Exceedingly Great Stuff

I must, at the onset, tell you that I personally am the owner of a variety of cameras. They epitomize a mixture of brands. The cameras I own consist of three Olympus’, a Fuji, and a Kodak. I ought to mention that I’m a little partial with respect to a specific brand, but I will attempt that it doesn’t cloud any editorial comments I may subsequently make.

turn over a quaint Nikon Coolpix L21 Digital Camera

In case digital camera sales are any indication of what the topmost brand is, then according to eBay.com Canon will be a unmistakable leader. As I type this, the aforementioned company makes 16 of the topmost 30 top selling cameras in their top seller list. This ropes in 3 amongst the top 5. Following these are cameras made by Panasonic. Kodak has 4 cameras within the topmost 20. In the next spot are cameras created by Polaroid. And finally in a formidable 25th position, the long-standing & steadfast Kodak. gpoz324

A perusal of one topmost-camera-appraisal site under their 5 star category show 39 Canon cameras, 18 Fuji cameras, 14 Flip Video cameras, 7 Fuji cameras, 5 Fujica cameras, 3 Aigo cameras, 2 Gami cameras, and a solitary Yashica camera. A separate camera appraisal site under their top hundred cameras displayed 45 Olympus cameras, 22 Sony cameras, 19 Samsung cameras, 5 Flip Video cameras, 3 Fuji cameras, 2 BenQ cameras, 4 Aigo cameras, 4 Minoz cameras, 1 Lumix camera, and one Casio camera.

If you add up all these, the best 3 end up being Nikon, Pentax a distant 2nd , and Konika rather close at 3rd. All further brands continue to scuffle for the best spots.

To begin with, in the tendency of complete disclosure, I need to announce that I own a number of cameras. They epitomize an assortment of brands. The cameras I hold consist of three Olympus’, one Panasonic, as well as one Konika. I ought to mention that I’m a little partial with respect to a particular company, although I will attempt that it does not cloud any editorial comments I may consequently put forth.

take a phenomenal Ricoh G600 Digital Camera

In case digital camera sales are any indication of what the top maker is, then in accordabce Amazon.com Olympus would be a sure-fire winner. As I type this, the specified business accounts for 19 of the topmost 25 best-selling cameras on their best-seller list. This consists of 3 out of the 5 top ones. Following these are cameras created by Panasonic. The subsequent top ones include cameras by Konika. Polaroid tiptoes in along with a couple of their models. And finishing in a formidable 20th spot, that erstwhile and steadfast Kodak. gpoz324

Browsing through another website displayed that Canon led the line, followed by Panasonic. The next in the line-up is Agfa , and this is trailed by Fuji; and next are HP, Petri, Minoz, and Yashica. A different site placed the cameras in the following way. The top one was Nikon, at number two was Sony, followed by Kodak, and these are trailed by Agfa, Minolta, BenQ, Petri, Bolex, Yashica, and Argus.

By simply adding together these diverse results, Nikon stood beyond the rest, Sony came in as 2nd best, and in third position are cameras made by Samsung. All other makers continue to struggle for the best spots.

Prior to purchasing, you must mull over the type of photos you are planning to click and under what conditions. In case you are a casual photographer who always prefers to have a camera, then features like size, ease usability as well as battery longevity are going to be a lot more important. In case you are expecting to learn how you could shoot meticulous digital pictures you will be required to go through cameras with superior resolution, enhanced zooming ability, coupled with considerably more memory capacity.

Try out the the gigantic Sony Cybershot DSCW220 Digital Camera

Also look at the:
* Canon EOS1D
* Fuji S2000HD
* Panasonic Lumix DMCFX580
* Kodak C190
* Panasonic DMCFT1

You need to get acquainted with the diverse specialized terminology which illustrate the working of such cameras. The most discussed about aspect is the megapixels the camera comes with. The ‘megapixel’ model indicates how good your images can be, calculated in ‘pixels’ or ‘points’ of color. Each pixel is a singular speck in the image. Your computer’s screen also comes with pixels, and picture printers have options for how many pixels per inch to print.

For folks looking at printing images which have been transferred to a computer, cameras that have five MP resolution ought to meet your requirements. For individuals looking at displaying the photographs on a digitized picture frame or a computer monitor, a 3.2 MP camera ought to suffice. The latest cameras proffer as much as 15.1 megapixels, and even the smallest point-and-shoot cameras have eight, ten or twelve megapixels.

Destination weddings are exceedingly popular these days because of the many inexpensive holiday wedding packages accessible from a horde of travel enterprises. For Steve Stevanovich it’s all about great choice in great destinations. A wedding in an breath-taking venue such as New York or London, or a soothing wedding experience on a Mexican beach, indicates there is something available for everyone.

