Camera Wars Digital vs Film

By Linda Meckler

 

Do you like to take pictures? Do you like using a digital camera? Or do you like taking pictures with a film camera and use a scanner? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, read on.

I have finally decided I know how to take pictures after all these years. I have a digital camera and it is virtually impossible to screw up my pictures. With the wonderful picture screen displaying my picture before hand, I can be assured of the best picture ever.

I could not say that for the camera you aim and hope for the best. Heads and feet would get cut off. Also, I had a hard time finding the center of the picture. My only option for a picture was to take it and have it professionally printed. When I want to use one of my pictures in my computer my only choice is to use a scanner.

I know I would have taken more pictures of my children when they were younger if digital cameras were around. Unfortunately, they were not and I had to rely on other people to take my family pictures.

Now with my digital camera, I find myself taking pictures all the time. I like to take photos of flowers, trees and anything that takes my fancy. I take my digital cameral right to my computer and download my pictures right into my computer.

SOME OPTIONS FOR PICTURE USE:

(1) CD

(2) Printing them myself.

(3) E mailing them anywhere for friends and family.

(4) Using my pictures for any kind of correspondence I create.

(5) Leave them in my computer.

(6) Back up my computer onto a CD - all my pictures are backed up at the same time.

Modern electronics are wonderful. I am glad I am around to take advantage of these wonderful modern miracles.

Keep smiling and taking pictures. They are your family history.

Thank you for reading my article. Please feel free to read any of my numerous articles

Copyright Linda E. Meckler 2006

Linda is the author of her first published book, "Ghost Kids Trilogy." Christy, 12 and her Brother Brad, 16 moves into an old house on top of a mountain and meet two Ghost Kids. Then we have a mysterious, magical Blue Vase where Uncle Charlie the villain is trapped. He wants out of the Blue Vase and exchange he will tell Christy and Brad where Pirates' Treasure is Hidden. Take a walk with Christy and Brad down a dark hall hunting for Pirates" Treasure. You will think were you there right there with them. Love, Family Values and Charity burst off the pages. http://www.lmeckler.com Check out my new 4 E books Titled: How To Appeal Medical Bills Appeal and Collections Letters for Medical Providers Boost Your Self Esteem and Blossom Computers Cause Pain on my website http://www.lmeckler.com/store Check out my website http://www.lmeckler.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Meckler

Minolta SRT Film SLRs - Still Clicking After All These Years

By Tom Bonner

For a small, but determined group, the Minolta SRT series cameras are still a viable path to SLR photography. Even though the cameras themselves have been out of production for over twenty years and Minolta exited the camera business in 2006, Minolta SRTs are still a hot commodity on ebay, pawnshops and at used camera dealers.

Minolta no longer makes cameras and digital SLRs are now king of the camera hill. Despite these factors, the SRT camera line is still producing great images. The SRT101 started the series when it was introduced in 1966. Over the next 15 years, Minolta produced the SRT100, SRT102, SRT200, 201 and 202. The SRT series also appeared with other names outside the US. In addition, Minolta produced the SRT-MC to be sold primarily by K-mart. A similar model, the SRT-SC was sold by JC Penny.

With the huge distribution and rugged metal construction, you can understand why so many SRTs survive today. Yet it would seem they are hopelessly outdated compared with the array of fine digital cameras available. Why would any one want one of these old warhorses instead of a dSLR?

Make no mistake, digital SLRs offer a number of advantages that no film SLR can match. Digital SLR's allow you to preview your shots, you can transfer images to your computer for editing and you can use the same memory card over and over. In addition to not offering digital features, the SRT lacks autofocus, dedicated flash, program exposure and auto film advance -- that is a pretty extensive list of features modern photographers have come to expect in a SLR.

Yet it is those missing features that make the cameras attractive to so many current users. With no electronics, the SRT returns the photographer to an era when one's own knowledge was paramount to getting successful images. A pure manual camera, the SRT forces the users to learn photography from the ground level. Many users are using a SRT as s stepping stone to learning photography before splurging a full featured digital SLR.

Another attractive aspect is cost. Although there are a number of enthusiastic Minolta collectors, so many SRTs were produced and so many were well preserved by their owners, that good, used SRTs are still plentiful. While first class SRTs may eventually become highly collectible, for now you can easily obtain a good, useable model with lens for less than a hundred dollars. A little searching may turn up models for far muxh less.

Even better, there are literately tons of lenses available for these cameras. Minolta, of course, produced the lion's share of these lenses, under the Rokker X and Celtic brand names. Vivitar, Tamron, Soligor and many others also produced excellent lenses to fit the SRT series. Unlike the autofocus A-Mount Minolta lenses that can be used on both Sony and Minolta dSLRs, the X-mount lenses won't fit any dSLR without an adapter. This means you can find some excellent X-Mount lens bargains. As more and more users switch to digital, their old Rokkor-X lenses end up on the auction block. The SRT shooter can find some truly rare and excellent lenses at a price that won't strain the budget.

Of course there are a few caveats. If you should happen on a SRT model, you have to remember it is at least twenty years old and the original SRT models have been around for more than forty years. Bad things can happen to a camera after all that time, particularly if it has been sitting unused in a closet somewhere.

Although the SRTs have a reputation for great reliability, always check the camera carefully before buying. After time, the shutter speeds have been known become inaccurate, requiring repair to maintain good exposures, The seals around the camera's back may start disintegrating, allowing light into the camera. New seals are available and it is a fairly simple fix.

Undoubtedly the biggest concern is the lack of a battery for the camera's internal meter. The meter on the SRT series is highly accurate, but it was designed to use a 1.35v PX-625 mercury cell. Environmental concerns ended the production of these mercury cells, and the available silver oxide cells are not the correct voltage. This is really a paper tiger. Use of a silver oxide battery does not seem to affect the meter reading that greatly. If you were using 1960s era film, which had very narrow latitude, the voltage difference might be critical. With today's wide latitude films, I have used the readily available MS76 1.5v silver oxide cell with excellent results. In addition, the camera will work fine without a battery, so you could use a hand held light meter.

If you want to really learn basic photography, there is no better way to start than a good, manual SLR. And there are few manual SLRs that offer reliability and accessory options at as low a price as a Minolta SRT.

For more information on the SRT models, visit the SRT page on squidoo: http://www.squidoo.com/minoltasrt/ For additional photography tips and ideas, try http://alphatracks.com where you will find digital cameras and general photography articles. Tom Bonner provides photography and web design services to clients in the Gastonia, North Carolina area. You can find out more about Tom at http://adventuresindesign.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Bonner

 

How to Take Better Portrait Photos

By Ziv Haparnas

 

Portrait photos are very impressive. A good portrait can project so much emotions and feelings and captivate the viewer. Taking high quality portrait photos is an art that takes time to master. This article will give you a few guidelines that can help you achieve high quality portrait photos in a short time and without being a professional photographer.

When taking portraits photos try to follow the following guidelines:

Choose the right background: A portrait photo is all about the object's face. The most important part of the photo is the face. Choosing the right background can make sure the viewer is focused on the face. Pick a neutral background that does not attract attention. For example a soft solid color background is better than a busy street background. Avoid having people or moving objects in the background.

Blur the background: In addition to choosing a neutral background you should further blur it. This will put even more emphasis on the object instead of its surroundings. Blurring the background is best achieved by taking a photo using a shallow depth of field. This can be accomplished by using a zoom lens and shooting from a short distance or with a wide aperture manual setting. If your camera does not allow you to blur the photo by setting a shallow depth of field (for example it is hard to achieve such a depth of field with simple pocket cameras) you can always blur the background later using photo processing software on your computer.

