Archive for December, 2009

2009, the Year When Everything Changed

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 at 4:59 am  
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At the recent UGCX conference in New York Jack Hollingsworth commented that when we look back at 2009 we will see that it was the year everything changed. That may well be the case. I am hearing that the relentless growth of earnings for top micro stock shooters is abating.

 I have heard from several top photographers, and at least one industry pundit, that they are considering leaving the field of photography altogether. I have spoken with a number of my fellow stock shooters who report that their revenues are down fifty to seventy-five percent over what they were a year ago!

DSLRs, Video And The Stock Business

Yet there are also many who are excited at the prospect of what lies ahead. Video is generating a lot of excitement with the advent of DSLRs that can shoot superb quality video and the beginnings of a proliferation of accessories and developments that can make those cameras at least the rough equal of what has been previously the domain of pro level video cameras. And while there are numerous reports of trouble with the micro stock model, I personally know at least two photographers who have expanded their traditional stock picture business into micro and are doing well.

Getty, Flickr, And New Opportunities

Getty has apparently abandoned their efforts at producing wholly owned content and seems to be fixated on mining flickr for their new imagery. At Veer we are seeing the search for traditional stock and micro merging. There is, indeed, a lot going on in the stock photo industry! But this isn’t just indicative of stock photography…it is true of pretty much everything.

Change continues at a blistering pace destroying old models and offering new opportunities. Some of us are going to suffer and some of us prosper. I am both hopeful and determined to be of the latter type. That requires doing my best to keep track of all these changes, figuring out what they mean, and then adjusting my own efforts accordingly.

 More Photographs At More Price Points

One thing that cannot be argued is the over supply of images. That over supply is being fed at a tremendous pace…and I don’t believe that will end. An over supply of imagery is part of the new landscape.

I believe that there will continue to be a demand for the highest-end photography and some degree of exclusivity, but that the need for such imagery will diminish somewhat as more advertising turns to internet, to motion, and to segmented marketing (targeting fewer but more specific prospects). I believe that micro prices will include more and more of what some call “mid-stock” such as with iStock’s “Vetta” collection.

The lowest of micro prices simply will not support a full range of the kind and quality of images needed. That being said, I fore see more and more free images designed to pull in more market share by various agencies. Ultimately there will be more photographs at more price points.

A More Targeted Selection And A Better Search Experience

The challenge for image buyers and sellers alike will be in efficient searching. Can buyers find the right images for their needs without spending too much time sorting through the chaff? Can sellers provide an optimum experience for the buyers by providing relevant images quickly and efficiently?

Twenty years ago Tony Stone revolutionized the stock photo business by offering a smaller number of higher quality images and making a hundred dupes of each image so that he could get the images in front of buyers more efficiently. We may well be coming right back to that premise. Collections that offer a more targeted selection and a better search experience will be able to charge a premium for that service.

The Road Ahead

I do believe that the road ahead for photography does offer some of us increased opportunities, but that overall, making a living from stock photography will never be as easy as it once was. The first step to future success in this new paradigm is letting go of the concept of whether these changes are right or wrong.

The next step is to see the market objectively, determine where your own strengths coincide with the changes in the market, and to move in the direction of those strengths.

More Quality And Less Quantity

For me, the path is one towards less quantity and more quality and towards getting my images in front of as many potential buyers as possible. To increase my quality I am doing more careful research, increasing my communication with the editors I do have, and being more discriminating in which images I undertake.

To get my pictures in front of more buyers I am expanding the number of stock agencies I work with, developing my web site and SEO, and beginning to utilize social media. Whatever the outcome of my efforts, at least one thing is for certain…this is an exciting time to be in the photography business!

Stock Photos and Pics: Funny Animal Photo of a Poodle

Funny Stock Photos & Images: Stock Photo of Bouncer

Concepts, Ethnic, People, and other stock photos: Stock Photo of a man pushing a huge boulder up a hill

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16 Digital Photography Tips for Christmas

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 at 9:14 am  
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Christmas-Photography

It’s just a few days until Christmas so I thought a quick tutorial on the topic of Christmas Photography might be appropriate. Hopefully this will give you some good Christmas photo ideas.

