Archive for November, 2009

Photoshop Basics Tutorial To Create Amazing Digital Scrapbooks

Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 6:25 pm  
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Creating digital scrapbooks are easier than ever due to the power of digital technology and computers. Many software editing programs are on the market that turn your ordinary photos into extraordinary masterpieces yet there is one program that stands out from all the others. Adobe Photoshop is undoubtedly the most popular photo editing software program on the market today and is used by amateurs and professionals alike.

You may be curious as to why professional photographers need a photo editing software program. Included in Photoshop is everything that a photographer would need to make sure every photo that was taken is incredible. Photoshop is, in essence, a a digital photo lab where you can edit and manipulate your photos to make them look their best.

The software is somewhat easy to learn. However, if you are a first time user the program you will want to play around and get yourself comfortable with the desktop and various tools. There are various tutorials available over the internet that can get you started on the basics if you feel uncomfortable with what you are seeing on your screen but I will attempt to make it easy for you.

There are four basic areas in Adobe Photoshop. At the top you see your menu bar, below that is your toolbar, the toolbox is located on the left side of your screen and the palettes are located on the right. Once you have an idea where things are all you need to do is hold your mouse over each toolbar and toolbox item and you should see a screen tip appear telling you the name of that tool.

One of the great things about this software is that it will take photos taken from an average camera and you can use the tools to make them look like they were taken with the most expensive camera on the market. With an ordinary 3 megapixel camera you can take average pictures then use Photoshop to create a masterpiece. Such is the power of this program.

Even professional photographers encounter problems with their photos. Red eye is the most common phenomenon which is nearly impossible to prevent. Usually your photo would be ruined if it had red eye on it. Fortunately, with Photoshop you have all the tools you need to remove the red eye and the viewer would never know the difference. You can find a variety of tutorials online that can help you create amazing eyes, or you can simply play around with the software on your own.

Shaky hands and blurry photos are another problem with many photos. Photoshop contains sharpening tools that are able to remove these errors. On the other hand, if you like the blurry effect there are tools included for that as well.

Dull colors and lighting problems are no longer a problem as Photoshop can take nearly any problem that seemed insurmountable and fix it with a few clicks of the mouse. Is your photo missing someone? Simply remove that person from a different photo and paste them where you want them to go. Now, this is a bit more tricky and requires a bit more experimentation, however it can be accomplished with Photoshop. Using Adobe Photoshop, you can be sure that you will be able to turn those ordinary looking photos in to something magical.

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Have You Got What It Takes?

Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 5:15 am  
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Have You Got What It Takes?

R. Dodge Woodson

World Photographers Organization

Have you got what it takes to make money with a camera? If you are a serious amateur photographer with basic camera equipment, you may have a cash machine in your camera bag. This book is not meant to be a dense, word-heavy manual used to give you all of the information needed for taking professional photographs. If you want a big book on how to make money with your camera, this is not it. When you want a concise guide to getting the most out of your camera with real money-making opportunities, this is it.

Rather than use hundreds of paragraphs and illustrations as I might in a photography how-to book, I am going to make this fast and easy for you. I will tell you what you need to know as quickly and cleanly as I can.

This definitive guide to photography career opportunities is not going to teach you to be a wedding photographer or a nature photographer. You will not learn the techniques and tactics used for sports photography. Nowhere here will you find how-to details of capturing photos of birds in flight. Okay, so what are you going to learn?

I am going to show you the down and dirty facts about turning a buck with your camera. Not everything I say is going to be what you want to hear. Life is rarely full of glory with no pain. Photography is not very different. For would-be pro photographers who want to make some serious money in legitimate ways, this is the straight-talk guide to the facts.

Now that you know that this is not going to be sugar-coated crap to lull you into fantasy land, let’s dig into the actual earning potential for you as a photographer. We will start with equipment and progress to personal skills and personalities.

Equipment

What do you need for equipment to make money in photography? It depends greatly on the type of photography you decide to pursue as a career. Do you have the basics of what is needed to take a stab at making money with photography? Let’s take this piece by piece.

  • Do you own a quality 35mm digital camera? In today’s competitive world, you will find that digital photos are a necessity.
  • What should you look for in a good camera body?

Look at the number of megapixels that the camera will take photos at. Don’t buy a camera that produces less than 8 megapixels. Getting a camera body that shoots 10 megapixels is a better buy for longevity. As cameras continue to get better, the higher the megapixel rating you start with, the longer it will be suitable for competitive work.

