English: This digital image was scanned from a 8" x 10" photograph that was used as a promotional photo for the movie "Commandos Strike at Dawn". These photos were given to the crew of the HMCS Prince David after the filming of portions of the movie aboard the ship in 1942. Category:British Columbia public domain photographs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
5 Unique Uses for Your Digital Photographs
The improvement in digital photography has been a virtual landslide in technological advances and ease of use. More advanced cameras, printers, and image editing software have combined with a greater number of online and desktop based services allowing you to store and manage photographs. However, while digital photographs often prove to be a more practical and convenient choice when compared to traditional 6 x 4 prints they aren't without their drawbacks.
Regardless of of the number of options that exist to store and share digital images, we tend to download them from the camera or memory card onto the hard drive and then forget about them. Gone are the more tactile practices of handing out family photos and sharing the memories that we've built up across a lifetime. Fortunately, as well as being able to store and share photographs in their digital format the improvement in technology and printing techniques has also seen other options open up to us. Here are five unique and highly effective ways of using your digital photographs.
1 – Photo Calendars
The photo calendar is a personalised calendar that includes thirteen of your photographs in any order you require. Starting and ending in the month of your choice they make perfect gift ideas as well as an excellent means to show off your own photographs.
2 – Photo Bags
A photo bag can be customised to include one or two of your images. By using a photo montage or having one created from your favourite pictures, you can even include a larger selection of pictures. Bags that can be personalised to include your photos include handbags and purses, carry alls and wash bags, and even laptop bags.
3 – Home Décor
There's a great selection of personalised home décor products that include photo wallpaper and roller blinds, folding screens, and various forms of wall art. Used to either add a splash of colour and a mass of personality, or as a great gift idea, personalised home décor is both attractive and unique.
4 – Photo Canvas Prints
You can create your own canvas art using digital photographs. While digital photos do tend to work best it is even possible to scan your old paper prints and have these turned into equally effective canvas prints to hang on any wall.
5 – Photo Books
Photo books are a more modern but equally effective method of showing off your family photos. Images are printed directly onto high definition satin paper with no borders and offering exceptional image reproduction. They can be used to bring back some of the social aspects of sharing photographs and even include a great display or storage tin.
These are just some of the ways that you can use digital photographs in order to create great looking, great quality photo items. Ideal as gifts or as treasured keepsakes for your own use, personalised photo items have many different applications as well as options.
About the Author
From photo canvas prints to personalised photo bags, Bags of Love is the website that has it all. We provide a selection of products that enable you to make great use of your digital photo collection.
Digital Photography 1 on 1: Episode 14: Aperture Values
I chase storms and I am looking into getting a camera that can capture them well. I edit my photos on the computer, so I am looking for a digital camera that works well in low-light conditions, I can manually adjust the exposure (f number and shutter speeds), and I could keep the shutter open to wait for lightning strikes. Prices would be helpful but I can look them up myself if needed. Any suggestions?
Just about any digital SLR will have manual or automatic controls. Pricewise, you're looking at somewhere between $600-$1200 for a good camera with a kit lens. I won't get into a debate over brands. Everybody has their preferences, but camera makers are very competitive and most models will have the features to do the job.
More importantly, you're might want to look into getting a lens that's wider than 18mm. 18mm is about the equivalent of 28mm in film cameras-- wide enough for group portraits and landscapes, but to capture large areas of sky you'll want something ever wider. Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina are third-party lens makers that make lenses for most major brands. Also look into getting a circular polarizer filter to put over the end of your lens. It can be adjusted to darken the sky and cut the glare out of the clouds-- it's a must for landscapes and weather photography. Good luck!
Tutorial: Digital Photography Exposure Compensation
English: Numerical Reflex Digital Camera Français : Appareil photo reflex numérique (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What is a 35mm digital camera?
I want to sign up for a digital photography class and it says that a 35mm digital camera with manual options is preferred. What does this mean? I have a nikon s700. Does this mean I should get a DSLR like a D90? Help?
Ask your teacher again to clarify if what you need is a film SLR or a digital SLR. 35mm cameras use film. The two samples below are brand new film SLRs.
