One of the most common technique that is learned at a photographic school is the framing photography

Three qualities are essential for good picture framing; taste, proportion

and craftsmanship in that order. In framing, it is difficult to err on the

side of simplicity.

Advantage should be taken of good tradition, but the needs of modern living

must be kept in mind. The artist and craftsman should not be swayed by

"fads" in framing such as covering a Victorian atrocity with whitewash and

calling it "smart".

The three requisites mentioned above can only be developed with time and

through experience. However, if sufficient study is given to the picture

before it is framed, errors will be reduced and better frames will result.

Before either making or finishing the frame it should be remembered that the

proportions, that is, the width and depth or "profile" of the molding is of

more importance than the finish.

It is much easier to commit the fault of "over-framing" a picture than it is

to make the frame too plain or narrow.

The following general rule should always be borne in mind: The more elaborate,

colorful or detailed the picture, the simpler should be the frame and vice versa.

A monotonous effect can be avoided easily by giv-ing the frame an interesting

textural finish or by deco-rating it with a continuous line of geometrical shapes.

These should be based on the seven primary forms so well outlined in the book

'A Method for Creative Design' by Adolfo Best-Maugard.

Applied singly or in combination, along the outside, the inside, on the face

or a raised portion of the molding, the decoration will be unobtrusive and

yet provide interest. The com-binations of carving, texture and color are

almost endless, therefore no picture need be without its individual, perfect finish.

A digital photo frame can be a great birthday gift especially for someone that like to take digital photos

History Of Picture Framing

THE PICTURE FRAME, as it exists today, is derived from the doorway or entrance

to temples, palaces and cathedrals. From a functional viewpoint, it might have

been more practical to place doors at the sides of these buildings, but the

importance of the door framing an impressive picture of the interior was never

overlooked.

The need to enhance a picture or bas-relief with a frame is evidenced from the

earliest times. The first decorations were necessarily crude; a raised line

sometimes being the only ornament.

The earliest examples of frame-like decorations or borders bear a great resemblance

to door frames. They were composed of two columns surmounted by a con-necting

entablature and this form persisted into the 15th century. Even the decorations

painted by the artists around the edges of pictures before the intro-duction of

movable frames were similar in form.

As a matter of fact, frames without pictures eventu-ally came into existence

because the desire to embel-lish with Moldings was so strong. Rooms in palaces

were arbitrarily paneled with Moldings and their vestigial remains are to be seen

today in the senselessly paneled walls of apartments in modern cities.

When you look at the awesome pictures of wild animals it is then that you recognize the art of wildlife photography

Wildlife Photography, Catching The Animals By Surprise

Photography has been around for more than a century and our topics will never cease. There is portrait, landscape, wedding, and wildlife photography just to name a few. One of the most rewarding styles of photography centers on wildlife. It may take you several hours before finding the perfect picture and capturing it, but the reward is more than worth the wait.

Wildlife photography is perhaps the most difficult in the profession. You have to have the time, inclination, and of course the camera. Most wildlife shots are captured using a telephoto lens because the animal will not walk near you. Every once in a while you will be able to capture the fox, elk, bear or other animal as it comes through the woods in your path, however most of the time they are yards away and elusive.

Wildlife photography doesn't wait for you to happen a long and snap a photo. You need to immerse yourself in the site you choose your camera at the ready, and set for the light of the day. Most automatic cameras work great on the preset for those who are just learning to take wildlife photographs. Photography has always been about the moment and the best photographers can catch the moment with a speed and agility of the animal they are capturing.

Start with small subjects when you begin your foray into wildlife photography. Practice on your pet. Let them roam naturally and see if you can capture the wild and crazy moments on film without the photograph ending up blurry. All great photographers have studied and practiced. They also use more than one shot. Making sure your camera has a quick shutter speed will help you take more than one shot as your move with the animal. When you have the subject in your site you need to follow it while focusing and then quickly snap as many pictures as you can before they move out of site. This technique is known as panning. Rather than the subject coming to you, you follow the subject.

When you have mastered your pets you can begin to explore the outdoor world of wildlife photography. Some of your subjects will be standing still and this is another practice technique. Be aware of the lighting and placement while trying not to disturb the animal. It is most easy to get a squirrel when they are intent on eating or foraging for food. If you stay silent and walk carefully you can often get pretty close.

If you are choosing a larger subject such as a deer or bear you will want to stay far enough away to get the shot, and not draw attention to yourself. Bears are dangerous creatures, but they can be photographed if you use common sense and don't tread upon their territory. Wildlife photography and thus the photographers have a code of ethics when attaining the perfect shots. You will want to follow these ethics for your safety and the animals.

Wildlife photography is a waiting game for the perfect picture to sprint across your viewfinder. It takes patience and a lot of practice, but the reward of having a family member or friend go, " where did you get that photograph? I have got to have one," will sweeten the deal.

