Developing A Six Figure Photography Business

What's the fastest way to success? Find a mentor.

And not just any mentor; but someone who's "been there, done that". In every industry there are always people that have achieved what you are hoping to achieve yourself. The key to success if finding those mentors, and following what they did. Mimic their actions and you have a sure-fire way to the top.

Once you've connected with a top mentor, there are other things you can do to ensure your success. Having a mentor is a great starting point. But having the systems in place to handle the business are also important.

1. Study the business side. As a photographer, I understand that part of the fun of owning a studio is photographing. That's what your passion is. But never forget you are running a business, and the business has to be kept in order. If your business doesn't stay in business, you won't be able to continue photographing. So make it a part of your daily process to study how to make your business a better business.

2. Implement marketing structure. If you've ever known a photographer that has gone out of business, chances are its because he didn't have enough paying clients in his studio. You can be good at photographing, but you have to be even better at marketing. Marketing is what brings the people through your doors, and ultimately turns them into paying clients. Concentrate on becoming the best marketer possible.

3. Evaluate production. In every business, there's always something you do well, and something you would prefer never to do. Every business owner wears a multitude of hats throughout the day. But a great business owner learns how to release the hats that make her miserable, and concentrate on what she does best. So if you hate accounting, hire a bookkeeper. If you hate marketing, hire a consultant. If you hate production, hire an employee. Releasing your "hate" jobs will free up time to spend doing things you love to do, and will ultimately make you better at the business.

4. Plan, plan, plan. A great business owner will have a plan in place, and know where the business is heading. She will know her goals, and monitor them throughout the year to make sure she's on track. If planning has never been easy for you, make it easy. Your plan doesn't have to be more than a page of notes. Just describe your goals for the business, and create the steps that it will take to get you to your goals.

5. Search for knowledge. Your business is like a jigsaw puzzle. It has hundreds of tiny pieces that fit together, and it's your job to finish the puzzle. Everyone starts with the first piece, and connects it to another. And continues to build from there. The only way to add another piece to your puzzle is to find out a new piece of information that will make the connection. So learn what you can, and study from the best.

You'll be amazed at what you can create.

About the Author
Lori Osterberg is the author of the highly acclaimed Six Figure Photographer series of products, including training manual, coaching, and seminar series. She has over 18 years of experience in the photography industry. Receive her FREE ezine at http://www.VirtualPhotographyStudio.com

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Inkjet Printers for Home Photo Production

Whether you are an amateur digital photographer looking to print your own photos at home, or you fancy yourself a semi-pro who wants to produce professional grade prints from your computer, it can be done easily and affordably if you know what your doing. The type of printer, paper and ink are all factors to consider when producing your own digital photographs. However, to get started it is important to choose a printer that will suit your photo printing needs. Here are a few tips to get you started on what to look for in a photo printer.

Inkjet vs. Laser Printer

Because of the market saturation of various models of inkjet and laser printers, there are many affordable options for those looking for an affordable quality printer. Therefore, it is important to consider first, which of the two types of printers will work best for your specific needs.

Laser printers are usually more expensive than inkjets. However, they are faster and can create more vibrant prints. Laser printers do not use the same type of ink cartridges as inkjet printers. Instead, they produce prints by fusing toner and dry ink with electricity into a controlled laser beam. The cost of a replacement laser cartridge may be expensive, but when you crunch the numbers, it costs eight times less to print from a laser printer than an inkjet.

Inkjet printers, as mentioned above, are cheaper, have no warm-up time and are quieter than laser printers. Inkjet printers produce prints through small nozzles through ink cartridges. Drops of ink are sprayed onto the surface of the document to create the print. The resolution and quality of the print is determined by the printers DPI (dots per square inch) capability, which can vary by model. As technology and DPI capability advances, inkjet printers that produce a quality product are becoming more and more affordable. For that reason, most amateur and semi-professional digital photographers prefer inkjets rather than laser printers. For the purpose of this article, we will focus on inkjets as the easiest and most affordable way to print quality images from your home computer.

DPI is Important

Although it is not the only factor, the DPI capability of your printer is just as important as your digital cameras megapixel capability. For the sake of printing photos 2,880 DPI is sufficient, but anything lower than that may affect the quality of your prints.

It is important not to confuse megapixel capability with DPI. Your cameras resolution determines how many pixels make up a certain image, while your printers resolution determines how much ink is put out for your print.

An image taken with a 6 megapixel digital camera will always be comprised of 3,000 horizontal pixels and 2,000 vertical pixels, regardless of the size in which it is viewed on your screen. A 2,880 DPI printer will operate at 2,880 DPI no matter the image resolution. The rule of thumb for producing quality prints is to maintain a ration of 300 (pixels) to 1 (inch).

Inks

Typical commercial four-color printing uses four distinct inks to produce an image. These inks include cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (CMYK). While many low-end printers offer only two ink cartridges (one for color and one for black), these set-ups are usually not conducive to photo printing. Look for printers with at least four cartridges featuring the CMYK components. Although it can be pricey, especially if you do a lot of printing, avoid buying third-party inks and stick to the inks specifically manufactured for your printer.

Paper

Inks and screen resolution mean nothing if you do not use the right paper for your prints. Unfortunately, it is not the initial product you have to worry about, but its longevity. Light, air, temperature and humidity can all affect your print down the road. There are arrays of paper products on the market that will resist such environmental damage, as well as papers that are meant to work only with certain printers. Be sure to check the manufacturers specifications on a particular paper product and see if you can find a paper manufactured by the same company that made your printer. The compatibility of paper to printer can make all the difference.

Printer Speed

If you are impatient, do not rely on the speed specifications that are prominently placed on the printer package. These numbers usually refer to the printing of text and graphics. Be sure to look for the printers speed when it comes to photo printing.

Formatting

Not all printers are capable of producing borderless prints. If this is a must for your work, be sure that the printer you are considering can produce a borderless print.

Remember a photo is only as great as the print you can produce with it. Do not be afraid to spend a little extra money for a good photo printer. The first time you present friends and family with a photo you took, you will be thankful that you did.

About the Author
Quality-Cartridges are retailers in inkjet printer cartridges. You could save up to 70% of the price of your printer cartridges http://www.qualitycartridges.co.uk

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How to Recover Your Digital Photos If You Have Lost Or Misplaced Them On Your Computer

You can always count on technology to come up with ways that will make completing common tasks easier and more efficient. This has been the case with phones going from corded, to cordless and then completely mobile. Music that has gone from vinyl discs, to compact disks and portable music players that are now digital don't require tapes and fit in the palm of your hand. This technology has also expanded to cameras. The new digital cameras do a whole lot more than their ancestors did.

