Search Results for: blog do you use all of your cameras features

Gearing Up for the Holiday Season

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas… and a new Cricut Mini, Xyron Magic Sticker Maker, fancy punch kits, and a stencil set. What scrapbooking items are on your holiday gift wish list? While many scrapbook fans drool over the latest and greatest memory book gadgets, there is one piece of equipment essential to the hobby–a camera. With the busy holiday season right around the corner, now is the time to upgrade your camera if need be. After all, you can’t create stunning layouts with photos that look better in the trash than on your scrapbook page. Fortunately, decent quality digital … Continue reading →

Where to Find Lost Family Photos

What’s the first thing you would grab if you had to quickly leave your home due to a disaster? For many people, that answer is the old family photos. If you happen to have lost your family photos, there is potential that you might find them online at one of these websites. It would be a tragedy to lose your old family photos. You might only have one copy of them, and they are irreplaceable. What can you do if you have lost some of your family photos? There is the potential that they may pop up somewhere online. Here … Continue reading →

Gearing Up for a Plethora of Photo Ops

Dads, grads, and new pads. The coming weeks bring an avalanche of special photo opportunities, from graduation ceremonies to Father’s Day, weddings and summer moves. If your camera has been hibernating for the winter, now is the time to wipe off the cobwebs and get shooting. For those of you who received a new camera for Christmas but have been putting off using it, the upcoming holidays and special events are prime opportunities to experiment. However, before you get snapping, it’s a good idea to acquaint yourself with your camera’s many modes. For example, even if you don’t have an … Continue reading →

Old School Mother’s Day Photos

Does your mom long for the good ol’ days? While it may be impossible to gift her with a trip back in time this Mother’s Day, there are ways you can bring back those nostalgic feelings through photos. Advancements in technology allow photographers of all skill levels the opportunity to create nostalgic images with modern day cameras. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to achieve a retro look is to invest in filters. For example, sepia filters add a yellow tint to pictures, making them look as though they were taken decades ago. Another option is to employ a … Continue reading →

Snapping High Quality Action Shots

I realize how convenient and high-tech smartphones are these days, but I still wouldn’t use my iPhone as a primary camera. While some smartphones come equipped with some very advanced picture-taking features, if you have ever shot with a DSLR, then snapping shots with a camera phone can be a frustrating experience. This goes double if you are trying to capture motion in high action settings. Action shots require skill on the part of the photographer and some vital features on the part of the camera. For example, if you want a blurring effect to be added to your pictures … Continue reading →

Changing Focus

When you are first starting out in photography, it’s best to concentrate on the basics. After all, there’s no sense in trying to memorize all the nuances of advanced picture-taking if you can’t remember how to work something as simple as your camera’s zoom feature. Getting to know your camera is the first step to snapping keepers. Resist the temptation to pitch your instruction manual just because you think you can work your camera by following the nifty icons plastered near the LCD screen. Granted, there are many features you can set on auto mode and still take decent photos, … Continue reading →

Spring Break Snaps

If you are planning to escape to the sun, sand and surf this spring break, you’ll want to make sure you have the right equipment to capture all the action. This is especially important if you are jetting off to the beach, pool or lake. These watery wonderlands are great places for kids to frolic, but you don’t want your camera splishing and splashing without proper protection. Fortunately, you don’t have to drain your bank account purchasing a new underwater camera to document your adventures under the sea. These days traditional digital cameras can be modified to record beach explorations. … Continue reading →

Under the Sea

Tis the season to ditch Old Man Winter for sunny skies, soft sand, and warm water. If you are fortunate enough to jet-off to a tropical locale you’ll likely do so to the chorus of “take lots of pictures.” Whether you are documenting your vacation under the sea for posterity or you just want to make your Facebook friends jealous, you need the right equipment. Fortunately, you don’t have to break the bank purchasing a waterproof camera for your upcoming trip to paradise. These days you can buy disposable point-and-shoot underwater cameras, though if you are a serious shooter, a … Continue reading →

Know Your Camera

I got a new camera for Christmas, but I’ve yet to experiment with all of its features. According to the owner’s manual, I won’t be able to snap the “best” images possible if I don’t utilize the camera’s advanced options. Whereas I agree that it’s easy to hit the “auto” function instead of experimenting with different modes, I don’t believe a camera alone makes or breaks a photo. For starters, a stunning image includes a balance of colors, shapes, and lighting. If you don’t feature contrasting colors in a shot, you won’t get that “pop” which draws attention to an … Continue reading →

Picture Perfect Self Portraits

In a previous blog I discussed some ways to improve your self portrait shots without having to invest in an expensive DSLR. Buying a tripod is a great first step. However, if you take a fair amount of photos of yourself, you will also want to budget for a remote control or trip handle. The former is available with most digital cameras and allows you to activate your camera’s shutter with the simple push of a button attached to a mobile device. Meanwhile, the latter is a long cord that screws into the camera and allows you to press the … Continue reading →