A wedding is a very significant event in the lives of many people. Perhaps, this can be attributed to the fact that it happens once in most cases. As such, wedding photographers play an important role in enabling the wedding couples and their guests immortalize this special day in their lives. Basically, couples have only one chance of capturing their wedding day. Quality photos and videos are among the most important items that they can look at and remember this special day in their lives vividly.
Today, professional photographers are capable of taking quality photos and videos that can be preserved for many years. Current photography is employing quality technologies and digital cameras that have the ability to deliver high quality photos. Although friends and relatives can use their cameras to capture the events of this day, they may not produce quality photos. This is why importance of professional wedding photographers is increasing at a very fast rate. Photographers who have specialized in photographing weddings know the places and events where photographing is necessary. They will also organize people in the best way possible during the wedding for photo sessions.
Many couples spend weeks or even months planning for this day. It also cost them huge amount of money. One has to look for a venue and book it in advance. They also have to ensure that everything that is necessary for making the event a success is available and at its appropriate place. Wedding couples and their relatives do all they can to make the venue, and the event, look attractive and appealing to those in attendance thus, they do all they can to make their wedding the best and most memorable not just for them, but also for their guests. Wedding photographers play an important role in enabling them preserve the scenic look of the venue through photos.
During modern weddings, people are dressing in the most outstanding ways. When you attend a contemporary wedding you are likely to see all sorts of designs and styles of dressing. Some people have uniform cloth designs while others dress in unique and outstanding ways. This makes modern wedding worth memorizing. It also makes everyone want to have a photo that will remind them of this event. Professional wedding photographers know how to capture different dress designs in a way that make photos bring out the overall picture of the event in an amazing and vivid way. Thus, you will be able to recall how people were dressed during your wedding by just going through your photo album.
Wedding photographers are playing a very critical role in making weddings memorable to many people. However, it is imperative that you take time to choose the best wedding photographers. Consider their professional training and experience to ensure that you only hire the best. You should also consider the amount of money they charge you for their services. Make sure that you hire the best wedding photographer's at the most reasonable price.
Photographs can be simply described as memories captured on a piece of paper for lifetime. Wedding is the most special event in anyone's life. So capturing this special day makes it timeless and hence wedding photographers in Peterborough and other places have gained importance. Click here to know more.
A lens can be of fixed focal length which is called a prime lens, or it can be a variable focal length such as a telephoto lens. A variable focal length lens has a range in mm printed on it. For example, if you bought a lens with 55-200mm on it, this indicates that this a telephoto lens with the focal length range of between 55mm and 200mm. A standard or normal lens is usually in the range of 35-70mm; a standard telephoto lens has a range of 70-135mm; a telephoto lens has a range of between 135 - 300mm, and any thing beyond 600mm in focal length is usually classed as a super telephoto lens. Therefore, a lens with a longer focal length allows you to get closer to the subject.
If you want to make you subject look bigger and fill the frame, you can of course just move closer to the subject. There are occasions however, when we need to use a telephoto lens for example, to avoid scaring the wildlife away or to avoid risky situations. This article looks at how and when to use a telephoto lens.
Sports event shots rely heavily on close ups of the action and good shots can be achieved with a telephoto lens and fast shutter speeds. Some panning with slower shutter speeds may be needed to capture the sense of speed and motion. When panning, half press the shutter release button to focus on your subject and then move the camera in synch, fully pressing the shutter release to capture the shot you want.
Getting closer to your subject is the number one reason you will want to use a telephoto lens. It can also be used in candid street photography to capture moments when people are unaware that they are being photographed. Photographing the moon is a popular past time and with a bit of care, usable photos can be achieved with a telephoto lens, a tripod and a cable release. Some post processing may be needed to bring out details. Remember though that the moon is probably the brightest object in the sky and you may need to decrease the aperture size to get the correct exposure. I have used f11 with success.
Sighting your subject when using a telephoto lens can be extremely difficult if the object is small and moving fast. Learn to sight just above the lens when moving the camera and then when you locate your subject, look through the viewfinder to focus and capture the shot. Not easy at first but with practice, it becomes second nature.
By using a telephoto lens, you can isolate your subject, making it the focus of your photo. You can isolate the mountain in the background or that amazing sunrise, removing the rest of the landscape in the process. This isolation of a subject can be used to good advantage in portrait photography which allows for a tight crop for a head and shoulders shot. Your subjects are usually more comfortable when you are not quite as close as when you are using a 50mm lens. This also produces more natural looking portraits with the added advantage that with a large aperture setting, the background can be thrown out of focus.
The best results for the average photographer in getting pin point focused photos are obtained by using autofocus, i.e. letting the camera and lens do the work for you. This works well most of the time but occasionally, such as in low light conditions, in scenes with insufficient contrasting elements, or shooting small subjects far away, the auto focus isn't up to it. You can hear the motor hunting for something to focus on. In this instance, I recommend you switch over to manual focus and fine tune the focus yourself. Using live view and the zoom control can assist you to achieve good results, as described earlier in this article.
There are, however, some problems associated with the use of telephoto lens, particularly in low lighting when a slower shutter speed is warranted. You may want to try shooting with a higher ISO or using flash where you can. The longer the focal length of the lens, the more chance there is of camera shake. It is best to use faster shutter speeds and a tripod to prevent camera shake. A simple rule of thumb is that the shutter speed should be higher than the focal length. For example, a shutter speed of 1/250s or more is needed for a lens with a focal length of 200mm. Additionally, camera shake can be caused by just pressing the shutter release button. A cable release, a remote or the camera's self timer helps out in these situations.
Using a telephoto lens in the heat of the day is known to distort images from the blurring effect of heat waves over your image. This can be exacerbated when you require pin point accuracy in focusing. A tip that I picked up when trying to focus on objects far away with a telephoto lens involves the use of the live view, if your camera has one, and the zoom control. While looking at the live view at your subject press the zoom control (that's the button with a magnifying glass with a + sign it) until you achieve a reasonably sized subject image and then fine tune your focus on the telephoto lens. Zoom back out and capture the shot. A tripod is needed for this method but it does allow for pin point focusing. Also be aware that using a telephoto lens gives a narrow field of view. Bright light outside of your image area can affect your image causing flare, which reduces contrast. The best way to deal with this is to attach a lens hood.
For further information about wildlife photography, pet photography or general questions about digital photography, visit http://photopress.in/brianparkin and http://portraitsforpets.biz/
Wedding Present Ideas
Bridal Boudoir Photography as a wedding present.
Boudoir photography is a growing trend and more and more women of all shapes and sizes are having these photo shoots. Bridal boudoir photography makes a truly unique wedding present and one of the best times to go for a photo shoot is a few weeks before your wedding day. You can then have the photos printed in a display box or made into an album. This left with a cheeky note to your husband to be saying "Meet me at the altar" will make the best present he is ever likely to get.
So what exactly is Boudoir?
Boudoir photography is more than just showing flesh, it is the art of flirtation through photography. And like many other art forms it allows the viewer to explore the unknown, use their imagination and leave them wanting more. It must not be confused with Glamour and certainly is not pornographic! Your photographer should be an expert in the use of props, lighting and positioning to get the most from your body and accentuate your best features.
What can I expect from the photo shoot?
All photographers conduct their photo shoots differently. They may range in timescale from maybe 1 hour to half a day. It really does depend on who you've booked. My advice would be to chat to the photographer either over the phone or in person before booking the shoot. You will then get a feel for how it will all go and importantly how relaxed you feel and how well you will get on with your photographer. A typical photo shoot at my studio will start with a cup of tea or even a glass of fizz together with chat to go over some ideas and themes for the shoot. You will then spend about an hour or so with Laura, my hair and makeup artist, who will completely transform you. The photo shoot itself should take between 1 and 2 hours using a number of outfit changes, props, furniture and backgrounds. You can then go home still looking stunning with your hair and makeup done or hit the town with your girlfriends. A couple of weeks later after the photo's have been fully edited, you will return to the studio to view your pictures to decide which ones you want and which products you may want to use to display your photographs.
Choosing the best photographer.
This can be a big decision and you want to get it right because as this is for a wedding present you only really have one chance. I would firstly consider if you are happy with either a male or female photographer because this could rule out half of the options straight away. Most importantly you should look at the photographer's website. This will give you examples of their style of boudoir photography, their props and backdrops and also their hair and makeup.
About the Author
Melanie Woodward is a Wedding, Babies and Boudoir photographer based in Caversham, Reading. She has been a photographer for over 8 years and is the owner of the successful business 'One life Studio'. To get an idea of her work either visit her website at http://www.onelifestudio.co.uk/ or join her Facebook page. She is also soon launching her new website dedicated solely to boudoir and motorbike photography. For more information follow her blog.
A DSLR camera is an innovative piece of photography equipment, which allows users to change the lenses that are used to create different types of photographs. These cameras allow the photographer to have more control over the settings and customize the shots they wish to create. When you are shopping there are certain factors to consider and features to look for to ensure you receive a quality product.
Why Choose a DSLR Camera?
With the popularity of these camera's increasing, there are new versions introduced for sale all the time. No matter if you choose an affordable or high-end version, there are certain benefits you will experience when you choose a camera, which include:
Higher Image QualityAbility to adapt to different scenariosQuicker shutter speedReduction of depreciation in valueAbility to utilize manual controlsOnce you have made the decision to purchase a camera, there are certain features you should ensure the device has.
