Viewing photographs which are taken from a good, unique point of view is one of the most fascinating things in the world of photography. This is what we refer to as aerial photography.

Origins

Aerial photography is formally defined as photograph taking from an overhead viewpoint by using cameras that are mounted on an airborne tool such as a balloon, an aircraft, a kite, a skydiver and other similar tools. The art of aerial photography was first developed by Nadar, a French airman back in 1858. During the Second World War, aerial photography found a niche in military operations. Aerial photographs were used in spying and in the assessment of the battle ground. These photographs provided updated and realistic impressions of the topography and current situation in a certain area.

Uses Of Aerial Photographs

There are many conceived and actual uses for pictures which are taken from above. Aerial photographs are actually used in the construction of topographic maps, in cartography, planning land use, archeology, production of movies, espionage, environmental studies, commercial advertising and in other fields.

The use of technology has also crawled into the field of aerial photography. Advances in radio technology has allowed for the use of aircraft models which are controlled by radio in the conduct of low-altitude photography. This is mainly used in advertising for the real estate business. This is because manned aircrafts are not allowed to fly low altitudes in populated locations. This task can be done by these radio-controlled aircraft models and they do the job very well.

Public Domain

Aerial photographs are considered public domain, because the pictures are taken from aerial views which are considered public places.

There are many ways to view aerial photographs on-line. One of the most popular ones is the Google Earth by Google. Google Earth provides satellite imagery as well as aerial photos of the planet. You can actually use the service to be able to search for different places in a certain area such as parks, restaurants, schools and hotels. It can also be used to be able to track down the best routes for reaching a certain location. You can also view the aerial photographs in different angles by tilting and rotating them.

These are some basic things about aerial photography. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, you can browse through some basic materials at the local library or use the Internet to get more information about it.

As with television and the movies, black and white pictures were first developed long before colored pictures were born.

The history of the modern photograph is much printed in monochromatic pictures, which are basically black and white pictures. The photograph back then was rendered in dark and light patches which were used to create black and white effects. The dark portions would sometimes be rendered as gray or brown-ish.

Fall Of Black And White

When the colored picture came into the scene during the 1975 era, black and white pictures came falling down, and they fell hard. There were many reasons behind this plummeting. The different manufacturers were developing better-than-ever color films and they were creating these films at low prices. The number of good developers of black and white films was also declining. The attention of the public was turned into the more elaborate and exciting colored pictures.

Because of the different factors that were affecting the photography market, the use of black and white film went further down to rock bottom. People started to see the use of black and white film as a difficult thing to do and they wanted to shift to the use of colored film as soon as they could. So, in those periods, people who studied photography or took photography classes were deprived of the beauty of the black and white picture. The market and the conditions around the photographers were shaped so as to repress the black and white scene in general.

Rise Of Black And White

The black and white photographs are back in town. People are now seeing the inherent beauty that these photographs capture. They are back in print advertising. The modern print advertising materials are so cluttered by so many colors and pictures and when the black and white materials are put side by side with them, the black and white pictures gives the beholder a sense of reality which the colored ones can't give.

As the cliché goes, “black is beautiful.” And black wouldn’t be black if there wasn't white, therefore, “black and white” is beautiful. The black and white picture was never really gone away especially from the point of view of the professional photographers. The art scene was never detached from using black and white pictures, so as the newspaper industry, where many newspaper would want their photographers to get their pictures in the black and white format.

With the advent of digital photography, you can instantly convert your colored photos into black and white ones, the black and white pictures are definitely making a strong comeback. This time around, the black and white scene is here to stay.

One hobby that will never go out of date is photography. It's simply because it captures moments that the human mind can't store vividly for long. It immortalizes scenes that are otherwise easily forgotten.

If one wishes to indulge himself in this kind of past time or even as a profession, it will be indispensable to acknowledge the help of not only the technical know-hows of photography but also the elements and accessories of the device that makes things happen -- the camera.

There three elements in a camera:

1. The Optical Elment Or The Lens

2. The Chemical Element Or The Film

3. The Mechanical Element Or The Body Of The Camera


It is the calibration of these elements that makes the recording of the images possible.

From the analog cameras, technology brought about its modern counterparts the digicams or digital cameras. With more advance features and a wide array of accessories, they make the hobby more accessible even to the most novice.

The difference between a digital camera and an analog one is that with the latter, the images are stored in digital format. With that format, the image can be previewed before it gets developed. Printing pictures from a digital camera is a lot more convenient too.

What are the current hot camera accessories? These include the following:

Electronic Flashes

Flashes are for the vivid exposure of an image onto a film strip. Through the emission of a good amount of light with the release of the shutter, the film is exposed enough with the adequate amount of illumination. These accessories are particularly used for indoor photography or when one has to take pictures after dark.

Storage Devices

Storage devices back were not able to be removed. Nowadays, digicams are endowed with flash memory devices, i.e., memory sticks, smartmedia cards, and compact flash cars.

Batteries

Digital cameras are now equipped with either rechargeable batteries or disposable ones. The non-rechargeable batteries include the lithium and alkaline types, while the rechargeable batteries are known to be in the form of lead-acid and NiCd batteries.

Other accessories include a camera bag or case, tripod, and straps.

It is not enough to know the accessories and elements of a camera. One must also learn how to use them properly and how to maintain them for their longest use for the enjoyment of this popular hobby known as photography.

Photography is a most-loved hobby and art form. There’s nothing better than being able to take a photo and have other people appreciate it. Well, maybe having your own photography lab and being able to develop the photos yourself.

Darkroom

A darkroom is what most people refer to as the photo lab. As the name implies, a dark room is a room or a space which is made to be dark in order for photographers to be able to use materials that are light-sensitive to develop films and photographs.

