Saturday, April 18, 2009

Pet Photography


Story By TJ Tierney Photo By: ChrisY

An area of photography that is becoming extremely popular, pet photography makes for a particularly tough challenge to any newcomer to photography, but if mastered successfully will be very rewarding for you and your customers.

Most families own some form of a pet and the techniques that you will use will be different with each pet you come across. Unlike humans, pets are not going to pose for you, you can’t give them instructions and they won’t sit in a studio posing in front of the camera. So how do you get successful pet photography portraits?

Pets are tricky subjects for any photographer to deal with - a pet photographer requires everlasting patience and must be capable of reacting quickly when the pet does something interesting. Try to think of unusual ways to photograph your pet. With a large pet, shoot in close and use a wide angle lens to emphasise the animal’s large size.

Try working at eye level to the pet, this may mean that you’ll have to get on the ground, and if you do, be careful of the background. Avoid distraction that will take from the pet portrait.

If you are shooting pet birds, take them out of the cage. Make sure that you close all the windows and doors before the shoot. Remove the perch from the cage and place near a window. This is the normal sitting place for the bird and the natural light from the window will give your image some extra mood. Use a macro lens to get in real close and fill the frame on your camera.

Dogs are the easiest pet to photograph. Always keep the owner of the pet on hand. Dogs will take commands from the owner and make your job a lot easier.

Bait may be used in controlling some pets. A small ball can be handy if you are photographing kittens. Placing food in a garden will also help in getting a pet to stay still. Young pets won’t stay still for two long so you must react quickly. Garden pets can also be easy to photograph. Rabbits will laze around the garden nibbling on grass and may make for an interesting image.

Shoot the pet in the hands of the owner or in the hands of children. This will create extra sales.

Pet photography can be a very profitable market if done correctly. Images of pets are used all over the world in magazines and other photography publications. After taking a photograph of a pet ask the owner if they will sign a release form that allows you to sell the pet image. Make sure that you carry these release forms at all times. While this may not be needed - it may save you hassle in the future when selling the pet photograph.

About the author:
TJ Tierney is an award winning Irish Landscape photographer. For more tips you can visit his photography site. To view his images visit his on-line gallery of pictures of Ireland or see his travel site.
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Canon EOS 5D Mark II AND Nikon D3x Digital Camera Review

Review By: Richard Walker

Canon has always been associated with some great futuristic technology in camera. In 2005 they had announced a new DSLR category when they had introduced their EOS 5 D model. This model was compact and had a full frame sensor. However, with the introduction of new cameras from Sony and Nikon, Canon has introduced an upgraded model namely the Canon EOS Mark II.

The Canon EOS 5 D Mark II has scored an edge over its predecessors in resolution and many other features. This camera is way ahead of Nikon and Sony in terms of resolution and features. The Canon EOS 5 D Mark II has some great features like 21 mega-pixels, 1080p video, 3.0 VGA LCD, Live View, higher capacity battery and lots more.

The Canon EOS 5 D Mark II Camera has anti dust features which means you don't have to worry about the dust clouding your lenses. It has a DIGIC 4 processor with 14-bit analogue to digital conversion capacity. The shooting rate has improved from 3 fps in its predecessors to an astonishing 3.9 fps.

We all know that Canon cameras give you great quality still pictures, but did you know that the Canon EOS 5 D Mark II is the first DSLR by Canon with high definition (HD) recording feature of 1920 X 1080 pixels (1080 p) at a speed of 30fps? This still camera boosts of the best quality video recording in full HD. The LCD screen has now increased to 3 inch and a resolution of 920 k dot/VGA. You can even connect your camera to HDTV with the HDMI port provided and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.

The viewfinder of Canon EOS 5 D Mark II boosts of a coverage of 98% and the shutter speed is 150k cycles and 6 AF assist points with 9-point AF system. The Canon EOS 5 D camera is one of the best cameras today for all the photographers whether amateur or professional.

