Steps to Improving Your Landscape Photography

How many times have you been driving and wanted to stop and take a shot of that breathtaking landscape. You then stop, look around and the shot even looks better. Your heart even skips a beat. You go for it and return to the car with a huge smile.

When you get back home you download your pictures, process them and then you find out that what you shot was not what you placed your eyes on. What went wrong? Well its simple your lens and the sensor of your camera do not work like your eyes and your brain does. You select different parts of the scene and produce beauty out of them, your sensor doesn't.

So what do you now? For landscape photography you need time and a couple of tips, follow them, practice and your shots will improve.

The general rule for landscape photography is to keep as much of the scene in focus as possible. This means that you have to maximize the Depth of Field or DOF. In other words you have to choose a small aperture setting (remember small in this case means a large number) to obtain a greater Depth of Field. The greater the DOF is the more focus you will achieve. This also means that your shutter will stay open more than it would normally be.

Since you are now using a longer shutter speed to maximize your Depth of Field you need to ensure that your camera is stable and not shaking. The best thing to do is to use a tripod and a cable or wireless shutter release mechanism. Doing so your camera will not shake and your photo will be not blur.

Decide what your central point will be, what is your subject, where is it, what size is it, does it have enough contrast with the rest of the picture and how does its shape compare to the rest of the composition. Your central point, know as Focal Point, is what will make your shot stand out and not allow the eyes of the viewer to wonder. The Focal Point in landscape photography can take the shape of many different things, a building, a tree, a rock, a person, etc. The placement of your subject is very important, use the rules of composition for this purpose.

Your horizon is the next step to consider and an important one. Make sure your horizon is straight and in the lower third or the top third of the photo. The rule of thirds applies very well to landscape photography.

Now look for lines in your shot. Lines are a way to guide the eye. It gives your image a sense of direction. Lines should direct the viewer towards your subject. A line can be road, a river, shoreline, mountain edges, etc.

Another element of your landscape composition that can create an amazing landscape shot is a foreground object, this creates depth in your shot and prevents it from being flat. The foreground will help you balance your image.

When possible convey and transmit the movement that you see, wind, water, moving clouds, a bird. A static image is less dramatic than one that showcases movement, it ads drama, mood and creates a point of interest.

Shoot landscapes either early morning or at dusk, light is the best at this point and colors, textures, patterns will pop out and impact your image.

Take your time before taking the final shot. Try different points of view. The same image will look completely different if you go lower or if you go higher. So walk around, climb a little, get on your knees or in a ditch. You will be surprise at what you see.

Each 'Photography Project' is a new challenge for The Duenitas Digital World, which is met with great motivation and enthusiasm! The Duenitas Digital World team is technically proficient under any conditions and work in an unobtrusive respectful way. The Duenitas Digital World is flexible and reacts well to unplanned happenings; capturing the perfect image as they go.

The Duenitas Digital World is based in Miami, Florida and covers South Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. They specialize in the following Photography Topics: Weddings, Resort, Real Estate, Product, Family & Event and Commercial Photography.

The Duenitas Digital World is also proficient in Graphic Design, Web Design and Social Media.

Website: http://www.theduenitas.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDuenitasDigitalWorld

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Digital Photography - Optical Image Stabilization

In this article, we are discussing the world of digital camera optical image stabilization. This technology has been around since first introduced in 1995, however, it just recently made its way into the amateur photographer market of lenses and cameras.

Lens Stabilization - Lens stabilization is a technology used in some camera manufacturer's lenses where the recorded image is stabilized by varying the optical path to the sensor. Right now, the two major companies having used lens stabilization the longest are Canon and Nikon. Canon calls their technology Internal Stabilization (IS) whereas Nikon calls theirs Vibration Reduction (VR).

Lens stabilization was never meant to prevent motion blur of the subject - just the minute shaking from the photographer hand-holding a lens, however, some lenses now include a secondary panning or active mode to compensate for those conditions.

A general rule-of-thumb with lens stabilization, you can expect to gain at least a two-stop improvement over a non-stabilized lens. For example, if you are using a 100 mm lens, you would not normally try to use a shutter speed of less than the reciprocal of the lens or 1/125th second.

By using lens stabilization, you could expect to handhold up to two-stops less or at 1/30th second. While the stabilized lenses of the big two are common in many respects, they are different.

Comparison - In a comparison test between a Nikon and a Canon stabilized lens, the Canon lens ended up being quicker and quieter, while the Nikon lens was smaller and lighter in weight. Both had the same maximum aperture, roughly the same focal length and basically, the same price. But it didn't stop there.

Canon's IS lenses have two modes, Mode 1 and Mode 2. Mode 1 is for general photography where the lens elements float thereby compensating for camera shake along both the vertical and horizontal axis. Mode 2 is used for panned shots and when used, it deactivates image stabilization in the horizontal direction. The mode switch is a small ribbed slider switch located on the lens barrel.

On the other hand, Nikon's Vibration Reduction system detects smooth movement on the horizontal axis, interprets it as panning, and engages its compensatory motors accordingly. It does not need or use a switch to select a mode, so the Nikon lens is smarter in that respect.

How It Works - Both Canon and Nikon use the same basic technology. Both use two shake-detecting sensors to detect lens movement - one for yaw and one for pitch. The two sensors detect both angle and speed of the movement and sends information to a high-speed processor in the lens.

The processor interprets the detection signals, converts these signals to drive signals telling the lens group which way to move to counteract the shake, therefore creating a stable image.

Camera Stabilization - Some companies, such as Konica-Minolta, Pentax and Olympus build stabilization into the camera body itself instead of the lens.This works by moving the image sensor to counteract for the movement. While this method works well with shorter focal lengths, it does not work well with longer ones as the sensor can not move enough to counteract all the detected movement.

What The Future Holds - The big two in this field, Nikon and Canon are working on making optical stabilization both more responsive and available on a wider range of lenses. In the past, optical stabilization, whether built into a lens or camera body, did not function well at slow shutter speeds. Recently, some new developments in technology resulted in lenses working much better at slower speeds. As the technology gets less expensive to manufacture, both companies are working on building optical stabilization into their less-expensive lenses and I imagine one day in the not-too-distant future, it will be as common as auto-focus is now.

Summary - There are several advantages to using optical stabilization:

That is an important feature when trying to photograph inside certain buildings that do not allow tripods or flash photography.

- One is a photographer can be more responsive by not having to set a camera on a tripod to photograph at moderately slow shutter speeds.

- Two, the photographer in many cases no longer needs to lug around a tripod thereby lightning up the load.

- Three, it is easier now than ever before to get crisp sharp images hand-holding a camera system that employs some type of optical stabilization.

The last feature is important when trying to photograph inside certain buildings that do not allow tripods or flash photography.