These rooms were first used in the late 1800s up to the early 1900s. However, due to the advancing technologies, the use of these darkrooms for developing photos is continuously decreasing. However, it has found a niche in the hearts of many hobbyists.

Printing your own pictures is one of the most rewarding experiences for photographers. It gives a certain feeling of fulfillment because the picture as a whole, is created by the same hands.

This article tries to give some tips on how you can build your own darkroom or photo lab.
Listed below are some of the basic tips you should do when building your own darkroom.

1. A darkroom is most effective if it can be made totally dark. There are many places in the house which can be converted into a darkroom. You can look at using the spare room or the spare bathroom to be able to build a darkroom.

2. You must make sure to ventilate the dark room well so as to make it comfortable for working.

3. Seal off the different parts of the room where leaking light can pass through.

4. You should buy the necessary supplies for the development of films and photos. The basic things that you need are: enlarger; trays which are adequately sized; tongs; easel; concentrated developer fix and solution. You can go to eBay to be able to purchase some good and cheap supplies.

5. There should be two partitions in the darkroom, a “wet” one and a “dry” one. The separation is very important so as to avoid mistakes which can damage the photos.

6. Use the trays wisely and appropriately. One tray should be used to hold the developer solution, the other one should be used to hold the stop solution, and the other one for the fix solution.

These are just some of the few tips on how to get started in building a darkroom. Enjoy building one today!

News photography is one of the most exciting fields of photography. It brings photos that are used to complete and bring life to news and current events. News photos should be captured perfectly to make the story catch every reader’s eyes.

As a news photographer, you should have the skills and years of experience in producing quality material. It takes great amount of failure and errors to master the art of news photography. Many of those who have succeeded in this field admit that they have learned a lot from their errors.

For those who would like to start their careers in news photography, here are some tips to always remember for a great catch.

1. You must always be attentive for natural sounds. Interesting natural sounds can be essential the same way images and pictures are. Good sound normally complements with interesting images.

2. You have to master white balancing. You have to be good at placing the right angles on the right surface. Lighting is very essential to the right balance in capturing the photograph.

3. You have to master the art of holding the perfect shot. You have to make sure that you hold the shot longer. You should know how to create intervals for every shot that you take.

4. You should know the story and listen well in your interviews. Ask your reporter for instructions so that you can follow his insight on where he would like to go with the story.

5. Always use a tripod in capturing shots. Many believe that a video camera should be held steadily in place. However, some photographers want to move freely in capturing their shots.

6. You need to zoom with your feet and not with your lenses. It is better to have a clear picture of what is happening by getting closer with the subject. Zooming the camera may create a blurred and low quality material.

7. Do not use a camera light when it's not necessarily needed. You may create a little angle on the light and not directly light the entire subject. You may flatten out all the images if you make the picture too bright for the background.

Making great news photography needs a lot of skills and mastery in taking featured news shots. You should be creative and try different angles so that you will enjoy every situation you may encounter. Most importantly, it is through practice that you will make every shot a perfect catch.

Planning to get your hands on a digital camera but not sure if you can make the transition from your old camera that uses film to one that utilizes a memory card? If you are afraid of things that are complicated, then don't worry. Although digital cameras may be advanced, that doesn't necessarily mean that they are not user friendly. Here are some tips that can help you in taking pictures with a digital camera.

Enhance The Color Tones Of Your Picture

There are times when you think that your shots have a cold or clammy aura. This is because digital cameras have default settings for white balance at auto. This is ok for most shots but if you want to increase the reds and the yellows of your shots, adjust the auto setting to cloudy. This makes your pictures appear warmer as well as richer.

Macro Mode

Activating the close up mode on your camera, usually called the macro mode, will make your shots have sharper details. This is very easy to use in digital cameras unlike in the conventional ones. To use your camera's macro mode, look for the icon that depicts the macro mode or "close up". Normally, the icon is that of a flower. Go as close to the object as your camera will allow. It is important to remember that you have a rather shallow field depth, thus it is important to focus on the subject's part that you consider to be the most significant.

Invest On File Storage

Having a memory card that is capable of storing a large amount of picture files is important. This gives you the freedom to take more pictures. The higher the resolution of your camera which normally ranges from 2 mega pixels to up to 6 or more mega pixels, the higher the memory size of you card should be. With an ample sized memory card, you don't have to pass the opportunity to take a shot. No more worries of having a full memory card whenever that perfect shot appears.

Always Use High Resolution

Your digital camera has many resolution settings. Always take pictures using the highest possible setting. Although higher resolution means more memory used up, it isn't a problem if you have already acquired a good sized memory card. You will never know when the best shot you'll ever take in your whole life may pop up, why take it in poor resolution?

These tips will help you with your new digital camera. Never hesitate to take as many pictures as you can! Remember you have enough memory, why worry?

Taking great pictures of different food dishes isn't as easy as it appears to be in cook books and food advertisements. Great care should be exercised when taking these shots. Things that need to be considered include the dish's angle, composition, lighting, as well as problems that may arise. Here are some guides to help you improve the quality of your pictures.

Lighting

Consider the lighting in the kitchen or venue where you will shooting the dishes. It is a good idea to know this in advance so that you no longer have to make adjustments right there in the venue. Dark venues may be corrected by using a row of flourescent lighting which possesses diffusers. The drawback of this method is that the image will have a subdued shade of green. Depending on the camera that you have, it may have a setting that neutralizes the effects of flourescent lighting or a magenta filter may be used to compensate.

Stability Of Tripods

Since you are taking pictures of food, every shot is done at close range. Unlike shots taken at a distance, shots done in close up are sensitive to movement. Any sudden moves and the picture will be ruined. Focusing on the subject also becomes easier when using a tripod or even just a stack of magazines.

