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By admin, March 18, 2010 11:51 am

Nature photography as an art form has been around for a long time, but recently it has found respect on the walls of up-market galleries. This is a big change from 20 years ago, when nature photography was only considered worthy of second-rate postcards and calendars.

Over the years, postcards and calendars began to improve in quality as nature photographers with real talent entered the industry. High quality posters of whales, wolves, elephants and spectacular landscapes from around the world were suddenly worthy of framing. Finally nature photography galleries began to appear and, more importantly, turn a profit.

When I opened my gallery in 1993, many people still felt that you could not make a living selling photography; that people would only buy paintings to hang on their walls. These days, new galleries are opening everywhere; some good, some not so good, and a few that have really hit the big time.

All this activity in the world of nature photography has inspired new generations of photographers to look at nature photography as a hobby or possible profession. These new nature photographers grew up in a very different world than the one I come from. Technology that was unimagined back then is now commonplace, and new photographers have more power in their hands than ever before. But what implications does all this technology have for nature photography?

Nature photographers must now decide how much they will allow their photography to be influenced by technology. In earlier days, good nature photography required a very simple approach; find a great subject, in the best possible light, and use your skill with a camera to capture what you saw. Today it is quite a different story. A nature photographer can (if they choose) find a decent subject, photograph it in whatever lighting conditions they happen to find, then go home and completely alter the colours, the contrast, and even the detail of the picture. The result can be an image that owes more to the marvels of technology than to the wonders of nature.

Each to his own. It is not for me to judge the creative decisions of another photographer. But the question that is in the back of your mind right now deserves to be asked; is this nature photography?

Every photographer is entitled to pursue their craft any way they choose. Of course skills with computer software are just as creative as traditional nature photography skills. However, the person who views a photograph deserves to know what they are looking at, especially if that person is a customer prepared to part with their hard-earned money.

I know many photographers get quite defensive on this subject. Camera clubs around the world continue to wrestle with the issue of judging natural photos alongside manipulated photos. Some clubs have tried to divide competition into separate categories, only to find people sneaking their digitally altered photos into the unaltered category for equal recognition. Understandably, ’software photographers’ want their talents to be recognised on the same level as the ‘in-camera photographers’. And so they should, but not in a way that ignores the difference between the two disciplines.

This is not an attempt to denigrate the skills of the software photographers. It just seems to me that the viewer, and in particular the paying customer, deserves to know.

Increasingly the public is becoming suspicious of good photography. Anything that is outstanding or unusual is now assumed to have been altered or manipulated using computer software. In many cases, it probably has. Unfortunately, this suspicion gives little credit to the traditional photographer (and there are still plenty of us out there) who prefer to do the creative work in the field, before they press the shutter, and reproduce what was captured on the day.

You can’t imagine, unless it has happened to you, how frustrating it is to proudly display your best nature photography, only to hear people say ‘These days it’s all done with computers.’

For the record, my photography is as traditional as it can be in the digital age. Software is becoming essential to my work, as I go throught the process of scanning thousands of slides from my years of travel. Not to alter a photo, but to balance the colour and contrast to make sure the printed photograph matches the original slide. It is also an enormous benefit to finally be able to restore images that have been scratched or otherwise damaged by age.

I recognise that the trend towards using software to enhance and alter photos is not only inevitable, but just as legitimate as old fashioned nature photography. However, I continue to encourage people to learn true camera skills as well, so that the use of software to manipulate images is a creative choice, not a remedy for lack of ability. Thankfully, the demand for my ebooks suggests that there are plenty of people out there who feel the same way.

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By admin, March 17, 2010 6:36 pm

Books have always been a great companion for all. Whether you are a student or an adult, there are books for everyone. No matter what subject you are interested in, you would find your favourite book very easily. These informational books can fill up your mind with ideas and sometimes transform your life. Be it adventure, romance, action, photography or art, you name it and there is a book on that topic. So one can further enhance his knowledge in his field of interest by reading his choicest books.

Photography is a passion for many. Some of the titles of the famous photography books include “How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera” by Bryan Peterson, “The Digital Photography Handbook,” and “An Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide” by Doug Harman etc.

