Wedding Photography and SEO Articles

Nikon D90 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera

Oct 31, 2008 Digital Cameras

Tags: Digital Camera, Nikon

PRIVACY POLICY

Oct 23, 2008 Miscellaneous

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Cookies

Cookies are pieces of information that a web site can transfer to an individual’s web browser on their computer hard drive for record keeping when you visit such sites or blog. Cookies can make using web sites easier by storing information about your preferences on a particular web site. The information remains on your computer after the Internet session finishes.

AndyLanders.com cookies to improve the functionality of its website and support all browsers. AndyLanders.com uses cookies to assess the performance of the web site and to confirm your preferences.

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Tags: privacy policy

Photography Basics - Introduction and Composition

Oct 20, 2008 Photography

If you are going to step into photography there are a few basic things you need to keep in mind. It is not necessary to purchase a thousand dollar camera with a reflexive lens and telescopic attachments, nor is it advised. Learning and applying basic photography skills is more important than having great equipment. If you learn to create great photos with ordinary equipment then you will be able to make extraordinary photos when your skills have advanced and you finally get great equipment.

There are a few things you want to keep in mind when you are taking pictures. Composition, lighting, exposure, and depth of field are all things you want to pay attention to. Once you start paying attention to these things you will begin to see that taking pictures is more important than just pointing and shooting. Here we will think about composition.

When you are about to take a picture, before you even lift your camera, think of how everything will be arranged on the photo. This arrangement is what makes up the composition. The arrangement of objects in a photo directs the viewer’s eye movement. You might want an object in the foreground to frame the subject such as with a person standing in the middle of a window frame. Maybe you will notice a row of people sorted by height that will cause the viewer to sweep their eyes across the picture. Curves, focus points, and gradation are just a few possible arrangements you can search for or create when taking a photo.

Composition makes the photo more interesting and places objects in an orderly way. If you point and shoot without thinking of how everything will be placed in your shot, you may end up with a photo that is not to your liking. Start taking shapes and placement into account and you will begin to see your photos come to life. As you get better you may even find a style you like that “lacks” composition.

Tags: Composition, Photography

Aerial Photography and the Weather

Oct 20, 2008 Photography

It doesn’t matter if the aircraft concerned is a helicopter or a high winged light aircraft. Strong winds or gusts may put the aircraft outside its operating limits and therefore make it unsafe to fly. In the UK this situation is not uncommon but its chances of occurring can be minimised if the aircraft is located at an airfield with many runways in different directions. This allows the pilot to minimise the crosswind component and take advantage of a head wind on takeoff and landing.

Once the aircraft is in the air the weather can pose a whole new range of problems for the photographer. The main problems that may be encountered while undertaking aerial photography and Aerial Event Photography include:

* Low cloud, mist and fog.

This causes the obvious problem of being unable to see the ground and the features which you are trying to photograph. This is likely to cause problems for nearly all forms of aerial photography.

* High cloud, poor light.

This situation is common throughout the UK and although it restricts some aerial photographic operations its affect on others are small. For example Survey Photography undertaken for the purposes of monitoring traffic or pipeline work may be able to operate in these conditions. However, Oblique Aerial Photography undertaken for marketing purposes would probably not be undertaken in these conditions. This is mainly due to the cloud shadows which would make the images unattractive and give a mottled effect.

* Haze, poor horizontal visibility

Haze is one of the biggest problems for Oblique Aerial Photography because it can reduce visibility down to several kilometres when the sky is clear and the weather looks spectacular from the ground.

* High winds.

High winds can make it very difficult to position the aircraft at a site. This is especially true when a specific view is required or while photographing position sensitive sites such as Horse Racing Event Photography. During this form of Event Aerial Photography it is very important not to go over the race course while the horses are out and if the wind requires the aircraft to ‘crap’ along the course it may not be possible to get the shots required.

