Photography encompasses several issues that one should take into consideration to understand its substance. The term "photography" has several meanings depending on how it is perceived by the people. Generally speaking, it is the art of taking pictures by means of light. Light is the most important ingredient in photography. It is the one responsible for identifying color and brightness.
When digital technology came into being, different advancements were developed. These advancements were very helpful in bringing utmost convenience to people's way of life. The majority of the innovations that were developed have brought tremendous improvements in photography. This greatest breakthrough is known as digital photography.
Digital photography is quite a complex topic to discuss since many things should be considered in order for one to get a vivid picture of it. But one of the basics that you should remember about digital photography is that it doesn't use film and there's no processing time involved with it. This type of photography offers convenience to people when it comes to editing and enhancing images. Not only does it offer customer satisfaction but it offers easy on the pocket photo printing solutions to people. This is mainly because digital photos cost less compared to conventional photos.
There are many advantages why you should turn to digital when you want a picture-perfect shot. Digital photography offers you many options on how you want your pictures to appear. You have the choice to print only the good photos that you have and edit out those that you don't like. You're also able to steer clear of bad images such as blurry prints and those that easily fade. This way you can save a bundle on printing only those pictures that are pleasing to the eye. You can even upload the images and share it with your loved ones. There are so many options that are available.
The quality of digital photography is said to be much more remarkable compared to the traditional type. In fact there are more and more digital photography innovations that were developed today. These innovations are designed to make digital photo prints that can last long without the fear of fading or yellowing. Another thing is that there are lots of budget-friendly options that you can enjoy with digital photos.
The difference of digital to classic photography lies on the way the image is generated. In the traditional form, the image is produced using film while in digital wave, the image is digitally captured. In the traditional method, the image that is captured on the film is developed in a darkroom where chemicals are used to create negatives. The negative are then printed before you can view the final product of the shot. In digital approach, there's no need for film, dark room and processing because the image is captured digitally, that is by means of electronic sensor.
Hence with digital cameras around, there is no need to use film in order to develop your best picture. A digital camera allows you to edit and delete photos. This is done cost effectively, which means no hassle in printing and less cost in the production.
If you're looking for some good resources about digital photography, digital imaging services and reviews, there are lots of them online. By searching online, you can find a wide display of samples of digital images and see how digital photography can fix the quality of your photos. There are vast arrays of information that you can get. The majority of them offer samples of digital images, digital camera buyer's guide, latest digital camera reviews and a lot more.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Techniques in Getting a Great Picture - Understanding Digital Photography
Understanding Digital Photography: Techniques in Getting a Great Picture
Have you heard of, “There is more than meets the eye?” We use our eyes to view things in our environment. However, through time, man has devised ways on how to preserve the things normally seen and thus treasured, whether these are beautiful or not, and one of which is by using cameras. The images that are captured by cameras can make our eyes see things that have happened before. Moreover, it enables the heart to wish for beautiful things to happen in the future. These days, the biggest sellers in the camera market are the so-called digital SLR cameras. These are the modern gadgets that can trigger our creativity and seats of emotion. Though relatively new, most people choose digital SLRs because it can be easily manipulated. However, having these cameras does not completely guarantee that the every captured image is great and perfect.
Following are some point by point guidelines that should be considered to maximize the expense of your digital cameras:
1. Simplicity - Zoom in to capture the part you want to emphasize. Thus, irrelevant objects or areas can be taken away or just allow them to soften.
2. Rule of thirds - When capturing a moving object, it is advisable to capture them moving into the imaginary tic-tac-toe frame from one of the two sides.
3. Shapes and lines - Capture a straight line at an angle by moving five to ten feet away to the side to capture at an angle.
4. Vantage point - To add significance or emphasis to an object, take a picture at a lower vantage point. Increasing the height away from the object can reduce its significance.
5. Balance - Pick out the dominant objects and arrange them so that they complement each other. However, unbalanced or asymmetrical objects are often more visually stimulating than balanced objects.
6. Framing - You can use the frames of your windows to capture an outdoor scene. You can also use doors and walls of a building to capture a person a walking person.
7. Indoor photographs - You can use natural lighting when you are taking candid shots so that the subjects will not be bothered by the flash coming out of the camera.
