Looking For Hacker Training?

Hacking or penetrating into the information system in order to gather details of the organization is rampant these days and this calls for help to protect the system. Entering or sneaking into a system to check for any faults in the system is termed as ethical hacking.

This is done by professionals who are employed by companies to check if the system can be penetrated into and also to devise ways of preventing such activities. This is why hacker training is very popular these days and there are many workshops that are held for certified ethical hacker training. Shopping on the net is the best option if you are looking for hacker training.

What to look for in ethical hacker training?

The hacker training that is imparted by professionals during the workshops train people to think and act differently. Hacking is a term that is synonymous with computers, but that is not the only system that can be hacked. People can hack into telephones, mobiles and other similar networking systems. In order to get ethical hacker training you can also research on tools that are available on the net. Some of the tools that are really good are not available free of cost on the net, but you should have some of them. They are Snoopers, Compilers, Hex file editors and APIs.

Along with these basic tools, in order to get ethical hacking training, you should also garner techniques that help you in scripting, formatting and editing of the disk and accordingly help you to disassemble. Programming is a basic requirement in ethical hacking training. There is a lot of programming that is involved in the process of hacking and therefore you should be familiar with programming languages. Another requirement is the familiarity of Windows, UNIX, Linux and other operating systems.

Successful certified ethical hacker training

Apart from the above mentioned requirements there are some general requirements in order to make the training a successful one. The first and most important requirement is learning in a group. There needs to be a lot of discussion and exchange of ideas when you are getting training for such a certification. The next important thing is for you to get involved in some live projects.

Hands -on experience is always better than what you read and understand from the books. It is always important to start a project from scratch and build on it so that you understand every minute detail of the working. The next very important step is to make complete use of the internet. This is the place where you can get all the information you would ever need and you also need to learn every required aspect of the net like making Boolean searches.

Every time you stumble upon a good site you need to book mark it so that you can visit it later when you need it. These days there are many institutions that provide training for hacking and if you are looking for hacker training then you need to surf the net to find all the required information.

Table top photography tips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpDZ7uy_OyA&hl=en

Are You Prepared For A Hard Drive Failure?

Have you ever experienced the feeling of a hard disk failure?

Have you ever witnessed boot failure when you lose precious data forever?

Over the world, one of the worst fears among most users appears when a hard disk failure occurs. A lot of valuable information is lost either at homes or corporate sectors. In this kind of critical situations, one thinks how to recover the data back? Well, there are some solutions applicable and would be discussed later.

But let's talk about the reasons why a hard disk fails in the first place?

The data can be revived in some cases depending upon the kind of damage caused. A number of factors can be responsible such as electronic and mechanical failure, firmware gets corrupt, or the logic fails. At times, these factors are collectively behind the loss of data from your hard drive. Bad sectors may be formed over a period of time and the information on those sectors becomes unreadable or is lost.

The data used for interaction between computer and hardware is called firmware. If this interaction data (firmware) gets corrupt or fails to perform its functions, the hard drive fails.

Regarding electronic failures, there is a controller board on hard disks that may get damaged due to electrical surge resulting in hard disk failure. There are number of software available usually used by data recovery experts who can recover the data lost in these cases. Even replacing the controller board with another one possesses risk as these boards are specific for each drive they come with.

Most fatal is the mechanical failure in which data recovery becomes much more difficult compared to the electronic one. In case of a mechanical failure the read/write head fails or it may get crashed. Head usually crashes when the computer is moved around or a physical shock occurs due to an electrical surge. Logical errors can also be causative factors of hard drive failure. These logical errors are separate from hardware components and occur if the firmware gets corrupt or there are excessive wrong entries in FAT (File Allocation Table).

In almost all situations, the data stored is of vital importance and you need to recover it. Data recovery experts should be contacted instantly in such cases to recover lost information. If the hard disk has failed because of viruses or improper software functions as mentioned earlier, the experts can help increase possibilities of recovery. Data on almost all the computer operating systems which may consist of versions of OS by Microsoft Windows, Linux/Unix, Novell, Macintosh and Apple Inc etc. on almost every file systems including FAT32, FAT, NTFS, NTFS5, HFS, HFS+, NWFS, EXT3 AND EXT2 can be recovered.

In order to recover the information the hard disk might be taken by the professionals to workshop and returned later. They have usually their own laboratories where can they test, repair and recover the lost data effectively.

You as a user would never want to lose your precious data so you have to assign a role to the recovery experts in such a situation. Information recovery experts also recover data from most of the important storage drives such as tape, DVD, CD and other relevant media. To avoid such a situation, you as a costumer should take precautionary measures like creating regular backups of necessary data every week or so. Some OS have backup programs already installed like Windows.

Other efficient software programs are also available for data backups in the market and can prevent you from such issues.

Another most important aspect of this problem is the loss of valuable time in resolving the complex problems. It could possibly a long procedure. I personally suggest you to reserve a second source of computer like a portable notebook so that you could be able to carryon in a disaster. You can always transfer the required information between them and would likely not fear hard drive failure anymore.

Canon Professional Network - EOS 5D Mark II Jeff Ascough - Shoting Weddings

A multimedia presentation of Jeff Ascoughs stills and video work with the EOS 5D Mark II. Canon Ambassador Jeff Ascough is regularly voted as one of the worlds top wedding photographers by photo experts on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Although he has been an habitual Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III user, for his regular wedding work, CPN gave him a new EOS 5D Mark II to see how it suited his field of photography.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOd5stlGRQQ&hl=en

Digital Landscape Photography - The Sky Is The Limit

With digital landscape photography, one of the most satisfying aspects is that you can evaluate your pictures right there in the field. With emotion playing such a big part of digital landscape photography, you can now get a good idea right there of how much of the moment you were able to capture...

However, making the transition from film to digital landscape photography it is important to get past the technological hurdles, in order to pursue your particular vision of the landscape around you.

The first step in digital landscape photography is to ensure that you have a good theoretical grip on the technology and functions of the camera you will be using. For that purpose you should take time - before packing your tent and setting of into the countryside! - to study all you can about your camera's specifications, as well as visiting a couple of the many excellent online guides and tutorials on digital photography.

One of the best ideas would then be to go on a field workshop. Many expert and experienced digital landscape photographers offer such field tutorial trips where you will be able to learn the ropes right from the horse's mouth. These digital landscape photography workshops are popular. To be sure that you can be accommodated, you have to plan ahead and make your booking in good time.

One such opportunity is presented by digital landscape photography pioneer Stephen Johnson. You can spend a week with him exploring the Maine coast, where you can take part in digital image capture, exposure, and composition. You will also get the benefit of critiques and lab work in image processing, printing, and presentation.

Another way to improve your skills in digital landscape photography, is to join a seminar or workshop by landscape photographers such as Michael Reichmann, Alain Briot, Craig Samuel, Daniel Bergmann, and others. These events are usually booked up far in advance!

With digital photography now being pursued in many speciality spheres, it is even possible to attend specialized workshops on, for instance, digital landscape photography in black and white.

These events will offer you a better opportunity to get to grips with what you want to achieve in digital landscape photography. To use Michael Reichmann's distinction, you will learn how to shoot an image that is different from a mere snapshot or just another pretty postcard picture...

A few digital landscape photography tips:

1. Point your digital camera lens upwards, and capture more of the sky. This can signify openness, freedom, and wide expanses - the effect you are striving to achieve in digital landscape photography.

2. The best time to shoot landscape pictures is during the first 2 hours and last 2 hours of daylight.

3. For panoramas: Meter all scenes beforehand and use the one with the least exposure. Then take all scenes with that constant setting.

4. Shooting in below zero degrees? You should keep your batteries warm by alternating sets between the camera and your inner pocket. Below zero temperatures shorten battery life.

5. Setting White Balance: For nature photography set WB to daylight.

More tips and advice can be found in 'Digital Landscape Photography Step By Step', by Michelle Perkins. This book may be compact, but it is packed with good advice about composition, the technique behind photographing sunsets, night work, and creating black and white images. This book will give any beginner a good start.

Another renowned photographer, Tim Gartside, gives detailed information about this subject in his book, 'Digital Landscape Photography'. This volume includes topics such as software manipulation of images, but also guides the novice through composition and the basic techniques of digital landscape photography.

For more information visit Best-Digital-Photography.com

The Difference Between Save and Save As

This is a common question for new computer users. It may take you a while to understand the ideas; so, be patient with yourself on this one!

