Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera New Item, Available for pre-order

 

Cinema Magic now available for Pre Order

 

The Blackmagic Cinema Camera from Blackmagic Design brings to film makers a tool that many have waited for. Recording to a 2.5K image sensor, the camera is capable of recording 12-bit RAW DNG files, as well as ProRes and DNxHD formats to built-in removable SSD drives (not included), while delivering 13 stops of dynamic range. And it does so at a previously unheard of price point.

The camera is housed in an elegant, minimalist enclosure, crafted from a single block of aluminum. It can be used hand held or mounted on industry standard hardware. The lens mount accepts Canon EF and Zeiss ZE lenses, and the LCD touchscreen provides monitoring, plus the ability for the user to add metadata such as shot number, filenames and keywords.

To handle the high data video output, the company includes a full version of DaVinci Resolve, its premier color correcting software for Mac and Windows. Also included is a copy of UltraScope. When connected to a computer via Thunderbolt, the software provides technically accurate waveform monitoring, displaying six live scope views on a single monitor.

Since everything has been designed to provide high quality acquisition, the camera is perfect for independent film, television commercials and episodic television production, all places where image quality is paramount. And being affordable, it will also find its way into wedding, sporting event and music video capture.

Kodak Museum at Jeopardy since the Bankruptcy

By RICHARD B. WOODWARD

Visitors to the George Eastman House in Rochester, N.Y., over the past decade could not help noticing that the museum-in-a-mansion, the world’s largest repository for all matters photographic, was struggling to keep up appearances. Everything about the former home of the man who introduced photography for the masses—from the mismatched furniture in the offices, to the sun-bleached curtains in the living room, to the grimly lighted café for visitors—seemed to convey an air of making do with less.

Upkeep and improvements won’t be any easier now that the house’s longtime benefactor, Eastman Kodak, has sought bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11. That everyone associated with the museum in recent years had seen this day coming, as digital technology conquered the photography and film market, has not softened the shock. For the first time since being chartered in 1947, the George Eastman House will have to get along without financial support from the company that has been its foundation.

George Eastman House
George Eastman’s 1905 mansion, part of the museum since 1947.

Anthony Bannon, the museum’s director over the last 15 years, tried to be both upbeat and realistic. “It’s not grave but it’s still serious,” he said by phone the day before a recent trustees’ meeting. “If we had not reached out and established connections with other donors and institutions in the last couple of decades, the situation would be far worse.”

To meet its projected budget of $8.6 million for 2012, the George Eastman House must now raise approximately $200,000, the amount that Kodak contributed annually to 2010 and 2011 operations. That is about 2.3% of the total budget, not an insurmountable shortfall for many institutions but still a hardship in a region with a shaky economic base and blighted by a recession.

For all concerned the new dispensation will take some getting used to. Throughout much of the museum’s history, it and Kodak have seemed to be one and the same. Established as the George Eastman Museum of Photography (and more properly called the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film), the museum is situated in Eastman’s palatial 50-room former home among 10.5 acres of lawn and gardens.

A succession of directors have brought together an array of materials that reflected the mind-set of its tutelary spirit. George Eastman was an inventor, businessman, collector and pillar of Rochester whose strategies promoted the growth of cinema as well as photography. The philosophy of the George Eastman House, allied to but different from that of an art museum, has been to preserve artifacts relating to the machinery and processes of photographic media, along with the images this technology produced. The archives include, for example, some 25,000 cameras and four million film stills along with 3,500 daguerreotypes and major holdings of prints by Lewis Hine, Edward Steichen and Ansel Adams.

“Scrambling to preserve the world’s largest repository for all things photographic.”

Financing over the decades has come in large part from the company that Eastman founded in 1889 and built into a dominant force in photography and film for more than half a century. In 1976, Kodak still commanded 90% of the film market.

In the museum’s early years, Kodak was “far and away the major donor,” Mr. Bannon said. And that largesse continued for more than two decades. But as Fujifilm and other rivals began to eat into Kodak’s profits during the 1970s, support from the corporation, at least for operating costs, began to steeply decline. In 1979 the Kodak gift was about $1 million, about half what it had been a decade before.

As a percentage of its annual budget, this sum was still substantial. In 1989 Kodak’s donation paid for 23.8% of operations, not counting what was given in restricted grants for special exhibitions and projects. (It provided, for instance, $17 million of the $30 million the museum raised for a capital improvement campaign in the mid-1980s.) By 1999 Kodak’s annual gift was $500,000, or 9.3% of the operating budget.

In the past few years, as the photographic world has turned almost completely digital, that share of the operating budget has dwindled to less than 3%. During this time the George Eastman House has been forced to broaden its base of support. Although Kodak has remained the largest single donor, other new contributors have included the Louis B. Mayer Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. In 2000 the museum forged a partnership with the International Center for Photography in New York so that they might work together on exhibitions to highlight the George Eastman House’s rich collections and capitalize on ICP’s location in New York City. This arrangement contributes nothing to the George Eastman House’s costs of maintaining itself or expanding, however, and funds for buying new work have been conspicuously lacking.

“We’re a museum based in collections,” Mr. Bannon said. “We must continue to collect or we fail.”

