Learning Basic Photography

Learn Photoshop Now ..Adobe CS4 will be 64-bit, but only on Windows

2009-01-16T05:36:00.000-08:00

By: PhotoshopFasttrack

In a complete reversal of what Windows and Macintosh users might expect, Adobe CS4 includes 64-bit support for the Windows platform, but not for Mac.

According to John Nack, Adobe's Photoshop product manager, Mac OS X users unfortunately won't get 64-bit support until CS5, the next release of the graphics editing software.

Nack attributes this dichotomy to the decision Apple made last year to stop development of 64-bit support for Carbon, a move which he says took Adobe and third-party developers by surprise. Adobe did make CS3 Intel-compatible, but has maintained Carbon as its core architecture.

Nack wrote, in a recent blog entry, "At the WWDC show last June, [Adobe and] other developers learned that Apple had decided to stop their Carbon 64 efforts. This means that 64-bit Mac apps need to be written to use Cocoa [instead of] Carbon".

"We'll need to rewrite large parts of Photoshop and its plug-ins (potentially affecting over a million lines of code) to move it from Carbon to Cocoa."

As Nack sees it, 64-bit support in Photoshop will offer the biggest speed advantages for working with massive images on systems with RAM of about 32GB and up. However, normal users could see an 8% to 12% performance increase when using 64-bit versions of Adobe's software compared to 32-bit copies.

Unfortunately, this means Mac OS X users are not able to take advantage of the performance gains in CS4, and those who work with massive images will need to use Windows until CS5 is released further down the road.

A Note: Ironically, when Photoshop was initially released back in 1988, the software was available for Macintosh only. The product didn't even ship for Microsoft's platform until 1992, when Adobe ported Photoshop 2.0 to Windows.

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Learn Photoshop Now .. The Save for Web feature

2008-11-06T17:33:00.000-08:00

underexposed pix

Normal exposed save for web after photoshop
By: PhotoshopFasttrack

As of version 5 and later, Photoshop includes a very helpful "Save for Web" command. This element enables you to save a copy of your image that is optimized for internet use. "Optimized" means that the image file will be as small as possible, and that the image will use only Web-safe colors. The "Save for Web" option can save images in GIF, JPEG, or PNG format.

Using Save for Web When you're ready to put your image in your web page, select Save for Web... from the File menu. The "Save for Web" dialog appears:

This is where you tell Photoshop how you'd like to optimise your image for the Web. You can select the file format to produce (GIF, JPEG or PNG), what size palette you'd like to use, how to cut down the colours to fit the chosen palette size, how much to dither the optimised image (if at all) and how much to sacrifice image quality to produce a smaller file size.

Image views The four tabs above the image view pane on the left allow you to view the original image, the optimised version (this is the default), the original and optimised versions side-by-side ("2-Up") and the original, optimised and two variations on the optimisation all together ("4-Up"). You can also use the Hand tool top-left to move the view around (if the image is bigger than the view), the Zoom tool to zoom in and out of the image, and the Eyedropper tool to select a colour from the image, to be used by various colour options on the right of the dialog.

Presets There are many options in the Save for Web dialog, and the choices can be quite confusing! Fortunately, there are a list of presets you can choose from to make it easier. Click the Settings: drop-down list (just below the Cancel button) to bring up the list of presets:

Three basic image formats exists in the presets - GIF, JPEG and PNG. The rule of thumb is to use JPEG's for photos and GIF's for all else. For a full guide on choosing the right image format, see Understanding image formats.

Optimizing GIFs If you're making a GIF, you will want to start off with a preset such as GIF 32 Dithered, which works well for most GIFs. You can then fine-tune the optimization to fit your needs. Some of the important optimization options are discussed below.

Color reduction method This drop-down box is located below the Image Format box. The commonly used options here include:

Perceptual: Creates the reduced color palette which favors colors that the human eye is more sensitive to. Selective: Like Perceptual, however better for Web work. Selective is the favored (and default) option. Adaptive: Creates the palette by taking an even sampling of colors from the image's color spectrum. This is generally not as good a choice as Selective. Web: Use this if you need a complete Web-safe color palette (Netscape 216-color palette). These days, this method usually isn't that important as most computer displays support at least 16 million colors. Dithering method This is located below the "color reduction method" box. Dithering involves adding patterned or random dots to the image to make it appear to contain more colors than are actually in the palette, allowing you to use a smaller palette size. The options are:

No Dither: No dithering is applied to the image. Good if the dithering effect looks bad, but can produce severe "banding" of colours. Diffusion: Uses error diffusion dithering, which looks similar to Noise dithering, producing a random-looking pattern of dots. Can produce seams when using ImageReady slices. Pattern: Uses a pattern for dithering, rather than random dots. Can work well for some images, but often produces a rather artificial look to the image. Noise: Similar to Diffusion, but does not produce seams at the edges of slices in ImageReady. Transparency This checkbox is only available if your image does not have its Background layer turned on. It specifies that you want parts of the saved GIF to be transparent. If you deselect this checkbox, the transparent areas will instead be filled with the Matte colour (or white if no matte is selected).

Interlaced This controls GIF Interlacing. If enabled, the GIF will appear gradually as interlaced horizontal lines as it is loaded onto the Web page. This gives viewers something to look at while the full image appears. It does increase the file size, however.

Lossy If you wish to reduce the file size further this slider allows you to remove detail from the image. Use this only if you don't mind reducing the image quality quite severely! A value of 0 will not remove any detail; a value of 100 will remove the maximum amount of detail.

Colors This is where you choose the size of your GIF palette. A palette of 32 colours is often sufficient for web images, but if your image has a lot of detail and looks too fuzzy/blurry/banded with 32, up it to 64, 128 or 256. If your image has very few colours in to start with, or doesn't look too bad with fewer colours, select 16, 8, 4 or even 2! This will make the GIF file size smaller.

Dither If you have chosen a dithering method (see above), this option will allow you control over how much the image is dithered - 0 means no dithering, 100 means lots of dithering.

Matte Matte is the background color you wish to use for your image. If you've enabled Transparency (see above), then the foreground image will be faded at the edges to blend in with the matte color. If you choose the Matte setting of "None", the GIF will have a "hard transparency" with no fading; this is great if you want to be able to use the image on any color background.

If you've disabled Transparency, the transparent areas of your image will be filled in with the matte colour.

Web Snap If you want to use web-safe colors you will want to increase the Web Snap slider. The higher the value of Web Snap means Photoshop will bias your color palette more and more towards web-safe colors.

Optimising JPEGs If you're making a JPEG, start off with a preset such as JPEG Medium, which should work well for most JPEGs. You can then fine-tune the optimisation to suit your needs. Some of the important optimisation options are discussed below.

Quality There are two ways to modify the quality of the compression: the Low/Medium/High/Maximum list, and the Quality slider (for fine control). The lower the quality setting, the more blurry and bitty the JPEG will appear, but the smaller the resulting file size.

