Digitals Photography

Questions To Ask When Buying A Digital Camera

2007-03-22T04:43:00.000-07:00

With literally hundreds of different makes and models on the market, buying a digital camera can be a very confusing process. To find the best in digital camera options, a person should ask themselves some very frank questions and answer them first before seeking out models that match the stated needs.

Doing this might seem like a strange exercise, but when the right questions are asked and answered with honesty, the best digital camera can be found to meet personal needs and photo-taking requirements. Let’s look at some of the top questions:

• How much money can I spend? This is a bigger question than many people might realize. Since it’s quite possible to run into a massive price range when buying a digital camera, setting a budget can really help eliminate a number of potential purchases that are too far out of range on the high end or so low in price necessary features won’t be included.

• What type of quality do I need? People who only want photos to send to friends and family over the Internet or companies that require shots for web use don’t necessarily need a high-powered camera on the resolution front. Those who want to take print-quality or better shots will require a more sophisticated model. For print quality, a minimum of about three megapixels in resolution should be sought. The higher the number, the higher the resolution. Anyone that only needs a camera for web-based use can get away with a much cheaper buy.

• Do I need versatility in my camera? By this we mean changeable lenses and even flash add ons. If high-quality portraits, landscapes or other shots are required, a bigger more sophisticated camera might be in order. If they’re not (for the most part) a more straightforward buy could be just right. It’s important to be realistic on this when buying a digital camera. It’s no fun to get home after spending a few hundred dollars only to realize the camera bought won’t do half of what you really need it to.

• What type of memory do I need? Some people looking at buying a digital camera will also intend to use these devices for shooting video. Since many digital cameras can in fact take some excellent video clips, this option is worth looking at. The better the onboard or add on storage capacity, the better a camera will be for multipurpose use.

• What type of pictures do I intend to take? This will help decide the reset rating needed. For example, a camera with a slow reset is fine for still shots, but one with a faster reset will likely be needed for sports or action pictures.

Buying a digital camera can be a bit of a chore. With so many makes, models and price ranges to choose from, it can be hard to decide which is the best model to bring home. Ask and answer a few very frank questions and then compare the results with available makes and models that fit the bill to locate the best options out there.
Source : Ezine Articles

Digital Photography: Choosing Your 1st Digital SLR

2007-03-10T07:21:00.000-08:00

Here are some basic things you have to look at when purchasing your digital camera. Purchasing a digital camera maybe be a costly expense but the need to choose one that fits your shooting style and needs will count a lot. Things to consider:

1. Price: What price range are you willing to spend? Are you planning to get a point and shoot or do you want a Digital SLR? For long term purposes, I would recommend getting a DSLR because it will cost you less. I would suggest that you buy a camera you can grow into rather then getting a camera than you will grow out of.

Spending on a cheap point and shoot now and upgrading it later to a better featured camera maybe costing you more in the long run considering you have to invest in accessories and other photographic gear.

2. Technology. There are so many arguments that you should get an up to date camera because it is too expensive. Well I would suggest get a camera with features that are up to date and that your money can afford. It does not make sense to buy a cheap model because it is out dated or discontinued. Generally parts for older cameras become more expensive because they have to be stocked because they are not current market models anymore and not everyone keeps stock of old parts.

3. Memory Cards. All cameras use Memory card but choose a camera that uses something that is easy to find and use. Some may use compact flash cards, smartmedia, sd/mmc cards, xd etc.. Some of the memory card prices have been going down because of volume of usage. It would be safe to go with cameras that use Compact Flash and SD cards. 4. Battery Life. All cameras come with rechargeable batteries. choose one that will fit your shooting style and something that can give you freedom to carry and extra set when needed.

5. Optical Glass. Not all lenses are created equal. do you need fast lenses? do you need lenses that can capture photos in low light situations? Prices of lenses depend on the quality you are buying and the specific uses you need them for. The better the quality of the glass the more expensive. Check and see what works for you.

6. Megapixel count. the higher the megapixel rating the better and finer the photo will be and the easier it would be to enlarge your photos without getting the jagged edges that happen to low resolution cameras.

7. Body and Styling. Make sure that you get a camera that fits well with you and is solid for your specific uses. Get something that is sturdy and easy to use.

Follow your instincts and trust your own sense of style and judgement to find that camera that best suits you and your style of shooting. Always remember that the Camera is just a tool to capture your creative style of shooting.
Source : Ezine

Digital SLRs: Why are so many People going to Digital Single Lens Reflex (dSLR) Cameras?

2007-03-09T07:20:00.000-08:00

As the digital bandwagon makes its way around the world, we are seeing its tracks touch almost every part of our daily lives. From digital chips in automobiles, coffee makers, telephones, televisions and credit cards, one of the most booming industries the digital era has revolutionized is photography.

While film-based SLRs have been around for nearly a century, digital SLRs have only been around for about a decade. Once a luxury and strictly for the professional crowd, digital SLRs have evolved into a camera that today is being picked off the shelves by amateurs and advanced hobbyists. This change has been brought on by falling camera prices, better picture quality and increased capabilities of these cameras. But why SLR?

Today's digital SLRs have the best of both worlds: these cameras can morph from a full manual camera to a point-and-shoot camera with a turn of a dial. They often sport higher mega-pixel image sensors, interchangeable lenses, more on-board functionality, beefier and more durable bodies, faster shutter speeds and instantaneous response from the camera once the shutter button is pressed than standard point-and-shoot digitals.

If you're accustomed to the point-and-shoot cameras of today, there are a few things you'll probably miss with a dSLR. To accommodate interchangeable lens mounts that are backwards compatible with older lenses, to allow for larger image sensors and to mimic the feeling of traditional SLR cameras, dSLRs are generally much larger than point-and-shoot cameras. While there are many pluses for having a larger body, tourists and those hoping to stay inconspicuous may want to stay with the small confines point-and-shoot cameras.

Another drawback of dSLR cameras compared with point-and-shoot cameras is that there is no live preview on the rear screen. dSLRs lack this for two reasons: first, there is a shutter and a mirror blocking the path of light from the lens to the image sensor; secondly, more and more of today's dSLRs are using CMOS image sensors (which are less expensive to manufacture and take less energy to use compared to its CCD rival) do not offer a way of having a live preview due to the inability to map pixels into a matrix.

So while dSLRs may not be for those who need live previews or small camera bodies, their capabilities are much greater than point and shoot cameras at a price.
Source :Ezinearticles

Top 5 Tips for Buying a Digital SLR Camera

2007-03-08T07:21:00.000-08:00

Just a few short years ago picking the best digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera was a snap: there were only a few models to choose from, and they all cost well above $2,000.

Today making a similar choice is not so cut-and-dried. New manufacturers have plunged into the market and there is greater competition and a wider range of cameras being offered.

So what’s a consumer to do? Approach your digital SLR purchase as if you were buying a new car. While the costs are considerably different, the steps you should take are almost identical.

TIP #1 – Know What You Want to Photograph
A single male living in the city doesn’t need the same type of car as a soccer mom living in the suburbs. In the same fashion, not everyone needs a top-of-the-line digital SLR camera.

It’s important to decide what you want to take pictures of before you go looking for the best camera. Do you enjoy taking portraits of friends and family outdoors, or are you trying to capture your son’s indoor basketball games?

The answers to questions like this will help you focus your search for the best digital SLR camera.

TIP #2 – Understand the Jargon
When you’re buying a car, it helps to be informed. When the pushy dealer tries to sell you on a twin-cam fuel injection system you’ll be able to reject the offer only if you are REALLY sure you don’t need it.

The same thing applies to digital SLRs: before you get involved in a conversation with a camera dealer, learn about terms like ISO, anti-shake and megapixels (hint: more megapixels DO NOT increase the quality of the image) so you don’t buy more camera than you really need.

TIP #3 – Hold Some Cameras
You wouldn’t go out and buy a new car without taking it for a test drive first, would you?

A test drive is your best opportunity to see if you like the way the car handles, if there’s enough room in the interior and how easy it is to adjust the stereo when you’re doing 70 on the Interstate.

Digital SLR cameras come in a variety of shapes and sizes - since you’re going to be taking a lot of photos with it, you should get a sense of how the camera feels in your hands before you make a decision to buy.

TIP #4 – Read Reviews
You’ve done your homework and you’ve taken a test drive. Are you ready to buy the car of your dreams? Well, not quite yet.

Before you make a final commitment, you’ll probably want to read reports about how well the car fared in crash tests and whether or not there is a serious defect with the vehicle make and model.

Since digital SLRs are just small computers with lenses on the front, they are subject to the same types of malfunctions that can plague your home computer. This is not to say that most digital SLRs fall apart within months – they don’t.

But some are more temperamental than others, and the only way to find out if you’re about to buy a real lemon is to read reviews from current owners.

TIP #5 – Buy From a Reputable Dealer
This last tip is VERY important.

When buying your car, you can either go to a dealer that others have recommended or you can take your chances with that shifty individual down at the used car lot.

Digital SLR cameras fall under the heading of “home electronics” and there are plenty of sleazy companies out there looking to make a quick buck by luring you in with unbelievable prices.

If you’re doing some price comparisons and come across a company selling a camera for half of what everyone else is selling it for, don’t walk, RUN away.

This is a bait-and-switch: they hook you with a low price and then sell you a lot of accessories that you really don’t need. End result? You actually wind up paying MORE (and spending a lot of your valuable time) than you would have if you’d just purchased from a respected and reputable dealer in the first place.
Source : Ezine

Digital SLR Cameras | Should I Buy One?

2007-03-07T07:34:00.000-08:00

The price of digital SLR cameras continues to fall. It is not so long ago that these were only affordable by professional photographers. Even then it was considered a major investment to buy one. As technology has advanced allowing prices to drop you will find digital SLR cameras now being owned by an increasing number of photography enthusiasts.

As the market for digital SLR cameras has expanded this has had a knock on effect in the range of compact digital cameras that are available. We are now seeing less and less advanced compact digital cameras that have features similar to those found on an SLR. These are effectively being squeezed out of the market by the cheaper SLR cameras. This in turn forces more people to buy an SLR if they are looking for a serious camera with a wide range of features. The biggest advantage from buying a digital SLR is the improvement you are likely to see in picture quality. There are two main reasons for this. The first is the size of the sensor that sits inside the camera and captures images. A sensor inside a typical SLR is far larger than one in a compact digital camera. The second reason is the quality of lenses. Those available to add to an SLR are of a much higher standard than you will find on a standard compact digital camera. You are also likely to find higher quality components and controls in general. The combination of these features all add up to better picture quality.

Another advantage is that you can build up a system of lenses over a period of time. The beauty of SLR photography is that you can buy specialist lenses for specific tasks. For example you can buy a wide angle lens for landscape shots and a macro lens for close up work. You will find that the largest part of your investment is in the lenses rather than the camera itself. This means that if eventually you would like to upgrade your camera or buy a spare one then your lenses should also work with the new camera.