Focus on the eyes: The center of a good portrait should be the object's eyes. Before taking the photo look at the object eyes and try to figure out what story they tell. Depending on what you would like to capture in the portrait guide the object to look straight to the camera or maybe sideways focusing on some object. Adding a smile is also recommended unless you specifically want a face that does not smile in order to send some message to the viewer.

Use natural lighting: Natural lighting is necessary in order to capture the full color range and warmth of the skin. It is best to take portrait photos outdoors during the day. When shooting outdoors position the object in a way that the sun light hits it from the side. Never take a photo with the sun behind the object – results in shading – or right in front of the object – results in over exposing the face and distorting its natural colors. If some shades appear on the face use a soft fill-in flash to get rid of them. If you have to shoot indoors and use artificial lighting always use indirect light sources such as bounce flash or lights that illuminate the room instead of directly shining on the object.

Take many photos and experiment: I can not over emphasize this. In the digital era the cost of taking another photo is zero. One of the best ways to shoot a great photo is simply by shooting many photos. In fact all professional photographers do that they keep on shooting more and more photos so don't be shy about it. Experiment with different settings – lighting, object position, white balancing settings to get different color temperatures, exposures, depth of field and more. When you are done sit down and sort the photos until you choose the one that you like the best. It is common sense that the chances of finding that one great photo are much higher if you tried 500 photos than if you just shot a few.

In conclusion if you have a good camera and the willingness to experiment portrait photo shooting you will quickly achieve the skills needed in order to shoot great portraits and impress your friends with portraits photos that look impressive and professional.

Ziv Haparnas is a technology veteran and writes about practical technology and science issues. This article can be reprinted and used as long as the resource box including the backlink is included. You can find more information about photo album printing and photography in general on http://www.printrates.com - a site dedicated to photo printing. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ziv_Haparnas

Photography - Tricks On Taking Full Length Portrait in Studio

By John Peace

 

Taking full-length portraits in the studio needs to pay careful attention to the lighting as the studio lacks natural lights. As such, a considerable amount of light source is needed. This requirement is often met by using large soft boxes having dimension of up to 7-foot so as to cover the full length of person. This is the most convenient method. However there are other ways to achieve the same results without using a single large soft box. One other possible method is to use two 3-foot medium soft boxes.

Since the soft boxes come with its own stand, in order to illuminate the full person, you can position one soft box on top of the other. This can be achieved by adjusting the stand of the soft box. An advantage of having two soft boxes is flexibility. If some of your model are kids having height of up to 3-foot, you can use one soft box. If they are adults, then use two boxes. Your overall investment cost is lower as well, as you do not need to invest in the large and small soft boxes.

To create a good studio portrait, you need another two gadgets. They are the reflector and the silver umbrella. One possible set-up for the three gadgets is as follows.

Firstly, set up the two soft boxes (one above the other as described above) at about a 45 degree angle to the left of the model. Next, positioned the reflector to the right and in front of the model. And finally, aim the umbrella at the model from the right and slightly behind the model.

With the reflector positioned at the front of the model, it will reflect light into the shadow areas and make the lighting more even and this will reduced the contrast as well. With the umbrella aimed at the model from the right and slightly behind the model, it helps to create a beautiful rim light on the model while some of the light still reached the background, thereby creating a more dramatic result.

The above method is by no means the best method of photographing a studio portrait. It is one of the methods that are used successfully to produce satisfying result. Try it yourself and see if you like the result.

Other possible method is to position the reflector behind and to the right of the model. The reflection will produced a nice outline around the right edge of the model which helps to separate her shadowed side from the dark background. Otherwise, the model's right side will merged with the shadow.

Another possible position of the silver umbrella is, you can aim it towards the center of the background. This will create a bright spot behind the model thereby creating a greater sense of depth. Since the umbrella can produced a fairly wide spread of light, it adds to the rim light of the model.

With the main source of light in placed (the soft boxes), by positioning the reflector and the silver umbrella at various locations, you will be able to create stunning studio photography.

As you can see, full-length portrait photography in the studio is neither expensive nor difficult. With the required basic equipment and your willingness to experience, you will be able to achieve your desire effects. For more information, please visit Freelance Photography.

John Peace enjoys photography and maintained a website providing information on photography. He invites you to visit his website, Freelance Photography to learn more about this exciting hobby. You can even make a living out of it at home! Believe it or not. Or you can visit the link at: http://www.internetbizcenter.com/photography/index.htm Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Peace

Photography Education

By Michael Bustamante

 

Those with the artistic eye and a creative talents of a photographer can gain a formal photography education from some of the best vocational schools and trade schools in the US and Canada. Good photography courses can teach you how to compose better photographs, and to develop an excellent understanding of cameras, lenses, film, digital design and much more.

Vocational schools and trade schools offer a variety of photography courses to choose from, ranging from single topic classes leading to professional certificates, all the way to Associate of Arts (AA) degrees. Just imagine at what you can learn when it comes to photography education! Various courses might include subjects of composition, exposure times, camera lenses, and professional techniques used by photographers to capture the best pictures. You can even choose to "focus in" on a specialty, such as videography, for instance.

Single courses in photography are generally provided for students who simply want to learn to take better pictures. Vocational schools also offer courses leading to certificates and diplomas that can help the student begin a new career in photography, or simply for the pleasure of learning the principles of photographic art. At this level, training can still provide comprehensive, detailed, and technical classes for developing the skills required of professional photographers.

Photography schools can also include a fine art approach. Aspiring photographers can earn Associate of Arts (AA) degrees. At this level, instruction could include digital, as well as commercial, and artistic composition; various cameras and camera basics; focal lengths and apertures; lighting, color and black and white photography; and may be accompanied by hands-on darkroom processes and techniques for gaining professional photography skills.

Vocational education at the level of AA degrees will qualify you to go on to art institutes, colleges, and universities to study for Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Arts (MA) degrees. Graduates will qualify as portraiture photographers, photojournalists, wedding photographers, school photographers, or for other specialties.

To learn more about an Education in Photography, select a few good schools on our website and see what comes into focus!

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Find Photography Education, as well as Schools, Colleges, Universities, Online Schools, and Vocational Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your resource for higher education. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bustamante

Underwater Photography and the Different Kinds of Underwater Cameras; A Detailed Review

By Mike Robinson

 

Congratulations! You got your open water certification. Now you've probably thought of buying a wonderful underwater camera for your photography. However, you might have cracked your head to find a best camera for your underwater photography. Don't worry. You're not alone- most of the new comers are clueless to choose a beat underwater camera.

Here you can get enough idea about the under water cameras. Before procuring your dream camera you should assess what types of photographs you want to take. This is an important point when choosing your underwater camera film and equipment.

If you ask any scuba diver about the type of camera they prefer. They will want a camera that is: cost effective, reliable, low maintenance, easy to use and compact.

An exciting aspect of under water photography is the facility to capture a panoramic view of the ecosystem. Wide-angle photography favors this facet. Wide-angle specific lenses should be used in the under water camera for these type of wide-angle photography.

Do choose the camera systems with gun sight viewers or light beams to capture the moving fish in your camera, which night be a Herculean task. Always try to shoot fishes in the night, as they are inactive during that time.

