Tip of the Day: Panning your Camera

Panning is a rather difficult effect to perfect. There is no easy way to do it, but there are a few things you can do to make it easier. First, practice with a digital camera. Try to practice on cars. Get far enough away from the road to be able to track a vehicle, and set your camera to a fairly wide aperture. You want the background to display enough motion blur to make the image more realistic. At the same time the vehicle, or your main subject needs to remain relatively sharp. Experiment, and you will find a sweet spot, in terms of distance to your subject, and shutter speed. Try to use a tripod, and unlock the X axis to allow panning, you may find that it is easier to pan smoothly with a tripod, rather than hand-held.

Tip of the Day: Choosing Luster Paper Finish

Do you have some wedding photographs, or portraits in Black and White, and you are trying to pick a paper to print them? Instead of the more traditional matte, or glossy, consider Luster finish. This finish is somewhere between matte and glossy, and offers the best of both. It has a smooth sheen, and at the same time saturates colors, and darks. Your black and whites will look excellent.

Tip of the Day: Chrome, Reflective Photography

If you run out of interesting things to photograph, consider chrome. If enjoy black and white photography, chrome is great. It will reflect, and distort anything around it, and creates very interesting images. In black and white appearance of chrome is unmatched. Just give it a try, and see where it takes you. Get closer, and use a wide angle lens.

Tip of the Day: Posting Photographs in your Album

If your creative spirit calls for beautiful collages on large poster boards or use full page albums, and struggle with scotch tape every time, try this... 3M makes an ATG - Adhesive Transfer Gun, which dispenses thin strips of adhesive. All it takes is a couple of strokes across the back of the photo, and it is perfectly attached. Just make sure the tape you use is marked Acid-Free, as it will be safe for photography.

Tip of the Day: Remote Trigger

Ok, did you ever wonder why some of the shots you take from your tripod still appear blurry? It is because you had the trigger the shutter on the camera, and introduced a minute amount of motion which spoiled that great shot. If so, get a remote trigger. Most if not all modern cameras are equipped with a small port to which the release attaches. It is nothing more than a small controller with a cord, and a jack which corresponds to the port on the camera. It is much easier to shoot this way, and because the signal is electric, you do not have to carefully place your finger on the shutter, and hope that you will not blur the picture. This is a very useful device; get one!

Tip of the Day: Capturing Sunsets

Photographing sunsets is sometimes frustrating, and more difficult than it should be. It is even more difficult if you have a point-and-shoot camera. Here are quick suggestions to improve your sunsets. First, get a tripod, and scout a nice are ahead of time. Your shooting time will be very short. The time sets quickly. When you are ready to shoot, do not point your camera straight at the sun, instead try to meter it against a neutral background, and lock the exposure. With a digital camera bracketing is easy, so bracket exposures. Do not use a wide aperture, make it small, and shoot from the tripod. Try using a polarizer, if you have one, the effect will be interesting.

Tip of the Day: Artisticly Mounting Photography

Many people keep several albums with printed photography at home. Most of these people are very creative with mounting their photos in photo albums. I was hoping to offer another alternative, which I think many people will like. If you always apply the glue, or tape to the back side of the photos, consider doing the opposite. Use four pieces of acid-free linen tape, hand-torn, to secure the four corners of your photos. It may seem a bit sloppy at first, but it will grow on you, I promise. The hand-torn tape has soft and pleasing edges, and adds to the overall interest.

Tip of the Day: Intimate Outdoor Portraits

Portraits tend to be more intimate than other types of photography. They are also much more difficult to capture, because every individual has that perfect angle, and even a slight variation of light's angle may ruin a lot of things. When you are outside with your loved one, or a friend and are shooting portraits there are a few things that will make your photos better. First, do not use a wide angle lens, as they tend to distort perspective. Use a lens in the range of 80 to 105mm. This is the ideal focal length range. Avoid standing too far away. Get close, turn on fill-flash, and try to capture a few candids. Do not shoot with the sun directly above, you will not be happy with the harshness of midday sun.

