photography a z the easy way l lenses

Photography A - Z the Easy Way: L - LensesWriten by Eric Hartwell

A lens is simply a device for focussing the scene in front of you onto the cameras sensor. All cameras have lenses. Some are built in (as in compact cameras and prosumers) and some are detachable (as with SLR cameras). All of them do the same job.

There are different types of lenses. Standard lenses will cover most normal jobs portraits, simple landscapes and such like. However there are telephoto and wide angle lenses also.

Telephoto lenses basically bring far away things nearer. A wildebeest on the African plain is dangerous if you get too close, so a telephoto will get a closer image without you moving yourself.

Wide-angle lenses make you see a broader area of the scene in front of you. It will make the wildebeest look smaller and farther away but it will include a larger breadth of the scene and enable you to see the bigger picture.

Its sometimes hard to choose which lens to get but luckily there is a cunning way of making sure you have a lens for virtually every situation. Manufacturers now very kindly produce zoom lenses. These are lenses that are normal until you twist or push or pull parts of it then they become telephoto. Or, one moment they are wide-angle then they become normal again. We commonly refer to them as short zoom (going from wide-angle to normal) or long zoon (from normal to telephoto. Between them, you will hardly ever need another lens.

OK, you can get super zoom lenses and super wide-ange lenses, but these are for specialist use only or ar purchased by people with more money than sense. For most purposes you will feel entirely commfortable with a short and a long zoom. Talk to your local dealer and ask for a demonstration.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com

wedding photography backup strategies for your digital photos part 1

Wedding Photography: Backup Strategies for your Digital Photos (Part 1)Writen by Juan Carlos Torres

Digital wedding photography presents special challenges to the every day wedding photographer. The risk of losing the precious wedding moments of a couple brings nightmares and anxiety to most photographers that I know.

As a professional wedding photographer and a certified computer systems administrator I will offer some recommendations about the best way to protect digital wedding images.

1. Star by formatting the flash cards and/or micro drives in the camera that you will use to take the photos. Even when it is possible to format the flash cards in your computer using a flash card reader it can lead to compatibility issues and data loss.

2. Although flash cards are very resistant to abuse it is always better to play it safe and keep them away from shock, heat, and magnetic sources.

3. Once you return from the wedding download the images to your computer. Once they are downloaded, browse through the images to ensure they were successfully downloaded and then create backups to CD and/or DVD. Never browse through your images on the Flash card. In our studio we create two DVD copies of the files and we also copy them to two different hard drives on different computers. One of the DVD copies is stored at a different location.

4.A Computer RAID (Redundant Array of Independent (or Inexpensive) Disks offers a great deal of fault tolerance to protect your data. There are several levels of RAID and each of them offers different levels of data protection. For practical and common implementation I am going to discuss the most common types of RAID:

Level 1: Mirroring and Duplexing: requires two drives and the data is written (mirror) on the two drives simultaneously. If one of the drives fails the data can be recovered from the good drive.

Level 5: Block Interleaved Distributed Parity: This is one of the most common and solid implementations of RAID. It requires a minimum of 3 drives and allows the data to be written across all of the drives. If one of them fails you simply replace the failed drive and the RAID is automatically rebuilt.

Most operating systems allow you to build some form of RAID however if the OS fails you also lose the RAID. The recommended RAID is trough the use of a RAID card.

5. Tape backup offers a very solid way of backing up your files and operating system. It has been around for a long time and has proved to be the most reliable form of backup. Tapes are very portable and make the storage at outside locations very convenient. Tape backups require a backup program what makes scheduling backups and automating the process easy.

6. Offsite FTP Backups Can also be set automated using computer programs. At a set time interval or continuously the computer that holds the data connects to a remote location server and uploads the files. The main disadvantage is that they create a lot of Internet traffic and in the case of wedding photographers that store gigabytes of images the transfer time can become prohibitive.

In Part 2 I will discuss additional strategies to protect your beautiful wedding photos.

Juan Carlos Torres is a very respected and awarded wedding photographer in Oregon.
He has a Masters Degree in Remote Sensing with a strong background in digital
image processing and photography. He is a member of the several professional photographer
organizations including the Professional Photographers of America, the Professional
Photographers of Oregon, the Wedding Photojournalist Association, and the Oregon
Wedding Photo Guild. His wedding photographs are unique and very artistic and
have been featured in national and international magazines. For a sample of his
works please visit Eugene Oregon Wedding
Photographer and Portland Oregon
Wedding Photographer For a discussion on wedding photography see our Blog
at Oregon
Wedding Photographer

african safari photography best five destinations

African Safari Photography Best Five DestinationsWriten by Bruce Whittaker

Good wildlife safari photography is not only about composition and camera equipment because you first need to find your subjects before you can even lift your camera. This best five African wildlife destinations list helps you do that.

Once you have been going on wildlife photography safaris in Africa for a number of years you begin to realise and recognise that certain areas are better than others for generating good animal picture opportunities on a consistent basis.

The ranking is based on over twenty years of my safari photography experience, forums, countless trip reports and travel journals, travel magazines and prevailing wisdom in the Africa travel industry.

1. Serengeti NP - Tanzania

One of the best safari parks in Africa bar none, the Serengeti is a safari photography dream destination.

The wildlife viewing on a photographic safari here often borders on the spectacular aided by the fact that the vegetation is predominantly grassland which makes spotting animals from a distance considerably easier and provides less obstacles like bushes and trees to obscure your subjects.

The grassland is also able to sustain a multitude of herbivores like wildebeest, zebra and gazelle which in turn sustains a large population of predators to feed on them so it's no surprise that the Serengeti is often referred to as ig cat central. In the Masaai language Serengeti means endless plain which is very close to the truth.

Two extraordinary events occur here that make it an even more remarkable place to take a Tanzania safari. The annual wildebeest migration and the birth of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest foals.

The migration occurs as the massive herds of up to a million individuals begin their search for better grazing by moving north. The exact timing is dependant on the seasonal rains but they travel across the Serengeti en masse roughly between April and August.

In February - March, months before they begin their epic journey, the wildebeest give birth within a six week period to hundreds of thousands of calves, taking advantage of the sweet grazing available in the Serengeti at that time. They all foal at the same time to cause a glut of prey opportunities for the predators who make full use of the bonanza while they can.

And so can you with some remarkable picture opportunities in the offing.

2. Masai Mara Reserve - Kenya

This is one of the places where your camera will start steaming from overuse especially if you are after big cat pictures.

Along with the Serengeti in Tanzania, this is without a doubt the premier game viewing destination in Africa because of the quality and quantity of wildlife sightings and safari photography opportunities to be found here.

This sometimes works against it because in certain places it can be overrun with photographers and tourist in safari vehicles all jostling for the best position around a bemused lion pride or leopard in a tree.

But if predators are what you seek from a safari photography trip then this reserve will deliver them in spades in the form of lion, cheetah, hyena and even regular leopard sightings if you know the right areas.

Taking a hot air balloon ride over the plains will provide a unique perspective for your safari photography efforts not to mention an amazing experience.

3. Kruger NP - South Africa

The Kruger National Park has to rank as one of the best South Africa safari photography destinations, only slightly behind the Masai Mara and Serengeti when it comes to wildlife viewing because the vegetation in Kruger can be dense and sometimes mars the ability to see longer distances and get clear wildlife pictures.

But the variety of animals, birds and ecosystems that you can experience here are unparalleled anywhere else in Africa and the accommodation, roads and facilities are top notch and all at a very affordable price.

It's not unusual to see lion, leopard, cheetah, a pack of wild dog, rhino, elephant, buffalo and a whole host of antelope, crocodile and hippo in the course of a single trip including a variety of insects and reptiles.

On the bird front you will be spoiled with a seemingly never-ending supply of eagles, hawks, water birds and a host of migratory and indigenous species to the tune of about 510 different varieties.

You can easily do a self drive safari photography holiday here and still see a decent amount of wildlife especially if you stick to the central and southern portions of this massive park (larger than Ireland). The north has fewer animals due to dryer conditions but also less tourists which makes for a more isolated and intimate wildlife experience.

4. Okavango Delta and Moremi GR - Botswana

The Okavango Delta must qualify as the most unique and varied safari area in Africa and photographs of the landscape here are almost as prized as the wildlife pictures themselves.

The delta lies in the North of Botswana and it consists of narrow water channels lined by papyrus, floodplains covered knee deep in water, hippo filled lagoons, forest glades and savannah grassland.

You can go on outstanding safari photography expeditions here on foot, using a 4x4 vehicle, a mokoro (dug-out canoe) or a motorised boat.

Vast herds of buffalo, elephant, gazelle and zebra roam this rich ecosystem which is fed by the Okavango river which has its source in the Angolan highlands and floods the delta every year.

This treasure trove of available prey attracts the predators too and lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog thrive here. The dry season is the best for game viewing because the animals are drawn to the permanent water sources.

The Moremi game reserve consists of strictly controlled, privately managed concessions and it falls within the Okavango delta area and has no fences which leaves the animals free to roam around as they please.

