dance

2008-07-20T09:53:00.000-07:00

These images are a small sample of a few series that Ratnesh shot in India. His attempt is to document the rich history, culture and tradition that manifests itself through architecture, dress, music and dance.

Archival Pigment print on watercolor paper stock
20x30" Image
Unmatted
$750

Click here to purchase this print

file under;
India, Indian, Musician, Dance

Shutterfly Deals on Photo Prints

2008-07-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

Shutter is offereing the following deals;

New member's offer: Get 50 free 4x6 prints and an 11x14 Collage Poster when you join Shutterfly.

Shutterfly: 20% off prints. Use coupon code: AF61-URK8
. (Expires 7-9-08)

Shutterfly - $.15 4x6 print sale. Expires 07-16-08.

Shutterfly - 15% off luggage tags, keychains, magnets and canvas prints. Expires 7-23-08.

Shutterfly - Tiered Photo Book Sale:
Buy a 12x12 get 100 free 4x6 prints*
Buy an 8x8 get 50 free 4x6 prints*
Buy an 8.5x11 get 50 free 4x6 prints*
Buy a 5x7 get 30 free 4x6 prints*
Buy a 4x4 get 30 free 4x6 prints*
* prints are future reward - exp. 7-30. Photo book sale expires 7-23-08.

The Digital Photography Book

2008-07-01T21:21:00.000-07:00

Product Description
Scott Kelby, the man who changed the "digital darkroom" forever with his groundbreaking, #1 bestselling, award-winning book The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers, now tackles the most important side of digital photography--how to take pro-quality shots using the same tricks today's top digital pros use (and it's easier than you'd think).

This entire book is written with a brilliant premise, and here’s how Scott describes it: "If you and I were out on a shoot, and you asked me, 'Hey, how do I get this flower to be in focus, but I want the background out of focus?' I wouldn't stand there and give you a lecture about aperture, exposure, and depth of field. In real life, I'd just say, 'Get out your telephoto lens, set your f/stop to f/2.8, focus on the flower, and fire away.' You d say, 'OK,' and you'd get the shot. That's what this book is all about. A book of you and I shooting, and I answer the questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I've learned just like I would with a friend, without all the technical explanations and without all the techno-photo-speak."

This isn't a book of theory—it isn't full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts: this is a book of which button to push, which setting to use, when to use them, and nearly two hundred of the most closely guarded photographic "tricks of the trade" to get you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos with your digital camera every time you press the shutter button.

Here's another thing that makes this book different: each page covers just one trick, just one single concept that makes your photography better. Every time you turn the page, you'll learn another pro setting, another pro tool, another pro trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. There's never been a book like it, and if you're tired of taking shots that look "OK," and if you’re tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, "Why don't my shots look like that?" then this is the book for you.