Holiday Photo Tip
November 23, 2007
Here’s one of my TOP SECRET PHOTO TIPS I reserve for only my best friends……and I’m spilling the beans to my most devout readers.
When amateur photographers take a photo of family or friends at holiday gatherings, they only take one photo………pros always take at least TWO. That’s it. Pretty simple, huh?
If the group is larger than 3 people, I will take three or four photos so I catch the best expressions and increase my odds of everybody’s eyes being OPEN.
Take more photos of the group and you will increase the odds of getting better photos!
How To Get The Photos In Your Computer Printed
September 22, 2007
In today’s world it seems that we are all rushed for time. Many of us really like taking photographs so that time can stand still for us for a few minutes as we look at how these photographs turned out though. Nevertheless, how many times have you taken a photograph that you have been unable to find the time to take and get printed out? If you are like most people, there are too many times to count.
This does not have to be the way it is though. Did you know that there are ways in which you can get your digital photos printed online? There are numerous places that are willing to do this for you and it is actually a lot easier to do than you may imagine. It is also a lot more cost effective than you may think too. In fact, you can usually find places that will print out your photos for 12 cents per print and then mail them to you via the United States Postal Mail Service. Of course, there are also some web sites that will allow you to pick up your photographs in their store that is local to you but why would you want to do that if they can arrive at your front door.
So, how do you go about doing this? First you need to register your name, email and address with the service that you are choosing to use. From there, it really is as easy as following some simple instructions about uploading and ordering your pictures. Once all of this is done you will receive an email whenever your order is received as well as when it is dispatched.
If you are short on time and need some photographs printed out for you, this really is the way to get it done.
Visit SnapFish to get started.
Tips On The Right Lens For Your Camera
September 9, 2007
Generally speaking, if you do not have a good lens you do not have a good photograph either. Of course, you also need to have a decent amount of control over the camera that you are using in order for you to also have a good picture. However, when you combine both of these things you will get the most control that you can possibly have over whatever it is that you are photographing. With this control you probably are going to also want clarity, which is what comes through your choice of lenses.
There are basically 2 lenses that you should purchase:
1. The fixed focal length lenses is the one which is found on most point and shoot cameras. These have an average wide angle lens that is of mid range quality. It is smaller and clearer than a zoom lens though, which is good for photographing low light situations. However, you may find that the person or subject that you are photographing may appear smaller than you would like them to appear unless you are able to move in closer.
2.
3. A zoom lens has a lot more practical focal lengths for digital photography. They are able to give you a good angle perspective so that you can fill in the frame. They are also great if you need to take closer shots but cannot get closer to the thing that you are photographing. If you are going to opt for one of these lenses, then you should opt for an optical zoom lens. You should definitely forgo the digital zoom lens though since it will not give you a true representation of what you are photographing. Instead, you will simply get more noise (grainy look) in your image, which you cannot edit out.
How To Get Started Ordering Your Photo Prints Online
September 7, 2007
It use to be, not that long ago, that you use to have to take your photographs to a photo center if you wanted to get them printed out. This was the only way in which you could get your pictures printed out. These photo centers did a good job of providing people with professionally printed photographs. Today they can also print out your digital photographs for you as well. However, with the rise of digital cameras and digital printers you can now print out your own photographs from your home printer.
If you choose to print out your own photographs there are some supplies available on the market that will make this “job” easier for you to do. For instance, many companies sell professional photography paper, in both glossy and matte, that will make your photographs look as though you had them professionally printed. In order to do this though you are going to also need to have a really good printer. Otherwise you may as well take them to the store to have them printed. Of course, taking them to a photo center will also take up some of your time until there was the advent of online picture printing.
Now you can easily register for an account, upload your photographs and have your pictures printed and mailed to you from any of the many online sites that do this today. Each of these sites has something “special” to offer to get you in the door. Plus you will find that most of the prices online are quite similar to the photo centers in your neighborhood but they will require a lot less time from you.
We have used SnapFish for some of our fun/travel photos. They do a very nice job on their color printing and they will mail them to you very quickly. Click on the ad below to give them a try.
7 Day Photography Challenge-Day Five-Gratitude
August 28, 2007
Our mission in day four of our digital photography challenge was to photograph events in our life. To photograph some of the things that we do that we are grateful for. I get to display my American flag each day. That’s something I am grateful for. One of my son’s serves in the Air Force. The flag reminds me of him.
This flag photograph uses two digital photo techniques. One is the close up focus setting on a digital camera (I’m using a point-and-shoot camera for this 7 day series) and the other is diagonal composition.
Your digital camera has a close up setting on it. You have to go into the “menu” sometimes to find it. Sometimes it’s a button on the back of the camera. What it allows you to do is to focus closer than 2 feet. You couldn’t do that in the old days (4 years ago) with film cameras. So give it a try - find out where the close up (macro) setting is on your camera. And try doing a dozen photos focusing under one foot. It’s really cool. Your photographs will take on a new look.
One of the reasons that this is a dynamic photograph is not only because of the highly symbolic subject ( like a cross would be also) but also because I put the “leading lines” of the photograph at an angle, rather than vertical or horizontal. It adds more “visual tension” when the lines are at angle or diagonal. Leading lines are what our eye follows in a framed piece. Painters have used them for years to lead your eye around inside the frame to where they want you to look. Try photographing some objects at an angle. What do you think?
Tomorrow I’m going to photograph water. I’ll show you a few things that can ruin your water photos.
Please post your comments at the bottom of the page.
If you need a new camera, see our video on choosing the right digital camera, click on the link below.
Click here to see the video now.
7 Day Photography Challenge-Day Four-Gratitude
August 25, 2007
This is day four of our great 7 day digital photography challenge. My mission today was to take at least 7 digital photographs that show “things we are able to do” with the theme of gratitude. This digital photograph is a great example of an activity that I glad that I can do. Ride my bike. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Something most people would take for granted, riding a bike. My focus today was on on of the simple things in life; easy to take for granted.
This photo is also a great example of giving depth to a photograph. Here’s a simple photo tip. When you want to add interest to a photograph, have a main subject in the foreground and another subject in the background. In this case it is the handle bars of my bike and the American flag in the background. the object in the backgound will usually be smaller because it is further away from the camera.
Here’s another tip. Any time you have red in the photograph, it will command attention. Be careful where you show red; it will overpower just about any scene.
So let’s concentrate on this idea for tomorrow. When you take a photograph, keep the subject very simple, Only one or two subjects/objects, with a simple background. that way you are conveying a simple message with little distraction.
So, 7 more digital photographs tomorrow. Our new theme will be “events” What events in your day are you grateful for?
I would really like to hear about your 7 day journey. Please post your comments here at the bottom of the page.
If you need a new camera, see our video on choosing the right digital camera, click on the link below.
Click here to see the video now.
