The Perfect Sunset

I bet you, that if you think of one of the most impressive pictures you have ever seen, a sunset is in your top few. So here are 7 tips so you can take one of those amazing sunset pictures.

1. Take note of Ideal Places.

Sometimes the shoot of a perfect sunset picture begins many hours earlier or even days. Stay alert. Observe all the places you go and think of them like it is sunset time. If you think that it can be a cool picture take note and come back later or another day.

2. Be Early

Being early helps you choose the perfect spot to take your picture. A sunset can happen in a 20 minute window, and you never know when the best colors will come out. Be in the place of choice before sunset begins so you can have a lot of time to choose from to take your picture.

3. Use a Tripod

A tripod is a great ally for sunset pictures. In one side you can use the shutter speed you want without worrying of a blurry picture. It can always help you find the perfect frame without tiring your arms.

4. Use the lowest ISO you can

Sunsets have enough light, so you can use the lowest ISO your camera can handle to have the lowest noise possible.

5. Level the horizon

A lot of great pictures lose a lot of punch for not having the horizon well leveled. If you arrive early and you have got a tripod you will have enough time to level the horizon perfectly with your shot. An alternative, is to have an angled sunset picture (it can be quite cool), but unless it is your choice, the horizon most be leveled.

6. Play with reflection

If you have a lake, river, the sea or something similar, use some shots to play with the reflection, it can give your picture that extra that separates it from the others.

7. Shoot, shoot, shoot

Try different values of shutter speed. Try different compositions, etc. The most important thing is to study your pictures later. You can learn a lot from studying your pictures and see what changes work the best. If you think something works, go again the next day and try those things, study the pictures again, you will learn more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4893882

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Best Digital Camera for Point and Shoot Photography

Most people, when it comes to buying a camera, can get quite stuck.  So I thought I'd give a few pointers and some suggestions as to what is out there and what I would recommend.  :)  Just to make a few things in life a bit easier...

You must realise I am making a recommendation on a general "point and shoot" camera - which means not the DSLRs - which for the average person usually is too bulky, expensive and tricky to use.  I have split the cameras into two sections (under $200 and under $400) so you can decide which category suits your budget.

BEST DIGITAL POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA
UNDER $200

1.  Fuji F300EXR - retail price $200

Pros: 
- 12.0 effective megapixels
- Sharp images even at the longest telephoto range (zoomed right in)
- 720p HD video capture with dedicated recording button
- Amazing 15x zoom!!!  If only I had one of these in my day of using a point and shoot!
- It has a pretty good image stabilisation sensor so this will limit your blurry photos
- Maximum sensitivity of ISO12800 - for a more natural looking photo
- 3inch high definition LCD (mmm... nice and BIG!)
- Non-slip grip
- Movie setting (as most do these days) with separate recording button which is handy!!

Cons:
- Auto-focus is a tad slow
- Video quality is not that great (which a lot of compact camera's video isn't...)

BEST DIGITAL POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA
UNDER $400

1.  Panasonic DMC-LX5

Pros:
- 11.3 Megapixels
- 3 inch LCD screen
- Video quality was judged as being "superior" so it works well as a compact video too
- Great with extreme close ups (0.4 of an inch!), you can almost TOUCH your lens to your subject! :)
- Has the ability to shoot at ISO 3200 at maximum resolution and at ISO 6400 and 12800 at a 3-megapixel resolution
- A definite PLUS is it offers full manual controls so you can have your compact point and shoot and also have full control over your shutter speed etc!
- You can zoom in and out while filming (which is frustrating when you cant!)
- Really good battery life

Cons:
- Not very "stylish" to look at!  Very old-school indeed.
- Mono-microphone (not too noticable unless you're editing your videos etc)

So... now that you've got something to go by, go check them out and read a few other reviews and see if one of these is the camera for you.  Obviously, there are much nicer ones again (more expensive too!) that do things like go underwater - but it's all about how much money you want to spend.  :)

Enjoy your shopping and enjoy your camera even more!  And good luck with getting the shots you're after!

Want Extra Cash? Why Not Sell Your Great Photos!?!

It's definitely something that can earn you some great extra cash, which is nice for those rainy days!  Why not find out how to sell your images online to photo libraries etc?  It's cash in your bank, without having to do anything other than email them your photo!  And the bonus is you might end up seeing your little one or your favourite pic used to advertise a great company!

To find out more Click Here!
Or try this one (both are a great way to get started): Click Here!