Tip of the Day: Scanning Old Film

Are you jumping on the digital band wagon, and getting ready to digitze your film? If so, you have two options. One, you do it yourself, and two, you have someone else do it. If you have several hundred frames, which you want scanned, let someone else do it. It is worth shopping around, because many digital minilabs scan film, and put images on CDs or DVDs for you. Because of this competition prices are fairly low, and many places offer discounts on bulk orders. Unless you already have a good batch scanner, save your money, and let the lab do it. Sort your film ahead of time, this will make it easier for you later, since the film will be scanned in the order in which you submit it.

Tip of the Day: Mounting Photography into Mats

If you are like most people, you simply go out, purchase a picture frame, and place your photograph right in. However, if you are starting to mat your photography, you are no doubt confused to some extent about which materials you should be using. The easiest and quickest way to start out, get an ATG, also known as the Adhesive Transfer Gun, made by 3M, and other manufacturers. Be sure to purchase Acid-Free tape. This gun applies thin strips of adhesive, and will make your matting and some framing tasks a breeze. You may also use it for your scrapbook projects. Keep in mind, this adhesive is very difficult to separate, so use caution when positioning photos.

Tip of the Day: What's a Lithograph

If you are in the market for a very large photograph, or a poster, you may be looking at lithographs in your local gallery and not even know it. A lithograph is quite a bit different from a photograph, since it is not produced from a digital print file, or from a film slide or a negative. Instead, a negative is used to expose the emulsion which was applied to paper. This process creates a positive image. A special printing press is used then to apply colors to the exposed positive image on paper. The process is very complex, and interesting. However, should you consider such a print? Absolutely! If you are a fan of beautiful saturated colors, you will low lithographs. The prints are typically extremely saturated. Check one out, and you will no doubt want one.

Tip of the Day: Custom Frames

If you shop for your photography online, or in local galleries you will discover that framed photography is usually much more expensive than if you just purchased it matted. Stop by your local Art supplies store, and find out whether or not they do custom framing; 9 out of 10 stores do. It will likely cost you less to get it framed in the store, and as a bonus you will have many, many more options in frame styles, colors and materials. It always helps to shop around.

Tip of the Day: DIY Padded Foam Inserts

If you are like most people, every dollar counts, and expensive cases, bagpacks, and shoulder bags, which have been specifically designed for photography gear may be out of your price range. If so, consider this... Foam padding which comes with many computer parts today is an excellent material to use as an insert for a regular bagpack, or a shoulder bag. Consider getting a spacious shoulder bag, and with the help of foam inserts, line the bottom of the bag, and use as separators for your lenses and other gear. For a small fraction of the money, your gear will be safe and protected from moderate impact.

Tip of the Day: Keeping your Gear Safe

If you travel with your gear a lot, keeping it all safe and secure is no doubt, at the top of your list. If so, consider Hardigg Stormcase iM 2306. It is built out of idestructable HPX Resin, and has nicely padded spaces inside to keep all your gear safe and secure. This case is not for everyone, however if your gear runs into thouands, this one is a must.

Tip of the Day: Simple Portraits Outside

Now-a-days most non-photographer types carry small digital point-and-shoot cameras. These cameras are not exactly ideal for capturing stunning portraits. However, with a little attention to details, and this tip you will do well even with a sub-compact. First, shoot in an area with a simple background. Some colors work better than others. If you are shooting lighter skin tones, darker background is best. Opposite is true for darker skin tones. Shoot with sun light to your side of in front. Avoid direct sunlight, especially if it is directly behind your subject(s). Get close to your subject, and crop in tight. Tighter framing is more intimate and personal. Staying close to your subject(s) will blur the background more, and make the faces appear sharper.

Tip of the Day: Metering in Difficult Light

If you are trying to shoot in difficult lighting, and do not have a good spot meter, or a gray card to meter against, stick out your palm in front of the camera, and take a reading. Lock the reading and shoot. Nine out of ten times you will get an accurate exposure.