Digital cameras are a vast improvement over the ones your mom and dad used to own. They don't require film, since your pictures are recorded onto a memory card. No need to go to a photo processing store, because you can print them yourself by placing the memory card into a printer. You don't even have to print them to show them off; because you can download them directly to your computer and email them out to your friends and loved ones. When you're done, the memory card can be cleared and is ready to take more pictures.

There are times that you may inadvertently lose your pictures that you have stored on your computer. This can happen if you accidentally put them in the recycle bin. If this happens, there's no need to panic. You can retrieve them by clicking the right side of the mouse over the bin, and click "open". This will allow you to view what files the bin contains. Select the file that you want to save and click "restore". You also have the option of dragging the file from the bin onto your desktop.

Another precaution that you can take to make sure your photographs don't get lost is to copy them onto a CD after you have downloaded them to your computer. Remember that your computer is subject to malfunctions and if the hard drive crashes, your information could be lost. By copying your pictures onto a disk and then storing it in a safe place, they can be downloaded back onto your computer once you have fixed it.

There are times that you may need professional help to recover your digital photos. Although most memory cards are reliable, they too can become corrupted. Problems retrieving your pictures can also occur if your camera malfunctions due to programming or hardware issues. In these instances, don't try to retrieve the pictures yourself. You can purchase digital photo recovery software that can retrieve the pictures for you. There are also technicians that are trained in advanced digital photo recovery that can also retrieve your lost photos.

If you own a digital camera, it's a good idea to invest in digital photo recovery software, so you don't have to worry about not being able to retrieve your precious photos.

About the Author
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as photo restoration at http://www.photorestorationservices.com

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How To Take Better Black-And-White Photographs

Black-and-white photography has become increasingly popular once again. When color photography first burst upon the scene, black-and-white photography fell out of favor. It was seen as "old" and "out." But in recent years, we are rediscovering the beauty of black-and-white, and today we admire the power and purity of black-and-white images.

Here are some important elements to consider in taking black-and-white photographs.

Subject
Choose your subject carefully. Some subjects that look interesting in color look dull in black-and-white. On the other hand, black-and-white can create an unexpectedly intimate portrait or transform a simple scene into a dramatic moment.

Photographs of people look especially good in black-and-white. More and more people are having their wedding pictures taken in black-and-white because it makes the photographs look timeless and therefore more romantic. Black-and-white photographs of couples on honeymoon or on vacation can be equally captivating. Whereas a color picture might be a mere record of a trip, a black-and-white photograph captures emotions and impressions with unusual power. When you're in a festive or exciting place, your first instinct might be to take color pictures, but if you've ever seen a black-and-white photograph of a man kissing a woman on a beach, you know how much more compelling a black-and-white photograph can be.

Black-and-white photographs of children and babies are also very beautiful and sentimental. Children grow up, and babies won't be babies forever, so the nostalgic atmosphere that black-and-white photographs create is especially appropriate.

When you're taking black-and-white photographs of people, it is better if they are dressed simply and in solid colors, not in prints. The fewer the elements in a black-and-white photograph, the more dreamy or dramatic it will be.

Buildings, landscapes, and other scenes are also valuable subjects in black-and-white photography. Keep an eye out for the unexpected. The way the light falls on a table, the shadow of a bicycle on the ground, or the swaying of a tree in the wind could be the subject of your next black-and-white masterpiece.

Background
Make sure the background does not distract from your subject. Sometimes moving your subject a few feet to the right or left is all that you need to eliminate unnecessary elements from your photograph. If that doesn't work, try taking the picture from a different angle.

Light and shadow
You could say that light and shadow are all there is to black-and-white photographs. That's why it's so important to use them to your advantage. Take pictures of the same scene at different times of the day and you'll see how important light and shadow are to the mood of a photograph. You can also experiment with different qualities of light. For example, take a picture of a fence on a bright day, and take another picture of the same fence on a foggy day.

Colors
Some colors that are eye-catching in a color picture can get washed out in a black-and-white photograph. The same thing can happen with color combinations. For example, red and green look striking together, but in a black-and-white photograph, the two colors are nearly indistinguishable. It all comes back to subject. Choose a subject that looks interesting or dramatic in black-and-white and does not rely on color for its beauty.

Shapes
Precisely because of its lack of color, black-and-white photography relies greatly on shapes and lines to provide interest. A black-and-white photograph that is all straight lines can look modern and architectural, but it can also look flat. A subject that incorporates slanting lines, crooked lines, or curves generally looks interesting in black-and-white.

Texture
Like shapes, textures are very important in black-and-white photography. The surface of a straw hat has more visual impact than the surface of a baseball cap. If you're taking a picture of your small son, consider dressing him in a cable-knit sweater instead of a T-shirt.

Perspective
In photography, perspective is one of your best friends. It can help you tell a story, suggest relationships, and bring a boring subject to life. The black-and-white photograph of straight lines mentioned above won't look flat if you take it from an unusual angle. If you're photographing a wall of windows, stand near the bottom of the building and point your camera up. If you're taking a picture of your new puppy, stand over it with your camera, and it will look very small and sweet.

Remember, black-and-white photography is beautiful because it creates images that are so personal and meaningful. Experiment with it and have fun with it. A few years from now, when your children are grown and you've moved to a different town, you'll be glad you made the effort to capture what was around you, when it was still around.

About the Author
Lee Dobbins writes for http://photography.unique-articles.com where you can learn more about photography of all types.

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Organize Your Photos With Google Picasa

Soon after you get your new digital camera, you discover you need help!

No, not help taking pictures, help in organizing all of them. Before you know it, your hard drive is overflowing with pictures with file names like xsl2000001.jpg. Not exactly making it easy to find a picture again and it can quickly get very frustrating just trying to find a particular photo. You may even have gotten some software that came with your camera, but sadly are finding it cumbersome and difficult to use.

A really nice way to organize all your pictures is with a program from Google called Picasa. It will sort all your photos by date in just a blink! This program is really user friendly. You can:

1)Move the photos by just dragging and dropping into the folder where you want it
2)Easily rename a photo
3)Use labels to tag your photos into quick groupings within Picasa
4)Give a gold star to any photo you love (even search on the gold stars)
5)Password protect any of your Picasa photo collections to keep them private

These three features of Picasa make it a real powerhouse for a photographer:

1) Find
It automatically finds and organizes your pictures into folders by date, and with names you can recognize, and it does this instantly when you open the program. You are going to love this because it saves you so much time "hunting" for your photos.

2) Edit
It has built in advanced editing features like simple one-click fixes to common photo problems (like red eye), and twelve interesting built-in photo effects.

