Is Digital Better Than Film?
September 3, 2010
Digital cameras have all but replaced the old negative film cameras, right? Many people believe buying film is as outdated as buying corded phones that plug into the walls, but just like many people do still use corded phones many photographers’ still use cameras that require actual film. If you’re interested in photography or even want to do it on a more professional level, it’s worth comparing the two media to see what is best for creating innovative products like canvas prints or perhaps a photobook.
The big difference between digital prints and film prints is the amount of knowledge and time required to get a good print. With a digital camera you can snap as many pictures as you want and then dig through them later to pull out the great shots. You have to really focus on getting the right prints while taking fewer shots with film, since there is an actual end to the film where a new roll will be needed.
Digital prints can be sent in for printing through the computer or even printed from your own home, but printing your own prints from film requires more knowledge, a dark room, and a lot more time. The easiest way to get prints from a roll of film is to take it to a store offering developing services, but then you are at the mercy of whoever may be doing the developing to get the best prints. In most cases their best won’t meet your expectations for your prints. You can see how that would affect the quality of other products being made with your prints.
Finally, there is a lot involved with taking pictures from film. It is much easier and faster to set up a digital camera to take great shots, so only a select group of professional photographers go with film these days.
Digital pictures are easily uploaded online to create a variety of great items, including: * Photobook * Canvas Prints * Greeting Cards * Mugs * Calendars
Not only are these items fun to decorate your own home with, but they make great gifts. Imagine handing grandma a nicely designed photobook packed with images of her with the grandkids over the years. It’s very similar to making a scrapbook, except a photobook from a service like Photobox will be professionally made and perfectly bound. You can even select from different designs so it comes out just as you pictured it!
Canvas prints from digital images is actually an amazing process. This could not be done easily from film prints, but when you send high quality digital images to online services they can create beautiful prints on canvas which can be framed and presented as artwork in your home. Imagine your best pictures hanging beautifully from your living room wall.
Digitial photography is more popular today not only because it is so convenient, but because you can do so much with it. You can’t have your film prints turned into a photobook filled with special memories or into canvas prints to adorn the walls of your home. This is why digital photography is becoming the definition of photography in the minds of many people.
Film still has its place in the world for photographers who know how to get beautiful prints and do the developing for themselves, but for most of us sending digital prints to be turned into works of art is a more attractive option.
Find out more on canvas prints and Photo Books on www.photobox.co.uk.
Waterproof Cameras – Which Are The Best?
August 31, 2010
Are you planning to go forward with a trip for underwater photography? Maybe you’re going to an area where there is a lot of rainfall. If that’s the case, you’ll need a reliable waterproof camera that will hold up and deliver great performance when you need it. Obviously you don’t want to attempt to use a regular camera because it can get damaged by the water.
The right waterproof camera can provide great pictures for both canvas prints and photobook. Let’s take a look at some of the companies and models you may want to look at. The first is the Canon PowerShot D10. Canon is known for their user friendly cameras and portability. The D10 has 12.1 megapixels, a focal length of 35-105, can record movies, and is 190g.
This camera doesn’t offer HD movies, has less focal range, and is heavier than other models but what makes it such a strong buy is that it is very durable. Customers like the fact that it worked fine even when exposed to a lot of water. The camera can handle 10m of waterproof depth which is great for beach and pool activities. It will also work fine when taking shots in the rain or in moist areas.
Another camera you should look at is the Olympus Mju Tough 8000. Olympus has been in the digital camera business for a long time and is known for their durable cameras, high quality cameras. This model is a very high quality camera that can handle 10m of waterproof depth. It offers 12 megapixels and offers movie recording just like the Canon.
What’s great about this camera is that it is shockproof up to 2m, crushproof up to 100kg, and freezeproof -10 degrees Celsius. This camera is built tough and can handle extreme amounts of abuse, making it a strong purchase if you need the extra durability.
It also has features such as face detection, an LED illuminator to take underwater pictures, dual image stabilization, and more. This camera has been well reviews by customers. Many customers have used this camera to go snorkeling and haven’t had any problems with the image quality or the water leaking in. The camera also takes great pictures for canvas prints or a photobook.
