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Tips for Perfect Photo Prints

Shannon Joe — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:42:30 +0000

Photography is an exciting art that many fall in love with, but sometimes the photo prints do not match up to the fabulous photo you know you captured. Even as an advanced photographer there are still some things you can learn to enhance your photo printing skills. Here are some useful tips that will help you achieve that goal.

The print trade by Rustman

Calibrate your monitor and printer

A monitor that is not calibrated properly can create a challenge if you are to create a perfect photo print. The quality of the printed photo could end up being such a poor representation of what is on your monitor, that you would have wasted your time, photo paper and ink. The colors and density that your monitor displays could be inaccurate, which means the photos printed would not match what you see on your monitor.

Use the Adobe Photoshop tool, Adobe Gamma, that more than likely comes installed on your computer, to create an ICC profile. The ICC profile will use calibration settings to change the manner in which your monitor reproduces colors. Access Adobe Gamma from the control panel and follow the follow the instructions step by step.

Select the right photo paper for your printer

A variety of photo papers are available for printing, but you will need to know which will give you the best photo print results.

If you are using a laser printer, aside from achieving a good photo print, it is important to use the right photo paper to protect the printer. Glossy photo paper is most suitable for color photo prints, but a laser printer can cause the glossy film on the paper to melt due to the heated roller the laser printer uses to fuse the toner to the paper. The melting ruins the paper and can damage the printer.

Photo prints done on good quality digital photo paper will reproduce true photographic gloss. The white colors in the photograph will be at their brightest and highest resolution. Photo papers that are of a good quality will also retain images that are sharp and well defined, and the color of the text it produces will be close to the original and have excellent clarity.

Select the right ink

Like the photo paper, the quality of the ink you use is very important to achieving a perfect photo print. If you use more than one type of photo paper, it is advisable that you create and save different profiles for your printer for the various types of paper you choose to use. The reason for this is that the printer may use more of one color on one type of paper than the other.

Saving the profiles will enable you to have easy access to each setting per paper, rather than having to correct the color each time you need to print on a specific paper. It may be costly, but it is usually safer to purchase the brand of ink from you printer’s manufacturer. Alternatively, there are some inks available on the market that are sometimes better than that of the manufacturer. Lyson is one company that manufactures good quality ink.

Check your Dpi and Ppi settings

The higher you set the resolution of your printer, the greater the detail you will get to print and that will give you a more perfect photo. The best resolution at which to print an image is 300 to 400dpi/ppi.

Tips for Perfect Photo Prints
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Macro Photography – How to Photograph a Spider’s Web

Shannon Joe — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:55:14 +0000

Spiderwebs are beautiful, interesting and absolutely unique. Each one is a study in natural beauty and makes an excellent topic for close up photography. Unfortunately, their light and elastic nature, and the spider’s movement across the web can also make them challenging to photograph well. Photographing a spiderweb well is a combination of timing, position and patience.

Spider web by Morninghasbroken

Select your day carefully

Some days are better for picturing spiderwebs than others. Any wind will blur the image, and complicate your image’s focus. Select a day that is very still to take your picture. The early morning hours are typically the stillest. Also, taking a photo just after a rain or when there is dew on the web will make each strand thicker, leaving the web more visible, and creating interesting reflective prisms inside the web.

Consider what is in the background of the shot

Consider what is behind the spiderweb, and select your photographic angle based on that, and not on the web itself. Spider web photographs which are taken with a dark background turn out best, because the spider web stands out in contrast. Also look for a background that is plain, anything distinct will detract from the spiderweb, pulling the viewer’s attention away from the web and toward the background.

Select a focal point

Examine the spider web and select an area that you want to serve as the focal point of the image. Perhaps your focal point is the spider itself on the web, or perhaps it is an area of the web with a particularly interesting pattern. Whatever the case, arrange the photo to frame, or focus on, this area.

Set your camera

Set your camera to a macro setting, or switch to a macro lens. These are best suited to capturing a spiderweb’s details. Switch the camera to manual focusing and adjust the image depth and focus points by hand. This is essential because the string in the web is so fine, and being even a little out of focus will detract from the picture’s attention to detail. Set the camera on a tripod for greater stability and consistency.

Capture the image

Capture the image, respecting the conventions of good picture taking. Take the picture straight on, and fill the frame with the web. Make sure that the focal point you have selected is slightly off center, positioning the main object according to the law of thirds. Consider color, composition and balance.

Edit and adjust

View the picture snapped with a critical eye, decide what is missing and adjust. Repeat the process, taking pictures and making minor adjustments in placement, focus and framing until the perfect shot is captured.

