Digital Photography Essentials Posts

Review For The Book of Man by William Bennett

The Book of Man is a brilliant collection of real people biographies, speeches by great men in history, poems, etc that Bennett has compiled to inspire men of all ages to great honor. His book is divided into five sections that focus on war, work, play/leisure, community (the polis), and with women and children.

I highly recommend this to families and mentors to read-aloud to young men, teens and twenty-somethings. No need to read it in order, just pick and choose, dwelling where you will. Men will be inspired to live up to their noble potential, and will find a deep comradery with the wide variety of men represented here.

The information was presented in a cohesive manner. Be aware, however, that this is not a novel. This book can rather be described as a lengthy tome, which is appropriate for the book’s purpose.

I plan to read this with my sons over several years, letting them absorb the truth of real manhood as they mature. In such a way, they will absorb the concepts and grapple with ideas over time, allowing them to sink in to their very spirit.

*BookSneeze has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book so that I could review it.

Posted by Brian Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials

Auto Rotate

In one of my last posts I discussed turning your camera 90 degrees to get a vertical orientation. Did you know that most digital camera models have an auto rotate feature that displays (transfers and prints) vertical orientation pictures correctly so they do not appear on their side?

I have seen it before. You download a series of images to your computer only to find that three or four shots are “laying sideways.” Generally, you just have to rotate the image on the computer in My Pictures or of course, Photoshop or a similar program. However, by enabling the auto rotate on your camera’s menu, all vertical orientation pictures are stored in a manner that allows your computer to recognize that the images should appear in their proper orientation.

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with Add new tag, digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, Flash Photography, Flash Photos, orientation, photo composition, photo images, photo imaging., photo lighting, photo subject, photo tips, photographs, photography, Photography tips

Dramatic Vacation Image

I snapped this one while riding on the Tahoe Trolley. Despite the moving vehicle, I am very pleased with this photo. Its pretty dramatic with the serenity of the lake and trees contrasted by the brooding clouds. A good contrast display if I say so myself.

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with Add new tag, digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, Lake Tahoe, photo composition, photo images, photo imaging., photo lighting, photo subject, photo tips, photographs, photography, photography lighting, Photography tips, Tahoe, vacation photography

Vertical Orientation

On our recent vacation to Lake Tahoe, I noticed a super photo opportunity. My wife and daughter were standing together on a pier with the lake shore and huge pine trees behind them (I was at the end of the pier looking back towards shore). As they posed and waited for me to snap the picture, I realized I could not get the two of them and the majestic trees in the back ground. The easiest thing to fix, just turn the camera 90 degrees.

Most cameras give a horizontal orientation, meaning – the photo is wider than it is high. You pictures are generally better suited for a wider subject area. This is great for most panoramic shots but not the image I had in mind. By simply rotating the camera, my shot became taller and narrower. I this way I could get my wife and daughter, the ending of the pier and a bit of lake shore, and the tall pines in one frame.

When planing for your digital photo shoot, visualize the image you have in mind. Do you want height or breadth? Would your subject best be served in a wider horizontal shot or with a taller, vertical image?

Its as simple as twisting the camera to change the whole orientation, presentation, and drama of your shot.

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, photo composition, photo images, photo imaging., photo lighting, photo orientation, photo subject, photo tips, photographs, photography, photography lighting, Photography tips

Instant Gratification

All three of my children love to take pictures with our little digital camera, the one I don’t mind that they use. My youngest especially likes to take pictures of anything and everything – and why not, I can always delete the unnecessary close-ups and blurred images.

I’ve noticed that as soon as he takes a picture, my son immediately clicks the camera option to view the image. He wants to see the photo he just snapped. He even wants to see the photos I take with the camera as soon as I have taken the picture.

Aren’t we all like that in a way? I almost always view the image as soon as the photo-op is complete.

Yet another way that digital photography is superior. No waiting for photo development. And with the delete button, no wasting time or money developing poor quality photo images. We get to see the image as soon as it is snapped. No more embarrassing pictures of half-closed eyes or silly faces in the photo album. We get to see the product of our labor instantaneously. Let’s hear it for instant gratification!

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, photo subject, photographs, photography, Photography tips

Learn How to Take Great Pictures

If You Like This Blog, You’ll Love Our EBook! Thanks For Watching.

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with camera, cell phone camera, digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, Flash Photography, Flash Photos, photo composition, photo images, photo imaging., photo lighting, photo subject, photo tips, photographs, photography, photography lighting, Photography tips

Taking Photos with your Phone (Video)

This video gives some great tips on using your phone camera. Also will work great with your regular camera.

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with cell phone camera, clinton, digital camera, photo tips, rule of thirds

Strange Lighting Tricks

Maybe I shouldn’t say strange lighting but “unusual” or “cool” lighting. I know there are many photos that you want things to look exactly perfect – especially portrait shots of people. If you are trying capture an image or still shot, you want realism and clarity. Even many scenery shots look best as beautiful and realistic as in nature.

However, there are a number of little tricks with lighting that can make your photos sore. 1.) Try an awesome silhouette, especially at sunrise or sunset. The dark outline of a tree or building imposed in front of an orange twilight sky is simply incredible. 2.) Filtered sunlight as in, shafts of light coming through clouds or between trees is equally spectacular, giving an ethereal quality to your photo. 3.) When the sun goes behind a cloud, try taking a photo of that portion of the sky, the cloud-glow will provide an interesting image.

Just some thoughts that you may want to try out this summer while on vacation. Have a blast and experiment with your digital camera. Why not, you’re not paying for film!

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with camera, composing a picture, digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, natural lighting, photo composition, photo images, photo imaging., photo lighting, photo subject, photographs, photography, photography lighting

Another Great Rule of Composition

In an effort to avoid ordinary or “flat” images in your digital photography, consider carefully the approach and composition of your shot before you begin. One great rule is to imagine the frame divided into third running parallel and thirds running horizontal. In your mind’s eye you should visualize nine boxes, three per row similar to a tic-tac-toe board.

For a truly remarkable shot, place the main focus of your picture at one of the intersecting points of your imaginary tic-tac-toe board. This will mean the face of your subject, or the bird upon the tree limb, or the center of the rose bud are in one quarter of the frame (northwest, northeast, southwest, southeast). This doesn’t mean that the rest of the frame is empty; it will be filled with supporting detail. It is just that the center of your topic will be slightly off center (high or low) and will provide a more genuine and interesting image.

Composing Great Pictures – Final Episode

Thanks for keeping up with my attempt at a photo blog mini-series.

Before snapping that digital photo, check the following:

· Orientation – vertical or horizontal. Which special position looks better for your subject? The picture of the hot air balloon reflects a vertical orientation demonstrating the height of the balloon while the alpine lake reflects a horizontal orientation to show the grandeur of the mountains

The final tip I would like to give regarding photo composition:

· Be sure the viewpoint is pleasing. You can often change a picture dramatically by moving the camera up or down or, stepping to one side. One of the best ways to come up with a prize-winning photograph is to find an “unusual” point of view.

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with camera, digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, photo composition, photo images, photo imaging., photo subject, photographs, photography

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