Food Presentation

To get that professional look, cut the dish in geometric shapes. Proper arrangement of the food is also important so that you will be able to showcase the dish's ingredients as well as its strengths. Garnishing the food that you will shoot will enhance its natural colors, making it more appealing to the eyes.

Focusing On The Subject

A rather dull photo will become vibrant and dynamic if care is taken when focusing and adjusting the field depth of the camera. If your camera doesn't have manual focus, depressing the camera's shutter button halfway to lock the focus at that specific depth. Recomposing the focus can be done by changing the position of the camera while the shutter button is still depressed halfway. Automatic cameras usually lack aperture or depth of field. Some purposely adjust the aperture such that the background becomes a blur to heighten the subject's features while others prefer that a wider depth of field is used to capture the whole scene.

These are some of the things that you should know regarding food photography. Constant practice will help you produce better shots. Follow your instincts. Sometimes this allows you to take better shots.

Photography got its name from the Greek words "photos" which means light and "graphein" meaning to draw. The first person to use this term was the scientist Sir John Herschel in the year 1839. Thus, photography means the method or process of registering images with the aid of light , related radiation, on a medium that is made of sensitive materials.

The First Image

During one summer day in the year 1827, the Frenchman Joseph Nicephore Niepce was able to achieve the creation of the first image that was fixed by working on it for 8 hours. His compatriot, Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre on the other hand was able to lower exposure time to a period of less than 30 minutes as well as preventing the captured image from disappearing.

Daguerre And The Daguerreotype

Daguerre was the first to invent the most practical process for developing pictures during their time. He was born to a place in close proximity to Paris, France. Before experimenting on photography, he was a professional painter of various scenes in operas. After many years of experimentation with light and its effects on images, Daguerre was able to develop a process to make pictures that were more efficient and effective. He sold the rights to the French government then wrote a book describing his invention.

The Pinhole Camera

Ibn Al-Haytham, who lived in the middle ages, was a greatly known in the field of optics. The pinhole camera was invented by Al-Haytham with the resulting image viewed upside down. A European named Della Porta was able to re-invent the pinhole camera, this enabled him to publish information regarding the pinhole camera.

The Flashbulb

An Austrian named Paul Vierkotter is credited to be the first person to invent the flashbulb. He used a wire coated with magnesium which was placed in a glass globe that was vacuum sealed. This was later replaced with an aluminum foil inside an enclosure filled with oxygen. The flashbulb became commercially available in the year 1930. It was patented by a German national, Johannes Ostermeier. The flashbulbs were called "vacublitz". General Electric, a company engaging in suh ventures made their own version which was termed "Sashalite".

Instant Photos

You can take instant pictures using a polaroid camera. This type of camera was created by Edwin Land. His work on photography enabled a new age in photography wherein pictures can be obtained instantly. The exposure time was no longer a factor.

These are some fast facts that wil help you understand more the history of photography. Having a clear idea of how photography started will help you with your passion for pictures.

Photography is an exciting field that is not only considered a hobby. One may choose to consider photography as a profession. Professional photographers engage their entire life in taking good images where they profit and make a name out of their great photographs. Their works can be displayed in art galleries, leading feature magazines, and newspaper front pages.

Many professional photographers have maximized the full potential of the communication network and the great development of digital photography and media. Many took the chance of engaging photography as their profession because of the commercial value it pays.

Being a profitable medium, photography requires more of a natural talent than formal training. However, it is very important to learn the techniques and technical skills to enhance the talents that will help you become a competent professional photographer in many fields. Here are some options for you if you would like to specialize in photography.

1. You may specialize in advertising where you can supply good photographs for catalogs, corporate and marketing promotional materials, and annual reports.

2. You may see yourself in the bio-medical field. You can create a compilation and illustration of medical studies and scientific documentation of images.

3. You can be a part of a digital imaging firm. You can work using all aspects of the latest digital imaging procedures and applications.

4. You may set up your own photo studio and photo laboratory. You will learn the knowledge on how to manage equipment and services in commercial studios and schools in your local area. You can also produce films and print digital photographs.

5. Involve yourself in the entertainment industry. This is where you will be assigned to on-set photography in any motion picture project.

6. Run your own art gallery where you can exhibit works of other photographers. You may also host gallery exhibits and book expositions.

7. You could profit more in specializing your talent in photojournalism. You may tackle human interest and behavior in newspapers and magazine features.

8. You can do image archiving and editing. You can research and catalog photographs in school and city libraries. You can also be a photo editor in publishing images in websites.

9. You can earn in portraiture where you will be given commissioned works and public engagements.

Photography is a profitable source of income if you are an expert of taking images. Many who are beginning to learn the techniques often learn from professional photographers. This will guide them to clarify their options on what to specialize on in the future.

Photography is the art of creating a special medium beyond your self-expression. It requires good taste, good sense of appreciation and technical skills in capturing the subjects. Many believe that they can profit in this chosen field as long as they develop their technical skills and knowledge in becoming a talented professional photographer.

Nature photography has always been inspiring and exciting. It thrills every photographer with its mystery and the beauty of wildlife. One of the most amusing subjects for nature photographers are the birds.

Bird behavior has had great impact on pictures. Birds attract many photographers with their mastery of flight and their distinct diversity in nature. Here are some guides that will help you focus on improving your skill in capturing images on these magnificent creatures of nature.

1. You need to know what interests your mind. You have to know your topics so that you will not be confused. You should learn more about birds by investing on a good birding guide. This will help you know more about their behavior, breeding season, and bird eating habits.

2. You should always keep your subjects well being in mind. Avoid those instances that create stress on your images. If the bird is not in its natural behavioral characteristic, you should leave the bird alone and allow the bird to recover first from its stress. It can also be a sign that the bird might be nesting eggs somewhere near the site and that is why it portrays a “predator luring” behavior.

