Camera Customer Reviews

Tuesday, 31 March 2009

Get Paid For Your Photos

If you want to get paid for your photos then welcome to the world of freelance photography. From hobbyists and amateurs through to professional freelance photographers, many people have found that they can earn some extra cash and even pay off a new digital camera by selling their digital photography.

Here is some advice on how to get paid for your photos:

1. Research the Stock Photography Market

If you want to get paid for your photos you should take time to research which photos are more marketable and more in demand. Also give some consideration to those categories for which there seems to be an "under-supply".

Most micro stock photography web sites make it relatively easy to see their most popular photos. You can determine quickly which types of photographs sell more than others and are downloaded the most.

2. Take Good Photos

Your success in getting paid for your photos will ultimately come down to your ability to take great photographs. There are many good books, web sites, and training courses that will give you the training you need to be a good photographer. If you want to get paid for your photos, then you must learn to take an above average photo that clients will love at first glance and won't be able to resist.

3. Submit Your Photos to Stock Photography Sites

There are many stock photography sites to which you can submit your photos. Many of these are actually referred to as "micro stock photography" sites. Microstock photography agencies are different to traditional stock photography agencies in that they usually sources their images almost exclusively through the Internet, working with a much larger number of photographers and selling images at comparatively low rates. They will work not only with professional freelance photographers but also "amateurs" and "hobbyists".

4. Get Paid For Your Photos Many Times Over

Stock photography sites are not the only way to get paid for your photos. You can also take your photographs and create products for sale. Some examples of possible photography products include posters, prints, postcards, t-shirts and even books.

At CafePress, for example, you can design a wide variety of customizable products using your photos with zero upfront costs and zero inventory investment.

Anyone who can take a good photo can get started in freelance stock photography.

If you would like to get paid for your photos then please visit http://www.CameraCareer.com You'll discover all you need to know to get started including which photos to take and how to get the best fees whenever you sell your photos.

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Sell Your Photos - 3 Ways to Sell Your Freelance Photography

If you love photography then a career as a freelance photographer is well worth considering. If you want to start a business in freelance photography there are three main ways to sell your photos.

1. Stock Photography

Stock photography refers to a stock of existing photographs that can be licensed for specific uses. Publishers, magazines, advertising agencies, filmmakers, web designers, and graphic artists are all examples of users of stock photography. They can use stock photography instead of hiring a photographer to shoot the photographs they need.

As a photographer when you take photographs those photos become a part of your "stock". As the copyright holder you can license the images again and again. Your stock photos can be sold online through stock agencies and microstock sites, or by approaching publishers and other users directly, or you can sell them through your own web site.

2. Photography Products

You can take your photographs and create products for sale. Some examples of possible photography products include posters, prints, postcards, t-shirts and even books.

At CafePress, for example, you can design a wide variety of customizable products using your photos with zero upfront costs and zero inventory investment.

3. Photography Services

Another way to work in freelance photography is sell your skills, to sell your services as a photographer. In this capacity you could work on assignment for portraits, for weddings, or for various types of business project.

If you only want to work part-time at your photography, then working as a freelance photographer is still a great way to earn a little extra cash or to pay for your next digital camera or lens.

If you would like to start your own freelance photography business selling your photos online, please visit http://www.CameraCareer.com You'll discover all you need to know to get started including which photos to take and how to get the best fees whenever you sell your photos.

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Cleaning Your Digital SLR Camera

For a number of people with SLR digital cameras, cleaning their "babies" may be a daunting task. You cannot blame them, one wrong move, and poof, that rather expensive piece of item may need a professional fixing that may cost an arm and leg. That is why a lot of people are willing to fork over up to $150 to have their camera's professionally cleaned to avoid any mishaps.

However, cleaning your digital SLR should not be as intimidating as people perceive of it if the right tools are used. Here are some tips in cleaning that SLR digital camera of yours.

1. Prepare your cleaning area. Make sure you do your cleaning indoors, in a place that is clean and dustless. Wear lint free clothing like spandex and of ever you are wearing long sleeves, roll up your sleeves to avoid getting lint on your SLR camera.

2. Start with the outside body of your camera. The nooks and crannies where dust and grime accumulate, use a air blower that has a straw tip to target those really small spaces to blow out the dirt. Then give it a good wipe with a microfiber cloth you can buy at specialty camera stores or photo events. They are relatively cheap; some are $4, while top of the line microfiber cloth can go as high as $15.

3. Unscrew the lens from the camera body. Use the air blower to blow away dust particles. Do not use compressed air as the pressure may be too much on your lens. Set the lens aside and dampen a soft microfiber cloth with lens cleaning solution. Do not put the solution on the lens directly as this may ruin your lenses. Take the lens and wipe it with the dampened mircofiber cloth. Then use a different dry microfiber to wipe away excess fluid. Note that if you are a bit obsessive-compulsive and you may want to clean this often, stop yourself because too much lens cleaning may strip the lens off of its coating.

4. Sensor cleaning is a tad bit tricky and if you have shaky hands, you may want to leave this to professionals. To reach the sensor, lift the mirror. Do not, in any circumstances, even if you feel you are capable enough to do it. The mirror cannot even handle light air blowing. The sensor gets dirt and dust particles whenever you do a change of lenses. To clean it, check out your digital SLR manual so you will know how to change it to "sensor cleaning mode" Then use the air blower to remove the dust, invert it so you have gravity working with you. After removing the unwanted debris, wipe it with a microfiber cloth or with a sensor brush which you can also buy in your local camera shop.

These are just some cleaning tips you can make use. For further maintenance, you can also put some silica gels fond in new bags or new shoes and place them in your camera bag to avoid moisture from ruining your camera. Also, place your digital SLR in a dust free bag so as to avoid further contamination.

If you need help or more information on which digital slr is best for your needs please visit our site. For detailed reviews and feature break downs on digital slr camera visit my site for all types of digital camera resources.

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Edit Digital Photography - Digital Photos Touch Up Guide

The advances and conveniences in digital photography make it possible for anyone to take a perfect picture, but how exactly is this possible is we all are not the world's greatest photographer? By touching up your raw images through digital editing you can take what was once an average picture and make it a great photograph. Maybe you needed to lighten your image, crop or rotate a bit and even clean up some dirty spots; this is all quick and simple to do once you know how. Most pictures need some type of adjusting to produce the final image. Take a look at this short guide to help you with the most common touch ups for your photos.

Step 1: Start Up Your Image Editor The first step, of course, is to fire up your favorite image editing program. For beginners, it's best to get a program like Ulead PhotoImpact. It's a great tool that allows you to achieve professional photo effects using simple, easy-to-follow steps.

Step 2: Remove Red-Eye Almost everyone has experienced the red-eye effect when taking pictures of people. This is an easy corrected problem with image editing software. A Red-Eye Removal tool can be found in the menu of Paint Shop Pro that does all of the work for you. Ulead Photo Impact offers the same feature with its Remove Red Eye option in the Tool Panel.

Step 3: Rotate and Crop If you've taken a photo in a wrong orientation, it's easily corrected with little loss in quality by using a rotate tool. You'll also want to do some cropping of your photo to remove cluttered surroundings that draw attention away from your subject. For example, I find cropping very useful if my subject is occupying only the middle portion of the photograph. Cut away the two sides of the picture and you have a much more professional look.

Step 4: Play with Color Don't be afraid to experiment with colors. Image editing programs put a lot of power in your hands. You can make the leaves purple, change the entire photo to black and white, add a sepia effect - almost anything you want. A good photo editing program will have automatic color balance options to adjust color defects in your pictures.

Step 5: Blurring Effects Sometimes I like to add a blurring effect to my photos. What you can do here is to select areas of the photo which are unimportant and blur them out. This will bring more attention to the main subject of your photo. For example, if I had a picture of a flower and I wanted to play down the details in the leaves in background, I might add a blurring effect to the background.

Step 6: Sharpen Up Sharpening the image is the next step in the photo touch up process. You cannot sharpen an out of focus image into clarity contrary to popular belief. The best way to utilize the sharpen tool is to selectively sharpen just a portion of an image such as a person's eyes. Leave the unimportant areas unsharpened to give the focus to your selected area.

Step 7: Resize You may need to resize your photo to suit your need. To e-mail your photo, resize to a smaller dimension. To print on a greeting card, you will want to resize your image to a 4x6 size.

