Monday, December 29, 2008

Top 10 Advanced Digital Cameras

If you�re an intermediate level digital photographer, you might be looking for a good advanced digital camera. I know it�s very tough to decide on which one to buy � given that these models usually cost a bomb. A good advanced digital camera should be pretty rugged and also give you as much control over the photography process as possible. I�ve compiled a list of the top 10 advanced digital cameras that are selling like hotcakes in the market right now. Canon EOS 20D The Canon EOS-20D is one of the best digital cameras for the advanced user. With an 8.2 megapixel resolution and a bewildering range of manual modes, this digital SLR will deliver professional looking photos.
Click! The No Nonsense Guide to Digital Cameras

Canon PowerShot G6 The Canon PowerShot G6 has a 7.1 megapixel resolution, a 4x optical zoom, as well as a wide range of scene modes and manual controls. Even though it lacks a digital SLR body, the images shot with this camera are nothing short of outstanding. It�s also one of the cheapest advanced digital cameras out there.

Olympus C-7000 The Olympus C-7000 zoom offers a 7.1 megapixel resolution and 5x optical zoom. It also boasts 5 scene modes and full manual options. A very attractive buy, although the optional lenses are not allowed.

Nikon D70 The Nikon D70 is one of the best-selling entry level digital SLRs. It has a solid design, a bewildering range of options, powerful speed, as well as great photo quality. With its cheap price, this 6.1 megapixel SLR is one of the best value cameras for serious photographers looking to upgrade their camera.

Canon Digital Rebel The 6.3 megapixel Canon Digital Rebel is a direct competitor to the Nikon D70. It targets photographers at the lower end of the advanced digital SLR market. Its low price, excellent image quality and speed give the Nikon D70 a run for its money.

Sony Cybershot Pro DSC-V3 The Sony Cybershot Pro DSC-V3 is a decent advanced camera which is light and easy to use. With its 7.2 megapixel resolution and 4x optical zoom, it�s a great buy. Do note the colors can be a bit poor in some shots.

Canon EOS-1D Mark II The Canon EOS-1D Mark II is a new digital SLR aimed at professional photographers who want excellent customization options, great photo quality and impressive speed. This 8 megapixel camera is high on my list of recommendations.

Olympus C-8080 With its 8 megapixels and a 5x optical zoom, the Olympus C-8080 represents great value for those hunting for a digital SLR. While it doesn�t sell as well as the Canon and Nikon SLRs, I think Olympus comes up with pretty decent advanced cameras too.

Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 The Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 is a hot favorite amongst professionals. From a feature and function point of view, it�s one of the best digital SLRs I�ve seen. However, the build quality lacks that nice and heavy SLR feel.

Sony DSC-F828 Featuring a whopping 8 megapixel image resolution, the Sony DSC-F828 comes replete with a powerful 7X zoom lens and great camera optics. Very nice camera indeed.

Conclusion There are lot of cameras suitable for the advanced digital photographer, but the list above covers some of my favorites. I particularly like the Nikon D70 and Minolta DiIMAGE A2. One shopping tip to remember is that the camera above tend to be more expensive than the average point-and-shoot model. So do consider carefully whether you need to features before buying the camera. If you're just starting out in digital photography, you may want to try a simpler and cheaper model first.

About the author: Gary Hendricks runs a hobby site at www.basic-digital-photography.com. Read his tips on digital photography and learn to shoot better photos with your digicam.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

How to Make Best Use of a Photo Editing Software

Author: Anderson White

Memories can be captured forever with photographs. More often than not it is an attempt by someone to capture some special moments in your life with the help of the camera. Immense improvements in technology have brought up many new advances in the world of photography. Many experts believe that the Midas touch with the photo editing software can greatly enhance the quality and make the digital photographs look much more professional.

Regular uses for Photo Editing Software

It may be a hefty amount or even a paltry sum; you must have invested money for your Photo Editing Software. The routine works for which you could use your software are resizing, editing, or color balancing in General. You can also add some ordinary special effects with them even if you are not apt in the art of photography or is a novice. However, even with such routine touches you can make your photographs much livelier than the earlier versions.

Uses of the Photo Editing Software are not confined to these routine jobs. You can use the software for many purposes guided by your imagination and professionalism. Not only professionals but even amateur photographers like to enhance their photographic skills with the help of quality editing software.

Best uses of Photo Editing Software

• One of the major uses of this software is cropping and providing special effects to your photographs. Adjustment of brightness is an interesting feature. If your photo editor is the latest version, then you can also create an online store for your photographs.


