Christmas Light Photo Contest

Smilebooks is now hosting a Facebook contest where you can win a $100, $75, or $50 voucher toward your next photo book. All you need to do is decorate your house with for this Christmas, take a photo graph and submit it to Smilebooks Facebook page. The three most interesting photographs will win. The winner will be sent a message on Facebook with a voucher for the appropriate amount.

You still have time, Smilebooks Christmas Light Photo Contest ends Monday, December 28, 2009 at 3:00am but you dont want to wait until the last minute. You can visit the link below to join Smilebooks Christmas Light Photo Contest. Good Luck!

http://www.facebook.com/smilebooks.fans#/event.php?eid=223601025644&index=1

Twitter Contest

Hopefully, my client's Twitter Contest interests you guys. My Client Smilebooks is hosting a Twitter Contest from now until 11:59 December 9th. Smilebooks will be giving the winner a voucher for a free photo book and a t-shirt. The free photo book can easily be created with your photos and delivered before the holidays so you can give the free photo book as a gift to a family member or significant other.

If you wish to enter Smilebooks Twitter Contest for a chance to win that voucher for a free photo book and t-shirt all you need to do is tweet “I don't want a photo book, I want a #Smilebook!” If you receive a DM on December 10th with a voucher for a free photo book then you won! The t-shirt will be shipped with the photo book.

So Tweet “I don't want a photo book, I want a #Smilebook!” now to enter Smilebooks Twitter Contest. You can also Follow Smilebooks on Twitter at the link below for the latest news, contest and promotions from Smilebooks.
http://twitter.com/SmileBooks

Facebook Halloween Costume Photo Contest

This is pretty cool and pretty much a note to myself. Smilebooks is having a Facebook costume contest. Basically all you have to do is upload a picture of the best costume from this past Halloween to the page I posted below and if you had the best costume you might win the prize. I thought I had the best costume this year, I guess will soon find out how good my costume was. You have until November 10th to post your images. Ill go through my pictures tonight after work.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154075619455&ref=mf

Six Elements of Fisheye Photography – Embracing the Creative Power of Distortion

Shooting with a fisheye lens is a great way to get up close and personal with your subjects. A fish eye lens has the amazing ability to turn regular subjects into interesting and creative works of art with the push of a button. Powerful images such as the stars sparkling on a clear summer night, a bug’s eye view of the world through giant blades of grass and a big city panoramic shot can all become truly inspiring and breathtaking visions. If you are new to the fisheye lens concept, or simply an amateur looking for some additional advice, the following six elements of fisheye photography will start you off on the right foot.

1. Creative Distortion - One of the greatest and most distinguishable elements of photographs taken with a fisheye lens is perceptual distortion. In the field of fisheye photography, distortion can mean a number of things, including subjects that appear somewhat magnified, curved lines that are a far stretch from reflecting reality and warped views that all introduce excellent opportunities for taking creative photographs. Experimenting with creative distortion is the first and foremost tool for learning fisheye photography.

2. Subject Positioning - Any photograph taken with a fisheye lens will feature peripheral elements that appear distorted, while the subject in the center of the photograph will appear sharp and clear. Therefore, one of the most important aspects of fisheye photography is the positioning of your subject or main point of interest. It also helps to recognize that background elements in a fisheye portrait usually become secondary compared to the foreground subjects. Always plan the positioning of your subjects and background elements and experiment with different positions.

3. Large Field of View - One of the major advantages of shooting a portrait with a fisheye lens is the wide angle and 180 degree field of view that allows you to capture groups of people along with numerous subjects, even in a small area. The large field of view also makes it easier to capture action shots filled with fast-moving subjects and creates an almost panoramic view of the surroundings.

4. Straight Lines – Although a fisheye lens is known for its ability to distort straight lines, it is important to note that any straight line in the center of the photograph will remain straight. As a rule of thumb, the further a line is from the X or Y-axis of the lens, the more a fisheye lens will distort or curve the line. The beauty of straight lines in a portrait taken with a fisheye lens is the photographer’s ability to manipulate them through positioning. A photographer can pull straight lines a lot or a little, or not pull them at all. The trick is learning to make the lines work with you, and not against you. Experiment by placing the horizon through the middle of the portrait and “see what develops” (no pun intended).

5. Drawing the Viewer into the Photo – The lines of a photograph taken with a fisheye lens can do one of two things – draw the viewer’s eyes into the photo or draw them out of it. If you are at least an intermediate level photographer, you probably already know that leading your viewer into the portrait yields more interesting results than leading them out, and the same is true for fisheye photography. Once again, the best way to draw a viewer into a photograph with a fisheye lens is by placing the horizon in the center of the portrait, and the results are almost always astonishing.

6. Distortion Balance – Some of the best portraits in fisheye photography have a distortion effect that is in uniform. When the things on the right are bent the same as on the left, and when the things on the top are bent the same as on the bottom, distortion balance is in order. The best way to achieve this distortion balance is to take a photo as if it couldn’t be cropped, so that you can take advantage of the full frame, as opposed to cropping an image and losing the significant distortion created by the lens.

Recommended Fisheye Lens - Canon’s EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye Lens has a 180-degree angle of view and goes well beyond the natural field of vision of a standard camera lens. A wide depth of field, ultra-wide angle and large aperture make the lens perfect for fisheye photography, and a short minimum focusing distance of 8 inches produces tack-sharp focus in close-up shots.

DVD Duplication

Dvd Duplication is a service many companies in the united states participate in. Pretty much the way it works is if you have content on a DVD, whether it be a tutorial, files, photos,presentation, a virtual tour, etc and you want to mass produce the DVD to send out to prospects or clients it might be wise to outsource the this project to a DVD duplication company. Dvd Duplication companies require one DVD that they can duplicate a thousands of times.
Some DVD duplication companies also give you cases and allows you to print what ever you want on the disc and disc case making your product look extremely professional.
This saves you hundreds or thousands of dollars and hours worth of time.