The past few years have seen a steady flow of donations, if not of purchases. In 2010 the museum received three large gifts: Kodak bequeathed its archives and materials for the Coloramas, those colossal photographic advertisements for the company’s film products that once rose above the main hall in Grand Central Terminal; James Ivory of Merchant-Ivory Productions donated the prints and original negatives from 40 films, including “A Room With a View,” “Howard’s End” and “The Remains of the Day”; and Technicolor Corp., which pioneered the color process in movies, handed over its archives. These materials, dating from 1914 to 1974, include cameras, research drawings on the three-strip process, beakers from laboratories and negatives for “The Wizard of Oz” and “Gone With the Wind.” Where all of this will go and how its organization will be paid for has yet to be determined.

“A museum director is always running scenarios and contingencies,” said Mr. Bannon, who is 69 years old and scheduled to retire in July. “Of course, I worry how we will continue to fulfill our strategic plan for this year. But I’m an optimist.”

His successor, not yet named, will now have a vast and unique collection to oversee along with a new and permanent hole in the budget. The institution that invented film and photography conservation may be in need of some conservation of its own.

Mr. Woodward is an arts critic in New York.

“Who Wants To Learn How To Use Their DSLR To Create Amazing, Unique, and Artistic Photographs Like The Ones On This Page?”

An open letter to anybody wanting to take better photographs today:

Read on to discover…

“How To Start Taking Amazing Photos Like
The Ones On This Page In The Next 20 Minutes
Even If You Don’t Have An Expensive Camera
And Can’t Take Pictures To Save Your Life…”

Believe it or not, you don’t have to own super expensive equipment or be some kind of camera wiz to take high quality camera shots like these…

… but all those hotdog pro photographers out there will NEVER reveal their secrets to you…

… so I’m about to do it for you.

Don’t take my word for that though – here’s what just one person had to say:

If you’ve ever wanted to:

Take breathtaking special effects shots with just your regular camera…
Finally know how to create “light painting” images that are simply
out of this world
Improve your “regular” photography skills and take better photos immediately…
Then you need to keep reading because everything’s going to be revealed on this page…

… and here’s the best part:

Because of the practical shortcut secrets you’re about to find out, you’ll quickly be able to skip the “amateur photographer” stage that usually takes years to get past… and you’ll be a much better photographer from the very next time you take a shot.

From: Evan Sharboneau

Dear Photographer,

Here’s the deal -

If you want to be able to take the really cool photos – those crazy special effects images others just can’t figure out – what I’m about to share with you will blow your mind…

… in fact, you’ll probably be a little annoyed that nobody told you this stuff before.

You see, there are a handful of simple, easy techniques that can totally transform how you use and view your camera – and they’re so quick to grasp, they’ll make a difference for you the very next time you snap a picture.

Trouble is, the ranks of highly paid professionals out there don’t like to share.

So up until now, the only alternative has been to take expensive college or evening courses, and buy a ton of pricey equipment.

And I don’t know about you, but I don’t have thousands of dollars to throw at new cameras, lights, and to enroll in courses.

So I learned the hard way.

You see, I’m an obsessive photographer.

I’m one of those guys who constantly takes pictures. I drive people crazy, always snapping something. You know?

And I like to experiment – always have.

Trouble was, I wanted to take all these cool shots, and I had all these great ideas… but I didn’t know how to get started… and I didn’t think I had all the specialist equipment I’d need…

… so I had to experiment.

I Had No Choice – I Didn’t Have
Money To Burn, So I HAD To Figure
Out This Stuff On A Shoestring

And I did it, through necessity. I’m passionate about this stuff, and I couldn’t rest until I could get the kinds of pictures I wanted to get.

Ever hang around at Flickr.com?

I wanted to be able to do some of the photography tricks I saw people doing there. All those cool visual effects, that out of this world stuff – I needed to know how it was done.

And I guess you could say I got a little obsessive – but that’s okay. Photography is my passion, and if you’ve been bitten by the bug, you’ll know what it feels like to have that burning need to get just the right shot.

Eventually, all the crazy experimentation started to pay off. My photography buddies started asking how I was taking my pictures, what techniques, what equipment…

… and I’d be creating crazy images like this just using my plain old digital camera, while everybody was assuming I was using Photoshop.

And eventually, I was getting so many people asking me how I did all this stuff, that I put together a simple guide revealing everything.

Thousands of people all over the world have downloaded the guide, and used it to finally get the shots they want…

… and I’ve just updated it, and released the second edition.

Introducing:

Trick Photography & Special Effects 2nd Edition – Your complete instructional guide on taking breathtaking special effects shots and cool images your friends won’t believe…

It comes with 295 pages of instruction, 9 hours of how-to video tutorials, and contains over 300 creative photographs created by some of the most talented photographic artists around the world.

It’s time for you to skip the months and years of being one of those enthusiast photographers – you know those poor guys who read all the magazines but doesn’t have enough time to invest in getting the skills he really wants…

… you’ll be skipping past that stage totally, and getting right to the point where you’re an accomplished photographer, taking pictures that blow everybody away.

You see, I’m impatient.