Different kinds of underwater cameras

The common varieties of underwater cameras available in the market are:

SeaLife ReefMaster 5 Megapixel DC500
Sea & Sea DX5000G Camera and Housing
Sealife SD-300 Shark Diver Underwater Camera
Sealife Reefmaster DC300 Digi 3.3 MP/2 Control
SeaLife Reefmaster RC

All these cameras are the favorite ones for divers. Automatic winding, large shutter lever, big sports viewfinder, and wide-angle lens are the desirable features of these under water cameras. The specialized "Shark Mode" helps to shoot moving objects such as waving fans and fish.

In general under water cameras can be used in all kinds of weather ranging from hot to extreme cold and variety of locations ranging from wet to wild. There are two types of under water cameras are available viz. underwater digital cameras and under water film cameras. It is up to you to select the appropriate camera because both of them are having its own pros and cons.

If you're new to this field of under water photography, first and foremost thing you should know is the difference between the photography of land and underwater. The main difference is that air is transparent media whereas water is not. As water is denser and contains plankton and sand, the light will get scattered, reflected and absorbed.

Underwater camera protecting tips

Care should be taken to protect your underwater camera from dirt, sun and salt.

Though these cameras are manufactured for underwater use, it still requires to be dipped in fresh water after every use.

Do you know salt is the number one enemy for the underwater cameras? Saltwater should never be allowed to dry on the joints of the metal fittings and controls.

Do not wash your camera with hose as the high-pressure water may force the sand and salt crystals into crevices of the camera.

Always use only photographic lens cloths and soft lens tissues on the lenses.

Ensure that O-ring of your underwater camera is cleaned and lubricated properly. If you think there is some flaw in the O-ring seal, don't hesitate to throw it out and replace with a new one.

If you don't have enough confidence with the operation of underwater cameras, it is highly advisable to try out this camera before you acquire it. Even you may undergo demo instruction and gear. Then procure your dream cam and go out and enjoy with your new underwater cam.

Mike Robinson represents http://www.onlinewebpublisher.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Robinson

How To Take Good Christmas Pictures

By Ace Kim

 

Even if you aren't much of a photographer, just about everyone brings out a camera for the holidays. You're going to want snaps of the kids excited to see what Santa brought or a shot of your husband when he opens the joke gift that you got him. This quick guide will give you some tips and tricks on how to take better pictures during the holidays.

Don't use the flash. All your other relatives are going to be constantly blinding everyone; you want your pictures to be better than theirs and that means not using flash. The problem that usually arises from not using a flash is that your pictures may turn out blurry. This is because parties are usually at night when there's very little light. When there's less light, your camera compensates by leaving the shutter open longer (letting in more light). The easiest way to solve this problem is to place your camera on a tripod or rest it against a table or wall. Take multiple shots, holding the shutter button down and you're bound to get at least one good shot. Be sure you're using both your hands to support your camera. If your pictures are still coming out blurry, try putting your elbows together and pressing them up against your body. You'll be tenser and pictures will be clear.

Use different heights. When taking pictures of people, you typically want to be at eye level. This is fine for group shots or shots of adults, but when it comes to kids (and there will inevitably be kids around), don't be afraid to crouch down and get to their level. Even lying down on the floor can help bring out some great photos. For shots of objects (presents, decoration, dessert) experiment with different angles instead of simply seeing something and snapping a photo (inanimate objects don't typically move, so they're easier to work with). Try a direct top view or try putting the object in the foreground and some people or other scenery in the background.

Edit your images. Many people head straight for the photo booth at the local drugstore after filling up a memory card. If you really want some good pictures, snapping a photo is only half the job. Plug your memory card into a reader or use a usb cable and upload the pictures. Most cameras come with some basic editing software, but there are plenty of free resources on the internet (Google's Picasa is a great free editor). Some of the best quick things you can do are to crop and straighten your photos. Red eye is becoming less of a problem these days, but be sure to go through and fix all the scary eyeballs. The last (and most important) thing you should do is use color correction. Too yellow? Add blue. If you're colorblind, use the auto color correct feature. Color correction makes every picture you take better.

The best photographer is one who experiments. There will always be other people taking pictures, so try angles that no one else is doing. And don't ever let having a cheap camera be an excuse, just learn to master your camera and you'll become a good photographer in no time.

Ace Kim, Take Better Photos Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ace_Kim

The Awesome Power Of A Photograph

By Rick Rouse

 

They say "a picture is worth a thousand words" and "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", and I must say that I whole-heartedly agree on both counts. With a simple photograph, a photographer has the ability to capture an image that reflects a snapshot in time that once gone, can never be reclaimed...but can always be revisited.

In my opinion, family photographs are among the most precious possessions one can have. By pulling out a photo album or thumbing through stacks of old snapshots, we can experience life's most enjoyable moments over and over again. By looking at a simple picture we can get to know a loved one who passed on before our time and remember those who are far away in either miles or circumstances. Family pictures are the drops of glue that hold our most precious memories safely within our minds, and they provide an occasional, yet very important reminder of the people and things that are the most important to us.

Pictures are also very important on a broader scale. Armed with nothing but a camera, a photojournalist can literally change the course of history with a single image captured during a time of strife or disaster. For example, who could ever forget the haunting images taken during the Viet Nam War, a couple of which turned public opinion against the conflict and hastened its ending? Or perhaps the photographs of the devastation left behind after the December 2004 tsunami?

The proliferation of inexpensive digital cameras has revolutionized the field of photography, making it easy for the average person to take great pictures - and plenty of them. We are now living in the most "documented" time in human history, and as a result the world will never be the same again - and that's a very good thing.

Rick Rouse is the owner and publisher of TodaysPhoto.org, one of the most unique and interesting photography sites on the web. Rick invites you to check out the "Picture of the Day" and submit a photo of your own at http://www.todaysphoto.org Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_Rouse

Facts About Flash Units And Taking Photos Using A Flash

By Ziv Haparnas

 

For most of us firing the flash is something that happens in the background and that does not require our attention.. Flash photography was not always so easy to use. Flash is useful in many situations for example when taking photos in dark scenes or when getting rid of shades in fill in mode. It is beneficial to know some facts about flash usage and how it works.

Flash photography has been around for more than a hundred years. At first it was a dangerous and a manually controlled technology. It used powder that was literally ignited by either fire or electrical current. These flash solutions were both dangerous and hard to use since the flash was not automatically synchronized to the camera's shutter. This meant that the photographer had to manually synchronize the shutter and the flash making sure that the flash was fired at exactly the time when the shutter was being opened. Modern flash units use an electronic flash tube that is synchronized to the camera's shutter – relieving the photographer from the burden of timing the shutter and the flash.

Here are some facts that are important to know about flash units and shooting photos using them:

Internal flash units: Internal flash units are built into the camera. They are controlled through the camera's menus and buttons. Internal flash units are usually small (limited by the camera size). As a result they are relatively weak units and only allow photography in dark conditions to a distance of a few feet. Internal flash units are easiest to use as they do not require any special settings or buying and installing accessories. In most cameras the internal flash can set to an automatic "point and shoot" mode in which the camera fires the flash whenever it senses that it is needed. Some low-end cameras can only use built-in flash units. Most cameras however support external flash units attached to the camera body.