It is obvious the weather has a major influence on commercial aerial photography and must be monitored closely to take advantages of the right conditions.

Tags: Aerial Photography, Photography, weather

Get a Digital Camcorder With an Internal Hard Drive

Oct 20, 2008 Photography

Time for a new camcorder? With technology advancing every day, it seems as though our newest toys become outdated as soon as we leave the store. Long gone are the large tapes and small tapes are difficult to find. Within the past several years, it became popular to record straight to DVD. While these are still popular, real popularity is coming in the form of a camcorder with a hard drive.

A camcorder with a hard drive seems like the easiest to use camcorder ever designed. There is no fussing with tapes or DVD’s. You never have to worry about whether you have an empty tape or worry about switching tapes when the first runs out. On the flip side, you do need to make sure that you regularly empty the hard drive. This is easily done. Most of these camcorders will plug directly into your computer. Others can be saved to a memory card or USB device. Overall, this really is more convenient and less expensive in the long run.

The biggest draw to the hard drive based camcorder is the ability to instantly save it to your computer. From there, you can edit your footage and create a more professional looking home movie. No longer will you have to suffer through those awkward moments when the camcorder was strategically placed staring at your left foot. Instead, you can cut that out and use a fancy fade into the next scene!

In addition to being able to cut and paste your own raw footage, you can share that footage and the completed video directly through your computer. Any of your friends, relatives, or perfect strangers on YouTube will be able to view your home video quickly thanks to the hard drive capability.

When you are on the lookout for the right hard drive based camcorder, it is important to look at recording time capability. Many of the more moderately priced camcorders can record six to eight hours. Some relatively inexpensive versions will only record half an hour to an hour. This may be perfectly sufficient for your home movies while others will need the longer recording time.

In addition to the hard drive, these camcorders come with a bevy of extras that will help you to create those more professional and finished looking home movies. Read the instructions carefully and soon you will be able to maneuver manual lighting, zoom, and special effects. You will feel like a real movie director!

As technology has advanced, it has also made devices such as these camcorders much smaller than their older counterparts. This is perfect for traveling and even carrying the camcorder around in your pocket. Now you will have no excuse to miss all of the adorable moves that your child makes throughout the day.

If you are serious about preserving your memories, then a hard drive recordable camcorder is the best option available.

Tags: Camcorder, Photography

Thermal Cameras

Oct 20, 2008 Photography

Thermal cameras are devices that form images using infrared radiation which is like a common camera that forms an image using visible light. Thermal cameras are also known as FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) or an infrared camera. These cameras operate in wavelengths of about 14,000 nm (14 µm) instead of the 450–750 nanometer range of the visible light camera. Thermal cameras are being increasingly used in applications such as border security, high value site protection, industrial security, perimeter security, force protection, coastal surveillance, deployable security, asset surveillance, port security, airport security and urban surveillance. A thermal camera converts the thermal energy emitted from a body into a visible image. This image is then represented as a thermograph that is a picture of heat.

Thermal cameras are much more expensive than the visible-spectrum cameras. It is the process of capturing the heat from an object, which is undetectable to the human eye, and converting it into an image that can be observed. This process does not require any light and can function perfectly even if the surrounding lighting conditions is bright or dim. These cameras provide added vision within the infrared spectrum which in turn broadens the vision of objects viewed. In other words, thermal cameras help in seeing the difference in thermal temperature of objects viewed. Thermal cameras help in detecting and interpreting emissions and also provide users with images, even in conditions of low-visibility or complete darkness.

There are two basic types of thermal cameras viz; Un-cooled and Cryogenically cooled. In the former type, the infrared-detector elements are equipped in a unit that operates at room temperature. This type of a camera does not make any noise, activates immediately and has an in-built battery. The Cryogenically cooled type of thermal camera are more expensive and more liable to damage from rough use. It has the elements contained inside a container that cools them to below 32 F (zero C). Its incredible resolution and sensitivity help in viewing a difference as small as 0.2 F (0.1 C) from more than 1,000 ft (300 m) away, which is sufficient to tell whether a person is holding a gun at such a huge distance!