The best photography book would be the one which answers to all your questions regarding digital photography. The book should take you step by step about how to get the best shots with different angles. The field of digital photography is getting popular day by day. This is the reason that there are some of the best photography books being published recently. These books also give the users some essential information which will help you to make a buying decision. By reading these books, you can decide easily which camera would suit to your tastes and what factors you should be aware of while buying your camera. One can also find some specialized topics like digital night photography, digital portrait photography, digital infra-red photography, digital black and white photography, etc.

If you are a novice in photography, the best books to read is Ben Long’s revised and highly acclaimed ‘Complete Digital Photography’. So if you want to buy a camera or upgrade it to a better model, you can take some useful tips from this book. One can also find books that give knowledge about the technical aspects of digital photography. Learn how to do actual shooting, when and how to use a flash and lots more. These books would surely help you bring the best knowledge about photography.

You can find various portals offering photography books with special deals and offers. All the popular books in this genre can be found online. Avail various benefits on purchasing them and get them delivered free of cost to your doorsteps.

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By admin, March 16, 2010 11:58 pm

Although the age of digital cameras has made it easier than ever to get good photos, you still need good photographic techniques to get the best results. It is alright to just point, shoot, and hope for the best. You will often get some great shots this way. But you will get even better results with your digital SLR camera if you understand some photography techniques. This will help you go from getting just good shots to getting amazing shots. The added benefit is you are in control of the situation and can reproduce the results over and over again. With a digital SLR camera you can afford to experiment. If you don’t like the result, you can just delete it and start again.

Photography Lighting Techniques

Lighting can be either your best friend or worst enemy. Lighting techniques in photography are varied and can be easy or they can be difficult, it’s upt to you. It will depend on what you are shooting. Maybe you want to take photos of cityscapes at night or photos in full sunlight – for good results you will need to understand good photography lighting techniques. Once you understand the basics of photography lighting techniques you will transform your photos into works of art.

Indoor Lighting Photography Techniques

There are different types of lighting you can use for indoor shots. Try using natural lighting that comes from windows, ceiling lights, candles, log fires, and any other indoor lighting. Many photographers use this to give a natural feel to their work. Often, though, there may not be enough natural light indoors. If this is the case, take a tip from portrait photography lighting techniques. Portrait photographers use big lights to flood their subject for the best results. The good thing is you can experiment with the light you have indoors.

Try taking a photo of your subject in different parts of the room using different types of lighting. This will give you an idea of what works. Experiment with the early morning sun streaming through the window then try backlighting the same subject and see the different effects. Indoor lighting subjects include a whole host of techniques and methods. It will become a natural instinct the more you play around with different effects.

Black and White Photography Techniques

Black and white photography techniques can produce some really nice results. If you are using a digital SLR camera, you will most likely have the option to capture your photos in black and white mode. Don’t use this mode. Use full colour so you get the full depth of light and shade. Use a photo manipulation program like Adobe Photoshop to transform your image into black and white. This gives you the flexibility to manipulate the output which you would not have if you took the photo in black and white.

If you really want to experiment with your camera in black and white mode, try using side lighting. Side lighting will create shadows on ordinary objects and give them a different perspective. This is an effective black and white photography technique that has great results on objects that are highly textured. Experiment by changing the camera angle and different lighting techniques. Use side lighting to enhance your black and white landscapes, people and buildings.

Street Photography Techniques

Street photography can produce some amazing results. They are shots of day to day occurrences; outdoor shots taken as asnapshot in time. Standing still or squatting while you watch and listen is a good technique; focus on what is happening around you. See the world differently. There is nothing more interesting than a candid shot of a moment in time. Here are some street photography techniques that may help you when out on the street:

- Tune into your surroundings. Learn to sense moments of climax such as laughter or loud voices.

- Be relaxed and enjoy your surroundings.

- Use crowded places you can walk in and out of to get your candid street shots.

- Don’t be invasive of people’s personal space, try using a zoom lens. This will not always work and you can lose some of the emotion you are trying to capture.

- Learn to take photos without bringing the camera to your eye. Practice taking photos from any position.

There is so much to learn about photography and, the more you learn the more addictive photography becomes.

