im looking to get into real photography and i want to get a camera that will be helpful in learning the various techniques. one technique i really wish to learn is the one where the cars on the freeway appear as streaks of light. id also like to learn bohke. what is a good beginning digital camera that would allow me the ability to learn these as well as other techniques? also, what is the streaked light technique called and is it very difficult?

The streaked light is caused by a slow shutter speed. I don’t know how much you want to sped, but the Sony DHS1 or 2, or the Canon IS2 would be good. If you want a good camera so that you won’t have to upgrade later, the Canon Rebel line of digitals is great. They are true SLR cameras and you can do a lot with them. Instructions are somewhat easier than the rest too.

In senior photos and other professional photos, typically, a word will appear in the lower right (or left, but most often right) corner of the photo. In senior pictures, its usually the subjects name and graduation year (Example: "Lindsey ‘01"), in professional photos outside of senior photos it is the photographers company name. I am looking for a painfree way of doing this to 250 some odd photos. I know I can do it individually.. but man is that time consuming. I am great with a camera and not so great with software. I have Adobe photoshop elements and I have adobe lightroom. Will either of these allow me to put my name in the lower left corner? if so, how?
greggrun… can you tell me what that word is called? Its not a watermark… is it called a tag? i don’t know what its called which makes it hard to research it!

I know Lightroom will. I don’t recall the exact process as I haven’t been able to get much stick time with it. I know it can also be done (i believe) in batches in Photoshop, not sure about Elements though.

http://www.pentaximaging.com/digital-camera/Optio_A40
this is my DIGITAL CAMERA
and is this shoot good already?
i mean this camera is good already for the beginner like me?
and this camera good for traveling?

anyone here help me to be a professional or good photographer?
i am IT student but i really love in arts since i am in computer field id like to express my arts in photography is this good idea?

Yes, it’s a good camera for a beginner.

Yes, it’s a good camera for traveling.

No, it’s not a good camera for professional use.

Yes, it can take nice pics.

Anyone can take a good picture. A professional takes good pictures ON DEMAND.

A photographer as an artist is a different ball of wax. There’s a huge amount that can be done with a little P&S. (point and shoot).

The first rule of art is that you must have an idea.

Art is meaningless without the use of a brain to observe/process/understand/fail to understand it.

So your camera becomes no more than a tool.

I have led some photo club groups and the first thing I usually do is sit everyone down with a pencil and piece of paper.

Before we shoot anything, I want people to have an idea as to the direction they want to go. In many cases, the students do not stick to this direction. That works just fine, because it is the artistic process.

Being familiar with some basic precepts of art will help you to take pictures that match the vision of your artistic mind.

Contrast. Areas of shadow and light. Contrasting and complementing colors. Composition (working on thirds, fifths, centered, working in different aspect ratios, 4:3, 3:2, square…..)

These will all help you to put a form to your vision and work with it so it becomes something solid and ultimately real.

Another direction is that of simple representational photography. This is often referred to as ’stock photography’, but can extend to wedding photography, street photography, candids, journalism photography….

For many, this is an excellent place to practice the basics and is a good source of income. That camera will not be enough consistent professional use like that.

Having said that, I’ve done weddings and stuff like that, but I find the most enjoyment from shooting what interests and stimulates me.

I never take a photo with the expressed purpose of making money. I merely take the best pics I can at the time and in the circumstances.

A friend of mine who is well known amongst our friends as a ‘great photographer’ uses his photography to focus on others. He either prints photos of the other person or if people are looking at his pics, focuses entirely on what interests them and what they think.

This is a great technique that has nothing to do with the actual photographs he takes.

For developing your own skills, you need to take lots of pictures and look at lots of pictures. Be patient with yourself. Photography may be a journey of many years. It may be a case of rapid progress. Or it may be something you enjoy, but never really get real mastery of.

None of that matters. Just learn to enjoy what you can do with what you have.

That camera has a manual mode, so it should be sufficient for a while. I started with a similar camera. After a year, I outgrew it, so moved up. The only real creative impact in my move up was the addition of a flip and twist LCD screen. It’s amazing what that can do for the limitations of taking pictures.

After another year, I moved up to a DSLR and now have a few grand US worth of glass. I’m already getting ready for another move up, but I have to wait for my wallet to catch up. It has been 3.5 years.

Join a photography discussion group where people aren’t afraid to tell you when a shot is no good. Try www.dpchallenge.com I’ve learned tons from that site over the past 5 years and continue to learn. There’s something there for photographers of pretty much every level.

I’m new to the digital SLR world and I’m trying to find a good lens for portrait photography what would be the different in a 35 vs. 85?