The first consideration you should make when choosing a camera is your budget. With the price range being so vast, you must establish limits to the amount you are willing to spend. Along with the camera, you can also purchase accessories such as:
Lens packages with various sizes and typesReplacement or back-up batteriesAmount of memoryBags and casesWarranties or guaranteesOnce you have determined how much to spend the next factor to consider is what the camera will be used for. The first question you are likely to be asked when you walk into a photography store is what type of photos you plan to take. This is an important factor because it will determine the type of lenses you need. Keep in mind, some of the bodies are compatible with equipment you may already have so ensure you research this aspect prior to going shopping. Other considerations you should make to ensure you receive the best camera for your needs include:
Camera size: If you plan to travel a lot, a smaller compact version may be more appropriate than the full size version.Resolution: The number of megapixles will determine the clarity and crispness of a shot.The Shutter Speed: This is especially important if you shoot action shots.Flash: Most cameras come with a pop up flash, therefore you may want to invest in an off camera one.Size of the LCD screen: The display screen is important for viewing shots prior to printing or uploading.In most cases the best camera is not determined by the highest price tag, rather, how you are going to use it. The right camera and accessories for someone who exclusively shoots landscapes will not be the same as someone who takes pictures for newspapers. Determining your specific needs is the first step in ensuring you purchase the right product. With new technology being introduced all the time, you will always be able to upgrade and improve the product you choose.
Scot Voelker is the creator of NewPortraitBiz. He has taught 1,000's of students how to start a photography business all over the world. Here's a Blog post that talks about more equipment tips. Click Here. You should also check out this Resource Guide he posted that shows a complete list of tools the pros use.
There are a number of tools at a photographer's disposal. Shutter speed is just one of them. Using the camera's shutter as a creative tool can help you enhance the photographs that you take as well as open up new worlds of possibility. Photographers throughout the years have manipulated images using shutter speed to create some incredible works of art.
The Basics of Shutter Speed
In the day of digital computers and automatic settings, it's easy to forget all about your camera's basic shutter operation. However, the shutter speed is length of time that the lens' shutter remains open during the capturing of the image. When using film (as opposed to digital formats), the shutter is responsible for allowing the right amount of light exposed to the film to create the best image.
The faster the speed of the shutter, the less time it is open. This might be ideal for bright, outdoor shots in which the sun is bright and too much exposure can white out the image, or for fast action shots in which the goal is to avoid blurring. The slower the speed of the shutter, the longer it is open for and the more light is allowed to get through to the 'film.'
When it comes to choosing the proper setting of the shutter, there are a number of variables that come into play. However, varying this speed during certain situations can create a wealth of creative possibilities and that's why the camera's shutter speed is an amazing creative tool.
Panning
One such artistic tool that you can add to your photographic repertoire is known as panning. In this, the speed of the shutter is lengthened slightly, with the focus on a specific object maintained, while the background images become blurred. Increasing the speed to 1/40th or 1/30th, for example, focus on a moving vehicle or other somewhat fixed object. Keep the image in the center of the field of vision and take the shot.
You will notice that the main image, though partially blurred, will tend to remain focused while the background is blurred around it. Experiment with this style of panning and you will begin to discover the possibilities.
Zoom Flares
Using a tripod, this shutter speed creative tool is very simple. Place the camera on a tripod and focus on a specific object in the distance, such as a building. Using a slow shutter speed, place your hand on the lens' zooming feature and when you snap the shot, turn the zoom. When you review the effect, you'll be amazed to see how this simple technique allows the object to be clear and in focus but a hazing echo style effect to be laid out around it.
Light Painting
I will get more into light painting in another article, but this technique relies on a slow shutter speed in a dark setting. Using a light, hold the shutter open and move the light around. You will notice the effect that occurs and you can begin to experiment with different patterns and techniques for light painting.
Once you become more comfortable with a camera's shutter speed, you will have a powerful new creative tool at your disposal. Combining abstract artistic integrity with the pure essence of photography can open a wealth of possibilities to any photographer and of any skill level.
Wayne Burke, an experienced Media Arts professional, invites you to increase your knowledge of photography.
To learn more about techniques like this one, including videos, visit:
http://trickphotographyandspecialeffects.net/
It is very common for a professional photographer to have a customer ask to be given all of the photo files from a day of shooting. Invariably, the photographer will try to persuade the customer against it, or even refuse outright. It leaves some customers confused, or possibly even angry. So why won't your photographer let you have the product of the entire photoshoot?
Well, there are a number of reasons. In reality, the customer has no right to the work in progress. If you were commissioning a painting, would you later demand all of the sketches and studies that went into the finished piece? Or if you had a dress made, would you ask for the muslin fitting trials or the fabric cut-offs? Or the stone chips leftover from the carving of a sculpture? Obviously not. However, asking to be given every shot taken during a session amounts to the same thing. The photos that are not used are cast-offs, the detritus leftover as an artist works on a beautiful piece. There can be no benefit to seeing these unused, unnecessary bits of material.
But, you're still asking, what's the harm in having all of the photos? There can be a good deal of harm done to the professional photographer. If a customer were to show these unedited, cast-off photos to friends and family, it could seriously harm the photographer's reputation. A professional artist shows off his best work, after all of the very best photos have been chosen and edited to their greatest advantage for pictures of the most supreme quality and beauty. Having raw, discarded photos represented to others as his work, as pieces that were supplied to a customer, would make a photographer look unprofessional and inept.
Let's face it, not every photo is going to come out perfectly. A photographer will take many, many photos during your session - hundreds of them in total. From these, he will cull the very best, the ones that are most flattering to you, and have the most potential to be works of art. And then he will perfect them, editing them until they are the best they can be, balanced and natural. These edited photos will show the best possible you, which is what you want out of your pictures, right? Wading through hundreds of unedited, unused photos, sometimes dozens of the same pose with only minute differences... there is nothing to be gained from this when your professional photographer will hand you the very best shots, edited to the best possible standard.
The photos that aren't chosen to be edited were left behind for a reason. No one wants to think of themselves as unphotogenic, but sometimes a shot will be plain unflattering, or from a bad angle, or will unintentionally highlight flaws. No matter how much a customer assures a photographer that they will not be upset by the raw, unedited stack of hundreds of photos, this invariably turns out to be the case. The customer sees themselves portrayed in unflattering ways in these unused photos, and become angry or upset, and are left feeling doubtful about their photographer's abilities. If the photos are of a particularly important occasion, like commemorating an engagement or the birth of a child, the emotions attached to these photos can be very high. And no one wants to see a newly engaged woman burst into tears when she sees her photos for the first time!
If you still want to see all of the photos, ask yourself why. Is it possible there might be a really great shot hiding in amongst all of those discards, something that you might be missing out on? Your photographer has carefully combed through all of the photographs, and just as carefully chosen the very best to be edited and presented to you for your album or for framing. Trust that he has created these for you from the very best shots of your session together. He is just as interested as you are in having those photos be beautiful and memorable, highlighting his talent and hard work. Your photographer knows his art, and you chose him for a reason, trusting him to capture your image and your essence. Now trust him to complete his work, to find the true gems among the photos, and to make them shine.
Alexander Soloviev is a family photographer based in Wiltshire, UK. Alexander does a wide variety of photography related to people and their activities - family, parties, weddings, events, personal profiles, nurseries, schools - you name it! Pet (especially horses) photography is another object that tightly connected to everyday human life. Visit his SASNN-PHOTO" site for more information.
Once you have sat down with your favourite photographer and decided on an outdoor photowalk for your family photographs, there are a few preparations you can make to ensure that the day goes as smoothly as possible and that the resulting photos will be ones you will treasure for many years to come.
Choosing the location can be one of the most important aspects for a successful photowalk. Your professional photographer may well have some suggestions and ideas that you might want to consider, as he will have experience in finding beautiful outdoor backdrops. But even more important than a beautiful backdrop, is choosing a place that has some significance or meaning to your family. It is all well and good finding a beautiful lake surrounded by trees to look pretty behind you in your photographs, but if the place has no importance to your family it will be simply a backdrop, and forgettable. A good photographer will be more than willing to let you lead when it comes to choosing the location for your shoot, such as your local park, your favourite picnic area, that spot on the beach your family goes to time and again, even the field where you and your family walk the dog - and feel free to include the dog, he is part of your family too! Your children, particularly if they are young, will find these familiar locations comfortable and will be relaxed and act as they normally do, allowing the photographer to capture those candid moments of play.
Towards that end, it is helpful to choose a location where there is something for your family to do, or items with which they may interact, such as the play structures at a park, or a path full of autumn leaves, or a sandy beach. Bring the toys and equipment you would usually bring for a day out with the family - the picnic blanket, or the shovel and bucket, or the Frisbee. Don't forget your child's favourite doll or blanket. All of these props can add to the candid, real-life look of your photos. In a familiar place, surrounded by their own things, your children will quickly forget about the photographer, leaving him to truly capture the feeling and spirit of your loved ones. A picture of you and your family building a sand castle together on your favourite strip of beach, professionally shot and edited, will stay in your hearts and minds for a long time to come and will bring back memories of many days shared together.
