Upload Photos to Get Paid - Make Money and Have Fun!

Because of the advantages provided by the Internet nowadays, there is no difference between people trying to make money online. We all have the same chances, no matter where we live in this world.

For a matter of fact, the activity I get my money out of is one of the best examples: I upload photos to get paid.

When I first started in online photo selling, the only thing I had was a digital camera. No previous experience whatsoever. Because of the couple hundred dollars I used to get every month for selling my photos, I decided to take advantage of a trip to Thailand. During two weeks, I took a total of about 4000 photos of the places I found interesting.

When I got home I submitted those photos to the specialized websites I was working with, hoping for a nice sum of money. The result was shocking! I made a little more than $10,000 during the next two months, earning about $2.5 per unique download (that means the buyer has complete rights on the photo).

The decision I took then, to upload photos to get paid, was a critical one in my career. Nowadays, I make a full time income out of selling photos.

The concept this whole industry is based on is quite simple. People looking for cheap photos choose to buy pictures taken by amateurs, simply because professional photographers can be very expensive.

This is where specialized websites step in, simplifying this whole process. People who want to upload photos to get paid submit their pictures to these directories, and interested buyers can easily find what they are looking for.

Instead of paying a few hundred dollars for a private photo-shooting session, they choose to pay about $2 -- $3 for a unique photo.

If you were the seller, imagine what you could earn for an hour's work. How many pictures could you take in 60 minutes? Fifty? One hundred? Assuming you only take 50 photos during one hour and you only do this during weekends, that would mean a profit of about $500 a month for four hours of work. Not bad, right?

One of the greatest advantages of this "job" is that you need no previous experience in order to be successful. All you really need is a digital camera and you're good to go!

Fire Pit Photography

Photographing a fire pit is a delight and a problematic venture. First, to get a good shot of fire, it has to be a darker time of day, such as at dusk. Since that is the case, and darkness has its own set of problems like secondary light sources and their effect on the camera lenses, it is often difficult to get a good shot. Even the moon can cause problems. So, here is a short tutorial to enable you to take a good photo of a fire pit.

Your first consideration has to be that of whether or not your camera can take night pictures. If you're a digital user, you probably have the ability to adjust your camera settings to allow good night photography. Take a good look at your instruction book and learn how to adjust the shutter speed to stay open as long as you need it to in order to have a good exposure and capture enough light to make a good picture. Most of the time, that adjustment has to be made in manual mode, not Auto (A) or Program Auto (AP) on your camera dial, although sometimes you can make the adjustment in Shutter Priority.

Your ISO will have to be adjusted as low as it can go without making too much "noise" in your picture. Noise is what happens when you get white or black spots or a sort of fog that covers the picture, depending on what you're photographing, and a fire pit will tend to have white spots, or hot spots, if there is noise. Shutter speed and aperture will take a large role here, so make sure you know your camera's capability.

Next, a self timer comes in handy, and a remote controller is even better. Taking a good shot at night is impossible unless you can get the shake out of your picture. A remote controller will allow you to take the shot without the shake that can happen when you need to touch the shutter release. A self timer can help, although it doesn't stop the shake.

And last, but most important, is a sturdy tri-pod. To negate any movement you may have in your camera when you are taking night shots, you need to have a solid base. Getting rid of movement will help you take better shots while the shutter is open for so long.

So, find a great fire pit, take several photos of it at various times of the evening, and make adjustments as needed. You'll find there is a knack to getting a superior night picture!

Polarizer Filters in Photography

Polarizing filters designed for use on camera lenses consist of a plastic sheet called Polaroid (made by the Polaroid Corporation), or of basically similar material made by other firms, capable of limiting the transmission of polarized light to, or close to, a single plane of polarization. (Most polarizers are made by absorbing iodine in a thin sheet of polyvinyl alcohol that is then stretched to align the molecules in long parallel chains. The resulting filter material has the ability to plane polarize a beam of light, or to absorb light that is already plane polarized.) The polarizing material is sandwiched between sheets of glass, and is usually encased in a screw-in filter frame in such a way that the filter can be rotated after it is mounted on the lens. (For uses requiring large pieces, Polaroid is also available in unprotected sheets of varying sizes and proportions.)

In outdoor photography, natural polarization affects only a part of the light that forms the image. Un-polarized light is transmitted by a Polaroid photographic filter at a standard rate of about 40% regardless of the rotation. However, light that is already naturally polarized is transmitted at rates of from the maximum rate of 40% down to as little as 1 or 2%, depending on the angle of rotation of the filter's polarizing plane with respect to the plane of polarization of the light. That is, when the filter's plane of polarization is parallel to the plane of vibration of the light, the polarized beam is affected no more than is un-polarized light. But when the filter is rotated away from this alignment, the percentage of transmission diminishes until, at a 90 degree angle to the plane of vibration, absorption of the polarized portion of the light by the filter is very nearly complete. A polarizing filter can also be used to polarize a previously un-polarized beam.

A few cameras incorporate polarizing elements in their viewing and light metering systems that make it impractical to use ordinary (linear) polarizing filters-the meter won't read correctly. With these you must use a "circular" polarizer; the term refers not to its shape but to the nature of its polarizing effect. Circular polarizers are somewhat more expensive than ordinary ones, and may be a little harder to get. In photography, once the metering problem is taken care of by its use, a circular polarizer works in the same way as a regular one.

Is Unrehearsed Photography Dead?

Gordon Parks, the famed photographer of the last century, died this year. He learned his trade here in the Midwest and perfected it in New York. Other photographers of fame of that era, Joe Schilling, James Whitmore, Hy Perkins, Bob Gomel, Ralph Morse, Paul Schutzer, Art Shay, and George Silk to name a few, were of the "Unrehearsed Photography School."

Photo editors in those days respected the talent of these photographers to produce useable images for their publications. No demanding art directors, or "creative consultants" looked over their shoulder to guide their inspiration. If they did, it was only to tell them what they did not need. These photographers' efforts produced spontaneity unrestrained by commerciality.

That era is gone. At least in our field of stock photography. Giant digital stock agencies no longer leave photo production to the whims of a single shooter. Time and production costs demand that they "get it right" the first time. The process is mechanized. And the process is sensitive to current trends and public craze.

THE PROCESS

Shooting a commercial stock photo from scratch is now mechanical. Here's how it goes. A client comes to the stock photo agency with an idea for a photo for its new campaign. "No,no, no.", the Creative Director of the agency says to the client.

"Our research says that your idea will be out-of-style before the campaign is even launched. What you need is 'image uniqueness'. You want to separate yourself from the flock and have a visual identity, a brand awareness that is unmistakably, you. Our team can do this for you."
In the world of commercial stock photography, this is often called "assignment photography." The Creative Director then consults with his Art Director who then assigns the task to a production staff including a wardrobe manager, cosmetic advisor, scene location consultant, and photographer. Notice that the last team member does the grunt work and pushes a button.

In general, the aim for the stock agency is to produce a generic picture, that can lend itself to several interpretations, that ultimately will "sell product", that is trend-timely, within a budget that won't exceed its shelf life, and that can be wholly owned by the agency so the image can be "authored" (manipulated/enhanced) later for an extended life. All of this can be reduced to an algorithm that eventually produces an image that is within budget and will be useable within the shelf-life of a contemporary stock photo -three years or less.

This is a complicated way of looking at stock photography and far from the "unrehearsed" photos of the last century. Gordon Parks would chuckle. If the commercial stock photos manufactured today are drained of any spontaneity, you know the reason.

Career Choices Using Photography and the Skills Needed to Succeed

There are many different jobs which involve photography, including:

-Portrait/studio/wedding - focusing on images of people and selling images to families and individuals
-Sports - action photos, from childrens' leagues up to professional and olympic levels
-Commercial/product photography - every ad has images taken by someone. Jewelry, food, automotive, and fashion photography are some examples.
-Artistic/landscape - scenic or artistically oriented images, often sold as artwork, postcards or tourist items
-Architectural - photos of buildings and other constructed items
-Forensic - used in police/detective work. Crime scene and related photography.
-Journalism - un-staged real-life images for newspaper and magazines
-School/event - school pictures, sports teams, church and other groups where high volume is typical.
-Stock photography - images taken that other people will buy and use for advertising and other purposes

There other other specialties such as astrophtography and microphotography.

Frequently Asked Questions about careers in Photography

1) What skills do I need to be successful as a photographer?

-Conceptual- the ability to understand your clients' needs and communicate with them
-Technical - the ability to identify, configure and use camera, lighting, and props to make images
-Editing - the ability to process captured images and edit them to meet the customers' needs
-Marketing - the ability to get your name out and to connect you and your business to your potential customer base
-Selling - the ability to earn money from your profession. Includes pricing, negotiating, meeting with customers, producing their final products
-Managing - Taking care of the day-to-day needs of a business or professional, including buying things, paying bills, covering insurance, taxes, permits, etc.
-Leading - Building and or working in a business environment where you need to create visions, define goals and actions, and implement them to grow the business
-Serving - Contacting and growing your customer base, measuring customer satisfaction, resolving customer issues.

You can see that only the Technical and Editing skills fall into traditional Photography/Computer skills. However, because photography involves a high degree of interpersonal communication and subjective needs of the customer base, you need to develop and posses good people skills - listening, documenting, creativity, follow-through, etc.

2) What education do I need to be successful in photography?