As they do in MythBusters….
———————-
WARNING: SCIENCE CONTENT

The focal length of a lens is simply a calculation.

1/f = 1/S1 + 1/S2 where:
f = focal length
S1 = distance between the object and the lens
S2 = distance between the lens and the projected image
———————-

Now back to the non-science stuff. There are lots of focal length guides. Most all of them are based on the 35mm format. If you are using a DSLR, you need to divide the numbers by whatever the crop factor for you camera is to get the find the most ideal lens. Some common ones are 1.5x for Nikon, 1.6x for Canon, and 2x for Olympus. Here are some examples (in 35mm format) of focal lengths, what type of lens they are considered, and typical use.

< 21mm: Extreme Wide Angle: Architecture
21-35mm: Wide Angle: Landscapes
35-70mm: Normal: Street and documentary
70-135mm: Short Telephoto: Portraits
135-300mm: Telephoto: Sports, Large Birds and Widlife
> 300mm: Super Telephoto: Sports, Birds, Wildlife, Surveillance

Some of my favorite portrait lenses (I shoot Canon) are:
EF 85mm f/1.2L
EF 24-105mm f/4L IS
EF 135mm f/2L
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS
and now for some that are a little less expensive
EF 50mm f/1.4
EF 85mm f/1.8
EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

A 35mm focal length lens is too short on Canon and Nikon for standard portraits (but would be decent on an Olympus). 85mm is good on all the Nikons and Canons, but a little long on the Olympus.

I got three ways:
1. creating perspective
2. overlapping near and far objects
3. choosing lighting that shows 3-dimensional form

anyone can tell me two more?
(communicating depth and suggesting 3 dimensions)

please and thank you.

4. use selective focus
5. use limited depth of field

http://www.egodesign.ca/_files/articles/blocks/6763_mario_testino_kate_moss.jpg

This is basic studio lighting

I am looking for books (or just one all inclusive book) that gives tips on lighting, angles, aperture, using the flash, etc.

Here’s the most definitive set of Photography books ever offered by Time-Life and it covers all facets of commercial photography. It’s currently available at a starting bid of $35.00 at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/TIME-LIFE-LIBRARY-OF-PHOTOGRAPHY-SET-24-BOOKS-1970s-NR_W0QQitemZ120332669926QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Nonfiction_Book?hash=item120332669926&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

A winning bid would probably be around $65.00 for the full set.

Good luck!

I am FLOORED by his photography, but I cant for the life of me figure out how he does it Which, I suppose, it what makes him so amazing!! My question is if you all have any tips to get a similar style. I know he uses a lot of digital styling but the colors and sets are awesome IS it possible to achieve this same effect with no professional studio and not a whole helluva lot of money? I dont have any formal training in photography, but I have been taking photos since age 9 and younger. Im trying to work on my potrait photography portfolio…if anyone has ANY tips they would be greatly appreciated…thanks!!! <3

Tips for Capturing Photos of People – http://www.future-photo.com/tips-people-photos.htm

Innovative Portrait Photographers – http://www.future-photo.com/innovative-portrait-photographers.htm

The point is, create your own style technique, don’t mimic someones.

I want to be able to use this technique in photo’s, I get it has to do with exposure, but I would appreciate anyone letting me know how i can get the effect

Yes, it is basically all in the exposure, however, some thought and planning are needed to pull it off well. You need a camera with a B setting. If all you have is up to 30 seconds, this may work as well.

Gather equipment. Small laser pointers, mini mag lights and LED key chain like lights. Get different colors if you can find them or find colored plastic filter material to change some of the colors.

Place camera on a tripod or other sturdy support. Have a dark room or go outside at night. Have someone trip the camera (start the exposure) and you start to paint objects with your light(s). If you keep moving you will not be seen but your light will.

You can out line objects in the room with the lasers, "spray paint" objects with the mini mag lights as well as the LED key chain lights. By pointing a pin point light source towards the camera you CAN write your name and stuff like your writing on a chalk board, just remember to keep moving and turn the light off between things.

Being digital, you can see your results as soon as you try them, adjusting things as you go and see fit. Start with a ISO of 100 and move up if more sensitivity is needed.

Going to a over look of a busy highway and doing the same thing (with out YOUR lights) will get the cars as streaks as they wind around the road. If your camera can go longer then 30 seconds you may want to stop down a bit to 5.6 or maybe even 8, but again, it’s digital and you can see your shots "right now" and adjust things as needed.

Good luck

Bob – Tucson

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk86/jumplj/3906506161_a655f9f6fc_o.png

I found this and would like to figure out how do so this myself, any ideas?

It’s natural light. Create the right setting. A barn, a horse, a girl and sunlight would be a good starting place.