Once the location and props have been settled on, it's time to think about clothing. Be yourselves, be relaxed, let your outfit reflect that perfect location you chose. A fancy dress and a suit and tie at the family play park? Of course not. You want to look your best in your photos, naturally, but you also want to capture the true essence of your family. Put your children in shorts or a cotton dress for the beach, or snuggly sweaters and wooly scarves for an autumn walk among the leaves. Try to coordinate, so everyone looks good together in the photos, without clashing colours or a lot of jarring, competing prints. You don't have to dress in identical sweaters and jeans (unless you want to!), but make sure everyone's outfits mesh together in a pleasing way, with similar or complimentary colours.
Whatever you wear and wherever you choose to have your photowalk, your professional photographer will capture a special moment in your family's history in ways that no casual snapshot or stiffly posed studio photograph ever could. These photos will hold pride of place on your wall or in family albums for many years to come.
Alexander Soloviev is a family photographer based in Wiltshire, UK. Alexander does a wide variety of photography related to people and their activities - family, parties, weddings, events, personal profiles, nurseries, schools - you name it! Pet (especially horses) photography is another object that tightly connected to everyday human life. Visit his SASNN-PHOTO site for more information.
Light is the most crucial element of photography and the way you use it will decide your results. Since light means everything for a photograph, its strength, and color can have a huge effect on your photographs. Fluorescent light is considered to be the best choice for giving a natural look to your subject, as its color temperature matches with that of the daylight. Here are some useful tips that will help you to use your fluorescent light kit judiciously so that you get the best results.
Always set your camera's white balance manually. You can also choose the predefined fluorescent white balance setting in order to simplify this process. Even if you use the best quality fluorescent light kit supplies, manual settings will help you to create a neutral color cast. Most digital cameras have this option of adjusting white balance manually as well as automatically. If you choose the automatic mode, you may not be able to get rid of green and blue color cast, which is a common issue with fluorescent light photography.Using your Light Kit gives you some extra green and less red color in your pictures. To deal with this, you can use a red filter on the lens of the camera. To compensate for the filter, let more light enter your camera sensor by opening the lens wider than you normal levels.
Professional photographers always choose to shoot in raw without adjusting the settings. They however, have to spend a lot of time during the post-production process for correcting the color casts. Many photo editing software such as Photoshop have the Raw editing features that makes it easier to correct the color cast appropriately. The best part of this process is that you will have more control over your final results.
If you are using a flash along with your fluorescent light kit supplies, you will have to use a green filter over your flash. When you use a flash to fill the shadows of your subject's face, the color of this face and body will not match with each other. This is because; the face will have flash light that is neutral, whereas the body is illuminated by fluorescent light that is greenish. To balance this, you need to use green fluorescent balanced filters over your flash to convert it into a fluorescent light source.
For shooting indoors, you need to have a balanced light so that there are no color tones that need to be addressed during the post-production process.
It happens to every photographer at some point in their journey. If it has happened to you, you will remember the moment as vividly as you remember other major events in your life.
You have just agreed to photograph your first wedding!
After it sinks in, and you realize it's not really a day of dressing up and pretending, you will have doubts race through your mind, and your pulse will try and keep up.
There is time. Even if the event is looming, there is a lot you can do to increase your chances of keeping everybody happy, and load the odds in your favor. It all starts with preparation. This article will get you started on the process of preparing for your first wedding photography assignment.
The first thing you should do, is make an opportunity to preview the locations you will be shooting in, so that there are no surprises on the day. The bride may think she is getting married in a cute little church on a hill. You get there and it's a cathedral capable of seating a thousand guests. Your lens list did not include a telephoto lens, because photographers don't reach for telephoto lenses in cute little churches.
Once you have scouted all the locations, determine the absolute minimum equipment list for the day. Ideally you should have one camera with a mid-range zoom as your primary shooting rig. A second camera with your preferred creative lens should be close by- within an arm's reach at all times. Don't mount an extreme telephoto or wide angle lens on the backup camera. If the backup camera becomes your primary workhorse, you need to be able to cover group shots as well as portraits. Keep flexible with your equipment.
Study websites and speak with the bride about her expectations. Look at the work of other wedding photographers. Make a note of what grabs your attention and the pictures the bride comments on. Don't promise to imitate these, as it would be an unlikely outcome, given the fickle nature of light, and peoples' emotions. Most photographs contain a uniqueness which can never be repeated.
Know your equipment backwards. A good test is being able to operate all the controls and buttons in total darkness, and doing it accurately. Turning dials, rotating knobs and flipping levers should all be intuitive to you with predictable outcomes. Don't take chances by hiring or using unfamiliar equipment on your first wedding.
A great starting place is a professional wedding photographer web site. Search for these online, and don't hesitate to enroll for a short course in wedding photography.
Pete Lorocco is a professional wedding photographer in Melbourne Australia.See more of his work on the Melbourne wedding photographer web site, which also has comprehensive location galleries for you to browse. The wedding photography Melbourne web site also contains lots of Pete's images, from recent shoots in Melbourne.
Portrait photography isn't that difficult, but there is a tried and true methodology that you can use to be able to produce great portraits, as opposed to just making happy snaps. One of the main differences between a happy snapper and a professional, besides the number of years of experience and accumulated skills, is that the professional takes control of the camera settings and has a good knowledge of lighting aspects. They also understand what makes for a good compositional photograph. Professionals also tend to use lens with a focal length of 85 mm equivalent or slightly greater. This puts the camera further away from the subject and produces softer results. Here are the top three portrait photography settings employed by professionals.
Aperture. In portrait photography, you very rarely see the background properly as it is usually out of focus, allowing the viewer to concentrate on the subject in the photograph. The subject can be in sharp focus or have a softness to it which is kinder to some subjects. This effect is created with the judicious use of aperture control on your camera. If you set Aperture Priority on the camera, you can control the aperture setting while the camera sets the shutter speed. Selecting Manual mode allows you to set the aperture and shutter speed yourself. If you select the largest aperture, which is the lowest f/stop value, it creates a very limited depth of field. In fact, at the largest aperture, the eyes can be in focus while the nose may not be, or even just one eye is in focus. You have to reduce the aperture slightly to get the result you want. I have a tendency to shoot at f5.6 or f6.3 most of the time inside a studio. Outside, I could increase that to f8 if I want to show a bit more of a particular background. If you find that focusing can be a problem, change from auto focus to manual focus to give yourself more control.
A note of caution, if you're working in dim lighting conditions, you may have to increase the ISO to shoot at a fast enough shutter speed to avoid camera blur. Of course, if you use a tripod and advise your subject to remain still while taking the shot, camera blur shouldn't be an issue. If you use flash lighting to fill in shadows then camera blur will also not be an issue for you in this situation. You may want to reduce the output or placing a light modifier such as a soft box over the flash head if flash lighting is your only source of light, as direst flash lighting can produce harsh light and shadow results. If you notice that your background is washed out or the skin tones are too light, you can increase the exposure level to +1 EV or +2 EV.
Shutter speed. Most professional photographers shoot portraits at a shutter speed of 1/200s. This is not because of camera shake generally, but because this is the maximum synch sped of most flash units employed in studio portrait shoots. Manual mode is more often used as opposed to shutter priority mode. Shutter priority mode allows you to choose the shutter speed while allowing the camera to set the aperture. As we want to control the aperture as well, only manual mode allows you to do both.
ISO Setting: Choose the lowest ISO setting possible for the available light. In sunny conditions, you will probably need to set the ISO to 100 for the best results, in cloudy conditions to 200. I tend to shoot routinely with an ISO setting of 200 anyway, regardless of whether I am outside or in the studio. If I need to adjust settings after capturing the images, I make sure I use the RAW camera setting as it gives me much more flexibility than shooting JPEG images. In the studio without flash or in low lighting conditions, you may need to increase the ISO accordingly. Most modern cameras will allow you set an ISO of 3,200 or even 6.400 without too much noticeable noise in the resulting photograph. If you are planning on enlarging your photos dramatically, then keep the ISO down to a minimum and use flash lighting.
Finally, while not one of the top three camera settings, Auto White Balance is generally good for portrait shots in a studio because the lighting levels can be fixed and you will get consistent results throughout the shoot, until you adjust the lighting. However shooting in daylight can be a problem. For example if you are shooting at midday in a shady area you may not get the proper white balance unless you allow for it. Similarly, if you shoot in scenes which are predominantly white such as snow, a sandy beach etc, your whites may look grey or unnatural. Using a preset white balance or a grey card helps to choose the correct white balance in these situations. I often select a grey component of my photo as my preset and see what the white balance looks like. Keep in mind that you have the option to change white balance settings after shooting and apply correction, if you are shooting in RAW mode. So if that portrait shot is quite important for you, shoot in RAW so you have an option to correct white balance later on.
For further information about wildlife photography, pet photography or general questions about digital photography, visit http://photopress.in/brianparkin and http://portraitsforpets.biz/
Sometimes it's hard to take pictures at times when families or individuals are experiencing loss or tragedy. Yet those are the moments when the most poignant, memorable and meaningful images can be had.
It might come as a surprise to many that photographers are becoming part of some funerals. In these days when the most precious commodity people have is time, funerals can be one of the few opportunities for widely separated families make the time to get together. As funerals are a time of grief compounded by logistical headaches, some families are opting to include a professional photographer to capture the moment for family history.