Final suggestions:

If your photo is missing one or more of the elements that you most want to capture, and you have a good still day, consider making the magic moment happen. Spray the web with a fine mist of water from a squirt bottle to imitate dew. Feed the spider with store bought crickets to capture the feeding ritual. Shake the web to force the spider to change positions, to get it where you really want it.

Macro Photography – How to Photograph a Spider’s Web
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Trick Photography And Special Effects 2.0

Shannon Joe — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:50:58 +0000

The second edition of Trick Photography and Special Effects has been released. It includes 100 new e-book pages (296 pages total), 9 full hours of video tutorials and over 300 creative photographs created by some of the most talented photographic artists around the world. It is one of the most popular training eBooks for photographers. The eBook is in PDF format so it is perfect for tablet devices or can be read on any computer.The newly released version can be found here: Trick Photography & Special Effects 2.0

Here are a few samples Of the many techniques explained in the book:

How to get a copy:

The second edition of Trick Photography and Special Effects includes 100 new e-book pages (296 pages total), 9 full hours of video tutorials and and over 300 creative photographs, can be found here: Trick Photography & Special Effects 2.0

There is 100% money back guaranty, you can try it for 8 whole weeks and if you’re unhappy at any point during that 8 week period you can simply ask for a refund.

Trick Photography And Special Effects 2.0
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How to Photograph a Rainbow

Shannon Joe — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:18:50 +0000

The hardest part of capturing a rainbow is timing. They are only visible when the weather and light are just right, and they fade quickly from sight. Those who successfully capture a rainbow are prepared to take the photo before the rainbow appears. Follow these steps to capture the best rainbow images possible.

Intense Rainbow by Robert Rowe

Select a lens

Attach a lens with a polarizing filter to your camera. Using a polarizing filter will make the colors in the rainbow really pop, and ensure that all seven colors are distinctly visible. It will also enhance the blue tones in the sky, so that the background of your rainbow pictures are more than grey. Consider using a very wide angle or fisheye lens to take really powerful pictures of the rainbow if you can see both ends.

Set the frame

Set the shooting angle, the focus, and the zoom to insure that as much of the rainbow as possible are against dark sky. In this area the rainbow’s coloration will be most visible.

Make the photo unique

Look for ways to make your rainbow picture distinctly different from others. If a jet is flying through, consider taking some close-ups of the plane near the rainbow. If you can find a vantage point, like a bridge or a rooftop, where you appear to be standing higher than the rainbow, try taking some high-angle shots. Take a low angle shot that gives the impression that you are standing at the rainbows starting point. Find some way to make the image truly one of a kind.

Consider the foreground and scope

Consider what lies between you and the rainbow. Often, rainbows can be pictured over beautiful pastoral shots. Pay attention to the foreground and try to capture something equally beautiful there. Also, look closely, chances are you can see two or more rainbows in at least a small area of the sky. Capture areas where there appear to be two or more bows. This will allow viewers to see the amazing double-rainbow phenomenon, in which the colors run in a reversed spectrum in the second bow.

Adjust the aperture down

When the aperture is lower, more of the shot will be in focus. This will result in a wide angle shot that contains the whole rainbow and that has both depth and definition.

Use accessories

Use a tripod or other accessories. A tripod will keep your camera steady and help you keep the image perfectly in focus. This is especially important for rainbow pictures because any blurring created by motion or focus issues will make it harder to pick out each individual layer of color. Timers or remotes can also be useful if you want to put people in the image.

Be quick, but draw out your exposure time

Remember, rainbows are typically visible for between two and ten minutes, so the picture must be set up and captured quickly. That being said, long exposure photographs capture more of the rainbow’s color, if you can ensure that nothing in the frame will move during that exposure. Experiment with exposure whenever possible while photographing rainbows.

How to Photograph a Rainbow
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Unique Ways to Display Your Best Photographic Work

Zach Ball — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:41:06 +0000

When thinking about how to display your best work, you probably think of your portfolio, framed wall prints, or a web site. But have you ever considered displaying your best photographic work on your wall? I do not mean as a print on your wall, but on your entire wall. Making a custom wall mural out of your digital photography is a great way to display your work to advertize your skills, to impress people, or to simply gain more enjoyment out of it.

Wall Hangings by Joe-Lynn-Design

Turning your digital images into a wall mural is easier than you would think. Advancements in large format printing technology have made it affordable to create custom wallpaper out of your own digital images. All you have to do is send your image to a large format printer and they will send you your custom wallpaper. A six megapixel picture can easily be expanded to fill an entire wall.

Creating wall murals out of your photographs opens up so many possibilities. Think about using nature scenes or landscapes you have photographed as a mural for your bedroom wall. Or how about using your beach pictures in your bathroom? Custom wallpaper is as durable as the store-bought paper and uses non-fading inks. So you will not have to worry about the quality of your work deteriorating when it is on your wall. Also, not only can you get your work turned into standard wallpaper, you can get it turned into vinyl wallpaper that is repositionable as well. This means you can switch scenes or images at will, making your decorations easily customizable.