Tags: camera, Photography

Why You Should Use Metal Frames

Oct 20, 2008 Photography

Why you should use metal frames. Both conservators and hobbyists alike are concerned with the preservation of photos. It can be impossible to replace photographs, so it makes sense to take time and effort at the outset to preserve your photographs to the highest standards, in order to increase the longevity of their undiminished beauty. Atmospheric conditions, pollution, dirt and dust, light and acid-containing photo framing supplies can all work together to destroy your photographs. However, there are steps you can take to ensure your prized photos are protected.

Temperature changes can cause adverse effects on your framed photograph. These changes can cause the artwork within the frame to expand and contract, which over time can cause the photograph to buckle and can damage the print. One way of mounting your photographs to help avoid this issue is to use photo corners. The edges of the art is placed inside these corners, and then the picture is matted and framed. Because the corners are not permanently attached to the mount board, it allows for a bit of movement and they will help protect your photograph from this damage.

Humidity can combine with contaminants such as pollution and dirt to create acids that can cause discoloration to photographs, as well as damage to wood photo frames. This effect is heightened if the glass used in the frame is in direct contact with the artwork. To prevent humidity damage, one technique is to frame your photographs with mat board. The mat board helps to provide air space between the glass and the photo, so that water will have a lessened opportunity to accumulate on the glass.

Light can wreak havoc on framed photographs because it can cause photo fading. Low level lighting is the best for the preservation of photos, but if that is not possible another option is to use metal frames with glass created to filter out the harmful light rays or plexiglass.

There are excellent photo framing supplies that are acid free, and ideal to use with your choice of mount board and mat board when framing a print. Both the mat board and mount board should be made of acid-free materials, and the photograph should be attached to the mount board using acid-free products, such as acid-free hinging tape, or archival quality photo corners.

The preservation of photos requires attention to temperature, humidity, light and archival quality metal frame supplies in order to give your cherished photographs the best opportunity to look great both now and in the future.

Tags: Photography

Using Mount Board Acid Free Products

Oct 20, 2008 Photography

Using mount board acid free products. Mounting your artwork will have an impact not only on the appearance of the piece, but also on the unblemished longevity of the artwork held within the frame. You have many choices of frame types including photography frames and wood frames, mat board , mounting and framing supplies, and they each have distinct advantages for their use in preserving your artwork and presenting it at its full artistic potential.

An appropriate frame will set off your artwork beautifully. Your choice of frame will likely depend on the type of artwork you are framing. Wood frames, including custom wood picture frames, can be used for fine art such as a painting. The color of mat board can also be used to complement or contrast the colors used in the painting. Photographic artwork, on the other hand, is typically enhanced with thin frames made of metal, so that photography frames do not compete with the photographs they contain.

The mat board and the mount board are other crucial components that you will want to consider when you are mounting your artwork. With regards to the mount board, mount board acid free are preferred when you wish to achieve archival mounting quality for your artwork. Acids can form based on a combination of pollutants, dirt and moisture, which can then come into contact with the artwork and cause discoloring, so it is imperative to prevent that from happening. Acid free products will help alleviate the problems associated with this type of art deterioration, so that your artwork will remain as long as possible in its original, clean form. Mats and mounting boards, as well as picture corners and mounting hinges all come in acid free forms, to preserve and protect your artwork.

The mat board will also help to separate the art from the glass or acrylic used as glazing, which is a benefit. If the glass touches the art, it can cause damage to the artwork. The air space helps prevent moisture buildup inside the frame due to temperature changes and changes in humidity levels. In addition, the mat helps add the room within the frame necessary for expansion and contraction of the art when it reacts to fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

Mounting your artwork effectively and safely is best accomplished through using framing products appropriate to your specific piece of art and archival benefits.