Progressive A progressive JPEG is similar to an interlaced GIF (see above). The image will load gradually on the Web page - a low resolution image first, then eventually the full, high-resolution image. Again, great for stopping your viewers on slow modems getting bored, but it does mean a slightly larger file size, and really old browsers don't support progressive JPEGs.

Matte If your Photoshop image has transparent areas, you can fill them with a specified matte color with this drop-down box.

Optimizing PNGs Your options for optimizing a PNG-24 are much the same as those for optimizing a JPEG. Similarly, the options for optimizing a PNG-8 are very similar to those for optimizing a GIF. See the GIF and JPEG sections above for details.

If you really can't be bothered... ...you can always let Photoshop optimise your image for you! Select the little arrow just to the right of the Settings... box and select Optimize to File Size...:

In the dialog window that pops up, choose Auto Select GIF/JPEG then enter your desired file size. Click OK and Photoshop will do the rest for you! If you're not pleased with the results, play with the settings as described in the sections above, or just choose a slightly larger file size and try again.

Saving the image Once you're happy with your optimized image, click OK to save it to disk. The file saved will be a copy of your original image, unless you specifically overwrite the original with the optimized file.

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Colorful Hats

2008-10-28T21:33:00.001-07:00

These are some colorful hats displayed in a shopping mall. Simple designs but colorful for girls and boys. I think these hats are designed with no age limit. ( click on image for larger version )

I shoot this photo handheld with Canon 30D with a slow speed of 1/6 second and aperture set 2.8

Learn Photoshop Now...Learning Photoshop The Fast Way

2008-10-25T00:49:00.000-07:00

By:PhotoshopFasttrack

Everything you want to learn about Photoshop is grouped into sections that are easy to identify and access. Tutorials are continually being made simpler and clearer so that everyone is included. If however, you think that the tutorials are not enough there are DVD Rom tutorials that you can purchase and have to access anytime that you forget how to do something and need to refresh your memory. This DVDROM has 120mins (yup, 2 hours) of tutorials that will help you know how to use Photoshop even in your sleep. If you already have more than a basic knowledge of using Photoshop you can take a look at the Photoshop Secrets Special FX. It's a tutorial CDROM with 19 lessons that are packed into 2 hours that will teach you exactly how to use the special cutting edge effects that the advance Photoshop users' use.

Photoshop training is one of the best investments you can make in your professional career. Whatever field you're working in, Photoshop training can help you reach your full potential. Anyone who works with digital images and graphics knows that the Adobe Photoshop line of software is the tool of choice for graphic designers and professional photographers around the world. The Photoshop interface hasn't changed a great deal since the earliest versions, so users can easily upgrade to Photoshop CS2 from any previous version. Photoshop CS2 has powerful new features that will aid designers in all fields. You can literally use Photoshop CS2 to create any visual effect that you can image-if you can dream it, you can create it with Photoshop. Like previous versions of Photoshop, CS2 is available for both Macintosh and Windows. And the best thing about the new version is the price: Photoshop CS2 costs less than previous versions of Photoshop.

RESOLUTION. The "Auto" resolution button on the right of your Image Size dialog box will resize your image to small, medium and larger sizes. Under "Document Size" in your Image Size box, you'll see a place to enter the desired resolution. For the Web, normal resolutions will be 72 pixels per inch. For print work, the resolution should be at least 300 ppi. When you increase the resolution, you increase the image size, and may need to resize it, but the resolution will stay the same. COLOR CASTS. Go into your Image > Adjustments menu and try using the automatic presets there: Auto Levels, Auto Contrast, Auto Color and/or Variations. This last option is especially fast and flexible, offering fine-tuning for shadows, midtones and highlights as well as saturation. Click Image, then Levels in your top menu. You will see a Channel box on top with a pull-down arrow that exposes options for red, green or blue. You can affect the color cast of an image inside this level box by clicking on that color and moving the slider bars. Watch the image as you make the changes.

You can modify a gradient by changing the colour of the stops - simply click on one and choose a new colour from the Color Picker. Alternatively, click on an image and sample a colour for your customised gradient using the Eyedropper Tool. You can also add new colour stops to an existing gradient by clicking anywhere along the bottom edge of the preview bar. As well as editing colour stops for the gradient to blend between, you can also add different opacity settings to make it fade from solid to transparency.

To experiment with advanced Photoshop layering, you'll need something to work on. So first bring up a photo inside Photoshop, then create another layer with something on it. On the bottom of your Layer Style box, you will find the "Blend If" settings. Choose either gray, red, green or blue inside the drop-down Blend If menu, then use your slider bars to control the opacity of the layer you highlighted or the layer underneath. Dragging the "white" slider left will diminish the whites or highlights, and the layer underneath will show through.You will quickly see how blending each color affects the image. You can use this versatile feature, for example, to replace a washed-out sky with a nice blue sky, blending the transparency to a gnat's eyebrow.

Like Adobe Remix, the hosted Photoshop service is set to be free and marketed as an entry-level version of Adobe's more sophisticated image-editing tools, including Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. Chizen envisions revenue from the Photoshop service coming from online advertising."That is new (for Adobe). It's something we are sensitive to because we are watching folks like Google do it in different categories, and we want to make sure that we are there before they are, in areas of our franchises," Chizen said.Chizen described the introduction of Adobe Remix and the forthcoming hosted Photoshop as part of a larger move toward integrating hosted services into the company's product mix.Bruce Chizen Like Microsoft, Adobe's business is built largely around packaged software, installed locally on users' PCs. Likewise, Adobe's plans to diversify its business with online services mirrors a large-scale effort at Microsoft to introduce a combination of software and services.

As you may already know, undoing steps is not difficult. You use the [Ctrl]/[Command]+[Z] and can move back through stored history using [Shift]+[Ctrl]+[Z].You can also use adjustment layers to do this and you will also be able to have instant access to the original file in its untouched state. Adjustment layers give you the opportunity to make changes to a single layer without changing any of the pixels on the layer itself. This is such a great way to work because you don't have to be concerned about altering the image permanently. When you find that you want to undo an adjustment layer you can simply drag it to the trash can that is located in the Layer palette. Another way to undo an adjustment layer is to turn it off using the eye icon.

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Editing Digital Photography: Software living up to its promises?

2008-10-07T17:36:00.000-07:00

by David Peters

Photography is indeed a complex art to master. With all the elements that go into ascertaining that your image is just the way you envisioned it, without any discrepancies in terms of the focus, the amount of exposure and even the color theme capturing a breathtaking image right from the word go, can be a daunting task. And here’s where many photographers rely on editing, which not only allows them to correct minor glitches in their images, but also create extraordinary effects which their digital cameras alone, would not have allowed them to fashion. But before you set out to experiment with your editing software, it does pay to spare a thought about the kind of software you’re planning to buy.