It is important that you set aside a decent budget for lenses. Buying a cheap lens will lead to a reduction in picture quality. To help keep the overall costs reasonable when you are starting out you can consider buying a kit that includes a camera and one or two lenses. Always shop around for value. You will find prices really do vary from store to store.

If you own a traditional 35mm camera then you should be able to use the lenses you already have with a new digital model. This is true as long as any camera you buy has the same lens mount as your original camera. From time to time there are some restrictions that stop older lenses from working. I would always advise you to double check the compatibility of your existing lenses with the manufacturer before purchasing your camera. This is much better than being disappointed after you have spent your money.

There is one point to look out for with existing lenses or if you are planning to buy new ones. Any lenses made for 35mm cameras will have their focal length affected by the size of the sensor on a digital SLR. This occurs because the sensor inside a digital SLR is usually smaller than 35mm. This increases the telephoto capacity when the lens is used on a digital SLR and decreases its wide angle capability. New lenses have been introduced specifically for digital SLR cameras to alleviate this issue.

The leading brands are Canon and Nikon. Other established players are Fuji and Olympus. Konica Minolta has withdrawn from the market. Later entrants are Sony and Panasonic.
Source :Ezinearticles

The New Sigma SD14: 4.7 Megapixels = 14 Megapixels?

2007-03-06T07:34:00.000-08:00

Photokina is going to be one hell of a show this year, and one of the many secrets being released and teased is that Sigma is coming out with with another DSLR, the SD14. Just from the name, DigitalDingus assumes it will be marketed as a 14MP DSLR, but will actually be a 4.7MP imager. Confusing? Yes, and the tradition continues in the world of image sensor spinning.

Preliminary Results? Pretty Good

The SD14 appears to put out some great images, just like the SD10 and the SD9 did many years ago. And this I won't really debate because how can a person debate a camera in and of itself? What is to be debated, is the way Sigma and Foveon present their cameras in relation to all the other competitors on the market. Sell Your Camera, Not Your Spin

The DSLR market is certainly competitive. The Megapixel Wars have been battling each other several years now, but why add to the problem of an already confusing consumer product by adding subjectively different terminology as well. Fuji is another company which loves to hype it's "Honeycomb" sensors. In fact, Fuji and Sigma (along with Foveon who make the imagers for Sigma's SD DSLRs) are the two companies which I really have an issue with over any other camera manufacturers.

Sigma and Foveon are still telling the consumer, there is more than one "pixel" which is absorbing light in their cameras. Not true. If this were true, the imager wouldn't be 3.34MP in the former Sigma SD10 (as in 10MP imager--3.34MPx3). With the SD14, I'm assuming Sigma and Foveon have not actually made a 14MP imager. If they did, I'd certainly revise my preview and would be congratulating both companies for taking a giant leap in technology and honesty. I still have a small grain of hope come September 26, 2006, when Sigma will announce the full details (however, I am sure we'll get a hold of the specs much earlier and post them here...as well as a gazillion other camera forums).

Why Sigma DSLR Images Look Good

Pixel. Pitch. Those two words need to be ingrained in every camera users brain. The reason why Sigma's DSLR images have looked rather good, is because the imagers have an exceptionally high pixel size (i.e., pixel pitch) which are in the same league as the Canon 1DMKII imager. Having fairly large pixels in a DSLR will consistently produce great images. In fact, the Canon 1D, only a 4.2MP DSLR, released over 5 years ago, is still used by many professionals. Why? The pixel size is 10.8µm x 10.8µm. We will discuss pixel sizes in another article, but for now, the general consensus is the larger the pixel, the better the image. The larger the bucket of water, the more water you can capture...

Resolution Does Matter In The Overall World Of Photography

While pixel size is certainly the #1 priority in my book, if your overall resolution is not in the same ballpark as your competitor's, your imager's benefits become less of a benefit. For example, Nikon has released the D200 10.2MP and D80 10.2MP DSLR. Canon has released their 13MP 5D. If the Sigma SD14 is actually 4.7MP, we have at least double the pixel count and over 25% more resolution from other competitors (we have to remember in order to get twice as much resolution, you would need four times as many pixels).

Now, Sigma and Foveon are attempting to make a claim you don't need high resolution imagers. This is somewhat confusing. Maybe Foveon just doesn't have the technological and financial resources like Canon and Nikon have to make larger imagers. It takes a lot of money to research and develop larger imagers with more resolution, while still maintaining or exceeding image quality of a comparable smaller imager. Canon has virtually endless financial resources and in-house imaging, and Nikon already has Sony making most of its imagers, so these two companies already have a formula for creating competitive DSLRs.

Regardless of a manufacturer's methods, the result has been creating an imager with more resolution. Why is it we see a few companies twisting the definitions of pixels and resolution, and duping an already-confused DSLR consumer market?

Resolution in itself is certainly not the only answer to a camera's quality. We see many compact cameras announcing higher megapixels every 6 months. Compact camera resolution and DSLR resolution are pretty much in different categories since DSLRs still have larger pixels, and the image quality, is by far much better. So please don't think I am saying resolution is better 100% of the time because in some cases, it is not. However, when you follow Nikon and Canon's image sensor technology, their images have become better over the years in parallel to more resolution. This is not easy. And it's not cheap. Which is why many camera manufacturers are not producing 10MP DSLRs currently.

Being The Oddball Sells

In today's world of consumerism, not only does popularity sell...but being the outcast as well. If you have a competitor, or a few of them, and you know darn well there is no chance to compete because you flat-out don't have the personnel or resources to compete on the same level, simply create a reverse-popularity market, and create yourself as the oddball product that is better than your competitor. Believe it or not, it works. And it works darn well. Take any popular product and do a little research on the smaller competitors. Then look at the smaller competitor's marketing strategy. More than likely, you'll see a form of "oddball advertising". And on a curious note, some major competitors even use the smaller competitors' strategies to further their market share! Overall, it's a sea of marketing disinformation and confusion.

Don't Compete With The Big Guys, Just Sell Yourself

Another point I'd like to make is if you're a manufacturer who is struggling to survive and can't compete with the big guys...don't. Don't compete with them. Just sell yourself. Just sell your product. If Foveon and Sigma would just sell their product for what it was, and not compare it to proven camera giants like Canon and Nikon, you wouldn't be reading this editorial preview article. You'd simply be reading a preview on a cool new DSLR, improving on its previous DSLR model.

Would I Recommend A Sigma DSLR?

Well, I will not debate the SD DSLRs image quality because they are darn good. If I begin to compare them to other DSLRs, the amount of lenses available, the lens technologies such as Canon and Nikon, as well as new imaging technology from Canon and Nikon, the Sigma DSLR option becomes much less significant. If you're a Foveon imager fan, then the new SD14 is certainly going to get you excited. But I would like to request if you are going to purchase a Sigma DSLR, you conduct some simple tests.

Most camera shops have displays of the latest DSLRs available and you can bring your own media card and take images, then go home and open them up in your favorite image editor. What I recommend, is waiting until the SD14 becomes available in stores, take some images with the SD14, then take some images with a Canon 20D and a Nikon D80 or D200. Take all the images home which you've shot and compare them. If the Sigma seems it's better, then I am not one to tell you, you should do anything different. Buy the SD14. But if you like the other images from the Canon or Nikon, then go in that direction as well.
Source :Ezinearticles

What Is A Compact Digital Camera?

2007-02-13T14:46:00.000-08:00

A digital camera is an electronic device that is used to capture photographs in electronic form rather than using traditional film.

The digital camera has moved the game on from just being a one use device. Digital cameras, like so many other modern devices, are multifunctional.

As well as taking still pictures digital cameras can now record sound and video in addition to taking photographs although professional digital cameras are still dedicated photographic devices. Ordinary Compact Cameras

Compact cameras used to be simple point and shoot devices that you literally pointed at the subject and pressed the shutter button. Nothing complicated, idiot proof photography.

Nowadays the compact digital camera comes in several flavours. It is a bit like mobile phones, there are so many options to choose from that it is quicker to filter out the features you don’t want, to get to the digital cameras offering the features you do.

Ultimately you can be guided by price a straightforward point and shoot digital camera can be bought for easily under £100.

Compact Cameras Plus

If your needs are more demanding then you have a very wide choice indeed. You only need to look at the ranges offered by Canon, Nikon, Fuji and Panasonic to see what has been made possible with modern electronics.

Here are some of the features a digital camera can now provide:

* 10 megapixel resolution for ultra-sharp images
* built-in 12x zoom lenses for long distance work
* eliminating camera shake that blurs your picture
* large 3 inch LCD screens for you to view your digital photos
* special models to capture pictures in very low light conditions
* Wi-fi connectivity to transmit your pictures
* video capture

A ‘prosumer’ or high end digital camera

Prosumer cameras or extended zoom cameras are usually high-end cameras that closely resemble SLR or professional cameras.

They contain some of the same features though the accent is more on the customer and are therefore known as prosumer cameras where ‘pro’ is derived from the word professional and ‘sumer’ from consumer.

Such a camera has a large optical zoom lens and is often marketed as SLR cameras though that is more out of confusion than anything else. The lens is not actually interchangeable as is usually the case with an SLR digital camera.

Digital Camera Image Storage and Viewing

A digital camera captures photographs in digital format and usually uses a flash memory card for storing and transferring still photographs that may also include a video function.

A digital camera usually has a rear LCD to view images which makes it a cinch to delete any unsuccessful pictures to save storage space on the memory card.

The quality of the image a digital camera creates is measured in megapixels. Generally the higher the figure, the better the quality of the image. Most compact cameras start at 6 megapixels resolution now which is fine for printing images up to A4 size.
Source : Ezine Articles

Selling Digital Photo Online

2007-02-07T11:20:00.000-08:00

In this article, we are going to cover 5 reasons of which you must in line be in favor interested in the sale of your digital photos. These 5 ways can look like simple and basic but they are important despite. In the end, you will be ready to begin your new trip in the world of the digital photography and to learn to sell your digital photos in line.

a. Easy to obtain it began - if you have a camera, although is not a digital camera that you can obtain begun to sell your digital photos in line. If you do not have a digital camera, you can easily make your photos digital turn to the digital format exploring them on your computer. There if you do not have the places of an explorer generally that will explore them for you.

b. Any person can do it - you do not have to be professional photographer to sell your digital photos in line. Although you have not taken your first digital photo still, you can still use this method to make cash. To discover simply what types of photos are in high demand and source they. Can be right that easy!

c. It can be done anywhere - since this becomes all route the Internet, you can anywhere take your digital photos and upload simply the any place that you can find the access of the Internet. That one is the beauty of this type of business. They do not restrict to you to certain location. For example, if you happen to be the vacations in Paris, and you they have taken the photos, you can find simply a coffee of the Internet and begin to uploading your photos.

d. High demand - the means are always looking for the news. That is what pulg distributes. Simply just they cannot be throughout in the right time. If you happen to the news of the witness, can sell your photos to the several plugs of means of the news and to benefit violently to be in the right place in the right time. What if you happen to be in a restaurant, and see the famous agents that they have snuck inside for a reserved supper, you whip outside towards your telephone of the camera, fit to pressure a picture and you could make a sum ordered of the money. Could happen hardly like that! Then you in line sell your digital photo to the bidder upper.
e. Several subjects - most of the sites that allow that Wendish your digital photos in line have diverse categories that they are looking for. This does easier to provide them with hardly what it wishes. A great example of this, is if you happen to live in Hollywood, most of the photos of the love of the site of celebrities. Your occasions to obtain those types of photos are very high, therefore your occasion to receive also ascents inside. For you can see that it is to your advantage to sell your digital photos in line. It is extremely easy to do. You do not have to be a professional. It is not restricted to as soon as a place, you can anywhere do it inside of the world. There are tons of subjects in high demand so you can really have a whole portion of diverse types of digital photos to sell in line.

