How to create sepia image in Photoshop

Kenneth Setzer wrote " Discover Seven Ways to Create Sepia Images in Photoshop":

Like most things in Photoshop, there are probably a half dozen ways to simulate a sepia tone image. What probably comes to mind when you hear sepia is most likely “old-time” photographs. But why is that so? Well, sepia toning was used for a few reasons, artistic and more prosaic.

True sepia toning began around the 1880s with photographic prints that were exposed to sepia in order to aid in replacing the metallic silver in the photo emulsion with a silver compound. By doing so the developer could change the color, obviously, but also increase the tonal range of the photo. It was also believed that the sepia toning increased the photo’s longevity by replacing the less stable metallic silver. Indeed, a lot of sepia prints remain to this day. Sepia, it turns out, is simply ink extracted from a cuttlefish (the European Common Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)), a cephalopod closely related to octopuses and squid!

1. Gradient Map Adjustment Layer
2. Photo Filter Adjustment Layer
3. Black and White Adjustment Layer
4. Color Balance Adjustment Layer
5. Hue Saturation Adjustment Layer
6. Curves Adjustment Layer
7. Solid Color Layer

Creating a duotone in Photoshop can get you even closer to simulating a good sepia tone. But there are two reasons I’m not presenting it here. One, there’s already a great tutorial on duotones right here at Convert Duotones in Photoshop. Second, making a duotone requires some “no-turning-back” operations, like discarding color info, that are best avoided if possible.

There you have it. Seven ways to sepia, and I’m sure you can discover more. Personally, I’m leaning towards using the black and white adjustment layer to remove color, and then creating a solid color adjustment layer above it all to add the sepia tone. This gives you a lot of flexibility. The black and white adjustment layer makes fine tuning your tones easy, and can always be undone and tweaked in the future. The solid color layer lets you change the tint at any time also, and you can more completely control the opacity, and blend mode, of the sepia tint. Best of all, no cuttlefish were harmed in the making of this article.

Eleanor Hardwick

Just take a look at these photos.
So stunning !!
This talented girl is 15 years old and she started photography at the age of 12. Wouw !!!

Click here

7 Digital Photography Tips For Beginner

These 7 digital photography tips you can get started on your way to become an excellent photographer if you’d like.

#1. Learn your cameras settings
Chances are you shoot most of your pictures utilizing your camera's "automatic" mode. This will get you average results. If you are striving for great shots, you'll need to learn about other modes too. Take the time to read your camera's manual to understand when to use each shooting mode.

#2. Take more photos
Before going crazy buying the most expensive equipment right away, you had better take more photos because the more photos you take, the more you’ll know about what kind of camera to get when it’s time to upgrade. In other words, you can always delete the bad ones later.

#3. Busting the dust
Digital camera with removable lenses are prone to dust landing on the sensor. Static electricity around the sensor can possibly contribute to attracting dust particles, or other elements to this sensitive area of your camera. You can get rid of the dust is a camera blower brush, and tilt the camera down while blowing. Take care not to get any of the hairs snagged inside.

#4. Use a tripod
A tripod will keep your camera steady which will make your photos clearer.

#5. Shot your subject at different focal length, angles, and formats
Shoot your subject at different focal lengths - using the zoom on your photos will not only change how close your subject appears but it will also change the depth of field (ie the blurring of the background). It also allows you to shoot from different distances which can really impact how relaxed your subject is (there’s nothing better than a photographer in your face to make you tense up)

Shoot your subject from different angles - it’s amazing how much you can change a shot by getting on your knees or taking a few steps to the side.

Shoot using different formats - there are different ways to grip a digital camera. The two main ones are horizontally or vertically but you can also get into all kinds of diagonal ways to do it. Mix it up.

#6. Experiment with different ‘modes’
Even the most basic point and shoot cameras have different ’shooting modes’. These are usually things like ‘portrait’, ‘landscape’, ’sports’, ‘night’ etc. Sometimes it’s worth flicking through these to take shots at different settings. What these modes do is simply change the basic settings (like aperture, shutter speed, ISO) - all things that can change the look and feel of your shot considerably

#7. Play with your Flash
Try turning your flash off or forcing it to fire in shots. Sometimes adding flash to a scene where there’s lots of light behind your subject is essential (even though your camera might not think it needs it). This stops those silhouette shots where it looks like you’re trying to hide the identity on your subject.

