Time to jump up on my soapbox this morning! A friend was kind enough to recommend me for a photo job (via LinkedIn)...the nature of the shoot was "real estate"...as it turns out, it would involve travel, location lighting and of course standard equipment and post production. Sounds like a decent job right? Not so my friend!
It seems he has a shooter who has offered 100 shots for $79.00. Not a typo...100 shots for $79.00! For those of you who may be "math challenged...that's 79 cents per image!
(Right now, if you're like me you are saying WTF?)
To that I say the following....
I own a hammer but I am not a carpenter!
I own a wrench and I have a car but I am not a mechanic!
I have a first aid kit but I am neither a doctor or a nurse!
With that in mind...just because you "own" a camera, doesn't make you a photographer...it makes you a camera owner!
If you have experience and are a "real" photographer...don't under sell your value, experience and talent!
The market is difficult enough...don't make it worse through "stupid" actions!
Monday, May 25, 2015
Friday, July 8, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
8 Tips For Better Digital Photos
Whether you consider yourself an amateur photographer, or you just want to create better family photos, there are many things you can do to get better photos. Here are some easy tips to use the next time you head out with your digital camera.
Even a beginner can take professional-looking photos - suitable for framing.
Be Prepared
Keep all your photography equipment ready for use. Collect everything you'll need into one place. A camera bag is ideal, because it keeps all your stuff together and lets you carry it all with you. Everything in its place. A good camera bag will let you organize a miniature tripod, extra batteries, memory cards, etc. - even a plastic bag or waterproof housing to protect your camera in wet weather.
Hold your Camera Steady
Blurry photos are almost always the result of camera movement. Just your own unsteadiness, causes your camera to shake enough to blur your pictures.
So steady yourself and your camera before you take the shot.
Plant your feet firmly on the ground and tuck your elbows in close to your sides. Instead of using the LCD viewer, steady your camera against your forehead and frame the shot using your cameras viewfinder. You can also steady your upper body by leaning against a wall or a tree. Or totally eliminate any camera movement by using a tripod.
Once you're all set, gently press the shutter release in one motion. Pressing the shutter release too hard could jerk the camera downward.
Get Closer
One difference in snapshots and really great photos is the composition of the shot. Unless you're shooting an outdoor landscape, you can improve most photos just by getting closer to your subject. Depending on the situation, you can physically move closer to your subject, or use the zoom feature on your camera for the same effect. Try to get within a few feet of your subject so you eliminate most of the background. You'll like the results.
Take more Pictures
Even professionals take loads of shots of the same subject - to get just a few that they will use. With a digital camera, you can delete the images you don't like, and only print the winners - so don't hesitate to take several shots of the same subject. Change the angle of the shot. Get a little closer. Adjust the lighting.
Why not fill the entire memory card with pictures of your kid at the pool, or your daughter in her cap and gown? The more pictures you take, the better the odds that you'll get a few shots that will really thrill you.
Vary the Lighting
Using natural light will give better skin tones when photographing people, so try not to use the flash if you don't have to. Outdoor daylight shots are easy, but you'll have to be a little more creative when shooting indoors. Try using the light coming in from a window for warmer tones than you would get using the flash.
Experiment with natural lighting. You can get stronger shadows by moving your subject closer to a window, and turning your subject can create more dramatic shadows.
Eliminate Red-Eye
Red-eye is the result of light passing through your subjects eye and reflecting back. You'll get it more often when using your flash, just because the light from the flash isn't as diffused as natural light. So the first tip for eliminating red-eye is simply to avoid using your flash when you don't absolutely have to.
Another way to reduce red-eye is to have your subject look anywhere but at the camera. This reduces red-eye because any reflection isn't directed back at your camera lens.
If you have to use the flash, some digital cameras have a built-in feature to automatically remove red-eye. Use it.
Go for Candid
Instead of posing two (or more) people looking directly at the camera, get a shot of them interacting with one another. Even two people having a conversation is more interesting than having them stand next to each other facing the camera. Some of the best professional portraits have the subject captured deep in thought, with their attention focused inward, rather than on the camera lens.
It makes a more interesting shot. Your portrait will look more natural - less posed.
Create a Scene
Putting your subject in the centre of a photo is just boring. You'll get a much more pleasing result if you place your subject off centre when you frame the shot.
This is a truly professional technique. Place your subject so that they occupy 1/3 to 1/2 of the total composition, but NOT at the exact centre of the frame. Capture an interesting background object in the rest of the frame.
Anybody can practice these techniques. They're easy and you'll get better, more professional photos.
Even a beginner can take professional-looking photos - suitable for framing.
Be Prepared
Keep all your photography equipment ready for use. Collect everything you'll need into one place. A camera bag is ideal, because it keeps all your stuff together and lets you carry it all with you. Everything in its place. A good camera bag will let you organize a miniature tripod, extra batteries, memory cards, etc. - even a plastic bag or waterproof housing to protect your camera in wet weather.
Hold your Camera Steady
Blurry photos are almost always the result of camera movement. Just your own unsteadiness, causes your camera to shake enough to blur your pictures.
So steady yourself and your camera before you take the shot.
Plant your feet firmly on the ground and tuck your elbows in close to your sides. Instead of using the LCD viewer, steady your camera against your forehead and frame the shot using your cameras viewfinder. You can also steady your upper body by leaning against a wall or a tree. Or totally eliminate any camera movement by using a tripod.
Once you're all set, gently press the shutter release in one motion. Pressing the shutter release too hard could jerk the camera downward.
Get Closer
One difference in snapshots and really great photos is the composition of the shot. Unless you're shooting an outdoor landscape, you can improve most photos just by getting closer to your subject. Depending on the situation, you can physically move closer to your subject, or use the zoom feature on your camera for the same effect. Try to get within a few feet of your subject so you eliminate most of the background. You'll like the results.
Take more Pictures
Even professionals take loads of shots of the same subject - to get just a few that they will use. With a digital camera, you can delete the images you don't like, and only print the winners - so don't hesitate to take several shots of the same subject. Change the angle of the shot. Get a little closer. Adjust the lighting.
Why not fill the entire memory card with pictures of your kid at the pool, or your daughter in her cap and gown? The more pictures you take, the better the odds that you'll get a few shots that will really thrill you.
Vary the Lighting
Using natural light will give better skin tones when photographing people, so try not to use the flash if you don't have to. Outdoor daylight shots are easy, but you'll have to be a little more creative when shooting indoors. Try using the light coming in from a window for warmer tones than you would get using the flash.
Experiment with natural lighting. You can get stronger shadows by moving your subject closer to a window, and turning your subject can create more dramatic shadows.
Eliminate Red-Eye
Red-eye is the result of light passing through your subjects eye and reflecting back. You'll get it more often when using your flash, just because the light from the flash isn't as diffused as natural light. So the first tip for eliminating red-eye is simply to avoid using your flash when you don't absolutely have to.
Another way to reduce red-eye is to have your subject look anywhere but at the camera. This reduces red-eye because any reflection isn't directed back at your camera lens.
If you have to use the flash, some digital cameras have a built-in feature to automatically remove red-eye. Use it.
Go for Candid
Instead of posing two (or more) people looking directly at the camera, get a shot of them interacting with one another. Even two people having a conversation is more interesting than having them stand next to each other facing the camera. Some of the best professional portraits have the subject captured deep in thought, with their attention focused inward, rather than on the camera lens.
It makes a more interesting shot. Your portrait will look more natural - less posed.
Create a Scene
Putting your subject in the centre of a photo is just boring. You'll get a much more pleasing result if you place your subject off centre when you frame the shot.
