by: Robert Bezman
You've read all the "best digital camera" articles, got the best price on your first digital camera, and even glanced at its owner's manual. Are you itching to take some shots of your family, or what?
Slow down, soldier. Before you take 200 shots that seem great at the time, but then upon review of the final picture are less than what you expected, let's prepare. Prepare?!?! I'll bet you thought charging the battery was the hardest part of taking great photos, didn't you? Sorry to disappoint you, but if you want to improve your photo results 50% in 2 minutes, let's review some basic advice of the pros.
There are two categories of GENERAL ADVICE which applies, regardless of whether you're using a digital camera to take family portrait poses, baby pictures, pet portraits, group pictures, funny photos, or even maternity portraits. The first category is...
"Good Planning" Advice for Photography Poses
1) Prepare For The Event
Prepare for the event by thinking about every photograph you want to take and what kind of photography pose or poses you would like to capture. Consider who, where, how, and the type of environment.
2) Take Multiple Photographs
Take multiple shots of each pose (remember, digital memory is reusable, a.k.a. "free"). Regardless of what you say or do, people will blink. And don't count on spotting small problems on the tiny camera LCD screen (even on full magnification); which leads to...
3) Check LCD Screen
Check the digital camera's LCD screen for general framing of the picture, any movement, visibility of faces, and the histogram. Note that you can think up a fantastic photography pose; arrange everyone perfectly; and, have the photograph "frozen" (no blinking, and no shaking of the camera)...but, when you check it out in the LCD, you see 2 drunks fighting in the background! And, my favorite...
4) Funny Phrases
Have some funny phrases handy to use just before you take the photo. Don't use it when setting up for the shot. And, don't use the same phrase all the time. Throw in funny anecdotes, phrases, names, words that you know your family will find more amusing than "cheese." A natural smile looks four times better than a fake one. The second category is...
"Location" Advice for Photography Poses
Taking indoor family photography, is very different than outdoor family photograph (duh!). For INDOOR pictures...
1) Wide Angle
You will tend to use the wide angle more often than your telephoto setting. Pay particular attention to your "end people" (those farthest to the right and the left in your viewfinder), and verify there is enough space in picture, so that if cropping is required, the end people don't have to lose a limb.
2) The Flash
Flash considerations are critical. Do not be outside your "flash range." For example, if at ISO 100, your flash can properly illuminate 12 feet, don't attempt any photography pose that requires anyone to stand at 14 feet (unless, of course, it's evil cousin Ira who you want to appear in darkness).
3) Plan "B"
If you need to be further away than your flash allows, here are 2 things you can try...First, increase the ISO setting (but not so much as to produce to much noise), or second, move to a significantly brighter location.
4) Watch Your Background
If there are distracting features, change your settings to blur the background (see the Techniques page). The best photography pose in the world won't look right with a distracting background. And finally...
5) Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall
If there are mirrors or reflective surfaces in the background and you can't find a different location, only take the picture in such a way that the flash is NOT PERPENDICULAR to the surface, but at an angle (unless you WANT a nice photo of your flash).
Outdoor family photography has completely different issues. For OUTDOOR photography...
6) The Sun
Avoid photographing in direct sunlight, or in mixed light and shade, especially faces. Optimal lighting results from a slightly overcast sky.
7) Shade
When photographing in shade, use fill-flash (see terms) when necessary. And, REALLY finally...
8) Beauty
If practical, take the picture at one of the beautiful natural settings near you. Imagine the result of a creative photography pose captured in a stunning environment. Can you say: "Over the mantle!"?
To see 5 different categories of poses with tips, scroll to the middle of http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/ photography-pose.html.
Article courtesy of http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com, where you can see some sample pictures including more photography tips.
Copyright 2005 Robert Bezman. All rights reserved.
About The Author
Robert Bezman is a professional photographer and owner of Custom Photographic Expressions. Robert has created www.best-family-photography-tips.com to help the digital photography users create better photographs. Robert has a blog at http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/family-photography-news.html. robert@best-family-photography-tips.com
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HDTV ? The High Resolution Television
HDTV ? The High Resolution Television
by: Gagandeep Dhaliwal
The expansion of hdtv is High-definition television. The hdtv means television signals broadcast with a higher resolution than traditional formats like NTSC, S?CAM, PAL. The hdtv is broadcasted digitally, except for early analog formats in Europe and Japan.