A majority of photographers, professional and amateur alike are unaware of how important it is to choose an editing software that is perfectly suited to their needs. Although the right kind of software, which is apt to your skills and requirements, does allow you to achieve dramatic results, while ensuring that you have to invest a minimal amount of time and effort, selecting the wrong kind of software may result in quite the opposite consequences. This is because when you choose a software that is either incompatible with your operating system, or entails a large amount of effort to be invested in using it, you are not only wasting a lot of your time, but are also not making complete use of the product in terms of all the features it has to offer. And the primary reason for this is that the software is meant to cater to a category of users who specifically need those features in their editing process and also are more cognizant with the technology the software is developed on.

When you choose your editing software, you first need to determine the level of flexibility the software allows you, as well as how intuitive it is to your needs. If your use of the editing software is for professional purposes, where you are required to edit images to suit different purposes on a regular basis and are also looking for a higher quality of editing, then the array of Advanced Photo Editors is right up your alley. Of these, Adobe Photoshop is undoubtedly the most popular as well as a recognized industry standard, but is also quite difficult to learn from scratch if you are new to the field and is also the most expensive of the lot. Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo does offer you a large number of the features that Adobe Photoshop does, but not the amount of personalization that Photoshop boasts of. But if you can make do with a moderate amount of flexibility and are looking for a more reasonable option, then this software is a great buy.

For more basic users, who are simply looking for minor image correction and ease of use, the range of Beginner Photo Editors is just the option you are looking for. Although these editors do not encompass the advanced features which are the prerogative of their upscale contenders, they do allow you a wizard which will literally walk you through the entire process, besides several detailed tutorials you can refer to. What’s more, some of these softwares like Photoshop Elements and Ulead PhotoImpact Editing Tool also contain several on-screen tips which make the process of editing a very simple and easy to understand task.

If you are eying the enviable features that come along with the more expensive softwares but are deterred by the imaginative price tags that adorn them, you can try any of the Budget Photo Editors which, not only let you use all of these features, but are also incredibly affordable. A large number of these softwares are for free and you can even find downloadable versions on the internet. However, the downside is that they are not as reliable as you may want them to be and you will also have to put up with annoying pop ups which try to coerce you into purchasing the retail version of the software.

You can further augment the software you have chosen by supplementing its features with those Digital Imaging Softwares offer. These tools aren’t much good, by themselves as they often skip the basic drawing and painting features and include only the more sophisticated ones.

Most important of all, when you are selecting the software you plan to work with, consider the amount of time you are willing to dedicate to the process. A high-end software like Photoshop may offer you a multitude of features, and thus may seem like the best bet, but it also takes a lot of time and patience to master the software and ensure that it produces the effects you are looking for. And once you’ve got that taken care of, let your imagination and your creativity take over and soon, you’ll be creating digital masterpieces by the dozen!

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Top 10 Photo Recovery Tips

2008-09-10T08:07:00.000-07:00

Today I want to talk about how to handle photo images in your digital camera and also the images recovery from your computer. If you are photographers or you process any digital cameras then you have to read this photo recovery tips.

1. The Golden Rule – Back Up Your Digital Photos Frequently

Perhaps you have a capacious memory card. Maybe you simply trust the technology of your latest digital gizmo to forever shield your data from harm. But accidents can happen any time on any device. So back up all critical files!

You can burn your pictures onto a DVD, upload them to a hard drive, or upload them to an online storage service. In some cases, you can even upload your key pictures and files to other digital devices. Make a habit of uploading photos every time you return from an important trip or event (a wedding, vacation, graduation). Archive and label your favorite photos, and make hard copies of the pictures you enjoy the most.

2. After Data Loss, Immediate Stop Using Your Digital Camera

Digital media devices typically have back up components to prevent complete data loss. But once a camera or device has proven defective, you should cease using it and get it checked out. If you continue to take photos, the device can actually overwrite your old photos, causing you to lose even more data and confounding your situation further.

3. Do Not Attempt to Format or Initialize Your Media

Some cameras or digital media devices will ask you to reformat your memory card in the wake of an accident or a data loss event. Avoid this! If you reformat, you may actually write over some of the data that may be recoverable. Furthermore, reformatting may not solve the problem that led to the data snafu in the first place.

4. Do Not Try to Open Your Device

While it is tempting to go into “fix-it” mode and aggressively scan components for damage, opening a sealed digital device can damage it and erase data stored on any memory cards that are inserted. There is absolutely no reason to crack open your device, especially with a memory card in the slot, since there are zero moving parts inside. In addition, the inner circuits of your device are very sensitive.

5. Do Not Expose Your Digital Media to Extreme Temperatures

Most cameras can work proper across a relatively wide temperature range. The typical digital media device can function from 0 to 60 degrees Celsius and store information securely from negative 20 degrees to 85 degrees Celsius. However, it is surprisingly easy to exceed these limits and damage your data. If, for instance, you leave your camera in direct sunlight on a hot day on a car dashboard, you may actually fry key electrical components.

Conversely, if you leave your camera in a glove compartment during a brutal winter cold snap, you can also lose data. As general rule, don’t test the limits of your device’s temperament.

6. Keep Your Media Card Away from Strong Magnetic Fields

Strong fields can erase, scramble, or otherwise skew the formatting of the data you keep on your media card. Just as you don’t expose the magnetic stripes on the back of your credit cards to magnetic fields, don’t expose your digital media device to a strong magnetic or radioactive field.

7. Store Your Digital Media and Your Camera in a Padded Case

It is all too easy to drop and damage a camera. Even if you are religious about wearing your protective straps and replacing your lens cap after use, you can never be too careful in your quest to prevent shock damage.

8. Use Photo Recovery Software Services to Get Your Files Back

Even if you have lost significant data, all hope is not necessarily lost. Top-rated software (or recovery services) may be able to retrieve seemingly unrecoverable data files. You may want to have a professional do this work for you, but be apprised that professional data recovery can run you a pretty penny. If you can attempt a software recovery on your own, your pocketbook will thank you.

9. After Your Files Have Been Recovered, “Wipe” the Media Card

Don’t allow old, fragmented data to gum up your media card. Get a fresh start, and keep your card clean by uploading pictures after any serious photo taking sessions (see rule number 1).

10. Be Cautious!

Learn about your camera’s functions and how data gets stored on your memory card. Your manual should provide detailed sections discussing formatting and initialization issues as well as how to properly delete single frames (without deleting all the other data on your card).

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Lee Chong Wei enter into final Beijing Olympics

2008-08-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

I was glad to know Lee Chong Wei has secured at least a silver medal for Malaysia in the Beijing Olympics.

Watching from the live on Astro, the national one shuttler and second seed for the men's singles event here defeated South Korean Lee Hyun-il 21-18, 13-21, 21-13 in the semi-finals Friday at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium.

Chong Wei will now take on top seeded Lin Dan from China in the final Sunday.

The Chinese player beat his compatriot Chen Jin 21-12, 21-18 in the other last four men's singles clash.

By booking his place in the final, which will be played on Sunday, the 26-year-old Penangite now stands to pocket at least RM300,000 as an incentive from the Govvernment.

If he manages to win Malaysia's first ever Olympic gold, Chong Wei will pocket a whopping RM1mil.