There are a number of upmarket Botswana safari lodges in Moremi such as the Vumbura concession which contains both wetland and savannah areas for the best of both worlds.

The Delta is at its most impressive in August when the water is at its deepest and most of the young are born between November and March when the vegetation is lush and dense so it might be a good idea to plan any Botswana safari photography trips to coincide with these events.

5. South and North Luangwa NP - Zambia

Some experts have branded the Luangwa National Park as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world because the density of game you can find here mixed with the isolation and pure unadulterated wildness of it is almost without compare.

Because it is reasonably undiscovered except to the locals in the know and a select few foreign visitors, it hasn't been overrun by masses of tourists yet and you can experience a safari photography vacation here as it should be and some say that is the best Africa has to offer.

There are over 60 species of animal here with the unfortunate exception of rhino because they were poached into extinction and over 400 different kinds of birds.

They all rely on and are drawn to the winding Luangwa river which is crowded with some of the biggest concentrations of hippo and crocodile you will find anywhere in Africa. it has been estimated that there are 50 hippos per kilometre of this congested river.

The South Luangwa was the birthplace of the walking safari and it is still a very popular way to explore the area from a quality collection of safari lodges and camps. Night drives are another excellent way to see leopard which are reputed to be more regularly seen in this park than anywhere else in Africa because of the high concentrations of the predator. Lions and even rare sightings like honey badger, civet and wild dog are likely to be seen.

To take the true Zambia safari photography adventure a step farther, the northern luangwa area is even more remote, wild and isolated than the south and the wildlife and bird viewing experience is from the top draw. Definitely one for the safari cognoscenti.

wildlife photography tips and advice about the best nature cameras, lenses and techniques to improve your pictures on safari.

African primate pictures taken on safari of chimpanzee, gorilla, baboon, vervet, mandrill and colobus monkeys.

feedback in your photography

Feedback in Your PhotographyWriten by Eric Hartwell

There is a guy called Pendleton. You won't have heard of him but he is well known in Britain, at least in medical circles. He was a family physician with a love of medical education and used to teach doctors to become better family doctors.

One of the things he developed was Pendleton's Rules. This was a process of feedback on a task between two or more people. It was designed to be safe, non-threatening and constructive.

It is still used today, and in fact, Pendleton is still alive and well - at least he was at the time this article was written. His rules can be transferred into virtually any situation where feedback is justified.

For example, when viewing images and giving your opinion. Or when discussing tasks and routines in photography.

It's a really simple set of rules which follows the following broad pattern:

- the person wishing feedback talks first and states what went well or was done well

- then the person giving feedback says what went well or was done well

- the receiver then states what went badly or was done badly

- lastly, the giver of feedback states what went badly or was done badly

It is a very powerful feedback method which gives the subject a number of positives. First, the subject is able to think about what they did well and actually praise themselves for it. This is important because we rarely say to others how good we are at something. The person giving feedback can then reinforce this good work ethic and add additional praise. Thirdly, the recipient is given a chance to think about the negative parts - something that can, in other situations, either be glossed over or received grudgingly. Discussing your own problems can be very positive when someone is there to share and support your discussions. Lastly, the giver of feedback can point out any other areas that were missed or which were too painful to vocalise.

It worked for Pendleton and it continues to work for intelligent doctors in Britain. It might also work for your photographic progress.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com

photographers take risks when they become involved in this aspect of photography

Photographers Take Risks When They Become Involved in This Aspect of PhotographyWriten by Paul Gooch

As a newspaper photographer Ive taken quite a few `snatch shots, which are photographs of someone that were taken without the person in the picture being aware of it.

Actually there are two kinds of snatch shots, long range and close range. Long range shots are usually but not always taken with a zoom lens, usually from several hundred yards away. Close range snatch shots are best taken with a medium wide angle lens and they are taken from just a few yards away.

Lets assume that you plan to take a long range snatch shot, that your subject (or prey, whichever way you want to look at it) is in a public park and that you are perhaps a couple of hundred yards away from him.
Several things could happen.

You might casually raise your camera and pretend to be taking pictures of the park. Point it in several directions and perhaps play around with the camera controls to make it look as if youre adjusting it, maybe changing the aperture or shutter speed.

But at some stage youll have to point the camera in his direction, and this is where the problems can begin.
He may not be quite sure what you're taking a picture of; he may think that you're just taking a picture of the park or he may suspect that you're taking a picture of him.

It's bad news, either way, because he has now been alerted. This may be enough to make him turn his back on you and move away but if he doesnt, if he keeps looking at you, keep cool.

Remember that he will be looking at the camera head on, and from this perspective all he can see is the front of the lens, he cant see the body part of it. And as he can't see the body of the lens, the chances are that he doesn't know if its a standard lens or a zoom lens.
If he decides that its a standard lens it might be ok, he might decide that youre harmless.

Or he might tell himself that he doesn't care what kind of lens it is, you arent going to take his picture, period. He might decide to confront you about it, to walk over to you and find out what the hell you're doing.
Keep calm, but also decide what you're going to do and do it quickly.
Basically you have three options.

One option is let him walk right up to you, let him demand to know what you're doing, admit that you were taking his picture and offer to delete the pictures. This may not be good enough for him, of course - he may decide to trash your camera and perhaps trash you too.
Another option is to stand up to him; tell him you were taking his picture and ask him what he plans to do about it.

A third option is to take his picture as he is walking towards you, to forget how scared you are and keep pressing that shutter. Then, when youre sure you have some good pictures of him...
Run like hell!

* There are also important ethical issues involved in this kind of photography and I plan to discuss these in a future article.

Paul Gooch is a Press and wedding photographer located in Skegness UK. He sells his photographs to local, regional and national newspapers, has taught media studies at a local college and has published several thought provoking and perhaps controversial articles about photography on his web site http://www.paulgoochimages.com

photography a z the easy way q quality

Photography A - Z the Easy Way: Q - QualityWriten by Eric Hartwell

If you read around you will find that lots of people natter on about image quality. In particular, they go on and on about how to improve the quality of an image.

They will talk about lenses, sensors, light sources, manipulations and other things that you or I wouldn't know a great deal about.

Ignore these people and don't let these mundane arguments put you off taking superb images that anyone with a modicum of common sense can easily do.

The quality of your image will be enhanced by:

- making sure your camera is in good condition

- composing as best you can

- avoid extremes of light and dark in your photographs

- keeping your lenses clean

- focussing accurately

- avoid using the extremes of aperture settings

- choosing the correct shutter speed for your subject

- avoid camera shake

- use the appropriate light source

- avoid colour casts (use correct white balance)

- avoid very long shutter speeds

Don't let others convince you that you need a camera with huge numbers of megapixels - 3 or more megapixels will produce great images. My own compact camera is a 2 megapixel Canon which has always been more than enough.

Your image quality is also dependent upon correctly calibrating your computer screen, the type of printer you have and the paper you use to print on. But if you focus on the picture-taking stage then you will be well on the way to producing great images.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com.

equipment needed for bird photography

Equipment Needed for Bird PhotographyWriten by Dries Cronje

The nice thing about bird photography is that it can happen anywhere on our beautiful globe. The not so nice thing is that birds are small or shy, and you need to be able to get close enough with your equipment. In this article, we will be looking at the ideal equipment for bird photography. We will also be having a quick look at how to use this equipment.

Camera body

We live in the world of digital photography, and therefore we will only be discussing digital camera bodies. I am also a really big Canon fan, so I will talk Canon, and you can translate it to other manufacturers if you need to.

You will need a decent camera body that allows you to set continuous focus while shooting images in the raw image quality. The cheapest body allowing you to do this is the Canon EOS 20D. However, it is not really cheap. The reason for it being not too affordable is that it is actually a very good all-round camera body for the serious amateur or professional. You cannot go wrong with this body

Lenses

A lot of amateurs think that a really decent long zoom lens will solve all their problems. I have been there guys, and it does not. Do what the professionals do and get that long prime lens.

I used the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM for a long time, and my results were decent but not good enough. It is not the sharpest lens. If you need to use a zoom rather stick with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM. It is pin sharp.

I now use the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM and it is the best thing that could have happened to my photography. It is very sharp and very fast at the same time. A bit heavy at times, but I need the exercise! With this lens I mostly use a Canon Extender 1.4x II for an effective focal length of 1 120 mm with autofocus! That is plenty for any bird, and I cannot imagine getting a lot of good bird photographs with anything shorter.

By the way, do not use manual focus. Todays cameras were not built for manual focus as the viewfinders are small and do not allow you to see enough detail to manual focus effectively.

Photographing flying birds

Okay, now you have all the equipment and you are heading into the field to get that award winning photograph of a flying bird. You have to have enough light entering your lens for a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action. You also want your camera to focus where the bird is in that split second you are going to give it before firing away. So what do you do?

Set you camera to an ISO speed of 400. In sunshine this ought to be fast enough. The reason for not using ISO 100 or 200 is that you are photographing action and you do not want anything to blur.

You must also make sure your lens is open at its maximum aperture. A Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM lens coupled with a Canon Extender 1.4x II gives a maximum aperture of 5.6, and this is what I use when photographing flying birds.