This is an example of a digital 35mm SLR camera. ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/165828-USA/Nikon_1796_F100_35mm_SLR_Camera.html ) The picture includes a lens but the actual item does not. You will need to buy a lens for it. It's called digital for its use of an LCD to show current settings and for the use of buttons and a menu system to change those settings. Make no mistake. This camera uses 35mm film.
This is an example of a manual (older mechanical type) 35mm SLR camera with lightmeter. ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/112196-USA/Nikon_1689_FM10_35mm_SLR_Camera.html ) This one includes a zoom lens. Ask your photography instructor if you can use this instead if what he requires is a film SLR.
You can find cheaper secondhand cameras at eBay. Just look under "Film SLRs" and make sure you get one with a working lightmeter and an attached lens.
If what you need is a digital SLR, here are your choices. ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/SLR-Digital-Cameras/ci/6222/N/4288586280 )
Digital Photography 1 on 1: Episode 24: Understanding Stops
1 Explain what Aperture and Shutter Speed is in digital photography?
I need to write an explanation of shutter speed and aperture in photography. Also need to explain how Aperture effects an image taken in portrait and landscape modes. Have to give an explanation and some examples of when adjusting shutter speed would be useful.
Aperture is the lens opening, which controls how much light comes through the lens.
Shutter speed is how long the shutter exposes the sensor/film to the incoming light.
The aperture, along with the lens focal length and sensor size, affects the amount of area in focus in front of and behind your subject, called "depth of field."
Depth of field is important because of those times you may want a large area in focus (a landscape shot) or a shallow area in focus (say, for a portrait). A wide aperture or big lens opening makes for shallow depth of field, while a small aperture makes for more depth of field or more area in focus.
As for adjusting the shutter speed, it could be useful for stopping action (a fast shutter speed) or for creating special effects (motion-blurred water) or to achieve a particular aperture to get the depth of field you want (shutter speed and aperture together control the exposure. Change one variable and you have to change the other).
So, for your homework, you now have to hope I told you the truth about everything or you can copy and take the risk that everything I said or some of what I said is a lie...Or you could just double-check what I said and then re-write it into your own words.
Photography & Digital Imaging
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Are you always running out of battery power just before you take that perfect picture with your digital camera? Here are some
tips to conserve your batteries when you are out "snapping away".
1) Turn off your digital camera when not in use. If you are in a situation where you must snap pictures quickly, this may not
apply as turning digital cameras on and off take a few seconds, and may cause you to miss a picture-taking opportunity.
However, if you are taking a leisurely stroll and can afford a couple of seconds before snapping a still subject, by all
means, conserve your digital camera's energy!
2) Many digital cameras have a regular viewfinder and an LCD viewfinder. While the digital LCD viewfinder has its benefits,
it can drain battery power. Turn it off when applicable and use your regular viewfinder for taking pictures.
3) Don't stop after taking every photo and look at the picture in your digital camera's playback mode. Granted, you sometimes
need to look at photos immediately after shooting them in order to make sure your exposure is correct, the lighting is ok,
etc., but doing this does use up your digital camera's battery power.
4) If you are using MicroDrive media, be forewarned that these miniature hard drives may take up quite more power than
Compact Flash cards.
Taking care of you new battery pack
Normally, a new battery pack comes in a very low charge condition and must be fully charged before use. Refer to the user
manual of your portable electronic equipment for charging instructions. A new battery pack needs to be fully charged and
fully discharged or "cycled" as much as five times to condition them into performing at full capacity. Your equipment may
report a fully charge condition in as short as 10 to 15 minutes when the new battery pack is being charged for the first
time. This is a normal phenomenon especially for Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) and Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) chemistries. When
this happens, remove the battery pack and let it cool
down for about fifteen minutes then repeat the charging procedure. "Conditioning" (fully discharging and then fully charging)
is necessary so as to maintain the optimum performance of a battery pack, and is recommended at least once a month
particularly for Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries. Failure to do so could result in reduced charge capacity and can significantly
shorten the battery packs useful life. Lithium Ion batteries do not require conditioning. It is normal for a battery pack to
get warm when charging and during use. However, if the battery pack gets excessive hot, here may be a problem with the
portable electronic equipments charging circuit and should therefore be checked by a qualified technician. Rechargeable
batteries undergo self-discharging when left unused for long periods of time. This is normal particularly in the case of Ni-
MH and Li-ion chemistries. For best results, always store a battery pack fully charged. It should be removed from the
equipment and kept in a cool, dry and clean place. The amount of runtime a battery pack produces depends on the power
requirements of components in your electronic equipment.
