A New Camera for Dad for Father’s Day

So you don’t want to give dad any of the Father’s Day photo gifts I listed in this blog. And you don’t think my Mother’s Day camera will go over well with him either, well, I have one more item he might be delighted to unwrap on Father’s Day. Canon’s PowerShot 650 IS is perfect for the snap happy dad who wants a camera that packs a punch, but doesn’t have the time or energy to read an owner’s manual the size of a pocket dictionary to get it to work. (Not that most dads read owners manuals to begin … Continue reading

My Mother’s Day Photo Surprise—The Gift that Keeps on Giving

I know, Father’s Day is just around the corner so why I am writing about my Mother’s Day gift? For starters, it’s an incredible gift and one that could easily be given to dad on his big day as well. The other reason… I wanted to experiment with my gift for a couple of weeks before writing this blog so I would be better able to assess its pros and cons. So what was my big Mother’s Day surprise (besides the gorgeous pink rose my young daughter picked out all by herself to give to me)? Canon’s PowerShot A720 IS … Continue reading

Are You Sharing Your Pictures?

And I’m not talking about passing your camera around so friends can view your favorite pics on your 2-inch LCD screen. When was the last time you actually took the time to print your most cherished shots or at the very least email them to family members? Printing pictures has become as easy as sitting your camera on top of a printer and pressing a button. It’s a simple task, but you might be surprised by the number of shutterbugs who allow their shots to sit in their cameras for months on end. With summer fast approaching and snap happy … Continue reading

Do You Use All of Your Camera’s Features?

I would venture to guess that most hobby photographers have no clue how to use half the features offered by their digital cameras. Most snap happy parents simply want to point, shoot and capture frameworthy (or at the very least, printable) shots of their loved ones. If that’s the case (and you rarely stray from using your camera’s AUTO mode) then you might not be interested in purchasing the Canon PowerShot G9. I am partial to Canon cameras and this Mother’s Day I was gifted with a Canon Powershot camera (not the G9, but another one that I plan to … Continue reading

Photo Printing Options

Judging by the line of people at my local grocery store most digital photographers print their photos outside their homes. It never ceases to amaze me how long people are willing to wait in line for the person in front of them to painstakingly go through each and every shot on store photo kiosks when they could be getting the task done at home. By using Pictbridge-enabled cameras and printers you can avoid the long lines at places such as Wal-Mart and Walgreens. For those of you unfamiliar with the name, PictBridge is the single printing format shared by the … Continue reading

Megapixels and Picture Quality

Ultra-thin, point and shoot digital cameras are all the rage among young photographers (not so much with me). I always figured the people who opted for these slim-Jim cameras were more concerned with style and size than with picture quality. However, these days ultra-thin models are packing more megapixel capacity than ever before. So how much do you really know about megapixels? Or perhaps the better question is, how much do you really need to know? If you are in the process of purchasing your first digital camera one of the first steps to understanding what kind of camera is … Continue reading

Photography Week in Review for May 11-18, 2008

Have your photos been a bit uninspired recently? Perhaps it is time to consider taking a photo retreat. Whether you jet off to a whimsical destination or retreat to a tropical location, photo workshops serve as a wonderful inspiration for many amateur photographers. This week I dedicated two blogs to photo retreats in a place I am intimately familiar with–Hawaii. We also covered photo scanners, prepping for major photo ops, and we discussed the freedom that comes with digital photography. If you missed any of it now is your chance to get caught up. May 12th—–Photo Workshops in Paradise. This … Continue reading

Features to Consider Before Purchasing a Photo Scanner

You finally made up your mind and decided to add a photo scanner to your home office. Congratulations! Now comes the hard part—-what to look for prior to making your purchase. RESOLUTION Hands down this is the main feature to consider when shopping for a scanner. Resolution is measured in pixels per inch (dpi). At least 2700 dpi is required to enlarge slides and negatives for an 8 x 10-inch print. Keep that number in mind when you’re out shopping. Though for the most part the majority of photo scanners on the market today scan at least at 3,200 dpi. … Continue reading

Tips to Consider Before Purchasing a Digital Camera

In my pervious blog I did my best to convince all you traditional photographers to go digital in time for the busy summer shooting season. Now that you know what you are getting yourself into in regards to style, price, and features I wanted to move on to a few other very important issues to consider before purchasing a digital camera: BATTERIES My digital camera takes standard double AA batteries, but they don’t last long in there. Battery life is a major issue for many digital photographers, especially when you are taking your camera on vacation and you’re trying to … Continue reading

Snapping Summer Memories—Going Digital

Since I failed miserably at my New Year’s resolution to get outdoors and capture more breathtaking winter shots I’ve decided to double up this summer. I plan to work overtime capturing my family’s summertime activities. And I know I am not alone. Summer is the time of year when most families head out on their annual vacations and snap happy parents’ give their fingers quite a workout. For those of you who are still relying on those disposable point-and-shoots to capture your sunny day memories perhaps the Summer of 2008 is when you go digital. I know. I know. Making … Continue reading