There is once again a certain cachet attached to black and white photography. Skin blemishes don't tend to be as apparent in black and white photographs as they do in color. Black and white photographs tend to be less 'busy' and as a result can be easier on the eye. Many amateur photographers have found that they have been accepted as 'serious' photographers since taking up black and white photography. Perhaps this is because in the modern era black and white photography is somehow seen as more 'artsy' than its color counterpart. Of course, an ideal compromise might be to take two cameras and photograph the wedding in both color and black and white. Of course, experimentation with using color and black and white photography should not be restricted purely to weddings. Read also in French: photo de mariage and Photo de plante

There are sites on the internet which allows you to vote for sites that you will elect as the best online photo

Taking pictures is not the only way to litter our walls with photography. There are those who are not interested in being behind the camera, but appreciate the art. If you have wondered where you might find some wonderful prints with a professional touch, but do not want to go to the galleries you might want to take a tour of the online world. Many people who take pictures place the pictures online for all to see. This helps you gain reorganization and potential clients for photography work.

The online world is full of photographers waiting to be discovered. Places like deviantart.com, eBay, and other online galleries exist for the convenience of finding new photographs for you home. Simply by putting the words photography, photographs, or prints will not lead you to the more professional prints online. When searching online you will need to use specific keywords. These keywords take you to picture of a specific nature.

If you are more interested in wildlife it is best to use those key words along with photography. Another drawback to online searching is getting the product from a reputable source. You want to make sure that your credit card information is safe, that the shipping will be affordable and appropriate. How they ship the print is also important you want to make sure a shipping company will not damage it. The number one thing about shipping prints is they require some insurance to ensure your investment has protection against damage, potential lost and theft when delivered.

There are several tips you will want to follow when shopping online. Perhaps the most important tip is remembering you are seeing the print scanned into the online store. This means you are not in the gallery to check the print over and analyze it to the full extent. You will want to be a little wary if the photographs are grainy or they appear to have flaws. It is often best to shop online at art galleries with a reputation. These companies generally have great reputations and offer different shipping methods and insurance.

In order to find appropriate sites you will want to understand page rank. Google ranks the web pages in order to give you an idea of the pages with the information you want as well as letting you know the sites validity. The higher the page rank, the more traffic the website has seen. Big known websites might offer more pictures and quality picture from a reputable service or business.

It can be very difficult to find photography galleries online that will actually sell their prints. It will take a little time and effort, but the results are most often worth it. Just searching for keywords may net you photography techniques or schools rather than galleries to purchase from. If you have a favorite artist or gallery chances are you can enter their name to find the prints you are looking for online. If you are hoping for quality prints, but do not wish to pay for an artist's name you may have to spend a few hours to find just the right photographs.

Online galleries are just another way technology has become convenient for all of us. Finding photography online to purchase can be difficult if you are looking for an obscure artist or print topic. You will need to search with specific keyword or topics to find prints. If you are interested in Alaskan photographs of wildlife you should narrow your sure just by mentioning the state. We all find photographs add to a homes décor. Galleries are often the way most of us find photographs because we like to see the prints up close, however online is the new way for convenience. So the next time you wish to change out your homes décor you might look online for ideas if not the product to satisfy you and your families needs.

Face painting pictures has always been popular among the children as they view it as a fun moment

The Importance of Face Painting Pictures

The art of face painting can be as simple or as complicated as the talent of the person painting. More adventurous and experienced painters can put a lot of detail into their pictures in an amazingly short amount of time.

When my son was 4 years old, an extremely talented artist, at a festival in Northeast California painted a beautiful blue roadrunner bird on my son's cheek. My son refused to wash his treasure off for 3 days, during which time the paint had begun to chip, peel, and smear. Of course, I had to take a photograph of him snaggle-toothed and grinning with pride.

Face painting has become quite advanced over the years. Some wonderful artists have perfected the art of air brushing the face. Manufacturers now create face stencils, paint pencils, face glitter, and stick-on jewelry to add pizzazz to face painting pictures. Pastel paints have been developed as well to create a softer effect.

Family fun attractions have adopted face painting as part of their appeal. It is offered in malls as well, although usually reserved for the holidays so as to maximize on the profits possible at such times.

Devoted football fans have painted their faces for years, proudly sharing their team spirit with the display of team colors upon their person. Sometimes this will include the paw print of a mascot or maybe the name or initials of the favored team, player, or player number.

The colors for face painting must be considered when choosing which pictures you'll want to paint. Will you want to offer only a certain theme suited for a nearby holiday or upcoming event?

You certainly wouldn't sell many Halloween pictures at Christmas or vice versa. Monsters would not be appropriate for a church function. Children of today would be less likely to choose an older cartoon figure from an adult's childhood. Your choice of pictures can have either a negative or a positive impact upon the reception of your talent and the success of your sales.

Plenty of practice before a big event is necessary to ensure your success as well. Timing will decide how popular you'll be. If you should you take too long, a young child is certain to become impatient. Take into consideration the level of difficulty in a painting. Whatever pictures you choose, good quality outcome is the key to pull-in customers. Offer only pictures you know you can deliver well and quickly. Sloppy work will quickly kill any hopes of building your newfound business. The more thought and effort you put in, the more satisfaction you will get out.

Remember to take a camera and get pictures of your finished face painting for your portfolio. This will be necessary should you ever need to send someone a sample of your work when trying to obtain gigs. Don't forget the benefits of doing some work for free in order to build your reputation in the business. Last, but not least, consider hiring a partner to help you manage your booth.

