Large Canvas Printing

April 5th, 2010

By: Monique Stephen

mountain lake view

think big cartoon

If you believe in big marketing portfolios for the promotion of your products or services, then large canvas printing will be an ideal choice. A good marketing campaign can bring about dramatic results in business enhancement. Large canvas prints are wonderful advertisement options that create a big impact on the minds of people. The important factor is that these prints are rather affordable and can be utilized by small, medium and big businesses.

Large format printing on canvas is provided by reputable digital printing companies active in the field. You can have your own photos, pictures, and artwork printed on canvas. You can add appropriate text to make your ad stand out. High quality, glossy large canvas prints are more cost-effective than prints taken on expensive photo papers.

24 hour turn around on all prints!

pink flower

What Makes Large Canvas Printing Different?

Large canvas prints have unique features such as ultra sharp text, vibrant colours and high resolution photo reproductions that truly provide you an outstanding visual treat. The images are printed on 100% cotton artist grade canvas with high tech large format digital printers. Advance printing technology has made image printing easier and affordable. The fade resistant pigmented UV ink and high resolution quality of the large format printers helps them to produce the exact replica of the digital image. The UV ink and semi matte varnish used in canvas ensure more durability and protection against abrasion.

corvette wall hanging

Large canvas prints feature more stability and long life as compared to photo base papers. Large prints can be custom printed according to the needs of the customers. These can also be mounted easily on the walls of your home. Turn your photos and pictures into elegant prints which look like genuine artwork and make a lasting impression on the onlooker.

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About the Author:

Superchrome creates large canvas print that gives a stunning appearance to your home or office interior. Extensive range of collections available in the print gallery comprises of canvas prints, art prints, digital photo prints, fine art prints, large format prints, poster prints, signage and many more.

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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Canvas Digital Prints Can Preserve Those Cherished Moments

April 2nd, 2010

Have Your Favorite Photos Printed on Canvas

The Cat

There is no gift as cherished as those that are thoughtfully given to friends and family. And, what better gift than photos converted to canvas digital prints.

The technology that allows companies and businesses to print large format signs, banners and murals is now available to customers at a reasonable price. Customers can take advantage of this technology by getting canvas digital prints made for a fraction of what it once cost in the past.

Each of the unique canvas digital prints that are made, regardless of the size, are of the highest quality. And, canvas digital prints make terrific gifts for any reason. The ability to preserve a moment that was captured with friends or family in canvas digital prints makes them a lasting and thoughtful tribute.

Check out the program Today!

The process each canvas digital prints goes through starts with a quality image chosen by the customer. The image itself is scrutinized to insure it will end in a high quality work of art.

cute kid

Once deemed suitable, the next step of making amazing canvas digital prints involves digital manipulation of the image. Talented professional artists, trained specifically in the use of this patented technology, make necessary alterations to the image. It is then converted to either a photo realistic image or one with painted strokes that resemble an oil painting.

After this step, the final image is once again reviewed for quality and then goes through final output to canvas. The end results are canvas digital prints that resemble painted works of art.

To give thoughtful gifts that will last for years to come, check out the sizes and options available for the custom canvas digital prints made by PersonalCanvasArt.com. Offering the quality canvas digital prints, PersonalCanvasArt.com is the best resource for preserving cherished memories on canvas.

personal canvas art, wall mural, photo canvas, photo to canvas

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Digital Photo Frames – A New Era in Digital Media

April 1st, 2010

by T. Wellings

picture of girl

Comparing the past and the present, one can say that technology has really gone very far. From agriculture to transportation to telecommunication to household, technology has improved almost all the things people use, people do and people create. At the heart of it all lies the already seemingly indispensable tool of today’s generation – the computer. People now live in an almost computerized and digital world. There are digital washing machines, digital alarm clocks, computerized tubs, digital calculators, digital sunglasses and digital cameras.

In the past, people saw and practiced the printing and developing of pictures or photographs which required several processes. There was a need to use the photo film after which will be soaked into some chemicals and allow them to dry in a black room. This traditional printing was replaced by putting the films into a printing machine. This machine reads the films and prints them. From hours of waiting, this has decreased to minutes. Again, it was replaced by digital camera where printing can be done right in your computer in the comfort of your home. All you need to do is transfer the photos into your computer and print them. Technology didn’t stop into improving the science of photography. Now here comes the revolutionary digital photo frame.