Step 8: Save Your Work You're almost there. Now just remember to save your work in the proper image format. Use the larger TIFF image format to preserve all details for further image editing. If you just want to e-mail your pictures or upload them to your website, the JPEG image format would work best.

Conclusion Alrighty then! Now you know the secret to touching up and preparing your raw digital photos for output. I'd say that not all the above steps are truly necessary in a given situation. Remember to use your discretion to see which is necessary. Don't be afraid to experiment and learn - practice makes perfect when it comes to touching up your photos.

Would like to find out more about editing digital photography? Don't trust anybody's advice until you read this free report.

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Monday, 30 March 2009

Get Involved With Digital Photography!

The continuing advances in digital photography make it possible for everyone to capture moments of their lives with more detail and accuracy than ever. Improvements in photo resolution and shutter speed make it easy for both professional photographers and beginners to take great pictures. And even if a photo is not perfect when it is taken, sophisticated editing software can transform it into a work of art.

Experienced photographers say that timing is the most important factor for getting a good picture. There is only a small, limited opportunity to capture a great shot. Whether you are trying to get the perfect sunset photo or get a picture of the winners as they cross the finish line, you must have a good sense of timing and the intuition that lets you know exactly when to press that shutter button. It is this factor that makes photography an art form.

Most people never quite realize the dream of getting a perfect shot. Maybe your picture is framed well, but the lighting is not quite right. Maybe youve got the lighting just right, but you forget to use the flash or red-eye reduction option. In cases like these, digital photography offers an excellent way to get just the look you want in a photo.

Any picture you take with a digital camera can be edited to reach its full potential. Digital photos can be automatically enhanced to improve their color; they can be zoomed or cropped to their optimal size. And, of course, the red-eye reduction capability can improve any portrait. These editing options can all be completed within minutes, giving you the chance to have the most wonderful photos youve ever taken.

With a good digital camera and photo editing software, you can accomplish great things. The capabilities built into your camera represent only the beginning of the editing potential. Software programs really help you make the most of the photos you have. You can use editing software to change the images in any way you desire.

Local or online retailers can provide you with the equipment, software, and information you need to take great digital photos. When selecting a digital camera, you should be sure you buy one that has the features you need and want. You should look for a model that gives great pictures and that also has simple docking methods for downloading the photos from the camera to the printer or computer. Good photo editing software that will let you alter your digital pictures includes products like Kodak Picture, and Corel Photo Album.

There are a vast range of hobbies and pastimes availble for everyone to take part in, for more information about a variety of hobbies and pastimes visit http://great-hobbies.com.

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Top 5 Tips for Buying a Digital SLR Camera

Just a few short years ago picking the best digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera was a snap: there were only a few models to choose from, and they all cost well above $2,000.

Today making a similar choice is not so cut-and-dried. New manufacturers have plunged into the market and there is greater competition and a wider range of cameras being offered.

So whats a consumer to do?

Approach your digital SLR purchase as if you were buying a new car. While the costs are considerably different, the steps you should take are almost identical.

TIP #1 Know What You Want to Photograph

A single male living in the city doesnt need the same type of car as a soccer mom living in the suburbs. In the same fashion, not everyone needs a top-of-the-line digital SLR camera.

Its important to decide what you want to take pictures of before you go looking for the best camera. Do you enjoy taking portraits of friends and family outdoors, or are you trying to capture your sons indoor basketball games?

The answers to questions like this will help you focus your search for the best digital SLR camera.

TIP #2 Understand the Jargon

When youre buying a car, it helps to be informed. When the pushy dealer tries to sell you on a twin-cam fuel injection system youll be able to reject the offer only if you are REALLY sure you dont need it.

The same thing applies to digital SLRs: before you get involved in a conversation with a camera dealer, learn about terms like ISO, anti-shake and megapixels (hint: more megapixels DO NOT increase the quality of the image) so you dont buy more camera than you really need.

TIP #3 Hold Some Cameras

You wouldnt go out and buy a new car without taking it for a test drive first, would you?

A test drive is your best opportunity to see if you like the way the car handles, if theres enough room in the interior and how easy it is to adjust the stereo when youre doing 70 on the Interstate.

Digital SLR cameras come in a variety of shapes and sizes - since youre going to be taking a lot of photos with it, you should get a sense of how the camera feels in your hands before you make a decision to buy.

TIP #4 Read Reviews

Youve done your homework and youve taken a test drive. Are you ready to buy the car of your dreams? Well, not quite yet.

Before you make a final commitment, youll probably want to read reports about how well the car fared in crash tests and whether or not there is a serious defect with the vehicle make and model.

Since digital SLRs are just small computers with lenses on the front, they are subject to the same types of malfunctions that can plague your home computer. This is not to say that most digital SLRs fall apart within months they dont.

But some are more temperamental than others, and the only way to find out if youre about to buy a real lemon is to read reviews from current owners.

TIP #5 Buy From a Reputable Dealer

This last tip is VERY important.

When buying your car, you can either go to a dealer that others have recommended or you can take your chances with that shifty individual down at the used car lot.

Digital SLR cameras fall under the heading of home electronics and there are plenty of sleazy companies out there looking to make a quick buck by luring you in with unbelievable prices.

If youre doing some price comparisons and come across a company selling a camera for half of what everyone else is selling it for, dont walk, RUN away.

This is a bait-and-switch: they hook you with a low price and then sell you a lot of accessories that you really dont need. End result? You actually wind up paying MORE (and spending a lot of your valuable time) than you would have if youd just purchased from a respected and reputable dealer in the first place.

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Chris Roberts has been sharing his passion for photography and cameras with others since 2005. His web site, the Digital SLR Guide, teaches beginning photographers how to find the best digital SLR cameras, lenses and accessories to capture the photos they love.

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Learn Digital Photography - A Digital Camera Review

There have been a lot of comments made recently regarding 'Black Dot' and 'Vertical Banding' issues by owners or potential owners who have been scrutinizing the camera's output. The company says it is investigating both issues and will work on 'measures to reduce or eliminate these phenomena.'

I have learned that some users of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera have identified two types of image quality phenomena that appear under certain shooting conditions, being 1 - "Black dot" phenomenon (the right side of point light sources becomes black) and 2 - Vertical banding noise.

They are currently investigating and analyzing the causes, and examining measures to reduce or eliminate these phenomena by providing correction firmware. Details of the phenomena and shooting conditions under which they are likely to occur are as follows.

1. "Black dot" phenomenon (the right side of point light sources becomes black) When shooting night scenes, the right side of point light sources (such as lights from building windows) may become black. The phenomenon may become visible if the images are enlarged to 100% or above on a monitor or if extremely large prints of the images are made.

2. Vertical banding noise If the recording format is set to sRAW1, vertical banding noise may become visible depending on the camera settings, subject, and background. ? Vertical banding noise is not noticeable if the recording format is set to sRAW2. ? Vertical banding noise does not occur if the recording format is set to RAW or JPEG? Noise can be reduced if C.Fn II-3: Highlight tone priority is set to 0: Disable.

I am personally quite impressed with how modern day giants deal with customer inquiries and this type of post customer service should always be taken into consideration when purchasing a digital camera or any other consumer item. Check out Google for alternative digital camera reviews for both Cannon and other leading digital camera producers.

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Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 Digital SLR Camera

The Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 Digital SLR Camera raises the resolution from 10 mega pixels to 14.2 mega pixels. The auto focus function in Live View is as fast as it is in optical viewfinder mode. This is the major breakthrough of all of Sony's SLR cameras.

The A350 has a new "pop-up" flash rather than the older "pull-up" variety. This camera can deploy flash in auto mode when necessary. Sony's 14 mega pixel Alpha A350 has a MSRP of $800 for the base model , $900 with the optional 18-70 mm lens and $1090.00 with the advanced 18-70 and 55-200 lens.

The Sony Alpha A350 measures 5.25x4x3 inches and weighs about 24 ounces or 682 grams with memory card and battery.

