11 Nov 08 Last nights photo class

Thank you to everyone who came to the Photography class at the library. It was a great success. 40 people, 2 hours, a lot of conversation and learning on both ends. We learn from you as you learn from us.

We will post pictures from last nights class on Flickr soon.

We will be hosting another class on a date yet to be determined.

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10 Nov 08 Taking Your Show on the Road This Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving holiday provides us an opportunity to pause and reflect upon the many joys in our lives. That week is also considered one of the busiest travel times of the year, requiring many to venture across state lines or even cross country to celebrate with loved ones.

Here are a few tips so you won’t have to spend a moment worrying about whether your camera is ready to capture those smiling faces around the banquet table.
Preparation Pays: Those Boy Scouts know what they’re talking about when they advise us to ‘be prepared.’ This is certainly true when it comes to digital camera batteries. Make sure to pack an extra set of AA batteries or an extra rechargeable battery (depending upon your camera’s requirements). It is a very small investment and can mean the difference between getting the shots you want and hoping a relative will send copies of her pictures to you after the event is over. Stop by our store or give us a call, and we’ll make sure you have the right battery for your needs. http://tinyurl.com/4g84j6

Lens Cloths Save Time Later: Keep a lens cloth in your camera bag and spend a few seconds cleaning your camera lens before you start shooting. Finding a recurrent smudge on your favorite Thanksgiving photos can make you feel a little less joyous, and cleaning your lens before the event is far less time consuming than trying to correct the images using a photo editing program later.

Try a Travel Charger: The digital camera travel charger may be one of the most important accessories you can keep in your camera bag. You don’t need to worry about keeping up with extra cables or other attachments because our PROMASTER XtraPower Traveler series of chargers have a built in switching power supply and a flip up plug. It’s a very compact and simple charger to use. The internal 110V - 240V power supply means you can use this charger worldwide; this combined with the compact size makes it PERFECT for the traveler. http://tinyurl.com/48wpvl

Bring the Right Bag: Not all camera bags are created equal, and cramming your camera and accessories into a backpack or briefcase isn’t always the best idea. For special family visits and vacations, it pays to pack your camera and accessories in a properly-padded camera bag. There are designs for every budget and style preference, and when it comes to getting ready for a trip, a camera bag is the one accessory that can keep all your gear properly organized and protected.

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03 Nov 08 Stress-Free Scrapbooks:

Digital Photography for Busy Women by Laura Oles

I marvel at how much straightening and organizing I need to do at the precise moment I sit down to tackle a tough task. I’ve been on a mission to teach my grade school daughter the importance of tackling the most pressing issue of the day first. So, if she’s dreading cleaning her room or finishing a particular homework project, I tell her to do it now so she’ll spend less time worrying and more time enjoying the fact that the task is now complete.

Let’s just say that Mom’s still a work in progress where this lesson is concerned.

One such project that people tend to avoid is organizing their digital pictures for a scrapbook. It seems like such an overwhelming task that few have the intestinal fortitude to start at all. I’m here to tell you that you CAN do this, and not only can you do it, you might even like it! And the best part? Once you’ve completed the task (in far less time than you thought possible), you can order several copies for loved ones and check off multiple shopping ‘to-do’ items off your holiday list.

Decide on a Theme: Some people fret that creating a scrapbook requires ‘going back to the very beginning’ and organizing all your pictures on a chronological level. While this works for some, others find the process far too constraining (and exhausting). You don’t have to cover an entire year if that’s too much of a challenge. Maybe you just want to highlight your favorite pictures from the last few years and note the stories behind why those pictures are so special. Take ten minutes to skim through the pictures you have on the computer. Which ones would you like to include and why? Once you’ve made a few notes, a general theme or format will present itself. Now that you know where you’re going, you’re on the fast-track to having that beautiful book in your hands.

Software Shortcuts: There are so many great software programs available today that will help you ‘tag’ your favorite images so you can quickly find the images you care about the most. If you don’t want to use a software program or fret it may take too much time to find the right one, consider asking your trusted photo retailer which ones would be worth considering. Another alternative would be to create a separate folder on your computer hard drive, name it ‘Favorite Photos,’ and then copy your top picks to that folder.

Get it on Your Calendar: Wouldn’t it be great to have this project completed by December 1st? Yes, it’s possible! Put this order date on your calendar. You can then work backward and pick two time slots to dedicate to picking and organizing your favorite photos.