Don't let under-charged batteries keep you from taking great photos.
If you infrequently use your digital camera, you may think that you after you use your digital camera, recharge your NiMH
batteries, wait a few weeks or months, then use your digital camera again, that your batteries will be charged and you'll be
ready to snap photos, right?
Oops... Do that and you'll be stuck with a non-functioning digital camera or one that just blinks a picture showing a dead
battery.
Rechargeable batteries don't stay charged forever. They tend to lose a little bit of their power every day. If you charge
your batteries and frequently use your digital camera, you will probably never notice this loss of power. However, after a
couple of weeks, the power loss may be noticeable, and after a couple of months or longer of non-use, those once ready-to-go
batteries may have lost enough power to make them unusable.
Don't get caught in this trap. Always charge your batteries before every trip, and make sure to use a battery charger with a sensor that prevents over-charge.
Digital photography is one of the best innovations in a long time. It allows for photography freedom as well as eliminating the fear of making a mistake. It also helps to create more time for the photographer who is in a time crunch. Since the person who is using the camera is experiencing so many different advantages and so many more freedoms, it is no surprise that there are more people wanting to take pictures.
With the ability to take and edit your own photos with a simple camera and a computer almost anyone can be an amateur photographer and feel good about the pictures that they are taking. With it so easy if you have the right type of printer to be able to even print up your own pictures it is no wonder so many memories are being preserved today, even if it not on film but in a digital memory card. It is becoming more cost effective and time conscious to use digital photography as well. Since you will not need to go and have the film developed and in some retailers you can even print up your own pictures while sitting in a kiosk why you would ever send film in for processing again.
Not only that, you will never have to deal with film or any of the issues that come with it again. Things such as overexposure or the film failing to advance will never happen again. You will also never need to look into running out of film or needing to change rolls in the middle of a shoot again. With many memory cards able to hold hundreds of pictures at one time it is easy to see why so many people have switched to digital. Not only is the use of digital cameras extremely beneficial to the amateur but to the professional as well. This is because they are able to more easily meet deadlines especially those in the media and to be able to provide current pictures for newspapers and magazines.
Use of digital photography also allows for easier editing and altering of the pictures to fit the needs of the photographers whether it is for their job or for pleasure. Use of digital photography makes life easier on all ends and for all types. Consider how you could use it to help you preserve your memories and life .
About the Author
Deniece Mize wrote the Article “The Benefits Of Digital Photography” and recommends you visit http://www.freeinformation4you.com for more information Digital Photography
digital camera printer
digital photography printers5 digital photography printers5 digital photography printers5
1 What is the best all around Digital SLR Camera...I need Tips!!!!?
I am Taking Media arts classes with a major Photography focus this fall semester to obtain a degree. I need to get some tips on buying the right Camera and equiptment for this awsome venture.
I thank you all in advance for your answers.....digitalD I am thinking about a Canon Rebel XT, Which runs for around $800 to $1000. I may be able to get it cheaper on ebay.
If you're planning to get serious about photography, you may want to consider any of the mid-to-high-end digital SLRs from Canon or Nikon. There are other good manufacturers out there, but no other manufacturer comes close to Canon or Nikon in terms of their selection of lenses, both new and used. I have owned both brands over the past 25 years and am confident you will find great products from either manufacturer. You will definitely find that some people gravitate to one brand over the other; it's a lot like Ford vs. Chevy drivers...once you get hooked on a particular brand, it's tough to think of buying another.
My recommendation: Go to a good local photo store and find a salesperson who knows the equipment. Try out a few cameras and find the one you like. Remember that the camera body plays a secondary role in photography...the lenses are the most important purchase you can make. Check out www.kenrockwell.com for lens reviews. Also check out www.DPReview.com. This site offers both camera reviews as well as commentary from photographers.
You should be able to find a good body for $500-$1,500. The price of lenses will vary widely. Get a couple of good lenses to start with -- only after you shoot a lot of photographs will you learn what lenses make the most sense for your personal style.
Best wishes!