3. You should make your vehicle as your just like your camera an accessory. In some areas, you may see birds more adapted to vehicles and consider your vehicle less harmless than a person positioned on his tripod trying to take a good shot. You should learn how to be patient in finding the right place where the birds can accept the presence of your vehicle.

4. You may use fast shutter speeds cameras. This device is good in taking great bird images. Most birds are fast and can disappear quickly in the air. You may need a 1/500 second shuttering speed. This can capture sudden movements and flights.

As a nature photographer, you should maximize your surroundings. A good place for you to start your hobby in nature photography especially with birds is in your own backyard. You can then practice the art and techniques of capturing great shots and wonderful images that nature has to offer.

Photography is considered as one of the rare hobbies that you can easily learn. Some may think that there's a trick in taking great shots. However, there are certain elements that you need to consider in order to enjoy the hobby of capturing wonderful pictures.

With the exception of video cameras, there is nothing greater than capturing precious moments in photographs. They preserve those moments you are part of. You may enjoy those memories captured with your family, friends, and events and you can even share it with them.

To enjoy this hobby, you need to first learn the skills and techniques of photography. You can undertake training in technical skills to master the art of capturing photographs. You also need to consider acquiring different materials you will need to enjoy this wonderful hobby. Here are some beginner tips for learning photography.

1. Get to know what interests you. Focus yourself on a particular topic so that you can fully understand your chosen subject. It is important to have full knowledge on the subjects you want to photograph.

2. You may invest in a self-focusing SLR with the newest features with all the whistles and bells. You may also get an automatic focus camera that can read details on every captured subject.

3. If you choose to venture into nature photography, it is important to consider the location of shots. Make sure to that sunlight will not affect any of your shots. Position yourself behind the sun so that it will be use for lighting to create clearer shots.

4. Practice taking photos in your home or in your backyard. You can capture images that are not within your subject. Sometimes you may even create great shots on unexpected and unplanned moments.

5. It is advised to take photos steadily using a tripod. You can produce great images when you use the right angles. It is very important to pay attention to the size, shape and position of the subject

6. When there is no available sunlight on the subject, you must have artificial lighting to support the brightness and color of the photograph. Although the camera has a flash, it is sometimes insufficient in supplying the needed light in creating a clear image.

These are only some guides for you to enjoy photography as a hobby. You may enjoy capturing images as long as you have the right materials and good technical skills. Many believe that beginners taking photography as a hobby can end up professional photographers.

After the invention of the camera and the growth in popularity of photography, it is only natural that mass production as well as dissemination of photo prints will follow. Becaue of photography, personal as well as public history, time, and the perception of man himself has notably changed. The idea of privacy became altered as more and more well known public figures and that of the common man were recorded. Photographs became the unchallenged proof of any experience, event, and even a state of being.

Photography As An Art

Certifying photography as an art form was a hard thing to undertake during its early stages. It was challenged by artists as well as critics and focused on both the chemical and mechanical facets of photography. They considered photography as a craft and nothing more.

Taking Away The Restrictions

When musuems and art schools finally opened up themselves to photography, the resulting trend was carried up to the present. Photographers began to set themselves free from the strict impositions made by the norms of the straight aesthetic mode as well as the documentary modes as forms of expressing their individuality. By the 1960's photography became a major force in visual arts. This art form has been combined with other types of expression including computer imaging as well as mixed media.

Practical Applications Of Photography

Photography has many practical applications. It has evolved to become a vital tool used in diverse fields like education, medicine, military activities, and commerce. Science has greatly benefited from photography, including aerial mapping of areas, geology, surveying, archeology, meterology, and anthropology just to name a few.

The Digital Age

With the onset of the 21st century, images can be manipulated and altered in so many ways with the help of digital imaging and computer utilizing techniques. Digital photography started a change in photographic techniques and its nature. The conventional method of photography involved the passing of light into a lens then to an emulsifying agent or digital photography, where color filters as well as sensors are used to create an image. There are two kinds of techniques used in digital photography. The first one involves the use of 3 layers of filters. Each one only allows one color like green, another red, and the last one, blue.

These are some of the notable things with regards to modern photography. Photography has been present for more than a hundred years and yet more and more innovations are taking place. Looking at it, one can surmise that more things are yet to come in the world of modern photography.

Are you interested in taking up photography? If you are relatively new to photography, then here are some tips that will help you learn about photography and its many different qualities.

The Camera

When choosing a camera, you should keep in mind that whatever kind of camera you buy, it won't necessairily affect the final image. There are certain factors that will affect your final product regardless of camera brand. They are:

- the quality of the expected final image.
- will the image be magnified before being viewed?
- will the subject carry the whole focus of the shot?
- the time alloted to take the picture

It is also important to keep in mind that cameras work at varying speeds. This will prove to be crucial depending on the subject that you will be shooting. When taking a picture of your son or daughter while they are playing, you may opt to use an automatic camera to avoid all the fuss of making adjustments with regards to aperture, focus, lighting, etc. But if you are going to take a picture of a mountain view, then you have all the time to use a manual camera.

Lighting Conditions


Taking portraits under the sun may present some problems. Because of the sunlight's hardness, dark shadows will may appear in the shot. To solve this problem, you can move the subject to a position under the shade to be able to use skylight instead of sunlight. Skylight is less concentrated than sunlight. Another thing that can be done is for you to take the picture during the last few minutes during sunrise or sunset. Sunlight is mouch more mellow during these times. If you have the equipment such as diffusers as well as reflectors, they will do a good job to make the shot more vibrant. The use of artificial lighting or a flash is also ideal if you know the proper way and time to use them. Avoid using the flash during sunrise and sunset since the resulting picture will look rather clammy or cold.

Exposure

There are no such things as correct exposure. It is really up to you and your artistic preferences how your picture will turn out. The environment contains many tones which can't be fully represented using film. Some of the details might get lost depending on the picture as well as the film used.