Ask Steve Stevanovich what they love in tropical leisure spots, and they will no doubt mention the excellent beach and marine activities available. The availability of these in places such as Bermuda, Jamaica, Mexico, and Australia makes preparing for destination weddings and plain old R & R vacations there a no-brainer. Most people enjoy sandy beaches, salty air, those fancy umbrella drinks, and lively music as part of a holiday.

Imagine the wide-eyed wonder that results from having vivid wedding photos from a National Park venue. Consider the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail in Hawaii, or Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Consider the grandeur of the Curecanti National Recreation Area in Colorado, or the Appalachian National Scenic Trail from Maine to Georgia for destination weddings.

For broad noble views, Steve Stevanovich finds the awe-inspiring splendor of America’s National Parks worthy of consideration. In them, a wedding vacationer can enjoy lush forests, expansive lakes, or towering mountains. A wedding event at any of these three types of destinations definitely means a trip that will be worth remembering for years to come.

Steve Stevanovich has a quiet admiration of all that tropical locales offer. He understands how inspiring it is for couples’ to have a wedding in a location with vivid natural scenery. He also knows how a bustling urban metropolis has a certain colorful charm conducive to a unmatched wedding celebration. With the plethora of exciting destination wedding venues accessible worldwide, there’s no doubt one can find that idyllic place for a special celebration.

Digital cameras are not as good for certain photos because they fail to provide certain characteristics. The photographer is able to understand the special purpose of each lens. The use and selection of a proper lens is a crucial part of advanced digital photography techniques for the optimal photograph.

The example of landscape photograph will be looked closely at here. Using the correct lens is essential to have a clear landscape photograph. How do you choose the correct lens for photographing landscapes? Most people use between 20mm and 35 mm as their focal length. For instance, some might prefer to use a 24 mm lens to photograph trees as it allows them to focus on the tree itself.

Digital photography does not have a set of rules. Diligence and know-how will help one to produce superior quality photographs.

If you have ignored the capabilities of your camera’s lens, then research and figure it out. You can see how wide it spans and how much area your lens is able to cover. You will need a good camera lens, otherwise you will take photos that have no depth. The lens creates the difference in the following way. A 20mm is best for capturing landscapes.

Photographs should always be compared. When using a lens, it is important to remember your position and the subject’s position. You need to pay attention to all aspects. Find the differences between the good, bad, and average ones when you compare the photographs.

When you are next out on a photographing excursion, begin the habit of asking yourself, “Is it marketable?” before you snap the picture. Gauge whether the piece of film or digital file that you’re exposing in your camera has a good chance of resulting in a sale for you.

If it’s color: Is it saleable? That is, -is it a picture a photo buyer will need …not one he already has access to. Will that transparency one day be on a photobuyer’s desk? If it’s B&W, will the negative result in many future sales?

One photographer friend said she could not break the habit of snapping pictures of anything and everything on a photo excursion, then trying to make the marketing decisions a week later when the processed film returns. To make the change-over, she placed a label on the back of her camera that read: “Is it marketable?” It took her only two weeks to finally break the habit. The label is now removed. She no longer aims her camera at silhouettes of sea gulls against the setting sun (and other such “classic” shots, that do sell, but that are individually very difficult to market because thousands upon thousands of similar photos are available to photobuyers).

Instead, she now photographs specific subject matter geared to specific market areas that match her own interest areas. She found (and continues to find) dependable markets for her material by doing some sound marketing homework.
>The MARKETING QUOTIENT Critique

In my seminars, I offer a free critique of photos based on their marketing potential. Since the persons who attend my seminars are photographers, I don’t comment on the artistic value of the photograph, only the marketing potential. I use what I call the Marketing Quotient (MQ), a number factor ranging from 1 to 10. (Ten equals high.)

Since there’s no mystery about the MQ, you can make a self-critique of your own pictures. Here’s how to start:

A key factor in selling anything is the law of Supply and Demand. If there’s a great supply of something, it’s not going to sell briskly (e.g. the silhouette of the sea gull). If on the other hand, the supply is limited, the demand will be great. (A volcano erupting in Washington.)

Seventy-five percent of your photo’s marketing worth will have to do with supply and demand. For example, if there’s a reasonable demand for a picture, and it’s not the kind of picture easily available in agencies, your MQ can start at 7. From this point, your MQ will go up or down.

Here are some of the factors that will cause your MQ to increase: 1.) You have an established track record with the photobuyer, or you are a “name” photographer. 2.) Your picture is available to meet a deadline. 3.) Your picture is: a) timely, up-to-date; b) lends itself to a publishing house’s needs; c) matches the photobuyer’s interest area; d) available for one-time use; e) has not been used recently by the competition; f) available for commercial use also and therefore has a model release; g) technically acceptable; h) good.

Your MQ will decrease if your answer is a negative to any of the above.