Sony A350 BASIC FEATURES:

-14.2 Mega Pixel HAD CCD with resolutions of up to 4,592 x 3,056 pixels!
-Lithium-ion battery
-Compact Flash Type I, II and Microdrive
-Optical viewfinder
-3.88x lens kit, 18-70 mm (27-105mm equivalent)
-ISO sensitivity: 100:3,200 seconds
-Dimensions 5.25x4.0x3.0 inches
-Weight: 24 ounces(including lens, card and battery)

Sony A350 Advanced Special Features

-Live View Mode
-Tilting LCD
-Super SteadyShot in-camera image stabilization
-BIONZ image processor
-Anti-Dust Technology
-External, flash hot-shoe
-Auto pop-up flash with four main operating modes and a variable slow-sync function
-Dynamic range optimizer
-Built in support for wireless TTL flash exposure with certain Sony flashes
-Eye-start auto focus system
-Auto and manual focus options with Single and Continuous AF modes
-A wide selection of scene modes including: Portrait, landscape, sports, macro, sunset, night view and night portrait
-Creative style settings
-Raw and JPEG file formats
-High-resolution thumbnails for Photo TV HD viewing
-Continuous burst mode
-USB 2.0 High-speed cable interface for fast downloading of images
-NTSC or PAL selectable video output signal; cables included
-Optional wired remote control accessories

HIGHLIGHTS:

-LCD screen allows comfortable s hooting from above or below
-Live View mode does not affect AF speed
-14.2 mega pixel sensor
-Awesome grip
-Easy to use, simple navigation
-Great on-screen menu design for quick selection of options
-Dynamic Range Optimization preserves full details of images in highlights and shadows

The only real challenge presented to individuals interested in this camera is selecting which one to choose. The A350 has a very fast AF in Live View mode with a nice tilting LCD. The Sony A350 offers a well-rounded package, delivering the best of all world's in terms of resolution, design and of course, usability.

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Need Help Choosing Between a Canon Powershot, and a Canon Digital Elph?

Both the Powershot, and the digital Elph are among the most popular in the Canon line up of digital cameras. If you talk to anyone whose owned more than a couple of digital cameras in their lifetime, chances are they purchased a model for one of these two lines. Here's a quick summary, of what I consider to be the top cameras in those lineups. Going from favorite to least favorite. While it would be hard to go wrong with any camera listed here the closer to the top, the better off you'll be.

The SD1100 wins top spot for my favorite compact digital camera. It's an evolution from the SD1000, with a number of notable enhancements. Image stabilization for starters. Secondly, a zoom lens that goes from 38 to 114 mm. The form factor has also been improved, with a decent sized grip for right-handed folks. Apologies to all the lefties out there, even if Canon has forgotten you. For those of you tired of the stainless steel or dull gray, you'll be happy to know that the SD1100 comes in an assortment of colors.

If a wide-angle lens is high on your priority list of items that are a must have for your digital camera, then the SD870IS digital Elph needs to be on your short list. It may be a little bit bigger than the SD1100, with a conspicuously missing optical viewfinder, but don't let that scare you away. It's a fine camera, and the eight megapixels may come in handy if you tend do a lot of cropping.

As with many of the Canon cameras, it can be kind of hard to tell the players without a program. The SD770IS kind of falls into this category, as its similar in some respects but evolutionary to the SD 1100 IS. It's generally priced a little more expensively, but does have a few features to justify what extra costs. Such as improved battery life, and an LCD screen with a higher resolution. For the average photographer though, image quality is often not the overriding factor in a camera purchase (unfortunately).

The SD950IS camera comes in a 12.1 megapixel model. That in of itself is probably one of the overriding features for its popularity. Don't be a sucker for megapixel though. More is not always better. In some cases, to get better image quality you're better off with less megapixels and a larger image sensor. It's a little expensive, but with a nice zoom lens, and panoramic picture stitching included, the price increase is justified.

It can be hard to get a decent zoom lens with a compact camera, but the SD890IS comes pretty close. With a 5X zoom, 10 megapixels, and a much improved LCD, this Canon Powershot ELPH is a great camera.

The Canon SD790IS there is a striking resemblance at least as far as the zoom lens is concerned to the SD770 IS. Of course, with this camera you get a noticeably larger 3 inch LCD display in the misfortune of no optical viewfinder. Not my favorite design compromise. Control layout is somewhat simplified, with fewer buttons to choose from.

It's difficult to make a bad purchase decision with any of these cameras, or for most Canon cameras in general. Be sure to try out a few at the store to get a good feel for what you like. Then shop around online to get the best price.

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Tips in Digital Photography that You Can Use

Perhaps one of the greatest invention in the 20st century is the digital camera. With its many outstanding features, novices in photography can produce great photos at less the effort. Not only does the digital camera provide convenience to photographers or those that are interested in the art but also savings to ordinary consumers.

There is no need to buy films or have the pictures developed in the darkroom or in the nearest developing center. One only need to click the camera, upload the files to a computer and print them out with a colored printer. Everything is so easy.

Of course, despite being so easy, there are things that one needs to know about digital cameras and digital photography. Here are some tips that will help you make the most out of your digital cameras and make the experience of digital photography truly memorable.

1. Know your camera

Without really studying the features that your digital camera has, how can you make the most out of it? Before using it, try to explore the different features of the gadget. Read the manual and take experimental shots. This will help you be familiar with the various parts of the camera. Doing it and trying it out will also help you remember the operations as opposed to just reading the text in the manual.

Reading the manual will also help you from pulling something that you should not be pulling. Often, gadgets like digital cameras get broken because owners do not allot any time to read the instructions in the manual especially the donts and the section where it teaches you how to take care of it.

2. Practice

There is nothing more educational than practice. Gadgets like digital cameras actually get broken not only because it is often used but also when it is not used at all. Do not keep it inside your cabinet, gathering dust. Shot away. Every chance you get, take a picture. This will help you get used to the feel of the camera and will also allow you to discover some of its many features.

3. Take care of your camera

Although it may seem a bit too much to always put it inside its case every time you are not using it or not putting it directly under the heat of the sun, digital cameras are delicate gadgets that need taking care of. Make sure that you always protect it and prevent it from hitting hard surfaces.

Low Jeremy maintains http://digital-photography.articlesforreprint.com This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

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Video Production Lighting Basics

For many novice video producers, lighting causes lots of worry and seems very complicated. Lighting for video production CAN be complicated, but it certainly doesn't HAVE to be.

I specialize in making video as easy as possible while still maintaining a professional look. I can sum up everything you need to know about lighting in just three bullet points:

1. Direct Light = Harsh
2. Diffused Light = Soft
3. What DIRECTION is the light coming from?

If you learn the meaning of these three concepts, I promise your lighting efforts will improve tremendously.

We'll start with the first two points. They are related.
Light comes in two forms, direct and diffused. Direct light is harsh and scary looking while diffused light is soft and flattering to the face.

If you remember elementary school physics, light rays always travel in a straight line. Imagine yourself outside at night with a flashlight. You can see the entire beam of light and it is straight. If you want to illuminate an object, you have to shine the flashlight directly on it. This is an example of direct light It travels in one direction, straight as an arrow.

Diffused light is when the straight light beams hit something reflective and then bounce off it. They bounce in straight lines but usually there are so many straight lines bouncing around that the effect is to have light rays bouncing around every-which-way.

A standard, incandescent light bulb is painted white on the inside in order to diffuse the light The light beams hit the white paint and bounce.

Another prime example of direct and diffused light is to think about being outside on a cloudy day or a sunny day. On a bright, sunny day you have direct light There are lots of deep shadows and the shadows have distinct edges.

On a cloudy day, the clouds diffuse the light If it's cloudy enough, there will not be any shadows at all. Since the light is bouncing around every-which-way, any potential shadow is filled in by the bouncing light and eliminated.

Generally speaking, you want DIFFUSED light in video production. Unless you are doing a monster movie, diffused light will look best.

Most of the gadgets that come in a professional light kit exist for the sole purpose of diffusing the light If you do not have a professional lighting kit, you can achieved a diffused effect by pointing your light toward the ceiling or wall and bouncing it. Do not point it at the on-camera talent. They will thank you for it. Not only will it make them look better, but it will keep them from squinting and being dreadfully uncomfortable.

Now let's talk about the third bullet point. What DIRECTION is the light coming from?

Is the source of light in front of your on-camera person? Behind them? To the side? Behind? What direction the light is coming from will have a huge impact on how it looks.

Generally speaking, you want the light source to be in front of, or to the side, of your on-camera talent. You do NOT want it behind them unless you are trying to hide their identity. Light coming from behind will create a silhouette. Video producers usually reserve that technique for sleazebags who want to remain anonymous.

This is a mistake I see frequently. People will stand right in front of the window thinking that the light coming from the window will add enough light to make their shot look good. It probably would, IF the on-camera person stands so the light falls on their face and not on their back.

There you have it, the basics of lighting for video production.

