Video Capture - Another Digital Camera offer

Digital video capture essentially signifies the capture of moving imagery in digital systems. It refers to hardware devices that recognize the video signal given to it and then converts it to digital video data.

Digital cameras have come a long ways in the past few years. They are now more affordable and feature rich than ever. A comprehensive list of features and advice for choosing a digital camera is beyond the scope of this article, but this article will highlight one of the most popular features, video capture capability.

With a video capture feature on your camera, you can take low to medium quality video footage using your digital camera. All cameras with video capture are not created equal, though. Here are some things to check on before buying a camera with video capture:

1. Sound
Does the camera support sound? If so, does it capture it through a built in microphone, or does it have an input for you to plug in an external microphone?

2. Video format
What format is the video in? Ideally, it will be in a standard, easy to edit format, such as MPEG. Some cameras use proprietary video formats, which means that you can't edit your videos with most editors. Windows Movie Maker, which comes free with Windows, is a great editor to use for most generic video formats.

3. Video Quality
There are two main factors that determine video quality - resolution and frames per second. The higher the resolution, and the higher the number of frames per second, the higher quality the video.

4. Video length
Some cameras limit the length of video clips you can take, often to 30 seconds. This can be a great aggravation. The better cameras allow you to take as long of a video clip as your camera's memory can hold. Of course, you can add a larger memory stick to take a longer video clip. You can now get memory sticks up to 2 GB or larger.

5. Zoom
On most digital cameras, you can use the zoom when taking video footage. However, you can generally only use your optical zoom, not your digital zoom.

Custom Cameras - Giving You Personalized Experience

Custom cameras come in many themes so you can include them at almost any type of party. There are disposable sports-themed cameras as well as custom disposable cameras for birthdays, holidays, baby showers, proms, graduations and many other events.

Whether it's a wedding reception, a sports gathering, an anniversary party, or even a baby shower, these special occasions and others can be even more meaningful with custom cameras. Photos are necessary to capture these once-in-a-lifetime moments. Why not let your guests capture them for you with unique custom cameras? These types of cameras are both decorative and useful. Here are some ways to make the most of every event with custom cameras.

In the automobile world, custom cameras are produced to fit specific makes and models of vehicles. For example, for the Hummer H2, a specialized camera exists that replaces a factory tail light and matches the original vehicle style.

Wedding Day Moments
There can be many meaningful, sad, happy, and even funny moments during a wedding reception. One wedding photographer can't possibly capture all of them. But with disposable wedding cameras, many of these moments can be captured on film by your guests. Here's how. Order customized wedding cameras in advance and place one or two cameras on each guest table. Invite your guests to take the photos as they fellowship. Be sure they get photos of all the children and grown-ups at the wedding. Ask them to capture special moments for you! They'll be glad to do it - and it's something fun for everyone.

You can even order special wedding cameras with your names and wedding date printed on the cameras to add that personal touch. Disposable wedding cameras are decorative, and there are many styles to choose from, so you can easily find custom cameras to match your wedding decor.

Action at Parties
If you're busy serving food and drinks, cleaning, answering questions, etc. - all while trying to enjoy talking with your party guests - you probably won't have time to snap pictures! This is when custom cameras really come in handy. Order several custom cameras to spread among guests and have your party guests take pictures for you. Each guest will capture unique moments that you probably would have missed.

Custom cameras come in many themes so you can include them at almost any type of party. There are disposable sports-themed cameras as well as custom disposable cameras for birthdays, holidays, baby showers, proms, graduations, Bar Mitzvahs, and many other events. They are great for almost any special occasion where pictures are a must!

At a sports party, for instance, you might order custom disposable cameras with the team's logo to show team spirit and to match your sports decor. There are licensed custom cameras with NFL, NBA and MLB team logos for the choosing.

Where to Buy Custom Cameras
You can find a variety of custom camera choices by shopping online or perhaps at a local specialty printing company. Buying online is easy because you can order any time of the day, search through many custom camera themes, and have them delivered to your doorstep.

If you feel that you can use a little help getting photos of your next big event or party, choose custom cameras and let your guests do all the work. It's the easiest way to capture those special moments.

How to care for your Digital Camera

In caring for your digital camera, you will discover you will derive great value for your money. After spending money on a quality digital camera, it is important to take the time to maintain it properly. Your camera will last much longer if you take preventative measures to keep it in the best condition.

1. Camera Lens
The most important, and delicate, component of your digital camera is the camera lens. This serves as your window to the world, and once scratched it will require professional intervention to fix. Cleaning the camera's sensor is not hard if you work slowly and carefully and use the right tools. Check your camera's manual before you begin to see if the manufacturer has specific instructions or suggestions.

It is imperative that you protect the lens. First of all, when you are not taking photos your lens cap should always be on to keep the lens clean. Do not touch the lens directly with your finger. The oils left behind by your skin will be difficult to remove, making the view blurry at best. If your lens should get dusty or dirty, use a cleaner and cloth made specifically for cleaning camera lenses.

2. Camera Body
The body of your camera should also be kept clean and free of debris. Keep the camera in a case or pouch when not in use. If it should get dirty, wipe it down with a soft dry cloth. If you camera has an LCD panel, it is acceptable to breath lightly on it to add slight bit of moisture before wiping it down with a soft cloth.

Digital cameras should be kept dry. Most cameras are not waterproof, and should not be in situations where they could be submerged in liquid or even splashed. If your camera should get wet, it is a good idea to turn it off, remove the battery, and remove the memory card. Leave the camera out to air dry for one to two days. At that time if the camera is not functioning properly you will need to contact a professional repair company or the manufacturer for advice.

3. Sorage
Store your camera properly. Removing the batteries will keep your camera safe if they start to leak. In general, your camera will do best if stored in mild, dry conditions. Extreme temperatures can be damaging so try not to leave your camera in your car or any super sunny locations. Another good idea is to save the silica gel packets that come with many purchases to prevent moisture damage, and place them in the drawer or container where your camera is stored. If you plan to store your camera for a long period of time without use, you should first remove the battery from the camera. This precaution will prevent damage in case the battery should leak.

4. Locations
If you are planning to take photos in a location where you believe there will be a higher risk of damage from water or soil or other conditions purchase a disposable camera and leave your digital at home. Better safe than sorry.

The CyberShot Sony Camera - Giving you perfect images

The CyberShot camera phones focus in on taking good snapshots. The Cybershot camera got a wider shot than the Olympus, and it did better in lower light situations. But in bright light the Olympus seems to have gotten better color results. The cybershot camera is amazing, it's very easy to use and it has 3G downloads. The cybershot camera only needs two controls for operation. One control is to turn the camera on.

Cybershot is a modern brand of Sony that offers digital still camera experience to all. Sony being the world's second largest producer of digital cameras now uses the popular brand of Cyber-shot to market its product. It gives a photo quality unparallel to any photos offered by other cameras. The fame and name of Cybershot depends on usage of new technology discovered by Sony, to improve picture quality.

The Cybershot camera share is expected to increase to 42 per cent in the next financial year, up from the current 37 per cent in financial year 2008.

Types included in Cybershot brands

It is specially helpful for people who are interested to take digital photographs instead of white and black photos. This brand offers a new digital Sony camera that has the world's smallest 7-mega pixel digital camera. This is one of the best digital cameras that promise unique picture, clear images and high-resolution sharpness.

Cybershot [Sony camera brands] can be classified into several groups:

- Camcorders - mostly used by the amateurs. It includes a combination of camera and VCR to create a multiple production unit. Ranging from microphone to recording sound, they feature a small LCD that offers you to watch video during filming and playback.

- Professional video cameras - these are mostly used in movie production and television. They have multiple image sensors that are used to increase resolution and color gamut.

- Web cams - they are digital cameras that are attached to the computers and are used for video conferencing and other purposes. They capture full-motion video and also include microphones or zoom abilities.

Benefits of Cybershot [Sony camera brand]

When you want a Cybershot [Sony camera brand], you can visit eBay to make online purchases. The further you search for a brand, the more range of products you will get that will help you to purchase the best brand.

Following are the advantageous features of Cybershot [Sony camera brand]:

- 1/1.8” 7.2 Mega pixel Super HAD [Hole Accumulation Diode] CCD - they provide excellent image quality by allowing light to filter through each pixel, thereby increasing sensitivity and reducing noise effectively.

- 3X Optical/2X Digital/6X Total Zoom - it helps you to fill the frame with subjects for better pictures. They even help to bring the subject closer with an extra 2X magnification.

- Selectable Focus mode - monitoring AF [Auto Focus] offers you to anticipate the action by focusing even before pressing the shutter release.

- Pre-Flash Metering - with a momentary pre-flash, the camera illuminates the subject and sets exposure through the lens for accurate flash metering.

- Scene Selective Mode - with 9 scene modes available, the parameters can touch the shooting conditions like soft snap, twilight portrait, snow, candle, beach, high speed shutter, landscape and Fireworks.

- Memory stick Media - digital, powerful, compact and rugged with a variety of hardware and software applications

- Multi-burst mode - captures 16 320X240 frames as part of a single 1280X960 image that plays back sequentially in the camera.

- Rechargeable Info Lithium Battery - provides a reliable and permanent power for continuous shooting ability. The charger provides stable power for USB transfer.

