This weekend, my wonderful nephew turned the big 14….yes, he’s truly growing up. As usual, I grabbed my camera bag with all the necessary equipment and headed to my sisters for a small, intimate party with family and a few friends. As the evening progressed, we decided to take some outdoor shots, near her planter, which I thought would make a decent background. The sun was going down, but there was still a nice amount of light for photographing. Needless to say, when I pulled them up on my computer, the outdoor photographs, taken by the planter had the harshest shadow I had ever seen, choking the life out of my beautiful pictures.

I tried to fix them in Photoshop, using the select tool and every other tool, but the shadow was so overwhelming, none of the usual tricks worked. I ended up having to soften the entire photo, but allowing the shadows to stay put. It made me a bit sad, because, I had big plans for blowing up one particular photo, and making a gift for my sister. I can’t give a gift to my sister or anyone that has awful shadows, dancing in the background. It was just one big, blah transition from black hair to shadow. There was no separation of colors, which is why I couldn’t fix it in Photoshop. I even tried inverting the photo, with no luck. When I realized what had happened, I turned to my reliable, photography books to see what I had done wrong, and how to fix it in future sessions.

Well, first of all, and most importantly, I had my subjects standing too close to the background, which is what produced the harsh shadow to begin with. I also used a flash gun, which made the shadow worse. It worked against me to amplify the harshness of the shadow, so there was barely a difference between the black hair color and the shadow. It was just awful. Now that I know the problem, I solved it, and I can pass my new knowledge on to all you budding photographers.

When you are taking photographs, inside or out, make sure to move your subject as far away from the background as you can, to avoid harsh shadows. Of course this does not apply to photo sessions where props are part of the background, because you should have proper studio lighting to get the desired effect. This information also works with those of us who use green screen for photography. In order to avoid spilling the green onto the subject, move the subject away from the background. Also, take some test shots and review them in a well lit area, so there is no misinterpretation of what’s appearing on the screen. One wrong reading and your money shot, because a worthless photo.

Noreena Pugh
Http://www.simplynoreena.com  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=N_Pugh    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6602467

When I first started photography shooting strictly on location, a couple years back, finding a location for photo-sessions seemed to be such an obstacle for me. Where can I shoot that’s really interesting and eye-catching? I asked myself. A few years later and much more knowledgeable, I can definitely say the background is not as important as you may think. It’s all about drawing the eye to the subject/subjects with minimal distractions (usually). Now I don’t mean to take some of the fun out of it, finding a suitable location and adding a personal touch is really a great thing. Aside from the obvious (parks, clients’ home, etc.) here are some really great places to shoot that I have had luck with:

• Downtown: Live near a city or a trendy spot people like to hang out in? Just take a walk downtown sometime and find the many cool places you can capture in one 30 min-1 hr long session! (Parking garages, brick buildings, funky doorways/window frames, benches, capture your subject walking down the sidewalk…the list goes on!

• Want to add a bit of grit or contrast to your image? Visit your local junkyard and ask for permission to use the location for a shoot (make sure they sign a release!) This can add contrast if you had a female wearing a formal cocktail dress or a bathing suit and really adds a bit of grit to your images no matter what your subject may be wearing.

• Forget about the parks, they are so overpopulated and well, expected! Surprise your client and take them on a short hike through a nature trail. Nature trails are so great because you will usually stumble by a lot of interesting parts of nature to play with in your photos. You may see a riverbed, maybe a lake, a beautiful part of the forest (if you are shooting a couple, have them carve their names in the tree and take a personalized portrait). Maybe you will find a fallen tree and use it as a bench, steer away from the norm you usually find at parks and surprise your client.

• Again it’s all about your client: the less distractions the better. One of my favorite places to go is this field nearby with tall grass(in the autumn everything is golden and adds a nice warm touch) and wide open space with not much around to distract the eye. Now you can step it up a notch and play with this a little or a lot. By placing a couch, chair or trunk in the photo, you will find it easily adds a rustic elegance and provides your client with a prop to sit/lean on, trust me they will absolutely LOVE it!

These are just a few places I have had success with and definitely a great starting point for on location photography. (For an example of an urban engagement shoot, take a look at my latest Colorado engagement photo session ) After shooting more sessions you will feel comfortable with exploring on your own and finding other favorite places to take your clients and impress them with your photography skills!