The use of a photo editing software also allow for the adding of special effects in the photos and thus making it quite personalized

When you are a photographer or even just an amateur photographer, you will find that you need to have computer software to run your digital camera. Digital cameras often come with the computer software, which makes it easier to download the pictures you have taken as well as edit them. A photographer used to have to go into a dark room and edit photographs. Now computer software like Adobe Photoshop, Arcamax, and Photo Explosion help you to edit the photographs. While there are several different brands of cameras and photographers computer software one of the best on the market is Adobe Photoshop.

Adobe Photoshop has the most tools to manipulate photographs and make them the highest quality. You will need to have a tutorial on Adobe Photoshop computer software to learn everything about editing, but you will find that once you have the knowledge the program is the most user friendly. You can actually upload photos from negatives, from cameras, and from scanners. You will be able to edit out those little scratches or lint that were on the camera lens to make the photograph seem perfect. You can also fix the color of a photograph with photographer's computer software. If you find that, the photo is washed out or a little dark in spots you can manipulate the color to eliminate the wash out or dark spots.

When you are a professional photographer, you will want to have the best equipment out there. Adobe Photoshop normally runs $350.00 or a little more depending on the addition. If you are just an amateur photographer, you can find programs such as Arcamax or Photo Explosion for as little as $40. You will also find that most cheap digital cameras come with the computer software you will need to not only download pictures, communicate with the camera, but also to edit the photographs. . While this computer software is inferior to Adobe Photoshop, you will find the ability to change the colors of the picture if they are washed out or too dark, you will be able to smudge an area to remove problems, and you will be able to crop the photograph.

Photographers computer software is designed to take you out of a dark room and away from film altogether. You will find that there are more than just the three software programs mentioned and most of them have the same tools. It will depend on the expense of the software as to how many tools you have and the ease of use. Adobe Photoshop has an easier way to enlarge photographs. You do have to understand pixels and resolutions for this to work, but you are able to manipulate the photograph from a 4×6 to an 8×10 and keep the resolution that you need. Instead of heading to a professional camera shop, you will be able to get the prints you need.

When working with photographers computer software you also have to keep in mind that the product is only as good as the printer you are using. There are also many different printers with photo capabilities. In order to get the resolution you need when you print you have to have a printer that is capable of that resolution. Often printers will also come with photographers computer software, which can make your life a little easier when you are just an amateur.

Digital photo restoration is an art that is mastered by only good photographers

If you are interested in making photography as a hobby, you might want to learn more in order to better enjoy it. Photography is not just something that you can do overnight. Such a hobby would require that you need to learn something a bit more.

For one, there are techniques that need to be learned in order to get great pictures. Then there is also the need to know about the different equipment used in photography that is just as important.

If you want to further enjoy photography as a hobby, the best way to start is by getting into digital photography. Digital photography is currently one of the most preferable by some hobbyists because of the convenience that it can provide. With digital photography, no longer is the photography hobbyist limited by the rolls of film that he or she has.

Digital photography provides a "film-less" way for hobbyists to continue on their hobby for as long as their camera memory can provide (and it can be way more than what any ordinary photographic film may be able to give).

Digital photography also offers hobbyists with a way to easily learn about photography in general. Most digital cameras are fairly easy to use. They provide easy methods for first time photographers to learn the ropes bit by bit.

In digital photography, mistakes may not be as costly since most digital cameras offer taking a considerable amount of shots without ever the use of expensive film. And with digital cameras, it is easier to get prints from your shots. All you will need is a PC and a printer setup in order to get prints. It may even be easier for you to send copies online anywhere on the world.

If you want to learn more about photography, there are several digital photography courses now available that would really help. Out of these courses, you would be able to learn more about the ins and outs if digital photography, both as a hobby and even as a profession. One of the things that you will learn is how to properly shoot pictures by using the digital camera.

You can also be taught how to best use your digital camera given certain lighting conditions and weather. This will greatly help improve the shots that you will be getting; now that you have a pretty good idea on how each shot can be set in ideal conditions.

Digital photography can be an amazing hobby which you can pursue as a hobby and learn a lot of things along the way.

Photo enhancement has gain prominence recently especially with the advent of the digital cameras and camera phones

One of the best things about digital photos is that you can fix them. You can also do photo enhancement on film pictures, but they often do not come out looking like they should. For the most part, if there is something wrong with your digital photos, there are a lot of things you can do to make them look better. You don't have to be an expert to do this, and it doesn't even have to take a lot of time.

There are many ways to go about photo enhancement. One of the best ways is to have a photo editor on your computer. You open up your photos in this editor, and there are many different things you can do. Of course, how much photo enhancement you can do will depend on what program you have, but most of them can do the basic things. You can crop photos to take out excess background, and you can often fix anything that may have occurred. You may also be able to lighten or darkened photos if the lighting has not been just right.

There are more complicated photo enhancement things you can do as well. If you are skilled with a computer, you can cut people out of one photo and insert them into another. You may also be able to make yourself look thinner or larger if you wish. This type of photo enhancement is often done for fun, and I know I have had a lot of fun doing this myself. You may also be able to do more serious things like fix scratches an old film photos, or perhaps do a color fix if someone's hair is looking green, or perhaps the photos were taken under fluorescent light and nothing looks right.