The answer goes deep into the computer. You need to save your information somewhere in the deep dark recesses of the computer so you can get it again when you need it. The computer stores information on various media. In the old days, the media was disks: floppy disks, Zip disks, the hard drive, CDs, DVDs, etc. Now-a-days, we are more likely to use USB drives and external hard drives. Whatever the media, it is sectioned off into little storage units. Each storage unit has an address. The computer finds what you stored by looking at the addresses.

When you first "Save" something on your computer, it needs a new storage place reserved because it has never been stored before. The computer finds a vacant place on the disk you choose, copies the information into the vacant place, and records the fact that that address is being used by your file. That's what keeps it from being kicked out and the place taken by something else - Windows says that place is taken and won't let anything else in that storage spot.

Actually, what you just did was a "Save As." Any time you put something in a vacant spot, it's a Save As, but the computer knows if it's the first time and does a Save As without you knowing it. Now, if you work on that file some more and want to add the new work to the same storage place, you do a Save (File -> Save). Each time you Save your changes, you add (or remove or change) what's in that storage unit.

Sometimes, however, you want to make a copy of something. For example, maybe you are working on your family photo album and your family web site. You have a picture of your new house to add to both places. You will need two copied of the photo: one for print and one for the web site because they need to be in different formats. You Save your photo (the first time) and get it all ready for the album. Then you Save As to a different copy and work on the photo for your web site. Now you have the two versions.

Picture Framing for Photographers - Part 1

Imagine being able to frame all your own photographs just as well as a professional. You can save enough money to easily pay for all the necessary tools, and the convenience of being able to do it yourself frees you from having to get someone else do it. If you're an amateur a mount cutter, a frame clamp and a hand-operated frame joining tool is all the equipment you need to make professional looking frames. These days the tools are easy and safe to operate, inexpensive, and give you a good result. Picture framing can be divided into four areas. Cutting the bevel mount, cutting and joining the frame, mounting the photograph, and fitting and finishing the job. The tools required to perform each one of these functions are as follows.

1. Mount Cutting: A hand-operated bevel mount cutter is essential for all photographic work. The most important feature of modern mount cutters is to have one that runs on its own ruler or straight edge.

2. Frame cutting and Joining: The professional framer uses a guillotine to cut wooden frames, and an automatic v-nail joiner. But the cost is prohibitive for the small volumes of frames required by our industry. However, there are tools that give you a professional result at a fraction of the cost.

3. Mounting Artwork: Dry mounting presses and laminating machines are not the only way to safely and effectively mount down all your artwork ready for framing. We will look at vacuum press mounting, hinging methods and other less expensive options.

4. Fitting and Finishing: There are a number of hand-operated tools on the market to make this job quick and easy. These can be used safely by any person to give a professional finish to all framing jobs.

Our series of articles over the next four issues will examine each one of these processes.

Mount Cutting And Decoration

Mount cutting is the creative face to picture framing. What distinguishes one framed photograph from another is the creative use of mounts. There is a wide choice of mount board brands and colours, possibly too many! Supplies are easy to come by, and the cost of the boards is not prohibitive. The best thing about cutting your own mounts is that once you cut it you get to keep the fallout from the middle, which can then become a mount for a smaller photograph. This saves money and helps qualify the investment in the mount cutting machine.

Most hand-operated mount cutters available in art shops come with the cutting head only and not with a guide rule. For successful bevel cutting and good clean corners a guide rule that the cutting head runs on is essential for good results. The FrameCo systems are ideal for the DIY framer or small workshop.

Mount cutters also come attached to a base board or just with the straight edge rule. The baseboard makes the system steadier, easier to use and more reproducible, however to cut a few mounts per year for you're own photographic works, the head/ruler systems are quite sufficient.

Another consideration is the sizing or cutting down of fullsize sheets. The large professional mount cutters are large enough to take the full size sheet. But a sharp Stanley knife and straight edge can be used to cut down full-size sheets into the blank sizes ready for bevel cutting. A straight 90 cutter is available from FrameCo, which will also attach to the rule. This can be used for cutting the mount board to size, and is safe and easy to use. The advantage of this optional cutting head is that it can also be used for cutting foam-core board up to smm thick. It uses the same blade as the bevel cutter.

Cutting a Single Bevel Mount

The technique for cutting bevel mounts is quick and easy. After cutting the mount board down to the right size to fit the frame, rule lines on the back of the mount board to the border size that you require. The bevel cutter head then attaches to the rule, so it's steady when cutting. Another feature of the head is that it has a start/stop indicator line. Following the ruled lines on the back of the mount makes it easy to get good straight bevels, but to get clean crisp corners you need to know where to start and stop the cut. The indicator mark guarantees no overcuts on the corners, giving you a professional cut mount every time.

Cutting a Double-Bevel Mount

Rule lines on the back of the mount. Start and stop line guarantees perfect corners.

Cutting a Double Bevel Mount

Double mounts enhance most pictures. A narrow show of colour can pick out the dark spots in the subject, which will increase the contrast between light and dark, and thus sharpen the image. So a double mount is not only decorative, but also functional. The "secret" to cutting a double mount, so that the edges of the inner mount are exactly parallel to the edges of the outer mount, is NOT to cut two separate mounts and then stick them together. The best way is to cut the top mount first, then stick the two together with double-sided tape (ie: the top and the bottom mounts, then cut the bottom mount). The reason for doing it this way is that you use the same edge as a reference point to measure from. The mount will then be in line with one another and will look OK.

It can sound confusing, but it's not once you get the hang of it! The most important aspect of mount cutting is that with the right tools you can get a professional result relatively easily.

Once you've mastered cutting single and double mounts you can also add decorative finishes to the mounts, which will enhance the image and add value to all your mount work.

The Decorative V-Groove

One of the most important techniques in decorative mount cutting is the "V" groove. This is a small v-shaped cut set into the front surface of the mount. The v-groove adds a stylish look to all your framing. It is that creative touch that gives any picture a professional finish.

The professional framing industry uses existing large mount cutters to cut v-grooves. It is a twostage process because it involves cutting two separate bevel cuts to make the "V" cut. This is difficult to do and there are no guarantees for a perfect accurate v-groove. FrameCo has introduced the GrooveMaster. This is a hand-held v-groover, which cuts the "v" directly into the top surface of the mount. The GrooveMaster also attaches to the rule that you use for bevel mount cutting, which means it is accurate and easy to use.

Now v-grooving is within reach of any DIY picture framer. And the technique is easy to master. You can purchase pre-cut mounts and decorate them with a v-groove, adding value to the mount, and making it much more versatile.

Doing your own framing is ideal for the amateur, portrait or weekend photographer. You can save on framing costs to more than offset the investment in tools and accessories. You control the mounting and matting stage, and there is a great satisfaction in doing it yourself. However if you have a retail outlet handy then I wouldn't suggest you try and compete with the mass market of ready made frames. These frames are cheap and well made. But there is a significant market for the one off odd-size frame that is not available in the ready mades. Either cut an odd size mount to fit a standard frame or make up the frame to suit. With your own framing, however, you can produce your own work and save money doing it over the longer term.

More Digital Photo Basics with Erin Manning

Portrait and Candid Photography Photo Workshop: Develop Your Digital Photography Talent (Photo Workshop) LEARN TO CAPTURE PERSONALITIES WITH YOUR LENS Taking great "people pictures" isn't a matter of luck. The secret is in observing your subjects and connecting with them, and then using your camera to its best advantage. Here's how to work with lighting, location, angle, composition, physical characteristics, environment, and a host of other variables, including the unique challenges of photographing babies, group activities, and action. Apply these techniques and watch your subjects come to life; then test your newfound skills by completing the assignments at the end of each chapter and collecting feedback on your work at pwsbooks.com. Book Description * Erin Manning, DIY Network host of The Whole Picture, tells aspiring photographers how to take outstanding photos of people in this full-color book filled with great images * Helps readers gain the skills and confidence to successfully use the digital camera as a tool to create and capture life's moments * Every chapter ends with an assignment that readers are encouraged to complete and then upload their best image to Photoworkshop.com to share with others and receive critiques * Introduces the technology and the basics for developing an artistic eye, arming readers with real-life techniques that will help them connect with and photograph people.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SgSKQInKjE&hl=en

BiGeye Profinder DSLR LCD View Finder LCW LightCraft Workshop

Read full article: cheesycam.com Zoom H1 with built in Mic was used for audio recording. This is LightCraft Workshops latest View Finder called the BiGeye Profinder. As far as I know, this is the first video review about this item. Enjoy and there's more information and photo gallery at http



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJjkDJb2tZ8&hl=en

How To Take Amazing Digital Photos Of Your Kids (Or Anyone Else)

Children and a Camera - probably the most difficult, but creatively satisfying way of archiving your life's wonderful moments.