You will need to learn or be taught the technical aspects of photography - lighting, composition, camera science, image editing and production. Some people can learn this as they go. Others pursue a special degree or certificate from certain schools, or you can get a 4-year degree in arts/photography from a university. To be very well prepared, you should consider a minor in business or marketing or a minor in your chosen specialty field such as criminal justice, sports or journalism. This will give you an edge over any candidates who do not have this education.

3) What type of experience is required?

To be employable, you need to demonstrate competence in not just the technical areas of photography, but also the soft skills. I recommend building and growing a portfolio of your own images to show your technical and artistic development and skills. A demonstrated track record in any service industry (food service, retail, etc.) will demonstrate that you can work with people and satisfy their needs. Using your photo skills in volunteer areas will also grow your skills and breadth of experience.

You can often get work as a "second shooter" or assistant to professionals in your town. Your ability to take on the dirty work and learn on the job will increase your odds of success in finding entry level work.

4) What are the job duties of a photographer?

They vary highly from the job areas and the size of the business, but these are the general duties:

- Prepare marketing plans to advertise and promote your products and services
- Interact with customers on proposals to secure the job
- Prepare for photo sessions - logistics/planning, coordinating equipment, props, models, permits, etc.
- Conduct the photo session
- Edit and backup the images
- Publish and/or make the images available for customer review
- Interact with customers to develop the images into their ideal products
- Transact the sale and collect the payment
- Manage the business accounts - keep the office running

5) What is the outlook for this type of career?

There are good jobs in all of these areas. The development of high quality digital cameras has given the average person the ability to create very good images at a reasonable cost, but the professional photographer will have the training, talent, tools and motivation to make better images. Price pressure will continue to force professionals to be more cost effective.

Iron Man Inspiration - Raise The Ceiling On What You Can Achieve

The Florida Iron Man involves swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles. It is one of the toughest sporting competitions in the world.

Many people, including me, have trouble swimming half a mile let alone 2.4 miles. Cycling 112 miles might involve the equivalent of cycling flat out on an exercise bike for 6 hours. I have trouble even making a start on my exercise bike!

Running 26.2 miles is not easy as many young and healthy people find out when they have to stop or stagger to the end. Jane Tomlinson recently completed the Florida Iron Man, in 15 hours and 48 minutes.

Before the race, the announcer told the crowd: "Jane Tomlinson from Leeds, England is racing. She learned 4 years ago that she had only 7 months to live because of terminal cancer. She has been doing triathlons ever since."

Jane has a supportive husband called Mike and 3 lovely children, Suzanne, Rebecca and Steven. She has had cancer for 14 years. 4 years ago she was told she had 7 months to live. She has now lived 4 years since she was told she would die within 7 months.

Many people, who are on the receiving end of news that they have terminal cancer, just give up and wait to die or take drugs which will hasten their end. Jane, on the other hand, decided to live and coped with her illness by taking up various tough sporting challenges.

One of her daughters commented on a recent TV documentary that Jane was "never a sporty person before all this. She did gardening and walking and that's about it. I never saw her run or do anything athletic."

Jane wanted to leave her children a lasting memory of their mum achieving things: "I know having cancer is not a positive thing but I just wanted to find a way to live and remember that I am still alive and pleased to be here. I try to just enjoy what I've got in front of me."

Many sick people give up their roles as carers and wage earners. Jane has kept her roles as a mum and a wage earner. She looks after her three children and works as a radiographer. She started training to be a radiographer 14 years ago after her mastectomy. She needs some of the money to be able to travel to the sporting events she competes in.

What amazes me about her is how she manages to live such a full life and still attend at hospitals and clinics to receive the treatment she needs to keep going.

She does this by first creating her treatment schedule as the priority and then fitting in the rest of her life around this. Her life is so full that many people can't believe she is ill:

"Some people don't believe that I am actually poorly but I am. Occasionally you remember that things are pretty dire." Even walking can be painful because of the tumours in her bones.

Some criticise her being away travelling and competing instead of staying with her family. Her answer: " If I do these events, I will be fit enough to spend time with my family." Some of her family went with her to Florida.

Her doctor comments: "Jane is an example of what can be achieved through modern anti cancer treatment but the majority of my patients don't run marathons." That is an understatement.

Jane had several obstacles in her path before she actually arrived in Florida.Her hip was sore and stopped her training for the iron man. At times she was undecided as to whether to go or not :

"I don't think I should go but that does not mean I won't go". Her husband Mike did not want her to go: "She could be a paraplegic by the end of the race or even die."

In the end she decided to go and Mike supported her because:
"She can't put it off till next year because there isn't a next year. It's now or never". Jane commented: "If I don't give myself an opportunity to try, it will always be unfinished business."

She packed her gear with the help of her friend, Ryan, who would be her companion throughout the Iron Man. She made sure she included her pain killers

She arrived in Florida and decided to attempt to start the race even though she was not fit. No terminally ill cancer patient has attempted an iron man before. She explained one reason for racing: "One of the reasons for doing this is to challenge people's perceptions of illness".

Mike had never been as scared as this before. "I wish to hell she wasn't doing this." He didn't tell her what he was thinking because she needed all his support in what might be her last great venture.

Mike remarked: "There aren't many boundaries left that you can bring down in the world. She has gone from being told she is going to die to doing an iron man. I would never have believed it"

Jane seemed to enjoy the swim and got through the cycle ride. In the marathon she was still running after 9 miles. "Absolutely incredible!" exclaimed Mike. "She is obviously not comfortable and is feeling pain in all the places she has got cancer."

Steven told his dad to calm down. He knew that his mum would be alright.Over 80 competitors had pulled out after 13 hours but Jane was still competing. Mike cried out: "She 's still running - bloody hell. You're going to do it! Go for it, love. We'll see you at the finish"

At the finish, Mike expressed his amazement again: "I never thought in a mllion years she would get to do this." Ryan, Jane's companion on the race, commented: "Jane just blew me away!"

Jane's comment not surprisingly was: "This is the final thing I am doing." By the end of the iron man race Jane had set an inspiring example for both the healthy and the sick. She and Mike had also raised 1 million pounds for cancer research.

All of us are terminal but not all of us have realised it yet. Life is too short to waste however long we may live on this planet. We all need to take swift action to do what is important to us while we still have the chance.

Jane's life is just one of those lives that can inspire us to achieve far more than we could dream possible and to make the most of whatever life we have left. We can all compete in our own iron man race.

Annie Leibovitz, Celebrity Photographer

Annie (Anna-Lou) Leibovitz was born on October 2, 1949 in Westbury, Connecticut to Sam and Marilyn Leibovitz.

In 1967, Annie Leibovitz enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute to study painting. She became interested in photography about the time of her Sophomore year, and she changed her course of study. In 1970, fresh out of college, she got a job with the new start-up magazine Rolling Stone. From 1973 to 1983, she held the position of Chief Photographer. At Rolling Stone she developed the style that she is known for, which has come to include unusual poses, elaborately staged settings, and plenty of bright primary colors. She photographed rock and roll celebrities such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, and Patti Smith. During her stint at Rolling Stone she shot 142 cover shots.

In 1983, Annie Leibovitz moved to Vanity Fair magazine, which gave her access to a wider range of celebrity subjects. That same year, she published her first book, Annie Leibovitz: Photographs, which was a companion book to a show of 60 of her prints, which toured Europe and the US. It was at Vanity Fair that she photographed Whoopi Goldberg naked in a bathtub of milk, and Demi Moore naked and pregnant.

In 1986, she began doing commercial work, for such clients as The Gap, Honda, and American Express, which earned her a Clio award in 1987.

Annie Leibovitz met Susan Sontag when she was hired to Photograph Sontag for the book AIDS and its Metaphors, in 1989. Sontag became an important friend and influence on Leibovitz. The two carried on a romantic relationship that lasted until Sontag's death in 2004.

In 1991 Leibovitz had her first museum exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., and released a companion book of 242 photos, Photographs: Annie Leibovitz 1970-1990. The show then went on tour for 6 years.

Annie Leibovitz was the official photographer of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Before the Olympics, she photographed many of the athletes in training and released a book of the photos, Olympic Portraits, which included Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson.

In 1999, Annie Leibovitz published a book of her photos of women, titled Women, which also featured an essay by Susan Sontag. In 2006 she released the book A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005, derived from a show at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, which includes her personal photos along with her celebrity portraits. Leibovitz called it "a memoir in photographs."

In 2001, Leibovitz gave birth to a daughter named Sarah. In 2005, via a surrogate mother, she had two girls named Susan and Samuelle, named for Susan Sontag and Annie Leibovitz's father, Samuel.

In 2008, Annie Leibovitz was again the center of a controversy for her portrait of Miley Cyrus, which appeared in Vanity Fair. The photo shows a side view of Miley Cyrus wrapped only in a sheet, with a bare back turned toward the camera. Some thought it was too sexual for a photograph of a child. Leibovitz defended it, saying that it had been misinterpreted.

Photography in Today's World

After the invention and popularity gained by photography through a simple box we call a camera, there was an unavoidable rush into mass producing photo prints. But it did not take place over night. With the arrival of cameras, our lives have been indelibly changed, as now we are capable of recording for posterity personal histories and our progress (or regression!) over the course of decades.