Malaysia has won a total of three Olympic medals thus far - one silver and two bronze medals - which were all delivered by shuttlers.

Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony

2008-08-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

China kicked off the 2008 Olympic Games with a spectacular show in the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing on Friday - considered an auspicious day for the Chinese because of the date 08-08-08.

Athletes from more than 200 countries took part in the Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony. Renowned filmmaker Zhang Yimou has put aside all of his film projects in order to dedicate himself to conceiving and directing this awe-inspiring show.

Director Zhang feels nervous throughout the Olympic Games opening ceremony and he was highly commented after the success of the fantastic display.

The latest high technology was a must to be used at the ceremony, said Zhang, as the directing team wanted the show to attract more attention from youngsters. The high technology coated the performance with dazzling shines and colors, making it a modern, cool and glaring show, he added.

Chinese basketball superstar, 7ft 6in Yao Ming carried the Chinese flag leading the national contingent which is the biggest among the competing nations.

China

's 1984 Olympic gold medallist, gymnast Li Ning, had the honour of igniting the Olympic cauldron as he is lifted to the air during the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Beijing Natives (北京土著) by 张伯宏, Chinese folk music in Flash animation. About 90% of the lyrics and the Flash are about the native culture of Beijing reflected in the everyday life, such as the melodic hollers of street vendors, the aroma of jasmine tea in the Siheyuan, the intoxicating bouquet in the Hutong, the Beijing opera and comic dialogues, the food, the drinks, the clothes, the people, etc.

Babies born 8/8/08;8 pounds,8 ounce

2008-08-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

AP reported this story babies born 8/8/08;8 pounds,8 ounces was carried by all newspapers in the world.

NEW YORK, Aug 9 — Meet Hailey Jo Hauer and Xander Jace Riniker, both born at 8:08 am on 8/8/08, weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces, in neighbouring states in the US.

Xander, born at St Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is the eighth grandchild for his mother's parents. And he's not the only one in his family with an unusual birthday: His 2-year-old brother, Kael, was born on 4/5/06.

Lindsey Hauer thought staff at Lake Region Hospital in Minnesota were joking when they told her the time of her daughter's birth. And then she got a call from the birthing suite noting Hailey's weight.

Nurse Jenny Harstad joked that she tried to shrink the baby to 18 inches from her actual 19.5 inches.

Several hospital staff members in Minnesota pledged to buy lottery tickets. And Chad Riniker, Xander's father, said that eight hadn't been his lucky number before, but that now he was thinking about buying a lottery ticket.

"I just might," he said. "If nothing else, with four children I should probably play the lottery." — AP

The manificient number 8

2008-08-09T00:55:00.000-07:00

I must make sure myself free to stay in front of my 29in TV to watch the Olympic game opening ceremony which held in Beijing China from the moment of the day start on 8/8/08-August 8, 2008 at 8:08 pm. It definitely starts the manificient number 8 of a lucky day for many good coming.

For any Chinese doing businese , small or big they love the lucky number 8 as they believe it will make them lucks and prosperity. If you have more number 8 the better luck you have. That’s why many Chinese when they buy new cars they like to have their number plates 8888. They paid quite a sum of money for these numbers and they believe it worth to spend the price.

It's also why there are so many couples choose to get married on this day 8/8/08 and even the dinner starts at 8pm. When the lovely couples say “ I love you” on the day there are more meaningful to them as there are actually has 8 letters too. The more they say " I love you" on the day it means they are more lovely and good lucks.

Many will try their lucks on the day to buy lottery for RM8. God Bless

This is what the Chinese culture…What about you?

Fried kuih Teow.

2008-07-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

Fried kuih Teow....This man is working hard to earn a living and he has to increase it's price as the price of petrol has increased from RM1.92 to RM2.70 per litre - an increase of 78 cents, and for sure the prices of many other goods will follow suit.

It is just a matter of time, everyone will follow suit to increse their price tags like this fried kuih teow stall owner. They have reasons to increase and they increased 3o cents or some even 5o cents per plate. A small plate of Fried Kuih teow now caused us from RM 2.80 to RM 3.30 or even RM 3.50.

A bowl of noodles now costs 50 cent more, from $3.50 to$ 4.00. A chicken rice vendor in the Old Town recently increased the price of a plate of chicken rice from RM3.50 to RM3.80. In some other places like Subang Jaya they have increased to RM4.00.

Customers like us have no right to protest the price increase and we have to accept it.

Fuel Price Hike

2008-06-28T23:18:00.000-07:00

When the price of petrol to increase from RM1.92 to RM2.70 per litre - an increase of 78 cents, and for sure the prices of many other goods will follow suit.

A bowl of noodles now costs 50 cent more, from $3.50 to$ 4.00. A chicken rice vendor in the Subang Jaya recently increased the price of a plate of chicken rice from RM3.50 to RM4.00. In some other places they have increased even to RM4.50.

The hawkers have the reason to increase the selling prices because of the fuel price hike...And I really hope the government can do something about it.

Everyone affected of the high costs and many malaysians feel that the government should increase the price of petrol gradually so that the poor and middle class people can adapt it.

Governmnet called for all people to change the life style but don't forget one complained that our salary are not even enough to pay the bill.

Food prices in Peninsular Malaysia are cheaper than those in Sabah and Sarawak.

2008-06-22T08:26:00.000-07:00

I read this story in StarMetro that even though they may not be as low as many hope they would be, food prices in Peninsular Malaysia are still affordable in comparison to those in Sabah and Sarawak.

The weekly marketing guide posted on the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry’s website showed that prices in Sabah and Sarawak are, by and large, higher.

While all the states in Peninsular Malaysia show a significant increase in food prices, such as those for poultry and vegetables, in Sabah and Sarawak they are at least 10% to 15% costlier. However, the prices of seafood like fish and prawns are much cheaper.

Ikan kembung hitam and hijau (local) cost only RM6 in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu while in Seremban, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Alor Star they cost between RM7.50 to RM10 per kg.

Prawn (small) costs only RM6 in both Sabah and Sarawak while in Kangar, Malacca, Ipoh and Penang they cost between RM8 to as high as RM16 per kg.

“This is probably due to proximity. Sabah and Sarawak share a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the South,” said a trader in the SS2, PJ, market.

“The traders don’t need to import seafood from the peninsula so they don’t need to increase the price to make huge profits,” he said.

When it comes to dry food, Kota Kinabalu still records the highest prices.

Eggs (A, B and C grade) are about 8% to 10% more expensive and the same goes for the different types of vegetables, onions and garlic.

And while the price of red onions is between RM1.40 and RM2 in Kuantan, Terengganu and Penang, in Sabah they the red are priced at RM4 per kg.

Shallots are sold at RM6 in Sabah and Sarawak while in the peninsula they are sold between only RM2.50 and RM4 per kg.

Sabah has some beautiful places worth visiting and one of them is the Central Market in Kota Kinabalu. The market has two sections – the waterfront area for fish and an area in front of the harbour for fruits and vegetables.