What is a digital photo frame? A digital photo frame is a kind of picture frame that displays photos digitally without the need of a printer or computer. The good thing about it is that it can display photos in a TV set.

15% off new KODAK Digital Frames – Expires 4/30/2010.

There are many kinds of digital photo frames. Some can only show pictures in JPEG format but most digital photo frames display the pictures in a slide show. The user may also adjust the time the pictures are shown through its adjustable time interval.
Other digital photo frames support other multimedia content aside from the photographs alone. These special photo frames may show movie clips through the camera’s movie mode, MPEG files or even MP3 or MP4 audio files.

Sunset

Another feature of some digital photo frames is that it can load pictures over the internet using different programs such as RSS and photo sharing. One may easily find sites from the net that offer such programs. Not only pictures are displayed in the digital photo frame, the owner may actually feed texts along with the pictures. This way the viewer may read the description of the photograph.
All digital cameras have memory card but unlike digital cameras where you have to insert the card into some memory card reader or connect the camera into the computer before you can see it and print it, digital photo frames have internal memory slots that stores the pictures. Some frames also have USB connection which makes it easier to transfer the photos. However, there are some digital photo frames with a small memory and cannot be stored with many photo files. This is not a problem because you can buy an external memory which can be attached to the digital photo frame.

The digital photo frames come with a rechargeable battery. So the life of the digital photo frame won’t be a problem. It also comes in different sizes. The pixels also vary depending on the size of the images shown. There is a 7 inch or 17.5 cm digital photo frame that shows images of 430 x 234 pixels. There are also smaller types but pictures can’t be stretched as much.
A digital photo frame has three main parts. These are the LCD panel, the PCB and the outer frame. There are two types of panel; analog and digital. The panel also comes in different sizes. The main software is found in the PCB which is the heart of the digital photo frame.

The magic of the digital photo frame is indeed amazing. It’s as simple as taking a photo, still or moving, switch your memory card to the frame and view them. Now all your wonderful memories will be constantly shown or displayed anywhere you want it to be shown or to be displayed, anywhere in your home, be it on the living room, your wall, bedroom, study room or even in the kitchen with the help of the magical digital photo frame.

Happy Girl

Do not worry about the price. It’s more affordable than printing hundreds of pictures and buying an ordinary photo frame for each. Imagine how many happy snaps you can put in it – that’s a lot! So be reminded of the magic your wedding brings, your graduation, your son’s first birthday and even just the magic of a single smile. It will surely brighten and fill your day with the magic it brings. Remember that a single picture paints a thousand faces so how much more with the digital photo frame.

Share the magic to your loved ones. It’s a perfect present to your family, friends or to your boss. Treasure every memory you have, cherish every moment you get with the digital photo frame.


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About the Author:

Thinking about cake frosting?

Learn all about cake decoration and cake frosting recipes at http://cake-frosting.com/

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KODAK EASYSHARE M575 and M580 Digital Camera Announcement

March 24th, 2010

And now for a word from our sponsors:

Kodak, an old trusted name in photography has announced two new models that will be available soon. These cameras have many user friendly features that make them a good choice as a fun camera to own.

Free Standard Shipping on KODAK EASYSHARE M575 & M580 Digital Camera Pre-Orders through 4/23/2010.*
Sharing your life just got simpler. Just Press Share.

  • One button upload to YouTube, Facebook, Flickr, and KODAK Gallery sites
  • 5 X- 8X optical zoom
  • Large 3.0 inch color LCD screen
  • Kodak’s innovative Smart Capture and Face Recognition technology
  • Li-Ion rechargeable battery and in-camera charging

Save 15% on Batteries and Chargers with new Digital Camera Purchase through 4/29/2010.**

And what about all of those asterisks in the announcement?

Terms and Conditions
*Free Standard Shipping on KODAK EASYSHARE M575 and M580 Digital Camera pre-orders. Select “Standard Ground” shipping option at checkout and free Standard Ground Shipping will be automatically applied to qualifying pre-orders. Valid only on purchases at the KODAK Store (U.S. only). Not valid on KODAK Gallery purchases. Offer valid from 3/23/2010 through 4/23/2010. Offer valid for shipping to U.S. addresses only, excluding Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Subject to Standard Shipping and Handling terms and shipping carrier performance. Please note that carriers do not guarantee delivery during holiday periods and Kodak is not responsible for carrier delays. Kodak reserves the right to modify or discontinue this promotion at any time.