To discover the details of those digital photography tips, please visit to Digital Photo Secrets

Really Great Textures by Coffeeshop

Coffeeshop asked:
If you like these textures and have used them on your photos, I would love for you to post your results to my Flickr group: CoffeeShop Flickr Group (If you have account of Flickr, but if you don't have, you can send her email - coffeeshopphotography [at] yahoo.com). I would also enjoy seeing which textures(s) you used on your photo!

click here

click here

click here

click here

Photos of Fashion Magazine

I found via my friend's blog.
If you'd most like to have a look at fashion photos, you can just click here

Fashion photographer or designer lists that you can click you curious.

Lighting Tutorials - by Roseonthegrey -

In case that you want to learn about lighting for photography that can be done simple. You can just follow what Rosenonthegrey taught steps on her experience. She is talented photographer.

Rosenonthegrey wrote:

"Ambient window lighting is definitely my favorite type of lighting. It's very even and essentially no set up is needed. Even if it's a sunny day and the light is too strong, just add some sheers in front of the window and you get diffusers".

You can just click here for lighting tutorials.
Happy experimenting !!

Inexpensive Lens for Beginner (Canon User Only)

Click Review

If you'd like to buy telephoto lens to take portraits, perhaps you should take professional photographer's advise like below.

Professional Photographer says:
"Buy an inexpensive prime lens that stops down to at least f1.8 (like the Canon 50mm f1.8 lens). You can get one for under $100. A prime or fixed-focal length lens will be the quickest and best way to understand aperture. And a solid understanding of aperture is absolutely essential to taking good photos".

Just be patient and then saving accounts to buy very expensive lens if you'd like.
Hopefully, you're not wrong to buy what lens you dream of.

CoffeeShop - Free Actions and Tutorial - Great !!

Coincidentally, I found this through Flickr's forum and checked out there. Yes, this is very, very, very great to learn how to create actions because this owner made many tutorials about that. You can check out there whatever you want to know and then you will learn step by step. Me, too, still learn more and more. There are so many great tutorials, installing actions, template-Paper-Patterns, etc.

Click here

Cretead by Rita, Owner of Coffeeshop

BARISTA ACTION FOR PS AND PSE
1. Open the image you wish to process.

2. File then Duplicate (opens a copy of your file to work on so your original does not get altered, great to see Before/After)

3. LEVELS: Add a Levels Adjustment layer. Use your black eyedropper to click on something black to remove any color cast. You can also click on something white with the white eye dropper. If your photo looks worse, then reset and click somewhere else until you get the look you want. Then adjust Level's sliders to taste. I usually move the midpoint over to the left a bit to lighten the midtones.

4. DODGE/BURN: Add a new blank Layer above Levels and call it Dodge/Burn. Fill it with 50% gray and put the blending mode in Overlay or Softlight. Type B to get your brush tool and use a low opacity (10% or so) soft brush and paint over anything you want lightened. I usually paint over skin and eyes to brighten them a bit. Then, using a low opacity soft black brush, paint over anything you want darkened. I usually darken the background some, or you can use this method to paint a vignette around the edges of your photo. Increase the opacity to 25% or so if you are
doing a vignette. If you completely mess up, then just Edit then Fill Layer then 50% gray and it returns your layer back to the original setting, and repaint.

5. CONTRAST: Select Background, Ctrl-J to make a copy. Change the blending mode to Soft Light and move the opacity down to 25%.

6. SHARPEN: Select Background, Ctrl-J to make a copy. Run the Unsharp Mask over this layer to sharpen your image. I usually start with Amount 125%, Radius 1, Threshold 3. Put the blending mode into Luminosity. Adjust opacity as needed.

7. Color Saturation: Select the Dodge/Burn layer and add a new Hue/Saturation layer above it. Put the Saturation setting on 20 and change the blending mode to Color, Opacity 20%.

8. B&W/Muted Color: Now add a Gradient Map Adjustment layer on top. Make sure it is set to Black, foreground to transparent. This is a great way to turn your photo B&W. Now adjust the opacity of this layer to 0% to keep your photo color, 100% for B&W, or anywhere in between for muted colors. You can also make a B&W image with “colorized” parts. Just adjust the opacity to 100% (so your photo is B&W) and use a soft black brush (opacity of choice depending on how vivid you want the colored parts to be) and paint over anything you want in color.