Image stabilization coupled with high sensitivity mode eliminates the problem of getting a blurry shot and even allows flash free photography in a low light environment. Even under a difficult condition, all the user needs to do is point and shoot and the SonyCybershot will do the rest. Image quality stands out, thanks to a generous 10.1 effective megapixel resolution and powerful 4x zoom lens to bring your subject closer.

WiFi Digital Cameras - Making you more mobile

WiFi digital cameras makes there to be no need to even plug your camera memory card into a computer, or a printer at all. Now you can buy a digital camera that transmits the images via wireless technology. A wireless connection for your image uploads.

Now, you may be among those in the population that have not even gotten their hands around the whole digital image sharing thing yet. But this promising new technology may lead us to a world of fewer cables to plug in, quicker transfer of our images, and in the case of events in the world, the ability to share images of news almost instantly.

Major Players

1. Nikon
Nikon has done an excellent job with the integration and implementation of the Wi-Fi features. Nikon has released two models of digital cameras that are WiFi enabled. The idea is to be able to transmit your pictures straight from the camera to your computer or printer through a wireless adaptor. Nikon's greatly anticipated P1 and P2 wireless (wi-fi) digital cameras are easy to use, compact in size and produce fabulous photos. Nikon says it has achieved solid non-line-of-sight connectivity at up to 60 feet and line-of-sight connections as far away as 300 feet. My home is full of 2.4GHz gear that may create interference.

Nikon is including one year of complimentary T-Mobile Hotspot Wi-Fi service (for digital cameras), with the opportunity to connect in more than 7,000 U.S. Nikon's wireless W-Fi photography extends to printing, where you can print the photograiphs wirelessly to a PictBridge compatible printer. All the Nikon Wi-Fi functions can be easily set up with an installation wizard.

2. Kodak
Kodak has released its own version of the WiFi camera in their Easy Share line of cameras this year. Kodak has already gone to making it easy to share photos by transmitting them at so called "wireless hot spots", usually cafes or stores where wireless access is sold or given away to customers. These efforts by the leading camera makers seem aimed at adding value to their already impressive digital technology.

Kodak is to be highly praised for trying to cut through the Wi-Fi gobbledegook and making the camera as simple to use as possible. Kodak also partnered up with T-Mobile wireless on the project to reach even more people.

Other Issues

1. Sophisticated
It should be noted that it is extremely important that novice users read the Wi-Fi directions carefully, as some of the specifics of connecting to wireless networks can be confusing.

2. Battery Life
On the downside, the wi-fi can be hard to set up and the battery life is too short.

Wifi digital cameras seem to have gone out of fashion - probably killed off by smartphones with HSDPA access. They haven't been the hot ticket that camera companies expected them to be. The hassle of dealing with a wireless network and the ease of USB transfer makes WiFi cameras a hard sell.

Understanding DPI and PPI

Most people heard the term DPI. In most cases the term is used in the wrong context to express the number of pixels in a photo, the number of dots in a print or the maximum dots per inch a printer can output. A relatively new term PPI was introduced in order to resolve this wrong usage of the term DPI. This article explains the differences between the DPI and the PPI and the ways each is used.

Photography is going through an exciting transition period as many film photographers are beginning to explore the new capabilities made possible with digital cameras. Traditional aspects such as the fundamental techniques and lens equipment have remained the same, however others are markedly different.

PPI
PPI stands for Pixels per Inch. PPI describes the number of pixels per inch in a photo. PPI is a function of the number of pixels the camera's sensor supports (also known as megapixels) and the size of the photo. To calculate a photo's PPI simply multiply the page length by its width in inches. The result is the number of square inches on the page. Now divide the number of pixels the sensor supports by the number of square inches. The result is the number of pixels per square inch. All that is left to do is to find the square root of this number. Following is a table that shows the PPI for various page sizes for a 5 megapixel camera.

page size 4X6 - 456 PPI
page size 5X7 - 377 PPI
page size 8X10 - 250 PPI
page size 11X14 - 180 PPI
page size 16X20 - 125 PPI
page size 20X30 - 91 PPI

DPI
DPI stands for Dots per Inch. DPI is really a physical characteristic of a printer. Every printer prints dots that when put next to each other comprise a photo. Each dot has a physical size. DPI is also known as the maximum resolution that a printer is capable of. Low-end printers have lower DPI while high-end printers have higher DPI. DPI is defined as the number of dots a printer can print per inch. For example if a printer supports 1200 DPI it means that the printer can print 1200 dots per inch (on both X or Y axis). When printing it is important to make sure that the DPI is higher or equal to the PPI. If the DPI is lower than the PPI the printer will not be able to fully display the high resolution of the photo. When printing a photo that has a lower PPI than DPI the printer will use multiple dots to represent one pixel. As opposed to PPI, DPI is not relative to the page size. DPI is a fixed number for a given printer.

When printing a photo, remember that your DPI setting on your printer must be set substantially higher than your PPI setting: while computers can produce multiple colors within a given pixel, your printer can only print a single color within a given dot. Pixels per inch determines how densely pixels are situated in an image. So, the higher a camera's PPI setting, the more detailed an image printout will appear. Pixels per inch is a unit of measure for scanned images. For example, one photo scanned at a higher PPI than another will have more pixels and the pixels will be smaller.

Camera Tripod Variations

A camera tripod is best explained as a three-legged stand used to stabilize and elevate a camera. A camera tripod can be used in either still or motion imagery. Most commonly used by professional photographers in a studio, a camera tripod is designed to capture the perfect image every time.

Camera tripods are also helpful when you have a lot of contrast in the picture. And waterfall pictures are notorious for this. Camera tripods are a very basic form of this mount type. There are also models made especially for telescopes which have slow-motion controls allowing you to track the object you are viewing fairly smoothly. Camera tripods are designed to take a still and move on to the next one. They allow you to move the camera smoothly when its mounted onto the tripod so no jerking ruins your shooting.

A camera tripod is available in several variations, including floor model or tabletop. Camera tripods are relatively cheap and can be found anywhere. The least expensive begins at $50.00 and goes up, depending on the size and features. A basic camera tripod is designed for consumers and is best used for amateur photography or filming. An expensive camera tripod features feet suitable for rough ground and the head of the unit is designed move smoothly for improved video recording. The most expensive, which are used is studios and professional filming, are made of wood.

A full-size camera tripod is much better equipped to handle heavier equipment, whereas a tabletop model can accommodate up to 50lbs. These portable units are ideal for traveling and where compact equipment is needed.

There are several ways that a camera tripod can be used, including a family portrait where you want to be included in the photo. Simply set the camera up on a tripod and position it so that everyone is in perfect view, set the timer on your camera, push the button to take a photo and get into place with the family. Other uses may include an instance where your hands are shaky and you want to stabilize the camera for a quality image or if you are responsible for taking school pictures. Do you remember the days of middle school when the photographer would come into the gymnasium, set up his/her background sheet and tripod? All he/she had to do was to situate the child, convince him/her to smile and snap the picture. A camera tripod makes it easy to take multiple photos, in which the subjects are in the same location, without having to worry about placement every single time. With a tripod, placement is always perfect so long as the subject is where he/she should be.

When shopping for a camera tripod, first consider the uses that you will need it for. The weight of your camera, the needed features and swivel capabilities, the locations that the tripod will be placed and the needed height. In addition, a realistic budget that you can afford will be best considered early before shopping for a camera tripod. Most photography supply stores, both online and local, may offer camera tripods. Before purchasing, be sure to check out the dealer's reputation with the Better Business Bureau and also learn about their return policy.

How to Avoid Blurry Photos with Tripods

When it comes to buying a tripod there are a few things that need to be looked at and checked out. All tripods will come with a replaceable head or a fixed head. Some of the tripods on the bit more expensive side will come with a replaceable head that allows the photographer to select the size of the head that will fit your camera. Some of the tripods that are great for amateurs come with a fixed head and in compact style for easier use and carrying ability. Most tripods that have the fixed heads will come with the tilt and pan handles.

All of us had the experience of shooting photos just to find out they look blurry or too soft. In almost all cases the reason for that is camera movement. When the camera moves while the shutter is open the result is a soft or blurry photo. Usually camera movements are small and for that reason in high shutter speeds the camera does not have an opportunity to move enough. However in some scenarios such as slow shutter speeds or high zoom values even the tiniest movement will result in a blurry photo.

Most photos are taken when the camera is held in your hand. The hand is an unstable platform and tends to move quite a bit. Moreover new digital cameras are smaller and lighter than ever before and are much harder to keep stable. Another cause for camera movement is aggressively pushing the shutter button which in return moves the camera. It is always better to squeeze the shutter button very slowly to prevent the camera from moving. Choosing the right camera for weight, grip and shutter button sensitivity is a recommended way to minimize camera movements in the future.

Tilt and pan heads have two different handles attached to them from the sides or bottom. One is used to move the camera up and down and the other is used for the side-to-side direction. These types of heads are vital to the movie industry and anyone wanting to take mpegs with a digital camera. The ball and socket heads work well with still photography and it is needed for a firm locking and an easy give for the use of one or more camera that may need to be changed during photo shoots.One of the most popular types of tripods are tabletop or mini tripods.

As a general rule photos that are taken with slow shutter speeds or high zoom values should be taken using a more stable platform than your hand. A stable platform can be anything that is stable: a table, a shelf, a chair or a newsstand in the street. However the platform that is considered the most stable and professional is the tripod.