If you’re looking for a cheaper camera and you don’t plan on going past 3 meters, then the Fijifilm Finepix Z33WP is a great waterproof camera. This is more for casual use and it offers 10 megapixels, a 2.7" LCD screen, image stabilization, red eye removal and a rechargeable battery.
It is waterproof up to 3 meters so it will not suffice for your snorkeling trip. However, if you want to take some pictures in the pool or at the beach, this will be a great camera to use. Customers like the fact that it is so easy to use and the picture quality is above average. It is very affordable and is handy camera you can take anywhere. When you’ve got your camera and want to make canvas prints or photobooks, you can choose between several services. There is Uprinting, Canvasondemand, and Photobox. Photobox offers many options, is easy to use, and very affordable. You should check out their free print offer for new users.
Find out more on canvas prints and Photo Books on www.photobox.co.uk.
Keeping Your Images Safe When Travelling
August 27, 2010
One of the hardest things to deal with in the digital age is what to do with your images when you are on the road for a long time. You have saved your vacation time, your hard earned money and arranged a 4 week trip to – oh, I don’t know, let us say India.
So for 4 weeks your normal life will be suspended as you find yourself moving through someone else’s normality. A barrage of smells, sounds, sights and experiences will assault your every sense, rendering you almost speechless at times with amazement, concern, wonder and delight. As a photographer, you cannot help but record as much of this as you can in your own unique way.
Shooting JPEG will of course increase your storage – a Nikon D3 will store over 5,800 basic JPEGs on a 16Gb Compact Flash Card, but if you shoot JPEG you are allowing the camera to decide what is important and to delete forever much of the original information the sensor captures. Shooting RAW is the best option but it does take much more space – that same 16Gb card will only hold 640 RAW files on a D3.
If you need a new 16Gb card every 2 or 3 days, you would need the equivalent of 240Gb of storage for a 30 day trip. You would also need to allow some extra capacity ‘just in case’ and so perhaps 300Gb is more sensible. If you shoot video as well you may need to double that!
300Gb is far larger than most laptops have on board and 600Gb is not even available. So taking your laptop will help with editing, viewing, culling and other tasks like email or note taking, but certainly won’t solve your storage requirements.
My personal solution is to pack an Adata Sport A10 external HDD that connects to my Mac Book Pro via USB (Firewire would be faster but is not an option, sadly). I use the 640Gb version although a 500 and a 320 are available. The Adata Sport is a US Mil Spec tested rugged drive that has passed transit drop tests, liquid splashing tests and so on. It is covered with soft rubber which also makes handling it a non-slip operation.
It has – theoretically – been tested to survive full immersion for 30 minutes, but I don’t really advise putting that to the test on the road deliberately! At least you know the odd splatter of rain, dust or rough baggage handling probably won’t upset it though.
I also take a stack of blank DVD’s as well and burn back up copies when in a quiet hotel room or guest house – or, once, tent in the desert! CD’s are no use – you must use DVD’s because they have far greater data capacity (over 7Gb on a dual layer one). You can burn multiple redundant back ups and keep them in different bags to guard against baggage theft/loss and of course you can mail them home when convenient en route.
If you are booking an overseas photo tour be sure to check out our excellent website offering unique photography holidays throughout New Zealand
How To Photograph Art
August 21, 2010
Artwork is a little different to photograph than regular pictures, primarily because when taking the picture you have to be careful to capture and reflect the intended mood within the photo.
Digital or film cameras can be used although a film camera gives better results. Use a digital camera if you are inexperienced in handling film cameras or when you want to produce your photos instantly. Each camera has advantages as well as disadvantages. Regardless of the type of camera you use, some factors have to be taken into consideration in equal measure for both scenarios.
1. When using a film camera, ensure that it a Single Lens Reflex (SLR). These are cameras with a standard 50 mm lens. It will frame your picture accurately ensuring that your picture is centralized. If using a digital camera, use the LCD Monitor to frame the picture accurately. SLR cameras are perfect for when you want to photograph large pieces of artwork. For smaller pieces, macro lens is a better option.
2. If unsure about the lens size, use a zoom lens. This will help you zoom into the picture smoothly. It helps flatten the image while minimizing distortion. Use the zoom lens in its middle range where there is least or zero distortion. Distortion is most visible at the wide angle and telephoto ends.