It is said that each picture speaks for itself and that a picture is worth a thousand words. For example, snapshots and film taken in the midst of war and political turmoil have a great impact on people around the world. Additionally, the very concept of privacy has been challenged and altered with the recording of public figures as well as the average "Joe" on the street. Cameras are used to capture almost any type of event, including as proof of events that might otherwise be dismissed with skepticism. (Consider, for example, crimes captured on film but nowhere else.)

Art of Photography

The view of photography as an art form had little popularity in its infancy. The value of pictures was perceived as more for pragmatic usage than to capture beauty. This "newcomer" was challenged by people with an artistic bent, as well as by critics from around the world. The benefits to be derived from photography would be for its craft value, and little more.

Removing the Restrictions

Acceptance constraints on photographers were gradually stripped away when museums and art schools embraced photography as a legitimate form of art; the trend still exists today. They began to dismiss strict and narrow limitations established by the norms of the culture and made headway into the usage of this emerging art for aesthetic acceptance and documentary work. In the decade of the 1960's, photography had made significant inroads to the world of visual arts. Since then, the art of photography has been combined with other creative means of expression, such as computer imagery and as part of mixed media.

Application of Photography

On a practical level, photography has many niches. It is used as an important tool in quite a number of fields such as military activities, education, commerce, medicine, and more. The realm of science has been a beneficiary of photography as well. It can be used for aerial maps of geographical terrains, geology, meteorology and other important fields of endeavor.

New Digital Era

As the 21st century arrived, photographic images were able to be altered through digital imaging software packages. The introduction of digital photography changed the very nature of photography. The standard method of taking pictures was to pass light through a lens and an emulsifying process; color filters and sensors produce the image. Digital photography uses three filter layers for an image. Each only permits one color, such as green or red or blue.

Photography was introduced to the world over 100 years ago and its innovations continue. This helps to give us hope that there are still many more creative uses to come!

Learn Digital Photography - Canon EOS 550D Or Rebel T2i Review

Canon have done it again with their new 550D/ Rebel T2i out on the market soon. Who would've thought that less than a year after the launch of the EOS 500D that a replacement would be ready to roll. Looking at the 500D it's basically a baby 7D. Some of its features out perform the current EOS 50D. Ready to take it's place in the consumer market, the 550D looks a great buy

The 18 megapixel sensor is a step up from the 500D's 15 megapixel system although to really notice the difference the increase you need a full 50% size increase. It's significantly increased movie mode will also make it a hard competitor to beat. Although it replaces the 500D, the 500D will continue to be sold for the rest of 2010, most likely at a more attractive pricing structure.

Let's take a look at some of the improvements and additional features Canon has added over the current 500D offering.

1. 18 megapixel sensor

This is a great improvement and takes it to the leader in it's class. Although megapixels are not critical to great images it still is a great feature to have. How it handles those extra pixels is what counts. The sensor is similar to the 7D's but not the same while using the same vibration technology to get rid of dust.

2. LCD screen

This is the first Canon camera to have a genuine 3:2 ratio screen which displays exactly what you see on the sensor. There is no cropping reflected on the screen. This is not the crop factor we are talking about, just the size displayed on the LCD. They haven't increased the size of the screen but have upgraded the resolution which gives you increased clarity and a better ability to check your images while shooting.

3. iFCL metering system

This is another great improvement by Canon over the 500D, a real advance in the use of technology in metering systems. It features the new 63 zone system which continually analyses colour, luminance and focus simultaneously. This provides far more accurate and consistent metering and was up till now found in the more expensive cameras such as the 7D.

4. ISO

Graininess is kept to a minimum by the Digic Four processor but the 550D offers the standard ISO 6400 expandable up to 12800. This increase allows photography in low light situations where flash is not permitted.

5. HD Video

You now have full control over frame rate and the ability to capture fast moving subjects by manually adjusting settings. There are a number of improvements when shooting at 1080p and 720p. Again the choice of frame rates increases the desirability of this camera over its competitors.

I'll be taking a serious look at this camera. It has the same look a feel as the 500D as Canon does not make major cosmetic changes very easily. All the controls are basically in the same places and by upgrading you don't need to learn a whole new series of positions.

These are just some of the improvements over the 500D giving you an upgrade worth while. Making the decision to go from 500D to 550D would be a personal one and whether it's worth it to you paying for these additions, I'll leave that to you. Overall it's a great little camera and a leader in its class. However, before making the change, check out the review sites and see if the features are what you are prepared to pay more money for.

Top 11 iPad Apps for Showcasing Your Photography Skills

In an interview sometime in 2010, Steve Jobs proclaimed that we have entered a post-PC era. With the advent of the iPad and its multifaceted utilities, we can assume that he was actually right!

History of the iPad

The iPad is a tablet computer. It connects to the internet with Wi-Fi and 3G. It can also be connected to other devices such as DSLRs, Laptops, iPod and iPhone via USB or wirelessly. Apple Inc., first released the iPad in 2010. The iPad2, which is 3G enabled, was released in April 2011.

It comes in 16, 32 and 64 GB internal storage capacities. It is compatible with any GSM mobile connection provider. By default, the iPad comes with apps such as App Store, iBooks, iTunes, Videos, etc. Most of the apps were developed for the iPhone and later improvised to suit the iPad. When connected to a PC or laptop, the iPad is recognized by the iTunes.

How does the iPad help photographers?

With the iPad at hand, you can do a lot during a photo shoot. Here are some must-have iPad apps for the shutterbugs out there:

PosePad

For photographers who like to take notes at spot after a photo session or like to make a 'to do list' before shots, PosePad is a good app. You can draw your own idea for the pose, scribble down the lighting effects and show it to the client or model. You can have a clutter free photo shoot idea with PosePad.

Easy Release

Once you are done with the photo shoot, the next step would be to get your model release or property release signed by the concerned people. Things are digitalized and long gone are the days of paper forms. With Easy Release your model can fill up the form and sign it, right on your iPad. You can email it to yourself later using the Wi-Fi or 3G.

Photoshop express

Adobe's Photoshop Express is an excellent free app for quick editing. You can store albums online and access it using this tool, thus saving space on the iPad.

Filterstorm

While the free Photoshop express is great for minor editing, Filterstorm gives you the ultimate editing prowess when it comes to the iPad. It comes with features like exposure adjustment, cropping, text tool, watermark tool, and many more. This is an alternate option to carrying your laptop around for editing.

LIFE for the iPad and The Guardian Eyewitness

Need inspiration? Get some of the best photos at your fingertips on touch from LIFE. The huge collections of some of the best photographs from far end of the world are bound to do more than just inspiring.

Another similar app is Eyewitness from The Guardian. Both these apps are free and available from the App Store.

Smugmug/Photobucket/Flickr

After having edited your photos, what best way to unveil your creation than sharing it online? Apps such as Smugmug, Photobucket and Flickr are great for maintaining an online storage of albums without burdening your iPad's memory. These are not just great for getting good critique of your photos, but also the best way to present your work to clients.

PhotoSync

Need to transfer all your photos from/to the iPad? All you need is Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and PhotoSync. This app is intelligent enough to detect duplicates and hides at the background while you play your favorite game or attend a phone call.

DSLR Camera Remote

This application makes your iPad a digital remote release, making a remote release cable complete unnecessary.

You can buy these apps or download some of them for free using iTunes.

App store is a boon, because it makes the iPad even more versatile. You can store all your photos on your iPad and carry that around as a portfolio for prospective clients. Share it with the world and explore things on the go.

Film School Secrets - Do You Really Need Film School to Be Successful?

It's a question that has been surfacing more and more over the years, and the answer might surprise you. Sure people like George Lucas and Martin Scorsese went to film school and became outrageously successful, but these are two of the reasons why we wanted to share some film school secrets with you today. Filmmaking school does not guarantee you success as a Hollywood producer.

In fact, people like Steven Spielberg are more touted in the industry because they take a different approach. Instead of going to filmmaking school they opt to work from the ground up and build a reputation in the business. Spielberg was initially turned down by the USC school, but after a grueling internship at Universal Studios he was able to move up the ranks with hard work. Eventually he was accepted by USC and earned a degree, which is far more common. Here are three more film school secrets that you ought to know:

Secret #1- When it comes to filming school you're not going to make any vital contacts there. The majority of your interactions will come from film sets, festivals, and on-hand areas of the business. If you do find someone through schooling there might only be one or two that are used later on down the road.

Secret #2- If you want to learn how to make a film it doesn't require you to go to filmmaking school. It's one of the biggest film school secrets that most people don't realize. You can actually learn everything faster by being on a set as opposed to in a classroom. If you want to study hard and learn technical terms then go to school to be a lawyer or doctor instead.

Just look at all the people who work in the construction industry. The majority of the people who learn their skills take an on-hand approach to their work. This is the same concept you find in film colleges. It's the easiest ways for a newcomer to learn the ropes and pay his or her dues before seeing true success.

Plus, in today's world you can buy your film equipment for a few thousand bucks. Years ago people like Lucas and Scorsese had to figure out ways to access it.

It's also important to understand that filming school isn't taught by successful filmmakers. Instead these are professors who know everything by book-smarts and not the true essence of making a film. The people you should be learning from are never in a classroom teaching students. You also don't want to be paying tens of thousands of dollars to be taught by an amateur anyways.

Secret #3- There isn't really a need to get a filmmaking school degree. It's a great help in the medical or business world, but here the situation is reversed. Take the time to find a set you can work on and move up through the ranks. It's the best way to get noticed and alleviate all the issues that come with these film school secrets. In the end you will earn more respect in the industry.