8. Camera adjustments - The aperture allows light to enter. You must learn how to adjust this properly and appropriately so that images will not appear as either very bright or very dim. Lowering the shutter speed allows the image to be more exposed to light. You must learn the proper length of exposure so that images will not appear as blurry.
9. ISO speeds - Digital cameras have ISO speeds ranging from 100 to 800. The higher the ISO, the higher the camera’s sensitivity to light’s exposure. Be sure to master using this element along with the camera’s aperture and shutter speeds.
10. Lens/Filters - There are digital cameras that allow additional lenses to be attached to the main lens, or the lenses can be completely interchangeable.
Lenses can be categorized as follows:
a. macro lens – allows you to get closer to objects like insects and flowers
b. wide-angle lens – used for capturing landmarks, and large and wide sceneries
c. telephoto lens – allows longer zooms that let you get close to objects that are rather unsafe
Filters, on the other hand are used to:
a. soften the effect of the image
b. provide blurring on the edges for portraits that have sensitive moods
c. add light flares for the image to be more dramatic
d. to reduce glare so that pictures appear more saturated, crisp, and vivid.
However, if you still want to improve on the images that you have taken, the following list of software can allow touch-ups:
• Adobe Photoshop
• Apple’s iPhoto
• Corel Paint Shop Pro
• Google Picasa
• LView
Once you have understood and mastered the important points on digital photography and capturing pictures, you will soon realize that the keys in getting great pictures are: “Even a simple aim and shoot camera” and “Creative ME.”
Have you heard of, “There is more than meets the eye?” We use our eyes to view things in our environment. However, through time, man has devised ways on how to preserve the things normally seen and thus treasured, whether these are beautiful or not, and one of which is by using cameras. The images that are captured by cameras can make our eyes see things that have happened before. Moreover, it enables the heart to wish for beautiful things to happen in the future. These days, the biggest sellers in the camera market are the so-called digital SLR cameras. These are the modern gadgets that can trigger our creativity and seats of emotion. Though relatively new, most people choose digital SLRs because it can be easily manipulated. However, having these cameras does not completely guarantee that the every captured image is great and perfect.
Following are some point by point guidelines that should be considered to maximize the expense of your digital cameras:
1. Simplicity - Zoom in to capture the part you want to emphasize. Thus, irrelevant objects or areas can be taken away or just allow them to soften.
2. Rule of thirds - When capturing a moving object, it is advisable to capture them moving into the imaginary tic-tac-toe frame from one of the two sides.
3. Shapes and lines - Capture a straight line at an angle by moving five to ten feet away to the side to capture at an angle.
4. Vantage point - To add significance or emphasis to an object, take a picture at a lower vantage point. Increasing the height away from the object can reduce its significance.
5. Balance - Pick out the dominant objects and arrange them so that they complement each other. However, unbalanced or asymmetrical objects are often more visually stimulating than balanced objects.
6. Framing - You can use the frames of your windows to capture an outdoor scene. You can also use doors and walls of a building to capture a person a walking person.
7. Indoor photographs - You can use natural lighting when you are taking candid shots so that the subjects will not be bothered by the flash coming out of the camera.
8. Camera adjustments - The aperture allows light to enter. You must learn how to adjust this properly and appropriately so that images will not appear as either very bright or very dim. Lowering the shutter speed allows the image to be more exposed to light. You must learn the proper length of exposure so that images will not appear as blurry.
9. ISO speeds - Digital cameras have ISO speeds ranging from 100 to 800. The higher the ISO, the higher the camera’s sensitivity to light’s exposure. Be sure to master using this element along with the camera’s aperture and shutter speeds.
10. Lens/Filters - There are digital cameras that allow additional lenses to be attached to the main lens, or the lenses can be completely interchangeable.
Lenses can be categorized as follows:
a. macro lens – allows you to get closer to objects like insects and flowers
b. wide-angle lens – used for capturing landmarks, and large and wide sceneries
c. telephoto lens – allows longer zooms that let you get close to objects that are rather unsafe
Filters, on the other hand are used to:
a. soften the effect of the image
b. provide blurring on the edges for portraits that have sensitive moods
c. add light flares for the image to be more dramatic
d. to reduce glare so that pictures appear more saturated, crisp, and vivid.