Also ensure your camera is set to continuous autofocus. Canon calls this setting AI Servo focus. This is crucial and the main reason why I am not a fan of camera bodies like the Canon EOS 350D. They do not allow you to use this focus with raw images Thanks Canon!

I also set my image stabilizer to Mode 2 for photographing moving subjects, to avoid it actually working against that sharp photo rather than for it

Now all that is left is moving that heavy lens around while the birds are flying past. Happy shooting!

Conclusion

We professionals have a way of sometime making it sound like you do not need good equipment to be a good photographer. That is utter non-sense. Get yourself decent equipment and you will see why the pros get the shot and you dont.

The other thing that makes the professionals so much better than the average amateur is patience. Go and sit somewhere where there are birds, forcing yourself not to move for three hours, and you will get the magic shots. Your patience will be rewarded.

Dries Cronje is a freelance nature photographer operating in Southern Africa. He has a passion for teaching and has dedicated one of his sites, http://www.africa-nature-photography.com, purely to helping his fellow nature photographers.

nude art photography

Nude Art PhotographyWriten by Maria A. Novatschkova

Nude photography is the genre of art photography, whose subject is the representation of the naked (full nude) or partially naked (half nude) human body.

The aesthetic value of nude photography and its boundary to erotic photography can only be determined with difficulty and inter-subjectively and is also affected by its numerous overlaps with pornography. In consequence, nude photography and erotic photography always find themselves branded in multiple ways, and labelled as works of artistic freedom, aesthetics, kitsch, junk or provocation. The boundaries of nude photography, erotic photography and pornography are so undefined and continuously changing that they are always determined and defined by the subjective moral view of the individual and the generally accepted cultural confines of customs and tradition.

Whether the picture itself is art or junk always lies in the eye of the beholder. One (subjective) definition of the worth of a nude photograph is: A nude photo is then good, when the Model shows it around at the coffee table at her grandmothers birthday party and receives positive feedback. (Gnter Rinnhofer) Other definitions have been by far more controversial. For Horst Werner this art form has always been about provocation and evoking of emotions. He prefers disgust, shock and aversion (as evoked for example by his photographs of nudes at a cemetery or of disabled people) to indifference, which in his opinion, is often the only reaction generated by other, more conventional art styles. Additionally, it is nowadays no longer such a taboo to depict the primary sex features of a human being. However, in contrast to pornography, nude photography does not actively pursue to excite the audience, although this does not exclude that it is consumed with this intention and effect.

Tasteful nude photography is often regarded as high skilled photography as besides technical knowledge and the ability to manipulate light the nude photographer also needs strong communication skills and the ability to build a positive relationship with his model. A modelling contract between photographer and model often includes additional remuneration to the model besides payment and publication rights.

Subgenres and Subjets

Feminine nudity must be given to men by the teaspoonful, not with a scoop. (Coco Chanel)

Nude photography divides into three basic forms: the classic full nude with a simple background, full nude model where model is completely naked; the detailed nude depicting certain details of the body, abstracting and making them anonymous, and emphasising the forms and structures of the nude; and finally the half nude, where the model is partially clothed or partially wrapped with accessories.

History and development

The nude is a classic subject in art. Already the early high cultures (Egypt, Crete, India among others) knew nude representations. Its development into other representation forms can be pursued from Greek clay to the art of the middle ages and on to the European art of the modern age. Since the renaissance, the study of the nude human body is an intrinsic part of art education at art academies.

Since around 1847 the nude has also become the object of photography, the first nude photographers including Philippe Debussy, E. Delacroix, Eugene Durieu and B. Braquehais. Models were both professionals and prostitutes and photographs were both artistic and spicy, which often invited the aversion of moral and law enforcement officers.

Important Nude Photographers

Bettina Rheims David Bailey
Eric Kroll Helmut Newton
Hans-Peter Muff
Jan Saudek Meister der Koloriertechnik (kolorieren)
Jeanloup Sieff Man Ray
Paul Outerbridge Petter Hegre
Richard Kern Roy Stuart
Robert Mapplethorpe Sam Haskins
Uwe Ommer Gnter Blum

This article was first published by Maria A. Novatschkova, art critic at Poster-art-gallery.com > nude photography

wildlife photography pros and cons

WildLife Photography: Pros and ConsWriten by Rishi Bajpai

India is amongst the top twelve countries in the world in terms of wildlife and forests depicting 'Mega Diversity'. Remote mountains icy plateaus, moist evergreen foothills, rainforests and dry scrub, deserts, saline flatlands, mangrove swamps, lush mountain forests, grassy meadows, shaded pools of water; tall feathery bamboo all collectively supports an amazing variety of wildlife.

Since centuries ago animals have been worshipped in India for instance elephants are seen as Lord Ganesha and monkeys as Hanumana.

A very large number national parks and sanctuaries have now been established in India to provide natural habitat to animals. TIGER is National Animal & PEACOCK is National Bird Of India. This is only place in the world where one can see the majestic beauty of Tiger in a single visit of Bandhavgarh, Kanha or Ranthambore National Park. Tiger is now become a Prime animal of India.

Corbett national park -Indias oldest national park and Periyar Reserve hosts the home of the Asian Elephants. The Kaziranga in Assam is the homeland of one horned Rhino. Gir forest of Gujrat is now the only place in entire Asia for Asiatic Lion. The worlds heritage Keoladeo Ghana National Park, a smattering of wetland attracts some of the greatest congregations of migratory waterfowl.

Its flora comprises 15000 flowering plants that are 6% of the worlds total. Indias faunal diversity is also high, with its 1178 bird species representing 14% of the worlds total. Similarly there are Over 500 species of mammals, 30,000 insects and over 400 varieties of reptiles. In short this sub-continent is a paradise for those who love to observe the grace and beauty of the flora and fauna and for those who want to capture it on film.

With an amazing variety of flora and fauna it is unfortunate to know that around 250 animals are endangered and in need of immediate protection. A few of them like Cheetah have already been extinct and many more are there in the queue surviving woefully on its last legs for instance Tiger, Golden Langur a few varieties of deers and monkeys and certainly some of the birds.

There had been several efforts made by the Indian Government to protect and perverse this rich wildlife and splendid nature. One of the success stories is that of the Project Tiger the most spectacular one and the one, which has saved many forests under its wide umbrella. Project Tiger succeeded mainly through the strong, evocative symbol of the tiger itself, in rallying public opinion not in India but worldwide.

In 1972 India declared a number of animals and birds as completely protected and started project tiger, declaring 11 sanctuaries, reserved forests and national parks for tigers exclusively in the Indian subcontinent. Measures to preserve wildlife taken since independence have been fruitful to some extent. Now we have over 200 sanctuaries, national parks and reserve forests spread all over the country. Some of these are as big as 780 sq. km and the smaller ones around 26 sq.km in area. The majority of these are well connected by road and rail and some even by air. Furnished rooms, dormitories, rest house of the Forest Department and private hotels with all amenities are available. In most of the sanctuaries and national parks, roads are good. In some places there are watchtowers near water holes. Common animals found in abundance.

Rishi Bajpai is a wildlife photographer since last fifteen years. He had his inclination towards wildlife especially birds, right from child hood. He used to feed the small birds in the vicinity of his home and was always enthusiastic to explore their beauty.

wedding photography and video

Wedding Photography And VideoWriten by Rafi Michael

Your wedding is one of the most pleasant and memorable events of yourlife. It is once‑in‑a-lifetime event. This is the day you remember for years to come. You spend a significant amount of time planning for this day. After months of anxious waiting for this day, it finally arrives. From the time you wake up till you say bye to your last guest, you hardly get the time to think that it is actually happening. Then you find that the event is over and what you are left with is all your memories of the day.

Every time you think about it, you start living those moments again and again. This is the time you realize why it is so important to have a professional photographer and videographer on that special day to capture those magical moments of your wedding. These people capture an d create the unforgettable images and video that will be treasured for years to come. As you won't be able to look at all corners of the reception hall at once to catch all of the special moments of the day, it the duty of a professional photographer to take care of all that. After years, it will be priceless to watch and listen your friends and relatives just as they were, gathered around you on this day of days. Your wedding video also tells the true story of your event from start to finish. V ideo is a great way to capture the moments of your event forever. It preserves the moments exactly as they happened. A videographer follows alongside you in your closest moments to capture all those personalities that make the day special for you.

Event photography and videography are two sides of the same coin. They run in parallel to each other. Event photography runs in many sessions throughout the day. It is not just limited to the wedding ceremony and reception. It includes informal engagement, pre‑ceremonies at home or site, formal group photos of families and guests and a lot more. Event photography is like an art which demands proper equipment and the right skills. It requires the person to be creative and effective under pressure. A professional event photographer has all the training and experience required to create unforgettable images and preserve the memories of your event day. He has in depth technical knowledge of all aspects of conventional and digital photography.

