Using Digital Camera Without A Flash Unit

I retain been using a digital camera intended for the final only some years. My newest digital camera is the Sony Alpha 100 DSLR. This is the basic proficient like DSLR arrival from Sony.

The organization I bought is equipped with a zoom lens (16-80 mm) made by Carl Zeiss especially intended for Sony Alpha. I particularly love this lens; it is permanently attached to my Sony Alpha body.

Taking an al fresco photo with this camera is a breeze. Most of the schedule I am using its P (program) mode. This is a semi-automatic mode whereby the organization uses its car sensors to tell you core ground
Settings (aperture and board up speed); a setting with the intention of will grant you a on the verge of complete picture.

From here you can adjust the settings to swell depth of handle (more front and background focus)
Of a exact photo. If you more than make sure of it, the organization will counsel you.

Even for the duration of an al fresco shooting with ample of light, you will retain a shadow section.
You might be continuance in the sun light portion and pointing the camera into the shadow
Portion, like an antique supermarket.

This is a spot everywhere you might need a exhibit organization. But with the Sony Alpha,
You can resolute the unit's ISO to a tiniest of 200 and you can take the shot devoid of
Using a exhibit organization; setting of ISO by the side of 400 would even be better; you would step a
Lighter photo. At this peninsula, the format of the digital photo is JPG.
At the same schedule I furthermore injure the photo in RAW mode.
Sony gives you a mode everywhere you can take single picture in two
Modes (JPG and RAW) by the side of the same schedule.

The same picture in RAW mode gives you mega options in affecting up the photograph,
Tremendously valuable whilst you are taking a photo intended for a tangled web diligence.

I furthermore took a shot of a live sundown rock concert belt devoid of using a exhibit organization,
By setting the ISO by the side of 1600. You can investigate this photo by the side of my website under.
Using this distinguished ISO setting does grant you selected noises on the photo but the
Irregularity is quite acceptable. At this schedule here is furthermore selected software
Dated here with the intention of can vindicate up the noises.

To top it all inedible, Sony Alpha has a " Super Steady Shot" setting whereby
The camera has an gift to compensate your shaky tender while taking the shot.
By setting the ISO distinguished like 400 to 1600, you will swell the effectiveness
Of this function; denotation with the intention of you would step a real intelligent picture devoid of using a exhibit organization.

Next, I would like to utter almost the Carl Zeiss lens. I am very lucky with it.
It can focus one object super fast, compare to a kit lens with the intention of came with the camera.
The color concerto is upbeat and the contrast is very intelligent.
Zooming function is very fitting whilst you are in a forceful touch and
Cannot step backward. I retain had taken quite a only some interior shots with
Satisfactory results as well.

All in all, I am very lucky with the camera especially not using a exhibit
Organization, but using it with a large amount natural illumination.

How You Can Have Money by Using Digital Camera Photography

If you've a digital camera and appreciate taking images, probabilities are you have thought about creating some additional money together with your photos. Electronic photography is a single with the international quickest raising hobbies. It isn't difficult to consider your hobby towards the next degree, with the right knowledge and some creative energy. Really, there are several methods that you can make some extra cash together with your electronic camera.

All it takes is really a small imagination, a flair for showmanship, a bit of salesmanship and the willingness to complete some work - and you are set. If you're currently involved with electronic photography then there is a good chance which you already have all of the equipment that's required to start. The very first point that you're likely to need for this really is a electronic camera with features comparable to individuals of a SLR film digital camera, along with a tripod for some occasions. You'll also need an excellent printer or printing support.

You will also need good electronic photo editing software program. The best applications that you can use are Adobe Photoshop CS3, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Corel Paint Shop Pro X, and Adobe Photoshop Elements 5. If possible, you should invest a couple hundred dollars in advertising materials.

Prior to we move on, this really is a good time to clear up one misconception. It isn't impossible to create a great earnings from your photography, as many people believe. They point out that almost everybody has a digital camera or at least a digital camera telephone. I can hear you saying, "Why would individuals spend for pictures once they can take their personal?" It is this way. It's true that just about every household includes a electronic digital camera, or a film digital camera. However, how lots of people can truly use them?

You might want to consider a appear at how many images individuals consider. Let's be honest. They're horrible. You will find generally motion blur pictures from holding the camera the incorrect way. Bad color too. Awkwardly positioned objects. There are no composition skills. They do not know how to avoid points like shadows over their subjects faces. Even if these individuals understood how to use electronic photo editing software properly, many of their images are beyond help. There is only so much you are able to do to correct a bad photograph.

What do you think is going to happen when these individuals attempt and print their pictures. I'm certain you've seen pictures like this. The prints have bad resolution. This happens when the photographer had no idea how you can adjust the digital camera settings to create printable photos. This really is superb news for you personally. With your superb digital photography skills, you are able to easily display prospective clients a few samples that will get them signing on the dotted line.

Perhaps you do not think this is likely. I attended a birthday party lately and I'm going to tell you about it. The hostess engaged the services of an experienced amateur photographer who was hoping to begin her own company - just like you. Most with the people at the party brought their personal digital cameras, but most people forgot to consider pictures. And individuals shots that we did take had been unplanned and poorly positioned.

The photograph nevertheless got cash for what they did. Two days later, she uploaded her photographs to some web website. The party guests had been sent an email having a link towards the page. We downloaded the pictures we wanted and printed them or saved them to our computer. This photographer experienced a good gig, because she didn't even need to bother with printing and delivering the function, although she received generous spend.

How cool is that?

You can do this as well. So, learn all you can about photography and picture editing, create a marketing strategy, and get out there!

