Paragon Grafix: 2007

Sunday, December 30, 2007

How To Display RSS Feeds on Your Website

This article is intended as a guide for webmasters who want to display automatically updated content on their website in the form of RSS feeds. In this article I will cover the easiest method to implement using javascript for displaying RSS on websites to create additional dynamic content. This will allow you to display headlines from syndicated content around the web on your website.

RSS to Javascript.

By far the easiest method is to use client side javascript to parse and display the headlines on your site. To achieve this all you need to do is cut and paste some HTML or javascript code into the web page where you want the RSS feed headlines to display.

To achieve this there are several sites that offer a free service that will allow you to select a few options to choose your feed source and display formatting parameters. You will then be presented with some javascript code that you can cut and paste into your website.

Now before I give you the address of the sites that offer this service freely there are a few points I need to clarify with you. Although you will achieve your goal of displaying dynamic content on your site in a few short minutes there are some downsides to this method.

Javascript is not search engine friendly.

As you may or may not already know, javascript is not visible to search engine spiders. They will not see the RSS feed you have parsed into your site and so this will not benefit you if you are doing this to better your search engine rankings.

You are using a third party service.

The second potential downside is that although the javascript is on your site you are actually calling a script on another server. This could lead to a couple of potential problems. If the server is busy it will mean the news feed will take longer to display on your site. The other point is if the third party server fails or disappears altogether then your feed will not be displayed at all.

In summary there are a few downsides, but if you do not code and want some feeds on your site quickly then this is the way to go. Ok, so now you understand what is involved here are the links to the sites that provide the free RSS to javascript service. All you need to do is follow the on site instructions.

Allan is the webmaster at http://www.newsniche.com an RSS resopurce for webmasters. Learn how to use RSS to attract and retain visitors to your site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allan_Burns
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Display-RSS-Feeds-on-Your-Website&id=21585

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Friday, December 28, 2007

Search Engine Opimization - A Beginner's Guide

By Ben Coleman

What is SEO?

SEO or Search Engine Optimization is the name given to the process of making a website achieve high ranking in search engine queries. The most popular search engine by a long margin (60% of all searches worldwide) is Google, and so most effort is put towards optimizing for that website.

How to implement it

SEO is founded on good web design that consists of accessible and efficient code. Words or phases should be researched using online keyword popularity tools such as Overture and WordTracker to determine which keywords should be used in the text of your website. The ideal scenario is to find a keyword or phrase, or set of keywords or phrases that are frequently searched for, but are not found on many websites. Obviously, very popular searches will have many websites focussed on these keywords.

However, SEO is not only limited to keywords. Perhaps even more important is the PageRank factor. PageRank is a Google-created attribute that reflects a page's importance: the higher the PageRank (out of 10), the greater authority and importance your website has, and normally, this is reflected in your ranking on search engines. How PageRank is determined is a closely guarded secret (by Google), but it an important factor is the number of links from other websites to yours. The greater the number of links from high PageRanked websites, the higher your PageRank will be, and the better you will rank in searches.

The Long Tail

A Long Tail when applied to SEO is a term used to describe niche areas that in total receive greater interest or traffic than mainstream areas. For example, "books" is a very popular search term, whereas "antique art books" is much less popular. However, if you can optimize your website for those search terms, although you will not have as many people searching for the term, you are much more likely to be one of the top results returned. Furthermore, and most importantly, the people that have found your website are much more likely to be interested in your content, than if they were just searching for books. The Long Tail effect enables smaller specialist websites to survive and thrive, and it is important to consider when choosing your keywords.

When should you do SEO?

It is best to start SEO before you write the content of the website. This way you can ensure the keywords you have targeted are well incorporated into your text, in prominent positions, such as page titles, near the top of your page content, in headers, and emphasized in bold or in italics. However, if your website has already been made without considering SEO, you can still go back and make editions to the website content and design if necessary.

What you should not do

With the growing importance of search engines on the Internet as a method of finding information, SEO has become big business. There are now thousands of specialized businesses offering SEO alone, many making bold promises such as a guarantee of a top 10 rank in Google. Approach such offers with care, as you may be paying for a top 10 rank in a search phrase that receives no traffic at all!

You must also be exceptionally careful not to try and trick search engines. There are a huge number of dirty tricks that can be done to try and increase your ranking on searches, such as websites filled with thousands of links linking to yours. It is possible that such schemes may bring you temporary success, but it is almost guaranteed that your trickery will be found out, and then you can expect to be stripped of your rank, and possibly banned for good from the search engines. This is a risk that will not pay off.

Best practice

While SEO is essential to consider when trying to get a top-ranking site, if you have a website filled with quality content, and you are able to promote it so that other websites link to it, this is arguably the most important strategy you can employ. Although assorted SEO strategies and fads come and go, if you are producing good quality text that is useful, you are already giving your website a headstart. "Content is King" is the catchphrase coined to illustrate the importance of this.

Ben Coleman is the CEO and owner of RealFreeWebsites. He has been designing websites and working on website technologies since 1999. RealFreeWebsites was created to fill a niche: to offer free or low-cost customized websites and top quality hosting.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_Coleman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Search-Engine-Opimization---A-Beginners-Guide&id=895069

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7 Tips for Taking Better Vacation Photos

By Kristin Martori

A family vacation or a romantic getaway with your sweetie is a time to be remembered. Bringing a digital camera along is just one way to make your memories stick. Whether you are taking digital photos of the Leaning Tower of Pisa or of the Caribbean Sea, you are going to want to make sure your vacation photos are the best they can be.

1.) Plan photography into your trip

• Research various photo books of the places where you will be traveling, and decide which photos you want to use to make your memories. Then choose the best time of day for these photos - sunset or sunrise both offer the most flattering light.

2.) Choose uncluttered backgrounds

• Trying to get as much into the shot as you can is great - just make sure other people an buildings don't take away the integrity of your photo.

3.) Use people to show scale

• What looks dramatic in person may not look that way once the photo is framed. Use people in the foreground or off to the side to show perspective and create a more dramatic effect.

4.) Capture color

• Vivid colors make your photos stand out. Always be prepared to take a gorgeous picture of bright sailboats or the brightly painted houses in the Caribbean, or of the landscape in a national forest.

5.) Change your perspective

• Don't be afraid to crouch or lay down to take a more interesting shot with your digital camera. These shots are more dramatic and can bring back fun memories of a trip from a different point of view.

6.) Adjust to the light

• Avoid harsh shadows at the beach by shooting on cloudy days, in shade, or at sunrise or sunset. You can also use your flash when shooting into the sunlight to lessen the strong shadows on faces or other objects in the shot.

7.) Bring your camera along for the ride

• Be sure to catch all the action and relive the days of theme park fun by taking photos on the swings, the roller coaster or the Ferris wheel. But be careful, if you don't have a wrist strap for your camera, now is the time to get one!

Display your gorgeous vacation photos on your wall in a frame, or in a scrapbook that holds your favorite memories for years to come. But know that by following these tips, others will not only be jealous of your vacation, but of your photography skills as well!

For more tips on how to take better vacation photos, visit the HP Digital Photography photo tips page at http://www.hp.com/united-states/consumer/digital_photography/take_better_photos/index.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristin_Martori

http://EzineArticles.com/?7-Tips-for-Taking-Better-Vacation-Photos&id=874200

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Thursday, December 13, 2007

How to Capture The Moment In Your Photos

By Jennifer Thompson

The holidays are coming up, meaning tons of photo opportunities. My aunt is the photographer in our family and she loves taking pictures of us eating. I don't mean with our mouths full, I mean with our mouth wide open getting ready to take a bite out of that turkey leg. How humiliating, but she has mastered capturing the moment of us looking like vultures.