There are many types of tripods and they vary in size, weight, price and other features. The most important criteria when choosing a tripod is to pick one that will be easy to use. For example if you are traveling consider a tripod that is easy to carry and lightweight otherwise you will end up leaving the tripod in the hotel room while missing great photo opportunities. On the other hand if you take photos in a studio consider a heavier professional tripod.

Another important feature to consider is the tripod's height. Many tripods can be locked at any height up to a maximum. Ideally you would want a tripod that extends to your height allowing photos to be taken from the same angle as your eyes as if they were taken by hand. Many portable tripods extend to a waist height or less. In these situations the tripod will be put on a raised platform or the photos can be taken from a low angle.

It is quite simple to mount a camera on to a tripod; all you need to do is screw the camera on it. Yes, it really is that simple! Tripods are used to keep your camera steady and extremely still. In the photography world there is an unwritten rule of thumb on when one should be used, 1/focal length s. For an example if you have a 200 mm lens, the slowest speed that you should use without a tripod is 1/200 s. Anything over that your camera should be mounted on a tripod for a more clear and steady picture.

In cases where a tripod is not available but a stable platform is needed you can improvise by using many other available platforms around you. For example you can place the camera on a table when taking a photo or if you're outdoors you can use a newsstand, a tree to lean on, a fence or anything else that is stable enough.

How To Improve Landscape Images

Landscape photography is a very important skill that a photographer must possess. Buyers and collectors have accepted photography as art for some time, but only if it's of significant artistic merit. Great landscape photography sells because the buyer is searching for escapism and the need to dream. As a species we have always been linked to and drawn to the landscape. Do you have a love for the countryside and a understanding of the landscape?

All the world's cameras, films and other photographic equipment are no more than tools for making landscape pictures. Cameras don't think for themselves. Whether we use digital or film camera, the same photographic principles apply.

To produce a great photo landscape you need to understand the countryside and how light affects it. You need to have a passion for the land and experience an intimate connection with nature. The best way of doing this is to explore an area on foot and become part of the landscape before taking any photos.

We don't have to stick to many rules to produce great landscape images, but knowing what they are will make your pictures more successful. There are two salient points in landscape photography: how to compose your image, and how to use available natural light in any given situation.

There are 3 basic qualities of light

1. Intensity
This refers to the strength of light. If the sun is high in the sky, light can be harsh and too strong. Cloudy days bring soft and defused light.

2. Direction
This refers to light placement. There are three categories of light placement: front, back and side-lighting. Side lighting produces more texture between light and shade.

3. Colour
The colour of sunlight varies depending upon conditions and time of day. If the sun shines at the beginning or the end of the day, the colour of the light will be much warmer, and will lead to a much more dramatic scene.

Understanding natural light will develop your ability to see. You will start to see the beauty of light in a different and exciting way.

In landscape photography it is very important to take care with composition. A normal scene can be transformed by paying close attention to detail. Composition is all about how you arrange the elements in front of you.

Here are a few ideas in which you may find useful.

1. Lead with lines - To lead with lines into the main part of the scene will draw your viewer into your image. These lines don't have to be straight. Lines, such as tracks, riverbanks or fences, may work successfully.

2. Foreground interest - Simple foreground objects can give your landscape a greater sense of depth. Use a small aperture (f/22) to keep the entire scene in focus.

3. Natural frames - Frame your scene with the elements all around you. This will focus attention on the main part of the picture. Trees make great natural frames.

These are just a few essential guidelines, and combined with a good eye, you have all you need to get the best out of photography - especially landscape photography. These are just a few rules to get you started, but like all rules, they are there to be broken.

So the next time you're out with your camera looking for that open vista of rolling hills and mountains, also observe the intimate details in the landscape and maybe just photograph a small section of the bigger picture. Your personality and your vision must come through in every photo you take; it's up to you to capture the essence of the landscape in front of you. If your photograph works, the person viewing your image will feel they can step into your picture and experience the emotion of being there. A great landscape photograph is a great escape.

Long Lenses - How To Use Them

Great lenses are an investment for photographers that should be protected with quality camera cases. This is because quality photography relies on quality gear and components.
Using a telephoto lens to get in close to the action or sneak up on a subject from a discreet distance is terrifically exciting, and can yield great pictures. But the high magnification of long tele and zoom lenses accentuates the effects of camera shake caused by your inability to hold the camera and lens absolutely still. The effects of wind, moving or shaking floors, residual vibration from camera mirrors flipping up just prior to exposure, atmospheric haze, and heat waves can also add problems.

When handholding your camera and lens, start with a fast film, ISO 400 or higher. This will allow you to use higher shutter speeds (1/1000 sec and above) and minimize the effects of shake in a variety of lighting conditions. Use the proper stance: arms closely tucked into the body, elbows partially supported by the chest or abdomen, lens and camera balanced by the left hand and arm.

Practice supporting and focusing the camera with your left hand, aim the camera slightly above the subject, take a deep breath, let the view drop to the proper composition while exhaling, and gently press the shutter.

For support, find a fence post, parked car, or folded jacket. Lean on it or rest your camera on top of it while shooting. If you have such a support, a 1/30 second exposure isn't an impossibility, even with a 500mm lens. You'll be using slower shutter speeds more often than you'd like. The minimum shutter speed rule of thumb for hand-holding a long tele or zoom lens is this: Slowest safe shutter speed = 1 over the lens focal length.

For example, if you're shooting with a 500mm f/4 lens, the limiting shutter speed for a handheld shot would be 1 /500 second at the correct aperture for a good exposure. This rule applies to a properly-braced photographer standing on solid ground.

Chest braces, rifle stocks, and similar devices aren't as practical as a lightweight monopod or tripod. A monopod is easy to carry, and you can set it up just about anywhere.

It won't allow you to set shutter speeds as slow as you can get away with using a tripod. But it will let you shoot safely—that is, without a serous risk of image-softening shake—at speeds two or three steps slower than you'd have to use if you were shooting handheld. That may make it possible to shoot in lower light, and/or to use a slower, finer-grained film.

Get a monopod that can be raised to your eye level, is quick and easy to set up. If you shoot a lot of verticals, you may want to add a good swivel ball head for maneuverability.

A tripod is the best device for insuring minimal effects from vibration with a long tele or zoom lens. With a sturdy one, you can use slower shutter speeds and lower ISO-higher resolution films. If you own a shaky tripod, tie a three to five pound weight to the center column for added stability.

Physically long teles should have tripod-mounting collars to attach the lens at the proper fulcrum to the tripod rather than the camera. You can also use a secondary support for the camera like Bogen's Long Lens Support. This telescoping brace attaches to most tripod legs via a universal clamp at one end and a swivel ball head for the camera at the other. The brace makes it more difficult to change camera position, but it considerably lessens the effects of vibration.

If you're on shaky ground, tripods won't help. They'll actually transmit the motion right to the lens and camera. It's better to handhold the camera if you can set a reasonable shutter speed, and let your body damp the vibration.

Atmospheric haze and heat waves can't always be eliminated, but using a haze or polarizing filter can help cut through the haze and increase color saturation and contrast. Also, use your lens hood, or shade the lens, to minimize the possibility of flare.

Few techniques in photography require more expertise and skill than the successful use of a long tele or zoom lens. If you want to become more proficient, practice, practice, practice.

How To Have Better Digital Photos

Digital photos are great for capturing and preserving memories, but memorable moments aren't very memorable if your photos yellow or can't be easily shared with others or if the photos are of poor quality. Digital photos are stored as long strings of numbers internally, and not as light and dark spots on a negative. As a result, they don't wear out over time.

Digital Photos are those photos which have been taken using digital camera and saved on a memory card and later on transferred to the personal computer or a hard disk to be preserved in a soft copy format. It becomes essential for you to properly archive these images and or take multiple backups of them as well, for you never know when you will loose a set of them.

These are some tips towards having better digital photos:

1. Get Closer
One difference in “snapshots” and really great photos is the composition of the shot. Unless you're shooting an outdoor landscape, you can improve most photos just by getting closer to your subject. Depending on the situation, you can physically move closer to your subject, or use the zoom feature on your camera for the same effect. Try to get within a few feet of your subject so you eliminate most of the background. You'll like the results.

2. Take more Pictures
Even professionals take loads of shots of the same subject - to get just a few that they will use. With a digital camera, you can delete the images you don't like, and only print the winners - so don't hesitate to take several shots of the same subject. Change the angle of the shot. Get a little closer. Adjust the lighting.

Why not fill the entire memory card with pictures of your kid at the pool, or your daughter in her cap and gown? The more pictures you take, the better the odds that you'll get a few shots that will really thrill you.

3. Vary the Lighting
Using natural light will give better skin tones when photographing people, so try not to use the flash if you don't have to. Outdoor daylight shots are easy, but you'll have to be a little more creative when shooting indoors. Try using the light coming in from a window for warmer tones than you would get using the flash. Experiment with natural lighting. You can get stronger shadows by moving your subject closer to a window, and turning your subject can create more dramatic shadows.

4. Eliminate Red-Eye
Red-eye is the result of light passing through your subject's eye and reflecting back. You'll get it more often when using your flash, just because the light from the flash isn't as diffused as natural light. So the first tip for eliminating red-eye is simply to avoid using your flash when you don't absolutely have to.

Another way to reduce red-eye is to have your subject look anywhere but at the camera. This reduces red-eye because any reflection isn't directed back at your camera lens. If you have to use the flash, some digital cameras have a built-in feature to automatically remove red-eye. Use it.