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How to Capture Your Happiest and Unforgettable Moments Using Digital Cameras

There are certain things that you love to keep. It could be in a form of a gift or something you acquired through your own means of hard work. We often give sentimental value on our things especially if they have been part of our life. Some people might find your belongings as a bunch of trash since we have different preferences on treating our personal and valuable stuffs. Unfortunately there times that it is impossible to keep something that just came out from somewhere as a form of remembrance.

Usually, when people visit a place they choose to buy shirts as a form of souvenir that they have once put step on that place. Other people choose to keep a bottle of sand from the beach or collect some coral stones near the shore. It has been a common practice to almost all individuals who love to travel and visit the different tourist spots around the world.

Business minded persons are now even using these traditional and indigenous materials to create souvenirs for prospect buyers. They believe that almost all people know how to appreciate things. Although they take advantage on the fact that several customers will surely buy their items it is true that most of their buyers give much importance to their experience above from anything else.

Since experience is far good than having souvenirs it would be nicer to save these experiences in form of pictures. Using a digital camera you will have the chance to capture the moments while you are spending the most valuable moments in your life. It is good to have a camera especially if you value the time you spend with your friends and family.

Pictures will certainly give you the chance to freeze the happiest moments of your life. It will also serve as a diary of events in your life where you can certainly identify and differentiate the past and the present events just by comparing your past and present pictures. You can always bring to mind or reminisce about your past the experiences that you will never forget. It will give you the chance to cherish those experiences as long as you want because you can always look on those pictures.

Nowadays, it is more convenient to have a digital camera. It gives you lots of benefits especially if you love photography. It is more handy and easy to use. It allows you to instantly view the image or the moments you have just captured. You are given lots of choices on how you are going to take a snap. A cheap digital camera can amazingly work even during nighttime. It has an automatic flash that gives you the exact amount of light you need when light is not available.

The good thing about cheap digital camera is that you can recharge its battery. You can easily transfer your pictures and videos on your computer in a short period of time. You can also use it as a video camera if you wish to record a very important event.

You can never control time. You can never repeat the same events that are already finished. However you can freeze those events by using a digital camera. Don't just let it down and learn how to love the sweet thing about keeping pictures. Click here for more details on how you can make use of your digital cameras without missing any moves.

Using Digital Cameras For Home Maintenance

It doesn't subject, whether you did or didn't take some pictures of your board in the previous, but you're obtainable to need to start taking them in the forthcoming. Every once upon a time in a while someone asks me instead of roughly domicile maintenance tip's and the finest advice I can perform a person, is to style definitely with the purpose of you grasp and benefit a digital camera instead of all of your domicile maintenance and repairs.

It doesn't subject could you repeat that? You're burden to your domicile, grab your digital camera and start taking pictures. If you dig up a sprinkler line, take a picture of it. Get a measuring tape on sale and appraise the distance with the purpose of the sprinkler pipe is from your board, in a minute in folder you need to locate it in the forthcoming.

Let's look on domicile repairs instead of a flash. You're repairing a mutilation section of the outside of your domicile. Get the digital camera on sale and start taking pictures. Let's fast bold upfront 10 years and you can't remember which part of the board you really repaired, as a new section is opening to suffer from the same type of mutilation. Your digital camera will provide you with moment recollection, as long as you saved the pictures.

One of the nearly all foremost uses instead of a digital camera and domicile maintenance is the truth with the purpose of you can take as many pictures as you like of the outside and inside of your domicile and it's not obtainable to cost you very much money. If someone in addition notices bad skin, cracks or other types of mutilation and you don't remember as them beforehand, regain the old pictures and your riddle solved.

I benefit a digital camera to take pictures of almost everything with the purpose of I act, to my domicile in other homes. It's a impressive source and might save you a quantity of frustration in the forthcoming. Don't overlook, with the purpose of a picture is worth a thousand language and if you don't come up with them, you're obtainable to come up with to act a quantity of thinking and remembering.

Using Digital Cameras to Monitor Foundation Damage

Let's look at, a large amount contractors treat jack hammers, wheelbarrows, structural rebar and specific to deal with foundation problems, but a digital camera. How can a digital camera help us set-up our building foundations?

You're not free to treat the camera to churn out the repairs. The camera is free to be used to supervisor some cracks or break larger than a stop of period. If you don't give some prior pictures of the building foundation problems, how would you know if the break was getting worse?

Using digital cameras in support of building foundation problems can save you a quantity of stress and money. If you live in a homespun permission at this point with the intention of has structural cracks or other types of building foundation break, it wouldn't be a bad indication to take selected digital pictures.

The pictures aren't free to be a sufficient amount, you're free to need to degree the cracks and damaged areas on a yearly basis. Anything with the intention of you can think of, to help keep track of the building foundation break, is free to be accommodating in the imminent.

Take pictures of the whole council house as well, this way you may possibly keep track of some break with the intention of the building foundation might cause to the existing assembly. If you give a significant foundation crack, here is a first-rate ability with the intention of you're free to give outdoor and interior break to the council house.

Remember with the intention of a large amount foundation cracks are cause from poor soil conditions and erosion. Make indubitable with the intention of you take digital pictures of the ground around your homespun. Digital cameras give develop into an additional valuable tool in support of homeowners and contractors.

Make Your Best Choice Using Digital Camera Reviews and Ratings

Many consumers are completely lost when it comes to knowing which digital camera is right for them. Thanks to Digital Camera Reviews and Ratings there is a wealth of information concerning various makes and models to assist you in your search. No matter which type of camera you are looking for, whether it be point and shoot cameras, ultrazoom cameras or digital SLR cameras, experts and users alike have reviews and ratings of them. Check out a few different sites as some cameras have features that you may want while others are very basic. The reviews and ratings may be especially helpful if you are unable to decide between two or three models so keep that in mind.