I recently found SFvideo is currently having a good unadvertised sale right now. If you call them at 866-238-7905 and order 1,000 fully packed DVD's you'll end up paying $.99 per dvd instead of $1.09. I'm going to end up calling them for a project with int he next day or two.

Halloween Cookies

Every year for Halloween my friend throws a huge Halloween party. Some people dress up others don't, either way there is always a lot good things to eat and drink at his parties. Every year I wear the same costume, this year I need to think of something new. Thats a different story.

This year I hope he does the chocolate fountain again! I found site http://www.clevercookie.com and tell me how cool are these Halloween cookies! I wonder how they taste. Are they to kiddish for a bunch of people in their early twenties. Wait better Idea I'll just buy them and bring them into the office.

NPD Research

I just became a member of NPD Research. I think its pretty interesting. NPD Research is not like those cheap survey companies that give you a dollar to take a survey. NPD Research is a lot more then that. After you join NPD Research you are sent surveys. upon completing each survey you receive points that can later be used to enter raffles. If you win you get a prize. They have everything listed from vacations to video game consoles to large sums of money. But if you loose you still win! Regardless if you walk away with a prize or not, your survey data(not your personal information) will be sold to big companies that produce food, clothes, video games etc. Those companies will see your data or opinions and try to change their products or services to make their customers happy. Its pretty cool, You win both ways. The best part is theres always new surveys coming out to accurately represent the market trends.

After bumping into NPD Research on Twitter I decided to give them a shot. about 15 minutes later I was registered, completed my first survey, played a mini flash game and entered two contests. If I win or not I'm excited and will continue to do more surveys in the future. Its like the lotto except the the odds of winning are much better and it doesn't cost you anything.

Early Xmas Shopping

The holidays are right around the corner, its never to early to start preparing. My friend who works for kmart said they just started getting their xmas decorations in, and the store should be fully decorated by the end of the month. Last year I started my xmas shopping a week before xmas, that was a mistake. This year I hope to find a happy median. Ive already started taking money out of every paycheck and will continue saving for the next couple of weeks before I make any kind of decisions upon what I'll be getting for xmas. Since my family is small I'll be able to spend more on each member of my family.

My mother has been talking about joining a gym for the longest time. I don't know if this is a good idea but I'm thinking about getting her a membership to Lucille Roberts. Lucille Roberts is a womens gym that has she can take classes all day. Maybe she'll make a friend, that would be nice.

My Father likes to read so I figure I'll get him some books or movies hes been eying. It's really hard say which books or movies to buy because between now and xmas I'm sure he'll buy a handful of the books or movies hes been talking about. I know hes interested in Peter Schiff's book Crashproof 2.0 and Wolverine . A watch might be nice but I feel like a watch is a typical "i don't know what to get you gift". Id rather get him something he needs or wants.

Since my older brother became engaged this summer I figured I'll do what I did last year for mothers and fathers day. Ill grab all the pictures I have of him and his fiance then piece them together in a photo book from Smilebooks.com. It will take awhile to find all of the photos, but if the photo book comes out as good as my mothers then I know they will love it.

As you can tell by my other posts I'm the photo nut of the family and my little brother is starting to take interest in photography. Im thinking about getting him the Canon Powershot SX10 IS. The Canon Powershot SX10 IS is a 10 megapixel camera which is stuck in the middle of point and shoot and DSLR. For his first digital camera it should be enough to learn and have fun with. If he is serious about photography then next year maybe he'll get his first DSLR.

What are some other good xmas gift ideas?

Bending and Breaking the Rules of Traditional Portrait Photography to Produce Stunning Images

If you are looking to create a real WOW factor in your portraits, it certainly helps to learn the rules. However, in the field of portrait photography, it is equally important to understand that just like any other rule in life, some rules for portrait photography can be bent, and others can be broken.

Rule to Break: Shooting at Eye Level - The first rule you should learn to break is always sticking to the traditional “eye level” angle. Many photographers believe that shooting a subject at eye level is the best way to capture a stunning portrait, which may be true in some cases, but do not be afraid to alter your perspective.
Changing the angle of your shot and breaking the eye level rule can give your portrait a truly tremendous WOW factor. Two great ways to achieve this are by getting high above your subject and shooting down on them or getting as close to the ground as you can while shooting up. Either way, you are bound to create some added interest in your portrait.

Rule to Break: The Rule of Thirds - One of the first of many “golden rules” a photographer will learn is the Rule of Thirds. According to this rule, a photographer must intentionally place points of interest within the constraints of a 9-part grid in order to create sense of balance in the portrait. As beneficial as this rule may be to portrait photography, it can prove highly effective to break it. Subjects placed in the dead center of a portrait or along the very edge of the frame can produce some truly stunning portraits. Experiment with this concept and practice it often until you get the hang of breaking the Rule of Thirds.

Rule to Break: Crystal- Clear Clarity - If you asked a portrait photographer about the importance of focus in a shot, they may tell you that it is imperative. What they may not tell you is that crystal-clear, sharp focus is not the only way to capture mood, emotion and beauty. Try focusing on one element in front of or behind your subject to blur your main point of interest. You can also try blurring the entire image by manually focusing well in front or behind your main point of interest. Unfocused images can create some truly powerful, dreamy and mysterious portraits.