These are some of the things that you should remember while taking pictures. As you take more and more pictures, your skills will become sharper and you will be able to use more of your creativity.

Digital cameras are everywhere. Store shelves are lined with them, and Sunday newspaper circulars are filled with advertisements for them. But why buy one? Well of course if you are perfectly and completely happy taking pictures with your film camera, then don't buy a digital camera. But remember, you have to finish the whole roll, bring the film to the processor, and wait for the prints to come back, just to find out everyone in the "once-in-a-lifetime picture" had their eyes closed. Let's also not forget that you have to pay for the processing and buy film. Oh, by the way, you had better buy a few extra rolls, some for indoors and some for outdoors.

So what are the advantages of digital?

1. No more film! That's right, you'll never need to buy film again. Using a digital camera means that you can take pictures without paying for film or wondering which type of film to buy.

2. If you are careful with your storage, you will also never run out of film. The PCMCIA storage cards, which slip into the side of your camera, can hold up to 80 images. With a few of these in your camera bag, you can go on taking pictures for days. There's nothing like that special feeling you get when you run out of film while on vacation!)

3. No more processing costs. No matter how you get your film processed, it
gets to be expensive. You can't get around paying for processing unless you are
taking digital photos, and you'll never have to decide about matte or glossy
prints again.

4. You get to see your pictures immediately. Digital photography enables you to see your photos instantly; no more waiting for your film to return from the lab. Many cameras have LCD preview screens, so you can see the image instantly, or you can download your images to your computer as soon as you take them.

5. You can instantly re-shoot your pictures. If somebody walked into your carefully composed shot or if the baby's eyes were closed when the shutter snapped, you'll know it immediately. You can simply retake the image. (On the flip side, you can also preview all the poses you just took and delete the ones you don't like.)

6. You have more control. If you couldn't get close enough to your subject or the camera wasn't level when you took the picture, have no fear - you can fix it! You can easily crop or rotate your picture; remove spots; fix color; and lighten, darken, blur, or sharpen your images. With a little skill, you can even add people into the family photo even though they were not t here. Try that with a drugstore print!

7. Get out of that dark room! For those of you who spent hours splashing about in your darkroom to produce only a few prints, you are free. You can set up your computer in the light of day and image edit all you want. Just imagine - you can be social and manipulate images at the same time. You can see and be seen by your family and friends. If you have special talents, you can even work on your computer and watch the football game simultaneously!

8. Everyone can see it. With the advent of email and modems, you can easily send a photo of a newborn to distant relatives or post it on your Web site. You no longer need to take the time or spend the cash to make multiple copies of an image and distribute them.

9. It will last forever. Negatives and prints fade. They are subject to ultraviolet light, humidity and grubby fingers. Digital images, however, will last forever if carefully stored. And if your printout of the image gets damaged or you want to make a duplicate, all you need to do is pull up the file and reprint it. Your only cost is a sheet of paper.

10. Digital photography is environmentally sound. There are no processing chemicals to wash down our sewers, and the massive amounts of water and electricity used to process film are no longer needed. Plus, you won't need to worry about recycling those little plastic film containers.

In the print media, pictures are used to break the monotony of a news page. Illustrations may be used as page decoration. If its only purpose is to create a favorable impression for the reader, it's a valid function. After all, according to J.W. Click and Russel N. Baird's book, “Magazine Editing and Production,” people hang paintings and photos on their walls for aesthetic reasons only.

Given that concept, one can surmise that photography is, indeed, a work of art captured in technicalities and presented in an exceptional manner. The total impression on the subject will always depend on the way the photographer wants to present his or her subject matter.

For this reason, special classes in photography provided for those who wish to perfect their skills as far as photography is concerned. However, there are some basic tips that every budding photographer must know in order to succeed in this kind of endeavor.

Here is a list of some of the important pointers that every photographer should know:

1. Get Ready

The key to good shots is to have all of your necessary materials ready. One of the basic skills needed in photography is the point and shoot. However, you can't do this if you lack the materials that you need such as extra batteries (in case you run out of battery supplies), a tripod (for a steady footing), and other devices like the lenses that would aid your ability to incorporate the point and shoot skill.

Besides, you would not want to be wasting your time rummaging through your bag to find those additional lenses just to get a close up shot of your subject. Aside from time-consuming, your subject might lose interest or if it is a moving object, it might not stay longer than you have expected.

2. Be Steady With Your Camera

One of the main reasons why pictures may come out blurred is the fact that some photographers can't get a steady hand on their cameras. It would be better to avoid shaking your camera. If you really can't avoid these, it would better to use a tripod or inserting your elbows to your sides so that you get a stable grip.

3. Focus On Your Subject

By attending some photography classes, you should be able to learn how to get the best angles to capture your subject. Just keep in mind to focus on your subject and not on anything else.

These are just some of basic tips that you will learn in a photography class. Just keep them in mind and you are on your way to your best shot.

Everyone makes snapshots of family members and close friends, but the problem is making "real" photographs of them. Sometimes it's easy to make the transition to serious photography using your friends and family as models; sometimes it's not. Advantages are that they are close and frequently available, so you can photograph them over and over, and at least sometimes get them to reveal their personalities to the camera.

Some disadvantages are that, at the beginning anyway, your family may not consider your photography important. You can win them over by giving them copies of your best pictures. Another problem is that family members become over-photographed and camera-shy. Don't press too hard for pictures.

In addition, you must deal with people's feelings about how they look, which may or may not be realistic. For example, my sister, who was a good looking woman, complained that my pictures of her made her look like an old turtle. The problem, of course, was that she didn't like being old and had really nothing to do with the picture itself.