**Save 15% off KODAK Batteries and Chargers when you buy any new KODAK EASYSHARE Digital Camera at the KODAK Store. Just add the qualifying products to your shopping cart and your discount will be automatically applied at checkout. Offer does not apply to Shipping & Handling charges or tax. Offer valid 3/23/2010 to 3/29/2010, while supplies last. Valid only on purchases at the KODAK Store (U.S. only). Price discounts cannot be used together or combined with other discount offers. Offer excludes refurbished products. If multiple discounts are applicable to a single item, the highest discount will be automatically applied at checkout. Kodak reserves the right to modify or discontinue this promotion at any time.


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A Kodak Moment

March 18th, 2010
fox spuirrel

A Red Fox Squirrel

Kodak is one of the oldest names in photography. Kodak films were the choice of professional photographers back in the film camera days. Kodak has evolved into the digital age. They supply digital cameras and digital photo frames in their product line. Kodak has an Online Store for your shopping convenience.

Wren House

Wren House

Benefits to You by shopping the Kodak Store:

  • Buy direct from the leading photography company for over 100 years
  • One-stop shopping for the biggest selection of Kodak digital cameras, digital picture frames, printers, pocket video cameras, accessories and more.

Shop the KODAK Store!

Professional Photographer Patrick McMullan offers this tip on available light photography:

Lighting can be a nightmare and ruin a perfectly good photo, so it’s best to be aware of what light you will be working with throughout the night. Flash is almost always necessary, but most cameras onboard flashes can’t light up more than 6 feet, so get close. If you are using an external flash, you have more wiggle room. External flashes can be harsh on skin tones; it’s a good idea to have a diffuser to soften the light a little bit. Depending on the space, bouncing your flash—moving the head of the flash in the direction of a wall or

SunGod in Sand

SunGod in Sand Sculpture by Suzanne Altamare

ceiling—can make some interesting lighting.

In addition to the Kodak Store there is the Kodak Gallery Online. Check out what the Kodak Gallery has to offer:

50 free prints

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Photoshop Trick : 10 Steps Make Your Photo To Hand Sketch Effect

March 17th, 2010

If you like the beauty of the painting sketch was made crayons or pencils, Now with Adobe Photoshop CS3 and CS4, you can practice these effects to your digital photos. Without drawing skills, you have been able to draw sketches. There are few tips from me, if you want a sketch painted more optimal, use the Graphic Tablet Mouse instead.

Step 1 :

Find a digital photo with high resolution both as a reference sketch, open the image in the File Menu > Open. Create a new layer just above it and name the layer is “Gray Layer”. Select the color light gray from the Color Picker as the Foreground Color, and then click OK. Fill the layer with the color of the foreground color by clicking on the Edit menu, then select Fill > Foreground Color and click OK.

Step 2 :
Next, switch to the layer palette, select Menu Layers > Create New Fill or Adjustment Layer, and then select Pattern. Select group ‘Pappers Grayscale’ and select the fibers 1 type. And before pressing the OK button, larger-scale pattern in the texture of 300% in the Scale column then continue by clicking OK.

Step 3 :

Change the layer blending to Soft Light with the Opacity to 40%. Next duplicate the background layer / model and name it “glowing edges” on the duplicated layer. This is done to give effect to these layers.

Step 4 :

Now, go to Filter menu, choose Stylize > Glowing edges. Drag the slider ‘Edge Width’ to number 3, move the slider ‘Edge Brightness’ to number 12, Drag the slider ‘smoothness’ to the number 7 and click OK. Still on Layer ‘Glowing edges’, invert staining in this layer by selecting Image menu, select Adjustment > Invert (Ctrl + I). Because since we do not need color information at this layer, change the color to be black & white by selecting the Image menu, select Adjustment Desaturate or press a key combination (Ctrl + Shift + U) on the keyboard.