I’ve got no time for that kind of learning. So I’m going to teach you the exact same shortcuts I used to become a skilled, effective photographer in no time flat.

You’re going to be jumping over all the frustrations and difficulty, all the mystery of not knowing where to start, and instead getting right to the point where you can easily take the kinds of shots you’ve been dying to take your whole life.

You know what I mean, shots like this:

In Trick Photography and Special Effects, you’re going to be shown my hardcore, best kept secrets for taking spectacular photos that have to be seen to be believed.

… things like:

How to use stunning photography tricks that other people simply won’t even understand – they’ll think you’ve spent hours with Photoshop, but in reality they’re just regular photos…
How to use laser pens, flashlights, and other household items to get spectacular visual effects

How moron-simple tweaks to your digital camera settings can let you take amazing shots that would usually need a hyper-expensive camera setup
How to capture infra-red light with your DSLR to create impactful images with surreal color

How to capture beautiful High Dynamic Range nature or landscape shots…
pictures like this:

How to shoot and edit amazing 360 degree panoramic shots like these…

The secret behind stitching multiple light paintings together to create pseudo digital art:

How to put “the invisible man” into your pictures

How to tweak the color settings in your camera to make things “pop” in just the right way.
How to freeze motion and take crystal clear high-speed photographs just like this one:

Cool perspective tricks you can do right now, in camera, with no special tools or software needed – know how to point n shoot? That’s all you’ll need
How to take 3D images with your camera right now – no expensive software needed, and you can grab great 3d images immediately…
How to capture amazing “star trail” long exposure shots like this

The simple 30 second tweak you can make to your camera to let you take excellent photos every time… I’ll show you in plain English exactly how to do it, and it really does take no more than 30 seconds.
Why your computer scanner is the key to some of the coolest, wackiest pictures you’ve ever seen – and no, I’m not talking about scanning them
This amazing guide will show you exactly how to break through the ranks of “ordinary” photographers and become the person who takes shots that amaze everybody.

And if you’re thinking it’s all about buying a ton of different lenses and then memorizing a million different camera settings and a bunch of other dry stuff like that…

… Wouldn’t You Rather Skip All That
& Get Results Immediately, With
The Equipment You Already Have?

Chances are, the camera and everything you already have is enough for some excellent shots.

BUT…

… I’ll talk you through exactly what you should get if you want to upgrade, and why.

AND THEN…

… I’ll show you how to put together some of your own stuff that will let you create some of the most amazing pictures you’ve ever seen.

That’s what I designed this guide for – to let regular people take amazing photographs by handing them the photography tricks and backdoor secrets to get it done without all that fancy equipment and a Visual Arts degree.

For example, you’ll see how you can use a simple piece of household cleaning equipment and a basic entry-level DSLR to create this awesome image:

In fact, your photos are going to be so amazing (starting just a few minutes from now), people flat out won’t believe you took them, until they see it with their own eyes.

For example, you’ll see exactly how one tiny tweak to your camera can generate oustanding images like this:

And That’s All Great, But There’s One
Other Thing You Must Know…

As well as showing you exactly how to make great “light painting” images like this,

and tons of other cool pictures like these…

… I’m also going to show you how to use Adobe® Photoshop® software to improve your shots and create visual effects that are simply out of this world…

I’m talking about super-cool images like these:

Right Now You’re Probably Thinking
It Sounds Great, But You Don’t Have Photoshop,
& Don’t Want To Pay Out $700 For It Too

Well, don’t worry – not all the tricks inside the course require Photoshop, in fact many of them don’t require it at all! Even so, I’ll show you how to get it for cheap at the beginning of the e-book, and also show you a free alternative that literally doesn’t cost a penny at all.
Pretty cool huh?

This guide is going to totally revolutionize the way you take photos, starting today, and you’ll discover Photoshop and photography tricks that are going to stay with you for the rest of your life…

… and sometimes, learning this stuff can actually improve your life for good, like it has for so many others. Here are a few e-mails I’ve received from people who have read the e-book:

Bottom line, if you’re a real shutterbug, or even if you just a have a passing interest, this amazing guide will show you how to take killer shots like the ones on this page, and you’ll be able to start just minutes from now, because it’s available by instant download, no matter what time it is.

“Evan, That’s Exactly What I
Need, But How Much Is It?”

Great question – and the honest answer is MUCH less than you’re thinking.

Before we get into the specifics of that though, I want you to know this is a 100% risk free deal.

In fact, I’m so sure this is going to transform the way you take pictures forever, that I’m going to GUARANTEE it happens for you the very next time you take a picture – even if that’s 5 minutes from now.

AND – it doesn’t stop there, because you get to try it for 8 whole weeks before you decide if it’s for you – check out the details below:

Your 1 Photo Improvement Guarantee:

That guarantee really does make this a completely ZERO risk deal for you… and I’ve made sure the price is an absolute rock-bottom bargain too.

You see, I like photography. It’s my obsession, my number one way to spend time.

And I think everybody should have the freedom to take the kinds of pictures they want to take… and it shouldn’t rely on you having some kind of expensive degree, or fancy equipment.

So I’ve made this as low-priced as possible…

… because I really do want it to be affordable to anybody.