Shooting pictures of children can be more difficult than getting a shot of that awesome dunk or the spectacular home-run hit, because a sports moment is probably more predictable than the expression of a child. It's almost like trying to hit a moving target, except you don't know when your target will show up, and which way it will move!

But rest easy - amazing advancements in digital photography, both in terms of technology and lower prices, have made it possible for your special moments to be captured with far better accuracy and detail than ever before. Newer cameras with improved photo resolution and shutter speed, with the help of spectacular low-cost lenses, help to make it easier for both professional and novice photographers to take excellent pictures. When these features alone cannot help take the picture you want, fancy software that comes for free with the digital cameras lets your alter the pictures to do full justice to the moments they capture.

Many believe that great cameras take great pictures. Well, there's both good and bad news for you - the good news is that you don't need a $2000 camera and a $3000 lens in order to take an amazing picture; the bad news is that you - the photographer - are the one who can single-handedly make or break an amazing photo - all by yourself, just with your "eye" for photography (or the lack of it).

Any photographer worth her salt will tell you that when it comes to taking good photos, timing is everything. There is a very small window of opportunity to capture a truly great shot, and whether you're after that exhilarating sunset, or trying to capture that all fleeting expression on your child's face, your fingers must have precision, timing and an intuitive sense of when to click. It is tougher than it looks, and that's why photography is an art.

Similar to the famous saying, beautiful pictures lie in the eye of the photographer, and not in the camera.

Famous photographers charge thousands of dollars to take a picture. It is not because they have better cameras or expensive lenses (even though that does matter, but not as much as you probably think), but because they know what to focus on, and when to click.

Most of us only come close to getting the ideal shot, never fully realizing it in the end. More often than not, our pictures have most of the elements, but fall short in a few key areas: Perhaps you frame your subject well, but the lighting is just a little bit off; or perhaps the lighting is good but you forgot to include a flash or use red-eye reduction.

This is where modern digital photography becomes a necessary component in taking the perfect photo. Within minutes, just about any picture can be edited to reach its full potential when it is created with a digital camera. Automatic color enhancement, red-eye reduction, and zoom and crop features that go along with taking digital photos are just a few of the many awesome features that digital photos have to offer. With these tools in easy reach, taking beautiful pictures has become easier than ever.

It is then a no-brainer that you should be buying a digital camera, and not a film-based camera, for obvious reasons: you can shoot as many pictures as you want, repeatedly, till you get that perfect picture, without having to worry about burning through tens if not hundreds of dollars worth of film rolls, development and printing costs. Plus when shot using popular formats like RAW, the things you can do to your pictures before you print or publish them, are mind boggling.

All you need is to find the right camera. You want a camera that offers great pictures as well as easy options for downloading to your printer or computer. You can edit your pictures as you like with commercial programs like Photoshop or Corel, or with software that comes with the camera, like Canon's EasyBrowser.

Technology has advanced so much and there is so much competition amongst camera makers, that the prices are now so attractive which makes it very hard to mention money as an excuse.

The hardest choice then becomes what 'type' of camera to buy:
- a Point-and-click (that has a built-in, permanent lens), or
- a SLR (Single Lens Reflex - whose lenses can be removed and changed).

Point-and-click cameras are meant for the average person, who doesn't want to be bothered with too many options or choices - someone who wants to just point at the target, and click, and be done with it. The average auto-focus camera comes with an in-built zoom lens, has a little flash bulb, has a little screen behind the camera where you can see the full frame of what you are about to shoot, as well as a preview of the photo after you've shot it.

They take great pictures, no doubt. But they can, in no way, be compared to the pictures taken by the slightly more expensive SLR cameras.

An SLR camera comes with the ability to switch lenses, so that you can choose the right lens for that super-close up picture of that bee pollinating a flower, or the perfect wide-angle lens to capture the entire view of the Grand Canyon from where you stand.

Other features that make a SLR a much better choice for taking great pictures that last a lifetime, are:

* Built for speed - Super fast start-up speed so that you never have to miss that perfect moment because it took your camera 20 seconds to get to ready-to-shoot state.

* Accurate "what you see is what you get" picture when you compose your shots through the view finder instead of the LCD display. In fact, the LCD display on an SLR will not show you a preview of your current composition, but will only show you the photo after you've shot it.

* A wide choices of lenses: You're not stuck with just one lens like you would with a point-and-click camera. You have the option of buying and using a variety of lenses to match just what you are about to shoot.

* Better pictures in low light - Due to the ability to vary aperture, a SLR lens can open the aperture long enough to let in more light in low-light situations, or click faster in a very-bright situation (like a bright overhead sun).

When you are ready to buy your digital camera, you need to take the price into consideration, but it is more important to think about the features of the camera that you buy. It is the features that will help you to make the most of your pictures. You will not need an feature filled camera if you are only using it for recreational purposes. However if you plan to do a lot with your photos, you will want a camera that offers the right features for you.

Even though I own a Canon Rebel XTi myself and cannot recommend it highly enough, here are some digital SLR cameras to consider:

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi: http://amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000I1ZWRW/nosim-20
This is what I own - a 10.1 MP (Mega-pixel) camera that takes phenomenal pictures, and offers a great combination of performance, ease-of-use and value. It comes with a 2.5-inch LCD monitor, a integrated cleaning system featuring a self-cleaning sensor that vibrates the sensor to shake-off dust, all of this in a very light, ergonomic body.

Nikon D80: http://amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000HGIWN4/nosim-20
This is a 10.2 Megapixel camera with instant 0.18 sec. start-up, and fast 80ms shutter response. Allows continuous shooting at up to 3 frames per second and up to 100 consecutive JPEG images. Takes about 2,700 images per battery charge as per Nikon. Has a similar 2.5" LCD color monitor with 170-degree, wide-angle viewing. A little more expensive than the Canon Rebel XTi.

Sony A100: http://amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000DZH60O/nosim-20
A 10 Megapixel CCD, that has quite similar features to the Canon and Nikon, like Anti-Dust system, 2.5" LCD amd 9-point autofocus. The distinguishing feature of the Sony A100 is the Super SteadyShot image stabilization feature that moves the CCD to compensate for camera shake. This will come in handy especially when shooting in low-light situations, where the aperture opens more to let in more light, which means it could take a lot longer for the "click" than in normal-light conditions, and both the photographer (you) and the targets (your kids, friends or family) have a greater tendency to not stay still for that few precious seconds.

Canon and Nikon overcome this by incorporating image stabilization features into the lens, instead of into the camera itself like Sony does. This leads to slightly more expensive lenses, but some believe that lenses do a better job of handling "shake" rather than the cameras themselves. So, this is one more thing for you to consider while making the choice between say, a Canon and a Sony.

Finally, the bottom line is cameras can only enhance a great picture - they cannot create it from scratch. You are the one who has the ability to elevate an ordinary shot into an extraordinary one with your sense of timing, angle, and composition. So, depending on your own internal "brand" preference, any of the above cameras would make a great choice.

To see how others have shot pictures of their little ones, check out the world's cutest baby pictures at http://www.BabyNamesIndia.com. After that, head over to Amazon.com, read the reviews, do your research, and take your time in deciding which digital SLR is right for you.

If you are thinking that deciding which camera to buy is a difficult task, wait till you have that beautiful camera in your hand, and you wait for your little one to come up with that same expression that he had on his/her face last week, when you missed taking a photo because you had a slow and tedious point-and-shoot camera in hand!

Take amazing pictures that last a life time. Get a digital SLR.

Just the Right Angle - A Photographic Perspective

While in Korea I learned that sometimes the best way to take a picture is to look like you're not taking a picture. With today's digital cameras that have LCD viewing screens that can twist, turn, or flip so that you can view the image at almost any angle it would have been much easier. At the time I did not have that privilege, so I was focusing by estimating distance. The average non-photographer assumes that if you don't have the camera up to your eye then you can't be taking a picture. People tend to relax, and you get more natural results.

When shooting pictures in a crowded area there are two angles that many photographers over look. The first is the waist level shot which we just mentioned above. The second involves putting your camera on a mono pod, using your self timer, and lifting your camera as far above the crowd as you can. This "bird's eye view" can often have interesting results.

When you are taking picture of a subject with a lot of straight lines, like someone against a wall or a fence for example, turn the camera itself at a 45 degree angle. Remember, straight lines tend to be boring. Diagonal lines on the other hand, are much more dramatic and will lead your eyes right to the subject.