However, if you still want to improve on the images that you have taken, the following list of software can allow touch-ups:
• Adobe Photoshop
• Apple’s iPhoto
• Corel Paint Shop Pro
• Google Picasa
• LView
Once you have understood and mastered the important points on digital photography and capturing pictures, you will soon realize that the keys in getting great pictures are: “Even a simple aim and shoot camera” and “Creative ME.”
Friday, March 7, 2008
10 Digital Photgraphy Tips
Digital Photography Tip
#1: Don’t Assume that DigiCams Do All The Work!
Maybe you have heard something like this before: “The better the cameras, the better the photos.” In this effect, you might have thought of digital cameras. Many believe that these models are just a one-click away for great photos. Do you also believe on this? Ponder on the following article and the appropriate answer will be revealed to you. The rivalry between film cameras and digital cameras is huge. How come? Eight mega pixels digital cameras have an array of choices for consumers, which is already comparable to a high quality point and shoot models. Nowadays, the same thing goes with ten and twelve mega pixels digital models for excellent quality photographs. The thing is, quality photographs can be taken with ease using digital cameras.
Some of the main advantages to digital photography are:
• pictures can be previewed immediately on the built-in LCD screen
• costs of installing films are replaced with memory sticks or cards that are primarily reusable and can store thousands of pictures
• the stored photographs can easily be shared by copying off the images and/or sharing the memory stick or card
• images can easily be transformed into black and white and/or sepia and can also be cropped after the picture has been taken
However, photos under low light and taken using film and digital models are both susceptible to artifacts or granularity. Images taken by both cameras appear to be very similar can be further improved with the advent of software that can improve and manipulate the quality and details of images. Furthermore, you can take lousy shots with the most expensive Nikon models and make great photos with the passé point and shoot cameras. It suffices to say that it is not the camera that solely makes great and even picture-perfect images. The man behind the camera can squeeze or miss a big time out of the gadget that he has. The following presents a ten-point aid that will enable you to take photos like a pro using your digital cameras.
Practice on these tips so you can maximize the expense of your gadget.
1. Those Tones Should Warm Up - Change your white balance setting from auto to cloudy when shooting sunny landscapes and outdoor portraits. This increases the yellow and red tones, thus resulting in warmer and richer pictures.
2. Use a [Sunglass] Polarizer - A polarizer should always come in handy when taking those general outdoor shooting. Polarized shots have more saturated and richer colors because unwanted reflections and glare are minimized or even removed. If your digital camera can not accommodate a polarizer, simply place a sunglass as close to the camera lens as possible making sure that the rims of the glass will not be taken along with the image. The effect of a polarizer can be maximized when the light source is perpendicular to the object.
3. Shining Outdoor Portraits - One of the most useful and amazing features of digital cameras is the flash on or fill flash mode. This feature allows you to take control when to use the flash. It simply goes on whenever you want it available. This helps in capturing great outdoor photographs. The camera exposes for the background first then adds enough flash to illuminate the subject when you are using the flash on option. Wedding photographers have been using this technique for many years to create professional looking portraits where everything in the composition is simply excellent. To come up with a more relaxed photograph, try putting the subject under the shade and use the flash to add illumination. You can also practice on using rim lighting where the sun illuminates the hair of the subject from the side or the back. However, you should not stand that far away when using the fill flash since most built-in models have a range of 10 feet or even less.
4. Macro Mode Frenzy - I am quite sure that you would want to look at the fine details of your surroundings but would not be willing to crouch down and lie on the ground with your belly. In that case, you just have to look for the macro made or close up symbol, usually a flower icon, and get as close to an object as possible. Once the confirmation light signals you to shoot, just press the shutter down to record the portrait. However, using the close up mode allows you to have a shallow depth so you can concentrate on the part of the subject that you want to emphasize and let the rest go soft.
5. Chaos of the Horizon Line - There are still photographers who become disoriented when lining up their shoots. In other words, once they look at their cameras monitor, images that are erect seem to be a little tilted or bowed inward. The most appropriate way to take care of this matter is to take your best shot at a straight picture, then take another picture after repositioning the camera. Afterwards, you can delete the others once you feel you captured a perfectly aligned image. Also, just practice level framing your shots until you become acquainted with the process.