If you are absolutely hopeless when it comes to using a computer, you can have someone else to your photo enhancement for you. You will be charged for this, but if you can do it yourself you will find it will be well worth the price. You will be surprised what photo enhancement can do to a poor photograph. You may take in one of the worst photographs you have ever seen, and come out with something you will cherish. I know that I had a few bad photos of a loved one who died, and after photo enhancement, the pictures were something worth saving. You cannot put a price on these type of memories, and every nickel I spent on photo enhancement was well worth the price.

Some parents like to keep a baby photograph on their office desk to remind them of this important person in their life

I knew that my baby was cute - what parent does not feel that way? Still, when I got back the baby shower pictures, I was pretty surprised. That was one cute, photogenic kid in my opinion. The first few baby pictures that we had taken - the ones of Julie right after the delivery - looked like all newborn babies look. She had a pinched, scrunched up, red face, and was strange, pudgy, and wrinkly all over. After a few weeks, however, she had transformed pretty much completely. She looked very different from how she had at first. She even had a little bit of hair starting to grow in on her head!

When one of my friends first suggested that we enter her in a baby picture contest, I was not thrilled with the idea right at first. After all, I did not want her to be one of those over-pressured child actor kids who end up not being able to live a normal childhood. Still, I had to admit that the baby pictures did look very good and, with a visit to a professional baby photographer, they could look even better. It seemed like it was worth a try.

When we went to the photographer's office for the first time, we got to really get a look at her work. There were baby pictures all over the wall, and in every nook and cranny. There were cute baby pictures, ones that looked more sedate and serious, and even a few abstract studies in form that involved babies in them. It was clear right away that this woman knew her business, and really had quite a passion for babies.

Unfortunately, getting your baby pictures done can be kind of a hit or miss proposition - especially with a newborn. If she is not in the mood for it that day, that is it. There is no reasoning with a kid that small. Anyway, that day was a waste. None of the baby pictures really came out all that well, and after only about 5 minutes of shooting, we had to go. She was hungry and needed to be fed, and seemed pretty sleepy and grumpy as well. The next time we went, however, was pure gold. We had some of the most gorgeous, well-put-together pictures of babies I had ever seen! I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high, but I bet we can win that contest.

There are a lot of great photo sharing sites on the internet that will allow you to share your photos with your friends and relatives

The birth of the world wide web has spawned golden opportunities for people all over the world. The speed by which information is transmitted and the way information can be so easily accessed and used has opened doors for various industries to flourish and for some new ones to take root.

One of the industries that was born because of the technology that the Internet age has provided is the licensing of photographs that can be used in various print media. Because it is easier now for people to share the pictures that they have taken, some business-minded individuals have chosen to license their shots to websites that provide photo subscription services.

This is what is called by many as image banks, referring to how photographs from different sources are gathered together and offered to people who use photographs.

Among the fields that often avail of this kind of service are those that are involved in the publishing industry such as newspapers, magazines, advertising agencies and PR companies. Graphic artists and those that are involved in design and art usually avail of this web service as they also heavily use photographs in their various projects.

Photographs are organized according to subject areas although people can search through the thousands of choices by just typing a keyword or a subject word.

For photographers, this is a lucrative industry. But what makes image sharing such a booming industry now?

Lower Cost.

Unlike before when photographers had to buy rolls of film and use them to be able to take pictures, now they use digital cameras and memory cards. They can take as many photos as they can without having to pay for the film.

Ease in Sharing.

It is now much easier to produce photos. When before they will have to develop their photos from the roll of film, now they only have to upload their photos to the internet. They have already produced and submitted their work quickly.

More Variety.

Because more and more photographers have access to the Internet and are able to produce a large number of photographs, more variety is offered. All subject matter is covered making it easier for companies to choose appropriate photos for their needs.

Hassles of a Photoshoot.

The cost and hassles of having to organize a photo shoot can be discouraging for small companies. The cost of subscribing to an image bank site is cheaper than having to take photographs of every scene that you want.

Some simple wedding photography tips can help you make your photos move from a novice standard to a professional one

wedding photos Everyone loves to have a great collection of wedding photos when their big day has gone by and they have nothing left but memories and some gifts that they can't seem to find a place for. Though these are great to have, and will brings smiles for years and years to come, they can be a big pain to take during and after the wedding. There are a few things that any bride and groom can do to cut down on the process of taking these so that guests are not left waiting for the wedding party hours after the ceremony is over. For me, that is one of the worst parts of any wedding.

Some brides are oblivious to what their guests are going through while they are waiting. The wedding photos could take hours, and if the guests are not aware of a break between wedding and reception, they are not going to be happy. Some schedule the wedding photos in there, and the guests know they are not due at the reception until a few hours later. However, some don't bother. I have seen many people leave a wedding reception because they had been waiting for hours for the wedding party to arrive at the reception and they refused to wait any longer.