Funeral homes have adopted a very pragmatic attitude toward photos, suggesting that it's better to capture the images and throw them away later than to not take them and miss them in later years. If you're the photographer at a wake, memorial service or funeral, seek out the funeral director and get their advice for the most tactful and respectful way to proceed with your job as photographer.
People in the midst of grief, their eyes puffy and red, will not always want to have their picture taken. There are two options in these situations: One is to ask as quietly and reassuringly as possible, the other is to get your shots and endure the sting of reproach as protective friend or bystander chases you off. Taking photos during times of loss and grief will sometimes necessitate both strategies.
Another situation where photography during times of loss sometimes occurs are fire scenes, accidents and crime scenes. At every fire scene some individual or family is having one of the worst days of their lives. Loss is compounded by the presence of police and firefighters stomping through what's left of their worldly possessions. And then you show up.
While people may hesitate to vent their frustration on police or fire officials, they will not hesitate to vent on a photographer. Police can sometimes decide that makes you a problem.
In situations like that remaining calm and cooperative, speaking calmly and reasonably while keeping your voice modulated and tone even. It is quite possible to smooth over very tense situations just being calm and reasonable. Most of the time people are only venting frustration over the situation, not any particular gripe with you. The object then is to not make yourself a convenient target by being combative or belligerent.
As a photographer it will sometimes be your job to take pictures during a difficult time for the subjects. You may have to do your job, but doing it with as much compassion and sympathy that you can muster to the situation will go a long way to determine how much access you get and how well the photos are received later. It's not at all unusual for families that initially resent a photographer at the time only to be glad to have the images later.
If you are the target of frustration or anger try to understand that the emotion of the moment and it's not personal. Do your job and try not to let it ruin your day.
You'll learn even more with Proud Photography - one of the best online photography courses available today.
There is a myth that you can only get great outdoor images either very early or very late in the day. The "sweet hour" is best just before the sun goes down or comes up. Now those are spectacular times to photograph but you can still great images any time of the day. You just have to find that soft light.
It's easy to find, just look for open shade.
Open shade is found anywhere a shadow is cast. It's called Open Shade because of the low contrast and nearly no shadow in the shade.
Open Shade will have a bluish cast, so you will have to adjust your camera's color setting. On the dial it's usually beside the sun symbol, looks like the side of a building with what looks like clouds beside it. This setting will remove the colorcast.
Even at high noon, you can find this light. It could be a sliver of shade under a building's eves overhang, the shadow of a car, or maybe a solid bank of trees. Just be aware that with trees or other foliage, watch out for speckling - this is where the harsh light sneaks through creating a hot spot. Don't let any of that light fall on your subject. It will "burn" them out in your image.
There is deep shade up close to the source, and edge shade which is just before your subject would step into the harsh light. Always put your subject at the shade's edge. The light is softest with some direction still.
By turning your subject different directions you will find the "sweet" part of the shade. You can spot this by the look of the eyes. You will catch lights, bright hot spots in the eyes that give it shape.
If you have a reflector - which can be something as simple as a white sweater or sheet - you can bounce light onto your subject to brighten them up.
Here is a trick for you when shooting in shade: open your exposure up - this means you slightly over-expose the image, or expose for the shadows. This will give their skin tones a wonderful glow. The image overall will be more delicate and pleasing.
You might have to increase your camera's ISO since open shade is darker space to photograph in.
With this trick you should be able to photograph anyone at any time of day and still get amazing images.
Mark Laurie is a Master Photographer, international speaker, author and studio mentor. He teaches extensively in England and Canada. His Revealing Venus Nude & Glamour Photography Workshop is run in Italy. Mark has published 7 books. You can find information on his books, photography, and training at http://www.innerspiritphoto.com/. He is on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/innerspiritphoto
"You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved." - Ansel Adams
Everyone who can afford to buy a digital camera seems to call themselves a photographer these days. Some have the skills to justify the claim but purists would still fight you tooth and nail at using that title. After all, they went through a lot of training to be called photographers and loosely using the term can understandably be offensive.
Shooting portraits takes a keen eye and a great set of skills. Post-photography effects with Photoshop and other software can make these images look a lot better but the art of creating an interesting portrait starts with your vision as the photographer.
If you are an aspiring photographer, you should know that the learning process will always be an ongoing chain. You learn as you should more and more portraits and as you start playing with different elements. As with all the great photographers, START WITH FILM. This is the foundation of your skills. Digital photography is not the same as shooting with a good 'ol roll of film.
Know where to stand.The greatest photographers always know where to stand (sit or lie back) to shoot their subject. It's all about your unique perspective. Photography has a lot to do with perspective and knowing which angle to shoot from is the best start of any interesting portrait.
Shapes, lines, and curves. These are also basic elements of design and like everything visual, the eye will be attracted to patterns and structures. Choosing a subject that uses one, or all of these elements, make a good portrait composition.
Movement. One of the reasons why painting and photography were conceived was to capture a fraction of a moment worth remembering. Creating a portrait that encapsulates a millisecond of something in motion will give character to a composition.
Lights and shadows. These extreme ends have always played a valuable role in photography. It will take a few tests and a lot of shots to perfect the art of capturing light on film but once you've gained a good understanding of light and shadows, you'll be well on your way to being a good photographer.
Out of the box elements.Seeing a bride with her long trail and gown, playing on a tire swing over a calm lake mixes a lot of elements that don't usually go together. But, in a portrait, it draws you in and tells a visual story of the unfamiliar-people are often interested in the unfamiliar. Remember, playing with things that don't mix can create beautiful images you never thought you'd be able to see in one frame.
Messerli Photography
http://www.messerliphotography.com/
4406 Gentrice Dr
Valrico, FL 33596 -8469
813.662.2248
The art which you put up on the walls of your house says a lot about you as a person. Even if it's limited only to family portraits, then that tells the world that your family is incredibly important to you, and is the center around which all else revolves. Over and above that, every canvas print you choose will be used by visitors to your home to make judgements about you. Opt for reproductions of Old Masters and you'll be seen, like it or not, as a somewhat old fashion traditionalist, whereas people who display abstract art canvas will convey an image of being up to the minute and forward look.
Bearing in mind the effect that the art of your choosing can have, it's worth taking the time and trouble to find just the right canvas prints, since there's a lot more to it than just buying something that doesn't clash with the carpets. If you take a look around the average art shop or retail gallery, however, you'll often find that the choice of canvas prints being offered is somewhat limited. Time and again you'll be faced with the same image or type of images - skyscrapers at night, pop art celebrities or stallions galloping in the wild. Even if you do manage to find something that's a little bit different, the very fact that it's a mass produce copy will detract from the impact of buying it and displaying it in your home. The easy answer, when it comes to having art which is reflective of your personality and highly original, is to create it yourself, and, thanks to the user-friendliness of digital technology, this is now an option that is open to artists and non-artists alike.
You might choose to immortalize one of your most impressive nature photographs, or else a warm and friendly snapshot of a family gathering. Whatever the subject matter, turning standard sized images into blown, professional looking photos on canvas is now incredibly simple. Once you've made your choice, simply upload it to the website you're using and then work through the manufacturing process using the software provided. The over-riding purpose of this software is to keep things simple. Even if you've never done anything like this before, you'll find it easy and fun to select the size and shape of your artwork and decide whether to opt for modification such as sepia or monochrome printing. The fact that you can preview the finished results means that you'll be clear exactly what you're doing, and the finished canvas photo prints will be stretched over a sturdy wooden frame using the contemporary 'wrap around' technique, whilst the fact that the canvas is wipe clean and doesn't fade will mean it stays looking good for as long as you want to show it off.
If you've got a dozen or more images that you'd like to highlight, why not turn them into photo calendars, with the difference being that personalized photo calendars are pleasant to look at as well as useful.
The things you display in your home should be a part of you, and using your own digital images to create canvas photo prints or personal calendars means that this is emphatically the case.
As a photographer you will have to have the right equipment to capture excellent shots. Additionally, you must know what works in different lighting and basic lens capabilities. For those just starting in the field, finding the right equipment may be a challenging task. There are thousands of options to choose from and thousands of more accessories and add-ons to create different shots.
Photography can become extremely expensive quickly if you wish to purchase top of the line equipment. However, before you make this investment you should know exactly what you need to create a successful photography venture.
The most important piece of equipment for any photographer is their camera. The camera should be chosen based on several factors. These factors include:
The lighting that will be available. Outdoor, indoor, low light, bright light, etc.Type of photos taken, for example portrait or landscape.If the camera is going to travel much. The weight of the camera will be a factor if you plan on taking it on the road.In most cases it is smart for a beginner photographer to purchase a SLR camera, which enables you to change lenses for various shots. The various lenses will enable you to take different shots and easily change views and light. Other considerations to make are what type of features the actual camera you choose has to offer. These features and options include things such as: red-eye reduction, shutter speed and motion and movement reduction (for action shots).
Other Equipment to Start a Photography Business
Some other photography equipment that is crucial for a successful start up includes:
Lighting Equipment: This is essential for indoor shots and creating different looks in your photos.Tri-pods: These stabilize the camera and help hold heavy lenses and flashes.Various lenses: As you build your business you will create a collection of lenses, which can help create any shot in any scenario.Photography props: These can be anything that would make a unique or memorable picture.Travel bags or cases: Protecting your investment should be your number one priority. There are a large variety of bags and cases made to do just this.Getting Started in Photography
Photographers are a dime a dozen and available by the handful no matter where you go. If you truly wish to get started in photography to make a profit, you must provide a unique look and bring something new to the industry. However, if you just wish to make it a hobby, having quality equipment can create photos you will be proud to show your family and friends.