If you are considering an equipment purchase or upgrade, look into purchasing either a lens or camera equipped with optical stabilization. Your slow shutter speed photos will improve by using this new technology.

If you liked this article, visit our website at http://www.sunlightmedia.net/sunlightmediatravelwritingandphotography/ for more tips and techniques.

Ron

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Inside Product Photography Advice: Photographing Camera Equipment

An overlooked area within the field of product photography is the camera itself. Camera equipment and photography equipment poses a unique challenge to the product photographer, which is yet another reason why it's safer not to attempt your catalogue photography in house, relying on the services of a professional photography studio instead.

So what is it that makes cameras and camera equipment so challenging when it comes to photography? There are three main issues which need to be considered. The first issue is that the people who are likely to be looking at your photographs of cameras are likely to be camera enthusiasts, and therefore enthusiastic about quality photography. If the images you're using are of poor quality then this doesn't look inspiring, and is unlikely to appeal to image conscious consumers.

Having high quality photographic images is always important no matter what you're selling and no matter to whom you're marketing it. But cameras and studio equipment from lights to lens needs that edge in order to appeal to people who are likely to be that bit more critical when it comes to image quality.

The second issue that needs to be considered when thinking about camera product photography is that most items of equipment tend to be both dark and detailed. If you look at most medium to high end digital and SLR cameras they tend to be black almost all over. Not only this but there tends to be quite a few buttons, and many of these are black too. This poses a problem, because it can be very difficult to take a photograph of a dark, detailed object and manage to both capture the detail, and make the product look three dimensional. Too many amateur photographs of cameras and similar products either lose the detail, or make the camera seem flat, cheap and uninteresting.

The third area of concern relates to reflections, because there are one or two areas of the camera which are likely to reflect light or to reflect what's in the room or studio. The two most obvious examples here include the lens, and any digital preview screen on the reverse of the camera. The lens doesn't tend to pose a problem as far as reflecting the studio is concerned, because what will generally be seen are simply light circles. But these are important, and by using coloured lights, appropriately angled lighting and the right exposure it's possible to really make the lens stand out. This is important because often the lens is the only real element of colour, and by having a glowing lens with light circles it helps to add a great deal of depth to the image as well as providing a focal point.

The screen at the back poses a different problem though. By switching this off you lose a potential area of colour and interest, and you also pose the risk of having the photographer and studio reflected in the screen, which doesn't look very professional. Switching the camera on though and having an image on the screen doesn't always work, as the quality will appear greatly reduced. It's generally best to use post production editing to superimpose an image onto the area where the screen is on the camera, although this has to be done very carefully indeed in order to make it look natural. Again, any keen camera enthusiast will certainly spot a doctored image, and this will beg many questions as far as the authenticity and honesty of the rest of the image is concerned.

So when it comes to product photography for cameras and photographic equipment it really is far better to make use of a professional photographer and studio, otherwise you could find your business very underexposed.

For low cost, professional product photography solutions visit The Packshot People Ltd.

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Moving Away From Common Photography Rules

Photography is one field that rewards people for breaking the rules. Are you a visual rebel? Like to push boundaries? Pick up a camera. But before you break the basic rules of photography, you have to learn them. There's a time to follow the rules and a time to throw out the rule book; experience that will help you choose between the two.

The Rule of Thirds

One of the most basic rules of composition calls for the subject to align along the lines that would be used to divide the photo into nine equal pieces. The Rule of Thirds also says strong lines, like the horizon, should be aligned along the same grid markers, depending on where you want the viewer's attention focused.

The times to consider breaking the rule of thirds are times when you have a natural frame that highlights a central subject or strong lines and other picture elements that lead the eye to a strong central point of interest.

It's sometimes a good idea to consider shooting a subject both ways. Some of your shots aligned with the Rule of Thirds and one or two deliberately outside the guidelines. Then you can decide in the comfort of your own work space which composition works better. Every photographer in the business has had the experience of pushing the button and chiding themselves over what they think is a poor shot, only to have that picture stand out for them and the client when looking at the shots later.

Shoot first, pay attention to the rules. Then throw out the composition rule book and shoot some more.

Focus

Learning to control your camera's focus is one of those seemingly obvious skills that will surprisingly separate experienced shooters from novice operators.

The main reason it separates shooters of varying skill levels is because it's difficult to get fine control of focus with your camera's automatic settings engaged. In auto shooting modes, your camera is going to do everything in its internal computer's power to make sure as much of the photo as possible is in focus, whether you like it or not.

To get shots where you're deliberately throwing some elements of a picture out of focus, you'll need to turn off the automatic settings, including autofocus. You'll have to experiment with your camera's Aperture Priority mode, usually abbreviated A or Av on the selector dial. Av mode allows you to select an aperture best suited to control depth of field and let the camera select the shutter mode to match.

Shoot From Behind Subject

Many photographers get forward-focused in their photography. They get in close, and take the majority of their photos to include the subject's face. That is what the textbook says you should do, but don't overlook the potential to get amazing shots by turning the scene around 180 degrees and shooting from behind your subject.

This can be a particularly good choice for any subject that performs in front of an audience. Then you can put the subject in a less prominent part of the photo and make the audience reaction the focus of the shot.

It's always good practice to shoot your front-facing shots, but once you have those, start walking around looking for different angles. Go around to the back, see if you can get up to a higher elevation, look for a different perspective.

It may sometimes seem counter-intuitive, but there are times the best shots are when you're making up your own rule book.

You'll learn even more with Proud Photography - one of the best online photography schools available today at http://www.proudphotography.com/

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Advantages of Low Angle Photography

One of the most popular angles to shoot is from the photographer's standing point of view. While is fine with landscape and other general purpose photography, it does not create high impact visually arresting images.

Most of the professional photographers, who have mastered the art of photography by experimenting and self learning, produce stunning and engaging photographs that have been taken from low angle. In landscape photography, the foreground can be captured in detail when the photographer is really low and almost lying on the ground. You can always experiment with this style of photography by going low on the floor and take more engaging photographs.

The bottom angle allows the viewer a fresh and different perspective of the same scene or situation. In many cases, this provides a vantage view of the location and allows the viewers to explore new perspective of the monument, landscape and sometimes events.

In most of the digital point and shoot as well as D-SLR cameras it is difficult to get a different perspective as the photographer can not view the scene through viewfinder or LCD screen. However in the recent past, some mid-range and D-SLR cameras like Canon 600D and Nikon 5100D are equipped with tilt or swirl LCD screens. These LCD screens allow the photographer to view the scene by twisting / turning the LCD screen and keeping the camera almost or touching the ground/floor. In case, the floor or ground in not clean or dirt free, the photographer can keep a protective cloth or plastic sheet below the camera and shoot.

A useful accessory, in low angle photography is a small sturdy table top tripod of about 6" (15 cm) in height. This provides more versatility and allows the photographer to capture steady shot in low light conditions like sun sets, twilight etc.

