Digital Camera Tips: Photographing Scenery

This summer, we have been taking a lot of photos of scenery lately, since we have been on so many family summer adventures. Scenery doesn’t move, so it should be easy to photographing with your digital camera, right? Well, Yes, and no. Scenery is usually easy on you when you want to get a sharp photo, especially if you use a tripod, but scenery can be present its own set of issues, too. When you take scenery pictures with your digital camera, they can sometimes wind up looking very flat and uninteresting. Here are some tips for taking photos of … Continue reading →

Digital Camera Tips: Taking Multiple Shots

One of the great things about using a digital camera, is that you can easily take multiple shots of the same subject. This can work well for you. Since there is no waste, as with film, you have more opportunity to get that great shot. But there are a few unique pitfalls of taking multiple shots of your subject. For example, the other week I took multiple shots of a scenic view. The photos looked fine on the camera, but when I uploaded them, I found that they were disastrous. Which brings us to our first tip about taking multiple … Continue reading →

Sweetie Tags Continued

In yesterday’s article about Sweetie Tags, I introduced you to these great little graphic pieces that can be used as part of your signature. Mama2riley, also known as Melissa, granted me an interview. This is the second part of that interview, and it tells all about what inspires Melissa, how you can get a Sweetie Tag, and some general tips about making your own. Mary Ann: What inspires you when making Sweetie Tags? Melissa: Well it depends. I am often inspired by the other talented people out there who make tags. I can also find inspiration in the photos or … Continue reading →

Sweetie Tags

Have you heard about Sweetie Tags, yet? They are really awesome graphics images that you can use as a personal signature for your forum posts here at Families.com. What is more, they are personally custom designed with your own photos and sayings. I was lucky enough to interview the maker of Sweetie Tags, mama2riley, also known as Melissa, and a Sr. Moderator here in the forums. Mary Ann: What is a Sweetie Tag? Melissa: A Sweetie Tag is a graphic image that I design for use as a personal signature. Most tag makers have their own watermark for their tags. … Continue reading →

Digital Camera Tips: Taking Portraits

The majority of photos taken with a digital camera are probably portraits. This makes a lot of sense, of course. We love having photos of our friends and family to cherish for a lifetime. It is easy to take the camera and just point and click a few times, attempting to get a great photo. By the time that third or fourth photo comes around, your subject is probably tired of the photo taking. He or she may have a bored expression, a forced smile or, in the case of young children, might even walk, toddle or crawl out of … Continue reading →

Digital Camera Tips: Working with Light

When using a digital camera, lighting is especially important. Traditional film cameras can be very forgiving with light, and film can be pushed to bring out more light or detail. Generally with film, the detail may be there on the film, even if the light is too dark. With a digital camera, however, light is everything. Too little light, and the camera may even refuse to take the photo. Have you ever noticed how outdoor photos tend to look so much better than indoor photos when you are using a digital camera? It all has to do with lighting. When … Continue reading →

Digital Camera Tips: Getting A Sharper Image

I love taking photos with my digital camera. It is so much fun. I have thousands of photos of the kids, our family adventures and even our new home. It is easy to take photos with the digital camera, because I can quickly delete any unwanted photos. There is no waste. But one thing that I have been noticing lately, is that my photos have not been coming out as sharp as I would like. Partly, I think this is because of the fact that photos are so easy to delete. I don’t make as much effort as I would … Continue reading →

Treat Your iPod Like Your Baby

Kori Rodley Irons recently posted an excellent article about how many people compare pets, objects and life events to parenting. (You can click here to read it.) She makes some excellent points. Well, I have a strange new phenomena in the “just like being a parent” category for her. It seems that the iPod, that little wonder of technology, is inspiring maternal and paternal feelings in many of its owners. The Globe and Mail, a Canadian newspaper, recently published a story about a heat alert in the area. Along with warning parents and pet owners, it included a warning for … Continue reading →

iTunes: Over 3 Billion Served

Do you remember years ago when it was fun to watch the McDonald’s sign change to show how many burgers were sold. Somewhere along the line, they just couldn’t keep up any longer, and those signs changed to the line “billions and billions served. It is a very different world now, and success is measured in music downloads rather than patties with special sauce. Yesterday, Apple announced that more than three billion songs have been purchased and downloaded from the Apple iTunes store. “We’d like to thank all of our customers who have contributed to this incredible milestone,” said Eddy … Continue reading →

New iPods Coming in August?

Rumor has it that the next generation of Apple iPods, the sixth, will be hitting Apple stores as soon as the beginning of August. Many people are speculating about what new features will be available on the new iPods. For example, will they feature a touch screen interface? New operating system? New colors? Well the best guesses are as follows. The new iPods will probably not feature a touch-screen interface. I think that would take too much away from the glory and newness of the Apple iPhones. I think that the touch screen will eventually come to the iPod, but … Continue reading →