No matter why you want to get into photography, having the proper equipment and tools are essential for creating lasting memories. In many cases you can seek the advice and guidance of an established photographer to help choose the right equipment. This industry can be very rewarding and provide a fun and profitable hobby. No matter if you choose to shoot landscapes, arial shots or animals the right lenses, cameras and accessories makes all the difference between great and mediocre.
Scott Voelker is the creator of NewPortraitBiz. He has taught 1,000's of students how to start a photography business all over the world. Here's a Blog post that talks about more equipment tips. Click Here. You should also check out this Resource Guide he posted that shows a complete list of tools the pros use.
Photography, like playing a musical instrument, is a lot of fun. Anyone can make noise on a piano but to really make music, it is important to read music, learn proper fingering and practice your scales. Learning how to control exposure is a similar discipline. It's not exactly fun but, if you ever want to get beyond 'click and hope for the best' it is absolutely essential.
What is exposure?
The fundamentals of a camera are very simple: a box with a door (the shutter) that allows light in to burn an image on a light-sensitive surface. The term 'exposure' refers to the amount of light that the film - or the sensor - is exposed to.
The most basic photographic errors come down to allowing in too much light (over-exposure/too bright) or too little (under exposure/too dark).
A word about light
Understanding exposure makes one marvel at the human eye's capacity to adjust to the huge differences in light we experience every day. There is around 1,000 times more light outdoors on a bright sunny day than in an averagely lit room indoors. Our eyes can simultaneously process a sunlit lawn and a log in the deep shade of a tree. Cameras are becoming better at this but the light 'latitude' of a sensor is still nowhere near what we are capable of. To correctly expose the sunlit lawn (ie make it appear as it does to the naked eye), the log would be lost in blackness. To correctly expose the log would leave the lawn a blaze of white.
Controlling exposure: ISO, aperture and shutter speed
These are the holy trinity of photography. They work in tandem and to master them is half the battle of becoming a true photographer.
ISO. Don't worry about what the acronym stands for (it's 'International Organization for Standardization', if you must know). ISO refers to the 'speed' at which film - or a sensor - absorbs light. Outdoors on a bright sunny day you would use ISO 100. This is a 'slow' ISO but since there is so much light it can absorb it very easily. A 'fast' ISO (eg 1600) such as you would use at dusk, would be overwhelmed or 'burnt out' by so much light. Slow ISOs give minimal grain (for film) or noise (for digital). Generally this is desirable. Shots taken in low light tend to be grainy or noisy - a trade-off for the being able to shoot when it's so dark.
ISO is the first thing I set on my camera when starting a shoot. Unless the light changes, I can the forget about it and move on to...
Aperture. Put crudely, the aperture is the size of the hole through which the light passes on the way to the sensor. It belongs in the lens rather than the camera body. Making the aperture larger allows in more light; making it smaller allows in less. Aperture is measured in 'f stops' with slightly odd numbers attached. f2.8 is relatively wide. If we halve the size and therefore the amount of light we talk about 'going down a stop' to f4. If we go down another stop, we're at f5.6 etc. Aperture is universal - it doesn't matter if your lens is tiny and retractable on your point-and-shoot, or needs two men to lift, f8 is f8 on both lenses and the results in terms of exposure will be the same.
Aperture not only controls exposure (how bright/dark an image is) but determines depth of focus - one of the most creative tools available to the photographer. But more on that in a later tutorial.
Shutter speed. The shutter is like a door. Most of the time it's closed but every now and then, when we press the shutter button, it opens. The longer it stays open, the more light it lets in. Shutter speeds vary greatly - for portraits, 1/125 of a second is fairly normal.
Aside from exposure, shutter speed is important in allowing the photographer to blur or freeze movement. Again, that will be discussed in a later tutorial.
ISO, aperture and shutter speeds all work on the principal of 'stops' a standard measure of light that is most easily tracked in half or double increments.
For ISO and shutter speed, this is fairly straight forward. ISO 400 (a good ISO for a heavily cloudy day) is clearly a stop 'faster' - or twice as light absorbent - as ISO 200.
A shutter speed of 1/250 is twice as fast 1/125 and therefore lets in half the amount of light.
For aperture, only the numbers are confusing - the principal remains the same. f11 allows in half as much light as f8 since it is one stop 'smaller'.
If you take a shot that is too dark, you could try increasing the exposure (letting in more light) by a) opening up the aperture by a stop (say f8 to f5.6) or, b) slowing the shutter speed by one stop (eg from 1/500 to 1/250). This way you double the amount of light entering the camera. Either adjustment, of aperture or shutter speed, will result in the same exposure.
If all that has left you a little befuddled, fear not, in the next tutorial, I'll take another look at exposure - this time how it can be applied in a more practical sense using the different camera modes (M, TV and AV).
I'm Tom Greenwood- I'm originally from England, now happily residing in Sydney. Not so long ago I was a journalist in Southeast Asia. After I made the switch to photography I worked as a photojournalist as well as shooting for organisations such as the United Nations World Food Programme, Oxfam and Save the Children.
OK, you've bought all the right camera equipment. You have three camera bodies, 10 lenses, a stack of lighting gear, all the filters and attachments you can think of, you've read the manual and gained some experience in taking different types of shots, but you're still not happy with your results. You've even copied other people's styles but they're just good photos and they look the same as everyone else's. They don't stand out and nobody would instantly recognize them as yours. In other words, you have no distinct photographic style. What is photographic style and how do you establish your photographic style?
Photographic style is not a destination, it's the journey itself. You don't suddenly develop style. It's the result of your experiences, an extension of who you are and how you see the world. It's what you evoke in people viewing your work that makes you unique. Photographic style is not copying someone else's style, but it is about making your photography an extension of yourself. In other words, don't just copy the masters, try to be one!
As this article is about helping you develop a personal style, how do you go about it?
Discover what you are passionate about. It's easy to see which photographers are passionate about their work because it shows in many images they capture.Enjoy your photography for the same reason. It will shine through.
Try new and different things to photograph subjects that challenge you. Every new challenge adds more skills and more experiences.
Do not be afraid to fail by taking bad photographs. Overcoming failures by taking better photographs only make you a better photographer.
Assign yourself assignments that you have not attempted before, especially those assignments that you've never seen done by others before.
Be free to express yourself. Ignore the set rules. (Set by whom?)
Be inspired. Attend workshops, seminars, look at photography blogs, magazines and books.
Act as your own critic. Look at your own collection of shots and ask yourself how they could be improved. Is your work exciting to you or just another bird photo?
Share your work with your friends and family, or got one stage further and sign up with photo web forums. Attend local meet up groups. Treat all negative feedback as a means to learn from them. Treat positive feedback as being on the right track.
Take a camera wherever you go. That one perfect shot is waiting to be captured by you.
Specialize on particular genre of photography but do it differently.
Decide on a medium. Do you want to photograph in black and white only, HDR images? Pick one and be consistent in the main and I mean 90% of the time. There's nothing worse that browsing through someone's portfolio to see colour, black and white and some HDR. It cries out that you haven't developed a style yet.
Try and describe your style to others. Do you capture the moment, freeze action, tell a story or do you aspire to being a photo journalist? This will help to define your style by telling others.
Eventually, you will come to realise what your style really is. One word of caution, don't over process your images in your favourite imaging software. Keep it simple and your work will stand the test of time.
For further information about wildlife photography, pet photography or general questions about digital photography, visit http://photopress.in/brianparkin and http://portraitsforpets.biz/
A lot of consumers migrating from a Compact Point & Shoot to a DSLR would often be confused as to which lens to buy. While buying a DSLR they would be tempted to buy the kits lens provided with the camera. Unaware of what a kit lens is, or what type of lens they need, they may even buy it only to realise later that it was a bad investment. If you are looking to buy a new DSLR, the following tips can help you choose your first lens.
Focal length
A kit lens is one that comes bundled together with a camera as an offer from the manufacturer. Usually an entry level DSLR would come with a 18-55mm lens. 18mm and 55mm are the two extreme focal lengths within which the lens can shoot pictures. It has nothing to do with the length of the lens. The smaller the number the wider is the field of view that it can capture (technically any lens less than 50mm is known as a wide angle). Again, the higher the number the more optical zoom range the lens has. Typically, the human eye has a focal length of about 50mm which is why, a lot of street photography enthusiasts prefer shooting with a 50mm prime lens. More on prime lenses later. If you are interested in everyday shooting only, then a 18-55mm kit lens will be enough for you. But if you prefer to shoot wildlife then you will need a bigger focal length, something like a 55-300mm. if you are a landscape photographer or shoot architecture, then you will need a wider lens something like a 17-55mm.
Compatible lenses from other manufacturers
If you're shopping for a DSLR, you have the option to purchase it along with a kit lens, or ask the store keeper to bundle the camera with another lens of your choice. There are no hard and fast rules that you will have to purchase the kit lens. Professional photographers prefer buying a camera body only and then use a lens of their choice. Purchasing only the body allows you the option to even mount a compatible lens from a different manufacturer. There are plenty of other compatible lenses available in the market. If you're purchasing a Nikon or a Canon DSLR, then the choice is pretty wide.