To select the right event photographer and videographer is vital in ensuring that your event runs smoothly. As soon as your event date is finalized, you should start your search for a professional photographer and videographer. At this point, it becomes difficult to decide which one to choose for the day. What's good for one may not be the best option for another. A lot of your friend and relatives might tell you about different photographers, but whomever you choose, it is important to feel comfortable with the person. He should be someone whom you can trust as well as enjoy his or her company.

When you ask for photographers' portfolios for sample work, it is better to look for whole event albums. An album from beginning to end is much more accurate representation of a photographer's work. Try to judge the photographer's style from his work. Try to search for the images where the photographer has shown the alertness to capture natural spontaneous images. For videography, inquire about the type of video camera and technology that they will use. Use of highest quality technology such as wireless microphone in videography provides a better sounding movie throughout the video.

After you have selected a photographer and videographer, discuss about the prices, deposits, packages, quantity of pictures, etc. Most studios offer a number of packages to work within your budget varying in number of hours, images, and a definite number of final pictures in an album. Better photographers charge the higher rates.

After you have finalized the photographer and videographer, discuss your event day schedule with them so that everything runs smoothly without confusions.

After the event is over, receive proofs from your photographer so that you can choose your favorite images to be developed and enlarged. You can also purchase the additional copies in the future as photographers keep the negatives for a specified number of years.

Rafi Michael Offers Toronto Wedding Services . He is also webmaster of babylon production wedding directory

are there other types of photography

Are There Other Types Of Photography?Writen by Roy Barker

As we have discussed there are many avenues open to a professional photographer. Some actually graduate from the world of business into corporate photography. Corporate photography has many facets; it is used for publicity, in the form of advertisements; for public relations, for historical purposes, and for in-house brochures. Some corporate photographers can work for the same company for many years. They cover special events in the companies history, as well as being as in some cases an important aspect of industrial history. The history of the steamboat, the transition from the Agrarian to the Industrial revolution has all been captured on film.

Not only industrial history but history has been captured on film. War photographers usually by press photographers have captured history.

In the 1940s Ansel Adams was probably the best-known American photographer. He captured images of the enforced internment of American citizens of Japanese descent at the Manzanar War Relocation Center in California. These prints record history in another way as the Photographic Division of the Library of Congress show digital scans of his negatives as well as his prints; this allows a student to study his dark room techniques.

The art of action photography is a specialised art that presents unique challenges, requiring both technical skills in capturing a moving image, as well as knowledge of the activity you are photographing. A sense of timing is vital as well as having the ability to pre-focus. Some types of photography has peak moments, such as the hour before dusk, action photography has peak milliseconds! Your sense of timing has to be well developed to know when this is going to be, because you have to shoot a millisecond before that to give the camera time to actually shoot. This is where knowledge of the activity is very helpful to allow you to anticipate the peak second. However, this is a very specialised aspect of the photography business, your techniques can be improved. Sport photography is easier than moving wildlife, or breaking news stories, as it is more predictable in its outcome. Common sense is fairly important with your positioning, you need an interesting backdrop, as well as a place that allows you to make best use of ambient light, be it also to keep yourself in a position of safety. The Pulitzer Prize for photography is no use to anyone when they are dead. Often these skills can be refined at amateur sporting events, where you do not need a press pass.

Another specialist type of photography is underwater photography, partly because you also need to be a qualified diver and partly because the equipment is specialised. It is possible to take shots underwater, with a normal camera, but amphibious cameras, get better results, unfortunately they are expensive, with a lot of things to learn and the possibility of very expensive repairs. As with action photography this is best left to the specialist and it is not a feasible option, unless you work in this media for the majority of your time. The sea can be a dangerous medium to work in, and it presents special challenges such as night, and wreck photography, as well as drift photography, all of which challenge both your diving skills as well as your technical skills.

Scientific photographers take images of a variety of subjects to illustrate or record scientific or medical data using knowledge of scientific procedures. They typically possess additional knowledge in areas such as engineering, medicine, biology, or chemistry. Often the photography of this type of record is an adjunct to a scientific career.

Assignment photography is the delivery of material for a specific assignment, often with limited appeal. It includes portrait photography, as well as wedding photography. Portrait photographers often have their own studios, as their clients come to them to have a formal portrait photographed. SLR digital cameras are often preferred to do this type of work, as there are more opportunities to view real timework, you do not have to wait for the negatives to be printed to see if you have created a shadow on the face with a hat. Also they can be retouched, pixel-by-pixel, which means the small time imperfections can be glossed over. The adage the camera does not lie has never been completely true, but in todays world is even less so. A portrait photographer has the opportunity to go out on assignment and covers events such as weddings, and christenings.

Photo Journalism is another branch of photography that covers the breaking of various events; it can be general, on a local paper, covering local events such as school plays etc. International freelancers often cover specific areas such as war photography. Press photographers are often characterized under the banner of journalism, as they collect, edit and present news material, yet despite this they use images to tell a news story.

It is distinguished from documentary photography, street photography and the photographing of celebrities because they have a timeline in that they tell a story in a chronological order. A narrative to further complete the story nearly always accompanies the work. Implicit to a degree in this type of work is a level of objectivity rather than creativity, as the images are recording real events in real time. For these reasons it differs from a wedding photographer, even though in theory he covers an event in real time and for publication.

A further aspect of photography is the celebrity and Society photographer. The two are distinguishable, though the person being photographed can fall in both categories. The society photographer may be also a photojournalist himself. In Europe at least the Society photographer, is nearly always of the same class, partly on the ground that they have the breeding to cover such events, which may be Wimbledon, or the Melbourne Cup, or even a charity-raising gala. It is implicit that the Photographer has permission to take the photograph. That's quite different to the inherent distaste often applied to the methods used by the celebrity photographer, whilst at the same time the public retain an insatiable desire to be able to see the photographs. Celebrity photographers are often these days called paparazzi, after a famous Italian photographer known for his dogged determination to trail after celebrities, and publish photographs taken in an unguarded moment.

This article has been supplied courtesy of Roy Barker. Roy often writes and works closely with Profitable Photography Business. If the previous link is inactive, you can paste this one into your browser - profitable-photography.com This site is dedicated to coaching you in starting your own photography business but places a strong emphasis on profitability issues & guidelines. You can also gain many photography resources (some free) from Photography or if this link is inactive, you can copy and paste this link into your browser - profitable-photography.com/resources.php If you seek further guides, articles and news, you can go to Photography Tips or if this link is inactive, you can paste this address in your browser photography-business-tips.com Why not bookmark these links!

an introduction to pet photography

An Introduction to Pet PhotographyWriten by Stan Beck

Introduction

Photographing your pet can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Done well, it will allow you to immortalize Fluffy or Spot that significant member of your family the pet that shared you food, chewed your shoes, and brought you the newspaper. In fact, the act of seriously photographing your pet will bring you both closer because the process opens you to noticing the small, wonderful things that you might have missed before the way he wags his tail, etc. This is a grand adventure.

Goal

As with anything, its best to proceed with a goal in mind so you know where to start. What are you trying to accomplish? Are you trying to capture your pets playful side? Are you trying to setup a funny photo using a prop such as a birthday hat? Is this an interactive portrait between your pet and your child? Sit down and put on paper this goal, because it will help you in preparing properly. Nothing is worse than spending an hour going to your favorite scene with equipment in hand and realizing your forgot a favorite toy do your self a favor, do not skip this step.

Setting

Now that you have decided on your goal, its now time to decide the proper setting. Indoors vs. outdoors. Near the fireplace with an open fire in the background, or in a studio. At the beach or in the woods. As you think about the proper setting, think about how your pet will respond to that setting. If you decide the public park is the perfect place, you must think about your pets resistance to distractions. Is he/she able to resist running after another animal or person? The more you know your pet and look through his/her eyes, the better off you will be.

Preparation

Now you are at the critical preparation stage. Youve set your goal, youve decided on the appropriate setting lets try to anticipate all that can (and will) go wrong. I use the word wrong loosely try not be too rigid and to have fun we will talk more about that in a minute. Write out on paper every possible thing you can think of. Here are some suggestions:
Exercise your pet just enough so they are still alert, but not hyper

Lighting outdoor is best, but flash will work too should be natural lighting

Grooming only if it doesnt adversely affect your pets mood then do it days beforehand

Props/Toys favorite of the pet

Food favorite of the pet

Be prepared for sudden movement shutter speed about 1/125th and use iso 400 or 800 film (if indoors)

Watch the scene clutter

Have pet at least 6 feet away from background to reduce shadows

Bring an assistant to help manage your pet

Zoom Lens

Camera, Film, Tripod, Equipment, etc.

Etc., etc. Are you getting the idea? The first time you make out your list, the process will be a little tedious, but the beauty is that once the list is made, all you need to do is modify it slightly for the next sessions.