Other things to look out for are orchids and grapes imported from the United States and asparagus that grown on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu.

The prices of the food may be on the high side but you are guaranteed produce that is fresh as it is grown locally.

The market offers almost everything, from a betel nut chew (a local concoction which leaves the mouth bright red), strange jungle fruits, nose-tingling spices and fresh herbs.

Amid the stalls selling souvenirs are small outlets where Malaysian artists display their works. Here, visitors may even have their portrait painted or order custom-made crafts.

In case you ever get bored, just outside the market is a riverside amphitheatre where there’s always a wayang kulit show, as well as more contemporary entertainment for the younger crowds.

Another market that is worth mentioning is the one next to the wet market, in the waterfront area. The market is aptly-named Filipino Market, as most of the stalls are owned by Filipinos who sell a wide range of souvenirs, as well as fashion apparel.

Wet Market-- Poutry Sellers

2008-06-19T22:06:00.000-07:00

If you want to buy poultry and you don’t like to slaughter them yourself, or cut them up because you find it troublesome or loathe the bloody chore. I advise you to go to the wet market where the poutry sellers would willingly do a good job out of it.

There are many chicken stalls in the wet market for you to select the type of chicken you want, cockerel or hen, young or old . It is an advantage if you know any of these poutry sellers well as they would be so helpful even to teach you how to make a delicious chicken soup with the recommendation of suitable ingredients or herbs

Wet Market - beef vendor

2008-06-17T08:19:00.001-07:00

Beef vendor ready to serve his customers as they take time to decide what they want. If in doubt, just tell him what they are cooking ,soup, stews, stir-fry or curries. The beef vendor would then know which part of the cow is most suitable. He is also willing to cut or chop or even slice the meat according to customers’ requests.

Customers can also request for imported beef as displayed in the package in this stall. The price may vary between the local and imported meat. The freshness of the meat draws customers and business is brisk, even better on festive seasons.

wet market- fishmonger

2008-06-15T01:02:00.001-07:00

The fishmonger seem pleased to have such wide selection of fresh fish to offer to her customers. She is showing off two big fishes to catch the customers attention.

As the business is getting tough now, the fishmonger will offer to their regular customers for a special prices too.

Wet Market

2008-06-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

This picture taken quite sometime ago shows a vegetable seller getting ready for business as she piles up the goods for sale. The wide variety of fresh vegetables draws buyers who are mainly housewives some of whom come daily for the freshiest and best buy.

There are many stalls, besides vegetables there are also fruit stalls offering a wide selection of fruits. The meat, fish and poultry stalls are segreated in the market. Pork is a non-halal food and therefore the pork stalls are not noticeable unless you look for the signage.

The wet market may not be as clean and comfortable as air-conditioned supermarkets but it still draws the crowd with its morning fresh greens, meats , fish and freshly-slaughtered chickens. The prices here are also reasonable

How to Take Great Photos of Your Child

2008-04-29T08:43:00.001-07:00

Children are naturally photogenic. I have worked in studios and children are so easy to photograph. What I hear from parents is that they don't think that their kids are that easy to photograph. That's only because they don't know some basic tips.

1. Young children especially infants take beautiful photos while they are asleep. Keep the light natural avoid flash if at all possible. Keep the image tight on the child and crop out distractions. For infants when they are awake you are better off having another person in image, it gives the child someone to interact with and you can crop the shot to keep the other person out of the image or you can keep the adult and child in the photo.

2. Toddlers look best when they don't know that you are taking their photo. Candid shots are the way to go for this age group. Keep your camera handy and when they start doing something cute snap the photo quick. Remember your child doesn't have to be looking directly into the camera to take a great photo. Don't ever say to the toddler, Oh how cute, now look here. It wont happen.

3. Children ages 4 plus are really good at sitting for photos. But if you're going to dress them up make sure that they are comfortable and don't put them in some outfit they hate, it will show in the image. Crop tight on your subject, keep the light natural, and if you are using a toy to get their attention make sure that it makes them laugh and doesn't scare them. (I learned that lesson the hard way.)

4. Older children are really good at dressing up for photos. The hardest thing will be getting a natural smile from them. Say, cheese is a sure fire way to get a fake smile. Most of us learned young to smile automatically at that cue. Here you have to get silly. One time I was working with a young boy and his older sister. She was a natural smiler and loved being dressed up. He was not happy and kept pulling at his tie. His mother straightened it for the tenth time. I posed them and addressed the young boy I said, Now on the count of three I want you to say, I hate this tie! His sister smiled surprised at what I said, and he grinned. I took the photo. He then screamed, I hate this tie! Again both smiled wide and I took a second photo. The images turned out beautiful.

I hope these tips help you to take better photos of your child. With a little practice and a few tips you will see better family photos immediately.

If you have some specific questions please visit my Photography Forum at: http://kellypaalphotography.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/index.php and post your question there.

About The Author

Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Recently she started her own business Kelly Paal Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her web design.

Depth of Field - A Major Player in Creative Control

2008-04-19T00:07:00.001-07:00

By: Tedric Garrison

When people talk about Depth of Field (also called DOF) you may wonder why you should care as long as your pictures are in focus. Well since DOF is generally referred to as the range of over all sharpness in a photograph; and most people are instinctively drawn to the sharpest part of the photo first, I would say, it is a major player in creative control.

Most articles on this subject immediately jump into talking about f-stops. These are numbers like f-1.4 or f-32 that represent how much light the aperture lets into the camera. I will explain more in a moment, but this is not where I want to start.

There are three basic things that affect Depth of Field and they are:

1) the lens aperture (f-stops)
2) the lens focal length (the size like: 35mm vs. 200mm)
3) the subject distance (how far it is from the camera)

Keep in mind that most digital cameras do not have f-stops as per say. In fact if you have a straight point and shoot camera with a set lens, it may feel like you have no control at all. Do not get discouraged. Although it does take more effort there are things you can do with any camera to enhance your DOF experience.

Both the point and shoot and even many of the more advance digital cameras are based on a false premise. They assume that all people want all their photos, all the way in focus, all the time. “Now wait a minute”, you say. “I want my pictures in focus . . . don’t I?”

When we say in focus, we are not talking about some 110 year old lady who can not hold the camera steady. Here’s a photo tip that many don’t realize; depending on where you focus in any given photo; so much in front of the subject and so much behind the subject will also be in focus. Generally, more will be in focus behind the subject than in front of it. So if you really want a photo sharp from edge to edge, focus 1/3rd of the way into the scene, not dead center.

There are several really good reasons for wanting to choose a narrow DOF verses a wide DOF. Remember Wide DOF means everything in focus all the time. For those who are not quote “into” photography then this mode will satisfy their needs 90% of the time. But for the rest of us; here are some examples of when you may NOT want to shoot that way.

A) Portraits: focus on the person and blur the background. This is helpful when there are distracting elements behind the subject.