Timelapse photography tips from start to end
digital camera photography tips5 digital camera photography tips5 digital camera photography tips5
1 Is Olympus Pen E-P3 worthy waiting compared to Panasonic G3 and Sony NEX-C3?
I want to buy a new mirrorless camera in June. I learn that Olympus will release new Olympus Pen E-P3 in late June, and I love the Olympus E-PL2. So I wanna know which is better among Olympus Pen E-P3, Panasonic G3 and Sony NEX-C3? Is the Is Olympus Pen E-P3 worthy waiting?
Thanks~
(1) Panasonic G3 should be the smallest EVIL camera. In the sensor testing taken in DxOmark website, although the Panasonic G3 lost to Panasonic GH2, the Panasonic G3 is indeed a high cost effective camera for its imaging quality and budget price.
(2) If you need to film HD video, Sony NEX-C3 is likely to be the best choice compared to other two cameras.
(3) As for the stylish body design, Olympus E-P3 is expected to be the favorite for the girl.
Refer to this article: http://camera.downloadatoz.com/tutorials,2131,sony-nex-c3-vs-panasonic-g3-vs-olympus-e-p3-features-comparison.html
You might be wondering why there are many people who are interested in enrolling in digital photography schools. What could be the reasons why these types of schools are admitting thousands and thousands of students every year? Is it merely for expanding their horizon and widening their career possibilities? Or is it for the sake of their passion to take pictures? There are actually various reasons why digital photography schools exist. The following paragraph aims to narrate the ample reasons of students who involve in formal lessons of digital photography.
Digital photography schools are actually the vehicle for people who take photography as their career. With formal lessons, they can be open to promotions and other advantages offered by the recognition that they indeed had acquired knowledge formally. Aside from that, if they are already involved in photography business, they can use newly acquired knowledge and techniques to provide more satisfaction to their clients and customers. In short, their enrolments in digital photography schools make them more capable of providing service to others.
In the meantime, there are really people who enrol in digital photography schools for the very reason that it is their passion in life. They are in love with what they are doing and are consistently making an effort to advance their learning. They want to take better pictures not for the satisfaction of other people but mainly to be content with their products. Enrolling in digital photography schools for them then is a choice by their interest.
However, not all these digital photography schools are effective in their teaching method. Some just filled their students with unimportant matters. As a result, they are not quite satisfied. In addition to that, they are not that affordable when it comes to fees. Thus, a person thinking of enrolling himself in one of these digital photography schools must set the following criteria in choosing among them.
- It must have a good reputation. Not all expensive digital photography schools are famous or has good reputation. There are those that are affordable but are known to produce the best photographers. This can be determined with the achievements that the school has acquired. Awards, exhibitions and citations concerning the school will point how good the school is.
- It must be well equipped and has a strong force of instructors. Teachers make a great influence to the students. Make sure that you will inquire on the different instructors that the school has offered. As a student, you will surely get precious advices and suggestions from the personal experiences of those teachers who are also experts of the field.
- It must be suitable with your time schedule. Often, digital photography schools offer part time as well as full time lessons about the subject. When looking for the one that will suit your schedule, consider the time you intend to spare of the lessons.
If you want a complete list of digital photography schools in your area and wants to get some basic information on them, you can easily search the internet for them.
1 How much does a professional photography digital camera cost and what brands should I look at?
I am a new at photography, I never done this before.
If you have never done this before, you may not want to buy a professional Nikon or Canon dSLR. The professorial cameras start at $5,000 and end at about $8,300
Look instead at the $700 Nikon D3100 entry level dSLR. It has the most bang for the buck and can also shoot Full HD video (1080p) and is the only entry level camera that can use auto-focus in the video mode
Pentax Digital Camera - The best pentax digital camera reviews
History
Pentax, a popular brand in the digital world, is completely owned brand of Hoya Corporation. The company was found by Kumao Kajiwara in Tokyo, Japan during the year 1919. The Pentax digital camera was the first candidate to slot in a pentaprism view finder and a response mirror setup.
During 1960’s, a campaign slogan for Pentax spoke "just hold a Pentax". That little statement was more than enough to speak for Pentax.
