Darkroom Wizardry Vs Digital Magic

By Donovan Gauvreau

In the past, producing fine art nature photography was always a touchy combination of talent, patience, and precision. However, with the advancement of computer technology and software programs such as Photoshop, the relentless, tireless photographer who crouched in dawn's early light to catch that particular scene is a rare find. Moreover, negatives then had to undergo a lengthy process involving chemicals and formulas and be deftly set up to dry in a darkroom. Today, with the touch of a few buttons, the same image can be produced in almost no time at all. This is the reality of modern photography. Slide film, chemicals, filters, and darkroom techniques are falling by the wayside, thanks to digital software programs that allow the user to adjust the focus, color saturation, size, and opacity of an image without leaving the computer screen.

Photography in Focus

In the days when slide film was still widely used for fine art nature photography, there were two popular brands, Fuji made Velvia, a film which was used for more vividly-colored landscapes, and Provia, which produced colors that looked more true-to-life. Photographers would choose their film according to what and how they were shooting. With the prevalence of digital cameras, film is no longer needed, being replaced by miniscule memory cards that can hold up to two gigabytes of information. Once the images are stored on the card, they can be taken to, what is now called the digital darkroom. Transferring something captured on film onto a computer involves scanning the image onto a CD, DVD, or other storage device, and then opening it in the computer as an image file. However, camera cards can simply be popped into certain computer models or quickly transferred by way of a USB cord. Once the image is in the computer, issues that would be of concern in a traditional "wet" darkroom, such as choosing the printer paper, creating the right balance of color, and maintaining proper shadows and highlights are addressed.

Color Saturation

Some believe that digital photography can make any quality of image look great, but that is a misconception. Computers may aid in the enhancement of an image, but it cannot take a poor image and turn it into a masterpiece. Color saturation in the digital age is a relatively easy concept as it simply requires clicking on a button. In the traditional darkroom, color pictures needed numerous filters, and the process had to be effected in complete darkness. Although Photoshop has improved on this, the hue/saturation command cannot be used at will; too much color and the photo could turn garish or overly colorized, like a neon sign. Photographers of the past did not have that luxury, so in trying to achieve the best lighting possible for fine art nature photography, they would usually wait for what is called the "golden hour." Trees, flowers, rocks, and water, all seem to photograph better in the subtle glow of the setting sun.

With the prevalence of Photoshop and other software of the ilk, the level of creativity in fine art nature photography has been enhanced. Visions that were hard to achieve with the traditional methods can now be easily realized. Nonetheless, both traditional and digital photography employ talent, a certain vision and precision. It is true that working in a darkroom is not as simple as clicking on the Photoshop icon, but there is something to be said about anxiously watching an image immersed in a shallow bath slowly coming to life on a blank piece of paper.

Art Historian, Donovan Gauvreau lectures about art therapy with a focus on creativity development. He believes we can learn from the great masters in art to communicate ideas and feelings through painting. He provides content to Aaron Art Prints to educate and inspire people to take a glimpse into an artist's life to better understand the meaning behind their work.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donovan_Gauvreau

The Making of an Image - Roseberry Topping

By James Paul

Great Ayton is one of my very favorite locations. The village, itself steeped in history, is a great starting point for exploring the North Yorkshire Moors and in particular Roseberry Topping. The distinctive peak, dubbed the 'Cleveland Matterhorn,' stands at only 320 metres high yet it can be seen for many miles. Thanks to the local geology and an array of footpaths including the Cleveland Way it is not hard to find a great view point in which to view the hill.

Being only 20 minutes away from my home, Great Ayton is one of my default locations. If I'm short of time or I don't want to travel far, i'll goto Great Ayton. This philosophy leads to a familiarity and understanding of the local landscape which I think is essential for any photographer. On one particular evening in late September this familiarity and understanding was crucial in capturing this image.

It had been a very poor day, the rain had been pounding down and there was little hope of getting out let alone producing a great image. To be honest, I was resigned to staying in. I kept going out into the garden and looking up at the sky for any sign of the weather changing. As I capture images in the so-called 'Magic Hour' time was running out to make a decision whether to go anywhere. As the cut off point approached I finally noticed a little glint of light way in the distance. It offered a faint glimmer of hope but there was certainly every chance of the clouds eating the light back up. Despite this I just thought 'go for it' and with my car loaded up I headed off for Great Ayton.

My familiarity of the location led me to be very aware that the angle of the sun in the last hour of light would lead to its rays being cast over Cliff Ridge and onto the peak. As I got closer to Great Ayton I could see the strength of the sun growing and felt more confident that I could get a great image. Despite this it was actually still raining at the time.

It was a mad dash upto Cliff Ridge through the delightful Newton Wood. Ignoring all the lovely scenery and great views I finally managed to make it too the ridge and quickly set up. Almost immediately, the elements fell into place - the rain stopped and the sun burst into life falling below the thick bank of cloud that had brought so much gloom. It was a spectacular sight and one that I was fortunate to have just enough time to set up and capture an image that has been one of my most successful.

The proximity of the location had been crucial in capturing this image. Had Roseberry Topping been even one mile further away I would not have made it, it was literally split second. I was also fortunate to have made such a late gamble to go out, and a night in front of the TV had been quite tempting. If there is a lesson then it is one that almost anything can happen even when the outlook doesn't look great.

I must have shot this view on many occasions and in a multitude of differing weathers. Every visit increased my understanding of the local environment and allowed me to work out what time of year I could capture this view successfully. Many visits produced poor results, but it can be said that there are positives to be taken from a shoot that has not been successful. It allows you to rule certain things out. Understanding when you can't do something is a key characteristic and allows you to grow as a photographer.