5. Go for Candid
Instead of posing two (or more) people looking directly at the camera, get a shot of them interacting with one another. Even two people having a conversation is more interesting than having them stand next to each other facing the camera. Some of the best professional portraits have the subject captured deep in thought, with their attention focused inward, rather than on the camera lens. It makes a more interesting shot. Your portrait will look more natural - less posed.

6. Create a Scene
Putting your subject in the center of a photo is just boring. You'll get a much more pleasing result if you place your subject off center when you frame the shot. This is a truly professional technique. Place your subject so that they occupy 1/3 to 1/2 of the total composition, but NOT at the exact center of the frame. Capture an interesting background object in the rest of the frame.

Digital photos are much trickier to get right. In general it's best to make sure you digital camera is taking your shots at the highest possible resolution. Digital photos are comprised of pixels each one with a unique color and intensity. While digital photos do not have to be compressed in most cases they are. The are easy to enhance, easy to crop, easy to save in a compressed format that web editors like. Most of us have scanners and can also use regular photos as well. Digital photos are just as integral a part of people's lives.

Great Digital Photos - How To Create Them

Whether you consider yourself an amateur photographer, or you just want to create better family photos, there are many things you can do to get better photos. Here are some easy tips to use the next time you head out with your digital camera. Even a beginner can take professional-looking photos - suitable for framing.

1. Be Prepared
Keep all your photography equipment ready for use. Collect everything you'll need into one place. A camera bag is ideal, because it keeps all your stuff together and lets you carry it all with you. Everything in its place. A good camera bag will let you organize a miniature tripod, extra battereis, memory cards, etc. - even a plastic bag or waterproof housing to protect your camera in wet weather.

2. Hold your Camera Steady
Blurry photos are almost always the result of camera movement. Just your own unsteadiness, causes your camera to shake enough to blur your pictures. So steady yourself and your camera before you take the shot.

Plant your feet firmly on the ground and tuck your elbows in close to your sides. Instead of using the LCD viewer, steady your camera against your forehead and frame the shot using your camera's viewfinder. You can also steady your upper body by leaning against a wall or a tree. Or totally eliminate any camera movement by using a tripod. Once you're all set, gently press the shutter release in one motion. Pressing the shutter release too hard could jerk the camera downward.

3. Try out different camera exposure settings
By exploring the exposure settings of your camera, you could have pictures looking more brilliant with 0.5 to 2 stops underexposed in bright surroundings, and scenes appearing more clear with some overexposure. Just by simple tuning of the exposure level, you can create

pictures which can bring out different moods from people viewing it. Thats why the quote "A Picture Says A Thousand Words" is very true indeed ! For newbies, try out bracketing (i.e: Take the same photos with different exposure levels) and take your favorite pick from them.

4. Bring out some creative blur in photos
By introducing some well-planned blur in photos, you can bring across certain important features, while using the rest as good complement, providing an overall nice touch. This can be done in 2 basic types.

First type is depth-of-field blur. Varying the lens aperture between 0.4 to 1.4 can create a lovely, soft background blur which bring sharp focus to the subject in the foreground.

Second type is movement blur. Done by setting the camera exposure on shutter priority, and keep it slow so as to capture interesting streaks as the subject moves in front of the camera.

5. Create something out of nothing
What does it means? This exercise encourages you to take a step back and rethink how you can take wonderful pictures with things you already encountered on a daily basis.

One approach is to create your shot around the common elements around you such as lines, space and patterns. This can mean anything from the roads to the bridges, the trees, the railings, etc.. You start to see more possibilities and room for creativity.

6. Take Unique Photos
Try to avoid taking photos from already popular places where everyone else has taken before, it will not be fresh, and the excitement is also much diminished. Try out new extreme photography (for example: underwater photography), or it could be as easy as shooting through thick glasses for that extra 3D feel, or shooting reflections of objects in water or other reflective objects.

Digital photos are not only good as model references but as lighting references as well. Anybody can practice these techniques. They're easy and you'll get better, more professional photos.

Digital Camera Lens - How to Choose The Right One

Digital camera lenses are available in either plastic or glass. Digital camera lenses are commonly divided into optical and digital zooms. Optical zoom settings instruct the camera lens to magnify the image in question.

Every owner of an interchangeable-lens camera is faced with the pleasant dilemma of picking the most appropriate lenses to buy, then deciding which to use. However, there are no rules to go by; much depends on your personal style and what you already own. To help you decide which lenses to buy and how best to use them, we offer the following.

1. Normal lenses
Today, many 35mm photographers opt for a short zoom instead of a 50mm, but both have their virtues. If you need a fast, general-purpose lens in the f/1.4-f/2 range for available-light work, nothing can beat a 50mm. Positives: Usually more compact, lighter than a short zoom; often less costly; generally very sharp; provides brighter viewing image. Negatives: No zooming; you must compose by moving the camera.
Short zooms offer framing flexibility, often in a package not much larger than a 50mm lens. A 35-70mm f/3.5-4.5 is usually the smallest and least expensive, but a 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5 is more useful for shooting interiors, vistas, and cramped quarters because it gets down to 28mm. If you shoot portraits, nature, or sports at close range, consider a compact 35-105mm or a 35-135mm zoom. Normal zoom positives: Equivalent to two or more single focal length lenses in a handy, responsive package, it provides intermediate focal lengths; there's less need to switch lenses. Normal zoom negatives: Moderate aperture (typically f/3.5-4.5) limits low-light shooting and focusing precision with manual focus, affects viewing brightness. Zooms tend to be larger, heavier, more expensive than 50mm lenses.

2. Wide-angle lenses
They range from 24mm (bordering on ultrawide) to 35mm (bordering on semiwide). As with normals, the choice is between very compact, single-focal-length lenses of relatively wide aperture (f/2-f/2.8, a few f/1.4s) and moderate-aperture zooms (around f/3.5-4.5), which provide superior framing flexibility. For positives and negatives on both types, see normal-lens section above.

Many wide zooms, such as 24-50mm, 25-50mm, 28-50mm, etc., encompass normal as well as wide-angle focal lengths, which is an advantage. A few (for example, 21-35mm, 18-28mm) combine ultrawide (21mm and below) and wide focal lengths (see ultrawide section below). Many are not much larger or heavier than a 50mm. Although 25-50mm or 21 -35mm may not sound as impressive, it's the zoom ratio (long divided by short focal length) that counts. If you need a really fast wide-angle (for example, 35mm f/1.4, 28mm f/2, 24mm f/2) for available light or shooting handheld with slow film, stick to single focal lengths.

3. Ultrawide-angle lenses
With focal lengths of 21mm and below in 35mm format, they provide extreme angular coverage of 90 degrees or more. Positives: Ultrawides, by virtue of low image magnification, provide great depth of field; more likely to yield sharp-looking images when handheld at slow shutter speeds. Excellent for expanding tight interior spaces, capturing vistas; for intimate photojournalism, street photography. Negatives: Apparent perspective distortion, though useful for dramatic or comic effects, is problematic in portraiture. Avoid placing subjects near edges of the frame or prominent features, such as noses, in the foreground.

4. Medium tele lenses
Sometimes called portrait lenses, these optics in the 85-135mm range are fine for portraiture, minimize apparent perspective distortion, and provide convenient working distance when shooting faces close up. Many tele zooms work well in this range, but they're heavier, longer, and slower than single focal length lenses. If you shoot a large percentage of portraits, you should consider getting an 85mm f/2, 100mm f/2, or 105mm f/2.5, even if you own a tele. Positives: They allow discreet photography of people without the perspective-flattening effect of long teles; single focal length type combines fast aperture, bright viewing image, good image quality. Negative: For zooms, see above; for single focal length, fairly specialized.

5. Long tele lenses
Traditionally, any lens over 135mm for 35mm photography is a long tele. Today, the most popular by far are zooms in the 80-200mm or 70-210mm range. Unless you need a lens that's very fast and very long (such as the optically superb but large, heavy, and very expensive 300mm and 400mm f/2.8s used by professional sports photographers), a tele zoom is the most flexible and economical choice. For many photographers, a 70-210mm f/3.5-4.5 (especially one with macro) is the only long tele they'll need. Positives: Reasonable size, weight, and price, wide range of uses—nature, sports, people, portraits, scenics. Negatives: Moderate and variable aperture; mediocre performance unless stopped way down. A number of suprisingly compact 100-300mm f/5.6s are now offered for those who need a bit more reach, and there are a few fine 200-500mm f/5.6s for those who need really long teles for such things as long-distance sports close-ups. Long tele zoom negatives: larger size and weight.

Photographers can choose manual focus instantly and at any time simply by moving the manual focus ring without first having to switch out of auto focus mode. Photography with the aid of a digital camera is beyond doubt very fascinating. However, it also has many a nooks that the users of the digital camera must be aware of and also must be well educated to deal with in order to produce good photographs worth the most prized digital camera. Photography is a good way to occupy your time, especially if you are a teenager, as it is fun and harmless. Besides that, it's a great way to bring a community together for a project, such as photographing activities and gatherings.

Camera Bags For Underwater Photography

Camera bags are not just for on-land activities. Scuba diving is one of the most rewarding hobby or profession that you can ever have. As a hobby, scuba diving is very enjoyable. It is a great way to meet other people as well as take a look at one of nature's seldom seen environment.