3) Share
It gives you lots of ways to share your photos. You can email them (use the compression feature to make them a size easier to use on the web), print them with your inkjet photo printer on photo paper, and you can also make CD collections to give as gifts to family and friends. Amazingly, you can upload your photos to the Internet with just one click! Are you itching to try great effects like a slide show that you can put music to? This will do it.

With all these user-friendly expanded features, you would expect this program to be available with a hefty price tag. Nope. It is part of the smorgasbord of FREE products available from Google.

The weekly idea that I like to share with you is:

Organize your photo with Google Picasa!

About the Author
Max Ng shares about his struggle for success at http://www.yourgreatestgift.com. He learns from successful people at http://www.secrets4me.com. He also loves to take good photos with an average compact digital camera. His photography tips can be found at http://www.addictivephoto.com.

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5 Common Digital Camera Users Mistakes

With so much misinformation that camera manufacturers have given to buyers, it caused many users to buy too much or inappropriate cameras. Here are some common misconceptions that buyers and users of digital cameras have.

The Mega Pixel Myth

The common belief is that the more pixels the better as you need to have greater and larger resolutions. But really, the question is "Do you really need it?" If you plan to put your pictures on the internet for people to view or email to your friends, resolutions of 640 X 480 is more than enough. You really only need higher resolutions if you are a professional photographer or want to print out your shots. There is a general rule for best print results that states that you need a resolution of 300 X 300 per square inch. This means that for a typical 4R photo, you would need to have a picture taken at 1200 X 1800.

Which Zoom To Use

Some compact cameras described as having "3x optical/4x digital zoom, 12x total zoom power!" While an optical zoom will appear to bring distant objects impressively close, digital zoom simply enlarges a section of the image. It's like making a big blow up print, then cropping it down.

The problem is that while digital zoom enlarges the image, it also enlarges the pixels, and you end up with a low resolution image when you shoot with your camera on "digital zoom" mode. You will not notice the poorer quality in your camera's LCD screen, but it will be obvious on prints. If you want a zoom lens, look at the camera's optical zoom specs, and ignore the digital zoom numbers.

I Do Not Need To Buy Spare Batteries

Once you have a digital camera, you will tend to shoot right away and view it immediately. The LCD tends to consume much power. If you are using the video mode, the power consumption is even greater. It will be best to have an extra set of batteries with you.

My Image Editing Software Can Make Great Pictures

Yes, we all know that Photoshop and other similar image editing programs are wonderful things. But it's always best to start off with the most accurately exposed image in the first place. Remember, no photo editor can create a great picture from scratch. Why not learn to shoot great pictures and you do not have to spend more time trying to tweak the results. If you feel you must work on an image on your computer, work on a copy and not on the original.

Printing At Home Can Save Me Money

Not really true any more depending on how many you want to print. Home printing has many benefits, including instant feedback and control over the final results. A typical inkjet or dye sub home made 4x6 print costs around 50 cents per sheet. If you shop around, you will find online print deals for much less. And you don't even have to buy a printer.

About the Author
To find out more information and reviews of Digital Cameras and Canon Rebel Cameras, please visit The Digital Camera Explained at http://azdigitalcamera.net

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Digital Photography Glossary - After Knowing These You Are Officially An Expert

Digital photography is made easier if an understanding of the different terminology is understood. There are many areas to list, with the basics listed here:

1 MP camera - This is a camera that can shoot an image which is made up of one million pixels, which are used for the number of pixels in an image and the number of sensor elements of the camera.

Aperture - The opening that lets light travel to the camera's interior where the sensor is placed. An important element in most optical designs, it is deliberate to prevent saturation of a detector or overexposure of film.

Digital zoom - The process of blowing up a part of the picture by increasing the size of pixels in the image. The function that is performed within the digital camera leads to a loss of picture quality. Similar in some cameras to cropping the image, but the image is physically the same in location and size.

JPEG - The term used to describe the standard compression of a photographic image. This compression ratio was fixed by the Joint Photo Experts Group to reduce the picture size. It is not well suited for line drawings and other iconic images, due to its type of compression. The PNG and GIF formats are used for these or their reduction would lead to a considerable loss of picture quality.

Megapixels - An image that is made up of one million pixels, or used to express the number of sensor elements of digital cameras, or the number of display elements of digital displays.

Memory - A solid state electronic flash memory data storage device. Also, non-solid memory card that do not use flash memory.

Optical Zoom - The ability to vary the focal length and lens magnification, as opposed to a prime lens which has a fixed focal length.

Pixels: The single points in a graphic image. They can be reproduced at any size without the appearance of visible dots or squares. The word pixel stands for "(PI)cture (El)ement, with the common abbreviation PIX for PICTURE". Having a numerical value between 0 and 255, each pixel is made of three-color channels.

Pixel Count - This is the number of pixels that go into making each image.

PPI - This is the acronym of "pixels per inch" and describes the picture quality. Used for distinct meanings in the printer field, as the ppi is a measure of the printer's resolution of dot printing. The higher the number of pixels per inch the better is the picture.

RAW/NEF - An uncompressed photographed image file that contains minimally processed data from the image sensor of a digital camera or image scanner. The RAW picture format has been introduced by Canon. Nikon calls this format as NEF.

Sensor - An image sensor consisting of an integrated circuit consisting of an array of pixels. Each one contains a photo-detector as well as three or more transistors. Also referred to as the digital strip that receives light. It performs the same role that the negative does in the conventional camera.

Shutter Speed - The duration for which the shutter is held open when taking a photograph to allow the light to reach the imaging sensor. The time for which the shutter remains open (exposure time) is determined by a timing mechanism.

TIFF: A file format for storing images, photographs, and line art. Originally created by Aldus, jointly with Microsoft for use with PostScript printing. Used highly with high color depth images, along with JPEG and PNG. Abbreviation for "Tagged Image File Format". There is no loss of information in this format yet the file sizes are very large.

White Balance - A digital camera needs to find a reference point which represents white. Other surrounding colors will be calculated on this point. Many digital cameras feature automatic white balance, where it calculates the best-fit white balance. A digital camera normally has settings for sunlight, shade, electronic flash, fluorescent lighting and tungsten lighting which need to be adjusted before shooting.

About the Author
Check out http://www.digicamland.org/ for more articles on digital cameras.

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10 Tips For Better Photography

Once the purchase of a digital camera is made, the beginning steps have begun as a professional photographer. Correctly handling the camera is a great tool to begin learning. The images it sends out are pretty close to perfect, but it takes a little while to get to that point. Understanding how it runs, what steps need to be learned, how to shoot indoor and outdoor pictures, or just limiting ourselves to a point-and-click style of photography are all part of knowing what to do. To not understand any of this is doing great injustice to the camera, which is made for better use. To avoid not learning, or simply not knowing, how to take a picture - we need to follow ten top shooting tips.