This is a truly professional technique. Place your subject so that they occupy 1/3 to 1/2 of the total composition, but NOT at the exact centre of the frame. Capture an interesting background object in the rest of the frame.
Anybody can practice these techniques. They're easy and you'll get better, more professional photos.
Digital Photography Jobs – What You Should Know
Photography is a vast field that many people are interested in getting into–whether for leisure purposes such as a hobby or for a serious job like most professional photographers get into. And why not, photography is the ultimate expression of oneself that can be taken as an art. Even more, it can be made into a profitable business and a rewarding career.There are two types of photographs that can be captured in photography–one is a captured through film and the other and more recent development in photography is captured through a digital media such as a memory card. the pictures that are captured through film, a good amount of skills is necessary because aside from point and shoot, the ability to produce prints from films is a very tedious process to do.
It is a good thing that digital photography has been introduced in the society. With digital photography, it is very easy to capture images and delete them in instances where one finds the shot unacceptable. One good thing about a digital camera is that you can easily manipulate how a photograph will look through the use of photo manipulation software.Digital photography has been very popular in the current society because of the ease and flexibility that this type of work gives the photographer. For the ordinary, picture-admiring public, it gives them delight as the pictures are masterfully rendered and manipulated that a seemingly simple object or moment becomes extraordinary.Because of the popularity, many people are becoming interested in finding digital photography jobs. However, it is not in an instant that one can take a job like this. For an individual to succeed as a photographer, he must learn some additional skills regarding the creative and technical aspects of photography.Qualification wise, there are several trainings and programs that one can get into to further enhance his skills in photography. Having a unique style is something that will set one apart from the others, therefore exhibiting one will be very helpful when applying to digital photography jobs field of photography will always have something for everyone, which is one major reason why it continues to be appealing to many people. In photography, one’s interest is taken into context and is developed through the many exposures that one can get on the job.
The rewards of digital photography jobs go beyond the usual advantage of getting paid for doing something you love since it can even make one earn a decent living. The salaries of being a professional and well-known photographer can reach up to six figures in many instances. If you come to think of it, it really does pay well to become a photographer. Indeed, it is very ideal to get paid for something you find your interest in since it makes the job all the more easier. Some will even consider it not as a job but as a commitment.
Terry Edwards -
About the Author:You can find out more about http://www.DigiCamCashReview.com
Photography is a vast field that many people are interested in getting into–whether for leisure purposes such as a hobby or for a serious job like most professional photographers get into. And why not, photography is the ultimate expression of oneself that can be taken as an art. Even more, it can be made into a profitable business and a rewarding career.
There are two types of photographs that can be captured in photography–one is a captured through film and the other and more recent development in photography is captured through a digital media such as a memory card. the pictures that are captured through film, a good amount of skills is necessary because aside from point and shoot, the ability to produce prints from films is a very tedious process to do.It is a good thing that digital photography has been introduced in the society. With digital photography, it is very easy to capture images and delete them in instances where one finds the shot unacceptable. One good thing about a digital camera is that you can easily manipulate how a photograph will look through the use of photo manipulation software.
Digital photography has been very popular in the current society because of the ease and flexibility that this type of work gives the photographer. For the ordinary, picture-admiring public, it gives them delight as the pictures are masterfully rendered and manipulated that a seemingly simple object or moment becomes extraordinary.
Because of the popularity, many people are becoming interested in finding digital photography jobs. However, it is not in an instant that one can take a job like this. For an individual to succeed as a photographer, he must learn some additional skills regarding the creative and technical aspects of photography.
Qualification wise, there are several trainings and programs that one can get into to further enhance his skills in photography. Having a unique style is something that will set one apart from the others, therefore exhibiting one will be very helpful when applying to digital photography jobs field of photography will always have something for everyone, which is one major reason why it continues to be appealing to many people. In photography, one’s interest is taken into context and is developed through the many exposures that one can get on the job.The rewards of digital photography jobs go beyond the usual advantage of getting paid for doing something you love since it can even make one earn a decent living. The salaries of being a professional and well-known photographer can reach up to six figures in many instances. If you come to think of it, it really does pay well to become a photographer. Indeed, it is very ideal to get paid for something you find your interest in since it makes the job all the more easier. Some will even consider it not as a job but as a commitment.
Terry Edwards -
You can find out more about http://www.DigiCamCashReview.com
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Adobe Photoshop: A Must Have Software for Photographers
As a professional photographer, you know that you need to take great and flawless photos of your subjects. If you donít, then you donít really deserve to be called a professional photographer and you won't profit from this kind of job as no one would want a photograph that was taken by an amateur. However, we have to admit the fact that not everyone is perfect. Even if you are a very good photographer, you are bound to make mistakes and take bad pictures.
This is why you will need Adobe Photoshop (CS..2,3,4,5). So, what is Adobe Photoshop?
First of all, you need to remember that most professional photographers today use digital cameras. I say most, because there are still a few hold outs. Film cameras are a thing of the past and digital cameras are a lot easier to use and provides better quality photographs. So, I am assuming you are already using a digital camera, and you will see that Adobe Photoshop will be able to help you a lot on your job as a professional photographer.
This is basically "the" image editing and enhancing software program that will allow you to edit and enhance the photos you take and upload from your digital camera to the computer. For example, you have to remember that no one likes the red-eye phenomenon on their photos. If you have been hired to take a picture of a kid's birthday party and you saw that the seemingly great pictures you took resulted in a red-eye phenomenon on most of the subjects, the people who hired you will not really be satisfied because of it.
Even if you are using the latest professional grade digital camera with red-eye reduction, the red-eye phenomenon will still happen whether you like it or not. With Adobe Photoshop, this is no longer a problem as it will have the red-eye detection tool which will detect the red-eye on the photos you take and get rid of it. The result is a natural looking photograph without the red-eye on the subjects.
Also, you have to remember that there are times where you will be faced with a bad lighting condition. No matter how many times you adjust your digital camera, you will still have to deal with the bad lighting condition which will ruin any photograph. Adobe Photoshop has tools that will help you deal with lighting and colour. With the adjust brightness and contrast, adjust colour intensity, and hue adjustment tools, you will be able to make dark photos in to something that looks like it was taken in the best possible environment.
As a professional photographer, you will sometimes take headshots. For this kind of job, Adobe Photoshop will make your subjects look more handsome and beautiful. How? Well, Adobe Photoshop has tools that will help enhance the skin or the face of your subject. You can remove pimples, and other imperfections from the subject's face. And, you can even make someone old look a little bit younger.
If your subject is very pale, you can add some colour on their cheeks and make them look as if they have those healthy rosy cheeks. In fact, Adobe Photoshop even has some tools that will make an obese person look as if they were a model of Victoria's Secret and vice versa. This is how powerful Adobe Photoshop is.
So, if you are a professional photographer and you are looking for a way to edit your photos to make it look flawless, then you will need Adobe Photoshop.
This is why you will need Adobe Photoshop (CS..2,3,4,5). So, what is Adobe Photoshop?
First of all, you need to remember that most professional photographers today use digital cameras. I say most, because there are still a few hold outs. Film cameras are a thing of the past and digital cameras are a lot easier to use and provides better quality photographs. So, I am assuming you are already using a digital camera, and you will see that Adobe Photoshop will be able to help you a lot on your job as a professional photographer.
This is basically "the" image editing and enhancing software program that will allow you to edit and enhance the photos you take and upload from your digital camera to the computer. For example, you have to remember that no one likes the red-eye phenomenon on their photos. If you have been hired to take a picture of a kid's birthday party and you saw that the seemingly great pictures you took resulted in a red-eye phenomenon on most of the subjects, the people who hired you will not really be satisfied because of it.