Online Digital Camera ranks the Canon SD780 IS 12.1 MP 3X zoom camera as its top choice for point and shoot digital cameras. Their ranking is based on expert and consumer reviews, rankings, sales figures and ratings among online retailers. Priced at just $199, this camera is able to capture so much detail that you can easily blow your photos up to poster-size prints that while still retaining photo quality. You can shoot HD movies and an HDMI output is standard also. Ever under poor conditions, according to experts this camera comes through with flying colors and allows you to capture shots you never would have before. Customers are just as impressed with this slim little camera and, chances are, you will be too.

Retrevo also offers Digital Camera Reviews And Ratings for your search. In the point and shoot category, their top choice is the Casio Exilim EX-Z90, priced as low as $138.99. Customers feel the pictures are both crisp and clear and the camera has more features than its price would lead you to believe. Others feel it is a well constructed camera and the HD video just adds to the enjoyment. The perfect camera for any family is how one user put it.

Test Freaks favors the Pentax Optio P80 which receives a Freak Score of 9.2 out of 10. Priced at just $189.95, the camera is slim and elegant while still offering twelve megapixels, HD video and a 4X zoom along with many other features you will be sure to enjoy. Consumers report that this camera will stand up to abuse at the hands of your children and the setting allow you to shoot better photos than your expertise level would normally allow. Another plus is the eyes of users is that it will take sports shots even in a poorly light gym thanks to the flash of this camera. As you can see, when reading digital camera reviews and ratings, different people focus on different aspects. Choose which are most important to you and look for reviews that highlight that aspect. You won't be disappointed.

Jason Whitney writes about digital cameras reviews and ratings at http://www.squidoo.com/digitalcamerapros

Using Digital Cameras to Reinforce the Learning of Concepts Through Scavenger Hunts

Sending children prohibited with digital cameras to bargain feature examples of a theory is an exceptional way in favor of the children to establish understanding of a theory.

You might consider conveyance children prohibited to photograph objects with the purpose of are living and lifeless. Come to pass definitely to transfer the students a paper in favor of keeping track of come again? They've photographed. When they are all finished, upload the photos to the workstation. Either print the photos and consent to each one twosome of students contact an explanation in favor of each one photo, or barely musical them on a bulky screen and consent to each one childish person or twosome of students explain to the panache how their photo illustrates living or non living.

You might and stipulate geometry concepts you like your students to bargain. For younger students they could be looking in favor of scrupulous shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles and triangles. Older students will be looking in favor of arithmetical concepts such as intersecting ranks, equal ranks, feature types of triangles, tessellations, harmonizing and akin shapes, and that. All of these items can be found around the teach and schoolyard. Once the photos are taken, you could like the children to create a mini volume with a photo and explanation of each one arithmetical theory. Or maybe you'd like to create a panache patchwork and so you would plunk the titles of the types of arithmetical concepts on a bulletin board and children sort and hang their photograph in the proper location.

Another scavenger hunt inspiration is to comprise each one childish person want a correspondence from the alphabet (or a number) and subsequently search around teach or domicile in favor of an object with the purpose of begins with with the purpose of correspondence or illustrates with the purpose of total. Take a picture of the object(s). In the function of an addition, or a getting to know you inspiration, include the childish person in the photo so at what time it is labeled the child's VIP is incorporated! Compile into a panache volume with the purpose of can take turns on offer domicile with the students.

The same type of scavenger hunt can be prepared in favor of flag and shapes and compiled into a patchwork of your abundance (whether electronic or paper.)

Try a digital scavenger hunt in favor of rhyming language. Put the two objects unruffled and take individual photograph, or take a photograph of each one object and plunk the photos segment by segment. Come to pass definitely to add the language!

If you need more cameras in favor of your panache to worth, try asking parents to donate their old cameras. People are updating and getting recent cameras much more often these days. Just be definitely to ask in favor of them to donate the cord along with the camera!

All of these activities are ways to engage children in their learning by using equipment in a way with the purpose of gets their attention and creates learners with the purpose of are eager to start each one teach date.

Would you like roughly unbound sample activities in favor of using cameras in the classroom? Visit [http://teachingwithcameras.Com] and download your unbound sampler.

Kathy Cothran is an elementary media specialist committed to serving teachers trip toys into learning tools. Her vast ideas experience ranges from nursery through Master's level education classes.

For years Kathy has been a "Gadget Girl." She loves equipment! Tie with the purpose of to her extensive ideas background and she has been able to awareness, revitalize, and inspire children and teachers to worth equipment in a rich, exciting way.

The Dos and Don'ts of Using Digital Camera Zooms

The zoom lens is a versatile and creative part of your camera. It adds very dimension to your image capture by allowing you to connection spaces and distances which would otherwise keep on as obstacles. The alternative is to run around like the household blue a..E take off difficult to obtain close an adequate amount of to the stroke and obtain to facilitate shot. Here are around zoom lens dos and dont's.

Forget as regards digital zooming

At the bring to an end of the objective zoom by the optics, many cameras award you the option of electronically zooming in a little more. The image quality quickly degrades and it isn't worth it.

Cropping the image

Too much headroom? Zoom in and banish it. Too much sky? Zoom in. You can crop your frame and create more paying attention advantage by eliminating empty distance from your photos.