3. Another advantage of using a film camera over a digital is the control it gives you over exposure, natural light undoubtedly being the best light to take pictures in. You can control exposure manually depending on the kind of lighting you are photographing in. If using a digital camera, auto exposure and automatic white balancing will serve to control lighting. Keep the resolution high to get the sharpest image. The larger the picture, the higher the resolution you should use. For film cameras, use the slowest speed to prevent a grainy look.
4. Align the camera to the artwork horizontally or vertically and ensure that the image fills up the frame for the sharpest look. When using the wide angle however, do not fill up the frame as the image will get distorted – fill it then back off, leaving some space around the piece of art. Minimize the background completely and where possible, eliminate it completely. This is because background on a piece of art is unnecessary. It may actually compete with your artwork for attention!
Now that you have your piece of art in a photo, the best way to conserve it is in canvas prints. Photobox canvas prints are top in the league. They are made from 100% cotton material and are reinforced with artist backing tape on the reverse to give a quality finish. The photo is wrapped around the edges of the canvas to give a soft, continuous look.
Canvas prints are easy to clean and hang perfectly from the wall or other surfaces you may prefer. You can also store your art pictures in a photobook. It allows for storage of smaller pictures and keeps your pieces in top condition for a long time.
Find out more on canvas prints and Photo Books on www.photobox.co.uk.
Photo And Film – How To Get Free Photography Resource Tips
August 12, 2010
Lots of people, all over the world, seem to love photography as a preoccupation nowadays. This preoccupation or hobby involves the use of cameras. Many photographers enjoy taking photos for many types of events or still photos (really cool).
No doubts about it, when you take lots of pictures, they help to add up to your memorabilia collection. They come handy a lot when you look back in time; somewhat like you are doing some time travel and seeing those events and those people just as they were in the past. They really help lots of folks get that enjoyment from the “good old days” as it were. This article provides you with a guide on how to access photography information.
Will you agree with me that the Internet is surely a good place to get vital information and leads on photo and film? Browsing the Internet will present you with tons and tons of sites that focus solely on photography. Some of such sites are done by organizations or companies that make cameras, films and photos; while others are by those who promote or sell.
More so, you will find some article directories that keep many hundreds articles around photography, all for free and for anyone to read. You will find lots of completely free learning techniques from some of these free photo sites. There’s really no shortage of info as far as photography is concerned.
Lots of these websites provide all the information you need to know about the many forms of photography that anyone can practice. Applying digital photography, however, is what’s in vogue today. Since developing the digital camera, the use of film camera is slowly becoming obsolete. A person can access free tips and vital information from some of these websites on why you may want to trade your old camera for a digital one.
You can also make good money with the art of photography. You can start a photography business and sell your photos for money. The business of photography is not capital intensive at all. What you need is just your camera (especially digital) and just a connection to the Internet with your computer.
It’s as simple as just taking your snapshots, uploading them to your system and going online to sell them to those who are interested. Understanding how to enhance, repair, and organize your photos will help with locating the correct photo equipment. Learning and knowing the proper functions of a camera provides relevant information for both the experience photography and the beginner photographer.
Begin doing your research today, to get the best photography tools online and offline, to help in increasing your film and photo knowledge each day. In lots of instances, the costs and brand names are shown to you. You will get the absolute best information online or offline if you take the time and the pains to complete your due-diligence, when it comes to photography.
Normally, comparing three different models same price range, helps gives a fair perspective for each camera. Many people have admitted that photography is really an art that one gets involved in each day. Continue with your check online for all the free resources and relevant information.
Never before, in the history of civilization, has there been a vaster source of information as the Internet. That said, you should consider yourself lucky indeed to be born in this era of the Internet – where the best information and resources are few mouse clicks within your grasp.
This author has written more articles on Photo Restoration and even on Organize Photos
Photography Ideas For Innovative Photography Projects — Negative Space
August 10, 2010
Creating a photography project is an excellent way to practice photography. As long as you are going to be spending your time on a photo project, why not choose a project that grows your photography skills. In the following paragraphs, one such skill, negative space, will be discussed.