Even if you are using the latest professional grade digital camera with red-eye reduction, the red-eye phenomenon will still happen whether you like it or not. With Adobe Photoshop, this is no longer a problem as it will have the red-eye detection tool which will detect the red-eye on the photos you take and get rid of it. The result is a natural looking photograph without the red-eye on the subjects.
Also, you have to remember that there are times where you will be faced with a bad lighting condition. No matter how many times you adjust your digital camera, you will still have to deal with the bad lighting condition which will ruin any photograph. Adobe Photoshop has tools that will help you deal with lighting and colour. With the adjust brightness and contrast, adjust colour intensity, and hue adjustment tools, you will be able to make dark photos in to something that looks like it was taken in the best possible environment.
As a professional photographer, you will sometimes take headshots. For this kind of job, Adobe Photoshop will make your subjects look more handsome and beautiful. How? Well, Adobe Photoshop has tools that will help enhance the skin or the face of your subject. You can remove pimples, and other imperfections from the subject's face. And, you can even make someone old look a little bit younger.
If your subject is very pale, you can add some colour on their cheeks and make them look as if they have those healthy rosy cheeks. In fact, Adobe Photoshop even has some tools that will make an obese person look as if they were a model of Victoria's Secret and vice versa. This is how powerful Adobe Photoshop is.
So, if you are a professional photographer and you are looking for a way to edit your photos to make it look flawless, then you will need Adobe Photoshop.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Red Eye and Your Digital Camera
You’ve seen the dreaded demon-eye effect that occurs when the camera flash bounces off the eye of a person or pet that you are photographing. An otherwise wonderful picture can be ruined by these retinal reflections. Technically, this is called red-eye and is caused when the pupil of your subject’s eye is wide open and the light from the camera’s flash reflects off the subjects retina. In people, the colour ends up red; in pets, the colour is often green.
Many photo editing programs include a red-eye correction filter, but this may not allow your photograph subject to appear “normal. These filters also don't always work on the green effect produced in a pet’s eyes. Photo stores sell pens that are used to clear up red-eye, but again they are not always natural-looking and do not work on the green. The best thing is to prevent the demon-eye effect from the start.
It is rare to find a digital camera that does not come with a red-eye reduction feature. This feature can be turned on or off. It is best left
"on" in all circumstances other than direct sunlight. The red-eye reduction feature works by flashing a short burst of light at your subject before you snap the picture. This burst of light causes the subject’s pupil to close and makes it less likely for the camera’s flash to reflect off the retina. This in turn reduces the chance of red-eye.
It also helps to direct the flash of your camera so it does not directly hit your subject’s eyes. Bouncing the flash off a nearby wall or other object will soften its effect and reduce the chances of this unwanted malady. Between bouncing the flash and using your digital camera’s red-eye reduction feature, your little angel, whether human or animal, will have eyes that don’t glow.
If you are using the bounce effect, it can be achieved in several ways. With a digital SLR camera and mounted flash, the flash can generally swivel to allow you to obtain the bounce effect. Another option with digital SLR's is removing the flash from your camera and handholding it. This would of course require wireless capabilities (you can view these options on-line or await my publication of wireless options in the future)
If you have a point and shoot digital camera, I would suggest a piece of white bristol board. Held in front of the flash at an angle, you will be abe to bounce the flash off of the ceiling and reduce any potential red eye effect. You may want to test a couple of shots to ensure that you are not blocking the lens or blocking the light entirely.
Good luck...getting the red out!
Many photo editing programs include a red-eye correction filter, but this may not allow your photograph subject to appear “normal. These filters also don't always work on the green effect produced in a pet’s eyes. Photo stores sell pens that are used to clear up red-eye, but again they are not always natural-looking and do not work on the green. The best thing is to prevent the demon-eye effect from the start.
It is rare to find a digital camera that does not come with a red-eye reduction feature. This feature can be turned on or off. It is best left
"on" in all circumstances other than direct sunlight. The red-eye reduction feature works by flashing a short burst of light at your subject before you snap the picture. This burst of light causes the subject’s pupil to close and makes it less likely for the camera’s flash to reflect off the retina. This in turn reduces the chance of red-eye.
It also helps to direct the flash of your camera so it does not directly hit your subject’s eyes. Bouncing the flash off a nearby wall or other object will soften its effect and reduce the chances of this unwanted malady. Between bouncing the flash and using your digital camera’s red-eye reduction feature, your little angel, whether human or animal, will have eyes that don’t glow.
If you are using the bounce effect, it can be achieved in several ways. With a digital SLR camera and mounted flash, the flash can generally swivel to allow you to obtain the bounce effect. Another option with digital SLR's is removing the flash from your camera and handholding it. This would of course require wireless capabilities (you can view these options on-line or await my publication of wireless options in the future)
If you have a point and shoot digital camera, I would suggest a piece of white bristol board. Held in front of the flash at an angle, you will be abe to bounce the flash off of the ceiling and reduce any potential red eye effect. You may want to test a couple of shots to ensure that you are not blocking the lens or blocking the light entirely.
Good luck...getting the red out!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Getting Free Photoshop Tutorials
Adobe's Photoshop software is truly a big deal for most people. If you are a photographer or photo enthusiast, it pays to have this program loaded onto your computer in order to manipulate your photographs and present the world with true, quality art! With Photoshop at your fingertips, you can rest assured that you will get to improve those digital images you have taken long before they are printed. The result will be one more reason for you to give away (or sell) those beautiful pictures to clients, customers, family and friends.
Unfortunately, for most,it is not simply enough that you have the Photoshop program installed on your laptop or desktop computer. It is imperative that you have a basic knowledge in Photoshop to allow you to do all of the things that you want to do, as well as add the magical touches you didn't even dream of. With that little piece, my advice is...that it is very important for you to get a Photoshop tutorial.
There are several options available, such as hiring a tutor or enrolling in a program where you can learn basic or advanced Photoshop skills. You can also choose to buy one of the miriad of books that will teach you the aspects of the program. (If books are your preferred method of learning, I would recommend any of the books authored by Scott Kelby. They are easy to read and easy to follow) These are a few of the options that are open to you. All of which can have substantial costs. However, if you are frugal, you may want to follow an even better choice and get a free Photoshop tutorial. During these tutorials you will have the opportunity to develop (or hone) your skill without having to spend the extra money that's in your pocket.
There are a number of ways for you to get a free Photoshop tutorial. Be sure that you take advantage of these options...after all, "a penny saved is a penny earned"! If you can have something for free, make the most out of it.
1) Start by simply asking a friend for help with your Photoshop education
Many people are fortunate enough to have friends and relatives who are skilled in the Photoshop application. If you happen to have a friend of your own, then ask him or her to teach you basic Photoshop. Not only is this is a good way to get the free Photoshop tutorial, but most people who are skilled in Photoshop love to show off their capabilities. And besides, you can even use that extra time of learning as a bonding activity.
2) Try exploring the Photoshop program on your own.
If it happens that you can't access any friends to give the tutorials, you can explore the Photoshop program in a progressive step by step manner. Adobe provides basic tutorials with the installation. You can easily review the options for the basic tutorials. This will explain to you, how certain commands work and when to use them. You can read and review all of the instructions and the step-by-step processes. There are also editions of the Photoshop software that will actually provide tutorials using visuals. You will definitely enjoy viewing how a project is developed.
3) Try downloading trial files online
You can also get free Photoshop tutorials online. There are multiple web sites that will give help for free (like the ones at www.photoshopstar.com or http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_5652_use-adobe-photoshop.html). You can access the tutorial in PDF format or view instructional videos which will allow you to follow each step. You can also browse through the sites to find the discussion on a particular topic (http://www.planetphotoshop.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2 or http://www.flickr.com/groups/photoshopdiscussion/).
