(I'm not sure why its cutting the first 2 off on the right, but you should be able to click on it to see it larger.
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Monday, August 11, 2008
Learning Manual
I got my Nikon D80 back in March, but have just recently been trying to learn to use the Manual settings on it. Here are some pics so far;
(I'm not sure why its cutting the first 2 off on the right, but you should be able to click on it to see it larger.
(I'm not sure why its cutting the first 2 off on the right, but you should be able to click on it to see it larger.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons.
The other day I had Stacey outside playing with her chalk. I couldn't help but to try a more "artistic" approach.
I just realized that this is the first picture I have posted on here that was taken with my new camera. My Nikon D80! I LOVE IT!!!
I just realized that this is the first picture I have posted on here that was taken with my new camera. My Nikon D80! I LOVE IT!!!
Friday, March 14, 2008
New Toy!
I went and got a new toy yesterday!!
Yup a Nikon D80!!! I'm kind of limited on pics I can take in the house right now I can't wait until the weather clears up and I can take it outside and play with it!! LOL
I guess until then I'll just finish reading the manual.
Keep checking back for new pics!!!
*these pictures were taken with my Canon Powershot S2IS
Yup a Nikon D80!!! I'm kind of limited on pics I can take in the house right now I can't wait until the weather clears up and I can take it outside and play with it!! LOL
I guess until then I'll just finish reading the manual.
Keep checking back for new pics!!!
*these pictures were taken with my Canon Powershot S2IS
Overworked and underpaid
I found this great comic strip today about a duck photographer.
You can check out more here: http://www.whattheduck.net
You can check out more here: http://www.whattheduck.net
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
2 months too long.
OK, so I had a small problem with my camera after Christmas. It wasn't anything major just my computer wouldn't recognize it. An easy problem to fix, just get a card reader. It was still taking pictures just fine.
However I decided that because I spent all that money on the extended warranty I would take it in to be fixed. That was at the beginning of January. They told me 7-14 business days. So a month without my camera. It would be hard but I would manage.
Well I just got my camera back tonight. A screw up in paperwork resulted in it having to be returned to the store then resubmitted with the correct paperwork. Then it got sent back to the store in worse condition than when I took it in!!!!
It is working now but there is a lot of damage to the body, it looks like it has been dropped a few times. Also my lens cap is missing. That may take another week to get back!!
I am relieved to have my camera back and can't wait to get out and take pictures but it is very frustrating that I had to go through all of that just to have a simple problem fixed.
However I decided that because I spent all that money on the extended warranty I would take it in to be fixed. That was at the beginning of January. They told me 7-14 business days. So a month without my camera. It would be hard but I would manage.
Well I just got my camera back tonight. A screw up in paperwork resulted in it having to be returned to the store then resubmitted with the correct paperwork. Then it got sent back to the store in worse condition than when I took it in!!!!
It is working now but there is a lot of damage to the body, it looks like it has been dropped a few times. Also my lens cap is missing. That may take another week to get back!!
I am relieved to have my camera back and can't wait to get out and take pictures but it is very frustrating that I had to go through all of that just to have a simple problem fixed.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
TTD
Looking to satisfy my passion for photography I often do google searchs for anything photography related, and I have several books on photography (and still have the desire to buy the entire photography section at the book store! LOL).
But I am also a part of several message boards for photographers. It was on these message boards that I discovered "Trash the Dress." This is something that I think would be a lot of fun as a photographer.
I was reading an article today that I found thru google and there is a paragraph about how this came about:
"The photo trend in fact began with a yawn. Mr. Cooper, 41, said he was bored with the same old wedding photos, and so he persuaded several of his clients to pose after their weddings in grungy offbeat settings. "In fashion photography, they often put really pretty people in very ugly places," he said. "I'm applying that technique to weddings." "
Read the full article here
I thought this was really interesting. I have seen pictures where they have really torn up the dress or where the dress might only get a little dirty. Pictures from the bride and groom swimming in the ocean, to just the bride swinging in a park.
If you do a search on google images for Trash the Dress most of the pictures are really tearing the dress up, but you can find some pics on Flikr where they barely get the dress dirty. Either way you search there are thousands of images.
I think the most wild I have seen is where they set the dress on fire, while the bride is wearing it!
Trash The Dress is typically done with a bride but I think it would be neat to do this with a bridesmaid dress or even a prom dress.
But I am also a part of several message boards for photographers. It was on these message boards that I discovered "Trash the Dress." This is something that I think would be a lot of fun as a photographer.
I was reading an article today that I found thru google and there is a paragraph about how this came about:
"The photo trend in fact began with a yawn. Mr. Cooper, 41, said he was bored with the same old wedding photos, and so he persuaded several of his clients to pose after their weddings in grungy offbeat settings. "In fashion photography, they often put really pretty people in very ugly places," he said. "I'm applying that technique to weddings." "
Read the full article here
I thought this was really interesting. I have seen pictures where they have really torn up the dress or where the dress might only get a little dirty. Pictures from the bride and groom swimming in the ocean, to just the bride swinging in a park.
