August 4, 2009

Basic Photography – How To Add Special Effects To Photos With Adobe Photoshop And Basic Photography Tutorials

StopIn an effort to create a lasting impact from your photo, leaving the impressions on viewer’s minds, it should have something that keeps him glued. You can employ Adobe PhotoShop’s special effects tools in the menu to add a lightning effect. You can double your exposures or do whatever you choose. The advantage of owning Adobe Photoshop is the rewards it will bring. In fact, I used this program to design my book covers, make commercials, advertising slicks and more, so sit back and enjoy this basic photography course.

Lightning Effect: You can use various types of lightning effects and of different colors, applying them to an image using Adobe Photoshop. This will enhance your basic photography skills tremendously. Note that these tips are perfect for newbies as everything is explained in basic photography terms.


How to do it:-
We’ll follow a stepwise manner in doing this:
1.Open your editor or Adobe Photoshop program
2.Now open the desired image (make sure you open it in RGB format)
3.Now from the filter menu choose Renderer and then select your desired lighting effects.
4.You will see the lighting effect dialogue box opens up

1.Choose the desired lighting style from the topmost selection menu; you will notice the options style of lights. 2.Choose the light type and move the sliders to set the intensity and focus.
3.You can also change the properties by toggling the sliders for glass, material, exposure, and ambiance.
4.You can also change the color of light. To change the color of light just click on the boxes to the right of the light type and properties. This will open the color, picker dialogue box. Choose a color and press ok.
5.To change the direction or placement of light just drag any of the points on the outside ellipse or center point. Click ok after you have adjusted the direction and placement of light. How about that for a basic photography lesson!

Creating Double Exposure effect is one of the best basic photography tips: A double exposure image is created by overlaying two images on one another.

Like above we’ll again follow a stepwise procedure:
1.Select all or a part of the image using the selection tools at the top of the toolbar.
2.Now from the edit menu choose copy.
3.Now open a second image file.
4.From the window menu, you can select the show layer.
5.On the ‘show layer’ popup right click and choose new layer and press ok.
6.Now go to the edit menu and press paste.
7.From the layer’s palette, move the opacity slider to 50%.
8.Now drag the mouse from inside the selection to move it.
9.To scale the pasted selection, click on image menu and then select image size. Adjust the size by adjusting the pixels and height from the pop-up window.

The editing programs today can do wonders to images. One of the most popular programs is Adobe PhotoShop, since this editing program is one of the most sophisticated tools. Most pro photographers will use this program, since you can create web sites, book covers, images, movies, and more. Adobe is also used to design manuals, graphics, commercials, fliers, and more. This particular program I miss. I lost my copy during a severe virus attack, and the downside is it costs around $1000 to $1500 to replace.

Outside of lightning effects, you can also setup brick backgrounds, or whatever background you choose. If you own this program you know what I am talking about, however if you have never had the experience and can get the opportunity to try out Adobe I promise you will have loads of fun.  For additional editing assistance check out your menus, Help tools.

Discover Further Basic Photography Techniques By Reading This Free Digital Photography Report – www.LearnDigitalPhotographyNow.com

If you wish to improve your Photoshop Editing Skills then I strongly recommend you meet my friend David Peters at his Photoshop Revealed Blog. Just Click Here to discover a whole bunch of Free Photoshop Video Tutorials

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June 16, 2009

Best 7 Strategies for Portrait Photography

StopPhotography is one of the most popular hobbies and professions in the world. There is nothing like capturing fragments of reality and preserving it on film. There are many kinds of photography, but one of the most in-demand is portrait photography.

A good portrait is described as a picture with a quality image that captures both the physical features and character of the subject. Taking good portraits is very challenging because a photographer needs a subject with an upbeat personality that also reflects sensitivity and liveliness.

There are lots of factors that photography enthusiasts need to know in capturing the perfect portrait.

1. Revelation of the subject’s character
For a portrait to be considered good, it must capture at least one element that shows the features and traits of the subject as well as one that captures his or her individuality. The image must reveal an important part of the subject’s character that can be identifiable by those who know them. Therefore, it is quite challenging for a portrait to show the character of his subject if they have only met for the first time.

2. The right moment to take pictures
Definitely, the photo shoot should start when the subject is comfortable and at ease with his or her appearance and surroundings. Never shoot if the subject is tense or uneasy, because it will reflect in the pictures. There is no rule that says a conversation should stop when shooting starts, it can still continue especially if it makes the subject open up more to the photographer.

Remember that the subject does not need to smile to make the portrait look good. Oftentimes, a thoughtful or a serious expression is preferred since it reveals more of the subject’s character.

3. Preparedness of the photographer
This is important since it is the photographer who takes control of a photo session. The subject must feel that the person behind the camera knows what he’s doing and is experienced enough to tell the subject how to pose. The photographer himself must be prepared and relaxed throughout the session.