B) At the zoo: focus on only one animal. The idea here is to obscure the fact that you actually took the picture in the zoo. You want to make your photo look like you took this animal in its own natural environment.

C) Flower shots: focus on one flower or better yet even just part of a flower and let the others around it become like a painted background for your photograph.

D) Sporting Events: focus in on the one who crossed the line first, jumped the highest, or ran the fastest. You can show the winner better by using creative DOF.

Back to the basic problem, how exactly do we control Depth of Field? Shooting an object that is 5 feet from the camera will have a much smaller DOF range than shooting that same object from 25 feet away. So, regardless of what type of camera you own, move in closer!!

If your camera has a zoom lens (say 35mm -200mm) the smaller the size, the wider depth of field. Most set lens are in the range of 28mm – 38mm, so there is less to adjust, less to think about, and unfortunately less control. However, here is another photo tip you may not be aware of; if you photograph someone using the 35mm end of the scale, more of the photo will seem in focus. The opposite is also true, if you take the same photo using the 200mm length of your zoom lens, much less of the photo will appear as sharp. This is selective DOF, and it has nothing to do with f-stops. Remember that you control which part is in focus.

If you do close-up photography (flowers, insects, etc) the close-focus or macro mode of your camera will already give you a fairly narrow amount of depth of field. But you can push that even further by using filters. Most cameras, will now accept filters. But even if yours does not (set lens again); you can actually hold the filter in place and shoot. Close up filters allow you to shoot much closer than the lens will by itself. They also usually narrow the depth of field and require a little more light.

Many of today’s cameras have more than one auto mode. In a fully automatic camera you have not gained much if any control, but if you have the option for Aperture priority or Shutter Priority you are back in the driver’s seat. Basically put: Aperture Priority means that you control the aperture (or f-stop) and the camera picks the right shutter speed to get a proper exposure. Conversely, Shutter Priority does the exact opposite, you control the speed and it will pick the correct aperture for the given light conditions.

Since I brought it up, I guess now would be a good time to explain f-stops. The words aperture and f-stop usually refer to the same thing. I have absolutely no idea why we don’t call them “a-stops”, but just so I don’t confuse anybody, I will call them f-stops. The f-stop controls how much light enters the camera. Many books and magazines confuse people by referring to how big the opening is and how small the depth of field is. Most people don’t care about the mechanics of the process they just want to understand the end result.

A small number (like f-1.4) means only a small amount will be in sharp focus. A large number (like f-32) means a large amount will be in sharp focus.

But wait, you’re saying to yourself, “I don’t even have an aperture mode.” Maybe you do, and don’t realize it. If you’re camera has little pictures or icons on it like, many cameras do, you may have more control than you realized. The picture of the small head means portrait mode. (Your girlfriends smile will be in sharp focus but not the tree behind her.) The picture of the little mountain means landscape mode. (Your girlfriends smile will still be in sharp focus, but so will the waterfall 20 feet behind her.)

Remembering that most people are attracted to the thing that is in the sharpest focus, it becomes very hard (visually) to be attracted if the entire photo is in complete focus. There is nothing specific to draw the viewers’ attention. By using the creative possibilities that depth of field offers; no matter what kind of camera you have, your images will be much more powerful and interesting.

About The Author

Award winning writer / photographer Tedric Garrison, has 30 years experience in photography. As a Graphic Art Major, he has a unique perspective. His photo eBook “Your Creative Edge” proves creativity can be taught. Today, he shares his wealth of knowledge with the world, at: http://www.betterphototips.com

The Beauty of Nature Photography

2008-04-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

photo by michelroy

By Colin Hartness

Nature is all around us, and its beauties are unlimited. In this fast-paced world of mocha-lattes and traffic jams at rush hour, too many of us take the beauty of nature for granted. Luckily, there are still people in the world who see this beauty and choose to share it with those of us that are too busy to normally take notice. Poets and photographers are great at this. They take what seems like the ordinary and present it to us in a way that shows us the elegance, the magnificence and the amazing that is on this rock we call Earth.

What is Nature Photography?

So what do we mean when we say nature photography? Well, it may seem obvious but let's go ahead and explain. Nature is our natural environment. It is those things that exist in our world without human intervention; such as trees, grass, flowers, a forest, a river, and animals in their natural environment.

Nature photography is the photography of these things. There is a wide spectrum that is included in nature photography. Pictures of sunsets, sunrises and ocean waves lapping at the shore are all nature photography. So are the trees in the forest and beautiful flowers growing in an open field.

But nature photography can go even deeper than that, showing us parts of the world that we may not be able to see otherwise. If you live in the south, you may not see snow-capped mountains if it wasn't for nature photography. You may not be able to see a deep canyon, a volcano, or a beautiful beach if it were not for photographs of these places.

The photographers that bring us pictures of these places give us an image of something we may never see. It's truly an amazing gift to give.

Nature Photographers

But what if you are one of the people taking these pictures? What if you are the nature loving photographer that gives this fantastic gift to someone else? You are giving a gift to other people. But you are also doing something you love. Nature photography can only be achieved by someone who has a love for nature and sees its beauty and can capture it in a photograph so others can view it and have a touch of the same experience.

So how do you take great nature photography? The first step is to have an eye for these beautiful images. The second step is to have a camera. That's really all it takes. But as you grow as a photographer, you will learn how to take the best pictures and capture the image in a way that others can view it as the amazing sight that you saw. You will learn about lighting and backgrounds and focus and you will take better pictures.

Nature photography is a rewarding experience for the photographer and also for the people who get to view the results. You have taken a piece of nature that may otherwise go unnoticed such as a rainbow, and you capture it permanently in an image that you can look at any time you choose. This is a pleasing and rewarding part of photography. In nature photography, you are able to take two things that you love and combine them in a beautiful and artistic way.

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

12 Photography Tips For Beginners

2008-04-04T22:10:00.000-07:00

Photo by dreamtech

Story by keithmccall

Here are a few photography tips for the beginner.
These are not written in stone. If they were, we wouldn't have a lot of the great photographs we have today.

1). Place the subject with the sun in front or to the side. Placing the sun behind the subject creates dark shadows on the subject.
2). For portrait photography - keep the eyes in sharp focus and shot from around eye level.
3). Use diagonals. Use either the subject or surroundings to lead into the main part of the photography that you are wanting the view to focus on.
4). Keep in mind the rule of Thirds. The center most block should have nothing inside it or very little. In other words; don't shoot center mass.
5). Use a tripod whenever possible - especially when using long telephoto lenses or long shutter speeds.
6). Use color. If making portraits or shots you can setup; try not to use dark tones. Try using medium to light colors. These show up very well in photographs.
7). Instead of using zoom, move in close. Remember lenses like a 50mm prime do not have zoom capabilities.
8). Use props if possible. If you're shooting a portrait; flowers - real or realistic - lend greatly to the color and background.
9). Don't be afraid to experiment with camera angles. Shooting a picture with the camera slanted slightly to the left or right impacts the over all look of the shot.
10). When shooting photographs of water, make sure the horizon or horizontal plane is level. Remember, lakes normally do not slant left or right.
11). BE SAFE! Be aware of your surroundings! There has been more than one photographer falling off a cliff while moving in closer.
12). Don't be afraid to break the rules! Photography rules should be used as a guide. Some of our most memorable photos have come from photographers not sticking to photography rules.