External flash units: External flash units are either mechanically attached to the camera's body through a dedicated slide-in slot or are mechanically detached from the camera and only connected via an electrical synchronization cable. External flash units come in many sizes and have different features. They vary in intensity– how much light they generate and for how long - and in mechanical features – can they be tilted or skewed or are they fixed in relation to the camera's body. The external units are electrically connected to the camera allowing the camera to control the flash timing. Some connection standards also transmit advanced information to the flash unit such as the reading of the camera's light sensors, its optical settings and more. This allows smart external flash units to optimize their settings for shooting the best photo.

Firing the flash:The decision to fire the flash is either automatic or manual. The camera can fire the flash when there is not enough light available. In some scenarios the camera will not automatically fire the flash although doing so would have resulted in a much better photo. One such scenario is taking a photo during day time when the object is shadowed. For example if the object is wearing a hat the hat can block the light from the object's face or when the object is lit from the side the object's nose can block the light creating a shadow. In such scenarios the flash unit can be set to "fill in" mode. The flash will be fired to fill-in those shadowed areas but it will not be fired strong enough to wash out the photo. Another scenario is when the sun is behind the object. One example is taking a photo on the beach during a sunset. If taken without a fill-in flash the result will most likely be a silhouette of the object. If taken with a fill-in flash and the object in range the result will be a clear photo of the object against a sunset.

Flash can also cause problems: Shooting a photo using the flash can also cause problems. One such problem is washed out photos as a result of the flash being too strong or the object too close to the camera. Washed out photos do not have enough details and the object appears to be too white or too bright. Another problem is a photo with more details than in the original scene: in some scenarios the flash can create artificial shadows and lights which result in a photo that includes details that are exaggerated relative to their appearance in real life. For example when taking a photo of an older man using a flash the skin wrinkles and imperfections can look much worse than they really are in real life.

Flash is limited: It is important to know the limitations of the flash unit. Any flash unit has a certain amount of light that it can generate. Usually this amount can be translated to an effective flash range. When trying to take a photo with the object too far – more than the flash unit range – the object will appear dark. If you need to take a photo with your objects not within your flash unit range it is better to turn off the flash completely and use a tripod and long exposure. Using the flash in such scenarios can fool the camera into setting lower exposure which results in a photo darker than a photo taken without using the flash at all.

It is important to know the flash unit that you are using and to get a feeling of when and how it should be used. The best way to accomplish that is by experimenting. With digital photography experimenting is practically free as there is no film development cost – take advantage of that and experiment shooting photos in different scenarios with and without a flash.

Ziv Haparnas is a technology veteran and writes about practical technology and science issues. This article can be reprinted and used as long as the resource box including the backlink is included. You can find more information about photo album printing and photography in general on www.printrates.com - a site dedicated to photo printing. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ziv_Haparnas

Simple Tips for Taking Better Photos

By Dana Larson

 

Take better photos and add exciting artistic effects to your photos using HP digital cameras. These can be edited using in-camera design gallery features.

1) Using the sun to light your photos

Natural sunlight provides some of the best lighting for great shots with more detail and vivid colors. Be careful:

• Really bright sunlight casts harsh shadows

• Overhead sunlight can wash out detail in faces

Tip: For best results, avoid taking photos when the sun is directly overhead. This can cause harsh shadows. Also, try to shoot with the sun behind you. This prevents loss of detail caused by bright light.

2) Get creative on gray days

Less-than-ideal weather conditions won't keep you from getting that perfect shot. Cloudy skies produce unique photos:

• Get interesting highlights with enhanced mood

• Make colors pop in contrast to the gray sky

Tip: Shooting in the rain can be fun, but be careful not to damage your camera. You can waterproof your camera by wrapping it in a plastic bag and cutting a hole for the lens to poke through.

3) Capture breathtaking evening photos

The key to great night photos is turning off your flash. Just follow these guidelines:

• Set shutter speed slower to let in enough light

• Stay steady, slow shutter speeds blur photos

• Use a tripod or place camera on stationary surface

Tip: Place your camera on a tripod and set its shot timer so there's no risk of your camera moving when you press the trigger.

4) Golden Hour - A great time for some photo magic

Sunrise and sunset are what photographers call the "golden hour" or "magic hour." Photos taken at these times are rich and dramatic:

• Get "golden" light instead of blinding midday sun

• Your photos will have warm and inviting colors

Tip: Using the golden hour is especially good for people shots so you avoid harsh shadows on faces caused by midday sun. Experiment with angles and zoom to find the perfect balance of light.

5) Get more effective flash photos

The flash is a great tool if you know how to get the most of it. The key is keeping your distance:

• Your camera's flash has a range of about 10 feet

• Too far? Your photo will be too dark

• Too close? Bright light blows out detail

Tip: The best way to avoid overexposed flash photos is to step back and zoom in to your subject. This way, the flash is a good distance from your subject, but you still get your close-up.

6) Keep annoying "red-eye" out of your photos

The flash reflecting off the retina of your subject's eyes is what causes the common problem of red-eye. Reduce red-eye by following these guidelines:

• Move outdoors or into brighter light

• Have your subject avoid looking directly into the lens

Tip: Many HP cameras offer in camera automatic red-eye removal.

7) Move your subject for more compelling photos

You don't have to center your subject in every photo you shoot. Create more visual interest by using the Rule of Thirds:

• Divide your photo into a tic-tac-toe grid

• Place the main "interest" at grid intersections

• Use photo software to crop later if necessary

Tip: You don't always get the perfect shot to begin with, so keeping the Rule of Thirds in mind, try cropping your photo after you've shot it using HP Photosmart Essential software for the same effect.

8) Change the angle and create more impact

The difference between a good photo and a great photo is sometimes just a matter of how you approach it.

• Change the camera angle for creative shots

• Move your camera in relation to the subject

• Zoom in or out to change the composition

Tip:Try these ideas to get a different perspective when you take a photo:

• Hold your camera at arm's length above your head

• Lie on the ground

• Get very close to your subject

9) Add more visual appeal to your shots

Sometimes the best way to draw attention to your center of interest is to create a frame around it.

• A "frame" helps the subject stand out

• Add drama, depth and interest

• Use scenic elements like trees or other objects

Tip: Once you've situated your subject in the area where you want to shoot, always view your subject from several different angles to locate objects you can use to frame your photo. Use scenic elements like trees or other objects

10) Add depth and create interest with lines

Create interesting perspective and enhance ordinary shots by using straight or curved lines within the frame.

• Lines lead the eye to the center of interest

• Look for brick walls, sidewalks, fences, and edges

• Shoot lines at an angle for unique shots

Tip: Get creative with lines in your photo. Position your subject at a corner where a fence intersects, or use a long sidewalk to "point" to your subject.

11) The right background makes a better photo

Backgrounds can play a huge role in how interesting your photo is. Consider these points when choosing a background:

• Watch for clutter and other distracting elements

• Don't use a busy or competing background

• Remove objects that connect to the subject

Tip: Watch out for items in the background that might look odd when photographed, like a lamp post sticking out behind someone's head.

Learn how to take better photos with these tips and digital photography techniques. HP digital cameras provide in-camera design gallery features that can make any photo exciting and interesting. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dana_Larson

True Colours of Advertising Photography

By Jack Whites

 

Advertising photography is one of the most interesting offshoot of photography. Interesting because of many reasons, however the most intriguing one may be how it controls the mood and the behaviour of so many people. Everything we say and do are the aftermath of what we think and every thought is triggered by another thought or an idea. This thought or idea can have its genesis within our own thought process or it can be exogenous. Advertising photography is one exogenous source that triggers our thoughts and mood.