If you do a search on google images for Trash the Dress most of the pictures are really tearing the dress up, but you can find some pics on Flikr where they barely get the dress dirty. Either way you search there are thousands of images.
I think the most wild I have seen is where they set the dress on fire, while the bride is wearing it!
Trash The Dress is typically done with a bride but I think it would be neat to do this with a bridesmaid dress or even a prom dress.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Why do professional photographers charge so much?
A good explanation for all those people who ask and complain about why professionals charge what they do for photos:
Why are Professional Photographers so expensive?
In this digital age where everyone has digital cameras, scanners and home "photo printers", when people upload their photos to a local drug store website and pick them up a few hours later, we hear this all the time - How in the world do Professional Photographers charge $55 for an 8x10 when they cost just $1.50 at the drug store?
Here's why.
Simply put, you're not just paying for the actual photograph, you're paying for time and expertise. First, let's look at the actual time involved. If you don't read this entire page, at least read this first part.
For a two hour portrait session:
- one hour of travel to and from the session
- two hours of shooting
- 30 minutes of setup, preparation, talking to the client etc.
- 30 minutes to load the photos onto a computer (2 - 4 Gb of data)
- 30 minutes to back up the files on an external drive
- 3 - 4 hours of Photoshop time including cropping, contrast, color, sharpening, saving a copy for print and a copy for the internet and backing up the edited photographs
- 2 - 3 hours to talk to the client, answer questions, receive their order and payment, order their prints, receive and verify prints, package prints, schedule shipment and drop package off at Fed Ex.
- For local customers, we also print a set of all of their photos, and meet them at our studio to review the photos and place their order. Meeting and travel time averages 2 hours.
You can see how one two hour session easily turns into more than ten hours of work from start to finish. So when you see a Photographer charging a $200 session fee for a two hour photo shoot, you are not paying them $100 / hour.
For an eight hour wedding:
- I won't bore you with the details, but an eight hour wedding typically amounts to at least two to three full 40 hour work weeks worth of time. Again, if they are charging you $4,000 for an eight hour wedding, you are not paying them $500 / hour.
Now for the expertise.
Shooting professional photography is a skill, acquired through years of experience. Even though a quality camera now costs under $2,000 taking professional portraits involves much more than a nice camera.
Most Professional Photographers take years to go from buying their first decent camera to making money with their photography. In addition to learning how to use the camera itself, there is a mountain of other equipment involved, as well as numerous software programs used to edit and print photographs, run a website etc.
And let's not forget that you actually have to have people skills, be able to communicate, make people comfortable in front of the camera - and posing people to make them look their best in a photograph is a skill all by itself.
Think of it this way - the next time you pay $X to get your hair done, a pair of scissors only costs $1.50. But you gladly pay a lot more to hire a Professional.
What about the cheap studios at the mall?
Please don't compare us to the chain store studios. But if you must, consider all of the time and work that we put into our photographs, compared to what they do. Good luck getting a two hour photo shoot at a chain store. Not to mention they won't come to the beach! And of course, look at our work compared to theirs. You get what you pay for.
The truth is, most of the mall and chain store studios lose money. In fact, in 2007 Wal-Mart closed 500 of their portrait studios because of the financial drain they were putting on the company. What the chain stores bet on is that you'll come in for some quick and cheap photos, and while you're there, you'll also spend $200 on other things. They don't have to make money, they are just there to get you in the door.
Conclusion
We hope that those who have taken the time to read this page will have a better understanding of why professional photographs cost so much more than the ones that you get from your local drug store.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
copied here from : http://www.caughtonfilmphoto.com/costofphotography.html
Why are Professional Photographers so expensive?
In this digital age where everyone has digital cameras, scanners and home "photo printers", when people upload their photos to a local drug store website and pick them up a few hours later, we hear this all the time - How in the world do Professional Photographers charge $55 for an 8x10 when they cost just $1.50 at the drug store?
Here's why.
Simply put, you're not just paying for the actual photograph, you're paying for time and expertise. First, let's look at the actual time involved. If you don't read this entire page, at least read this first part.
For a two hour portrait session:
- one hour of travel to and from the session
- two hours of shooting
- 30 minutes of setup, preparation, talking to the client etc.
- 30 minutes to load the photos onto a computer (2 - 4 Gb of data)
- 30 minutes to back up the files on an external drive
- 3 - 4 hours of Photoshop time including cropping, contrast, color, sharpening, saving a copy for print and a copy for the internet and backing up the edited photographs
- 2 - 3 hours to talk to the client, answer questions, receive their order and payment, order their prints, receive and verify prints, package prints, schedule shipment and drop package off at Fed Ex.