These are only tips. As I said in the beginning; these are not written in stone. Don't be afraid to try new things with your photography.
I shot mainly digital photography and these tips come from a digital point of view. Some of the tips have the need for the picture to be reviewed before knowing if something wasn't right with the shot.

Parting shot:
One of the most important tips and one to always remember: Have Fun with your photography.
Photography is my hobby. I have been paid for my photography and I have been published, but I choose to remain an amateur because once it becomes a job with deadlines, bills, and business, for me, it is no longer fun - it becomes work.

About the Author

Photographer user with several published photos. Photography by Keith

5 Simple, But Crucial Digital Photography Tips

2008-04-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

by: Gary Bunn

Digital Photography is a highly complex activity, with a steep learning curve and many advanced techniques that take years to master! However, we all have to start somewhere. So, here’s a list of 5 Great Tips that will ultimately help you improve your digital photography, and set you off on the right foot.

1. Use a Tripod or Bean-Bag.

Yes, these can be such a pain to carry around, but they’re definitely worth the time. Using a Tripod or alternative such as a bean-bag will add stability to your camera, meaning you have greater control over exposure times and composition. You’ll also never see that annoying camera shake ruin a picture again whilst using a tripod!

2. Get a High Capacity Memory Card.

Have you ever had one of those photography days which is going perfect? The light was great, your subjects look fantastic, the weather is holding off, your capturing the shots you only dreamed of…Then it happens.. Your Memory Card is full and you don’t have a spare! You could manually sort through and delete, but it’d take hours. It’s a much better idea to spend a bit more and invest in a high capacity memory card. They’re now available up to 8GB!!

3. Use a UV Filter.

Using a UV filter on your camera lens is a great idea. They’re small circular pieces of glass that screw over the end of your lens, and offer great protection from scratches, dust, finger prints and also filter out UV rays, improving the color of your images. Best of all they’re dirt cheap!!

4. Add Warmth To Your Tones.

The White-Balance settings on your digital SLR control the tonal effects of your images, so try experimenting with them. Don’t think that just because a setting is called ‘cloudy’ that you can only use it when it is cloudy! In fact, using the ‘cloudy’ setting when taking pictures adds warmth. Perfect for a sunset or evening landscape shot.

5. Shoot, Shoot, Shoot!

This will obviously depend on your memory card size as discussed in point 2, but is still very important in trying to get those great shots. Simply put, do not rely on a single shot to capture a great image. Imagine taking time finding a fantastic composition, only to find later that the shot you took has a lens flare or dark shadow in it! Its very frustrating indeed! Take several shots for each composition, try slightly changing the angle each time. This way you can compare and choose the best one later. Remember you can always delete the images you don’t want, that’s the beauty of Digital Photography!

About The Author

Courtesy of Gary Bunn and http://www.Your-Digital-Photography.com

Buying A Digital Camera? Five Things To Consider

2008-04-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

By John Steele

When considering the purchase your first digital camera you will discover that today's cameras contain a vast array of advanced features. Probably most of them will be features you're not familiar with, and by the time you finish reading this article, the manufacturers will have added a dozen new ones.

The type of camera you choose doesn't have to be a difficult decision. Here are five guidelines that can help you find the camera you need. Regardless of the options and capabilities of the camera your first real question should be.

1. How much do I want to spend?

This may sound like an over simplification, but using this approach will allow you to concentrate on the wide variety of cameras you can afford. Once you've answered that question, a lot of the other questions will be eliminated by default. There are some good inexpensive cameras available, but the great one's can get very expensive. Determine your price range first. Then compare the cameras that fall in that category.

You'll save a lot of time and frustration. It's probably worthwhile to mention that I have found some great buys on refurbished high-end cameras on ebay. Just make sure you check the seller's feedback, return policy, and warranty, on the camera. You can buy a lot of camera at an enormous discount on ebay if you've done your homework and know what you're looking for.

After you've determined what your budget will allow, it's time to compare features. The second question that naturally arises is.

2. Which features do I need, and which features will I never use?

Even though the list of advanced features on today's digital cameras is endless, they still fall into two basic categories; either DSLR (digital single lens reflex) or point-and-shoot. The comparison of DSLR and point-and-shoot cameras is beyond the scope of this article; there are just too many variables.

There are great camera comparison charts available on the web. But nothing beats going to your local photography store to hold the cameras and ask questions about their controls and capabilities. By physically inspecting the camera it's easier to decide if it's something your willing to carry all day; especially when comparing DSLR cameras which are often heavy and bulky. By looking at the features on the different models you will better be able to determine if you need a camera with manual settings or if automatic settings will be adequate.

If you are going to use the camera for more than just a hobby a DSLR is the obvious choice. There is so much more you can do with a DSLR, and you have far more control over the type of pictures you can take. The downside is they're expensive, and if you're unfamiliar with photography, they have a hefty learning curve. When buying a digital camera it all boils down to how it fits your lifestyle, and what you intend to use it for.

The third factor in the quest for the perfect digital camera is known as resolution. Although it may be considered a symbol of prestige to own a camera with the most mega-pixels, is it really necessary? Mega-pixels can be overrated.

3. Do I need high mega-pixels?

The resolution on digital cameras is measured in mega-pixels. The higher the number of mega-pixels the more defined the image will be. The problem that arises in this scenario is that more doesn't mean better. Five mega-pix is the typical starting point for most of today's digital cameras, and that is more than adequate for most pictures. Unless you are going to expand your pictures to a point they could be used for posters the extra mega-pixels are overkill. You don't need them. One caveat here however; if you plan submitting your photos to an agency a five mega-pix camera probably is not adequate, you need high resolution to meet the requirements of the stock photography agencies.

So you've found a camera you think you can live with and your ready to have some fun with it. You get it home and open the box only to discover you need accessories.

4. What accessories do I need?

Surprise! I've listed a few of the items your likely to find useful to go along with your camera. Though they don't appear to amount to much they can get expensive when added up.

Lenses (DSLR typically)

Spare Batteries / Recharger

Filters and Lens Caps

External Flash

Memory Cards

Tripod

Photo Editing Software

Camera Case

The best way to buy the accessories is in a bundle included with the camera. Usually the manufacturers or the merchant offer some kind of an incentive to buy from them. This is another reason I like some of the camera packages offered on ebay. It's easy to get an expensive bundle of accessories included as a bonus in some of the camera deals offered there. At a minimum always try to get at least an extra battery and a charger as a bonus. Camera batteries lose their vitality quickly and are expensive to replace.

5. The hardest part is the research.

If you don't know what you're looking for, chances are you'll find it. Rather than just read about the cameras it helps a great deal if you take a little time to play with them at the store. I've found talking with sales people in person is far more beneficial than trying to communicate by telephone. Nothing will better help you decide which camera is for you than examining them.