Creating movement

Zooming in or absent in combination with a slower cover up zip, whilst taking the snap will create around wonderful personal property. You can generate a impression of stroke or signal as elements in the picture will look as if they are 'streaking' outwards, sideways, up or down.

Avoid camera shake

Come to pass aware to facilitate on the bring to an end of the lens's central time-span the image will be testing to keep steady. This is since on such distances every small movement appears exaggerated to a in height degree. The way to compensate this is to exhaust a support to secure the camera so it is rock steady.

Strange curves

Curving personal property can be seen on either extreme of the lens so to stay away from this, job around the core of the central time-span of the lens. For case, looking up on buildings with the bring to an end of long lens, it might appear to bend inward considerably.

The zoom is a dynamic tool pro image creation if it is used wisely.

Using Digital Cameras For Your Photography Business

It is quite a truth to conversations after it comes to photographs obtain misrepresented on top of the years. Before, individual would say: "Okay, run into a pose! Perfect! I a minute ago can't stop how the picture would circle away!". But now, it would sound numerous: "Okay, run into a pose! Perfect! So, could you repeat that? Organize you think? Should we save or delete this shot?". Now, could you repeat that? May perhaps obtain brought the difference stuck between these two conversations? It is not a hint other than the invention of the digital camera! Digital cameras obtain been quite an pro to all folks involved in photography interest, or even folks who a minute ago would like to take pictures. All you need to obtain to be able to mistreat a digital camera are two things: Principal is the recollection tag, and minute is the cable to upload the shots against a PC.

With these cameras, you can take more than five hundred pictures (which depends on the presented recollection of the card). With this capability, making errors is quite irrelevant; you can for ever and a day take many versions of the same picture until you're pleased with the outcome. The truth of the trouble is to digital cameras obtain suit part of the people's lifestyle, and anywhere you become, you comprehend to hear fill with saw "Would you like to understand the pictures to I've taken from my vacation go on weekend? Check away the pictures in my camera and you'll understand could you repeat that? I mean...".

Unfortunately representing trained photographers, the presence of the digital camera funds to their services are not required to much compared to the adult days. Before, a trained photographer would be hired representing whichever kind of of the essence event, like christenings, weddings, birthday parties, and so on. But now, since almost everybody has a digital camera (and it's quite trouble-free to mistreat one), many would ask a lonesome or a virtual to be the photographer representing the daytime. Small-time printing businesses obtain in addition suffered from this, as the photographs taken from the device don't obtain to be printed away to be seen. There's little or refusal need on all to visit printing shops since the photos can be stored in a PC and they can be printed away from it (unless, of sequence, there's a need representing proper suppression and printing of the photos).

Some cameras in addition obtain added enhancements: About can single videos, while others enable the user to edit the photo on the device itself. And these are lone about of the things to can be completed with these cameras. Digital cameras are justly the way of the potential, so become in the future... Try and mistreat individual representing your hobby or photography interest!

The Convenience of Using Digital Cameras

Digital audio to video is adapted already by so many people anywhere in the whole world. You can see people in any occasion bringing with them their digital video cameras. You can see many tourist all over the place taking video and photos using their digital camera. The most popular brand of this camera is Nikon. What do you think why? Following are the advantages of such cameras so one will really know why he/she has to buy one:

Using digital cameras to take pictures is convenient. The digital photographs are exceptionally adaptable and can easily be transferred in the computer and sent to your friends and loved ones through email or photo sharing.

You can save all your files or pictures taken in the computer and you can also burn them on a CD, it may be for back up file purposes. You can also upload that on the website or a blog whenever you like. You can use this to make a personalized product such as mugs, greeting cards and t-shirts since they can be quickly printed.

Using this digital camera is cost saving because you don't have to buy film and have it developed in a developing center if you want to see them. You can simply view it very fast by just connecting your digital camera to the LCD screen, computer or even on the TV.

One best advantage of Nikon coolpix digital camera prints is that it is easy when you want to do edit.

Markets are already selling a lot of image editing software programs which permit you to change and transform images artistically. You can eliminate some parts in the picture you don't like, adjust the colors to enhance the picture and make it more attractive.

There is included an LCD screen in Nikon digital cameras which will function as a view finder and as a picture viewer also. This is very nice because you can see the photo right away when you click it. If you don't like that way it was taken, you can delete and take another one.

Mostly people especially the young ones are addicted to photography using their Nikon digital cameras because of its outstanding service and very affordable. Why not buy one for you and enjoy your watching yourself days, months, and years ago.

My preference for kitchen remodeling are small kitchen sinks and kitchen light fixtures.

Using Camera RAW

Digital cameras typically produce one of two types of files -- JPGs or RAW files. Most amateurs work with JPGs while most professionals prefer to work with RAW files.

Here's why:

JPG files are small and can be handled by most commercial programs, even those inexpensive ones you find at Wall Mart and Staples. They are small because they are created by a process called lossy compression. This means that some of the original data is lost, even removed, when the file is created and compressed. If the level of compression is set too high it can cause a real deterioration in image quality (you get to choose the level of compression both inside your camera - the image quality setting - and by using a program such as Photoshop or Photoshop Elements where you will be able to choose the degree of compression applied to your corrected image, usually between a range of 1 to 12, 12 being the least amount of compression).

The reason most programs can read and load JPGs is that they have long been the publishing industry's standard format. The JPG is also the standard format used on the web. So, as you can see, JPG files are very convenient and easy to use. And yes, they can be and are reproduced in glossy magazines. One more thing: each time you save a JPG image you lose a little more quality until finally the image becomes virtually useless. As I already mentioned, small JPG images of less than 100k in size are fine for web use. A computer screen is set up to handle no more than 72 dots per inch (no, I'm not going to get into that here) while publication quality digital images (for newspapers and glossy magazines) require 300 dots per inch. The JPG file can easily handle both applications.