If you are shooting a public event, like a wedding, it is always good to ask in advance, "Is there any location you do not want me to shoot from?" In most cases they will have no objection, and legally this helps protect you later on. Some of the best shots are usually found at some of the most unusual angles. Taking pictures from behind the minister and looking towards the couple as they take their vows for example. Most people attending will only get shots of the back of their heads at this point.

If you want to make something look larger than life and much more dramatic, try laying on your back and shooting straight up. Sometimes, it doesn't need to be that dramatic and standing on a step or getting down on one knee can make all the difference in the world.

The point of finding the right angle is not to be different for difference sake. The point is to find the angle that gives you the greatest insight to your subject. The right angle can be dramatic; the wrong angle can be boring. Often when you are looking for the perfect angle, you are looking for the one angle that has the least distractions in the background.

Don't Buy an Eye-Fi

You would think a nifty new product that has been reviewed by the
techies for the major daily newspapers would fare better, but I regret
buying the Eye-Fi WiFi SD memory card, and recommend that you learn
from my mistakes and steer clear of it when you consider upgrading
your camera's memory card.

The card, which sells for about $100, contains two interesting things:
2 GB of memory and a WiFi radio that can send your files back to a
photo sharing Web site of your choice. The idea is - once you set it
up - you never have to worry about uploading your photos from your
camera ever again. As long as certain conditions are met, every
picture that you take will be uploaded to your sharing site
automatically.

That's the theory. In practice, I found plenty of gotchas. First, the
Kodak camera that I was using for the test worked intermittently,
until I found out that digging into the FAQ on the Eye.fi Web site,
this brand of camera isn't supported. (Their FAQ is very poorly
organized, and it isn't easy to find the list of supported cameras.)

Second, the camera has to be configured to work with particular
wireless networks, and this can be confounding, to say the least. It
won't work at a coffee bar or at most hotels, since these networks
require you to bring up a Web-based sign-in page. It also won't work
on networks with what it calls "shared WEP" security, which is what I
was using on my home network. It will work on networks running static
WEP 40/104/128, WPA-PSK, and WPA2-PSK, which is commendable. The
product comes with a USB-to-SD reader that is used as part of the
configuration process: you need to have your SD card plugged into the
computer to configure the wireless network authentication details, and
to specify which sharing site you want your photos to end up on. You
also have to open up ports on your personal firewall too when you
first set it up. And you have to keep your camera on after you snap
your photo, to give it time to do the upload. This may be far too
complex for the average person, and a lot to deal with to get the
ability to automatically upload photos without having to attach a
cable or insert your SD card in your laptop and copy the files.

Third, a note of warning. Once you get everything working, every photo
is sent to your sharing site. This might not be what you want to do,
particularly if you or your subjects value their privacy (don't even
get me started down that path, that will have to be a subject for
another column). So you might want to bring along a second SD memory
card that is just a plain old card and doesn't transmit anything
anywhere for these situations. (Thanks, Bruce, for this point.)

Despite these issues, Eye-Fi has done some impressive work. The
packaging is close to iPod-clever, and the software will work on both
Macs and Windows. It does support a great many different camera models
(just not mine), provided they have an SD memory slot. And if you are
traveling and want to share your pictures with friends around the
globe, it is pretty cool that they can be seen almost immediately
after you take them. If you upload them to a social networking site or
set up an RSS feed, you could have almost real-time photojournalism,
which is a very interesting concept.

My bottom line is that this is way too pricey for the convenience. A
plain old SD 2 GB card runs now about $25 and takes almost no time to
insert and setup. If Eye-Fi could work out some of the above issues,
it might be a more attractive product.

Photo Competition Tips and Ideas

Most beginners never thought of actually participating in a photo contest, they probably do not even think of it in the first place. Photography contests may seem very intimidating but it can really help newbies gain some experience by competing. You may face professional photographers and other photography adepts but photo contests could be won regardless of your title. There are many cases that popular picture contests were bagged by newbies, people don't expect it but it can actually happen. So, I encourage you guys to take your chance and go for it. If you want to win a photo competition it is critical for you to have an eye on what the judges expect on a particular subject. This may be difficult but if you read the instructions carefully and use a little imagination, you might be able to nail the first place. So here are some excellent tips to help win photography contests.

Instructions

Reading the rules, criteria and the picture contest instructions should be the first thing you should do. Most of these instructions use photography lingo so you better educate yourself while reading on to grasp it all. Judges look for many other qualities that you must learn. While the instructions might be a bit confusing, it's best to read them.

Choosing the Subject

I recommend subjects with character such as the streets, wildlife, sunsets etc. Still life photos are classic, most people appreciate the artistic value of this technique in photo competitions. You also have to apply the appropriate techniques when shooting your subject like the rule of thirds, lighting, composition and so on.

Be Spontaneous

The streets is a very good subject for everyday activity and candid shots. Keep your shots spontaneous and do not wait for your subjects to strike a pose. Its better to take their pictures while doing things they love most. For photo competitions, its nice to focus on the subject's activity, not necessarily the person. Profiles make great pictures, but never take a picture of a person's back.

Time of the Day

Always consider the time of the day to shoot your winning portraits. An early morning sunrise, a foggy coastline, or a child playing in a sunbeam make for unplanned, beautiful photography.

Artistic Eye

Judges will be digging up entries that exhibits a unique and powerful technique that can dazzle everyone who stares at it. What the judges want to see is how you work with your subjects. Do you pose them or frame them just like any other photographer or do you have your own unique viewpoint?

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - EOS Moving Image Workshop - Beyond the Still

The EOS Moving Image Workshop propels professional content creators into a world of artistic possibility through new technology that transcends the traditional boundaries between motion and still.The boundaries between motion and still photography no longer exist. Canon HD SLR technology empowers you to capture video and still photography with a single camera and a vast selection of accessory options. Find out how industry leaders are forging new creative territory when you go behind the lens at the Canon EOS Moving Image Workshop. This hands-on workshop puts the equipment in your hands as you work on a soundstage with professional instructors and award-winning cinematographers for three days of collaborative, practical learning. Starting with camera selection and fine-tuning your EOS HD SLR for optimum performance, you will then explore the functional and creative considerations of EOS DSLR-based HD video. Balancing creative opportunity with technical understanding, this dynamic event is designed to quickly build skills that allow you to craft beautiful moving images that optimize the possibility of the technology.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wn_icvZBtY&hl=en

Your PC and Disaster Recovery

My entire day today has been one of frustration and wasted time. Well, the time wasn't so much "wasted" as much as ''unproductive".

My laptop had a major hissy fit last night and I was informed that the 120gb local drive was "used to 100% capacity". There was no reason for this as I do not use the local drive for the retention of any online records.

Being the advocate I am of appropriate online records management, you would assume that I have my data and records appropriate filed and backed up. I practice what I preach and this is exactly the case.

However, my shortfall was that I had purchased quite a lot of software online and therefore do not have physical copies. I have the records that I have produced from that software, but I am now going to have to go through a time consuming and painful exercise of having to find and reinstall the software hopefully without having to pay for it again.

I have learnt a painful lesson from this and I share it with you as a risk that you too should mitigate. In larger organisations, I encourage them to manage a register of various types of information. A register of their mobile equipment, a register of printers & relevant details, a register of software, libraries and many other compilations of information surrounding a list of assets.

I didn't do the same for myself regarding my own software and I am beating myself around the head because of it. I have access to what I've installed, passwords etc - but it will take me a great deal longer to rectify because I didn't compile this into a simple list with all the variables and details included.

So there are two things I should have been doing:

Maintain a Software Register including all purchase, installation, password and user details within the IMS/Source (part of the online Records Management system).
Ensure the first step of any downloadable software initiated a "save"of the installation file to a specific location on the IMS so that it could be backed up and reinstalled at a later date.

So, I will recover and I have my online records and data structured and backed up as well.

Thank goodness for external USB network drives. They are so cheap now that there is no excuse for not having an appropriate records management structure and also an independent backup.

No matter how small or how large your business, you need to give your records AND your software the respect they deserve regarding disaster recovery. In the meantime, of course, my laptop is pulled apart and laying in pieces on a workshop bench in the hands of a professional. I can simply plug in my external usb drives into any other computer and keep working (so far as the limited software allows me).

It's always frustrating and time consuming when there are technical issues, and I never claim to be technical so I put my hand up for outside assistance. Disaster recovery and Records Management go hand in hand. I simply should have included disaster recovery for installed and downloaded software as well. It is a lesson well learnt.

I trust you are having a far more productive day than I did.