You have to realize that the earth is covered by 70% water. The unique environments as well as the unique creatures are found underwater. This is why scuba diving is a one of a kind hobby that is very rewarding. Besides, as a scuba diver, you will have a chance to look at these unique environments and creatures that can never be found on land.

However, you know that it's not really that much fun when you go scuba diving if you can't share your experience. This is why underwater photography is very popular for both professional and recreational scuba divers. Unlike regular photography in land, underwater photography is unique. You need different equipments as well as different carrying cases in order for you to take good pictures underwater.

You have to realize the fact that when you are underwater, the color that you see isn't really the true color when you take it in land. This is because the very first color that diminishes underwater is the color red. The color is distorted and therefore, will look dull. Because of this, underwater photography has different lenses to adjust the lighting and also the color in order for you to take accurate and clear pictures of the underwater subject.

Since underwater photography requires different kinds of equipments, you will also need a different kind of camera bag in order for you to better protect these sensitive electronic devices. Underwater photography nowadays will require you to have a digital camera and a specific underwater housing for it in order for you to protect your camera from water, and underwater pressure.

The camera bags are also very different. It will usually be on a hard camera bag because underwater equipments are extra sensitive. Special underwater lenses are also available for underwater photography. These lenses will be able to give you high quality and true color underwater pictures.

You also have to realize that light diminishes when you go deeper. In this case, special flashes and lights can be installed together with your underwater camera in order to create the best quality photos possible.

When purchasing underwater equipments, you have to make sure that the underwater casing, flashes and lights, lenses, and bags are designed specifically for your digital camera. If you purchase the wrong kind of accessory for your digital camera, you won't be able to get it to work. Getting the right camera bag for your underwater camera equipment is also a must. You should look for a camera bag that has a hard case, waterproof, positively buoyant and one that can fit all of your underwater photography equipments.

A camera bag for underwater photography equipment should be waterproof because when you disassemble the equipments, the electronic circuits will still be exposed. And, it should be positively buoyant because if you accidentally drop it on the water, it will float and can be easily retrieved.

You have to realize that underwater photography can require you to invest quite a large amount of money. Obviously, you need to take care of these equipments in order for you to take quality underwater photographs and share them to your family and friends for a very long time.

Bean Bag Digital Camera Bag

The bean bag offers a lot of comport as regards your digital camera. But did you know that not all bean bags are large? If you're a photographer, you've probably seen one of this. Yes, there are bean bags which are quite small, and are used for your cameras.

It's but ordinary to see people walking around with cameras dangling from their necks. Photographers are just like that, they want to be ready in case they spot something that might catch their interest. But what if you need to carry your camera from one place to another? You probably don't want it to get wet if it rains, or get too much dust when you're on the outside.

One effective way of carrying your camera safely is putting it inside a camera bag. This not only protects your camera from harsh weathers but also keeps it from being stolen. By now, you're aware that there are a lot of people out there who are looking for likely victims for their crimes like robbery and hold ups.

Choosing a bag for your camera can be rather time consuming. Either you find a bag which is too small or you find one that is too big. Perhaps, it's a good idea to bring your camera when you go shopping for a camera bag.

Some bags are great for storing your camera along with its other accessories, but you can never be satisfied with just one bag. Sometimes, you find camera bags which are not padded enough to allow full camera protection. In this case, you can make use of bean bags.

There are bean bags especially made for cameras, like the one manufactured by Adorama. The Adorama bean bag supports the camera and its lenses. It protects it from getting damaged both in even and uneven surfaces. The bag is made from non-skid materials filled with pellets, designed not to hold moisture or prevents it from deteriorating. Bean bags can fit any camera bag, regardless of its size to protect and support your camera. The Adorama bean bag measure six inches by eight inches.

There are also other brands of bean bags available. You can find lots of them in online stores like eBay and next.com. All bean bags are designed to support your camera if your camera bag has too much space. Putting camera bean bags gives added protection so you can be sure that no matter how much you move, you're camera will be secured.

Bean bags are cheap. In fact, you can find camera bean bags for less than ten dollars. So you can purchase any camera bag you like, and if there is a need for a bean bag, just put it inside the camera bag.

The camera bag alone has also other uses. It can be used to carry other things, so just to make sure that you have a spare bean bag for your camera so that it won't get in the way of your other personal things.

Bean bags come in different colors; but the most common are blue and black. It's a very useful accessory if you have a camera bag. If you can't find the one that you're looking for in online stores, you can also do some shopping around in your local stores. Bring your camera along and see if the bean bags suit your camera.

The Camera Backpack - Wherever You Go

The camera backpack is a tool that can be used to preserve your camera and make it long-lasting. When you go out of the house to go somewhere else, you never forget to bring your bag. Bags are very important; it's where you put all your stuff. In fact, you've been using it ever since you were in the pre-school. And now that you're all-grown up, you still can't live without it.

Bags are used in many different ways. There are school bags, designer bags for men and women, laptop bags, accessory bags, and most of all, a camera bag for your precious camera. If you love photography, and you take your most prized possession with you (that is your camera), you want to ensure its safety. Then what you need is a camera bag. There are bags specially made for cameras.

If you don't want to carry a bag, you can opt for a backpack camera-bag. Just sling it over your shoulders, and off you go. It's not difficult to find one because it is widely available in department stores and even on the net. You are already aware that you can actually go shopping on the net without leaving your home. Through the Internet, you can choose from many styles of bags for your camera. Look for online stores that offer this type of bags.

Some of the bags available are the following:

1. APPOLLO camera back pack
2. Canon Deluxe Back pack
3. LowePro Slingshot 100AW Digital Camera Backpack
4. Tamrac back pack Mini Trekker
5. Pro mini back pack camera bag

These are just some of the backpack bags available for cameras. There are many brands of bags, and oftentimes when it comes to choosing the bag, it depends on what camera you have and on how you are going to use the bag. Since there are many bags to choose from, you should first identify your needs and what other accessories you plan to put into your bag.

You can find camera backpacks easy for toting. Some bags have a lot of pockets in case you need to carry other items like batteries or films. Some bags even have a compass attached to it, more like the military bags. The bottom section of the bag is where you usually put your camera and the bag's top section is for your personal gear.

You can find back packs in different colors and designs. If you want to spend more money on your camera bag, you can also go for ones which are specially designed to withstand harsh weather conditions. There are camera bags which have rain covers to completely protect your camera form getting wet, and a lot of compartments for other important things. You can even put your MP3 or CD players on one of its compartments.

Choose a camera bag that is durable and of top quality. Most bags, especially the expensive ones, have warranties. Sometimes, people forget these things because they want a much cheaper bag. However, if you can't afford the expensive ones, it's not a sin to buy cheap bags. Just make sure that the bag can carry your camera stuff with ease and protection.

Cameras are expensive, so naturally you want to have a perfect bag to carry your precious item. So if you're going out, make sure that you put it in your back pack rather than carrying it around.

Depth of Field - How To Take Portrait Photos with Blurry Background

Portrait photos give us memories of the best moments of our lives. In order to have a good portrait photo, the depth of field and its control plays a key role. Controlling the depth of field (DOF) is accomplished by adjusting your aperture setting (the size of your lens opening, expressed in f-stops). The smaller the f-stop the larger the opening of your lens, and the smaller the depth of field will be.

For instance, when you see a photograph in a nature magazine of a beautiful butterfly in a patch of flowers, and the butterfly is in razor sharp focus but the flowers are gently blurred; this was accomplished by the photographer using a narrow depth of field (small f-stop setting). For bright light situations this may be difficult to achieve. For any given intensity of light, as you open up the aperture (lower the f-stop) you must increase the shutter speed (thereby decreasing exposure time) to avoid over exposure. Increasing the shutter speed generally reduces resolution in the image. Experiment to find the combination of aperture setting and shutter speed that gives the result you desire.

Control the depth of field (the range of distances from your camera that are in focus). The edge of a forest, or mountains in the distance may render beautifully as a backdrop for your subject with proper control over the depth of field. If you have an SLR camera, you can adjust your depth of field to bring the background more or less out of focus relative to your subject. This serves as eye control for the observer of your portrait. The eye is naturally drawn to what is brightest and most sharply focused. If your subject is sharply focused relative to the background, she will be accentuated as the focal point of your portrait.

How do you control the depth of field? Depth of field is an optical figure that is influenced by a few factors:

1. The distance of the object from the camera
This is obvious to understand when taken to the extreme. Shooting an object 10 feet from the camera will result in a smaller depth of field than shooting an object 100 feet from the camera. Obviously shooting an object which for all practical purpose is infinite distance from the camera will result in the camera focused on infinity and the depth of field being infinite too.

2. The aperture
The wider the aperture (f number decreases) the smaller the depth of field and vice versa: the narrower the aperture (f number increases) the greater the depth of field. Just remember that the depth of field changes along with the f number: when the f number increases and depth of field increases and vice versa. Unfortunately you can not just change the aperture as you wish. Changing the aperture results in a need to change the shutter speed (either manually or the camera can most likely do that for you automatically). The wider the aperture the more light that penetrates the lens and the faster the shutter speed needs to be so there is a limit to how wide you can set the aperture to.

3. The focal length of the lens
The shorter the focal length the greater the depth of field and vice versa the longer the focal length the smaller the depth of field. For example if you use normal lenses at somewhere around 50mm your depth of field will be much greater than if you use zoom lenses at 200mm. With long focal length the depth of field can be extremely small. For that reason zoom lenses are a good choice in order to shoot a good blurry photo that is practically focused only on the object.