4) Never be afriad to ask for assistance online.
Adobe does provide an option for you to get help ( onlinehttp://www.adobe.com/support/photoshop/). However, you may simply find it more amazing to explore the different discussion boards and forums where other Photoshop users converge (as mentioned above). This can be an opportunity to get free Photoshop tutorials from the people who are both novice and expert alike. You can post your question and you can expect the other users to give you the advice you need.
You're not alone. Be sure to take advantage of all of the free Photoshop tutorials and learn the basic skills needed to operate the program. This way,in no time, you will be turning your "nice" images into fabulous works of "art".
Unfortunately, for most,it is not simply enough that you have the Photoshop program installed on your laptop or desktop computer. It is imperative that you have a basic knowledge in Photoshop to allow you to do all of the things that you want to do, as well as add the magical touches you didn't even dream of. With that little piece, my advice is...that it is very important for you to get a Photoshop tutorial.
There are several options available, such as hiring a tutor or enrolling in a program where you can learn basic or advanced Photoshop skills. You can also choose to buy one of the miriad of books that will teach you the aspects of the program. (If books are your preferred method of learning, I would recommend any of the books authored by Scott Kelby. They are easy to read and easy to follow) These are a few of the options that are open to you. All of which can have substantial costs. However, if you are frugal, you may want to follow an even better choice and get a free Photoshop tutorial. During these tutorials you will have the opportunity to develop (or hone) your skill without having to spend the extra money that's in your pocket.
There are a number of ways for you to get a free Photoshop tutorial. Be sure that you take advantage of these options...after all, "a penny saved is a penny earned"! If you can have something for free, make the most out of it.
1) Start by simply asking a friend for help with your Photoshop education
Many people are fortunate enough to have friends and relatives who are skilled in the Photoshop application. If you happen to have a friend of your own, then ask him or her to teach you basic Photoshop. Not only is this is a good way to get the free Photoshop tutorial, but most people who are skilled in Photoshop love to show off their capabilities. And besides, you can even use that extra time of learning as a bonding activity.
2) Try exploring the Photoshop program on your own.
If it happens that you can't access any friends to give the tutorials, you can explore the Photoshop program in a progressive step by step manner. Adobe provides basic tutorials with the installation. You can easily review the options for the basic tutorials. This will explain to you, how certain commands work and when to use them. You can read and review all of the instructions and the step-by-step processes. There are also editions of the Photoshop software that will actually provide tutorials using visuals. You will definitely enjoy viewing how a project is developed.
3) Try downloading trial files online
You can also get free Photoshop tutorials online. There are multiple web sites that will give help for free (like the ones at www.photoshopstar.com or http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_5652_use-adobe-photoshop.html). You can access the tutorial in PDF format or view instructional videos which will allow you to follow each step. You can also browse through the sites to find the discussion on a particular topic (http://www.planetphotoshop.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2 or http://www.flickr.com/groups/photoshopdiscussion/).
4) Never be afriad to ask for assistance online.
Adobe does provide an option for you to get help ( onlinehttp://www.adobe.com/support/photoshop/). However, you may simply find it more amazing to explore the different discussion boards and forums where other Photoshop users converge (as mentioned above). This can be an opportunity to get free Photoshop tutorials from the people who are both novice and expert alike. You can post your question and you can expect the other users to give you the advice you need.
You're not alone. Be sure to take advantage of all of the free Photoshop tutorials and learn the basic skills needed to operate the program. This way,in no time, you will be turning your "nice" images into fabulous works of "art".
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Digital Zoom Versus Optical Zoom
Many point and shoot digital cameras offer both digital and optical zoom. These two often confuse the average camera buyer, until you know what you’re looking at.
Optical zoom works much like the zoom lens on a 35 mm film camera. It changes the length of your camera’s lens and draws the subject closer to you. The optical zoom keeps the quality of the picture. Digital zoom works differently. It simply takes the picture and crops it then enlarges the part that is left. It causes the quality of the photo to be reduced, sometimes greatly.
What this means in terms of output is you may have a larger view of an object with the digital zoom, but chances are your image will become unfocused. Details will become lost. It is actually best to turn off the digital zoom feature of your camera if possible. This will prevent you automatically zooming in too close as the digital zoom is often an extension of the optical.
There are a couple of things you can do if you want a closer view of a subject but want the quality of your picture to still be good. Try moving in closer when you take the picture. Often only a foot or two will do the trick. If this isn’t possible, you can set your camera to take a picture at its largest file size. This will result in a photo that can be cropped to include only your desired subject, yet allow for an image that is still clear.
Digital zoom has its place. It can be used if the only destiny of your photo is the internet. Photos online can be a much lower quality in the camera and still appear acceptable when sent through e-mail or posted on a web gallery. If your goal is printing, however, seek a camera that has a greater optical zoom and turn off the digital zoom. Your pictures will be better in the end, even if they are not as close up.
Optical zoom works much like the zoom lens on a 35 mm film camera. It changes the length of your camera’s lens and draws the subject closer to you. The optical zoom keeps the quality of the picture. Digital zoom works differently. It simply takes the picture and crops it then enlarges the part that is left. It causes the quality of the photo to be reduced, sometimes greatly.
What this means in terms of output is you may have a larger view of an object with the digital zoom, but chances are your image will become unfocused. Details will become lost. It is actually best to turn off the digital zoom feature of your camera if possible. This will prevent you automatically zooming in too close as the digital zoom is often an extension of the optical.
There are a couple of things you can do if you want a closer view of a subject but want the quality of your picture to still be good. Try moving in closer when you take the picture. Often only a foot or two will do the trick. If this isn’t possible, you can set your camera to take a picture at its largest file size. This will result in a photo that can be cropped to include only your desired subject, yet allow for an image that is still clear.
Digital zoom has its place. It can be used if the only destiny of your photo is the internet. Photos online can be a much lower quality in the camera and still appear acceptable when sent through e-mail or posted on a web gallery. If your goal is printing, however, seek a camera that has a greater optical zoom and turn off the digital zoom. Your pictures will be better in the end, even if they are not as close up.
Black And White Digital Photography
There are several ways to achieve black and white digital photography. With black and white digital photography, you are bringing the end user back into a period of time when life seemed a lot simpler. Many digital cameras come equipped with a function to take these types of photos. If your digital camera does not support this function, you can still change your photographs into black and white with software programs.
You’ll want your black and white digital photography to look its best when you are finished. A technique that can help you get the best image out of your digital photograph is through image manipulation. You may find it better to convert your eight-bit colour images (which are usually jpegs) into 16-bit colours first. This is important because an 8-bit RGB can be the same as a 10-bit grayscale.
You can find information all over on the Internet to help you with your black and white digital photography. These resources can be found in everything from websites to magazines. Coloured pictures can look truly beautiful as a black and white display. You will usually have to convert your graphics, because although there are options with digital cameras, there are no true black and white digital cameras.
Correct the Colourcasts
An important part of black and white digital photography is correcting the colourcasts. These are caused by bad lighting, but you can use software such as PhotoShop Elements to make the relevant changes by using their editing applications. The Imaging Factory is also software that can help you to easily convert and fix lighting areas in your graphics to get the best look with your black and white digital photography. If you want to turn your graphics into black and white digital photography, you can step into a completely new dimension in photography. You can work through an endless array of projects right from your own computer.
You’ll want your black and white digital photography to look its best when you are finished. A technique that can help you get the best image out of your digital photograph is through image manipulation. You may find it better to convert your eight-bit colour images (which are usually jpegs) into 16-bit colours first. This is important because an 8-bit RGB can be the same as a 10-bit grayscale.