Rule to Break: Looking Down the Lens- Another rule many portrait photographers tend to live by is always having their subject looking down the lens of the camera. It may be true that having a pair of eyes staring right at the viewer is a great way to create a sense of beauty, but you should not rule out the alternative. When the eyes of a subject are fixated on something outside of the portrait, it can create powerful feelings of candidness, intrigue and interest. Leaving your viewer open to their own interpretation, you can keep them wondering what the subject is looking at and why it made them smile, laugh or show some other type of emotion. Furthermore, it may also prove beneficial to shoot a portrait with your subject focusing on something within the frame such as a basketball, a dish of food or even another person. This technique creates both a point of interest and a relationship between the object and the primary subject, helping to create a “story” within the shot.

Rule to Break: Perfect Horizons - Portrait photographers put a lot of effort and time into shooting at flawlessly horizontal or vertical angles, keeping their subject perfectly in line with the frame. Holding your camera at an angle and purposely making the lines of the shot crooked can add a tremendous sense of fun and energy in your portrait. Do not be afraid to break the rule of perfect horizons.
Rule to Break: Small Focal Lengths - Many photographers also associate portrait photography with small angles and small focal lengths. However, shooting with a wide angle attached to your lens can create some powerful shots with some interesting distortion. Wide angles generally enlarge the points of interest towards the edge of the frame more than what is in the center, creating a huge impact on your subject, especially when placed in an impressive setting.

Rule to Break: Comfort Zones - This next piece of advice is less of a rule and more like a preference among the subjects and photographers of a portrait photo. Generally, subjects prefer to remain in their comfort zone, posing for pictures at their office desk or leaning up against a classic Corvette to send out a message of interest. Sometimes in portrait photography, however, it is more interesting to see a subject outside of their comfort zone, doing things that a normal subject would not do. Examples of this concept are subjects jumping up and down on their beds, jumping into pools or performing any other type of spontaneous action. When the subject’s action becomes the new point of interest, the result can be some very powerful portraits. An additional method of taking your subject out of their comfort zone is zooming in on their face so that it is the only image in the portrait. Few people are comfortable with a close-up of this magnitude but when a subject’s face is the only thing in an image, the viewer does not have anywhere else to look. This is a great way to grab the attention of your viewer and keep them focused on your subject.

Rule to Break: Details…Details…Details - Some photographers live by the rule of including as much detail as possible in a portrait to create beauty and interest. Try keeping your portrait simple and do not be afraid to leave certain things out of your portrait. By focusing on one body part, as opposed to person’s entire body, you can leave the remainder of the subject open to the interpretation of the viewer and stir up their imagination and interest. On the other hand, you can leave very little to the imagination of the viewer by obscuring parts of the subject’s face or body with clothing or objects, or by framing part of the subject out of the image. Using this method, you can easily focus the attention of your viewer on the part of the subject you want them to focus on, creating stunning portrait images.

Rule to Break: Never Talk to Strangers - Far too many photographers limit their subjects to friends and family members when the truth is that the most interesting subjects can be complete strangers. You should not be afraid to walk up to a person on the street and ask them if they would mind having their picture taken. Simply tell the person that you find them interesting and with their permission, snap some shots. Eventually, you can develop an entire portfolio of portraits based on a series of incredibly interesting strangers.

Realistically, it would be a difficult task to embrace many of these techniques without a decent camera lens. I recommend using the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Lens because it has a large aperture to help you bring your subject closer and creates excellent background blur when needed. Furthermore, the Canon EF 50mm lens affords a faster shutter speed ideal for freezing the action, has a natural angle of view and perspective and allows for the varying of distance, aperture and angle.

Night Photography – Tips and Techniques on Capturing Exquisite Night Photos

If you are a beginner or intermediate photographer, you have probably experimented with night photos, only to stumble upon a number of problems. Despite producing some of the most dramatic images, night photography can be one of the most difficult types of photography to learn and master.


Part of the reason is that many digital cameras fail to perform well in the absence of light, especially natural sources of light. Another struggle most photographers face with this type of photography is learning how to work with elements such as sunrise, sunset, weather conditions and cloud coverage to optimize their shots.
However, with a few key adjustments, such as using longer exposures, playing with apertures and taking control shots, and with a few simple tips on timing, you can successfully capture vivid and beautiful details and capture an exquisite night photo.

1. Be Prepared - It is always best to be as prepared as possible for a shoot, especially a night shot. Knowing where you are going in advance as well as planning your parking and driving time accordingly is often half the battle. You never want to miss a once in a lifetime shot due to traffic on the highway!

If you plan to include either the sun or moon in your shot, knowing the sunset and moon rise times is essential. In addition, if you plan to spend some time on a night shoot, check weather reports and prepare with the appropriate clothing.

As far as supplies go, it is better to be safe than sorry. Bring along water to drink, a bubble level to prevent unbalanced photos, a flashlight to navigate the darkness, bug spray in the warmer months, a cell phone in case of an emergency, a tripod and any necessary light metering equipment. Purchase a camera bag or backpack to carry all of your items safely and comfortably.

Once you have reached your night shot destination and the desired time to shoot has arrived, the following tips and techniques will help you produce excellent night photos.

2. Use Long Exposures - A long exposure is the number one, cardinal rule in capturing powerful night photos. One reason for this is that longer exposures allow more light into the camera, thus revealing the exquisite details of a true night photo. In addition, long exposures allow you to capture motion, such as a trail of car taillights and headlamps zipping by on the highway late at night.

If you are not looking to capture motion in your night portrait, try using a larger aperture with a shorter exposure. On the other hand, choose a small aperture to complement a long exposure if you need to correct an overexposure of any stationary lights.

The problem with using long exposures is that it will reveal camera shake. Even the steadiest hands on the planet cannot hold a camera perfectly still. As a solution to this problem, the use of a tripod is highly recommended. A shutter-release cable will also improve the stillness of your shot, practically to perfection when combined with a tripod. Use a self-timer if your camera is not equipped with cable release.