I, on the other hand, have always loved taking pictures. My favorite pictures are the ones of my kids sleeping, they're so surreal. Motherhood is the highlight of my life and I want to capture every moment of it. My pictures never seem to meet my expectations. I wanted to take better quality photos, so I could learn how to 'capture the moment'. I did some research and lots of practice!

First and foremost, you need a good understanding of your camera and its abilities. I don't know about your camera, but mine came with a 200+ page manual, a little overwhelming, to say the least. I suggest starting with the settings and testing them in different types of light, with and without using the flash. Knowing which setting to use and whether or not to use the flash is key. Using natural light is best. Take photos in the early morning or late afternoon, when the sunlight is more flattering. Too much light may cast shadows, so you may want to use the flash to eliminate natural shadows, like a nose.

Apply the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is more of a guide than a rule. It's basically dividing an image into nine equal parts creating horizontal and vertical balance. Just imagine that your photo is a tic-tac-toe board. By positioning your focal point at the intersections of the tic-tac-toe board you will create more professional-looking and intriguing photos. For example, when photographing landscapes, use the horizontal grid lines to place the sky or water horizons and when photographing people, place their eyes at the horizontal and vertical intersections. The vertical grid lines are guidelines for things that are taller than they are wide like people, waterfalls and skyscrapers. Keep the rule of thirds in mind while experimenting with some of your current photos. Open them with a photo editing program and crop them to see what impact it might have on your photos.

Be sure you're on the same level as your subject. Don't be afraid to take a few steps forward, having your subject fill most of the frame helps capture emotion that you wouldn't have noticed farther away. This allows you to get up-close and personal, to capture more of your focal point than the background. Also, you want to be aware of what's going on in the background in your pictures. Make sure it's not too busy. Shoot at the highest resolution available. If you want to print your images or enlarge a part of the image, you'll get the best results from a larger file.

Last, but not least, have fun and take tons of photos. Have your camera ready at all times. The more photos you take, the better your chances are of "capturing the moment". Expect to only have a couple of great shots for about every 30 pictures that you take. Be sure to use rechargeable batteries. We have an extra set so we can take pictures while the other set is charging. Oh yeah, don't forget to have enough memory capacity for all the pictures you're going to be taking.

Now is the time to practice your photo techniques, so you'll be ready for the holiday hustle and bustle.

Jennifer Thompson would like to inspire and enrich your digital scrapbooking experience. Scrap! by Penelope & Simon is a place where you can find tutorials, tips & tricks, product reviews, inspiration, how-to guides and the latest news in digital scrapbooking. We're here to provide a safe and secure place where you can share your ideas, experiences, techniques and your favorite shops. Our goal is to become the #1 information source and community for all your digital scrapbooking needs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Thompson
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Capture-The-Moment-In-Your-Photos&id=876159

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Thursday, September 13, 2007

Start Your Own Photography Business from Home

By Roy Barker

Anyone with the right camera equipment, and the necessary skills can set up a home business, marketing photography. You need only to convert a room of your house into an office, and then you can work immediately.

With modern technology in the form of SLR digital cameras, you do not even need the room for a dark room. You need only to have a personal computer and a photo-editing program. The standard is Adobe Photoshop.

It is not necessary to clutter yourself with equipment you do not need. You can hire equipment on and when you need it basis. You have the freedom to work part time for a while until you can devote yourself full time to photography. All you need to be is a serious photographer. There are two types of photographers that makes their living from photography, the serious photographer and the very serious photographer. You can always bookmark this link and then you can quickly access just about all you'll ever need from here.

Whilst the technical skills needed to make a successful photographer have never been easier, other aspects have changed the business. The market for photographs of virtually every type has widened, the world seems to have an insatiable appetite for photographs. However the price has fallen as the marketing net has broadened. Photographers are needed in many more fields. For instance many people use car web sites, they simply did not exist ten years ago, and they sell their products as a result of photography. Cameras used by scuba diver’s are now an excellent quality, and whilst they are initially expensive, they have forged a new market. People celebrate special occasions more with photography, than they did years ago. The travel and advertising markets have a greater need for landscape, travel and nature shots.

It is now easier than ever to turn your dream into reality and create a worthwhile business out of an engrossing hobby. However in today’s modern world there is more to it than simply pointing a camera, and shooting a picture. You need to be aware of marketing techniques, and here marketing simply means transferring ownership of a product, in this case an image from a buyer to seller. You also need to be aware of any local gaps in the market in your local area. You should also try to be on top of your competitor’s prices, to undercut an existing photographer is one choice, but to neglect to value your skills and not charge enough to cover your overheads is another matter entirely. Remember this, its an important point.

Use your skills to the best advantage of the business and define what you want from it. Writing a business plan helps to keep you focused on the areas you specifically want to exploit. A business plan helps you to define your goals and strategies, it will be changed and updated, but it will help you, to keep things in perspective. You can then refer back to it when things become confusing or complicated. Everyone’s business plan will be different, as every objective will be different, but there are certain common factors that make up a good business plan which will help your business grow. It allows you to develop a professional attitude to your business, which not only helps you to increase your earnings, but also help you to finance your business.

For the photographer it should include, your business name, or your own, with full details of the proposed location of the business, a copy of your logo, as well as details of your copyright notices. What is the form of your proposed business (sole ownership, partnership, Limited Liability Company or Corporation). This should be followed by a table of contents, which focuses on a logical order. There are resources that will give you further details on such as profitable-photography.com

Included after this should be the type of business you intend to pursue, in a fair amount of detail, and it should contain the services you intend to offer. This section should include any future gaols or avenues you would like to explore, stating your clear objectives. This is so you can check at a later date whether your objectives are on course, or if you have got sidetracked.

If you envisage at any time you may need financial help, then you should include your personal business history.

You should also state a clear and concise marketing plan that should demonstrate how your business will differentiate from the businesses of your competitors. You should be able to establish whom your customers will be, as well as where your market will be, as in wholesale or retail or a combination of both. You should also be able to determine how long this type of market will be available to yourself.

The next section should clearly define your opposition, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. This should include the ways you may be able to exploit any gaps in the market in the specific area where you live. A section should follow this on how you intend to market and promote your individual services.

A financial segment should be included as to how you intend to manage the day-to-day bills of the business. How you intend to price your services, and what factors influence this pricing structure, which includes a section on your competitor’s financial structures. This means a fair amount of detective work as well as homework. Get your friends to ask from quotes from the local competition. Or try an even more direct approach, tell your competitor’s that you intend to start a new business, and that you do not want to undercut them, as this reduces the cake for everyone. They may well offer to help you construct a pricing structure that ensures everyone’s livelihood. It is in their interests to help. Not everyone will be cooperative, but it may mean you can get a truer picture of the market factors that govern your area.

Make a list of all the equipment you will need in your first year, as well as how and where you intend to purchase. Note any difficulties that may arise in obtaining your supplies. Note whether the prices of your supplies have a seasonal fluctuation, that may help you influence you when to buy. You should make a note of any local licenses that will be necessary, as well as any zoning restrictions, that may restrict the growth of your business. Your neighbours may not be thrilled at a procession of customer’s to your door, check whether they can restrict your services. Make a study of all your business insurance requirements.

The final segment should be devoted to how you intend to finance the growth of your business, as well as isolating what your financial needs will be. This should include a projection on your future earnings, as well as an accurate assessment of your outgoings’. This should be assessed on a monthly basis for the first year, and on an annual basis for the following three years. An important aspect of the financial statement is an assessment of the break-even point of your business, in other words the minimum you will have to take to pay your expenses.

The purpose of this documentation is to allow you to enunciate what the core elements of your business will be, in doing this it should help you to be able to quickly evaluate the success of your business objectives. If you are not clear on your objectives then you cannot possibly make a plan to bring about the success of those objectives.