Lorraine Grula has been a well-respected award winning video professional for over twenty-five years. (Yeah, that makes her kind of old.) Lorraine has done virtually every kind of video production imaginable and now shares her expertise on the web. Her blog, http://www.VideoProductionTips.com is full of free information and video tutorials.

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Sony Ericsson K880i - Enriched With Superb Camera Focused Features

In today's world, everyone likes to stay updated with the technology by owning the latest handset. The latest handsets have become an essential part of our lives giving you an out-of-the-world experience. These handsets are a complete entertainment package for the users. One can carry his personal as well as professional work with great ease with the latest technologies incorporated in these handsets. The most renowned mobile phone manufacturer, Sony Ericsson, brings innovative phones with exquisite looks and highly advanced features.

The stylish Sony Ericsson mobile phones are powered with high-end and feature rich options. Furthermore, the varied series launched by this manufacturer include K-series, W-series, G-series, T-series, etc. All these series are designed to cater to all classes of mobile users. The highly successful series of handsets include the K-series and W-series which have attracted the users with their camera focussed and music focussed features respectively. The special camera features let the users to capture still and moving images with great clarity.

The K-series phones of Sony Ericsson are known as the Cyber Shot phones. These devices come with camera focussed features and strong multimedia applications. If you love photography, you would be thrilled to own one of the K-series phones from Sony Ericsson. Apart from multimedia and camera features, Sony Ericsson phones excel in business features in the smartphone category. From the basic handsets to high-end handsets, Sony Ericsson offers all types of handsets in the mobile phone market. Sony Ericsson is one of the popular brands that has attracted the attention of the hearts of the mobile phone users with its stylish and attractive handsets which are equipped with feature-rich options. These incredible devices have balanced our professional and personal lives by allowing us to stay connected with our near and dear ones as well as to carry our office work on the move. Some of the examples of successful Sony Ericsson K-series phones include the Sony Ericsson K800i, K610i, K770i and lots more.

The latest entrant to the K-series is the Sony Ericsson K880i. The handset would definitely amaze people who have passion for photography. The 6.1 megapixels camera of this phone is sure to deliver superb picture quality. The 2.2 inches screen gives a wonderful viewing experience to the users. The camera is enhanced by 4x Optical Zoom and one step Photo-fix. Other impressive features of the handset include Track ID music recognition and Sense Me, Walkman 4.0 Media Player, Accelerometer, HSDPA, EDGE, Bluetooth, FM Radio with RDS and 4 GB Internal Memory and Pedometer. The music player and FM radio bring entertainment to the fullest. The connectivity features of the device let you transfer files without any hassles. The messaging options like SMS, MMS, etc. keep us connected by allowing us to send messages to compatible devices. The Sony Ericsson K880i supports some of the best imaging features to give the users an amazing photography experience.

Sony Ericsson K-series phones have always been a favourite of the Sony Ericsson mobile phones users. This amazing brand is popular for its quality and durability and various trendy and stylish communicating devices. The high class mobile phones deliver superb performance with their powerful applications. The exceptional features in these feature rich handsets give you an incredible mobile phone experience.

If you are looking for an affordable, feature-rich and power-packed handset, online mobile phone shops are the best place to shop for them. These shops offer easy navigation, full specifications, features, price, compatibility with media formats, etc. The contract deals give you an affordable option to purchase your latest handset, Sony Ericsson K880i. So, simply visit the online shops and take your best pick now.

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Use Quality Mat Board For a Professional Picture Framing

Mat board is one of the picture framing supplies that you will want to choose carefully and use purposefully as part of professionally framing your artwork. There are several types of mat board available, but they all serve two primary functions: decorative and protective.

Matboard can be used to help decorate your artwork within the frame. One way that a mat board can do that is through the use of color. Paper mat board comes in a host of colors, and it makes a particularly attractive choice for use with paintings. The color chosen can be used to contrast or complement the colors used in the painting, to help add to the overall effect of the presentation of the piece of artwork. Paper mat board of descending sizes can also be layered, one on top of the other, to create a multi-colored effect that also helps to bring the focus in to the artwork in the center of the frame.

Photographers will often frame their art photos, and especially black and white photographs, using thin black metal frames with wide and thick white mat board to frame the picture. The white matboard is used so that it does not detract in any way from the print, and it also helps to focus the viewer's attention on the photo within the frame. Museum curators whose focus is photographic art will also use wide white matboard and simple but elegant black frames to frame all of their photographs for a unified look in a gallery setting.

While it can be decorative, mat board also serves an utilitarian function in terms of protecting artwork. Every artist wants to keep the glazing from ever touching the surface of the artwork, and a paper mat board can work well in this regard. A paper mat helps to keep the air flow working within the frame, and proper air flow is important because without it, condensation can develop inside the frame. Moisture can easily damage the surface of a painting, and this is especially true with photographs.

A custom or pre cut mat board can also help to keep the artwork centered in the frame, to protect it from wrinkling and other surface damage. Artwork can be glued to the mount board, but this is not a good option if you ever want to change the frame, mat or mount boards out in the future. Instead, many artists choose to use mounting tape to tape the mat to the mountboard, or they use photo corners whereby the artwork is placed inside the corners, and the corners are then hidden by the mat. All of these materials can be made out of archival quality materials, such as those used to produce bainbridge mat board. Conservation materials are decorative and will help to prolong the life of your artwork.

Susan Slobac is an avid photographer.Susan believes a picture frame is more than just fashion; it's a safeguard for something you love. In this article Susan talks about mat board and paper mat.

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Sunday, 29 March 2009

Photographing a Wedding - List of Shots

Below is a list of 50 poses to use when photographing a wedding. Use variations of these and add your own to expand the list.

  • Bride looking into mirror with Maid/Chief Bridesmaid in attendance behind
  • Bride, three-quarter length, looking at you, then away from you.
  • Bride, head and shoulders portrait, one with soft focus, one without.
  • Bride seated, looking down at flowers then looking towards you.
  • Bride with her parents, both together and individually.
  • Bride with other members of the family.
  • Parents together.
  • Bride with soft focus parents; using selective soft focus.
  • Bride kissing father.
  • Shot of leaving house.
  • Groom and Best Man arriving at church.
  • Groom and Best Man shaking hands.
  • Groom and Best Man exchanging ring.
  • Best Man and ushers pulling Groom towards church door
  • Best Man reading "Best Man's Duties" book!
  • Portrait of Best Man.
  • Portrait of Groom.
  • Groom and Best Man with ushers.
  • Bride's mother on usher's arm
  • Groom standing alone (full shot and shot)
  • Group shot of groom and groomsmen or ushers
  • Groom with ring bearer
  • Groom with father
  • Groom with mother
  • Groom's mother on usher's arm
  • Bridesmaids arriving at church, pose outside car
  • Bridesmaids posed together, three-quarter length and full-length.
  • Bridesmaids with Ushers, together and individual portraits.
  • Portrait of Best Maid/Chief Bridesmaid.
  • Bride and Father seated in back of car, arriving at church.
  • Father posed helping Bride from car, move bride to edge of car seat.
  • Bride&Father, with Bridesmaids following, walking towards church.
  • Bride and Father in church doorway, full and Three-quarter length.
  • Bride and Father with Bridesmaids and Minister.
  • Best Maid Chief Bridesmaid attending to Bride, adjusting her veil.
  • Bridal party standing prepared to walk into church.
  • Bridal party walking down aisle toward alter.
  • Exchange of rings during ceremony .
  • Groom kissing Bride immediately after marriage pronunciation.
  • Bride and Groom with soft-focus.
  • Bride and Groom signing register - looking at you/at register.
  • Bride and Groom signing with witnesses at either side.
  • Close-up of hands signing marriage certificate.
  • Bride and Groom with the Minister.
  • Coming down the aisle - full length.
  • Bride and Groom at church door looking back inside towards you.
  • Bride and Groom in church doorway, full length and three-quarter length.
  • Bride and Groom with his parents,
  • Bride and Groom with her parents.
  • Bride and Groom with both sets of parents.

The list of potential groups and individual shots is limited only by your imagination, and by how quickly you can work with the wedding party.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have written a comprehensive guide on wedding and group photography.

Visit my site for more information Wedding and Group Photography Guide

Bobby is a photographer and author. He has been commissioned to shoot thousands of events, including weddings.