Here are 16 Christmas Photography tips and ideas to try that come to mind for digital camera owners wanting to capture the big day:

1. Prepare – Making a List, checking it twice….

Making sure you’re ready to capture any planned event is part of the key to a successful shoot. Getting yourself ready but also the location of your shots is worthwhile.

  • Pack the camera – goes without saying? I forgot mine last year in the rush to get the car packed.
  • Make sure your batteries are charged and you have extras and/or the recharger packed.
  • Pack extra memory cards – have them empty and ready to fill up
  • Put someone on ‘photos’ – our family has someone on drinks, main course, dessert – why not put someone on ‘photos’ so that in the craziness of the day they don’t get forgotten.
  • Consider the light in the room that you’ll be photographing in. Is there enough light? Will you need a flash? Are the backgrounds too cluttered and distracting?

2. A White Balance Christmas

Here in Australia we often celebrate Christmas outdoors, but many people around the world do it inside in unnatural lighting. Pay attention to what type of light you’re shooting in and set your white balance settings accordingly. Alternatively, if you’ve got a camera that shoots in RAW you can shoot away and set your white balance later.

3. Set up a DIY ‘Photo Booth’

photobooth.jpgThe shots were great – people went back to it throughout the party and the photos got crazier and crazier as time went on. It was the hit of the party.

4. Capture the preparation stages

Christmas-OrnamentsPhoto by paper by design

The actual Christmas meal or party is obviously the best part of the day, but there are other photographic opportunities, particularly in the preparations stages of the day.

  • Food preparation
  • Putting up decorations
  • Wrapping gifts
  • Kids throwing a tantrum while getting dressed in their Christmas outfits
  • Setting the table

The shots before the event starts properly are often great because they show everything at it’s best before everyone descends on your party zone.


5. Before and After Shots

Speaking of shots before the party starts, why not set up some before and after shots both of the place you’re holding your party and what it looks like afterwards. Make sure you take the shots from the same position.

6. Time-lapse Christmas series

I have one friend who set up his computer with a web cam in the corner of the room with the camera looking down on the Christmas table. He set the camera to go off every 5 minutes over the day and ended up with one of the most wonderful series of shots that I’ve seen for a long time.

Christmas-LightsPhoto by rachel r

7. Christmas Lights

Photographing Christmas lights is something that can be tricky to do. David Hobby from Strobist has put together a great tutorial on how to do it. Check it out at How to Photograph Christmas Lights.

8. Find a Point of Interest – but just per shot

All good shots should have a focal point that holds the attention of those viewing your images. The problem with Christmas is that there can often be too many competing focal points in shots with people, color, decorations, food in every shot. Work hard and de-cluttering your images. Check out this post on minimalism which contains some tips on de-cluttering images.

9. Fresh Group Photos

One of the most common types of shots at Christmas is the ‘group photo’. It’s usually taken at the end of the evening or day when everyone is looking at their worst. For a ‘fresher’ shot take it once everyone has arrived. Also think before hand about how you might pose everyone and where you might take the shot. I’ve posted 12 tips for taking a great group photo previously.

10. Opening Gifts – Shoot in Continuous Mode

There are certain moments during a Christmas gathering that are filled with all manner of photographic opportunities and the opening of gifts is like no other in that it is filled with an array of emotions, facial expressions and excitement – especially if you’ve got kids around. Switch your camera to burst mode (sometimes called continuous shooting mode) and take lots of shots at this time of the festivities. You’ll find you end up with some excellent series of shots when you do this that capture everything from the anticipation of getting the wrapped gift, through to the excitement of unwrapping to the joy (or occasionally disappointment) of seeing what’s inside. Don’t forget to shoot the reactions of those who GIVE the gift as well.

Chrismas-PhotographyPhoto by grace*c*

11. Fill your Frame

One of the most common mistakes I see in Christmas photos (or any party/even photography) is that people often end up with shots of their subjects off in the distance on the other side of a room with lots of space around them. Fill your frame with your subject either by using your zoom or getting up and moving yourself closer. While this is one of the simplest tips I ever give it is one that can have the most profound impact on your shots.