Though there is nothing anyone can do to hurry up the wedding photos in many cases, there are some things that can be done to make sure they do not take as long as they might otherwise. You can take certain photos before the ceremony to cut down on the ones that need to be taken afterwards. Any photos that do not require the bride and the groom to both be in the shot can be done before the ceremony. It might mean the bride has to be ready for a little longer, but she might not mind that very much.

This was something I did with my wedding photos, and I found that it cut the time needed for photos after the wedding dramatically. I was not only glad that they were out of the way, so were my guests. I can't say my wedding was perfect, but I do know that I did not leave my guests sitting for hours while we tried to take a ton of photos after the ceremony. My grandparents did not have to stand around and wait either, and that was a bonus for me. The last thing I wanted was for anyone, especially them, to be uncomfortable on my wedding day.

All good studios should provide quality wedding photographers to help you capture this exciting moment of your life.

A lot of people get involved in their career to right a wrong, but few of them are artists. I am an exception. A wedding photography San Francisco debacle got me interested in the world of professional photography.

You see, I was very much in love when I was getting married, and being in love makes you do stupid things. I'm not talking about the usual stupid things that people mention - staying out all night to watch the sun, driving across the country to meet up with your lover, leaving strange messages on the voice-mail. In my case, I'm talking about much more prosaic stupid things. You see, I was so busy being in love that I didn't bother to think enough about everyday matters. This can be a problem when you are acting as your own wedding planner!

I only looked at a few wedding photographers before I settled on one, and I mostly trusted my instincts. Sometimes, this is a good thing, but when you have the luxury of looking at other sources - say, for example, the portfolios and professional references of wedding photographers - you really should.

The wedding photographer was a joke. He was pretending to be a wedding professional photographer, but most of the pictures he had taken had been for free at friends weddings. I could have sworn that he showed up drunk to take the wedding photos, and you could see the results. A lot of them were blurry, poorly lit, and taken from unflattering angles. It is as if he wanted the wedding photography to be poor! I won't even start to talk about the wedding video! When me and my wife were complaining about the wedding photographers mistakes, I surprised her. I was quite specific about my criticisms. I knew exactly how each picture could be improved, and why you would expect a better job from a wedding photographer. Although I had little photographic experience, it appeared that I had a natural knack for it.

After quite a bit of coaxing from my wife, I decided to be a professional photographer. I knew that it was tough for wedding photographers to make it, but I also knew that I had a previously undiscovered talent. I definitely took a risk and went out on a limb, but in the long run it was worth it. My clients have been much happier with my work than I was with my own wedding photos!

Searching on the internet can bring out some interesting christmas card photo ideas

Photo Christmas Cards I went into the store the other night to get a few rolls of film developed. After waiting for ten minutes, a rather haggard looking woman came up to take my film. She looked like she was ready to cry, and I asked her if she was ok. She looked at me for a moment and blinked. I wasn't sure if she was going to cry or if she had lost the will to live. I think it was a little of both. She told me that the power had gone out for three hours, and she still had four hundred and eighty photo Christmas cards yet to print out. She was pretty sure she was going to go insane.

She told me that most people wait until the very last moment to bring in their photo Christmas cards to be printed, and then they demand they be done as soon as possible. While she loves her job for eleven months out of the year, she loathes when December comes, because the amount of photo Christmas cards she has to print is more than she can handle. She misses time at home with her family because the demand is overwhelming. I decided then and there that if I even wanted to do photo Christmas cards that I would make sure I got them done right after Thanksgiving. Though that is a busier time, it is when people should be bringing in their orders for their photo Christmas cards. If you take them in that early, they aren't as rushed, and something like a three-hour power outage won't make the workers lose their minds. I know how tough the holidays can be, but with so many making it worse, you have to feel for those who get the brunt of it.

If you forget to do your photo Christmas cards printed early, you may want to reconsider. You may get them on time, but you may not like what you see. If someone is rushed, there is no guarantee that they will come out right, and if they don't, there will be no way for the photo Christmas cards to be reprinted to your liking. You won't have time to complain, and if you get them reprinted, they may not get them back to you in time for them to get in the mail when you need them to go out. Think early and get what you need before the rush hits.

Camera phones has become an important part of the life of many people today.

Will Camera Phones Destroy Photography? In any “photo op” moment any more, it is impossible to miss the invasion of the camera phone. Where it used to be easy to tell when a camera was around and if people had them handy, now anyone with a phone could be a clandestine photographer. Even at occasions that used to be ruled by the professional photographer such as weddings and the like, we now see those dozens of hands going up snapping photos with camera phones that seem to dominate the scene.

Conventional photography is a highly developed art form and profession. The precision of the equipment and the ability of photographers to deliver a high quality product to their customers is well known and the result of decades of evolution of the craft. But today it is possible for anyone to become an amateur photographer using that tiny cell phone in their pocket or purse. The question needs serious consideration for three audiences. For the professional photographer, is this the end of your profession? Will digital phones wipe out your customer base and make you obsolete? For the aspiring photographer, what about your future? Should you even invest in learning to use the sophisticated equipment that makes professional photography so superior? Why bother if camera phones are going to make it all obsolete? And for you the consumer, can you get the same quality of photographs with using camera phones as you can by hiring a photographer? These are valid questions. It is very common when a new technology begins to make inroads into a profession for the old guard of that profession to feel threatened. It happened when television came along and the media called it the death of radio. It happened when talkies and then color was introduced to movies and television and at each technological improvement in the music world. And with each dire prediction of the demise of an industry, the opposite took place and that industry adjusted, evolved, got better and prospered all the more.