As far as tripods go, you should have one that is lightweight, durable and portable enough to take with you everywhere you go. The Tiffen Vista Attaras is a versatile, solid aluminum digital photo tripod equipped with 3-position leg locks that allow for leg openings of independent angles. This feature provides for maximum stability regardless of terrain, while a 2-section center column allows for an 11” minimum operating height from ground level. The Attaras will support a load of up to 9 lbs and weighs in at an impressive 4.6 lbs.

3. Use an External Flash Unit– It is a golden rule in night photography to avoid using a flash when taking a shot. There are some exceptions to this rule, however. A perfect example would be a photographer trying to capture a subject in the foreground while elements that reveal motion trails are present in the background. In a case like this, set a long exposure and shine an external flash unit on your subject, having your subject hold still until you snap the photo.

4. Take Control Shots – It is near impossible to capture a night photo without some bad pixels on the image sensor when using a digital camera. Although these defects are hardly detectable in day shots, they can become obvious in a night shot. One way to correct this problem is by using a combination of hot pixels found in control shots and an image-editing program.

A control shot, as you may have learned, is a shot taken with the lens cap on. Therefore, what you will need to do is capture a shot of Scene A as you normally would and then take a picture of the exact scene with the lens cap on. While in an editing program, paste the control shot on top of the original scene as a new layer and change the Blend Mode to “Difference.” This technique should reveal a detailed night photo with the hot spots removed.

5. Take Photos at Dusk and Dawn – Although any photo taken at night can reveal marvelous details, dusk and dawn may be the two best times to shoot. Colors and details are usually easier to capture at the break of dusk and crack of dawn. It may take some experimenting and a little bit of trial and error to find the perfect time to shoot, but the end result is well worth the trouble.

6. Take Multiple Shots – Even if you have taken a large amount of time to set up a shot with complex calculations, taking only one shot is never the best option. Multiple shots increase your chances of capturing a night shot exactly as you have envisioned it in your mind and reduce the chances of being stuck with blurry or dull images. Remember, if you are using a digital camera you can always delete the photos you do not plan to use.

7. Use Nighttime Mode – If your camera has a nighttime mode, usually designated by a graphic of a half-moon, experiment with this setting. Refer to your owner’s manual and learn everything you can about this nighttime setting for optimal results.

8. Increase Your ISO Setting and Reduce Noise – Longer shutter speeds tend to work best in night photography, but often require you to increase your ISO setting to compensate for them. Unfortunately, an increase in ISO will result in more noise in your shots. Digital cameras with a built-in noise-reduction mode may help you take RAW or JPG photos at night and can eliminate the need for removing noise in post-processing.

Understanding the Basics of Macro Photography: Tips and Techniques for Beginners

The term, “macro photography”, applies to any photograph captured at 1x magnification (or “life-size”) and above. A macro photograph captures images at the exact same size as they appear in real life. We define any magnification less than this “life-size” magnification as simply “close-up” photography. If you are a beginner in the field of macro photography and looking for some techniques and tips, start by applying the three most basic principles:


• Simplicity – Avoid overloading your portrait with multiple subjects. Keep it simple.
• Sharp focus – Manually focus on the part of your subject that you want to establish as your main point of interest, making it as focused as possible to capture the details.
• Fill the portrait with your subject – Make it as easy as possible for your viewer to recognize your subject. A non-cluttered or simple background that does not compete with the subject visually will help draw the eye of your viewer to your main point of interest.

In most cases, the narrow depth of field associated with macro photography (often around one millimeter for precise macro photos) will throw the background of your portrait completely out of focus. Use natural backgrounds for the best close-up results and avoid capturing anything distracting behind your subject that will take away from the focus of your subject. Branches, leaves or cigarette butts captured in the background will take away from details of your main point of interest. Remember, the purpose of macro photography is to capture the details of your close-range subject and not to accentuate what is going on in the background.

Capture your subject from different angles and experiment with different forms of artificial light, such as a reflector, and even try diffusing your flash with tissue paper or cellotape. Also, check with your owner’s manual to see if your digital camera allows you to pull back the level that your flash fires at. This can help you achieve your desired amount of light.

Two important details found in a powerful macro photograph are color and texture. If you are looking to capture deep saturation of the colors in your subject, be sure to use front lighting and use side lighting if you want to capture the texture.

If your digital camera has a macro mode, which usually shows up as a flower symbol on your camera, select this mode so that your camera knows that you want it to focus on a subject that is closer to your lens than a typical shot. Some digital cameras fail to take macro shots clearly because of their minimum distance allowance, one of the many reasons why a macro lens is usually necessary to capture quality “life-size” images. Be sure to refer to your instruction manual and check for the minimum distance allowance of your camera before shooting.

Aperture is a major factor in macro photography where a large aperture yields the best results. A large aperture (small number) tells your camera that you want it to focus only on the main subject, and not the background. Keep in mind that some digital cameras will not allow for changes in aperture while in macro mode, but if your camera allows it, definitely take advantage of this feature.

Use a tripod and shutter cable release to eliminate camera shake and to experiment with different settings without losing your composition. If your camera does not have a cable release try using the self-timer on its shortest time setting.

Additional macro lens attachments and accessories provide for better macro shots by allowing you to enlarge your main point of interest and decrease a low minimum focal length.

With all of this in mind, the single most important aspect in macro photography is the lens. Most macro lenses dramatically improve the quality of a life-size portrait and it would be a difficult task to find a bad one. Although it is difficult to find a “bad” macro lens, some are clearly better than others are.

A wonderful multi-purpose lens for macro photography is the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens, compatible with select Canon EOS digital SLRs (the EOS 20D, EOS Digital Rebel and EOS Digital Rebel XT cameras). The angle of view for this lens is equivalent to a 96mm lens on a 35mm camera, equipped with a floating optical system that can focus down to a full “life-size” (1:1) magnification. A silent and powerful ring-type USM drives inner focusing, meaning the lens’ overall length never changes during focus.