12. Diffuse/Reflect Your Flash

- Another common problem with Christmas shots is ending up with shots where the flash is so bright that subjects look like rabbits in a spotlight with harsh shadows behind them. One way around this is to use some sort of a flash diffuser or reflector. If you’re lucky enough to have an external flash try bouncing it off walls or the ceiling. Another way to reduce the impact of your flash and to create some interesting effects is to switch your camera into ‘night mode’ (slow sync mode). This will tell your camera to choose a slower shutter speed but still fire your flash. In doing so it’ll capture some of the ambient light of the room as well as freeze your subject. Be warned, you can end up with some wacky shots doing this (but they can also be lots of fun).

13. Go Macro

Most digital cameras come with a macro mode and an increasing number of DPS readers are buying macro lenses so flick to that mode, attach your lens and photograph the smaller things around your party. Ornaments on the tree, table decorations, sweets in the bowl on the table, a nativity scene on the mantle piece, holly above the doorway – sometimes it’s these small things around your party that are the real ‘money shots’. Don’t forget our Macro Hacks for compact cameras.

ChristmasPhoto by Splat Worldwide

14. Watch Your Aperture

I quite often shoot in Aperture Priority mode on a day like Christmas and am constantly changing the aperture depending upon my subject. For example when taking shots of a Christmas decoration on the tree I’ll select a large aperture (a small number like f/2.8) so as to throw the background out of focus, but on a shot taken from the end of the table of everyone sitting down eating I’ll choose a small aperture (like f/8 to f/11 or more) so as to have a larger depth of field and keep everyone in focus.

15. Explore Your Neighborhood

If your neighborhood is anything like mine there is an almost unlimited number of photographic opportunities presenting themselves all around you. Christmas carols services, houses covered in Christmas decorations, shopping malls filled with busyness etc. Get out there with your camera and capture it. What a wonderful time of year to practice using your camera. Have fun!

16. Related Reading:

Here’s another tutorial and discussion thread you might like to read in preparation for your Christmas Photography this year.

  • Share Your photos - Looking for some inspiration or wanting to share you Christmas shots? Head to the Christmas Assignment in our Forums to see what shots others are taking this Christmas and to share some of your own images.
  • Candid Photography – this tutorial on candid photography might be helpful as much of what you’ll be doing at a Christmas even will be in this style.

Christmas Wishes from DPS

Lastly – let me wish all Digital Photography School readers a very happy holiday period. It’s been a great two and a bit since we launched this blog and while I’m looking forward to a few days off over Christmas I also can’t wait to get back to DPS and to take it to the next level in 2009. Have a great holiday period and we’ll see you in the new year!


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Digital Camera Terms and What They Mean

Monday, December 21st, 2009 at 7:50 pm  
Comments (16)

If you are thinking of or have already bought a new digital camera there are a number of terms that you may not be familiar with relating to your new purchase. With that in mind this article has listed out below many of the terms associated with digital cameras.

1. Automatic Mode – This setting automatically adjusts the focus, exposure, and white-balance for you.

2. Burst or Continuous Capture Mode – Using this setting allows you to take pictures in quick succession with one push of the shutter button.

3. Compression – This is the process of compacting your digital data by deleting unwanted images or bad images.

4. Digital Zoom – Digital cameras zoom by digitally cropping and magnifying the center part of the image.

5. JPEG – The type of image file most digital cameras use for picture taking and storage.

6. Lag Time – This is the amount of time between when the shutter button is pushed and when the camera shutter opens and closes to capture the image.

7. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) – This is the small viewing screen on the camera that lets you frame your picture. While LCD’s are notorious battery hogs they do make the process of picture taking easier for the novice photographer.

8. Lens – The circular piece of clear glass that collects incoming light as it focuses on the subject matter.

9. Megabyte – This computer term refers to the size of a file or amount of storage space on a memory card or hard drive. 1 Megabyte equals 1024 Kilobytes.

10. Pixels – These are the tiny color units that comprise a digital image. They are also used to measure sharpness of a digital picture in a term known as mega-pixels. The higher the mega-pixel rating the camera has the sharper the images it will take.

11. RGB – This refers to the way computers create colors using differing amounts of three colors; red, green, blue.

12. Resolution – This ties back into the mega-pixels a specific camera is rated for. This again determines the sharpness of detail a camera is able to capture in its images.