Step 5 :

Move the layer “Glowing edges” is to stack the top layer by dragging while holding the left mouse button. Change the Layer Blending into Multiply by setting the Opacity to 20%. Return to layer, duplicate the layer Background / model and name this new layer with the ‘Sketch’. On this layer, we will create a sketch effect. Discard color information at this layer by selecting Image menu, select Adjustment > Desaturate or press the key combination “Shift + Ctrl + U” on the keyboard.

Step 6 :

Next, move the sketch layer to the stack top layer by dragging while holding the left mouse button. Then, increase the contrast in this layer by selecting Image menu, and select Adjustment > Curves or press the key combination “Ctrl + F” on your keyboard and click OK. Give Grainy effect by selecting Filter menu, select Noise > Add Noise. Drag the slider ‘Amount’ to 14.21%, choose Gaussian in the Distribution column, and check Monochromatic field and click OK.

Step 7 :

Hide the first layer “Sketch” by choosing Layer menu, select Layer Mask > Hide All. You also can press the Add Layer Mask button at the bottom of the layer palette then click the Edit menu, select Fill > Black. This layer makes the layer remains visible on the mode, but for now, hidden under the mask.

Step 8 :

Now select the Brush Tool (B), then click on the Toolbar Brush to select the brush shape. Choose the Dry Media Brushes and then select the type of brush Pastel on Charcoal Paper. If you use the Graphic Tablet, open the Brush Editor by pressing the F5 key on your keyboard. Dynamic Shape Panel, change the Size Control Jitter from Off to Pen Pressure. Similarly, in the Other Dynamics Panel, change the Opacity Jitter becomes Pen Pressure Control. If you use the Mouse, you do not need to open the Brush Editor, simply change the quantity Opacity and Flow at the Option bar.

Step 9 :

Back to the Sketch Layer, click the thumbnail black mask to work on the Mask. Do not forget to use the Foreground Color to white. Set brush size 15 px, opacity to 55% and Flow to 75%, scratched Stylus / Mouse slowly. Apply On the first face of the character, such as eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth. Do more scratches, especially on the part of the body contours.

Step 10 :

Now, scratched Brush hair in the frame. Use a smaller brush, about the size of 10px. Now, larger brush size of 30 px, scratched in all parts of the hair. And further, larger Opacity to 98% and use a small brush (10 px) to further reinforce the character’s eyes and mouth. And as a last resort, brush in shadow areas by using the Brush size 35 px or larger and Opacity to 81%.

Author Bio: For more details about this information visit the page Photoshop Trick : 10 Steps Make Your Photo to Hand Sketch Effect and visit the homepageTop Freeware,Photoshop Tricks,PC Tricks and Internet Tips & Tricks

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Bird Photography – How to Take Hummingbirds

March 17th, 2010

The most challenging subject in the world of bird photography is the hummingbird. This jeweled bundle of energy has the ability to zoom around at record breaking speeds causing frustration for many a photographer. This article is written to help give you some tips so you can take better hummingbird pictures.

Set out the Hummingbird Welcome Mat

Most places in North America have hummingbirds either seasonally or year round. Just ask your local Audubon Society on when you should put out your hummingbird feeders. You can also find out from them if the hummingbirds in your area need to migrate, and if so, when you should take your feeders down so they don’t get stranded in the cold.

Every serious hummingbird photographer needs a hummingbird feeder. When looking for a feeder, make sure you have one that is easy to clean and that it is easy to fill with sugar water.

Most birders suggest using 4 parts water to 1 part sugar or you can also try using a 3:1 mixture as well. Keep the feeders filled so that the hummingbirds don’t head to a more reliable nectar station. However you should take them down periodically to clean but put them right back up. Also never use food coloring because it can cause dangerous growth on the hummingbirds beaks and it’s not needed to attract them.

Hummingbird Feeders, Perches and Flowers

The biggest challenge with taking hummingbird pictures is that they rarely hold still. Hummingbirds are constantly zooming and darting so it makes it difficult to photograph them. Many photographers make the mistake of trying to follow them with their camera in hand. However, don’t do that as it is best staying in one position and being patient.

You want to think about the kind of bird pictures you want and then set things up to help increase your chances of getting the shot. After you’re all set up, all you have to do is have your camera ready and get comfortable. Many photographers use a stabilizer device like a tripod or monopod so the camera is always ready for the next shot. Some photographers use blinds so they can move without worrying about scaring off a hummingbird.