Using lenses via an adapter ring
One can even use lenses which are not directly compatible, via an adapter ring. However it is pertinent to note that if you use a lens via an adapter ring you will most likely lose out on the Auto-Focusing (AF) abilities.
Prime lenses and zoom lenses
A prime lens is a fixed focal length lens. Being fixed in its focal length means manufacturers have less number of moving lens elements to deal with and can concentrate on the optical qualities of the lens instead. Prime lenses are usually faster because they have a wider maximum aperture and offer photographers the option to select a faster shutter speed. Wider aperture is perfect for shooting fast action or in low light conditions.
Zoom lenses on the other hand have a variable focal length and can be adjusted to focus on a subject by turning a focusing ring on the lens body. There are several moving elements inside a zoom lens body and as such the lens tends to be heavier. Also, the maximum aperture is somewhat smaller than a prime lens.
Image stabilisation system
When purchasing a lens it is pertinent to note whether the lens has some sort of image stabilisation system built in or not. Image stabilisation system is referred to by different names by different manufacturers, but they essentially do the same. They counter for the camera shake when the picture is being taken. There are tiny gyro sensors mounted on the lens body which can detect vertical and horizontal movements of the camera and compensates for that by moving specific lens elements to bring the image on to the correct focal plane. If you intend to shoot hand holding most of the times, then you must have image stabilisation system in your lenses.
Rajib Mukherjee is a freelance article writer specializing on digital photography & travel related topics. He is also an avid traveler who loves to document his travels in his articles and through his lenses. He can be called upon to write on any digital photography topics and or provide original photographs and write-ups about any Indian destinations. Visit his website at http://www.rajibmukherjee.in/
Cape Town has long been a favourite destination for advertising and catalogue shoots and more recently has seen more and more big budget film productions. So what is it about Cape Town that attracts so many international teams to travel across half the world even for just a few days shoot? Talking to top photographers and production companies, there are several advantages that they consider Cape Town has over other destinations.
Varied landscapes
Many summer catalogue shoots come for the white sand beaches, but there is a whole lot more in the way of landscape than just beautiful scenic beaches. Rugged mountains with unspoilt nature reserves offer a fine backdrop, both within the city on the slopes of Table Mountain or in the protective circles of mountains that surrounds the Cape Winelands. Then there are the lush wine estates themselves with historic buildings and graceful avenues; rolling wheatfields are golden in summer, green in winter; there are dry almost desert landscapes, intriguing sand dunes, mysterious forests and vast blue skies over everything. The city itself offers a whole range of architecture, from modern luxury villas, to old Victorian homes, the colourful streets of Bo Kaap to the urban vibe of the business district, market squares, ports with fishing boats, leisure marinas, the list is endless.
Plus you can use Cape Town as a convenient base for shoots that take in the rest of Southern Africa, for example the huge open spaces of Namibia, the dry expanses of the Kalahari or the watery wilderness of the Okavango Delta.
Strong support
Cape Town has developed a strong network of support services for film and stills productions. Experienced crew, world class equipment hire, excellent post-production services and casting agencies with access to local and international models. Together with the expertise of Cape Town's best production companies all this means that international teams can travel lighter, reducing costs by sourcing as much as possible on the spot.
Cost-effective
With rates of exchange remaining favourable to international teams from Europe and the US, both film and stills productions find they can get more for their budget in Cape Town. Support services are good value and there is a huge range of accommodation available, from the top-end luxury private villa to the comfortable mid-range hotel.
Great Light
The light is all important in location shoots and this is another reason why Cape Town is so attractive to stills photographers. Clear blue skies, with brilliant light that brings a shot to life, are a feature throughout the summer months
Feel-good vibe
Many photographers and clients return to Cape Town again and again, just because they love the relaxed but cosmopolitan vibe. It's a great place to work hard and then relax and have fun, with plenty going on, great food, friendly faces and gorgeous surroundings.
Gavin Schneider Productions provide premier film and stills production services from their base in Cape Town. With 20 years experience they have facilitated numerous high-profile productions throughout Southern Africa. Browse their selection of locations in South Africa for inspiration.
Trying to find the best free photo editing software? Please don't ignore open-source and also no cost image editing software programs. Several such as GIMP are really very popular. For straightforward photo editing, totally free online picture editors such as Picasa could be all you need.
You can actually re-touch, resize and improve nearly every part of your digital images with user friendly free picture editing software. A few of the top ones are discussed in this post.
Listed below are several of the best free photo editing software tools that I have used to create images for my online websites. Try them out for yourself.
GIMP
GIMP is known as a really versatile graphics editing software package. GIMP is billed as an open source alternative option to Adobe PhotoShop.
The software program works well with all sorts of images, whether it is photographs, icons, sketches, fonts, and even layered graphic layouts. Having cross-platform capability and support for an exhaustive number of file formats, GIMP is a worthwhile option for novice to more advanced graphic editing projects, although somewhat limited in its capacity to deal with print files.
Even though it's a free program, GIMP really delivers over and above many other free software programs. Taking into consideration the high cost of proprietary photo editing software, it really is a surprise that such a high quality program is actually readily available to everyone.
Picasa
Picasa is a free picture editing application from Google that you can use to organize and manage the many images you have saved on your disk drive. Besides letting you deal with your photos, Picasa also can be used to complete simple edits and provides you with a lot of choices for sharing all of those images with other people.
Picasa offers quite a bit for a freely available application. Even if you use only a few of its functions, it really is worth the fairly short time period it will take to become comfortable with the application.
Picasa lets you make basic edits to your pictures, such as: cropping, fine-tuning colors, contrast, lighting effects, shadows, as well as alignment. You are able to fix redeye and even add special effects to photos, like for example touch up, sepia, black and white, soft focus and a lot more.
FotoFlexer
FotoFlexer is an internet based editing program that helps make editing and enhancing your digital images a lot easier. The application works with a number of online photo websites, including Flickr, Picassa, PhotoBucket, as well as some others.
FotoFlexer may be the world's most innovative online photo editing system, giving the capability and performance of more costly desktop image editing software programs absolutely free to any and all users. FotoFlexer integrates with social networking sites, online image sharing websites along with other image-based social networks to make it possible for users to easily and quickly find all of their photos for editing and enhancing, no matter where their photos are stored.
FotoFlexer affords users the most overall flexibility of any existing photo editing program, allowing them to change their digital images, online pictures or even add real-time Webcam special effects.
FotoFlexer also offers a really easy to use graphical user interface. For basic importing, resizing, and then storing back to your personal computer, this might be the least complicated and best option available.
Imageforge
Imageforge is a drawing as well as image editing program. It can extract photos from digital cameras in addition to scanning devices. The totally free version of the software package includes a number of useful filters and special effects, and it's also pretty simple to work with.
ImageForge Standard is a total editing system for generating or enhancing pictures, photos, basic animated graphics, filmstrips and also photo albums.
Despite the fact that it's a teaser application for ImageForge PRO, the ImageForge free product is actually a very highly recommended application also. Since it comes complete with editing in addition to painting tools, ImageForge allows you to bring in photos from digital cameras and also scanning devices for making slideshows and photo albums, even while also providing special effects filters.
Try out these products if you are looking for the best free photo editing software. You won't be disappointed.
Find additional information about the Best Free Photo Editing Software and get other great digital SLR tips and information - DigitalPhotoFest.com
There is something about the technological skill and the sense of artistic freedom that glass picture frames convey that encourages people to experiment with highly unusual designs. Some of these turn out to be quirky, others are breathtakingly beautiful, while yet others combine elements of the two.
The fact that glass picture frames are clear opens up possibilities that are simply impossible with other materials, too. Wood, for example, is always opaque, so it is much harder to make a frame that displays two photographs back to back. Glass can also be fused together directly by applying heat, allowing easier, cheaper construction of unusual shapes that would be involved in screwing and nailing together complex pieces of wood.
Some Specific Unusual Glass Picture Frame Designs
Browsing through large numbers of frame suppliers who include glass picture frames in their catalogs is an excellent way to discover a highly unusual way of displaying your images. Many of these frames are extremely elegant and can be used for anything from the funny, informal pictures to the most serious or emotionally important photographs of your life.
Some of the designs you might want to keep an eye out for include:
Simple upright sheet frames that sandwich two pictures back to back between slim panels of glass. This allows you to display different pictures in different directions, or change the picture easily from one scene to the other simply by turning the frame around. The panels of glass are mounted upright on a glass base, fused to it as noted above to create single piece. The panels may be designed for either a vertical or a horizontal photo.Cube frames take the principle of the upright frame one step further. They are meant for displaying six square photographs at the same time. They can be turned to show different pictures at various angles, and are a great conversation piece as well as a piece of glass "table art".
Spinner frames mount a pair of glass panels together upright, letting you put two photos back to back inside. Instead of being affixed directly to the base, however, they are joined by a thin shim of glass between their bottom edges, fused for strength. The base is a round, oval, or rectangular piece of heavier glass to provide stability. The frame is mounted onto this using a metal pivot, so that the panel can be spun easily to show one or the other picture.