1. Too many novice or amateur photographers rely entirely on photo-editing tools to digitally enhance the photograph. Do not depend on this - in the back of the mind will always be the thought, "if it does not turn out, I can always fix it with software". The pleasure of photography should begin with the way the picture is shot, along with its emotional connection, not the result of the digital manipulation with a half-done picture. There is nothing the matter with the photo-editing tools, only what we do with them to make our photos look good.

2. Underexposure lacks color quality, so it really should be avoided. What happens is the sensors fail to read the colors that form the image. However, if given a choice, several photographers choose underexposing above overexposure. This is because even if underexposed, the details of the photograph are still recorded. In addition, it can still go into an editing program over overexposed photographs.

3. Digital cameras use millions of assorted pixels to produce the final image, with each sensor designed to capture a certain tonal range. When we do not allow full light to fall on the sensor, we are doing a great injustice to the image. Most of the pixels are unable to capture the tonal range in their full sweep and brightness, which ends up lowering the picture quality. The choice of sensor size is equivalent to choosing between assortments of formats - 35mm, medium and large format cameras. There are many different sensor size options regarding depth of field, image noise, diffraction, cost and size/weight.

4. When focusing on a subject, there are three factors which affect the depth of field: focal length of the lens; distance from the camera to the subject; and the size of the aperture or setting of the f-stop. You must focus on the subject, and not on people or objects around the subject. The subject at a greater distance will have greater depth of field than one that is close-up. This will reduce the noise level in your photographs. Also, less worry needs to be given to being out of focus, bringing in clarity and sharpness to the image.

5. When a picture is overexposed, too much detail is too high in tonal range. Just as under exposure makes a picture dark and toneless, over exposure makes colors too rich giving the picture an artificial hue - causing highlight to lose their detail. Over exposures also blanks out light and dark effects, along with the tones that give an image a natural look causing everything to look gray with less saturation.

6. Exposure warning lights have a purpose - with the word "warning." We must learn to look and respect under exposure warning lights just like a red flashing light at an intersection. These are especially good for beginners who can change the exposure until the blinking areas disappear. Later, the user can start using their own insights in deciding the exposure levels.

7. The camera can take a great picture, but we as the photographer prepare before then. The best photographs are those whose parameters are decided by the human mind. No amount of automation can change this fact. We, too, should gradually move away from automated functions and start making our own combinations when it comes to exposure, color, noise etc. Only then will we find gradual, but unmistaken, improvement in the quality of photographs taken.

8. Thinking of the composition should be the focus before clicking the button. Composition is the art of focusing on the subject using frames, movement, lights etc. We can learn composition techniques either from a senior photographer or from a book. Then we should start practicing them with new techniques. We will find an automatic improvement in the quality of our photographs.

9. To constantly improve one's photography skills, take as many different pictures as you can - all the time. Take enough pictures that you can tell how they will turn through experience, fixing them in advance.

10. The last one tip is to think ahead, think what you want to shoot, think how it is to be shot, think about its exposure, color, noise - all about visualization. We must learn to critically examine each image that we shoot as if it were our last. Try and find out the weaknesses of the photograph. Shoot again to remove the weaknesses - until we are completely satisfied.

About the Author
Check out http://www.digicamland.org/ for more articles on digital cameras.

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Digital Camera Mistakes - How Do I Take Better Pictures?

Many amateur photographers have never heard of the term "workflow". In fact, many semi-professionals haven't either. In actuality, it refers to the entire life span of a digital image. Its entire life means from the second it is captured on camera, or scanned into the computer, clear to the end of its life when it leaves the computer, through either output or put into long-term storage. And it is in this area that the majority of errors occur in photography. The initial clicking of the button is not the final product, regardless of public opinion.

According to Jay Watson, in his article on "Digital Asset Management", he refers to the workflow of a photograph or a digital image as its initial downloading from the Internet, a scanner, or a digital camera; batch renaming; rating; deleting; sorting; adding metadata and keywords; creating master files and derivative files; scheduling back-ups; building a catalog for the images; editing with Photoshop (or something similar); and then getting the images outside the computer.

Some of the most common mistakes to try and avoid when using a digital camera, is the transmission and storing of images. Large and bulky transmission of high-resolution images always will block a recipient's e-mail inbox as a large attachments. To avoid this, simply reduce the image to a size that will fit a monitor screen, taking less time to download.

A photo-cataloging program that is built into Windows XP is another solution, as it resizes photographs before they are e-mailed. There are several graphic programs, such as the free version of Easy Thumbnails, that can be downloaded to resize graphics and photographs for emailing or web-sites. Alternately, you can reduce the size of your photos and send them to a photo-sharing site or to a personal web site. This is a good idea if there are many photographs for sharing with friends and relatives.

It doesn't take many mistakes resulting in lost data files, before the backup of images becomes automatic, or you find a software program that does it as the work is being done. ALWAY do a backup of images! The reason this is so very important is because the hard drive will crash at one time or another - and usually the time is the "other", when the most important piece of work ever done, will be lost.

All the digital data may become lost or damaged, including the photographs that you have so lovingly taken. Currently, the most convenient backup solution is a second hard drive. However, the more affordable solution is recordable CDs and DVDs. They should be used to save multiple copies of the photographs, so that you always have a few copies available in case one of the CDs is damaged.

Digital or optical zoom requires a special skill to get the correct focus and exposure, even by using the latest photo editing software. If high resolution pictures are what is being worked with, this software is especially useful in handling them. It can create some good quality prints with sensible cropping. However, for close-up shots, a higher optical zoom or an add-on telephoto lens is a must.

In addition to software, many cameras offer several options for choosing the best compromise between picture quality and file size, provided an understanding of JPEG compression is understood. The disadvantage is that every time an image is saved in the JPEG format, there is a permanent and irreversible loss in quality of the image.

A digital camera's highest resolution ability helps preserve digital photos with as much clarity, colors, and as many details as possible. User-manuals are not just another "pretty face" - they need to be read and worked with, to understand the digital camera to the point it becomes a best friend. It provides several helpful tips of optimizing results, and can go a long way towards improving anyone's photography skills.

About the Author
Check out http://www.digicamland.org/ for more articles on digital cameras.

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What Is A Megapixel And Isn't More Always Better?

Most novices and beginner photographers, when purchasing their first digital camera, do not have the slightest idea what a pixel is. Their curiosity is justified because cameras makers today categorize digital cameras on the basis of megapixels. To understand megapixels it is first important to understand what is a pixel. Technically, it is the single point in a graphic image. It can be reproduced at any size without the appearance of visible dots or squares. The word pixel stands for "(PI)cture (El)ement, with the common abbreviation PIX for PICTURE". Having a numerical value between 0 and 255, each pixel is made of three-color channels.