So there are good reasons not to worry that camera phones is going to destroy photography as we know it including… * Camera phones cannot achieve the same levels of quality. There is a good reason that the professional photographer has invested in the highly sophisticated equipment that he has in his studio and that he or she takes to a shoot. The many years and decades of research have surfaced the problems with quality that primitive equipment could not deal with. Modern photography equipment has precise instrumentation to handle lighting issues to properly frame each photograph and to produce a professional quality outcome that people want from a wedding, a portrait or any kind of professional photography. You can bet that forensic photography, fashion photography and photography for publication will ever be willing to accept the low standards of quality that are the outcome of camera phone pictures.

* It’s an amateur game. When you see kids holding up their camera phones at a concert to steal a picture, you know that device is not going to result in a professional quality shot. This is especially true in a live setting like a concert where there are myriads of issues such as lighting, visual noise and other problems that have to be overcome with sophisticated instrumentation just not available on a camera phone. Camera phones are an amateur photography device. And they will always occupy that niche.

* Standards of the final product would be compromised. And high standards of quality are what make professional photography a value to it’s customers.

This is not to cast camera phones in a negative light. They have their place and they are great fun. But we in the professional photography world have nothing to fear from the growth of this technology.

Expert technique for digital photography can be found in some books or in some photographic clubs

Where to Go to Learn From the Photography Masters Whether you are looking for the right path for your budding student photographer in your family or looking on how to jump-start your own photography career, the right school can make all the difference. There is no question that photography is an outstanding career path with many different directions that someone skilled with a camera might go. The diversity of careers in photography is truly amazing. From the base talent in photography and a solid understanding of new and emerging technologies, the sky is the limit for a talented photographer with a solid education under his or her belt. That is because photography is both an art form and a solid technical skill. So the same school might produce an award-winning artist, a successful wedding photographer, a fashion photographer, a police investigator taking pictures of crime scenes, or a crack newspaper photographer.

So the question emerges as to what kind of photography school to pick for yourself or the student in your family that wants the best education possible. How you pick any school is very much influenced by both how you approach education in general and what your objectives are.

Some would advocate that you look to get into the finest artistic photography schools in the country. If you wish to go down that path, then for sure the Brooks Institute of photography or one of the elite east coast schools of artistic photography is a noble ambition. But there are three drawbacks to trying to attend such schools. First is, of course, the potential cost. Any elite school is going to charge elite prices. And if you are like most of us, you want to get the most education for your money. So doing some caparison shopping for a school is in order.

The second drawback is getting admitted. Most of the top-flight schools have waiting lists and tough entry requirements that may make that ambition more demanding than is necessary. But the most meaningful drawback is that these schools may not be the right choice for the career you or the photography student in your life may wish to pursue. So a good general set of guidelines on how to evaluate a wide variety of photography schools is in order. The guidelines might include… . What kind of photography is right for the student? A program geared toward artistic photography that will result in pieces hanging in a modern art museum will have a very different approach than a program to train forensic photographers. Your student may not know right away what field they want to go into. If so, getting started at a generic school such as a photography emphasis at the local junior college may be the right choice until the career path becomes clearer.

. Is it a legitimate school? You want to avoid schools that are run from the internet or that you read about on the back of a matchbook. A legitimate school will produce a recognized degree that will be well respected in the industry and will help the student get jobs.

. What is available locally? Why go out of town or out of state if you have good local schools? Many state universities, junior colleges and local tech schools have find programs.

. How diverse and up to date is the program? Will your student get exposed to the newest of technology in the field of photography? Will they get trained in how to service many different types of photography assignments? . How does the program’s job placement rating look? What percentage of graduates from this program get jobs? How well respected is this school by businesses who employ photographers? These are solid evaluation criteria. And if you apply these standards to a couple dozen of the finest schools both locally and nationally, before long a short list of good schools will emerge. From there, some site visits and interviews with teachers and graduates will narrow things down. And you will be glad you “did your homework” to find the kind of photography school that will take you or the student in your life to the next level of success in their love of photography.

The status and symbols that is associated with fashion has contributed to make a career as fashion photograph an aim for many new photographers

Fashion photography and becoming a model in this glamorous industry is the dream of many a beautiful young woman and more than one great looking guy as well. But because the allure of making it to the top level in the modeling world is so alluring, there is a lot of competition for those few top slots that produce the world’s “super models”.

If you are just starting out, the challenge is how to pick the perfect photographer who can do a top-notch portfolio for you. You want a portfolio that cuts through the pack and gets your portfolio noticed by those elite agencies who can get you the big jobs modeling for fashion magazines and commercials. So what are the qualifications for such a photographer? Your first consideration is location. If you live in Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago of one of the other major metropolitan centers, there are elite photographers who already have the contacts they need to get your portfolio to the key decision makers in the business. If you don’t live in these cities, you have two ways to resolve the problem your “remote” location might cause. The first one is to learn the ropes of the fashion industry so you know who the key players are. Then you can interview the photographers you do know to see if they are aware of the networking they need to do to get your portfolio noticed. This can be a tall order if you don’t have insider information but networking with models you may know who have “made it” to at ;least some success is a good start.