After understanding the theory it is best to go to the field an experiment. You will get a sense of how your photo will look like and how blurry the background will be after playing with different lenses, different apertures and different distances from your object. If you own zoom lenses start with taking photos of a relatively close object while using your zoom lenses. You will find out that it is extremely easy to get a blurry background photo using this method even without setting the aperture. Once you feel comfortable with that setup start changing the aperture and also change to your normal 18mm-55mm or similar lenses.

Keeping your composition simple, controlling the depth of field, and eliminating objects that may distract from your subject, all help to accentuate your subject as the focal point of your portrait. Controlling the available natural light and correcting the white balance of your photographs can reveal and enhance the true beauty of your subject. Beyond this, make it your aim each day to unleash your creativity that you may see the world around you in fresh and unique ways. Never be content with seeing the ordinary as ordinary. Just stop and think for a moment, everything there is, is ordinary to someone. Art is created by those with the ability to see beyond the ordinary, to interpret their world in an exceptional way, and to reflect their interpretation for others to see. So, experiment and don't be afraid to try something new. The world is abundant in forms, textures, colors, and patterns of light. Grand landscapes and magnificent manmade structures are not required for great photos in the great outdoors. May Mother Nature always cooperate with you.

How To Take Good Outdoor Portraits

Outdoor portraits are very necessary for great memorable events. If you have ever photographed your weekend outing, family reunion, or a special vacation getaway with your friends or family, you know that outdoor photography can present some very special challenges. This is true even for the most seasoned photographer. Direct sunlight can be harsh. Unwanted objects can interfere with your composition. Proper color rendering can be problematic. And many times, good old Mother Nature is just not feeling cooperative. Perhaps, there's not much that can be done about Mother Nature, but with some practice and patience you can overcome many of the other challenges you face as an outdoor portrait photographer. Along my journey as a photographer I've learned some outdoor techniques that may benefit those who choose to follow:

1. Keep it simple - The subtle pattern and color of an adobe wall, the simple repeating pattern and muted tones of planks on a fishing pier, or the uniform color of a patch of blue bonnets, snapdragons, or yellow primrose can serve as wonderful backdrops for your outdoor portraits. When you are composing your portrait, you want your subject to be the focal point that all eyes are drawn to. Busy patterns, large areas of excessively vibrant colors (especially a mixture of different colors), or over imposing forms in your foreground or background that are not treated properly, can really distract from her if you are not careful.

2. Depth of field - The depth of field (DOF) is the most important thing to understand before shooting a blurry background photo. Depth of field is defined as the range in which the photo is in focus. For example an infinite depth of field means that the photo will be in focus from a certain distance from the camera and up to infinity. When taking a blurry photo the goal is to set the depth of field just around the object. In this way the object is in focus while the background behind it is not.

3. Distracting Objects - Be mindful of distracting objects behind your subject. What is plainly a bush, a mailbox, or a birdhouse to your eye, can appear like an extra appendage growing out of the top of your subject's head in your two dimensional portrait. You may get some interesting effects this way, but generally they will not make a good impression on your subject. Take the time to find an interesting angle that eliminates distracting objects from the background.

4. Control the light - “Down light” (e.g. harsh midday light) is generally undesirable. Due to the shadow patterns it creates, it can bring out the worst in your subject … can anyone say, “Raccoon eyes”? “Lateral light” (e.g. early morning and late afternoon light) is much more desirable. Lateral light can be controlled and directed to create beautiful shadow patterns across the face of your subject. There is a saying with many photographers who shoot outdoors, “the first tree in the forest is best” for a background. The reason is, the canopy of the first tree controls the harsh down light, but being on the edge of the forest, you still have lateral light to work with. The same idea holds true for porches or the edge of any other type of overhang. Professional photographers sometimes use shade cloth and reflectors to block down light while directing available lateral light to enhance their subject and achieve their desired effect.

5. Correct the color - Before the digital age, corrective filters or special films were mostly used for color correction in outdoor portraits. With digital cameras, the color can be corrected using your white balance setting (expressed as color temperature in degrees Kelvin). Most digital cameras today do a pretty good job of automatically adjusting the white balance for outdoor exposures. If you would like to experiment with your manual white balance setting use the table below as a guide.

Temperature Typical Sources
1000K....... Candles; oil lamps
2400K....... Early morning sunrise
3200K....... Tungsten light bulbs
4000K....... Fluorescent
5200K....... Typical daylight; electronic flash
6000K....... Cloudy Day
7000K....... Shade

Most cameras allow to manually change the aperture by putting the camera in “A” mode - while you are changing the aperture the camera will automatically set the shutter speed accordingly. Some cameras allow you to manually set both aperture and shutter speed. Shooting dramatic blurry background photos is easy with some minimal understanding of depth of field and some experimenting.

How To Improve In Portrait Photography

We have all seen beautiful photos where the object is perfectly focused while the background is blurred. Such a photo can be very dramatic and might seem to be hard to shoot. Taking great portraits is as much about people skills as it is about technical ability, or using the latest and greatest photographic equipment. Refining your technical skills and knowledge may expand the extent of your capabilities, and using superior equipment may indeed boost your edge. But, unless you can first see through your subject's eyes, and understand her as a unique individual, and then build rapport with her so you can unveil and accentuate her finest qualities, your portraits will remain mediocre at best.

These are some tips to help you having a wonderful portrait photography:

1. If using a tripod, compose your portrait and then take one step just to the side and forward from the camera. Do not look through the viewfinder as you capture your subject's image. This allows you to make eye contact initially with your subject, and then direct her in mood, expression, position, and the angle of gaze you are aiming for. When your subject interacts with your camera, the result can be a cold or lifeless rendering, but when you engage your subject through eye contact, expression, gestures and words, the result can be a warm and candid reflection, charged with mood or emotion.

2. If you are not using a tripod, you really should redouble your effort to maintain constant interaction with your subject. Many photographers tend to keep their eyes in the viewfinder of the camera, but this leads to your subject interacting more with the front glass in your lens than with you. Again, you do not want the sterile and lifeless rendering that most often comes when the camera serves to isolate you the photographer from your subject. Interaction with an inanimate object (your camera) can never be a substitute for interaction with another human being (you), when your goal is to capture the essence of your subject, and reflect the attitude and emotion she was feeling at that moment in time.

3. Allow your subject's expression to be honest. A frown or a grimace that is genuinely felt can be more interesting than a smile that is forced. If you want your subject to smile then tell a joke, put on a face, or perhaps merely smile at her and she will smile back at you. People generally tend to reflect in their face what they see in yours, but in my experience this is not always so. Nevertheless, interaction with your subject is the key. That being said, the next time you have a difficult subject ask him to tell you a joke, to bring out a smile, if that's the expression you are after. If you are a professional, you know that smiles sell, but if you're an amateur, you are under no pressure to sell, so make your portraits interesting. Not everything in the world is to smile about.

4. Direct your portraits. Take control of the composition of your portraits! Do not be afraid to tell or show your subject what you want. Sometimes showing is best. Demonstrating a pose works better than trying to direct my subject through words alone. If you are photographing a group, your life will be easier, if you arrange and pose the adults first. Then, work your way from oldest (or more mature and settled) to youngest of the children. The point to remember is, as the photographer, you should take charge of the shot. The success or failure of the portrait will be your responsibility, so take charge.

Engage your subject to establish and build rapport with her, to take your photos to a higher level. Make your portraits more meaningful by keeping them honest, and natural. We all know a fantasy photo can be cute, and a formally posed portrait can be graceful and dignified, if that is your subject's personality. But, a portrait that is true to the subject is always more meaningful. Allow your subject to be herself, and never force an expression. Learn to take charge and direct your portraits and you will move far ahead in your journey as a photographer. Practice your people skills with each portrait you take. People skills are the prerequisite to all else, if you want to take great portraits.

Portrait Photography - How To Make Good Family Portraits

Family portraits are an important part of our heritage. They preserve history. They record family growth. They document changing styles (some good, some not-so-good!). More than that, however, portraits seem to call to us and will garner our attention almost immediately when we enter a room. These, among many other reasons, are why family portraits continue to be so popular. It's also why portraiture is one of the most popular areas of study at photography schools.

Almost anyone that can point a camera and take a picture can take a portrait picture. There are a few things to learn about when it comes to this type of photography that will help you understand the basics of what makes a good portrait. In reality, you do not need a studio or some special equipment and technical resources to take an outstanding portrait photograph.

A portrait is taken to define the likeness of a person or people and even more so, it is a picture of someone's face. However, in general the word has a deeper meaning when it is shown in a photo. Portrait photography is understood to be of good quality and not only does it capture a person's physical look on film, but will also show a characteristic in the manner that is pleasant to the eye, attractive and a unique mannerism of the subject. A very well done portrait will at least contain one element that reveals what the subject's personality and attitude or any other traits or features that is natural to the person.

While almost all get looked at, only a few spark the phrase, "That's a good picture!" Why is it that since most photographers go through photography school, only some family portraits gain compliments while others seem ordinary? The posing strategies and selections of photographers play a big role. Photographers tend to get into ruts taking the same styles of portraits over and over. When you feel this happening to you, it's time to shake things up with new ideas about posing families.

