Article by:  Dan Feildman

Photography is a beautiful art… simple in all its complexities and breathtaking in the results it produces. From preserving those priceless moments with your loved ones to creating exquisite works of art, the applications of photography are many. Once confined to bulky, expensive cameras and yards of film, photography has seen a new dawn with the advent of digital cameras. Swifter, a lot easier to use, and growing ever more compact with every passing day, digital cameras have indeed opened several avenues to the casual photographer as well as the seasoned expert. And now that you’ve decided to take the plunge with the digital brigade, your very first concern is choosing the best camera to suit your needs.

The multitude of models and makes that swarm the marketplace definitely don’t make your choice any easier so how do you decide which camera is the best for you? To start with, you first need to understand that every make of digital cameras is developed to cater to a certain set of needs. Hence, in order to determine which camera you need to buy, you first need to establish the purpose you’re going to use it for. A high speed camera which is developed in keeping with the interests of sports photographers will certainly not be a viable option for you, if all you’re going to use it for is the odd vacation photograph. Also, if you’re looking for more minute detailing in your photographs as well as a higher resolution, then the sleeker options that you find may not completely cater to your needs. This is because a majority of these models have been developed to ensure portability, and many include little more than the basic features.

Your second step would be to understand the world of digital photography. This would include familiarizing yourself with the most commonly used photography terms. For instance, you would need to know that an LCD is a screen attached to most cameras in addition to the viewfinder. This screen allows you to view your image before and immediately after you capture it, allowing to fine tune your focus and even re-capture the image if need be. However, several cameras are equipped only with the viewfinder, thus compelling you to hold the camera at an arm’s length while capturing the photograph. As one of the key requirements to a clear photograph is a steady and sure hand, without your face to rest the camera on, your image is at a higher risk of being distorted.

You must also learn to distinguish between an optical zoom and a digital zoom. An optical zoom functions like traditional cameras, magnifying the image you are shooting. A digital zoom enlarges the final image by doubling the size of the pixels, which may also lead to fuzzier images. Digital images are comprised of mega pixels which in turn determine the quality of the image. The higher the number of mega pixels, the clearer the image. You may also want to check if your camera comes along with a stand which is invaluable in ensuring a steady and clear picture.

Once you gather this basic information, you can then start looking around for models which catch your eye. Start making a shortlist, comparing and contrasting the different makes and strike those off that do not meet your budget or requirements or both! At this stage, you can also start referring to photography journals and magazines for expert reviews and advice, which will also enable you to learn about first hand experiences with some of the relatively unknown models, you may come across.

If you aren’t too comfortable with the notion of parting with your reliable old bulky camera, expense of film notwithstanding, but would still like the clarity that digital images offer, you can scan digital versions of your existing photographs and have them retouched with editing software or opt for an online photo service which will convert your film into digital reality. You can even use photo services to edit your photographs for minor glitches like red eye removal and adjusting the brightness and color.

Digital photography is a great way to explore your creativity, without worrying about how much you’re spending on developing the film you’ve shot and printing charges. You can easily transfer your images from the memory card or stick onto your laptop or computer and then email them to friends or even upload them onto online albums. The key to mastering your digital photography skills is to keep practicing whenever possible and soon, you’ll develop a style which is intrinsic to you and the envy of others!

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Article by: Dan Feildman

Digital technology has been a prevailing factor why people can now have the ease of access in almost anything they do. Many significant inventions were developed to make it easier for people to finish whatever their jobs require. One concrete proof of this remarkable breakthrough is the digital photography, which implies greater ease and comfort in taking pictures of any kind.

What is digital photography exactly? Digital photography can mean different things to different people. Some people see digital photography as something which changes a traditional photo into a digital format by merely using a scanner. Others construe it as something that is achieved y taking a traditional picture taken from film and digitizing it through the computer. Others yet, perceive it as something taken digitally through the use of a digital camera.

Typically, digital photography simply defined is a type of photography that does not necessitate film. The fact that you do not have to wait for the picture in order for it to be printed is music to the ears of the one taking the photo. Once you take pictures using a digital camera, the image can be transferred quickly from the camera to the computer. Right away you can view your picture on the monitor and preview the image to make sure the image quality is good and the color is precise. All you have to do is delete the image and retake the picture if at first you do not get the photo you want.

More and more people are considering buying a digital camera due to the great features available. There is the drive to go digital because of the capability to stretch the imagination and be creative with the photography. You can alter the look and feel of the image with little effort involved. You can modify the background or add a text to the picture to give it more character. Whatever you envisioned for your photo, it can be done when it’s taken digitally.