Pure White Background for DSLR Video

www.learningdslrvideo.com I have started on my stock photography using my Canon T2i/550D. Every time I take a picture I also want to create a video. I think I nailed this photo of a wine glass last night (below), it took some time to figure out how to light and position it just right. Then this morning I wanted to create a video of me pouring red wine into it in slow motion. I don't think I nail it like I did with the photo. I use Lightroom for my photos and Sony Vegas for my videos, but I can't seem to get the same look to my videos. I couldn't get the background to be pure white like I wanted. I tried many times to get the white balance just right and then using the contrast curves to blow out the highlights but Vegas will not let me blow them out without scarifying detail in the glass. I know I can do better before I release this video clip into creative commons, does anyone have suggestions on how to get the background to be pure white?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZupy6UiDbk&hl=en

It's Not The Words

David Stoecklein is a legendary photographer and chronicler of the way of life of the cowboy. Check out his recent experiment with video as Stoecklein uses the Canon EOS 7Ds HD video capture to bring motion to his vision of the cowboy way of life. Go to Stoeckleins website to see more of his photography, order books or sign up for the Daves Digital Photography Workshop which is at his Mackay ranch on February 5-8. Hurry. As we write this there are only two spots remaining for the workshop. Music by Lyle Lovett ("I Married Her Because She Looked Like You").



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERvJ0RapskU&hl=en

Which Wide Angle Lens Works Well for DSLR Video

www.learningdslrvideo.com I only have two lens, Canon 50mm 1.8 and the 28-135 zoom with IS. The 28mm is just not wide enough for some of the videos I do and the landscape photos I take so I am in the market for another lens. So I went down to my local photo shop in Boulder Colorado called Mike's Camera and tried out a 3 lens that Darrel behind the counter recommended. I would love to have the CanonEF14mm prime but it is way out of my budget range. Caleb Pike gave me the Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 as a recommendation which the store did not have so I have to try that one too. I really trust Caleb's opinion so it is one to try.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyTHGKzRDag&hl=en

Canon Studio Solution - Studio Operation Customer and Employee Management - 3/8

Canons new Studio Solution software integrates management, image capture, sales, retouching, and output into an intuitive and completely scalable package. Dramatically streamline your business and maximize your income with key features including: Customer and employee management, scheduling, invoicing, and reporting Canon's advanced image processors and color algorithms from processing RAW files to automated printing with Color Management built in. Basic to advanced retouching tools. Built in templates, composites, borders and greenscreen tools with integrated border workshop. Client presentation sales tool with slideshows and frame views.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnkSMrwvUnc&hl=en

Canon Studio Solution - Client Presentation Mode - 7/8

Canons new Studio Solution software integrates management, image capture, sales, retouching, and output into an intuitive and completely scalable package. Dramatically streamline your business and maximize your income with key features including: Customer and employee management, scheduling, invoicing, and reporting Canon's advanced image processors and color algorithms from processing RAW files to automated printing with Color Management built in. Basic to advanced retouching tools. Built in templates, composites, borders and greenscreen tools with integrated border workshop. Client presentation sales tool with slideshows and frame views.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I35ep6zki4&hl=en

Know More About Landscape Photography

Photography is the only profession that will not be a stress giver but will actually help you in taking the stress away from you. You will get to see a lot of new places and experience the beauty of nature in its real sense. It is important that you should be clear and be prepared for a lot of research and also keep in mind that it will not be stressful the way it can be in any other profession. If you are planning for a career in photography, there are certain important landscape photography tips that you have to know about this domain.

Hard work and persistence:

If you are under an impression that getting a photo is easy then you might have to do a little homework on that. It will depend a lot on your luck and experience will make it a piece of cake for you. It is all about hard work and persistence. To capture the perfect picture you should have the dedication and motivation for it.
Researching for the perfect location:

Research about the location is necessary, so that you get the perfect look at all times. You should be able to spend more and more time on the location to get a clear picture. For example, if you are planning to get the view of sunrise, you should be available at the location at least an hour before the sun starts to rise. Take time to get your perfect angles. Take a few shots to see how it will work. You can even try to take the picture from different heights. You can climb up the tree or lie on the ground. The efforts are important to get the perfect picture on time.

Getting pictures from different angles is important, so that you have options. However, try not to repeat the location as you might loose on time. Talking to people who know about the place will also help you a great deal. You should also take care of the weather as that can either help you to get a great picture or even ruin your efforts. Therefore, if you do not get good weather conditions in the first time, keep going to the same place until the magic happens.

Persistence and hard work:

If you are unable to find the right weather conditions, you should not lose heart; some people give up because of the same. You might not be able to succeed the first time but if you give up you will never get it. Visit the place again and again. Try different angles under different conditions. Always remember, that getting a perfect landscape photographs is all about persistence and hard work.

If you are really for it, you can try getting your self certified professionally. Attending a photography workshops or seminars is also a good option to gain more knowledge about it. There are many people who are paying good money for perfect pictures. So you can also try for the Cash Cow method to make money through it

Some Tips in Getting the Best Photography Training

People who are interested to photography should consider photography training if they want to be more of an expert in this field. If you are one of those people, you can have several choices of training to explore your ability. Some types of photography trainings are revealed here for you to give you some ideas about the most suitable training for you. Here they are.

Photography College
This is a great idea to get best training on photography, particularly for people who want to earn some amount of money professionally from this field. Here, you will have every single useful detail that will improve the quality of your captured pictures. If this certain training suits you the most, you can start to contact some colleges or universities near your area. Ask them more information about their photography degree program and the facilities provided for their students.

Photography class
This is a place to learn more details and techniques on photography without taking degree program. This is a perfect option if you want to improve your skill in photography while taking degree program in another subject. Surely, you can easily find classes for beginners, intermediate, and expert. There are also a lot of subjects that you could choose during attending those classes, such as portrait taking, studio lighting, as well as the techniques of digital photography itself.

Workshops
There are always a lot of workshop events held by some camera supply stores. You can also attend those events to get more training on photography skills. You can simply ask for more information to the contact person of the workshop regarding the kind of class offered by them. Besides, in this certain event, you will have great chance to meet other local photographers. You can also get more useful knowledge from them.

You can choose the most suitable training that matches your needs well. Surely, you will not get anything from your training if you never do regular training. Therefore, do not miss any chance to practice and to improve your theoretical knowledge.

Digital Photography Tip - Which One To Follow

Itching to churn out photographic masterpieces? Then a digital camera is a handy and inexpensive aide to your photography cruises. Digital cameras combine a range of features to ensure that you capture the scenes and moments of life in all their stunning reality. But to expound a popular myth, a frightfully expensive digital camera is not a guarantee to skillful digital photography. Remember the phrase about the sloppy workman who always blamed his tools! Let the tips on digital photography come to your rescue.

Tempting Tips to Dazzling Digital Photography

Seasoned digital photographers are unanimous on one thing: they honed their photography skills mostly by tinkering with the camera and taking a whole lot of trash shots in the beginning. Thus after you have acquired your camera, fiddle with it to your heart's content and snap at anything and everything under the sun. Tips to increase your digital photography proficiency levels include the following:

- Flip through the instructor's manual and know your camera by heart. In particular, be aware of its potentials and limitations. For instance, most digital cameras come equipped with different scene modes to complement varying settings. A thorough knowledge about them will help you to come up with the optimum results.

- Pack in a sizeable memory card into your camera. This will enable you to shoot at the camera's highest resolution and come up with top-notch pictures. Also think of the logic, if you have paid through your nose to get a 8-megapixel camera why on earth should you be stingy about making it go all the way only for want of a voluminous memory card.

- Most tenderfoots with the digital camera have a hard time with keeping the camera still while shooting. The result is pictures where the Leaning Tower of Pisa looks upright while all other towers look inclined and about to topple over. This is especially true when these amateur photographers are using their LCD for composing the photos. The best way to counter this is to take multiple shots with varying angles of a single scene. One is bound to turn out right. Practice will make you perfect.

- For acquainting yourself with the basics of lightning, you do not need to attend workshops and seminars. Just remember that if the sun is behind the subject, the photograph will turn out to be a silhouette and if you intend to capture the shot with the subject facing the sun, be prepared for narrowed eyes and a little bit unnatural looking photograph. An interesting variation would be rim lighting, wherein you can have the sun light up the hair of the subject from a side.

- Let not your flash shots be only flashes in the pan! Make it a habit to take good and discernible photographs in the flash mode and for this you need to stand a bit close to your subject when using the fill flash outdoors (most in-built flashes have a range of 10-feet or less). This way you can ensure an even exposure all the elements in the scene.