Natural Sittings (and Settings) Are Popular
First and foremost, keep things light. The days of stiff family portraits where everybody is in exactly the same pose are over! Today, more natural-looking poses (even "formal" portraits) are what give that noteworthy appearance.

Let the family members be themselves. Keep your eye behind the lens, always looking for an opportune shot as family members interact with each other. You'll also want to encourage natural laughter and smiles rather than forced "cheese" smiles.

Creative Family Poses
Get creative! Use your imagination and a host of props or natural settings to capture moments that are truly unique. For young families, consider placing baby in a bassinet with siblings and parents looking at baby, not at the camera. Perhaps toddlers could play at the edges of brooks or streams with mom and dad.

Other memorable (not to mention adorable) shots could include toddlers chasing bubbles or butterflies and toddlers playing with puppies, bunnies or other small (but tame) pets.

For families with older children, head outside! Fabulous portraits can be created with the family standing behind a fence (smaller kids sitting on the fence). Try a portrait of all silhouettes or of the family gathered on the front porch sipping lemonade. Families can even lounge at the edges of ponds or brooks for creative shots.

Move
While there's a place to use your tripod, it may not be during a family portrait shoot. If you feel your posing is getting stale, toss the tripod and try alternate angles. Shoot from above or to the side or experiment with lighting. If the family isn't sure of exactly what they want, offer to take a variety of portraits and let them choose the style they like best once they see the results.

One of the benefits of doing portrait photography is the conversation that will take place. It takes an understanding and skill of human nature to be able to take a good portrait. It will require engaging in a conversation with the subject you are working with, find a suitable topic that will spark and interest and a reaction. Common ground is a great way to start when building a rapport with the person, the more you know about the person you photograph, the easier it will be to take a great quality shot. It is important for the subject to be at ease with you so their natural characteristics will show through and appear natural on film.

How To Be A Good Photographer

The role of a Photographer is to create something out of nothing. A Photographer brings life to a click of a picture. This obviously involves not only imagination but a gift of recognizing the motion of a simple picture or a portrayal. The role of the photographer also signifies in recording the still images that are produced into a product. A brief is prepared by the interactive designer or the project manager.

Take one camera, digital or analog, and film as needed. Put film into camera if necessary. Snap shutter. Before snapping shutter, point camera at a subject that will give the viewer a meaningful aesthetic experience. For someone who has no idea of what a camera is, learning how to carry out the first part of the prescription should take anywhere from a week to a month. However, the second part will take from a few years to forever. It's this part that I want to discuss.

There are several approaches to developing as a photographer.

1. Do nothing
A lot of people use their camera to record family celebrations and vacations and are content with the outcome.

2. Study web pages that have tips for better photographs
These will often help to tighten up your pictures. If you want to get a few ideas in a few minutes, this is the place to look.

3. Get your photographs critiqued at an appropriate website
This is a good way to learn how others respond to your pictures. But be careful. Not all criticism is equal. Some of your evaluators may be experienced professionals and others beginners. If you are going to rely on this method, it is important that you learn enough to evaluate the evaluators (see point 4).

4. Study the work of acknowledged great artists
By taking this route you can learn what elements contribute to a fine photograph. This takes time and study. Don't simply look at a few photos but read art criticism to find out what professional educators think and why.

One drawback here is that you won't be able to see how your work measures up. If you plan to take this route and also join a critique website (see point 3), you will be in a position to know which criticism to ignore and which to pay attention to.

5. Join a photography club
Clubs often have lectures, workshops, and juried shows. This can be a good hands-on learning experience.

6. Take a class (online or in person)
There are all sorts of classes. If you choose one that has assignments and feedback, you can be guided through the fundamentals by an experienced photographer.

7. Get a coach
At this point I have to say a few words about the difference between a competent photographer and a person who uses photography as an art form. The competent photographer will be able to produce pleasing postcard- or calendar-quality pictures that look like postcard and calendar pictures. The artist will be able to take photographs that represent his or her vision of the world. If you are after the former and not the latter, you should choose among methods 1 through 6. A good coach should help you develop your unique way of seeing.

There are many ways to improve your photography. Before you make your choice you should decide on your goal. If you have little time and just want to tidy up your pictures a bit, read the tips pages. On the other extreme, if your goal is to be an artist, there is nothing close to attending art school. Most people fall between these extremes.

Choosing Between Digital and Film Photography

The popularity of digital cameras may have enjoyed amazing increase but film has still an important part to play in photography and will continue to be important for some time, a few years at the least. Film has many advantages that photographers continue to recognize. Major players in the production of film like Kodak is still putting into it millions though experts all agree that digital film will reign supreme in the near future.

For many forms of photography, digital has long held obvious advantages, but for landscapes the resolution necessary to make larger prints just wasn't available. But things have changed and digital cameras are fast becoming the tools that most pros use.

These are the reasons though why some photographers prefer film over digital:

1. Facilities and Investment
Ordinary people, not only photographers, have invested considerably in photographic equipments that use film. Cameras and lenses still have capabilities that digital photography cannot match. Compared with a high-end professional 35mm camera, a digital camera still lacks facilities that only the traditional camera can provide. A photographer who decides to switch to digital may find himself spending big especially if his lenses, flashes and other accessories are not compatible with a new digital system.

2. Wide Angle
The absence of extreme wide-angle lenses and a slow start-up time are two of the most disadvantages of even the best digital cameras. 35mm cameras modifies to digital bodies usually employ a CCD image sensor that is smaller, usually around 245mm x 16mm) as opposed to the 36mm x 24mm x 35mm film that results to a narrow angle. Photographers who are fans of wide angles may find the traditional 35mm more of their liking.

3. Action
Film cameras also offer an advantage during fast-changing and unpredictable photography scenarios. Unlike digital camera that uses batteries than can ran out in the most unexpected time, a 35mm camera can be easily switched on and ready for use whenever you need take a shot. Moreover, digital cameras usually take several seconds before you can use it which obviously is a disadvantage for photographers who wants to capture actions which can't be repeated anymore.

4. Tough Conditions
Film cameras are also sturdier equipments than their digital counterparts and can withstand harsh conditions that photography may demand in the line of work. Count on film to be more reliable than digital especially when your are working in a not-so-good weather conditions.

5. Comparing Costs
When it comes to cost, film and digital advantages and disadvantages vary considerably depending on the usage. A photographer with a film budget amounting to thousands of dollars in one year may find digital camera more practical. But if you are not a busy photographer, your income may not defray the cost of going digital.

Modern digital cameras are perfectly capable of matching the 35 mm film - the format which most landscape photographers begin with. But can they really match the large format film cameras? This is probably the greatest question that all photographers face.

Instant LCD feedback is digitals greatest gift and this enables the photographer to check exposure and composition of their image in the blink of an eye. While this is a big advantage, the hours spent in front of the computer processing the raw images have to be a hindrance. A landscape photographers time is best spent behind a camera not in front of a computer.

The pros and cons of digital photography will remain an issue for some time. At the end of the day a digital camera won't make a photographers images better. The same values we apply in our photography should remain regardless of which camera we use.

Good photography remains as elusive and as enticing as it ever was; going digital doesn't change this or make getting good images any easier. It brings technical advantages, and plenty of them, but the majority of photographic techniques never change. Good landscape images come from the photographer's personal ability, not the ability of a camera. The camera helps, but the creative eye remains the same.

Tips On Sony Camera Bag

Sony is known for making quality electronic equipments, such as camcorders, DVD players, MP3 players, and digital cameras. In the world of photography, Sony is one of the leading names in digital cameras today. They produce one of the best digital cameras available in the market that offers high quality pictures as well as high quality digital cameras.

However, everybody knows that a digital camera is a very sensitive and also a very expensive electronic device. It is a fact that purchasing a digital camera is a very good investment that will allow you to immortalize great memories, such as vacations in exotic locations, your child's birthday parties, weddings and other special occasions and share it with your family and friends.

Since a digital camera is a very sensitive and very expensive electronic device, you should take all the necessary steps to protect this kind of investment. To do this, you will need some kind of protection for your camera in order for it to last a long time and take pictures of great events for a very long time. You can do this by getting a Sony digital camera bag.

With this bag, you will be able to protect your digital camera from scratches, and also protect it from the environment that may make your digital camera and the sensitive electronic device inside malfunction. By getting a camera bag, you will be able to give maximum protection for your digital camera and its accessories.

A camera bag should be a necessary addition to your digital camera accessory. You may have spare batteries, travel charger kits, USB cables, and extra memory card, but without a camera bag, you will see that all of these investment will only last a very short time because of the lack of protection you will be giving your digital camera and its accessories.

This is why a digital camera bag for your Sony digital camera is an important addition to your digital camera accessories. Also, Sony digital camera bags are designed to be stylish and are also designed to fit every kind of Sony digital camera like a glove.

Sony digital camera bags are also cushioned for maximum protection for your expensive electronic device. So, once you accidentally drop the bag containing your Sony digital camera, you can be sure that it will be protected by the built-in cushion. And, since the camera is snuggly fitted inside the bag, you will prevent it from moving around that may cause sensitive electronic device inside the camera to malfunction.

This means that even if you move around a lot or when you are running around, you can be sure that your camera is well protected.

Sony camera bags are also built using only high quality materials to ensure durability to better protect the camera inside in all kinds of environment. If you want additional protection for your Sony digital camera, choose a camera bag or a carrying case designed specifically for the model of your digital camera. This will ensure a snug fit for your camera. You can also consider getting a hard carrying case for maximum protection.