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Five Essential Things to Do When Taking Your Pet's Pictures

You do not need to be an expert photographer to take excellent looking pictures of your loose-skinned pet dog. When taking photographs of your pet its better to use a digital camera as you can see the photo outcome instantly. There is no restriction to use digicam or phone camera when taking photos of your canine. However, the best result can be obtained using a Digital Single Reflex camera because various exposure options are available. Taking photos of your pet dog is not easy because you have get it sit still and pose or wait for the right opportunity. Other important things look at are to deal with lighting and background issues. It is necessary to ensure you're taking pictures at the correct level.

1.You need to be well prepared.

The more you are organized and prepared to shoot your dog's pictures, the chances of turning out better pictures are certain. If you're alert, you can easily capture your dog poses with right focus resulting in best results. In essence, keep handy and ready of all your camera gear before bringing your pet to the seen. Keep spare batteries ready and check the batteries and memory card already in the camera. Now you are ready and then select the place where you will take your dog's pictures. Similarly concentrate on the background you want to have. Also, never forget to reward your dog for posing and sitting still.

2.Get some one's help.

Since you have to do many things during taking pictures during taking photos of your pet, you need some one assist you to look after your pets interest. For example, to control your pet or comb its coat, wipe its eyes and more importantly arrange the background around it. This means you can concentrate only one thing at a time such as focusing your shooting using your camera.

3.Plan Your Background

If you need to turn out excellent pictures of your pet dog, it is essential to plan your background. The distracting background will turnout worse pictures of your pet because the main subject will not be distinct. Make use of solid-colored or uncluttered background which will turnout the best pictures of your pet. As many suggest, green background such as grass or a green fabric will be ideal for a dog with dark tan color. However, experienced photographers prefer to take pictures of dogs in front of water.

4. Place Few Objects

Another method to add interest to the dog pictures is to place dog toys or a visual object. Similarly having a pole or a beam will add creative details to pictures of puppy. and Also, If you place a brightly colored item close to your dog, you are certain to capture perfect shot.

5. Be At Eye Level

Always be at to your dog's eye level when taking pictures. You will notice, the best dog pictures have been taken at eye level of the pet dog.The best dog pictures are taken at eye level with the dog. You will get amazing pictures of your dog if you follow the above tips and advice.

Alex D. is an expert on photography with http://reshade.com. The firm focuses on online image resizing applications and provides a free to use online image resizer tool. It's also possible to order an image resizer software application. Try it for yourself!

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Take Spectacular Nighttime Photos with Your Digital Camera - Part II

Night photos can take on a somewhat magical quality you may find lacking in normal daytime photography. Amazing night pictures certainly can attract attention. As the sun goes down, however, it becomes harder to capture images without the proper equipment and techniques. Thus, as was mentioned in Part I of this series, taking incredible nighttime photographs requires a lot of planning.

When your digital camera receives less light, it cannot absorb the surroundings as well in the resulting photographs. Some pictures may turn out too dark. Others can be too blurry. Your camera requires more time to absorb enough light to create an effective picture, so any shaking of the device will result in photographs lacking sharpness.

To compensate for the lack of lighting, here are several things you can do with most middle and high-end digital cameras to get the results you need. Part III of this series will continue with even more expert ideas.

* You may think that professional photographers take a large amount of time to set up a shot, perform complex calculations, talk about all sorts of topics such as f-stops, shoot one photograph that accurately represents their interpretation of a particular scene, and then leave.

While most of this may be true, the last part - only taking one photo - is far from it. Many, if not most, professional photographers commonly take a multitude of shots for every subject! Traditional photographers can go through rolls and rolls of film on a single shoot, and digital photographers may use gigabytes of memory.

Professionals know that no matter how well everything has been factored in when setting up a shot, 'stuff happens'. It is better to take time shooting a particular subject ten times and get one outstanding photograph than to take one or two photos that turn out blurry or dull.

Most photographers perform a trick called bracketing, where they intentionally adjust their camera settings in small increments in case their calculations were not precisely correct.

Heed this advice when taking photographs at night. If you have a particular subject you want to reproduce in digital form, don't rely on taking 'the one perfect shot', but take several photographs in case problems occur with the lighting, or lack thereof.

Remember, you're shooting digitally, which means you can later throw out all the bad photos in your camera's virtual 'trash can', and no one ever needs to know! I can't tell you how many times I've done this, especially when taking late-night shots of the Chicago cityscape in places I couldn't bring a tripod. I may shoot hundreds of shots and only keep a few dozen.

* If your digital camera has a special nighttime mode, study your manual and learn how to enable this feature. Perhaps your camera has a button or dial next to a graphic of a half-moon to signify this setting. This works well for some late-night situations.

* Forget about using the flash unless you purchase a high-quality accessory flash unit. Flash shoots a burst of light out of your camera and works most effectively when your subject is within a few feet. If your subject is a long way away, your small flash unit will never reach it effectively.

Nighttime photography requires a little extra work out of you and your digital camera. To prevent against mistakes and increase the chance of a spectacular shot, it may be necessary to take the same picture multiple times, adjusting your camera settings slightly to help ensure at least one picture will come out well. The digital camera manual must be studied, as many high-end cameras contain automatic features to help take better photos. And, a natural tendency most people have to use flash must be avoided. By heeding this advice, you can learn to take spectacular nighttime photos.

Look forward to article III in this series in the near future!

Copyright 2005 Andrew Malek.

Andrew Malek is the owner of the MalekTips computer and technology help site at http://www.malektips.com. Visit his digital camera page at http://malektips.com/camera/ for hundreds of more digital photography tips.

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Cash in With Your Camera While Traveling

Photography can bring in a bit of money while you travel. There are a fair few methods to cash in with photos such as stock photography, but there are only so many pictures of sunsets and landscapes that people need. If on the other hand you can get pictures of people with model releases you may have a chance of making some decent passive income. But that is not what this method is about.

You can offer your services as an amateur/ intermediate photographer to people to capture their 'special moments' and sell the images to them for a good profit. I know my mother was always complaining to everyone about not having any family photos, cursing the fact that she didn't have a camera whenever an ideal opportunity presented itself.

Of course times change and technological advancements makes it almost impossible not to have someone with a camera in any group whether it be a high end digital camera or one build into your cell. But if we are honest the majority of people aren't good or even above average photographers.

This is where you come in. If you offer good quality images at good prices you shouldn't have any problem making money with this method. Having said that it can be difficult in the beginning to approach potential 'clients' (for want of a better word).

First things first though:

To use this method, you will need a digital camera, laptop and cheap memory sticks ($10 each from ebay or electronic retailer etc) plus the confidence to offer your services to strangers. Also having a mini portfolio of images you have taken under similar conditions is highly recommended.

1.First you need to find potential buyers. Parks and picnic areas are my favourite places to find 'clients'. I avoid beaches and playgrounds for obvious reasons when using this method (you don't want to give people the wrong impression).

2.Strike up conversation with people. I am not a "hard sales" type of guy and I doubt that it would work with this method anyway. Just asking how they are enjoying their picnic or whatever they are doing can start a great conversation.

3.Let them know what you are doing with your travels. Places you have been and things you have done etc. Don't be afraid to tell them about your service. The worst that they can do is tell you to go away in unpleasant terms, but this has never happened to me. In fact most people comment what a great idea it is even if they don't buy any portraits.

4.Show them your portfolio and explain how your service works. (Heres the method by the way:)

Take some good quality family portraits.

Upload them to your laptop.

Let the customer choose what shots they would like.

Load the images onto a memory stick.

Give the memory stick to the client.

I charge about $20 for the first shot (which pays for the memory stick and setup) and five for each additional shot they want. If they buy say five pictures and there are still other good images I will include them on the drive for free.

5.Get paid. Accepting payment can be difficult if the client doesn't have cash. On the rare occasion that the buy realises that they don't have cash on them after you have completed the work, you will need to decide what to do.

Perhaps you could create a simple website with a paypal donation link and trust them to pay for the photos. People are usually honest and are willing to pay if you do a good job.

You may even set up a more complex site that you can upload the photos to and once payment has been received the customer can download the images.

I know i said this post wasn't about stock photography but you might consider offering people free pictures if they agree to sign a model release if the images are of high quality. Explain about stock photography to the client and why you are willing to give them away for free. If all goes well you can upload them to sites like istockphoto.com to earn some passive income.

So there you have it. A simple technique that can earn you money to keep you travelling. It requires work and practice, but get good at it and it may very well fund your trip. If you aren't confident with your photography, pick up a book or two and start advancing your photography skill.

Make money travelling can give you ideas on how to fund your journey. From internet marketing to finding temp work, if it helps keep you on the road it will be listed on my blog.