You can find information all over on the Internet to help you with your black and white digital photography. These resources can be found in everything from websites to magazines. Coloured pictures can look truly beautiful as a black and white display. You will usually have to convert your graphics, because although there are options with digital cameras, there are no true black and white digital cameras.
Correct the Colourcasts
An important part of black and white digital photography is correcting the colourcasts. These are caused by bad lighting, but you can use software such as PhotoShop Elements to make the relevant changes by using their editing applications. The Imaging Factory is also software that can help you to easily convert and fix lighting areas in your graphics to get the best look with your black and white digital photography. If you want to turn your graphics into black and white digital photography, you can step into a completely new dimension in photography. You can work through an endless array of projects right from your own computer.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
10 Tips To Better Photography
Taking a good photo isn’t as hard as you may think. You don’t need the most expensive camera or years of experience, just 10 simple tips.
Enjoy!
Tip 1 - Use All Of Your Available Space
Don't be afraid to use all the space in your photo. If you want to take a picture of something, it's ok for it to take up the whole shot with very little or no background showing. Keep distractions out of your shot
Tip 2 - Study Forms
This is a vital aspect to photography. Understanding forms in your photos. Don't see an object, see its shape and its form and find the best angle to photograph it from. Don't just walk up and shoot...anybody could do that. Form is all around us and I highly suggest you read as many books on it as possible.
Tip 3 - Motion In Your Photos
Never have motion in your photos if you are photographing a still object. If there is something moving while you are trying to photograph a stationery object, your photo won't turn out anywhere near as well. Also never put a horizon line in the center of your frame (unless your planned photo is art...because you can always break the rules, for art).
Tip 4 - Learn To Use Contrasts Between Colours.
Some of the best photos have shades of white, gray and black. You can take great shots with just one colour on your subject, but the contrasts between colours in a shot is what makes you a great photographer.
Tip 5 - Get Closer To Your Subject
This is one of the biggest mistakes most photographers make, not getting close enough to their subject. Get up close and personal, and close the distance gap. You can always reshape and resize a good shot but you can't continue to blowup a distant object.
Tip 6 - Shutter Lag
Shooting action shots with digital camera's can be tricky due to shutter lag. What this means is, when you press the button to take the photo, it can take up to a second for the shutter to take a photo, by that time what you were photographing would have moved on or somehow changed. This means you have to compensate for shutter lag by predicting what your subject is going to do and taking the photo just before it takes the action you want. More expensive digital cameras don't have this problem.
Tip 7 - Pan
If you are taking an action shot and your shutter speed is slow, pan with the object. Follow through with the subject, from start to finish and one of those shots will be a winner. You have a better chance of getting a good shot if you take more than one photo.
Tip 8 - Continuous Shots
To pan as I suggested above you will need a camera that does continuous shots and doesn’t need to stop and process after every shot.
Tip 9 - How To Take Fantastic Night Time Shots
Night time shots can be spectacular, almost magical.... if done right! If not they can look horrible...really horrible. Without adequate lighting, even good camera's can turn out crappy photos if the photographer doesn't know what he or she is doing.
Tip 10 - Study Your Manual
If your digital camera has a special night time mode, read the manual and follow their instructions on how to use it properly.
Enjoy!
Tip 1 - Use All Of Your Available Space
Don't be afraid to use all the space in your photo. If you want to take a picture of something, it's ok for it to take up the whole shot with very little or no background showing. Keep distractions out of your shot
Tip 2 - Study Forms
This is a vital aspect to photography. Understanding forms in your photos. Don't see an object, see its shape and its form and find the best angle to photograph it from. Don't just walk up and shoot...anybody could do that. Form is all around us and I highly suggest you read as many books on it as possible.
Tip 3 - Motion In Your Photos
Never have motion in your photos if you are photographing a still object. If there is something moving while you are trying to photograph a stationery object, your photo won't turn out anywhere near as well. Also never put a horizon line in the center of your frame (unless your planned photo is art...because you can always break the rules, for art).
Tip 4 - Learn To Use Contrasts Between Colours.
Some of the best photos have shades of white, gray and black. You can take great shots with just one colour on your subject, but the contrasts between colours in a shot is what makes you a great photographer.
Tip 5 - Get Closer To Your Subject
This is one of the biggest mistakes most photographers make, not getting close enough to their subject. Get up close and personal, and close the distance gap. You can always reshape and resize a good shot but you can't continue to blowup a distant object.
Tip 6 - Shutter Lag
Shooting action shots with digital camera's can be tricky due to shutter lag. What this means is, when you press the button to take the photo, it can take up to a second for the shutter to take a photo, by that time what you were photographing would have moved on or somehow changed. This means you have to compensate for shutter lag by predicting what your subject is going to do and taking the photo just before it takes the action you want. More expensive digital cameras don't have this problem.
Tip 7 - Pan
If you are taking an action shot and your shutter speed is slow, pan with the object. Follow through with the subject, from start to finish and one of those shots will be a winner. You have a better chance of getting a good shot if you take more than one photo.
Tip 8 - Continuous Shots
To pan as I suggested above you will need a camera that does continuous shots and doesn’t need to stop and process after every shot.
Tip 9 - How To Take Fantastic Night Time Shots
Night time shots can be spectacular, almost magical.... if done right! If not they can look horrible...really horrible. Without adequate lighting, even good camera's can turn out crappy photos if the photographer doesn't know what he or she is doing.
Tip 10 - Study Your Manual
If your digital camera has a special night time mode, read the manual and follow their instructions on how to use it properly.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Proud Photography - Become a Professional Photographer
If you are one of those people who could use justa bit more help...here's a great article and link....
Author: Jonathan Valentine
Article:
Proud Photography has helped individuals to become professional photographers through their various courses. This has become the major driving factors of many websites too in terms of providing ways and improving the talents of amateur into becoming professionals. But aside from learning photography, there are many things that have to be born in mind that will surely enable success. To become a professional photographer, you must:
Create your own style
Being unique is the keyword. You have to create your style that is uniquely you. Never copy the style of another photographer. A professional is someone that is able to communicate the style he has and such style is something that cannot be seen somewhere else. Be sure that you build your portfolio based on your own techniques. This is because people will gauge you by the way you take pictures. It has to be alive and whose shots are phenomenal. If you are able to master your style then, you are on your way to stardom.
Innovate
Learning new things everyday is important to become a professional photographer. Learning should not stop once you achieved success. It is a continuous process. You have to innovate your style and continue to develop your strengths so that many will like your products.
Quality vs. Quantity
Quality refers to the caliber of your pictures. An expert photographer would always find ways on how to produce quality pictures rather than produce in quantity but lacks quality. If you want to become a skilled photographer, you must master quality. Many people do not go for quantity. Rather, they are looking for quality pictures. They want beautiful pictures that they could be proud of. Hence, if you are after quantity, shift to producing quality pictures instead.
About the author:
I will show you how to find a legitimate Online Photography Course and avoid being scammed. Do not join any site until you have read this. Online Photography Course
Let me show you how to successfully become a Professional Photographer.
Author: Jonathan Valentine
Article:
Proud Photography has helped individuals to become professional photographers through their various courses. This has become the major driving factors of many websites too in terms of providing ways and improving the talents of amateur into becoming professionals. But aside from learning photography, there are many things that have to be born in mind that will surely enable success. To become a professional photographer, you must:
Create your own style
Being unique is the keyword. You have to create your style that is uniquely you. Never copy the style of another photographer. A professional is someone that is able to communicate the style he has and such style is something that cannot be seen somewhere else. Be sure that you build your portfolio based on your own techniques. This is because people will gauge you by the way you take pictures. It has to be alive and whose shots are phenomenal. If you are able to master your style then, you are on your way to stardom.