My Experience With Memory Courses - Memory Courses Shown to Turn Up Brainpower

Last year, I started back to school to get my Business Degree and even though I am only taking part time classes, it is very hectic. I have two children and between caring for them and taking care of my studies, I had noticed that I was having trouble remembering things. I needed to find out how to improve memory.

I began to investigate different memory courses and found everything from brain training software to speed reading courses. I was intrigued by the idea of learning how to read faster and better to improve my studies. After a quick Google search, I found that speed reading is a collection of reading methods which attempt to increase rates of reading without greatly reducing comprehension or retention. So I started studying in what little spare time that I have about speed reading.

Speed reading advocates claim that it is a great success and even state that it is a demonstration of good comprehension for many purposes. Speed reading supposedly gives you the ability to take in a huge amount of information in a short space of time. So I went out on the web and purchased a speed reading course.

After studying the course for a week or so, what I found is that speed reading is not only useful in reading for pleasure but is absolutely necessary when used in learning and studying. I learned that speed reading is a composite of skills which include learning how to 'see' the words rather than inwardly vocalize them. This really takes some practice because most of us say the words in our head as we read.

Once I started to notice that this was actually starting to help me read faster and even absorb what I was reading, I was really intrigued. So I got back on the web and found a course that claimed not only help with speed reading but mental photography. But what exactly is mental photography? This sounded way too weird to shell out any money for this yet.  So it was back to everybody's favorite search engine.

I found that mental photography is the ability to recall images with vividness bordering on actual visual perception. Some claim that most people use less than 2% of their total brain capacity and that the other 98% is left untapped and that it is tapping into that untapped brain power that is the trick. Skeptics on the other hand, claim that no matter what techniques you're taught, you can't develop anything close to a photographic memory.

There was enough debate to go on for days but at this point I was so intrigued by the whole subject that I bought the course that I had been looking at. Looking back now at what I had found is astonishing. It was like I was actually learning to program my brain. The amount of information I can retain is phenomenal, even my vocabulary has grown. I am more focused and studying has become much easier.

What I have learned is that mental photography allows you to master your own mind and really accelerate all areas of your life, simply by harnessing that other 98% of your brain. Mental photography allows you to strengthen and tone your brain in a natural way, allowing you to create a better, healthier, and happier life. It certainly has for me.

What started with speed reading to help with my studies, turned out to be a life changing experience. Speed reading just comes along with it as an added bonus, even though the methods involved with normal speed reading are quite different. I do understand why people would be skeptical but after what I have learned I am a true believer in this. I am glad that I kept an open mind and did some research before shunning this idea, it has certainly paid off for me.

Enjoy Photography As a Hobby

Photography as a hobby can be as simple as taking photos of your kids or the dog, or you can explore the different types of photography, landscapes, portraits and much more. You can also explore other aspects of this hobby such as studio photography, scrap booking and making money with your photos.

The main thing needed for this hobby is of course a camera, and with so many different brands and types of camera's there is sure to be the perfect one for your needs and budget. If you are a beginner don't buy the most expensive advanced digital camera on the market, you will just be frustrated and not enjoy taking photos. The best thing to do is buy a higher quality of camera as your skill improves. The new simple point and shoot digital cameras are able to produce very nice quality photos. The one thing I do recommend is to get the highest number of pixels you can, and be sure to get a larger memory card then the one that comes with your camera. Ask your friends and family members why they like or dislike their camera. A hobby is about relaxation and enjoyment, not about how much you spend on the toys.

Like most aspects of our lives, photography has been greatly enhanced by the use of computers. There are photo editing programs that allow you to correct mistakes, enhance your photos, and create your own greeting cards. etc. Digital photography allows you to easily add your photos to the computer where they can be edited, emailed, added to blogs, or whatever else you need to do with them. Using computers to create digital scrapbooks is also another way to keep this hobby from getting too expensive, and now you can preview your photos and order only the good ones instead of having the whole roll of film developed.

Have fun and enjoy photography, learn how to use your camera and see where this exciting hobby will take you.

Canon T3i - Pros and Cons of Using It

In March 2011, Canon introduced a new entry-level DSLR called the Canon T3i. It replaced the Canon T2i model that was introduced many years ago. Regarding its features, T3i Canon is more comfortable to handle as compared to the T2i and D60 model. If you want to have your own Canon T3i you should read on and know the technical specifications as well as the pros and cons of this unit.

Before buying the Canon T3i you should first know if the unit is perfect for you. When you buy this camera make sure that it could answer your photography and video needs. Thus, this unit is ideal for the following:

1. Average camera user - If you want to obtain quality pictures in just a point and click then the T3i is the best camera for you. It provides more options in such a way that the user can use his or her creativity.



2. Smart buyer - For buyers who are not satisfied with the performance of T2i you can consider the T3i Canon because it has all the features that you are looking for. Likewise, you can ensure to get the value of your money when you buy the Canon Rebel T3i.


3. Photographer - If you are looking for camera that can be upgraded, the Canon T3i is the best choice available for you. The good thing about this innovation of Canon is that it allows customization of filters, lenses and other features.

The Features of Canon T3i

The first time you take a look at Canon T3i you will be amazed by its style and form. While it has similarity with the mid-range DSLRs and other entry level DSLRs on the market, the T3i has the coolest features especially on its back. It has 3-inch vari-angle LCD and impressive 1 million pixels. It is more flexible as compared to Nikon camera and the user can press the shutter even holding the camera overhead or low. When you use the T31 Canon you can venture new angles when taking pictures.

Likewise, when you use the optical viewfinder you can protect the screen by turning it around. In addition, the lens is the most notable feature of Canon T3i. It has a built-in remote sensor, 4-pinhole mic and preview buttons. On the top of the camera is the hot shoe, the mode dial, ISO and display buttons. This makes the adjustment very convenient.

The Performance and Use

The Canon T3i is enjoyable to shoot as it quickly focuses and respond. The menu system is very easy to follow that is why even new buyers can use it conveniently. The color of the picture is not affected even when shooting in direct sunlight. In like manner, the T3i is not only for photography but also for video.

How to Sell Photography Online - A Quest for Hosting Websites

Let me start by saying that it has never been more true for me that "you don't know what you don't know." When I began to dream and plan to promote my photography and paintings online, it sounded so easy. Naively, I thought all that was needed was to build a website and download the products and they would somehow just sell themselves.

I took a one-week class and built the website, then spent another six weeks getting it to look and feel right. But, I still did not have the photos and paintings in the store. Then came another surprise....my website would not accommodate the volume of storage needed for the files. Thus began my search for online resources for the photos and paintings.

The search was for a site to share my photos and paintings that would also market, reproduce, ship, and collect payment for the items. Yet another learning experience....there are so many sites hosting photos and paintings that it boggles the mind. I have spent much of the past three weeks looking at hosting websites. Many of them are just storage for your works, others include selling, some include marketing and/or licensing (their commission split varies greatly). Some sites included hosting, selling, production, and shipping (which is what I am looking for). Some of the hosting websites are free, others charge by the year, others still charge by the year and a commission on sales, and yet others simply on a commission basis. There are even websites that do only one thing; such as printing photographs to canvas so they look like a painting. That's a great idea but again, not what I am looking for at this time. I am certain that I have not covered all of the possibilities and combination here as I am still researching.

This is the point in the learning curve where I decided I'd better choose either to focus on the photography or the painting for now....the photography won. I still allow myself to paint every day, but only after I have finished with the rest of my list of "things to do today."

Another discovery that could save hours in the search is to have checked the Alexa Rating (Alexa.com) of the site before I spent hours learning all I could about a given site; a lesson I just learned TODAY! I discovered that at least half of the hosting websites I have researched have a rating of somewhere in the millions while the others have more desired ratings of from two thousand to five thousand. This is something I will check before I research a site from now on. It is sure to save me hours and assist me in finding a hosting site that will actually show up in a search by keywords.

While previewing submission requirements, I discovered that the requirements for photo specs also vary greatly by site. Some don't appear to have any requirements at all, while other require "RAW" or "fine" files. Most of the websites that require "RAW" or "Fine" photo files are also the most desired websites for their marketing, licensing and selling contacts and abilities (i.e., for advertising uses by other businesses).

Yet another learning experience for this artist and self-taught photographer is that this study brought me to the realization that the Nikon D40 I have used to learn on is not the camera I need to use to produce the highest quality (RAW) photo files needed to command the best prices and to meet the requirements of the best marketing and licensing sites. This search may be covered at a later date.

This is where I found myself today and it has been fun sharing my experience and discovery frustration and discovery with others. I will keep you posted as my search nears fruition as to which sites I choose and why as it may amuse you as well as save you valuable time in your own research. Stay tuned.

Can't Afford to Buy Hair Salon Chairs? Rent Them Instead

If you are a hairdresser you have several options when it comes to employment. You can either join a salon as an employee or you can also start your own business. This way you either get paid the rate which is present in the salon or you can get more with your own venture. You will find that most hairdressers prefer to be self employed and have their own salon. Now if you have your own salon you have to have proper hair salon chairs.

When you first start your business, you won't have enough money to buy all different types of furniture or equipment. So there are some things which are important and which you will need in your salon that you won't be able to afford. So the best thing to do would be to rent it. This way you save a lot up front and you can buy later on when you have enough money. But these are the steps which you should follow while renting one.