You can use custom wallpaper on more than just your home. Decorating the walls of your studio with your work is sure to impress your clients. Seeing your work at this scale will give a sense of weight and importance to your images. Displaying your photographs in this way is so unique it will set you apart from your competition as well.

It is not just photographs that can be turned into wall art. Graphic designers can use their work to create wall murals as well. All you have to do is make sure the image can be scaled up without becoming distorted. Vector images work great for this application. You can even combine graphic designs with photographs to make the ultimate wall mural.

So the next time you pull out you camera, keep your walls in mind. Think about what you would like to see on your walls large as life. Knowing it is possible to make a custom wall mural, you will begin to see opportunities to take photographs for them everywhere.

Unique Ways to Display Your Best Photographic Work
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Fun and Free iPhone Food Photo Apps

Kristine Hojilla — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:22:51 +0000

The camera function of the iPhone, combined with the numerous food photo applications, has inspired iPhone owners to shoot more creatively, and often with a purpose. From everyday meals to gourmet creations, each dish is a click away from being noted in a photograph. iPhone app creators are tapping into the vast market of users who are hungry to take photos of good food.

Here are several notable free iPhone food photo apps that are a surefire hit among food fanatics and health conscious individuals:

Foodspotting

With this app, you can locate recommended dishes near your area. While out in a restaurant or a food place, you might come across some yummy meals and want to recommend them yourself. As a “foodspotter”, you can take a photo of the food and share it with “foodseekers” who are searching for the next delicious meal to devour.

SnapDish

As the name suggests, this app lets you take snapshots of dishes you find delicious and interesting. An added feature is the ability to edit your food shots to improve their appearance, which is most helpful especially if you took the photos in low-light conditions. You can also share your food finds with family and friends in Facebook and Twitter.

The Eatery

This food app is relatively new but it is taking iPhone users by storm. It focuses on helping you become healthier by keeping track of what you eat and charting your eating habits. The premise is to take a picture of everything you eat, rate them from “fit” to “fat”, and share the photos with friends who can leave comments and give a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down”. The app tries to push you to be constantly aware of your food intake so that you can better control what food you should be eating and what to stay away from.

Evernote Food

The creators of the popular Evernote app has launched Evernote Food, which lets you take photos of your memorable meals and share them with others via email, Facebook or Twitter. You can also add titles, notes, tags, and even your location. This app can automatically sync to your Evernote account, if you have one, making it easy to access the features of both apps. With this app, you can create a visual step by step record of food preparations. It is also a great way to keep track of the food you eat, and can be easily used to capture the special moments with family and friends during gatherings over a hearty meal.

Picdish

This app makes use of food photos as an avenue for social networking. You can take photos and share them with others who may be in the vicinity. One of the fascinating features of Picdish is its ability to create a unified experience by gathering all food photos taken by various people in the area and categorizing them in the interface, all in real-time. You can quickly view other people’s shots without any need to upload, categorize, or share them, which makes this app quite convenient.

Fun and Free iPhone Food Photo Apps
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Air Show Photography – Tips and Tricks

Shannon Joe — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:21:55 +0000

Air shows provide a host of interesting photograph opportunities for apprentice and seasoned photographers alike. The crowds, the speed, and the outdoor setting however pose a unique set of challenges. Follow these steps to take better pictures of air shows.

Toronto Air Show 2010 by Inacom

Prepare your equipment

Make sure that you have everything you need to make the shooting experience a good one. Equip your camera with a wide angle lens that is capable of capturing wingtip to wingtip shots of even the largest jets. Take enough memory to capture images all day long. Take several smaller chips or use one larger memory chip. Plan to fill between 4 and 6 GB of memory over the course of the air show day. Finally, make sure that your battery is fully charged and, if possible, bring a charged spare.

Set yourself up for the best shots

If you are trying to take all your pictures the day of the actual air show, get a seat in the center of the air strip or field of flight. These seats are typically immediately to the right or left of the announcer’s stand. All the day’s action will be choreographed to occur mid-field. Also, sit as near the safety rail as possible. The further back you are, the more heads there will be between you and your target. For the best aerial images, try to get into the show on media day, or during a rehearsal to photograph stunts and flybys without the crowd. This allows you to focus your attention on static displays, booths and the crowd the day of the actual show.

Wait for shots that go beyond the ordinary

Why snap a photograph of a plane rolling down the runway, when you can snap a photo of a plane lifting off the runway? A photo that shows one tire off the ground as the plane lifts into power is far more powerful than a picture of a plane with both wheels on the ground. Similarly, the picture of an acrobat that has both hands off of the plane and is stepping into position, with one foot off the wings, is much more powerful than an aerial acrobat that has both feet firmly planted and who is hanging on to the safety rail. Look for moments of action, when there is tension to take a picture with emotional power.