- For local customers, we also print a set of all of their photos, and meet them at our studio to review the photos and place their order. Meeting and travel time averages 2 hours.
You can see how one two hour session easily turns into more than ten hours of work from start to finish. So when you see a Photographer charging a $200 session fee for a two hour photo shoot, you are not paying them $100 / hour.
For an eight hour wedding:
- I won't bore you with the details, but an eight hour wedding typically amounts to at least two to three full 40 hour work weeks worth of time. Again, if they are charging you $4,000 for an eight hour wedding, you are not paying them $500 / hour.
Now for the expertise.
Shooting professional photography is a skill, acquired through years of experience. Even though a quality camera now costs under $2,000 taking professional portraits involves much more than a nice camera.
Most Professional Photographers take years to go from buying their first decent camera to making money with their photography. In addition to learning how to use the camera itself, there is a mountain of other equipment involved, as well as numerous software programs used to edit and print photographs, run a website etc.
And let's not forget that you actually have to have people skills, be able to communicate, make people comfortable in front of the camera - and posing people to make them look their best in a photograph is a skill all by itself.
Think of it this way - the next time you pay $X to get your hair done, a pair of scissors only costs $1.50. But you gladly pay a lot more to hire a Professional.
What about the cheap studios at the mall?
Please don't compare us to the chain store studios. But if you must, consider all of the time and work that we put into our photographs, compared to what they do. Good luck getting a two hour photo shoot at a chain store. Not to mention they won't come to the beach! And of course, look at our work compared to theirs. You get what you pay for.
The truth is, most of the mall and chain store studios lose money. In fact, in 2007 Wal-Mart closed 500 of their portrait studios because of the financial drain they were putting on the company. What the chain stores bet on is that you'll come in for some quick and cheap photos, and while you're there, you'll also spend $200 on other things. They don't have to make money, they are just there to get you in the door.
Conclusion
We hope that those who have taken the time to read this page will have a better understanding of why professional photographs cost so much more than the ones that you get from your local drug store.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
copied here from : http://www.caughtonfilmphoto.com/costofphotography.html
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Editing vs. Developing
Editing images consists of making major adjustments; adding or subtracting elements from an image, including blemish removals, removal of unwanted objects or flaws, removing shadows, adding spotlights, vignettes, removing or selective-removal of color, etc.
In summary, "editing" is qualified whenever specific elements of your original image have been removed, and/or specific elements have been added.*
* The exception to this rule is cropping.
Cropping an image is often desired by the photographer, in
post production, with film photography as well as digital, and
is not looked-upon as 'editing' or otherwise manipulating an
image.
Developing your digital images is an entirely different concept, and it is best explained in this manner:
DSLR cameras are aimed at the more experienced photographer, or those that wish to further their skill in the art of photography. These shooters are the type that don't want the camera to do all the thinking for them, unlike the less expensive point-and-shoots.
Untouched raw images, as they are downloaded from a DSLR, the colors are somewhat drab, the contrast is low, the whole scene is slightly "unsharp". In comparison to FILM, as we know it, this file is the "digital negative". Like any negative, it needs developing. Today, we do this in the digital darkroom - photo editing software.
Developing includes:
* Adjusting luminosity curves (similar to contrast)
* Sharpening edges
* Adjusting saturation
Note: These actions do not change the content of the original image, but otherwise simply provides the same definition that is had with film photography.
Bottom line -- If you use a DSLR camera, your images WILL require adjustments for a polished, professional end result! You capture the image with the camera, you develop the image with the software.
In summary, "editing" is qualified whenever specific elements of your original image have been removed, and/or specific elements have been added.*
* The exception to this rule is cropping.
Cropping an image is often desired by the photographer, in
post production, with film photography as well as digital, and
is not looked-upon as 'editing' or otherwise manipulating an
image.
Developing your digital images is an entirely different concept, and it is best explained in this manner:
DSLR cameras are aimed at the more experienced photographer, or those that wish to further their skill in the art of photography. These shooters are the type that don't want the camera to do all the thinking for them, unlike the less expensive point-and-shoots.
Untouched raw images, as they are downloaded from a DSLR, the colors are somewhat drab, the contrast is low, the whole scene is slightly "unsharp". In comparison to FILM, as we know it, this file is the "digital negative". Like any negative, it needs developing. Today, we do this in the digital darkroom - photo editing software.
Developing includes:
* Adjusting luminosity curves (similar to contrast)
* Sharpening edges
* Adjusting saturation
Note: These actions do not change the content of the original image, but otherwise simply provides the same definition that is had with film photography.
Bottom line -- If you use a DSLR camera, your images WILL require adjustments for a polished, professional end result! You capture the image with the camera, you develop the image with the software.
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