Supplied courtesy of Roy Barker. Supplied courtesy of Roy Barker. Roy has supplied 30 tips for a successful photography business here . Of course, if you just want the focused nitty gritty but you want to ensure that your new photography business is going to be profitable first time round, then you should read Roy's guide - starting a profitable photography business. If you're just simply researching photography tips and forums try http://www.photography-business-tips.com .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Barker http://EzineArticles.com/?Start-Your-Own-Photography-Business-from-Home&id=67905

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Friday, June 29, 2007

Make Money With Your Digital Camera

By Dr Kingsley Modozie

Do you know you can make money with your digital camera online? This is a good opportunity for those who has digital camera to make some comfortable income on the net, even though you don’t have any digital camera you can purchase one. They are companies who need photos daily online and they are looking for individuals to provide these photos in return for some hourly payment depending on the hour you work uploading those photos, no experience is needed to start to make money with digital camera. Most of my friends are using digital camera to make money online.

This is a way to use camera for fun and also make money with digital camera. You might be wondering what kinds of photos these companies need to be sent to them, they need various kinds of photos from you, there’s no exception to the kind of photo they need. You can snap photos of girls who pose for pictures of them to be taken, photos of cars, photos of house, photos of trees, any where you can snap photos that are cool to make money with digital camera. People that have been into this business have been around over the years and most of them are making comfortable income online.

Many people has benefited from their digital camera by submiting photos they snap online in return for some money. It’s not just a new thing to make money with digital camera online, you can even qualify to submit photos even though you have no experience, you are not a professional as long as you can use a camera and take pictures you can be able to do this photo submitting onlineof a business. These companies do not ask for certificate before you can work for them, in the initial time some companies can ask you for some samples you've taken at list to make them understand that you can be able to provide them with what they want from your digital camera.

They are people whom have studied ways to make money with digital camera, they’ve researched the good ways to make money with digital camera, they’ve analyzed ways these method of making money online to make it easy accessible, telling you the kinds of photos the companies need from you, how much you get paid hourly by submitting these photos. You can try one of the legitimate ones in business to get the companies you are to submit these photos to etc. For more info visit Make Money with your Camera

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr_Kingsley_Modozie http://EzineArticles.com/?Make-Money-With-Your-Digital-Camera&id=599394

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At the end of 2006 Lonnie started a Home Based Business that has been growing very rapidly. To get more information on his home based business go to www.lonnieniver.ws

Find The Right Digital Camera At The Right Price

By Dave Knight

Digital cameras of a high-resolution are no longer a luxury item; five mega pixels are the norm. The cameras are becoming ever more sophisticated and yet the prices have plummeted. Comparison sites will search for the best prices and a keyword search of eBay will list thousands of offers. Internet review sites provide all the technical information you want to make an informed choice. It’s that easy to find the right digital camera at the right price.

So what specification do you need? One mega pixel is one million color dots per picture. Ideally you should buy a camera with four mega pixels or more. Actually five mega pixels is the norm these days and cameras are now being made with eight mega pixels. More mega pixels mean larger pictures without sacrificing quality.

Digital cameras come with built in memory capacity but it's never enough. No problem! The flash memory card has been invented. It not only increases the amount of pictures you can take and store but makes transfer to a computer child's play. The amount of flash memory you need depends on your application. Test it out, a 256Mb or 512Mb may be enough and memory prices are so low now it won't break the bank to buy a spare.

Digital cameras have a zoom facility and you should consider the zoom factor carefully. There is optical zoom and digital zoom. Optical zoom uses the lens to enlarge the image. The optical zoom factor is the most important. Digital zoom on the other hand enlarges pixels digitally, no surprise there! This is a useful feature but remember you can always enlarge the image on your computer so it's not so important as optical zoom.

The advantages of digital photography were first recognized by real estate agents and motor traders. These sectors have always recognized the benefit of adding photographs to their ads. Instant digital photography was an answer to their dreams. But as the mega pixels increased so did the fans.

Anyone earn extra cash with a digital camera. Listings on auction sites such as eBay always get better results when one or more photographs of the product are included. Some online classified sites allow photographs also.

The use of pictures in advertising is just one of the many examples where you can earn extra money.

Whether you use a digital camera for fun or profit carefully consider what is required to get optimal results for your needs. Maybe the camera you already have is adequate. Maybe that latest hot-off-the-production line model is actually over specified for you. Hopefully this article has given you a few ideas and the facts to make an informed decision.

Dave Knight writes how-to articles on computer and Internet related subjects. This article courtesy of http://www.ComputerBitZ.co.uk You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Knight http://EzineArticles.com/?Find-The-Right-Digital-Camera-At-The-Right-Price&id=597647

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Mastering Editorial Stock Photography WorkFlow

By Rohn Engh

The Information Age is upon us. The time it takes to deliver information has become so quick as to be almost instantaneous. This allows us to capitalize on opportunities with new efficiency, and helps us avoid unnecessary risks. The “information float” is collapsing.

The change is here. Photography technology is outdoing itself. Digital transmission of images is a reality. Printers can produce images that compete in quality with film. Digital cameras have taken over. Storing images in digital form is now de rigeur. The average photographer can provide clients with on-line retrieval and viewing of their stock selections.

- - - - - - -

“It’s Still the Same Show…”

- - - - - - -

But don’t let all the bells and whistles distract you. The actors, props, and settings may be different, but it’s still the same show. Getting pictures that are publishable still takes creative ability -- and that takes talent. And it has always taken more than talent to consistently receive checks from publications and ad agencies, and to see your credit line in national circulation. That takes marketing know-how, and always will.

ASSIGNMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

PRICING YOURSELF FOR ASSIGNMENTS

Assignments are an excellent way to capture stock photos that may not be available to you ordinarily. During your lunch break, or before or after completing your assignment, take advantage of the location by taking photographs in the environment you find yourself in on this assignment.

Freelance photography sites on the web and in your library, are helpful in researching how to price yourself for your day rate.

Three tips: Since each publication you work with will offer a different ‘day rate,’ based on such things as circulation, advertising revenue, and size, you’ll find day rates ranging from $400 a day to $2,000 a day.
In addition to the base ‘day rate’ fee, it is acceptable to also submit a statement for expenses. Such as: mileage, 45 cents per mile to areas outside your general metropolitan area, (if you live outside the general metropolitan area of the publishing house, do not charge a fee for coming into the city), car rental, plane, train, meals, and lodging. Also, photographic expenses: renting of special equipment; props; model fees; location charges (such as rent); mailing and/or carrier charges; phone calls (beyond the ordinary); messengers; porters; guards. Be sure to keep your receipts and staple them to your statement.
Pricing Your Photo

Three popular pricing guides:

FotoQuote, Cradoc Corporation, Phone: 1 206 842-4030; Fax: 1 206 824-1381; www.fotoquote.com; info@fotoquote.com

Jim Pickerell’s, Selling Stock, 110 Fredrick Ave Ste A, Rockville, MD 20850; Phone: 1 301 251-0720; Fax: 1 301 309-0941; Email: jim@chd.com.

Michal Heron’s, Pricing Photography, 28 W 71st St, New York, NY 10023; Phone: 1 212 787-1272; Fax: 1 212 721-0844; email: mheron@interport.net.

The Law of Probability is on your side if you direct your initial marketing efforts to the specialized magazines and book publishers listed in periodical directories such as PHOTOGRAPHER’S MARKET*, and other directories found on a web search. These directories list the names and addresses of hundreds of publications and websites.

FIND YOUR MARKETS

Don’t be tempted to be “all things to all photobuyers.” This is usually the first mistake the fledgling photo illustrator makes. Photo editors recognize that one photographer can’t be that versatile. Their primary concern is that they get material that’s accurate and knowledgeable to present to their readers and advertisers. The editor would prefer to work with a photographer who already knows something about the subject area of his/her magazine.

Focus on a market area that appeals to you, such as outdoor recreation, dog training, medicine, or education.