OK, let's put in a different way with the help of an example. What would be your first reaction or thought when you see an ad that shows soft mink blankets just when the winters are at the threshold? The initial reaction for anyone looking at the ad would be that of a desire to be snug and comfortable underneath one of those blankets. Another example, when you come across an ad by McDonald's where they are claiming good taste and hearty meal in a mc-chicken burger, do you find a soft tingle in your taste buds?

If you said yes to any of them above, then that is the trick of advertising photography. It is essentially connecting to human needs and wants, basic and complex psychology and establishing a relationship there. It is with the support of this relationship, the advertisers drive home a point or an idea. If you buy that idea, then there target is achieved.

When dealing with human psychology, the need for the right colours is quite elementary. Colours lend the passion to the pictures, sets the mood and creates the right kind of impression as desired by the advertisers. Colours play a vital role when it comes to Advertising photography as it helps create a rapport with the audience.

About The Author: Jack White is a specialist in Advertising photography and other kinds of photography. He has worked in close coordination with many an expert commercial photographer of UK and other countries. In his works he is presenting some of his observation on the role of commercial photographer in advertising photography. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Whites

Tips for Taking Photos of People

By John H. Smith

 

Which do you value more as a parent: the photo of your son or daughter dressed up in his or her best clothes and looking uncomfortable, or the fun shot that shows him or her playing with a puppy or up to the elbows in finger paint? Capturing a moment in a photo will - as time passes - mean more to you when you capture more than just your child's face. Photography is about preserving memories as they happen, not as they are staged.

That doesn't mean that a photography session needs to be completely unscripted: you can still create a mood to capture in the photo. Want to take a series of photos of your child acting silly? Put on some favorite silly music, tell jokes, laugh and have fun. When everyone is relaxed and having a great time, it will show in the photo.

If you don't want to stage the shot that much, encourage your family to "pose" while they're doing something that they enjoy. If your wife loves to knit, take her photo while she's knitting. If your husband spends a lot of time working on restoring a vintage car, take his photo while he's out working under the hood. If your teenage son spends most of his time on a skateboard or you can't get your little ballerina out of her tutu, capture those interests with photography.

Go ahead, be spontaneous. Don't make it a point to look at every photo as you shoot it because it's going to detract from the mood and make the scene far less natural. Instead, go ahead, take a lot of photos - digital cameras make this a lot easier than traditional film ever did. Wait to sort through them until after the shoot.

Invariably, you'll find that when you're taking a photo of your family, there are going to be shots that are out of focus. Photography is about a number of different elements - lighting, focus, exposure speed, framing - coming together; particularly when your goal is a candid photo, you won't always get the shot exactly to look the way you want it to.

Still, you're likely to find that it's easier to take great photos if you're not focused on capturing the perfect shot. If you're stiff, if you won't be satisfied with a photo that's less than perfect, you're going to have trouble with photography - especially when people are involved. When you're tense, the people whose pictures your taking are going to tense up, and that will make the shots less natural.

Not everyone in your family will ham it up for a photo. Just be patient, keep everyone comfortable, happy and relaxed and you'll find that it's easy to take family photography to the next level.

This article was brought to you by 42nd Street Photo. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_H._Smith

How to Take Great Vacation Photos

By John H. Smith

 

What can you do to make sure that your vacation photography really captures the mood and spirit of your trip? Here are seven great photography hints.

1. Whenever possible, use a tripod. More often than not, a blurry photo is the result of movement. Tripods are small and easy to use: some are so small, like those designed to turn a water bottle into a tripod that you can keep them in your pocket. Your camera will be balanced, you won't have to worry about moving and you'll get a better photo every time.

2. Pay attention to the light. All photography comes down to how your camera captures the light. Before you take the shot, look to see where the light is coming from - unless you're trying to take a photo silhouette, you don't want to shoot into the light. Even if it's bright outside, you may want to use a flash when you're taking action shots. If you're outside in the snow, you'll want to adjust the amount of light you let into your camera (the exposure value) to cut down glare in the photo.

3. Include people in your photos. You may be used to having family photos while you're on vacation, but when you travel and want to capture the spirit of a place, take some shots of the locals to add more flair to your photography.

4. What's your angle? When you take a photo of a famous monument, don't just center it in your photo. Think about the angles, think about what else you might be able to capture in the photo. Other buildings, people, the landscape: all of these things add to travel photography and let you get a stronger sense of the place - not just a photo of a tower, a building or a church window.

5. Don't shy away from the object in your photo. You might think that if you get further away you'll be able to capture more in your photo. To some extent, this is true, but there's no reason to try to fit everything in a town, a city or a room into a single photo. Sometimes it's by getting close that you're able to get the best photo.

6. Add photography affects after the shot has been taken. You might want to take some great black and white photos while you're away, but you just might find that it's best to wait until you get home to alter the shot. Most digital cameras come with photo editing software and there are a number of free image manipulators available. By converting to black and white later, you'll find that you can control the depth of color and the shades of grey.

7. Don't take yourself - or photography - too seriously. Don't forget about candid photos, taking the silly shots - like a family member "holding up" the Tower of Pisa - and that you're not just on the trip for the photos, you're also there to have fun.

Thinking about photography and the photos that you'll capture can add a lot to your vacation. You'll look at things a bit differently, and - when you follow the above tips - you'll find that your photos do a better job of capturing your memories.

This article was brought to you by 42nd Street Photo. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_H._Smith

Taking the Perfect Pictures for your Baby's Scrapbook

By Marcy Larsen 

 

Everyone is excited about a new baby, the first few days are unlike any other, but before you know it they are changing. In a blink of an eye, your precious baby will be walking, talking and growing up. Before that happens, capture that bundle of joy on film. It is an important task but there is no need to feel intimidated. When you follow these few tips and tricks you will be amazed at the great shots you will get. You will find that taking a picture of a newborn is really quite simple. And by capturing their delicate beauty on film, you will be capturing something magnificent. Try these ideas and you will create memorable photos that will last a lifetime.

Turn off your flash and use natural light. Place your baby 3 feet from a window, so that the light hits at a 45 degree angle. Natural light can make a newborn look absolutely angelic. Keep in mind that the time of day will determine the amount of sunlight coming in the window. Experiment at different times of the day to find the right light with your view finder.

Get close to you baby. Use a telephoto lens or stand directly in front of the baby's hands, face or feet to get an extreme close-up.

Get down on the babies level and you will be able to catch some of the most precious facial moments. Your baby's personality is one in a million. Capture all facial expressions - even the crying ones.

Add variety with vertical shots. We tend to take most of our photos horizontally.

Keep your backgrounds simple and free of distractions. If you use a blanket to add texture, be sure that it is a simple color and that it doesn't take away from your babies face.

Use your view finder to see how your subject will look in the photo. To much direct light can cause shadows.

Try black and white film for close ups, it is very forgiving and will soften your babies features.

Study, study, study your photos when you get them back. You will learn which area's that you need to improve on. Note which techniques worked and which ones you need to improve one.

You can use all these tips with a digital camera as well. Just make sure you use good quality photo paper when you print them. You won't want to ruin the special photos. Just remember to follow these few steps and you are well on your way to creating memorable to cherish through the years.

Scrapbook supplies, tips and techniques at marcylarsen.com. Let Close To My Heart Consultant, Marcy Larsen take your scrapbooking to the next level. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcy_Larsen

Digital Photography Tip - How To Photograph Christmas Lights

By Amy Renfrey

 

Christmas is coming and so is the urge for us who love digital photography to get out there in the burbs and photograph the beautiful Christmas lights. It's a beautiful time of year and when you are as passionate about digital photography as I am, then this is the time you whip that digital camera out.