James Paul,
http://www.jamespaulphotography.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Paul

Movies and How to Share Them on the Internet

By Peter Martin Jones

There are an increasing number of sites popping up all over the place on the internet that will let you upload your movies to show them to others.

The biggest and most popular of these is You tube with millions of visitors viewing the site every day. The good news is that it is easy to upload your movies to this site and they will accept file sizes of up to around 1 GB and this will easily allow you upload even quite large movies if you wish but the larger the file size, the longer it will take to upload.

Before you attempt to upload anything, you should check the size of your movie file by using "Get Info" (Mac) or by right clicking the file and selecting "Properties" (Windows). Most files that are uploaded are around 10 to 50MB, which is a reasonable size with relatively short upload times so I suggest you try files of this size first before tying to go larger.

Note: to find the "You Tube" site, simply type "You Tube" into your browser search box.

The first thing you have to do is to register with You Tube. This is very straightforward and only takes few minutes to provide the few details they ask for. You will need to provide a user name and password and once you register these; you will receive a confirmation email of your registration almost immediately.

Now log into You Tube with your user name and password and the click on the "upload button at the top right of the screen. You will be asked to provide a title and a short description for the movie like this for example - "Skateboarding" for a title and "The Thrills and Spills of Skateboarding as a description.

Alternatively, you could shoot a custom-made movie about your hobby, to explain a technique or some interesting aspect of it. For example, if you like painting in watercolor, you could shoot a movie showing beginners how to paint great skies. In this case, you could use "Painting Skies" for a title and maybe "Painting Skies in Watercolor for Beginners" as a description. You will be asked to select a category for your video and some tags if you want to. Tags are simply keywords that help people search for topics of interest to them more quickly.

You will also have to state whether the video is for general public viewing for all to see or for personal viewers only. If you choose personal, the movie will only be viewable by people you personally invite. In this case, your selected viewers will have to log in to You Tube to be included in the "authorized viewers list".

Once you have entered and submitted the information a new page appears. Click the "search for file" button"and navigate to the file you want to upload. Then click the "upload" button. The upload time can be anything from a few minutes to an hour or more depending on the size of the file and when the upload is complete, you will see a confirmation message appear.

Do not expect your movie to be available for viewing immediately though. The You Tube servers first have to process and compress the AVI format in to a flash format which can take a while - obviously, the larger the file, the longer the wait - so go and have a coffee and come back later.

One positive spin off of putting your movies on You Tube is that you can use it a sales vehicle to attract visitors to your a web site if you have one.

Whether you want to use a movie for commercial purposes or just for fun, You Tube is a great vehicle for showing off your videos. Incidentally, you can put up a video on almost anything you like (within reason) from using yoyo's to music with mood pictures. The choice is yours so why not give it a go - its fascinating and great fun.

My name is Peter Martin Jones and I enjoy computing and photography in both film and digital formats.

If you would like to look at a completely free book on digital photography and other freebies, then you may like to visit my web site at;

http://www.picturememory.co.uk

The book covers everything from choosing a camera through editing your images to scanning your old film negatives and slides and uploading your image files to the internet. Everything you need to know for successful digital photography.

The book is based on my experience as a photographer and the many questions I have been asked by people who find some aspects of digital photography confusing or who simply want more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Martin_Jones

Fantastic Fireworks Photos in Four Bites

By Robert Bezman

Fireworks are the visual rulers of the nighttime universe. No matter how many times we see and experience their bombastic splendor, we always return to see what new designs will be exploded onto the darkened sky.

Watching fireworks is easy. Taking fantastic fireworks photos is not. Although photographing these light shows are more challenging than capturing a daylight shot of Uncle Ben riding a goat, it is not impossible. By following these four fireworks guidelines, you will take years off your learning curve and come away with fantastic fireworks photos.

There are four main categories of guidelines to understand, in order to take fireworks photos that aren't all black or out of focus. The big four are:

1. Equipment
2. Picking Your Location
3. Controls and Settings
4. Photographing Fireworks

Equipment

In addition to the standard equipment list including batteries, memory, camera bag, etc.; here is a shortened list of critical fireworks-only equipment to bring along:

* Tripod - Realize that your results will probably be disappointing if you don't use a tripod!
* An external shutter release (a.k.a. a "cable release")
* A tiny flashlight so you won't be fumbling around in the dark trying to move camera controls
* A chair that is easy to get in and out of

For best results, your camera should be able to focus manually as well as be able to set desired shutter speeds of up to 15 seconds, or "bulb." If you have never taken a picture with your camera other than in the "Automatic" setting, it's time to review your owner's manual and determine what the maximum shutter speed is.

Picking Your Location

Choosing the optimal location is a little bit harder than deciding how you can squeeze into a piece of 2 foot x 3-foot real estate on the lawn.

* Look For The Optimum Vantage Point: Avoid sitting in an area with obstructions such as streetlights, overhead wires, or trees.
* Decide if you want to capture additional elements (such as reflections off bodies of water or landmarks) with your fireworks photos, and if so-position yourself accordingly.
* If you are going to be taking fireworks photos, it is worth your time to spend 30 minutes before the show begins to pick out the best location.

Controls and Settings

Unlike taking pictures in the daytime, there is a little bit more setup involved with nighttime photography. For starters, change the ISO setting to 200 or 400. You want your camera to be more sensitive to light but not so sensitive that it will create "digital noise."

* Change the focusing mode on your camera to manual and focus your camera to infinity.
* Set up and level the tripod.
* Attach the remote shutter release to the camera and use that to fire the shutter.
* Adjust the shutter speed. If you have a "Bulb" setting, this is the time to use it.
* If you do not have a bulb setting, use a mid range aperture such as F/5.6 and set the shutter speed to at least 1 to 2 seconds.

Photographing Fireworks

Obviously this is what it all comes down to. It doesn't matter that you perfectly prepared with the perfect equipment if you never took any pictures of fireworks.