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By admin,

As a hobby photography has universal appeal and most people almost always have indulged in it. Occasions are not complete without photographs being taken to capture the essence of the event and make it more memorable. Pictures provide a record of what happened, when it happened and sometimes how it happened. You can always look back in time when you look at pictures taken long ago and they make for a historical and pictorial record of times past. Nowadays almost everybody has a camera, whether it is a modern digital one or an old-fashioned film camera. Many people have more than one, especially since mobile phones not come equipped with cameras. Photography equipment is not anymore the perquisite of the rich alone, it is now highly affordable and you get so much variety of photography equipment that you are spoilt for choice.

In case you are really taken up by photography and your skills are well honed, you may decide to buy more specialized photography equipment which will help you in your artistic endeavors.

What Photography Equipment You Require

Apart from your camera, which should be good, other photography equipment can also be purchased. The camera itself should have a good lens. You might want to buy something which is inexpensive, and there are many in the low-price range, or you may want to go in for a high end product. High end photography equipment is expensive, but you may want to buy it if you want to become a skilled photographer. If you are keen on taking photographs and making photography your hobby, do not hesitate to buy good quality photography equipment. Cameras can last a lifetime and also provide timeless memories. If your basic photography equipment is good, you know that you will find it difficult to go wrong when you take picture.

If You Want More Than A Camera When You Purchase Photography Equipment

Perhaps you want to buy everything you may need altogether. Apart from the camera, you can go in for good light equipment. Among the photography equipment which will be useful to you apart from a good light system, would be a tripod for still shots – it will steady and center the camera. A camera bag is another piece of photography equipment which will protect your precious camera from scratches and breakages. While these peripherals may not be essential, your picture taking abilities will definitely be enhanced if you use these items. Your basic picture quality will be higher than if you use a cheap camera with no peripherals.

From Where Can You Buy Your Photography Equipment?

Fortunately, photography equipment can now be purchased from almost anywhere, from your supermarket or an electronic shop or a special photography shop. You will probably be able to purchase most of your photography equipment at one go. But before venturing out to buy, arm yourself with the knowledge as to what you want, what are the good brands available and how much you want to spend. You can always check out reviews and get advice from friends and colleagues as to what you should buy before you buy it.

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By admin, March 15, 2010 12:00 pm

Portrait photography is usually used at functions such as birthdays, graduations and weddings and is used to hang decoratively on the wall in a way to look good and to intrigue people. These prints are normally blown up for a better effect and put in lovely looking frames to make the best of the photos.

As a general rule, portrait photography focuses mostly on the face of the model, but can involve the shoulders and even more of the body if requested from the photography professional. Portrait photography is a great way to capture the mood and emotion of a particular moment and provide great memories that can be remembered and looked at over and over again.

Unlike some of the other types of photography like landscape and wildlife, portrait photography became very popular when the camera was first discovered as people enjoyed taking lots of photos of their family and loved ones. It was a way of remembering and capturing the pure love and emotion of one single moment forever. They could also be hung on the wall in frames or put into photo albums so that other people that were visiting could admire the prints as well. Back in this time, however, the portrait photography was just black and white and not in colour, which is what we have got used to in modern times. However, for a better and more effective style of portrait photography, the photography professional is very often asked to take photos that are in black and white, and these look great when hung on a wall or placed in a photo frame. It is a very effective look, but unfortunately, not as forgiving for errors as colour photos tend to be.

As portrait photography grew more and more popular, the art of taking photos became more individual, leading to photography professionals creating their own personal styles. Different types of photography grew in popularity as well, leading to prints of landscapes and wildlife and other such things to make more modern and stylish wall hangings. People started to desire more dramatic backdrops for their portrait photography, and also different poses as well.

Any photography professional that is any good will know that people have different tastes and different styles and should accommodate for this when taking the photos. They are there to serve the people ordering the prints and should do exactly what is requested from them. Portrait photography has grown massively, and now there is a demand for photos for weddings, new babies, family portraits, graduations and suchlike.

These prints do not have to be massively expensive, but you will have to pay for the services that you get, so the more prints you want and the better you want them, as well as the size that you request will make the rate for your payment, and it is worth thinking of this when you decide on exactly what it is that you want.

Portrait photography makes for wonderful gifts for family and loved ones and should be thought about in the coming up of special occasions like birthdays, Christmas, wedding anniversaries and such like.