See Nothing on SLR Camera

2007-02-04T21:50:00.000-08:00

The internal functions of the digital SLR are based on image sensors. These sensors take the picture prisoner, by carrying electrostatic loadings, which tighten the dust, as well as many absent-minded particles to these same sensors. Certain ranges, like dirt catches, beaches, or parks, have more dust than others. We do not have to store our SLR of the dust, if we liked to achieve continuous results, this are a simple battle to win to because dust finds different ways, within our body camera and stick to the sensor to receive. This happens, particularly if the objective is replaced, or it happens, if the sensors keep loaded - drawing into the dust. The simplest way is supposed to avoid dust by changing the objective in a clean place without dust - however she is meaningful, the camera objective in a windy not to change dusty or sandigen position. It is much better to change it within a closed area before they go for an entry thread. It can be determined, if the camera is affected by dust in a simple way. An illustration of a free blue sky or the smooth white surface shoot well lit. Entry thread without lightning, like f/16 or f/22; if the camera has a zoom, which test shots at a wide angle shoots. If the camera appears inside zoom shot, the dust Splotch like a soft Blob in place of one point. If photos, attempt are made, in order to hold the camera in one downward for angle, with changing the objective, in order to avoid dust of coming in from above to. Generally the mirror, which is regulated within the SLR, offers to protection the sensor from dust. The mirror/sensor area, the dust to accumulate can be held, should cleanly therefore, in order to avoid dust of finding its way to the sensor. If it is decided, in order to change the objective into up fan genes, try, to find a protected position. Attempts to reduce the time which is kept opened the camera, by keeping the re-installation objective ready for exchanging. Blower fan rocket Giottos is a good product to hold for for removing the dust from the camera to. Reports said that it is bright to carry, nevertheless extensively. Differently than that it is a good product. At home to clean effectively also straight cleans for a breath or two, and is, or the Studio better. The inside of your camera never with the compressed air clean, which is stored within an aerosol box. Sometimes the Propellant in the aerosol box spray a liquid, which evaporates fast, remnants after on the surface of the sensor with the result of disturbing the sensor leaving. The blower fans work on much better. The blower fan is useful, if available within the range of the arm. It helps to eliminate solid dust in a simple way and helps some photographers, who use a drawing up of software, in order to remove the particle from the illustrations to, keeps clean their cameras. Another way, accumulation of dust, in the urgencies to avoid can you with broad shoot openings shoot. This reduces the sharpness depth of the camera and negatives the effect, the dust on a picture to have can. However this should not be formed a practice, while he, if she will let its sensitivity accumulate on the sensor surface, lowers wipes off.

5 Remarkably Successful Ways for Making Money In Photography

2007-01-27T10:55:00.000-08:00

5 Remarkably Successful Ways for Making Money In Photography
By Art Turner Platinum Quality Author

If you enjoy taking pictures, you've probably wondered if there is some way you can profit financially pursuing what you love. After all, you see photos everywhere, right? In publications, on billboards, on product packages and more. And if you've ever remarked to yourself "people must get paid for those somehow", you're correct. It is possible to be making money in photography, and there are several ways to accomplish it. Keep reading for a summary of five of them.

Portrait Photography

The easiest way to start making money in photography is to set up your own portrait studio. Individuals, families, friends, and even people with their pets visit your studio either by appointment or as a walk-in, and you take photos of them. This can be a very successful plan for making money in photography, but it does take time and effort to become established. It also takes some cash. If you want to start a portrait studio, you'll need to buy or rent the space, pay the utilities for that space, and buy or rent lots of studio equipment such as photo backdrops, props, and specialty lighting.

Real Estate Photography

Another promising way of making money in photography is to take photographs of real estate. These types of photos are often used by real estate agents, brokers and home owners when they're attempting to sell their property. Sometimes you can even sell your services to insurance agencies and they will task you to take pictures of homes and property that are being covered by a new or upgraded insurance policy.

Magazine Photography

This is another common type of photography, but many people don't give it a second thought. Magazines are looking for photographers and great photographs just like they are looking for writers and great articles... and they're willing to pay for them. Some magazines negotiate small amounts for pictures while others pay $100 or more for each one.

News Photography

This way of making money in photography is a perfect option for someone living in a busy urban area, particularly if you love getting out and seeing what's going on. With this type of photography, you sell your pictures to newspapers, so the photographs must be newsworthy in some way. You can take photographs of a car accident for example, a fire or other emergency situation, or of public officials and famous people.

Product Photography

Product photography is also referred to as catalog photography, because you're usually taking photographs of products and those are most often used for sales catalogs. Sometimes businesses will hire photographers to take product photos for packaging or other marketing materials too, such as the company brochure.

As you can see, there are a variety of ways of making money in photography. Unfortunately, they are not usually as quick, simple or easy as they might first seem. In most cases you need to develop the talent and skills first, then you need to build up a reputation. You'll also need a portfolio of your photography work. Once you have these basic things, you will also have gained a good idea of what types of photography you like best, and this will help you figure out the most successful way to start making money in photography.

Source : EzineArticles

Cape Town-An Ideal Location For Stills Photography

2007-01-27T10:53:00.000-08:00

Cape Town-An Ideal Location For Stills Photography
By Sarah Manners
Fondly referred to as the Mother City, Cape Town comprises a world in one city. Its eclectic locations, wonderful climate and world class facilities are only a few of the reasons why Cape Town has become a playground for stills photographers from around the globe.

Cape Town – An International Film & Photography Hotspot
Cape Town is now a top international film and movie location, cramming an unbridled diversity of mountain peaks, sandy beaches and picturesque vineyards into film productions from around the world. Cape Town truly has it all! Commercial photography and film production in Cape Town is supported by an extensive infrastructure, boasting unmatched location diversity and a cosmopolitan community. Not to mention that favourable exchange rates certainly mean a cost-effective budget for any commercial film or stills producers! Immolating Locations around the World
Possibly one of the chief reasons Cape Town is such a popular destination for stills photography is that almost any location in the world can be immolated. From a bustling city centre or a secluded beach to a lush forest or magnificent mountain range, Cape Town has it all!

Top Photographic Locations in Cape Town
Table Mountain – Perhaps the most famous of all Cape Town attractions Table Mountain stands at a height of 1,073 metres. The flora and fauna are spectacular, as are the panoramic views of the Mother City. What more could stills photographers ask for when shooting with a backdrop like this?

The Cape Winelands – The Vineyards stretch for as far as the eye can see and are intermittently spotted with gorgeous Cape Dutch estates. Stills photography in the Cape Winelands is extremely popular as the pictures appear as if they could have been taken in any wine producing area of the world from France to Australia.

Hermanus – The best land-based whale watching destination in the world, Hermanus is a photographer’s paradise. From the masses of breaching Southern Right whales and pristine beaches to the unique vegetation of the Fernkloof Nature Reserve this could be any sleepy coastal town in the world.

Chapman’s Peak – This world renowned stretch of coastal road between Noordhoek and Hout Bay is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world and an ideal location for stills photography in Cape Town.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens – This gorgeous haven of natural flora in the middle of an urban area is a true delight for photographers. The landscaped gardens and secret pathways are excellent locations for stills.

Hout Bay Harbour – This quaint harbour is reminiscent of another era entirely. Stills photography here is popular because of the gorgeous sunsets, mountain and ocean views and antiquated fishing boats. For stills photographers’ looking for a military harbour, Simons Town Naval Base is ideal.

Blouberg Beach – Offering sublime views of Table Bay and Table Mountain this stretch of magnificent beach is extremely popular amongst local and international stills photographers. The kite surfers, playful children and dogs all add to the ambiance of the photographs taken here.

One of Cape Town's most appealing aspects for film and photographic productions is that the extremely diverse locations are mostly within a 30 minute radius of the city centre. Nestling between the blue waters of the Atlantic and the warmer surf of the Indian Ocean, the Cape Peninsula, has become a top location for film and stills photographers from around the world.

Prinz Productions is a film and stills production company based in Cape Town offering production facilitation services. Catering to a range of film and photo productions including commercials, catalogues, editorials, advertising, music videos, and the focus lies on providing a professional service to the film and photographic industries.

Source : http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Manners

Your Camera CCD Sensor Size And The Number Of Megapixels

2006-12-23T09:45:00.000-08:00

Your Camera CCD Sensor Size And The Number Of Megapixels
By Ziv Haparnas Ziv Haparnas

The digital cameras megapixels madness is very similar to the personal computer Mhz madness back in the 90s. The number of pixels a camera uses to produce a digital photo is just one element in determining the photo quality. Another important element that is usually forgotten is the sensor size. Here is why.

Digital cameras use an electronic sensor (also known as a CCD) in order to capture a digital photo. This sensor replaces the old film rolls used by traditional cameras. The electronic sensor is built from small light sensors also known as pixels. When you take a photo the camera opens the shutter for a certain amount of time. During that time light hits each individual pixel. The amount of light that hits each pixel determines its intensity (also known as the pixel value). A digital photo is comprised of many pixels each with its own pixel value.There is a direct relationship between the size of the CCD the digital camera uses, the number of megapixels it supports and the size of each pixel. For a fixed CCD size the more pixels the CCD supports the smaller each pixel is. On the other hand for a CCD with a fixed number of pixels, the larger the CCD the bigger each pixel is.

So why should you care about the pixel size? There are many reasons to care about the pixel size as it plays an important role in the overall quality of your digital photos. One reason that is very easy to understand is sensitivity to light. Assume that you are taking a photo with the shutter opened for a fixed amount of time. During that time light hits each pixel. The larger a pixel is the more light energy that it accumulates during that period of time. The result is that with larger pixels you could take photos in darker scenarios than with smaller pixels. Also – with larger pixels the amount of noise in each pixel value is reduced.

For example if you have two digital cameras both having the same number of pixels but one is using a larger CCD sensor – the camera with the larger CCD will be able to take digital photos that are sharper and with less noise. It will also be able to take digital photos in scenes that are too dark for the other camera. Higher light sensitivity also allows more flexibility with both shutter speed and aperture settings.

High end cameras like digital SLR use larger CCD than point and shoot digital pocket cameras. Why is that? The main reason is simple: cost. It costs more to manufacture a larger CCD (for reasons such as yield and other specific manufacturing processes issues). The CCD size also influences other optical attributes of the camera – for example the aperture needed in a specific scene changes as the CCD size changes. The depth of field is directly influenced by such aperture changes.