Your camera is on its tripod and the shutter release cable is attached. What's next?

* Verify that the manual focus is on infinity.
* Point your camera toward the area of sky where you believe the fireworks will be exploding. (Don't be too disappointed if you need to reposition the target area; most do at first.)
* Your shutter speed is on "bulb" or set for at least 1 to 2 seconds. When do you fire the shutter? Unlike daylight photography, firing the shutter BEFORE the fireworks go off is a good idea.

Nobody can tell you when to fire the shutter because it is based on what type of fireworks photograph you want to capture. With that said, here are four possible indicators of when you might want to trip the shutter:

1. When you hear the next rocket being launched
2. When the launch trail becomes visible
3. Just before the rocket explodes, or
4. Just after the rocket explodes.

This article is a partial excerpt from our popular eBook "How to Take Unforgettable Nighttime Photos" found here -- http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/NighttimePhotography-FireworkseBooks

Robert Bezman is a professional photographer whose website http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/index.html contains thousands of tips, photographic freebies, eBooks (http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/QuickTipseBooks) and all sorts of practical advice for the beginning and intermediate photographer. Keep in the loop with the latest tips by signing up for our free newsletter "Get the Picture?"

© 2005 Robert Bezman. All rights reserved.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Bezman

'Thinking' With Your Camera

By Rachel Davison

When you first start taking photos, things don’t just automatically fall into place. You have to learn what to look for – it’s like anything – there is a thought process behind it, which eventually becomes automatic with practice and know-how.

Pointing and shooting – aiming the lens directly at the subject, lining up the most important features and pressing the button – isn’t going to produce that brilliant photo you are hoping for!

Many photography experts state you will take better photos if you think for a minute or two, and give yourself time to look at the scene through the viewfinder before pressing the button. Holding off for even just a few seconds, will give you an opportunity to see objects, lights, people and colours that could potentially enhance or spoil the photo.

For example, would the subject look better if you took the photo horizontally instead of vertically? Moving to the left or right, or closer to the subject might eliminate those elements that you don’t want in the photo, for example, the branch of a tree in the very top corner of the photo, which you didn’t see at first. It’s all about structure and framing and with practice, you will begin to ‘see’ and take much better photos.

But there’s nothing like trial and error. What’s fantastic about a digital camera is you can take as many photos as you like – from different angles and using a variety of settings – and then later, you can sit down and review them all and see which one’s worked best. You can delete those average shots you don’t want to see again! And soon you will be taking photos that are beyond an ordinary snapshot and end up being a photo with real impact and feeling – something you can be proud of.

Some things to try:

1. Place the subject slightly off-centre or on an angle in the viewfinder – this can create more balance and visual impact than placing the subject smack, bang in the centre of the photo

2.Are there any interesting lines or structures, which you can use to frame the subject or bring attenuation to it? Lines can add a feeling or vibe and add something interesting to the photo.

Just like anything in life, some thought and awareness about the subject and what you are wanting to communicate can help turn your photo from a jumbled mess into something that has something interesting to say. The beauty of a good photo is often the photographers’ interpretation of the subject and that awareness the viewer gets from seeing something from a totally different angle.

For more information about photography, visit the ‘Beginners Guide to Digital Photography’ at: http://digitalphotoguide.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Davison

Photo Printing Originsd

By Kelly Liyakasa

Ever since black and white photographs arrived on the scene, this industry has seen constant change and improvement in quality. Online digital photo printing is the 21st century’s version of traditional portraits, allowing aspiring photographers to express themselves and capture special memories. Not only is taking digital photos a fun hobby, it’s a growing market. See if you know these interesting facts on photographs and where it all began.

History of Photographs:

• The word “photography” actually originates from the Greek phrase “drawing with light.”

• Modern photography has roots in the early 1800’s, when chemical printing first began.

• The earliest image exposures took 8-hours. No one-hour express printing at the local drugstore back then!

• A man named John Herschel was the first one to use the terms “photography, positive, and negatives.” He also made the first negative out of glass in 1839.

• George Eastman invented film in 1884, which replaced photographic plates and began the earliest stage of modern photography.

Modern Photo Facts:

• All photos were monochrome in the beginning, another word for black and white.

• Color photographs were emerging in the mid-1800’s.

• A physicist named James Clerk Maxwell took the first color photograph in 1861.

• The Lumière brothers invented the first color plate, Autochrome, in 1907.

• Throughout the 1900’s, photo technology continued to advance.

• Digital photos began when professionals such as photo journalists found they had to carry portable photo-developing labs with them on the job.

• Sony created the first non-film camera in 1981: The Sony Mavica.

• The first camera that took digital photos was released in 1990, the Kodak DCS 100.

• Digital photos are taken when an image sensor records a photograph, instead of through a chemical-changing process.

Today, digital cameras are a hot trend and many own at least one. Photographers and your average Joe alike have turned to online digital photo printing, where they can easily transfer images into online digital photos in mere seconds. This can alleviate film-developing issues and early exposures. We’ve all had the bad experience with popping our cameras open too soon and exposing all our hard-taken photos to sunlight, essentially ruining them.

This exact experience has led many to make the transition into digital photographs. 6StarReviews.com mentions a digital photo processing service called Snapfish in their photo printing reviews. Snapfish offers photo-fans the option of printing out their digital images at local grocery and drugstores.

They also give you fun features like sharing digital photo albums online with friends and family members. For you traditionalists who love antique cameras, you may find digital photo sharpness and online editing features hard to resist. The nearly 11 billion online digital photos printed in 2007 will vouch for that!