Photography shouldn’t be about spending thousands of dollars on education and gear… it should be about fun, expression, and capturing your imagination.

So if you go ahead and order right now, you’ll get lifetime access for just $97.

That’s all it is – just $97 to be taking better pictures a few minutes from now.

That’s not an exaggeration by the way – the moment your order is processed, you get immediate access to the member’s area, where you can download the guide and watch the videos online right away – even if it’s 2am on a Sunday morning.

Here’s what to do now:

Go grab a credit card, and hit the Add To Cart button below. You’ll be taken to your 100% secure order page (I use Clickbank to process the payments with their world-class 128 bit security encryption to make sure everything is safe).

The moment your order is placed, you’ll be transferred directly to your member’s area, where you can download the guide immediately. By this time tomorrow, you’ll be a better photographer.

So go ahead, and do it right now:

That’s not all – if you go ahead and download Trick Photography & Special Effects right now, I’ll also throw in this amazing bonus kit for you at no extra cost!

This super-valuable bonus kit of photography tips and tricks mini-ebooks is going to show you all the stuff you need to know on becoming a photographer that knows what they are doing in the field, being able to operate their camera in full manual mode.

You’ll discover:
The easy methods for understanding and using all those settings on your camera – things like aperture, depth of field and bokeh, shutter speed, ISO, focusing, white balance, how to get the sharpest photo possible, various accessories you can get for your camera, etc.
Advice on flashes and how how to use them to beautifully light up your subject.
Advice and recommendations for filters and Photoshop plug-ins.
How to market stock photographs and art photographs in order to sell them for profit.
And much, much more… you’ll finally understand exactly how to use every aspect of your camera… and how to make money from the pictures you take…

… but you only get this bonus if you move right now!

I’m not kidding – this really is available right now, for FREE, when you download your copy of Trick Photography & Special Effects…

If you’re still reading and haven’t jumped on this crazy bargain yet, there’s something pretty important you should know.

Right now, you’re at a crossroads.

You’ve got two paths to choose from – each one will affect how your life is from here on out.

In one direction you’ll close this page, probably forget you ever saw it, keep taking those same old mundane pictures, and wishing you could do better.

OR – you can choose the other direction…

… the one where you hit that button right now and jump on this bargain while you still can.

And things change for you right away. From the very next photo you take, things are better… and you can finally get those images you always wanted… those super-cool shots like these:

But it all depends on you making the right choice now…

… so do it – hit the button below and grab your future with both hands.

If you’re still reading, think about this.

How much have you spent on photography books and magazines over the years?

How much would a college degree or some other course cost you?

A ton of money, right? Thousands of dollars.

Well, I’m offering you the chance to be able to take the pictures you really want, but at a fraction of that cost.

Just a painless one off payment of $97 to totally change the way you take pictures forever.

Make sense, doesn’t it?

Go ahead and hit the button right now – and remember, I’m reserving the right to pull this off the market at any time, so if you don’t grab it now, you may never get the chance again.

To your photographic success,

-Evan Sharboneau

P.S.- Don’t forget, I’m covering you with a pretty amazing guarantee here – download this guide right now, learn all the photography tricks, and if you don’t think you’re a better photographer by the very next time you take a picture, I don’t want your money, so you’ll get every penny back with no arguments…

P.P.S.- Be honest – wouldn’t you like those mindblowing skills that would let you take out of this world pictures like these:

Of course you would. So hit the button below:

Contact | Affiliates | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | PhotoExtremist.com

All images have been used with permission or are protected by a Creative Commons License. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT ENDORSED OR SPONSORED BY ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED, PUBLISHER OF Adobe® Photoshop® software. CLICKBANK® is a registered trademark of Click Sales, Inc. and used by permission. Evan Sharboneau is not an authorized agent or representative of Click Sales, Inc. Click Sales, Inc. has not reviewed, approved or endorsed Trick Photography and Special Effects, or any claim, statement or opinion made by Evan Sharboneau. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Any trademarks, service marks, personal names or product names are assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are used only for reference. There is no implied sponsorship, affiliation, certification, approval, or endorsement if we use one of these terms.

How to Pick A Commercial Photographer

Author: Neil admas

There is a lot to consider when it comes to choosing a commercial photographer. However, with so many to choose from these days, how do you narrow down your search? Recommendations are always handy but there are plenty of other things to consider

 

 

before making that choice. Here are a few tips to help you select the right commercial photographer:

What’s the job?

There are many different styles of commercial photography so one of the first steps is to make sure you choose a commercial photographer who is best suited to the job. For example, a nature photographer may not be the best choice to shoot your products as they could use different camera equipment and may not work out of a studio – Mother Nature provides that for them! Most commercial photographers nowadays will specialise in particular or similar styles of photography and their techniques may vary. For example a food photographer could also do product photography but it’s unlikely their skills will stretch to more niche styles such as sport or street photography.

Check out their portfolio of work

Have a look through the photographer’s portfolio of work to see if their style matches your needs. Some commercial photographers might rely on a contemporary or rather edgy style, while others are more traditional. This is particularly relevant in wedding photography, but also in the commercial world. If your brand is associated with traditional family values, then perhaps that edgy style is not going to represent your brand the best.