Turn over a new leaf. Get prepared for a genuine assignment by giving yourself some “practice” assignments this coming year. Using photo stories in one or two of your targeted publications as guides, duplicate the photos taken by that photographer, and teach yourself how to develop photo essays.

Select certain publications in your interest areas. All of these publications will have a web presence. To get more information about their photo needs, find the section called, “Submission Guidelines,” or “Photo Guidelines.”

Many specialized markets work with monthly photography budgets ranging from $15,000 to $30,000. Many spend $40,000 - $90,000 (per month – not per year). If you zero in on just 10 specialized markets, you will have, as they say in the marketing field, found your “corner of the market.” The photo editors of these markets will consider you an important resource.

Once you have made some sales to an editor, he or she will be interested in sending special assignments your way. If you engage in your photo marketing as a spare-time endeavor, you’ll still be able to handle lengthier assignments by scheduling them on your vacation time (and as a result give yourself free vacations!).

* 4700 E Galbraith Road, Cincinnati OH 45236, (513) 531 2690, x 1226, photomarket@fwpubs.com, Contact: Donna Pohner.

Rohn Engh, veteran stock photographer and best-selling author of “Sell & ReSell Your Photos” and “sellphotos.com,” has helped scores of photographers launch their careers. For access to great information on making money from pictures you like to take, and to receive this free report: “8 Steps to Becoming a Published Photographer,” visit http://www.sellphotos.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rohn_Engh
http://EzineArticles.com/?Mastering-Editorial-Stock-Photography-WorkFlow&id=616109

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Sublime Layout with One Picture

By Soren Breiting

How to get the most out of using just a single picture
(photo or art) on a page? The page can be a page in a
magazine, a book, a folder /announcement or a web page.

Using just one photo or picture may be seen as a challenge.
But the difference and impression between using no pictures
and a single picture is much bigger than the difference
between one picture and several pictures on a page,
whatever printed material or an online webpage.

A sublime layout with pictures has nothing to do with the
number of pictures but how they are used.

Be inspired for your desktop publishing and web page layout
by the following ideas and tips.

* A full page picture on the left page

A full page picture on the left page in a magazine,
folder or book is a simple and functional layout.
If possible choose a picture that directs the attention
towards the text at the right page and be careful to select
a really appealing picture of good technical quality.

* A picture as a whole page background

A picture as a background on a printed page can look
very attractive.
The real challenge is to find a picture that fits with having
text on parts of it. The part of the picture that is
covered by text shouldn't have any structure and the color
mustn't be aggressive. A thin blue sky will often be a good
choice if it matches the message.

The effect will be improved if a few small white clouds
hang around but do not let them interfere with the text.
Do not compromise with these aspects of interference
between structures in the picture and the text.
If the text is partly on an uneven background many potential
readers will avoid it or get a lower level of retention.

Background pictures on commercial websites have dropped
dramatically due to this effect.

* One big picture on a page

The classic layout with a combination of text and a large
picture on a page is a functional but quite boring layout.
The surface of the page covered by the picture might
be a half of the page on the top, or at the bottom or a
vertical picture to one of the sides.
Putting the picture in the centre of the page with
the text waved around may look much more attractive.

* One small picture on the page

A small picture or especially a very small picture alone
on a page should be treated with great care.
Not to say that any picture wouldn't help with the look
and feel. But the point is that just one small picture
may add a lot of attraction to a text page if used wisely.
Because of its small size the picture should have

- a simple object and message.

- If it is in black and white it is even more important.

- a few and strong colors, mostly one color is fine.

Red and yellow can be fine as an 'accent'
but may also be too aggressive.
Clear blue or green may be excellent too.

* The interaction between the font and the picture

Be careful with the choice of font for the text, if you have
any influence on that. Especially how the title looks like
with the chosen font and how it interact with the
picture is important.

* Where to get the pictures

You can find hundreds of thousands of professional stock
photos including royalty-free photos at picture agencies like
AgeFotoStock.com and Alamy.com that have a good reputation.

For small sized pictures the price is very modest in
royalty-free photos.

If you have a very slim budget and you are not too ambitious
with your products you will find cheap photos too, by
searching for "stock photos" or fotos in Google. See also
the following article.

* In conclusion for sublime layout with pictures

To include just one picture on a printed page or a web page
will enhance the layout of the page considerably.
You might even be able to produce a sublime layout with
your desktop publishing. Your goal should be to hit the best
interaction between the photo and the arrangement of the text.

This article is written by Soren Breiting, http://www.ALLeMarketingtips.com Soren is the editor of the ezine Stock Photo News ( http://www.StockPhotoNews.com) - 'The first Modern eZine combining Stock Photography and Marketing' and the owner of A-Z Fotos: http://www.azFOTOS.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Soren_Breiting http://EzineArticles.com/?Sublime-Layout-with-One-Picture&id=105164

Royalty-Free Photos

Find quality royalty-free photos
at Paragon Grafix.com

At the end of 2006 Lonnie started a Home Based Business that has been grow very rapidly. To get more information on his home based business go to www.lonnieniver.ws

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Freelance Photography: How to Begin Your Career

By Colin Hartness

Photography is a vast world. There are many different types of photography and many different kinds of people that enjoy it. It’s a hobby that be relatively inexpensive or one that you can invest a lot of money on. Photos are so special because they give us memories of times and places and events in our lives. We can hold onto these memories forever with a photograph.

As much as people love photos, many people love taking them even more. Whether it’s a mother who takes photos at every of her children’s moments in life (first smile, first step, first spaghetti meal) or maybe it’s the father who never forgets his camera for a football or basketball game, or maybe it’s the young girl who loves nature hikes with her camera; these people are not exceptions. They all have an eye for those special moments and they all appreciate the camera’s ability to capture that moment and freeze it in time forever.

- What is Freelance Photography?

What if you love photography so much you wish you could do it for a living? I mean, you actually get paid for your photographs! But you work solely for yourself, selling each photo or series of photos individually. You don’t have a boss. You work sometimes on assignment and you may sell to magazines. That is freelance photography.

Freelance photography may be your entire career or it may start out as something you do in your spare time but begin making money from it. It’s just like freelance writing in this sense that many people turn it into a career and enjoy the freedom of working essentially for themselves on their own time and making money doing something they love doing anyway.

- How to Build a Portfolio

To start getting jobs as a freelance photographer, you need a portfolio. A portfolio will show samples of your work. Even if you have never had photographs published or publicly displayed, you can start a portfolio of your best work and then add onto it if you win photography contests or start receiving paid work.

- How to Get Jobs

As we mentioned, building a portfolio is the first step in submitting your work for pay but when it comes right down to it, it’s the quality of the photo that will determine if you get paid for it. Some people have more of a natural talent for taking great pictures than others but it is a skill that anyone can learn. There are schools dedicated to the art of photography and you can even get a degree in it. If you are just getting started, you can look into classes provided by your local community center or community college. Some cities have photography groups that meet to share photos and tips. There are also many groups online dedicated to photography and freelance photography.

You need to view as many famous photographs as possible. Take a look at what is getting published and compare it to your own photos. This allows you to compare and learn from other’s work. It takes more than just point and shoot to get a great photo. You need to learn about focus, lighting, colors and backgrounds and much more.

Once you start learning about photography and creating a portfolio, you can start submitting your photos to contests and magazines. Get a list of photography markets and start submitting to ones that accept your type of photos. Don’t expect to make it to the big times right away. Few people actually achieve this but you can start small and eventually make your way into a nice living from freelance photography.

Looking for information about Photography?
Go to: http://www.asaphotography.com
'ASA Photography' is published by Colin Hartness -
An excellent resource for Photography!
Check out more Photography articles at: http://www.asaphotography.com/archive

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colin_Hartness
http://EzineArticles.com/?Freelance-Photography:-How-to-Begin-Your-Career&id=8648

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Useful Information About Photographs

By Richard Romando

A photograph is essentially a drawing made with the help of light. Usually a camera takes photographs. But you can also get images by placing an object on photography paper and exposing it to light. Even scanners can make photographic images.

