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Thursday 26 April 2012

"Trick Photography and Special Effects" by Evan Sharboneau - A Closer Look


I don't normal do reviews, but I wanted to in this case. "The Trick Photography Book" written by Evan Sharboneau is an in depth and interesting book. In fact I absolutely loved it. It is sure to educate photographers of all stages on the method to get those special effects photographs.

Even for those that may have never picked up a camera in their lives or are using uncomplicated cameras many special effects can still be done. The book even offers to assist photo enthusiasts in a simple and very easy to understand way.

I liked its methods, approaches and was delighted to read the whole book from front to cover. Evan has done himself proud. There is a wealth of information in the book that all photographers, regardless of stage and level, should grab themselves a copy of this book.

Setting the Shutter Speed

Setting the Aperture

Setting the ISO

Setting the White Balance

Long Exposure Effects and Light Painting

Generic Common Settings for Light Paintings

These just a few of the countless things you will come across in the book. There is so much more I can't possible list everything here now.

Evan is very clever. He talks a lot about lighting and other wonderful photography techniques you can create in the post processing end of your photography. In other words, at the end of your photo creating. I liked the way he went into detail and defined how everything works mutually, from start to finish, to create your final photograph. Lighting is the key to photography and Evan covers this in great detail.

When you first open the book you are hit with a enormous table of contents. It feels a little much to begin with because the info he provides is so big. He not only goes into all the things you need to know like the best lighting, but talks about cameras, composition, software and other technical details, which he describes very easily and straightforwardly.

High Speed Photography

 One of my favourite features to his book was the section High Speed Photography. Want to see what a balloon looks like when it bursts? Its high speed photography but the images look like they have been captured in slow motion. This is the section you won't want to miss. He explains all the equipment you will need (yes you can set this up at home) where to buy the equipment and how to put it all together.

The photos are outstanding. I actually felt myself getting excited by the possibility of shooting my own high speed photographs. I can't wait to try this.

Evan also covers a section on Bubbles and macro photography. The images are stunning and you are truly transported to another world by looking at them. You can generate wonderful effects, abstract photos and extremely exciting photos of close up bubbles. You see the vibrant swirls of the water across the surface of the bubble and the surreal patterns look like something out of a fantasy book.

Photographing smoke is also in the book, fortunately. I am thankful because I get so many photo enthusiasts asking me how to shoot smoke. Now I can refer them to Evans book. I love this part a lot. He talks about the lighting, things to use as backdrops and what you need to precisely capture smoke and produce interesting and amazing patterns. You don't have to use cigarette smoke; you can also use the smoke from an incense stick.

Recommendation- Final Assessment of the ebook

I have been a photographer for a lot of years. I know how hard it can be when you are first starting out to not only take good photos, but particular effects. Evan makes this course of action easy, enjoyable and really enlightening. I highly recommend this book. I am recommending it to all my clients who learn about photography.


It's easy to learn from and fun to create your first special effects photos. I recommend getting yourself a copy of the book. It's worth $97 but I seriously think he should be asking for twice the price. It's worth so much more than it's current outlay. It just shows the generous nature of the author.

Arthur: Amy Renfrey

Do you want to create fantastic and spectacular photos? If yes, I recommend taking a look at Trick Photography and Special Effects by Evan Sharboneau in order to boost and enhance you photos with outstanding special effects!

Mother's Day Portrait Tips And Ideas - How To Be Creative


I wanted to share some portrait ideas and tips for Mother's Day. Believe it or not, Mother's day is right around the corner and choosing the perfect gift can be extremely difficult. I always tell photographers to plan ahead and to plan this at least a few weeks before the occasion. If you can plan a couple of months ahead...that's even better. I know where talking about Mother's Day here, but this applies to any Holiday or special occasion.

Let's be clear about something here

Your job as a photographer and a marketer, is to help your clients find that special gift by offering them a unique portrait session and with Mother's day near as I wrote this...we'll use this as our example. Always remind them that this is guaranteed to be the most favorite gift she'll receive and it will last longer than a bouquet of flowers!

They can choose from a generation portrait, a family portrait, a Mommy and me session or simply just photograph the children by themselves. A beautiful portrait that captures a moment in time is a gift from the heart and will be treasured forever. But...you already know that.

Here are a couple of unique portrait ideas for inspiration!

Take a photograph of the Mother and child's shoes or capture a close-up of them holding hands. Find a meaningful quote and personalize the portrait using Photoshop or create a unique personalized collage.

Kristen Bell
Photograph a little girl playing dress-up in her mother's or her grandmother's clothing or wedding gown. The client can help you create this family heirloom portrait by bringing along their mother or grandmother's wedding gown. If they don't have a gown, they can bring a favorite dress or outfit and shoes. You can also ask them to bring any vintage hats, old family photographs or other special mementos to personalize their portrait.

Children will have a ball playing dress-up! Using their mother's or grandmother's clothing, photos and mementos makes it extra special. I recommend using a vintage trunk that the child can sit on or they may even want to climb inside. A few years back I created a portrait of our daughter wearing her great-grandmother's nightgown and was admiring her old black and white wedding photos. As you can imagine, her great- grandmother was absolutely thrilled when she received this on Mother's Day. This unique gift idea is sure to be a hit and will be cherished for generations to come.

So...I hope this gets you thinking of the possibilities that can be created by using some simple props and classic portraiture. Don't over complicate things when creating these special portraits. Just keep in mind that the Mother/Grandmothers will be thrilled to have a keepsake from their child or children.