Go and meet with them

You’ve narrowed down your selection so now it’s time to speak to the photographer. Go and meet them at their studio so you discuss your needs and see whether the photographer can accommodate them. It helps to go in with some clear ideas so you can set some parameters for the photographer to work within, but also listen to their recommendations and find out if they work for you. Also make sure you check out their studio and the equipment they use to ensure they have the right resources available for your job such as lighting, space and even props. For instance, if its straight product shots you’re after make sure the photographer uses an infinity cove, which has no edges or corners, as a background, as this will help to keep down any post editing costs.

Discuss your budget

Once you are happy the photographer offers you what you want, now it’s time to have the discussion about fees. Know what your budget is and let the photographer know this right up front. Determine what the costs will cover such as the image photography rights, editing, location, hiring of props & any additional camera equipment as well as the overall length of the shoot. This should all be covered in the contract between you and the photographer.

Above maintain open and regular contact with your commercial photographer so they can really understand your needs. By building a strong rapport with each other this should lead to a more successful photography shoot.

Neil Adams is a commercial photographer and Managing Director of Powerhouse, a UK creative commercial photography company based in Leeds, UK.

Take Better Digital Jewelry Photography

1) Use a tripod

I well made and balanced tripod is an investment. Spend as much as you can, the Oben line found at B&HPhoto are affiliate partner has complete collection of all the major brands of tripods. They carry every type of tripod and accessory. One that I found very interesting is with an arm that goes completely over the set if needed is the Oben line. It has to be rock solid, if you find that you have to tighten down the locks too much you tripod is not for the camera. Snug and it should lock.

2) Focus your camera

In order to ensure your images are sharp, make sure you know how to focus your camera make sure it’s on manual focus thus giving you the sweet spot to focus on. You don’t want the servo motors trying to focus on it thinks is the important part. Once you have composed the image the lighting begins.

3) Put your camera in manual mode

Manuel mode allows you too pick the aperture and speed depending on what you’re shooting. Shoot in Raw not Jpeg. You want to have all the color information a raw file can give you. Afterwards in post you can make the adjustment. I use Lightroom for all my post correction

4) Use soft lighting

You never want to use the cameras on camera flash. This gives a harsh light with shadows, no contrast. Yoou can use a cube or a softbak to bring on top and from the sides you can use reflector cars to bring out small details. EZcube, Cubelite, or use a soft box.

5) Use image editing software

The seasoned pro uses Photoshop, the workforce for the industry, most of the post production can be done in Lightroom then all applied changes and exported as a tiff or jpeg (although I don’t recommend using jpeg’s)

When you see a professional jewelry shot take place there is an enormous amount of time and experience to make the product look like a million bucks as they say.

6) If you are the type to print in-house

For those that have installed a color calibration system you’re ahead of the pack. Once you have your monitor, printer, and paper all in sync your results will be perfect. Giving a client a rock solid calibrated file along with the printout saves them money and you become an added value vendor(although I hate the term vendor)  What are your thoughts?

 

 

 

Digital Photography Made Easy

Today, digital photography is considered the most popular not only in the business industry but also for personal use. For all those who have shifted from film cameras, it is vital that you know the different terms related to it.

The first part of the digital photography tutorial will focus on the basic parts and terms you need to know before handling a digital camera. Below are the common terms used in digital photography:

1.    Pixel- means the tiniest part of the digital photo. A photo image is composed of combined millions of pixel.
2.    Resolution- the over all quantity of pixels in a photo. Increasing the resolution would make the image become sharper. Thus more pixels are needed to achieve a better photo image quality.
3.    Mega pixel- a photo composed of three to four mega pixels will have a better quality that a photo with only one mega pixel.
4.    Dots Per Inch (DPI) – this term is used to describe quality of the computer monitor and printer. Specifically, laser printers have more dpi resolution than monitors. Hence, higher the dpi resolution means better quality.
5.    JPEG (joint photographic experts group) – it correspond to the format for saving images in the digital camera.
6.    Memory Card- this is where the digital files are stored. Memory cards consist of different sizes and capacity. A memory card with higher storage capacity would be more convenient to purchase.
7.    LCD (liquid crystal display) – almost all digital cameras have this specification. The purpose of LCD is for the photographer to be able to view the scene first before capturing the photo.

Now that you already understand the first part of the digital photography tutorial, the second part will discuss basically on correct handling of digital camera.

Proper handling of digital camera is the next important step in digital photography. This is because the success of a digital photographer depends on his output. And the key to achieve quality photos starts in the way you use and handle the digital camera.

Learning how a digital camera works, understanding the strategies in taking photos, and how to take indoor and outdoor pictures are all part of the things a beginner should learn.

Below is the second part of the digital photography tutorial. These are good ideas to help beginner master the secrets of taking photos.

1.    Pay attention to the subject

One of the most fundamental digital photography tips. You should be able to compose carefully by working on the frame. Play with your camera, and explore the different shots. Avoid positioning your object at the center of the photo, as it may result to dead center image.

