Black and White Photos

I love black and white photos. They just leave so much room for the imagination and they evoke so many emotions. Many cameras have a setting for black and white photos. However, for those that do not, any editing program can turn your color photos into black and white.


This is my brother. I love the tones of gray on the wall in the background. I also like how the camera draws out his emotions, leaving a subtle shadow on the side of his face.

Here is another picture that I like...


Yes, they are just tomatoes, but they look so plump and juicy and they do not even have color! Just imagine how red they are...

I am no professional and this was the first time that I used the black and white setting on my camera but I had fun with it.

Here are some tips that a colleague gave me for taking black and white photographs:

• Texture: Lack of color emphasizes texture in a subject (like the surface of a straw hat).
• Background: Make sure that the background does not distract from the subject. Try to blur it out or move to another angle.
• Light and Shadow: Take pictures of the same scene or subject as different times of the day to change the mood.
• Colors: Two very opposite colors blend into identical gray tones in a black and white photograph.
• Shapes: Black and white photos focus on line and shapes to provide interest. Centralize on subjects with curves, slanting lines, or crooked lines.
  

Voting

I was just curious about how comfortable people really are with their digital cameras. Please vote on the mini-poll and check out the results.

Pet Photography

I love pets and I love to take pictures. So whats better than pet photography? A few of my colleagues gave some pointers on taking pictures of pets. Its a lot harder than you would anticipate. Anyways, heres a picture of my dog Tigger to the left.


When taking pictures of pets, remember:

- Try to take pictures of your pets in natural light (even if it is coming from a window).

- Do not use a flash. It can cause red-eye and distort the color of your pet.

- Get down to the level of the pet and do not call them to you. Do not stand above and take pictures looking downwards.

- Make sure you go to the pet and do not call them over to you. Take pictures of your pets where they are most comfortable.

- If you have a hard time getting your pet to stay still (like for a portrait shot), use a treat or have someone hold them.

- Taking pictures can alarm your pet, especially if your camera has a shutter noise. Turn it off to reduce the pet from becoming distracted.

Here is another picture that I took of my rabbit:

Try out pet photography! You will be surprised just how hard it can be!

A Little Bit about Aperture

I came across the term 'aperture' while studying for the GRE vocab. It says: aperture - a small hole or opening. And then it rang a bell. I remembered something about aperture with my digital camera. So I did some investigating and learned all about aperture. I found this video that explains aperture pretty nicely...



Photonhead also gives a lot of information about aperture!

Online Magazines

I have found a number of different online magazines about digital photography. It is a cheap and efficient way to learn more about photography and digital cameras.

1. Digital Photography+Design This online magazine provides expert advice, product reviews, and tips about taking good photographs.
2. Outdoor Photographer is one online magazine that I particularly like the most. There are tons of articles about photography, locations, cameras, product reviews, submitted photos, and forums.
3. Shutterbug is yet another online magazine. There are interactive features, news, resources, workshops, and so much more.
4. Digital Camera is probably one of the more popular online magazines that is out of the UK. It provides pretty much the same information as the other magazines but in a much different light.

All of these online magazines have something different to offer. Whether you are looking for information on purchasing a digital camera, tips and techniques for shooting, products to enhance your photography, or just a good article to read, these magazines will have something to offer. There is something to be learned from each and every one. You can even subscribe to them and have emails sent to you with the latest issues. I highly recommend new photographers, like me, to search around and subscribe to one that interests you most!

The History of Digital Cameras

I thought it would be nice to start off with some information about the history of digital cameras. I mean, thats pretty much the beginning of digital photography right? For your reading pleasure, here is some information about the history of digital cameras. Take a look at the images of the first digital cameras. It's amazing how advanced they are now! And here is another link that provides information about the beginning of digital cameras and today's digital cameras.