Quadruple spinners are quite similar but mount a second pair of panels crosswise to the first, creating a cross-shaped arrangement when viewed from above. Up to 8 photographs can be put into each of these spinners, making a truly notable photographic display. The base can be round or square for greater stability, and is usually made of very thick glass to weigh down the spinner properly so that it won't tip over as you twirl it.
Some frames also have offset pieces of glass that stick out from behind one another, creating a sculptural effect that has an asymmetrical modern art feel.
There's no denying that the 'flexibility' offered by glass picture frames can really perk up the way you display your photographs. Offering not only fixed 2, 6, or 8 sided frames, glass frames can also rotate for added interest.
Elaine Potter is a writer who specializes in home furnishings and interior design. You can check out her latest website - Picture Frames Direct - where she will provide you with unbiased reviews and buying advice for many types of picture frames, including glass picture frames and much more.
For some people photography might sound an easy task but you can bet this is one of the hardest things to do on earth. Wedding photography means a lot of responsibility (read that twice) because you can't bring the time back once it is gone. In addition to that, things are always harder when you have expectations associated to you by hundreds of people. Now that the photographs are of such a sensitive occasion, you know you have to be extremely diligent with your job. Here are some wedding photography editing tips for beginners because you know the job is not over after you have taken all the photographs: it has just begun.
First Things First
You have been hired by a family to photograph the wedding of their daughter or son, you do remember that don't you? The implication here is to remind you that you are a photographer and it's not your wedding so you can't experiment with everything. Always remember what the families have told you and what expectations they have from you.
What Tool Are You Using?
Once you have in mind all the expectations and requirements of the families from the photographs, you may sit on the computer, rub your hands, take a deep breath and run your software for editing. Oh, so which software are you using? Yes, this is one of the most important wedding photography editing tips for you. Browse on the internet, look for expert reviews, read user comments and find the best software for editing. It is better that you already play around with some of the best known to know which one are you most comfortable with.
Don't You Touch The Originals
The only time you would want to touch the original photographs is when you are copying them in your editing folder. Once copied and pasted, don't touch the original photographs and only work on the copies. When you are done editing one of the photos, make another copy of it so when you want to make further changes you could make it on the second copy.
Using The Right Effects At The Right Time
While reading many wedding photography editing tips, this one is overlooked the most but requires just as much attention. It is the use of effects in moderation and perfect proportions. Remember, you are editing those pictures not playing with them. You have the black & white, sepia, dodge and burn, soft focus, vignettes, pop art, color popping and many other effects to use on the photographs. Just make sure not to overstuff the pictures with colors and blurriness.
An Ingenious Editing Approach
It's a pity many wedding photography editing tips don't put light on this very important matter. When you are working on the photographs, always make sure to keep two separate folders for completed and incomplete photographs. You don't want to be working on photographs you have already finished the next time you sit on the computer. How will you keep a track of these things? Simply make two different folders or mark the incomplete and completed ones with 4 or 5 stars.
Thina Doukas Sydney Wedding Photographers has been associated as a Professional Wedding Photographer in Sydney for over 10 years. Now capturing kids photograghy and shooting weddings internationally. Visit our Sydney Wedding Photography blog for more gallery images
One of the chief advantages of using digital rather than traditional technology when taking photographs is that digital images, once captured, are both easier to store and far more flexible once they've been stored. Whereas traditional photographs could be reprinted or, perhaps, enlarged, digital images offer a whole new world of possibilities. Many of these possibilities revolve around the issue of storage, and exactly how you go about keeping your images in a way which is safe, accessible and shows them off to their very best effect.
All too often, huge numbers of digital photographs can end up being scattered across a large number of computer drives and digital devices. What this means is that they languish unlocked at and not celebrated for many years, rather than being enjoyed in the way they should be. The answer to this is to collect your favorites together and store them in the digital equivalent of photo albums. Personalized photo albums such as these are a world away from the albums which people used to use to store their printed photographs in. Rather than being slightly scrap books with pictures glued to the pages, these volumes are the equivalent of the photo books which are produced to celebrate the work of famous photographers or the lives of celebrities. When you produce photo books online, you'll be designing something which is produced to a luxurious and lavish standard, with thick glossy pages and state of the art printing techniques.
You might want to create your own wedding album, for example, gathering together the images taken by all the guests who came with their own digital cameras. These will form a touching counterpoint to the official wedding photographs, since they'll capture the quieter, less formal pleasures of a wedding day. For others, it's an ideal opportunity to produce a baby album which will last in perfect condition for many years to come, meaning you can always take it off the shelf and take a trip down memory lane.
Making a photo album of this kind is much easier than most people probably think. Once you've decided on a theme and selected the images you wish to include, you just have to upload them to the website you're using. Once they're on there, you'll find software which has been especially designed to be simple to use no matter what level of experience you have. The process is set out in the form of a series of simple choices, allowing you to select such basic things as the size and shape of the book, and then moving on to more detailed choices such as the layout of each page. You'll also be able to add any text you might want, and to choose from a wide range of colors and styles for the front and back covers. Once you've made sure it looks exactly how you want it to look, it will be printed to a standard which is more than a match for those on sale in book shops all over the country.
If you choose to create books to give as gifts, then you can take the process one step further and use more of your photographs to create bespoke, one of greeting cards which will stand out in sharp contrast to the bland offerings available on the high street.
Creating personalised photo albums has moved on in leaps and bounds from the days when photographs were stuck in scrapbooks. Digital technology allows you to create something of a professional standard but with a wholly personal slant, and the same goes for one off photo greeting cards.
The switch from celluloid to digital photograph has had a revolutionary effect upon the way in which people take and store their photographs. Even the most basic digital camera is capable of storing vast numbers of images and this allied to the automated nature of the cameras means that people have been freed up to take many more pictures. When a camera is genuinely 'point and click' with focus exposure and shutter speed arranged on your behalf, then taking literally hundreds of images whilst away on holiday becomes not just possible but desirable.
Once you've amassed a large collection of images the question of storage arises, particularly when it comes to your most treasured memories and favorite images. All too often digital photographs end up scattered across a wide range of hard drives, memory sticks, hand hold devices and the like which means that they are neither particularly safe nor easily accessible. When photographs were purely physical in nature, the solution to this kind of problem usually lay in collecting them in photo albums, but as this generally involved sticking them onto the pages of scrapbooks, it was less than ideal.
Digital technology on the other hand, offers a solution which is safer, more durable and much more elegant and that's having your favorite images professionally printed in the form of bespoke photo books. Creating online photo books has been made as simple as printing off individual photographs, raising the possibility of building a photo book around any theme that takes your fancy. For some people this will mean simply gathering a miscellaneous selection of their favorite images, whilst others may be more methodical, and design a book based around a single theme such as 'The Family Playing Sports' or 'Holidays in the Sun'. Whatever the theme, there is a broad range of photo books to make online ranging from small, soft back copies to luxurious leather bound volumes, and whatever type you opt for they make excellent Christmas photo gifts.
Once you've chosen the images for your book all that you need to do is upload them to the website you're using. The software designed for putting the books together has been kept as simple and streamlined as possible.
Basically, you'll be asked to make a series of simple choices over matters such as the size, shape and layout of your book, and by answering these questions you'll actually be designing it. As soon as you're happy, your book will be printed using the finest quality materials and state of the art printing techniques. The finished items will showcase your images in the best possible way and, whether you give them as gifts or keep them for yourself, will be treasured for years to come. The same combination of technology and personal input can be applied to greeting cards, meaning that you can design your own photo greeting cards to make them perfect for absolutely every occasion.
Creating a gift yourself is the best way of showing how much you care, and, thanks to the flexibility and simplicity of digital technology, you can create online photo books and photo greeting cards which are produced to retail standard whilst being totally unique.
Food photography has a special place in the world of commercial photography because of how unintimidating it can be at first. Snapshots on mom-and-pop dinner menus and amateur food pictures on twitter have made anyone believe that they have the artistic eye for food photography. However, anyone who has studied or attempted professional level photography understands the complexity of making a dish look as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
The goal of good food photography is to sell or promote the food. This may seem like an underwhelming prospect, but that mindset betrays ignorance. Food photography is a descendant of still life painting, and opens the subject matter to the full brunt of the photographer's art. In food photography, the commercial photographer is invited to cultivate their technique, especially through the use of lighting, props, and shot selection.
The lighting in photographing food is essentially dictated by the dish being photographed. However, a rule of thumb for most shots is to use as much natural lighting as possible. Flash lighting can be a little too harsh on delicate foods; however, don't certain dishes beg to be lit in more creative ways? Fresh, crisp lighting is standard for a salad or fresh fruit dish, but other foods have different qualities. Wouldn't you want to see the glistened char of a steak or grilled dish shine from a fiery, earthy lighting? Or the clashing saturated colors of the ingredients on a pizza dish? Focus on the qualities of your subject, and emphasize those qualities to form your own lighting style.
Props in food photography are usually secondary, but can tie a shot together if utilized in the correct manner. The best way to use props is to emphasize the meal and make it more appealing. There are many different household substances which can be used as props to doctor up food shots, almost like make-up for a model. A light brushing of vegetable oil can put an appetizing sheen on any surface. Light garnishes like diced nuts, sesame seeds, or parsley can add texture and complexity to a shot, even if they have no place in final dish. Even hairspray can be used to preserve the moisture and hold of cakes and breads over long shoots. Never be afraid of utilizing a new prop or substance for the sake of a better photo.