9. Now you can adjust all of your layers to taste. The opacity's I gave you are just a starting point so don’t be afraid to change them.

10. Flatten your image and save! Rerun the action on this image once again to get a really vivid photo.


If you want to install BARISTA ACTION FOR PS AND PSE, you can check out blog of coffeeshop.

Enjoy experimenting with actions !!

Best Lenses For Travel Photography

Written by digital photography school blogger, Darren Rowse.

"As I’ve said above, when I travel these days I tend to take 2 lenses - one is a versatile zoom which will cover a range of focal lengths and the other is a light weight, small and fast prime lens (a prime lens is one with a fixed focal length. Prime lenses are traditionally good quality and faster than zooms). Of course the two lenses I talk about below are based upon my own budget, photographic style and preferences. I’ve added a few other alternatives into the mix which others might consider".

Special for CANON SHOOTER

1. Lens Canon EF 24 - 105 MM F/4 L IS

I list it here for a number of reasons:

• it’s image quality is renowned as one of the best zoom lenses going around. This is an ‘L’ series lens which is a ‘luxury’ or Pro level.

• focal length is wide and will cover a variety of situations and needs

• while f/4 isn’t super fast it will do you fine in many lighting situations - especially anything shot in daylight. It’s f/4 across all focal lengths so it is faster than the 18-55mm at full extension.

• this lens has Image Stabilization (IS) which will allow you to handhold shots at up to 2 stops faster than normal (this means in low light you can slow your shutter speed a couple of stops without suffering camera shake).

Of course for every positive there is a negative and this camera’s include:

• Weight/Size - this is not the lightest lens going around and by the end of a day of it hanging around your neck you’ll know about it

• Price - the weight it adds to your neck will be taken from your wallet - it’s not cheap

• Speed - as I say above, f/4 is ok, but it’s not the fastest option going around.

Alternatives to the 24-105mm f/4L IS

A couple of alternatives come to mind.

• Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM - in the same price league and with similar quality and weight, but faster (aperture of 2.8 across all focal lengths), without image stabilization, shorter zoom range. So if you’re shooting at low light a lot (especially moving objects which IS won’t freeze) and you don’t mind loosing the top end focal length it might be an option.

• Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM - this is a much more affordable option but you do sacrifice image quality (as you’d expect). It has a longer focal length, still has Image Stabilization and at 28mm is faster than the 24-105mm (but is slower at the other end of the zoom). It’s also a bit lighter and smaller. I’ve owned this lens for a while now and have usually included it in my kit when traveling. It’s images are not as good as my L series lenses but it’s a good general purpose lens.

2. Lens Canon 50 mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens

Whereas my last suggestion was very expensive this one is at the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of cost and is one of the most affordable lenses you’ll find in the Canon range when you consider the quality of the images it produces.

While this lens is not much to look at in terms of size, weight or even construction it is significantly faster than any of the other lenses mentioned above at f/1.8. This will allow you to shoot at quite low light levels, especially if you up your ISO (remember you get grain at higher ISO). I use this lens when I don’t want to lug the other one around with me (I leave it locked up at the hotel), especially at night.

The Positives for this lens are:

• Speed - f/1.8 is the fastest lens I’ve currently got in my collection. It’s great indoors especially when a flash is not allowed or appropriate.

• Weight/Size - you can fit it in your pocket easily and will hardly know it’s there - perfect for taking out at night or when you need to travel especially light

• Price - last time I looked on Amazon it was just over $100 USD

• Quality - while it’s no ‘L’ Series lens many argue that when you consider it’s price it’s one of the best quality lenses going around on a ‘dollar to quality ratio’.

• Focal length - although you’re limited to one focal length it is a useful one. I find it works well with portraits and in getting in nice and close for tightly framed shots of things in street-scapes etc.

On the downside of this lens:

• Focal length - it is a handy length for some shots but not having a zoom can be frustrating if you’re used to that. It’s also a little too long for landscapes (especially on non full frame cameras where it’s the equivalent of an 80mm lens.

• Build Quality - this lens can be a little hard to take seriously when you first pick it up because it’s so light that it feels like a toy. It’s quite ‘plasticy’. It is also a reasonably noisy lens and not the fastest at focussing in low light.