2.    Capture Close Up Photos

Take great images by capturing them in extreme close up. Close up photos add a little creativity and excitement to the photos. In addition, this feature is only of the different ways to enhance you photo.

3.    Use a tripod

Oftentimes digital cameras results to blurry photographs if your hands quiver a little. Getting a tripod will surely save your effort from taking low quality photos, and preserve otherwise great photos.

4.    Be active

Try creative shots. Take photos from the top of a hill, or off the side of a yacht. Go outside and explore your environment. You’ll surely have fun taking those once in a lifetime photo shots.

5.    Join a photography class

Your learning doesn’t only focus on the practical part. You must not only learn through your experience. Learning from an expert would also help to improve your skills as a photographer. Try to join a photography class in your community, or if there are online classes you can log on.

Becoming a professional digital photographer really takes time. You just have to be resourceful and keep on trying new techniques. Start by learning the digital photography tutorial because this will serve as a stepping stone for your future career growth.

Let’s Get Digital: SLR Photography Basics

Nowadays, according to psychologists, more and more people are getting visually inclined. In other words, most of us love to use our eyes!

In what ways do we use our eyes for?

We use our eyes to view things in our environment. However, through time, man has devised ways on how to preserve the things we see, whether these are beautiful or not, and one of which is by way of using cameras.

These days, the biggest sellers in the camera market are the so-called digital SLR cameras.

Just what is an SLR camera?

SLR is an acronym for Single Lens Reflex. SLR cameras were the tools made for and used by professional photographers. Cameras such as these, similarly, make use of mirror that reflects light entering the lens up into the eye piece or the viewfinder. Thus, a photographer can gauge how the image or picture will look like. Moreover, a SLR camera uses lenses that are interchangeable. Hence, this camera can be used for long distance telephoto photography or close-up macro photography.

A digital SLR or DSLR camera is dependent on lenses and mirror and their optical capabilities. However a DSLR camera uses light sensor chips and digital memory cards instead of films, basically a computerized version of the abovementioned camera.

The following summarizes the comparison between DSLR and point and shoot cameras (SLRs):

1.    DSLRs and SLRs use interchangeable lenses for better resolution.
2.    Any picture you take using SLRs and DSLRs is usually crisper, cleaner and fine upon reproduction.
3.    DSLRs have a higher speed when it comes to focusing and taking pictures
4.    DSLRs perform better at low lighting conditions by using ISO speeds. These cameras have lesser granularity.
5.    DSLRS provide more professional power over depth of field, light, and responsiveness.
6.    DSLRs provide a more immediate feedback as they use digital chips or light sensing CCDs that translate incoming light rays into digital pictures.
7.    DSLRs and SLRs cost more than point and shoot cameras.
8.    DSLRs and SLRs are usually heavier than some point and shoot models.

Some sample DSLR models are listed below:

Prosumer models:

•    Canon EOS 10D
•    Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
•    Nikon D50
•    Nikon D70s
•    Pentax *ist DS

Professional Models:

•    Canon EOS 1D Mark II
•    Canon EOS 20D
•    Fuji Finepix S3 Pro
•    Nikon D2x

Who actually wants DSLRs? Anyone wants to have crisper and clearer pictures—be it a hobbyist or a professional photographer can opt for a DSLR model. Anyone who will not bother carrying bigger cameras on trips in order to bring back topnotch photos can make use of DSLRs.

Like all electronic and computerized gadgets, digital models tend to get cheaper yet better over time. For sure, DSLRs will eventually migrate down to consumer cameras: ability to take bursts of 10 frames in a few seconds, quick response time, higher resolution image sensors, and accurate auto-focus, among others.

The only thing that will remain constant are the laws of optics—you will not get the same results from a finger-nail sized lens as with larger lenses used by professional users. Also the fact that people do not have enough money all the time remains the same through time.

If you plan to take photography as a profession, practice shooting some shots using prosumers models and consider budget and quality of lenses before you say, “Big Cheese”!

Digital Photography Tips

Maybe you have heard something like this before: “The better the cameras, the better the photos.” In this effect, you might have thought of digital cameras. Many believe that these models are just a one-click away for great photos. Do you also believe on this?

Ponder on the following article and the appropriate answer will be revealed to you.

The rivalry between film cameras and digital cameras is relatively fresh. How come? Three mega pixels digital cameras have an array of choices for consumers, which is already comparable to a high quality point and shoot models. Nowadays, the same thing goes with five mega pixels digital models for excellent quality photographs. The thing is, quality photographs can be taken with ease using digital cameras.

Some of the main advantages to digital photography are:

•    pictures can be previewed immediately on the built-in LCD screen
•    costs of installing films are replaced with memory sticks or cards that are primarily reusable and can store thousands of pictures
•    the stored photographs can easily be shared by copying off the images and/or sharing the memory stick or card
•    images can easily be transformed into black and white and/or sepia and can also be cropped after the picture has been taken

However, photos under low light and taken using film and digital models are both susceptible to artifacts or granularity. Images taken by both cameras appear to be very similar can be further improved with the advent of software that can improve and manipulate the quality and details of images.

Furthermore, you can take lousy shots with the most expensive Nikon models and make great photos with the passé point and shoot cameras. It suffices to say that it is not the camera that solely makes great and even picture-perfect images. The man behind the camera can squeeze or miss a big time out of the gadget that he has.