- Explore the Macro Mode and add a new, exhilarating dimension to your photographs. But as you maneuver this mode, it is important to remember that you are dealing with very shallow field depths. So focus on the part of the object that you deem most significant and let the remaining parts go soft. Sit back and marvel at the result!

- Be an actual part of the picture you are taking. And for this you need to use the self-timer on the camera, which just happens to be the most slightly used feature of a digital camera. A self-timer is also a great way of ensuring that there is no jerking of the camera while you zero in on the correct exposure parameter.

- Don't always go by the settings that come with the camera. You will be missing out on a lot of exciting and visually appealing openings. For instance, the white balance setting is usually "auto", but try adjusting it to "cloudy" when taking shots out in the sun. You will be amazed by the results, more precisely, the warm tones of the image. This is because the "auto" white balance mode leans on the "cool" side.

The road to National Geographic status photography is not easy. But these tips on digital photography will just give the impression that you have arrived on the scene.

Keep Your Photos and Environment Safe

With all the pictures out there of little polar bear cubs and their mothers up in the arctic looking very thin in recent years, it makes you wonder what the end result will be regarding the impending environmental changes. Is this a natural cyclical change at work here, or have our internal combustion engines, aerosols, fertilizers, chemicals, etc., over the past 100+ years been a factor in all of this? At this point, the jury is still out on that issue.

But something is definitely happening, I'm sure you'll agree. Is there anything out there, we as modern day folks may ask ourselves, that doesn't damage the environment? Rest assured, there are products out there that don't damage the environment one iota, among them being the absolutely beautiful eco-friendly photo albums available on several websites scattered across the Internet.

They're handmade works of art, and are made of jungle-renewable materials which, because the growing season never ends in the tropics of Indonesia, the island of Bali will always have the resources for their manufacture readily at hand right outside the front door of the workshop--things such as bamboo, seeds, pressed leaves and pressed flowers.

On top of that, because they are organic photo albums, they most likely don't have the dangerous chemicals (polyvinyl chlorides, or PVCs) in them that are in the plastic pages of many photo albums found in your local drug store, so your photos will be safe for decades to come, instead of getting bleached out over time.

Summing up--no damage to your photos, no damage to the environment. Additionally, most are very affordable.

9 Great Landscape Photo Tips from Calumet and Ernie Cowan

Photographer and teacher Ernie Cowan gives 9 great landscape photo tips. You can sign up for a workshop with Ernie at www.calumetphoto.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vkgMJ_rT4o&hl=en

Highlights of Good Photography Courses

Those who have chosen photography for earning a living have several options to consider while they are in need of an introduction to the profession. Online courses are preferred by people who are running short of time or who are living in remote areas where it is difficult to find a good course. Classroom courses are preferred by those who feel that it is better to dedicate some time for such courses on a full-time basis as they feel that it is concentrated effort.

Some private institutes have an excellent placement record and this has the effect of attracting many students. Some colleges are already well-established and so you can be sure about the quality. Some of them even have noteworthy alumni that they can boast of. It is better to join colleges that are accredited so that you can be sure of the value that you will receive for the invested money. You must choose a specialization with care as it will help your professional career.

It is common to find professionals and amateurs registering for well designed photography workshops. Some colleges offer night and day classes. Some students even make use of the facility for staying in the college campus. Some courses target those who are already working.

Though the highlights of the various courses vary, it is possible to state a few points about the courses. A complete course that is aimed at preparing a beginner for professional photography will cover the following:

- Details about cameras/lenses

- Guidelines of photography

- Camera usage

- Processing images

- Effects of lighting

- Photography applied to various themes like: sports, pets, kids, marriages, fashion, etc.

- Techniques related to printing

- Tips and techniques

Some people find short courses beneficial. Such courses will compress the various topics and strive to teach as much as possible within a limited time frame. You will also need to know the special effects that will come handy from time to time.

IDP TV - WPPI 2008 - Bambi Cantrell

WPPI 2008's official show report continues as renowned Author & Wedding Photographer, Bambi Cantrell, Cantrell Portrait Design joins Inside Digital Photo TV's host, Scott Sheppard live from her "Fantasy Portrait" Workshop to share some tips on what photographers can do to get out of their creative rut. Bambi's hands-on workshops inspire photographers with high-energy models featuring the work of her favorite stylists and airbrush artists. Hear her tips on how she keeps her work on the cutting edge integrating fashion with her wedding and portrait work. For more information about Bambi Cantrell, her training DVDs, and workshops visit: www.cantrellportrait.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLsC-U4lCX4&hl=en

The Photographers Biggest Marketing Sin

How to stand out in the marketplace

There are only five ways to stand out in the marketplace:

1-Price, 2- Product, 3-Process, 4-Service and 5-Marketing Let's look at these areas:

Price. If you compete on price you are asking for heartache and headaches. I guarantee it. Charge what YOU WANT, and find ways to justify it. Never stay stuck in the price war competition. It is very, very frustrating. I talk to many photographers who stay stuck and fail to work on other areas to strengthen. I believe it often is a sign of deeper problems and self -image. I am not suggesting avoiding it altogether, but it certainly is a prime focus for too many.

Product. I've always felt that if you can make people look good and create great photos they will tolerate just about kind of abuse or otherwise appalling behavior that would never be tolerated in other industries. If you are a great photographer why not be a great marketer too? And a good person. You will only have everything to gain by it and if you treat people badly, in time you are bound to pay a price. How exactly? Who knows? But why be a jerk? Likewise if you take okay photographs it will help you immensely by being a memorable person. I know average photographers who earn good money and get a ton of business largely because they are likeable. This factor really helps in this business. If you take okay photographs you should be personable and likeable, and you should create a lot of excitement with your marketing and ability to innovate.

Process. When you create systems that work, you become efficient. Use a system, do not take away from the system by letting employees change it or use their own discretion. A finely tunes operation will impress clients and you will stand out.

Service. There is ample opportunity for every business to become excellent in the area of service. It's vital to create standards, and stick to them consistently. Use a process for the delivery of great service. One key area is training,and training staff often. They need weekly reminders of every aspect that you want great service to be delivered. Most business's suffer from apathy in this area, so if you decide to be unusual, and offer great service, you will stand out big time.

Marketing. Let's look at this one. Without a doubt the biggest marketing sin is being boring. You can have the greatest ad writing skills in the world but if your offers are boring you'll likely stumble and fail. You can have the greatest photographic talent in the world but if your offers, copy and promotions are boring you're doomed. Being boring in any way shape or form is considered marketing suicide. Maybe that's why so business's fail. Simply because they use boring, run-of-the-mill, seen-it-a-million-times, looks-like-everything-else out there marketing. I have no doubt that this is true and it is so often ignored by so many business's it actually creates opportunity for those of us who decide to do something about it.

But first, let's look at the obvious question: Why do we fall into the habit of creating marketing suicide with boring promotions, boring ads, boring offers, boring copy etc...in the first place....? Simple. We are human beings. We like to copy each other and copy others who we think are successful. We take on the "monkey-see monkey-do" way of thinking. It probably has something to do with peer pressure and other social conditionings, fear of trying something new or radical, fear of ridicule....whatever it is, the pressure is great. There are probably many reasons and ways of explaining it, and since humans are basically lazy it only compounds the problem.

This is a behavior that makes no exception. It applies equally to all industries and is so common it can be considered the true cause of failure. It's what I like to call cannibalism.You see it everywhere. Everyone starts doing what everyone else is doing and we all start looking alike. What this ultimately amounts to is suicide because the marketing that results from cannibalism is so boring it has virtually no effect on that target group that we are trying to get into our studios.

Okay, so why don't we simply take the opposite approach and copy the successful models such as Starbucks and The Body Shop to name only a few. The rules they play by are simple, but they did something amazingly simple that we too can us in our own business. They didn't look at what all the other business's in their industry are doing and duplicate. They didn't go to a coffee convention and notice what all the other coffee places were doing so they could use those same old and tired ideas. Did they? As a matter of fact they did the opposite. They simply innovated new and exciting ways to sell their boring coffee and boring soap products. Think about it. They succeed, many fail. Look any other industry. Pick any and you'll see the same behaviors over and over.

Strive to find your own voice and your own message. I know we are all selling the same commodity with our own style of shooting as the only way to differentiating from one another, but if we avoid cannibalism by not copying what all the other photographers are doing and by doing something totally different, totally outrageous (yes, going through the phone book and calling people cold is considered outrageous in my books...could you do it?? I'm not suggesting that we use that as a marketing strategy but as a source of inspiration, a guide post, a virtue, ultimately asking ourselves: do I have the guts, determination, discipline and willingness to stand above the crowd and not look like everyone else in my field?)