Of course digital cameras are far more complex than what has been discussed in this article, and it's too easy to make a bad decision when buying online. That's why it's so important to get the feel of a camera before you buy it.

If you do find a camera you like and decide to buy it online, one a word of caution. Make sure you specify the little things like model number, warranty, place and date of manufacture, color, accessories, and so forth. It's easy to end up with a camera or lens you didn't want when buying from a vendor in another place. There are a lot of subtle variations in camera equipment. Be sure you know exactly what you're ordering and the return policy.

http://www.digital.id.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Steele

Beginning In Photography: Choosing A Camera

2008-04-03T18:25:00.000-07:00

by: Mark Eden

You’ve been snapping away with your nifty little point and shoot camera for a while now and you’ve discovered you really like taking pictures and want to get more creative and have more control over your photos. Naturally the next step is to upgrade to an SLR camera. But which one? There is a ridiculous number of products out there with all sorts of buttons and dials that do this or that. This article attempts to give a brief overview of the things that are actually important when considering which camera to buy.

Firstly, let’s dispel one of the most common myths associated with upgrading equipment. Buying a new camera will not make you a better photographer. Repeat: it will NOT make you a better photographer. Not instantly, not in 2 years time, not in 10 years. What will make you a better photographer is you. Your willingness to learn and develop your skills. Sure a high end camera will give you more control over your image making, but that’s just it; its you controlling the camera, and therefore the end image. Ok, now that we’re on the same track, a few things to think about.

How many megapixels do I need?

We are going to assume that you are looking at digital cameras here, although I should point out that there are some excellent film cameras around at much less expense. So don’t discount film altogether (it’s not dead just yet!). But to answer the question, we first need to answer another: What do you want to do with your photos? If you only want to post your photos on the web, e-mail them or make small prints to put in a photo album, the resolution you need for this is quite low. To give you an idea, a camera with 2 megapixels will create an image that can make a good quality 6 x 4 print (standard photo album size). Most entry level SLR cameras start at around 6 megapixels. Therefore if this is all you want to do with your images, the amount of megapixels does not need to be a major concern. If, however, you want to make large sized prints, you may need a higher resolution camera. While entry level SLR’s often produce very good quality prints up to a certain size, more pixels gives you the freedom of being able to enlarge even further. While image software programs can increase the size of your photos they will lose some quality. Starting with a larger image means that fewer pixels are added by the program and less quality is lost.

Is brand important?

Not as important as some would have you think. While photographers will continue to debate the Nikon vs Canon issue, my belief is that it is a moot point. Both companies produce some excellent products and some pretty ordinary ones. What should be foremost in your mind is build quality. How many plastic parts does the camera have versus metal ones? Metal parts can be replaced, while plastic parts are usually set into a mould and cannot be. Potentially this could mean the difference between having to buy a new part or a new camera a few years down the track. Check how the camera feels in your hand. If it feels solid and sturdy, it probably is. Quality between brands doesn’t differ greatly until you get into the higher end cameras. This is where Nikon and Canon come to the fore and other brands that don’t target this market drop off. However if you decide you don’t need a higher end camera, don’t discount other brands.

What about features?

Cameras come with all sorts of different modes and features. Some of them seem to be included for no other reason than to be a selling point for that particular model. It takes a little research to discern which are actually going to be useful. There are, however, some that you should factor into your considerations. Firstly, what mode settings does the camera have? Many entry level SLR’s have similar settings to point and shoot cameras. I.e. Portrait, landscape, low light etc. While these make things easy, the point of moving up to an SLR camera is to gain more control over your photos. You will never gain the control you want without learning how to use a camera in full manual mode.

Other features, such as a built if flash or cable release socket, may be important to you depending on the type of photography you want to do. If you like to shoot portraits, a built in flash can be a huge help in lighting shadows. If you are interested in landscape photography, you will at some point want to set you camera up on a tripod to capture a low light scene. Using a cable release allows you to press the shutter without actually touching the camera, removing the camera shake that blurs a picture.

One final consideration.

This is possibly the most important of all. Make sure the camera you choose is comfortable and easy to use. Check that you can reach all the buttons easily while shooting and that the dial and menu configurations are logical. This allows you to learn your gear easily so that you can concentrate on the most important thing: taking pictures.

About The Author

Mark Eden is a freelance travel photographer and writer, and the founder and director of Expanse Photography, a photographic services company offering fine art, limited edition prints as well as stock and assignment photography and publishing services. Mark can be contacted through the Expanse Photography website http://www.expansephotography.com.

What are the different types of photography?

2008-04-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

By: Jessica Thomson

Lots of people enjoy photography in universal, but several likes to concentrate on just one type of photography. There are different types of photography that includes sports photography, nude photography, underwater photography, animal photography, landscape photography, portrait photography and aerial photography. People can focus on one type of Photography since it is their profession or it is a passion. Some types of photography, like underwater, requires special equipments to take pleasure in it. If people focus on single type and technique then make sure it interests the person.

Types of photography:

1. Advertising Photography- It is a type of photos that are made to demonstrate a product. Such images are usually completed with a design firm, advertising agency or with a domestic corporate design team.
2. Aerial Photography - It is process of taking of photographs from the top with a camera mounted and hand held, on a helicopter, aircraft, rocket, kite, balloon, and skydiver. It was extensively used for armed purposes.
3. Architectural Photography
4. Astronomical Photography - through which various used for astronomical photography for observatory.
5. Baby Photography.
6. Black and White Photography.
7. Cityscape Photography - it helps to take digital photos, capturing the essence of the lighting and exposure settings, photo subject ideas.
8. Commercial photography - It includes editorial photography, advertising photography, photojournalism, fine art photography, portrait and wedding photography.
9. Concert Photography - it is among the most difficult ones.
10. Digital Photography.
11. Documentary photography
12. Equine Photography - It includes photographs related to horses and all linked with horses.
13. Family Photography- family photography that including everything from snapping.
14. Fine art photography,
15. Fine Art Nude Photography
16. Food Photography.
17. Glamour or Fashion photography
18. Infrared Photography.
19. Landscape Photography
20. Macro photography
21. Nature photography
22. Night photography
23. Pet Photography.

Few more interesting:

Portrait photography was around, whiles the invention and polarity of the camera, and is an inexpensive and often extra accessible technique than portrait painting that had been used by illustrious figures previous to the use of the camera.
Seascape Photography is mostly used for beautiful seascape art and seascape photography and they are very popular among the scuba diver.
Travel Photography is used for taking pictures of landscapes, architecture and night photography, nature of different places.
Underwater photography is the procedure of captivating photographs in underwater. It is generally done at scuba diving, but can be completed while swimming as well.
Wedding photography is most likely one of the obscured one, but they are challenging forms of photography that involves a great deal of accountability, abilities and acquaintance.

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Learning Basic Photography

2008-04-02T09:32:00.000-07:00

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