Taking photos of Christmas lights with your digital camera can be a very disappointing experience for digital photography enthusiasts. Pictures of Christmas lights in digital photography are aimed at being crystal clear with beautifully bold colours and hopefully we can capture the delicate glow that radiates from the lights themselves.

But…Christmas lights don't always provide the ideal digital photography experience does it? J In fact, in digital photography, Christmas lights can turnout to be smudged dots of colour, like water over ink and way too dark. The first time I took a digital photography image of Christmas lights the flash went off accidentally causing a flattening out of my images not to mention the lovely colours disappearing and it ended up just being a digital photo of the neighbour's front lawn. Not to mention how it set the dog off barking!

So just what is the digital photography secret to getting crystal clear shots of our suburban Christmas lights?

Okay now I'm going to share a secret with you. The best way to get suburb results of sharp, colourful Christmas lights is to choose the house you are going to photograph. Depending on where you live and how fast you can run, you may need to tee it up with your neighboughs first and offer them the photo. The same rules apply with your Christmas tree.

Take your tripod with you. Take your digital camera off "auto" and take it off "auto flash".

Now try a method called bracketing. Set the aperture at a wide f stop, such as 2.8 or 3.5 for example. Then proceed to try some different settings. Set the shutter to 1/30 or higher. I'd recommend, if it's really dark in the street something around the one second, two seconds or three seconds shutter speed.

There is a groovy little trick you can also do for helping you learning faster, about what works in digital photography and what doesn't. That's recording and documenting your digital photography experience. I usually take a note pad with me and write down the number photo and the f stop and shutter speed so when I look at the photos I know which digital photo has worked and what has not.

But in the dark it's very hard to write down anything so you can do what I sued to do, and that is record on Mp3 what your settings you had on what photo. For example you can record yourself saying "picture one, f stop 2.8, shutter speed 2 seconds." Then again as you have tried another setting "picture seven, f stop 22, shutter speed 1 minute."

These are just examples but they really work. Don't forget the basics with your night time photography such as wide aperture and slow shutter speed and the necessity of a tripod.

If you are in a moving vehicle for example and you are taking shots of Christmas lights from a bus or car, then you can always use the maximum aperture and a smaller shutter speed. For example f stop 1.4 and a shutter of 1/350 or higher.

And don't forget if you do have the time to set up a tripod and try the bracketing technique (ideal) also remember if you have the shutter open for a while the light can bounce off other objects such as windows and roofs. If you get too much reflective light, simply reduce the time the shutter is open.

Good luck and may you have a beautiful Christmas!

Happy Shooting,

Amy Renfrey

P.s Take a look at the photo used to describe the article; www.nomorebadphotos.blogspot.com

Amy Renfrey is a digital photographer, teacher and author of "Digital Photography Success." She's sold tens of thousands of copies since the start of 2005 when she went online. Amy's new book, soon to be released, titled "Advanced Digital Photography" to propel photography enthusiasts from amateur to semi professional level. Amy is known for her thorough and easy to read style, giving her readers challenges and expert advice to get their precious memories looking like picture perfect images. "Digital Photography Success" can be found at http://www.DigitalPhotographySuccess.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Renfrey

How To Take Perfect Christmas Pictures Like A Pro?

By Qing Gu

 

Looking for the best tips that help you take perfect Christmas pictures and snap the most unforgettable holiday moment?

Christmas is such a great time of the year when families and friends gather together and get into the festive spirit. It truly is a time to cherish when the children open their presents, eat dinner and listening to Old Uncle Bernie telling a few jokes.

What makes it even more special, however, is taking those perfect Christmas pictures so that, when you look back on that Christmas, can really help you to relive the memories of that truly magical Christmas.

Christmas photos need not just a good camera but a good eye as well.

First of all, if you have a great camera, make sure you have read all the instructions so you know how to use it well and what each feature is for. It's not easy to take good pictures if you don't pay careful attention to what you are doing. Is the background all right? Are there extraneous elements in the picture? Are you sure you have everybody in the frame? Don't just pull out your camera and click without a care. Then you'll probably get Christmas pictures aren't amount to much, too!

So, as well as knowing how to work the camera, it is a good idea to feel confident in how to take perfect holiday photos. There are a few tips that you can use to make things easier.

First, arrange the scenery and the people exactly how you require them to be and make sure that there are not any unwanted objects in the way. It can be extremely annoying when you take holiday photos and realize that some stranger making faces right in the view of your camera has ruined it.

You can use the red eye feature on some cameras that can help when the Christmas pictures have been developed. If this feature is not on your camera, you can ask the person to turn slightly to the left, which should stop the problem.

A great tip for taking a photo when there is a group of three or more people is to take more than one picture. The reason behind this is that it is almost guaranteed that one person will have their eyes shut or be looking the wrong way. Take precautions and do not pin all of your hopes on one photo, otherwise, you may be disappointed!

So, make sure you capture that perfect Christmas moment by following some of these basic tips above. However, remember that it is all about having fun so be sure to enjoy yourself at the same time!

As well as having that perfect photo for your family album or for a holiday photos, how about entering your best photos in a contest for a prize? This could be a really big incentive to snap those perfect photos, as well as a sense of pride and joy.

Looking for more holiday photo tips? Qing Gu shares with you more photo taking experiences with these cool Christmas photos . To win the chance of getting a FREE iPod shuffle, simply share your Christmas pictures and holiday party ideas here: http://www.coolest-christmas-holidays.com/contest Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Qing_Gu

Photo Christmas Cards - 7 Unique Ideas for This Year's Holiday Card

By Linda Kling

 

Your friends, relatives and neighbors are eagerly looking forward to your annual Christmas photo cards. But how do you make this year's holiday card really fresh and original? Here are seven ideas to help you make your new photo Christmas cards stand out.

1. Go black and white photo for a dramatic look. Many digital cameras have a setting that will enable you to take your photo in black and white. Or you can change a color snapshot to grayscale in your photo editing software. If you don't know how to do it yourself, most photo card companies can do it for you at no extra charge.

2. The more, the merrier. This year, include more than just the kids in your photo Christmas cards. Get in the picture with them! One year my uncle remarked that while he enjoyed receiving a photo of the kids every year, he would like to see a picture of us, too. So, gather the entire family, even the pets. And if you have an opportunity during the year to attend a large family get together with grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins, you might consider using a large group family photo.

3. Pack the Santa hat on vacation. Whether you're going to the beach, sightseeing in the city or pumpkin picking in the fall, bring along a holiday prop or two, such as a Christmas stocking or ornament. When you're taking photos of your family excursion, include a few with everyone holding or wearing the Christmas props for refreshingly different holiday photo.

4. Think personality. While you might enjoy a posed photo of your children all cleaned up, in nice clothes, with not even a hair out of place, it doesn't show off their real personalities. For more interesting photo Christmas cards, try taking some candid photos of your kids doing things they enjoy. Or pose them with props that reflect their interests or accomplishments.

5. Scrapbook a page. If you're creative, you can put together several cropped photos and your greeting on holiday background paper, then photograph or scan it to be used as your photo Christmas card. Since most photo card companies use 4 x 6 inch photos to produce your cards, trim a standard 12 x 12 inch scrapbooking page to 12 inches wide by 8 inches high as your background for your layout.