In conclusion, when buying a digital camera always remember not to get fixated on the number of pixels. Although this number is important it is not a standalone feature. If you plan to take digital photos in extreme conditions, if you do care about depth of field, aperture settings, shutter speeds and light sensitivity than you should also check the size of the CDD the camera uses among other optical parameters of the camera.

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.

The Many Advantages Offered by a Digital Camera

2006-12-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

The Many Advantages Offered by a Digital Camera
By Morgan HamiltonI can proudly say that I am a photo nut, and I love to take pictures of everything everywhere. However, I used to go through rolls and rolls of film and spent so much money on processing pictures that would end up being off center. I would also often take pictures of people with their eyes closed or with an unattractive look on their face. Fortunately, I can now take thousands of pictures without spending a lot of money on processing photos that are less than desirable with the help of a great digital camera. The advantage of having a digital camera is that you can immediately see if a picture you have taken has turned out well. You can immediately take another photo if you took a picture and saw on the screen that someone wasn’t looking at the camera. You would have to wait until the photos are processed and lose the moment if you don’t have a digital camera.

A digital camera also allows you to pick and choose which photos you would like to have processed for your photo album. This means that you don’t have to spend money on pictures that will just be thrown away. A digital camera can be expensive but you can spend a lot less money in film and film processing.

You can also take advantage of wonderful digital photo organization programs that will hold all of your digital photos on your computer. The good news is that most of these programs are free. You can download the pictures from the memory card of your camera into your computer with these programs. You can then sort through to pick which ones you would like to print and which you would like to delete completely.

You can also hold onto photos in an album format without having to print the photos out at all with these programs. Some of these programs will help you organize your digital photos by the date they were taken. This means that you can automatically have the pictures sorted by date instead of having to sort through printed pictures you have thrown into a shoebox.

Digital Camera Success Card

2006-12-23T09:21:00.000-08:00

Digital Camera Success Card
By Michael Huddleston

There are hundreds of thousands of wrecked photos and just as many hurt feelings because the photos did not turn out because of some goofy setting on the camera. When we shell out so much money for digital cameras we make some pretty dangerous assumptions about how they work. Truth is, even if you don’t change any of the settings on your new digital camera you’ll quickly discover it will operate differently in various picture taking conditions. This can be REALLY frustrating for people who just want to “take pictures.” I’ve heard the following comment so many times.

“Look, that’s the reason I bought the top of the line Canon/Sony/Kodak or whatever digital camera because the sales person said it was so sophisticated that 9 times out of 10 all I would need to do is point-and-shoot.” Or, even if there were no salespersons involved because the camera was purchased on the Internet the new owner STILL assumes point-and-shoot means just that. They quickly find out that all is not well in digital camera land.

No matter how much you pay for your new digital camera you’ll discover that it will let you down if you don’t take steps to protect yourself, and your pictures.

Here’s an example.

The other day a friend told me a story about his new digital camera, it’s a sad story.

His new digital arrived and according to all the literature the camera would do everything and he really didn’t have to worry about it. He had a large 1 Gig memory card and a battery that would pretty much let him take pictures all day. The camera was LOADED with all the new bleeding edge technologies including image stabilization, so according to the literature he could practically take beautiful pictures in the dark even without needing to use that distracting flash.

So…

He took his new digital camera to friends wedding and 90% of the wedding was outdoors and the day was slightly overcast so the lighting was perfect - he turned the flash OFF. He absolutely LOVED how the camera handled. It was perfect, it was fast, and it even looked sexy. Guests kept asking him “What kind of camera is THAT?” so he was feeling pretty good about his purchase.

Then the wedding moved indoors…

Not a problem, his new camera had image stabilization and really high ISO settings so he could continue to fire off photos without aid of the flash, he was delighted!

Everyone was so impressed with my friends photographic confidence and his sexy ultra sophisticated digital camera they ALL stopped taking pictures, mainly because he boldly told everyone he would gladly provided copies of the photos on his website.

Then he went home and made a horrible discovery…

While all the outdoor photos were PERFECT, every single indoor photo (group photos) were terrible. He was sick! :(

This is what happened…

When the wedding moved indoors it moved into a VERY dark room meaning the camera adjusted its settings to compensate. What it did was elevate the ISO settings to a point where the resulting photos were filled with digital noise and looked grainy.

Like I said, he was sick! These were all the important photos, bride with mom, cake cutting, family photos, close-ups of the bride and groom etc. etc.

After I listened to him drone on and on about this disaster he finally asked me what he could do to prevent this problem from reoccurring in the future.

I came up with the idea of the “Digital Camera Success Card”

Essentially it is a digital camera check list that you could laminate and keep with the camera. Then every time you pulled the camera out you could QUICKLY peek at the card and make sure everything was set right on the camera so you could be reasonably guaranteed of getting top notch pictures.

It’s pretty basic but it will SAVE your behind.

===============================

Battery charged?

Memory Card OK?

Camera set to auto?

Flash set to auto or on?

Inside Pictures

Dark settings - Camera works slower

Set flash to “on” not auto

Hold shutter 1/2 down wait for green light

Outside Pictures

Close-up people pictures/heavy shadows - Flash On

===============================

Ok, I admit it, it’s pretty basic, but if my friend had used this quick system to make sure everything was OK he would not have needed to be apologizing to all those people who stopped taking pictures and were counting on him.

Make it about the size of business card and laminate it so it’s protected and keep it right with the camera. Obviously you can put anything on your “Digital Camera Success Card” that you want and in my example I covered just a few of the basics.

Think for a moment though, wouldn’t this make a really cool gift for the person in your life who…

* Just bought a new digital camera
* Has a digital camera and is frustrated
* Or.. for you!

Sony DSC-P150 Cybershot Review

2006-12-11T09:47:00.000-08:00

Sony DSC-P150 Cybershot Review
By Kyle Summers

Shopping on eBay has become a bit tedious of late looking for your sony digital camera. I stumbled across this Digital Camera website and they helped me purchase my new sony DSC-P150 sony cybershot. As you probably know ebay is one of the more popular places online purchases are made for digital cameras for both canon and sony cameras.

I have been a avid photographers mostly stills and black and white but I got tired of paying lots of money for film and decided that I would go digital. Since purchasing my new sony digital camera a could not be more happy. The Sony P150 is one of the worlds smallest 7 mega pixel digital camera and is a wonderful camera heres a few specifications of the sony. I recommend buying your new sony digital camera on ebay and bargainfindsonebay made it even easier filtering hundreds of auctions and only li\sting the more relevant digital camera auction I was looking for. 1/1.8" 7.2 Megapixel Super HAD™ CCD

Super HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCDs provide excellent image quality by allowing more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise.

• 3X Optical/2X Digital/6X Total Zoom

Optical zoom helps you fill the frame with your subject for better pictures. And Sony’s Precision Digital Zoom helps bring your subject closer with an extra 2X magnification

• Live Histogram Display

Available in capture and playback the Live Histogram displays the concentration of pixels at each luminosity value making it easy to evaluate correct exposure.

• Selectable Focus Mode

Monitoring AF (Auto Focus) helps you anticipate the action by focusing even before you press the shutter release.

• Scene Selection Mode

With 9 Scene Modes, parameters can be matched to the shooting conditions. Choose from one of the following: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Soft Snap, Candle, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, or High Speed Shutter

• Pre-Flash Metering

With a momentary pre-flash, the camera illuminates the subject and sets exposure through the lens for accurate flash metering. Adjustable flash level and red-eye reduction ensure great flash shots.

• Memory Stick® Media and Memory Stick PRO™ Media from Sony

Digital. Powerful. Transportable.™ Memory Stick® media is compact, portable and rugged – connecting a variety of hardware and software applications.

• 5 Shot Burst Mode

Capture up to 5 shots (7MP fine) or up to 100 (VGA standard) at 1.1 frame/sec. even at 7 MP resolution. Perfect for high speed subjects or fast moving action such as sports

• Multi-Burst Mode

Captures 16 320 x 240 frames as part of a single 1280 x 960 image which plays back sequentially in the camera. Selectable 1/7.5, 1/15, 1/30 second.

• Conversion Lens Compatible

With VAD-PHB adaptor, you can add tele- or wide- conversion lenses for greater magnification or wider field of view, as well as protective and special effect filters.

• Cyber-shot Station™ Dock Compatible

Make transferring images and recharging the DSC-P150’s battery easier with the optional Cyber-shot Station™ camera dock. Just place the camera on the cradle for instantaneous power and computer connections.

• Rechargeable InfoLithium® Battery

Provides reliable, long-lasting power for continuous shooting, without “Memory Effect". The supplied AC-LS5 adapter/charger provides stable power for USB Transfer.

One of the most versatile sony digital camera on the market.

Stay tuned for some camera reviews by myself " Kyle Summers " your professional photography source.

Canon's D60 Digital Cameras

2006-12-11T09:41:00.000-08:00

Canon's D60 Digital Cameras
By Dorota Wysocki

Nick Muskovac, PPSA Palm Harbor, FL wrote very interesting article about Canon`s D60 digital camera. His article is inspired by individual experience and observation.

Author is active user of canon digital cameras. First one he had was Canon D 30. Comparing the canon D30 with D60 Mr. Muskovac finds than, the major difference is that the D60 has much more pixles - 6.3 million pixels which beats the D30 with 3.25 million pixels.

He emphasis that D60 is using the CMOS which draws less power and therefore the camera can shoot more pictures on one battery than most Point-and-Shoot cameras without the loss of image quality. The major specifications in Mr. Muskovacx` are:

D60 Specifications:

Type: Single Lens Reflex; 36 bit full color; CMOS direct imaging sensor

Compatible lenses: All Canon EF lenses

Lens focal length: 1.6 X indicated lens focal length

Imaging element: High sensitivity high resolution large single plate CMOS sensor

Effective sensor size: 22.7 X 15.1mm

Effective pixels: 6.29 million pixels (3072 X 2048)

Aspect ratio: 3:2

LCD monitor: TFT type color LCD monitor

Picture size: 1.8 inch

Recording method: Media--CF card (type I or II)

Formats: JPEG, RAW

Auto focus type--AF

Focusing points: 3 point (1 + 1)

AF working range: EV0.5 to EV18 (ISO 100)--This is a big improvement over the D30 with a range of EV2 to EV 18.

Focusing modes:

(1) One shot AF: AF locks when focus is achieved

(2) A1 servo AF: Tracks subject movement until the actual start of metering

(3) A1 focus AF: Automatically switches between one-shot AF mode and A1 servo AF.

(4) Manual focus: Manual focusing can be used when focusing mode switch on lens is set to manual focus (M)

Exposure control: 35-zone SPC and TTL open Metering

(1) Evaluative metering

(2) Center partial metering (approx. 9.5% of viewfinder area)

(3) Center weighted average value metering

Exposure modes:

(1) tv (time value) Shutter speed priority

(2) av (aperture value) Aperture-priority

(3) Auto depth of field priority

(4) Full Auto mode

(5) Manual mode

ISO speed range: Equivalent to 100, 200, 400, 800, 1000

Exposure compensation:

(1) AEB +/- 2 stops in 1/2 or 1/3 stop increments.