You should get all of the certificates and licenses which you need in order to be a shop owner. You will find that in some cases you will need state licenses if you want to be a hairdresser and be self employed to cut hair. You have to get your paper work done in an orderly fashion before you apply for a rent. Sometimes if you don't have a state license, then you can be given a grace period. During this time, you won't be able to use any sort of chemicals but then you will be able to wash the hair or even style it. This way you get experience added to your board.

The next thing is to save money. Without it you won't even be able to rent the hair salon chairs. You should have rent for say three months saved up. Then you need to keep your eyes open for hair salon chairs which are available to rent. You can either check out the classified ads, or you can even visit salons and check for ones which offer chairs on rent. Keep checking in with the salons to see if there are vacancies available. You can also try the barbers shop.

Now finally, after you make a list of say around four stores from which you can rent hair salon chairs, you should go and make appointments to talk to the owners of the stores. Ask them how they expect you to take care of the chairs once you have gotten them. Also, try and negotiate. Try to get the rent amount down by a few dollars. You can also ask questions about your shop and difficulties you are having to the owners.

The key thing to realize is that if you don't have available capital, you want to keep your initial costs down as much as possible. Buying chairs up front may not be an option. Renting them will save you money, and at the same time allow you to save more money that can later be used to buy the chairs you need.

Digital Art and Technology Creating Beauty

Digital art has become very popular because this is the time of science and technology. People are using various tools and techniques to make artistic designs. It is a method that uses the digital technology for creating artistic works. In the olden days it is also known by the names like computer art and multimedia art and many more.

The latest ways of making digital art has brought a transformation into drawing, painting, music, etc. Those who use these processes to produce art are called digital artists. Today different types of applications are used in the formation of beautiful images and sceneries. They are created with the combination of discrete of discontinuous numeric value range. We can also understand it as a pixel that is very tiny constituent of an image. It consists of many dots and spaces and these are very tiny parts and they combine themselves to make a pixel and many pixels to a picture.

There are different aspects of producing the digital data like vector, digital painting, mixed media, fractals etc. In a vector technique some software like Corel Draw, Illustrator and some more, help the designer in making the graphics. Another important thing for the designer is to have some basic skills of sketching that helps a lot in this. Since these are created with the use of a computer the environment for them is virtual unless and until the prints are not taken out. We can put different colors and shapes to the desired image. Sketching skills also help the designer in making cartoons as well. Today there is a good demand of the people who are good in making sketches in the field of animation.

Another is fractal graphics; it is also going popular again these days. These types of images are formed by the use of specifically designed mathematical software that uses the mathematics formulae. The interesting thing is we can see the finer things of these images when we get it zoom. They are made very fine. The next one is mixed media and digital painting. Mixed media is the incorporation of sketching, photography and drawings to form the desired graphics or animation. It can easily be done with the help of Photoshop application. It is commonly used by the photographers to edit their photographs after shooting. In the same way we can use another form that is known as digital painting.

Here we can easily use the painting oils, colors, and charcoals, acrylic color shades etc. digitally using the computer. Here also we can use the specialized software for this. At an advanced stage different types of brushes, color, pencils and many more drawing tools can be used to create the images. Digitization has made the word of graphics creation a lot of convenient and user friendly.

Printing Photos on Canvas - Your Guide to Taking Your Photography Business to the Next Level

As a photographer, it's important to constantly seek out ways to increase profits while maintaining high quality. Pursuant to that goal, many photographers are now gravitating towards printing on canvas. The math is simple: Photo canvas prints produce greater profit margins than photos on art paper. That means that photographers generate more revenue per print, and that leads to a more impressive bottom line. The main factor behind this statement is the fact that producing a stretched museum grade art print costs less than a framed photo with mate and glass.

Most photographers realize the benefits of producing prints on canvas, but lack the knowledge to create these great pieces of art. They do, however, know that frame shops charge substantial fees for the service.

On the other hand, most photographers know where to find inexpensive frames, mate, and glass. They can then put these components together to create a saleable piece of art. If these professionals knew how to stretch canvas, they would most assuredly utilize the medium to benefit from the potential for a greater profit margin.

Photographers should also consider the fact that canvas prints can be hung on a wall without a frame. These are generally referred to as "gallery wrapped" prints. By wrapping the canvas around an internal frame, a canvas professional creates a powerful 3D effect with great appeal to the eye. That means that gallery wrapped prints can be sold without a frame for a comparable price, saving the artist the expensive materials and time needed to frame a piece.

That said, there a few additional factors to consider in regards to stretching fine art canvas. The most important are the materials you choose to work with.

-Canvas: Your canvas needs to have superb imaging properties. Mate canvas is generally held to be superior to gloss or semi-gloss canvas. Mate canvas calls for mate black ink in your printer. It's important that the canvas does not crack around the edges.

-Sealer: A good sealer is essential to the canvas printing process. When sealer is applied to the surface, it causes the canvas to become more malleable. Along with high quality canvas, a good sealer will prevent all cracking.

Stretcher Bar: Stretcher bars need a raised lip to prevent ghosting. Ghosting is created when the canvas presses against the stretcher bar. This results in a visible line on the printed side. Cedar is regarded as the most effective wood to use for stretcher bars.

This process may sound complex to the neophyte canvas framer. Worry not, however; you're not alone. There's no need to learn from trial and error. At Zazagallery you'll find a clear, concise demonstration of each part of the process. If you're looking to learn to print on canvas, you won't find a better resource on the Net. Additionally, the owner of this site is happy to assist anyone looking for help with printing on canvas.

Making the transition from mate prints to printing on canvas could be the way to dramatically increase profits from your photography sales. Your art is ready for the next step. Take it to a higher level by investigating the benefits of printing photos on canvas.

Low-Cost Start-Up Photography Websites

Starting out as a photographer, your first expense is a camera, of course.

Free photo editing tools also exist on the net - Photoshop is great but expensive. Try GIMP and PhotoFiltre and Picasa - Picasa is mainly a good way to find your pics but it has some excellent basic editing tools which are often enough on their own. There are others you can look at but these are the ones that I have found useful.

But if you then want to sell your photos or products using your photos, printing quality prints that you haven't yet sold can be a huge investment.

And if you want to promote yourself online, then that can be another expense.

Now there are quite a few print-on-demand sites that can take care of that, yet not all produce all the items that you want.

So if you are new to this what should you do?

In my opinion, the best print-on-demand site for artists and photographers is RedBubble.com - it is user friendly and social and the results are excellent quality. However, they do not produce gift items like mugs, keychains, though they have expanded from t-shirts to include hoodies.

Zazzle.com has a range of gift items, including clothing items like shoes and ties.

FinerWorks.com will also allow an even wider range, jigsaw puzzles, keepsake boxes, etc.

Oh fine, so now I've spread my stuff over three sites. Well, it is an improved online presence, but even better is to have a single site that can ties all of these together. So now you want your own site. There are plenty of free-hosting sites to start you up - you pay extra when you can and upgrade.

And don't forget to keep taking photos - this web business can take up a lot of time.

Also, Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) - link them to your site - they are a great way of getting noticed, especially if you are a very social person.

You can check out an example at Smallfox Photography and see if you like the result. However, as I said, there are many, many hosts to choose from and it is worth shopping around. Do you want to upgrade to a paid site in the future? You will get your own domain name and email accounts for the site and many other benefits, so it is worth looking at just what benefits you will get when you sign up and how much it will cost you.

And it is always a joy when you get that message: You have sold a print of....

Top 10 Tips For Wedding Photography

1. Enjoy & Have Fun
Please do not go into Wedding Photography if you don't enjoy weddings. You'll need to handle pressure and always remember that you only get one chance at weddings. You cannot afford to mess it up. Working to tight schedule and having good social skills is very important as well.

2. Check Your Gear
Before you leave your home or studio to go to the wedding, check & re-check you camera gear, make sure all the camera batteries are fully charged and the flash gun batteries as well if you are using re-chargeable. I personally prefer re-chargeable batteries for my Nikon SB900 flashguns.

3. Have back-ups
Never go to photograph a wedding with just a single camera body and a lens. You should have at least 2 bodies. Try and shoot with the same bodies. Don't have a pro body worth $3000 and a back-up as a $400 body. You need to have a like-for-like back up body. I photograph with 2 bodies and have a 3rd one as a back-up. Have a variety of lenses from wide angles, zooms and fast prime lenses. The ones I'd recommend for shooting a wedding with are:

- 24-70mm f/2.8
- 14-24mm f/2.8
- 85mm f/1.4
- 70-200mm f/2.8
- 105 VR Macro
- 50mm f/1.4
- 35mm f/2

4. Insure Yourself & Your Business
It is absolutely critical that you insure yourself. Just like you would insure your car & your home. You need to have sufficient insurance should the worst happen whether the kit is stolen, a CF card fails and gets corrupted or a hard drive failure, someone gets hurt or injured due to your negligence while you're at a wedding. To cover yourself, you need to have:

- Public Liability Insurance

- Professional Indemnity Insurance

( if you are outside of the UK, then please check with your insurance company or seek legal advice)

5. Don't Shoot in Continuous Mode
You need to pick the moments and shoot. Shoot like a sniper, wait, aim and fire. Don't machine gun everything & anything that moves in the hope of getting one good image. Remember, you'll need to edit & post process the images after the wedding. What would you rather have, 500 really good images or 3,000 average ones images? A story of a typical wedding can easily be told in 500 images or less.