  • Do I need a camera body that uses removable and interchangeable lenses?

A Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera with interchangeable lenses is best, but you can get started with a fixed-lens camera. The cost of having an interchangeable system may be more than you want to spend to test the waters.

  • Will a built-in, pop-up electronic flash good enough for a money-making camera?

This type of flash is limited in use, but it has little effect on taking photos in natural light. If you are going to shoot with independent flash equipment in a studio, make sure your camera body is equipped with a PC connection. Cheaper cameras do not offer this feature. Adding a hot-shoe-mounted flash is going to be desirable if you do much flash photography.

  • How important is a camera brand?

The brand of camera you use is not very important unless you are building a system around the camera body. By this I mean that you would not want to invest a lot of money in interchangeable lens that are not suitable for the ultimate camera of your choice. Personally, I started with a Minolta SRT 101® many years ago. It was my first “Real” camera. Then I went to Canon® and built a system around it. When digital came around, I sold my film gear and bought Canon digital equipment. You will normally find that most pros use either Canon or Nikon® equipment.

  • Are zoom lenses okay for professional work?

Most professionals avoid zoom lenses when they can. The pros prefer what they call “Prime” lenses. These are fixed-focal-length lenses that provide sharper photos than zoom lenses can. But, zooms are fine for basic photography needs and you can use them when getting started as a working pro.

  • What about tripods?

Tripods and monopods come in various styles, designs, and prices. A macro photographer will want one type of tripod while a studio photographer may want a different style of support. Monopods are a terrific investment. They are not needed, but they do add a lot of stability at a small price. The type of photography that you pursue will dictate your needs for camera support. There is plenty of photography work that can be done without anything more than your hands for support.

  • Gadgets are great fun to buy and some of them are very useful, but not of them are needed for getting started as a pro photographer.
  • Filter systems can enhance photos quickly. They are not needed, but the filters can add plenty of flavor to your photos. The gel-type filters work well and are relatively inexpensive.
  • Camera bags can cost a lot of money. Some photographers are mesmerized by the assortment of bags available. When you are getting started, you can get by with a basic backpack or carry-on bag. Buy some foam padding. Cut it to fit your bag to protect your gear, and you are in business with very little cash being spent on a way to carry your equipment.
  • What other stuff will I need? You should have a second camera battery charged up and with you at all times. Get a few memory cards so that you never run out of room for photo storage. Invest in a cleaning kit and use it. A wide camera strap makes carrying cameras with heavy lenses easier on the shoulder. Buy a photographer’s vest. It is a good investment for all types of photography. The other stuff falls into the gadget categories until you perfect your personal needs.
  • How much does all this basic equipment cost? I am not going to turn this book into a price guide. Prices change quickly in the shutterbug world. That said, I would estimate that you could get a very nice Canon SLR with interchangeable lens capability for less than $600 new. By the time you add a lens and whatever, you are probably looking at between $1000 and $1500. Of course, you can usually find good used equipment at very affordable prices. It is worth a look if you are not sure what you want to do with photography.

Heavy-duty pro gear is expensive. You can expect to spend $2500 to $7500 for a camera body and then the pro lenses will hit you for anywhere from about $700 to over $8000, per lens. You certainly don’t need this type of pro gear in the beginning and with some exceptions, you probably will never have an absolute need for it. But Boy, most of us want it!

Personal Preference

Your personal preference in the type, or types, of photography to pursue will dictate your equipment needs, your likelihood for making money, and so forth. What do you want to do? If you love taking pictures of spiders, go for it, but know that you have a very limited niche market. Shooting weddings on weekends can bring in thousands of dollars a week. To a large extent, this book is aimed at showing you your options and educating you to a point where you can make a viable decision.

Skill Level

What is your skill level as a photographer? Regardless of where you fall on the scale of skills, you can invest the time and money needed to increase your skills. Once you know what you want to do, you can concentrate of specific workshops that cover your type of photography. For example, underwater photography is not a common field of endeavor. To be really good at it, you need some special instruction. Before you sell yourself as a photographer, make sure that you are competent to take photos that don’t look like Granny snapped them on her old Brownie®.

Your Personality

Your personality can guide you to the right path in your photography career. If you don’t like bugs, nature photography probably is not for you. People who had to deal with models who are too demanding might enjoy pet photography. Perhaps you should be a press photographer and do all the fun stuff that goes with this special classification of photographer. You can obtain PRESS credentials from the World Photographers Organization, www.wpomembers.com, as a photographer for their magazine, World Images Today.