A digital image that has more pixels is considered to be of a higher quality when compared to a picture of the same size but with less number of pixels. The quality of the picture becomes even better when there are more pixels compressed over every square inch of space. However, a higher megapixel count may not always translate into better images. In cheaper digital cameras with a high megapixel count, the sensor may not be large, or the size of the pixels may be smaller. This can reduce the quality of the pictures.

The computer screen is a good example of what a megapixel is like. A standard computer screen size today is 1024 by 768 pixels. This means the number of pixels in this area is 786,432 pixels (1024 pixels multiplied by 768 pixels). This is quite close to a million pixels. If you notice, the resolution of this screen is better than a computer screen, which can be an 800 by 600 pixel.

The term megapixel refers to a million pixels. This means that a 1 megapixel camera, also sold as 1MP camera, can shoot a picture with one million pixels. In today's photography world such a camera is meant for beginners. The professionals use high-end cameras whose megapixel count ranges from 14 MP to 22 MP. The megapixel count is also used to decide the size of a print. A 3MP camera can provide excellent 4x6 inch prints, while a 4 or 5MP digital camera can deliver high quality 8x10 inch prints. This is because the resolution of a print is directly proportional to the number of pixels. Another interesting metric is the pixel ratio. You will find the camera makers talk of a 1:3 ratio. This means that for every 1 one pixel down, there are 1.3 pixels across. This ratio is to give an idea of the dimensions of the photograph.

Apart from the megapixel count, you may want to compare the picture quality, optics, menu system, storage capacity, and responsiveness of different models before deciding a digital camera's efficacy. Just looking at a pixel count does not answer all the questions that need to be answered about the new camera

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How Do Digital Cameras Differ From Film Or SLR Cameras?

The conventional camera depended entirely on chemicals and mechanical processes - nothing else was required to make them work. Following along on the footsteps of major technological breakthroughs in consumer electronics, the new digital camera is part of this fundamental shift in technology.

The digital camera has two things: a built-in computer, and electronic recorded images. They have not entirely replaced the conventional camera, though, as film represents the highest quality of pictures.

The early digital cameras were used to store images on memory devices within the camera, then transferring the images to the computer with the help of cables. Today, most digital camera makers provide reusable and removable storage devices, such as SmartMedia cards, CompactFlash, cards and Memory Sticks. Some other removable storage devices include the floppy disks, hard disks, or micro-drives, writeable CDs and DVDs. This has considerably enhanced the volume of visual data that can be stored.

A digital camera uses light converted into electrical charges, instead of film, to take pictures. It focuses this light through a lens or a series of lenses onto a sensor, which records the image electronically. The sensor used the most is employed by a CCD (charge coupled device) while others use a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor).

If a CCD is used to transport the charge, its sensors create a high-quality, low-noise image, while the CMOS are more susceptible to noise while traditionally using less power. The CCDs consume as much as 100 times more power than that of a CMOS yet have been mass-produced for a longer time. They have a higher number of higher quality pixels yet both play the same role - they turn light into electricity.

What every photographer is looking for is clarity and high detail, with very little blurriness or a grainy look. This has to do with the resolution of the camera, which refers to the amount of detail the camera can capture. Hewlett Packard estimates that a 35mm film is about 20 million pixels, considered a very high-resolution picture - 1216 x 912, or 2 million total pixels, is a photo lab quality for the 4 x 5 picture.

To break it down even more, a 1 megapixel digital camera will produce images that are good for e-mailing or posting on the Web because their resolution is low. The images taken from a 2-megapixel camera are suitable for 4x5 inch prints while those taken from a 4-megapixel camera can produce 16x20 inch prints.

The digital cameras use four kinds of lenses. These are: fixed-focus, fixed-zoom lenses; optical-zoom lenses with automatic focus; digital-zoom lenses, and replaceable lens systems. The fixed focus and fixed zoom lenses are used in inexpensive cameras while the optical zoom lenses have both wide and telephoto options. The aperture and shutter speed are used to control the amount of light that reaches the sensor.

The aperture setting, or the size of the opening in the camera, is automatic in most digital cameras but a few allow manual adjustment. This is because certain professionals or amateurs want more control over the final image. The shutter speed is the time amount that passes through the aperture. This can be set electronically, which is different than using film in the conventional 35mm cameras. The digital camera has a digital shutter, rather than a mechanical shutter.

Overall, the digital camera and the traditional film camera have the same principals. The both have a viewfinder for aiming the camera, the lens for focusing, the ability to store several images and remove them later on, with a compact format for everything's storage.

Two different systems yet slightly the same - the conventional camera captured images with light-sensitive film to store them after chemical development, while the digital camera used memory storage and advanced image sensor technology, capturing images to store them in digital format that is instantly available instead of having to wait. Yet the digital camera is more environmentally friendly, keeping up with the issues of the world while photographing these issues at the moment they occur.

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Digital Image Manipulation - Is The Manipulation Of Images Ethical?

Anybody can spend a couple of minutes working with an imaging software and change reality into another level - the professionals simply do it better and quicker. This was not so in the case of the film cameras and their negatives or transparencies. They could not be made to lie because the alteration was easily noticeable.

However, digital image and manipulation go hand in hand under the descriptive words of "digital enhancement," referring to improving the quality of the photograph through software such as Adobe Photoshop or Photopaint. With whatever it takes to do so.

The photographers play around with things such as color, angle, size, pixels or the removal of distracting elements like tables, chairs etc. If need be, the photographers also use a digital brush to change the color of eyes or remove identifying marks. All this and more can be done with the tools available in any good photo-editing software. The picture invariably comes out looking better yet entirely different. No one will complain if the changes improve the quality of the picture.

But there are times when photographers go further and alter parts of the picture. They import another face or person into the picture or change the surroundings. When they do this, they are clearly guilty of manipulation. The photograph then is not a document but a lie. It can prove to be dangerous if it was submitted to a court of law. It could very easily upturn a verdict if the manipulation was of a quality that could fool digital forensic experts.

The danger is that the manipulation tools are so easily available to anyone who wants to use them. Anyone can buy photo-editing software, and edit or morph pictures of their choice. There have been scores of cases when pictures of celebrities have been morphed and hosted in compromising positions on the net. This is indefensible; all acts of manipulation need to be punished.

Some photographers put forward the argument that it is impossible to capture reality. They are right. Even the best digital cameras cannot capture colors in the same way that the eyes do. But this is not manipulation. This is acceptance of reality. Actually, we should feel happy that we could capture nature so closely now.

What is more important is that we do not manipulate digital images. We should limit ourselves to enhancing their quality. Ethical standards concerning computers and digital photography are not new issues, having been around for a long while. What is new is the "way of processing the digital images" where they can be modified, enhanced, or even made to lie; to the point, the public doubts anything that is photographed.