Kelly Liyakasa is a staff writer for 6StarReviews.com. Kelly Staller is site manager at 6StarReviews.com, a site dedicated to giving YOU, the consumer, the best product and service reviews around. If you like saving time and money by having someone else review leading sites and products, then Visit our site at 6StarReviews.com

Photo Printing Origins Copyright (c) 2007 Kelly Liyakasa

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Liyakasa

Photography - Taking A Walk Without Your Camera

By Martin Jones
Another useful lesson I learned along the way regarding photography was to look around without my camera.

When going out with a camera or specifically to take pictures you are generally viewing things a certain way. Take a walk sometimes without your camera – don’t worry about missing that perfect shot – there are millions of them. Doing this, walking and looking, will help you create that shot, not find it.

If you do scenic shots, then spend an hour or two walking around the park or village or canyon that you like to shoot. Do this without your camera – just look! Do this enough and you will find that when you take your camera with you things will look different and you will see more options. Walk both ways down a street or country path. Walk around the pond or lake. See things from different perspectives.

If you like taking people pictures, take a walk through a mall or downtown. If you are visiting another country or part of yours, take the time to just watch the people without your camera. Go and sit in a café and watch – just look. What different shapes and sizes do you see? How do they walk? How do they stand?

Even in the studio one can apply this. You are going to shoot the beautiful model: Set your camera aside and just have her move and pose – without the camera. If you aren’t comfortable with this, go to some fashion shows and just watch – don’t take your camera.

If you are doing product shots, something as simple as toasters – when you are in someone’s house have a look at their toaster. Go to the department store and look at some toasters. If you are going to photograph cars, walk around and look at them. You could even go to a dealer and sit in a few – have a real look at the inside. Do this before you take your camera to the shoot – get really familiar with the subject first.

Sometimes this isn’t easy – for a photographer to NOT take pictures. When I was in India many years ago – I took some pretty nice pictures. I was in India for a couple of weeks and really didn’t have enough film, so I was somewhat forced not to take pictures all the time. I worked this out by going for a couple of long walks each day. Once, generally in the morning, I would go out without the camera, then later I would take it with me. When I walked in the morning I just looked and enjoyed my walks and talked to people and generally explored. I didn’t go with the idea of “oh – that would be a nice picture” or anything like that – I just walked and looked and enjoyed. Now, I don’t always apply this but when I do I find that I’m much happier with the quality of result in my photography.

Martin Jones enjoys photography and people. You can see his photo blog at Photo Photo and many of his photos at

Martin Glyn Jones Fine Art Photography

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Jones

Did You Know That You Can Sell Your Digital Photos Online For Freakin' Amazing Profits?

By Mosiekk Conley
It's true!

You can actually sell your digital photos online for fun and profit. There are tons of people who are doing right now. Even if you don't consider yourself a professional photographer your pictures could be worth money.

There are several sites on the internet that want pictures of several different subjects. Subject likes kids, sporting events, funny signs, and others could be worth a lot of moolah. The crazy part is you'll never know if you never try to sell your digital photos.

The reason why you can sell your digital photos online is because of the variety that it offers the sites that sell them. You see these sites can't be everywhere to take the pictures they need to supply their customers. So why not pay for them and get an extensive collection of pictures from all over the world taken by a multitude of people?

Doing a search in any major search engine will give you several results for sites that are willing to pay for your digital photos. Simply search for "stock photo" or something similar to locate sites that are willing to buy your digital photos. One site in particular is BigStockPhotos.com and they also have an affiliate program so they get more traffic than most of the other stock photo sites.

The best part selling your digital photos online is that you are not limited to selling a photo one time. On several occasions, I have seen the same photo on several different stock photo sites. So don't think that you can only sell it once. That is the beauty of the internet. You can quickly make some great money in a short amount of time.

As you can see there are some great benefits for you if you sell your digital photos online. Don't limit yourself to thinking that no one would want to buy your digital photographs. You never know! Go out there and find a place to sell your digital photos and start making some easy cash with pictures that would otherwise gather cyber-dust on your computer.

Mo Conley is the creator of Digital Photos Tips which is destined to become the premier resource for Digital Photography online. For more information visit: Sell Digital Photos

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mosiekk_Conley

Buying A Digital Camera - Checking Its Features And Uses

By Francisco Segura
Most casual users of digital cameras will only ever use it for point and shoot occasions, rarely ever experimenting with all the different functions; the number of functions they now have sometimes confuses potential buyers. Of all the options available, what would you ask for if you were going to buy a digital camera? To get you ‘kick started' there are some useful tips outlined in this article. Point number one is, apart from taking photos, just what do you want your camera to be able to do.

Do you plan to only use this for occasional family and friend type photos? Even with the overall reduction in cost and improvement in abilities and design during recent years, the cost is still something to factor in. You also have to consider the power of the computer and the printer you will be connecting it to for editing and printing needs. Some new personal computers come with a digital camera as part of a package, this may be worth considering. Manufacturers usually do a deal with an image manipulation software company and supply it when you buy a digital camera, however item such as printers and special paper will need to be purchased separately.

Most people with computers will have a printer but you must check to see if it can be used for printing photos. To get the best pictures it will be necessary to set the camera to the maximum number of pixels it can operate at. If you intend to take more than a dozen or so shots with your digital camera then you will have to use external memory to increase the storage space. There are a number of different types of card with storage capacities up to 32 gigabytes (at the time of writing; hundreds, sometimes many thousands of images can be stored on these larger capacity storage cards.

The more ‘user friendly' your model is, the more likely it is you will use it. Despite the leaps forward in technology, many manufacturers are so focused on gadgets that they forget that a person will want to use this so it has to be simple to operate. Digital cameras use a great deal of power, especially the screen so even if they are not supplied, rechargeable batteries should be used; not only are these extremely cost effective, less batteries means less are disposed of which helps the environment. Some people buy their digital camera purely on the size of the screen; some models have a swiveling action, which is great for viewing your pictures and taking those from awkward angles.