Another important accessory that can be used is a remote control or time release controller to take photographs. Once the camera is mounted on the small table top tripod, the composition is finalized and actual shooting can be done from a comfortable distance by using a remote control device. Most of the modern Digital SLRs are compatible with either third-party remote controllers or from their respective manufacturers.

Low angle photography can also be used in events and parties that are organized at various occasions. One more advantage, of low angle photography is to capture motion blur of the dancers and performers on the stage. The low angle perspective gives a fresh view-point to the audience and adds to the overall excitement of the event.

Capturing children at play from their eye level or lower is yet another advantage of the low angle photography. Photographing children from standing position results in awkward angles and gives a 'head-on' perspective. The facial expressions and the innocence can be captured very well when the photographer explorers, experiments and implements low angle photography. When you are clicking photographs of children during any event or function, be sure to go down to their eye level and capture the moments. This will create high impact images, that will have a lasting impression.

In some cases it may not been possible to shoot at low angles, like crowded markets, street photography or travel photography, it is always worth the time and efforts in exploring this type of photography to gain new perspective and take the photography to the next level of expertise.

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Visit: Industrial Photographer for many commercial photographs

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Tips On Low Light Photography

Shooting in low light situations can be a challenge to any photographer. Every camera reacts differently to situations where the internal light meter is telling the camera there isn't enough light. In most such situations the camera will default to the only option it has for adding more light, the built-in flash unit.

In the majority of snapshot scenarios the internal flash can manage just fine. You and your mates out a local pub or gathered around the dinner table, are all within the design parameters of most point-and-shoot cameras. Even high end professional cameras like the Canon 5D and Canon 7D have pop-up flash units built into the camera for just such situations.

Move outside that relatively narrow window covered by the camera's internal flash and low light photography becomes a technical challenge that will require either a much larger external flash unit, or some manual intervention by you.

With professional grade cameras it's possible to purchase external flash units that are powerful enough to, literally, light the world. At least the world 290 feet in front of the lens, which is an amazing amount of light power.

Sometimes you don't have one of those fabulously expensive flash units along, sometimes you don't want one.

Often the appeal of a low light situation are the shadows and dark areas contrasting with areas of light or color. When it comes to these type of lighting situations, the Mark 1 human optical device, otherwise known as your eyeball, has no equal. Your camera simply can't compete with the limited number of options at its disposal.

If the scene is too big for the internal flash, all the camera can do is raise the ISO or open the aperture and use a longer exposure. More often it will simply fire the internal flash in a vain attempt to light the scene and deliver the dark picture. At this point you have to step in and tell the camera what to do instead of asking.

An easy adjustment most cameras have in their menus somewhere is turning the flash off. Then you can focus on the lighter part of the picture and press the shutter button half-way down. All cameras are different, but most of the time that will lock the exposure while you re-frame with more dark areas and shadows and take the picture. The lighter parts of the picture will be properly exposed and the dark areas will be silhouettes.

Some more complicated adjustments might include locking the camera's ISO setting. If the camera is free to choose the ISO, it will run the sensitivity up as high as possible. At higher ISOs shadows and dark areas can start showing a lot of noise as the camera software tries vainly to see the detail in areas of shadow. A better option, for cameras that have the adjustment, is to lock the ISO at a lower setting and preserve the shadows.

You'll also want to brace your camera somehow. Carrying a tripod is not always convenient, but a monopod is very easy to pack along and works in all but the darkest times. You can always brace your camera on a bean bag or other stable surface and use the self-timer to avoid button shake.

You'll learn even more with Proud Photography - one of the best online photography schools available today at http://www.proudphotography.com/

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Photography In A Pinch

Good photographers try to be prepared for almost any contingency. Unfortunately, if you tried to carry everything you'd need to meet every contingency in the field, you'd have to pack like a Bedouin trader.

Many times that simply isn't possible and other times it's not desirable. So the seasoned photographer learns to be resourceful. Here are a few miscellaneous tips that can save your back, particularly on short trips near home.

A Monopod

In all but the most extreme lighting situations a monopod can substitute nicely for a tripod and is a lot easier to carry. With practice you'll be able to hold a monopod nearly as stable as a tripod, for a short time anyway.

Another trick for stabilizing a monopod is to wrap the camera strap around your upper arm and push on the monopod while exerting gentle backward pressure on the strap. Similarly, you can place a large clamp on your monopod and use it as a shoulder brace, almost like a gun mount. It might look a little funny but it works surprisingly well.

Working In Sand

For those times you have to drag a tripod to the beach or sandy area, grab three tennis balls on the way out the door. Cut a hole big enough for your tripod leg and fit a tennis ball over each end.

The tennis balls won't sink in the sand, will keep most of the grit out of the end of your tripod leg and you can throw them away when you're finished.

Another great thing about working at the beach is you don't need to carry sand bags, just bring bags. There's usually plenty of sand already on the beach. Those are priceless for weighting reflectors, which tend to act like a sail in ocean breezes.

Bring A Cooler

But leave the ice packs at home. A cooler has several advantages over an equipment case in many situations. They're solid, many have a handle and wheels, and you can sit or stand on them in a pinch. If you lose or break it, you're only out about $40.

You can still carry drinks with the camera gear, but carefully. Get those drink cozies you put in the freezer. Those will keep your drinks cold without bringing down the temp too much in the cooler. The last thing you want to do is bring cold optics or a camera out into warm, muggy atmosphere. Expect instant condensation if you do.

Carry a Bag of Rubber Bands

They're just so handy for so many things and so easy to carry. You can use them for emergency repairs and to keep papers from flying away.

A fat rubber band is handy for dislodging a stuck filter. Wrap the rubber band around the edge of the filter and that should give you enough grip to get it loose.

And, if you're stuck waiting outside a courthouse waiting for a photo op, they're also endlessly entertaining for taunting your fellow photographers.

Incident Light Meter

Many photographers still carry a light meter, even in the days of high end digital SLRs. If you're packing light you can use a styrofoam cup over the end of your lens and use your camera's light meter, hold it in place with one of your rubber bands.

Note that cups do come in different thicknesses, so you may want to calibrate yours using the Sunny 16 rule before you leave.

Record the exposure at the subject, then walk back to shoot the picture.

You'll learn even more with Proud Photography - one of the best online photography schools available today at http://www.proudphotography.com/

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Ways To Make Money With Photography

In this horrible economy, it is often necessary to try to supplement your income. Instead of getting a low paying second job, try to think of other fun ways to earn extra money. There are many ways to make money with photography. My wife has helped out our financial situation by specializing in senior portraits.