Innovate
Learning new things everyday is important to become a professional photographer. Learning should not stop once you achieved success. It is a continuous process. You have to innovate your style and continue to develop your strengths so that many will like your products.
Quality vs. Quantity
Quality refers to the caliber of your pictures. An expert photographer would always find ways on how to produce quality pictures rather than produce in quantity but lacks quality. If you want to become a skilled photographer, you must master quality. Many people do not go for quantity. Rather, they are looking for quality pictures. They want beautiful pictures that they could be proud of. Hence, if you are after quantity, shift to producing quality pictures instead.
About the author:
I will show you how to find a legitimate Online Photography Course and avoid being scammed. Do not join any site until you have read this. Online Photography Course
Let me show you how to successfully become a Professional Photographer.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Exposure - Getting Down to Basics
Here are some exposure basics everyone should be aware of as they set out with their new camera...
Beginning in Photography - Exposure Basics
By Mark Eden
So you've just bought a shiny new SLR camera huh? And a lens or two to go with it? That's great. Now all you have to do is learn how to use it. I'm assuming here you bought an SLR camera because you want to do a little bit more than take happy snaps at family events and holidays. So for those new to photography as anything more than that, this article aims to give you a little background on the basics of exposure to help you on your way.
Shutter speed
There are two elements to creating a "correct exposure". These are aperture, and shutter speed, which we will look at first. When you press the trigger button on your camera to take a picture, it opens a set of sliders, like opening a window. How long it stays open, depends on how you set the shutter speed. Shutter speeds can range from extremely fast (i.e. 1/8000 of a second), to very slow (30 seconds), or even infinity if your camera has a bulb setting. These are extreme shutter speeds and not often used, except by people who shoot fast moving subjects, or in very low light. For most of us, we tend to stick to somewhere in the middle. As a general rule, the faster the shutter speed, the sharper your photo will be. For most people, anything at 1/60 of a second or above is acceptable when hand holding a camera. Lower if you have a particularly steady hand. If you need to use slower shutter speeds, you will need to use a tripod or rest your camera on a steady surface. These slow speeds can be particularly useful for creating blurred effects. For example the flowing water in a waterfall.
Aperture
Ever wondered how photographers get their subjects to really stand out by blurring the background? The secret (which really is no secret) is adjusting the aperture. The aperture changes the depth of field in your photo. Depth of field is how much of the image is in focus. For example, if you have a depth of field of 4 meters, anything within that distance of the subject you are focusing on will also be in focus. There is as much variety with this control as there is with shutter speed. You can choose to set a narrow aperture (long depth of field) when you want the whole shot in focus, for instance a great, sweeping landscape, or a wider aperture for portraits.
Ok, so you've got your shutter speed sorted from your aperture. Now we just have to put them together. Any SLR camera will have an inbuilt light meter. This little gadget measures the amount of light you will need to create a correct exposure. It is usually in the form of a little bar with a too high (+) and a too low (-) sign at each end. It is simply a matter of balancing one against the other so that the meter is centered. Once you've done that you can press the button! That's all there is to it.
ISO
Another choice that will effect your exposure is the ISO you use. With film cameras, this means the speed of film that you use. If you use a 100 speed film, your ISO is 100. Digital cameras also have an adjustable ISO speed. It's just in the form of turning a dial instead of loading a different film. A general rule is to use the lowest ISO you can get away with. Higher ISO films or digital settings can result in noisy (grainy) pictures. They do, however, allow you more freedom in your exposures in that you can shoot with less available light. Experiment with your particular camera, see what you can get away with. Remember that the quality required will be different for everyone. If you only want to make small prints to put in an album, or just store the photos digitally on your computer, then you will not need the same quality as if you want to make large prints to hang on your wall.
So there is some food for thought for those starting out in photography and looking to do more than just point and shoot. Now it's time to go out there and shoot. Experiment with different settings. Try new things. The technical side of photography you can read about anywhere. The creative side, well, that's up to you.
Mark Eden is a freelance travel photographer and writer, and the founder and director of Expanse Photography, a photographic services company offering fine art, limited edition prints as well as stock and assignment photography and publishing services. Mark can be contacted through the Expanse Photography website http://www.expansephotography.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Eden
http://EzineArticles.com/?Beginning-in-Photography---Exposure-Basics&id=790563
5W's and the H - (what, when, who, where, why and how)
Here's a great article by Dan Fielding. It will cover the basics you need to know about photography...
Article by: Dan Feildman
Photography is both about knowing how to use a camera and also knowing how to make decisions. Today's media projects images that can be difficult to understand, and learning photography can help you to understand what you're being showed every day on television, on the internet, and in movies. Photography is a good way to occupy your time, especially if you are a teenager, as it is fun and harmless. Besides that, it's a great way to bring a community together for a project, such as photographing activities and gatherings.
When you buy a digital camera, you have to know how to take care of it to keep it in its best condition. In order to have the clearest photos possible, you must make sure to regularly clean your optic lens and keep from leaving fingerprints on it. If this happens, parts of your pictures will be blurry, and dirt can build up over time. Not all cleaning products are suitable for a camera lens, so make sure that you don't use tissue paper, any household cleaning solutions, and definitely not saliva. Instead, you should buy the proper products at a camera store, in order to keep your camera at its best.
Understanding how your camera focuses will help you get better pictures. Just about all digital cameras these days have autofocus with a two-step shutter release. In dark lighting, you will notice that when you press the button halfway down, a red light appears for a moment, but not in areas that are lighter. Then, when you press the button down fully, there is a flash. When you hold down the button halfway, that focuses the image, and when you depress it fully, the camera takes the focused image. If you want the subject of your photograph not to be in the center but still focused, first center them in the middle of the picture and focus the frame by pressing down halfway. Without removing your finger, reframe the picture with your subject in the right position, and take the picture. Your subject will still be focused.
One aspect of taking a pleasing photograph is depth of field. When you look at a picture, you will notice that all the area surrounding the focused subject is also focused. This area is called depth of field. In order to change the way the depth of field in a picture is seen, focused, and lit, you must change the width of your lens. The wider the lens is, the smaller the depth of field will be. To decrease the depth of field you can also move closer to your subject. To increase it, you can use a smaller lens or move further away from your subject.
A great technique that helps photographers create eye-catching pictures is the rule of thirds. This is a composition technique, create a pleasing balance between the different objects in a photograph. In order to use the rule, divide your screen into six different parts: three horizontal sections, and three vertical. The focal points, where the eye is attracted when it first looks at a picture, are where the lines intersect. Placing the subjects of your pictures at or near the focal points can help create a balanced and attractive picture.
Landscape photos are very popular and can be very nice-looking. The whole photograph will need to be in focus, unlike some pictures where only a certain part is in focus. In order to have the picture completely focused, you'll need to have a short focal length. This will create a larger depth of field, and everything will be focused. In order to creating a pleasing balance between land and sky, or water and sky, you can use the rule of thirds. Furthermore, if you want a sense of three dimensions, you can have a subject in the foreground.
A tripod is a good investment in photography, especially if you want to take panoramic pictures. You'll have to set your tripod in a place where you can swivel the camera smoothly from left to right, and not up and down. You will have to figure out where you want your pictures to overlap, so that you don't have huge gaps in your resulting picture. Once you figure that out, you can swivel your camera in one direction, clockwise or counterclockwise, to take the pictures you want. Once you're done, all you have to do is put them together with a simple graphics program or photo-editing software.
Recommended for More Help
Need to improve your digital photography techniques? Pick up your free digital photography guide for better photos...almost instantly.
