Back to Basics

Purchasing an expensive DSLR camera and costly high-tech photo editing devices won’t guarantee stellar shots. Rather, the key to snapping spectacular photos is simple: Master the basic rules of photography. Before you drop hundreds of dollars on pricey photo equipment, consider getting back to basics. Experiment with lighting, composition, angles and poses. By investing time instead of money honing your craft, you’ll reap priceless images that speak volumes for your picture-taking skills. COMPOSITION When in doubt employ the Rule of Thirds. By doing so you can avoid taking a boring shot where your subject is dead center in the photo. … Continue reading →

Summer Lovin’ With a Digital Camera

Digital cameras get a real workout during the summer months. From family trips to the beach, fireworks displays, backyard barbeques and camping trips, the opportunities to snag super snapshots are virtually unlimited. You don’t need to be a professional to take frame worthy photos of your family having fun in the sun. Rather, simply follow these tips to ensure you’re getting the best shots possible: PRACTICE Practice makes perfect–regardless of whether you are shooting a huge family reunion or an intimate picnic for two. A few days before an important event, spend some time reading your digital camera’s manual. Then, … Continue reading →

Taking Your Camera to the Beach… and Using It

Summer is here… a time when millions of families head to the sun, sand, and surf. And along with the sunscreen, water and towels most will tote along their cameras to capture the sun-filled memories of children splashing in waves or building monster sand castles. Only not every shutterbug readily whips out his or her camera in the heat of the moment for fear that the elements (water, sand, etc.) will damage their expensive digital devices. Meanwhile, others simply forget that their cameras are sitting in their beach bags waiting to be used. As you head out on your family … Continue reading →

Black and White Photography Basics

Everything is new again and such is the case with black and white photography. A few short decades ago black and white photos were considered old and unpopular, but in recent years the power of classic black and white stills has returned and now many avid photographers are embracing the purity of these beautiful photographs. But before you run to the store to purchase black and white film or click on every digital image to mute its color there are some factors you should consider: SUBJECT It’s important to choose your subjects carefully when you are shooting in black and … Continue reading →

Photography Terms You Should Know

This blog is a long time coming. If I was ultra-organized I would have posted it months ago when I first started contributing to the Photography Blog. Better late than never, I suppose. The following list contains the most commonly used digital photography terms. While it doesn’t include every single word or term used in the field, it does provide enough information to help you navigate your way through a camera manual and it will allow you to meet with a camera salesperson without wondering if he or she is speaking English. Aperture—-The opening behind the camera’s lens that permits … Continue reading →

Knowing When to Zoom and Other Photo Tips

These days almost every digital camera on the market comes equipped with a zoom feature and a wide-angle feature. Both have their advantages, but you’ll find your pictures will benefit if you know which to employ at the appropriate time. Zoom. There is a basic rule my photography teacher drilled into me that I have never forgotten: zooming in flattens the depth of the photo, so the foreground and background are basically the same size. Wide-angle. In contrast, a camera’s wide-angle feature will expand the depth of the photo, enlarging the foreground and shrinking the background. Many times people zoom … Continue reading →

Taking Your Camera Outside During the Winter

I will be the first to admit that most of the photos I take during the winter months are inside shots. Being that I was born and raised in Hawaii it is hard enough for me to expose my body to the brutal Wisconsin winter elements, let alone my prized camera. But, as I’ve discovered in the last couple of years, blaming Mother Nature is a bad excuse for missing frameworthy shots of my daughter sledding down a hill or making a snow angel in the front yard. So in 2008 I am resolving to get out more… and take … Continue reading →

Christmas Photo Fun with Self Timers

Merry Christmas from the Photography Blog! If you are celebrating the day with a new camera I’m sure you’ve been very busy. You don’t have to be a snap happy parent to be experiencing finger fatigue right now. The holidays are a time when most people’s cameras work overtime and for good reason. Think of all the great shots (candid and otherwise) that are captured this time of the year: baby’s first visit to see Santa, your 5-year-old donning a headband with reindeer antlers, your entire family in front of the Christmas tree, your husband tipping over the tree in … Continue reading →

Getting To Know Your Camera’s Features

In a previous blog I went out on a limb (not really) and estimated that a mere 15% of amateur photographers regularly use (or are familiar with) all of their camera’s features. Have you taken the time to really experiment with your digital camera? Making time to do so is not always an easy task. What’s more, trying to comprehend the wording in some of those camera manuals is often enough to discourage any new camera owner from paging beyond the part that gives directions on how to install the battery. Just point, shoot and be satisfied with whatever image … Continue reading →