For example, the LCH-RA Hard Cyber-shot Carrying Case is a stylish aluminum camera bag that offers maximum protection for your camera while on the road. This particular camera bag is for extreme photographers who need maximum protection for their expensive camera equipments from all kinds of environments.

There are other kinds of Sony camera bags available. All you need to do is choose one that suits your Sony digital camera needs. Buy a Sony digital camera bag that is specifically designed for the camera model you have to ensure maximum protection for your Sony digital camera as well as its accessories.

Tips On Kodak Camera Bag

After purchasing a new camera, a camera bag may just be the next big thing. But why is it? You definitely would like to have a bag that can secure your camera, and besides you would certainly want to carry your sensitive camera around with you. More so, you would surely like to have a camera bag which allows easy equipment access and can organize your photographic gear.

Now, Kodak, the world's biggest provider of photographic equipment, offers the answer to all your camera storage needs. With a Kodak camera bag, you can sort out your gear at the same time protecting your camera. It can pile up your extra film, memory cards, picture cards or batteries for easy access. It can as well give the padding and moving convenience to secure your equipment from bangs and drops. Pick a bag which isn't only simple to lug and organize, but one that would also let you pack some other stuff, like lens clean-up materials.

Kodak features an extensive variety of camera bags to suit each photo fanatic's needs - from hefty bags that carry loads of accessories to en suite cases that fit tidily in your pockets.

Protect your photo equipment with the Kodak-featured small cam bag. You will be amazed with the number of accessories this bag can hold. The bag is crafted of sturdy nylon and vinyl covering for safe storage of your camera gears. It features 3" x 3" open interlace mesh pouch inside the lid to protectively hold memory cards or batteries. The adequate size of the front pocket can hold lenses and cables. The bag's detachable and adjustable shoulder strap provides an easy moving belt loop transporting option.

Here are other Kodak-features Small Camera Bags:

- Graphite Cam Pocket Bag - smallest crafted bag in black bag series that is great for carrying your tiny cameras with easy fit
- Graphite Cam Mini Bag - small but practical and holds camera C series perfectly
- Graphite Cam Petite Bag - comes with an adjustable inside compartment and a shoulder carrying strap, allows easy access inside pocket to hold memory cards

The Kodak Camera Medium Bag is stylishly designed similar with the company's Small Camera Bag. It is also made of nylon and vinyl combination covering for the surest protection of the equipment. The bag is packed with several compartments and pockets for storage of multiple cameras and other accessories.

Kodak's Large Camera bag, on the other hand, is designed to keep your entire photographic gears neat and orderly. This camera bag features open mesh pouches which measures 8" x 5" for secure storage of equipment accessories. It also consists of two pockets on each side and a front pocket outside the bag. The bag also goes with a hand grip and shoulder strap for an easy carry.

Various leading camera brands like Canon, Panasonic, Sony, and Hitachi have there own distinctly designed camera bags that can fit whichever camera you own. However, most of these manufacturers create bags specifically designed for digital cameras.

Now, whichever brand of camera bag you pick on, make sure that you get yourself an excellent and practical one.

Trendy Camera Bag

A bag serves as the receptacle to different items. Commonly, it is made from leather, cloth or paper which can easily be opened and closed. Bags are usually used by students at school. Bags also have made a good name from sports enthusiasts. With individuals drawing its attention to the benefits a bag can bring them, photo enthusiasts also founds the importance of a bag in their field.

A camera bag is an accessory which is often ignored yet provides good benefits to its users. The main function of a camera bag is to protect your camera from external aspects such as the extreme heat of the sun, rainfall, dust, and most importantly scratches. Moreover, a camera bag safeguards your camera from the possibility to incur heavy damage if you accidentally trip over or when the camera has been by chance dropped.

Protection is not the sole benefit you can gain from having a camera bag. It also serves as a container to other camera-related paraphernalia such as batteries and roll of films.

With the many benefits one can get from obtaining a camera bag, these days some manufacturers combine benefits with style. One good example are Crumpler bags.

Crumpler bags originated in Melbourne and it is presently recognized in Japan and the United States. There are five types of Crumpler bags which you can choose from.

1. Crumpler Thirsty Al - This type of bag have three uses. You have the choice to use it as a camera bag. Whenever you are free from getting pictures, you have the option to use the Crumpler Thirsty Al as a belt pouch where you can put small camera items. If you think that a shoulder bag will be more chic, then you can turn it to the way you like it.

2. Crumpler John Thursday Bags - Indeed, you can opt to use this type of bag during Thursdays. This is a dual-purpose bag. You can use it as a camera bag and as a belt pouch.

3. Crumpler The Bundle Shoulder Bags - if you want to keep your camera equipments away from thieves then this type of bag is meant for you. This type of Crumpler bag does not showcase to the public that you are carrying a valuable camera inside it.

4. Crumpler Million Dollar Home Bags - this is intended for storage of camera and its lenses. The materials used for this type of Crumpler bag is designed to provide utmost protection with high-quality pads for the lenses since it can easily be broken.

5. Crumpler Stamp Claimer - this can be considered an all-in-one camera bag where you can store not only the camera itself but its lens and accessories.

Crumpler camera bags come in different colors to suit your preference. All you need to do is choose your desired color for your camera bag.

If you want handiness and style blended together in a camera bag, then Crumpler camera bags is the key to your need. Going online can offer you in-depth information regarding this type of camera bags. The Internet can also provide you with sample pictures of the bag, the available colors for the type of design, and most importantly the price of the types of camera bags available or being offered.

Bags may be just one of the many camera accessories but the advantage it brings is incomparable.

Landscape Photography - How To Enhance The Experience

One of the great things about landscape photography is that the possibility is endless on where you can go, what to take a picture of and it all starts with a few steps from your own back door. The horizon is your limit.

Lighting speaks volumes in landscape photography. Getting up with the sun at dawn, watching the animals hurry around as they gather their food for the day, and while the sun is just peaking its face over the background would make for great photo with perfect light. When the sun is on its way down, this is great for a landscape picture of peace and serenity. This time of day is when animals and people are heading home for the night where the land is clear of “clutter” and the trees, skies and land are open. Shadows will add depth to any photo of the landscape and give it more of a three-dimensional feel to it.

Landscape photography should be relaxing and fun to do. It also requires some time to get the precise composition. When a camera is slightly shifted one way or another, you can see how it will dramatically improve the picture you are looking to take. When it comes to taking a picture of the landscape, taking one photo is just as good as taking ten. You do not have to waste film on something that can be done right the first time, this can be achieved with a bit of patience, and some practice.

When photographing landscapes, give your photo a feeling of depth by including close objects in the frame as well as the distant objects. A fine lens for landscape photography is the 50 mm lens that comes as standard equipment on many SLR cameras.But if you are seriously interested in photographing landscapes, a good lens to have would be a wide-angle lens. Losing detail due to camera shake is the biggest problem in landscape photography.So, a tripod and a shutter release cable are very helpful tools to have.

Depth of the field
Depth of field is the limitation of perceived sharpness within a photographic image. The greater the depth of field, the more of the image from front to back that appears sharp. An image that is said to have a shallow depth of filed has a short and more specific depth of sharpness.

In photography, careful use of depth of field can be a very powerful tool indeed. It can force viewers to focus only upon that which is sharp, by utilizing a shallow depth of field. As our eyes are not comfortable in viewing unclear images, we then tend to look at the parts of an image that is sharp, and our gaze will then focus upon that part of the image, rendering the other unsharp parts of the image as blurry and not worthy of our attention. This use of a shallow depth of field is particularly well suited to portraiture. As long as the eyes are sharp, most other things can be forgiven if they aren't pin sharp. People and animals tend to look at the eyes first, and so the eyes really need to be sharp in nearly all portraiture photography.

Landscape photography is generally at the opposite end of the scale of depth of field, where the vast majority of landscape images require a very long depth of field. This is due to the fact that landscapes generally are trying emulate an actual scene as we see it, and viewers are usually drawn into the image by its great depth of field.

Depth of field is controlled in two ways. The most commonly used is by aperture control. The smaller the aperture (the larger the number ie. F22), the greater the depth of field. The larger the aperture, (the smaller the number like F2.8), the shallower the depth of field. The apertures in-between have a depth of field is that is directly proportionate to the aperture selected along the scale. The second means of controlling depth of field is by using a camera or lens that enables the lens to be tilted forward or back. This enables the focusing plane of the lens to be more inclined to the plane of focus of the subject matter, and hence providing a much better depth of field without a change of aperture. It is one of the major reasons for using bellows type cameras, or tilt lenses. With such a camera or lens, one can have a huge level of control over depth of field at any aperture.

Depth of field is also dictated by the focal length of the lens, and the camera format for which the lens is used. For instance, a wide angle lens always has a much greater depth of field than a telephoto lens. A very wide angled lens such as a 14mm lens has a depth of field so great that it almost doesn't require focusing, but a 600mm telephoto lens has an extremely shallow depth of field, and unless focussed upon long distance subject matter, the depth of field will always be very limited indeed. On the other end of the scale are macro lenses, which are made to be able to focus very closely to objects. Once you start moving in and start focusing very closely, the depth of field again becomes extremely shallow indeed. The closer you get to the subject, the less the depth of field becomes, and in extreme close-ups just the slightest movement will cause the image to go out of focus entirely.