Photoblogging, Blogging for the Photographer

Many people feel that photo blogging is the most exciting kind of blogging that exists. Building and maintaining a photo blog is no more difficult than creating and updating a text-based blog, and many people feel that the internet's high speed, full-color technology reaches the pinnacle of its appeal with the transmission of images. Posting photographs in a blog format on a daily, weekly, or occasional basis is a great way to express yourself while reaching viewers in an emotionally charged and aesthetically engaging way, and surfing photo blogs can help you to get a whole new perspective on the world in which we live.

Many people who run image blogs are photographers by trade, but photo blogging is also very popular among hobbyists and amateur shutterbugs. To be certain, a lot of the most popular photo blogs have gained attention because the pictures on them are of the highest artistic caliber, and a lot of the people who run these striking blogs are graduates of prestigious art schools and have impressive professional portfolios. However, some of the most well known and most often visited photo blogs are as notable for their concepts as for the pictures themselves. Certain photo blogs, like the popular "Cute Overload" which features picture after picture of adorable animals, are more about the thematic content of the pictures than they are about the style in which the snapshots are taken.

The fact that photo blogs range from forums to display the work of highly skilled artisans to playful collections of curiosities shows that photo blogging is a truly diverse form. The fact that photo blogs are so easy to build and to update makes this kind of visual communication very democratic, and enables people at all skill levels to become a part of the global conversation about the nature and value of photography today.

Whether you are an artist or hobbyist who wants to create a photo blog, or whether you are just somebody who enjoys learning about new places and things, spending some time looking at the most popular photography blogs on the internet can be a very rewarding endeavor. You can travel to another place or another time by seeing pictures of faraway locations and long-gone eras. You can see your own neighborhood with fresh eyes by discover how local artists have photographed the town or city in which you live. Photo blogging allows people to communicate all of these things and more, which makes it a very exciting part of the modern blogosphere. If the best thing about web technology is that it allows people to reach each other in a very personal way from across great distances, then in many ways photo blogs are the most successful kind of web sites.

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Few of My Photography Tips

I will share some tips on photography which I hope is useful and can add insight to our collective.

1. Flexible lighting because the built in flash not be in use in all situations. Use an external flash, diffuser (made softer flash light), so that the second flash of light as in the studio.

2. Expand your view with the wide converter, panorama (photo objects, and unite in some segments in the PC)

3. Camera filter that can produce everything in want of a catapult. Use a polarizer filter (to avoid reflections that are not in want so much bright color), UV filter (to reduce the effects of haze caused by UV light reflection), gradual ND filter (to balance the image with a contrasting background)

4. In order for a more detailed photo image, you can use the extra zoom on a pocket camera (digital zoom, but image quality is less), add Teleconverter on a pocket camera and maro converter to improve the macro function so as to obtain photo images on new dimensions.

5. Use the LCD is better in order to be able ekposure better photos in the sun. Tools that include: hood LCD (display better contrast in the sun), cardboard tubes of tissue to withstand sunlight.

6. Camera filters to prop up the camera if you want to do a longer exposure using a variety of tripod that is: lightweight, mini and a monopod.

7. Camera filter for outdoor photos must have a minimum of two people or more to work on shooting by using a folding reflector or use the wall / white colored cloth at the portrait along with the object.

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Image Editing Basics

Is relevant for image processing computer "should adequately lot" of memory (RAM) and large and fast hard drives based on the present and the installed programs. High resolution images require much memory. The faster the processor (CPU), the better. Recommendations quickly become obsolete, I reject this. Journals, the Web and newsgroups are well suited. First, I research in the subscribed computer magazines, then I scan the newsgroups using Google Groups, and finally the Web. There I find the cheapest provider in my wish-computer components (case, power supply, motherboard, processor, RAM, video card, hard disk, ...). the dealer is not significantly more expensive on-site, I'll assemble my request from this computer, otherwise I settle das.

It should be installed a DVD burner. Then the image files are saved (backup). I back up my data daily on a large external hard drive and backup to all 4-gigabyte gains on two DVD-Rs. In future, there will be other external storage media as DVDs (Blu-ray?), The reason for the multiple backup remains the same: redundant data on different solid media, stored at different locations, which are used in the event of loss to ensure the function.

Screen (Monitor)

I prefer LCD screens that are good for photo editing and I can connect the digital output of the graphics card. They need less space, no flicker, and I believe that my eyes get tired so late.

Printer

Despite favorable Exposure Services, a separate photo printer makes sense (so to provide print services inkjet printing, known as Fine Art Prints) alone because of the fun to hold fast their pictures in his hand.

Usually this will be on a specialized inkjet photos. Ink is (unfortunately) expensive, I would be surprised it if many more than the basic price. I buy light-resistant inks and select only photo printers that can use such. Even after years of my pictures on the wall are not bleached visible. To be the most durable pigmented inks.

Other hardware

Lack experience, I can only pass on hearsay: A graphics tablet with pen should be better than a mouse in many cases.

Spectrophotometer or colorimeter for creating ICC color profiles really a must-see below.

External Card Reader (USB) for the digital camera memory cards are inexpensive, usually faster than the camera and its spare battery.

A second screen makes it easier to work. To him, the tool dialogs to move, so the main screen only displays the image to be processed.

Environment

Suitable is an environment with constant lighting (even standard soft light with 5500 ° Kelvin) and mid-walls, as it were, a modern photo lab. At least, no bright light falling on the screen or in the eye. Places to windows are unfavorable.