If there are no photographers in your area that understand the fashion industry to your satisfaction, you may have to travel to a major city to find the right photographer. But above all, don’t compromise your values on this. Just being well networked is not enough for a photographer to be qualified to handle your portfolio. There are some other critical tests for you to apply.

. The agency has to be legitimate. They don’t ask you to pay for the portfolio and they don’t advertise to get models. A good agency is making plenty of money selling their work and they can find good models without stooping to such measures.

. The photographer has to be well equipped and know his equipment. Interview him or her and discuss the effects you want to see achieved for your portfolio. They should be able to discuss with ease how they will achieve that effect and show you examples of how they have done so in the past.

. The photographer should have a good eye for color, lighting, framing and staging your shots. Look at other portfolios of theirs so you can see that they know how to get what you want from a shoot. Also, get references from other models who have worked with them. You want to be confidence that once the shoot gets underway, you are in top-notch hands.

Above all, you have to “click” with your photographer. Having your picture taken is a very personal event. These photo shoots may get long and difficult. Perfection is hard work. Listen to how the photographer talks about his work. The most important thing to come from these shots is personality. That is what is going to break you through the pack and get you noticed. If your photographer can get that from you, they can take you a long way toward your goals of success in the modeling world.

A free stock photograph is an economical way to get a quality photo to use on a banner for example

The “Business” of Stock Photography Sometimes we associate stock photography with some negative concepts such as the photos you see in frames that are on sale at a department store or the photo that comes in a new wallet. Sure, those images did come from a stock photography library but there is so much more to stock photography than that.

You can put a lot of creative energy into building a solid stock photography library that will draw customers who need these images and like your creative eye. Really, if you think about it, stock photography is no different from doing a shoot for a customer. It’s just that you are taking the photos in advance of finding the customer and you can sell the same stock photo a multitude of times. And that last part is what makes running a stock photography service a lucrative business to operate.

The demand for stock photography is ongoing and increasing. But in the economic “model” of any marketplace, supply is as important as demand. So to compete for business you need a good, diverse supply. That means your first step in building your stock photography business is to build the “stock”. In this situation, quantity counts. When you start entertaining customers, you want to be able to show them a strong catalog not only of many genres of stock photos but of a good variety of photos for each genre. So if the buyer is looking for floral shots, you don’t just have three or four stock photos in that category. You should have dozens for them to pick from. By building a large collection, you vastly increase your chances of making a sale with each customer you entertain.

Don’t think that taking stock photos takes the creativity out of the process. In fact, the opposite is true. Really great stock photography screams personality, even if it’s just an assortment of floral scenes you are taking. The buyer is looking for a photo that seems to have a story to it, that draws the eye and makes the viewer want to ponder the meaning of that photo.

Sounds a bit like art photography, doesn’t it? Well, in a way, it is. Just because you are selling the photo as part of your stock collection, doesn’t lower the artistic value of what you are doing. And if your art is going out the door to be used by a customer, it is still being seen by people who will reflect on what you are trying to say with that photo. So to you, the photographer, your artistic calling is satisfied and you have a nice chuck of change in your pocket to boot.

Along with building a strong portfolio of quality pictures of each category, make your categories as diverse as possible. View other stock collections and gather ideas for the genres they have represented and of the diversity of shots and settings they have included in their collection. You are not plagiarizing other photographers work if you are letting them inspire you to do your best work. A good discipline to build your stock photography gallery is to take a day each week and go out and build one category of stock photos all day long. So you may do floral shots all day one week, photos of automobiles the next and pictures of college students the next.

Now don’t forget to get your releases signed if you use human subjects. Even if you just hang out on a college campus and talk students into posing for stock photos. Be sure you pay them something for their work and get a release. In that way if their picture ends up in some very public setting because of how a customer uses it, you are protected from them coming back with their palm up wanting more.

Finally, trust your instincts on what to include in your gallery. Your artistic “eye” for what you like is probably pretty reliable and will reflect what interests your customers. Once the gallery is built, then you can go about the “business” of putting together a physical catalog to sell from. And don’t forget the option of building an online gallery to sell from. You will need some technical help to get your site up and learning how to sell from it and collect money that way. But this can be a great expansion of your successful and growing stock photography business.

A framed black and white photography can be a very decorative item in the living room.

The Power of Black and White Photography It’s interesting how sometimes older technologies or art forms take on an even greater value when they are made obsolete by the new and modern. This is certainly true of black and white photography. When color photography came on the scene, it seemed the days of black and white in both video and photography were over forever. But that was certainly not the case. Over the years we have seen black and white take on a new artistic value in both genres. In fact, it is not at all unusual any more to see a very modern movie filmed entirely in black and white. It is also common to visit a fine art museum and find a photographic art display that uses black and white extensively. Black and white has some artistic and emotional qualities that are just not possible to achieve in color photography.