Market Capture
In the year 2005, Pentax Corporation clubbed with Samsung Techwin to do work in the field of camera technologies and retook market from Canon and Nikon. Then both of these majors started manufacturing new DSLR products from this collaboration. The Pentax *istDS2 and *istDL2 models were also seen as the Samsung GX-1S and GX-1L
Products
The cameras that were manufactured by Pentax Corporation during 1960’s-70 were compact and functional, with smooth controls for operating. The design of the body was simple and clean, with not many fancy trappings. No sooner did you picked one up and held it; your hands knew that it had a precision device capable of delivering the highest quality results.
As such Pentax manufactures a large range of digital cameras, ranging from tiny point & shoots till full-featured SLRs; the major business of the company is composed by its compact Optio series of cameras. Some of the latest digital cameras from Pentax are the Pentax K200D, Pentax K20D, Pentax Optio W60, Pentax K10D.
The Pentax K20D digital SLR model follows the footsteps of the company's successful K10D model. The K20D camera is a newly manufactured 14.6-megapixel with CMOS sensor. The Pentax K20D continues to provide both; the dust-reduction policies used in the K10D as well as K100D cameras like vibration of the sensor which will remove the dust particles. Pentax has even included a "dust alert" functionality which helps more leaning methods, by locating exactly on which part of the sensor do the stubborn dust particles reside.
About the Author
Are you looking for the best pentax digital camera? Pentax Digital Camera is the list of most popular discount pentax cameras.
1 Please help me with my Spanish indirect pronouns?
I cannot figure out what this exercise is trying to tell me to do and apparently, i do not understand Indirect Object Pronouns very well. can someone please, please, please help me? A. Carlos nos ayuda Carlos is very helpful. Write what he brings to the following people, using indirect object pronouns. Follow the model.
MODELO: Tú pides una cámara de video. Carlos te trae una cámara de video.
1. Yo pido jabón.
2. Uds. piden una cámara fotográfica.
3. Nosotros pedimos las maletas.
4. Ud. pide la llave.
5. Adela pide una toalla.
6. Ernesto pide el almuerzo.
7. María y Jorge piden la cena.
8. Estela pide el desayuno.
i need the INDIRECT, not direct.
1.Carlos me trae jabón 2.Carlos les trae una cámara fotográfica 3.Carlos nos trae las maletas. 4.Carlos le trae la llave. 5.Carlos le trae la toalla. 6.Carlos le trae el almuerzo. 7.Carlos les trae la cena. 8.Carlos le trae el desayuno.
Indirect pronouns
YO, it's ME TÚ, it's TE ËL, ELLA, and USTED, it's LE NOSOTROS, it's NOS USTEDES and ELLOS , it's LES
In these sentences you write it before the verb. Hope it helps :)
How to Photograph Fireworks - Fireworks Photography Fundamentals
Whatever the season, fireworks have always been used to mark big events. Photographing these fireworks can be tricky but in this article are some tips to get the best pictures possible.
Fireworks Photography Fundamental 1 — A Slow Shutter Speed.
A skyrocket takes time from the moment it's launched until the last burst of its color fades. As the rocket sails skyward, the crowd has time to exclaim "Ooh!" Then as it explodes in a burst of trails of color, the crowd has time to exclaim, "Ahh!" From launch to fadeout takes a few seconds perhaps ending with a stirring "bang." Your exposure, therefore, should be long enough to capture part, or all, of this time-consuming progression.
Shooting with a digital camera is somewhat like shooting slide film. If you're not careful, you can overexpose and lose detail and color in the highlights. Since fireworks are, by definition, highlights, using a digital camera to capture them can be tricky.
How long should your exposures for fireworks photos be? At least one second, sometimes two seconds, and some even longer. Shorter exposures don't always capture the full burst and longer exposures tend to produce washed-out results. For example, if you were to set your exposure for, say, 1/500th, not only will the lens be open for only a fraction of the rocket's progression, but the exposure may also be too brief to record any image at all! If you have a B (Bulb) shutter speed setting you can use it to control exactly how long your shutter is open. This is a great option. The trick is to open the shutter right at the beginning of the burst and close it when it reaches its peak. Anticipating the explosion can be difficult, but not impossible. If you don't have a B setting you can choose a fixed setting, such as 1 second.
The best way to tackle a long exposure will depend primarily on what kind of camera you're using. Let's examine how this works with different types of cameras.