Take pictures of high school seniors. If you have a knack for taking portraits, this is a great way to earn money without having to invest much. Getting business is usually not too difficult. You probably know of someone who is graduating from high school soon. You can offer to do the pictures with no sitting fee and only charge for the prints. If you do a great job you WILL get referrals. A studio is not necessary. You can find a scenic spot at a park or lake. If it is winter, sometimes a local community center will have areas for taking photos. You may have to rent a spot, so try to get this money back in the sitting fee or the up charge of the prints.

As as add on, you can offer to put together graduation announcement cards. Offer to take photos at the graduation and at the grad party.

Real estate photos. This could mean residential listings or even listings for hotels and businesses. Agents and business owners don't always have time or the ability to take high quality photos of their properties. You should be able to find the agents that do the most business in your area just by seeing their yard signs. Contact some commercial real estate companies to see if they could use your services.

Weddings. If you are thinking about getting into wedding photography, I would think twice before doing this on the side. Weddings are very time consuming and you are going to need more equipment than just a camera. My wife doesn't normally do weddings but she did accept a job for a wedding that was casual and outdoors. We knew that this person wasn't going to be high maintenance and the job turned out well. Even though I don't have much experience, I became the backup photographer, and I did manage to get some good shots that my wife didn't.

Stock photography. Taking pictures of cars, people, flowers, mountains, just about anything you can think of. There are websites you can join, such as Shutterstock, where you are able to upload your pictures for a chance to earn royalties on them. Think of someone with a website. They quickly need to find an image of a car for their auto parts site. They will look to download one off the internet instead of taking the time to take the picture themselves. Plus, they will probably find a much higher quality picture than what they could have taken.

Special events. Anniversary parties, birthdays, graduation parties are just a few examples of places where someone might want professional photos taken so they can remember the special day. You can make money by charging for your time and then by the mark up on the prints they purchase.

These are all great ways to make money with photography. If you need extra money, or you lost your job this could be a fun career to get started in.

My wife supplements our income by taking senior pictures and family portraits. She is able to bring in extra money even while taking care of our small children due to the flexibility of this business.

If you have a passion for photography and have some skills, this might be a great business opportunity.

Even in a tough economy, quality photographs are important to people. To get started earning money doing something you love CHECK THIS OUT for information on starting a photography business!

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3 Digital Photography Tips - Straightforward Info On Capturing Stunning Shots!

There are lots of digital photography tips that you can find online. However, most of the time, you'll find them either too technical or too advanced for you to understand. So this time we'll go to the basics of digital photography...after all capturing amazing images and turning them into breathtaking masterpieces need not be complicated.

Aside from your photographer's instincts (is there such a term...?), your SLR digital camera is one of the best tools that you've got to capture your subject or a fleeting moment. But, that doesn't mean that you'll completely rely on your camera to do all the work...you should also pay special attention to even the littlest details before shooting, during and after a shot has been taken.

So check out these tips to get a good insight about digital photography and how you could make a simple image into a spectacular one.....without being overwhelmed...

3 No Nonsense Tips And Strategies To Capture Great Images Using Your SLR Camera

Tip #1. Keep in mind that photography is not just about shooting pictures...it also requires some common sense as well.

So what do I mean by that? Don't be caught in a situation wherein you've missed a shot while outdoors or traveling, just because your memory card is full and you simply forgot to bring an extra; or maybe your camera batteries are drained...that's so frustrating!!

Thus, if you have to go shoot outdoors, make sure that you've checked what's inside your DSLR digital camera bag. Make sure that you have extra batteries with you, memory cards, cleaning cloths and lenses.

Tip #2. Use your digital SLR's manual settings as much as possible.

Shooting photos with your camera's auto mode is okay....however manual settings allow you to be more creative with your images...so take time to know your equipment better...learn more about how manually setting your camera's shutter speed, ISO, aperture and white balance to name a few would impact your photos.

It's not as complicated as it seems to be once you get the hang of using your digital SLR camera manual settings....remember practice makes perfect.

Tip #3. Take several shots of your subject.

Why is this necessary? Because this way, most likely, you have taken photos of your subject in different angles, which gives you a lot of alternatives and options when you get to edit your images afterwards...thus, keeping you from being disappointed or frustrated when you get to see the final image result. After all, there's no film to waste so you can experiment and explore at your heart's desire.

Hopefully, with these digital photography tips, you'll realize the importance of being more familiar with your SLR digital camera and being mindful of your gears and equipment to capture a great shot.

Deciding on which best Nikon camera for beginners to get can be a bit overwhelming especially if you don't have much idea about SLR digital cameras. Go to Click here if you want to have a closer look at Nikon D5100 and great tips on digital photography.

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10 Tips to Help You Improve Your Photography

Reading books, attending workshops and browsing the Internet are all good things that can help you take better photos. Read the following tips, they will improve the way you create amazing photos and how you see photography.

Know your camera -Your camera has lots of features that most photographers including yourself never use, maybe not even know they exist or what they are for. Aperture, shutter speed and focus are fundamental and very important, but they many more that can help you be a better photographer and spend less time retouching and fixing your average photos. There are functions like multiple exposure, time lapse, mirror lock-up, metering and many others. Take your time to learn about them and get creative. Creativity will change your photography. Do you know where your camera's manual is? Time to take it out, go through it, experiment with each function and learn what you can create. You'll be amazed.

Take your camera into your room and turn off the light - Literally follow this instruction go into any room in your house and turn off the light, grab your camera and lets see how much your actually learn about it. Sit down and change the shutter speed, the mode, aperture, ISO, focus mode, etc. If you can actually do this is because you really followed the first tip and you know your camera well enough.

Enter photography contests - This is a fun activity and a great way to learn. Look for contests that will actually provide critique and feedback. There are many contests out there that decide on the winner by how many friends you convinced to vote for your photo. But there are also some great photo contests, just spend some time looking and finding them.

Choose your best 25 images and have friends rate them - Print your 25 best images and place them on a flat surface. Ask each of your friends to order them from their favorite to the one he or her likes the least. When they are finished ask them why they placed them in that order. You will be shocked at some of the comments and how people that are not into photography view things. Their comments will help you understand some concepts that will help you improve.

Choose a couple of pictures that you like from sites like flickr and 500pix - When you are done, compare them, analyze them and critique them. See what you like the most and why? Look closely and see what they have in common, look at the metadata and find out how they were shot and the settings used. Think about why they used those settings and what would have happened if the settings were different.

Join a photo club and go out with your photo buddies - Photography is lots of fun when you can share the experience with others. Look for local photographers, or a local photo club and plan outings. Going out with several photographers allows you to experiment with other cameras, with new lenses, learn new techniques and practice new tips. It's fun and a great way to learn.

Learn a new photo technique at least every week - There are many different techniques out there and nowadays it is very simple to find them and to learn from them. Google "Photography Technique Tutorial" and you will find thousands of them. If you are very visual use the ones in Youtube, they will guide you step by step. Another great resource is Google+, the amount of photographers participating is growing every day and the tips are awesome. After you see them or read about them go out and take a couple of shots using the technique you just learn. Practice makes perfect!