4. Right kind of lighting
Probably the best light that can be used for capturing the personality of the subject is natural daylight. The variety of lighting choices brought about by outdoor conditions gives more creative leeway for the photographer. Having the subject sit near the window can also produce great effects. The only disadvantage of natural light is that it’s not always consistent. This is the reason all photographers must utilize artificial lighting. All photographers must have studio flashes. Also, the position of the photographer in relation to the subject can also be shifted in order to maximize the light available.

5. Appropriate background
Simply put, a bad background can destroy a picture. Always pay close attention on the scenery behind the subject when framing shots. There are many creative options that be used when shooting outdoors. The subject can be made to pose beside or in front of colorful flowers or leaves, the sea or the sky. To reduce the effect of a distracting background, a photographer can make use of long lenses or an expansive aperture. For indoors, one can use black or grey cloth for the background, then adding colored transparent plastics over the flashes to modify color.

6. Usage of costumes and props
Portraits usually are a rare photograph of a subject, and good costumes can make the portrait more interesting and valuable. You don’t always need to use a full costume, sometimes a hint of it will make wonders, such as hats or scarves. Props should be used very carefully, and should not distract from the main subject of the photograph. A prop should establish the natural pose and mood of the one being photographed.

7. Framing
The kind of framing can already create the image desired by the photographer. It is recommended that photos be cropped before shooting. The image should be checked a few seconds before clicking the shutter. Images that are not needed should be excluded from the shot.

Producing the perfect portrait may seem hard at first but these tips can help novices so that they can shoot better pictures. Take a look at this Free Digital Photography Report that Reveals Insider Professional Tips And Tricks For Taking Awesome Photos With a Digital Camera – www.LearnDigitalPhotographyNow.com

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March 3, 2009

Digital Photography Tips – Five Great Points To Shoot That Portrait

StopPortrait photography is the most popular form of photography. Most people who know how to point and shoot a camera are all portrait photographers. However, there are of course, differences in its quality. Professional portrait photographers have certain characteristics that let them get the best out of their subjects. A portrait photo does not only mean a person’s image. In a way, it shows character and emotion. If you want to start shooting portraits and don’t know the essential elements, fear no more because these five tips can give you a head start.

Rapport
Building rapport with your subject is the firs thing that you should learn. Interest in knowing your subjects is a plus. If you get to know your subject and they know you, your they will become more comfortable in front of the camera. When the shoot comes, you have better chances of getting the best natural expressions of the people you are photographing.

Personality
Always make sure that your photos will show the personality of your subject. You will only know this if you know the person. Make sure that their personality shows in their faces. Personality usually appears when the subject is not expecting a shot, so you have to be ready to take the picture when the opportunity comes.

Lighting
Most photographers prefer natural lighting. However since you want to emphasize the person’s face and character, you should always consider using artificial lighting. Be sure that light is evenly distributed, or that it satisfies the angle that you want to emphasize. Lighting can have a great effect especially if your they want a serious picture.

Background
Most portraits have light backgrounds to emphasize the subject. You can also use the environment to add more character to your subject. Also, be sure that the colors of your background and the dress of your subject compliment each other. Sometimes backgrounds become the flaw of a picture because the photographer took it for granted.

Plan
Be sure that you are ready before you go to the photo shoot. Not only that you have all the equipment that you need, but be sure that you can handle the job properly. Prepare all the necessary materials and be sure to bring a good topic for conversation so that your subject can relax while you are shooting.

Portrait photography is a really enjoyable hobby. If you’re serious in making it your career, you can be sure that it can be lucrative as long as you perfect your craft. However, remember that you should have the heart for the job because portrait photography’s first requirement is interest.

Take a look at this FREE REPORT that Reveals Insider Professional Tips And Tricks For Taking Awesome Photos With a Digital Camera (Even If You’re a Newbie) – http://www.learndigitalphotographynow.com

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February 24, 2009

Binocular Digital Camera Report

StopBinoculars digital camera can be considered as the latest hot cake to have entered the field of digital photography. It is one step towards betterment and good technology digital cameras.

Binoculars and digital camera is indeed a wonderful combination. No matter you are an amateur photographer or a professional one, the binoculars digital camera can be very useful to you in giving all the desired photo results.

What’s so stylish about the idea of having a binocular with a digital camera is that it suits all the same situations perfectly for which you use a binocular. If you are going for a wildlife safari and wish to capture the wild animals busy with their own wild activities, a binoculars digital camera is the best device to catch the action. You can do all sorts of activities with it. Shooting your child in the playground, or recording your friend’s wedding, everything goes perfectly with binoculars digital camera.

An 8 x 32 Premium binoculars camera can capture the very best and high quality photographs and video clips. You can also get this camera in an excitingly new concept that is pocket size sports optics. Now you can observe and record the action at the same time.