The best way of photographing parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even family pets is to keep your camera close at hand. You must be persistent, and be just as polite to them as you would be to strangers. As with strangers, approach family members only when they are in a receptive mood. Then, clearly explain what you are trying to achieve, and why it may take several rolls of film to get there. When you are finished, make sure that you thank your "models" formally, of course. Show them their flattering pictures later, and give them prints or enlargements as thank-you gifts.

Examples of great opportunities for family group pictures are at weddings, birthdays, graduations, name-giving ceremonies, showers, holidays, and family reunions. Try to scout out in advance the place you want people to gather. Place senior members of the family (or the bridal couple, the birthday boy, etc.) up front and center, filling the frame, with everyone else arranged as interestingly as possible. Check the viewfinder carefully to make sure that everyone is included. Ask everyone to look at the lens when you shoot. Take several pictures of any big group; you should do this quickly so people don't freeze up. If you use the flash, minimize hard shadows by posing people away from walls, and using a bounce card or dome over the flash head.

For outdoor settings, choose a shaded location for group wedding and reunion pictures. Steps are great for posing a large family. Since almost everyone treasures family group photos, you should have no problem setting up these shots.

If you mount your best family prints in a good album, over the years it will become a valued heirloom.

The definition of a portrait is a formally posed picture. Outdoor portraits are often posed against relevant or beautiful backgrounds, and are known as "location portraits." Fine indoor portraits can easily be made by window light. Flash can be added to fill dark shadows in portraits, but if flash is used as the main light source, it should be off-camera and diffused by a bounce card for best results.

Choose a fine-grain film for almost all formal portraits. Overexpose by about V2 f/stop to minimize skin flaws. Use at least an 80mm lens or zoom setting for closeups of heads, because shorter focal lengths tend to exaggerate the size of noses. 28mm or 35mm lenses or zoom settings work well for location portraits showing, say, a landscape in the background.

The aim of most portraits is to capture a flattering likeness, plus show something of a personality on film. Some portraitists have a strong personal style while others are unobtrusive. The best way to relax anyone and get spontaneous expressions is to talk about whatever you can bring up that interests your subject. During the course of a session, there may come moments when silence is appropriate, but, in general, don't ever let people stiffen up and start worrying about their appearance in front of the camera. Talking is good; having music in the background is relaxing, too.

Soft lighting works great for most portraits. A carefully angled reflector may be helpful to "fill" (lighten) the shadows on the dark side of a window light or outdoor portrait.

With 35mm cameras, single portraits call for vertical compositions. Suggest and shoot several different poses - some with the subject's eyes looking into the lens, and some with the eyes looking slightly right or left.

Everyone can be made to look interesting in a portrait. Do this by angling the subject so the existing or added lighting is flattering, and by keeping your finger on the shutter release so you can capture fleeting animated expressions.

Some helpful tips: Pose a big person with his or her left shoulder turned away from the camera, but with the head facing the camera in order to create a slimming effect. If someone has a big nose, photograph him looking straight at you. If he has big ears, shoot a three-quarter profile view. Aiming slightly down on everyone except bald men is flattering.

For someone who is truly a model type, photograph the person from all possible angles. Some of those pictures should be good for exhibit or your portfolio. Take plenty of pictures in any portrait session. Shots that were made near the end of a shoot are usually the best because, by then, both you and the subject are warmed up and relaxed. You will soon learn to sense when you have caught what you want in the camera.

Whenever you are shooting formal portraits, it is best to mount your camera on a tripod. With a tripod, you can preselect and compose backgrounds in advance. A tripod also helps hold your focus, eliminates blur caused by camera shake in low light and windowlit situations, and frees you to concentrate on nuances of expression. In addition, using a tripod leaves you free during the shoot to talk to your subject(s) and put them at ease.

Chances are by now you have a digital camera or have thought about buying one. Approximately 6 out of 10 adults in the United States own one, according to a recent report from market research firm Forrester Research. It's no surprise.

These marvels of technology make taking and sharing photos more convenient and fun than their film-based predecessors and for most purposes have equaled or surpassed their quality. It can be tricky, though, to decide when to replace your trusty old, and possibly obsolete, digital camera with a spanking new one. The following tips may help. They may help as well if you haven't yet gone digital and want to buy one this year.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Digital cameras come in two main varieties, the same as film cameras: compact cameras, also called point-and-shoot cameras, and single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. Compact cameras are smaller, easier to use, and less expensive while digital SLRs (dSLRs) produce higher quality photos and are more versatile.

People replace their digital camera about every two years, much like a cell phone, according to anecdotal evidence and reports in computer and photo magazines. Over the years digital cameras have become smaller while producing better images.

The first commercially available digital camera let you take only black-and-white pictures at a grainy resolution of about 100,000 pixels. It retailed for about $900. Today you can buy a low-end digital compact camera for as little as $100 that produces color photos at 8 million pixels (8 megapixels). The average price for a digital compact camera is about $200.

More pixels mean higher resolution for sharper detail. But pixel capability is only one aspect of digital camera quality, and it's often overrated. Even more important is the quality of the lens, and it's here that dSLRs, with their superior optics, outdo compacts.

One trend in the digital camera market is the move away from compact cameras and toward dSLRs. The more expensive dSLRs made up only eight percent of the market for digital cameras in 2007, according to market research firm IDC, but sales grew more than twice as fast as for compact cameras. Low-end dDLRs cost around $450, with the average price for a name-brand camera about $800.

A digital compact camera remains a good choice for a typical home user. Just stick it in your pocket or purse, point and shoot, and output the pictures to your inkjet printer. Lots of other options exist as well, including uploading the pictures to your computer where you can correct or enhance them with an image editing program such as Photoshop Elements and showing them off to others through e-mail or a photo-sharing Web site such as Shutterfly.

