18 Nov 08 Fantastic Family Holiday Photos

When it comes to family photo opportunities, few events can top the holiday season. These special moments were meant to be cherished and to grace fireplace mantels and scrapbook pages for years to come. Here are a few tips to help you capture the essence of your subjects and the authenticity of the moment.

Stake Your Claim: If you’ve ever watched a wedding photographer at work, you’ll realize there is often a very specific plan in place, and this includes knowing which photos will happen in which locations. Even if your entire family will remain in one place for the day, decide which setting(s) will be most appropriate for photography.

For example, you may decide to take photos in front of the family fireplace or near the Christmas tree. Are there items that need to be removed that would prove distracting in the background? Will you need to set up chairs, and if so, who will sit where? Feel free to grab a pen and jot down a few ideas. This forethought will greatly assist you in getting those fantastic photos because your subjects realize that you have a plan and will get the job done efficiently. Little ones will more likely cooperate as well because the process will flow quickly. You don’t need to be a drill sergeant, but being deliberate and having a vision will help tremendously.

Elevate Your Status: When it comes to shooting large groups, it helps to be creative. One inside trick used by professional photographers involves a chair. Grab one and stand on it! You’ll be able to accommodate larger groups and create a portrait that’s more visually interesting using this technique. The novelty of this approach may also keep your subjects captivated long enough to ensure everyone is smiling when the shutter snaps!

Take a Tripod… Here’s a chance to pick up a present for yourself! A tripod is one of the most valuable and affordable accessories you can have in your photo toolkit. A tripod will instantly improve your photographs by stabilizing your camera and eliminating ‘camera shake.’ In addition, having your camera attached to a tripod allows you to better focus on getting smiles from your subjects as your attentions won’t be so divided between balancing the camera and posing your subjects.
You can learn more about the quality tripods we offer here: http://tinyurl.com/68l85t

…And a Remote Trigger: Make the most of your tripod by adding a remote trigger, which will free your hands and allow you to interact with your subjects while shooting. Imagine how much easier it will be to recognize those perfect moments with a remote trigger in hand; your focus can remain on your subjects, and you’ll be in perfect position to record that one image when all eyes are open and on you! Here are some we recommend: http://tinyurl.com/55kxa5

Perfect Timing: Make sure you understand how to use the timer on your digital camera. Toss your camera’s manual in your bag and review it before setting up your photo shoot. If you can’t find your manual, don’t worry. Just do an online search for your camera model and add the words ‘delay timer’ to the search. You should be able to retrieve instructions to use immediately.
Take a couple of test shots to make sure you’re comfortable with the process. Delayed timers are actually quite simple to use in most cameras.

So much effort and love have gone into getting your family together during this very special holiday. By taking a few minutes to prepare, you’ll ensure that your photographs reflect that very sentiment and serve as a continued reminder long after you ring in the New Year.

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15 Nov 08 When to Send Your Camera In For Repair

Today’s digital cameras are a marvel of tiny electronics combined to work in synchronicity to capture those moments that matter most. Unfortunately, technology doesn’t always work as expected, and when your digital camera starts behaving badly, it’s time to determine if it’s a minor issue or something that requires professional intervention. Here are a few tips to try before taking it in for repair:

Check Your Batteries: A fresh set of batteries can fix everything! Insert a fully charged battery or replace the AA set and see if the camera responds. Sometimes it is the most common but overlooked issue that keeps your camera from turning on, so start with the batteries.

Check Your Memory Card: Did you know that your camera may not turn on if the memory card is full? This happens sometimes, so try offloading all the images from your camera card to your computer and then reformat the card. Once that’s complete, try turning on your camera and see if it responds.

Give Your Camera a Break: Like other electronics, sometimes your camera needs a reset, so consider taking out the batteries out for a day or so to let the camera reset. Make sure the battery is charged and then re-insert it after 24 hours. If your camera continues to malfunction, it’s time to consider sending it in for repair:

Next month we’ll provide tips on how to decide if it’s better to repair an existing camera or replace it with a new one. The answers may surprise you!

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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.”

venice italy henry winkler
© Henry Winkler - Settings: f8, 1/250*

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.”

sydney australia henry winkler
© Henry Winkler - Settings: f4, 1/125*

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!”

santa barbara california henry winkler
© Henry Winkler - Santa Barbara, CA - Settings: f4, 1/30*

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

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06 Oct 08 A Good Back-up Plan

A Good Back-up Plan

*written by Chuck Pace at Roberts Imaging*

I see it all the time. Fledgling photographers landing a “paying” job for the use of their photographic eye and camera gear coming back to the store frustrated after having a technical or equipment problem on their “big break” shoot. The first time you shoot for someone else the anxiety levels are higher, and mistakes or errors are more likely.

It feels great to have someone place their confidence in you and your craft. It is a big ego boost, and can get you started in a secondary (or even primary) revenue stream. Still the most important thing is if you accept a job you should be prepared to do the job. The best advice is to have back-up gear ready for a possible failure. Similar if not identical equipment is recommended. If you are shooting with a Nikon DSLR Camera have another Nikon DSLR as a back-up, the same goes for Olympus, Pentax, Sony or Canon, if you have a Canon DSLR camera have a back-up Canon DSLR camera. A Canon Digital Rebel can be an excellent back-up for a 30D, 40D or even higher end Canon DSLR. Rember that many of the newer DSLR cameras now use SD memory cards while older or higher end units could still be using CF cards.

40d and XTiIf you are using a camera system that uses SD cards have extra SD cards ready (the prices have come way down so stock up), the same goes for Compact Flash Memory (CF) cards of course. If you are doing flash photography take lots of extra batteries, and have a back-up flash too. Canon Flashes and digital camera accessories are exclusive to Canon Cameras, so it wouldn’t help to have an Olympus Digital Camera or a Nikon Coolpix Camera as a back-up solution. If money is tight (and it often is for people doing their first few paying jobs, or ‘favor’ photography) consider backing up with used cameras or consider renting a reliable back-up system; camera, flash, even camera tripods are available. Remember that Roberts Imaging has a large used department, and an extensive rental department too. Above are quick links back to those departments.

Preparation is the key to building your reputation. Have a back-up plan. I know wedding and portrait photographers who even have a ’substitute shooter’ on call just in case they themselves get tied up or ‘break down”.

http://blog.robertsimaging.com