But here's the thing: when your digital camera saves an image in JPG format all of the in-camera settings - color balance, color temperature, white balance, sharpening and so on - are processed by the camera and placed into the file for you. In essence the camera says to itself, "this is what I think he/she would the image to look like, and most of the time it gets it pretty darned close. And this is not necessarily a bad thing because you can still change all of those elements, be it to a somewhat limited degree, in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, but when you do the quality of the image will deteriorate significantly.

RAW files are created by your camera in a proprietary format, unique to each camera manufacturer. They can even be unique to the specific camera model you are using. These files are compressed by using a lossyless system. This means that little or no information is lost during the act of compression. So, when you shoot a RAW format file, there will be no in-camera processing. There will be no sharpening, no color balance applied, no white balance: the camera has made none of those decisions for you as it does when it generates a JPG file. As I said earlier, what you have in a RAW file is essentially the digital camera's equivalent of a "negative." No, there is no reversal of the image. What you have is just an entirely complete original.

And what does all this mean to us? Well, when you work on a RAW file in Photoshop you are working with a much higher quality original than you would if it were a JPG file. You will also have greater control, which means more creativity, when you make your adjustments, corrections and manipulations, and you will not significantly degrade the quality of resulting image. The first time it will be compressed is when you save it as a JPG file, or whatever other file format you choose (such as a TIF).

RAW file formats are unique so we need to use a special program to process them. All digital camera manufacturers provide special software for processing their own RAW files. Often these programs come free with the camera. The best programs for dealing with these files, though, are offered as plug-ins for such industry standards as Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.

Another advantage of using the RAW file is that, other than deleting it, you can't corrupt it. You must save the altered image as either a JPG file or in some other format. Be warned though: always copy your RAW files to CDs or DVDs for archiving. Then, as new and more improved processing software becomes available, you will always have them on hand whenever you feel the need to work on them again.

About the author: Blair Howard is a professional photographer and instructor. His published works include 33 books and more than 630 articlesHe is also the author of two online, study-at-home courses for writers & photographers who would like to sell their work, ?The Photo Essay: Getting Your Foot in the Door,? and Beginning Digital Photography. For more information: www.blairhoward.com

Digital Camera Lessons - Using Cameras to Teach the Alphabet in Early Childhood

Teaching and learning the alphabet is a huge part of early childhood. Only after beginning to make sense of the letters and their sounds can a child begin to understand the world of print.

Cameras can help cement the understanding of the letters in many ways. In addition, children become enthusiastic about learning when they get to hold and use the cameras.

The most common way to teach the alphabet with cameras is to find objects that begin with each letter and compile either a class book, individual book, or bulletin board. We would see a photo of an apple, an acorn, and Ashley for the letter A. Some letters will be tricky unless you have an x-ray or xylophone hanging around! One method would be to make a page for each letter of the alphabet and then give each child a page to work on at home. Or, go on a scavenger hunt as a class and take turns taking pictures of the objects you find along the way. (Note: it is best to have the entire alphabet written down on a piece of paper, and then write down which object is for each letter. That will also help you keep track of what letters you still need to find objects to represent.)

Another more abstract way to illustrate the alphabet is to look for the shape of the letters. For instance, the wheel or steering wheel would be the letter O. An edge of a cement block or a hockey stick could make the letter L. The criss cross of a wicker chair back would show the letter x. Two fence slats with the parallel support bar in the middle could be the letter H.

The Living Alphabet is a way to involve everyone in the class. Break the class into groups of 4 or 5 children. Assign a letter to each group. Have the children lay down on the floor to make the capital letter. Take a photo. Have that group also write a tongue twister for the letter (for the more advanced.) It  is best to keep a list of the complete alphabet and check off each letter as you photograph it so you know which letters are left to assign to the groups as they finish. Create an alphabet book with your printed out photographs!

When moving into ending sounds, you could photograph objects that end in each letter. Again, there are a couple letters that could prove challenging.

Taking pictures is an exciting activity for children. You may want to require that the neck or wrist strap is always worn in order to keep the camera safer. You will see children engaged in learning when you introduce these types of learning activities.

Visit [http://teachingwithcameras.com] to download a free sampler of Digital Cameras in the Classroom activities that are ready for you to use in your classroom tomorrow.

Kathy Cothran is an elementary media specialist committed to helping teachers turn toys into learning tools. Her vast teaching experience ranges from preschool through Master's level education classes.

For years Kathy has been a "Gadget Girl." She loves technology! Tie that to her extensive teaching background and she has been able to interest, invigorate, and inspire children and teachers to use technology in a rich, exciting manner.

Interested in other ways that toys can become learning tools? Visit http://turningtoysintotools.com

Special Effects Using Camera Filters

A glance through almost any magazine will display a flood of picture ads. For the most part, the special effects you see in these ads are created either through photo editing software or cameras fitted with special types of filters.

Many types of filters are available, each having a unique and specific function. For example, there are different filters for black and white, others for color photos, and some that are used for both. Additionally, there are also filters that enhance contrast while others improve the picture sharpness.

Below are brief descriptions of various filters and the effects they produce on pictures.

Cross and Star Effect Filters

Star effect flares are available in different points like star-eight and star-six. These flares are used for increasing image brightness and enhancing more difficult photos of theme parks, sun reflecting from glass surfaces, and street lights.

Like star filters, a cross filter is best for situations in which the person in the picture is wearing jewelry. It generates more dramatic effects to anything bright worn by the person.