A binocular camera has a binocular design in a compact roof prism. The lens used is of 32mm. You can have 2.1 mega pixel still photographs or 0.35 mega pixel video clips or 15fps for 30 seconds. A binoculars digital camera also has an AVI movie capability. It comes with a USB cable and software. It makes in use of about two AA batteries, which does not come with the camera. It comes in a carrying case with a neck strap.

A binoculars digital camera is also adaptable to Tripod. It helps in keeping the camera stable while taking the photos and shooting the movies.

There are many types of binoculars digital cameras available in the market. We are discussing a few of them here.

Here is a model of digital camera binoculars with LCD Display. The advancement of digital binocular cameras is progressing positively. The liquid crystal display, abbreviated as LCD, is one of the best and comfortable features of a digital camera. And this feature is now available with the binoculars digital camera. The digital binocular with LCD display gives you the preview of the pictures shot. As you can see the images on the small screen integrated into the camera, you can do a lot with them. You can see the bad images, delete them and can re-shoot to obtain the best shots again.

The binoculars digital camera with memory slot comes with the best memory expansion slot. It allows you to raise the storage capacity of removable photos in the digital binocular camera. The digital binoculars cameras that come with SD, MMC or CF memory cards slot work with Windows 98 or ME or 2000 or XP. They can also be used

Take a look at this FREE REPORT that Reveals Insider Professional Tips And Tricks For Taking Awesome Photos With a Digital Camera (Even If You’re a Newbie) – http://www.learndigitalphotographynow.com

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October 27, 2007

What happens when you take a photo at the right angle?

Use the small scroll bar on the right of this embedded PDF file to watch the slide show of these awesome photos!

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October 18, 2007

How To Edit Your Digital Photos Using Photoshop

I’m sure you’re aware of just how powerful Adobe Photoshop can be to edit your digital photos. In fact almost all professional photographers now offer "Photoshop touch ups" nowadays – my wife even jokes she’s just "Photoshopping" herself when she’s putting her make up on!

If you’re not yet competent enough with Photoshop to be able to confidently work with your digital images, then listen up, because I’ve got what you need!

A business partner and very good friend of mine – David Peters – is just about to launch the very best set of video tutorials around on "how to use Photoshop to edit your digital photos". You can follow along and be ready for the launch at his blog here: http://www.edityourdigitalphotos.com/blog/

Also if you’re brand new to Photoshop you’ll first need a good grasp of the basics to get the most out of David’s new tutorials. And there’s no better resource than David’s starter series called "Photoshop Fast Track For Newbies!" – these tutorials will show you how to master the basics of Photoshop in just 2 hours, and if you visit his site here you’ll see for yourself the incredible user feedback he get’s from happy customers.

I can confidently recommend the above 2 resources to you if you want to quickly learn the Photoshop secrets of the professionals!

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May 29, 2007

Photo of the Week for May

Here’s a real cool images sent in from Lisa when she went on holiday to Jamaica.

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May 10, 2007

Tips On Digital Photography

There’s nothing like a beautiful photograph to capture some of life’s most beautiful moments. This is why cameras are always at hand during those special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, etc.

Unfortunately people behind these cameras are not exactly what you might call experts. They are more likely to be your friends, family, and next door neighbor.

That is why some of the outcomes of these pictures taken leave something more to be desired. That is precisely why some people hire the services of a professional photographer.

Not everyone has enough money to spare on a professional photographer and that is why they do with some  not so impressive pictures.

Here are some photography techniques that will make undesirable pictures a thing of the past!

1. For portraits it is important to have a fitting backdrop. Using a tripod helps to keep the shot from being blurred. It also helps to keep the photograph straight.

2. Avoid direct sunlight when shooting outdoors. If using the sun as a source of natural light, make sure it is behind the photographer.

3. Photographers have to develop a good rapport with their subjects. When taking portraits it is best if the subject’s face is relaxed, and not fixed into a posed smile. Photographers can help their subjects feel at ease by engaging them in friendly conversation in between shots.

4. When taking group photos make sure that everyone gets included in the picture. Some directing on the photographer’s part might be necessary. Position everyone so that they fit into the picture. The tallest persons should be in the back row, so nobody gets accidentally blocked from the shot.

5. Spontaneous shots are wonderful! They are a good break from the stiff, posed, smiles that people brandish at you once you point a camera at them. They are really great during parties, wedding pictorials, etc.  This doesn’t mean that you should take one of those horrible candid celebrity shots that end up in tabloid magazines!

Photographers should try to catch their subjects when they are at their best and when they are at ease, being natural, and just plain having a good time. This way their personality, and true essence will be captured in the photographs.

Taking great photographs can be achieved by using some of these techniques. Remember that practice makes perfect.

That is why individuals should take plenty of pictures until they become comfortable with being behind the camera. It won’t take long until they start taking those award winning shots, and pretty soon develop some techniques of their own.

Learn Digital Photography  - Is an excellent guide to Digital Photography and finding which camera suits your needs.

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