Unfortunately, the public has always looked to photographs as a form of verification, or a form of proof of something, which is now being undermined, along with the consumer and the news providers.

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Creative Ways To Use Your Digital Camera - Learn To Never Leave Home Without It

Most people buy a camera to take pictures - which is what it is for. Photographs of family members, portraits, landscapes, animals, magazines, newspapers, etc. are the main purposes, to either put on the Web, business purposes, or just family stuff. However, there are many other ways and purposes the camera can be used - and lots more fun.

One of the innovative ways the digital camera can be used is for many areas of education purposes. Lectures use them for discussion clarity, such as traveling to Italy or to see the inside of a chemical. Many digital photos are used for medical teaching, such as diagnosis and treatments.

Building reference collections of a chosen field or interest is an excellent way to categorize things. Photographs are used for encouraging critical thinking skills, illustrating case studies, enhancing creative skills, emphasize visual communication abilities, analyze practices, to document an event, or to access knowledge or observations.

Insurance companies use digital photography techniques for substantial savings. When their field inspectors go out for claim inspections, they take photos with their digital cameras. After this, they immediately download them into their laptop computers, tagging each photograph with text information, including the policy and claim numbers. When this is done, they send the information back through a wireless server, where the server confirms their receipt and closes down. Next case is onboard for the inspectors within minutes. Statistics show that field inspectors who use digital cameras increase their caseload by 40%, with a savings of 70% in film and developing costs.

The possibility of taking digital photos of the home, trailer, or apartment, that is either for sale or one that has been damaged, is endless. The photo will reveal the actual need for repairs or replacements to the home insurance field agent, while also providing important locations of valves, location of utilities, or the general operations of things. If the front porch needs to be repaired, with estimates from carpenters, photos can be shot of the porch, while e-mailing them to several carpenters without leaving the home. You do not have to wait for them to visit you.

They can even e-mail the estimates back after looking at the pictures. When something major has occurred to the home - a hurricane or a flood - have the inspector arrive at the damaged property. Photographs can be taken by the inspector or by the homeowner of visible damaged areas, accessible items, heating systems, central air condition systems, plumbing, etc. upon which a hard copy of the inspection report will be handed over, corresponding to the matching photographs.

Try using the digital camera as a copier or scanner, with high-resolution camera for documents, important paper work, pictures, etc. If needed, use a tripod and lots of lighting to ensure the works will be clear and legible. To remember the address, or phone number on a billboard or yard sign, you can click a digital photo.

If we tend to forget where we park our car, a photo will help us to remember. We can also shoot photos of the back portion of computers, stereo sets, etc. This will help us to have a record of the serial numbers, the jacks, and ports, looking at how they are connected.

Using the digital camera for memory work, back ups, or proof and verification adds more value to the camera. It will also take time off insurance paper work for auto wrecks, home repair, or important paperwork if lost. It is simply a matter of getting into the habit of using it for personal benefits, instead of just leisure. The digital camera is not just another pretty face!

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Help Me, I Can't See Anything Using My SLR!

The inner workings of the digital SLR rely on image sensors. These sensors capture the image by carrying electrostatic charges, which attract the dust, along with many airborne particles to these same sensors. Particular areas, such as dirt fields, beaches, or parks, have more dust than others.

We need to save our SLR from dust if we want to obtain consistent results, this is not an easy battle to win, because dust finds different ways to get inside our camera body and stick to the sensor. This happens especially when the lens is being replaced or it happens when the sensors get charged - drawing in the dust. Probably the easiest way to avoid dust is by changing the lens in a clean place with no dust - but it makes sense to not change the camera lens in a windy, dusty or sandy location.

It is much better to change them inside a closed room before leaving for a shoot. It can be determined if the camera is affected by dust in a simple manner. Shoot a picture of a clear blue sky or a smooth white surface, well lit. Shoot without a flash, such as f/16 or f/22; if the camera has a zoom lens, shoot the test shots at a wide angle. If the camera zooms in, the dust splotch will appear like a soft blob instead of a spot.

When taking pictures, try to hold the camera in a downward angle, while changing the lens to avoid dust from entering from above. Basically, the mirror fixed inside the SLR offers protection to the sensor from dust. The mirror/sensor chamber, which can accumulate dust, should therefore be kept clean to avoid dust from finding its way to the sensor. In case it is decided to change the lens in the field, try to find a sheltered location. Try to reduce the time the camera is kept open, by keeping the replacement lens ready for a swap.

Giotto's Rocket Air Blower is a good product to keep for removing dust from the camera. Reviews have said it is light to carry, yet bulky. Other than that, it is a good product. It effectively cleans with just a puff or two, and is better to clean at home or the studio. Never clean the insides of your camera with compressed air stored inside an Aerosol can.

The propellant in the Aerosol can sometimes sprays a liquid that quickly evaporates leaving a residue behind on the surface of the sensor resulting in malfunctioning of the sensor. The air blowers work a lot better. The air blower is helpful when available within arm's reach. It helps to eliminate massive dust in an easy manner, helping a few photographers, who use editing software to remove the particle from the pictures, keep their cameras clean.

Another way to avoid dust accumulation, in emergencies you can shoot with wide aperture openings. This reduces the camera's depth of field and negatives the impact that dust may have on an image. However, this should not be made a practice as he dust, if it is allowed to accumulate on the sensor surface, will lower its sensitivity.

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How Can I Use Digital Cameras To Save The Planet?

The issue of hazardous waste receives less attention than other environmental threats, with over 80,000 chemicals now in existence - not counting the additional 1,500 new chemicals developed on a yearly basis, with many being introduced into the industry fields. There seems to be insufficient data demonstrating the effects of every chemical out there, but what data is available shows that human health and the environment is in trouble.

The good news is, of all the environmental threats, the hazardous waste issue has the most successful solutions available to it. Scientists state that hazardous waste could be reduced about 1/3 by using the available technology and methods already present, such as using the more recently developed digital cameras.

This is because as more and more people moved away from conventional cameras for easier photography with higher quality results, they were unwittingly reducing the use of chemicals that were earlier being used to process the film. These chemicals, especially the developer and fixer solutions, had become serious environment hazards.

The United States laws have required that the "spent chemicals" should be made inert before they were disposed off in landfills. But more often than not, most film processing centers released the chemicals into the drain because of high expenditure involved in treating them before discharge. This was especially true of the smaller and locally owned companies, along with individual photographers, not only in the US but across the world.

But they were not the only ones who broke the laws, as the cruise ships in the international waters did even more damage. Routinely, developed pictures that were shot by the ship's passengers had their the film-processing chemicals dumped 'en route into the open ocean, since no restrictive laws applied to international waters. This plays a major part why our oceans and green reefs are dying at a rate faster than the rain forests.