6. Shoot in RAW
There is no need to shoot JPEGs anymore. Shooting in RAW means you can 'future-proof' your files and when using software like Aperture 3, Lightroom 3 or Capture NX2, you can edit them completely in a non-destructive manner. If your camera has dual-slots for CF cards (Nikon D3 / D3x / D3s), then set both the slots to RAW+RAW. This way you have instant back-up of images in camera. Gives you more peace of mind and I don't have any hesitation in using larger cards like the 8Gb ones. If you have only one CF slot in your camera, I would advise not to use cards larger then 2Gb. So you don't put all your eggs in one basket if things go wrong.

7. Don't Delete Images In-Camera
You may miss great shots if you are constantly 'chimping' and deleting images off your CF Card. You also use up more battery power of your camera and also risk the CF card going corrupt.

8. Use Flash Creatively
When using flash, use it creatively by taking the flash away from the hot shoe of the camera. Lastolite produce a variety of products which are ideal for the small flash guns.

9. Always Be One Step Ahead Of The Game
I always keep the following information with me at all times:

- Schedule of the day: Whats happening when
- Names of the bridal party i.e parents, best man, ushers, bridesmaids, etc
- Emergency Telephone Numbers
- Family group shot list
- The address of the venues i.e where the bride is getting ready, church, reception venue

10. The Couple Should Spend More Time...with their loved ones and not with the photographer. Don't keep them away from everyone for a long time. About 15-20 minutes to do the couple shots is more than enough and perhaps another 15 minutes or so late in the evening.

How to Learn Adobe Photoshop

When asked if Photoshop is necessary, a typical photographer would answer no. But for those who take photographs for artistic and financial purposes, it is necessary. While the full version of Photoshop can be overwhelming for the average photographer, it is an essential tool for professionals. There is no argument that Adobe Photoshop is one useful program. Every aspiring photographer wants to get the free Photoshop download, because the full version is expensive.

Since its inception, Photoshop has undergone various improvements. A new version is created each time to upgrade the previous. Then again, as implied, the popular photo editing software has far too many options and functions that are unnecessary for most people. But it does not mean that it is inappropriate for beginners. In fact, it is a photo editing software tool that offers a high learning curve for aspiring hobbyists and photography enthusiasts. People with a seemingly passing inclination to photography and only do basic photo editing (cropping, red eye removal, and color enhancement) can always look at other cheaper or even free photo editing programs, like Photoshop Express, Lightroom, and Picasa.

Hone your photography skills first.

Photoshop does not make a photographer. Photography is an art itself that should be nurtured well. You cannot just take snaps all the time and rely on photo enhancement to make your photos look presentable. Seasoned photographers already have great material to start with. They use Photoshop or any picture editing software to enhance an already good image-not necessarily to repair a badly photographed one. You cannot keep relying on editing to save your images.

Is it difficult to learn Photoshop?

Editing on Adobe Photoshop is fairly difficult for beginners, because the functions are not readily laid out, unlike in other programs. If you seriously want to learn the program, there are tutorial videos on YouTube and instructional materials available online. You have to be patient, because even the pros had to spend enough time learning the basics.

Many workshops involve basic Photoshop tutorials. Look for photography communities in your town. They may have scheduled workshops for serious amateurs. You will not only improve your skills in taking pictures, but also you will improve your skills in photograph enhancement.

Learning the Basics First

Beginners would only have to worry about the basics first. Basic editing includes exposure correction, color correction or enhancement, noise reduction, red eye removal, and cropping. If you come up with good photographs, chances are you will only limit photo enhancement to these basic steps.

Should you enroll in a basic Photoshop tutorial class?

Well, if you are serious in this craft, it would be much of an advantage. You can always learn online, but it's more effective to learn the skill via systematized instruction. A Photoshop tutorial course should include an introduction to the program, understanding the essential elements in photo editing and learning advanced photo enhancement.

There is no need to learn everything!

As mentioned, Photoshop is a quite a vast picture editing software tool with an extensive range of functions. You can spend a long time learning everything, but a lot of functions there would not suit your type of photography. Hardly any photographer uses Photoshop entirely each time. So don't fret if you only learn a few things. Remember, the goal is to enhance your photos-not to master the tool.

Computer Forensics Career Overview

Computer Forensics is a field that continues to grow in record numbers year after year. As computer technology becomes ever more ubiquitous, the effectiveness and relevancy of this specialization becomes more useful in criminal cases. Common crimes that are investigated using computer forensics are: identity theft, online fraud, embezzlement, child pornography, and hacker activity. The amount of identity theft, unethical activity, and embezzlement going on in the white color business world becomes more sophisticated, which makes this particular aspect of computer forensics more relevant in today's world.

So, lets back up a step and give you a basic definition of what computer forensics is all about. Computer Forensics analysts gather digital evidence that can be used in a court of law. They spend their time gathering particular incriminating evidence from computers, and other devices such as PDA's and cell phones. Individuals in this career may have different sub specialties, but the end goal is usually the same and that is to gather evidence to support a case.

Typical Duties For Computer Forensics Analysts

On a typical day, you may spend time searching through files, looking for keywords or dates of interest where activity relating to the alleged crime may have occurred. You may also need to search through Internet history files to find out For example, if you are looking for evidence of the consumption of child pornography, you may need to search through historical data on their Internet usage, including deleted pictures, files, or emails that might include incriminating evidence. If you find that they have been visiting known sites that convey this material, it can be used in your official findings or downloaded to a disk for evidence in a court of law.

Child pornography is just one of many uses of Computer Forensic Analysts. Law enforcement agencies need to have these tech savvy, specially trained individuals on staff in order to find evidence of other cyber crimes as well. You may spend a day investigating a ring of identity theft victims who have fallen victim through phishing scams or other related attempts to gain sensitive bank account information. Some of these operations may have several people involved in identity theft rings. Tracing IP addresses, which provides locations where a computer being used in the scam is a common practice. This information can then be passed to the law enforcement officers in the field to obtain a warrant and confiscate computers at a particular residence or place of business. Computer Forensics is also used widely in violent crimes and homicide cases where emails or files on a computer can be used to incriminate a suspect.

Employment & Career Options

Most individuals work in either a law enforcement office such as a local police department or the FBI. Another option is to find employment with a private computer forensics agency. The FBI has a team named CART, which stands for Computer Analysis and Response Team, which has a primary function of computer forensics tasks related to large national level cases. It is common in these types of cases for a suspect and a victim to reside in other states, due to the nature of the Internet. It is for this reason that FBI agencies work closely with local law enforcement offices in an effort to solve cases and gather evidence.

Others may choose to work in private firms, which are often contracted with to monitor criminal activity that may be going on inside a large corporation. Common examples of crimes investigated in large companies range from embezzlement to sexual harassment cases. Where there is a will to commit crime through the use of computer technology, there is a need for a trained computer forensics analyst to solve the crime.

Color Appeal in Advertising

The colors you use for an advertisement are more important than the actual wording of the ad. The reason for this is the colors (and graphics) capture the consumers attention then causes them to read your ad. According to psychology.about.com, "Psychologists have suggested that color impression can account for 60% of the acceptance or rejection of that product or service."

Each color has different meanings to different cultures. For advertising purposes, it is extremely important to design your ads in a way that appeals to your target market. Try to choose colors that will compliment the message you are sending to your consumers.

Red
Red is a color that symbolizes action, warmth, power, aggression, excitement, drama, fire, blood, passion, love, danger, anger, and heat. It is a highly visible color that will always attract attention. Red will also stimulate several emotions.

Stop signs have trained us to stop and look when we see red. So it is only natural to want to stop and look at a red billboard.

Studies show that people in casinos gamble more in red rooms than room with any other colors. Red is also a good color for automobiles sales, pet shops, pasta shops, pizzerias, and restaurants.

However, the color red is not recommended for medical companies because it signals bad health, blood, and emergencies. Red is also the color accountants use to show that they have a negative cash flow.

Orange
Orange is a vibrant and fun color. It improves mental clarity, promotes warmth and happiness. Orange also increases the oxygen's flow to the brain. Contentment, fruitfulness, and wholesomeness are qualities that are also associated with orange.

The color orange can help an expensive product seem more reasonably priced. It is the perfect color for products that appeal to a wide variety of people.

Orange is an appetite stimulant. It is a good color choice for vitamin shops, Mexican restaurants, dance clubs, and products that target Latin and French people.

Yellow
Yellow is a perfect color for sunny, happy, bright, cheerful, playful, easygoing, and optimistic advertisements. Ideal for florists, candy shops, toy stores, amusement parks, and discount stores.

Yellow is the first color the eye processes. It is also the most visible color to the human eye. This is why it grabs attention faster than any other color.

Yellow is also a color of caution. Most yellow road signs are warning drivers of a problem in the road or with the on-coming traffic. This is just another reason why yellow grabs our attention quickly.

Green
Green symbolizes life, nature, environment, youth, money, renewal, hope, and power. It is a color that soothes people, reduces pain, and makes us feel safe.

Since green traffic lights have conditioned us to go forward or to enter places, it makes us feel welcomed. This is a great quality for any product or service.

Yellow-green is not a wise color for food advertisements because it is an appetite depressant.

Light green calms people. That is why most walls in jails, schools, waiting rooms, and hospitals are light green.