(2) Manual compensation +/- 2 stops in 1/2 or 1/3 stop increments.

Shutter type: Vertical travel focal plane shutter with all speeds controlled electronically.

Speeds: 1/4000 to 30 seconds. Bulb, and X-sync at 1/200 second.

Self-Timer: Electronically controlled, 10-second delay.

Drive modes:

(1) Single shot

(2) Continuous

(3) Self-timer (10 sec)

Number of continuous images:

Approximately 3 images/second; In One Shot AF mode at 1/250 second or faster, to a maximum of 8 images.

Built-in flash type:

Retractable E-TTL autoflash and auto popup flash.

Guide No. 39 at ISO 100 (ft.)

Recycling time: approximately 3 seconds.

Power Supply: operates from one BP-511 Battery Pack (lithium ion battery)

Number of images that can be taken with a fully charged battery:

540 (50% flash, normal temp.)

Camera Body

Flash contacts:

(1) Accessory shoe: X-sync contacts

(2) Sync terminal (with locking thread) on lower corner of camera body.

External flash system compatibility: Compatible with E-TTL auto sync.

In my opinion, the D60 camera's most valuable specification and feature is, that it will take all of Canon's EF (auto focus) lenses.

This was a very important consideration for me since I already own Canon EOS equipment and the following EF lenses:

20mm 2.8 28-135 IS 4.5/5.6
100mm 2.8 macro 75-300 IS 5.6
70-200mm2.8 100-400 IS 5.6 300mm 2.8
Putting the camera in action he took few shots and analyzed the quality of the pictures. He used the Canon 100mm 2.8 macro lens. Then he explains “Its focal length is 160 mm when mounted on the D60, an ideal macro lens. I use a twin macro flash, which I have been using for years with my EOS 1N. I shoot in the manual mode with this flash, using the guide number to gauge the distance. The shutter speed of the camera is set to 1/200 sec. I vary the f-stop depending on the distance of the butterfly from the imaginary film plane. The f-stop is generally varied between f16 and f25. When the distance to the subject exceeds 1 1/2 feet, I change the ISO setting from ISO100 to ISO200 instead of opening up the aperture. In this manner I could still use a small aperture value and maintain a good depth of field. With the D60 and 6.3 million pixels, I was able to make a very good 10 X 15 inch print using the largest jpeg image storage mode. Figure 1 shows a Coolie Butterfly taken at ISO200, 1/200 sec, f22, and a distance of about 2 feet”.

When he used evaluative metering on the snowy egrets against a green background, the egrets were overexposed. Then he concludes that “the same is true to a lesser extent when using Center Partial Metering and Center Weighted Average. To get the proper exposure on the White Egrets, an exposure compensation of -2/3 to -1 stop was used in the evaluative metering mode. I shoot most all my pictures using the evaluative metering mode”.

He pays attention to file numbering systems. We may choose from: (1)Continuous. (2) Auto reset. In the Continuous mode the numbering is continuous between cards. Then he points that Canon software assigns the folder numbers. The image number in each successive folder picks up where the previous folder left off, thereby providing consecutive numbering of images. The time/date is also permanently stored with each image file. Convenient storage functions allows to place Images in folders in groups of 100.

In the Auto reset mode the number resets to 0001 each time you insert a new card.

The D60 image numbering system only goes to 9900. It would have been nice to allow for 100,000 images. Heavy shooters will shoot more than 10,000 images in a year.

Here is an example of how the folder and image numbers work:

Folder Image Range

CANON100 IMG_0001 to IMG_0100
CANON101 IMG_0101 to IMG_0200
CANON102 IMG_0201 to IMG_0300
CANON198 IMG_9801 to IMG_9900
CANON200 IMG_0001 to IMG_0100
CANON201 IMG_0101 to IMG_0200
By keeping images in different folders, duplicate image file names can be identified and then renamed if necessary.

The D60's has nice 1.8 inch TFT color LCD monitor, It allows us to review your images right away.

Important is his comment about the battery life Usualy with 50% flash use and review mode on, he usually can perform between 350 and 400 images on one fully charged battery. He concludes “Reviewing the images does use a significant amount of battery power”.

According to the author following features of the D60 that I consider important:

1. D60 can use all Canon EF lenses.

2. Changing ISO settings in mid-roll.

3. Review your picture :immediately after making the exposure.

4. Having a built in 1.6 X extender.

5. Shooting 3 images per second and up to eight continuous images.

He gives the D60 a good grade. Most of all he is impressed with the image quality. According to him “the camera has interchangeable Electronic Focus lens capability, and multiplies your long lenses by a factor of 1.6X. Overall it looks that the D60 is a great camera

What is a Digital Camera?

2006-11-30T10:39:00.001-08:00

What is a Digital Camera?
By Ian Brookes

A digital camera is an electronic device used to capture and store photographs electronically instead of using photographic film like conventional cameras. It uses a digital sensor to capture the light instead of traditional film. The LCD on the back of a digital camera is your on screen guide to altering the settings before a shoot and reviewing the results afterwards.
The big advantage of digital cameras is that, unlike film, you can reuse the storage media over and over again at no extra cost.

Bearing this in mind you can quickly delete unwanted images and take more photographs as you go along. Also making photos is both inexpensive and fast because there is no film processing needed for obtaining prints.

The range of digital cameras is immense, and provides an equally large span of capabilities and functionalities. The main tip for using digital cameras is don't be afraid, read the manual and just experiment.

One of the main ways that manufacturers categorize their digital cameras is in terms of pixel count, ranging from low end consumer cameras around 3.1mp (mega pixels) up to 10mp or more in professional cameras. If you plan on printing 8 x 10-inch prints, a 5 megapixel digital camera is more than enough.

When you've had a digital camera for a long time, you'll learn enough to experiment with your digital photos online. Almost any digital camera is capable of taking pictures for display on the internet, or for sending across the internet as email and uploading to online galleries such as Webshots and Flickr.

One thing to be aware of is how many many pictures the camera can take with one set of batteries. Can the batteries be recharged, can I use normal AAs or does it need a lithium battery with its own charger?

Digital photos and advice at: http://www.roundtheworldtrips.info

Digital Cameras – Quality vs Size

2006-11-30T10:39:00.000-08:00

Digital Cameras – Quality vs Size
By Sara Wells

When looking to purchase a new digital camera there is always the debate between size and quality within the range of your budget. No matter what the budget, the choice will have to be made between a smaller size, more portable camera and a higher resolution camera with more features. Making the choice between the two is simply a matter off considering what the camera’s purpose.Digital camera users who plan to use a camera for simple point-and-shoot purposes will want to focus their budget on a small, portable camera. These individuals are most likely using their camera to document travels, family events, and personal experiences for their own memory. The photos don’t need to be or a super high resolution because they will not be blown up to poster size, but will remain 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 in a frame on the mantel. It is important to consider that when size is traded for quality, while the photos will be higher quality, users may be less inclined to take photos as the size of the camera becomes a hindrance to taking it along for the fun.

Photographers who are more interested in the end product will want to sacrifice size for a higher resolution camera or one with more features and/or accessories. The bulkier high-resolution cameras or digital SLRs will be the better choice for users who are taking artistic or professional photographs. Even the amateur artist, will want to invest in quality over size to produce the kind of photos that can be enlarged to show detail. Cameras used for professional shots, whether to be displayed in a portfolio, brochure or website, will also need to be of higher quality, and it will be worth hefting the extra weight to get the higher-end photos.

Knowing the type of photographer you are, will help you make the right choice in cameras. When you have an idea of what characteristics are most important to you, take the time to shop, read the reviews, and compare the various cameras in your price range.

Sara Wells is a successful writer for CameraPieces.com. She provides information and details on cameras and accessories on her website.

What Digital SLR Photography Is All About

2006-11-25T12:51:00.000-08:00

What Digital SLR Photography Is All About
by: Low Jeremy

The cameras of the past did not have that much clarity or depth. Even with the development of the lens which allows the user to focus in on images, this did not yet make photographers completely satisfied after a take.

Fortunately, the digital age has brought about the creation of the SLR camera. This single reflex unit allows the user to produce quality images from pressing the button till it comes out when it has been developed. The SLR is quite expensive. One unit costs about $5,000 and upgrading the lens to reach farther will be another expense. This is probably why many advise to have this insured in case this gets lost or damaged.

Here are some of the known brands of SLR camera’s worth checking out in the market.

1. The first is the Nikon D2x digicam. Though its features are almost the same like others in the market, it comes with a GPS recorder so that the person can remember when and where it was taken so this can be done again.

The pictures can be downloaded to a laptop so the pictures can be printed or developed in the store.

2. Another great SLR camera is the Canon EOS-1DS Mark 2 Digicam. This model enables the person to shoot in any environment. This has better shots per second than the first one mentioned which is great for shooting moving objects.

3. The Kodak DCS Pro is another camera worth checking out. This lightweight model can use Nikon accessories and lenses to be able to get those shots that other units cant.

These units are just one of many that are available in the market. The price of each are not that far apart so it will really depend on how comfortable the user is. Some hobbyists have used one brand for a number of years and decided to stick to it.

In order to keep these in good condition, the owner must also know how to properly store or clean these items. The cover must always be placed on the lens when not in use and should be wiped after each use.

Some people who are not happy with the cover can use a filter which is better protection from dirt, fingerprints or crashes.

A lot of stores usually sell the SLR camera with a bag but others usually buy a bigger one to hold other equipment and accessories.

The digital SLR camera is one innovation that is here to say. Though it may hurt the pocket in getting one, the shots taken will be rewarding.

About The Author
This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on photography & other useful information, please visit http://photography.articlekeep.com.

Digital SLR Photography - How To Take Stunning, Lively And Ravishing Pictures

2006-11-25T12:50:00.000-08:00

Digital SLR Photography - How To Take Stunning, Lively And Ravishing Pictures
by: Connie Fillmore

Photography is digital SLR photography, at least to any self-respecting photographer. Suggest otherwise, and he is sure to give you a piece of his mind and proceed to praise the virtues of digital SLR photography.

Digital SLR photography uses a digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera that uses a movable mirror placed between the lens and the film to project the image on to a focusing screen. Digital SLR photography churns out the most amazingly realistic photographs, in fact much better than the ones turned out by the conventional fixed lens cameras. But its prime appeal to photographers, both amateur and professional, is in the fact that he can work out a large amount of control over how his pictures end up as.

Digital SLR photography is all about customized photographs that are stunning to look at, to say the least. This is because the cameras come with extremely good lenses. This is why the discerning photographers are not miserly about getting a lens, frightfully expensive they may be.

However, digital SLR photography enthusiasts should never think that a swanky Nikon or a Canon is the passport to great photography. The apparatus notwithstanding, good photography depends a lot on the skills of the person brandishing the camera. The basics of digital SLR photography are not hard to pick up.