Nikon D3X review



Nikon D3 X camera boosts of a high resolution and comes equipped with a full frame sensor. Nikon has been a revered name in photojournalism and sports photography and has now digressed to making high quality image field cameras. The Nikon D3X has a resolution to suit the requirements photographers in the world of art, advertising and fashion.

The Nikon D3X has a reduced burst speed of five frames per second than its predecessor which boasts of a speed of nine frames per second which is primarily due to the high resolution images and increased number of pixels.

The body of D3X is similar to its predecessor D3 and is made of magnesium and has weather proof controls which make the camera ideal for photojournalists and landscape photographers who need to brave the elements for their assignments.

Since this camera has been made primarily keeping landscape photographers in mind it has a great Live View and an auto focus system which can be adjusted and used while the camera is on the tripod stand. The Live View mode also has the virtual horizon display which prevents scary tilts.

A professional studio photographer will find this camera a great help since it can transfer large image files to the computer amidst photo shoots through wireless or cable links.

About the Author
I enjoy taking pictures of my grandchildren and being able to share them with family and friends. Having a good Digital Camera that takes superb pictures makes them so much enjoyable. In my search for a quality digital camera this is the one I found to be the best in its price range and camera reviews at http://www.camerareview-blog.com Article Directory: http://www.articlerich.com

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Differences Between Candid Photography and Professional Photographic Portraits



When discussing types of pictures that can be taken by a professional photographer, there are two main types. Candid photography lends a more personal feel to each photo, and captures life as it is happening. Professional photographic portraits on the other hand, are more about chronicling an event, and preserving it on film in a staged manner. Each method has its own place and time in which it is most appropriate, and the information below will provide you with the main differences between the two styles.

Positioning and Appearance

One of the main differences between candid photography and photographic portraits is in the way they are positioned, and in the way that they appear. Candid photographs are taken on the go when life is happening, and present pictures of an event as it was. Professional photographic portraits however, are staged using sets, props, and a predetermined position. These photographs capture an image and preserve it in the way that it was positioned to look.

The appearance of these two types of photography are quite different, in fact, candid photography can often look like it was not done by a professional at all. It can sweep you away, and remind you of a past event with it easy appearance and candid positioning.

Photographic portraits preserve things in their perfect condition. They allow you to look your best, or capture something or someone in an ideal way. Often, when somebody goes to a professional photography studio or hires a professional photographer, they will opt to have both forms of photography used. That is because while different, these two styles both have their own merits and value.

Equipment That is Used

Another major difference between candid and photographic photography is the equipment that is used for each. Candid photography is usually done with much lighter weight equipment. There is often no need for a tripod, lights, and certainly not backgrounds or props. It is often done outside with natural backdrops, and usually on the go.

Professional photographic photography is quite different on the other hand. It requires the use of heavy equipment, large tripods, elaborate lighting, props and backgrounds, and often other items as well. The idea behind photographic photography is to make an object or person look their very best, and a variety of measures and tools are used to achieve this.

When They Are Used

When looking for differences between candid and photographic photography is important to explore the difference between when they are both used. For instance, photographic photography is better suited for taking still photos that you wish to look professional and staged. These might be wedding photos, children's photos, family photos, or even pictures for cards or invitations.

Candid photography however, is generally used to capture the action of an event. That is why candid photography is often used to capture wildlife, sporting events, wedding receptions, or even news events.

While each of these photography styles has various times and places that they can be used. It is also possible for them to be used in the same situation at roughly the same time. In the example of a wedding, before hand you may wish to have photographic pictures of the wedding party taken. However, during and after the wedding you may wish for a photographer to use candid photography to capture the action in every moment of the day.

Both candid and professional photographic photography have their benefits and appropriate times to be used. While there are differences in these two styles of photography, they both require the skill of a professional photographer in order to present a beautiful finished product. When you know the differences between these two styles of photography, you can make the choice of which one is best for you.

About Author Tassos Makrakis :
At Momento Photoworks, our primary focus is to offer the highest quality of photography, products, and customer service to our clients. We enjoy what we do, and that shows in our beautiful portraits! To learn more about our Markham photo studio, visit us at http://www.themomento.com

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