5 Steps to Organizing Your Photos by Creating a Photo Archive

Everyone has a photographic archive. Some are just more organized than others. After years of working as a professional photographer, I have developed an automated system that keeps your images safe, secure, chronologically organized, with all your favorite photos easily shared and beautifully preserved in albums. The best part is that it is easy, inexpensive and fast. Think of an archive as a library cataloging your life in pictures, and this system as the Dewey Decimal!

1. Make sure all of your files upload to a master folder on a hard drive. This will make it easier to find all of your photos, and keep them safely stored.

2. Have a system for labeling each upload. I like to do a combination of the date (YYMMDD) + title (event, trip, name). So for my cousin Leonard's July 4th barbecue, I would label the folder "090704.Leonard". Your uploads will automatically be organized in chronological order; No doubt the best way to catalogue your images. If your memory card has multiple occasions on it when you upload, title the folder with the date you upload and use a title that works for the majority of the images. Resist the temptation to label folders as "Misc." or "Random".

3.Choose one online photo-sharing site. Not only do you get free file storage to back up your files, but also free and fun methods for sharing your favorite images. When you upload, name the online folder the same as on your hard drive. My favorite of these sites is Shutterfly because it is easy to use and the quality is good. I also like the many options they have for stationery and gifts. Take care in choosing which site to use. Make sure it has the functions and capabilities you want.

4.From your online archive, edit your photos. Tag the ones you love and delete the ones you dislike. Every three months, make an album to share with family and friends. Name the albums by the year and volume. For example, an album of my favorite images from January to March would be titled of "09.1".

5. Keep your archive as organized in print as it is online. Choose one brand and size for your albums, creating a sleek and chic photo library. My favorite brand is KOLO. They are stylish and economical. Order 4x6 prints of your latest volume to fill the pages. Each time you begin and end a new album, record the date on the back flap and spine, along with any major milestones that occurred during the era.

Your pictures preserve your loved ones and happiest moments to be treasured forever. Using these simple steps you can ensure their safety and enjoyment for years to come.

What is the Best Online Photography Class

If you are curious about photography and want to know what the best online photography class is, then you should try searching these keywords inside the search engine on your computer. You can learn so much more about photography by a signing up for a photography class online. Not only will you be able to save more time using an online photography class, but you can save on gas too. With gas prices rising so much, this can be a huge benefit.

Now, you can sit in the comfort of your own home, and go to school. No more feeling uncomfortable in a class room setting, or feeling unsure about certain tasks while achieving your photography degree. When using a photography class online, you can feel assured that there are multiple instructors just waiting to help you through any problems you might have concerning photography and in attaining your degree.

Still want to know more about what is the best online photography class? Try asking people you know who are comfortable with using computers. Most people, who have computers, can show you how to search for keywords to help you get to where you want to go. It is very easy and fast. Once you get the hang of using keywords all you have to do is type in "want to know what the best online photography class is".

Once you learn the basics of searching for the keywords "want to know what the best online photography class is" then a whole list of online photography classes should show up and you will have a large amount of classes to choose from. By going through each one, you will be able to differentiate what pros and cons each online school has to offer you.

Most online classes are offered to people at a lower cost than at some community colleges would be and most online colleges will even accept payment plans. This option can be more suitable for people that want to engage in a photography class but may be short on funds. Going to a school and paying out of pocket to get your photography degree can be more difficult and more expensive.

Also take into consideration, the fact that most online photography classes are set up to help their students get their grades back more quickly through email. Some papers are even processed electronically, which in turn can cut down on a lot of waiting time.

The web is a fantastic opportunity for you to get the information you need in finding the best online photography class. Your just one click away in gaining more knowledge and pertaining it to your ability to being an outstanding photographer. Now is the time to grab a hold of your future and make the best of it. If you truly feel like photography is for you, then sign up with the best online photography class today.

Duck-Billed-Platypus - An Odd Character

The platypus was first written about in 1797. An account described it as a small fur-bearing animal with webbed feet and beaver like tail. The head featured a flat beak like a duck. The feet were webbed for efficient swimming. Long sharp claws on the feet help it burrow out a den. Thus the platypus lives both in water and on land.

The scientific elite were suspicious that the account was a wild story like sailors of the time told about mermaids. When a pickled pair of duck-billed-platypus specimens were dissected by a noted anatomist, the scientific world was stunned to learn it was a genuine animal. Scientists had difficulty believing there was an animal that could lay eggs and also suckle its youngsters. In 1884 a British zoologist found two platypus eggs. The eggs had soft shells like those laid by a lizard. The platypus is a very old species. It is thought to be a link species between reptiles and mammals.

The name platypus comes from the Greek language for flat foot. Still more was learned about this animal. Its cheeks contain specialized pouches used to store sand and gravel. These minerals are used to grind up worms and small shelled water organisms. The platypus has the ability to close both its eyes and ear openings when it swims under water.

