Archive for October 24th, 2007

Common Questions on Digital Photography

One of the most commonly asked questions regarding digital photography are why do not the colors on my screen and the color of the print out of the same image match, even to a decent extent. Well there\’s nothing wrong in it. Your monitor is absolutely fine and so is your printer. There is nothing wrong with your digicam either. The reason behind such a phenomena is the fact that your monitor and your printer use two completely different techniques. One uses the phenomena of illumination and the other color mixing to produce an image signal for your brain.\r\n\r\nYour monitor uses display colors while the printers mix colors from inks, these are two different processes and hence produce two different results. Even the monitor displays different colors in different types of light. For instance, there is more of a bluish shade in your image in daylight whereas an incandescent light gives them a more reddish tinge.\r\n\r\nSo what to do now?\r\nNow that we all know that we cannot get the picture perfect prints out of our photographs, let us aim for the near perfect image. While taking the printout our aim should be to eliminate the purple skin tones or any undesired colors (unless you really want them to be there). To do this just transfer the images from your digicam to your computer and open them using Adobe Photoshop (or any other imaging software that you might have):\r\n\r\nNow take look at them. Do they look more of a bluish color? Alternatively, more of reddish? Well just, go to your color management settings and make it a tiny more of red if it looks more bluish or vice versa. Keep changing the color until they\’re neutralized. Use the preview option if you are using Adobe. This helps in saving a lot of time rather always going back and using the \”undo\’ function.\r\n\r\nWhat next?\r\nWell now that you have done a lot of fiddling with the image on your monitor, it is time to get to the real thing. Just go ahead and take a print out of the image on your monitor. Your reaction most probably would be this doesn\’t look like the one on my screen. Well this was bound to happen. Wasn\’t it?\r\n\r\n

More: continued here

Choosing Photo Or Photography Studio Backgrounds

Pic or photography studio backgrounds are available in a wide variety of materials and colors but which kind does the photographer select? Photo or photography studio backgrounds include muslin, flatplain cotton, chroma key, vinyl, hand painted and digitally printed backgrounds.\r\n\r\n

More: continued here

Buying a Digital Camera? Five Things to Consider

When considering the purchase your first digital camera you\’ll discover that today\’s cameras contain a vast array of advanced features. Probably most of them will be features you\’re not familiar with, and by the time you finish reading this article, the manufacturers will have added a dozen new ones.\r\n\r\nThe type of camera you choose doesn\’t have to be a difficult decision. Here are five guidelines that can help you find the camera you need. Regardless of the options and capabilities of the camera your first real question should be.\r\n\r\n1. How much do I want to spend?\r\n\r\nThis may sound like an over simplification, but using this approach will allow you to concentrate on the wide variety of cameras you can afford. Once you have answered that question, a lot of the other questions will be eliminated by default. There are some good affordable cameras available, but the great one\’s can get very high-priced. Determine your price range first. Then compare the cameras that fall in that category. You will save a lot of time and frustration. It\’s probably worthwhile to mention that I\’ve found some great buys on refurbished high-end cameras on ebay. Just make sure you check the seller\’s feedback, return policy, and warranty, on the camera. You can purchase a lot of camera at an enormous discount on ebay if you have done your homework and know what you\’re looking for.\r\n\r\nAfter you\’ve determined what your budget will grant, it\’s time to compare features. The second question that naturally arises is.\r\n\r\n2. Which features do I need, and which features will I never use?\r\n\r\nEven though the list of advanced features on today\’s digital cameras is endless, they still fall into two basic categories; either DSLR (digital single lens reflex) or point-and-shoot. The comparison of DSLR and point-and-shoot cameras is beyond the scope of this article; there are just too many variables.\r\n\r\nThere are great camera comparison charts available on the internet. But nothing beats going to your local photography store to hold the cameras and ask questions about their controls and capabilities. By physically inspecting the camera it\’s easier to decide if it\’s something your willing to carry all day; especially when comparing DSLR cameras which are often heavy and bulky. By looking at the features on the different models you will better be able to determine if you need a camera with manual settings or if automatic settings will be sufficient.\r\n\r\nIf you\’re going to use the camera for more than just a hobby a DSLR is the obvious choice. There is so much more you can do with a DSLR, and you have far more control over the type of photos you can take. The downside is they\’re pricey, and if you are unfamiliar with photography, they\’ve a hefty learning curve. When buying a digital camera it all boils down to how it fits your lifestyle, and what you intend to use it for.\r\n\r\nThe third factor in the quest for the perfect digital camera is known as resolution. Even though it might be considered a symbol of prestige to own a camera with the most mega-pixels, is it really necessary? Mega-pixels can be overrated.\r\n\r\n3. Do I need high mega-pixels?\r\n\r\nThe resolution on digital cameras is measured in mega-pixels. The higher the number of mega-pixels the more defined the image will be. The problem that arises in this scenario is that more doesn\’t mean superior. Five mega-pix is the typical starting point for most of today\’s digital cameras, and that\’s more than sufficient for most pictures. Unless you\’re going to expand your pictures to a point they could be used for posters the extra mega-pixels are overkill. You don\’t need them. One caveat here however; if you plan submitting your photos to an bureau a five mega-pix camera probably is not adequate, you need high resolution to meet the stipulations of the stock photography agencies.\r\n\r\nSo you\’ve found a camera you think you can live with and your ready to have some fun with it. You get it home and open the box only to discover you need accessories.\r\n\r\n4. What accessories do I need?\r\n\r\nSurprise! I\’ve listed a few of the items your apt to find useful to go along with your camera. Though they do not appear to amount to much they can get pricey when added up.\r\n\r\n * Lenses (DSLR typically)\r\n * Spare Batteries / Recharger\r\n * Filters and Lens Caps\r\n * External Flash\r\n * Memory Cards\r\n * Tripod\r\n * Photo Editing Software\r\n * Camera Case\r\n\r\nThe best way to purchase the accessories is in a bundle included with the camera. Usually the manufacturers or the merchant offer some kind of an incentive to purchase from them. This is another reason I like some of the camera packages offered on ebay. It\’s easy to get an pricey bundle of accessories included as a bonus in some of the camera deals offered there. At a minimum always try to get at least an extra battery and a charger as a bonus. Camera batteries lose their vitality swiftly and are costly to replace.\r\n\r\n