Military loans

Active and former US military personnel are just like everyone else, they have families to care for and of course bills to pay. Luckily there are special financial agencies such as Omni Financial that are around exclusively to military personnel. Since Omni Financial understands what military personal may be going through there are a lot less restrictions and requirements to get one of their loans making the process quicker and easier then ever for military personnel. A military loan from Omni Financial takes up to 24 hours for approval for any amount whether it be $500 or $10,000, whether it be used for a new tv, debt consolidation, or a car. With a 15 day satisfaction guarantee policy, if your not happy with in 15 days you can cancel your loan with no charge to you. For more information regarding Onmi Financial's Loans visit Omni Financial at http://www.militaryloans.com

Climate Controlled Storage

Self storage facilities are all over allowing people who are spaciously challenged to purchase additional space to store what ever they desire. A break through in self storage that has everyone talking about Climate Controlled Storage. Climate controlled storage allows its user to purchase as much storage space they want and choose a temperature to store their goods in. Climate controlled goods are protected from moisture and humidity ensuring your goods will not deteriorate over time. Climate controlled storage is perfect for office files and documents, personal records,photographs, albums, books, videotapes, fine linens, clothing, holiday gifts,decorations, cars, computers, paintings the list goes on. So if you going to do something be like everyone else and do it right, use a climate controlled self storage storage facility to protect you belongings.

http://www.storagedeluxe.com/

9 Tips for Capturing Powerful Black and White Portraits

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but if you are a black and white photographer looking to make a big statement, you need to know every trick in the book. Below are nine of the most tried and true tips and techniques any photographer can use to capture powerful black and white portraits.

1. Train Your Brain to Recognize Contrast and Tone – When you remove color from a portrait, the two main elements that remain are contrast and tone. An experienced black and white photographer can see these elements instinctually before snapping a shot, and with enough practice, you too can train your brain to spot the perfect black and white scene. Try dedicating an entire month to the art of black and white photography and see how quickly you develop this “monochrome vision.”

2. Shoot in Low Contrast – While many color photographers prefer to shoot in bright, well-lit areas, low contrast situations present excellent opportunities for black and white portraits. Never be afraid to shoot on dark, gloomy and overcast days if your goal is capturing contrast and tone. Once you realize the benefits of these conditions, you will probably even prefer them to clear blue skies.

3. Focus on Areas of Contrast –The human eye picks up two main elements, color and light intensity, which helps our brain distinguish one thing from another. In the absence of color, our eyes become more sensitive to light intensity, giving us the ability to recognize areas of contrast. Since your viewer will naturally pick up areas of contrast in your portraits, it is your main objective to make your points of interest with shades of gray. Use contrast to help your viewer decide what is important in your shot and choose areas of naturally high contrast to accent your point of interest. Use adjustment techniques when post-processing your portraits such as levels, curves, layer blends, burning and dodging to improve contrast distribution even further.

4. Look for Areas of Interesting Texture – Texture is a form of contrast that becomes a dominant point of interest in a black and white photo. Color essentially adds a layer of complexity to a portrait, often taking away from the beauty of natural texture. For a powerful black and white photo, look for interesting and embedded textures while focusing on specific surfaces of patterned contrast. Irregular patterns of shadows and highlights tend to yield the most visible texture in a shot free from color. Accentuate these embedded textures further during black and white conversion in post-processing.

5. Shoot in RAW – Many amateur black and white photographers avoid shooting in RAW, either because their camera will not allow it or simply because they do not like to do it. However, shooting in RAW provides for the most control in postproduction, especially when converting color images to black and white. Give RAW a shot and you may be surprised at what develops in the postproduction phase.

6. Enhance Your Shots with Color Filters – The use of color filters is a common technique among professional black and white photographers in order to change the original captured tones of a portrait. A scene depicting substantially dark and overly white areas is usually not a product of a natural shot. Use color filtering during postproduction to manipulate tones and achieve your desired result.

7. Shoot with a Low ISO – Noise created by ISO can become particularly obvious in a black and white portrait. Always shoot with the lowest possible ISO to reduce noise, even if this noise is what you are after. You can always add noise (or “grain”) to your portrait in postproduction but it is much more difficult to remove it.

8. Focus on Composition – If you are an amateur photographer at best, you probably understand the importance of framing a good shot to lead the viewer’s eyes into and around your point of interest. When color is not an option for a point of interest, such as in a black and white portrait, train yourself to look at composition elements like tones, textures and shapes instead to grab the attention of your viewer.

9. Shoot in Color – Never shoot in black and white if your camera can shoot in color. When you shoot in black and white, your camera is actually converting a color scene to black and white. Photo editing software does a much better job of removing color from an image, so it is always best to capture your shots in color.

Post processing software also gives you areas of flexibility unknown to traditional methods of converting color to black and white, such as relying on your camera make the conversion. Software like Nikon's Capture NX2 and Adobe Light Room provide a full-featured non-destructive editing programs and are a powerful tools for fast and easy photo editing. Shadow and highlight adjustments and D-Lighting features provide for excellent black and white portraits, correcting tones of shadow or dark backlit images with superior quality and processing speed.

Ten Tips on Taking Breathtaking Landscape Photographs

Most professional landscape photographers learn the secrets along the way, usually from trial and error. However, if you are an intermediate photographer looking for some expert advice, the following ten tips should help you perform like a pro without going through the rugged learning process. Use these techniques to take breathtaking landscape photographs.

1. Use a Tripod – As a direct result of lengthening the shutter speed to compensate for a small aperture you will need to ensure your camera is completely still throughout the entire exposure. The easiest way to achieve this is by using a tripod but you can also consider using a cable or a wireless shutter release mechanism to maximize the stillness of your lens.