Photographs are taken when light enters the camera and focuses on an image. In a camera, light exposes the film and an image is registered. Special chemicals then process this film and a negative is made that is then transferred onto a sheet of paper to create the photograph we see. Slides or transparencies are a type of film used by professionals; these are positives and are sharper than ordinary films. Today many use digital cameras that do not need films.

A very simple camera was developed in the 1500s, but the first real camera was made around 1826. They became increasingly sophisticated in the later 1800s and into the 1900s. Some of the great pioneers in the science of photography are Johann H. Schulze, Carl Scheele, Joseph Nicephore Niepce, Louis Daguerre, William H. Fox Talbot, Frederick S. Archer, Richard L. Maddox, and George Eastman.

Over the years, technology has become sophisticated and an automatic camera can now produce a photograph in just about 15 seconds, while digital cameras show you the results immediately.

Among of the first to use a camera artistically were Gaspard Felix Tournachon and Nadar Anotehr.With the camera, for the first time, real life events could be recorded. People took photos of situations like avalanches, wars, social causes, etc. The photos of William H. Jackson helped create Yellowstone Park, while Jacob A. Riis and Lewis W. Hine showed the horrors of New York in the 1800s and helped bring about improvements there. The flashbulb helped better photography, and photography began to find its place in advertising, broadcasting, and in recording family events. Photographers like Margaret Bourke-White and Robert Capa made their mark when they recorded important people and events.

What makes a good photograph is focus; aperture; exposure, which is determined by shutter speed; focal length, which usually depends on the type of lens used; the medium used; and its sensitivity to light and color. All of these are interconnected. For example, the brightness of an aperture could be increased by the shutter speed, while changing focal length can control depth of field.

All adjustments usually depend on the subject, the lighting, and the depth of field you want. Light affects shutter speed and aperture size. So, on a bright day, use a fast shutter and a small aperture, while on a cloudy day, reduce the shutter speed and increase aperture. Artificial light will need different settings. For a moving subject, you should increase the shutter so that there is no blurring. If you want to photograph a large area, you should use a smaller aperture. Practice will help you get the correct effects. However, modern digital cameras have made all this much easier with everything being automatic.

Photography has become more fascinating than ever before. It has been a long journey from black and white and sepia tinted photos to easy-to-create digital images. Today photography is being used in every sphere of life, from medicine to space stations to a family picnic.

Photographs provides detailed information on Photographs, Aerial Photographs, Black and White Photographs, Vintage Photographs and more. Photographs is affiliated with Digital Stock Photography.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Romando
http://EzineArticles.com/?Useful-Information-About-Photographs&id=272652

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Digital Photography Art

By Kevin Rockwell

Well we used to all go out and shoot images on our film cameras, run the film to the corner store or kiosk to get it developed and then once the prints were hand we tended to stick them away without much more than a few minutes notice. Those days are no more as digital photography has grabbed hold of the consumer marketplace. Now we have tons of images in our cameras, on our hard disks and the options of what to do with them are growing and growing every year.

Digital photography has now found its way into more than half of the homes in America. However most people still order out to get their images printed. Maybe it is not the corner film kiosk of the old days but there is still a very strong market for image printing. Nowadays you can take your images to Costco, the nearby photo store where they might have a digital printing kiosk in the store, or you can upload them to the various internet sites devoted to printing your images such as Shutterfly, Ofoto, and Snapfish to name a few.

Since the year 2000 the number of images converted into conventional prints has been steadily sliding down and could go 5% further this year. However due to the interesting rise of alternative ways to print your images the industry predicts that revenues will rise overall this year. Now why would that be?

Well it turns out that there are some very lucrative ways for companies to make money in the digital age including printing reproductions from digital photographs onto posters, stamps, postcards, T-shirts, chairs, wallpaper, and bronze plaques. Even ceramic tile is being used as a medium for digital printing as designers are using images to decorate them for spas, restaurants, and fireplace mantels.

We have now entered the era of functional art versus just decorative art. Now you can touch it and get a more personal feeling from your digital photography. In addition you can put these digital images on wood, stone, plastic, and metal as well as conventional paper of every type. Either through software on your own computer or through vendors consumers can print their images on birthday cards, calendars, and storytelling photo books that actually get used instead of being tucked away in a drawer like most of our albums of old.

The camera makers have done a fine job of selling digital cameras to the population, but now that they are so infused to the marketplace it will take some creativity to for them to make money off of these sales going forward beyond just getting us to upgrade our digital cameras every year or two.

That will require some new methods for organizing digital photos, new methods of displaying images (perhaps along the lines of the wireless digital display frames that have shown some promise of late) and the ability to print our own custom books using our own digital photographs. That is something that would stay out on display in my home!

Did you know that in the past ten years digital cameras have managed to be sold into over half the homes in the US? The prediction is that number could go as high as seventy per cent by the yearn 2009. Old line film companies like Kodak have had to scramble to move into the digital camera game, with a fair amount of success as they applied old film lessons to their line of digital cameras such as consumer simplicity first, but even they are still leaning on the sales of inks used to print images on computers to hold the profit line.

They have over 75,000 in store kiosks installed throughout the country and are planning for new ones that can handle 900 prints per hour! Retail is strong for getting your digital prints as the big stores such as Wal-Mart and Costco battle it out for your business and in the on line market the field has been whittled down to the strongest. That means that the price per print that was once in the high twenties has now dropped to around 17 cents per print on line and 21 cents per print in store.

So where do you go for these art versions of your digital images? Be prepared to spend more for the experience but get a nice artistic version of your digital photography. Some of the spots to check out are Zazzle.com, Photopetgifts.com, and Matthewsbronze.com. For custom digital photo books you should check out Shutterfly. Imagine the look on your kids face when you give them storybook and it features images of them in the story!

http://greatdigitalcameras.info/book/ - Your Guide to Great Photography
GreatDigitalCameras

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Rockwell
http://EzineArticles.com/?Digital-Photography-Art&id=305669

Royalty-Free Photos

Find quality royalty-free photos
at Paragon Grafix.com

At the end of 2006 Lonnie started a Home Based Business that has been grow very rapidly. To get more information on his home based business go to www.lonnieniver.ws

Monday, June 18, 2007

How to Master Digital Photography

By Tara Dipalma

Introduction to digital photography

Make no mistake, digital photography is here, it’s big, and it’s the way things will be from now on. People use digital photography in their work every day:- police officers, real estate agents, insurance agents, fire fighters, scientists and doctors, just to name a few.

Digital photography has come a long way in a few years. Digital photography, as opposed to film photography, uses electronic devices to record and capture the image as binary data. Digital photography has also been adopted by many amateur snapshot photographers, who take advantage of the convenience of the form when sending images by email, placing them on the World Wide Web, or displaying them in digital picture frames.

Digital photography was used in astronomy long before its use by the general public and had almost completely displaced photographic plates by the early 1980s. Digital photography enables you to experiment with the camera settings, different styles of images can be tried out, learn t from and techniques improved all without the expense of film processing.

Some other devices, such as mobile phones, now include digital photography features. With the acceptable image quality and the other advantages of digital photography (particularly the time pressures of vital importance to daily newspapers) the majority of professional news photographers have begun capturing their images with digital cameras.

Other commercial photographers, and many amateurs, have enthusiastically embraced digital photography because they believe that its flexibility and lower long-term costs outweigh its initial price disadvantages. Almost all of the cost of digital photography is capital cost, meaning that the cost is for the equipment needed to store and copy the images, and once purchased requires virtually no further expense outlay.

The biggest advantage of digital photography over traditional film include: Instant review of pictures, with no wait for the film to be developed: if there's a problem with a picture, the photographer can immediately correct the problem and take another picture.