Spectral cross filters are normally used in portraits and outdoor shots. They produce cross effects and soft-focus effects. These filters consist of two transparent optical glasses which are arranged in a rotating frame. A gauze-like black fiber is positioned between the two transparent glasses.

Made up of two glasses, Vario cross filters generate a special effect of four light rays emerging from a single point source of light. You can easily rotate each glass individually to change the angle of emerging rays of light.

Close-up Filters

This filter is better than a zoom lens. It is used for close-up photography and available in different diopters ranging from +1 to +10. The higher the number the, closer the capture.

Macro close-up filters with a +10 diopters rating with a two-element, two-group construction lens are used for capturing tiny objects such as flowers and insects.

With it, you can easily take a close up of only half the subject, retaining the other half in its normal size. This is helpful when you want to focus on both near and distant objects simultaneously.

Multivision Filters

Multivision filters find their niche when a single subject needs to be displayed in an individual photo repeatedly. These filters are available in ranges of 3F, 3PF, 6F, 6PF, and 5F. Each number represents the number of times an object will be duplicated in the picture. Moreover, different colors can be added to an image using color multivision filters.

Misty Spot Filters

Misty spot filters are used for emphasizing the primary focal point of the picture. For this purpose the background of the image is set to a blur with the image in its normal state to accentuate the subject in the foreground.

There are four different types of misty spot filters: breezing filters, gradual filters, windmill filters, and halo filters.

Diffusion Filters

Due to uneven or irregular surface, diffusion filters produce a soft focus effect. These are normally used for portrait shots.

Center Spot Filters

The center spot filter gives the center a sharp and clear image. The background, on the other hand, ends up with a romantic, foggy effect.

These filters enhance specific details of photos without the use of computer photo editing software.

For practical photography & camera information, please visit http://www.photography-and-cameras.com, a popular site providing great insights about photography training, camera types, and more.

Recover Images From CF Card Using Cameras

If you use a camera using CF cards, you must be familiar with the fact that these storage media, in spite of their data safeguard technologies, are not always loss-proof in all conditions. Certain mishandling commitments can damage and corrupt the card making it inaccessible.

Once your card is inaccessible due to corruption, the images you store on them are practically irretrievable which is tantamount to saying that they are lost. Images lost from your camera in this way are normally considered lost forever. If you already have a backup file of these images, your computer's Backup utility may be your recovery solution. But if this is not the help, use some specially developed image recovery software.

Suppose, you accidentally switch your camera off while images on your card are being transferred to the computer. You are afraid if anything has gone wrong. But now, when you put your camera on and try to continue the transfer process, it turns out clear that there is not image visible on your camera. Your monitor rather shows you some error message telling you that your card is damaged, corrupted and needs reformatting. So, you are at a loss!

Cause:

If you improperly interrupt the active data transfer or read/write process of your camera data, it will certainly terminate the process improperly causing damage to the storage media. Thus the card having become unusable, the images on it are practically lost. And on the other hand CF cards being not part of the computer or camera, data lost from them do not go to any storage media of the computer or camera in visible or invisible form.

Solution:

There are two possible solutions. The first is the computer's Backup facility. This facility is usable to some satisfactory extent if you have a backup file made already of the images prior to their loss. To run this program you need to reformat your card first, too.

If a backup file is not available, or if Backup utility cannot help, use some magically powerful digital image recovery software. Such programs are written using the latest data recovery technologies to cater to the image recovery needs of the time.

Along this line, Stellar Phoenix Photo Recovery v3.2 recovers lost multimedia files of various formats from almost all storage media. Compatible with Windows and Apple Mac operating systems, this digital image recovery application saves the recovered data in a user-specified location keeping the originals intact.

Simpson is expert in data recovery software field working as a freelancer with Stellar which offers data recovery software including image recovery, image recovery software and photo recovery software.

Photography Tips - Using Camera Flash At Night

A night-time photo shoot often presents a problem or two, especially when including an element of interest in the background such as architecture. In most cases a tripod or some other method of stabilizing the camera will be necessary due to the slow shutter speeds used with low-light photography. But even with a tripod, our subject needs to remain somewhat statuesque to prevent blurring. If you've ever tried portraits at night, you'll know that getting clean sharp shots is almost impossible when there's any kind of movement.

We often end up turning on our flash to get around this issue. But this leads us into another problem. Using frontal flash at night will certainly capture your subject, but everything that's outside of your flash range, everything in the background will disappear into blackness. The resulting shot will be simply your bright subject, in a sea of blackness.

So in low light, how do we include the subject AND the background?

The answer is slow-sync flash.

It's a pretty simple concept that combines long exposure with flash photography. There are two types of slow-sync flash available to us, and they will each produce their own unique results. The two types are "front curtain" or "rear curtain". Either method can be used in an environment where everything is still with little difference in the outcome, not forgetting that a tripod would still be necessary in most cases. However, if you're trying to capture any kind of movement within the scene, it's important to choose the technique that will provide you with the desired result.

Front-curtain: The flash is fired at the start of the shot - right when the shutter opens. The flash will illuminate the subject and foreground, and the shutter will remain open for the remainder of the shot - long enough to capture everything else in the background.

Rear-curtain: Basically the opposite of the above. The shutter is opened for as long as necessary - long enough to capture the background, and then at the very last minute, the flash will fire to illuminate the subject and foreground.