Alternatives to the 50mm f/1.8

The following lenses are alternatives to the 50mm f/1.8 in terms of their speed and size

• Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM - if the focal length is right but you’re a bit put off by the quality of the f/1.8 lens you might want to spend a bit more (actually it’s more than 4 times more) and get it’s faster big brother - the f/1.4 version. Once again it’s small, light and takes sharp pictures. Despite it being more expensive it’s still quite reasonably priced and is significantly better in terms of quality of build and image. While I love my f/1.8 I wish I’d spent a little more and got this one instead.

• Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM - worth considering also when using a non full frame camera is a wider angle lens like this 28mm one (equivalent of a 45mm lens). In many ways this one has a very similar feature list to the f/1.4 lens. It’s small, light, fast and not too expensive.

• Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM - go even wider angle with a 20mm lens. It’s not as small as either of the 50mm lenses but is still small enough and gets some very positive reviews.

--- Hopefully you don't get wrong to buy which lens you need for your trip ---

Great Manipulation - by Heilemania -

Click here
and
deviantart

This is very awesome of manipulation photos.

Photoshop Tutorial - by Lune -

This is very, very, very helpful if you want to know how to manipulate with Photoshop.
Well, you can visit here

In addition, Lune has make up tutorial, click here

Lune wrote:
Some people have been asking me how do I put my model or another subject on the grass making it seem like it belongs to the background, with the grass over the subject. It's a very very simple procedure, everyone will be able to do it.
I hope you find this tutorial useful and fun!

After my last Poll, many of you asked me a Tutorial with some lighting tips.
Like I can't say no, here it is an easy tutorial with 2 great lighting tips which help you improve the final result of your work in many ways!
These 2 techiques are the ones I use almost all the time and, I wanted to share it with you guys. I hope you find it helpful.
Please read my Journal for usage rules. Thank you.

Great Manipulation - by Princess of Shadows -

You can click here

She makes very great manipulation with Photoshop

She made it with textures to make it look beautiful.

And you can also visit her blog

Great Manipulation - by Liek -

This is great manipulation of pictures.
Click here

This owner also has her own textures. So awesome that made with textures.

Awweee so cute of kitten photo !!

Action by Red Leaf - Part7 -

Wedding photos of Red Leaf ... wouw !!

Click Red Leaf

Click Wedding website
Really wonderful !!

Click Red Leaf actions

Actions by Oeil - Part 6 -

Wouw !! You should have a look at this oeil's website. Really fabulous !!

Click Oeil's website

She also creates actions

It's a must, you have to click her's myspace
WOUW !!

Actions by Amanda - Part 5 -

Well, I remember enjoying so much taking a look at Amanda's photostream. It makes me to be eager to know how to create actions. Yes, I got already, but my skill is still limited and am still learning from others, not just from Amanda. Until now, I still like viewing at her's photos. Really awesome !! Btw, Amanda also create a book of children photography with her friends (what book name I forgot, too bad me, indeed.) and she is such a very popular children photographer in Australia and on flickr as well.

OMG, aweee eee someee !!

Click Amanda's blog

Amanda wrote:
So many people have asked how I get my colours and how I convert my black and whites, so I'm providing the link to my photoshop actions here:

Click Amanda's actions

Essential b&w actions

Backlight quick actions

Very vintage & vintage xp actions

Journey actions

Pretty basics actions

Pretty basics actions


Enjoy !!

Actions by Wynona - Part 4 -

Indeed, Wynona creates actions that not too much, but so many admire her actions, especially, b/w color. It's really awesome !!

Click Wynona's actions

Example of b/w actions is great. So many people admire those b/w actions.

Actions by LilyBlue - Part 3 -

Actions by Lilyblue is stunning !

Click Lilyblue's actions
and
Lilyblue's website

Click Lilyblue's blog

How stunning !!

Example of actions by Lilyblue. Fabulous !!

Actions by JinkyArt - Part 2 -

Actions by Jinkyart is really wonderful. You can take a look at some photos of Jinkyart below. Photos of jinkyart always makes me to improve more, more, and more. Jinkyart is such a creative photographer.