Tags: framing, Photography

Using Framing Supplies

Oct 20, 2008 Photography

Using framing supplies. After you have gone to all of the effort to create a beautiful painting or photograph, you will want to ensure that it is beautifully preserved for many years to come. There are, however, several ways that artwork can become damaged. Exposure to heat or cold, water, dirt, dust, pollution, and light can all play a part in causing the artwork to lose its luster. There are steps artists can take to protect your artwork from damage, and it comes down to your choice of picture framing supplies.

Temperature changes can distress your artwork held within a frame. Variations of heat and cold can cause artwork to expand and contract. Because of this movement, a piece of art can buckle within a frame, which can wreak havoc with the surface of the artwork. One way to prevent this from happening is to consider using framing supplies such as photo corners when mounting the art to the mount board. Because these corners are not permanently attached to the mount board, they offer a bit of give and take when the art is moving due to temperature fluctuations, and can lengthen the life of the artwork.

Another condition damaging to artwork is when water builds up inside a framed piece of art. If the artwork is in direct contact with the glazing, the resulting water from high atmospheric humidity levels can mar the surface of the art. Even if it is not in contact because a mat board separates it, nevertheless the combination of water with pollutants, dirt and dust can create acids harmful to your artwork, which can also cause deterioration in wood picture frames. This problem can be lessened by the use of acid-free framing supplies, including the mat board, method of adhesion of the art to the mount board, and the mount board itself.

Light that plays on your artwork can also be a source of damage. Ultra violet light rays can be harmful to photographs and other types of artwork, because they can cause the art to fade. If your artwork is placed near a window, this is an important consideration. In order to prevent light damage, many artists use acrylic glazing framing supplies. Although glass, a common glazing material, is strong and scratch resistant, acrylic framing supplies can be infused with a matte finish to reduce glare on the artwork’s surface. It also comes in a form that resists ultra violet light penetration, which also helps to preserve the artwork within.

Tags: framing, Photography

General Tips for Flower Photography

Oct 10, 2008 Photography

There is nothing more bedazzling than an open field of flowers reaching out from the ground to caress the sun. As any amateur or professional photographer would claim, flowers have always been a staple subject in photography classes, being delivered by the bulk to the studio or having hobbyists going out to various flower markets.

If your conditions for shooting flowers are fixed by a studio, checking the fresh batch of delivery helps you segregate the worn flora from those that can be used. Damaged petals, impurities in the color and how the stems curve are a few things you can look at.

The general guidelines for shooting flowers are really a reflection of the basics of photography. In sum, a photographer should first of all, identify the subject: are you shooting the entire flower arrangement, or are you just highlighting a portion of your subject. Determining your subject will depend on the context of your shoot. Usually, straight out product shots involves having to shoot the entire flower arrangement plus the vase to see the subject in its entirety. Lifestyle shots do not require having to show the entire subject from bud to stem to vase and would rather settle for a creative execution.

Determining the subject also entails the use of some photography tips. The use of patterns or “abstracting” flowers is a common tip that you can never go wrong with. Rather than highlighting the flower as well, a flower it would be interesting to see the flower as a mere shape. This means highlighting the flower’s petal outline, going up close and focusing on the structure of the veins, or going wide and taking a row of flowers as they shoot towards the sky.

A tip when shooting veins is to have a natural backlight behind the flower (an artificial light source like candles or house lights or best of all - natural, but not direct sunlight) to highlight the lines and patterns The end result is a play with shapes and lines that “lead” your eyes to a certain part of the photo. An example of the leading lines technique would be to highlight petal veins that lead your eyes towards the center of the flower bud, which is your main subject. Another example would be to shoot the flower from its side with the stem leading up to the flower bud.

Using leading lines and abstraction techniques are two simple ways to identify and style your subject, specifically with flowers.

Tags: flower, Photography, photography tips