Color Management

Without color management can be frustrating to work: The images on the monitor still nice to see quite different to the pressure and in spite of the proof of the option to change anything concerning color and brightness "optimize".

Just copy editing

Images from the digital camera or the scanner should not be edited, but only copies of it. One could bear to read the original files with the file attribute only.


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Digital Camera Guide

Nowadays it is not foreign anymore about digital cameras, but for those who still lay, perhaps a bit difficult to determine the option to just choose and buy it. What kind of features should you look for? Well, this guide will tell you that you plus get a little more familiar with what this camera is capable.

I'll give the little details that may help you in this regard.


Megapixels
When it comes to megapixels, the more the better. I recommend a minimum of 2, but 3 or 4 is great. We did a test to see if a camera with 2.3 megapixels (actually 1.92 - 1600 x 1200) could produce a good quality 8x10.

Turns out it can, if you have the right paper and printer. We used HP Premium Plus photo paper with an HP 970 series printer and made a fantastic 8 x 10. Remember, I was a professional photographer before I got into computing, so I know a good print when I see it :-)

The resolution at 8x10 (we had to crop in to make the picture proportional to 8x10) was only 150 DPI. Most printers would not make a real good 8x10 at that resolution, but this one did. So, if you want to be sure you can get good 8 x 10s, you may want to go with a 3 megapixel camera or better (that gives you around 200 DPI at 8x10 size, still not quite the optimum 300 DPI, but it looks good with the right printer).


Optical vs Digital Zoom
You've probably noticed that most digital cameras have both a specification for digital and optical zoom. Pay the most attention to the optical zoom.

The optical zoom magnifies (zooms in) using glass. The digital zoom basically crops out the edge of the picture to make the subject appear closer, causing you to lose resolution or to get an interpolated resolution (i.e. the camera adds pixels). Neither of which help image quality.

Finally, make sure you get enough (optical) zoom. A 2x zoom isn't going to do much for you. A 3x is the average you'll find in most digital cameras will probably be good for most uses. More on lenses later.


Connection
How does the camera connect to your computer? If you have a USB port in your computer, you'll want a camera that can connect via USB as opposed to a slow serial connection.

On the other hand, if your computer doesn't have a USB port, is there a serial connector available for the camera you're looking at? If so, is it a special order and how long does it take to get it?


Storage
What does the camera use to store images with? If it uses a memory stick, make sure you consider buying additional sticks when you get your camera. A typical 8 meg memory stick that comes with a 2 megapixel camera only holds 5 or 6 images at the camera's best quality.

Some cameras use a 3.5 inch disk for storage. Be careful of these!
Although it may sound like a good idea, a 3 megapixel camera at high resolution produces a 1 meg file (compressed!). That's only 1 picture per disk.

Here's a few more things to look out for when trying to make your digital camera purchase.


Picture Formats
When you're trying to decide on which digital camera to get, check and see how many different picture formats it supports.

You want something that can produce both uncompressed (usually TIFF) and compressed (usually JPEG) images. I personally use the high quality JPEG setting on my camera for most of my shooting. TIFFs are just too big and the difference in quality is not ascertainable by mere mortals.

You also want to be able to shoot at a lower resolution than the camera's maximum. That way, If you're running short on memory, you can squeeze a few more shots on your memory stick.


Auxiliary Lens / Flash
This was a biggie for me. While a 3x zoom may work for the "average" user, I needed something that allowed me to do some wide angle work as well as have a good telephoto lens.

So, the camera I purchased a few months back was a Nikon Coolpix 990 (note that this isn't the only camera that can accept lenses). It has auxiliary lenses that screw into the filter ring on the front of the lens. I now have an ultra-wide fisheye lens plus a nice telephoto.

In addition to lenses, I wanted a good flash. The flash that is built into most of these cameras gives you a top range of 15-20 feet - at best. I wanted a camera that could take a powerful auxiliary flash (again, the Nikon isn't the only camera that fits this requirement, but I liked it better than the rest). If you need more reach than the small built in flash can deliver, then make sure you can attach an external flash to any camera you consider.

As an added bonus, if you get a camera that can take an external flash, you can place that flash on a bracket and eliminate red-eye.


Flash Distance
Speaking of flashes, make sure you check the distance the built in flash is good for. You don't want a camera with a wimpy flash that only travels a few feet (well, unless you can get an external flash for it as described above).


Battery Type
This may not sound important, but it is. Anyone who owns a digital camera can tell you they eat batteries the way a sumo wrestler eats at a buffet.

Make sure the camera can run on regular (or rechargeable) "AA" type batteries. You don't want a camera that eats through expensive lithium batteries every 10 shots or so.

One thing to remember about digital cameras, they do eat through batteries. I recommend getting some Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable for it. I have some for mine and they have saved me a fortune.


Final Notes
Choosing a digital camera isn't easy. There's a huge selection out there and only you can determine which features you need.

For instance, if you shoot wildlife photos, a small 3x zoom probably isn't going to cut it (unless you can attach auxiliary lenses to it). If you shoot lots of close-ups, make sure the camera has some sort of macro capability. If you shoot big group photos indoors, an external flash may be necessary.

My advice is to make a list of things you want to be able to do with the camera then go to somewhere that can help you make a good purchase decision.

Finally, buy the BEST camera you can possibly afford. Or wait until the price drops on one with the type of features you want.


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