As an example, try to imagine a scene where there is a little bit of frontal lighting. There's a building or a large sculpture in the background that has been up-lit, and we want to capture both our subject, who is close-by AND the background architecture. We decide to use the rear-curtain technique and an exposure of around 10 seconds. As we press the shutter button our subject begins to walk through the frame from the left-hand side - and we time it so that the flash fires just as they are about to exit to the right. The resulting shot will show our subject about to exit the frame, but with light trails behind them - perhaps giving the feeling of a speedy exit.

What results do you think the front curtain method would produce? If you were to have the flash fire as the subject enters the scene, then leave the shutter open as they walk through the frame. What effect do you think that would have on the resulting photo?

I encourage you to experiment and to use your imagination. There's unlimited potential for interesting effects, and if you would like to know more about photography, here's another resource for photography techniques.

Picture Imperfect - The Implications of Using Cameras to Monitor Drivers and Enforce Traffic Laws

Anyone who has driven the roundabout encircling Philadelphia's City Hall or down the Northeast Philadelphia drag strip (a.k.a. Roosevelt Boulevard) has no doubt encountered the cameras monitoring whether motorists stop at the traffic lights. Although these cameras apparently have made driving these roads safer, are the new traffic laws that were passed to regulate these cameras consistent with the traditional principles of American Law?

Although most people do not view a traffic violation as seriously as a criminal offense, said violations are a form of criminal offense. According to Pennsylvania Courts, a traffic violation is classified as a summary offense pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. Section 106(c) (see Stumpf v. Nye, 2008 Pa. Super. 122 (2008), Commonwealth v. Henry, 2008 Pa. Super. 20 (2008), and Commonwealth v. Gimbara, 2003 Pa. Super. 394 (2003)). According to 18 Pa.C.S.A. Section 106(c), a summary offense is a classification of a criminal offense. Pennsylvania Courts have made it clear that even for summary offenses, the burden the Commonwealth must meet is "beyond a reasonable doubt" (see Commonwealth v. A.D.B., 752 A.2d 438 (Pa.Cmwlth. 2000 and Commonwealth v. Banellis, 452 Pa.Super. 478 (1996)). Therefore, working backward logically, as a traffic violation is a summary offense, which is a classification of a crime, and the Commonwealth's burden of proof for a crime is beyond a reasonable doubt, it is clear that the Commonwealth has to prove its case against a defendant in Traffic Court beyond a reasonable doubt, and therein lies the rub relative to the traffic cameras mentioned above.

According to 75 Pa.C.S.A. Section 3116(a), a city of the first class, such as Philadelphia, is authorized to enforce traffic control devices through the use of an automated camera system. The cameras photograph the rear of a vehicle, capturing its make, model, and license plate, as well as the violation, as it passes through an intersection against the direction of a traffic control devise, generally a red traffic light. Pursuant to Section 3116(b) of the same title, if an automobile is photographed perpetrating a traffic violation by driving through a red light, the owner of the vehicle is presumed liable for the penalty for the violation. If a vehicle owner is presumed liable for a traffic violation penalty due to a photograph pursuant to Section 3116(a), it is up to the owner of the vehicle to prove his innocence by raising various defenses, such as alleging that he was not driving the vehicle at the time the photograph was taken. It is also notable that under Section 3116(e)(1), the statute specifically prohibits the cameras to photograph the front of a vehicle as evidence of the violation.

What happened to the Commonwealth having to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt? It seems that 75 Pa.C.S.A. Section 3116, in one fell swoop, has, in effect, turned perhaps the most axiomatic of American legal principles on its head. The Commonwealth's burden of proof of beyond a reasonable doubt, which applies to criminal matters such as violating traffic control devices, has not just been reduced to a less onerous burden, but it has been essentially reversed by placing the burden on the automobile owner to prove his innocence. The presumption of guilt against the owner of a vehicle afforded by Section 3116 overlooks doubts that are manifestly reasonable on their face such as: it was the owner's spouse, friend, child and/or neighbor driving the car, not the owner himself, or that the car was stolen. Indeed, even the obvious solution of photographing the front of the vehicle which would, or at least could, capture an image of the face of the driver illegally traversing the intersection is inexplicably prohibited.

Finally, it would seem that Section 3116 tacitly, without any fanfare at all, undermines a basic principle of traffic law which heretofore established that penalties for violating a traffic law attach to an individual rather than the vehicle itself. It seems that Section 3116, without explicitly changing the focus of traffic law, suddenly has made being caught by an approved camera a violation that attaches to the vehicle itself as opposed to the driver. While focusing on the vehicle as opposed to the driver could be an explanation for the sudden ease in the Commonwealth's burden in these sorts of matters, nowhere in the statute is it stated that traffic violations now attach to vehicles as opposed to drivers. Therefore, one is left with the clear conclusion that, when it comes to traffic control cameras, a vehicle owner is guilty of a violation until proving himself innocent.

Surely the safer streets, which seem to have resulted from the installation of cameras, is a good thing. However, although most people view traffic violations as a minor issue, the apparent overturning of the basic American principle of "innocent until proven guilty" could potentially have significant and long range effects. Could Section 3116 be struck down by the Court? Possibly, but due to the costs involved, it is obviously unlikely that a conviction under Section 3116 would even be litigated let alone appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. However, it is not outside the realm of possibility that the Pennsylvania Legislature could use Section 3116 as a springboard to slowly erode and ease its burden of proof in even more significant criminal matters. As citizens of this venerable Commonwealth, we must be vigilant in ensuring that our rights do not continue to be eroded in the name of safety.