The following presents a ten-point aid that will enable you to take photos like a pro using your digital cameras. Practice on these tips so you can maximize the expense of your gadget.

1. Those Tones Should Warm Up

Change your white balance setting from auto to cloudy when shooting sunny landscapes and outdoor portraits. This increases the yellow and red tones, thus resulting in warmer and richer pictures.

2.  Use a [Sunglass] Polarizer

A polarizer should always come in handy when taking those general outdoor shooting. Polarized shots have more saturated and richer colors because unwanted reflections and glare are minimized or even removed.

If your digital camera can not accommodate a polarizer, simply place a sunglass as close to the camera lens as possible making sure that the rims of the glass will not be taken along with the image. The effect of a polarizer can be maximized when the light source is perpendicular to the object.

3. Shining Outdoor Portraits

One of the most useful and amazing features of digital cameras is the flash on or fill flash mode. This feature allows you to take control when to use the flash. It simply goes on whenever you want it available. This helps in capturing great outdoor photographs.

The camera exposes for the background first then adds enough flash to illuminate the subject when you are using the flash on option. Wedding photographers have been using this technique for many years to create professional looking portraits where everything in the composition is simply excellent.

To come up with a more relaxed photograph, try putting the subject under the shade and use the flash to add illumination.

You can also practice on using rim lighting where the sun illuminates the hair of the subject from the side or the back.

However, you should not stand that far away when using the fill flash since most built-in models have a range of 10 feet or even less.

4. Macro Mode Frenzy

I am quite sure that you would want to look at the fine details of your surroundings but would not be willing to crouch down and lie on the ground with your belly.

In that case, you just have to look for the macro made or close up symbol, usually a flower icon, and get as close to an object as possible. Once the confirmation light signals you to shoot, just press the shutter down to record the portrait.

However, using the close up mode allows you to have a shallow depth so you can concentrate on the part of the subject that you want to emphasize and let the rest go soft.

5. Chaos of the Horizon Line

There are still photographers who become disoriented when lining up their shoots. In other words, once they look at their cameras monitor, images that are erect seem to be a little tilted or bowed inward.

The most appropriate way to take care of this matter is to take your best shot at a straight picture, then take another picture after repositioning the camera. Afterwards, you can delete the others once you feel you captured a perfectly aligned image.

Also, just practice level framing your shots until you become acquainted with the process.

6. Massive Media Card

You have to have an extra memory card especially when you want more moments to preserve. The following suggestions should be considered before buying a memory card:
a.    for 3 mega pixels – a 256 MB memory card
b.    for 4 mega pixels – a 512 MB memory card
c.    for 6 mega pixels – 1 gigabyte memory card

Then you do not have to miss another shot because your card is full.

7. Not High Resolution All the Time

It is more advisable to squeeze more images by shooting a low quality and resolution settings than taking shots with a high resolution all the time. This way you can reserve a space and a 2272 x 1704 resolution on the next great image of the century and enough for the portrait to be printed on a 8” x 10” inch paper suitable for framing.

However, if you have enough memory (and you should), there is no reason to shoot at a lower resolution and risk missing the chance to display your work the big way.

8. Tolerate that Tripod

Tripods are “unnecessarily bulky” for some so seldom do people like to bring them around.

Nowadays, there is an ingenious way to settle the dilemma whether to bring a tripod around or to do without it. The UltraPod II™ developed by Pedco fits in your back pocket and holds your camera steady in various situations.

You can use the Velcro™ strap to attach your camera on a tree limb or an available pole. Its legs can be opened on any flat surface or even on a boulder.

Now, you can be a real photographer without carrying a heavy burden.

9. The Fun with Self Timer

Another under-used feature on almost every digital camera is the self timer. This function can be used to save the photographer for missing the picture by delaying the firing of the shutter up to 10 seconds.

You can attach your UltraPod™ to ensure that your camera will not be taken away that easily by some strangers.  Of course, you need to aim at the subject and not at a distant background before setting up the timer. Also the depth of the subject should be checked too.

By using self timers, you can also avoid accidentally jarring the camera when you are interested in making long exposures of cars driving at dusk as you initiate the focus.

10. Slow Motions

Normally, you will use an exposure of one second or a bit longer to create the flowing effect of water. In this case, you have to look for waterfalls or streams that are under the shade.

One trick is to use a polarizer or your sunglasses to darken the scene and create a longer exposure. More so, this technique can also eliminate distractions from your portrait.

For a really good photographer, which implies using creativity and ingenuity, viewers often get curious and ask, “What sort of camera model do you have there?”

Would it be more humbling for them to hear that you are using a normal aim and shoot model?

Or you can simply say, “Model ME.”

Lighting Tips For Photography

Photography requires a few skills to make your prints look professional.  One part of making a print professional is lighting.  Lighting in photography takes a little planning and understanding of a few techniques.  You best subject or object might not turn out that way if the proper light does not help to laminate the area. Below are a few tips on using light for photography.