For more info Click Here

http://digital-photography-techniques.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tara_Dipalma
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Master-Digital-Photography&id=593611

Photography - Taming The High-Contrast Lighting

By John Peace

During any photography sessions, we always hope for good weather and lighting. When the sky is dark and gloomy, we pray for just a little light in hope of taking a decent picture. We are almost always delighted when we have a clear daylight with lots of sunshine when we take out our camera. After happily taking the shots we wanted, we realized that why on earth our images look so dark against the beautiful scenery. We can hardly see the faces in the photo. Well, the problem here is contrast. Even if you try to set your DSLD at the lowest contract setting, you still cannot get the details in both the bright light and shadowed areas. Below are two suggested techniques you can try to solve this problem.

Method one is to use a Scrim. What are Scrims? Scrims are panels, which comes with various sizes with a piece of fabric mounted. Some of these panels are collapsible. The fabric can be reflective, translucent, or transparent and can act as reflectors, diffusers or neutral-density filters. Since these scrims are usually light in weight, they can be carried by an assistant or clamped onto a stand.

Due to its light weight, during windy situation, the scrims might flap. How to use a scrim? When you are taking portrait against a bright light backdrop, ask an assistant to hold the scrim at the back of the person, this will ensure that some of the bright light will be filtered off. If you do not know what a Scrim is, please click here.

Method two is to use your on-camera flash. When I started photography, I always set my flash to auto. And the truth is, the auto-flash never come into action during day light photography session. This is because there are enough light going into the camera. Later on, I was told to manually turn on the flash. I was totally stunt on hearing such advice. Flash light during bright day light? I took a bold step and try it and it work. The flash is necessary to brighten up the area on the face so that you can see the face clearly. With digital camera, you can try this method repeatedly and see the effect.

With the two suggested methods, taming the high-contrast lighting should not be a problem. For the first method, you will need some investment while the second method is free. With digital camera, you can start to do your experimentation. For more information, please visit Freelance Photography.

John Peace enjoys photography and maintained a website providing information on photography. He invites you to visit his website, Freelance Photography to learn more about this exciting hobby. You can even make a living out of it at home! Believe it or not.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Peace
http://EzineArticles.com/?Photography---Taming-The-High-Contrast-Lighting&id=590666

Lonnie has been a Graphic Designer since 1998. In 2003 he started his own business in graphic/web design. Visit Paragon Grafix to see his work and some of his photography work. Enjoy your visit!

At the end of 2006 Lonnie started a Home Based Business that has been grow very rapidly. To get more information on his home based business go to www.lonnieniver.ws

Monday, June 11, 2007

Graphic Design Schools

By Ross Bainbridge

Publications, advertising materials, package labels, and countless other paper-related products are designed using computer-aided design software. These ubiquitous images are altered and enhanced by graphic design.

Graphic design artists use creative and powerful visual communication techniques to speak to intended audiences using images. Graphic designers learn these techniques through formal training. If you are planning a career in graphic design, you must find the institution that will equip you with the valuable educational tools and techniques you need to communicate effectively.

Graphic design students are trained in the field of visual thinking; turning concepts and creative imagery into design applications. Using digital imaging and vector drawing tools using a range of the most widely used programs on the market, students discover and perfect their techniques in color formulation, typography, and composition of other design elements.

Teaching styles in graphic design schools include hands-on problem solving of design concepts. Students are given practical situations that occur in different industries, such as advertising, packaging, and publications.

Those who are interested in entering the graphic design field may choose among the many levels of training and education offered by different schools and institutions. These different programs range from six months to a full four years of completion. Those who are taking graphic design as a supplement skill may take the graphic design certificate program. A student in this program may pursue further education by working towards a graphic design advanced certificate and graphic design masters certificate.

Graphic design is closely based on digital technology. Other schools regard graphic design as digital arts. Degree programs in this league include a digital arts certificate, digital arts advanced certificate, and digital arts masters certificate.

Students who want to earn a degree or certificate from home or who require a flexible schedule may opt for a distance learning program from an accredited design school. With the advance of communication technology, the Internet facilitates graphic design training that closely simulates face-to-face teaching.

Design Schools provides detailed information on Design Schools, Fashion Design Schools, Interior Design Schools, Graphic Design Schools and more. Design Schools is affiliated with Top Photography Schools.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ross_Bainbridge
http://EzineArticles.com/?Graphic-Design-Schools&id=277712

Lonnie has been a Graphic Designer since 1998. In 2003 he started his own business in graphic/web design. Visit Paragon Grafix to see his work.

At the end of 2006 Lonnie started a Home Based Business that has been grow very rapidly. To get more information on his home based business go to www.lonnieniver.ws

Monday, June 4, 2007

Photographing People Wearing Glasses

By Lonnie Niver

Have you ever taken a picture of someone wearing glasses and after developing the pictures you come to realize there is an annoying reflection from the flash of your camera on your subjects glasses? I have and it is not very flattering when you can't see their eyes because the eyes give expression to your subject. I have found that the reflection can be avoided by paying attention to how and where your lens, subject and lighting are positioned.

When you are shooting someone with glasses and you are using a built in flash pay attention to where you are standing relatively to your subject. To avoid the reflection of the flash you may want to ask your subject to remove their glasses. If this is not possible then ask them to tilt their head a little. If you are shooting with a digital camera take a few shots then tell your subject where to tilt their head. If you are using a film camera take a small flashlight and place it where the flash will be located. If it is showing in the glasses then tell your subject to tilt their head. Watch the reflection of the flash disappear then take your shot.

Well I hop this will help you create better shots of people wearing glasses. Good luck and Have fun!

Black and White Photography - Sustainable Art

By Emily Olson

Black and white photography has long been a staple product of the art world. There is something about capturing the world around us and rendering it, and the people in it, in such a stark medium as black and white. In a way, this type of art takes away any preconceptions one might have about the given subject and allows the viewer to see the content as it really is, and even add their own ideas.

There is really no end to the amount of beauty that black and white photography can capture. Whether it be of a tranquil forest scene or an all-encompassing, towering mountain, black and white landscape photography is only one of the varying themes that a photographer may capture within his/her art. Helyn Davenport, a well known photographer, does a wonderful job of appropriating the perfect perspective within his art. In one of his more peaceful landscape pieces, “Bog”, Davenport seems to grasp the serenity of the world he is viewing and the subtle way in which he denotes the shadows falling over the water creates a beautiful contrast within the picture.

People and cultures have always been a favorite subject for these artists because the black and white medium can recall the detail and emotion within a person’s face and emote that sense to any art lover who might be interested in the experience. Diane Arbus has created works of black and white photography that have, in the past, grabbed the interest of many in the photojournalist world and are now considered fine pieces of art. Within in her photo, “Puerto Rican Woman with Beauty Mark”, one can almost feel the emotion expressed within her subject’s eyes. It is easy to imagine many different stories to explain the pain visible in the woman’s gaze, this aspect is exactly one of the traits that denotes a well done photograph.

Although there are many sub-genres within black and white photography, black and white digital photography seems to be becoming very popular because of new technology within the world of cameras. Digital photography has made it easier for the artists to download their images onto a computer, thereby giving them the ability to incorporate new elements that would not have been available in a traditional dark room setting.

There is something of a romantic and antiquated sense to black and white photography that has kept the art world interested from the time that it was invented. Within such art there is a stillness, and yet, the subjects captured are somehow so alive to the viewer. Because of the emotions that this type of photography brings, galleries around the world will most likely always make it available to the public. Many online galleries are available, such as Imagekind, and offer a great selection and convenience when searching for additions to any collection.