Click actions by jinkyart
If you wanna check out at jinkyart's actions

Example of actions

Example of actions

Example of actions

Example of actions

Jinkyart also creates and sells borders. They are awesome !!

Example of borders

Example of borders

Example of borders

Actions by Brenda - Part 1 -

Hey everyone, do you know about actions? All right, there are so many people create actions. Actions by Brenda is created by Brenda as well as sold through website. You can click below.
Enjoy !!

Click Brenda's blog
Click Actions by Brenda

How sharp color are (color boast and vintage wash) !!

Brenda also creates for black color. Beautiful !

Look at that, what a beautiful color of b/w

Actions by Brenda looks like old, but really awesome !!

You can read FAQ and just check out there

Wanna know how much price, well, you can check out there

Really Crazy Photographer !!

Written by : Anna Munandar

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Dedicated Photographer (or should I say crazy?)

A friend of mine email this to me. I thought I'd share with you how crazy photographers can be. The following pictures were taken by Hans van de Vorst from the Netherlands at the Grand Canyon. The descriptions are his own. The identity of the photographer in the photos is unknown.



"I was simply stunned seeing this guy standing on this solitary rock in the Grand Canyon. The canyon's depth is 900 meters here. The rock on the right is next to the canyon and safe. Watching this guy on his thong sandals, with a camera and a tripod I asked myself 3 questions:

1. How did he climb that rock?
2. Why not take that sunset picture from that rock to the right, which is perfectly safe?
3. How will he get back?

After the sun set behind the canyon's horizon he packed his things (having only one hand available) and prepared himself for the jump.This took about 2 minutes. At that point he had the full attention of the crowd."







"Look carefully at the photographer. He has a camera, a tripod and also a plastic bag, all on his shoulder or in his left hand. Only his right hand is available to grab the rock and the weight of his stuff is a problem.

He lands low on his flip flops, both his right hand and right foot slip away...

At that moment I take this [the last] shot. He pushes his body against the rock.

He waits for a few seconds, throws his stuff on the rock, climbs and walks away. Presumably to a bathroom to change his shorts.

...I know I had to change mine and I was just watching!"

That guy is nuts! It got me thinking though if I'll be doing such thing in the future...

America's Next Top Model

Please take yourself to view below photos of America's Next Top Model.
Awesome !!
Watch it because of PHOTOGRAPHY.

Tyra Bank

Really like those photo of Chinese background

Sepia color is beautiful, actually!!

India model is really exotic

Fake hair, u need know !!

Adorable color

Right of that girl is actually a photographer
Wish I could see her projects

That girl actually got sick fever when taken photo

Mysterious girl , but she is a good model

So bad, I missed that photo shot

Really like that photo theme. FUN !!

Photogenic model !!

Hum hum humming still thinking how that photo photoshoped because photographer didn't use black/white background
No fake snake

Beautiful color of that photo. Used ACR ? Maybe !!

Great expression !!

Behind of that girl used smoke

Great lighting !!

No fake fire !!

Yes, I know it manipulated

Those photo are clone photo. Easy !!

Lucky for me, I watched how it worked

Hah, really, do u wanna be a real model?
Me, no way !!
Prefer to be photo shoot creative or photographer.

Enjoy !!

Texture by Michelle Black - Part 2

Still want more textures?
All right, you can just click Michelle Black's website

Not only does she have photo webs, but she also has a blog

This is MICHELLE BLACK (If am not wrong)

If you can afford, you can buy those textures

How adorable they are !!

advanced actions, basic actions, .. so many !
Yes. you can search whatever you'd like


Wouw ... so awesome !!

Oh old photo, but it's beautiful, too

Interested in using textures for your photo? You will be addictive

What a beautiful !!

Enjoy Michelle Black's sites!!

Texture by Ash - Michael Smith - Part 1

Want or need great texture to put on your photo?
If you can afford, you can buy on Ash's website.

Click here

How stunning it is!! It used with textures by Ash

How really adorable !!

It looks like old, but great. Used with textures, too

He also has his own blog

click here

Great Tutorials from Indonesians

I found two great tutorials from Indonesians, those are very helpful because those available steps of making great photos with Lightroom and photoshop. Go to there !!

Click here

Click here

Hopefully, this is very helpful for you who want to improve more, more, and more.

Enjoy yourself !!