Take advantage of the Golden Hour

Take more photos during the hour just before sunset than any other time of the day. At this time the light and color is right for highlighting airplanes in flight.. The risk of under or over exposure is minimized during this hour, and the bright colors of the sunset sky will provide a brilliant and unique background for even the most mundane shots.

Take control of your camera

Set your aperture, focus, shutter speed and other significant settings manually. The camera’s automatic settings are programmed for taking pictures along the horizon and not up in the air. The risk of overexposure, and blurred focus is greatly increased when taking airshow photos with automated settings.

Air Show Photography – Tips and Tricks
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Digital Wedding Secrets

Shannon Joe — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:24:38 +0000

Digital Wedding Secrets is your complete guide to amazing wedding photography. It is an e-book written in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step format. That means you can pick it up today and be working it immediately!

Digital wedding secrets is the power to take your wedding photography to next level. Take amazing shots. Discover secrets to candid shots, posing, lightning.

It comes with a complete wedding photography package, here are the full package:

1- Digital wedding secrets e-book which is your complete guide to amazing wedding photography. Learn how to grow your business like professionals do.

2- The complete list of wedding poses. This full, detailed guide outlines over 74 poses that you must take on wedding day.

3- Wedding photography business agreements. Learn the details of how to prepare wedding photography agreements. there are 8 forms and worksheets included (in PDF and Excel files).

4- The wedding photography business checklists. These wonderful 5 printable checklists can save you a lot of embarrassment and loss lest you forget something.

5- 10 fully ready website templates. These websites are designed for wedding photographers, and have all features like galleries, contact us form!

6- And 4 months of website hosting and website setup support .

7- Exclusive wedding photography business plans.

How to get a copy:

The Complete Wedding Photography Package can be found here: Digital Wedding Secrets

There is 100% money back guaranty, you can try it for 60 day and if you’re unhappy at any point during that 60 day period you can simply ask for a refund.

Digital Wedding Secrets
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Astrophotography: How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipse

Shannon Joe — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:11:59 +0000

A lunar eclipse takes place 2 or 3 times each year and only during a full moon. This phenomenon occurs when the moon passes through the earth’s dark shadow causing it to go dim. The moon’s orbit is tipped 5 degrees to the earth causing the moon to miss the Earth’s shadow during most full moons, but during an eclipse the earth blocks the sunlight from falling on the moon.

Capturing a lunar eclipse through photography can be challenging and quality photographs can only be captured if the right equipment is used. Here are some key tips to consider when photographing a lunar eclipse using camera equipment.

Total lunar eclipse by U.S. Army Alaska

Use the right equipment

It is best to use a tripod as the exposure will be longer than it would be during the day.

Two important factors to consider when taking pictures of a lunar eclipse are size and exposure. The best lunar pictures are captured when longer focal length lens are used. That said, very nice lunar eclipse pictures can be captured, using a basic telescope equipped with a special camera adapter. This is especially so during the partial phases. To capture even better pictures of the entire eclipse phase, use a telescope equipped with a special mount that guides the camera along the motion of the moon, compensating for the Earth’s rotation.

A camera with a manual setting will give you more flexibility to capture photos that are sharp and have better exposure.

Use the right focal length

The longer the length of the lens the better it is for capturing details of the moon as it races across the sky. This is because longer lens magnify the moon, allowing more details to become visible.

The disadvantage of a longer lens is that it may produce blurry images during the brighter phase of the lunar eclipse. To avoid this, use a fast shutter speed. If you use a telephoto lens be sure it has an image stabilizer as it makes the framing and focusing process easier. Use a focal length of 300mm or 400mm.

ISO speed during the lunar eclipse phase

The higher the ISO, the more sensitive the image sensor will be, but bear in mind that during a total eclipse, the moon will be a lot dimmer than it is during a normal full moon. To accommodate this decrease in lighting you will have to increase the ISO and decrease the speed of your shutter.

Selecting the best ISO may differ for each photographer based on geographic location and lens used. It is best to work with a general range based on trial and error. Consider using an ISO 400 setting and check for exposure time. Remember that long exposures over four minutes in length can result in blurry images as the moon moves across the sky.

Pay attention to your aperture setting.

The best setting for your aperture during a lunar eclipse is f/11 as it will allow you to capture all the details on the moon’s surface. For those shooting with an APS-C sensor and a different resolution, it is best you exceed f/18 to gain maximum sharpens and use spot metering, center-weighted if your camera does not have that first setting.

Astrophotography: How to Photograph a Lunar Eclipse
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