The first and foremost tip about digital SLR photography is to equip yourself with the nitty-gritty of lighting. If you are shooting outdoors during the day it is best to have the sun directly behind you. It is also essential that your subject also does not have to face the sun so that he has to squint. You should know that the best time to film landscapes, buildings and outdoor portraits is either dawn or the twilight hours.

If you want to impart the warmth of the rising or setting sun to your midday photo shoot, then a skylight or a warm filter is your key.

Tips to great digital SLR photography insist on maintaining control over the camera's flash property. To be precise, don't have your camera have the last word about where the flash should come on. Take the reins yourself and ensure that your photograph subjects are not lost in a maze of bright light.

Good photography, digital or analog, SLR or otherwise, is all about being able to use the filters right. You never know when that polarizer or the gradual filter or the skylight/UV filter might come to your rescue at times when the light situations are tricky.

The Macro Mode atop the camera just happens to be the most underrated and under-used feature. But unknown to many, this mode is great for taking enchanting close-ups of tiny objects.

Realistic and stunning digital photography is actually the norm with plethora of controls that come with modern day digital SLR cameras. And photography tips harp on tinkering with the controls to get a hang of the controls and the outcomes they produce.

Experimenting for instance, with really slow (30 seconds) extremely fast (1000th-8000th/second) shutter speeds can produce dramatic results. The ISO setting is another area for experimentation. In fact, high ISO values come in quite handy when you cannot use a flash in low light situations.

Get well up on your digital SLR photography tips and tricks and shoot at sight willingly.

About The Author
Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to http://www.digitalphotographyguy.com.

How To Click It Right With The Best Digital Photography Camera

2006-11-23T08:52:00.002-08:00

How To Click It Right With The Best Digital Photography Camera
by: Connie Fillmore

The digital photography camera has ushered in an absolute revolution in the world of photography. With its excess of futuristic features, the digital photography camera has also brought in considerable cost reduction of photography. No wonder, people are flocking to digital camera stores.

To elaborate, digital cameras make for easy storage and editing of pictures on the PC, you cut back on film costs with the reusable memory cards and innovative features like sound and video recording. Photography just had quite an interesting makeover. Delving into the intricacies of the entire digital camera mechanism is worthwhile so that the salesman doesn't lead you up the garden path with tall claims. And being well up on the features of your digital camera will also give you food to brag.

The first thing to know about your digital camera is the kind of CCD (Charged Couple Device) you have. This fancy-sounding device is actually the be-all and end-all of your photography unit and the pixel count in them is what that determines how good your snap is going to be.

It is also vital to know what pixels count to opt for. Anything upwards of 3-Megapixels is good for prints of 8 x 10 inches or larger, of course, the more the merrier. But if your requirement is minute 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 photos for the Web, then 1 or 2-megapixel camera will suffice admirably. On the other hand, nothing less than 5-megapixels should be on your minds if you plan to have prints of your digital stuff.

The Zoom feature is closer to your digital camera than any other feature. Optical zoom refers to the camera's capacity to magnify a subject. This zooming in or zooming out takes place within the lens itself and it is visible from the lens advancing and retracting just like the conventional film camera. This is one feature, which is best when you have it in plenty.

There are many who would swoop on a digital camera lured by its pixel count and optical zoom capacities. But the power consumption of a camera is also worth taking a peek into, for there are cameras with voracious appetites for batteries and you could well end up spending a fortune on them. So when you are buying a digital camera, ensure that it works on rechargeable batteries. A charger included in the package is a great buying option.

Stacking up on the memory card is a good idea if you are the traveling kind. A CompactFlash memory card, offering a lot of storage sizes ranging from 16MB to 1GB and greater compatibility with a large number of makes, is definitely a popular choice.

LCD monitors come in a variety of sizes and resolutions, besides the captivating ones that bend and twist at impossible angles. What you will go for of course depends on the kind of work you will be doing with the camera. If you are involved in on-site architectural work and it is shooting around angles that you are aiming at, then a moveable LCD is the one to go for. But the primary thing to take care of is that you don't have to peer too hard to make out what is on the screen.

These are the basic things that you look out for when purchasing a digital photography camera. Things when gone awry will virtually render your camera quite inefficient. There are certain other features of a digital photography camera that when present in the right dosage, make for some excellent photography sessions.

Scene modes, for instance. Having a choice helps, especially when you have not yet familiarized yourself with the intricacies of exposure, focus and shutter speeds.

A Red-eye reduction feature is quite a handy mechanism to have around when you shoot a lot of portraits. If red-eye is much of a bother, then opt for a camera with a hot-shoe connection, that is one that facilitates the installation of an external flash. A flash that is away from the lens reduces the incidence of red-eyes.

Be well up on the internal mechanism of a digital photography camera and enjoy your tryst with it.

About The Author
Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to http://www.digitalphotographyguy.com.

Digital Cameras- Which One To Buy?

2006-11-23T08:52:00.001-08:00

Digital Cameras- Which One To Buy?
by: Philip Russell

Make sure you know what you need from a digital camera before you buy!

You might be thinking about making the leap from a regular camera to a digital one but are unsure of what you need. This article should be able to clear up some of the finer points to help you make the best possible purchase for your money and needs. First, when looking at digital cameras, think about what you really want out of it. Do you want to save time and money on developing costs? You will definitely benefit with just about any digital camera on the market here.

Second, you may or may not know that digital cameras are the best way to go for most any household. The range of features available make a digital camera very cost effective and more than likely you can find the exact type of camera for your needs.

If you are not the best photographer and often end up getting back your developed pictures to find out that you have cut the head off your Aunt Mary, then relax, the digital camera is here to help. For this type of photographer, you will want a camera with a wide screen on the back. This way you see what you are taking a picture of and the best part about it is that you can see the picture seconds later instead of waiting until they are developed, which saves time and money.

If you were looking to print out your pictures to hang on the wall or send to relatives then you would want a digital camera with a high resolution. This is especially important if you tend to have your pictures enlarged.

On the other hand, if you tend to share picture by viewing them on your computer or only on the web, then you really don’t need to be concerned with buying a high resolution camera.

The Macro Feature would be something to look for in a digital camera if you tend to take close up pictures or love to shoot pictures of bugs, coins, or very small objects.

Another consideration is if you are going to be taking pictures of high speed objects or at sporting events. Then you would want to look for a fast burst rate. In addition if you are taking many pictures at night then you would be looking for ISO equivalents or sensitivity settings.

There are many factors in buying a digital camera and like so many events that take place in life, there seems to be a digital camera to match. Read up on the camera that you are considering buying before making the purchase. You just might save yourself some headaches by doing a little research before you buy.

About The Author
Philip is a logistic consultant and owner of http://www.discount-tech.com where you can find the best quality and price for wholesale electronics sold to the individual or company.

What You Need To Know When Buying A Digital Camera

2006-11-23T08:52:00.000-08:00

What You Need To Know When Buying A Digital Camera
by: Luke Cameron

If you are not technologically aware then purchasing a digital camera could be a difficult task for you. With so many options and features provided by different companies on various models, it is not easy to select the best. The best way out is to refer to the Consumer Reports provided about each and every product in the market so that you can judge the worth of the product. Just a little research before purchasing a digital camera could help you more than you can imagine. Trust me, this is the best approach one should follow as I myself is the sufferer because I didn’t followed this procedure when I purchased the digital camera. What I always thought was that you don’t need to be technologically aware to purchase such things, just select the mid priced product and be happy. But believe me that am not true.

The digital camera I purchased from a discount bargain store was of a local company. How foolish I was as I couldn’t differentiate between a digital camera and grocery items. Never ever purchase a digital camera from such stores. But I had purchased the digital camera so I had to use it.

On the very first day I realized that it was very difficult to use that piece of scrap. It was a complete user-unfriendly device as its shutter speed was very slow, around a picture in four seconds that nearly annoyed me and not to mention the time I had to spend to learn to use that weird object. To add on the problems even the initial picture required two second delay that confused me when to press the button and when not. Moreover, an anti-red-eye flash always appeared before the actual flash thus creating the problem. I can’t express the problem I faced to photograph even the still objects and adults with this digital camera.

Next time when I was out to purchase a camera what I did was exactly the right approach. Firstly, I did a complete research on the different models available of various companies and at what price. I also reviewed the customer reports on many digital cameras. Then I visited a studio and consulted the professional photographer before purchasing the camera. It was then I got the camera of my dreams, the perfect technological machine.

About The Author
Luke Cameron is owner of Gadgets Booth. - an online magazine offering news, tips and articles on Gadgets. His website can be found at: http://www.gadgetsbooth.com and http://www.technologybooth.com.

5 Materials and Technologies That Just Might Eliminate Digital Camera Shutter Delay

2006-11-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

5 Materials and Technologies That Just Might Eliminate Digital Camera Shutter Delay
by: John Young

Bob pushed the shutter release button and…NOTHING HAPPENED. The football passed into his son's hands and the actual photo he took was one of a cheerleader's pom-pom. Bob missed the touchdown too. He resisted an insane urge to slam the camera to the ground and jump on it. This was his first digital camera, and Bob had just experienced an unpleasant surprise. He had used film cameras all his life, but when his Yashica went into the shop a friend loaned him a digital camera. He naively decided to take some action shots and discovered the most maddening "feature" of digital cameras – the shutter delay.

MADDENING AND FRUSTRATING

Articles on this subject have attributed shutter delay to:

1. The camera's focus system

2. The time it takes the camera to digitally process the image

3. Reaction time of the photographer

Numbers one and three are lag times that most people using digital cameras are accustomed to. Most have used a film camera and know it needs a few milliseconds to focus.

The no-brainer solution is to reduce the aperture of the lens to increase depth of field, or aim the camera at the object you wish to be in focus and depress the shutter button half way in order to "tell" the camera what to focus on, then move the camera to center the image and depress it the rest of the way.

As far as human reaction time, well, it hasn't really changed much for users of film cameras, and people experienced in taking action shots usually get what they want.

So let's look at number 2, the time it takes to process the picture.

TIME TO DO THE PROCESSING

Processing the picture (so the camera can be ready for the next one) comes in several steps to move it from the image sensor to flash card storage:

1. Color corrections. The camera has to examine each and every Charge Couple Device (CCD) element on the photo sensor. It adds green, blue, and red to achieve the right color balance. For a 3 mega pixel camera, the processor has to make 9 million calculations.

2. Sharpening. This boosts the contrast by detecting and sharpening edges.

3. Compression. This process converts the 12 to 14 bits of each CCD sensor to 16 bits by "padding" the information and compressing it to 8 bits. This compresses the file size to 9 megabytes.

These steps require a tremendous amount of computational time. No wonder Bob missed his shot!

CATCHING THE ACTION

There are two ways of capturing action:

1. The "consecutive mode". If the camera has this mode, you can take a series of rapid shots moving through the event. This requires a camera with a large ‘buffer" to hold photos for processing.