Great Photographer of Women

You can check out:

Ashli's Photography
Maria's Photography

But you must (It's a must) check out other photographer of women named Anna:

Anna's Photography

They are awesome, aren't they? Enjoy viewing!

Digital Photography Tutorials

This is great digital photography tutorials that you can learn or improve your photography skills. You can check out:

Digital Photography Tutorials

These great photo examples

10 Reasons to Learn to Take Good Pictures

By Nancy Hill

Everybody has a camera, so why should you bother taking pictures? Let someone else worry about shooting the family reunion, the kids, the sports. You can always ask them for prints. Right?

Maybe not. You could be missing out on a lot if you settle for someone else’s photos instead of learning to take good pictures yourself. Here are 10 reasons why it’s well worth the effort to learn to take good photographs yourself.

1. Photographs are personal. Only you know how you see the world.
Everyone views the world differently. Your perspective is unique. Your sister will not capture your family reunion like you would. She will focus on the kids, while you like how many generations are in your family. Your best friend with her fancy camera does sweeping landscapes. You were with her on the shoot. While she was fussing with her tripod, you were fascinated by the kids fishing with their mother. She never even thought to look. Only you can capture the world you live in. Leaving it up to anyone else will mean your vision is lost.

2. Photographs provide an historical record.
Maybe all those Little League games you go to seem tedious after a while, but 20 years from now, your kids will love looking at those pictures, recalling their glory moments (and they will remember some), the kids on their teams, and the coach who kept believing in them. Same goes for other things in your life. Taking photos of your house will remind you of what you once valued, and what your tastes were. Cars change, woods give way to roads, property is sub-divided, old homes are torn down. Having photos of how things are now will give you a record when things “ain’t what they used to be.”

3. Taking photographs will kick your brain into a creative mode.
Simply by looking through the camera and deciding what part of the scene in front of you belongs in the picture will kick your creative side into action. The more you shoot, the more your creativity will come out. It’s a wonderful part of you. Let it play.

4. Photography is great therapy.
This is close to number 3, but it goes beyond creativity. Photography can help you see the world differently. If you’re upset, grab your camera and go out looking for beauty. You’ll find it. If you’re down, spend an hour shooting photographs – of anything – your house, your yard, your city, flowers, animals. Life through a camera lens is full of wonder. Focusing on how the world around you looks can also help break through your negative thoughts.

5. Photography is a great way to make new friends.
Photographers - amateurs, hobbyists, and pros alike - love to talk about photography. You’ll never lack for company if you join a photography club. You’ll also learn a lot more about photography by someone who takes good photographs than you’ll ever learn in a book.

6. Photography is a way to share your life with others.
Sometimes it’s hard to talk to family members. Just because you share relatives doesn’t mean you have much in common. Sharing your photographs with them is a good way to break through barriers, to show someone what’s important in your life. You can also share travel photographs with groups interested in the area you visited. The photos you took of soil eroded around a river might be just what a environmental group needs to get a grant to save the area. The possibilities are endless.

7. Photography is a gift you can give others.
Cards with your photographs on them make great gifts, and a calendar of family photos is a perfect present for your parents who have everything they could possibly want or need. Getting cards and calendars made has never been easier; you can even have it done online. You can also use your photographs on mouse pads, shirts, mugs, and even postage stamps. What could be more personal?

8. Photography will improve your web site and/or blog.
Your words alone aren’t likely to keep people on your web site for very long, so you need to include graphics. You can always use someone else’s work, but your own will be easier, more personal, and say a lot about you. Don’t overlook the power of a good photograph. It can take your web site to a new level.

9. Photography brings accolades.
Your images might not make you famous, but being known as someone who takes good pictures is a real self-esteem builder. It’s great to hear, “Wow! That’s beautiful! Can I get a copy?” Even a simple, “You take such good photographs. How do you do it?” makes the effort worth while. Praise is good. None of us can get enough of it.

10. Photography can bring in money.
Yep, it’s true. Take good photographs, and chances are you can pick up some extra cash. Whether it’s taking your neighbor’s kid’s high school senior pictures, winning a little cash in a photo contest, or selling your cards on a web site, photography can bring in some extra cash. Maybe someone backs into your neighbor’s fence and they need a photo for court. Who knows, maybe you’ll get so good your work will be published in newspapers or magazines some day. You could start small. Lots of magazines, especially women’s magazines, pay $25-50 for cute kid shots. There are lots of possibilities.