Photobuyers make the assumption that your photos will be “good.” To be marketable your photos need not be prize-winners, but they must be good.

Since you know your own marketable areas better than anyone else, you are in the best position to make your own MQ assessment. Take a weekend to go through your pictures and eliminate any in your market file that come up with a low MQ.

Rohn Engh is director of PhotoSource International and publisher of PhotoStockNotes, Pine Lake Farm, 1910 35th Road, Osceola, WI 54020 USA. 1 800 624 0266; Fax: 1 715 248 7394. http://www.photosource.com

“When I shoot a sunset, it never appears as it does in the viewfinder. The orange and red colours consistently appear dull and lifeless. What am I doing wrong?”

The answer here is white balance. Every scene you shoot has an array of colours. Ideally, you wish to capture what the eye sees. However you camera may make automatic adjustments to the final image.

Many cameras have “automatic white balance” set. This means that the camera will average out the colours in the scene to ensure that the extremes of normal are removed. In most situations this is not a problem.

In some scenes, you will have excesses of colour which the camera interprets as an “imbalance” but which the eye considers acceptable.

With a sunset, you have an excess of reds, oranges and yellows. Your camera tries to make adjustments for this as it sees the scene as too “warm”. So you end up with muted colours and a drab sunset.

The answer is to set the white balance to manual. Choosing the “daylight” setting will ensure your daytime images appear as they are seen by you. Similarly, you can set for “cloudy”, “indoor” or “flash” to retain the intended colour casts and mixes

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

I know there are some photographers that still like to pick up that trusty ol’ SLR, insert a roll of film and get out there and experiment in the field. Then approach with grinning anticipation as they pick up the developed film from their favorite photo shop and have the person behind the counter ask, “How did you take that picture? It’s awesome!”

It is this photography ‘purest’ to whom I appeal (this time) - the ones that still like using film every now and then. Most photographers have Digital SLRs (DSLR - “et moi aussi”). I know you can create this effect with Photoshop, after the fact; but having creative control over this special effect makes it exciting because you execute this photo miracle at the precise moment you push the shutter button.

Ghosting. This is what this special effect is called; accomplished by using your SLR’s multiple exposure feature, but with a simple twist to ensure proper film exposure. The procedure detailed in this article is different from the instructions in your SLR manual. Ghosting is perfect for pictures involving subjects in motion, taken when the camera and the background is stable (not moving) and the subjects move through, around, or across the frame. I have had great success using this effect when photographing people moving about an historic site or children as they scamper over rocks. I have also used this effect for weddings and sports shoots.

Example: In one wedding photograph, the groom stood still at the bottom of stone steps to an historic dwelling, his hand extended towards his bride, who slowly moved down the steps toward her groom. My six deliberate ‘clicks’ of the shutter created an airy, surreal picture of the wedding couple.

Depending on the speed of the moving subjects, the shutter can be held down in rapid fire mode or each exposure can be meticulously choreographed:
1) each subject deliberately positioned in the frame,
2) one ‘click’ of the shutter, and
3) repeat steps 1 and 2 to the total number of multiple exposures you set in your camera.

So what are the mechanics of this “through the lens” shot to achieve the ghosting effect?

1. Stabilize the camera - using a tripod is best, a stable surface is a second option or, a steady hand as a last resort;

2. Set number of multiple exposures you require for the frame to (N) - usually 1 to 9;

3. For the roll of film in your SLR, determine the film speed (S);

4. Reset the camera film speed (Yes, you can override the setting) to (N S) or, if not an exact match, set it to the absolute closest speed ((N S) adjustment);

5. Take your picture, depressing the shutter button for a total count equalling the number of camera exposures you set in step “2″.

Example:

1. You want 6 exposures on the frame (N=6) so set the number of multiple exposures to ‘6′;

2. You’ve determined the film speed is 200 (S=200);

3. Reset the camera film speed to ‘1200′ (= 200 6);

4. Depress the shutter button 6 times (for 6 exposures).

REMEMBER: Check and reset the SLR film speed and number of exposures to their original settings before continuing with your next shot. Some SLRs will automatically reset the number of exposures back to ‘1′ before advancing the film to the next frame. It’s always better to verify this.

There are no special instructions for developing your film. Normal developing at the rated film speed will ensure the picture is properly exposed and developed - simple and beautiful. This is photo art!

Carl Chesal is a business development consultant, trainer, photographer, and avid snowmobiler. He owns BizFare Enterprsie Inc and Foursight Marketing and Consulting providing business, marketing, and internet marketing consulting services. He also co-operates a number of e-commerce web-sites with his wife and partner, MyLeatherExpressions.com, CoolComfortWear.com and Pewter Expressions, which sell custom leather bags, casual apparel and pewter collectibles; respectively.