Shoot night photography - Shooting night photography is probably the best way to learn photography. Automatic does not work. You have to learn how to balance ISO, aperture and shutter speed. You are forced to use a tripod and by doing so you learn how to use it properly and reinforces proper shooting techniques. You will also learn how to focus on the light. At the end you will be rewarded with amazing images.

Learn as much as you can - Research, ask, practice and most important cover a wide range of topics and learn about different styles of photography. After you've done that you will probably know by then which style you prefer the most. When you do, dig deeper, learn and specialize yourself, there is a lot to learn. When you become real good at one style, sit down, relax and decide what's next. Start learning a different style, it will be a completely different experience and you will love it.

Show-off your work - There is no better feeling than someone commenting on your image and liking it. There are many ways in which you can show-off your work. Post it online, for example in smugmug, here you can have your own mini-website and share your work. Enlarge, print a couple of your images and hang them at home or at the office. Build a photo page of your work in Facebook. There are many options and at the end you will feel proud of your work and motivated to do better.

Enjoy shooting and creating GREAT images!!

Each 'Photography Project' is a new challenge for The Duenitas Digital World, which we meet with great motivation and enthusiasm! We are technically proficient under any conditions and work in an unobtrusive respectful way. The Duenitas Digital World is flexible and reacts well to unplanned happenings; capturing the perfect image as we go.
The Duenitas Digital World is based in Miami, Florida and covers South Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. We specialize in the following Photography Topics: Weddings, Resort, Real Estate, Product, Family & Event and Commercial Photography.
Website: http://www.theduenitas.com/
PhotoBlog: http://theduenitas.blogspot.com/

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Wedding Photography Style: Traditional, Contemporary and Documentary

When booking a wedding photographer you need to ask yourself an important question - "what style of wedding photography would we like?"

It's fair to say that us photographers can sometimes baffle people with jargon - especially when describing our styles of photography, such as traditional, reportage, contemporary, documentary, photojournalistic etc. So, here we have set out the 3 styles main styles on offer today. Of course, some photographers offer hybrids that pinch elements from all 3 of these style but most offer one main photographic style.

Hopefully this article will help you to decide on the style of photography you would like at your wedding.

Traditional Wedding Photography

This is a style you will all be familiar with. Carefully posed shots of groups ranging from the whole guest list right down to just the bride and groom themselves. The poses will be more classical that contemporary so don't expect any quirky shots including running or jumping for example. This style was very much all that was on offer up until the arrival of digital photography and it's fair to say that it is a much less popular style these days. Without wanting to stereotype this style is favoured more by the older generation whereas younger couples are more likely to favour a more contemporary style.

Documentary, Journalistic or Reportage Wedding Photography

This style of wedding photography is nothing new in terms of being a general photographic style, but it is relatively new to wedding photography. This style is informal when compared to traditional wedding photography as the photography is likely to have little or no interaction with the bride, groom or guests as the primary focus is to document the day as it happens. Don't expect set poses with this style as this is all about capturing you wedding day in as natural a way as possible. The photographer will try to remain as unobtrusive as possible and this will mean the avoidance of flash photography too. When done right this style produces the most emotional and naturally captivating photography and albums produced from this style are absorbing and addictive.

Contemporary wedding photography

This style sits somewhere between traditional wedding photography and the reportage styles, in many ways this style could be considered a hybrid of the two and that the only true styles are traditional and reportage. The reason this is a style in itself is because you will get the usual posed group shots but mixed with a much more fun and contemporary posing style. Often the photography will look for interesting way to use locations and settings in the setup of a shot and take advantage of the willingness of the bride and groom to create something extra special. The photographer will look to use unusual and interesting viewpoint in the shots in order to set them apart from being in any way traditional. Quite often, in addition to the contemporary posed shots the photographer will mix in some reportage style of shooting to create a balanced album that creates the story of a wedding day. The photographer will also spend longer editing the photos in post production so as to give the finished album the optimum impact.

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Ten Tips for Effective Outdoor Photography

Are you are planning to create panoramic photo books online or canvas gallery wraps of your outdoor photographs. Before you go on an outdoor photo shoot make a checklist of essential things that you need to carry. Follow these ten steps for shooting amazing landscape pictures.

Want to make panoramic photo books with your own landscape photographs? There are certain pointers you should keep in mind before you go on an outdoor photo shoot. Whether it's a hot day with a clear sky or a stormy day with dark clouds lining the horizon, a good camera with the right camera accessories can get you great shots! Before you go on an outdoor shoot, make a checklist of things you need to carry with you. You list can include stuff such as tripod, filter, reflector, extra battery, additional memory card, and an all-purpose camera bag to carry everything with ease.

Now that you're all set to embark on your outdoor photography shoot, checkout these ten steps to take great landscape photographs:

1. Use good quality lenses, polarizers, and filters, preferably from the camera manufacturer.

2. Before you shoot a picture, check the focus. When you are shooting portraits focus on the eyes.

3. Though most cameras come with Image Stabilization and vibration reduction features, use a tripod for more stability while you shoot pictures.

4. Always try to shoot in the shade rather than direct sunlight as the harsh light could create shadows and dimensions that would spoil your picture.

5. Shoot pictures in RAW format rather than JPG. It's easier to edit your pictures in this format and you're less likely to lose data when you edit.

6. Use long exposures when you are shooting in pre-dawn conditions so that you can get colors that are not easily visible.

7. Make sure you use the flash when you are shooting at dusk or you could end up taking a silhouette photograph.

8. Checkout for the right conditions. You may have the best of equipment, but make sure the lighting, wind, and other conditions are conducive to the picture you want to take.

9. Avoid shooting pictures at mid day and preferably shoot in the mornings or evenings when the light is softer.

10. The last tip - relax, take your time, and enjoy photographing!

Take stunning photographs outdoors following these tips. You can use your photographs to make online photo books and share your precious snaps with your loved ones. With double page spreads and seamless binding, panoramic photo albums are a great way to display your landscape photographs.

To create panoramic photo books and other custom photo albums visit http://www.adoramapix.com/

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Advantages of Elevated Photography

Elevated photography is not aerial photography. Aerial photography involves photography done from an aircraft, helicopter and sometimes hot air balloons. Aerial photography is best left to professionals hired by governments and corporate entities with special requirements and to the select few hobbyists with deep pockets.

Elevated photography can be undertaken by all and sundry. All you have to do is raise yourself higher than the eye level of the subject/s. This is not very difficult and in most of the situations there is always a something available on which you can climb and take photographs.