The mother platypus oozes milk from her abdomen. The platy kittens lick the milk off of her fur. The male platypus has poisonous spurs located on his rear ankles. This is used for defence. Platypus are conscientious groomers. They preen their fur with their rear claws after emerging from the water. Their rear limbs have a special ball-and-socket joint allowing them to reach all over their body to groom their fur. The size of the platypus is about twenty inches in length. They weigh between two and three pounds. They are big eaters for their size. Mostly they feed between dusk and the early morning hours. Platypus swim with their eyes closed and sense their prey, guided with their sensitive bill

Platypus have been bred in captivity. Ten years is the longest time a pair of platypus have been kept alive in captivity. They were featured at the Bronx Zoo in New York. The pair were named Cecil and Penelope and they lived on a feast of twenty five thousand worms a month. Their diet was spiced up with crayfish, frogs and egg custard. The Platypus were the most expensive species to take care of in the zoo as they ate a higher dollar amount than the elephants did. The zoo keepers hoped they would produce some young ones and they were watched closely. At one point the keepers thought that Penelope might be expecting young ones as she had secluded herself inside her burrow. Before the cold winter months started they dug her up. She was found alone with no young ones. Later she escaped from the zoo, never to be seen again. Cecil lasted another two years before he died.

The life span of a platypus is seventeen years. They have few natural enemies but these include black rats and carnivorous cod fish.

The platypus is now protected now by Australian law, ensuring their continued survival in the future.

Photography Schools

Pursuing a Career with Top Photography Colleges

Pursue your dream of becoming a successful photographer by enrolling in top Photography Colleges. If your passion for photography is something you have been seriously thinking about, then look no further. All you need is to know what the best photography colleges are offering to hone your skills and take you further into the world of professional photography.

Your passion in photography can turn into a booming career. If you have an eye for compelling images, top Photography Colleges offer classes and courses to aspiring artists. These schools teach the aesthetic and technical qualities that a photographer needs. Aside from this, they also teach how to turn an ordinary photograph into a professional looking picture.

Students who graduate from Photography Colleges are able to gain promising careers in Architecture, Fashion, Landscape, Advertising and Journalism. Professional photographers are in demand- although anyone can shoot a picture, not everyone can shoot a good one. You can pursue a satisfying career by blending photography with a specific interest. The options are endless.

The road to becoming a professional photographer is more than just pointing the camera and shooting a picture. An education in photography digs deeper into the theoretical and technical aspects of the field. A Photography School that offers quality education will not only teach the art of traditional photography but will also give hands-on training on the new aspects of technology related to the subject.

Top Photography Colleges update their curriculum according to the latest equipments that are being used in the present. When choosing a school, inquire about the equipments that are used for teaching. Choose one that uses the most recent equipments with up-to-date information. For instance, photographers today seldom use the dark room techniques used in the old times. They are experts in image-editing. Digital graphics and computer technology are the most basic aspects of today's photography.

Remember that equipments are ever changing and although the demand for photographers is high, the market is very competitive-you don't want to lag behind the latest gadgets and regret it in the end. When you graduate, you should be updated with the latest information in photography. Photography is a continuous learning process, and with the ever-changing technology, skills need to constantly be improved and harnessed.

When choosing a Photography College, you should select one that has been accredited by the authorized government organizations. This is because a Photography School should be able to meet certain criteria and standards before it is permitted to operate. A degree earned from an unaccredited school may not be accepted by companies that you will work for in the future and therefore your efforts will be put into waste. Also, if the school you choose is not accredited, chances are you may not be getting the kind of quality education that you deserve.

Top Photography Colleges encourage students to use and develop their creative minds through personal expression and development of photography styles. Short courses in photography commonly include camera basics, lighting, digital photographic techniques, composition and digital imaging. Long-term courses include illustration, advertising, documentary, photojournalism, design and business subjects.

Another advantage of learning photography is that you will be able to learn the basics without seeking formal education. Photography Schools can give you the option of learning the course and help you become a professional photographer without having to undergo several years of education.

Did you know:

According to US News and World Reports the following are the top 2010 National Schools offering Art majors

1. Yale University - New Haven, CT
2. University of Chicago - Chicago, IL
3. Northwestern University - Evanston, IL
4. Brown University - Providence, RI
5. Rice University - Houston, TX

ADD- Getting Through College With the Least Stress

If you have attention deficit, you may have trouble staying in school and finishing the studies required to get your degree. Of course, it's hard when there are 5 tests and one paper all due on the same day, and some subjects just bore you until you drool. This is true for all college students, but when you have ADD, college can be particularly difficult to get through.

How can that be helped?

Schools that understand how ADD works are the best for those of us with adult ADD. Though most colleges will require 15 credits to classify you as a full-time student, they will allow you to take fewer credits as a part-time student. (However, this could mess with your or your parents' taxes, so be sure to check out all the angles before making a decision.) Though you may not graduate at the same time as the people you matriculate with, you may be able to finish college with much less stress.