In Consumer Reports' July 2008 issue, Canon's PowerShot A650 IS received the best overall score for compact cameras, while Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-W200 scored best in the magazine's subcompact category, with subcompacts being ultrathin cameras you can easily slip into a shirt pocket. If you take a blot of sports or other photos from a distance, a zoom lens is a convenience, and Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-H9, with its 15x optical zoom, received the top score for "super-zoom" compact cameras.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Today's digital compact cameras typically produce images of 7 to 12 megapixels in size. Higher resolution cameras are better for 8x10 and larger prints and for cropping out extraneous parts of a picture.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

For years after digital SLRs were first introduced commercially in 1991, they were used primarily by professional photographers. Then lower cost "prosumer" models, targeting advanced amateur photographers ("professional consumers"), were released. Most dSLRs today fit into the prosumer category, though the lower cost models are often referred to as "entry level" because they're aimed at users crossing over from compact cameras. With dSLRs, not only is image quality better, particularly in lower light situations, so is speed and veratility. You can take one photo after another more quickly, and you can use different lenses on the same camera.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Consumer Reports ranked the Nikon D80 as the top "basic" dSLR camera and the Nikon D300 as the top "advanced" dSLR, targeting professional photographers. The Nikon D60 is a similar but newer camera than the D80, released after the magazine did its testing. It's lighter and at about $650 is $100 less expensive. According to reports from users, overall it's a better choices unless you need the auto focus feature of older Nikon lenses.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Reid Goldsborough is a syndicated columnist and author of the book, Straight Talk About the Information Superhighway. He can be reached at reidgold@comcast.net or http://www.reidgoldsborough.com

In the print media, pictures are used to break the monotony of a news page. Illustrations may be used as page decoration. If its only purpose is to create a favorable impression for the reader, it's a valid function. After all, according to J.W. Click and Russel N. Baird's book, “Magazine Editing and Production,” people hang paintings and photos on their walls for aesthetic reasons only.

Given that concept, one can surmise that photography is, indeed, a work of art captured in technicalities and presented in an exceptional manner. The total impression on the subject will always depend on the way the photographer wants to present his or her subject matter.

For this reason, special classes in photography provided for those who wish to perfect their skills as far as photography is concerned. However, there are some basic tips that every budding photographer must know in order to succeed in this kind of endeavor.

Here is a list of some of the important pointers that every photographer should know:

1. Get Ready

The key to good shots is to have all of your necessary materials ready. One of the basic skills needed in photography is the point and shoot. However, you can't do this if you lack the materials that you need such as extra batteries (in case you run out of battery supplies), a tripod (for a steady footing), and other devices like the lenses that would aid your ability to incorporate the point and shoot skill.

Besides, you would not want to be wasting your time rummaging through your bag to find those additional lenses just to get a close up shot of your subject. Aside from time-consuming, your subject might lose interest or if it is a moving object, it might not stay longer than you have expected.

2. Be Steady With Your Camera

One of the main reasons why pictures may come out blurred is the fact that some photographers can't get a steady hand on their cameras. It would be better to avoid shaking your camera. If you really can't avoid these, it would better to use a tripod or inserting your elbows to your sides so that you get a stable grip.

3. Focus On Your Subject

By attending some photography classes, you should be able to learn how to get the best angles to capture your subject. Just keep in mind to focus on your subject and not on anything else.

These are just some of basic tips that you will learn in a photography class. Just keep them in mind and you are on your way to your best shot.

Everyone makes snapshots of family members and close friends, but the problem is making "real" photographs of them. Sometimes it's easy to make the transition to serious photography using your friends and family as models; sometimes it's not. Advantages are that they are close and frequently available, so you can photograph them over and over, and at least sometimes get them to reveal their personalities to the camera.

Some disadvantages are that, at the beginning anyway, your family may not consider your photography important. You can win them over by giving them copies of your best pictures. Another problem is that family members become over-photographed and camera-shy. Don't press too hard for pictures.

In addition, you must deal with people's feelings about how they look, which may or may not be realistic. For example, my sister, who was a good looking woman, complained that my pictures of her made her look like an old turtle. The problem, of course, was that she didn't like being old and had really nothing to do with the picture itself.

The best way of photographing parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even family pets is to keep your camera close at hand. You must be persistent, and be just as polite to them as you would be to strangers. As with strangers, approach family members only when they are in a receptive mood. Then, clearly explain what you are trying to achieve, and why it may take several rolls of film to get there. When you are finished, make sure that you thank your "models" formally, of course. Show them their flattering pictures later, and give them prints or enlargements as thank-you gifts.

Examples of great opportunities for family group pictures are at weddings, birthdays, graduations, name-giving ceremonies, showers, holidays, and family reunions. Try to scout out in advance the place you want people to gather. Place senior members of the family (or the bridal couple, the birthday boy, etc.) up front and center, filling the frame, with everyone else arranged as interestingly as possible. Check the viewfinder carefully to make sure that everyone is included. Ask everyone to look at the lens when you shoot. Take several pictures of any big group; you should do this quickly so people don't freeze up. If you use the flash, minimize hard shadows by posing people away from walls, and using a bounce card or dome over the flash head.

For outdoor settings, choose a shaded location for group wedding and reunion pictures. Steps are great for posing a large family. Since almost everyone treasures family group photos, you should have no problem setting up these shots.

If you mount your best family prints in a good album, over the years it will become a valued heirloom.

The definition of a portrait is a formally posed picture. Outdoor portraits are often posed against relevant or beautiful backgrounds, and are known as "location portraits." Fine indoor portraits can easily be made by window light. Flash can be added to fill dark shadows in portraits, but if flash is used as the main light source, it should be off-camera and diffused by a bounce card for best results.

Choose a fine-grain film for almost all formal portraits. Overexpose by about V2 f/stop to minimize skin flaws. Use at least an 80mm lens or zoom setting for closeups of heads, because shorter focal lengths tend to exaggerate the size of noses. 28mm or 35mm lenses or zoom settings work well for location portraits showing, say, a landscape in the background.