Article by: Dan Feildman
Photography is both about knowing how to use a camera and also knowing how to make decisions. Today's media projects images that can be difficult to understand, and learning photography can help you to understand what you're being showed every day on television, on the internet, and in movies. Photography is a good way to occupy your time, especially if you are a teenager, as it is fun and harmless. Besides that, it's a great way to bring a community together for a project, such as photographing activities and gatherings.
When you buy a digital camera, you have to know how to take care of it to keep it in its best condition. In order to have the clearest photos possible, you must make sure to regularly clean your optic lens and keep from leaving fingerprints on it. If this happens, parts of your pictures will be blurry, and dirt can build up over time. Not all cleaning products are suitable for a camera lens, so make sure that you don't use tissue paper, any household cleaning solutions, and definitely not saliva. Instead, you should buy the proper products at a camera store, in order to keep your camera at its best.
Understanding how your camera focuses will help you get better pictures. Just about all digital cameras these days have autofocus with a two-step shutter release. In dark lighting, you will notice that when you press the button halfway down, a red light appears for a moment, but not in areas that are lighter. Then, when you press the button down fully, there is a flash. When you hold down the button halfway, that focuses the image, and when you depress it fully, the camera takes the focused image. If you want the subject of your photograph not to be in the center but still focused, first center them in the middle of the picture and focus the frame by pressing down halfway. Without removing your finger, reframe the picture with your subject in the right position, and take the picture. Your subject will still be focused.
One aspect of taking a pleasing photograph is depth of field. When you look at a picture, you will notice that all the area surrounding the focused subject is also focused. This area is called depth of field. In order to change the way the depth of field in a picture is seen, focused, and lit, you must change the width of your lens. The wider the lens is, the smaller the depth of field will be. To decrease the depth of field you can also move closer to your subject. To increase it, you can use a smaller lens or move further away from your subject.
A great technique that helps photographers create eye-catching pictures is the rule of thirds. This is a composition technique, create a pleasing balance between the different objects in a photograph. In order to use the rule, divide your screen into six different parts: three horizontal sections, and three vertical. The focal points, where the eye is attracted when it first looks at a picture, are where the lines intersect. Placing the subjects of your pictures at or near the focal points can help create a balanced and attractive picture.
Landscape photos are very popular and can be very nice-looking. The whole photograph will need to be in focus, unlike some pictures where only a certain part is in focus. In order to have the picture completely focused, you'll need to have a short focal length. This will create a larger depth of field, and everything will be focused. In order to creating a pleasing balance between land and sky, or water and sky, you can use the rule of thirds. Furthermore, if you want a sense of three dimensions, you can have a subject in the foreground.
A tripod is a good investment in photography, especially if you want to take panoramic pictures. You'll have to set your tripod in a place where you can swivel the camera smoothly from left to right, and not up and down. You will have to figure out where you want your pictures to overlap, so that you don't have huge gaps in your resulting picture. Once you figure that out, you can swivel your camera in one direction, clockwise or counterclockwise, to take the pictures you want. Once you're done, all you have to do is put them together with a simple graphics program or photo-editing software.
Recommended for More Help
Need to improve your digital photography techniques? Pick up your free digital photography guide for better photos...almost instantly.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
More About MegaPixels
Here's a quick add on to my last post about MegaPixels. You just can't get enough info on this subjext because it can be a very costly mistake...
Learn Digital Photography - The Megapixel Megamyth Explained in 4 Steps
By Wayne G Turner
So you've just come back from the camera shop with all the information on why you need more megapixels for your camera. Your current compact camera has 8.1 megapixels and the salesman says that you need to upgrade to the new 10.1 megapixel model to really improve your images. Rubbish! Here's why you don't need to.
Because digital cameras are often classified by their number of megapixels, the megapixel rating of a camera is often used as a measure of picture quality. This is a totally wrong concept and a myth. There are a number of factors that determine the quality of a camera and megapixels is really an insignificant part. 10.1 megapixels on a cheap compact camera and 10.1 megapixels on an expensive digital SLR and poles apart. As a comparison they mean nothing. If they meant anything then why is their such a large difference in price. The difference in price between a compact and an SLR should immediately say to you that there are other factors to be considered.
Here's what really matters:
1. Quality of the camera lens
It costs a lot of money to build a quality lens with high quality glass. If the camera is cheap it means the lens is cheap. Even if it had 36 megapixels the quality of your image is going to be average. Camera manufacturers cannot afford to put quality glass in a low quality camera. Even with digital SLRs that have interchangeable lenses the difference between entry level lenses and pro lenses is huge and measured in thousands of dollars.
2. Quality of the camera build
The parts that go into building a good quality digital camera cost a lot of money to develop and therefore the camera will cost more. The cost difference between the plastic or aluminium and high quality magnesium alloy is vast. This is more so with digital SLRs. When comparing the way a shutter button or dial feels on an entry level to a pro SLR you will feel a dramatic difference which again is reflected in the price.
3. Quality of the sensor
How your sensor handles light and the resulting noise is dependent on the quality and build of the CCD or CMOS sensor and its ISO rating. Try taking a photo with a lot of shadow and you will see that in darker parts of the image there are flecks of colour and a more grainy look. This is noise. The more expensive cameras will have far less noise or sometimes no noise at all compared to cheaper compact cameras. This degrades the quality of an image even with a good lens.
4. Quality of the processor
Each camera has a computer chip called the processor which takes the digital information received through the sensor and processes it into an image. The way this is processed affects the overall speed and quality of the image. The more powerful and complex the processor the better quality image and of course the higher the cost of the camera. Again the more megapixels processed by a low quality processor will continue to give a low quality image.
It is so easy to use one aspect of a camera to judge a camera's quality and this is what manufacturers and sales people have done. It's far easier than explaining a number of complementary factors but makes the explanation a myth. One needs to almost quadruple the megapixels of a camera's sensor to make an obvious improvement. Even just doubling the megapixels is only going to give you a subtle increase in quality. And this will again only really play a part if all of the other quality factors are increased as well.
So how do you know what to buy? The answer is forums and review websites. Go check out what the reviewers have to say and then read the forums and hear what people who have bought the camera you are interested in have to say.
Use your natural instincts and you'll know when a sales person is pulling the wool over your eyes. No manufacturer can afford to sell high quality for low prices. This is why many digital SLR manufacturers sell you a kit lens with the camera and not one of high quality, to save costs.
So bottom line, use your instincts. When someone wants to sell you a BMW or Mercedes for a Suzuki price the alarm bells should start ringing.
Do you want to learn more about photography in a digital world? I've just completed a brand new e-course delivered by e-mail. Download it here for free: http://www.21steps2perfectphotos.com/ To learn how you can take your photography from ordinary to outstanding visit http://www.21steps2perfectphotos.com/21steps.htm
Wayne Turner has been teaching photography for 25 years and has written three books on photography.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_G_Turner
http://EzineArticles.com/?Learn-Digital-Photography---The-Megapixel-Megamyth-Explained-in-4-Steps&id=2708612
What MegaPixels Do You Really Need
As promised...I said I would tell you what the MegaPixel will do for you, so here it is. It's not all about "size", contrary to popular belief. It's about your need and desired result. Don't be intimidated by the guy who's carrying the biggest, baddest new camera. Michael Hart has put together a common sense approach to "what you need", based on the "desired result" Take a moment and read Michael's article and you will have a clear understanding of wht the impact of MegaPixels really means to you...
Why 1.5 Megapixels is Enough
By Michael Hart
Dots Per Inch is a useful measure of relative resolution. But if you don't know the image size in inches or some other measure of size, then the amount of dots per inch doesn't mean much. That's why DPI is used in conjunction with scanner Specifications, because you know that the size is going to be 3.8 by 1.7 inches!