2. Embrace Changes in Weather – Many beginner landscape photographers make the mistake of waiting for a beautiful, sunny day to take their shots. However, weather conditions such as storms, mist, wind, dramatic clouds, rainbows, rays of sunshine, sunsets and sunrises create images with real mood and ominous overtones. Learn to work with these types of weather variations instead of waiting for a clear blue sky.

3. Choose a Small Aperture Setting for a Greater Depth of Field – As a rule of thumb, when it comes to landscape photography you should always ensure that your shots capture as much of your scene as possible. As you may already know, smaller apertures mean greater depths of field, which is exactly what you are looking for in a landscape shot. Bear in mind that smaller apertures also mean less light hitting your image sensor. Try increasing your ISO or lengthening your shutter speed to compensate for this lack of light.

4. Create a Focal Point – A good focal point in a landscape photo can be just about anything. Use a building or structure, a large tree, a boulder or rock formation and even a silhouette to give the viewer something to focus on. Once you have decided on a focal point for your landscape, it is of equal importance to place it in the right spot. Use your best judgment for the positioning of this point, and embrace the rule of thirds when in doubt.

5. Create Lines for Added Image Depth – One of the best techniques used by professional photographers to lead their viewers into an image is the use of lines. Lines provide your viewer with a “path” he or she can follow towards an image and can easily create an interesting pattern or point of interest in your landscape.

6. Shoot at Dusk and Dawn – Commonly referred to as the “golden hours” to the professionals of landscape photography, dusk and dawn present the optimum lighting that brings photos to life. The angle of the sun’s natural light at these hours truly influences any scene with interesting patterns, dimensions and textures. Shoot at these golden hours every day.

7. Create a Sense of Depth with Foregrounds – Place points of interest in the foreground of your shots to give the viewer a way into the image or to create a sense of depth in your shot. For example, you might want to include a field of daffodils in your foreground leading your viewer towards a larger landscape in the distance, such as a mountain range.

8. Use a Longer Shutter Speed to Capture Movement - Even If you are a novice at best in landscape photography, you probably understand the power of capturing movement. Wind in trees, waves in the ocean, water flowing over a waterfall, clouds moving through the sky and birds soaring overhead are all perfect examples of this concept of movement. Movement adds drama, mood and points of interest to your shots, but be sure to use a longer shutter speed and a small aperture. Shoot at the start or the end of the day to prevent too much light from hitting your sensor due to longer shutter speeds.

9. Shoot from Different Points of View – Once you have found your perfect shot, try capturing the landscape from multiple points of view. Explore different elevations and vantage points so that you will have more options to choose from during postproduction. This could mean the difference between a great shot and something truly breathtaking.

10. Adjust the Horizon to the Sky – A traditional landscape photo has either a dominant foreground or a dominant sky. Always consider the sky so as not to create a boring image. An easy way to capture the essence of a beautiful, drama-filled sky is by placing the horizon lower, where you would place it higher if the sky seems bland or boring.

The Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 G DX Zoom Lens is phenomenal for landscape photos, offering an ultra-wide 110 degree picture angle, two ED glass and three hybrid aspherical lens elements. The quality and fast handling of the lens are very impressive, and it features Nikon’s Super Integrated Coating with a Silent Wave Motor.

Canon camera owners can also check out the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens, compatible with Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras with an EF-S mount.

The First and Only Fire-Prevention Outlet

Bsafe Electrix is a company who is dedicated to reinventing techology in away that promotes safety. Bsafe Electrix has created a new outlet that promotes fire safety like no other. Bsafe Eletrix invented the first and only Fire-Prevention Outlet! Bsafe Electrix took a normal everyday outlet, found away to install a small thermal sensor in the outlet and here we are, an outlet that can sense abnormal temperatures in wiring, that can de-energiz its self before the potential fire can start. Thanks to the Fire-Prevention Outlet there are no fires which means worries. These outlets go for 8.95, yeah, 8.95 is crazy for an outlet but if 8.95 can prevent a fire saving me thousands of dollars its worth it.

Canon Teleconverter

I bought my Canon dslr awhile ago with a 75-300mm lens which I obviously use for distance or close ups. I want to buy a more powerful lens but being that I'm on a budget its likely to not happen soon. I spoke to a sales associate from Cameta Camera, he recommend to me one of their teleconverters. Ive heard rumors about teleconverters screwing up your f-stops so of course I was skeptical. The sales guy stated they would allow me to return the teleconverter if I was unhappy with it. So whatever I took a whirl at the teleconverter( you only live once). I had the teleconverter for about a week before being able to use it.

The teleconverter becomes the middle man where the lens gets placed into one end and the camera into the other. After the teleconverter is attached, it doubles the focal point of the current lens. The down side toward the teleconverter is it takes away a couple of f-tops causing you images to be a little darker. Not bad, you can always leave the shutter open a little longer. Of course I use my teleconverter mostly in low light situations. I strongly recommend using it with a tripod, its just easier to focus with a tripod. With the tripod I recommend either setting the timer for more then two seconds or using a shutter release, otherwise the camera my pick up unnecessary movement from the pressure of pushing on the shutter. Its a little tricky but once you get the hang of it, you'll see its well worth it, your pictures will also tell you this.

The Goal of my teleconverter is to get amazing shots of the moon. The weather hasnt been to great around here and I've been busy, when I get my moon shot I'll be sure to post it.

Canon Teleconverter

Canon Shutter Release

Companies Looking to Offset a Poor Economy Find Relief with Their I.T. Surplus

In today’s tough economy, one cannot listen to the news or read a newspaper without being subjected to a story of another major company going out of business or cutting operational costs CEOs have to make hard decisions which can sometimes affect the lives of their loyal employees. The primary reason for these difficult choices is a lack of corporate capital.