13. Storage Card – Digital cameras have their own internal memory for image storage but this fills up quickly. Removable storage cards solve this problem and allow the picture taker the ability to fill up as many cards as they have available before downloading.

14. Viewfinder – The “old fashioned” optical window that you look through to frame your picture. Most people use the LCD for this.

15. White Balance – This is the cameras ability to automatically adjust to compensate for lighting changes so that the image looks normal when viewed with the naked eye.

Don’t let the technical terms associated with digital cameras throw you. These types of cameras are easy to use and offer a point and shoot convenience that conventional film driven cameras can’t beat.

There is no better choice then a Nikon Coolpix Digital Cameras when it comes to taking great point-and-shoot digital pictures. To learn more about Nikon Coolpix Digital Cameras please Click Here.

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The Blue Angels and Stock Photography

Saturday, December 19th, 2009 at 11:44 pm  
Comments (7)

From my Sausalito studio I can catch glimpses of the Blue Angels as they make their practice runs for Fleet Week.  Whenever they fly overhead I have this vague sense of guilt that I am not out there photographing them. Last year at this time I decided that I would figure out something I could do with them for stock images.

I even went as far as to pull out my longest lens (Canon 100-400 zoom) and shoot a few frames. I downloaded the images and pulled them up on my screen, then sat there puzzling?  Speed was the obvious concept with this image, but how could I take this further? What could I do to create an image that went beyond the obvious and the doubtless hundreds, maybe thousands, of flickr images of the blue angels?

Focus, Fire and Duck!

I began to go through a folder I keep of interesting photos that I think have potential, but pictures that I haven’t figured out what to do with yet.  I came across an image of a duck in flight.  I had been on that little tourist train at the San Diego Zoo, with that same zoom lens at the ready, when two ducks came flying alongside. 

I frantically tried to focus and fire and managed to squeeze off three shots before they were gone. To my utter amazement two of the tree images were actually sharp! That never seems to happen for me in those kinds of moments.

A Duck, a Jet Fighter, And Photoshop

At any rate, here is this duck image, which just jumps out at me.  I can put the duck in the formation of jets. If nothing else it will be a pretty funny picture.  This poor duck working like hell to keep up! But the shots I had of the jets were just too far away and they just weren’t working. 

Then I remembered that in my studio I had, packed away, a realistic model of a jet fighter.  It was left over from some project that I know longer remember. Luckily the box was labeled and in sight. 

I pulled the model out and had a friend hold it up while I photographed it.  I used a clipping path in Photoshop to silhouette the plane and strip it into a sky background.  I did the same with the duck.

I duplicated the plane image several times, positioned the elements into a formation that seemed to work, and then applied some motion blur to disguise some less-than realistic detail.

Believable Isn’t One of My Criteria

This whole process took about two hours to go through. Isn’t digital great? I uploaded the image to the Getty portal. Three weeks later they informed me that the image wasn’t believable and rejected it. 

Wasn’t believable? Duh! “Believable” however, isn’t one of my criteria.  One test I have for my stock photos is, can I put a headline to it.  In this case it might be “Having A Hard Time Keeping Up?” or “Feeling The Need For Speed?”  OK, marginal.  But another test I have is do people smile when they see it? And the answer with this image has been yes.

Funny Animal Pictures and Photographer’s Choice

I could have followed-up my Getty effort with their Photographer’s Choice program, in which case as long as the technical criteria are met they will take the image (and I pay a small fee). 

However, in this case, because the image is pretty much a “funny animal” picture, and I was feeling a little miffed at Getty, I submitted the image to Kimball Stock, an agency specializing in, of all things, animals and cars. Maybe I should have had the duck driving a race car! Oh well….

Stock photos, images, pictures: elephant sits at a bar in this funny animal stock photo

Stock Photos and Funny Pics: photo of an elephant dancing in a disco

Funny Pictures and Stock Photography: Photo of an Eephant Foating Through the Sky

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Canon Rebel XSi

Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 10:57 am  
Comments (19)

The Canon Digital Rebel Xsi is perhaps one of the best cameras on the market today. This camera has the high resolutions to get that perfect shot and makes a wonderful gift for this holiday season.