Different resolutions are used for different purposes. 72 or 75 DPI for screen viewing; 250 for digital photography and 300 dpi for printing. See how this is a nice comparison, yes, you can get away with 50 less pixels per inch in your photographs than would be required for A4 printing, this is because of the physical size of the photo!rnrnDots Per Inch specifies how much information is resolved in a picture, whereas the number of megapixels is usually used to describe the total output size (in pixels) of an image.
Example: I want to reproduce the standard photograph size. This would be 6 by 4 inches. Digital photography requires a minimum of only about 250dpi, So: 6 * 250 = 1500 and 4 * 250 = 1000, so you need an image sized about 1500 * 1000 pixels (about 1.5 megapixels). Thus you can get a perfectly good standard print from a 1.5 megapixel camera! rnrnIf you take a photo twice, one at 5 and the other at 1.5 megapixels, than ask your self which one looks "better"? They will both look reasonable because your computer generates colours such that the image looks better than it really is; if you were to print both as a 6 by 4 image, they will look identical, because your printer can't generate more than 300 dpi so the "better" image is effectively reduced in quality anyway. This example demonstrates how it is possible to literally waste memory, ie for everyday use the additional memory required for the other 4 megapixcels gives you no real benefit!
This is quite good because a 36 Megabyte media card can store 50 to 65 images at 1.3 megapixcels but only 8 to 10 at 5 megapixcels, so unless you are planning on getting your images printed larger than 6 by 4 there's no real advantage to the full 5 megapixcels.
Now we have established that a 1.5 megapixel camera will produce a 6 by 4 inch standard photograph, that is, it will generate a resolution such that each pixel is simply reproduced "as is", we come to the more interesting issue of enlargement.
If you wanted to print your 6 by 4 inch image as a 10 by 8 photo (which would normally need the full 5 megapixels), there would not be a sufficient number of pixels for the additional surface area, so we now need to scale up the existing pixels by "resampling" the existing pixels, a process which estimates how the "missing" pixels should appear, and fills them with the appropriate "colour".
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Hart
http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-1.5-Megapixels-is-Enough&id=165277
The Megapixel Conundrum
If you are like any other photographer (novice or pro-am) you have been trained throughout your life thet you should always go after "BIGGER,FASTER, BETTER". That may prove to be somewhat of a falacy in the world of Digital Photography and the MegaPixels. There is more to life than MegaPixels....here's an article that will lay out the real story for you.
In my next post I will present you with...wht the MegaPixel can do for you..
In my next post I will present you with...wht the MegaPixel can do for you..
Digital Photography Tips - Megapixels - Not All They're Cracked Up To Be
By Steven Wagenheim
When I first got into digital photography, way back in the stone age, cameras with massive amounts of megapixels were unheard of. Today, it's like computer memory. It's not even an issue. However, lots of new photographers think that all you need to do is pick up a digital camera with tons of megapixels and you're set. Well, this is not the case. There is more to taking good photos than that. This article is going to point out a few things about your digital camera that can make the number of megapixels a moot point. Keep reading to find out what they are.
Probably even more important, when it comes to the quality of your digital photos, is the lens. Nothing is going to make up for a cheap one. The problem with really good lenses is that they are extremely expensive to make. If you've taken photos with film cameras, you know that really high quality lenses can cost hundreds of dollars. Well, the same thing is true with a digital camera. Don't expect to find a high quality lens on a camera that you picked up for $95. It's just not going to happen.
Then there is noise. Yes, noise. Not the kind of noise you hear, but the kind of noise you see. This is what makes your photos look "grainy" or unclear. Every camera introduces at least some noise into the photographic process. There is no such thing as a noise free environment. The cheaper cameras, just like with the cheaper lenses, will introduce more noise into the process than the more expensive ones. So again, in this case, megapixels, no matter how many, make very little difference in the overall quality of the photo.
And then there is the biggest lie of all when it comes to megapixels and that's interpolation. I'm going to try to keep this explanation as simple as possible because I am sure, like myself, you just hate technical mumbo jumbo. In plain English, interpolation is the estimated or "guessed" measure of the megapixels. All his really does is make it so that the actual image you get is larger, but you're not really getting any additional detail in your photographs...just a lot of wasted space. So an interpolated 12 megapixel value may really only be 6 megapixels, or less. I won't mention any manufacturers that do this but it is a common practice.
Bottom line is this. Just because you get a 12 megapixel camera it doesn't mean it's going to outperform a 6 megapixel camera. The lens, noise and interpolation, along with a number of other things that I haven't even touched upon, all contribute to the REAL quality of your camera.
In short...You get what you pay for...most of the time.
Want some more great tips on digital photography? Check out the link in my signature below.
To YOUR Photographic Success,
Steven Wagenheim
Want to turn your digital photos into pure gold? Please check out the review of a great resource at my blog at http://digitalphotographytipsonline.blogspot.com/ where you'll find the answers to all your questions about digital photography that will turn you into a master of the lens in no time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Wagenheim
http://EzineArticles.com/?Digital-Photography-Tips---Megapixels---Not-All-Theyre-Cracked-Up-To-Be&id=1002623
Did You Backup Your Photos?
One of the biggest mistakes any phtographer can have is over confidence in their hardware. This includes your computer, your external hard drive, your CD's or DVD's and your memory cards. I can tell you from personal experience that recovering your hard drive data can be very costly. Here's a fantastic article by Paul Salmon. I recommend you heed the advice here...unless of course, you have the $$$ to burn!
How Do You Backup Your Digital Photos?
By Paul Salmon
I have seen many times in the past someone lose their data because of a hard drive failure. While some documents can be recreated, albeit it can take many hours to recreate one document, the files that can't be recreated are digital photos. Imagine losing photos of your children when they were babies? Unless others have the same photo, a hard drive crash could cause the photo to be lost forever.
For this reason, it is important to develop a data backup workflow. You may not know what you need to do, but I'll explain my process below and you can then develop one similar that works for you.
- First, before I do any editing or printing, I copy all my digital photos to an external hard drive. This is my accessible backup copy because the hard drive is always available in case I need a photo. I organize my photos in the following directory structure: Pictures\[four digit year]\[Event]. I don't rename my pictures, but instead I use photo organizing software that allows me to tag my pictures.
- Next I start my online backup software. I have signed up with an online backup service provider to store my photos in case something was to happen to my home. They provide a small application that I install on my desktop. This application will then copy any changed/new files automatically onto their server in the background. I usually keep it suspended since my external hard drive is usually powered off when not in use. I then unsuspend the tool when I want to run the backup.
- I then backup the photos to two DVD+R's. When backing up any type of file to a DVD, it is important to always make two copies. In case one DVD becomes corrupt, you may be able to restore the file from the other DVD. It is also important to buy high-quality DVD's as cheap no-name brand DVD's aren't good enough for long-term storage. I also store these DVD's offsite (outside of my home) so I don't lose them in case of an event destroying my home.
- When I need to edit a picture I always copy the picture to the local hard drive in my computer and perform any edits on that file. This prevents my from accidentally altering my backed up copy.
If I were to lost a picture, I can restore them in this manner:
- First, I would use the file stored on the external hard drive.
- If there was a problem with that file, I can go restore the file online.
- If I don't have an Internet connection, or there was a problem with restoring online, I can then retrieve the file from one of the two DVD's.
The above backup workflow is what I use on a regular basis, not only for my digital pictures, but also for my important data. It is important to always have a backup workflow in place in case an event damages your computer. Also, make sure that you create a workflow that works for you.
Paul Salmon currently maintains Technically Easy, as well as knowledge regarding offsite data backup storage solutions.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Salmon http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Do-You-Backup-Your-Digital-Photos?&id=2810813
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