Digital cameras allow for the correction and improvement of image quality in your photographs. You can edit, enhance or restore your photo all to your taste. This can be accomplished all in real time.

Digital photography can fix the image quality of a certain photo with a few basics. To make sure your photo is of top quality, check the settings on the digital camera prior to making that shot. If the picture is already in your computer, it is easy enough to cheek the image on the screen to see if photo is of the highest picture quality.

Fixing the image quality of a digital photograph usually involves several elements such as the colors and the contrast. The contrast is very important if you really want to get the best result in your snapshots. If you want to add life to your photos, you can improve the image quality by adjusting its colors. There are lots of things that digital photography offers to make sure that your pictures will come out attractive.

Even with all of the advancements, we still have much to learn about the possibilities of digital photography. Some of the issues being developed deal with the image quality, cost of production, the features of digital camera and other services. All of these are being thought of in order to bring the world of photography within reach to everyone.

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Seller: Learn Digital Photography Now Website

Summary: The “Your Guide to Digital Photography” by Dan Feildman is a downloadable guide for digital photography beginners and those looking for better results from their digital photography.

Product Details: There are a number of components to this learning product including –

- “Your Guide to Digital Photography” – a 75-page guide that includes a variety of tips and advice for the beginner to advanced photographer. Some of the topics are:

- Taking your first pictures
- Different kinds of digital cameras
- Professional technology at affordable prices
- Finding the right low end digital camera for those on a budget
- Exposing digital photography myths.
- Understanding the features of your digital camera
- Tips for taking better digital pictures
- Pet photo tips
- Night photo tips
- Horizons and sunglasses
- How to share your digital pictures
- Printing your pictures
- Choosing a printer for you digital images
- Editing your photos.
- Understanding white balance so your photos look good in all lighting.
- Interpolation and digital zoom to improve detailing in pictures
- Finding free photo editors for your Windows computer
- Using your flash effectively
- Understanding and making the most of your memory cards
- Important equipment to take when traveling.
- Battery options and your best bets.
- Making money from your digital photography hobby.

- “Photography Quick Tips” – 37 pages showing you how to make the most of your pictures. It includes practical tips for:

- Night photography
- Action photography
- Landscapes
- Sunsets and sunrises
- Beach photography
- Desert photography
- Sports photography
- People and pets
- Street photography
- Fog & Mist
- Waterfalls & Running Water
- Rain & Snow
- Fireworks

- Picasa Tutorials – There are 8 video tutorials (you can view them online or download them to your computer) to show you how to use the free Picasa software to organize, edit, create and share your photos. The videos include:

- Downloading and installing the program
- Editing photos with Picasa
- Creating collages
- Blogging with Picasa
- Backing up your photos
- Printing your photos
- Posting pictures to your web album

- “Your Top Digital Photography Questions Answered” – This 26 page guide answers 20 common questions about digital photography including:

- What is the biggest mistake made by beginning digital photographers?
- How to decide on the right digital camera.
- How to decide if a picture is worth taking.
- How to get the white balance right.
- How to take clear shots for indoor sports.
- Advantages/disadvantages of raw vs. Jpeg format photographs.
- What are the best settings for low light/nighttime conditions?
- What is hyperfocal distance?
- How to take a photo of a glass sign or a framed picture in glass
- How to get high contrast natural light black and white pictures.
- Time lag from the time you take a picture until it is on the memory card.
- How to avoid redeye in dim light.
- Small object close up pictures.
- How to photograph gemstones and jewelry.
- How to take a picture with both strong sun and shade.
- Capturing personality in photos of people.
- How can I understand depth of field?
- Settings and techniques for photographing birds and wildlife.
- How to take pictures into the sun and avoid lens flare.
- How to take good pictures in the snow or on the beach.

- “Buying a Digital Camera” Video – This video shows you how to use the Internet to conduct research from unbiased sources.

- “An Experiment in Photography. What Exactly Happens When You Change the Settings on Your Digital Camera?” – This 12 page guide shows photos of the same object (a house, in this case) with different camera settings resulting in very different photos.

- “Secrets of Night Photography” – A quick 6-page guide with concise advice about nighttime photography. It includes information on:

- Trails of Light (Cars)
- Trails of Light (Stars)
- Weather and Exposure
- Horizons and Sunglasses
- Tripods
- Low Cost Filtering

Format:

The main guide is a PDF ebook. There are extra guides (PDF) and videos (free Flash & Shockwave required). If you’re not sure how to use these files, don’t worry, all the download information is carefully explained and any software you may need is free and safe to download.