DSLR Cameras
It's easy for you to select a long exposure time using a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera. If you're using a manual mode, you can select a long exposure time by setting the shutter for one-to-thirty seconds or by using the B (or bulb) setting. You can also use the shutter priority mode to control the shutter speed. For the bulb setting you will need a cable release.
Digital Point-and-Shoot Models
You've got to hand it to camera designers — they've dreamed up a number of exotic modes that appear on some camera models. What exactly is "party mode?" That's outside the scope of this article, but there are a few cameras which feature a "fireworks mode" that will give a long exposure. Don't worry if your camera doesn't feature a whole host of "modes." Most of them are baby steps for inexperienced photographers. If your camera has manual settings — which most digital point-and-shoot models have, just figure it out using the manual or trial-and-error going through the menus.
Fireworks Photography Fundamental 2 — Choosing the right aperture.
What aperture should you use? Your f-stop will be based on the ISO you select.
You might think that because the sky is so dark you need a wide aperture. Just the opposite is true. Remember, your objective is not to record the dark sky except as background. You want to record the intensely bright streaks of color. Were you to use a wide open aperture during your time-exposure, you would probably overexpose the colors. Result: They would "burn out" and lose coloration. To intensify the color, therefore, use a smaller aperture like f/8, or f/11, or even f/16. As with your choice of shutter speed, you will have to set your aperture manually. Which you should use depends upon your digital camera's ISO setting (or the speed of your film), and the intensity of the color bursts. We suggest you bracket your shots, using different apertures.
Using one of the suggested apertures listed below, you can use your preview to test and then compensate the aperture accordingly.
ISO SETTING APERTURE RANGE
ISO 100 ƒ/8 to 16
ISO 200 ƒ/11 to 22
ISO 400 ƒ/16 to 22
This chart will work with most digital cameras that allow you to set shutter speed and aperture. Most of the sophisticated digital point-and-shoot models permit the photographer to set these controls. If you've never done this before, you'll have to figure out how to use these controls by looking at your camera's instruction book. If you're using a digital SLR, then try these settings too. Naturally, you'll check your results by reviewing your initial photos on your camera's LCD panel, until you get the exposure that looks best.
Fireworks Photography Fundamental 3 — Setting the ISO
Typically, noise/grain is not a problem in this type of image. We recommend that you use ISO 200, or 400. The important point is that you don't need a very fast ISO; in fact super-fast ISOs may overexpose the firework display. Very slow ISOs - for example, ISO 100 - may not be sensitive enough to capture the display. (Remember, while your shutter will be open for a second or two or more, the actual appearance of the "rockets red glare" will last only a fraction of a second in any one place.)
Since many of today's digital SLRs offer good results at high ISOs such as 800, 1600 and 3200, why not use a faster ISO? The answer is simple - you don't need to. You want a long exposure time, and as we've mentioned elsewhere, the bursts of the exploding fireworks are bright enough to etch themselves onto low ISO sensor settings such as 200 or 400, even with a medium-size aperture setting. A higher ISO would just run the risk of overexposed washed out colors. We also suggest, because of the brightness of the fireworks vs. the dark night sky, that you avoid using the "Auto ISO" setting, one that we don't use much anyway.
Fireworks Photography Fundamental 4 — A Solid Platform.
Regardless of your camera, once you've worked out the shutter speed/aperture/ISO combination, the key to success is a solid platform to hold the camera motionless during the time the shutter is open. This is pretty much a requirement for all time-exposures or shutter speeds slower than 1/30 of a second. Obviously, the best platform of all is a tripod. It provides a solid, easy-to-carry base on which to hold the camera motionless during the exposure. It also allows you to easily position the camera at the proper elevation. All DSLRs and almost all point-and-shoots have a threaded opening on the bottom that permits you to attach the camera to a tripod.
A tripod is just the beginning. You also want the camera to be as vibrationless as possible during the time-exposure. Since pressing the shutter button can cause the camera to vibrate, you can avoid this by also using a cable release. The cable release enables you to press the shutter button without touching the camera directly. Result: It helps minimize camera shake.