Cash on Hand

How much cash on hand will you need to get started? It depends on what you are doing, where you are doing it, and how aggressive you plan to be. There is no clear-cut answer. Assuming that you have the basic essential equipment, you should be able to get some business by spending $500, or less. Once you get some work, the word of mouth from happy customers will help to keep you busy. This is how a lot of full-time professionals made it to working full time with their cameras.

Okay, I am sure we could talk about more details, but let’s cut to the chase and start looking at the various types of photography that you can actually make money doing.

R. Dodge Woodson is a full-time internationally-known, best-selling author and photographer. He created the World Photographers Organization (WPO) as a serious resource for all photographers from point-and-shooters to pros. Photographers of all skill levels come to WPO to learn, to increase sales, and to take advantage of the extensive resources offered by WPO. Having been a pro photographer for more than 30 years and a full-time writer for 17 years, Dodge now feels it is time to share his tricks of the trade with up-and-coming freelancers.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/digital-photography-articles/have-you-got-what-it-takes-1403436.html

Building a Camera System

Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 2:33 pm  
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Building a Camera System

R. Dodge Woodson

World Photographers Organization

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to benefit from a component system. But, if you want to become a pro, you have to go this route. What is a component system? It is a group of photography equipment that makes up a viable tool for handling a variety of photographic situations. At the least, it is a camera body and some interchangeable lenses. It can include independent light meters, filters, flash units, and much more. When you get into component systems, you are stepping up in price, but you can build these systems over time without breaking your bank account. If you are truly serious about wanting fantastic photos, this is the only way to go.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When you shop for a camera system, you should approach your selection process in much the same was as you would buy clothes. The gear you get has to fit and feel right. Camera designs vary. Some are more comfortable than others. Finding just the right fit is an individual thing. What works great for one photographer may not work well at all for another. You have to handle different brands and types of equipment to find what is right for you.

Most serious photographers start with 35mm systems. A few jump right into large format cameras, but they are the exception, rather than the rule. When I say this, I’m talking about serious amateur photographers. A good number of professionals start off with large-format equipment because it provides them with definite advantages in some types of work.

Medium-Format

Medium-format cameras are used to take professional pictures at weddings and in studio settings. The big advantage is the size of the negative. It is considerably larger than its 35mm cousin. This makes retouching and cropping easier. If you plan to get into darkroom work and super high-quality portraits, a medium-format system is the way to go. Most photographers, however, are better served by the versatile 35mm system.

Pick A Brand You Can Stick With.

When you choose a particular brand of camera to build a component system around, you must be judicious. Once you start with a brand, you should stick with it. There are many brands of cameras available that will give you professional-quality photos. Some brands offer more lenses and accessories than others do. This is important to a person who is building an extensive system.

When I think of professional 35mm equipment, two brand names come to mind. Other manufacturers of 35mm equipment get some professional attention, but there are clearly two, or maybe three, leaders. In medium format equipment, one name is king, while others are also respected. You don’t have to buy into the best-known brands to get good service and quality, but it doesn’t hurt. The important thing is to pick a brand that you can grow with. Check the No-Bull Reviews at World Photographers Organization for any recent equipment reviews.

How will you know what brand of camera to work with? Many factors may play a role in your decision. The amount of money you are willing to spend for various types of equipment is one consideration. Top-notch names command big prices. You can go with a lesser-known name and get good quality for a lower price. But, make sure that your budget-minded camera has enough lenses and accessories available to keep life interesting as your skills and interests grow.

My first 35mm camera was a Minolta®. It was a good camera that gave me thousands of wonderful pictures. This brand is respected among professionals and it offers a wide variety of options for building a component system. When I grew into a new level of photography, I switched to Canon® equipment, which I still use today. I love it! Canon is a major contender in the professional market. Over the years, I’ve spent well over $10,000 to develop my system. Nikon® is known for its reputation among professionals. The name is almost synonymous with professional. Any of these brands will provide you with more options than most people can afford to buy. And, there are other good brands, like Olympus®, to choose high-quality products from.

Before you buy a camera body, research your options. Look at a listing of what accessories are available within the brand. Check prices on the various brands. If you can see that there is a depth of support accessories and that you are comfortable with the price ranges, you’re well on your way to picking a brand. Handle various cameras and operate them in the camera store. Have someone at the store run through all of the controls with you. Once you buy your first camera body, you are setting the tone for your entire system. Don’t do this until you are sure that you like the brand.