6. Embellish it. Even if you have already ordered standard photo Christmas cards, you might still be able to jazz them up a bit. Check out the scrapbooking aisles in your local craft store for tiny embellishments, such as bows, ribbons, and other holiday dimensional items. These are practically flat, since they are meant for a scrapbook page, so they will still fit into your envelope after you glue them on your cards.

7. Shop around. There are so many photo Christmas card companies on the internet that are offering unique, original, personalized designs. Some designs can even contain multiple photos, so you don't have to worry about getting that one perfect snapshot. Or they will put your photo into the shape of an ornament, tree, or other holiday symbol. Many companies will let you write your own message, so you have more choices and options. They come in all price ranges, so it pays to do some browsing.

So, don't be afraid to try something a little different with your photo Christmas cards this year. With a little imagination, your holiday photo cards will be truly special.

Linda Kling is the owner of members.aol.com/PhotoPartyFavors/ which offers personalized photo favors for all occasions, as well as custom photo cards. Check out her website for unique, original photo Christmas cards, plus lots of free party recipes, tips, hints, quotations, printable candy bar wrappers and more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Kling

Family Photo Christmas Cards - 6 Smart Solutions to the Top Challenges

By Linda Kling

 

Taking a great photo for the family photo Christmas card looks like it should be easy. But as any parent who has attempted this holiday ritual can tell you, it's not as simple as it looks. What you want is a unique, beautiful photo Christmas card. And what you usually get is fidgety, uncooperative kids that blink just as you're taking the picture. But don't give up and throw in the Santa hat just yet. Here are 6 easy, smart solutions to those top challenges.

Challenge 1: You want a festive holiday background for your family photo Christmas cards, but don't want to decorate your house with strands of lights and tinsel in November.

Solution: Use the Mall. Department stores and shopping malls are decorating for the season earlier and earlier, many times right after Halloween. These holiday backdrops are perfect for family photo Christmas cards. Gather the kids in front of the twinkling lights and a few camera clicks later, you'll have a great shot.

Challenge 2: Your toddlers won't sit still long enough to take the photo.

Solution: Bring in the props. Get out the oversized teddy bear or other toy that fascinates them. Try posing them with the dog or cat. Give them something simple to do, like ring a Christmas bell or kiss their sister on the cheek. Use trial and error until you find the item or activity that interests them long enough for you to take a few pictures.

Challenge 3: Your teenage kids don't feel like posing for a family photo.

Solution: Don't make them pose. Instead, make action the focal point of your photo Christmas cards, highlighting things that your teenagers love to do. Take photos of them showing off their abilities. Whether they are in the swimming pool, a canoe, sinking a basketball, riding a horse, baking holiday cookies, playing with the dog, or enjoying another activity, your holiday cards will offer a glimpse into your family's interests and personality.

Challenge 4: You'd like to send photo Christmas cards that are witty and fun, just like your family.

Solution: Create your own holiday story picture, by setting up a scene. Here's some ideas. The kids can discover Mommy kissing Santa Claus (Daddy in disguise). Put the young kids in a bubble bath with Santa hats and bubble beards. Capture a snapshot of each family member grabbing a slice of pizza with the message "pizza on earth". Photograph an empty plate of cookies and finished glass of milk in front of "guilty" looking kids with the caption "sorry Santa!"

Those after Halloween costume sales can come in handy when trying to set up a whimsical photo. How about posing your little angels with angel wings you picked up at discount? Other possibilities could be your kids dressed as cats (Meowy Christmas), super heroes (have a super Christmas), a baby in a pea-pod costume ("peas on earth") or a lion and a lamb costume for two children.

Challenge 5: You'd like a beautiful photo Christmas card that doesn't look like the same, tired, group family photo you send out every year.

Solution: Change the location of your photo shoot. If you're within driving distance to a beach, there are a lot of unique photo opportunities. Pose the kids on a sleigh on a sand dune. Write Merry Christmas on the sand, and have everyone sit behind the inscription. Build a sand snowman with a straw hat, sunglasses, and seashell nose.

Autumn provides a lot of great possibilities for photo Christmas cards. Try taking photos of the kids playing in a pile of leaves, in a pumpkin patch or on a hay ride. Make lovely scenery your backdrop and it can create atmosphere that elevates your photo Christmas card to a new level.

Challenge 6: When you struggle to take a family group photo, someone always blinks their eyes, turns their head or doesn't smile. It seems nearly impossible to get one perfect shot where everyone looks good.

Solution: Choose a card company that offers photo Christmas card designs that contain multiple photos of your family. The latest trend in holiday photo cards is to include several of your photos on one card in a unique, holiday layout. This has become popular because it is much easier to take great, individual photos of your family members than one acceptable group picture.

Whatever particular challenge you face when composing your photo Christmas cards, there is an easy solution. Try these creative approaches and soon you'll be hearing from your friends, relatives, coworkers and neighbors how much they loved this year's family holiday photo card.

Linda Kling is the owner of Photo Party Favors, which offers personalized photo favors and custom photo cards, announcements and invitations. Visit her website for more information on photo Christmas cards, plus recipes, tips, free printable holiday candy bar wrappers, Christmas tags, more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Kling

Memorable Christmas Pictures With A Digital Camera

By Soren Breiting

 

Christmas is a time for strong sentiments, gatherings of family and friends, good food and nice traditions. Learn to make the best out of this memorable time in pictures for old and young.

Rather simple point-and-shoot cameras have a great potential for family pictures during Christmas and they can also produce most other kinds of pictures during this important annual event. Small digital cameras aren't that intrusive as big professional cameras.

Here, I offer some basic photo tips and some more advanced photo tricks. If you follow just a few of them you will probably make much more memorable Christmas pictures during the Christmas days - and may be even before Christmas day.

Be prepared for photography

Keep your digital camera in reach during all Christmas. Make sure your battery is fully recharged and your memory card has plenty of space for new pictures. Have your battery re-charger available, too, as you will take many photos with flash.

Share the responsibility for taking pictures

For some Christmas events you might be quite busy serving the guest or helping older family members or being the one who should talk with everybody. Then just give your camera to another person and ask for him or her to take a lot of pictures during the event. Young people will often be very good at picture taking, not least because the availability of camera phones has facilitated that habit to even very young people.

Go close when taking pictures

Go as close as you can what ever you are shooting family members or Christmas things and symbols. Most digital cameras include more in the photo than what is displayed when you frame it, unless you only use the digital display screen. You can always quickly check the result and take a new picture if needed.

Don't be afraid of arranged picture taking

Many situations around the Christmas tree are quite messy. Don't worry of arranging a fine scene like grandfather in the big chair with the youngest family member on the lab with a big Christmas present in the small hands.

Arrange an all family members group photo

To have a picture taken if all family members get together for Christmas is an opportunity you shouldn't miss. If possible think beforehand of a functional locality - indoor or outdoor with enough room for all, including the space for the photographer. Use a tripod to have your self included. Take at least three frames.

Take several shots of the most memorable situations

When you have a very nice situation don't spare your shots but take at least 3 alternatives. One picture might turn out much better than the others, and the first shot isn't the best shot very often.

Take pictures without the flash turned on

As Christmas in the northern hemisphere is happening in the dark wintertime many pictures will be taken with the flash on. That is fine for many occasions but the strong flashlight will often remove the nice special Christmas atmosphere. Learn how to manually turn the flash on and off before any important Christmas gathering. Increase the sensitivity to say 400 ASA for natural light photography during Christmas events.