This camera has 12.2 megapixels for the sharpest photos. It has a built in RGB color filter for better color. With a three inch color monitor, you can clearly see your photos. This camera has many options for types of pictures to take, high speed continuous shooting for all those action shots. The brightness and darkness controls enable you to set the options manually or automatically.

The camera also has a self cleaning sensor to keep your lenses clean and free of dust. The camera will let you use over 60 Canon lenses, which can be interchanged to give you added filters and zoom capabilities. With a nine point auto focus, you can say goodbye to blurry pictures.

The camera is relatively lightweight and is easily held in your hands. A charges, strap and USB cords are included when you purchase the camera. Photo transfer is very quick! This is a wonderful camera for every picture enthusiast. There are promotions available through the Holidays and you can find the camera for around $450.00. Check on the internet for the best available pricing. Get your Canon Digital Rebel Xsi and begin taking those fantastic pictures.

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The Canon Digital Rebel Xsi is perhaps one of the best cameras on the market today. This camera has the high resolutions to get that perfect shot and makes a wonderful gift for this holiday season.

This camera has 12.2 megapixels for the sharpest photos. It has a built in RGB color filter for better color. With a three inch color monitor, you can clearly see your photos. This camera has many options for types of pictures to take, high speed continuous shooting for all those action shots. The brightness and darkness controls enable you to set the options manually or automatically.

The camera also has a self cleaning sensor to keep your lenses clean and free of dust. The camera will let you use over 60 Canon lenses, which can be interchanged to give you added filters and zoom capabilities. With a nine point auto focus, you can say goodbye to blurry pictures.

The camera is relatively lightweight and is easily held in your hands. A charges, strap and USB cords are included when you purchase the camera. Photo transfer is very quick! This is a wonderful camera for every picture enthusiast. There are promotions available through the Holidays and you can find the camera for around $450.00. Check on the internet for the best available pricing. Get your Canon Digital Rebel Xsi and begin taking those fantastic pictures.

Published Articles for Camera Reviews, Camera Articles, Pricing informatio and Camera Store.. For more info just visit http://camerareviewgeek.com

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Nikon D300018 200mm Lens

Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 11:42 am  
Comments (27)

Nikon D3000 18 200mm lens VR can be a great asset for your D3000 camera. This has many advantages and can capture images with good quality and clarity. This lens is VR which means Vibration reduction which is really an important factor that you should look for lenses. This VR lens will not need tripods because VR function actually obsoletes the tripods. VR is great for subjects that are moving like ballet dancing captures, sports, and other activities that involves movement. This is because they have the ability to detect motion and counteracts the motion to real time. Having a VR Nikon lens like this the image will stay stable even on long exposures.

Another advantage of this Nikon D3000 lens is that you do not need any macro lens anymore, which can save you a lot of money, because with this lens you can focus as close as you want to every object to be your subject with no worries or hassles with macro lens and macro settings, this is due to its advanced feature that can focus up to 8 inches.

When it comes to portrait this is also a great lens because it has the ability to zoom from head shot to group shots. The picture details are crispier than any other manufactured lens from other brands. There is also no need for you to grab another lens to capture different kinds of objects. This is also good for landscapes and whole body pictures, like if you are taking the best sunset, you don’t have to shift to another lens that will able you to get the great scene, and your subject will not wait for you to change lens.

For a practical lens for your DLSR camera, then Nikon D3000 18 200mm lens is the most fun, practical and sharp lens that you can deliver you great pictures or photos.

Click here to get Latest Deals on Nikon D3000 Lenses and Nikon D5000 Lenses

Visit our site to Read Latest Nikon DSLR Reviews, Information, and Price Information.

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Buying a Digital Camera? Tips on Making the Best Choice

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 3:19 pm  
Comments (17)

Digital cameras are one of the top selling items in the electronics market today. They offer an ease of use and convenience that more conventional film driven cameras don’t have. Probably the most appealing part of using a digital camera is the instant gratification it gives with instantaneous feedback in the images they take.

The ability to download and save you digital images directly to your computer and then picking which pictures to print, email, or post to your Facebook page makes this type of camera a great choice for even the most novice of picture takers. And the ability to delete bad shots and save the good shots makes the learning curve much cheaper and easier.