If you want photographs of hummingbirds hovering, remove the perches from your feeders. And if you plug all the holes but one it will be easier to get a pictures of one hummingbird at a time. You will still have hummingbirds zipping around trying to chase off the other birds from the feeder regardless of what you do.

Now if you want to take pictures of hummingbirds perching, watch where the dominant male goes after he fills up at the feeder. Usually, hummingbirds will perch where they have a good view of the feeder. If the perch isn’t in a good position for you to take pictures, you’ll need to do some rearranging. Move the feeder closer to a perch that works for you.

You can also move it farther from the natural perches and add a new perch that is in a photo friendly location. The hummingbird won’t mind as long as he or she can keep an eye out for intruders. Eventually the hummingbirds will get used to you and your camera, but movement will likely frighten them off so make sure you’re in a quiet area with very little activity.

If you have a particular flower that would make a lovely picture with the hummingbird but they are never there long enough for you to press the shutter release, try this photographer’s trick: Using an eye dropper, gently fill the flower with some sugar water. This only works for a short time because the flower will begin to wilt after just a few hours.

As with feeders and perches, you can also hang a basket of flowers to help attract them for photographing. However no matter if you use a flower or feeder, you’ll still only have about 8 seconds tops to take your pictures. Always be patient and don’t press the shutter release until the hummingbird has a had a sip of nectar or sugar water. Otherwise if the flash frightens them off, they won’t have as much incentive to venture back.

Check Your Background

The best background for hummingbird photography is something dark green that doesn’t have any distractions in it like brown twigs or branches. If you want a mobile background try a dark green potted plant or a painted poster board. The main thing is to have a dark background that makes the hummingbird’s colors pop.

If you look for hummingbird pictures in google images you’ll get a good idea of what backgrounds work and what doesn’t. Note how brilliantly colored hummingbirds fade into some backgrounds, like the bright green, sun lit trees and shrubs. A shaded area behind the feeder or perch also works well as a good background.

You can use photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop Elements, to blur the background and make the hummingbird stand out from the background.
You can also find tutorials on this on websites like Adobe.

Lights, Camera, Action

Once you have your hummingbird feeding station set up, now you just need to find a comfy place to sit with your camera and tripod. In order to freeze their beating wings, you will need a high speed flash but you can still get some great pictures with a good compact camera by using these tips.

Remember, hummingbirds may be the most challenging subject in bird photography, but with some patience you will soon have a nice collection of hummingbird photography to frame and display in your home.

Author Bio: Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. If you’re looking for a unique one of a kind gift or a gift that will go with any decor, check out this website or call 1-800-780-0699.

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Photo Composition: Tips For Composing the Perfect Photo

March 17th, 2010

Learning how to compose your photographs can mean the difference between a so-so snapshot and a high quality picture. This article will give you useful composition tips for taking great digital pictures.

Filling the Frame & Clearing Clutter

Although there are exceptions to this rule, usually filling the frame is one of the simplest things you can do to improve your composition.

Most people make the mistake of trying to include too much in their picture and end up with a boring photo where nothing really stands out.

For example, if you are taking a picture of your child playing on a swing, you should fill the frame of you child on the swing and leave out the swingset and other background clutter like Uncle Ed tending to the barbeque.

If you don’t fill the frame with just your child, you will lose them in the background and won’t be able to capture their excited expression from swinging high in the air. You can always go back and take a close up of Uncle Ed flipping the burgers.

A nice thing about digital cameras is that after you take the picture you can check for clutter in playback mode. By checking the picture right away, you often can retake the picture and make it better by getting everyone smiling or removing clutter from the background like a lamp post or tree branch.

Sometimes leaving lots of empty space in the photo also works well. You might take a picture of something that fills two thirds of the photo for effect. Make sure to get close enough to your subject so they fill up at least a third of the viewfinder or frame. So now it’s time to talk about one of the most important tips for taking digital photographs.

Rule of Thirds

Most pictures have the subject directly centered in the picture with a lot of empty space (or clutter) around them. This happens because most people use digital compacts in autofocus mode and these cameras usually have a center-weighted focus.

Professionally taken photographs rarely have the subject in the center because they use manual focus (we’ll look at a trick that digital compact users can sometimes use). If you have a DSLR you can also use this easy focusing trick.