But, what if there was an easier way for these C-level executives to subsidize their budgets? For some the solution is right under their nose, or more likely, locked away in a storeroom somewhere.

I’m talking about computer liquidation.

Most mid- to large-sized companies regularly upgrade their I.T. infrastructure to keep up with the demands of their industry and the needs of their customers. But, what do most of these companies do with their old network systems? They store the equipment. To the right buyer, these desktops, laptops, servers, routers, switches and other network equipment still hold value. Stored and unused I.T. equipment is a line of potential income that many companies can call upon to stay afloat.

“We’re definitely seeing an increase in the number of companies looking to sell off their excess I.T. equipment,” says Richard Greene, VP of Operations for Liquid Technology, a computer liquidation and data destruction firm. “With the economy the way it currently is, if a company can’t generate enough income through consumer sales, they can gain the capital they need by selling this equipment that they’re not using anyway, and in most cases, even paying to store.”

In truth, while more and more companies are selling their I.T. equipment for a useable source of capital, there are a number of other reasons why computer liquidation can be a prudent choice. Selling surplus I.T. equipment can help companies prevent layoffs, update their existing infrastructure, maximize their allotment of useable space or better manage moving, downsizing or merging situations.

Computer liquidation can also be beneficial to those companies looking to implement a “greener” approach to doing business. “Many of our clients are looking to reduce their impact on the environment and getting rid of surplus I.T. equipment is just one way for these companies to reach that goal,” says Greene.

Oprah and Chuck Norris

I found this video of Oprah and Chuck Norris, surprise surprise!



http://spreadthelov.com/

Planning for the Future – Should I Go Back to School for an MBA?

A good friend of my father's got me a job working for an internet marketing company while I was in the process of earning a Bachelor’s degree. I first took the job as a means of paying my way through my upcoming years at school, but quickly realized that this particular job had tremendous potential, especially in my field of study. Fast forward to four full calendar years from when I started working for this company, I am enjoying everything about it except for the fact that I am at the bottom of the managerial food chain. This is when I realized that going back to school for an MBA might be a smart career move.

Like anything in life, I first had to weigh the pros and cons of pursuing an MBA. Earning this level of business education would help me achieve my future career goal of upper management in a lot less time, while preparing me for a lifetime of management responsibilities. An MBA will also help me obtain the career I need to own my own home, support my family and have a better overall quality of life. I can build a greater network of fellow students, faculty and alumni by going back to school, which will optimize both my career and life opportunities.

The cons of going back to school, however, were just as easy to spot. Graduate degree programs are expensive, time consuming and require a lot of hard work. As much as a person would love to obtain the knowledge and credentials required to reach a higher level of success, sometimes it helps to accept exactly where we are at and take it one day at a time. For me, this means focusing entirely on my current career and advancing gradually, which seems like a respectable approach.
With an MBA, I would have the opportunity to make more than twice the amount of money I am making now while being recognized for my leadership and management skills. An MBA will also help build the business skills I need to advance my current career while providing me the versatility to change careers should I ever need to. After all, in our current economic crisis, you can never be too sure about the security of your job, so it helps to be prepared for the worst. In addition, I have to consider that I may want to start my own business someday, and an MBA will help me do that.

Aside from my long-term career goals of upper management, going back to school for an MBA also seems like a good fit for my life as it is right now. I do feel it is time to move out of my parent’s house and start my own life, but I don’t have the financial stability to do it. On the positive side, I am only 26 years old, so I still have the time to go back to school, earn an MBA inside of two years and buy my first home before I reach 30. On the other hand, I don’t know if I can handle working a full time job while taking on a full time schedule at school. If I wanted to pursue a higher education to enhance my middle management career, I needed to find a program that would complement my current agenda. This is when I discovered Adelphi University’s School of Business MBA program.

I heard about Adelphi University’s amMBA Manhattan Center Program from a friend, and logged on to their website to learn more about it. Created especially for busy working managers, the program is accredited by AACSB , and offers many unique aspects such as a 42-credit curriculum and early morning courses in eight-week terms. The School of Business amMBA program begins this fall, offering courses in management styles and information systems, team building, corporate finance and other subjects that will help me grow my career. Adelphi was recognized as a "Best Buy" in education by the Fiske Guide to Colleges and offers assistance with financial aid. It sounds really convenient and works perfectly into my schedule, so I'm seriously considering it and looking into the qualifications I need to apply. Despite the intense workload, it may be the best choice at this time.

http://www.adelphi.edu/manhattan/business.php

Seven Fun Gift Ideas for Dad on Father’s Day!

Let’s face it, Dad has done more than enough for us over the years and it’s time for us to return the favor. No matter what type of stuff your Dad is into, whether it’s traveling, fancy automobiles, nifty electronics, saving old photos or enjoying fine dining, be sure to give the gift he’ll always remember. Below are seven fun gift ideas for Dad this Father’s Day.

1. A Nikon D90 Digital SLR from Cameta Camera – Whether your Dad is a photo enthusiast looking for the latest addition to his camera collection or simply someone who enjoys taking pictures, or videos we know he’ll love this Nikon D90 digital SLR camera. The D90 displays scenes and faces with remarkable clarity and definition, producing stunning images with point-and-shoot simplicity. After taking photos, your Dad will be able to view them in a Live View playback mode on a 3-inch, super-density high-resolution LCD display with the option of uploading his favorite photos to a PC and sharing them with others. The Nikon D90 makes a wonderful Father’s Day gift, priced right at under $1,200.

2. A Toshiba LCD DVD Combo from The High Definition Store – If your Dad would rather spend his evening on the couch with a bowl full of popcorn than be out taking photos, he will definitely love a Toshiba LCD DVD Combo. The LCD DVD Combo set collection made by Toshiba offers space saving, and technologically advanced products perfect for viewing movies and high definition broadcasts in crystal clear quality. Buy one now from the High Definition Store (starting at $279.99) and the shipping is free!