Arthur: Scot Voelker
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scot_Voelker
Posted by: http://michaelabela.weebly.com
Photo Source: http://www.listal.com

Do you want to create fantastic and spectacular photos? If yes, I recommend taking a look at Trick Photography and Special Effects by Evan Sharboneau in order to boost and enhance you photos with outstanding special effects!

Wednesday 25 April 2012

Tripods for Smartphone or iPhone

posted by: http://michaelabela.weebly.com

Years ago when a person went to apply for auto insurance, often times their agent would suggest they put a disposable camera in the glove box in case they ever had an accident. This way the driver could take photos at the scene of the accident to help protect their interests. In this day and age, I'm not sure they even make disposable cameras again other than for weddings. Today most people have a cell phone with a built-in camera.

Do I Need a Tripod for My Cell Phone?

With people carrying cameras with them all the time in their cell phone, it's important to consider other accessories to use with those built-in cameras such as a tripod. Yes, that's right, there are tripods made just for a cell phone.

Jennifer Ellison
These tripods are lightweight, usually flexible so they can even be used to wrap or latch onto something to get just the right shot. For instance, there are camera tripods for Android and iPhone that you can wrap around a bicycle handlebar to film shots while bicycling. These tripods would also be ideal for use no matter what the sport. It helps in getting the right shot without shaking around.

Sometimes it's important though to have a tripod for your iPhone or Android that isn't flexible. You may need a tripod that is small, lightweight, yet sturdy. Some cell phone tripods extend to full height so that you aren't left bending over breaking your back to get the shot. Often these sturdy tripods for a cell phone are also interchangeable with your camera or video camera. This would allow for much more flexibility in use.

Another option, particularly for the person on the go, is the keychain tripod. Available in a variety of colors and sizes, these miniature tripods are portable and lightweight. They can be used as an accessory and simply put on the keychain. It even fits right in your pocket!

|Marissa Miller

No matter what your adventure or activity, it's always great to consider purchasing a tripod that your Android or iPhone will fit on so that when you are in need, you are prepared with a sturdy, reliable tripod.

Just imagine the great family photos and videos you will have when you can place your mobile phone on a tripod to film your child's game. You can then just sit back and relax and watch the game! Imagine also going on vacation and having a flexible tripod for your cell phone so that you can bring home wonderful photos from your trip to share with your friends.

Arthur: Lisa Fausey
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Fausey
If you are still a novice and you do not know from where to start, I strongly suggest that you have a look at this incredible product - DigiCamCash A step by step guide on how to turn photos into cash!

Photographers Need to Know How to Pose Just Like Their Models


Most probably you are scratching your head after reading this. As a photographer the job requires you to remain behind the camera, however, you need to have a good idea of what will look good in a photo and what will look poor. Therefore, knowledge of professional posing techniques is essential in order for your work to stand out in this competitive market.

Jennifer Ellison
Observe Real Life Situations

Observation is one of the best ways to learn how to professionally direct your model's poses. If you wish to extract a real-life pose from your model, your best bet at achieving this, would be to watch people in their natural environment.

As well as offering ideas for the model's poses, observation also provides new creative ways in setting the scene for the photo shoot.

Lighting and Props

Depending on what type of light you use when taking a photo, different moods can be created. What's more, lighting comes in handy when a model either wants to hide a flaw or alternatively accentuate a feature.
Creative and interesting props added to the photo shoot will enhance the photo, as they create a sense of story and character to the overall image. Interaction with the props gives the model an extra layer of depth, as focus is shifted onto how the two are relating.

Breaking the Rules

Josie Maran
Although there are many rules that a photographer can abide by, so as to shoot a striking photo, sometimes it is breaking or bending these rules that produce the best results.

Changing the angle that you shoot from is one example. Rather than pointing your camera at eye level, try shooting from a higher plane or closer to the ground so as to create a new perspective.

Another way to capture the viewer's attention is by having the model eyeing something that seems to be off camera. This way the viewer gets curious as to what the model is looking at with such an appeal. This proves to be a very interesting alternative to the typical model staring straight into the camera lens.

Capturing Movement

When switching the camera into 'burst' or 'continuous shooting' mode, you can construct a series of images at one go. Eventually these can be presented together as a set to show active movement rather than static poses. A model swinging on a swing, climbing a ladder or jumping on a trampoline are some of the many situations that you can photograph. The continuous shooting mode is a feature found on all modern digital cameras. Nevertheless it should never be abused but rather used sparingly and wisely.

Panning is another way by which you can add movement in your photos. This is achieved by keeping your focus locked onto your model while moving the camera from one point to another in a straight line. It is important that the distance from your camera to your model is kept constant throughout the whole process. The effect will be a sharp focus on your model against a blurred background.

Lucy Liu
Depending on the theme of the photo shoot, the model has to project the ideal personality and emotions. To achieve this, your advice and directions must be clear and effective. There are various poses that can be mastered. Learning the right techniques is essential as these will guarantee outstanding results each time you work with models on different projects.

Posing Secrets - The Photographer's Essential Guide Vol.1  by Malcolm Boone is a unique and practical tool which will guide you step by step, in mastering the art of posing a model.  I strongly suggest that you give it a thorough look.  It is definitely worth the money!

Author: Michael Abela
Photo Source: http://www.listal.com/