Finally, shot selection is huge. The eye of the artists is not only concerned with HOW to shoot something, but WHAT to shoot. In some cases, the preparation of a meal could be more aesthetically appealing that the dish itself. Maybe a shot of the chef kneading and preparing the dough will sell a pizza better than an overhead portrait of the finished pie. Or maybe the cut from within a steak will add a color and contrast that will be more appealing that a grilled surface. A good food photographer will be able to find the best way to shoot each dish, as well as the best time of the meal to shoot it.
If your company is looking for a food photographer that can turn your products into art, contact Craig Lee Photo in San Francisco, CA. He is a commercial photographer in that services the Northern California area. Call him today or visit his website at http://www.craigleephoto.com/
About the author: Mary Dresway is an employee of Hearst Media Services, and an important part of the creative writing team. Throughout her many years at Hearst, Mary has worked on a variety of special projects throughout the company's many departments including digital optimization and web development. More information about Mary and her writing can be found her Google + page.
There's simply no denying the sheer practical usefulness of the average printed calendar. Despite the rise of highly advanced and ever more powerful hand devices with in calendar and reminder functions, the simple pen and paper option still boasts many factors which give it the edge over the more advanced options.
The fact that a calendar is so incredibly simple to fill in with information, i.e. writing reminders on the relevant dates, makes it suitable for use by all age ranges and people with absolutely any level of technological know-how. What's more, once the information has been jotted onto the calendar, it isn't going anywhere. With more advanced devices, there's always the possibility of some technological failure resulting in the information being lost. Whether it's a power failure, a software problem or just one of those inexplicable occurrences whereby some device suddenly ceases functioning, there's always a risk that the information you need to keep things running smoothly could simply disappear. Yes, you're supposed to keep a backup copy but, let's be honest, who remembers to do that all the time? The truth is that simple photo calendars are safe, user-friendly and easily accessed, but all of this has to be weighed against their one big advantage.
If you take a look around your house and examine the things you have hanging on your walls or otherwise displayed, the one thing which you'll notice that they all have in common is that you like looking at them. Either they're aesthetically, artistically pleasing, or else they have a strong emotional resonance, as is the case with family photographs. The one exception to this rule is generally the mass produce calendar, which will have pages covered with the likes of tedious nature shots or overly saccharine pictures of 'cute' animals. Since you'll be looking at it fairly closely most days, this seems to be something of a shame. That's why it makes so much sense to circumnavigate the problem and create a practical tool which is also a pleasure to look at by grabbing the opportunity to make your own 2013 photo calendars.
Whereas making a calendar may once have raised thoughts of paper, glue and paint, together with the kind of results children bring home from nursery, the digital option allows the creation of something which is both utterly personal and total professional. Calendars are just one of the many personalized photo gifts which digital technology has made possible, and designing them has been kept as simple as it can be. Once you've chosen the images which you think would make the passing of the weeks so much more appealing, you just have to upload them to the website you're using. Once you've done that, you'll be able to design your calendar's every feature by making simple choices over options such as the size, shape, layout and even the month on which it starts.
With your own photo calendars you'll be able to keep track of everything from birthdays to medical appointments and, what's more, every time you take a look to keep track you'll be looking at something which brings a smile to your face.
There was a mixed response from fans when the Rebel T4i was launched. Some were excited by the features that made movie making easier, others were disappointed that Canon had chosen to focus on these areas in what was supposed to be a top entry-level offering. They hoped for a camera that might offer more for the stills photographer. But the T4i does deliver on both fronts. It offers some great new features, like the touch screen interface, and the hybrid Auto-Focus system, which are both inherited from the CSC ranges of cameras which have revolutionized how we view general photography. Are these included in order to make the T4i more attractive to enthusiasts who have outgrown their compacts? If so, does it matter?
Other great features for the stills photographer are the increased burst speed to 5FPS, a couple of useful modes (hand-held night shooting and HDR) and the DIGIC 5 processor. The DIGIC 5 claims to be up to six times faster than the DIGIC 4, analyzing 4x more image information per pixel and reducing noise significantly. For videographers, there are the auto-focus while videoing and the stereo Mic. Here is a comparison of the T4i with Canon's other entry-level DSLRs.
The Canon Rebel T3i
The Rebel T3i is a great combination of features and capability at a very reasonable price. Users looking to update or upgrade their current DSLRs will find that this camera is crammed with the kind of technology that Canon has excelled at over the years. Whilst it doesn't have a touch-screen, the resolution is excellent and the screen is articulated, which is very useful for high or low shooting. Still using the DIGIC 4 processor, it performs extremely well, with quick processing, improved handling of RAW images and life face detection. It also allows full HD video recording. It offers the same size files (18MP) with good saturation and strong definition, even on low light. However, normal ISO only extends to 6,400 as opposed the T4i's 12,800. Apart from the T4i's stereo Mic and Af during shooting, the T3i offers the same stats for Video, shooting full HD and having the same frame rates. It also has built-in wireless flash control. The Rebel T3i is a feature-rich, reasonably priced camera that is fun to use and takes great pictures. If not particularly innovative, it is at least well planned and thought out.
The Canon Rebel T2i
Canon pulled out all the stops when it introduced the Rebel T2i and it was easily the most highly Spec'd Rebel at the time. It is to its credit that, nearly three years after launch, it is still regarded as a credible buy. It gives excellent performance, and can be relied upon in most situations to produce good quality images, though is does suffer a little at the higher ISO settings. Fitted with the DIGIC 4 processor with an 18MP file size, image quality can be excellent, especially when shot RAW. Sadly though, it has no RAW conversion function in-camera. Whilst the technology inside the T2i is superb, it can't help but feel less substantial than it's more expensive siblings. The general feel is plasticky, and the buttons on the back are a little too close together and easily pressed accidentally. Burst rate is a very respectable 3.7FPS and most other Specs are pretty close to the T4i. In fact, if you had no interest in videography, didn't feel the need to explore low light or high-end ISO picture-taking and weren't going to use it every day, the Rebel T2i might be the camera for you. But with the prices of the T2i, T3i and T4i so close, wouldn't you want as much as your money could buy?
The canon Rebel T3
It is perhaps unfair to compare the T3 to the T4i, but they are both entry-level cameras and the t3 certainly has a place in the category. The Rebel T3 is Canon's budget model. A beginner should be perfectly happy with it as it gets all the important stuff right - metering is very good and focusing is quick and accurate. The T3 has picked up much of its technology from previous, higher Spec cameras, so there are no surprises. It manages to take good pictures with minimal fuss and is very beginner friendly. It has step-by-step instructions for novices and pre-set scene modes and the Basic+ option. If you were a beginner on a limited budget this would be an ideal camera for you. Whilst it has the same DIGIC 4 processor as the T3i and the T2i and the same normal ISO range, it shoots a smaller 12MP file and has a slightly reduced burst speed of 3FPS. The screen quality is also lower. Video is not full HD, but 720 - which is fine for the internet. It can be fitted with an eye-fi card that allows you to transfer pictures straight to your PC. The Rebel T3 is by far the cheapest Canon DSLR, but it stands up well to its competitors and is a great choice if you are looking for a camera that will help you to grow as a photographer.
Jeremy Bayston has worked in the photography industry for two decades. He has a particular interest in digital photography and Canon cameras. Learn more about the Canon Rebel T4i from his website, http://www.rebel-t4i.com/. It is regularly updated with news and reviews of the T4i and Canon's latest accessories.
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- The Increasing Importance of Wedding Photographers
- Photography - How to Use a Telephoto Lens
- Bridal Boudoir Photography As a Wedding Present
- How To Choose The Best DSLR Camera
- Special Effects Photography - The Camera Shutter S...
- Why Professional Photographers Do Not Give Custome...
- How to Prepare for a Family Photoshoot Outdoors
- Fluorescent Light Photography and Things You Must ...
- Essential Wedding Photography Tips for Shooting Yo...
- The Top 3 Portrait Photography Settings
- Taking Photos At Private Times
- The Magic of Open Shade
- Shooting Interesting Portraits
- Create Stunning One Off Canvas Prints
- Choosing The Right Photography Equipment
- Understanding Exposure - An Introduction
- How to Establish Your Photographic Style
- DSLR Tips: A Guide for Buying Lenses
- Why Choose Cape Town for Your Stills Production?
- Finding The Best Free Photo Editing Software
- Quirky And Unusual Glass Picture Frames
- Wedding Photography Editing Tips For the Cleanest ...
- Keep Your Memories Safe Forever In Personalised Ph...
- Publish Your Own Photo Books Online
- Technique and Artistry of Food Photography
- Take Advantage Of An Online Photo Calendar Maker
- How Does the Canon Rebel T4i Compare With Other Ca...
- What is Depth of Field in Basic Photography?
- Introduction to HDR Photography
- 5 Tips for Urban Landscape Photography
- Wedding Photography Etiquette Of a Professional Ph...
- Photo Restoration Services - Recall Past Memories ...
- Ordering Digital Photo Prints Online Is Just the S...
- Photographer Tips: How to Use Photo Filter
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- How Much Money Can Wildlife Photographers Make?
- The Importance of Maternity Photography
- Photographing Mardi Gras in New Orleans
- Strategies for More Pictures With Photo Booths
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