2. Anticipating shots by depressing and holding down the shutter release prior to the event. This requires an ability to predict the future, something most of us don't possess.

THE FUTURE OF FASTER SHOOTING

Obviously this would all be simplified if micro processing were faster. Even with large buffers, the speed in which data is transmitted to the processor is prohibited by the rate at which data is conveyed from the CCD. Micro processing speed is the next bottleneck.

Faster clock rates and data transfer speeds would reduce or even eliminate "shutter lag" time. There are several technologies in the wings that offer hope:

1. Nanotube and nanowire technologies. These are both the offspring of "nanotechnology", the ability to make tiny machines at the "nano" level, a billionth of a meter in size rather than a millionth of a meter (micrometer) and offer hope for a 500 GHz clock rate or more.

2. DNA Yes, you heard me right. Computing based on DNA strands in which information is stored and processed.

3. Other materials

• Gallium Arsenide with much a faster speed has been used for years for military purposes.

• Silicon-Germanium chips increase the transfer of light signals to silicon. These traditionally have worked best at ultra cold temperatures, but many computer simulations have shown that they may be made to approach 1000 GHz (1 THz) at room temperature.

• Indium-antimonide. Much faster than silicon

•Optical transistors. A glass material known as chalcogenide becomes a switch as its refracting properties are changed. No need to translate those photons into anything else.

• Coated Viruses. The latest research involves coating viruses with a conducting material. Much higher speeds at the molecular level can be obtained. This will give a new meaning to the term "computer virus".

4. Parallel Processing As we've noticed lately with the war between Intel and AMD over the number of parallel processors crammed into a CPU, digital camera processing would benefit from parallel processors handling the focussing, sharpening and squeezing.

In addition, improvement in instructional efficiency by reducing the lines of code would make the whole process more efficient.

HOLD ON AND WAIT FOR THE FUTURE

The REAL solution to this maddening shutter delay appears to be in the material the processor is constructed of, as well as advancements in the software.

But we've got awhile to wait for it. Although a few alternate materials have been around for awhile, everything else is still in the research and development phase. Even when it finally trickles out of the labs, it will probably make your future digital camera cost around $10000 - $15000.

Quite a price tag for the ability to take pictures as fast as a film camera! Still…

Except for the lag, the digital camera has it all over film cameras, once the photo is captured by the memory card. The new technology will be worth the wait.

Digital camera owners are known for their ability to wait…as they desperately punch the shutter release trying to grab the fleeting smile of their new baby, or the football that lands in his hands eighteen years later, when he scores the winning touchdown.

About The Author
John Young is a writer and editor with a technical background living in California with his wife and cat Bear. Take a look at his new ezine “The Digital Zone” at http://www.pcreveal.com/digitalcamera.

Digital Cameras- Which One To Buy?

2006-11-22T10:25:00.001-08:00

Decision Made On What Sort Of Digital Camera You Want

2006-11-22T10:25:00.000-08:00

Decision Made On What Sort Of Digital Camera You Want
by: Allison Thompson

You have now decided to go a head and purchase a digital camera, but like many other electronic devices available to consumers now days the digital camera is changing all the time. You may find that for the same amount of money you would have spent a few months ago on a camera you will now get one with more and more features such as megapixels, storage space and zoom facilities. This article will hopefully provide you with a few hints and tips on what you should be looking for and how to choose the best camera for you. There are a number things that you will need to consider when making this all important purchase. Firstly you need to work out how much you are willing to spend, some can cost from as little as ten dollars to ones that will cost a thousand dollars or more. You will also need to decide what you will be using the camera for as well as how much you are going to spend. The best way of solving this is by writing down a few simple questions such as will I be using it to take family pictures? Will it be used to take photographs of the landscape? Will I be traveling a lot? Will I need it for taking lots of flash photography? By having these questions in mind it will make your choice of camera easier.

Now that you have decided on how much you want to spend and what it will be used for you can look at a range of potential cameras that fit in to your criteria and build up a list of the ones you are interested in and include details such as price and the features that each one has to offer.

Below I provide a list of features with a short explanation that should be included when you are making up a list of features for the cameras that you are interested in.

Firstly there are Megapixels. Many cameras now come with an ever increasing number of megapixels and many people ask if the more megapixels a camera has is better. Having more megapixels all really depends on whether your are going to print photographs (especially enlargements) or you want to zoom in and crop the fine detail out of large photographs. Or is it just that you want to look at them on your computer and may be occasionally print of a few small prints. I would suggest that you look at using a 2 megapixel camera for the latter as you will find that most computer screens have a resolution of 1024x768 which even when viewing a photograph on a full screen which equates to less than 1 megapixel. Even a photograph (4x6) printed off will have a DPI higher than 300 which will be more than enough to produce a high quality print.

However, if you plan to print enlargements of your photographs then you need to look at the different print sizes and what megapixels are required to produce high quality prints. The table provided below shows you the photograph size and the megapixel required.

Photo Size - Megapixel
4x6 - 2
5x7 - 3
8x10 - 7
11x14 - 14
16x20 - 28
20x30 - 54

However, if money is no object where the purchase of your camera is concerned then the more megapixels you have may out weigh other features that could be available to you. For example should you spend money on the extra megapixels or a better lense, or an external flash unit? Really, it all depends on how you camera will be used. So remember to decide what your camera will be used for and make the decision on what is more important to you based on this.

Next is the Zoom feature. In some cases it is very handy to have the use of a good quality zoom on your camera, especially say when you want to take a good quality portrait photo where the object/person’s face fills the complete photo frame, whilst when taking a photo of a group of people you want to make sure that everybody is in it.

You will find that there are two types of zoon now available, optical and digital. The optical zoom works by physically moving the cameras lense and changing the focal length of the picture. By changing the focal length you are able to make objects or subjects appear bigger than they are and that will fit the full photo frame. Whilst a digital zoom works by using built in software in the camera to clearly define a certain section of the photo that you are interested in taking. Then once this has been chosen the software inside will remove the rest of the photo surrounding the area and will then enlarge the chosen section and this will fit into a complete photo frame. Unfortunately the one downside of using a digital zoom is that the quality of the enlarged photo is less than that of the original photo taken.

So in conclusion if you are serious about taking photographs and not just to use it for taking those all important holiday snaps I would suggest you opt for the optical zoom and from a practical point of view a digital zoom should not be considered as a zoom lense at all.

However you need to be careful when looking at a camera you are thinking of buying as not always do the manufacturers stipulate whether the zoom figure specified is actually optical or digital. It can become quite confusing for those people who do not understand the difference between these two. So for example if a camera says it supports a 5X optical zoom and 10X digital zoom then is being advertised as a “10X zoom camera” you can see how the confusion can arise. A 10X digital zoom can be done to any camera just by using some simple PC software.

Once you have compared different cameras zooms then always compare their optical zoom capabilities as well. Really you can totally ignore the digital zoom figures that you will be provided with.

About The Author
Allison Thompson who lives in Spain and is a work at home mum has set up a site with her husband Mark that is specifically tailored to the needs of those interested in digital photography. If you would like to learn more then please visit http://www.photoreport.info.

How To Master Digital Photography Basics

2006-11-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

How To Master Digital Photography Basics
by: Connie Fillmore

With the advent of digital cameras, the cost of photography has plummeted considerably, with the result that there has been a surge of interest in the field. Greenhorns in this area however, need not fret. Sharpening up on your digital photography skills is easy, provided you have the basics at the tip of your tongues, or is it, at the tip of your lenses! Mastering the basics of digital photography, first and foremost involves knowing all about pixels and resolutions. These are the parameters that have a direct bearing, and quite a lion's share on the quality of the images being generated. The more the pixel count, the better the resolution or clarity of the picture and the better it turns out when enlarged. So it is obvious that the fastidious photographers prefer robust pixel values. However, with the market flooded with digital cameras of various makes, you can hope for a good bargain. Let us discuss a few basics of digital photography.

Zoom And Tele Lenses

Going digital has also meant that you can click away merrily at anything and everything under the sun. This will only help you get well up on the nitty-gritty of the zoom modes. The Optical Zoom of a camera is worth tinkering with. The "Telephoto" mode makes your subject appear larger while the "Wide Angle" mode is all about cramming a lot of a scene into your picture and hence the elements of the picture appear smaller.

Focusing

Toying with the controls of your digital camera is a good way of getting a hang about the different picture modes and hence be able to put them to good use. For instance, instead of relying on the instruction manual, see for yourself that the Portrait Mode actually sharpens your subject and de-focuses the background. For those who are not yet comfortable with the exposure, focus and flash parameters can take the help of the Auto Mode in the awkward initial stages.

Lighting

There is no such thing as a photography gene. Good photographers weave magic with their cameras, but this magic is all about getting the lighting and flash issues straightened in their photographs. Shooting in the early morning light is advisable if you want to avoid the harsh glare of the midday sun and in case of night photography, filming during the twilight hours or just as the moon is rising gives you the best results. You should not shoot with the sun directly in front of the lens.

Using the Flash

The flash is quite a lure for the novice photographer but results are not always satisfactory. This is because improper use of the flash function leads to the marring of good photos. In fact, the flash really leads to underexposure, and thus ungainly shadows in night photography. While you are using this feature, inch closer to your subject and thus make sure that all the areas of the picture are equally lighted up.

Shutter Speed

The shutter speed is one area that many newcomers to digital photography is quite oblivious to. But you will be amazed at the dramatic results that mere varying the speeds can bring about. The rule of thumb: fast shutter speeds "freeze" the action, while slow values will result in a blur. Slow shutter speed also let more light enter into the camera, so this is an option worth considering when you need to shoot in low light conditions.

The basics of digital photography are not hard to master. And being well versed in them will help you capture reality in all its essence.

About The Author
Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to http://www.digitalphotographyguy.com.

Digital Photography Tip - Which One To Follow

2006-11-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

Digital Photography Tip - Which One To Follow
by: Connie Fillmore

Itching to churn out photographic masterpieces? Then a digital camera is a handy and inexpensive aide to your photography cruises. Digital cameras combine a range of features to ensure that you capture the scenes and moments of life in all their stunning reality. But to expound a popular myth, a frightfully expensive digital camera is not a guarantee to skillful digital photography. Remember the phrase about the sloppy workman who always blamed his tools! Let the tips on digital photography come to your rescue.

Tempting Tips to Dazzling Digital Photography
Seasoned digital photographers are unanimous on one thing: they honed their photography skills mostly by tinkering with the camera and taking a whole lot of trash shots in the beginning. Thus after you have acquired your camera, fiddle with it to your heart's content and snap at anything and everything under the sun. Tips to increase your digital photography proficiency levels include the following:

- Flip through the instructor's manual and know your camera by heart. In particular, be aware of its potentials and limitations. For instance, most digital cameras come equipped with different scene modes to complement varying settings. A thorough knowledge about them will help you to come up with the optimum results.

- Pack in a sizeable memory card into your camera. This will enable you to shoot at the camera's highest resolution and come up with top-notch pictures. Also think of the logic, if you have paid through your nose to get a 8-megapixel camera why on earth should you be stingy about making it go all the way only for want of a voluminous memory card.