• You can use the open-source editor for editing your images. These are called free Photoshop and they come free of cost. You can put to best use this type of software when it supports multiple operating systems or is platform independent. You can amplify all types of plug-ins. But paid versions are obviously better and provide you with many more features.


• When the editor supports advanced scripting interface, you can make the complex problem look quite simple with its effective use.


• Some of the editors allow you to edit the images, both basic and invented, online. Such software could also give you the option of printing photos that are easily downloadable.


• If your editor comes free of cost, it is obviously more attractive to you. Many types of free software come with advanced features like export optimizer, image slicing and mapping, smart shape creation, text editing, and third party plug in support, however, all these features are much more optimized in paid versions and so are especially suited for professionals.


• A few editors have the limitation of working on particular operating systems only like the Windows or Linux. However, these editors could be put to best use by experimenting. Many of them have unlimited undo option that helps you to rectify your defects again and again without waiting for the crowded server to response frequently.


• You can use the editors to print photos on matte or waterproof paper that are both becoming extremely popular to day.


• Some of the editors carry custom brush tips and also multiple layers with masking, vector as well as the bitmap based tools for drawing. They also provide for light, color, and tone adjustments. Such software can be used for long term works as there are multiple redoes as there are undoes.

With all the above information at your disposal it becomes pretty easier for you to select your best Photo Editing Software and use it to its best potential.

About the Author:

Photo GIMP Pro is one of the most powerful and user-friendly Photo Editing Software available in the market that enables you to edit, resize, paint draw and manipulate your photos in multiple ways. The best part of the Photo Editing Software is its availability at whooping discounted prices. To know more, please spare few minutes to visit http://www.photo-editor-pro.com/

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/how-to-make-best-use-of-a-photo-editing-software-696067.html

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Filters For Special Effects

Have you seen picture ads in magazines that look so nice that they don't look real at all? Some of them have been edited using photo editing software. But, definitely, most of them have been taken using a camera with a special kind of filter.

There are a wide variety of filters to choose from when adding to your camera equipment. There are filters for either color or black-and-white shots or both. Each filter has its own function, whether it be for enhancing the color contrast, improving sharpness, highlight flares and more. And there are filters for special effects like those photos normally seen in magazines and advertisements.

Here are some examples of filters that can be used to enhance the image by adding special effects to them.

Star And Cross Effect Filters

There are different star effect flares available such as Star-Six and Star-Eight. The Star-Six has six-pointed light flares, while Star-Eight has eight-pointed flares. These flares add more brightness to images. This filter is good when taking pictures of streetlights, theme-parks during the night or sun-reflections on glass structures.

A cross screen filter is similar to star filters except that the flare is four-cross. It also gives a dramatic effect to bright points in the image. It is ideal for taking photos of ladies wearing jewelry.

Spectral cross filter produces cross effects as well as soft-focus effects normally desired for portraits, outdoor shots with direct lighting or back lighting with increased cross effects. It is a filter with two transparent and colorless optical glass in a rotating frame with a black gauze-like fiber in between.

Vario cross filter gives an effect of four rays of light coming out from each light source point. It is a filter consisting of two glasses with parallel lines etched on each glass. The front glass can be rotated separately to modify the angle of the light rays.

Close-Up Filters

As the name implies, these filters are for close-up photography which are better than zooms. These filters are available in +1, +2, +3, +4, and +10 diopters with the higher number giving a much closer shot.

Macro close-up filters are good for taking shots of small insects, flowers and other tiny objects at close-up. It has a +10 diopter rating with a 2-element, 2-group construction lens.

Split field filter takes a close-up shot of half of the image while the other half is normal. This is used for keeping in focus both close and far objects at the same time.

Multivision Filters

To create a fantastic effect of repeating an object in a single photo, multivision filters are used. These are available in 3PF, 3F, 5F, 6F, and 6PF where the number determines the number of times the object will be repeated. It works great with dark backgrounds or larger objects.

Multivision filters are made up of optical glass accurately cut into different facets. Color multivision filters add different colors to the image. There are two types available – 3F with three faces in red, green and blue, and 5F with five faces equally divided into orange and green colors.

Misty Spot Filters

This type of filters provides a blurring effect of the background of a clear and sharp central image. There are four types of these kind available.

A breezing filter gives unidirectional streaks of the blurred background. Gradual filter has streaks that seem to originate from the center image. The windmill filter has a blurring background that swirls about the center. The halo filter has blurring streaks that originate from a point at the edge of the field.

Diffusion Filters

Diffusion filters provide a soft focus effect on the image due to an irregular or uneven surface. This kind of filter is specifically used for portraits.

Center Spot Filters

The center of this filter has a clear spot that gives the center image a clear and sharp effect, while the background can have an effect of fog to make it romantic.