6. Massive Media Card - You have to have an extra memory card especially when you want more moments to preserve. The following suggestions should be considered before buying a memory card: a. for 3 mega pixels – a 256 MB memory card b. for 4 mega pixels – a 512 MB memory card c. for 6 mega pixels – 1 gigabyte memory card d. Any thing higher - a 2 gigabyte card will do. Then you do not have to miss another shot because your card is full. Purchasing the highest memory your camera will handle will be much appreciated when your taking a lot of pictures. Some carry multiple cards for more storage - especially on vacations.
7. Not High Resolution All the Time - It is more advisable to squeeze more images by shooting a low quality and resolution settings than taking shots with a high resolution all the time. This way you can reserve a space and a 2272 x 1704 resolution on the next great image of the century and enough for the portrait to be printed on a 8” x 10” inch paper suitable for framing. However, if you have enough memory (and you should), there is no reason to shoot at a lower resolution and risk missing the chance to display your work the big way.
8. Tolerate that Tripod - Tripods are “unnecessarily bulky” for some so seldom do people like to bring them around. Nowadays, there is an ingenious way to settle the dilemma whether to bring a tripod around or to do without it. The UltraPod II™ developed by Pedco fits in your back pocket and holds your camera steady in various situations. You can use the Velcro™ strap to attach your camera on a tree limb or an available pole. Its legs can be opened on any flat surface or even on a boulder. Now, you can be a real photographer without carrying a heavy burden.
9. The Fun with Self Timer - Another under-used feature on almost every digital camera is the self timer. This function can be used to save the photographer for missing the picture by delaying the firing of the shutter up to 10 seconds. You can attach your UltraPod™ to ensure that your camera will not be taken away that easily by some strangers. Of course, you need to aim at the subject and not at a distant background before setting up the timer. Also the depth of the subject should be checked too. By using self timers, you can also avoid accidentally jarring the camera when you are interested in making long exposures of cars driving at dusk as you initiate the focus.
10. Slow Motions - Normally, you will use an exposure of one second or a bit longer to create the flowing effect of water. In this case, you have to look for waterfalls or streams that are under the shade. One trick is to use a polarizer or your sunglasses to darken the scene and create a longer exposure. More so, this technique can also eliminate distractions from your portrait. For a really good photographer, which implies using creativity and ingenuity, viewers often get curious and ask, “What sort of camera model do you have there?” Would it be more humbling for them to hear that you are using a normal aim and shoot model? Or you can simply say, “Model ME.”
#1: Don’t Assume that DigiCams Do All The Work!
Maybe you have heard something like this before: “The better the cameras, the better the photos.” In this effect, you might have thought of digital cameras. Many believe that these models are just a one-click away for great photos. Do you also believe on this? Ponder on the following article and the appropriate answer will be revealed to you. The rivalry between film cameras and digital cameras is huge. How come? Eight mega pixels digital cameras have an array of choices for consumers, which is already comparable to a high quality point and shoot models. Nowadays, the same thing goes with ten and twelve mega pixels digital models for excellent quality photographs. The thing is, quality photographs can be taken with ease using digital cameras.
Some of the main advantages to digital photography are:
• pictures can be previewed immediately on the built-in LCD screen
• costs of installing films are replaced with memory sticks or cards that are primarily reusable and can store thousands of pictures
• the stored photographs can easily be shared by copying off the images and/or sharing the memory stick or card
• images can easily be transformed into black and white and/or sepia and can also be cropped after the picture has been taken
However, photos under low light and taken using film and digital models are both susceptible to artifacts or granularity. Images taken by both cameras appear to be very similar can be further improved with the advent of software that can improve and manipulate the quality and details of images. Furthermore, you can take lousy shots with the most expensive Nikon models and make great photos with the passé point and shoot cameras. It suffices to say that it is not the camera that solely makes great and even picture-perfect images. The man behind the camera can squeeze or miss a big time out of the gadget that he has. The following presents a ten-point aid that will enable you to take photos like a pro using your digital cameras.
Practice on these tips so you can maximize the expense of your gadget.
1. Those Tones Should Warm Up - Change your white balance setting from auto to cloudy when shooting sunny landscapes and outdoor portraits. This increases the yellow and red tones, thus resulting in warmer and richer pictures.