But if you find that part-time status isn't possible for you, maybe you can take one of the required classes that you hate, and three or four others that you do like. As an example, most people with ADD hate foreign languages because they require a lot of memorization, which is often a problem for people with ADD. Yet, they're often required. So, let's say you take Spanish I and then, take three classes you like--drawing, photography, and life sciences. OK, when you study, study Spanish for fifteen minutes or however long your attention span is. Then, study drawing for fifteen minutes, photography for fifteen minutes, and life sciences for fifteen minutes. At the top of the hour, start over, and use your study time this way every day. It will help you to get through Spanish and all your other classes without falling victim to distractions.

But you may be able to find a college that is more flexible. Some will allow you to choose your own major, so that you can study only classes that you enjoy. This is great for people with ADD and will have a tendency to keep them on track.

When you have ADD, finding a college that's right for you is the first priority. Then, worry about how to pay for it. There are tons of scholarships out there that you can pick up. But finding the right school could mean the difference between graduating with a degree and never finishing. It's up to you.

5 Secrets of Black and White Photography That You Didn't Learn in Your Photography Classes

When you leave the world of colors and choose black and white photography instead, you leave a lot behind. Other elements have to take on a more prominent role to fill up the absence of colors in your photographs. Be it lighting, contrast or composition, they all have to play a bigger role in your monochrome photography. Whether you're an amateur or a seasoned monochrome photographer carrying the best from the latest digital cameras, these 5 secrets will help you make the most out of your photography.

1. Pay Attention to Lines, Shadows, and Shapes

To visualize a scene in black and white, you should only pay attention to lines, shadows, and shapes. It's going to be a little tough initially, but soon you'll be doing it without any efforts on your side. This trick is going to help the photographers a lot in pre-visualizing a black and white image even though we live in a color world.

2. Look for Contrast

The best of black and white photos usually have some of their portions near to pure white, and some portions near to black. Now, this increased contract is what adds more interest to the scene.

3. HSL for a Ten Times Better Black and White Photographs

When post-processing a black and white photograph, you must not miss out on tweaking the colors in the HSL panel in Photoshop or Lightroom. Believe it or not, your black and whites will look ten times better with an HSL adjustment.

4. Look for Patterns

As a monochrome photographer, you can add a lot of value to your photographs with patterns. Patterns can be very interesting because of their ordered repetition. And, with black and white photography, you get more freedom to include patterns in your photos, and make them far more compelling than color photos. So, be it the cars in a parking lot or stars in the sky, if you'll look for them closely, you'll find patterns almost everywhere.

5. Invest in the Best of Latest Digital Cameras

How on earth you'll find an army of millions when you don't even have the best of weapons with you? A high-end digital SLR is the best choice to make if you want to make it big in your photography career. And, yes, there is nothing wrong in negotiations or comparing digital camera cost, if it can help you get a camera at a reduced price.

Picking the best of the latest digital cameras is crucial to your monochrome photography.

Your Digital Photography Guide

While the portable camera has been affordable for decades, nothing made photography more accessible to the average user than the digital camera. Suddenly, a photographer could get instant feedback about both the digital photography techniques and the shooting environment. Being able to see your shots instantly is one of the most enjoyable parts of this art. However, with more amateurs trying their hands at photography, a digital photography guide can be helpful for beginners as well as experienced artists.

Know Your Camera

You don't have to have an expensive, professional-quality camera to get good shots. In fact, even point-and-shoot models can give great results if you know what you are doing. Most cameras, even basic models, have various preset programs that allow you to take shots in different settings. Night, action, water, portrait and landscape are common programs on many cameras. Read your manual and play around with the various preset programs to become familiar with what they are useful for. Once those are mastered, switch to manual mode and become familiar with things like aperture and shutter speed.

Understand the Lighting

Nothing kills a good shot faster than poor lighting. Of course, in a professional setting, various tools are used to ensure that lighting is always ideal; supplemental lights, light boxes and diffusers are commonly seen. However, in a home setting, these aren't always available. However, there are many digital photography tips that give advice about how to find the best lighting. Any digital photography guide will tell you to look for even lighting, avoiding harsh, direct rays. When you are outdoors, a fully shaded area is ideal. Indoor shots can be taken adjacent to a window, but out of the sun's direct path. Avoid any area where there is a mix of sun and shade. In addition, if you can tell your subject will be in a shadow, use the fill flash to even out the lighting.

Develop Your Eye

A good deal of successful photography really has to do with how much of a feel the photographer has for their subject. Things like composition and poses can make the difference between a so-so shot and something that wows the viewer. The best way to develop your creative eye is to practice. Participating in photography events, such as a digital photography contest, can help you develop your craft. General competitions work great for beginners, but more advanced photographers may want to enter contests with a more narrow focus. Of course, studying other contestants, as well as photographers you admire, can help you begin to see quality shots and identify the characteristics that make them appealing to the eye.