Negative space is a compositional technique that can be utilized to produce eye-catching photos. Therefore, why don’t we take a look at the technique?
Negative Space and Composition
At a fundamental level, any image can be broken down into three components
Frame: The border that identifies the perimeters of the image.
Positive Space: The positive space is composed of the objects that the image is all about. Put simply, it is the main subject of the photograph.
Negative Space: The space between the positive space and the frame.
Not surprisingly, in the process of composing an image, a lot of photographers think mostly about how they will place the positive space in an image. Essentially, the main interest of these photographers is how the main subject will be placed. The area surrounding the subject, the negative space, ends up being whatever happened to be there at the particular time the photograph was taken. This is a mistake! This is because, if managed correctly, the negative space can do a couple of very important things.
First: The negative space can serve to define the positive space.
Second: The negative space can help make the positive space stand out.
The way in which the negative space helps to define what the positive space is all about is by supplying additional details about the positive space. For example, a close-up of a waterfall might exhibit the elegance of the plummeting water, but it may not exhibit any hint of the environment in which the waterfall exists. To be able to better define the positive space, additional detail is necessary. If the photographer were to show some of the landscape around the positive space, this would create some negative space that would certainly help to better define the positive space.
While using a negative space can really improve an image, there is one thing that must be avoided. The negative space should never be permitted to overpower the positive space as this would certainly serve to deteriorate the image. For this example, the photographer might make the negative space a bit out of focus so that it becomes subservient to the positive space.
The essential issue here is that the negative space has to support, not compete with, the positive space. Otherwise, the negative space will not likely enhance the image.
Making the positive space stick out is the other way that the negative space helps to enhance photos. The negative space does this by helping to control the attention of a person that is viewing an image. It does this by focusing the attention of a viewer. Specifically, it focuses the attention on the positive space. To make the negative space more effective at focusing the attention, all unproductive detail must be eliminated from the negative space.
So the moral of the story is that each of these two spaces needs to be thoroughly evaluated when an image is composed. Basically, photographers need to pay just as much attention to the negative space as they do the positive space.
Your Photography Project
So, why not set up a photography project around this idea. For this project, you should focus on capturing images that have very carefully thought out negative spaces.
Synopsis
This post presented just one idea for a photography project. However, much more can be learned.
If you would like to look at several other great ideas, just click Impressive Photography Ideas.
categories: digital photography,photography,hobbies
Fashion Photography
August 9, 2010
We see them everywhere, in Magazines, on the Run Way, in advertisements on TV. They are the slender women strutting their stuff or extra ordinary Beauties with their sultry looks flashing their pearly whites while wearing the newest Styles from the hottest Designers. We are talking about the fashion models of today, yesterday and tomorrow. They are everywhere we look, but who brings them to us? Their images are captures with care and precision, patience and that special look for style, color and lighting composition. I am talking about the fashion photographers.
In the fashion circles famous names like Mario Testino (easily one of the hottest names out there) and Eva Mueller (photographer for Fashion Magazine Allure) are just as sought out if not more then those men and women sauntering their way into our conscious.
High Paychecks and glamour’s Lifestyle of hob nobbing it with the rich and famous might be the dream of many young shutterbug, however it is not easy to reach the golden Staircases of the well-known fashion houses and magazines. For every one talented photographer, hundreds are left panting at the sidewalk, only dreaming about the moment that their photo will be chosen.
Here are a few tips for the novice and dreamer of dreams in getting started in fashion photography. Study your subject. You can never learn enough. Read and look at any fashion Magazine you can get your hand on. There are fantastic books on Fashion and fashion photography available. Amazon.com has a true treasure trove available. You need one or two good cameras, tripod and a lighting system. Always make sure that you have plenty of film and batteries available. SLR and digital cameras take different photos, so make sure you find the best for your field.
When submitting your work, hopefully to give a chance you have to have a portfolio on hand, just in case the editor of the fashion magazine wants to see samples of your work. I assure you if they consider working with you that is going to be a fact. The sharp, bright images of a 4X5″ transparency show of your work to its best effort. If you have already had a publication, no matter if, it was a small neighborhood magazine/paper or a contest a tear sheet (literally a sheet you tore out of the magazine) works well. If neither is at hand a good high quality 8 X 10 “is acceptable as well. You want to make sure that you have a minimum of 20 photos in your portfolio and preferably different styles. You want to show your expertise in full figure or just partial body parts.
