Friday 19 October 2012

Top Reasons to Opt to Digital Photography




Today, more people are getting hooked over Digital photography. Since the birth of digital photography, it has been easier and more convenient for people to capture the best photos they desire. Digital Photography indeed has become the wave of today and in the near future. But what if you're still using the old mode of taking photos- the film photography? Well, think again.





For those few people who are still using film photography, here are some good reasons why you should opt for digital photography:





1. Generally, one of the most excellent features of choosing digital photography is that its convenience. Aside from the fact that digital cameras are easy to use since they are user friendly, these cameras are also portable and you can just safely place it in your pocket anywhere you go.





2. With digital camera, you can save your time and effort. Digital cameras provide instant feedback once you take photos. It has a review button to let you view all the photos so you'll be able to choose the best one. At the same time, it has also a delete button for those photos you don't like to keep. In short, you can keep on trying until you get the right photo. Now isn't that great?





3. The next good thing about digital photography is its capacity to have your photos printed immediately. Actually, you can it is much easier if you have a digital printer. You can just simply connect your digital camera to the printer and press the button to print. On the contrary, film cameras takes time before you get your photos developed. You also have to go back to the photo shop to get your pictures.





4. Another great thing you can get from digital photography is the capacity to modify or edit your photos anytime. Since the images are in digital files, it is much easier now to edit them. You can simply open the images in any photo editing software supported by the file. With the photo editing software, you can alter or adjust the color of your photos. You can also crop the photo and design your own photo. All of these in one photo editing package. It's more than what you can get from film cameras.





5. If you want to put up a small business, then digital photography would be of great help. Let your creativity works. Digital photos cannot just be simple photos. Now, you can turn them into T-shirts, mugs, invitations, greeting cards, calendars and a lot more. This is for the fact that digital photos can be printed anywhere and in anyway. Just make use of the right photo paper, and surely, you can make lots of money from it.





6. Lastly, digital photography has the ability to share the photos you have you're your love ones and relatives. You can simply give a copy of the precious moments to someone everywhere. Just attach the softcopy of the photo to your email and send. That easy. But with film camera, you will spend money just on scanning the photos, to be able to send them online. Of course that's an extra work for a digital photographer.





Apparently, digital photography has really paved way for making photography convenient and easier at the same time achieving high quality photos. It just shows that there's no other time to opt to digital photography than now.


Thursday 18 October 2012

Goodbye to Films, Say Hello to Digital Cameras




With the entry of digital cameras, photography has never been so exciting.





Today, there are varieties of digital cameras to choose from already. Whether you shop either at the department store or online stores, you will see lots of them. Different digital cameras offer different features and capabilities. This is the reason why choosing one is getting more and more difficult. Once you see what each have to offer, you will obviously have a hard time deciding which one to buy.





One of the usual mistakes that people commit when buying their own digital camera is to be enticed by what the advertising mediums have to say about them. By the time they own that camera, they will realize that they are not as good as they first thought it is. It would then be too late to return it and opt for another kind.





Keep in mind that getting a digital camera should take a lot of consideration. Just like buying a car, you have to consider all aspects since this is one thing that you want to work well and would want to have for a long time.





Below are some of the things that will aid you in your decision making process before buying a digital photography camera?





1. The cost.





Ok, so you wanted the latest canon digital camera out in the market. But are you ready to shed the needed amount of money for it?





Cost is a big factor when buying digital camera. It is obvious that the best camera comes with a price. And your budget may not exactly encompass its high cost.





This is not saying that cheap ones are not as good. There are those that you can get for a reasonable price and still works just as well as an expensive one. You need to shop around for the best deal first before you decide on one. Better yet, you can save up on that expensive camera that you wanted all along.





2. The purpose.





Will you be using the camera to shot your family members? Or are you planning to shoot some good photos worthy of a professional?





By knowing what use your digital camera will have, it would be easier to determine the type of digital camera to buy. If you buy a simple one that can be used at home, you will not get the capabilities that you need if you plan on taking really good photographic pictures. On the other hand, it would be a waste of your money if you have the latest digital camera only to be used for personal photos at home.





3. The durability.





Since digital camera is more expensive than the conventional film cameras, you definitely would want something that will stay durable for a long time. You want something that will last even through rough handling and seasons.





If you happen to purchase a typical digital camera you may want to buy some accessories to protect it from scratches and damage. It is best however to get one that is known to have a good quality and durability.





Get the best value out of the money that you will pay for a digital photography camera. Think hard about these important factors first so you will get it right the first time.


Art or Science: the True Nature of Digital Photography




What is the true nature of digital photography? Many people have been asking this question for a long time. In fact, when people ask the question about the true nature of digital photography, they often mean to ask whether it is art or it is science.