The “Rule of Thirds” is one of the most popular techniques. With this technique, the photographer has to visualize six evenly spaced lines breaking the viewfinder into nine even boxes. Some cameras have a feature that lets you opt to have this tic tac toe grid, superimposed over your image in preview mode.

By using the grid in preview mode (or visualizing a grid), you can compose a picture where the subject is on one of the lines or intersections instead of the middle of your picture. And don’t worry about lining up your subject exactly to the grid lines as it is only intended as a guide. With a little practice, using the rule of thirds will become second nature.

Keeping Focused

So, it’s time to talk about how to get your subject in focus without placing them directly in the center of your picture. This technique works great for subjects that are not moving, like people sitting down or a picture of a statue or tree. Here is how you do it:

1. Move your subject in the middle of the frame where your viewfinder’s focus point is in the center and press the shutter release button half way down.
2. Wait for the green light to glow so you know the focus is locked.
3. Keeping your finger pressed on the shutter release button so it stays pressed half way down, move the camera until you have the composition you want.
4. Now, hold the camera steady and press the shutter the rest of the way down.
5. Always wait for the green light because that is the camera’s signal that it has taken the picture.

More Composition Tips for Taking Digital Pictures (Or Film)

Focus on something specific on your subject. For example, with people and animals, this is usually the eyes because they are so expressive.

To make photos pop, develop a photographer’s eye for contrast. Contrast in a picture is good when the brights are bright and the dark colors are dark.

Too add interest to a set of photos of a given subject, take photos from different angles. Get a different perspective by getting up high or lying down on the ground. It is best to vary the angle in which you take your pictures so you can show different perspectives and views.

By using these tips, you’ll be able to compose great pictures and display them on your wall for all to enjoy.

Author Bio: Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Shop online and see our huge selection of picture frames like our fun scrapbook page frames and deep shadowbox wood frames. Visit our website and have fun frame shopping or call 1-800-780-0699.

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How to Take Good Pictures of People and Pets

March 17th, 2010

People and pets are the trickiest subjects to photograph yet these pictures often get the most attention. No matter what your skill level, you can always learn something new that can improve your photography when it comes to taking photos of pets and people. This article will give you some valuable tips that you can immediately start using to take better photos of the people and pets you care about most!

Taking Better People Pictures

The best pictures of people always reflect their personality and character. While a picture make capture the person in the moment, sometimes the picture doesn’t accurately reflect the person’s usual expressions or appearance. The solution to this problem is simple: After setting up your photo shoot, spend a little time chatting with the subject, camera ready. When you see that perfect expression start snapping pictures.

A few technical tips:

* Keep in mind that Portrait mode tends to distort, making the subject look wider or younger. Depending on the age of the subject, the latter might be appreciated, but normally you would avoid this distortion by zooming. Stand close enough so the subject fills the camera’s viewfinder and then take one step backwards, zoom again to fill the frame and shoot your picture.

* Whenever possible, always use natural light. If using indoor lighting, try to use lamps with full spectrum light bulbs. Try to avoid low ceiling light as this creates bad shadows.

* Shoot in high resolution so that you can make nice, large prints of the best, then display them in picture frames to hang on your walls and give as gifts.

How to Take Great Pet Pictures

The first thing you need to do anytime you’re taking pet photos is to set your camera to a high shutter speed or use “sports” mode!

If your camera has a “Burst” mode this can help because it lets you shoot a lot of pictures rapidly so you’ll be more likely to get a good shot.

Sometimes instead of using the higher shutter speed to freeze the action, you might want to blur it to emphasize a crazy movement, like your dog chasing its tail. In this case, use Portrait mode for a slower shutter speed.

With animals especially, natural light is always best because flashes can upset pets plus, your pictures will come out better with outdoor lighting. If you must use flash, protect your pets’ eyes from injury by referring to your camera’s safe distance recommendations (usually four or more feet).

Depending upon the color of your pet’s fur coat, you’ll want to use different lighting for best results. For a light colored coat, you want a bright overcast sky and for a dark brown or black coat, you want to have direct sunlight to bring out the rich colors. If photographing outdoors, you want to use the same times of day you would with people, so take pictures when the sun is low in the sky.