Getting Started - A Guide to Great Photography

Spend 7 minutes of your time to get to know a bit more about photography - learn a lot in a short time to improve your photos!



If you'd like a more comprehensive guide to taking photos and can't afford or don't have the time to attend Tafe or Uni (or other photography courses), why not do some learning in your spare time at home? It's easy and quick and very easy to understand. Click Here!

Visit my webpage at http://www.firstmemoriesportraits.com.au/

Taking Photos of Your Little Ones

The first thing to remember is to keep clicking!  You’re more likely to get good photos of them if you’re taking more photos, and sometimes the cutest photos of them are when they’re not looking straight at the camera with a “cheese” smile.

Get down to their level – photos usually look better when you’re on the same eye level as your kids.  So crouch down and get more detail in your photos rather than lots of the tops of their heads.

Use a fast shutter speed if you’re using an SLR camera to keep blur at bay – if you’re using a point and shoot camera, sometimes using a flash can help if they’re running around like little monkeys or you can set your camera to the picture of the running man (sport) on the menu for a faster shutter speed.

Use natural sunshine as your light as much as possible – brings out better colours in the photo and doesn’t create the same “sheen” that a flash can create.  The best time of day to do this is in the morning and just before sunset as the light is warm rather than harsh and doesn’t create a shadow like it will during the middle of the day.

Keep your background in mind – you might get the best photo of your children but the background might let the photo down in the end.  For a photo you can blow up of your kids and frame, make sure you don’t have undesirable things in the background.

Make sure you get in the photos yourself.  If you’re always the one taking the photos, ask someone else to take the picture for you – you don’t want your kids looking over their photos in years to come and not see you as you once were (young and gorgeous!!).   If there is no one else to take it, put it on timer and set the photo up… and if all else fails – book a family photo shoot!  J

http://www.firstmemoriesportraits.com.au/

How to Choose a Wedding Photographer that Suits You

I've been a photographer for a little while and I strongly believe there is something about wedding photography that just captures its audience, no matter how old or young, how in or out of love they are at the time or how biased they are to the subjects in the actual photo.

I can look at wedding photography for hours - just admiring the magic of it all. The look in their eyes, the stolen glances across the church aisle caught just at the right moment, the love it brings into a room full of otherwise acquaintances or strangers. Yes, it's a beautiful time. But, how do you know which photographer is going to capture your moments just perfectly for you?

The style of photography is something one should consider carefully before choosing who they wish to hire. Don't be scared to have a meeting with the photographer and ask to see numerous photos they have taken to get an idea of what they can offer you and what you are more than likely going to end up with. It's one thing to have a handful of brilliant photos to email out to potential clients, but you should ask to see a range of photos - black and white, colour, sepia, panoramic and not just wedding shots (if they have them)... all these things will give you an idea of their "eye". An eye for detail is something not everyone is born with, and unfortunately, some photographers get out there with their list of what they need to capture on the day, without a sideways glance of what else is going on around them. Some of the most stunning photos are the ones of flowergirls hiking up their skirts to stamp in some mud or grandma's wiping away a tear at the sight of their beloved grandson or daughter getting married. These images can go uncaptured if your photographer doesn't think outside the box.

Also, make sure you decide on your budget but be reasonably flexible - you often get what you pay for. Don't think you can hire someone for the day for $400 off Gumtree and expect them to produce the same amazing images that a professional photographer will give you. There is a reason why wedding photography can be so expensive. It takes hours of work on the day and then triple the hours work editing and making sure each individual image is absolutely perfect. It's your one day that you can never redo again if your photographer isn't experienced enough to know what to expect and how to conduct themselves. Not any photographer can be a wedding photographer!

Make sure you get along with the person who will actually be taking your photos! Don't book through a large photographic company only to have someone rock up on the day that you've never met and clash with. It will ruin your day if you're fuming over them bossing you around like hitler holding a camera.

If you can, see if you can get your images on CD in high resolution - it's something most photographers don't offer - but it's well worth it to get it and it will save you a LOT of money in the long run. All family members will be able to get prints, you can use the images on facebook or on your thank-you cards, you can print your own images on a canvas for your lounge room or have a coffee table book made up to thank the bridal party for their efforts... but if you don't have the rights to your own photos, this will all be VERY costly.

Lastly, be relaxed enough to go with the flow - if you're uptight on your day, it will show in your photos. :)

Good luck choosing and all the best for your big day!

Check out my website and gallery at http://www.firstmemoriesportraits.com.au/