Emily Olson researches for www.Imagekind.com where she also writes articles that encompass the different genres and styles within the art world.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emily_Olson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Black-and-White-Photography---Sustainable-Art&id=574320

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Graphic Design & Branding - 3 Marketing Tips From a Pro

By Kate Garvey

Branding is the creation of a name, name layout and symbols or designs working together to represent a company. Good branding creates a lasting first impression that is unique and easily identifies your company. Ideally, branding should catch the consumer’s eye, make a good impression and provide potential consumers information about the services offered. A couple of well known corporations that effectively use branding are McDonalds--think golden arches and Macintosh--an apple with a missing bite. Even if your company is small or just forming, you still want to begin name recognition by incorporating branding during the early stages of business. When working with a graphic designer to create effective company branding, be sure to think about the whole picture. Please consider the following:

1. Your company name should inform the general public about your business. If you haven’t decided on a company name, take some time to think about all the services or products you sell or will be selling, and brainstorm names that will clearly identify what you do. Some good examples are Petsmart, Rooms to Go, Famous Footwear, and Carnival Cruises, etc. All of these companies use names that clearly identify what they do. They also provide a theme on the business. For example, smart consumers shop for pet needs at PetSmart, people in a hurry wanting a put-together look in furniture are drawn to Rooms to Go, when you need shoes buy the best at Famous Footwear, if you want to have a whole lot of fun, don’t just go on a cruise, go on a Carnival Cruise.

2. Keep your name and company design simple. Your company name should always be easy to read. Any symbols or logos, should support the name and not detract from it. Increase your awareness of how major corporations make it easy to read their company name and how the symbols used support the name. You can use the name to evoke a feeling, but it needs to be legible. For example Ashley Furniture uses an elegant style in their branding, whereas, Re/Max Real Estate uses an exciting bold look.

3. If you add a logo, symbol or picture, use something that will support your theme. If you run a catering business, it’s appropriate to have pictures of food or people celebrating with food. If own a fencing company, you may want to have part of your name appear with a fence-like texture. I realize this sounds obvious, but many times new business owners incorporate pictures that are personal and do not support their business. Don’t include your child’s picture, a pet photo, or family pictures, unless you own a business that services these areas. Try to be very objective about your logo or symbol. Does it really portray your business in the best possible way?

It may be helpful to consult with a graphic designer at the preliminary stage of your business development. They may be able to show samples that will help feed your creative juices.

Kate Garvey is a professional, freelance writer and may be reached at www.kategarvey.net . This article was courtesy of an interview with Graphic Designer, Jessica Dockter of L.E.E. Designs. For more information on graphic design please visit http://yvonneperry.net/Meet-the-Writers.htm#Jessica_Dockter .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kate_Garvey
http://EzineArticles.com/?Graphic-Design-and-Branding---3-Marketing-Tips-From-a-Pro&id=574751

Lonnie has been a Graphic Designer since 1998. In 2003 he started his own business in graphic/web design. Visit Paragon Grafix to see his work.

At the end of 2006 Lonnie started a Home Based Business that has been growing very rapidly. To get more information on his home based business go to www.lonnieniver.ws

Digital Camera Scene Modes - The 5 Modes You'll Use the Most

By Karl Peschel

Technology is a beautiful thing. Every year hundreds of new or enhanced products are produced. Digital camera manufacturers come out with new models a couple times a year, each company trying to outdo the other. They've gone crazy with the variety of scene modes that are being added to new cameras.

Digital camera scene modes are a simple way for you to "tell" the camera what type of picture you are taking. The camera will then optimize the settings for that particular shot. Some modes change how colors are recorded, others change whether or not the flash fires. The trend now is to add special effects and things that you'll probably never use.

How often will you use a Starburst effect? Do you take a lot of photos that require a Pastel Color effect? Even the semi-popular Sepia mode is not needed, as far as I'm concerned. One click in your editing software and you've got Sepia.

If you're like most people, you'll only use a few of the scene modes on your camera. Here's details on the 5 modes you're most likely to use.

Portrait Mode

Portrait mode is for taking people pictures. Whether it's a single person or a group of people, you should use the Portrait mode. Your digital camera will select an appropriate shutter speed and aperture combination to capture your subject and blur the background. The idea here is to make the background less distracting.

Newer digital cameras incorporate autofocus technology that actually scans the picture looking for faces. It's usually called Face Priority or Face Detection. It especially helps when your subject is not dead center in the picture or when you have a group of people. Nikon, Fuji, Sony and others manufacturers are putting this technology in many cameras.

Check your owners manual to see if your digital camera uses this technology and whether it's automatic or you have to enable it manually.

Landscape Mode

Landscape mode should be your choice for all of those breathtaking views you want to shoot. Scenic vistas of the beach, the mountains, a field of flowers or a city skyline are all prime uses for Landscape mode. Your digital camera selects an exposure combination to maximize what's in focus from front to back.

Although it's not absolutely necessary, using a tripod or some other sort of support will help. Walk around a bit to find the best vantage point. Sometimes a small shift to the left or right (or up or down) will make the difference between a snapshot and a photograph.

Sports Mode

Whether it's kids soccer or baseball, or an NFL game, Sports mode is designed to help you stop the action. Your digital camera will set the shutter speed as high as possible for the lighting conditions in order to stop action. Sports mode also puts your camera in Continuous shooting mode (hold the button down and shoot 3-4 pictures in a row) and forces the flash off. If you can, setting the ISO to 400 or 800 will also help. A few cameras do this for you.

You'll want to get as close as you can for great Sports and action pictures. First get physically close, right on the sidelines if possible. Move up and down the field with the action. (Not so easy at hockey games.) Then use your zoom lens to get the shot you want. Take some wide shots to show all the action, along with tight shots of one or two players. This will help tell the story much better.

Be sure to pay attention to what's going on in the game. You may have to jump out of the way of the players!

Beach/Snow Mode

Having been a longtime resident of Florida, and as a current resident of Colorado, I can attest to the real benefit of the Beach/Snow scene mode. Both film and digital camera light meters are calibrated to a medium tone. Overly bright or dark scenes are not recorded properly. Beach/Snow scene mode is for all those bright scenes.

Big open areas of water on a sunny day. Long stretches of white sandy beaches. Snow covered mountains on your next ski vacation. These are all perfect times to use Beach/Snow mode. You are telling the camera that your subject matter is quite bright and it will compensate accordingly. Instead of muddy grey snow it will be recorded bright and white as it should be.

Sunrise/Sunset Mode

While most Scene modes change the aperture or shutter speed used, Sunrise/Sunset mode changes how the colors of the scene are recorded. The goal is to record the beautiful quality of light at these times of day.

Sunrise and sunset are times when the world is bathed in beautiful warm light. You'll hear photographers refer to this as Golden Light or the Golden Hours. By using these settings instead of Auto mode you'll capture that beautiful light and the dramatic colors. Try it for yourself next time you photograph a sunset and you'll see the difference.

The next time you read your manual (You do know where it is, right?) check out all the scene modes your digital camera has. Perhaps there are a few that you would find useful for your style of shooting. Try them out, along with the 5 listed here, to improve the pictures you take.

Copyright © 2007 Karl Peschel

Karl Peschel runs TeachMeToShoot.com, a website for people who want to learn about digital photography techniques. Karl loves to teach people about photography and strives to explain things in plain English instead of techno babble. Check out the website at http://TeachMeToShoot.com and see for yourself. Sign up for the ShootLikeAPro Newsletter and get the free mini-report Top 10 Tips for Better Digital Pictures!

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Lonnie has been a Graphic Designer since 1998. In 2003 he started his own business in graphic/web design. Visit Paragon Grafix to see his work.

At the end of 2006 Lonnie started a Home Based Business that has been growing very rapidly. To get more information on his home based business go to www.lonnieniver.ws

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Grainy Photograph Corrections

Image farms are becoming the thing of the future. But in order for you to start uploading photos to an image farm you have to follow their guidelines. Once you have uploaded your photos a professional will review the photograph and decide whether or not your photograph is of good quality. There has been a few times where I have had photos not approved because the images where too grainy. If you are not sure how to identify a grainy photograph then keep reading and I will show you how to identify a grainy photograph.