Amanda Glisson is known as one of the best wedding photographers in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her unique photojournalistic style has been applauded by her clients, who praise her ability to capture real moments and bring them to life.

We have all seen stunning portrait photos that have a blurred background while the subject of the photo is perfectly focused. When done correctly, these photos can be very dramatic, however, it might seem hard to accomplish, especially if you are not familiar with the proper techniques. Whether you use a Panasonic, Sony, Nikon, or Canon, portrait lens selection is a key to success. Even an off-brand lens, such as a Sigma 85mm lens will give excellent results if you follow the tips in this article.

Shooting pictures with blurry backgrounds is directly related to something called Depth of Field (DOF). DOF is the range, from front to back, of the picture that is in focus. You can have an infinite range, meaning the photo will be totally in focus in both the foreground and the background. Conversely, you can have a range of focus that is as shallow as an inch or less. The more shallow the range of focus, the more blurry the background will be.

Controlling DOF

Some digital SLR cameras have a little button that will show the area of focus in the viewfinder, but a little knowledge about how to accomplish your goal will be very helpful. There are a couple of setting on your camera that can give you a great shot with blurry background, but there are also some techniques involving setting up the shot that will help. Here is a short list of things to be aware of when you are ready to shoot an award winning portrait photography:

Distance between the camera and the subject: To increase the blurriness of the background, simply move closer to the subject. Taking a photo from 50 feet away will give a large range of focus. Move closer to within 10 feet, and you will significantly reduce the range of focus, giving you a more blurry background.

Distance of the subject from the background: This is similar to the first tip. If the subject of your shot is standing right in front of something, such as a wall or a tree, the background will tend to be in focus more than if you move your subject away from the background objects. Thus, instead of the wall being 3 feet behind, have the subject positioned 10 feet in front of the wall.

Focal length of the lens: The formula is really very simple. As the focal length of your lens increases, the depth of field decreases. Wide angle lenses in portrait photography are becoming more popular, but it is because it is a new twist rather than a blurry background success story. Use a 50mm lens, and you may get a decent blurry background, but with a 100mm lens, your chances are dramatically improved. Perhaps the most popular focal length is in the 85mm range. A telephoto zoom is also widely used, especially the 70-200mm lenses.

Aperture setting: Almost any information you read about DOF will start with aperture settings. While using the techniques outlined above will improve your shots, a wide aperture lens is your best tool for getting a blurry background. Pro shooters have very expensive glass with apertures as low a f/1.2, but you can take great photos with a less expensive lens that has an aperture of f/2.8. The wider the aperture, the more shallow the DOF.

If you can satisfy all of these suggested recommendations, you will move yourself immensely closer to the goal of a blurry background with the subject popping and capturing the viewer’s eye.

Grab your gear and get ready to take some amazing shots as you master the art of people photography with a Canon portrait lens. There is a great lineup of outstanding lenses at http://www.canoneoslenses.org that will get the blurry background you desire.

If you are looking for the lens that can provide you sharp images as well as excellent color and contrast then the Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens is the lens that you are looking for. The Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens is also considered a very versatile lens that will be perfect for general and portrait photography.

If you already have the predecessor of this lens then you will definitely find the upgrade to Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens rather a worthwhile step. More than that, it is also advisable to skip the previous lenses and get one of the Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens instead.

So, what makes the Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens a more desirable lens than the previous lens showcased by Nikon? There can be several features that the Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens possess that will certainly make this lens from Nikon a cut above the rest. Though there are some limitations that the Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens will have, the more noticeable features of this lens from Nikon will surely make up for the things that this lens is not capable of doing.

Initially as the lens is actually a prime type, you are going to make necessary movements with your feet when you try to compose the picture that you are going to take. While most of the digital SLRs actually have zoom capabilities, you should never be disheartened by this limitation as this can definitely make other people feel that you are indeed one pro photographer when you are in the field doing your thing. The second limitation to note would be the focal range of 50mm. It is a good thing if you have full frame digital SLR because you will be able to note that the 50mm is indeed a 50mm. However, for those digital SLRs that are not full framed, you are going to find that the 50mm focal range is equivalent to 75mm. For this, you are going to need to move backwards when you are trying to capture an image of a group of people. With this Nikon lens, you will be able to produce sharp images. However, the corner of the image will actually show a lower contrast.