More: continued here

Understanding Light In Digital Photography

If you understanding light, cameras and focus you are half way to the marketing point of taking a good picture. Focusing is essential in digital photography. One of the biggest topics in digital photography is lighting.\r\n\r\n

More: continued here

Photo Composition – The Rule Of Thirds

When you are new to photography it\’s sometimes difficult to make your photos interesting. Good picture composition can really make your photos come alive. Your stock photography has a superior chance of being accepted at the online agencies if you learn to follow some basic rules of symmetry. You don\’t have to rely on intuition or luck to shoot good quality pictures because there\’s a technique that\’ll enable you to consistently take better shots. It\’s called The Rule Of Thirds.\r\n\r\n

More: continued here

A Special Halloween Idea – Make A Flash Photo Album To Cherish Your Memory

Halloween is that special day of the year that everyone enjoys. The adults hold various celebrations, wear all kinds of costumes, speak to friends, sing and dance. The children, of course, are these who like the Halloween most. They go out that night, carry carved pumpkin lanterns with lit candles inside, knock neighbors\’ door, say \”Treat or Trick\”, leave happily with candies in their baskets.\r\n\r\nPeople usually take lots of pics to keep the special moments together with family and friends and share with them. Enjoying the printed photo album is a fun of nearly all of people before the digital camera comes out. Now we get one more choice. Why not turn these digital pics to a flash pic album? It\’s more vivid and easier to view. What is more important is sharing the flash photo album on the World wide web or watching the burnt DVD together with family and friends is so joyful.\r\n\r\nWhat kind of photos will you choose? Pics of you and your family together doing things, pics of you and your friends wearing costumes, making jokes, singing and dancing, photos of the things you like most, pics of the things they like most, photos of the lovely kids from neighborhood, etc…And top it off gather everyone together is a good choice.\r\n\r\nGather up your favorite pics and make collages of them. Collaged photos are much funnier than original pics. As we know, someone now still adores to keep the memory with printed pics, just print them. You can do all of these with Photo Collage Studio.\r\n\r\n

More: continued here

Photographic Composition

Ever wanted to know the secret of taking fabulous pics each and each time? This article will take you, step-by-step, through the basic principles that\’ll forever transform your photos. From the golden rule of photography – the Rule of Thirds, through to cropping and perspective, this article will change how you look at the world. Let the journey begin!\r\n\r\n

More: continued here

Commercial Photographer and Creativity

When it is concerning the work of a commercial photographer, the job takes the professional onto a different level of creativity. The imagination is no more bound by the whims of the self, but it is the whims of the consumers that the photographer has to consider. More…\r\n\r\n

More: continued here