The aim of most portraits is to capture a flattering likeness, plus show something of a personality on film. Some portraitists have a strong personal style while others are unobtrusive. The best way to relax anyone and get spontaneous expressions is to talk about whatever you can bring up that interests your subject. During the course of a session, there may come moments when silence is appropriate, but, in general, don't ever let people stiffen up and start worrying about their appearance in front of the camera. Talking is good; having music in the background is relaxing, too.

Soft lighting works great for most portraits. A carefully angled reflector may be helpful to "fill" (lighten) the shadows on the dark side of a window light or outdoor portrait.

With 35mm cameras, single portraits call for vertical compositions. Suggest and shoot several different poses - some with the subject's eyes looking into the lens, and some with the eyes looking slightly right or left.

Everyone can be made to look interesting in a portrait. Do this by angling the subject so the existing or added lighting is flattering, and by keeping your finger on the shutter release so you can capture fleeting animated expressions.

Some helpful tips: Pose a big person with his or her left shoulder turned away from the camera, but with the head facing the camera in order to create a slimming effect. If someone has a big nose, photograph him looking straight at you. If he has big ears, shoot a three-quarter profile view. Aiming slightly down on everyone except bald men is flattering.

For someone who is truly a model type, photograph the person from all possible angles. Some of those pictures should be good for exhibit or your portfolio. Take plenty of pictures in any portrait session. Shots that were made near the end of a shoot are usually the best because, by then, both you and the subject are warmed up and relaxed. You will soon learn to sense when you have caught what you want in the camera.

Whenever you are shooting formal portraits, it is best to mount your camera on a tripod. With a tripod, you can preselect and compose backgrounds in advance. A tripod also helps hold your focus, eliminates blur caused by camera shake in low light and windowlit situations, and frees you to concentrate on nuances of expression. In addition, using a tripod leaves you free during the shoot to talk to your subject(s) and put them at ease.

The camera or camera obscura is the image-forming device, and photographic film or a silicon electronic image sensor is the sensing medium. The respective recording medium can be the film itself, or a digital electronic or magnetic memory.

Photographers control the camera and lens to "expose" the light recording material (such as film) to the required amount of light to form a "latent image" (on film) or "raw file" (in digital cameras) which, after appropriate processing, is converted to a usable image. Digital cameras replace film with an electronic image sensor based on light-sensitive electronics such as charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. The resulting digital image is stored electronically, but can be reproduced on paper or film.

The movie camera is a type of photographic camera which takes a rapid sequence of photographs on strips of film. In contrast to a still camera, which captures a single snapshot at a time, the movie camera takes a series of images, each called a "frame". This is accomplished through an intermittent mechanism. The frames are later played back in a movie projector at a specific speed, called the "frame rate" (number of frames per second). While viewing, a person's eyes and brain merge the separate pictures together to create the illusion of motion.

In all but certain specialized cameras, the process of obtaining a usable exposure must involve the use, manually or automatically, of a few controls to ensure the photograph is clear, sharp and well illuminated. The controls usually include but are not limited to the following:

• Focus - the adjustment to place the sharpest focus where it is desired on the subject.
• Aperture – adjustment of the iris, measured as f-number, which controls the amount of light passing through the lens. Aperture also has an effect on focus and depth of field, namely, the smaller the opening aperture, the less light but the greater the depth of field--that is, the greater the range within which objects appear to be sharply focused. The current focal length divided by the f-number gives the actual aperture size in millimeters.
• Shutter speed – adjustment of the speed (often expressed either as fractions of seconds or as an angle, with mechanical shutters) of the shutter to control the amount of time during which the imaging medium is exposed to light for each exposure. Shutter speed may be used to control the amount of light striking the image plane; 'faster' shutter speeds (that is, those of shorter duration) decrease both the amount of light and the amount of image blurring from motion of the subject and/or camera.
• White balance – on digital cameras, electronic compensation for the color temperature associated with a given set of lighting conditions, ensuring that white light is registered as such on the imaging chip and therefore that the colors in the frame will appear natural. On mechanical, film-based cameras, this function is served by the operator's choice of film stock or with color correction filters. In addition to using white balance to register natural coloration of the image, photographers may employ white balance to aesthetic end, for example white balancing to a blue object in order to obtain a warm color temperature.
• Metering – measurement of exposure so that highlights and shadows are exposed according to the photographer's wishes. Many modern cameras meter and set exposure automatically. Before automatic exposure, correct exposure was accomplished with the use of a separate light metering device or by the photographer's knowledge and experience of gauging correct settings. To translate the amount of light into a usable aperture and shutter speed, the meter needs to adjust for the sensitivity of the film or sensor to light. This is done by setting the "film speed" or ISO sensitivity into the meter.
• ISO speed – traditionally used to "tell the camera" the film speed of the selected film on film cameras, ISO speeds are employed on modern digital cameras as an indication of the system's gain from light to numerical output and to control the automatic exposure system. A correct combination of ISO speed, aperture, and shutter speed leads to an image that is neither too dark nor too light.
• Auto-focus point – on some cameras, the selection of a point in the imaging frame upon which the auto-focus system will attempt to focus. Many Single-lens reflex cameras (SLR) feature multiple auto-focus points in the viewfinder.

Many other elements of the imaging device itself may have a pronounced effect on the quality and/or aesthetic effect of a given photograph; among them are:

• Focal length and type of lens (telephoto or "long" lens, macro, wide angle, fisheye, or zoom)
• Filters placed between the subject and the light recording material, either in front of or behind the lens
• Inherent sensitivity of the medium to light intensity and color/wavelengths.
• The nature of the light recording material, for example its resolution as measured in pixels or grains of silver halide.

by wikipidea

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