All of the limitations of the Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens will surely be forgotten if you are going to take note of the added benefits that this Nikon lens will have. Aside from providing you with good picture and sharp images, the next top feature of this Nikon lens would be the AF-S feature which is the Auto Focus System that is designed internally to the lens and this is also rather fast and silent. You are also going to find the manual override of the autofocus mode of this lens beneficial as this allows you to change the focus without the need to change the mode to a manual one. Another great thing about the Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens is that this Nikon lens is actually 60 percent faster compared to Nikon lenses at f/1.8 when it is set to its widest aperture setting.

Still searching for the perfect lens? I know finding the perfect lens for your photography needs can be a tedious and arduous process. You can easily spend hours or even days searching for that perfect lens and end up with no result. What is even worse, you can buy the wrong lens and end up wasting a lot of money in the end. That is why I created this Nikon 50mm 1.4G lens review to help you out.

If you don’t think this is the right lens for you, check out my Nikon 50mm 1.8 lens review for an alternative.   Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Suryono    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6535896

But thankfully, certain digital cameras have become more advanced these days and have great features that can get rid of this problem while you’re shooting. No need for a tripod then as the camera itself can solve the issue right then and there. This is known as the image stabilization feature.

It was in 1995 when this featured was first introduced by Canon. It was in the stabilized lenses specifically in the EF 75-300mm IS USM zoom.

So how does this image stabilization system really work? This feature is made possible by the so called optical image stabilizer. This is a system made up of sensors that can easily detect movements made by the camera and a group of lens elements that moves to solve the issue.

With this feature, amateur and experienced photographers no longer have to worry about getting blurred images even while shooting in sequence just holding the camera with their hands. As such, those who are shooting action scenes such as sports events and wildlife can be sure to capture sharp and clear photos.

Digital cameras today are faster in detecting shakes and movement. But a tip from the experts recommends that in order for your camera to activate its stabilization system, you need to first depress the shutter button halfway. An indicator will then alert you if it’s already working. If you’re using the live-view mode, however, your LCD monitor will let you see when the image is stable. This is done through both the in-lens and in-camera systems.

Keep in mind, however, that this feature also uses up power so you can just switch from one to the other and not use both the in-camera and in-lens stabilizations systems at the same time. Turning them both on for longer periods will drain your battery.

Canon today provides 25 IS lenses that offer this image stabilization system. Another brand that has followed suit is Nikon who has introduced its vibration reduction (VR) lenses which has a similar function. Other digital camera manufacturers that have created the same lenses but have called it by different names are Sigma which offers its optical stabilizer (OS) lenses and Tamrom which now has its vibration compensation (VC) lenses.

Konica Minolta, before it stopped manufacturing cameras, also made its first stabilized lens about nine years following Canon’s introduction of its IS lenses. The brand’s DSLR then featured an anti-shake system that enables the image sensor to counter any movements made by the camera. Fortunately though, this system was picked up by other companies including Sony, Olympus, Pentax and Samsung.

So regardless of the DSLR brand you own today, you have the ability to capture crisp and clear images in sequence without having to worry about camera movements. That’s the beauty of technology and something photographers should be thankful for.

For information about digital camera batteries, visit 42photo.com, New York’s legendary camera store in business for over 40 years.

If you are looking at this Nikon 200mm f4, you may sometimes get the notion that the lens is heavier when you compare it to the tiny proportions of other lenses from Nikon. You will also be able to see a rather huge focus ring that is actually occupying the front half of the lens. By barely looking at the structure of this lens, you will find it a bit too much. However, it is only when you have used the lens, you will find that the structure is designed not as an unsightly aspect but a rather useful one and you are going to see that the structure actually makes perfect sense.