Due to the development of the digital camera, incidents such as the environmental issues on cruise ships are not occurring as often. The same can be said of ponds and rivers that used to be polluted with chemicals flowing out of film processing labs, incidentally which still flow out of such labs in the third world.

Very few people take prints of the photographs today with the digital camera and have them processed in a lab, as most transfer the images into computers electronically and then print them out or send them via email. Also, used cartridges are usually recycled or dumped into landfills, very rarely finding they're way into major water bodies.

Similarly, the scale of impact is very low when it comes to rechargeable batteries yet still there in regard to alkaline batteries. This is because most of the batteries are rechargeable and no consumer disposes them till they are full exhausted. This means that an alkaline battery may continue to be used for weeks depending on the amount of camera usage.

Also, being a solid waste it is more likely to end up in landfills than in water bodies, causing more damage to the grassland or dirt in the area. An alternative to alkaline batteries for environmental safety is the NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) battery or the Li-Ion (Lithium Ion) batteries as they are environmentally friendly. So, if you are a nature lover dump your conventional camera and get a digital camera, with safer batteries.

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I Have Heard Of SLR, But What Is A Digital SLR or dSLR?

When a photographer has a camera where the focus, composition, and depth of field are perfect, and they can be perfectly seen through the viewfinder in the same way as the photographer himself, nothing more needs to be said. With the lens being able to change according to the needs and desires of the photographer, there will be super freedom to take outstanding pictures.

What makes digital dSLRs so special? Just the fact they are the dSLR. The "single lens reflex camera" (dSLR) presently dominates the market for professional cameras. The other camera type is the rangefinders (RE) - their main difference with the dSLR is the way photographic scene is displayed, accessed, and processed in the viewfinder.

The main, fundamental principal of the dSLR is the TTL, or through-the-lens, mechanism. The earlier ones did not have today's "instant-return" mirror which we used today. Some advantages of the dSLR camera which caused it to move up on price, is the distance between the lens and film is increased due to needed space for the mirror, forcing the "retrofocus design" to be required, a special approach to the lens design.

The movement of the mirror needed to be more precise as it caused vibrations due to the impulse produced by stopping the mirror. With the lastest developments in the dSLR, many benefits occurred: ease of composition; the ability to control the focus accuracy; ability ot use lenses for unrestricted range of focal lengths; and ease of use various filters.

The dSLR will give us a clearer and brighter image than any electronic viewfinder ever can. If a point and shoot (P&S) camera has a separate viewfinder, it will be much smaller than a dSLR and will not display any shooting data. The dSLR has a larger sensor in terms of physical size (not pixels), than a P&S camera. This is usually almost six times the area and this can significantly improve the image quality.

The main reason for this is that with a larger sensor, noise is less of a problem. Another benefit of having a larger sensor is that you can have a shallow depth of field for blurred background effects. A P&S camera with a higher pixel count than a dSLR may not provide images that are as good as the SLR.

There are many advantages of using the dSLR. Superior lens are one advantage while having the option of changing lenses is the other advantage. Using a macro lens with an SLR will give you better images than those provided by a P&S camera, with a macro facility.

Digital SLRs have a higher dynamic range than P&S cameras. Dynamic range refers to the brightness levels that a camera can capture. This is the range of light, from the lightest to the darkest, in which you can still make out the details.

In a dSLR the shutter lag is almost non-existent. This is the lag between the time when you press the button and when the photograph is taken. With an SLR, it may be as low as millionths of a second, while it may be much higher in a P&S camera. Most P&S cameras cannot capture images in the raw format, while all digital SLR cameras can.

Raw formats are images from the sensor that are saved without any manipulation by the camera's software. This can provide the best image quality that you can get from a digital camera.

However, a dSLR camera does have disadvantages. It costs a lot more, especially if you start adding the cost of the lenses and accessories. A digital SLR is also much bigger and heavier with the weight of the lens and accessories adding to the weight. Still, if you are interested in obtaining the best image quality, then a dSLR may be the best option for you.

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All The Untold Secrets Of Digital Photography!

It's amazing how far digital photography has come in the last decade! When the technology first came out many photographers were very skeptical and they believed that it was going to destroy the world of photography forever and they were scared that everyone was going to be able to become a photographer and remove any kind of professionalism associated with this art form. We all know this isn't the case and in fact digital photography has done more for the world of photography than anything else in history.

What we've come to realize is that digital photography and print photography have been split into two different categories and that neither of the two are better than each other. Going back to that belief that many photographers had about digital photography ruining any form of professionalism, this is of course not the case. There are many professional digital photographers who do amazing work and use this piece of technology to its fullest extent.

So How Do I Get Involved In Digital Photography?

Well it's so simple, all you have to do is go out and buy a digital camera and start shooting! No but seriously though, there are some things you have to know first but they are pretty basic. First of all you are going to need to get a camera with a decent lens. Fortunately most professional cameras come digitally nowadays so you shouldn't have any problem finding one. The benefit of having a camera with a great lens is that you will have the ability to focus on different things in your shots. This is the real art of photography, being able to show something that stands out and has meaning. That meaning you will of course have to find and explain yourself through your pictures.

Benefits of Digital Photography

There are many benefits of digital photography but perhaps the most obvious is that you will have the ability to see what you have taken and choose whether or not it is worth keeping or discarding. The second benefit is that you can also upload your pictures onto your computer so you can edit and change them around. There are lots of different pieces of photo editing software out there that allow you to do amazing things.

If you are just deciding to start digital photography now, then you have started at the right time as we will only start to see more and more advancements in this form of technology in the future which of course we will have the privilege of first trying and testing.

About the Author
If you want to know more about photography including free information, reviews and much more, or you want to join up for our free newsletter then please visit http://www.photographyinspector.com or for more free articles about photography visit http://photographyinspector.com/photography

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How Do I Get Started In Digital Photography? The Ins and Outs of Great Photography

Whether you are a seasoned photographer or a novice, or just someone who want to do photography as a hobby, the first thing you need to be clear on is, what exactly is digital photography?

Digital photography is the use of a digital camera to capture; take an image that can be viewed on a computer screen. The main benefits of digital photography are:

You can see the result of your work right away
You can delete unwanted photographs instantly
You can easily and cheaply edit your photographs by improving the tone, retouching some areas, adding background etc.
Digital photographs can be send instantly via email
Except for batteries you do not need to constantly buy items to use in digital photography such as films.

Next you will need to decide on the type of digital camera to buy. This will of course depend on the following factors:

How much money you can spend
What is your goal, that is, why do you need to take digital pictures: business, hobby, personal
What functionality do you want with your camera

There are two basic types of digital camera, the DSLR-Digital Single Lens Reflex- and automatic. If you are really serious about digital photography you will want to get yourself a DSLR since this type of camera gives you more control.