In many cases, all you have to do is to climb on a chair, stool or even a table. Always, keep your safety in mind and give it due importance. You can always take assistance from someone to hold steady the table or chair so that you get the additional support and confidence and you can focus to taking the photographs.

Remember that elevated photography is best done for group photographs in which you should ideally cover all the people and each individual's face should be visible. Form a small or medium group of people in a half round circle and make them smile or laugh, so that the photograph is engaging and you have the desired image. Always communicate with the people, keep them motivated and keep them informed about the type of photograph you are planning to take.

In industrial photography or corporate photography, you may either climb on an industrial ladder or in some cases climb to the higher floor and capture the large crowd. Some professional photographers use cranes in which the photographer climbs and takes pictures.

Elevated photography is used often in industrial photography of machines, when you are required to take photographs from top angle of the machines. Taking photographs from a certain height always adds dynamism to your photographs and allow your audience to view another perspective of the same machine or object.

Always avoid taking pictures of children from a height, as this results in weird and awkward looking pictures, with their heads and faces blown out of proportion to the body.

In landscape and architectural photography, it will be more challenging to take photographs from a higher angle. One trick is to mount the camera on a tripod or monopod, set the timer to shoot after 10 seconds and raise the setup as high as possible. In these cases, you can have an added advantage by using camera that has rotating LCD screen that will allow you to view the scene from that angle.

Taking pictures from an elevation is a good idea to get a different perspective of the landscape and is worth the extra efforts required to achieve it. With practice and innovative usage of the props available on the location, you will gain confidence and add another feather in your photography skills. Remember that no photograph is worth taking any risk to your life or limb.

Safety First

Always keep safety at top of your mind. Once, you have climbed a stool or ladder, composition of photograph becoming a bigger challenge. Always, climb down and re-arrange the stool, chair or ladder and then re-compose your shot, never lean forwards, backwards or sideways. The extra efforts required are always worth it and will ensure that you enjoy your photography as a passion, hobby or profession for a long time to come.

There are many advantages of taking pictures from a height, with added main bonus as getting a unique view- point of the location in front of you.

Home page Corporate Film Makers website.

Visit: Industrial Photographer for many commercial photographs

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Out of the Box Photography for You!

Most of the albums we see from the 70's and 80's are pretty straight forward. They include shots during the ceremony, shots of the wedding party, the couple cutting the cake, and various pictures taken during the reception. However, wedding photography has changed in the past few decades and there are a variety of more creative photographs that can capture the true story of your wedding day.

Wedding photography has come a long way since your parents wedding, and there are many options to consider when looking for a photographer. Not only has just the photography changed, but wedding ceremonies and receptions have gone outside the box to create some really amazing stories. When deciding how you want to remember your day, a main concern in this discussion is the photographer.

There are many photographers that are skilled at taking the standard wedding shots. However, if this is not something you are looking for then it is necessary to look for a photographer who shoots couples, rather than the ceremony itself. A good photographer can make a couple look good in pictures, but a great photographer can paint a picture of the couple's story.

If you plan on doing some outside of the box things at your wedding, it is nice to document them. There are plenty of quirky couples out there who have incorporated little memories and other parts of their relationship into their wedding day, so these are things that you would want the photographer to photograph in the right context. This is why booking a photographer who can grasp the couple's story is something that should be considered.

Photographers such as this are devoted to bringing out more in a picture than just a few smiles. A photojournalistic wedding photographer will capture moments and stories rather than just bodies in a room. These types of photographers are devoted to marking artistic masterpieces rather than a set of posed formals. Rather than having the bride and groom pose for multiple shots in positions that feel uncomfortable and forced, they are able to candidly tell the story of the day that two people joined as a union.

Finding a photographer who can understand your story is one of the best gifts one can have on their wedding day. However, it is important to point out that there is nothing wrong with the standard wedding shots that we see many times. What one should take away is that there are many ways to document your wedding day, and finding the right way for you as a couple is the most important thing. Whether that be naturally and organically, or you feel more comfortable with the help of the photographer posing the group it doesn't matter. As long as the pictures taken are exactly what you wanted them to be, that's all that matters!

Find a wide selection of photojournalistic wedding photographers by searching on Google, the Knot or checking with local wedding vendors in your area.

An extensive selection of the best wedding photographers are available at http://www.bellagala.com/ or by calling 651-227-1202.

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The Art of Digital Wedding Photography - Part 1

Intro:

Digital photography provides many benefits when shooting a wedding. You know immediately what you've shot and that your equipment is functioning the way you want it to. You use less equipment, since there's no need for bags of film, heavy strobes, heavy camera equipment, or even light meters. You only print the images you rally like, so editing is quicker. Tasks that one required hours of darkroom work can now be completed in front of a computer in a matter of minutes. Your creativity in producing the final image is limited only by the special-effects tools to which you have access when editing, and retouching is easy--just a matter of using software.

For all these benefits, though, digital photography provides no magic wand for creating a beautiful image. You still have to understand the basic rules of photography to create good images! If you don't understand the basic principles of photography before you start shooting digital you're in for a rude awakening. As with film, the challenge of digital photography is discipline. If you are sloppy in creating images on film and leave exposure problems to your lab to fix, don't expect digital to be the panacea for all that ails you. Once you master those basics, though, digital gives you the ability to enhance your creativity perhaps in more ways than you ever thought were possible. The truth is, digital technology puts more tools at our disposal than we have had at any other time in the history of photography.

In these next few hubs, I will explore the elements that make the digital medium so different from film and those that make it the same. We're going to talk about creating the images, getting them out of the camera, enhancing them with filters and other software, working with the lab, and, finally, selling them. I'll do my best to over the are of digital wedding photography from soup to nuts and to address the issues that confront any wedding photographer who makes the switch from film to digital. You'll need to stay on top of digital media, though: In just the time it will take you to read my hubs, something in photography will have changed. This truth leaves us with one basic assumption that the best photographers in the world have always known: You can never stop learning, because the best image you'll ever take hasn't been taken yet.

Digital Basics

To photograph digitally, you need to grasp a few basics. Here are eight controls and features you'll want to master early on in your digial image-making. Take the time to become comfortable using them, and you'll soon be able to create the best possible images with consistency.

Exposure:

Unlike film, digital imaging doesn't allow you to compensate for underexposure or overexposure in the processing stage. Too much light, overexposure, will result in pale, washed-out images; too little light, underexposure, will result in dark, muddy images. Your digital camera's light meter will help you automatically achieve the right exposure. Plus, when you shoot in Raw mode, the exposure compensation feature allows you to override autommatic settings and counteract lighting conditions that the light meter might otherwise not adjust for--yo usually have a four-stop range in exposure compensation, two stops over and two under.

Aperture:

By setting your camera to aperture priority mode, you can choose the aperture, or f-stop (in automatic and other modes, the camera will determine the aperture setting). My preference is to use a large aperture to achieve a nice, shallow depth of field, which helps blur out distracting backgrounds. Typically I shoot at f 1.2 to f2.8.