So how do we do this? Where do we start? Simple, take the basics and work from there. Your offers and packages in all your services should be exciting. Never boring, Start with your basic menu of services. If you are a "a la carte" photo studio then get off your high horse and create packages at different levels. Thinking is hard work so make it real easy for clients to understand what it is you are offering them. And please, don't forget the golden rule: make all your offers speak in terms of how they will benefit the client (not an ego massage for you).

Look at everything your studio stands for. Is it unique? What areas can you improve? How about your personality? Your shooting style? Your skills? The studio smells? Your staff? Attitudes? Everything is a potential area for improvement and could be polished with that extra sparkle that you could call your own, not a copy of what you saw at the convention last month. Inject big and small ideas. Infuse personality into all your marketing, your personality.

Why do you think Wendy's used Dave Thomas in their ads? Simple, sales went down when they stopped using him. He was a lovable, believable human being. Not a cold, corporate and sterile message like most ads out there. When you stop being a cannibal and stop feeding the same message over and over you start the right path to marketing.

You won't find the answer in any textbook. However you can follow guidelines. The biggest job you have in your studio is that of being a marketer. A strategist first and foremost. Your life depends it and your business too. It is the only way to not becoming a cannibal.

I was once asked if location was important for the photographer. My answer was and is that location is a very, very small factor, unless you are building a franchise mall type studio and plan to expand it. This type of store depends on location to a much larger degree. If you focus on location and make it a primary strategy without making process', service and marketing your main focus, you are creating a very weak plan.

Be grounded, realistic and focused on what is important and deserving of your attention and efforts. Your success depends on it.

Canon Studio Solution - Installation and Configration 2/8

Canons new Studio Solution software integrates management, image capture, sales, retouching, and output into an intuitive and completely scalable package. Dramatically streamline your business and maximize your income with key features including: Customer and employee management, scheduling, invoicing, and reporting Canon's advanced image processors and color algorithms from processing RAW files to automated printing with Color Management built in. Basic to advanced retouching tools. Built in templates, composites, borders and greenscreen tools with integrated border workshop. Client presentation sales tool with slideshows and frame views.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ1Vm8a2-zM&hl=en

Kite Aerial Photography and Photogrammetry

Kite Aerial Photography (KAP) and Photogrammetry at an archaeolgical site at the Mexican/US border. This video was generated from data gathered with a standard digital camera triggered remotely while hanging from a kite.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCbLjti0D1A&hl=en

Canon Studio Solution - Border Templates Greenscreens - 6/8

Canons new Studio Solution software integrates management, image capture, sales, retouching, and output into an intuitive and completely scalable package. Dramatically streamline your business and maximize your income with key features including: Customer and employee management, scheduling, invoicing, and reporting Canon's advanced image processors and color algorithms from processing RAW files to automated printing with Color Management built in. Basic to advanced retouching tools. Built in templates, composites, borders and greenscreen tools with integrated border workshop. Client presentation sales tool with slideshows and frame views.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpuNlvXdJZQ&hl=en

Photoshop For Beginners - Understanding Levels and Curves Input Values

When you set the INPUT value in the Levels or Curves dialog either by dragging the black or white triangular sliders or typing a value directly into the Input box, you are telling Photoshop to change all of the pixels in the image that have this new tone value so that they match the default OUTPUT value. For example, when you move the white slider in the Curves dialog to 250, you are basically saying "I want all the pixels with the value 250 AND HIGHER (i.e. the range 250 to 255) to have the same value as shown in the OUTPUT box."

Since the default OUTPUT value is 255 for white, all of the pixels in the image with a value of 250 or higher will be made to be pure white (value 255). The other light tones in the image will also become lighter. The same is true for the black slider. When you move the black slider you set the INPUT value which will change all of the pixels with this value AND LOWER equal to the default OUTPUT value which is 0 (i.e. black). For example, if you move the black slider or set the black INPUT value to 25, all of the pixels with a value of 25 or lower will be made equal to the output value of 0 (black). This will also cause all of the shadow tones also to darken.

You are actually setting the upper and lower limit values of the white and black tones in the image which in this example would increase the overall contrast of the image. So, if you have a low contrast image that hasn't got a black tone and hasn't got a white tone, you would normally be saying "OK, the darkest tone in this image has, say, a value of 20 BUT this is not true black and I want it to be black. Right, so I need to set the INPUT value of the black slider to 20 and leave the OUTPUT value at 0."

This will change the value of the selected tone from 20 to 0 thus increasing the depth of the shadow tones. Note that all the tones in the dark areas will be lowered in value proportionally. You now have either a Levels or Curves tone adjustment that has 'mapped' the value of 20 down to 0. Working with the lighter tones now, let's say the lightest tone in this same image has a value of 230 (a light grey tone, typical of low contrast photos). Now let's assume we want the image to have a pure white. So, we need to change the value of this tone from 230 so that it looks white (value 255). Using the Levels or Curves adjustment dialog we move the white slider until the INPUT value is 230 and leave the OUTPUT value at the default of 255. This will change all the tones with a value of 230 so they have the new value of 0 (zero) which will change them to become white in the image.

The result of these two changes to the black and white input values will be that you have increased the image contrast to make it fill the full tonal range and appear more 'normal'. Now you understand how the Input values in the Levels and Curves dialogs work and how to use them to correct a low contrast photograph.

What Should We Pay To Improve Our Photography?

Many of us, when looking to improve our photography, spend money on equipment. We think that the better/newer the equipment the better our photography. We pay plenty of money because we believe that the equipment will enable us to create better photographs. Most of the time our photography remains the same, only the equipment, and our bank accounts, have changed.

What do we need to create a photograph? We need a camera, a lens and light sensitive material to record light. If you are using a pinhole camera you can dispense with the lens.

What do we need to create a GOOD photograph? An understanding of the craft of photography can help. The more we understand about the craft of photography the more depth we can bring to our pictures. If we can't teach ourselves about the craft, a class/workshop with a good teacher will help us enormously and is well worth the cost. But there's something else that won't cost us anything.

What do we need to pay to create GOOD photographs and yet cost us nothing out of our pockets? ATTENTION!

Our cameras record EVERYTHING that we place into our framing and, assuming that there is enough light being reflected or transmitted by the objects in the frame, whether we see it or not it's there!

We see with discrimination. We see what's interesting to us and pay attention to that, usually at the expense of everything else in the frame. On the other hand our cameras see indiscriminately and are interested in nothing.

We have to learn to see like our cameras record our photographs, without discrimination. Although we need to concentrate on what's interesting and important to us, we also need to pay attention to everything else in the frame. If we don't pay attention to everything else, we get things in the photograph that we don't want in the photograph..like poles growing out of peoples heads!

Pay attention to EVERYTHING in the frame. If we look at our photograph after the exposure was made and see something that wasn't there, we weren't paying attention. Things that weren't in our viewfinder prior to our exposure don't magically appear in the photograph after the exposure was made. There's nothing wrong with a pole growing out of someone's head if that's what we saw in our viewfinder before our exposure was made and decided to keep it there.

We need to look at ALL of the picture in our viewfinder and organize it. We should be filling the frame with the elements of the composition that are important to us and paying attention to how those elements relate to each other then, when everything feels right to us, we make the exposure. By doing this at the very least we'll have a well composed picture. At the most, if we are true to OUR feelings about whatever we are photographing, we'll not only have a well composed picture we'll have a picture filled with feeling.

We can't force feeling into a picture. A picture filled with feeling is usually an automatic result of examining what's important to us as individuals and including those important compositional elements, and their relationships, in our photographs.

If you want to improve your photography, before plunking down a pile of cash to pay for that new state of the art super mega-expensive piece of equipment that you think will improve your pictures, try paying attention. It'll cost you nothing and I believe that our thoughtful attention is the best investment we can make when it comes to our photographs.

Wedding Photography: How to Become a Successful Wedding Photographer

Once in while I receive e-mails or phone calls from aspiring or beginner wedding photographers asking me for advise on how to become successful in the wedding field. My first question is always what their motivation is to become a wedding photographer. Some will reply that they heard from somebody that it is easy money, or that they got a cool camera that takes great photos or that they would like to make some money on the side etc.
While it is true that wedding photography can be a very profitable business achieving success in the wedding industry is not just a matter of getting a camera and start shooting. Wedding photography involves artistic talent, human sense, complete mastery of photographic techniques, business knowledge, and a strong desire to learn and deliver the best to the wedding couple.