Removing the traditional viewfinder has been a step forward for many people that disliked using photographic equipment fitted with them; the LCD screen is much easier to use. If you enjoy close up pictures then you need a model with an optical zoom. Digital cameras that are only equipped with a digital zoom should be avoided as images look blurred and pixilated. Other features such as diopter adjustment for people with poor vision, a remote control and a tripod socket can all be considered when you look at different models. With this knowledge you should be in a better position now when you buy a digital camera.

Francisco Segura owns and operates http://www.hdtvtelevisionweb.com
Hdtv Television

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Francisco_Segura

How to Make Money from Your Digital Photos

By Karen Fairham
Would it appeal to you to know you can submit your digital photos online and get paid for it? In that case read on. Submitting your photo to stock photo sites does not require that you be a professional photographer nor do you require any professional equipment, in fact you already have what it takes as long as you have a digital camera and you are reading this article (meaning you have access to internet connection).

There are many stock photo sites that you can sign up with and submit your digital photos to them on certain pre-agreed terms of payment. You can find photo stock sites by doing an internet search yourself or by using websites that have gathered the different stock photo sites and make it accessible to you on their site, but note that the site might run a membership that could require you to pay a certain fee.

The stock photo sites are often used by businesses and individuals who find it cheaper to browse through the stock photo sites for what they want, than actually hiring a professional photographer which could end up costing more. So the more digital photos you submit the more money you stand.

It is that simple to make money from submitting your photo to stock photo sites, but there are a few tips you can apply to see that your photos are not refused and that they receive high download rate;

1. Try to capture an object or landscape from more than one point of view, thereby giving the person looking at downloading that scene or object more options.
2. Ensure that you do not submit photos with trademark or brands showing on them.
3. Do not submit that you have no right to as that is one of the fastest routes to end up in court.
4. Read the terms or service of each site as they might have slight differences which you need to be aware of.
5. Submit to many different stock photo sites (it is like a numbers game, the more photos you have submitted with different sites the more download you get)
6. For every site find out what category of photos are more popular and you can work around that.

Another strategy that I use is to capture a particular landscape in different seasons and weather. Such photos do very well from my own experience, but there are so many things you can take pictures of and see how well it does.

For more information on how you can make money from submitting your digital photos visit: http://www.digicamcash.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Fairham

Photographer's Most Fundamental Traits - Fascination And Enthusiasm

By Fiona Erna
Do you think you are eligible to call yourself a photographer simply because you are interested in photography? Well, no. It doesn't work that way. There are more fundamental things that you probably have already possess that are considered as the basic traits for every photographer.

Many people are interested in photography in some nebulous way; they might be interested in the seemingly glamorous live of top fashion or war photographers; or in the acquisition an admiration of beautiful, functional machines, the cameras; o in the arcane ritual of the darkroom processes; or in the person which they could adopt if only they took pictures like . . whoever. But these interests, no matter how personally enjoyable they might be, never lead to the person becoming a photographer The reason is that photography is only a tool, vehicle, for expressing or transmitting a passion in something else. It is not the end result. An analogy would be to buy a car for its status appeal, for the idea that it will improve your sex-life, for the smell of the new upholstery, for the fascination with its beautiful engineering, and so on. But it is useless unless it actually take you somewhere

The destination of photography is to reveal what something or somebody looked like, under a particular set of conditions, at a particular moment in time, and to transmit the result t others. However, a word of caution should be inserted here. It does not imply merely bland records of anything. Some pictures are obviously more interesting, more beautiful, more inspiring than others, even of the same subject matter. More than that, they are indelibly stamped with the unique style, for want of better word, of the individuals who made them. So what transforms these simple record into pictures of lasting merit

It comes down to the choice of subject. The photographer must have intense curiosity, no just a passing visual interest, in the theme of the pictures. This curiosity leads to intense examination, reading, talking, research and many, many failed attempts over a long period of time. In order to photograph with an degree of continuous passion, you must have a fascination for the subject, otherwise you cannot sustain an interest in the act of creation for a long enough period of time in which to make any insightful or original statement about it.

The reason for a young photographer's confusion is that most teachers, classes, workshops books, whatever, imply that how the picture is made, what techniques were employed why it looks different and artistic, is more important than the subject matter. Ye the photographer is, primarily, a subject-selector. Much as it might offend the artistically inclined, the history of photography is primarily the history of the subject matter. So photographer's first decision is what to photograph. Your curiosity, fascination and enthusiasm for this subject can be communicated to others through the pictures you take of it.

Learn about digital camera most favourite tips, tricks, all the know how you need at digitalcameramaster.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fiona_Erna

Just What is a Pinhole Camera?

By Nahshon Roberts
What is a pinhole camera? Well, this is one of the earliest and the most simple cameras used in photography. What makes it special, though, is that, unlike most cameras, it can take pictures without the use of a lens. If you want to know what this camera is, read on. The article will talk about its history, how it works, and how it looks like.

What does It Look Like?

To answer the question of what a pinhole camera is, you have to know what it looks like. You will certainly recognize a pinhole camera right away because it does not look like any conventional camera. Depending on its size, it is a box-like figure with a small hole in it. When the shutter of the pinhole camera is opened, all the light beams that radiates from the object enters into the small hole and is projected into certain areas of the film. The film is mounted inside the box frame, opposite to the pinhole. Ordinary things such as oatmeal boxes, cereal boxes, and shoe boxes can be used as a box frame. A pin can be used to make the pinhole.

Who Invented It?