On Location

Whew, youve made to shooting location congratulations. Hopefully, youve brought everything you are going to need, right? Right! Now, its time for setup. Be organized; get everything laid out in a logical fashion. The last thing you want to be doing is fiddling around with equipment when you need to be shooting pictures an animal has a zero attention span and you have got to be ready to snap that picture when the moment is there. How is you animals demeanor? Is he/she super wound up? If yes, then perhaps some light exercise would be in order nothing too heavy, but just enough to help him/her calm down. How are you? Are you stressed? Relax, and go with the flow animals are super sensitive to your mood. Give your pet some last minute grooming just touch-ups. If you are outdoors, how is the wind? Is it too strong? Is the sun too bright? Remember, overcast is much better for exposure. Make sure that your pet is far enough away from your background so as to not cast any shadows.

The Photographers Mindset

Your mindset should be one of peace and serenity. I cant overstate that enough. Also, you need to climb into the mind of your pet as best you can. What are they thinking and feeling? Align your expectations properly. If you have never done this before, dont expect perfection the first time out that will just raise your anxiety level and will stress out your pet.

Shooting

One of the most important things to remember is to get down on your pets level, physically, as much as possible. A shot from above doesnt portray intimacy. In addition, when you are at your pets level, its easier for you to empathize with it. If youve never crawled around on the ground before, you might feel a bit foolish, but trust me, it makes all the difference in the world. Make sure that you and your handler work with each other you have got to be in charge, but also try to be flexible you have a lot of variables that you are managing.

Be patient, and have a lot of fun!!!

www.Kitten-Pictures.com

Stan Beck is a self-proclaimed animal lover. He also runs the website http://Kitten-Pictures.com.

landscape photography capture the beauty that is all around

Landscape Photography - Capture the Beauty That is All AroundWriten by Colin Hartness

There are many different types of photography. You can take pictures of anything and there is someone out there somewhere who would like to see the pictures that you take. So, photography is a great field to get into.

- What is landscape photography?

Landscape photography is a great field of photography, especially if you love nature and if you love to travel. You can travel the world taking pictures of beautiful scenes across many countries. Of course, this is landscape photography on a big scale. Not many people are lucky enough to start off traveling the world.

But you can find beautiful landscapes right where you live. Thats the great thing about nature, its everywhere, and landscapes are everywhere. And that same sunset behind the mountain that youve seen everyday since you were a kid may look pretty amazing to someone who has never been to the mountains. Seeing the sun rise up out of the oceanfront may be absolutely astonishing to someone who has never been to the beach. Its all relative.

What you may see every day is someone elses treasure. If you can open your eyes to the beauty and see it, then other people can see it in your photography. It can be simple and everyday or it can be vast and amazing. Its all about the great pictures you take. You may see a night city skyline, a series of lightening bolts or an interesting cloud; its how you take the picture that makes it beautiful to someone else.

- How to Learn Landscape Photography

If you are serious about landscape photography, you should take a course. You may have already had a course in photography but you will want to take one specifically for landscape photography so you can learn how to get the best pictures possible. You will want to learn what film to use and how to work with the sunlight or other natural light. You will also learn about achieving a sense of balance and scale, how to photograph running water and similar issues that a landscape photographer might face.

If you cant find any appropriate classes in your area, you can find them on the internet. You can also find many groups and message boards designed for landscape photographers to meet, share photos and tips and ideas. You can get tips and advice for your questions if you join these groups. You can also view the work of others, some that may be much more experienced than you. You can learn from them and their photos.

- How to Make Money with Landscape Photography

If you are considering landscape photography as a career (even part time), the first thing you are going to want to do is learn as much about it as possible; read books, take classes, visit websites. Then you are going to want to practice, and build a portfolio. Your portfolio should be updated often and only include your absolute best work. You may want to send some of your best photos to photo contests or magazines. These are good ways of breaking into the world of professional photography when you have no experience.

Looking for information about Photography?

Go to: http://www.asaphotography.com
'ASA Photography' is published by Colin Hartness -
An excellent resource for Photography!
Check out more Photography articles at: http://www.asaphotography.com/archive

wedding photography preserving the memories

Wedding Photography: Preserving the MemoriesWriten by Colin Hartness

A persons wedding can be one of the most important times in their life. They will have memories that they want to treasure forever and then pass on to their children. Wedding photography helps them do this. Having pictures taken at the wedding and then at the reception can capture those precious memories in freeze-frame and help you keep them forever.

Pictures are important so you want to be sure you get good photos, high quality photos that you can enjoy forever.

Most people will have a wedding book designed out of the collection of the best wedding photos. Usually the photographer will do this for you. You will then have a beautiful scrapbook from your wedding to hold your memories.

Choosing a photographer is a very important step in your wedding pictures. You want someone experienced that will do an excellent job for you. Its possible that you may be on a budget and price may be a factor as well.

How Do You Choose a Wedding Photographer?

There are several things you are going to want to look for with the most important being the quality of the work. It would be great if you could find a photographer that you had seen in action, perhaps at a family member or friends wedding. The hardest part of choosing a wedding photographer is that you sign a contract and agree to pay before you have ever seen the photos. Thats how it works in the world of wedding photography; you must make your decision based of faith in the photographer. So how do you make a decision like this?

Referrals

First, you are going to want to look at referrals. Ask your friends or family members who did their weddings and start compiling a list. You will also need to verify that these people are still photographing. Ask everyone you can about their wedding and their wedding pictures. Most people will even let you see their wedding photos and you can check out the photographers work.

Experience & Samples

Aside from samples from people you know, you can ask the photographer himself about samples. You can call the photographers on your list and do an interview over the phone or make an appointment to meet in person. This is your chance to ask the photographer any questions you may have such as their experience, what training they have and what different types of photography they have studied. If you are doing an in-person interview, the photographer can show you portfolios of samples of their work. If doing a phone interview, that ends well, you may want to go in person and see a portfolio.

Schedule and Appointment

When you have chose the photographer you think you want to use, you will have to schedule several appointments. The bride and groom, the brides parents and anyone else who may be taking part in paying for the wedding should be present at these meetings regarding the wedding photography.

At these meetings, you will discuss price, payment schedule and possible deposits. Next you will discuss the plan for taking the photos. Many people also get video and digital photographs now. Do you want these? Will your photographer be able to provide these? Will there be extra fees?

Many people have specific plans as to what they want pictures of (e.g. bride and father coming down the aisle, bride and groom, rings exchanging, the kiss, the bridesmaids, etc.) This is your chance to get all this written down so that the photographer is sure to get all the shots you want. Other people give their photographers a little more freedom to decide what pictures will be good to take.

Be sure to ask any questions you have about this important event. Your wedding photography is important to you so dont hesitate to be clear about what you want.

Looking for information about Photography?
Go to: http://www.asaphotography.com,
'ASA Photography' is published by Colin Hartness -
An excellent resource for Photography!
Check out more Photography articles at: http://www.asaphotography.com/archive

pet portrait photography tips for your own masterpiece

Pet Portrait Photography - Tips for Your Own MasterpieceWriten by Sarah Theophilus

For some pets, a good photograph representing their best qualities comes naturally, while for others it can be frustratingly elusive. Many people choose to have professional photos taken, and although this can lead to a wonderful portrait, with a little preparation and plenty of patience you may be able to achieve similar results yourself. After all...your four-legged companion is a member of your family, and who else knows their unique traits and idiosyncrasies better?

Here are a few simple yet effective suggestions which I've found can offer good results...

The most important factor in pet photography is lighting. Often the best possible light is achieved outside in natural daylight, so try experimenting with this even if your pet is an indoor only pet. Remember to avoid direct sunlight, as this can alter natural colouring -- a bright but overcast day is perfect. Don't use a flash, as this can cause red-eye and distort true colouring & shading. An exception to the above, however, is if your pet has a black coat, in which case a flash or strong sunlight can actually bring out shading and texture which may be lost in photos taken under other lighting conditions.

Next to consider is pose and positioning. Keep in mind it is most effective to take the photos on their level, rather than having your pet looking up at you which can distort natural form. Don't make them come to you. Instead, go to where they are most comfortable. Sit on the grass, lie on the floor, whatever it takes. Capture their most characteristic expression & pose. If they are generally happy, try to catch them doing their version of a smile.

Understandably, many pets have no patience for 'photo shoots' and find it hard to sit still. If your pet is having trouble focusing, a good idea is to have favourite treats or toys at the ready. Hold them up near the camera to catch (and hopefully hold) interest in the right direction. Most importantly, don't be afraid to be silly. Try making funny and unusual noises or movements to get their attention. Cameras can be distracting for some animals, so if you cannot get your pet to behave normally, try having someone else present to divert their attention.

Above all else, remember to have fun and don't be in a rush. Patience is most definitely a virtue when it comes to taking a spectacular pet photograph. Good luck!

Sarah Theophilus is a successful pet portrait artist who's work is featured online at Pets in Pastel -- http://www.petsinpastel.com. Take a moment to browse her original works, art cards, prints, free e-cards, wallpapers and more.

when photography isnt the first option

When Photography Isn't the First OptionWriten by Eric Hartwell

Today I hesitated, and watched the skies. Okay, they don't move - something to do with the Firmament being placed there by God, in His wisdom. But the clouds looked as if they might be getting ready to do something nice.

So I tossed a coin. Then I tossed another one, because I lost the first. This new one decided for me: I SHALL go out and see what photos I can take, even if there's nothing worth while.