The problem for the first time camera buyer is deciding which camera is the right choice for them? Just go to the local electronics store and you’ll see them lined up on the display; all different makes and models each with features that are hard to choose from. If you know someone who is knowledgeable about digital cameras take them with you to help make sense of all the choices. If not consider the following tips to get the most out of your camera shopping experience.

The first thing to look at is how many mega-pixels the camera is rated for. The higher the number the better the resolution (a sharper image) will be. This is important if you want to enlarge your pictures for printing or posting on the internet. The trade for more meg-pixels is price and those cameras with the highest meg-pixel per image will cost more then lesser cameras.

Another thing to look at is if the camera has an LCD screen and how big it is. A camera with a 2.5 inch or larger viewing screen makes it easier to set up and frame your picture. Be sure to check the cameras digital zoom strength as well. A 10x zoom capability is a good choice for getting those far away shots. Of course for really long shots a more powerful zoom is necessary but for beginning photographers 10x should suffice.

Red-eye is a problem for all photographers and choosing a camera with anti-red eye technology. This is a nice feature and most cameras have them but you do want to find one that allows you to turn it off and use a normal flash for certain picture taking situations.

Capturing life’s moments is what taking pictures is all about and a digital camera is a great way to do this. Just be sure to keep these tips in mind and before you know it you’ll be taking pictures that will bring a lifetime of memories.

There is no better choice then a Nikon Coolpix Digital Cameras when it comes to taking great point-and-shoot digital pictures. To learn more about Nikon Coolpix Digital Cameras please Click Here.

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Getting Your Stock Photos Seen

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 3:07 am  
Comments (15)

I met a designer at a party this weekend. He says he buys a lot of stock photography…and always at iStockphoto. This brings up for me a continuing concern. By not being in the Microstock world, there are a ton of buyers who are not seeing my images.

 

I have also spoken to a lot of designers and art directors who use RF but not RM because of their perception that RM is too expensive. I create most of my work for RM and am concerned that so many potential licensors won’t even see my work if they are limiting their searches to Micro and RF. The good news; the designer I met at the party said he also uses Google to look for images.

It is a relief then when I hear that designers and art directors do use Google to search for stock photos. That gives me the ability to get my images in front of them and at least have the possibility that they may license those images.

 

 I have been working hard to bring my site up in the search engines. I started that process about six months ago. I am happy to be able to say that I have gone from about one visitor a week to about 300 per day. But that is a mere drop in the bucket, as my web master is fond of pointing out to me. We really want over 10,000 a day!

I have not moved up significantly in the search results yet. I am getting more people finding me through long tailed keywords, and I have experienced some sales through that. I am selling one or two products through CaféPress each week, I have made a spattering of print sales through Imagekind, and have licensed a few images through my site.

 

I am also sending about 20 people a day on to Blend Images, Corbis, Getty and Kimball stock. What percentage of those people, if any, go on to actually license an image I have no idea. But surely some of them must license an image! If so, I am ahead of the game.

As I mentioned, I fully expect to have thousands of visitors to my site each day. It might be months from now, or years. I don’t know. But I do know it is important to get my images in front of people, and that I am making progress with my site.

 

I think it is important for any stock shooter to get their site up, optimized and functioning well. As the stock photo world gets more and more cluttered with photos, getting seen will become ever more important.

 

As photographers, insuring that our web sites are art director friendly, and search engine optimized, is something concrete that we have control over and that we can do to increase our revenue.

 

I believe as time goes on this will be just as important for Micro shooters as for those of us in the traditional stock photo model. As hard as it is to fathom, getting our web site functioning well for us may well be more important than creating new images.

Funny Pictures and Stock Photos: Dairy Cow Imprinted On Mugs

Stock Photos – Pictures – Images: Unique Photo Gifts – Hilarious Funny Animal Photos

Unique and Interesting Stock Photos: Hispanic woman laying on grass in rain

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What you can Learn about Digital Video Camera Accessories

Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 5:04 pm  
Comments (10)

Digital video cameras continue to grow in popularity as the number of features increases and the cost decreases. There are a number of digital video camera accessories that can make these devices even more handy and useful. From small “flip” cameras to high-end professional digital video cameras, these technological wonders are becoming nearly indispensable to modern life. Digital video camera accessories can add significantly to your enjoyment of your camera.

