Search Results for: blog fun with your digital camera

Fun with Father’s Day Photos

No matter where you plan to spend Father’s Day, don’t forget to take your camera along to document the memories.  The photos you snap at the beach, park, pool or right in your backyard can be transformed into touching mementos of Dad’s special day. Take aim at Dad and the kids frolicking in the waves, burying each other in the sand or searching for bugs along a nature trail.  Shoot from unique angles rather than traditional ones and don’t be afraid to experiment with different exposures.  More importantly, ditch the posed shots of Dad standing static with Junior and Jane … Continue reading →

Why Your Ancestors Looked So Serious

Take a close look at the oldest family photos that you have. Or, walk into an antique store and browse through some really old photos. Why aren’t these people smiling? There are some really good reasons why they looked so serious in photos. Today, you can take your family to JC Penney, or Sears, or a number of other places, and have a family portrait taken. The photographer is going to encourage your family members to smile. You will probably be instructed to “Say cheese!” It is difficult to say the word “cheese” without smiling. It takes a second (or … Continue reading →

Scrapping Your Camera

Scrapbookers are gearing up for the busiest time of the year. October, November and December are prime months for documenting holiday-related events. Memory book makers’ cameras will be getting a major workout as 2012 comes to an end. Consequently, you’ll want to make sure your camera is in tip-top shape in order to capture all of those special holiday moments. Now is also an ideal time to upgrade your digital camera if you are looking to improve your scrapbook pictures. When shopping for a new camera it’s important to conduct some research prior to purchasing. Fortunately, the Internet is teeming … Continue reading →

The Lure of Used Cameras

My dream camera costs $3,000. I don’t have $3,000. Perhaps that’s why I don’t own my dream camera. Santa still hasn’t delivered my Dyson, so I’m thinking he probably isn’t going to be filling my stocking with a Nikon D800 any time soon. As much as reality bites, I know I am not alone. While there are dozens of high-quality, luxury DSLR cameras on the market, most people don’t have the funds to purchase them new. For shutterbugs looking to get their hands on cutting-edge picture-taking tools without breaking the bank, there is the used camera option. High-tech cameras can … Continue reading →

Spring Outdoor Fun

Even if you don’t live near a National Park and can’t take advantage of the free admission this week, don’t let that stop you from soaking up the gorgeous spring weather. Now that warmer days are here there’s no excuse for you to stay cooped up inside. Grab the kids, ditch the winter gear and get moving in the great outdoors. Children especially love exploring nature; however, too much too soon can be a recipe for disaster. While you may be itching to trek the entire afternoon away, if your children are young and not used to hiking, don’t force … Continue reading →

Filters Are Your Friends

A friend made fun of me for posting my previous piece about giving the gift of floral photos for Valentine’s Day. I stand by that blog. I’ll have you know that when I was a sophomore in college my then-boyfriend presented me with a framed black-white-photo of a Hawaiian sunset… on Valentine’s Day. Sure, I got dinner and some flowers too, but the photo is the only thing from that relationship that I still have today. It’s a gorgeous shot; much too pretty to part with despite the fact that we parted ways more than a decade ago. Whether or … Continue reading →

Know Your Camera

I got a new camera for Christmas, but I’ve yet to experiment with all of its features. According to the owner’s manual, I won’t be able to snap the “best” images possible if I don’t utilize the camera’s advanced options. Whereas I agree that it’s easy to hit the “auto” function instead of experimenting with different modes, I don’t believe a camera alone makes or breaks a photo. For starters, a stunning image includes a balance of colors, shapes, and lighting. If you don’t feature contrasting colors in a shot, you won’t get that “pop” which draws attention to an … Continue reading →

Shopping for a New Camera

The prospect of shopping for a new digital camera can be daunting, especially if you are moving from a simple point-and-shoot to an elaborate DSLR. Initially I was thrilled to graduate from my tiny point-and-shoot, but once I got to the store and started testing out expensive DSLR models, my confidence level plummeted. DSLR cameras come equipped with a litany of features, some of which you may never use a single time during the course of your ownership. I would highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the camera’s menu and its features prior to purchasing. Some camera menus are a lot … Continue reading →

What Does Your Pet Do All Day?

Some pets love the camera My engineering husband is a bit of a techie. He’s an odd sort, however, who never asks for any presents. Most gadgets he wants are expensive, so he feels bad putting them on any gift wish lists. Ever since we started dating, I would spend the months before his birthday and Christmas browsing the internet looking for suitable contraptions or other toys he might like. That’s how I discovered website thinkgeek.com, a site devoted to cool geeky toys, technology, t-shirts, books, and more. Given the breadth of Think Geek’s offerings, it was only a matter … Continue reading →

How Much Do You Know About Digital Photography?

Enough to teach others about it? Whereas my grandfather was a professional photographer, and I love taking pictures, I don’t know nearly enough about the finer details of digital photography to make money teaching others about it. Yet, a few weeks ago I was approached by a former colleague (who happens to be a professional videographer) to assistant him with a digital photo workshop he was putting on at a local community college. I declined due to a scheduling conflict, but I kept the outline he designed, which included the following basic points of discussion. In regards to the benefits … Continue reading →