The trouble is, I wanted to convince myself that there was nothing worthwhile to take a picture of. I was warm and snug at home and there was lots of coffee on tap and some good programmes on TV.

But that changed dramatically; the sky lightened, the sun peeped through, and a glorious sunset descended over the world - well, my part of it anyway. I waited a little longer, and the sky turned red - so red that it seemed on fire. I posted the pictures on the Shutter forums, and I think they're as good as it gets.

Another time, another place, another coin - and I probably wouldn't have gone outside at all. But the moral of the story is, of course: have faith, await inspiration, follow your judgements and dont forget the coffee will still be there when you get home.

Well, thats more than one moral but Im not counting. Im just musing over some great images.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com

photography a z the easy way c composition

Photography A - Z the Easy Way: C - CompositionWriten by Eric Hartwell

Almost nothing is more important than composition. No amount of manipulation of your image will help a badly composed picture.

But what is composition.

Don't worry about the fancy terms, but basically, composition is the art of getting the final image looking right, starting from the moment you take the picture.

There are several elements:

- choose the correct subject: make sure the subject is relevant to your audience and to the message you are trying to convey

- place the subject: the ule of thirds means that subjects look best one third in from the side of the image or one third from top or bottom

- associate your subject: use the appropriate setting which gives meaning to your subject

- clear clutter: check the background for unnecessary rubbish or distractions

- watch for inanimate objects: don't have lampposts growing out of people's heads

- choose the correct lighting: no squinting or shadowy faces allowed, unless intended

- isolate your subject appropriately: use different apertures to change depth of field

- make your subject alk: get your picture to tell a story of some sort

- use props: where necessary, consider using a complementary prop (for example, someone holding a flower, or a boy on a bike)

- use an appropriate lens: telephotos and wide angles have different fields of view

- fill the frame: where possible, make your subject fill the frame and avoid unnecessary inclusions

Composition is the backbone of good photography. Use it wisely and your images will have impact.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com

web cam astrophotography basics

Web Cam Astrophotography BasicsWriten by Carl Gilbertson

Web cams have changed amateur astrophotography profoundly. You
can now have a CCD for a fraction of the cost. Web cams can take awesome planetary and lunar astrophotos right out of the box. You can use the capture software that comes with the cam for capturing your shots and then use freeware to process the results. Can't get much cheaper than that. Of course for better results it is you should use specialized software, but that is available on the cheap as well.

And if you are a do-it-yourselfer, web cams can also be adapted to take long exposure astrophotos, pretty cool right? Plus there are ready to go, web cam based planetary imagers now available from Celestron, Meade and, Orion. Meade and Orion also have imagers for long exposure, deep-sky imaging. All these include software. They are however more expensive.

If you already have a web cam great, you only need some software which can be downloaded for free, and an adaptor to connect the web cam to your telescope. If you don't own one the following cams have proven to be good for astrophotography and good deals can be found on eBay for example.

-ToUcam Pro by Philips PCVC740K or PCVC840K ToUcam PRO II. I have both of these. I am leaving the new one as a dedicated planetary imager and adapting the PCV740K for long exposure astrophotography.

-Vesta pro also by Philips. I haven't personally used this web cam but others have with great success. It can also be adapted for long exposures.

-Quickcam pro by Logitech. I used to have one of these, but I prefer the ToUcam. It does a good job though and can also be modified for long exposures.

-There are other web cams which are good for astrophotography but these three are the only ones I have experience with.

Now for the adaptor to connect the web cam to your telescope. I use a Mogg adaptor, made by, surprise Mr. Steve Mogg. More information and purchasing can be found at: http://webcaddy.com.au/astro/adapter.htm
For either ToUcam you will want the UWAT-F, for the Vesta Pro the UWAS-F, and for the Quickcam Pro the UWAL-F. He has adaptors for other astrophotography web cams as well.

Next you will need some software to make this all work. Good news it won't cost you a single penny. First you will need some capture software. K3CCDTools version 1 is absolutely free. It works very well to capture astrophotos with web cams. I use version 3 which costs $45.00 because I use some of the other features it offers but you won't need that for basic planetary work (yet). You can download it at: http://www.pk3.org/Astro/index.htm?k3ccdtoolsdownload.htm.

To get really nice detail in your shots you will need to combine(stack) multiple images. A really nice piece of software is called RegiStax. It is also freeware. You can download a copy at:
http://registax.astronomy.net/html/download.html.

The next article in this series will be on setting up your web cam and software, capturing your first image during daylight, then getting your first astrophoto (the moon).

Carl Gilbertson has been involved in amatuer astronomy for over 30 years and astrophotography for over twenty-five years. Learn more at his site: Web Cam Astrophotography

photography a z the easy way e exposure

Photography A - Z the Easy Way: E - ExposureWriten by Eric Hartwell

A lot of fuss is made over exposure and it can get really complicated. No more read on!

Put bluntly, exposure is just the right combination of factors needed to make a decent image. A correctly exposed image needs just the right amount of light to fall on the sensor.

The amount of light falling on the sensor is determined by the shutter speed and the aperture.

The shutter speed can be seen as the amount of time the sensor is exposed to light (the faster the shutter speed the less light falls on the sensor). The aperture can be seen as the amount of light that can be let in through the lens (the bigger the aperture the more light comes in).

In average conditions, the faster the shutter speed the bigger the aperture that is needed to let light in. Conversely, the slower the shutter speed the smaller the aperture needs to be.

You can put this the other way around for a big aperture you need a fast shutter speed and for a small aperture you need a slow shutter speed,.

If too much light comes in the image is overexposed whited out. If too little light comes in then the image is very dark.

Dont worry your camera will do all this work for you if you put it on automatic mode (program mode). But sometimes the camera will be fooled into giving the wrong exposure (especially in very bright or very dark condition). In this case you can override the exposure by using aperture priority, shutter priority or manual mode. Check your camera instruction manual for further details and experiment.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com

photography a z the easy way a aperture

Photography A - Z the Easy Way: A - ApertureWriten by Eric Hartwell

A is for Aperture

Cameras let light in through an opening in the lens called an aperture. It does not matter exactly how it works, suffice it to say that the bigger the aperture the more light that is let in and the smaller the aperture the less light coming in.

The amount of light determines the exposure of the digital image. If there is too much light then the image will tend to be washed out and bright. If there is too little light the image will be dark.

On automatic settings, the camera will determine the aperture size and therefore the amount of light coming in. However, you have the ability to control the aperture on other settings and this can be used to good creative effect.

Unfortunately, in order to confuse us, the powers that be have decided that apertures sizes are round the wrorg way. So a small aperture (less light) has a large number and vice versa. As long as you remember this you will be ok.

The other thing to remember is that the larger (smaller number) the aperture the less things will be in focus in front of and behind your subject. This can also be used to creative effect but if you want as much in focus as possible, use a small (large number) aperture.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com

low light and night photography

Low Light and Night PhotographyWriten by Eric Hartwell

As the light fades, do thoughts of photography wane also? If that's the way you think then read on as we will be showing you that low light photography is awash with opportunities!



Images, whether from film or digital cameras, need one ingredient... light. How then can photographers get good images in low light conditions? Using flash would be one way. But even the most dimly lit scene has some light - and that means the potential for a great photo!



What equipment will I need?



Well, you will need a camera as well as charged batteries, that's for sure. Also, a tripod is invaluable for exposures lasting greater than 1/30th second (1/60th in some cases). A torch, a decent lens and think about a remote shutter release - using long shutter speeds means the potential for camera shake and blurred images is even greater than usual (the alternative is to use a self timing mechanism to trip the shutter).



What about white balance?



Night time often means scenes lit with artificial light. This will inevitably give a colour cast to your shots although this can be pleasing sometimes. There are many types of lighting (tungsten, halogen, fluorescent) and they will all come out with different colour casts - live with it! Try different white balance settings to see what effect it has on the final image.



How do I calculate the exposure?



This can be difficult. But with modern digital cameras you can see the results immediately and therefore make any adjustments straight away. Your meter may lie! Be ready to change the settings (and give a longer exposure). Night time shots can be very contrasty (bright lights and deep shadows) - the camera won't be able to cope with the extremities of exposure so just change the settings yourself until you are happy with the results! You may need to use the B or Bulb setting to hold your shutter open for long periods.



What can I photograph at night?



Virtually anything! The choices are almost limitless. We suggest you consider:


Buildings

Lights

Signs

Bridges

Cars / vehicles

Lit houses / pubs / shops

People (motion blur can be a useful effect)

Street illuminations

Fireworks

Bonfires

Fairgrounds

Reflections in lakes, pools




Look around for other ideas. Don't forget if there is any light at all, it can be turned into an image.



To calculate exposures you can use a rule of thumb - see below for rough examples of exposure times. However, each circumstance will require a different approach so you can expect to adjust things frequently!