Thoughts on the Product:

This package covers a lot of ground on the topic of digital photography. All of the advice is very step-by-step and detailed, but doesn’t include unnecessary filler. Even for someone who has never used a digital camera before, the information is clear and concise enough to take that person from buying a camera to taking their first shots and being proud of their work.

The product can be downloaded instantly upon purchase, so you don’t have to wait for a bunch of books and videos to come in the mail. For those who are new to online downloads, full instructions are included.

Where to Learn More: Learn Digital Photography Now Website

Article by: Dan Feildman

Looking for a digital camera? If so, then you probably want to be sure that you pick out the right one. The following is an overview of several of the best cameras out there, so read on and make up your mind…

Canon PowerShot A620 Digital Camera

For less than $400 you can have this camera, which is great for both beginner and advanced photographers. This is one of Canon’s best cameras in the A-series and it comes with many great features. A 7.1 megapixel camera, this is great for those who need pictures with high definition, and you are sure to be pleased with all the exposure controls available too.

Canon PowerShot A610 Digital Camera

Also under $400, although not quite as snappy as the A620, this is a camera that has a variety of advanced functions that both pros and novices alike will enjoy. This is a 5.0 megapixel camera that has a special fold out 2 inch LCD screen. With this camera you start at wide angle, but the camera can accept telephoto and wide angle lenses as well.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-p200 Digital Camera

If you like what Sony offered before, you’ll find that this digital camera is even better. With 7.2 megapixiels, a great 2 inch display, and Sony’s Picture Package software included, this is a great buy for only $400. The 3x zoom lens and the memory stick storage are added bonuses too, not to mention all the accessories that come along.

Olympus 720SW Digital Camera

This camera comes with a great 2.5 inch viewing screen that makes taking pictures easy. It is both water proof and shock proof and is small enough to fit in your pocket. You can even use this camera under water for great underwater shots you can’t get with most cameras. Puts out great pictures and is easy for anyone to use.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 Digital Camera

Reasonably priced at less than $300, this is a great choice if you are on a budget. The camera comes with a 10x zoom lens, and now with this 7.2 megapixel camera you also get a true wide angle view as well. With a great design and three color choices, blue, silver, and black, the camera is a nice looking, portable, and very compact choice.

Canon Rebel XTi Digital Camera

If you are willing to pay a bit more, you can get Canon’s SLR, the Rebel, which broke the $1000 price barrier for the first time for digital SLR’s. This camera has a 2.5″ screen and features manual modes and auto mode alike. There are many accessories that can be added too, so you can get all the zoom lenses, filters, and other accessories you desire.

Nikon D200 Digital Camera

For those who are truly serious about photography and aren’t afraid to spend more than $1000, this Nikon is a great choice. It is a digital SLR that comes with both manual and automatic controls. It is a favorite among many, especially because of the ability to control lighting and take pictures that are amazing.

Kodak EasyShare V530 Digital Camera

This camera is one of the best compact digital cameras out there, and it’s a great buy for less than $300. It comes with a 3x optical zoom and offers 5 megapixels to work with too. There is no manual mode and no viewfinder either, so you’ll have to just rely on the LCD screen when you are taking shots with this camera.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30

If you are looking for a camera that almost has SLR capabilities without the high price, this camera should be at the top of your list. For less than $700 you can have this capable camera that boasts 8 megapixels, and a choice of the LCD screen or a digital viewfinder when shooting pictures. The superzoom lens is definitely an added bonus as well.

Casio Exilim EX-P505

A cross between a digital camera and a digital camcorder, the price of $490 is definitely a great buy. The still camera boasts 5 megapixels and the videos that you can take with the camera are MPEG-4 videos that are 640 by 480. There are various ISO settings available and high shutter speeds are part of deal, as well as a 2″ LCD that swivels.

There are hundreds of digital cameras on the market today. Choosing the best for your own needs can be a challenge. Hopefully, the guide above will get you started in finding the right one for you.

Recommended for More Help

Need to improve your digital photography techniques? Pick up your free digital photography guide for better photos…almost instantly.

Have you heard of, “There is more than meets the eye?”

We use our eyes to view things in our environment. However, through time, man has devised ways to preserve these views and transform them into treasures. Many types of art media has been used, including the camera, and today, the digital camera.