Advanced Hint: For the ultimate in steadiness, on some professional DSLRs you can lock the mirror in an up position. Why do this for fireworks photos? Because when you take a normal picture with an DSLR, the mirror snaps up during the moment of exposure, then snaps back so you can set up the next shot in the viewfinder. When the mirror snaps up, it causes the camera to vibrate for a moment. While this vibration is usually tiny, if you're a purist and want the steadiest possible time-exposure, you can eliminate this vibration totally by locking the mirror in its "up" position. Of course, you can't frame the next shot in the viewfinder if the mirror is locked up. But this may not be so big a problem as it seems. After all, typically, fireworks appear in only one specific segment of the sky, so once you've aimed your camera-on-tripod in that direction and framed the shooting area, you can lock the mirror up unless you have to reframe for different shots.
Back to basics:If you don't have a tripod handy (or you're using a camera that doesn't have a tripod thread), don't give up. Try placing your camera on a makeshift solid platform, such as a fence post, a railing, or a wall. None of them is as steady or convenient as a tripod, but they're infinitely better than hand-holding.
A word of warning: If, by any chance, you are on a rocking boat when trying to capture fireworks photos, your tripod or the ship's rail or whatever you use as a "platform" will rock along with the boat. Result: In your time-exposure the firework color-streaks will come out rocking and wavy instead of straight. This may be interesting modern art - though we doubt it! - but it's definitely not good firework photography. It won't look right! Our advice: If you are on a rocking boat, don't bother to photograph the fireworks. It's a waste of time.
Fireworks Photography Fundamental 5 — Composition
Which way should you hold the camera? Typically, you'll be better off with a vertical format rather than horizontal. After all, the trail of a skyrocket is usually upward and not very wide. However, a final decision about the frame you use will also depend on the size of the crowd viewing the event, your position in that crowd, and the number of spots from which the fireworks will be deployed. For example, in New York City, Macy's Department Store has sponsored the Fourth of July fireworks display. The shells are launched from a string of barges in either the East River or Hudson River that's almost a mile long. That means you might be able to fill a horizontal frame with six or more bursts at one time, so it would probably be a better choice than a vertical one.
Position yourself wisely.
Take a little time before the show to scout the location. If it's a smaller show, you may be able to chat with the pyrotechnic crew beforehand. To get the best fireworks photos with a digital camera, point-and-shoot or DSLR, try to determine where the fireworks will be launched and then try to find a clear, unobstructed view that meets your compositional requirements based on the terrain, the height at which the fireworks will explode, and your lens choices. You don't want to be in the middle of a crowd, with people wandering in front of the camera, or worse, bumping into your tripod mid-exposure. Steer clear of artificial light sources such as streetlights to avoid the possibility of light flare. Watch out for tree branches that can sneak into your composition too.
Focal Length.
What focal-length should you use? If you're close to the display, and if you have a choice, go for a "normal" or slightly wide-angle lens. Since your position relative to the rocket bursts will determine the exact focal length, use this as your guide: You want the frame of your image to extend so that it includes a good bit of the foreground in the bottom (more on this in a moment) and a "head-room" above the topmost firework trails. Chances are you'll need at least your normal and possibly a wide-angle setting for this. If, on the other hand, it's a world-class display that draws a "world-class" crowd, you may be further away from this display and need to use a longer focal length.
Foreground Subjects with Fireworks
Now, there's an additional step to consider that can take your fireworks photos out of the ordinary and make them extra-special. The burst of a skyrocket, by itself, is pretty. But it's not particularly interesting. What can you do to add interest? Try this: Don't just shoot the burst by itself, but shoot it in conjunction with something else. For example, look how much more interesting this picture is because the paths of fireworks are incidental to this picture of the Capitol Building. Since you may not have the Capitol in your area — or even its equivalent — what can you use to add similar interest?
Consider including a statue in the foreground, with the fireworks framing it. Or silhouettes of the onlookers to give a sense of location to your picture. Or a tree, a building, a bridge, a skyline. Or...you fill in the blanks. The important thing is that your image include some interesting foreground objects — perhaps, framed within the fireworks display.
Fireworks Photography Fundamental 6 — Use the highest Quality-setting.
By choosing a high Quality-setting you will reduce the amount of compression applied to your images. JPEG compression degrades image quality and can even introduce artifacts into your image. This is a particular problem for this subject matter because compression artifacts are typically found in areas of high tonal and color contrast, like the bright colored light of fireworks bursting against an inky black sky. Less compression means fewer image artifacts and ultimately better image quality. Unless you have a top-of-the-line pro DSLR, don't expect to be able to take photos of fireworks with a digital camera in RAW. Your camera will likely take too much time to write the image to the card and you'll miss getting some pictures.