James W. Cushing, Esquire
Law Office of Faye Riva Cohen, P.C.
2047 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
P: 215-563-7776
F: 215-563-9996
http://www.fayerivacohen.com

Originally published in "Upon Further Review" on 12/8/09: http://uponfurtherreview.philadelphiabar.org/page/Article?articleID=4a7d38d8-6c59-4186-ba6a-3a96bad2fec2

How To Adjust Color Temperature Using Camera Raw or Curves in Photoshop Elements

Adjusting the color temperature of an image can make a big difference to the feel of the image. Usually people prefer a slightly warm color temperature rather than neutral, though if you want your image to have a cold look, you may want to adjust the color temperature to be cooler.

There are quite a few different ways to adjust the color temperature of a photo. Probably the easiest way is using the White Balance tool and color temperature slider in Adobe Camera Raw (ACR).

Using Adobe Camera Raw to adjust the color temperature

If you are working with a RAW file, you can just open the file in Photoshop and it should automatically open up Camera Raw. If you want to adjust a JPEG or TIFF file, then in Photoshop go to File > Open As...

In the Open As dialog, select the file you want to open, then change the 'Open As' option to Camera Raw (followed by a long list of RAW filetypes). Then click 'Open' to open the file in Camera Raw.

In ACR click the White Balance dropper tool (at the top of the window), and click on an area of the image that should be a neutral color (somewhere between dark gray and very light gray). Camera Raw will automatically select the correct color temperature and tint settings to make the area that you clicked neutral.

Probably you will want the image looking slightly warm rather than the more clinical neutral color balance, so adjust the temperature slider, and move it to the right slightly.

Using curves to adjust the color temperature

An alternative way to adjust the color temperature of an image, is by using a curves adjustment. This is more time consuming than using the white balance tool in Camera Raw, but has the benefit of allowing much finer control.

Photoshop Elements doesn't include a real curves adjustment ability, so doing a curves adjustment isn't as easy as it is in Photoshop CS. Still, it is possible to perform curves adjustments in Photoshop Elements, you will need to start by downloading and installing the Smart Curve Curves Adjustment for Photoshop Elements.

If you are using Photoshop Elements, you will need to install the Smart Curves filter, then open it via Filter > easy.Filter > SmartCurve. In the SmartCurve window, hover the mouse pointer over the preview image, and place the cursor over an area of the image that should be neutral.

In the top right hand corner of the SmartCurve window, you will see 3 figures for the Red, Green, and Blue values at the current mouse position. For a neutral subject, we want all 3 of these values to be the same, if your image has a color cast, the values are likely quite different.

Make a note of the Red, Green, and Blue values.

To correct the color cast using curves, change the Channel (on the right hand side, it will currently say 'RGB'). If your image has a red or cyan cast, first select the Red Channel. If the image has a Green or Magenta cast, select the green channel. If the image has a Blue or yellow cast, select the blue channel.

You now want to correct the curve for that channel so that the values are nearer to the other values. For example, if I have an image with the following values: R199, G176, B111. This image has a yellow tint, you can see the blue value there is far less than the red and green values.

So I select the blue channel and then add a point to the middle of the curve. Checking the In and Out values in top right hand corner of the Smart curves window, I place the point around 111. I now pull this point upwards. For a completely neutral image I should pull it to 176 (the same as the green value, and I would need to adjust the Red value as well), but I want a slightly warm image, so I pull it to 170.

You may find that after a single channel adjustment, your color temperature is correct, but often you will need to adjust two or all of the channels. Play around with the different channels, moving them up and down until you get a color balance you are happy with. In my example, I found that modifying the curves to give the final RGB values of R213, G194, B166 gave a pleasing color balance.

Dave Kennard writes for www.discoverdigitalphotography.com, offering photography tips and advice. The website covers all types of photography, including landscape, portrait, and macro, and is updated with new tips on a regular basis.

Making Money With Your Digital Camera Using Camera Dollars

Are you just getting started and wondering where you can get all the information on how to make money with your digital camera? Maybe you have heard of a program called Camera Dollars, but you do not understand how and what it is. I have taken the time to explain it a little more in depth to help you on your journey of making money with your digital camera using Camera Dollars.

The "Camera Dollars Income System ebook" which is written by Brian Moore claims to contain everything that one needs to know on how to make money with your digital camera. This is actually one of the few books that are currently available on the market today with the type of useful information and resources; anyone who uses a digital camera will ever need to know and understand.

Brian Moore himself has been using these techniques for more than two years and claims to make a full time living from them. He continues to make his living as a free-lance digital photographer. I have listed some of the advice and tips that will be covered on making money with your digital camera using Camera Dollars.

You will learn how to earn an ongoing residual income from the photos you sell.

You will learn about relatively unknown markets that are becoming huge because of the internet.

How to determine whether you are receiving the best possible fee for your photographs.

How you can sell your pictures on places like eBay and how to make it simple and quick.

What should you take pictures of - Find out the images that people are willing to pay for.

There is money to be made in the celebrity world - Find out how you can tap into this competitive market

Find out how to make your pictures look like you are a professional - even if you are just beginning.

These are not all the tips you will receive on making money with your digital camera using Camera Dollars. Anyone who is looking to begin a business utilizing their digital camera would benefit from this program whether you are a novice or have been doing it for a while. If you have taken pictures of images and you do not know what to do with them or have not decided on whether you are ready to sell them, then this guide will definitely help you make the right choice.

There is a lot more valuable information in the ebook, and it is extremely easy to read and to implement all the techniques he gives. With the techniques that Brian Moore gives it is easy and anyone who has internet connection can utilize the methods. It does not matter where you live all you have to do is implement the program into what you are doing right now and watch your profits begin to soar.If you found these tips useful then feel free to visit the site below for more information on how to make money with your digital camera.

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