The images that are captured by cameras can make us see things in more detail. They can make our eyes see things that trigger memories of the past or imagination of the future. Great pictures have the energy to evoke emotions from us that we really can’t explain.

Most everyone has a digital camera now. In fact the use of conventional film cameras has become a dedicated art form, not only for the increased cost of film and development, but also for the ease of use that the digital cameras allow. But just because you have a digital camera does not mean that all of your pictures will be great.

Here are some point by point guidelines that you should follow to maximize the use of your digital camera:

1. Simplicity

Zoom in to capture the part you want to emphasize. Thus, irrelevant objects or areas can be taken away or just allow them to soften.

2. Rule of thirds

When capturing a moving object, it is advisable to capture them moving into the imaginary tic-tac-toe frame from one of the two sides.

3. Shapes and lines

Capture a straight line at an angle by moving five to ten feet away to the side to capture at an angle.

4. Vantage point

To add significance or emphasis to an object, take a picture at a lower vantage point. Increasing the height away from the object can reduce its significance.

5. Balance

Pick out the dominant objects and arrange them so that they complement each other. However, unbalanced or asymmetrical objects are often more visually stimulating than balanced objects.

6. Framing

You can use the frames of your windows to capture an outdoor scene. You can also use doors and walls of a building to capture a person a walking person.

7. Indoor photographs

You can use natural lighting when you are taking candid shots so that the subjects will not be bothered by the flash coming out of the camera.

8. Camera adjustments

The aperture allows light to enter. You must learn how to adjust this properly and appropriately so that images will not appear as either very bright or very dim.

Lowering the shutter speed allows the image to be more exposed to light. You must learn the proper length of exposure so that images will not appear as blurry.

9. ISO speeds

Digital cameras have ISO speeds ranging from 100 to 800. The higher the ISO, the higher the camera’s sensitivity to light’s exposure. Be sure to master using this element along with the camera’s aperture and shutter speeds.

10. Lens and filters

There are digital cameras that allow additional lenses to be attached to the main lens, or the lenses can be completely interchangeable.

Lenses can be categorized as follows:

a. macro lens – allows you to get closer to objects like insects and flowers
b. wide-angle lens – used for capturing landmarks, and large and wide sceneries
c. telephoto lens – allows longer zooms that let you get close to objects that are rather unsafe

Filters, on the other hand are used to:

a. soften the effect of the image
b. provide blurring on the edges for portraits that have sensitive moods
c. add light flares for the image to be more dramatic
d. to reduce glare so that pictures appear more saturated, crisp, and vivid.

However, if you still want to improve on the images that you have taken, the following list of software can allow touch-ups:

• Gimp
• Paint!
• Adobe Photoshop
• Apple’s iPhoto
• Corel Paint Shop Pro
• Google Picasa
• LView

Once you have understood and mastered the important points on digital photography and capturing pictures, you will soon realize that the keys in getting great digital pictures are basically the same as the keys in traditional photography.

“Finally… Learn How To Work That Darn Digital Camera Like A Pro Click Here!“

One of the confusing things in choosing a digital camera is deciding how many mega-pixels you should look for. The answer depends on what you plan on doing with the finished pictures.

First, you need to understand what a pixel is. In terms of digital prints, a pixel simply means a dot of color that makes up the image. A mega-pixel is equal to one million pixels. The more mega-pixels a camera has, the greater the amount of information it records.

The easiest way to decide what to look for is to know what size prints you are likely to print from your camera. A one mega-pixel camera is fine for those who don’t plan on printing photos but rather just post them on the internet. A small print, say 4 x 6, will print acceptably from this camera.

A 2 mega-pixel camera will enable you to produce good quality 5 x 7 prints and fair quality 8 x 10 prints. When you reach 4 mega-pixels you can print out excellent quality 8 x 10 prints and acceptable 11 x 17 prints and a 5 mega pixel camera will allow you to print out high quality 11 x 17 prints.

Most families find a camera in the 3.2 Mega-pixel range to be the best choice. The quality of both 5 x & and 8 X 10 prints is very good yet the files on your computer are not so large you need worry about not having enough space.

Any camera over 5 mega-pixels is unnecessary for all but professionals in photography; even then, only those who have need for poster-size prints find that many mega-pixels worth the money. Most freelance photographers find 4 or 5 mega-pixels to be sufficient for excellent-quality prints.

The choice is yours. Look to what you plan on doing with your photos and then decide. In most cases spending the money for increased optical zoom and lower mega-pixels is the best choice.