In making a decision on type of digital camera also explore the types of storage media available and see which one may be best for you. The two most popular storage media for digital camera are flashcards -digital film- and microdrives. The storage media in a digital camera is really important; it is what holds the pictures. It is important to read reviews and talk to other users of digital cameras to determine the type of memory, and the capacity of the memory -how much images can it hold- you will need. I recommend flash cards since they have no moving parts and are more reliable.

After you have decided on the type of digital camera to purchase, you must now look at the other types of equipment you need to make a success of digital photography. A good personal computer and printer is needed, especially if you do not wish to pay to have your pictures printed elsewhere.

Your computer is important because this is where you will download, store, edit, review and any number of other things to your photographs. If you are using an older computer, make sure your operating system is compatible with the camera and software you will be using.

If you plan to do this professionally, you will also need to invest in software to help you get the most out of your digital photographs. Software used by professional digital photographers include Adobe Photoshop and ImageReady.

How to take great digital photographs

There are seven main steps to ensuing that you take professional looking digital photographs. These are:

Subject: Pose your subject with care. Even with the best software some faults cannot be totally corrected.
Lighting: Right light is important in digital photography as the appearance of your subject will be affected if lighting is wrong. Too harsh a light will show up wrinkles
ISO calibration: To ensure that your pictures do not come out looking like they were done by a total novice, check to ensure that your camera is properly calibrated. Getting the right camera setting can be the difference between brilliant pictures and blah.
Composition: Good photography is an art form, so your background is as important as your subject. Too much clutter in your picture will make the result look unprofessional.
White balance: If you want to ensure that your photograph has natural looking colors, then make sure to manually set the white balance.
Do not be afraid to experiment: Do creative crazy things with your camera, the results may just surprise you. Remember, with a digital camera you can always delete the images if you do not want to keep them.
Zoom and flash: Practice using these features until you find what works best in different situations.

One point to remember about digital photography is that it cannot turn a lousy photography into a professional overnight, but with practice and learning you can become good at photography using a digital camera. And, with enough talent, business savvy, luck, downright determination and love of the craft you might even be able to turn it into a business venture.

About the Author
Robert Provencher has been a professional portrait and wedding photographer for over 25 years. Robert has authored several manuals on digital photography and photogaphy marketing. http://www.nobsphotosuccess.com

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Why Digital Cameras Are Environmentally Friendly?

As digital cameras are becoming more popular nowadays, it seems that everyone has one. You may have already purchased a new digital camera instead of a traditional film camera. The environmental activist may be thanking you for doing that.

The digital camera can reduce the destructive impact on the environment compared to film cameras. How is it possible? You may think that your film camera does not do any harm to the environment. It was not your traditional film camera that harmed the environment. Your film processing did indeed do the harm because film photo processing centers uses chemicals.

Any time you take your pictures to a photo processing center, the film is run through batches of chemicals. These chemicals are environmentally hazardous. Once they have been used to process film, the chemicals must be immediately discarded. These chemicals are the developer solutions and the fixer solutions.

When the chemicals are used, they have to be discarded in an environmentally sound way according to the environmental protection law of the country. Because it is expensive to do so, many film processing companies just pour the chemicals down the drain.

While many bigger and better known companies probably adhere to the environmental laws, many of the smaller companies probably do not follow the law. And this means these chemicals enter the water supply and go downstream. And we consume the water ultimately.

In international waters, cruise ships do not have to adhere to the environmental protection laws. Cruise ships dump raw sewage into the open ocean on a regular basis and that includes the film developing chemicals into the open ocean. This is done routinely and it is happening all over the world.

They develop your film for all the pictures you took while on holiday and then dump the polluting chemicals to the ocean water. And we are still wondering why our oceans are dying and our coral reefs are dying at a fast rate.

With digital photography, we do not need to use all of those chemical solutions for developing photographs. Most digital cameras nowadays use rechargeable batteries. These batteries do not end up being thrown away at our landfills everyday. This is good as we do not want too much alkaline batteries pollution.

The rising digital camera popularity perhaps has a net positive effect for the environment. With the advances in our technology, the manufacturing process of digital cameras may become more environmentally friendly too. Lets hope our engineers may devise ways to do so. Until then, enjoy your photo shooting and ply a part in reducing environmental waste.

About the Author
To find out more information on the Digital Camera Prints Review and digital cameras buying guide, visit The Digital Camera Guide at http://azdigitalcamera.net

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Equipment Class : Usage Of Self-Timer Mode

Most compact digital cameras have self-timer mode.
The best way for you to understand what is self-timer mode is to test it out. You may read up the user manual of the compact digital camera and follow the instructions to use the self-timer mode.

Basically, if the shutter-release button is depressed while the Self-timer mode is on, there will be a delay of about 10 seconds before the camera shoot a photo. The period of delayed time is dependent on the camera.

When is self-timer mode used for photo shooting?

Self-timer mode is usually used in the following situations:

1) There is a need to take a photo that includes the photographer. The photographer is completely alone and there is nobody nearby to take a photo for him.

2) There is a need to take a group photo including the photographer. There is nobody nearby to take a photo for the group.

3) When the photographer do not want anyone to take the photo for him even though there is someone nearby to help him.

Did I just shock you? Why do the photographer refuse help from anybody?

This is because not everyone know how to use a camera well. This is especially true when you simply ask anybody nearby to help out.

When someone who does not know much about photography tries to shoot a photo, he may not hold the camera steady enough. He may not wait until the camera is auto focused on the subject before shooting. He may shift the position of the camera before shooting, thus changing the composition of the photo. The end result will be a lousy photo.

Another possible reason is that the person who is trying to help is not really interested to get the job done reasonably well. Though he has agreed to help, he does not really put in efforts to do it well. He will just simply aim and press the button without much consideration. He simply wants to finish the task and gets on with his own things.

When I take a photo of myself, I will need to use a tripod to position the camera properly first. Then, I will aim and adjust the tripod accordingly until I have the picture that I want to capture. Next, I must decide where I am going be as part of the picture. After which, I will switch the camera to self-timer mode and depressed the shutter-release button. Lastly, I will move into the picture and take up the position where I have intended to be. I will wait for the camera to shoot the photo after a 10 seconds delay.

The idea that I will like to share with you is:
Use self-timer mode when there is no one better than yourself to shoot a photo.

About the Author
Max Ng shares about his struggle for success at http://www.yourgreatestgift.com. He learns from successful people via online video seminars at http://www.secrets4me.com. His photography tips can be found at http://www.addictivephoto.com.

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