Buffer memory and card writing speed:

These terms refer to how many images you can shoot consecutively. With cameras like the Canon EOS-1D Mark II you can shoot up to 20 Raw files in a row at speeds up to 8.5 frames per second. That's a lot of data! With a fast card-writing speed like 5 megabytes per second or higher, you'ree not going to wait as long for your camera to clear its buffer memory as you would with a system that only writes at 2 megabytes per second or slower. You don't want to miss the best moments of the weddin because you are waiting for your camera to finish writing to the card.

Focusing speed:

It's imperative to have a camera that's fast to focus in the autofocus mode. You don't have time to wait for your equipment to eact to different subjects as you move around a wedding.

Resolution:

Shoot everything at the very highest resolution your camera will allow--that is, witht he most pixels, so the image is as detailed as possible. This way, you'll have more flexibility when it comes to cropping an image and more options when printing.

Downloading programs:

You want easy-to-use programs for downloading and managing your files. Phase One's Capture One makes it easy to rename and batch files and do color correction an dmake other adjustments. Also Adobe Photoshop and Adobe lightroom are great downloading programs as well.

The LED Viewfinder:

THis feature is an asset when experimenting with a new technique, since it allows you to get an idea of how the image will turn out before you snap the shutter. However, don't get into a habit of viewing every image in the LED display, because you don't have time and you should learn to follow your instincts. And never get into the habit of "chimping"--making a sound like a chimp when you see the image you just captured in the viewfinder, as in "oooh, oooh, oooh!"

Diopter Adjustment:

This is really basic, but there will be moments when you may need to focus manually. Make sure you know where the diopter adjustment, which lets you manually focus on objects, is located on your camera and periodically check to see that the viewfinder is set for your eyes.

Angelica R. Whisenant is a professional photographer based out of Virginia Beach, Virginia. I have been serving high-profile clients since 2006. To check out more of my Virginia Beach photography visit http://www.leftfieldphotographyworks.com/?load=html

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What Professional Photography Entails

Photography is a very broad field of endeavor and also a very competitive one indeed. It's an intricate form of art that requires complete precision in all its facets. It doesn't matter what area of photography you specialize in, be it wedding and bridal, nature, children or model photography, one still needs to be a skilled, creative, attentive to be able to get the best of it.

Professional photography requires lots of creative and practical skills and an ability to visualize, imagine and think deeply. At the same time, having the right photography equipment is as important as it determines the kind of jobs you will do, your bargaining power and how far you will go in the business. In other words, you need to equip your self with professional high end cameras and accessories such as flash, various types of lenses, rechargeable batteries, storage devices and cases, tripod and software.

A professional photographer needs to be up to date by attending workshops and training sessions, seminars, conducting research on the internet. He needs to know his camera in and out and challenge his creative ability to be able to do more as practice makes perfect. You should be able to adapt to change, be flexible enough to meet your client taste and set a high standard to set you apart from the rest of the crowd. Your customers are your most priced possession, so they deserve the best.

For you to break into the vast market of photography and project your brand to the masses, you will need to do a lot of public relations. You will have to print posters and business cards, own a personal website and have a page on one or more of the social networking sites (like face book) so as to be able to show case your work. You might also need to advertise in news papers and magazines to be able to draw a substantial number of clients that you can build on. You can also write to publication companies for permission to send photos to them if you choose to freelance.

In conclusion, the need to take a lot of photos cannot be under-estimated as a professional photographer especially if you want to project your brand. You will want to put together a collection of your work so as to bring it around with you depending on the area of photography you are specializing whether it is freelancing for a magazine, setting up your own shop, or working for somebody else, which is usually a good way to break in.

If you need more information about photography please click on the link. http://www.thestrategicsolutions.com/

Michael Peter is an expert in business consultancy services including business development, marketing, finance, operations and management and internet marketing solutions.

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Top 5 Destinations for Photography Lovers!

Every country in the world offers great photo opportunities for any avid photographer out there. Here is a list of Top 5 regions for if you have a specific interest in what you like to photograph.

Nature - USA: With 58 national parks, 2 coast lines, 4 major mountain ranges, deserts, wetlands, and 10,000 lakes in the state of Minnesota alone, the United States reigns king of Nature photos. Taking photos of the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Bryce Canyon will make you feel like Ansel Adams before you know it. If you have the time and transportation, a road trip across the U.S is a great way to capture all these wonderful places.

People - Asia: From India to Japan, the people across Asia are diverse and have very unique and distinct customs and cultures. The chaos and colors of India and Nepal will hit you the moment you step off the airplane. Chinese people in Tibet look entirely different than those in Beijing. The dances and religious ceremonies across Southeast Asia will mesmerize and captivate you. Many countries allow you to be part of their culture. You could find yourself dressed up as a Geisha, participating in a Hindu Ceremony on the Beach in Bali, or dancing in a sari in an Indian wedding.

Architecture - Europe: Getting lost along the cobblestone streets taking photos of buildings, churches, and houses will give you plenty of material to photograph. Wandering around the Neuschwanstein Castle will make you feel like Cinderella. Some other great architectural landmarks in Europe include the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Notre Dame Cathedral, Guggenheim in Bilbao, the Canals of Amsterdam, and the Charles Bridge in Prague. There is plenty of gothic, baroque and modern architecture that will offer some great photo opportunities.

Wildlife - Africa: Lions, Tigers, and Bears, oh my! Taking an African safari will give you the best animal shots of your life. If you are lucky you can see the "top 5" including lions, rhinoceroses, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes. Two great places for safaris are the Serengeti National Park in Kenya during the Great Migration and the Okavanga Delta in Botswana during the dry season. Africa also has great opportunities for under water shots including scuba diving in the Red Sea, off Madagascar, and Great White Shark Cave diving in South Africa. The zoo will never be the same.

Food - Asia: Asia has some of the best tasting and most bizarre foods you will find in the world. In Japan presentation of your food is almost as important as the taste. The spices and colors of India, Thailand, and Korea will keep your mouth tingling for hours. There are plenty of bizarre foods including candied grasshoppers in Thailand, fried tarantula in Cambodia, snake wine in Vietnam, or for the very adventurous one can search out monkey brain in China - we all remember that scene from Indiana Jones an the Temple of Doom.

Over the next year PhotoFly Travel Club is exploring all of these regions, including Egypt, Turkey, Iceland, Hawaii, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, and Vietnam. For more information, join free at the number one travel club for solo travelers!

This article is written by group travel organizer Steve Juba who runs two great travel clubs with members all over the country.