Tip of the Day: Trips to National Parks

If you are planning to make your way to your nearest State or National Park, and plan to shoot while there there are several things that you can do ahead of time to improve your shooting experience. First of all, check the National or State Parks Web sites, and find out what the best months to visit are. Remember, the sun rises very early in the spring and summer months, so you will have to wake up with it, if you go at that time. Some parks look their best in Fall, others in Winter. Do your research. Bring only the absolutely necessary gear. You will need to travel light, especially if you are planning long hikes. Leave room for survival gear. Bring a wide angle lens, and a long telephoto zoom. A sturdy tripod is a must have. Extra flash cards are a must. If the weather is not in your favor, your batteries may run out more quickly. Make sure you have a way to charge them. Or do what I do, and bring a manual film camera as your backup.

Tip of the Day: Photographing Kids

It seems to always be a pain to sit your children down, and get a very nice portrait. If you experienced this more than once consider getting your child, or children engaged in something they like to do, and try to shoot some candids. Granted, you will need to pick a photography friendly environment, but you will be amazed how good some of the candids will turn out. Avoid telling the kids that they are going to be photographed, as the expectation will likely reduce the possibility of candids.

Tip of the Day: Portraits in Natural Light

While many photographers prefer a studio setup with several lights, diffusers, and other light modifying equipment, most of us simply cannot afford to do something like this. If you are trying to figure out how to take good portraits, while on a budget try these suggestions. First of all, natural light is much more diffuse than any artificial setup. Remember, the sun is BIG! A room with a large window is ideal. A west, north-west facing window is ideal. Aim for days that are somewhat overcast, as the light will be very soft. A muslin background is ideal, but may be too expensive for some people. To get a nice background for much less, make a trip to your nearest fabrics store. You will be surprised how good the selection is. You will also need to add a couple of hooks in your ake-shift studio, which will be used to attach the fabric. If you have a support stand to hang your background, even better. Don't worry about wrinkles, they add interest to the background. Position your subject 45 to 90 degrees to the window... Shoot...

Tip of the Day: Fill Flash to Unhide Details

If you shoot a lot of portraits outside during day, you without a doubt have encountered situations where the background was rendered properly, but the individual in the foreground is very dark. Fill flash will save you, and help you properly expose both your foreground, and background. Every situation is different, but you should aim for -2 to - 2 1/2 stops of flash compensation. This will assure that just enough light is added to light up those shadows, and reveal precious detail.

Tip of the Day: Prints on Canvas

Are you wondering whether or not you should get some of your photographs printed on canvas? If so, take this advice... Portraits are some of the best subjects to reproduce on canvas, with nature coming in at a close second. Send your photos to a reputable lab which uses high quality materials, and acid-free canvas. The Lab will use professional printers which will produce much better results than a typical inkjet people keep at home. Expect beautiful saturated colors, and while they are pricey, they are well worth it.

Tip of the Day: Shooting Nature's Landscapes

Nature photography is the most popular photographic subject, and because the nature is in constant change, it offers an infinite number of possibilities. The same exact scene captured minutes apart will in some cases appear completely different. That's the true beauty of nature. To maximize your shooting potential, shoot either early at sunrise, or later close to sunset. If you are planning to capture a sunrise, or a sunset, scout, and setup ahead of time. Every minute is precious. Do not bring dozens of lenses, and more than one camera. Make your setup simple, and versatile. Bring a sturdy tripod, and a quality zoom lens. A zoom lens will help you maximize the scene, and capture more than one aspect of it without moving an inch.

Tip of the Day: Size your Frame to your Photograph

Finding a perfect frame for your photo is not too hard. However, try to avoid one common mistake. People often get a frame which is too wide for the size of the photo. Smaller photos should be mounted into narrower frames so as to not detract attention from the photo itself. The frame should be eligant, but not overwhelming, and distracting. Remember, you want people to look at your photography, not the frame.

Tip of the Day: Choosing Paper for your Matted Photography

Now-a-days, there are many different choices in paper, whether you print yourself, in the lab, or purchase your photography either online, or through your local gallery. Your choice of finish is ultimately your preference, however consider the following. Matte, and Lustre finishes ususally increase color saturation, and depth. Also, if there are rays of light striking the area where the photos will be hanging, or standing, glossy papers will create strong reflections, and the colors will look washed out, when the light hits them. Your other option is a canvas, which is not as common, but excellent for certain photography. I suggest you take a look at canvas in your local gallery. Canvas is especially good for photos 20x30" and larger.