The manual focus of the Nikon 200mm f4 is actually very smooth, consistent as well as precise that you will even think that the hinges are more or less hydraulic in nature. The Nikon 200mm f4 is also equally proficient when it comes to photography in the non-macro field. You are also going to find the Nikon 200mm f4 as an exceptionally good portrait lens. The quick switch features of the AF selector makes this lens from Nikon rather quick. You might hear slight focusing noise when you focus this lens as this lens lack the AF-S or Auto Focus Servo System. On the optical aspect of the lens, you are not going to find this lens to be as good as the others of the same line of functionality but rather as a better lens option.

When you handle the different lens types, you will need the right technique and skills. If you are considering getting one of these lenses then you have to keep in mind that this is not a lens for a first time macro lens user. However, you can still push your limits and own one of these if you have the heart, the passion and the determination to develop the technique and skills that would definitely make the use of this lens from Nikon easier as well as worthwhile. If you are ready to step up to the next level in macro photography then you should definitely consider getting one of these lenses from Nikon. Likewise, if you have the right dose of patience, passion and determination, you are sure to reap the positive and the good quality resulting images that the Nikon 200mm f4 is capable of providing.

Still searching for the perfect lens?

I know finding the perfect lens for your photography needs can be a tedious and arduous process. You can easily spend hours or even days searching for that perfect lens and end up with no result. What is even worse, you can buy the wrong lens and end up wasting a lot of money in the end. That is why I created this Sigma 10-20 lens review to help you out. If you don’t think this is the right lens for you, check out my Sigma 8-16mm lens review for an alternative.

I have heard many different reviews regarding the Canon 55-250, and they were all so very different and yet exactly the same. Each and every review that I read concentrated on a different feature, extolling its virtues and discussing how this specific feature made the Canon 55-250 better than any other lens. One review I read concentrated solely on the Optical Image Stabilizer Technology that the Canon 55-250 uses, while another just could not stop telling me how wonderful the UD-glass lens element is.

Although each and every review of the Canon 55-250 was completely different from the last, they all had one thing in common. Every single one of them told me that I just had to buy one of these lenses. About a month ago, I took the decision to do exactly that, so I walked down to my local stockist, walked straight back out of my local stockist and then bought it considerably cheaper online. I have been using the camera ever since and I just can’t get enough of it.

Although reading all those positive Canon 55-250 reviews was great, I could not find any that outlined all the benefits of this lens in plain and simple English for a users point of view, so I decided I would write one myself. As I said earlier, the Canon 55-250 uses Optical Image Stabilizer Technology. This means that the lens is capable of steadying itself, even when hand held, making it easier to get those crystal clear action shots. It basically means you can take hand held photographs with a shutter speed of one fifteenth of a second without getting lots of horrible blurring.

The Canon 55-250 lens also has a UD-glass lens element, which serves the purpose of correcting any chromatic aberration issues that may occur. This gives a fantastic picture quality, throughout the focal range of the lens. Getting down to the more technical side of things, the maximum aperture is f/4 to f/5.6, there are 12 elements in 10 groups, and the closest focus length is 3.6 feet. Weighing in at just 13.8 ounces and measuring just 4.3 inches by 2.8 inches, the Canon 55-250 is also a very light and compact lens, making it easy to carry when out and about all day.

As far as telescopic zoom lenses go, the Canon 55-250 is definitely an outstanding example and I could not be more happy that I made the decision to buy one, and strongly recommend that anyone else thinking of doing so, does!

Do you think this is the perfect lens for you?

I know it can be hard choosing the perfect lens for your camera. You can spend hours researching and still end up buying the wrong lens. Even worse, you could waste a lot of money and time in the end.

If you think this is not the lens for you, then see my Canon 18-55 review for an alternative.

This will give you a fresh alternative from this Canon 55-250 review. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luke_Darma Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6485821

 

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Our gorgeous cover model Elle Mae, may be reached on ModelMayhem. Elle Mae’s cover photo was supplied by: Sam Rambo, of SLR Photography.

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It can also, however, be something of a trial, since the temptation is to fall back on the tried and tested ideas like socks, bubble bath or cufflinks. Easy, yes, but not really something which conveys the feelings you’re hoping to capture. The photo albums you can put together are gifts which tick every box, being exceptional value and allowing you to give something which also gives a piece of yourself, whilst still offering value for money.