Back to basics:
Whether you're advanced or not, there's one more "trick" for you to consider. Why limit yourself to just one rocket's glare? What about keeping your shutter open long enough to capture the glare of a few rockets exploding in air one after the other. To accomplish this, experiment with longer time exposures — ten seconds, 20 seconds, and even longer. You can get some dazzling results!
To sum up our fireworks photography tips, don't let any of the complications examined in this article discourage you. Firework photography is easy to take and make great photographs. Just remember the five Fundamentals: 1) Slow Shutter speed 2) Small aperture 3) Use a lower ISO 4) A Solid Platform 5) Composition 6) Use the highest quality setting.
While shooting, be aware that most firework displays have a rhythm that usually ends in a multiple burst of glory. If you want to limit the amount you shoot, hold back for this Grand Finale. But be wary. It may happen before you realize it...and then it's too late! So be sure you're ready for it. If the fireworks have a musical accompaniment — like Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture — you can hear it coming. But often, you can't anticipate the Finale, so we can only admonish you to follow the Boy Scout motto — Be Prepared!
About the Author
The New York Institute of Photography has been a provider of high quality photography education since 1910. With more than 100 years of experience, they've trained more successful photographers than any other school in the world.
They currently offer three great photography courses: The Complete Course in Professional Photography, The Complete Course in Digital Photography, and the Fundamentals of Digital Photography. Located in the heart of New York City, NYIP School has graduated students of their home-study programs all over the world, currently serving students in over 150 countries worldwide.
In addition to producing these courses, the New York Institute of Photography continues to produce high-quality, original content and photography tips for anyone interested in photography. This content is written and prepared by student advisors and instructors, who are all professional photographers employed by the school.
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The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Digital Tv 4 Pc 2
Digital Television is a great technological advancement that allows its viewers to watch a clearer picture while concurrently giving an added incentive to view even more channels than standard television. Moreover, it also eliminates the need for those old fashioned antennas that can cause static and obstruction in viewable television. Nonetheless, with the advancement of digital television, another program has been equally developed. The program is called Digital TV for PC2. Whilst the program is innovative and hassle free, it comes with many additional advantages and disadvantages that should be highlighted in order to allow its purchasers an equal platform to make a clear decision.
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Whilst the advantages seem optimal with this program, there are a few disadvantages as well. Firstly, although the one time fee of $29.99 seems great and affordable, there are a few hidden fees for extras that come along with the service if you choose to add them. There is an additional $9.99 charge for a bonus $150 channels. The company does not disclose which channels are included in the $29.99 fee for the basic service and which bonus channels that you will acquire if you opt for the $9.99 in bonus channel services. The one time fee does not include a any technical support. Premium technical support as well as 2 years of channel updates is an additional $9.99. If you would like Digital TV on demand that service is also another $9.99 and the digital download service guarantee which will allow you to re-download the Digital TV for PC 2 if it ever gets lost is an additional $3.99. After all of the extras and costs for protection and technical support, the cost is no longer the cheap but totals to over $63.95 which is just as costly as cable in your own home. Nonetheless, the drawbacks in additional fees are optional and are not mandatory.
Digital Television is a great feature to enjoy in your home, and is even more enjoyable when on the go while utilizing the service on your home PC or laptop. Digital TV for PC 2 is a great service that comes with advantages and disadvantages that should be weighed before purchasing.
About the Author
John MacNamera is a popular article writer and blogger for various websites. His topics of interest range from health products to electronics. Currently John is working on further research into how to save money on at home entertainment with Digital TV 4 PC 2. So far he has conducted a full Digital TV 4 PC Review and have even explored the claims of a Digital TV 4 PC Scam currently circling the web. When John is not writing and researching, he enjoys spending time with his two dogs in the Idaho Wilderness.
English: This digital image was scanned from a 8" x 10" photograph that was used as a promotional photo for the movie "Commandos Strike at Dawn". These photos were given to the crew of the HMCS Prince David after the filming of portions of the movie aboard the ship in 1942. Category:British Columbia public domain photographs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