5th century Muslim mathematician Ibn al-Haytam invented the first pinhole camera, but it was Scottish scientist, Sir David Brewster, who took the first pictures using the pinhole camera in 1850. However, it did not enter the mainstream until the 1960s because, up to that time, people preferred to use the conventional cameras to take photographs. However, scientists such as Gemma Frisuis and Giambattista della Porta were intrigued by it, and they made studies and experiments to explain why such a simple device could actually take pictures. Gemma Frisius' study of a solar eclipse using a pinhole camera was ground-breaking and well-documented. In any event, its roots can be traced back to the time of the ancient Greeks. The Chinese also contributed important discoveries to forward the development of the pinhole camera.

How Does It Take Pictures?

We are capable of seeing objects because our eyes receive the light rays that radiate from them. That is the reason why we can't see anything in a darkened room because our eyes are not receiving any light from the objects around us. The pinhole camera works the same way. The interesting thing about it is that the smaller the pinhole is, the sharper the image becomes. The downside is that thinner light rays tend to bend more when they make contact with the film. As a result, the picture can be a bit fuzzy and blurry. Also, the image will appear inverted on the film. Don't worry though, you would have to put mirrors inside your pinhole camera if you want to correct the image perspective.

Do you now know what it is? How a pinhole camera works is simply amazing, isn't it? This simple camera has fascinated many photo enthusiasts and it has captured the imaginations of mathematicians, philosophers, and scientists both in the past and present. Knowing what is a pinhole camera is definitely an interesting thing.

Need answers to questions like 'what is a pinhole camera'? Find out how a wireless Internet camera and CCTV security work. Visit Video-Surveillance-Guide.com now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nahshon_Roberts

Digital Camera Packages

By Jitesh Arora
Would you mind trying your hands at the digital cameras? Then here it is almost everything you got to know about cameras.

These convert your memories into digital form. Let it be videos, photos or sound, anything can be stored for later use. Share it or keep it for yourself it is not going any where. Digital cameras include video cameras, still cameras and professional modular system of cameras. What matters is the memory when we talk of digital cameras. Cheap ones and the mobile phones rely on onboard memory. But nowadays most digital cameras are available with a removable memory card. These can be secure memory cards, XD picture card or memory stick.

The purpose of all these is easy and huge storage. If you are confused between the resolution and the pixels then keep this thing in mind that a huge amount of pixels does not ensure a better picture. If you plan to share your memories on the web or on blog sites then a lower resolution camera is a better option for you. Talking about the memory cards, it is a belief that huge memory enhances the performance of the camera but many times its vise versa is possible. Two types of batteries are available when digital cameras are concerned. You may select cameras with lithium ion batteries or the standard AA batteries.

The cameras can be connected to the computer by the USB port, or through card readers. Nowadays some cameras like Easy share helps to share items with the computer by Bluetooth. Have you ever heard about disposable cameras? These are also known as single use cameras. They have all common features like the regular cameras. There is one drawback; you can not connect it to your computer. These cameras are cheaper than the regular ones.

If you want to know more about Digital Camera Packages then feel free to visit Digital Rebel Packages.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jitesh_Arora

The Pinhole Camera History

By Nahshon Roberts
The pinhole camera is one of the earliest cameras used in photography. It is an-odd looking thing because, unlike other cameras, it does not need to use lenses to take pictures. To explain, images are projected into the pinhole camera when light passes through a tiny hole in its box-like frame. According to Wikipedia.com, the small hole of the camera can focus light by directing it through a single point. This article will talk about its illustrious history.

Early Discoveries of The Ancient Greeks

Pinhole camera history in Wikipedia.com says that these simple devices were already used by the Greeks as early as 500 B.C. It was a common belief that people were able to see because the light rays were bouncing from the human eye. Wikipedia.com adds that, later on, they found out that seeing was actually an effect of light rays entering into the eye, rather than bouncing from it. This important realization led to a better understanding of how these work.

Ancient china

Mo Jing, a Mohist philosopher in 5th century-China, was said to have studied and experimented with phenomenona of images projected via a very small hole. Because of this, the Mohist philosopher was able to contribute to the development of the pinhole camera and the Burning Mirrors used by the ancient Mohists. Much of the pinhole camera history revolves around key events in Ancient China. In fact, Wikipedia.com also states that Shen Huo, a Chinese scientist during the Song Dynasty, was able to establish the key geometrical and quantitative concepts vital to the development of the pinhole camera today.

1000 to 1600 A.D.

The 10th century Muslim mathematician Ibn al-haytam is credited for inventing the first modern pinhole camera. Further advancements were made to the camera when the Muslim mathematician realized that a smaller hole produced a more sharper image.

In addition, more ideas and studies were done by the brilliant minds of Gemma Frisuis and Giambattista della Porta. These two published a paper explaining why images projected into the pinhole camera appeared upside down. Lynn Bryant, writing for a video surveillance website, said that the studies made by Gemma Frisuis' of a solar eclipse projected into a dark room was the first documented use of a pinhole camera in history.

1800s and Beyond

Lynn Bryant also says that Sir David Brewster, a Scottish scientist, was the first one to take pictures with the pinhole camera back in the 1850s. Lynn Bryant also says that this simple camera was not regarded as a popular medium of photography, not until the 1960s. It may be owing to the fact that the photographers during the period preferred to take pictures using a conventional camera, as opposed to the pinhole camera.

The pinhole camera history can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks, with advancements contributed by the Ancient Chinese and by brilliant scientists and philosophers in the late 20th century. Its history, like the histories of all things ingenious, is colorful, interesting, and absolutely eventful, and one that never fails to prove how great things can come from a simple idea.

Learn more about pinhole camera history, an Internet video camera, and an IP security camera by going to Video-Surveillance-Guide today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nahshon_Roberts

Using Web Images For Your Own Projects

By Samuel Moore
A lot of people think that all images on the web are free for anyone to use. The aim of this article is to separate the wheat from the chaff – describe the difference between images that are absolutely free (public domain), "royalty free" and "rights protected". Furthermore, some of the options available to you for using images from the web – namely Public Domain, Stock Photography and Assignment photography – will be outlined.