Here are some arguments for both sides:





A) Art – many people consider digital photography as an art because it allows for an expression of emotion. They believe that digital photography is a continuation of the art of drawing or painting. You see, digital photography is just like painting in the sense that although it does take accurate pictures of reality, it also allows for some modification through the various digital tools available today.





Even without the editing many people still believe that digital photography is art because of the fact that it does take an artist's eye to find a great subject of digital photography. The nature of digital photography as an art has something to do with the fact that an artist is able to express emotions and statements through visual subjects.





The supporters of the "artistic nature of digital photography" also argue their case by stating its ability to convey emotional messages through aesthetics. The beauty of each photograph, of course, needs also to be credited to the person taking the pictures. One of the strongest arguments for the artistic nature of digital photography is the fact that the picture is rarely really what is seen with the naked eye. Through the camera and computer, a person can alter the image in order to present what he or she wants to show.





B) Science – some people argue that science is the true nature of digital photography. One argument is that photography, unlike painting, actually comes from something existing and not from a painters mind or emotion. This can be very persuasive since, indeed, a photographer does not actually make photographs. He or she merely takes them.





Another argument regarding the scientific nature of digital photography is the fact that the editing that people do and adjustments that photographers make are based on a series of steps that can be narrowed down scientifically. People who argue for the scientific nature of digital photography may reason that the same series of steps can be taken in order to achieve the same results. There is a certain quality of constancy about digital photography that renders it a science.





But what is the true nature of digital photography? We have read the various arguments supporting science and art. There appears to be no solution to this question, right?





The true nature of digital photography will always remain to be a paradox. This means that though it can be considered as an art, it can also be considered as a science. When is the paradox of the nature of digital photography solved? Well, it is solved when a person takes a digital photograph.





The true nature of digital photography lies in the hands of the person who takes the pictures. The way a person treats the process defines the nature of digital photography for him or her. It is not absolutely art nor is it absolutely science. The true nature of digital photography is a paradox. It might seem to be contradictory, but it is somehow true.


Wednesday 17 October 2012

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 relatively fresh. How come? Three 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 five 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





Then you do not have to miss another shot because your card is full.





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.”


Tuesday 16 October 2012

Macro Digital Photography: Some Concerns




We have always found that looking at objects from another perspective is fascinating. This is because of the fact that we often discover new things just by looking at a familiar object from a different angle or focus. This might be the reason for people's fascination with digital macro photography.





Digital macro photography is an art. There's no question about that. It takes the genius of an artist to take something so ordinary and something so dismissible and turn it into something that just captures an aspect of life. For that is what art is. No art ever claimed to contain all the truths of life. Art is a reflection of the world through the eyes of the artist. By looking at a piece of art such as digital macro photography, we get to share the perspective of other people and that can be a very powerful connection.





Another thing about digital macro photography you should know is that it is not easy. You need to consider a lot of factors in order to produce great photographs. What are these factors?





1) Skills – do you actually have the skills necessary for digital macro photography? Do you have the eye for beauty that would be appreciated by people who view your photographs? That's not all you need. You also need to have a steady hand. While taking digital macro photographs, even barely noticeable movements of the hand can ruin your picture.





You need to have the skills to use a camera properly. You need to be able to adjust the camera in order to take the picture that you truly want to appear. Sure, you can actually edit a digital macro photograph using the computer, but why should you give yourself more work than necessary?





Some people have the necessary skills naturally. However, it is still important to hone these skills by taking classes or attending workshops. Remember that digital macro photography is all about showing things in different ways. Because of this, you need to accept the fact that other people may see your work differently from the way you see it. A fresh eye never hurts.





2) Equipment – you also need the proper tools in order to express your talent. The proper tools can help you a lot if you want to achieve the effect that you want. Remember that although there are tools today that claim to be usable for any type of photography, you should try to find equipment that's specially made for digital macro photography. This is because such equipment can definitely bring out the best in your skills.





The right equipment is essential because digital macro photography needs a lot of work in order to be perfect. If you have the right tools for digital macro photography, you will be able to achieve your goals and show your pictures the way that you want them to be seen.



3) Subject – everything is interesting when viewed in different ways. However, some subjects are more interesting than others. Some objects, when you choose them as subjects of digital macro photography, manage to amaze you with the amount of things you do not know about them. Great subjects of digital macro photography reveal worlds beyond what you can see with the naked eye. So choose your subjects wisely.


Monday 15 October 2012

Mastering Digital SLR Cameras is Mastering Photography Itself




There are a lot of amateur as well as professional camera users who are shifting to digital models for much ease, convenience, and efficiency when taking initial pictures, taking more pictures after deleting some, and finally sharing photos to friends or storing them into the computer’s memory.