- Most tenderfoots with the digital camera have a hard time with keeping the camera still while shooting. The result is pictures where the Leaning Tower of Pisa looks upright while all other towers look inclined and about to topple over. This is especially true when these amateur photographers are using their LCD for composing the photos. The best way to counter this is to take multiple shots with varying angles of a single scene. One is bound to turn out right. Practice will make you perfect.

- For acquainting yourself with the basics of lightning, you do not need to attend workshops and seminars. Just remember that if the sun is behind the subject, the photograph will turn out to be a silhouette and if you intend to capture the shot with the subject facing the sun, be prepared for narrowed eyes and a little bit unnatural looking photograph. An interesting variation would be rim lighting, wherein you can have the sun light up the hair of the subject from a side.

- Let not your flash shots be only flashes in the pan! Make it a habit to take good and discernible photographs in the flash mode and for this you need to stand a bit close to your subject when using the fill flash outdoors (most in-built flashes have a range of 10-feet or less). This way you can ensure an even exposure all the elements in the scene.

- Explore the Macro Mode and add a new, exhilarating dimension to your photographs. But as you maneuver this mode, it is important to remember that you are dealing with very shallow field depths. So focus on the part of the object that you deem most significant and let the remaining parts go soft. Sit back and marvel at the result!

- Be an actual part of the picture you are taking. And for this you need to use the self-timer on the camera, which just happens to be the most slightly used feature of a digital camera. A self-timer is also a great way of ensuring that there is no jerking of the camera while you zero in on the correct exposure parameter.

- Don't always go by the settings that come with the camera. You will be missing out on a lot of exciting and visually appealing openings. For instance, the white balance setting is usually "auto", but try adjusting it to "cloudy" when taking shots out in the sun. You will be amazed by the results, more precisely, the warm tones of the image. This is because the "auto" white balance mode leans on the "cool" side.

The road to National Geographic status photography is not easy. But these tips on digital photography will just give the impression that you have arrived on the scene.

About The Author
Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to http://www.digitalphotographyguy.com.

How To Manage Digital Photography Lighting

2006-11-19T23:49:00.000-08:00

How To Manage Digital Photography Lighting
by: Connie Fillmore

Photography blends science with art. The photographer is the artist who engraves his creation with light and shade. Science has gifted the artist a technically advanced digital camera for him to captivate life with it. But he must know to decipher the codes of light

And, Let There Be Light...

Natural light sources like the sun and the moon are considered the best light sources. These lights often invade indoors and make natural shots come alive. Men have created artificial lights like the ordinary bulb, the tungsten halogen lamp or the bright photoflood.

There are various types of lighting, the photographer can employ. The most common is the Directional lighting provided by flash, tungsten or several sources and can be used from the front, back or side.

Front lighting is the most in vogue but it reveals every detail. The light is at the back of the photographer beaming at the face of the subject highlighting every detail. This often results in an unexciting and flat look of your subjects. Another technique is to mystify your subject by lighting up from side. The main illumination from side adds interest and vigor with presence of dark shadows.

In Back lighting the source light remains in the rear of the subject shining in the face of the camera. So, you must be very careful while using this mode otherwise the subject will appear like a silhouette. The main advantage here is, you will be able to capture the natural expressions of your subject in an outdoor shoot, as he will not squint facing bright light.

You can employ Cross lighting where strong directional light comes from both sides. But this method is only suitable for studios with bright flash or tungsten lights.

Lighting For Digital Photography

Digital cameras may offer a wide range of easy lighting modes but there are challenges for the artist in his path to perfection. You must adopt the trial and error method and acquire the knowledge of lighting.

Most digital cameras have preset digital photography lighting modes or 'scenes' for different lighting situation. There is the indoor mode to click without flash, which is particularly useful in art galleries or museums, the night and portrait mode allows you to take pictures of your subject with a gleaming backdrop at night using a slower shutter speed.

The digital cameras provide an automatic setting for white balancing .You can determine the baseline white in your image against which, other colors will be rendered. Your camera may have a histogram to evaluate exposure in different digital photography conditions. Most cameras have various options like daylight, cloudy, tungsten and more.

What Is Auxillary Lighting?

If you want to create art using light and shadow, the Flash unit alone is not enough. Here, auxiliary lighting comes in. If you decide to shoot portraits or product shots in a studio then auxiliary lighting is not optional but necessary.

For great results use head and kicker lights. Flashlights do not generate heat like floods and spots, so are more suited for portraits. Make sure the flash suits your digital camera. If you want to shoot still shots or product shots, continuous tungsten light is the cheapest and best. A range of wattage bulbs and reflectors will help you control the intensity and direction of light too.

If you don't have money you can rent lights. Top studios have various assortments of flash units, flood and spotlights.

How to use light

Light is made up of all colors. If seen through a prism it bursts into different colors. You are free to experiment with the rainbow. Artificial lights have their own characteristics. The photographer can utilize different light sources. You can alter white setting for a different effect. Most digital cameras have color setting modes to achieve accuracy of the colors.

Direction of light is important in digital photography. People look best in diffused sidelights and backlight produces a halo effect while overhead lighting produces sharp contrast of light and shadows. Strength of light is also an essential factor. You can have placid effect from diffused lighting and sharpness from strong light.

Indoor lighting gives you ample scope to shoot nice pictures. You can assemble light as per your choice and can even harness sunlight when it enters your house to soften your image.

Outdoor shots are more challenging. It leaves you at the mercy of Mother Nature. While landscape looks good in soft light, the wildlife is captivating with fine details in bright light. So photographers try to capture wildlife just before dusk or before dawn.

In digital cameras, you do not need to worry about ISO film speed. Most digital cameras have preset ISO setting. However, experimentation is the perfect way to curb imperfection. So inflame your imagination and hone your skill. You are ready to enter the luminous empire of photography.

About The Author
Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to http://www.digitalphotographyguy.com.

Basic Skills In Digital Photography

2006-11-19T23:41:00.002-08:00

Basic Skills In Digital Photography
by: Low Jeremy

Photography blends science with art. The photographer is the artist who engraves his creation with light and shade. Science has gifted the artist a technically advanced digital camera for him to captivate life with it. But he must know to decipher the codes of light

And, Let There Be Light...

Natural light sources like the sun and the moon are considered the best light sources. These lights often invade indoors and make natural shots come alive. Men have created artificial lights like the ordinary bulb, the tungsten halogen lamp or the bright photoflood.

There are various types of lighting, the photographer can employ. The most common is the Directional lighting provided by flash, tungsten or several sources and can be used from the front, back or side.

Front lighting is the most in vogue but it reveals every detail. The light is at the back of the photographer beaming at the face of the subject highlighting every detail. This often results in an unexciting and flat look of your subjects. Another technique is to mystify your subject by lighting up from side. The main illumination from side adds interest and vigor with presence of dark shadows.

In Back lighting the source light remains in the rear of the subject shining in the face of the camera. So, you must be very careful while using this mode otherwise the subject will appear like a silhouette. The main advantage here is, you will be able to capture the natural expressions of your subject in an outdoor shoot, as he will not squint facing bright light.

You can employ Cross lighting where strong directional light comes from both sides. But this method is only suitable for studios with bright flash or tungsten lights.

Lighting For Digital Photography

Digital cameras may offer a wide range of easy lighting modes but there are challenges for the artist in his path to perfection. You must adopt the trial and error method and acquire the knowledge of lighting.

Most digital cameras have preset digital photography lighting modes or 'scenes' for different lighting situation. There is the indoor mode to click without flash, which is particularly useful in art galleries or museums, the night and portrait mode allows you to take pictures of your subject with a gleaming backdrop at night using a slower shutter speed.

The digital cameras provide an automatic setting for white balancing .You can determine the baseline white in your image against which, other colors will be rendered. Your camera may have a histogram to evaluate exposure in different digital photography conditions. Most cameras have various options like daylight, cloudy, tungsten and more.

What Is Auxillary Lighting?

If you want to create art using light and shadow, the Flash unit alone is not enough. Here, auxiliary lighting comes in. If you decide to shoot portraits or product shots in a studio then auxiliary lighting is not optional but necessary.

For great results use head and kicker lights. Flashlights do not generate heat like floods and spots, so are more suited for portraits. Make sure the flash suits your digital camera. If you want to shoot still shots or product shots, continuous tungsten light is the cheapest and best. A range of wattage bulbs and reflectors will help you control the intensity and direction of light too.

If you don't have money you can rent lights. Top studios have various assortments of flash units, flood and spotlights.

How to use light

Light is made up of all colors. If seen through a prism it bursts into different colors. You are free to experiment with the rainbow. Artificial lights have their own characteristics. The photographer can utilize different light sources. You can alter white setting for a different effect. Most digital cameras have color setting modes to achieve accuracy of the colors.

Direction of light is important in digital photography. People look best in diffused sidelights and backlight produces a halo effect while overhead lighting produces sharp contrast of light and shadows. Strength of light is also an essential factor. You can have placid effect from diffused lighting and sharpness from strong light.

Indoor lighting gives you ample scope to shoot nice pictures. You can assemble light as per your choice and can even harness sunlight when it enters your house to soften your image.

Outdoor shots are more challenging. It leaves you at the mercy of Mother Nature. While landscape looks good in soft light, the wildlife is captivating with fine details in bright light. So photographers try to capture wildlife just before dusk or before dawn.

In digital cameras, you do not need to worry about ISO film speed. Most digital cameras have preset ISO setting. However, experimentation is the perfect way to curb imperfection. So inflame your imagination and hone your skill. You are ready to enter the luminous empire of photography.

About The Author
Connie Fillmore is a successful writer and publisher of photography related issues, for more informative articles go to http://www.digitalphotographyguy.com.

Underwater Photography

2006-11-18T01:56:00.000-08:00

Underwater Photography
By Nicholas Tan

The two main factors, which affect the quality of photographs taken underwater in the waters of Malaysia, are the location and the time of the year. As most of the diving sites encounter a large amount of residue, which enters the sea from fresh water sources during the raining season, the water’s visibility is reduced substantially. However, as a result of this too, the amount of marine life present in the area tends to be abundant!

Taking into consideration of conditions of the reef and the availability of marine life in the waters of Malaysia, it is advisable to take shots of the smaller-sized animals. Some of the best sites in Malaysia for taking clear shots of marine life would be the islands of Layang-Layang, Mabul, Kapalai and Sipadan.

By using a manually adjustable digital camera, which also has the function of ‘Underwater’ picture, divers are able to take underwater shots which relative ease. In this case, the camera self-adjusts and compensates the blue of the water with additional yellow or white hue. Of course, the best would be to bring along two cameras so that nothing is missed!

Personally, I use the Canon A540 (which I think is an exceptional camera - value for money with loads of features). And to top it all, of course I use an underwater housing for it (the WP-DC2). Excellent photos!

www.divingpleasures.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicholas_Tan

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2006-11-17T09:46:00.000-08:00

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