Public Domain vs Rights protected vs Royalty Free:
Public Domain images are free for any sort of use. Wikipedia has a great article on them available on their site so I'm going to try not to duplicate their useful content (which includes a list of sources for public domain images). What I will say is that according to copyright laws, any photographs taken on assignment working for the United States government or any photographs available for download on US government sites are automatically public domain.

Right Protected images are bought with a specific time limit for how long the image can be used for and with a specific project in mind (e.g. Use of an image on billboards in Berlin, Germany for 5 weeks). The time period and specific use are negotiated beforehand with either the photographer or a middleman. For an additional fee others will not be able to use the same image during the time period. This is useful for big businesses who want to advertise effectively.

Royalty free images are bought for a once-off fee. They can be used in as many ways as the buyer wants. Others can also use the same image if they too purchase it. Higher resolution images (used for print publications or posters as opposed to on websites) usually cost more. A worthy note at this point is http://www.sxc.hu who offer free (with certain restrictions) royalty-free images.

Options available to you:
Assignment photography usually means going out and hiring a photographer to shoot certain shots. The only exception to this that I know of is http://www.africapic.com who combine assignment photography and stock photography – assignments of a certain nature can be requested and the resulting images becomes available for download.

Stock photography is usually the better option for those who:

* Want high quality images (good public domain images are usually hard to come by).
* Are on a tight schedule (images are available for instant download).
* Do not really know what image they want and want to look at the options.


To conclude, it should be clear that for most users, stock photography is the option for using images off the web (bear in mind that some stock images are free!). Rights managed photography is useful for those who don't want their competitors using the same image.

http://www.webreference.com/stock/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samuel_Moore

Photography Printing

By TJ Tierney
Once your images are taken the next and most important factor is the quality of the print. If you are thinking about doing the printing at home, you need to be able to create quality prints and you also need to know the best quality paper and ink to buy. Before you decide whether to print at home or use a professional service, you need to weigh up the pros and cons of doing it yourself.

With a good printer it is possible to print great images in your office or at home. One of the biggest cons of printing at home is the time it takes; if you have a great deal of images to print I would advise that you get a professional service to do it for you. You will not save any money by doing your own printing but it is extremely handy to be able to do it your self, especially if you need the prints in a hurry.

If you have decided that you are going to do your own printing you need to know and understand how to do so. Your prints need to be perfect.

Printing images takes time and most affordable printers are slow. Your printer needs to be able to print at a minimum of 300 dpi. If possible get a printer that will print up to 600 dpi. This will give you a sharper and better quality image. You also need to know what paper will suit your printer. Your printer should have a minimum of four ink cartridges.

Always buy inks from the manufacturer of the printer. As a rule, I would only use ink and paper made by the same manufacturer of the printer. This has been tried and tested by many photographers and should become your standard for your photography printing. Papers that are not designed for your printer may cause jams or even repel ink.

I find that Epson is very good. But I would never put any other manufacturers ink into my Epson printer. Cheap inks will give you poor colours, resulting in poor prints.

There are many different types of paper to choose from with different textures. Glossy paper will produce rich colours but should be handled with care. Matte paper may be a better choice for an image which is going to be handled a lot. Always remember that whiter paper produces sharper more vibrant colours.

Many of us have digital cameras that tell us the mega pixel quality. As a standard a 2-mega-pixel camera will print a 4 x 6 inch print. A 3-mega-pixel camera will print a 5 x 7 inch print. A 6-mega-pixel camera will print a 10 x 8 inch print. An 8-mega-pixel camera will print a 12 x 8 inch print.

The final thing that you need to understand is how to calibrate your monitor so that when you view your image on a computer screen the colours will be as close as possible when you print. Your computer manual should have a section on this and it should be redone every time your computer is moved.

I hope this article was be helpful and that you are ready to create your digital darkroom. Photography printing at home will give you a better concept of colour along with the convenience of being able to print when you need.

TJ Tierney is an award winning photographer and a freelance writer. To find out more information visit his free photography and

Article Source: digital photography site. His site also contains a free photography directory.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=TJ_Tierney

Wholesale Disposable Cameras

By Joe Aver
Wholesale disposable cameras for use in schools or some other event are disposable cameras bought in bulk. Purchasing in bulk is the best disposable camera deal you can get. You can also purchase Kodak digital plus cameras in bulk for a great deal.

Buying wholesale is a great way to save on wedding expenses, hotels that purchase the cameras can also save a bundle. Many cameras are sold at local shops at tourist attractions because people always forget to bring their own digital cameras. In general a disposable camera can run anywhere from $4-8 Per camera depending on style and design. Disposable underwater cameras can cost even more especially the cameras with flash. A great idea is to have the pictures developed and ask the developer to give you a cd of the photos as well so you can email it to friend s and family.

When purchased wholesale are great deals because you get the same type of camera for a great prices usually a disposable camera comes with a flash unless of course you purchase a outdoor camera i.e. Without flash, anywhere from fifteen to twenty seven exposures per disposable camera, cameras are usually good for 2 years. One thing many people don't know is that cameras are good even a couple of months after it's expiration date as long as it's held in cool place.

Disposable cameras have really come a long way! Today you can but wedding disposable cameras, underwater cameras and even disposable cameras with a zoom. I did notice that there is no such thing as a disposable camera with a date and time, something someone should look into making.

Another cool disposable cameras is the message camera where at the bottom of every picture there is a cute message, of course not everyone likes that idea but for those that do it's out there.