These are just some of the special effects filters available for professional and amateur photographers alike. It surely is nice to add even just one or two to your collection with the fabulous effects that it can provide on your shots.

For more helpful information about digital photography don't miss Learn Digital Photography Now, Digital Photography Secrets, and Easy Digital Photography Business.


This free article is provided by the FreeArticles.com Free Articles Directory for educational purposes ONLY! It cannot be reprinted or redistributed under any circumstances

Friday, December 19, 2008

framed pictures, landscape photography

John Shaw''s Landscape Photography

There is nothing better in my opinion after a hard days work than to come home chill out with a glass of wine flick the tv on or better still put your fav cd on. What is missing from this image? .......
Whilst you are indulging the senses and recharging those batteries one of the quickest ways to relieve that stress and magic all those problems away is to close your eyes and imagine yourself on a tropical beach, or at a mountain peak miles away from any computer or ringing telephone.
The Lonely Planet Guide to Landscape Photography

Now i don't care how good an imagination you have after a long day of work your lucky if you can muster a caravan on the isle of white (not that there is anything wrong with that!) so why not let the professionals paint that picture for you (or photograph) here at http://kwartandphotography.com KW Art and Photography we give you a window to the world in your home so come and take a look at our framed pictures, photography prints for sale and help yourself or a loved one unwind.
A Comprehensive Guide to Digital Landscape Photography

At Kw art and photography for every item sold a tree is planted to help replenish the worlds forests so you can unwind with a sense of goodwill in your heart.
Digital Landscape Photography

Visit today regards Karen Wilson
Creative Landscape Photography

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Photography Products

If you are a freelance photographer you may be looking for a way to make some cash to give your business an extra boost. Creating and marketing your own photography products can give great satisfaction as well as giving your income a boost. Here are a few products that you should consider.

Postcards: One of the most popular means of turning your photography into products is to produce and market postcards. These can be sold in local gift and tourist shops. Items of interest, such as landmarks and local beauty spots will sell well. There are a number of good printing companies who will print postcards for you. Most printing companies will give a discount when printing in bulk.

Greeting Cards: If you have got your own printer, greeting cards are a simple product to create. If not, there are plenty of printing companies that will print them for you. Most wildlife and garden images make great greeting cards. Most local shops will stock and sell them for you, and if you have the right business skills you could turn it into a large business.

Prints: Your prints can be sold in many different formats and to many different types of shops. Try to supply local images to local shops. You can also sell prints online. Prints can be sold on their own, mounted or in a frame.

Calendars: These are similar to greeting cards and postcards. Any good set of thirteen quality images can be used to create a calendar - one per month plus an eye-catching front cover. Most households buy a few calendars every year. There are also plenty of good printing companies who will print them for you, and will give a discount when printing in bulk. If you are planning to produce calendars, start planning early in the year and get them into the shops before the summer ends.

Coasters and tablemats: Old photographs and local views printed onto coasters and tablemats will sell well in your area. These can also be sold online if you own a website, or in any local outlet. There are plenty companies that will manufacture these for you, leaving the marketing and sales up to you.

China plates: Your images of local sites will sell well on plates. If you own a portrait studio, family portraits or portraits of children on a china plate will be a good seller. Almost all types of images will look good on a plate. There are not too many companies manufacturing these types of products. Architectural images may also sell well.

Playing cards: Your images on a deck of playing cards will make for a good product. Garden and wildlife scenes will sell in the tourism market. Classic images such as old trains will make a nice set.

While the above are the main products, there are many small products that can be produced. Key rings and fridge magnets can be popular with the tourism market. Family portraits can also be put on these to give your studio some extra income.

The above list of products will not be suitable for every photographer but they are the most popular and they will sell with the right image selection. If you are looking for companies who manufacture any of these products try the classified section in any good photography magazine.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Uses for Aura Photography

If you are not familiar with aura photography, it may be to your benefit to learn a little bit more about it, and perhaps even experience it yourself. Aura cameras are wonderful pieces of technology with a variety of uses and applications, from visual art to the healing arts. The new era of aura camera has had to overcome the stigma of the original devices from 40 or so years ago and has done so easily thanks to the use of new technology and complex biofeedback sensors. Now, aura imaging is actually constructed by a computer program from the information gathered via the biofeedback sensors upon which the client has placed their hand. The computer also provides a variety of energy scales, graphs, and charts giving the practitioner and client more information with which to work.