Green is a great color for financial advisors, banks, and accountants because it signals money. It is also good for outdoor products because it gives consumers a natural outdoor feeling. The color green can be used for green houses, vegetable stands, landscaping, and farmers because it signals life.

Blue
Blue makes people feel calm, relaxed, tranquil, peaceful, wise, loyal, and trustworthy. It helps people accept themselves and resolve their problems.

The color blue also helps increase productivity.

On the other hand, the color blue can also symbolize sadness, and depression. Since most foods are not blue, the color blue is an appetite suppressant that can help people lose weight!

Blue is definitely the most popular color of both men and women. Several well-known corporations use blue in their logos. It is a great color choice for travel agencies, pool companies, masseurs, doctors offices, pharmacies, medical suppliers, motels, psychologists, and weight loss centers.

Purple
Purple is a sophisticated, creative, luxurious, and wealthy color. It is also associated with royalty. A bluish shade of purple tends to create mystery, while a reddish shade of purple is sensual, and creative. Purple with a red tint will get more attention.

Purple is hard for some people (mainly men) to see. However, it is a great color for artists, elaborate restaurants, clothing stores, book stores, art galleries, night clubs, magicians, photographers, country clubs, golf courses, jewelry stores, beauticians, and fortune tellers.

Brown
Brown symbolizes coffee, lumber, and earth-tone products. It is a reliable, solid, strong, mature, and comfortable color. Brown is now considered a rich and robust color.

The color brown is an excellent color for hardware stores, coffee houses, craft shops, herbal shops, health food stores, male haberdasheries, cabinet shops, western stores, contractors, clock shops, and carpenters.

Black
Black symbolizes power, prestige, elegance, style, reliability, simplicity, and sophistication. The color black is more about attitude than anything else. It is a trendy color that keeps consumers up to date with technology. It is also a very informative color.

Black used to be viewed as the color of death, witches, demons, and evil. However, this perception is declining.

Black is a great color choice for music shops, accountants, lawyers, electronic stores, and tire stores.

White
White symbolizes purity, cleanliness, virtue, innocence, and freshness.

The color white is a great choice for bridal shops, weddings, religious groups, daycare centers, medical facilities, wineries, dentists, catering companies, bakeries, museums, historical sites, bed and bath shops, dry cleaners, and cleaning services.

Please be careful, because white is a color of death and mourning is China, Japan, and other Middle East countries.

Once you have selected the right color(s) for your business, be sure to find out what colors effectively compliment your color choice.

Online Photography Degree - A Useful Instruction Manual to a Lucrative Career

Are you interested in an online photography degree? If you are, then you will discover that this is an emerging field. It is not necessary to get a degree in photography to become an aspiring photographer. However, having a degree does provide you with a quite a lot of lucrative benefits. These provide students with detailed instruction when it comes to using different cameras. Along with learning about equipment, students also learn useful techniques for taking professional quality pictures. It is possible to earn these degrees as a full-time or a part-time student. Having this flexibility will help you to achieve your goals of becoming a photographer.

Duties and Responsibilities

Photographers use their skills and talents to capture the scenes around them. Some photographers work primarily with still objects. Others prefer to work with moving objects. This is one of the reasons that an online photography degree is helpful. Online programs teach students to use traditional cameras, digital cameras, and film cameras. Professional photographers are hired to take pictures for a variety of evens. Their duties are to take photos that are clear, concise, and that display talent. Here are some of the duties that fit into this category:

• Loading film in classic cameras


• Maintaining and securing camera parts


• Developing film


• Capturing indoor and outdoor settings


• Providing natural and artificial light components


• Producing and providing pictures of specific events

Choosing the right school

When you decide to get an online photography degree, you will need to look for the right school. Good schools that offer these programs tend to have more than one option. You can choose a program that teaches the specifics of one type of photography. Diverse programs that focus on multiple cameras are best. This will provide you with more options when it comes to finding work as a photographer. Most of these degrees are listed under the topic of Media Programs. It is possible to earn an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree in photography.

Job outlook

The talent involved with the field of photography is what attracts many people to it. Although there are technical skills involved with photography, talent is paramount. Getting a degree in this field will provide you with many options. You will be able to work privately as a photographer. Work here will include specific events like weddings and parties. You may also opt to work in the mainstream. There are national and international jobs for photographers in many industries. Let's take a look at some of the job opportunities that photographers may pursue.

• Event Photographer


• Newspaper Photographer


• Artistic Photographer


• Television Photographer

5 Things Every Freelance Photographer Should Be Doing Online

Sometimes it seems the Internet was made just for photographers.

On a social level it lets us share photos with friends and families, we can get together and talk camera gear and photographic technique, and it helps a lot of us overcome the 'isolation' that often goes hand-in-hand with a photography career.

On a professional level, it provides the means to showcase our work to Clients, access new markets and conduct the entire stock photography sales process without leaving our desks. It also offers the means to monitor trends, see what our peers are doing and see what our customers are buying.

And for all that, the sad reality is, for many photographers, the pure volume of information and options becomes more of a hindrance than a help. They only have so many hours in a day, and deciding what's worth their attention and what isn't becomes a chore, and as a result they tend to brush over the important stuff and get way-laid with the trivial.

Well if you ever find yourself in that situation, here's a bare-bones list of the 5 essential website 'types' every freelance photographer should have bookmarked and should be using regularly. Have a look, see what you think and be sure to leave your thoughts and suggestions for each in the comments below:

1. Stock Photo Library

Few freelance photographers wouldn't have a stock library presence of some sort, but plenty of part-timers still leave it as something to do later when they're more established, or have more photos.

These days that's just not necessary. It's much easier to get into and you don't have to have thousands of images ready before you start. In fact,it's much easier to start early and add to it gradually, than wait until you have tens of thousands of images to submit.

Stock is a long term business though, so do take your time and find a library that suits your work and your style. Make sure it leaves you in control of your work and doesn't expect you to give up your rights, or sell your work for peanuts, just to be involved.

2. Photo Price Calculator

To that end, make sure you bookmark a good online stock photo price calculator. There are a couple of great ones out there that calculate prices based on photographer feedback, so the information is an accurate reflection of current market prices. Be warned, most people are blown away when they first use these... simply because most photographers seriously undervalue their work.

If you've never looked at a Stock Photo Price Calculator before, I'd suggest you make a list of 5-10 of your main markets, and then list a couple of 'average' usages for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each usage. Keep it handy and you've got a ready-reference guide if a Client ever puts you on the spot, but more importantly, you'll get a whole new insight to the value of your photography.

3. Photography Business News & Information

If you're keen -- and you don't mind sitting at a computer all day -- you can subscribe to dozens of different newsletters and services to try and start up to date with goings on in the industry. Or you can find a single Photography/Business site that does it all for you.

There are quite a few really good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to check them out and follow a couple until you find one that does the job right for you, your field of work, your interests, your location etc. The good ones will give you all the important stuff in a nutshell, the include links for more information if you need it, so you can stay up to date and get all the info you need, without the information overload.

4. Shopping & Auction Sites

It's no secret, photographers are gadget-junkies! We're always searching for that next piece of must-have camera equipment that we simply cannot function properly without. The fact we've already functioned quite alright for years without it doesn't matter... once we know it's out there we have to have it. Sound familiar?

The flip side is, quite often we've got just as much gear we should really get rid of... and again, if the internet was made for us then I'm sure the creators of eBay are either photographers themselves, or they have a few in the family.

There are other auction sites around, and I know a few people swear by them, but I think for shopping for new gear and selling old gear, the sheer size of eBay makes it hard to beat. So bookmark it and use it. Especially if you have a cupboard of old gear that's not been used in years... get it out and post it, while it still has some value!

5. Online Photographer Community

Freelance photography is often a solo career so the ability to interact with your peers online should not be taken lightly. We all see hundreds of images on any given day, but to be able to look at new images and talk about them with other photographers is priceless.

Pre-Internet, it was something that only happened at 'Camera Clubs', and it tended to stop as soon as the photographer 'went pro'... but the online forums and portal sites now give working photographers to ability to interact with their peers, share ideas and information and really grow as artists. And if you're not making good use of them, you're quite possibly stagnating!

Well that's my top 5 must-bookmark website types. The internet offers us the opportunity to 'round-out' our photography businesses in ways we never could before, so make sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... and remember all work and no play, make's for a boring photographer!

Creative Jobs Can Help You Earn More

Are you in the search for a creative and passionate career? Well, then pursue your dreams and do what you're best at. Some of the most creative careers include fashion designing, architecture and interior designing, landscaping, music, creative writing or freelance writing, graphic designing, or careers in personal aesthetics such as hair care or make up artistry. There are other options as well and some of these include professions in the visual and media arts, culinary arts or performing and literary arts.

For instance wedding planners and event managers have an exciting option lined up for them. Other than helping the side of the groom and the bride to organize the wedding and ensure that everything is flawless, the event manager coordinates with the different people who are involved in the wedding such as those who have been appointed to supply the flowers, cake, food, dresses, gowns, choir and the list goes on.

One thing that you need to remember is that you cannot get started in a creative career just like that. What you need for the purpose is to have a flair for it and the competence to handle it. Other than that the factors that are responsible for the choice of a creative career are:

• Personal choice


• Aptitude


• Professional criteria


• Financial feasibility

Indulge in a Career in Photography

A career in photography is a perfect alternative for all the creative minds that possess an artistic vision as well as skills that help them see beyond the basics of their art. Photographers have a variety of career options lined up for them, and some of these include everything from wedding photographers to portrait studio associates etc. Whether you photograph nature or people or the dusty urban environment, the choice of specialization is something that will depend upon the degrees obtained under the course. It will also indicate if you will prefer working on your own or if you want to work for anyone else.