You can try Cameras101.com - Disposable Cameras for cameras in bulk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Aver

Beginning in Photography - White Balance

By Mark Eden
Ever wonder why some photos have a yellow or blue color cast? Why did this happen? Well it has to do with how your camera sees colors in a scene. Correct white balance is one of those technical aspects of photography that is often overlooked or misunderstood. But it can have a great impact on your photos, so it is important to understand how color in photography works.

What is White Balance?

Color is measured in temperature, in units of Kelvin. Warm colors have a low degrees Kelvin, while cooler temperatures have a higher degrees Kelvin. For example, the flame of a candle has a Kelvin temperature of around 1,500, while a blue sky has a Kelvin temperature of around 9,000. The human eye is very good at adjusting for variation in color temperature. Unless the temperature of the light is very extreme a white wall will generally look white. But a camera doesn't have a human brain behind it (yet, anyway!) and so isn't able to make the same adjustments. The result of this is a color cast that either looks too "cold" or too "warm".

Adjusting White Balance

The purpose of adjusting white balance is to tell your camera to either warm things up or cool things down, depending on the lighting situation. So how do we do this? Most Digital cameras have automatic and semi automatic settings. Most commonly these are:

Automatic: where your camera takes a guess at the correct white balance. In most conditions this is pretty accurate, however in tricky lighting situations it is easily fooled.

Tungsten: used for shooting under tungsten (artificial) lighting such as an indoor bulb. As this type of lighting is quite warm, the setting cools down the colors slightly.

Daylight: used for shooting outside. Colors under a sky can appear quite blue so this setting is used to warm up a scene.

Different makes of cameras also have more variations on these settings, such as for cloudy conditions and flash photography.

Manually Adjusting White Balance

In most cases, using the automatic or semi automatic settings on your camera will produce good results. But if it's just not doing it for you, or like me you are a complete control freak, most digital cameras will allow you to manually set the white balance.

This can be done in two ways. Some cameras have a setting that will allow you to set the white balance in degrees Kelvin. To do this of course you will need to know the temperature of your light source. This is easy to find out with a few test shots. For example, if you are shooting indoors under a standard house globe, you know that the temperature of the light will be quite low. Adjust your setting to a low number and take a test shot. Then check and make adjustments as needed until the color in your images looks right.

The second method is the tried and true grey card. By holding a neutral color in front of your lens, you are essentially telling the camera what white looks like. It then adjusts all other colors accordingly. To do this you need to have your white balance setting on manual.

With all the automatic settings that digital cameras have to supposedly make our lives easier, it is easy to be lazy and let the camera do all the work. However putting in a little extra effort into learning why things work the way they do gives you the edge next time you are dealing with a tricky lighting situation and helps you improve your photography.

Mark Eden is a freelance travel photographer and owner of Expanse Photography, a photographic services company You can see Mark's, travel photography and contact Mark through the Expanse Photography website http://www.expansephotography.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Eden

Learn Digital Photography - Praising Photography of the Digital Age

By Dan Feildman
The 'purist' is one who clings to the traditional methods as being tried and true. No matter the topic, you will have those that cling to this belief and reject the idea of new innovations and technologies. This is especially true in the field of digital photography. Although the processes within film itself and the darkroom have been refined throughout the years to reach higher quality, the advent of digital photography has once again redefined the picture. With the recent advances in digital technology having an impact on photography, 'purists' are finding the fault to be in the manipulation of the image.

But there are some genuine reasons to at least incorporate digital technology into your professional photography game plan. These reasons are compelling enough that more and more we are seeing the big studios going all digital. So if you are running an independent photography business or if you are "just" a photography hobbyist (and thank God for the hobbyists), you may have to think through the value of moving to digital processing yourself. The amount of fuss and sheer "stuff" of doing a shoot digitally is dramatically less involved than using the older technologies. Witness how the digital revolution in photography has revolutionized the personal camera world. Now people can take as many pictures as they want and have them to review virtually instantaneously.

The strongest points in favor of digital photography are usually time and cost. Re-shoots can be done quickly and there is the advantage of taking a multitude of shots at practically no expense in order to capture the right one. In a portrait session for example, the customer has the ability to view the images almost immediately, then knowing what to go back to correct. With traditional film, results are not discovered until after processing necessitating a return to the studio. Digital photography can provide the customer with instantaneous results and satisfaction while saving both time and money for the photographer.

If it is the quality that you are worried about, digital photography can deliver. The end results are a photo that is many cases is better than if having used the prior technologies. With the cost saving benefiting both the customer and the photographer, professional photos are more readily sought after now than ever before. This convenience and saving will bring the consumer back more often as they are being provided a quality service at an obtainable price for any budget.

As computers and internet technologies are advancing, digital photography has become part of this wave. Personal computers have become an ingrained part of our lives and with the combination of the internet superhighway, photographs have become common communication between people. With only a click of a button, photos can be delivered by e-mail, saved to a DVD or CD, or displayed in an online gallery. Customers then have a basis for ordering additional photos for the same cost and have more immediate delivery in a much more convenient way to view and store them.

Editing has similarly moved from the realm of the back room wizards to something any of us can do due to the sophisticated computer programs, such as Photoshop, that we can use to improve the pictures we take. It is really amazing the effects that can be imposed on a picture with this software. But more importantly we can so much more easily correct minor problems with a photograph so what might have been a lost session can be improved to become acceptable with some clever use of digital editing.

In virtually every way, digital photography, delivery and editing is superior to the way "the purists" would have us hold on to. It makes our lives as photographers easier, faster and more profitable. But above all, this is something our customers want us to use. They get to enjoy their pictures so much faster, at a more reasonable cost and the pictures can be emailed to friends and posted on their family web sites which is fun for everyone. So despite our desire to be "purists", every reason we need is there to convince us that digital photography is the way to go.

Looking into digital photography, ever want to start Learning Digital Photography? Get Great Tips on how to take Digital Photographs with This Free Report

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Feildman