If you want to get really good candid photos of your pet, take time to follow your pet around with your camera and be patient until you get a picture you really like. Using zoom will allow you to get good shots without being so close your pet is more interested in the camera then just being itself giving. So if possible, always keep your distance and use an optical zoom for best results.

Finally as with people, focus on the eyes. Try to get “eye level” with your pet which often means getting on the floor to capture that perfect photo.

By using these tips for how to take better people and pet pictures you’ll have what you need to capture some fantastic photos. Have fun shooting and don’t forget to frame your favorite photos!

Author Bio: Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames and loves taking pictures. Shop online and see our large selection of picture frame sizes like our 4 x 6′s and 5 x 7′s. Check out these frames and many others on our website or call 1-800-780-0699.

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Action Photography Tips For Taking Better Action Photos

March 17th, 2010

When it comes to taking great action photos, one of the most important digital photography basics is understanding shutter lag.

Also called “processor lag” this is the time that it takes between the time you press the shutter release and the time the camera actually takes the shot. Press the shutter too early and you’ll end up with a picture that’s completely different than what you were expecting.

Despite all of their advantages, compact digital cameras are slower than traditional film cameras. This article provides some tips for dealing with this lag, as well as tips for how to take more exciting and memorable action pictures.

1) Be Ready to Shoot – While you can’t know if your child is going to make that soccer goal, try to anticipate when things are most apt to happen. Even professional sports photographers with speed-of-lightning cameras try to anticipate the action, just so they can be in the right spot and point the camera in the right direction.

By having a better understanding of what you’re photographing, you’ll be better able to anticipate the actions and get better shots. So, if you plan to take pictures of your child’s soccer match, learn the rules of the game so you’ll know what to expect. If your child’s performing in the Nutcracker, watch a rehearsal or two.

2) Shop Around before purchasing a new compact digital. Unfortunately, there isn’t just one camera spec that will tell you how fast the camera will capture the picture from the time you press the button. Others things like the quality of the sensor and the ISO setting (if in dim light) can also slow down the processing time. So investigate what other people are saying in photography forums and read all of the manufacturer’s specs online.

3) Spring for a DSLR (Digital Single-Lens-Reflex). They’re more expensive than compacts, but they’re FAST. DSLRs don’t have shutter lag problems, so if you’re taking photos outside, you can increase the ISO without your photos having digital noise like you would with a compact camera.

Digital Photography Basics to Use with any Type of Camera

Whether you have a compact, DSLR, point-and-shoot film camera or camera phone, try these professional tricks.

Zoom in on Faces – Don’t always focus on the action. Capture those expressions of determination, triumph and even defeat (especially if it’s an opponent!).

Tell a Story – Look for shots that tell a story of the event. For example, begin with a shot of the team’s huddle or your fellow paddlers launching their rafts.

Freeze! – To freeze the action, set your camera to sports mode or set your Shutter Speed Priority to a high setting. As an example of different settings, freezing action in a soccer tournament requires a shutter speed between 1/250 to 1/500 while taking photos of your pet sitting still requires 1/125.

Blur the Background – Take a cue from the sports photographers, and blur the background by decreasing the camera’s depth of field. If you’re using a camera with Aperture Priority, you can do this simply by decreasing the F Stop number. The lower the F Stop number, the more blurry your background.

Pan – This is a good alternative for digital compact users where dim light underexposes photos taken with sports mode/fast shutter speed. Panning works with automatic focus, but it only works when the action is moving in a fairly straight line. Here is how to pan the camera:

Set your Camera to Auto focus. With feet planted firmly on the ground, move the upper half of your body while following the subject with your camera. Just before you think the action will occur, start pressing the shutter release button half way down and continue following the subject until you’ve pressed the button completely down to get the shot.

Is the auto focus on your camera too slow? Focus on an area of contrast, such as the number on a uniform. Auto focus works faster with contrast.

Play around with panning and see what kinds of different effects you can get. You might want to show some blur in the action to emphasize the speed of movement, such as with a race car.

Whether you are shooting a sporting event or taking photos of your dog playing frisbee, action photos are really a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. And once you understand the digital photography basics like shutter lag, you’ll take better pictures and have even more fun.

Author Bio: Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Your Picture Frames offers a large selection of quality picture frames like our panorama’s and fun and decorative pewter frames. Visit our website with 1000′s of frames or call 1-800-780-0699.

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