Here I have summarized some points that I believe will guide beginner wedding photographers:

1. Learn photography before anything else. A wedding photographer is expected to be a master of the craft. You will be in charge of capturing people's most precious life moments. The wedding day is not the place to learn photography.

2. Just because you got a brand new camera it does not automatically make you an effective and reliable photographer. Photography goes beyond cool toys and gadgets. Learn composition and develop a unique artistic vision. Some of the great photographs of all time were taken with manual cameras.

3. Master the digital workflow, including color management, digital image processing, file management and image correction and enhancement.

4. Learn to love photography more than anything else. Don't come to the wedding photography field with just dreams of making money. It is true that there are many successful wedding photographers that make a lot of money. However according to the Professional Photographers of America the average photographer in America makes about $24,000 a year.

5. Focus on delivering quality more than quantity. Seek with all your heart to capture unique photographs.

6. Develop a style that is recognizable and unique. Don't try to be like somebody else. Clients look for unique photographers, with a unique vision.

7. Give wedding photography all your heart and effort. Long when you are gone your photographs will last forever. It is a great way to be remembered.

8. Open your heart and your mind and great photos will happen. Concentrate on the human aspect of weddings, the details, and emotions and be ready to capture them. Let the camera become an extension of you.

9. Share your technical knowledge and make connections with other wedding photographers.

10. Participate in wedding photography image competitions. It will give you the opportunity to have your work evaluated by peers and the motivation to improve your work quality.

11. Learn something new everyday. Take advantage of professional photography organizations such as Professional Photographers of America (PPA), WPPI, etc. Attend their seminars, workshops. Participate in Internet wedding photography forums and learn and share tips, tools and techniques.

12. Don't neglect the business aspect of wedding photography. Learn to manage your business effectively. Take business courses and seminars.

10 Top Travel Photography Tips

Whether you’re taking a short day trip or going halfway around the world, there are things besides a destination and a camera that can ensure you return home with a collection of wonderful photographs. Here are 10 travel photo tips to help you do just that.

1. Look For Local Cultural Events because these can make for some great photo opportunities.

2. Carry A Wide-Range Zoom (28-200mm) to reduce weight and still have plenty of focal range. Bringing a lot of lenses can really weigh you down.

3. Previsualize Your Shots at a scene. Walk around while considering light, weather, lens selection and how to frame some unusual and fresh compositions.

4. Get Up Before Dawn At Least Once and photograph a scene as the morning light emerges.

5. Show The Picture On The LCD to people you shoot, especially when there’s a language barrier. It involves them in what you’re doing and builds trust.

6. Use A Portable Reflector To Control Light, fill in shadows or brighten colors in the foreground.

7. Make Sure You Have A Tripod, preferably one that’s strong, lightweight and fairly compact when fully compressed.

8. Back Up Your Images with a portable storage device to free up memory cards and ensure that you come home with all the photos you took.

9. Don’t Forget A Cleaning Kit to keep your lenses and sensors clean.

10. Shooting Some Video in addition to your still images can turn slideshows into dynamic, multimedia presentations.

Make the most of your next photographic adventure, with all of our travel photography tips [http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/content/2005/june/20_travel_tips.shtml].

Photography For You

It is a fact that stress is one culprit that could make someone unhealthy. And these days, people are so obsessed with their career, chasing time and not even pausing to take a breath. Sure, it is invigorating to have a job and be productive in the society you live in but you should also keep in mind that your physical body needs to rest once in a while. Even your mind needs to take a break from all the stressful thoughts from work and from the chaotic world around you.

Money and all the beautiful things you have amassed are good to own but how can you enjoy them if you do not have the luxury of time to smell the roses? A good way to spend your free time is to take a hobby. It is not only a good way to enhance your skill but it is also good for your mental state. A hobby can be relaxing and it can bring joy into your heart which money cannot give.

If your hobby is photography, you have to keep in mind that it is not merely the snapping of photos that is needed to capture a good photo. You need to keep in mind that the angle, background, and even the type of camera you use are big factors to consider when taking a picture. Investing in a good camera should be number one in your number list. And the second would be your skill. If this is your first time to venture into photography and you have no educational background in arts or photography, it is, therefore advisable that you join photography workshops, seminars and clubs. This will not only enhance your skill but this will also allow you to gain more friends who have the same passion.

Another thing to consider is to invest in photography books. You can check out your local book store and get the latest books about photography, cameras and the like. You can also make use of the Internet to research about self-help photography or photography for newbies.

Indeed, photography is a great way to spend your free-time as a hobby while capturing emotions, faces and places. Having the right subject, tools and skill plus your passion would surely capture the best images in your camera. Who knows? You might turn this hobby into something that can generate money. Just remember to have fun while snapping pictures.

Best Photography Classes in Chicago

Whether you are looking to become a professional photographer or you have recently picked up this popular hobby and you want to improve your current photography skills by learning a new trick or two, you are more than likely going to want to take a few classes. When it comes to finding photography classes in the Chicago area, you will find that there are several different options to choose from, depending on the type of setting you are looking for, as well as the types of courses offered. Each of these varies greatly from one institution to the next.

If cost and time are a major factor in your decision on what types of classes would be right for you, then you should try out the Chicago Photography Center. They offer one of the most affordable and quick photography classes in the Chicago area. Founded by students and photography instructors in the summer of 2002, the Chicago Photography Center is a nonprofit organization. They offer evening courses and workshops under a hundred dollars as well as a seven week course that runs $350, or $250 for non-darkroom courses. They offer a classroom, darkroom, computer lab, studio, and gallery space in an informal setting, making it the ideal place to brush up on your skills.

Looking for something a little less informal? If you are looking for photography classes in the Chicago area that are more geared toward a degree program, Harrington offers a specialized digital photography school where you can earn an associate's degree. Led by experienced professional photographers, Harrington's program sets you up to join in this highly competitive field as a professional photographer yourself. You'll be required to purchase your own camera and equipment but are provided in return with state of the art labs, studios and software.

Still not elite enough? Columbia College Chicago offers some of the most exhilarating photography classes in the Chicago area, and in fact the largest photography program in the country. Offering the most up to date innovations in the industry as well as a rich history behind photography, taught by over 70 professors, Columbia College will surely meet all your needs. Students at Columbia are eligible to obtain a B.F.A or a B.A. in photography or they may couple it with another major as a minor.

If you still want to take some photography classes in the Chicago area, but your heart is set on a broader art program, Truman College might be best for you. They offer areas of study in liberal arts and science programs that specialize in areas of art, illustration and design, intended to be used as a transfer program to a college or university offering baccalaureate degrees. The programs may also be used to get your foot in the door of a professional career in the many aspects of art, illustration or design.

This is in no way an exhaustive list of the places in Chicago offering classes in photography. No matter what type of setting it is that you are seeking, be it formal or informal, expensive and tuition based or inexpensive and nonprofit, you will no doubt find a variety of places offering photography classes in the Chicago area. You can find more information on the programs listed above by searching for the following:

o Chicago Photography Center
o Harrington Digital Photography School
o Columbia College Chicago
o Truman College

Landscape Photography Tutorial - Learn Landscape Photography

Looking for a landscape photography tutorial course? The best courses today can be founds online. The fact is, what with all the multimedia training, experience building exercises for hands-on learning, and technical know-how taught in an easy-to-take-in manner, it's the best to learn such things online. Also, the ease at which such a vast wealth of knowledge can be taught electronically makes such education phenomenally inexpensive.

Landscape photography tutorials are wonderful when you realize one thing... you can take breathtakingly beautiful photographs even with the cheapest of equipment - even with the most basic of digital cameras as well. After all, besides knowing your personal camera, taking awe inspiring photographs is all in the talent, and the artistic ability to see.

With desire, and perseverance, you can develop your talents to a career quality level of expertise. Online landscape photography tutorials broaden your horizons of knowledge and experience and are a great way to gain confidence in your work. You can learn about the inner workings and functions of your camera, filters, and techniques of taking award winning photographs in a way that stays with you all your life. You can even learn little tricks of the trade, like taking a bit of crumpled up, lightly-colored cellophane candy wrapper and wrapping it over a lens filter for an interesting effect.

The best landscape photography tutorials can be found online, and these courses can be taken in the comfort of your own home, at your own pace, and in your own time. This way, you can revolve your education around your daily schedule - not the other way around. Whether you choose to take landscape photos as a hobby, or make it into a career, using such a landscape photography tutorial is the best thing you can do for your growing photography talents.