Let Your Photo Shop Do the Hard Work for You: Your local photo retailer can give you great advice regarding which scrapbook options are available and how long they take—which isn’t long at all these days! Treat yourself to a visit to the shop to discuss your scrapbook ideas. Their knowledgeable staff can guide you through the process and show you just how easy it is to create this amazingly personal and cherished present.

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10 Oct 08 Henry Winkler Answers Reader Questions About His Photos

from http://www.takegreatpictures.com

One has to wonder if Henry Winkler ever sleeps. Beyond his work as a producer, actor, director, Winkler is the author of the award-winning, best selling children’s book series HANK ZIPZER: THE WORLD’S GREATEST UNDERACHIEVER, the 14th installment of which hit bookshelves this past May. On top of all that, TakeGreatPictures.com readers are well aware of Mr. Winkler’s talents as a photographer. In fact, since his latest appearance in TakeGreatPictures.com’s Celebrities Who Shoot section, some readers have taken the time to comment on Henry’s images, ask questions, and convey their support. Here at TakeGreatPictures, we know what a friendly guy Henry is and that he is always looking for a reason to talk about his photographs. So we recently caught up with him to get his answers to a few of the questions posted by the TakeGreatPictures.com readers.

india henry winkler
© Henry Winkler - Settings: f5.6, 1/200*

Michael L. Barham writes, “Hhheyyy!!! Thumbs up to Henry Winkler’s photography. I like the sharpness of the clouds over the bridge shot. I would like to know what kind of camera he uses.”

Henry responds, “I bought the Sony A100, because it uses my Minolta lenses. I have to rely on the automatic settings to get a great shot, because I don’t understand how to do anything manually. The only thing I really change is the focal length.”

cloud bridge sky henry winkler
© Henry Winkler - Settings: f11, 1/500*

Frank was also curious to know which camera Henry used to take his pictures, saying, “Amazing pictures, and yes, the clarity in each is breath taking. I, like many others would also like to know what camera he used, as well as the focal length of the lens and the f-stop.”

Says Henry, “When shooting outdoors I always use a polarized lens; and again the camera is always on automatic.”*

henry winkler field canon landscape
© Henry Winkler - Settings: f6.3, 1/60*

Ginny Thompson remarks, “Henry, your shots are my cup of tea. Looking forward to more of your best. I would like to know what area some are in. Looks like Montana.”

“Yes, Ginny, many of my images are from Montana,” says Winkler. “I love to go there because I can enjoy nature and the peace and quiet. I’m an avid fisherman and my whole spirit soars when fishing for brown or rainbow trout in Montana. If you’ll notice from some of my other images that are on the site, I love to travel all over the world. Some of these images are taken in India, in Venice, and all parts of the globe. Wherever I go, I’m sure to bring my Sony A100 to make sure I’ll bring back some great images to go along with my memories.”

Charlene Mar of Australia says “Great photos. I’d like to know what kind of lens and settings were used. I recently visited the USA and wish I lived over there - great place. I’m from Australia.”

Henry responds “This next shot was taken in Sydney, Australia.”

Still others offer suggestions on great places to photograph and techniques worth trying. Eli writes, “Love the sharpness and colors. Come on down to Panama where the black sand beaches are in contrast with the sky!! Looking forward to another chance to see more of HW pictures - thanks for sharing!”

John Wallner adds “Hi ya Henry, If ya like the grandeur shots of mountain scenes, try the Alpine Loop in Colorado. You can start either in Lake City, Colorado and do the northern half or the southern half. Or you can come in thru Silverton and go east. Any way you go, you’ll get some really beautiful shots. Also a good 4 wheel drive is recommended. Don’t forget your polarizing filter. Make those clouds really pop!”

Jeff Marcus also chimes in “Hi Henry, In your water photos, have you experimented with slow shutter speeds to give the water a beautiful flowing effect? I tried this earlier this year by closing down the aperture (f22), shutter to 3-4 secs and low ISO (100) because it was really bright outside and didn’t want to over expose.”

henry winkler pond boat
“I love reflections, as you can tell. I’m drawn to them. I always try to capture the symmetry of reflection” – Henry Winkler. © Henry Winkler - Settings: f16, 1/125*

Henry got lots of words of encouragement, and sharing his photos helped our readers warm up to him, some more than others. Mickey Stine even had a special request - “Henry Take me with you on your next photo shoot!”

Send us your comments and questions and next time we talk to Henry, we’ll let you know what he says!

*We had TakeGreatPictures.com contributor Jon Sienkiewicz take a look at Henry’s images and he determined to the best of his ability what the actual setting for each image was. All images in both this and previous articles now show you what settings to use in order to achieve the same clarity as Henry.

from http://www.takegreatpictures.com