Probably the strongest quality that grabs the viewer with a black and white photo is its emotional power. Even if the photo is just of an old barn or an antique car, there is an emotional appeal that is difficult to analyze in words but universal to all of us as we look at a black and white shot. That is why black and white photos almost instantly take on an artistic look. So if you are evolving your artistic photography style and portfolio, including some experimentation with black and white will do a lot to improve your work.

Black and white also focuses the eye on the emotional center of the piece. Probably the best subject for black and white photography is the human face. In even a tranquil expression, the viewer can see such a vast range of expression in the eyes, the tilt of the head, the subtle wrinkles or peculiarities of the face and the focus of the gaze. Black and white almost always invites the viewer to want to know about the story behind the picture. If it’s a landscape, “What happened here?” is the question that often springs to the mind of the viewer and the longer they gaze at the photo, the more their imagination fills in the details. If you are viewing the face of a serene or melancholy girl, it is almost impossible not to wonder what she is dreaming about or what of life’s issues is weighing on her mind.

Along with the emotional power and the way black and white compels the viewer to search for meaning, black and white carries with it a tremendous romantic power that touches the heart in a powerful way. That romance can easily translate over to the sensual or even the erotic without having to become pornographic to achieve that effect. Shots that are trying to evoke the power of sensuality and romance do well when they involve moisture or a water scene such as the beach. Despite the lack of color, these colors appeal to the five senses in ways that color can never hope to achieve.

You can experiment with black and white and gather the responses of friends and family to learn how to utilize the subtle but powerful artistic nuances that seem to come with black and white photography almost unconsciously. The digital camera has ushered in a whole new era of black and white photography. You see the form used even in otherwise non artistic settings like wedding portfolios or anniversary pictures. That is because of that emotional and romantic power that black and white conveys. If you have not started to experiment with black and white shots, it’s worth the time to learn how to capture the powerful images this type of photography can make possible. Along with the creative use of light and framing, black and white gives itself well to editing that you can do with Photoshop to bring out the emotional center of each shot. Before long, you may actually find your self seeing black and white shots in a color world. Your awareness of what will make a great moment in this format will become acute and you will be ready to capture those moments spontaneously, which is always the best kind of photography.

There are a lot of sites that offer safari photography with a lot of amazing pictures of wild animals

The Photography Safari Taking your love of photography on the road is one of the really exciting assignments a photographer can get. Whether you are going out into nature to photograph a great sunrise, a phenomenal river or to capture some other wonder of nature or if you are going to an urban area to get photos that tell the story of a people, the safari nature of the trip is the same.

Safari is a good name for such a trip because like that hunter going into the deep jungle to bag big game, you are going to the unknown to get that perfect photograph. Your preparations have to be expert. Your discipline on the road must be focused. But above all, your determination to get what you came for must be relentless as you hunt the prize you want to bag, not with a gun but with your camera.

One mistake to avoid is over packing for your adventure. It’s easy to do because you may have the urge to bring everything in your studio “just in case”. First of all, if you have every piece of photography equipment you own with you, the likelihood that something will get broken or stolen is pretty good. So you have to know how to strip down your travel gear to just what you have to have to get the job done.

But how do you know that if this experience is new to you? One way is to do a few “dry runs”. Just as you went out and did practice photographs when you were learning your craft, take one or two test trips to the next town. Do these without the pressure of a deadline or a deliverable that you have to complete. An overnighter to take pictures at the zoo in the nearest big city will surface what is needed and what is not. Then repeat the exercise to take photographs out in the country where you may have to backpack your equipment in. You will find out pretty fast what “stuff” is worth the extra weight and what needs to stay home.

Your photography safari is a business trip to you and you have a mission. But your mission is about more than just going somewhere to get a snapshot. Just as every picture has personality and soul, the more you become part of the environment where you are traveling, the better your “eye” will be to capture the perfect photo.

Yes, you must stay focused on the purpose of the trip and stay on schedule. But don’t forget to enjoy the trip. If you are going to take a picture of a natural wonder, like Mount Rushmore, for example, spending time visiting with others going to that sight or talking to locals may surface some locations and secrets about the site that other photographers would not get if they just came, snapped a photo and left. Use the “down time” to charm the other travelers and let them charm you. Not only will your picture be a hundred times better, you will have a lot more fun.

Finally, as you reach your destination, your preparations need to pay off and you need to let them pay off. Here is where focus and the eye on the prize is crucial. It is so easy, especially when traveling, to become obsessed with the equipment, with the set up and with your settings. Do all of that before you leave, or in the hotel room the night before. On location, the session is about your subject, not your equipment. Your equipment is there to serve you. Don’t worry about it. Trust yourself that you did a good job getting ready. You have quality equipment and you have prepared the lenses, checked the batteries and done all the right things. It all will work when it needs to work. Now you keep your eye on the prize. Your expert eyes are needed to judge the lighting, the angle and every aspect of the shot to determine if it tells the story that you know this photograph has to tell. Here is where the artist in you works beautifully with the photographer to produce a photo that you will genuinely be proud of. And if you obey your disciplines and get that shot, it will be a photography safari that comes home having “bagged the big one” to add to your trophy room for sure.