Remember, fashion includes jewelry and accessories. Sometimes a watch from a famous maker on the slender wrist of a beautiful woman is a good fashion shoot. If you are applying for the job, be prepared to leave your Portfolio behind for an extended period of time, sometimes as much as a couple of weeks. I would advice you to make copies and have several on hand. This comes in handy when showing your work to many different people for consideration for fashion work.
In the time of modern technology, it is good to display your talent as a fashion photographer online as well. Set up a website; submit your photos to contests. Submit them to an online fashion gallery. This helps with getting your work seen and people can see what type of work you actually do and can do for them.
Most editors are looking for your personality in the photos you take. Each fashion photographer captures the soul of the fashion and its model differently. There are a couple of very good “how to get started” websites on the net. You might wish to start out with http://www.fashion.net/howto/photography/ or http://www.stylecarrer.com/fashion_photographer.shtml. Most importantly, if this is your dream, don’t give up. Keep trying and I hope to see your images on the cover of my next hot fashion magazine.
Want to find out more about for fashion photography, then visit http://www.photographyguideonline.com/ on how to choose the best fashion photography tips for your needs.
Flash Photography Is Really Quite Simple
August 1, 2010
You can’t use conventional units with pocket cameras or instant cameras. These are not suitable for the high precision equipment. They are also not designed to have added external units connected to them. Hence camera flash units are best paired with digital cameras or standalone cameras.
In the event the hot shoe mounted flash is not sufficient, the hammerhead type of camera flash is used. This provides better illumination and better angle adaptability too in many cases. Camera flash units are mounted on digital cameras that don’t come with independent or in-built flash units.
Camera flash units are mounted on digital cameras that don’t come with independent or in-built flash units. These units are fairly effective for lighting a large area whether indoors or outdoors. It’s best to use this when you’re taking pictures indoors because the lack of lighting can make your pictures appear dim and lose focus.
If you are using and externally mounted flash unit you will also find that the harsh light of flash degrades your images. The way to resolve this problem is quite simple. Most external flashes have swivel heads allowing you to alter the angle of the flash head. By pointing up towards the ceiling and bouncing the light off ceiling it also diffuses the harshness of the flash. There is one little issue that may hinder this technique and that is the color of the ceiling.
It is a good idea, to understand what “Flash Sync Speed” is. This is the fastest shutter speed you can use, when the whole sensor is exposed to the flash’s pulse. If your camera shutter speed is higher, you will see an uninvited black line running across your shots.
There’s also the possibility of not capturing the mood and effect of a picture if you don’t use the flash effectively. Actually with DSLR technologies today, flash photography could not be any simpler. Most DSLR cameras have built-in flash which are very handy and convenient.
Want to find out more about Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras , then visit Joe Kidson’s site on how to choose the best Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras for your needs.
Camera Flash Unit – When Do You Need Them?
July 31, 2010
Professional photographers always have separate units in their studios for a better illuminating effect. External components are very large devices which have special battery packs, radio transmitter and a synchronization cable. Here are some excellent tips for you that can really help you in purchasing a good external unit.
External flash units are attached to the camera’s body through a dedicated slide-in slot or by using an electrical cable. Not all digital cameras support external flash units. Usually the lower end pocket cameras do not allow external flash units while all high end digital SLR cameras do allow such external flash units.
External flash units can vary a lot. They can have different light energy levels that they can emit and different mechanical characteristics. Some external flash units also include smart sensors to measure ambient light, distance and other optical parameters in order to optimize the flash effect.
One should always avoid choosing external flashes with locking mechanisms because they are complicated to use and they can not be easily taken on and off the camera shoe. You should load the camera unit with batteries to evaluate its weight, light and balance.
Before buying these external devices always make sure it has an output that covers the widest lens that you would be using for taking pictures. You must always buy a diffuser and a plastic spreader lens for lenses that extends out as wide as 18mm or 24mm.