Lens Quality

Generic lenses can be used on most camera bodies, but this is somewhat self-defeating. Why pay a small fortune for a professional camera body and then attach a dime-store lens to it? This doesn’t make sense. Your lenses have a tremendous impact on the quality of your photographs. Try to keep all of your purchases within the same brand. This will normally produce the best results.

A lot of people don’t know what type of camera they want even after buying a new camera. If you haven’t been shopping yet, I can tell you that cameras aren’t cheap. Maybe you know some people who have cameras. These individuals would probably be glad to share their experiences with you. Ask if you can go with them on their next photo excursion. Some photographers are very protective of their stuff, so don’t stand too close when you ask. Using the equipment of other people under real photography conditions is an excellent way to pinpoint your needs and desires.

Used Equipment

Cameras are like cars in that they are very expensive when new and lose a lot of value once they are used. Some types and brands of cameras hold their value very well, but most don’t. If you are willing to buy used equipment, you can save a ton of money. Well, maybe not a ton, but a lot. It’s likely that you will pay half-price, or less, when buying used equipment. There are some risks involved with the purchase of broken-in gear. Notice I said broken-in, not broken-down. Let’s talk about some of them.

There are three basic ways to acquire used photography equipment. You can consult one of the many mailorder advertisements, go to your local camera store, or watch classified ads where individuals are selling their old equipment. If you are dealing with a reputable company, you should gain some protection from cameras that are duds. Buying person-to-person doesn’t afford this protection.

If you know enough about the type of gear that you are buying, you can test it before purchasing it. Since you may not yet have this type of knowledge, a reputable dealer who sells used equipment is probably your best bet. Dealers charge more than most individual sellers do, but you should be getting some peace of mind for the higher price you pay.

Regardless of who you are buying from, get a full demonstration of the equipment before you hand over your cash. Ask for all manuals and documentation that should accompany the camera and accessories. If no documentation is available, you might want to pass on the sale and continue your search. It may be possible to order new manuals from the original manufacturer, but don’t count on this being the case. Used equipment provides an economical and sensible way to enter the field of photography, but make sure that what you are buying is in good working order.

Choice of Champions

The most versatile type of camera that you can buy is a 35mm format. You can do almost anything with this type of rig. Large- and medium-format cameras have certain advantages over 35mm units, but the handy 35mm is, by far, the more popular. This popularity is well founded.

What makes the 35mm system so desirable? It is light in weight and easy to use. The cost of 35mm equipment is much less than that of larger formats. You can equip a 35mm camera body with a wide-range zoom lens and meet most of your photo needs without ever changing lenses. Many zoom lenses incorporate a close-up feature in the lens so that you can shoot anything from insects to airplanes with the same lens.

If you want to get serious about photography and build a component system, the 35mm format will most likely be the best choice. As long as you buy into a major brand name, you will find a seemly endless supply of accessories to add to your collection. Gee, I wonder if manufacturers planned this?

Start with a camera body that accepts interchangeable lenses. Add a zoom lens, and get a protective filter to cover each lens you buy. It’s much better to have an inexpensive, replaceable filter take the knocks and scratches that are common with some types of photography than it is to damage an expensive lens. If your camera doesn’t have a built-in flash, buy a small electronic flash to compliment your system. This is all you need, in terms of hardware, to get started in taking serious photographs. You can add more to the system as you define your needs through experience.

Remember, the camera body is the foundation of your system. The body you buy will play an important role in the development of your overall system. Once you know what you want to do and which brand you prefer, buy the best body you can. Cutting corners on a camera body will hamper your growth as a photographer.

Buy well, shoot often, and enjoy the wonderful world of photography.

Life is best when seen through a Canon L® lens.

R. Dodge Woodson

R. Dodge Woodson is a full-time internationally-known, best-selling author and photographer. He created the World Photographers Organization (WPO) as a serious resource for all photographers from point-and-shooters to pros. Photographers of all skill levels come to WPO to learn, to increase sales, and to take advantage of the extensive resources offered by WPO. Having been a pro photographer for more than 30 years and a full-time writer for 17 years, Dodge now feels it is time to share his tricks of the trade with up-and-coming freelancers. Woodson’s most recent photo book is: Maine Unseen: A Photographic Adventure That Few Witness(Available at Amazon). Life is best when seen through a Canon L lens.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/digital-photography-articles/building-a-camera-system-1405589.html

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