2. Use a [Sunglass] Polarizer - A polarizer should always come in handy when taking those general outdoor shooting. Polarized shots have more saturated and richer colors because unwanted reflections and glare are minimized or even removed. If your digital camera can not accommodate a polarizer, simply place a sunglass as close to the camera lens as possible making sure that the rims of the glass will not be taken along with the image. The effect of a polarizer can be maximized when the light source is perpendicular to the object.
3. Shining Outdoor Portraits - One of the most useful and amazing features of digital cameras is the flash on or fill flash mode. This feature allows you to take control when to use the flash. It simply goes on whenever you want it available. This helps in capturing great outdoor photographs. The camera exposes for the background first then adds enough flash to illuminate the subject when you are using the flash on option. Wedding photographers have been using this technique for many years to create professional looking portraits where everything in the composition is simply excellent. To come up with a more relaxed photograph, try putting the subject under the shade and use the flash to add illumination. You can also practice on using rim lighting where the sun illuminates the hair of the subject from the side or the back. However, you should not stand that far away when using the fill flash since most built-in models have a range of 10 feet or even less.
4. Macro Mode Frenzy - I am quite sure that you would want to look at the fine details of your surroundings but would not be willing to crouch down and lie on the ground with your belly. In that case, you just have to look for the macro made or close up symbol, usually a flower icon, and get as close to an object as possible. Once the confirmation light signals you to shoot, just press the shutter down to record the portrait. However, using the close up mode allows you to have a shallow depth so you can concentrate on the part of the subject that you want to emphasize and let the rest go soft.
5. Chaos of the Horizon Line - There are still photographers who become disoriented when lining up their shoots. In other words, once they look at their cameras monitor, images that are erect seem to be a little tilted or bowed inward. The most appropriate way to take care of this matter is to take your best shot at a straight picture, then take another picture after repositioning the camera. Afterwards, you can delete the others once you feel you captured a perfectly aligned image. Also, just practice level framing your shots until you become acquainted with the process.
6. Massive Media Card - You have to have an extra memory card especially when you want more moments to preserve. The following suggestions should be considered before buying a memory card: a. for 3 mega pixels – a 256 MB memory card b. for 4 mega pixels – a 512 MB memory card c. for 6 mega pixels – 1 gigabyte memory card d. Any thing higher - a 2 gigabyte card will do. Then you do not have to miss another shot because your card is full. Purchasing the highest memory your camera will handle will be much appreciated when your taking a lot of pictures. Some carry multiple cards for more storage - especially on vacations.
7. Not High Resolution All the Time - It is more advisable to squeeze more images by shooting a low quality and resolution settings than taking shots with a high resolution all the time. This way you can reserve a space and a 2272 x 1704 resolution on the next great image of the century and enough for the portrait to be printed on a 8” x 10” inch paper suitable for framing. However, if you have enough memory (and you should), there is no reason to shoot at a lower resolution and risk missing the chance to display your work the big way.
8. Tolerate that Tripod - Tripods are “unnecessarily bulky” for some so seldom do people like to bring them around. Nowadays, there is an ingenious way to settle the dilemma whether to bring a tripod around or to do without it. The UltraPod II™ developed by Pedco fits in your back pocket and holds your camera steady in various situations. You can use the Velcro™ strap to attach your camera on a tree limb or an available pole. Its legs can be opened on any flat surface or even on a boulder. Now, you can be a real photographer without carrying a heavy burden.
9. The Fun with Self Timer - Another under-used feature on almost every digital camera is the self timer. This function can be used to save the photographer for missing the picture by delaying the firing of the shutter up to 10 seconds. You can attach your UltraPod™ to ensure that your camera will not be taken away that easily by some strangers. Of course, you need to aim at the subject and not at a distant background before setting up the timer. Also the depth of the subject should be checked too. By using self timers, you can also avoid accidentally jarring the camera when you are interested in making long exposures of cars driving at dusk as you initiate the focus.
10. Slow Motions - Normally, you will use an exposure of one second or a bit longer to create the flowing effect of water. In this case, you have to look for waterfalls or streams that are under the shade. One trick is to use a polarizer or your sunglasses to darken the scene and create a longer exposure. More so, this technique can also eliminate distractions from your portrait. For a really good photographer, which implies using creativity and ingenuity, viewers often get curious and ask, “What sort of camera model do you have there?” Would it be more humbling for them to hear that you are using a normal aim and shoot model? Or you can simply say, “Model ME.”
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