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The IP Camera - What it Is? What Its For, How it Works, How to Install It, and Where to Find It?

An IP camera is a camera device that produces a video feed over a network connection through a built-in server. It can usually be controlled and monitored through a network(LAN) connection or from a remote location using high-speed internet access. The standard camera will have it's own IP address, software, and everything else it needs to function. The difference between it and it's predecessor, the webcam, is that an IP camera actually has the ability to operate and feed video and audio, as well as have that feed be accessed, without being connected to a computer. A standard webcam cannot. Basically, it is a camera and computer combination.

Now that you understand what an IP camera is, let's go over some of it's uses, if you haven't already figured them out. The main function and purpose of an the camera is remote viewing. Basic analog camera systems lack the ability to be viewed from a remote location because their transmission is channeled through a reciever, which requires AV output, which can only go as far as the AV chord. It gives you the ability to monitor your kids at home while you are away. The camera allows you to monitor your office, or other place of business while you are away. The camera lets you see everything that is going on, at the exact time it is going on, wherever it is going on, from wherever you are. You have the ability to access the video and audio feeds from you computer, laptop, or mobile device. So any of you out there who lack the ability to be more than one place at a time can see the use of this wonderful device.

Now, how exactly does the camera work? Easy. The camera is simply connected to the network(LAN or internet), just as a web server. The data(video and sound) it recieves is immediately sent out through the connection. You then use a remote device to access that data. Imagine how the internet works. website-x is stored on a computer, which is accessed by your computer. Just replace the computer-x with the camera and you should have an accurate picture in your mind.

How do you install the camera? Not as simple, but simple enough. Once you purchase it, you will need the following: 1)A broadband connection 2)A router (most of the time) 3)A computer that will allow you to configure your camera 4)A Static IP or DNS. Once you have these elements, it is usually a short process of configuring the camera software, setting your network connection, and setting up your static IP or DNS. These instructions should come detailed with the camera that you purchase, and since not every camera is the same, I cannot give you specific instructions for yours, but that is the basic outline.

If you are seriously looking for a good IP camera for whatever application(use), you can find out details below.

Find a IP Camera System that suits your needs. Also find additional information on home security camera systems, outdoor security camera systems, wireless camera systems, and other security and defense products at WhatsShopping.com

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Home Security Camera Buying Guide

Crime rates are increasing every day, which makes it important to invest in reliable security systems. Mine was able to help me retreive items such as my Black Max air compressor stolen from my garage. There are loads of different things that you can do to protect your home, all of the best systems incorporate security cameras in order to provide a high level of security. It's a good idea to buy a camera kit which includes everything you will need in one box. This makes it a lot easier to buy everything that you need.

Your Options

There are lots of different security camera kits available, there are also a number of different manufacturers. EZ Watch Pro is one such company that has some cameras you may be interested in. The QUBE2-BU is a security system that contains 2 digital security cameras along with all the accessories required. This is one of the best security camera kits currently available.

This kit also includes a DVR which can record four different channels, 2 color dome cameras, 2 power supplies, cables, sign. It's very easy to fit this security system yourself, you don't need any specialist assistance. Even if you know nothing about alarms you can still fit it thanks to the instructions.

If you want the highest level of home security then you should defiantly consider the kit mentioned above, it's affordable and provides adequate protection. The computer comes with windows XP and software running to enable you to record and playback video. All you need to do is get a mouse, keyboard and monitor.

Another fantastic security system kit is known as 4 Camera Security System Kit. This is a very professional high end system. It can record up to 30 days in its highest quality, which is a great feature! You can play the video back through any networked windows computer, you can set up individual user accounts, and it even has microphones to record what people say.

No matter which security camera kit you decide to choose, you should make sure it is installed properly. These kits are fairly inexpensive, however the level of protection they give to your home is priceless.

Rob Carlton's web pages can be encountered on numerous web publications with reference to black max compressors and black max air compressors. Recording his experience in reports on black max compressors and black max compressor the columnist affirmed his depth of understanding in the field.

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Make Money With Photos - Earn a Full-Time Income With Your Digital Camera

If you're good at taking pictures with your digital camera, you've certainly asked yourself the following question: "How can I make money with photos?" Magazines, businesses and websites are constantly looking for new snaps and are willing to pay good money for them. There is no reason why you shouldn't make a little extra money or even earn a full-time income with digital camera photographs.

The simplest and easiest way to make a living using your digital camera is stock photography. It is suitable even for photography newbies and amateurs.

What is stock photography?

Stock photography is the industry term for generic photographs that can be licensed for specific use. Instead of hiring a professional photographer to shoot a picture, entities such as magazines, marketing agencies, artists and websites simply license existing photographs -- "stock photos" -- and pay the original photographer a licensing fee. The good thing for you as a photographer is that your stock images can be licensed to many different people at the same time. In other words, you can make money with photos and generate an ongoing passive income for yourself.

Stock images cannot contain copyrighted material such as company logos and trademarks. For the most part, they should be of high quality and have a clearly identified use. In most cases, snapshots and tourist-like pics don't fall into this category. Also, if there are any persons individually recognizable on the photograph they must sign a model release form before you can offer to license it to a buyer.

There are many stock photography websites that act as intermediaries between you as a photographer and millions of potential buyers. You can sign up with several of them and see which you like best.

You don't have to become a professional photographer to earn a living with photographs. Give it a try and start today.

If you need money now, like I mean in the next hour, try what I did. I am making more money now than in my old business and you can too: read the amazing, true story of Martin Thomas, in the link below. When I joined I was skeptical for just ten seconds before I realized what this was. I was smiling from ear to ear and you will too.

Imagine doubling your money every week with no or little risk! To discover a verified list of Million Dollar Corporations offering you their products at 75% commission to you, click the link below to learn HOW you will begin compounding your capital towards your first Million Dollars at the Easy Corporate Money Program.

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A Security Camera System That's Right For Your Little Home

Are you thinking that your little home is safe from intruders and that's why you're ignoring getting a security camera system? Oh, but don't you know that little home of yours is easy target?

It's not the size...

Okay, you can forestall buying that security camera system for your home because you justify that your little home won't interest any intruder. But for how long is your little abode safe? Thieves don't think about homes in terms of size. They think of the treasures in there.

Homes, big or small, yield treasures for thieves. Their practiced eye can spot "valuables" You mantel clock, toaster, frying pan, and your DVD player won't stand a chance once spotted. Now you know why your little home needs a security camera system. If lack of money is stalling you from rigging your home with a surveillance system, you might be surprised to find out you can afford a basic system.

Rethinking Your Home Security?

Now you're fearing for your prized possessions, right? Instead of worrying yourself to death, start planning where you'll mount or hide your security cameras. Be glad you have options when shopping for your security camera system. Start with your computer. Your computer can be transformed into home or office security system. All you need is a special card and one or two cameras positioned in vulnerable areas, your living room and bedroom.

For you home, you don't need a fancy professional security camera system or crowd your living room with ribbons of monitors and installing a camera in every nook and cranny. You just need a few cameras, depending on your needs.

If you have a nanny at home with the baby, a nanny camera in the nursery, kitchen, and living room will be enough. You'd want to watch if nanny keeping an eye on the baby or has spread herself on the couch to watch TV while the baby is left howling on the crib. Or if you're single and living alone, you need cameras outside your front and back doors and in your room where your worldly treasures are stored.

Choices and Options

The choices out for a security camera system should not confuse you. Those cameras vary little from your hardworking digital camera. Day and Night cameras can capture images even in dim lighting because of a sensitive CCD chip. Don't mistake these however for infrareds or night vision cameras.

To go with the recorders, you can look at the wide inventory of cameras. Top grade security cameras provide high resolution, have infrared systems, have night vision, are shock-proofed and built for ease of maintenance. The more features the camera offers, expect it to be a bit pricey. Not to worry though, there are still cheaper cameras in the area of $80 that can provide the surveillance work for your home.

If you don't want to be bothered with all the geeky stuff, you can buy a basic surveillance package. All you have to do is unpack it, plug and play. No need to sweat the hard stuff. But if you just want the bare minimum for a security camera system then go for two covert wireless cameras and hook these to your computer after converting it to a home surveillance system.

If you need a security camera system and don't know which security cameras to hook up to your video security, contact the experts at Video-Surveillance-Guide.

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Saturday, 28 March 2009

Taking Pictures in Bad Weather #1

It's always a struggle going out in bad weather. Cold days and nights, rain, fog and that welcoming warm fire at home. But, if you can overcome the temptation to stay at home then you could get some great images.