Night (assume f16 ISO 100)


Town / City 20 sec

Signs / Lights 2 secs

Streets 20 secs

Streets 20 secs

Churches 30 sec

Fairgrounds 10 - 15 secs

Candlelight 60 secs

Fireworks 1 - 60 secs

One interesting aspect of night photography is the recording of moving trails of light. Cars, buses, trains, bikes will have bright headlights and tail lights which will record as trails across your image if you shoot them whilst they are moving with a slow shutter speed of anything from 2 - 20 seconds. Try it! The same goes for fairground rides. And don't forget that you can create your own trails with statically lit objects by zooming in or our during a long exposure or even panning the tripod head.



Bracketing



By taking a shot of a scene with, say, as stop of under exposure and a stop of over exposure, you will be more likely to capture an image that is correctly exposed. Bright lights tells the camera to underexpose. Many cameras will have automatic exposure bracketing to allow this to be done with minimal fuss! You are trying to record some detail in the shadows without burning out the highlights. If you take an image of a scene at 4 second exposure, take the same scene with 8 seconds and 2 seconds. In this way you will be likely to get the exposure you are looking for.



Night photography feels different. Different sights, different sounds, different locations and different camera settings. Nobody is an expert we all have to experiment. With modern digital cameras this is something that can easily be achieved.



Have fun!

Eric Hartwell is an enthusiastic photographer and owner of the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and discussion forums at http://www.theshutter.co.uk/forums.

photography is easy

Photography Is EasyWriten by Eric Hartwell

I dont know anything about photography and I find it difficult to learn

This is a common misconception that photography is too complex to learn. It isnt, and dont let anyone tell you different.

Unfortunately, there is much complex jargon and techno-babble that can put off a number of people. But photography is simple and heres why:

-cameras are so advanced and easy to use that it is difficult not to get a good image in most average situations

-even basic and cheap cameras are capable of producing outstanding results

-although many cameras have a multitude of controls and functions, you can leave it on automatic mode and the camera will do all the work for you

-you dont need to know anything about digital imaging apart from the fact that it exists and that it is dead easy to take great images with the technology

-you dont need to know anything about computers, programing or software

-you dont need to print your own photos (although its easy) you can get them printed at your local photo store

So, cameras are pretty easy to get to grips with and most people will be able to take great photographs as soon as the camera is out of the box. But, if you want to learn more there are plenty of free resources available. Online there are numerous camera websites and discussion forums plastered with learning tips, tutorials and good old friendly help and advice. There are also numerous books and articles of software that you can purchase if you need to.

Give it a try.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com

digital portrait photography shoot the person not the picture

Digital Portrait Photography: Shoot The Person, Not The Picture!Writen by Rika Susan

Digital portrait photography will produce superb results if you are able to see the person you are photographing, as one of your favorite people at that moment.

Digital portrait photography is for you if you care about people, are interested in what drives them, and how they came to be where they are. Good portrait photographers seem to get the best out of their subjects by being fundamentally interested in them, and being able to connect with them, even if it is just for the duration of the shooting session.

With digital portrait photography nothing has changed about the nature of this interaction! However, you will discover a number of creative - and financial! - advantages.

Whether your aim is professional digital portrait photography, or practicing it as a hobby, one of the best ways to go about it is to heed the written advice of experienced professional portrait photographers. Various aspects of this field have been covered in a number of informative books on the subject.

In 'A Comprehensive Guide to Digital Portrait Photography', Duncan Evans covers the different types of digital cameras available, including compact, single-lens reflex (SLR), and specialized models.

He also shows how to create a home studio, and explains the basics of portrait composition, texture, and mood. He includes topics such as color, computer manipulation, using duotones, tritones and sepia tones, and manipulating light and shadow.

A photographer who has published more than one book on digital portrait photography, is Jeff Smith. His books include 'Professional Digital Portrait Photography', where he walks you through the steep learning curve for digital portrait photographers. He shows you how to avoid commonly experienced problems, and he provides various techniques for shooting and editing.

Another of Jeff's books is 'Learn How To Make All Of Your Clients Look Their Very Best!', where he gets very practical about photographing real people, and not just models.

He discusses how to be tactful with people about those aspects of their appearance that they don't want to be highlighted in the portrait image.

His approach is to combine careful lighting, posing, and retouching to correct those flaws. The end-product is a portrait the client will love.

Is you main interest outdoor digital portrait photography? Jeff has also published 'Outdoor and Location Portrait Photography', in which he explains how to understand and control natural light, and how to select the best scene. He also includes tips for posing, selecting clothing, as well as marketing your portraits.

If you are keen to set up a digital studio, don't miss 'Master The Skills You Need To Build A Digital Portrait Photography Business', by Lou Jacobs Jr. This book deals with topics such as the following: how to select your equipment; locating and outfitting a digital portrait photography studio; designing an efficient workflow; and presenting and marketing your work.

Know you camera, be interested in the people you deal with, and you will soon be a master of digital portrait photography.

For more information visit Best-Digital-Photography.com

Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.

wedding photography what to look for

Wedding Photography - What to Look ForWriten by Jen Carter

References. A wedding photographer who doesnt have references may not be the person you want to hire to highlight your special event. In addition to viewing their portfolio, you might want to ask the prospective photographer for a list of personal references. Getting to know the person youre hiring is always a great idea. People love to talk. Lets just hope they say good things about the photographer you want to hire. Ask as many questions about your photographers personality and qualifications as possible. You want an open-minded professional that can cater to your every need.

Shop around before you commit to any single wedding photographer. Find out what theyre including in their fees. The package that theyre offering may be a standard fixed package. Other photographers may customize a package to suit your needs. But most importantly, how much time is the photographer willing to commit to your special day? Are they willing time sacrifice more of their time, should you want more photographs taken? Find these things out prior to committing to a contract.

Decide whether youd like traditional photographs taken or non-traditional photographs. Whats the difference, you ask? Traditional photography caters to natural poses of yourself and your partner, your friends, family, and loved ones. Whereas non-traditional, or journalistic style, steers clear of posing. Your photographer will take pictures of friends and loved-ones when they least expect it. If youd like to see the difference between these two types of photographs, ask your prospective wedding photographer.

Youll want to make sure that theres some sort of connection between you and photographer. Is this a person who will be comfortable taking photographs at a lesbian wedding? Does this person seem uptight, or untrustworthy? Feel the photographers personality out. Ask questions that will draw informative feedback. You need to make sure that your photographers personality will compliment your joyous occasion; not sabotage it. Theres too many wedding stories which involve a belligerent photographer. Dont become another story!

While it might sound silly, the appearance of your lesbian photographer can give you a very good indication of their character. If the wedding photographer appears informal, unkempt, or worse yetdrunk; you will not want to hire them for your wedding. You want to hire a person who is well-groomed with excellent hygiene. Nobody wants to hear their own wedding guests whisper, the photographer smells awful.

Youll feel more comfortable and relaxed once you know youve hired a professional. Wedding plans are already chaotic enough! Who wants to worry about whether or not their wedding photographer is qualified for the job? Certainly not you!

Jen Carter is owner of My Wedding Blog, a free wedding planning guide. You may find the above article in our wedding photography category. You may publish our articles on your website only if you do not edit the article in any way, and include all html as direct links to our site.

photography is easy now no really

Photography Is Easy Now: No ReallyWriten by Eric Hartwell

You can be forgiven for thinking that using a camera, and all the associated activities, is much harder these days. Everything is digitally-related and computer based. Unless you are a techno wizard, you are going to have trouble getting decent images. Yes?

No.

Emphatically no.

Whilst it is true that cameras are different now to what they used to be, they still perform the same basic function of recording images. And, yes, there is some tricky jargon to get to grips with and some different features on modern equipment.

But, if you can press a shutter button (and most of us used to be able to perform this simple function in film days) then you will find photography more simple now than ever before.

Most of you will remember the old sequence of events. Purchase a film (which one and from where?). Spend half a day undoing the canister and loading the film into the camera (how DOES the back open?). Take 24 or 36 pictures (how DID that image turn out?) then rewind the film and take it out of the camera.

Then, send it away for processing (where and how much will it cost?) or take it to the local photo lab (ditto). Wait a few days, a week, several days longer than this and look at the results - overexposed and underexposed pictures that need retaking - only the image-taking opportunity is lost forever.

And where do you put your images when they are printed? How do you share them with friends far away? How do you enter them into competitions and where on earth did you put that replacement 36 exposure film that is now needed for the camera?

I know aficionados of film will castigate me for these words. And I know that the situation is just not that simple. And, believe me, I like film too.

But what I want to point out is that, although the transition for film to digital may seem a huge leap of faith, you really will find that the skills needed are far less than using film and that the equipment is not only simple to learn and use but also very forgiving.

Try it if you haven't already.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com.

pet photography 101 how to photograph your pet like a professional

Pet Photography 101 - How to Photograph Your Pet Like a ProfessionalWriten by Vincent Strangio

Being that I photograph pets (and only pets - no humans) for a living I am always being asked by people how they can get their pets pictures to look better. Although, there is no simple answer to this question, there are a few things you can do which, I believe, will greatly improve your results and maybe even get you that one in a million shot! In a nutshell, here are a few tips I would highly recommend:

1: PATIENCE, PATIENCE and More PATIENCE. If you grab a camera, run over to your dog or cat and immediately expect him to strike a supermodel pose, you are setting yourself up for a big disappointment. Just by having the camera out, staring at them, calling their name, and waving treats around you have excited them and lost all spontaneity. It is better to keep the camera with you, sit down and wait. Your pet will eventually clam down and get back to the natural state he was in that you thought was so cute it made you run and get the camera. Then you can, slowly, raise the camera and take a shot with no big fanfare. They never expect it.