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Tips of Digital Photography

Here are the digital photography tips you are looking. When you have newly acquired a digital camera, the last thing that you would want to happen is have it rusted on the corner of your house. You have come to the right page if you want to handle that precious gem you have. If you take pictures just for fun or you do it as a career, then necessarily you need digital photography tips which will make every session successful. They may not ensure world-class pictures but the methods which will be shared in this article will surely allow you to explore your options.

But before sharing with you the different common and unique digital photography tips, you need to at first know why using a camera with digital features is better than the traditional film. With digital photography, you can easily retain and delete the pictures you like and don't like. This makes the task faster for unlike film, you need not to have it printed first. With digital camera, you can easily take a shot again once you decide the photo does not level up your standard. Another feature that digital cameras have is the ability to hold thousands of pictures, depending on the capacity of the memory stick. After taking the pictures, add-ins like sepia, cropping and changing their shades can be done quickly. Most of all, through digital photography, pictures can easily be shared, copied or sent by online services.

Here are the digital photography tips which will surely make every photo worth remembering.

Taking photos. Normally all will start with the way you will be taking pictures. Settled is the rule that one of the important thing that you have to keep in mind when you are with your camera and taking a shot is to hold it tightly and steadily. It is not very convenient to bring a tripod everywhere you go, right? Always watch your spare fingers so that they won't hinder the lens. Another important thing that is included in digital photography tips is when using smaller cameras, hold your eye up to the optical viewfinder to capture the image, rather than the electronic viewfinder. This will allow you to be steady. Half depress the shutter when you are focusing on a particular object, scene or person. This will help you to focus and avoid blur. Reviewing the pictures after taking them allows you to delete undesirable ones.
Composition. Considered as an important stage in the digital photography tips is the composition of your pictures. Many people are said to have a talent on making their pictures captivating but in truth this can be acquired by learning and experience. The rule of thirds, using lines and shapes, keeping balance and putting a subject in a frame are great methods of putting emphasis on your subject.
Lightning. These are the digital photography tips which pertain to the use of light. In indoor scenes, naturally, light is always not enough. There is nothing brighter than the sun so to say so most photographers utilize the light provided by indoor lights. More light can come in by adjusting the aperture. Adjusting the shutter speed - by using a longer shutter speed, will allow more time for the available light to enter.

Once you have mastered these digital photography tips, then you can certainly enjoy more in using your digital camera.

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Digital Photography - Lighting for Perfect Pictures

Digital photography can be brought to its full potential once you have the correct methods, the appropriate moment and the perfect lighting. Even though you possess with you the latest model of digital camera, your photographs will not turn out great if you are not making use of the right strategies in getting them right.

Experts in digital photography have come to recognize that the digital camera is only one element you need to have great pictures. Lightning is probably the most important for digital photography.

Have you ever seen photos that seem to blurry and indistinguishable? Even if you attempt and salvage them using Photoshop or any other software, you can't change lousy lighting.

Good lighting has to be planned and observed prior to pushing the camera's shutter button. No matter how advanced your camera is, it can't create and shape light for you.

Below are some of the natural sources of lighting that will make your photos look fantastic. - After sunrise and before sunset.

Known as "the golden hour", the warm orange color that appears in the sky during these occasions provides the colors and dimension that simply makes your subjects pop. The color of the surroundings can add mood and feel to the photos.

- Sunlight.

Sunlight is our biggest light source on earth, and depending on the weather, it can change from a sharp, edgy hard light or a pleasing, soft, diffused light.

By changing your position relative to the sun, and placing subjects in a shade or out in the open, your lighting changes dramatically to suit your photograph's theme.

- Pools of Light

Finding a clustered pool of light, or a stream of light in a dark area adds a dramatic element in any photograph. Think of how a subject is illuminated by spot lights in a theater stage and how that form of lighting forces the viewer to concentrate on the actor instantly. These natural shafts of light created by things like a crack in the roof, a crevice between rocks, or even the gap of your bedroom door when ajar can create beautiful and dramatic light pools.

Shooting digital photos is not only about having the most sophisticated digital camera. It is also about searching for lighting and methods that will benefit your shots. Try to shoot your photos with the ideal lighting and you will notice that your photos will look excellent and you won't need to process them in your computer anymore.

Here's a sure-fire and free way to get better in photography within the next 30 days -

The lessons are so simple and straight-forward that you'll be able to start taking better pictures almost immediately after reading the tutorials.

By learning these fundamental and techniques in digital photography and flash photography, you'll be confident to take any kind of photographs in any situation with any camera you currently have. I strongly urge you to discover these free and useful lessons on the next page - Click Here

David is a freelance photographer, blogger, and writer providing quality and free photography-related tutorials, camera reviews, and Adobe Photoshop tips through his blog and workshops.

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Why Learn Digital Photography Basics?

Learning digital photography basics is a must if you have your own camera with you. The reason is quite simple. You cannot expect to learn the complex matters involving digital photography if you do not start with the roots, right? Besides, as an owner of such gadget, it would always be better to know and familiarize the different options as well as alternatives it can offer. There is no need to worry though as photography basics will not take so much of your time. As long as you know how to be patient and attentive, you can always get the lessons which may be taught to you.

First of all, photography roots must start with how to choose your camera, especially for those who are still planning yet. An SLR camera most of all allows an enthusiast to attain a variety of focal lengths and are great for taking pictures. But bear in mind that you also have to consider the price tags of these gadgets. Thus, a wise decision making plus certain criteria must be done to buy the right camera and then start with the photography basics. The following are the features you can use a criteria in choosing a camera.

Decide if you want to take pictures or videos as well. Before, camcorders are often used for this purpose. However, today, there are digital cameras that offer the same. You must have made up your mind on this matter already before you go to a camera store.
Always limit or keep in mind the budget that you have allotted for it. Necessarily, you wouldn't want to be obsessed with a camera which is beyond your capacity right?
You can actually buy the body of the camera in separation with the lenses. This can save you money.

Then comes the question as to why you need to learn digital photography roots. Basically, as the owner of the camera, you must know how to handle it. In one point, you need how to handle it in such a way that it will not be damaged or get broken. Keeping it clean and safe may sound a cliche but these are common digital photography basics which are taken for granted.

Learning digital photography roots will allow you to satisfy your passion too. If you really love taking pictures, then you will know that you still have more to explore in your digital camera. This can be a great source for your passion to grow into an investment or even a career. Obviously, once you have started with digital photography basics you can then advance to higher learning.

Digital photography basics will teach you many things. It will begin with how to operate your digital camera. This gives you the idea that once you have familiarized all the buttons and features of the gadget, you can use it with eyes closed. Then, digital photography basics will also teach you how to position your camera, how to adjust the lenses, which landscapes to be chosen as subjects and how light as well as darkness can be utilized.

How can you learn digital photography basics? A primary option would be to enroll in a formal lesson in digital schools. A second option would be to learn online and last resort can be one through self-help and a few reading materials concerning digital photography basics.

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