The more you learn about photography, the better your photographs will be. The better they are, the more confidence you’ll have – not just in your photographs, but in yourself. Don’t waste another minute — Grab your camera and start shooting!

Your Photograph

If you’d like to share your photos with others, you can post them at Rich Ward’s blog. Just check out: Planet Earth Daily Photo

Happy sharing your photos!!
Keep photographing!!

Pros and Cons software with HDR

StuckInCustoms.com

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range.
It’s a feature in Photoshop CS2 or Photomatix or FDRTools.

But … there are pros and cons about what the best software with HDR.
No matter which software you want to use, you’d better take it as a trial, and then you can decide which software you prefer to use for your photos in HDR.

You can read the following discussion about pros and cons: Discussing What is HDR in HDR

For one more information about HDR tutorial which written by a great travel photographer: HDR Tutorial - New and Improved for 2008!

Just try and then decide which one you want to use. Good idea, isn’t it?

RAW format and JPEG format Pros and Cons

Curious about what RAW and JPEG format are? Do they have pros and cons? Just read this article by Jim Goldstein.

RAW format is often a proprietary format of a particular camera make. RAW files hold all the RAW data captured by the camera. Unlike conventional photography where light is exposed against film with a specific chemical formulation to provide deep saturation or soft skin tones that would otherwise be automatically applied based on the type of film used, RAW digital files contain raw data that is uninterrupted and unaltered. RAW files in their simplest description can be thought of as digital negatives. They are a pre-production starting point.

JPEG format compresses image data into a smaller file size. In theory, a JPEG file contains less data (how much depends on the specified size and compression/quality settings) than an equivalent RAW file, but is able to closely reproduce an image once fully loaded. When saving an image with photo editing software it is possible to save an image with different levels of JPEG compression. This enables you to create files that take less storage space sacrificing how well the file displays or take up more storage space to more accurately reproduce the original image.

Format Pros & Cons:

The Pros of RAW format:

• RAW is a digital negative holding all of the data captured by your camera providing you a foundational element to which to apply all of your edits to with no sacrifice of image quality.

• RAW file software editors allow you to quickly and easily change the output of your image such as adjusting exposure, white balance, noise reduction, image size (interpolation), saturation, contrast, levels, curves, sharpness, output resolution, bits/channel, etc.

• RAW file software editors allow you to load saved adjustment settings and some even enables users to batch process a group of files versus making changes to one file at a time.

The Cons of RAW format:

• RAW files take up more space on your camera's compact flash card or micro drive than other formats.

• RAW files require you conduct some degree of post processing via photo editing software to convert your image to an editable file type for editing, printing and/or online display.

• RAW file software editors have a learning curve, even if mild, and for the uninitiated can be intimidating at first.

• Batch processing and/or loading multiple files may tax slower machines and require more computer RAM to keep your software running smoothly.

The Pros of JPEG format:

• JPEG is a file format that has been adopted as a standard and can be loaded in a variety of programs making display easy and simple.

• JPEG files take up less space on your camera's compact flash card or micro drive than other formats.

• JPEGs can be loaded easily by most all image editing software applications, requiring no intermediate steps.

• Most dSLRs enable you to choose what size JPEG files (S, M, or L) to save to your compact flash card or micro drive when shooting. This enables you to use smaller images that are easier to handle for email attachments, web display or as an alternate preview mechanism if your camera supports saving files in JPEG and RAW formats simultaneously.

The Cons of JPEG format:

• JPEGs are not a lossless file format. Each time the file is saved data is compressed, with some data being lost in the process. The net impact can be loss of color saturation, color range and sharpness.

• JPEG files reflect a one-time interpretation of your subject based on the settings of your camera (white balance, exposure settings and output resolution, etc.). Altering these settings and re-outputting a new file, as you can with a RAW file, is not possible. What you capture is what you get.

• Interpolating or upsizing an image initially saved as a JPEG can result in less than ideal results. Some 3rd party software applications can do this better than others, but you’re still dependent on using another software application to get the job done.

• With specific types of photographed scenes JPEG compression artifacts can appear in prints.

Hopefully, this article is very helpful for you and it's up to you which format you want to use.