Camera users are normally classified as hobbyists, novice, and professionals. To whichever category you belong, it is suggested that you ponder and accommodate the following basic information about digital cameras:





1.) Categories of a camera





Cameras can be grouped into:





a. ultra compact – no flash mode



b. prosumer or compact – for hobbyists



c. digital SLR cameras – have lenses, tripod, and external flashes; for professionals





If you want to master the art of photography, it is suggested that you master using the third category. Models that fall under this category are priced for their resolution, among other things.





2.) Mega pixels





Mega pixels can be classified into:





a. 3 mega pixels – for basic snapshots



b. between 3 and 5 mega pixels – images have good print quality



c. between 5 and 7 mega pixels – images can be easily manipulated; larger print sizes can be made





3.) Zoom





A camera’s zoom is normally categorized into two:





a. optical zoom factor – what is distant appears closer by magnifying the light entering through the main lens



b. digital zoom factor – magnifies the resulting image





Quality photographs depend mostly on the optical zoom factor.





4.) Storage media





These are the some common storage formats:





a. Compact Flash (for compact and DSLRs)



b. Sony Memory Stick (compatible with other Sony appliances)



c. Smart Media





Storage sizes normally range from 64 K, which can store 3 dozen mega pixel images; 1G can store about 500 images with the same mega pixels





5.) Carrying case





You should keep the camera and its accessories in place.





6.) Tripod





Tripod can be used when setting the timer mode on and keeping the focus stable.





7.) Lenses and 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.





Here are some basic strategies on how to capture an image:





1. Holding the camera





You should hold the camera steadily and keep your spare fingers from interfering with the lens. This skill usually takes a few practices.





2.) Focusing





To keep the camera from shuddering, it is better to half-press the camera until you are able to lock your view on the focus before completely pressing the button of the shutter.





You may also use a tripod for better focusing.





3.) Previewing





Take and retake pictures if necessary after previewing them in your LCD screen.





4.) Archiving





Keep an album of your best photographs so that you can refer to them as you keep on working your way to being great photographers.



Once you have mastered using your simple compact and especially digitals SLR cameras, you can surely capture photos using other cameras with great ease and perfection. That is a guarantee!


Sunday 14 October 2012

Digital enhancement for the perfect photo prints





Digital photography is the latest trend in the photo industry. It is considered as the easiest way to take a snapshot and enhance its overall features. Digital photography is essentially the art of taking pictures without using film. Because there is no film features by taking photos, you can have the convenience of taking good shots and delete the bad. It offers the easiest way to capture good images and convert them into interesting works of art.




Indeed, digital photography has come a long way since digital cameras and computers have been developed. The birth of digital cameras has produced tremendous advantages in a world of photography where all digital cameras can take a photo and upload it to your computer and share with friends.




There are many digital photography now available on Internet services. There are several companies to respond to such services. They generally offer digital imaging services, image restoration, retouching, photo and digital enhancement and photo editing. Other digital imaging services offered also to bring satisfaction to photo enthusiasts.




More people use digital cameras for the reason that it is easy to take a picture and edit it according to what you want. Who wouldn't want a perfect shot? However, we must accept to take photos do not always get you the best shots. This is where the digital enhancement becomes usable.




What is digital enhancement? Digital enhancement is the answer to all the problems of image quality. This is the best way to improve your snapshot and make it look more attractive. You can easily with digital enhancement increase attractive images of adjustment of brightness, contrast and sharpness of the image. You will also have the opportunity to improve the balance of the colors in the image. Resize the image and culture that at the same time, it is possible also with ease.




There are several innovative ways on how to improve a snapshot. All these are made possible through digital technology. In photography can take advantage of digital photography, services are available online. Digital images are long lasting compared to traditional photos. They are light-resistant and impermeable to water. Another great advantage of digital is that everything concerning the editing and printing of photos is done using printers crafts. Photo prints are printed in this manner is proven to last a long time, unlike film photography.




Digital enhancement works in a way where you can prepare your images and edit them in order to obtain the best image quality. You can make improvements picture using a program for image editing or using the services of a professional digital photography business. The image is saved normally jp or JPEG format when you choose to use an image editing program. Then, you can download the image and send them to several sites that offer photo printing services.




To take account of all these bases of digital photography brings you great opportunities when it comes to take pictures in his best shape. Get the most out of digital technology has to offer. If you want to get quality images, you should take the publishing services and available on some printers digital enhancement photo online. Thanks to these services at your fingertips is the perfect shots just at hand.