Rain is wet, but it brings forth opportunities for great photos. Reflections, highlights and the beautiful glistening of water on plants. Puddles, bloated rivers and people in raincoats and holding umbrellas. Don't forget the chances of seeing dramatic skies and cloud formations and wait for the sun to burst through an overcast sky spreading light onto the wet world below.

There are ways to keep your equipment dry - but staying in shouldn't be one of them! Umbrellas are effective but difficult to hold. However, if you have a rucksack then you can slide the handle in-between the rucksack and your back. You might feel silly but it will enable you to use both hands to get some great pictures. Even a plastic bag is effective and if you want to spend a fortune, you can get customised waterproof covers for your model of camera. Look, also, for shelter - shop fronts, bus shelters, buildings, trees etc. But don't forget, it is unlikely that your equipment will suffer any lasting damage just because you have got a few drops of rain on it. One tip I picked up just recently is to always have an elastic band handy so that you can attach things to your equipment to protect it.

Have a good look around as you will see many opportunities for a good picture. Rain reflects light - look in puddles and other standing areas of water. In towns and cities you will find shops, statues and just about every other object look different in the wet and, more importantly, reflect off standing water or moist paths and roads. Carl lights can create pleasing reflections on damp or wet roads.

You will be using longer exposure times and therefore may be best taking a tripod with you. If you don't have one then improvise - a wall, bean bag, leaning the camera against an upright or horizontal object (e.g. a bench).

Eric oversees the worlds best home page a user-led resource - do you wish to contribute your opinions?

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I Hate Photoshop!

I was cruising the web today and I stumbled onto a blog post with the title...I HATE Photoshop! It could actually have said - How my photographer is ripping me off!

I thought that her hating Photoshop made an interesting title so I read the post.

Turns out it was written by a bride who had hired a photographer for her wedding - for 4 or 5 hours (her words, she wasn't sure how long).

After the wedding, she was given all the negatives. In her opinion, photographers who keep the negatives and try to sell photos later are a scam. By the way, giving the negatives in the analog world is the same as giving them a memory stick or CD file of the photos in the digital world.

So, she was given all the negatives.

She had kept them, the negs, for quite a while - didn't say how long - because she had no retouching software. Finally she got a copy of Photoshop. She was now "retouching" over 500 black and white images. (The photographer shot half in BW and half in color.)

The reason she "hates" Photoshop is because of the boredom involved in retouching 500 photos! Hmmm...have to wonder how good this photographer is if she has to retouch ALL of them! (Fortunately, the software was given to her as a Christmas gift, so I guess she couldn't hate it for the $600.00 + price tag!) She never mentioned the steep learning curve or the time to do the retouching, or the cost for printer ink, photo paper and so on...

BUT...she wasn't "scammed" by some photographer! One who had actually PAID the $600 for the software, took the TIME to learn how to use it, took the TIME to retouch all the photos, edited, then PAID the costs to print them, then took the TIME to compile them into an album. (we won't even get into a discussion of the cost of the equipment, training, and the hundred other miscellaneous details that went into creating the photos in the first place.)

Yup...photographers who actually want to charge a fair price for their work - and not give it away - are a real scam! For those of you who do NOT have a sense of the ironic - I'm being facetious!

How many brides out there never actually get a wedding album because they want to save a couple bucks and "print them themselves"? And never do? How many brides do get an album - but it's a crappy one because they don't have a $600 piece of software? Or don't have the knowledge, or won't take the time to do all the work?

As professionals, we know, or at least we SHOULD know, the amount of work and effort involved in creating a beautiful wedding album - or the hardcover books that are popular these days. We know that the bride will very rarely put in the work involved to do the job right and will end up with either no album or a substandard one at best.

So when you take the easy way out and give the bride the negatives or the camera memory stick - or a CD, whatever, you truly ARE ripping them off. They are NEVER going to be able to see their album the way it should be seen or enjoy it the way it should be enjoyed. You've cheated them. And, they will never even know!

By the way, you've cheated yourself as well. None of their friends or relatives are going to see your work as it should be seen. Do you want YOUR reputation and future bookings to be dependent on an amateur who "HATES Photoshop?"

I don't. Stand your ground and charge for your work, everyone will be better off for it.

You may reprint or republish this article at will as long as it remains intact and unchanged. Including the author bio box.

Dan Eitreim has been a professional photographer in southern California for over 16 years. His data base exceeds 6000 past clients, and he says that selling YOUR photography is easy - if you know a couple tried and true marketing strategies. He's created a multimedia presentation that can teach ANYONE how to sell their own photography and generate freelance income in as little as two weeks. To learn more and enroll in a FREE photo marketing course, go to: http://www.PartTimePhotography.com

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Progression of Digital Camera Technology

Digital cameras are devices that record images digitally on a light sensitive sensor. They can be used to take still photographs or videos. Highly versatile, they can take thousands of images on a single memory device, can record video with sound, edit these images and delete them allowing re-use of space. Digital cameras have been incorporated into many other devices like PDA'S mobile phones and vehicles. The Hubble Space Telescope is a digital camera.

Initially, the idea of digitizing images on scanners was used by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to provide astronauts with navigational information. A mosaic photo sensor would record locations of planets and stars. This would help astronauts to orbit and land. The FUJI-DS-ISP 1986 was the first true digital device that recorded images in a computerized file. The first digital camera with LCD was the Casio QV-10 in 1995.The image resolution is achieved by the camera sensor that turns light into discrete signals. Millions of "buckets that make up the sensor, count the number of photons that strike it. The brightness of the image is dependant on the number of pixels (the smallest unit of information for an image).

The rapid technological improvements have dramatically reduced costs. "Pixels per dollar" has become the measurement of value of a digital camera. The camera either uses the single shot or the multi-shot method of capturing an image. This refers to the number of times the sensor is exposed to the light passing through the lens. Scanning is another method wherein the sensor moves like a desk-top scanner. In some cases, scanning is achieved by rotating the whole camera, enabling one to get images of a very high resolution. In recent years, technical improvements have made single shot and LCD based cameras very popular in commercial and digital photography.

Let us dwell on the connectivity of these new model digital cameras. Early computers used the Serial port to transfer data. There are cameras that use wireless connections via Bluetooth or IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi.Modern cameras come equipped with Pict Bridge Standard which allows for the automatic transfer of data to a Pict Bridge capable computer printer, thereby circumventing the need for a computer.

These cameras lend themselves to a variety of uses. They allow one to view a photograph as soon as it is taken. With constant improvements in technology, and cutting-edge software available, modifications and digital manipulations seem almost endless. They are ideal for sports enthusiasts, who can capture fast action in all its glory. They are ideal for capturing loving moments of family get-togethers. Professionals and amateurs can use these cameras to freeze those special moments of life that come rarely!

You can compare cheap digital cameras and read reviews on Epson, Pentax, Nikon, Canon, Olympus and Sony Digital Camera Reviews at Digital Camera Reviews Site.

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Camera Beanbag

Just like the camera cases the camera beanbag is used for protection against harsh weather or anything else that might harm the camera and its accessories. These camera beanbags come in different shapes and sizes.

Depending on how much camera stuff you might be carrying it is always wise to buy the big beanbag which offers you the chance to carry your tripod and any other accessories that might be needed when you are taking your photos.

Camera beanbag's also come in handy when it comes time to prop up your camera and you don't have any tripod with you. The bag provides the camera with a soft cushion surface especially if you are taking photos of a low lying object. The bag provided great stability for photo shots that had to be done from a ground level.

Though sometimes the camera beanbag is expensive it is however sometime necessary and you get the choice of choosing the one you want. The varieties of beanbags are plenty and you probably have seen them. There are even those beanbags that can be strapped to your belly like a belt.

The beanbag helps make your carrying of your camera much easier because you can arrange the whole lot into the bag and carry them wherever you may be traveling to. This is especially helpful if you are going camping or hiking up some mountain top looking for those good shots. Buying this kind of accessory will benefit you more than you know. You will probably end up telling your friends who are photographers to buy it as well which is always a good choice.

Peter Gitundu Researches And Reports On Digital Cameras. For more information on Camera Beanbag, Visit His Site At CAMERA BEANBAG You Can Also Post Your Views About Camera Beanbag On My Blog Here CAMERA BEANBAG

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Refurbished Vs New HDTV

Here are some tips on how to save big bucks when buying an HDTV. You know how the big box stores have a pretty liberal return policy these days. Well, since people are pretty fickle when shelling out a lot of money for a large HDTV they sometimes return them. There may be other reasons they return them as well. The good news is that the big box stores can't legally resell those products as new so they have to do something with them.