One of the undoubted benefits of digital photography lies in the sheer number of photographs which it is now possible to produce. Removed from the restrictions once placed upon them by the physical realities of film stock and the onerous nature of developing images, people can now take literally hundreds of individual images, documenting much treasured family moments such as holidays, birthdays and Christmas celebrations. The downside of the sheer number of photos which everyone can take is the question of storage – there are simply too many images to physically print and put in a tin or stick in an album, and yet it seems a shame to simply leave them languishing within the memory of a computer or digital camera.

Photo albums don’t merely offer a convenient and easy to use answer to this conundrum, but they also make perfect gifts for anyone who wants to truly make an impact. Personalized photo albums can be put together on any theme which you wish to choose – it could be a pictorial record of the last year in a family’s life, an account of a recent holiday or a collection of photos taken through many years and decades, offering a thorough portrait of a family, a couple or an entire way of life. Putting together photo albums in the UK may sound daunting, requiring technical ability and computing skills, but actually this couldn’t be further from the truth. Modern computer software means that putting together online photo albums requires absolutely no prior knowledge, experience or ability.

The only thing which you have to be able to do is choose precisely which images you want to put into your album and, let’s be honest, that’s the entertaining part of the whole process. If you wish to give a couple a Christmas gift which will genuinely move, surprise and please them then why not ask everyone who knows them to send you their own photos of the couple in question, dating back as far as you can and allowing you to build a pictorial record of their entire relationship, from grainy black and white snaps of a pair of courting youngsters all the way to full color portraits especially taken to celebrate their many years together. Imagine the pleasure such a gift would bring, not only on Christmas day itself but every day thereafter – a tangible and beautiful record of a couple’s entire life together gathered in one easily accessible place.

So the next time you’re stuck for a Christmas gift idea, but want to be able to opt for something which truly captures the caring and sharing sentiments of this special time of the year, then start to think about planning, putting together and offering your very own photo albums/ photo Books, online. It’s a gift which is the perfect combination of traditional sentiment and cutting edge technology, brought together to spread a message of cheer and goodwill.

Preserve your golden memories of life by engraving those precious Canvas Prints and photo Albums through Albelli.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenifer_Stevenson

Buying a Canon 60D will place you in one of the most satisfied photography groups in history. Who would have thought this possible when this camera was first announced? There was so much controversy over its design.

The main focus of the dissent was that the 60D was not an upgrade of the 50D due to a couple of factors. First, it is made of high grade plastic rather than magnesium alloy metal. And the second reason is that there was no new image processor or sensor.

That controversy is now history, and buyers are snatching the newest Canon mid-range DSLR off the shelves and proclaiming their praise and satisfaction. The evidence of this can be seen at online stores such as B & H Photo and Amazon where buyers have recorded their feelings.

Here are the top 5 reasons that make current Canon 60D owners happy with their purchase:

1. Good Image Quality – It’s true, the image sensor and processor are not new. However these two elements are so well designed that they are also featured in the 7d and T3i. All of these cameras are turning out superior quality images that make photographers happy with their digital SLRs.

2. Ease of Use – Many of the controls have been simplified compared to those on the 50D, and most buttons now have a single purpose rather than dual purposes. There is also a Quick Control dial on the rear of the camera to make selecting common functions much easier.

3. Tilt/Swivel LCD - The new fully articulated LCD is perhaps the one thing that every expert agreed upon as a major plus at the time this camera was introduced. Everyone loves it.

4. Large Clear LCD – The LCD resolution and clarity has been improved over the 50D. One of the best uses of this screen is when in Live View. You can see clearly to use manual focus and fine-tune your focus using the 5x or 10x zoom feature.

5. Fast/Accurate Auto-focus - Users love the quick response of this camera. It is especially good at action shots such as sports and nature photography. Continuous shooting at 5.3 frames per second is excellent for getting hard-to-photograph or unpredictable action shots.

The average user rating is 4.8 out of 5. That is quite impressive and not common at all. And maybe even more compelling is that 99% of those who took the time to record their feelings would recommend this camera to a friend.

The Canon 60D is considered an entry-level prosumer digital SLR. It is aimed at the advanced amateur group of photographers.

Thinking about your own Canon 60D? Who could blame you. Why not join the crowds of joyful photographers? Check out the stats at http://digital-photographic-resources.com.