The original generation of aura cameras "took a picture" of electromagnetic waves in the air around the subject, superimposing that image over the person's image and printed it as a Polaroid-style picture. While the color-to-wave frequency was consistent camera to camera when depicting the aura colors, the colors themselves were originally randomly assigned rather than being the actual harmonic correlative to the wave frequencies detected in the air by the cameras. This caused a wave of skepticism from aura readers, psychics, and scientists alike. Aura imaging utilizes none of the aura camera's technology. Instead, the imagery is constructed based upon the readings of such quantifiables as heart rate, skin temperature, moisture level, etc., as balanced to account for the environmental stresses measured by the sensors, including temperature, humidity, etc. The aura colors shown are the scientifically measured harmonic correlatives of the energy waves measured by the biofeedback sensors and have been tested for color accuracy in double blind tests with psychics and aura readers.

With aura imaging you get not only aura photography, but actual information about how your physical, mental, and emotional selves are doing and where amongst them you have your focus, all via the biofeedback system. By properly utilizing this information, people can learn to have some conscious control over these normally unconsciously controlled functions of the autonomous nervous system. Biofeedback has actually been used for several decades within the conventional medical system and within the fields of psychiatry and psychology with great success. Aura imaging simply brings the technology and its potential benefits to people in a different way. Because the biofeedback sensors are hooked directly to the computer it is possible to watch fluctuations occurring in real time, making the aura imaging a great tool for quieting the mind, and focusing on having a conscious impact on, or even control over, the body's systems so as to effect specific change in the readings shown on the computer screen. This focusing of the mind in turn empowers people, for instance, to be able to restore healthful balance to their system when they recognize they are stressed.

The aura colors shown are often quite beautiful and many people desire to have them and display them as art, independent of the biofeedback aspects of the imaging. It really is quite fun doing the sitting and looking at all the information. If it happens to successfully introduce people to the benefits of working with the deeper knowledge available through aura imaging, then so much the better.



About the Author
Written by Mel Bryson. See your unique aura colors with an aura camera. Aura reading through aura photography at auraphoto.com

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

10 Tips in Better Photography

Taking a good photo isn’t as hard as you may think. You don’t need the most expensive camera or years of experience, just 10 simple tips.
The Book of Photography

Enjoy!

Tip 1 - Use All Your Available Space

Don't be afraid to use all the space in your photo. If you want to take a picture of something, it's ok for it to take up the whole shot with no or very little background showing. Keep distractions out of your shot

Tip 2 - Study Forms

This is a vital aspect to photography. Understanding forms in your photos. Don't see an object, she its shape and its form and find the best angle to photograph it from. Form is all around us and I highly suggest you read as many books on it as possible.

Tip 3 - Motion In Your Photos

Never have motion in your photos if you are photographing a still object. If there is something moving while you are trying to photograph a stationery object, your photo won't turn out anywhere near as well. Also never put a horizon line in the center of your frame.

Tip 4 - Learn To Use Contrasts Between Colors.

Some of the best photos have shades of white, gray and black. You can take great shots with just one color on your subject, but the contrasts between colors in a shot is what makes you a great photographer.

Tip 5 - Get Closer To Your Subject

This is one of the biggest mistakes most photographers make, not getting close enough to their subject. Get up and personal and close the distance gap. You can always reshape and resize a good shot but you can't continue to blowup a distant object.

Tip 6 - Shutter Lag

Shooting action shots with digital camera's can be tricky due to shutter lags. What this means is, when you press the button to take the photo, it can take up to a second for the shutter to take a photo, by that time what you were photographing would have moved or changed somehow. This means you have to compensate for shutter lag by predicting what your subject is going to do and taking the photo just before it takes the action you want. More expensive digital cameras don't have this problem.
National Geographic Photo Gallery CD-ROM

Tip 7 - Pan

If you are taking an action shot and your shutter speed is slow, pan with the object. Follow through with the subject, from start to finish and one of those shots will be a winner. You have more chance of getting a good shot if you take more then one photo.

Tip 8 - Continuous Shots

To pan like I suggested above you will need a camera that does continuous shots and doesn’t need to stop and process after every shot.

Tip 9 - How To Take Fantastic Night Time Shots

Night time shots can be spectacular, almost magical.... if done right! If not they can look horrible. Really horrible. Without adequate lighting, even good camera's can turn out crappy photos if the photographer doesn't know what he or she is doing.

Tip 10 - Study Your Manual

If your digital camera has a special night time mode, read the manual and follow their instructions on how to use it properly.



Article Source: http://www.ArticlesandAuthors.com - THE Premier Site for Articles AND Authors


National Geographic: The Ultimate Field Guide to Landscape Photography

About this Article Author:


Michael Colucci is a technical writer for Photography Tips - A free site that offers the latest tips on photography.