Take candlelight pictures

Candlelight pictures are a rewarding approach to Christmas photography as they generate a special atmosphere of old time and traditions. Include one or two faces in the frame together with the candle. You have to switch off the flash of the camera and improve the sensitivity. If possible support your elbows on a table or the like to avoid camera shake. Still remember to take some alternative shots. Many Christmas symbols are also fine in candlelight.

Take series of Christmas pictures

A number of Christmas pictures showing a process or an event from the phase of preparation, through the main activities until the final stage of saying goodbye or cleaning up can be very interesting later. This can be a fine task for a younger family member to take care of and it is so nice with digital cameras that we don't have to worry of the cost of pictures that become failures. Such a series of Christmas pictures is excellent for a digital slide show later.

Take special interest in the oldest family members

As time goes by it often turns up that the last pictures of an old family member that passed away was taken at Christmas time. Without exaggerating keep that in mind and make sure you get really nice portraits of the oldest family members in good mood - every Christmas.

Make the best of the newborn and babies

Normally there will be taken a lot of photos of babies and the smallest children and that is a good tradition. Just pay a little attention to how to link the pictures of the children to symbols of Christmas and activities of other family members or friends during the Christmas event.

Preparing for Christmas - also a photo option For children the waiting time to Christmas might be felt like infinity. For us grownups the time might slip away because of all the preparation for Christmas combined with our other duties. Shopping in the decorated streets, preparing presents and cooking food etc. are all fine options for your Christmas photography.

Throw away the bad pictures quickly

During Christmas or just after go through the Christmas pictures and weed all the bad ones out. When you have taken three alternative frames of the same situation, only keep the best one for the future. Be tuff, when editing your Christmas collection of pictures - that will reward you in the long run. Google's Picasa picture organizer is a fine help and it is free at picasa.google.com

Share your Christmas pictures

It is easy to share your Christmas pictures with family members and friends. At OnlinePhotoSharing.net you will find many options.

Soren Breiting is a stock photographer and communicator. Find examples of his Christmas pictures at azFotos.com and learn to take better pictures at http://www.BetterPhotos.net - more about digital photography at http://www.DigitalPhotographyAndPictures.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Soren_Breiting

How To Get A Good Dog Christmas Photo With Santa

By Sylvia Dickens

 

It's that time of year when people want to get that family portrait with Santa. This once usually meant that the kids gathered around the Jolly fellow and posed, but in recent times, people have decided to include their pets in their Santa portraits.

Getting that great dog Christmas photo isn't as easy as it sounds. Your dog might not like the whole idea, or worse, Santa might not like dogs. What can you do to make sure you get that photo?

First, check ahead with Santa to see if he is comfortable working with dogs. Make sure the photographer is also experienced in taking good dog Christmas photos. Dog portrait photography takes special skills. See if he or she has any samples to show you. Be on the lookout for red-eye. This is common in dog photos because their eyes open up very wide during the shot. That's because they are generally nervous. This allows the flash to bounce off the inside of the eye which causes the red glow.

To avoid this, the flash must be held to one side instead of directly in front of the dog.

Then, there are the dog-related issues when trying to capture that Christmas photo. Excited dogs can have "accidents" on Santa's lap, or they might snap or bite out of fear. This is why it's so important to find a Santa who works well with dogs. Dogs can tell when someone is nervous and they will take this as their opportunity to "take command".

You can help Santa along by taking your dog for a walk prior to his or her photo shoot. This will do several things. It will allow her to empty her bladder and help prevent an accident. It will also get rid of some of the energy and excitement that is built up in the dog. This will help relax her beforehand.

Take along her favourite toy, but keep it hidden until the actual photo shoot. Squeaky toys are best for getting her attention at the right moment. You can get a great perky expression to make your dog Christmas photo special.

Take some of her favourite nutritious treats to entice and reward her.

Both of these tactics will help calm your dog and distract her from being nervous or trying to aggravate Santa.

There's even more you can do to help make the experience as painless as possible.

Pet and talk to your dog until the last possible moment to help calm the dog and also to prevent her from getting bored.

If a squeaky toy doesn't work, try a high-pitched whistle that can be blown just before the photo is taken. This will alert the dog so she looks attentive.

Most of all, don't force your dog too much as this will just agitate her. Watch her body language to avoid getting bitten. If she raises the fur on her neck and shoulders or tucks her tail between her legs, this is a warning sign to be heeded. If she raises her upper lip, this usually indicates that the dog is very likely to bite.

If the entire dog Christmas photo experience proves uncomfortable for your pet, hold her yourself. She will be much more at ease and cooperative than she would sitting on Santa's knee.

It takes a lot of patience and a good sense of humor to get that all-important dog Christmas photo, but it can be done. With a capable photographer and an understanding Santa, you can get a terrific dog photo for your family album or the family Christmas card.

One last thing you can do to make the experience a pleasant one for everyone is to bring some sticky tape to remove your dog's hair from Santa's suit. And don't forget to reward your dog for good behaviour with one of those nutritious treats.

Dog nutrition is important to ensuring your dog stays happy and healthy for a long life. Discover what constitutes healthy dog nutrition and sign up for your free dog training mini-course. Visit Sylvia's Ebook Web Site for books on dog training, travel, music instruction, hobbies, fitness, wealth building, business and more. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylvia_Dickens

Baby Photography - What Equipment Do You Need?

By Bobby Jonnes

 

Beginners often ask me whether or not they require a portrait lens for baby photography. The answer in relation to baby portraiture is an absolute yes.

With a standard lens you will need to get in very close to a baby. You can shoot from further back and crop digitally later, but, from a quality perspective, it's best to have 'more image to play with'. The fact is that the closer a stranger (you the photographer) gets to a baby the less chance there is of a good 'quick shot'.

There are exceptions to this, but take my word on this, it's more often than not daunting for the baby and the parent if you try to get in too close with your standard lens. One exception would be if you need to work in a customer's home in a confined space. Here you may have no choice but to use a standard lens.

If using 35mm or digital, any telephoto lens or zoom range between 70mm and 100mm will suffice. If using medium format anything between 100mm and 150 would be appropriate. Whichever format or lens, you should also invest in a lens hood to prevent flare.

Using a longer lens puts some distance between you and an anxious baby.

Flash meter

To get the best print quality for baby photography, accurate exposure is important. To achieve this you will need a flash meter.

Most flash meters are capable of taking both reflected readings and incident readings; in all conditions I have found incident readings to be most useful. I used a Minolta, however started with an inexpensive Shepherds flash meter which gave reliable results.

Aside from the accuracy of exposure you will want a flash meter in order to ensure that you get the lighting ratios right too, if you are using more than one flash. This can be done by trial and error and by eye, but it's quicker in the beginning to use the meter.

If you are just starting out and on a tight budget I'd recommend the Shepherd Polaris Digital Flash/Ambient Meter.

Tripod

For the majority of baby photography a tripod is essential. Using a tripod and cable release will free you to concentrate on maintaining a rapport with the parents and child. This is particularly true when photographing young babies with their parents; you can free yourself to throw a ball to mum or some other antics to raise a smile.

The tripod and a cable release will allow you to detach yourself from the camera. This will enable you to sustain the rapport that you have already established with the sitters and continue to chat with them in a relaxed and informal manner. It will also give you more opportunity to watch the baby in anti