2: NO TREATS. This is the biggest mistake most people make. They think if they hold up a few treats, their pet will automatically strike a pose for the reward. If you want to take a picture of your pet staring straight up and drooling, then use treats. If you would like something more natural, leave them alone. I only use treats as a very last resort and then very sparingly.

3: NO FLASH. Unless you have an off-camera flash try not to use the flash. If your flash is on-camera (or built in) you will probably be getting red eye (if you use the red eye reduction feature on your camera you will probably be getting a little less red eye) and the light created from a straight on flash is very unnatural, making your pictures look flat. Since this will make it very difficult to take pictures in low light conditions you will need to make sure you are in the right environment. Try going outside on a nice day and taking shots in your backyard. Do not do this in the middle of the afternoon when the sun is very high and harsh. The best time is the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low. The light will be very soft and flattering and you will be amazed at the difference it makes in your photo.

4: STOP WITH THE MEGA PIXELS. I shoot all digital. The first question most people ask me is how many mega pixels is your camera? Many people think that more mega pixels, translates into a better picture. More mega pixels will just allow you to print your image larger. If you are taking bad photos, go out and buy an expensive camera with 8 or 9 mega pixels and expect your photos to look better, you will, again, be very disappointed. You will still take bad pictures but you will now be able to blow those bad pictures up bigger! Most people will not print their photos at more than 5 x 7 size. For this size picture a 3 mega pixel camera is fine. With 4 mega pixels, you can print your favorite shots as an 8 x 10. Unless you are going to print photos larger than an 8 x 10, taking photos greater than 4 mega pixels is a waste and will just use up your memory.

5: SHOOT, SHOOT, SHOOT. Lastly, take a lot of pictures. If you do not have a digital camera yet, think about getting one. Take tons of pictures, delete the ones you do not like and take tons more. For every good keeper picture I get I take probably 20 stinkers. The ratio stinks but if you take a million pictures, you will get a ton of great shots. Print the good images, show them off and people will think you are actually a good photographer...That is what I do!

Vincent Strangio is a Pittsburgh, PA based professional pet photographer specializing in animals of all kinds but only animals, no humans at all. His photography is featured on a dog and cat greeting card line sold in stores throughout the United States as well as on 5 different dog breed t shirt , sweatshirt and throw pillow lines sold exclusively through his online store. To date, he has sold over 10,000 shirts bearing his images. Please visit him at: http://www.Vincentstrangiostore.com

3 free wedding photography tips help your wedding photographer to make your day picture perfect

3 Free Wedding Photography Tips: Help Your Wedding Photographer To Make Your Day Picture PerfectWriten by Jay Malonson

Ok, so Mr. Wonderful finally popped the question, you've found the perfect ceremony and reception site and have a big spiral binder filled with check lists and planners to help you plan your day. You have set the date and have some shiny bling which you can't stop looking at all day long. You even found the perfect photographer to capture you day below are 3 free tips to help get you started to help you have a picture perfect day.

1. Plan the photography location with your photographer: If your photographer has not shot at your site before it is very helpful to walk the site with them even if you have to pay a fee for their time to go over location and photo ideas. Most photographers will charge a half day fee of around $500.00 to spend a few hours walking site. If this is not possible due to financial scheduling or time constraints draw them a diagram and give them a description of the site location, and lighting conditions and possible interesting places to shoot as a back drop. Good photographers can shoot in any location and any lighting situation and are good at making decisions on the fly so don't worry if you have made the right choice in photographers. It never hurts though to give them a little help. Provide them with a brochure with images from past weddings and take a few digital images on your own if you have a camera. A good rule of thumb is to give them three or four different locations that may be possible choices for creating portraits after the ceremony and note them on a photography info sheet at least a month before the wedding. The earlier you provide them with info about the site clearly written the better. This gives them an opportunity to review it in the midst of shooting 30 or so other weddings for the year and to ask you any questions they may have. And, it also helps you to be more relaxed the closer you get to your wedding day. If the location has a website it is helpful to provide that to your photographer as well. Give them as much information about the site and lighting conditions as you can. Visit the site and look at lighting at different times of the day.

If you are having an out door wedding be sure that you are not back lit at the time of your ceremony and you are not in direct afternoon sun. If you visit the site and the sun is behind you from where you photographer will be shooting you are back lit and should consider facing a different direction. Your photographer can help you walk through this is you give them a good description over the phone. They can also suggest the best times of day for lighting. The more info you give them the more excited they will be about your location and the better opportunity you have to get more creative images.

2. Build a relationship with your photographer: You will get back from your wedding photography experience what you put into it. If you click and really get along with your photographer your formal images will be better. It is well worth the addition time and expense to go out on location with your photographer and spend some time doing an engagement shoot. Many photographers are more than happy to suggest some great shooting locations where you can go out and spend an afternoon getting to know them and their shooting style and them getting to know you or are happy to have you out to their studio. They are also often willing to travel to your favorite special place for your engagement shoot. Use the time to get to know them as a person and to get your self ready for your day. Their shooting the day of the engagement shoot will be similar to your photography the day of the wedding. Don't be afraid to have fun on your shoot and practice different poses. If your photographer gives you proofs from the entire shoot it is also helpful for you to see which way you shoot best by looking at the proofs afterwards and can be very helpful to you, and can go a long way towards making you feel comfortable in front of the camera. Ask them what to expect the day of the wedding as far as how the flow of the photography will go. Will they be stopping you throughout the day for formal portraits or will it all be completed right after the ceremony. Do they mind people asking for additional portraits through out the day? Ask them what they will need throughout the day. Will they need a work table or an assistant to help get everyone together in your large family? Plan with them to make sure they have enough time to do all of the group shots you would like with out being to rushed and provide an assistant for them to help gather everyone from a list of friends not in the wedding party, who knows everyone. Don't provide them with a mile long list of portraits or images you found on an internet site. Each shot takes about 5 minutes to create. You will hamper their creativity and they will spend much of their day trying to complete your list. Ask them if they have a list of basic group shots and go over with them a list of a few shots that you might additionally like.

Ask your photographer if they any special meal needs when you send out invitations to the rest of your guests. You should treat your photographer as a valued guest and make them feel that they are an important part of your day.

3. Be organized: For a photographer, the bride being on time is of paramount importance. If you are behind in schedule it makes their day much more difficult. Do yourself and your photographer a favor by creating a day of the wedding time line with added time built in case of little emergencies and send it to them ahead of time and ask them if they have any suggestions for the schedule and if you have included enough time for them for their photography activities. Give a copy once it is finished to your mom and your bridesmaids and ask them to help you by being on time as well. Hair and make up are biggies. If you are going to be late, 9 times out of 10, it will be because your makeup and hair take longer than you expect. Be sure to plan in an extra hour for these activities and be ready when your photographer arrives. If you are stressed it will show in your formal images if you are doing any before the ceremony so make sure you plan in some time to rest and be a princess as well.

These three wedding tips, if followed, will help you have a worry free wedding day from a photography perspective. Best wishes for a wonderful wedding day.

Jay M is a professional photographer specializing in Wedding and Engagement photography, based in Southern Maryland. Some of his company's work can be seen at http://www.jaxphotography.com

photography a z the easy way m macro or closeup

Photography A - Z the Easy Way: M - Macro or Close-UpWriten by Eric Hartwell

What is macro photography? You will come across many different people talking about the real meaning of macro photography and there are very many senseless arguments as to what it means for the reasonable photographer.

Basically, macro photography is just close up photography. It means getting nearer to your subject and effectively making it look bigger in the viewfinder or on the screen.

But to get closer you need to be able to have a lens that will focus close. This can be achieved by buying a specialised macro lens that can be used as a normal lens but which will have close focussing. Alternatively, you can buy inexpensive add-on lenses that attach to the front of your lens or extension tubes which fit in between your lens and the camera body.

Irrespective of which you choose, you will be able to take pictures of bees on flower petals and raindrops on cobwebs and anything you want large and close.

But be aware of the problems of macro (close up) photography. The first is that focussing has to be more critical as the closer you get to an object, the shallower is the depth of field or depth of focus. Make sure you are accurate with the focussing and use a small aperture if you can.

The other problem is that lighting can be a bit tricky. Being so close means that ambient light is often obscured and indoors this makes things difficult. You can use a flashgun but the lighting can be harsh and directional so use little reflectors where possible.

Luckily, your pictures of bees on a sunny day will be easy. Try it.

Eric Hartwell runs the photography resource site http://www.theshutter.co.uk and the associated discussion forums as well as the regular weblog at http://thephotographysite.blogspot.com