You can’t use conventional units with pocket cameras or instant cameras. These are not suitable for the high precision equipment of a unit such as this. They are also not designed to have added external units connected to them. Hence camera flash units are best paired with digital cameras or standalone cameras.
Looking to find the best deal on Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras , then visit us to find the best advice on Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras for you.
Producing Stunning Texture Photography Images
July 24, 2010
The general composition principles apply to texture photography just like they do other fields of photography. It is not feasible to carry out a comprehensive review of the field of composition in a few short paragraphs. Instead, three aspects of composition that tend to be particularly essential in texture photography will be covered: contrast, curves, and patterns.
Paying attention to these three aspects of composition can really make your texture images shine. So, let’s have a look.
Contrast’s Role in Composition
There are two primary kinds of contrast. The first is tonal contrast. The second is color contrast. Both of these types of contrast can be utilized effectively with texture images.
Either kind of contrast can be utilized in a couple of ways. The initial way is within the texture itself. When contrast is utilized in this manner, it improves the detail. This makes the detail stand out. Consequently, one of the best ways to create excellent texture images is to start out with objects that have either good tonal contrast or good color contrast. Luckily, there are plenty of such objects around. For example, one object that has good contrast is an aged, weathered, tree stump.
If desired, the contrast can be improved further by utilizing side light. Side light will create shadows that fall across the texture, thus, improving the contrast.
Selecting a background that contrasts, in either tone or color, with a textured area is the second way to use contrast. When this is done, the textured area will stand out and will attract the attention of viewers of the image. So, the way to make this approach work is to carefully select a textured area and a background that contrast. Again, there are a lot of these types of objects around. A single, green vine climbing up a white wall is a good example of an object that would work well with this method.
Therefore, finding an object with good contrast and taking advantage of side light (where applicable) is a very good start to creating texture images. Next, we can move on to the use of curves.
How to Utilize Curves
Texture can often take the form of curves. These curves can be very successfully utilized for composition purposes. These curves can be either leading curves, or they can be non-leading curves. Either type is effective with texture images.
As the name implies, leading curves direct a viewer’s eye. So, where do leading curves led the viewer’s eye? Generally, they guide the viewer directly to the image’s center of interest. Considering that the center of interest is the keystone of an image, this is a very important. The curves in the pedals of flowers that point toward the center of the flower are one example of this use of curves.
The other type of curves is non-leading curves. These curves do not lead the viewer to the center of interest. The role that this kind of curve serves is different in that the curves function to add either emotional or informational content to a texture photo. Basically, they help to spice up the image. The ripples found in beach sand or a desert sand dune provides a couple of good examples of non-leading lines.
Patterns
Patterns can be successfully used to attract the interest of a viewer. On the other hand, there can be a problem with patterns. If a pattern is very simple, it may fail to hold the viewer’s attention for more than a fairly limited time. Therefore, it is necessary to be a little more ingenious when using patterns if we want to keep a viewer’s attention for a longer time. There are a couple of ways that patterns in textures can be made more effective: multiple patterns and breaking the pattern.
The first approach is to use two or more patterns in the same image. However, the patterns must be used in a way that strengthens both patterns. A good example is a flower close-up shot where the texture pattern of the center of the flower is matched with the texture pattern of the pedals.
For some subject matter, breaking the pattern is a much better choice. This is usually done by placing an object into the pattern. One, black marble in a field of white marbles demonstrates this approach.
The inserted object should be carefully placed in such a fashion that it improves the composition. Often, using the rule of thirds (or a similar composition rule) in placing the object will give excellent results.
Conclusion
This article presents information that can provide a sound base for making great texture images. While it is true that this information is a good start, there’s more texture photography information that can be learned.
To learn more about texture photography, click Producing Texture Photography.
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- Is Digital Better Than Film?
- Access To Flip UltraHD Camcorder
- Waterproof Cameras – Which Are The Best?
- Keeping Your Images Safe When Travelling
- Digital Camera – You Should Look For An Adequate Amount Memory
- How To Photograph Art
- How To Select A Digital HD Camcorder
- Guide To Buying The Casio Exilim Digital Cameras Online
- The Best Digital Camera Is One That Fits Your Requirements
- Photo And Film – How To Get Free Photography Resource Tips