Historically, the term high-definition television was also used to refer to television standards developed in the 1930s to replace the early experimental systems, although, not so long afterwards, Philo T. Farnsworth, John Logie Baird and Vladimir Zworkin had each developed competing TV systems but resolution was not the issue that separated their substantially different technologies. It was patent interference lawsuits and deployment issues given the tumultuous financial climate of the late 20's and 30's. Most patents were expiring by the end of WW2 leaving the market wide open and no worldwide standard for television agreed upon....
HDTV ? The High Resolution Television
Lcd tv > HDTV ? The High Resolution Television
LCD TVs Brightness And Contrast
LCD TVs Brightness And Contrast
by: Eli Aloisi
Unlike computer monitors, brightness is an important parameter in the choice of a LCD TV set. Since a TV set is viewed from a distance, a (measured) brightness of 220 to 250 nits is appropriate, where for a computer monitor, that would be too bright. When we talk about brightness here, we're referring to the values we've measured ourselves, not the exaggerated, basically useless values claimed by the manufacturers. Some claim up to 800 nits of brightness, a level that would be like looking at a welding torch through a color slide.
Contrast is another story. A good contrast level is always preferable, but you have to be careful not to confuse contrast ratio and screen dynamics. Here's an example to make that a little more clear.
Here I am trying to display concentric circles in shades of gray, from the lightest to the darkest. Screen A shows the shades correctly, but screen B shows only two...
LCD TVs Brightness And Contrast
Lcd tv > LCD TVs Brightness And Contrast
What are the Projection Television Technologies Available?
What are the Projection Television Technologies Available?
by: Bill Ransom
There are four types of rear-projection TV's available currently. These are the older CRT rear-projection, DLP rear-projection, LCD rear-projection and LCoS rear-projection. Most available today are HD ready and can display digital signals.
CRT Rear-projection : these are the projection TV's that have been on the market for years. CRT or Cathode Ray Tube technology is the same technology that your old TV set's used. There are three tubes in these projection TV's each for a primary color and they project the light onto the TV's screen. Since they require three CRT tubes these TV's are very big and deep. Most CRT projection TV's come in 50 inches or larger screen size. CRT rear-projection TV's are becoming extint and many companies do not make them anymore. They need to be adjusted frequently to keep the colors in line and the image quality and viewing angles are not as...
What are the Projection Television Technologies Available?
Lcd tv > What are the Projection Television Technologies Available?
HDTV ? The High Resolution Television
HDTV ? The High Resolution Television
by: Gagandeep Dhaliwal
The expansion of hdtv is High-definition television. The hdtv means television signals broadcast with a higher resolution than traditional formats like NTSC, S?CAM, PAL. The hdtv is broadcasted digitally, except for early analog formats in Europe and Japan.
Historically, the term high-definition television was also used to refer to television standards developed in the 1930s to replace the early experimental systems, although, not so long afterwards, Philo T. Farnsworth, John Logie Baird and Vladimir Zworkin had each developed competing TV systems but resolution was not the issue that separated their substantially different technologies. It was patent interference lawsuits and deployment issues given the tumultuous financial climate of the late 20's and 30's. Most patents were expiring by the end of WW2 leaving the market wide open and no worldwide standard for television agreed upon....
HDTV ? The High Resolution Television
Lcd tv > HDTV ? The High Resolution Television
Photography Poses ? The Missing Ingredient fitness
Photography Poses ? The Missing Ingredient water Lcd tv
How to Find the Perfect Gift
How to Find the Perfect Gift
by: J. Newton
You know the feeling.
As you place a meticulously wrapped gift on a table filled with other presents, you can?t help but second-guess your choice. ?Will they really like it? Did I spend enough on it? I wonder what?s inside that one??
The reason we give gifts?whether for weddings, birthdays, retirements, or holidays?is beside the point. The best gifts are those that let the recipient know you had no one...
gifts Photography Poses ? The Missing Ingredient
Lcd tv > How to Find the Perfect Gift