Open a photograph that has been taken at night or is of low quality in photoshop. If you zoom in on your photograph you will see speckles of colors within the image. If the image looks grainy it will give unwanted results when printed. If you are experiencing this problem then follow my technique below and your photograph should come clear.

Open the grainy photograph in photoshop and if you don't have photoshop don't panic just send me the image and I will help you for free. But, Take the photograph and select the filter tab. Now, select noise. Next, choose despeckle and that is it. You can choose despeckle as many times as needed. There are also times I will place a dust & scratches filter and set it as low as 1 to 6. This is a technique I use on all my photos that come out too grainy. Good luck everyone!

Lonnie has been a Graphic Designer since 1998. In 2003 he started his own business in graphic/web design. Visit Paragon Grafix to see his work.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Using Flash On Your Digital Camera

Have you ever wondered why your pictures turn out dark or cast deep dark shadows when taking pictures? I am not a professional photographer but I have learned a thing or two in taking pictures. Most people who are not photographers, but like to take lots of pictures of family members and pets don’t understand what they are doing wrong when their pictures turn out poorly. The answer to the question is that they are using flash when it is not needed. By knowing when to use the flash as a fill-in will give you better results. So, I am going to explain what I have learned about using flash as fill-ins when taking pictures. By trying these few techniques you will get better results with your own pictures.

You may think flash is used only when it is too dark in room, right? Well, you’re right to an extent. Flash is really meant to be used as a fill-in light not as a light source and the distance to your subject may also play a big part in the image too. Let’s say you’re at your child’s basketball game high up in the bleachers and you want some pictures to put in his/her photo album. You may think flash is needed but if there’s a lot of light and your subject is at a distance you can turn off the flash to get better results. You may also find that by using the flash at a distance had no effect on your subject. Another example, let’s say you’re at a football game and you want a picture of a football player coming out of the locker rooms and your only light source is the sun. You’re down on the field and you have only one chance to capture the moment. At this point you have to decide whether or not to use the flash. If you take the shot without the flash the players face will be too dark with no detail. This is caused by the sun casting a shadow over the players face from his helmet. But this can be avoided by using the flash to fill in the shadows the sun is casting on the subjects face evenly to have a more dramatic appearance. I am always taking test shots to find the best picture so, take some test shots first with and without the flash to determine if fill-in is needed.

Also, you may notice nasty dark shadows behind subjects in your photos. This is caused either because of poor lighting conditions or because the flash was used when it was not needed in good lighting conditions. It could also be that subjects are too close to each other. For example, taking a picture in your living room during early morning, late afternoon or on an over cast day would not be a good idea because your light source is very poor. This can be avoided by taking the picture during mid-day on a bright sun shiny day with all the curtains open and with no flash you won’t get those harsh, nasty looking shadows. Also, separate your background and your subject to avoid background shadows. But don’t be afraid to use flash fill-in on an over cast day because you can have your subject stand out amongst a crowd.

These are some techniques I have learned when taking pictures. Use them wisely and you will be taking pictures like the pros. But remember there is much more to taking pictures than just learning how to use the flash but that will be another article in the making.

Photoshop Technique

Do you ever wounder what it means when professionals judge your photos as being too grainy when you think they look clear? If you zoom in on your photo you will see exactly why the professionals make the statement. When you look at the image close up it will look grainy and if it looks grainy it will give unwanted results when printed. If you are experinceing this problem then follow my technique below and your photos should come clear.

Open the grainy image in photoshop and if you don't have photoshop don't panic I will help you for free. But, Take the image and select the filter tab. Now, select noise. Next, choose despeckle and that is it. You can choose despeckle as many times as needed. There are also times I will place a dust & scratches filter and set it as low as 1 to 6. This is a technique I use on all my photos that come out too grainy. Good luck everyone!

3 Types of Websites

Are you looking to design your own website? Well, before you start designing your website you should first decide which type of site is right for your particular interest. There are three different types of websites you should be aware of, they are the Informational, Interactive and Trading (e-commerce) sites.

The most common, least expensive and easiest site to design is the Informational site. This site is designed to give web surfers valuable information on a particular subject you may want to share. If your going to design such a site, it must be designed to a target adience. For example, if your subject is geared towards beginners in Autobody repair then the information must be for beginners. Informational sites may also generate revenue by using Google Adsense and Google search if designed correctly. These types of advertisements are placed on your site by Google that focus on the information you place on the site.

The next type of site is the interactive. The interactive sites are designed to allow web surfers interact with the site by leaving feedback, requesting information, downloading software, hardware or images. Surfers can also interact with each other through chat rooms, blogs or message boards. These site can also be profitable by using Google Adsense and Google search.

The third type of site is the Trading (e-commerce) site. Trading sites are becoming more and more popular in the market place. They are designed to sell a particular service and/or product. The Trading sites can be very expensive due to their database design but can be a very profitable marketplace for your product or service. If you are planning on designing such a site my advice would be to get a professional to help you unless you have taking hours of programming.

Corporate Identity Colors

The personality of a company can be identified by the colors used in their logo. Each color gives off its own mood. This mood can either be positve or negative. By understanding the meaning of colors you can give your corporate identity a personality that is stimulating.

In design there are three catagories in which we place colors they are neutral, warm and cool. Neutral colors are considered non-colors because they are used more as a mixture to create other shades of colors. These neutral colors are known as Black, White, Gray, Beige and Brown. By mixing netural colors with other colors you can influence the positive and negative mood of your logo. We associate black with power, authority and often signifies assertiveness and formality. Also, remeber white is not considered as a color but as an absence of all colors and signifies purity and innocense.

Next, we have warm colors. In design we use these colors as attention getters because they stimulate the nervous system. Warm colors include; Red, Orange, Yellow, Yellow/Green and Purple. Haven't you ever ask yourself why red is used for stop signs or yellow for caution? It is because psycholoically you understand the importance of the color and react to it. Using Red will associated your corporate identity with intensity, strength and good fortune while yellow will promote visibility and danger.

The next catagory of colors give a sense of restfullnes. They are known as the Cool colors because they easy on the eyes. Cool colors include; Blue, Violet, Turquoise, Sea/Green, Green. Using a light blue can give your corporate identity a sense of peacefulness and tranquility but if you want to go for more trustworthiness and dependability use a darker blue.

Knowing and understanding the meaning of colors will help you give your corporate identity the personality that will influence the mood of your customers.

3D Rendering with A Transparent Background

As a graphic designer I sometimes have to render an object with a transparent background. These objects are usually placed in brochures, catalogs and/or advertisements. In Feburary, we were working on a project that required rendered objects instead of photos. The problem we were running into is not having smooth edges on our rendered objects after clipping out the background. So, I came across a technique that allows you to prep 3D objects for Photoshop background clipping. This technique will allow you to create a 3D object with a transparent background. To perform this technique you will need some knowledge in 3D Studio Max R3 and Photoshop 7 and above.

Step 1:
First we will begin with an object to render in 3D Studio Max. Choose an object with in your files you wish to clip out the background. Go to preference under the customize tab. In the Preference settings dialoge box under the viewport tab check the Filter Enviroment Background box.

Step 2:
Next, go to the render scene dialoge box and set the output size to your specific size. Under render output select the save file box and save your file as a .tga file then render your object.

Step 3:
When your rendering is complete open the .tga file in Photoshop. Go to the channels tab and turn off the Alpha 1 layer channel.

Step 4:
Now, go to your layers and make your background image layer a layer. Notice the background layer has a red background. Select the magic wand tool and select the red area. Under the select tab go to feather and set the feather weight. Now delete the red background.

Step 5:
Save your file as a .tif and be sure the Save as Transparent is checked then click save.

You now have a rendered image saved with a transparent background.