One very popular digital camera accessory is a tripod. Whether they’re made to stand on the ground, or on a table top, tripods ensure that any video captured will be steady rather than jerky, and it makes it handier to shoot longer videos, since the videographer doesn’t have to hold the camera in place for long times. Tripods range in price from $10 to over $100, so you can find one in just about any price range. Check out Gorillapod tripods, too. They have bendable arms that can secure your camera to most anything.

One of the most useful digital camera accessories is an extra battery. Having a battery run down at a critical point in a video shoot can be a hassle, unless there are back-up batteries available. You’ll have to buy one to fit the exact model of video camera, because they all require different batteries. By giving batteries to the video photographer in your life, you’re really giving the gift of time savings. It’s a great accessory to treat yourself to as well.

Extra memory cards are also extremely useful digital camera accessories. Some cameras can take more than one kind, but you should check the model number to be sure. If you, or the person you’re buying for don’t have a built in computer card reader, you can buy card readers that attach to the USB port. These are incredibly handy for transferring video to other people’s computers, where there might or might not be a card reader built in.

For around $20 you can get a power adapter for the hugely popular Flip video cameras. These will charge up a flip camera in 2 to 3.5 hours, plus they’re compact and fold up even more compactly so they’ll have no trouble fitting in a pocket, purse, or camera case.

Another terrific little item is the Nikon 7072 Lens Pen Cleaning System. It’s a pen shaped device that can be used to clean lenses on cameras, telescopes, or binoculars. It contains a soft, retractable brush, plus a non-liquid cleaning compound on a tip made of chamois. It’s perfect for getting fingerprints, dust, and debris off a lens and costs about $10.

Attachable LCD shades are great digital video camera accessories. They come in sizes to fit 2.5 and 3 inch LCD screens and can be had for under $20. They make shooting video outdoors in bright conditions much easier on the eyes by shading the LCD screen so that it shows up better.

Digital video camera accessories are more than fun little add-ons. They can genuinely make it more convenient to use a digital camcorder, and are welcomed by all digital video enthusiasts. Digital video camera accessories range in cost from under $10 to over $100, so you’re certain to find something in your preferred price range. They make great gifts, even if the recipient is you!

Learn more about Camera Accessories and Digital Video Camera Accessories from Brian Garvin & Jeff West.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/digital-photography-articles/what-you-can-learn-about-digital-video-camera-accessories-1578728.html

Green Screen Wizard – Neat and Easy Photo Editing

Sunday, December 13th, 2009 at 9:43 pm  
Comments (14)

You can add a new dynamic to your photo hobby or business with a technique that will give you the edge on competition and save you time in the process. You are most likely familiar with green screen or chroma key techniques. They have been used extensively in Television, and in particular on weather broadcasts. The weather forecaster stands in front of a solid colored surface while delivering the weather news. It looks as if there is a weather map right behind her, but in reality, the weather map is on a computer somewhere else.

This technique has been copied by photo editors for years. The editor will use photo editing tools to extract the model from the background and place her into a scene in a different photo. If done correctly, it appears that the model was on location for the photo shoot. It is a really cool effect, and volumes have been written about how to accomplish it.

Well, now you have the process available to you with just a few clicks of your mouse. You will need to take a photo of your subject against a solid green or blue background. You are not limited to people, either. Think about the product shots you could create. The sky is the limit.

This process could also be a whole new creative niche in your photography business or hobby. You can photograph kids, adults, pets, you name it. The original photos are again taken against the solid background, then they are processed with the Green Screen Wizard software, which comes in a stand-alone version as well as a Photoshop plugin. Another creative way to use your new software is to put the subjects into a magazine cover.

Of course, all of these things have been done in the past, but the dedicated software makes it so much easier. And here is another added bonus – there is almost zero learning curve. Anyone who has done any photo editing at all can do this. It really is a simple click after the photos are arranged in layers.

You can try Green Screen Wizard for free. Check it out, it is definitely worth a look. Click Here to see the graphics.

I love photography and all things related to it. Cameras, camera gear, and image editing software fascinate me, so I am either buying the newest piece of equipment (or software) or researching my next purchase. Be sure to visit the Cameras-N-Stuff Blog.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/digital-photography-articles/green-screen-wizard-neat-and-easy-photo-editing-1575541.html

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