Salary is also an important consideration of the photography jobs. A lot of freelancers start by working on the side as it is a competitive sphere. At times the jobs are widely available whereas at other times these are scarce, depending on the demand at that season. A beginner can earn as much as about $50000 a year once they have a solid base of clientele. The salary depends on the type of photography (like, wedding photographers have a high demand). The salary of fine art photographers is unpredictable as it depends on whether people are interested in buying their work. Since these jobs are not meant for everyone, it is important to know what you want.

Fashion Designing is a Lucrative Creative Career Option for You

The fashion market is one of the most popular, profitable and interesting careers to take your pick from. That's because there is an ever increasing market for fashion designers and creative designers. Every single day brings a new area of interest for the fashion career with the designers all around the globe contending to have their hottest creations out on the ramp. The trend towards urbanization has led to a huge array of fashionable clothes being the choice for every generation. With fashion designing, other sectors are related such as retailing, purchasing and merchandising. The first thing that you need to get started in a fashion designing career is to identify your skills for evaluating whether you are suited to the needs of the industry.

The basic skills that would be required for this creative career are knowledge of colors and clothing, having the ability to sew, and finally dedication and commitment towards your goal. Getting enrolled in a fashion school will help train you in developing your skills further. With the right kind of education, and by choosing the right institution, you will be guided to getting good opportunities to prove your mettle. The fashion schools often organize internship classes for grooming the new talents for learning and acquiring skills that are required for getting the right exposure in thefashion jobs. Social networking is equally important to get started with new clients and projects.

Do you have the Musical Genius in You?

Have you always dreamed of making it big in the world of music? Music is a hugely popular field of creative arts, although not every one of us has the capacity to hone our musical skills and talents. So, with the present trend being towards that of multiple talent hunts and music reality shows, more and more talented individuals are looking ahead to prove themselves while at the same time getting widespread media coverage and a huge fan base. However, what you need to remember in this case is that the musical field, though popular and attractive in its own right, is a difficult area to break into owing to the huge competition and demand versus supply of jobs.

Often, youths with a musical talent will try to obtain jobs in music by looking for options of playing in a band or performing in an orchestra for getting a job in the sector. All you need for the purpose is the determination to succeed which is actually more important than relying on luck and talent. This is because there are a lot of talented individuals out there waiting to get in. moreover, luck is unreliable and to conquer it, you need commitment. With formal training and a little experience, you can make headway in the aspect of music.

With the above round up of a few creative jobs, what needs to be mentioned is that while the prospect of getting into a creative job is apparently unique, to start with, before taking the plunge you should note that this is an extremely unpredictable sector where performance and success does not come from the work available alone. You need to complement the availability of projects with your creativity and inner inspiration which will take care of success in the job that you are in, be it fashion jobs or photography jobs.

Getting Into Web Design Schools

In recent years, the popularity of web design training increases. The web graphic design degree becomes one of the most desired among students. This is due to the various programs that web design schools propose, the short period of training, the constant increase in demand of these specialists in the global business community, and the good chances for professional realization.

The number of schools and colleges that offer web design education, digital photography, computer animation, visual special effects and other similar courses increase. Choosing the best web design educational institution is a responsible job. The valuable suggestions below can narrow your choices down and facilitate decision-making.

Accreditation and Prestige

Check whether the particular web design college offers accredited web design courses. If it is not, exclude it immediately from your list of education providers. In addition, it is important to get information how prestigious are the Web Design Schools. The salary of graduates from top design colleges is higher, and their graduates find job easier than others. According to a recent report, published in "Business Week," graduates from the most prestigious schools earn "over a million dollars more during a 20-year career than grads from less "elite"programs."

Expenses

When you decide to continue your training, you need to know that the college tuition cost is only a small part of the future expenses. In the framework of the main program of training, you should add the funds for everyday expenses, rent, textbooks, and additional courses. It is highly recommended to select a shorter program as a way to reduce costs.

Variety of Programs and Courses

Another indicator, which undoubtedly you need to suggest, is the variety of available programs and courses. The alternatives give you more opportunities; they help you to get the most appropriate qualification that suits your desires and needs. According to Prof. Eamonn Walsh, dean of the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, the eclectic programs are more valuable for the students. He is convinced that the education through creative programs improves the positions of the graduates in the labor market.

Financial Aid and Integration

In addition to the purely academic aspects of the evaluation process, it is advisable to consider whether the web design school provides financial aid to students.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the chosen school affords an opportunity for participation in a great variety of out-of-class activities as spots, music, drama, arts, etc. These non-academic programs make you feel part of the college community. You may find easier to integrate yourself into student life in a place, which you perceive as home, during your stay at school.

Sony SLT-A35 Digital SRL Camera - A Beginner's Camera

The Sony SLT-A35 was rated one of 2012's best entry level Digital SLR cameras. This camera is one of Sony's Single Lens Translucent (SLT) designs. This lens transmits 66.66% of the light to the CMOS sensor and 33.33 per cent of it to a tiny electronic display built into the camera's roof. This model incorporates almost all the features of the original A33 and A55, but includes an improved 16.2MP EXMOR APS-C CMOS sensor and handful of extra processing options. The chip has been redesigned to improve power consumption, and improved thermal performance. The camera has an aerodynamic look to it with smooth edges.

Sony's new sensor offers sharply-detailed, low-noise still and HD video images. The camera's powerful processor optimizes image data, insuring sharp, crisp images with rich, natural color reproduction. A maximum sensitivity of ISO 12800 and extension to ISO 25600 allows natural still images and HD video in low light.

Sony has successfully offered live view without compromising their fast autofocus system. The SLT has an electronic viewfinder, it doesn't have a movable mirror to direct light up to the viewfinder. Instead, it uses a fixed, semi-transparent mirror to provide light to the focusing sensor, allowing light through to the imaging sensor. This is an automatic live view camera that gives fast autofocus, and the actions of the camera are the same whether you're using the eye-level viewfinder or the rear screen for viewing. When you move your eye from the large LCD at the camera's rear to the eye level viewfinder you view the action via the smaller LCD. What you get is full time live view. This is a small, relatively inexpensive beginner's camera and one of the favorites in its class.

Features:

• 1080i 60 video and


• 4x magnification at 7 frames per second


• 4MP (a 1.4x crop from the middle of the sensor that Sony is calling Tele-zoom High Speed Shooting).


• 'Picture Effects' processing filters


• APS HD CMOS sensor


• user-friendly interface


• Translucent Mirror Technology


• on-screen Help Guide


• Customizable top-mounted button for 14 included functions


• Tele-zoom High Speed Shooting


• continuous tracking autofocus


• 5 frames per second drive mode


• continuous shooting 5.5 frames per second


• ISO 12800 and expandable to ISO 25600


• Full HD AVCHD video


• 3D Sweep Panorama


• 5 inch screen


• 4912?3264 pixel maximum image size

The LCD Screen and Its Options

The LCD screen has a gel coating that sits in between the LCD and the glass. It eliminates the traditional air gap making images clearer and the screen more durable. It includes an on-screen Help Guide which gives a clear explanation of selected functions and how they're used.

There are 6 options available in shooting mode: standard, vivid, portrait, landscape, sunset and black & white. Within these settings, you can also manipulate the contrast, saturation and sharpness.

While shooting pictures, general shooting information is displayed across the top of the screen such as shooting mode, file type, pictures left and battery power which is shown as a percentage. In the bottom right corner are the picture styles.

The LCD screen status is quite useful, showing your chosen exposure mode (P, A, S, M), battery charge, image quality and a graphic display of lens aperture and shutter speed.There is also a bunch of scene modes - portrait, sports, macro, and more. In this section is found a bunch of Partial Color effects, which lets you isolate and record a single color, with the remainder of the scene picked out in monochrome. There is a Picture Effect setting that can be previewed on the LCD screen, giving you a preview of the effect. This includes 'artistic' treatments such as Posterisation, Pop Color, Retro effect, etc.

Tele-zoom High Speed Shooting magnifies the center portion of the image area providing an effective 1.4x magnification while shooting up to 7 frames per second. Tele-zoom reduces the resolution to 8.4 megapixels and sets the compression rate to medium. Providing continuous tracking autofocus of still or moving objects, this feature is ideal for capturing fast-moving sports, children's expressions at just the right moment, your children swinging, running, or just being kids, or for capturing distant subjects with a high-speed burst of frames. It offers a drive mode, up to 5.5 frames per second with full-resolution continuous shooting with tracking autofocus.

In the Playback Menu, there's a provision to make a slideshow, adjust the image index and specify pictures for printing, deleting pictures or protecting them.

The sweep panorama feature can account for 3D panos up to 4912?1080 pixels or 'flat' panos up to 8192?1856 pixels.

The 35 can use any of the A-mount interchangeable lenses Sony makes as well as six Carl Zeiss lenses and the earlier Konica/Minolta AF glass lens.

Sony SLT-A35is a compelling choice for experienced photographers and beginners. More advanced photographers will enjoy the top panel-mounted button that is customizable. This button allows instant recall of any of the 14 frequently-used functions according to their preference. The beginner photographers will love this camera for its ease of use and professional looking images.