First you must decide if you will use artificial or sunlight.  If you are using sunlight you will rely on the Kelvin scale to determine the temperature of light and therefore the color of light.  The color of light is important to maintaining the colors you see around you.  For instance the warmer the light the redder the light will be, thus you may need to pick the time you will go out and shoot photographs. Outdoor lighting offers so many different times to take pictures depending on your need.

Next a photographer needs to understand the sun’s color scale.  Pictures tend to lead the viewer towards certain feelings; often softer colors evoke more emotion.  So understanding the suns impact on the colors will help you find the correct time of day.  The sun evokes blue hues in the morning hours, while closer to noon you will find more neutral colors.  The neutral colors can take away some of the definition you want in your print.  Knowing how you want to shot the picture will also help you determine when you wish to take the shot.

When using natural light you will need to work with the angle and direction of the sunlight.  If the sunlight is broad and diffused you will have softer shadows while the more narrow the light is focused the more shadow you can create.  Often at noon when the sun is in mid arc you lose definition of the subject.  The subject could look grainy.  This is why shadow is used; the shadows can give you more quality to the print if used correctly. This adds to the beauty of your pictures.

You can also modify sunlight through certain techniques.  Modifying sunlight when taking portraits outdoors requires the use of a background.  You may wish for a breath taking landscape that will provide more composition to the photo.  You may need to block the sun if it interferes with you or your subject’s sight.  You might also bring in a white surface to fill the shadows.  Landscape photography requires less work than usually natural light for portraits.  In fact using natural sunlight for landscape photography without modifications can yield you a better photograph.

Landscape photography uses nature to provide the light and shadows.  This is why you need to understand the light scale and temperature.  Time is the most important aspect of using sunlight.  To understand natural lighting you need to understand the affects the sun will have at certain times of the day.  For instance if you are in a thickly vegetative forest the sunlight will have difficulty streaming in unless it is over head.  You will have natural shadows in the forest and remember you can move around your subject to find the best angle with the sun.

Photography is an art that requires techniques and practice.  Lighting is a major part of photography, especially when you are using natural light.  Sunlight can bring plenty of shadows or take them away depending on the time of day.  Knowing the best time to take a photograph depends on the sun’s angle.  Photography is an interesting hobby and profession when practiced properly will give you plenty of prints for your home and others.

Whether you are a professional or a novice photographer, you want to produce some exquisite pictures with the proper lighting. With this in mind, choose your lighting according to your needs and the needs of your subject or object. Your pictures will be delightful with brightness when you use the best lighting situation.

Tips For Photographing Your Cat

Every cat is proud of his or her friendly feline.  Cats make perfect subjects in which to photograph.  You can catch your cat and a variety of interesting and fun poses when you know how to take pictures of your cat. If you are interested in photographing your cat, here are some tips to help you get the best shots.

Catch your Cat Napping
Nothing looks quite as relaxing as a cat taking a nap. Cats do sleep a lot, so if you take a picture of your cat napping, you have plenty of opportunity.  The best time to take a picture of your cat is to catch it when it is asleep.  You can take close-ups of your cat either as it sleeps, or gently wake your cat up for a relaxed look. For a nice shot of your cat, try gently rubbing your cat’s belly right when you want to snap a picture. This will encourage your cat to roll over on its back.

Natural Sunlight
When you think of a sleeping cat, where do most cats enjoy sleeping? You can usually find a cat napping in the sun. If you have a window that gets full or filtered sunlight during the day, then try to open the curtains or blinds to encourage cap napping. As soon as you see your cat sit in the sun, try to take a few pictures. When the sunlight is good, try a few shots without using your flash. This will give your picture a nice natural glowing effect. In addition, natural light often works best anyway because if you use a bright flash, your cat will usually close his or her eyes or the eyes could end up looking red.

Forget Posing and Planning
Cats are much for posing. You cannot really ask that a cat stay and sit. When you take pictures of your cat, you should always have your camera on hand for candid shots. Look at your cat during the day and determine your cat’s schedule and favorite places. Work around your cat and you will get better pictures.  Try to be spontaneous, and above all stay patient. It may take several tries to get a couple of great shots, but posing your cat rarely works.

I have tried to get my three cats to pose and let me take a picture, but even though they sleep together, play together, they cannot stand or in this sit next to each without someone starting something. If I had three people to help and set back out of the picture, it might work. As you can see, cat’s needs to do what cats do and take your pictures that way.

Get Help
Another good tip for taking pictures of your cat is to get help. You can get great pictures of playful cats and kittens by having someone help you wiggle a string, the throw a ball or call the cat’s name. It is very difficult to try to play with your cat and take pictures at the same time. Your pictures will turn out much better if you get someone to help you. In addition, if you are trying to get a picture of your cat looking directly at your camera, have someone stand above you can call the cat’s name, or make a noise that will prompt the cat to look directly above your head.

If you are a patient and willing, you can get some excellent shots of your cat. Cats are so fun to take pictures of because you never know what they will do. Keep your camera handy and ready to go as soon as your cat springs into action. Cat’s normal activity seems to make us smile and laugh, their antics always may wonderful pictures. Pictures of kittens playing from birth on also make for some great pictures. If you have the camera, you will never miss the perfect picture.

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