3. A Photo Book from SmileBooks – Is your Dad a sucker for sentiment? If so, he will truly appreciate a fully customized photo book from SmileBooks. All you have to do to create this fun and meaningful gift is download the free software from the SmileBooks website and select the photos you want to include in your photo book. The software is easy to use and you can edit each page by resizing, moving, stretching or rotating photos, with the option of adding captions and text. There are seven different sizes to choose from and prices start at just $9.95 for a 26-page photo book!

4. Wheels and Tires from DiscountTire - Does your Dad take pride in his ride? Then why not give him the supreme Father’s Day gift? Visit DiscountTire.com now to shop for wheels starting just under $100 and save $40 on select sets of tires. Just select the year, make and model of pop's’ car along with your zip code to bring up a selection of showcased tires and wheels. Use DiscountTire’s Interactive Wheel System for an instant preview of exactly how your selections would look on Dad’s car.

5. A Briggs & Riley Transcend 21 Inch Expandable Suiter Carry On from ACE Luggage – For business Dads ” on-the-go”, nothing matches the convenience of an expandable suiter carry on from ACE Luggage. Ideal for 2-5 day trips, the Briggs & Riley Transcend will keep Dad’s garments organized, secure and wrinkle-free. The 43” handle provides ease of use, supporting up to 200 lbs of clothing, shoes and other traveling necessities, without putting any additional strain on Dad’s muscles. Choose from Sunrise red, Rainforest gray, Silver or Desert exterior colors and save an additional 10% when you enter ACE Luggage’s Spring 2009 promo code, Spring09.

6. A Wine Gift Basket from 1-877 Spirits.com - Wine gift baskets are great for celebrating special occasions, but why stop at weddings, anniversaries and birthdays? Dad will definitely appreciate his Father’s Day wine gift, and you will love 1-877- Spirits.com's all-inclusive pricing, covering delivery, gift wrap, a personalized gift card, service fees and taxes. Basic wine gift baskets include two bottles of fine wine in wood, fabric and leather cases, while others include accessories like wine holders, corkscrews and gourmet foods.

7. A Build-Your-Own Home Theater from The High Definition Store – Is your Dad a movie buff looking for the ultimate home theater experience? The custom home theater experts at The High Definition Store are available to help you build your own from start to finish. Simply log on to www.TheHighDefintionStore.com and browse home theater equipment and accessories from wall mounts and TV stands to speakers, DVD players and more. Place your order to receive all of your home theater equipment, delivered right to your door, for no additional fee.

Starts with Bariatric Surgery ends with Tummy Tuck

It's been 12 months since mom's bariatric surgery….so proud of her. She's lost a ton of weight, is eating better, and finally living life again. Next, shes thinking about a tummy tuck to get rid of all that extra skin (gross!). Just when I thought I could stop worrying she desides to throw this at me! Ugggh. More anesthesia worries and a bunch more surgeries! I know she wants to finally be rid of this extra hanging skin with the tummy tuck and I want to be supportive, but this is tough.
I'm doing what I said I would never do, looking online for tummy tuck information. Of course first thing I see is nightmare stories of people who went for cosmetic surgery after their bariatric surgery adventures…with bad results. But I have found out that there are some Drs. that really seem to know what they're doing. Has anyone heard about Dr. Stephen Greenberg? Web site says he was voted Long Island plastic surgeon of the year. I read a bunch of interesting stuff on his web site….saw a short video talking about what he does for bariatric surgery patients. I know mom won't be having the surgery for like another six months, but I'm just looking for all the best information now. Can anyone help?

A SmileBooks Photo Book for Our Mother on Mother’s Day

My two younger brothers heard about a photo book service called SmileBooks. One of them logged on to the site to see what it was all about and it seemed like a great gift idea. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we decided to give the service a shot. As it turns out, SmileBooks' owner is CeWe Color, the leading photo-finishing company in the world and their service and products are amazing!

We had a lot of fun making our Smilebooks photo book and it really brought out our creative side. We gathered and scanned old photos from just about every event that was important to our family. We found pictures from family vacations, high school proms, graduation ceremonies, holidays, birthdays and old yearbook photos. We also included a great panoramic photo from 1992 of the three of us on Halloween and created three custom pages that we dedicated to our dog. The two portraits that came out the best were the professional photos taken on our parent’s wedding day and one of our annual family Christmas portraits.

When my brothers and I started editing the pages in our photo book, we realized how much freedom we had to customize every page. The SmileBooks software gave us the option of resizing, moving and rotating all of the images we collected. We were also able to add borders, crop images and stretch some of the larger photos across two whole pages, which served perfectly as backgrounds for some of our smaller images. Other photos worked great with just a simple black or white background that SmileBooks provided. We then went ahead and added text and captions throughout the entire book and created our own cover, which really brought the whole thing to life.

SmileBooks.com offers free software, which was easy to use. We were able to download the software in a matter of minutes and we were creating our own personalized photo book in no time. The software comes with easy-to-follow directions and lets you drop photos into place instantly without having to upload them. You can save your photo book onto your PC and work on it anywhere you go.

There are seven different sizes to choose from and we decided to go with SmileBooks' deluxe photo book, 12 inches by 12. The prices for 26 page photo books start at just $9.95 and vary depending on page size, paper choice and cover type. Fortunately SmileBooks allows you to add pages if necessary which we did because we could not include every special moment in just 26 pages.

When we completed our photo book, SmileBooks.com said it would take about 15 working days to receive it, but it actually came in just 8 days. We were truly impressed with the way the photo book came out. The high quality photo paper was flawless and the book could not have looked any more professional. Our entire experience with SmileBooks.com was amazing and we know our mother will be forever grateful for it.