Yes they could try and resell them as an open box special but who's going to buy the surrounding new HDTVs when there's one that looks the same that is a lot less sitting next to them. As well, they can't advertise them since their supply often fluctuates. So they end up shipping them back to the manufacturer.

That's where the savings comes in for you. For an HDTV to be Certified Factory Refurbished, it must be repaired (if necessary), tested, inspected, and boxed up again. They must include the original packaging and materials such as the remote, manual, etc. By the time they're finished it's fair to say it might as well be brand new. In fact, the only way you can tell its Certified Factory Refurbished is the markings on the box.

Be wary of stores that use the word refurbished since there are different types of refurbished products. In this article, I've been talking about Certified Factory Refurbished products. There are also Third-Party Refurbished and Reconditioned products. Third-Party Refurbished are not tested or repacked by the original manufacturer and Reconditioned products may have already been used for an extended period of time (even as long as 2 years).

Michael Maddox is the owner and editor of http://www.NewHDTVDeals.com where you can find more articles, great deals, and coupons for new and refurbished HDTVs.

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35mm Film - A Short History

When it comes to photography and motion picture it is impossible not to hear about 35 mm. film when going technical into the conversation. It is called 35 mm. film as it is 35 mm. wide and will have perforations on both edges at each 4.23 mm along it.

With a history dating back since 1889, when it was first introduced by Thomas Edison, the 35 mm film is still used today with some variations in format based on what it is used for but basically its form stayed the same all these years. It was first introduced into photography in 1913 and is still very popular amongst several professional photographers.

If we are to talk about film we have to talk about sound as well. In the beginning the idea of synchronizing sound and video was appreciated but was quite difficult to realize. Thats when the sound started to be stored directly to film, forming the analog soundtrack that takes out of the film a small margin to the left. In the search for perfection the display ratio changed together with new methods of storing the sound.

Nowadays digital soundtracks have been implemented. The technology break through behind this was the storage of the sound between perforations in Dolby Digital, in 2 strips along the outside part of the edges in SDDS and lately on a special compact disk synchronized thanks to a time code with the film in DTS.

With technology evolving as it does at the moment new techniques and features will probably be available in the future but so far the main format of the 35 mm film has remained unchanged with just mild modifications that are better suited for the purpose it was designed for. The most common aspects of the film nowadays is considered the one that has 4 perforations, a vertical pulldown and a density of around one frame in 19 mm.

Interested in 35mm film? Then visit http://www.your-35mm.co.uk to get all the latest news, history and events in 35mm film.

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Goodbye Webcams, Hello Wireless Internet Camera

Now more than ever would be the best time to throw out your old webcams and bulky surveillance cameras. With the wireless Internet camera, you'll get everything you might ever want and need from a surveillance camera.

The newly released wireless Internet camera just might be the best thing ever developed in the security surveillance world - at least, until its makers come up with something better. This device looks like a typical webcam, but don't let it fool you. This small contraption is one mean machine that boasts of quite a number of impressive features.

Wireless Connectivity

For starters, it offers wireless connectivity. You can place it anywhere you please without having to worry about cables and wires. It's a foolproof device that even your seven-year-old kid can mount. All you have to do is choose the perfect spot for the cam, and hang it up. It's that easy.

Built In Web-browser

With it's built in web-browser, surveillance is made accessible, even if you're halfway across the world. Let's say you're on a business trip in Hawaii and you want to check up on your son at home. You simply hook up to the Internet, log on to the program, and presto! You get clear, crisp images of your son religiously doing his homework or partying it hard with his buddies. What's more is that the wireless Internet camera gives you none of those jerky 10 to 25 frames per second that you're probably used to with your webcam. Instead, you get 30 frames per second of full fluid motion with zero interruption.

Motion Sensor and Email Notification

Another great thing about this device is its smart motion sensor and email notification. Let's say you hung it up on you front door and something or someone moves by. The motion sensor will scan the area, take a short image of whatever is movement, and it will automatically email you the clip. You can input three other receivers to receive the email. So when you're away from your computer, you can be sure that somebody gets it.

Timed Imaging

Most wireless Internet cameras come equipped with timed imaging. This allows you to program the software to periodically take video clips, like every 15 or 30 minutes, and have these clips forwarded to your email. This tells you what goes on in your house all throughout the day. It's perfect for keeping an eye on you kids or monitoring the household help.

Audio and Microphone Input

One other big thing about the wireless Internet camera - it comes with built in audio. You not only see what's happening in your homes, you also hear everything, just like watching TV! If the audio's not good enough, that won't be a problem. Most wireless Internet cameras have microphone input which allows you to plug in a little condenser microphone and place it where the action really is.

Ethernet Port

These cams also come with Ethernet ports. So if you need a little more speed or if you want to install another wireless Internet cam to another part of your home, all you need are a few wires. The cam also allows multiple user interface for up to ten people. So you can have ten people online at the same time looking at the live clips.

With all these innovative features, what more could you want or need? It's like upgrading your entire surveillance system, minus the wires, bulk, and inconvenience.

Tired of your old webcams? Upgrade your security system. Get a wireless Internet camera that's got everything you could ever want from CCTV security or a hidden surveillance camera. Visit Video-Surveillance-Guide.com today.

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Understanding Pixelization In Digital Photos And Photo Prints

Pixelization is defined as noticeable square pixels that can be seen in photos that are displayed on a computer screen or printed on paper. Without pixelization when you look at a photo you see continuous areas of different colors and intensities. Here is why it happens.

To understand pixelization you first need to understand how digital photos are created. Digital cameras use a special sensor (also known as CCD) in order to capture photos. This sensor is built from a large number of tiny light sensitive sensors each representing a pixel. The number of pixels in a sensor is also known as mega pixel in other words a camera that has 2 mega pixels uses a sensor that is built of 2 million tiny sensors. When you take a photo the shutter opens and light hits the sensor. At that time light hits each tiny sensor and each such sensor captures that light intensity and color. Put together all those sensors create pixels that comprise a photo.

When you look at a photo if the pixels are small enough your eye blends them together to create an illusion of continuous areas of colors and intensity. When this happens photos look crisp and in high resolution. If the pixels are not small enough your eye sees individual discrete pixels. When that happen the photo is referred to as pixelized meaning that each pixel is too big and the eye can see it individually as opposed to blending all the pixels together into one continuous photo.

So what determines pixels size? the size of the pixels is determined by the size of the photo you are looking at (for example measured in inches: width X height) and the number of pixels in the photo. In other words the size of the pixels is determined by how many pixels are spread over what size of a photo.

Another measure that is commonly used to describe the size of pixels is PPI Pixels per Inch. PPI describes the number of pixels per inch in a photo. PPI is a function of the number of pixels the cameras sensor supports and the size of the photo. To calculate a photos PPI simply multiply the page length by its width in inches. The result is the number of square inches on the page. Now divide the number of pixels the sensor supports by the number of square inches. The result is the number of pixels per square inch. All that is left to do is to find the square root of this number. PPI is easier number to use than the actual size of a pixel (which can be a very small number). PPI is a combination of the camera resolution (how many mega pixels it supports) and the size of the photo you are looking at (either printed or on a computer screen). Following is a table of PPI calculated for a 5 mega pixels camera and some common photo print paper sizes:

page size 4X6 - 456 PPI

page size 5X7 - 377 PPI

page size 8X10 - 250 PPI

page size 11X14 - 180 PPI

page size 16X20 - 125 PPI

page size 20X30 - 91 PPI

So how small is small enough? This depends on a few factors and sometimes creating some pixelization is wanted as an artistic effect. The pixel size that creates pixelization also depends on the distance that you are looking at the photo from. Your eye might be able to notice pixels in a photo from close by but blend all the pixels together when looking at the exact same photo from farther away. This is very easy to notice when looking at very large advertisement billboards the printed photos look very good from tens of feet away but if you stand close to the billboard you can see that it is built from many quite big pixels. A general rule of thumb though is to always make sure your photos are at 150PPI or higher.

Ziv Haparnas is a technology veteran and writes about practical technology and science issues. This article can be reprinted and used as long as the resource box including the backlink is included. You can find more information about photo album printing and photography in general on http://www.printrates.com - a site dedicated to photo printing.

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