By Tom Grimm and Michele Grimm, Authors of The Basic Book of Digital Photography: How to Shoot, Enhance, and Share Your Digital Pictures

Here are 10 easy ways to greatly improve your digital photographs and avoid the pitfalls that are common with today’s automatic cameras. Professional photographers Michele and Tom Grimm offer these and many more tips in their brand-new handbook, The Basic Book of Digital Photography.

1. Pay Attention to Composition. Too often a picture lacks impact because your subjects seem too far away. Move closer or zoom in to concentrate attention on your main subject and to avoid unwanted ... Read More »]]>

By Tom Grimm and Michele Grimm, Authors of The Basic Book of Digital Photography: How to Shoot, Enhance, and Share Your Digital Pictures

Here are 10 easy ways to greatly improve your digital photographs and avoid the pitfalls that are common with today’s automatic cameras. Professional photographers Michele and Tom Grimm offer these and many more tips in their brand-new handbook, The Basic Book of Digital Photography.

1. Pay Attention to Composition.
Too often a picture lacks impact because your subjects seem too far away. Move closer or zoom in to concentrate attention on your main subject and to avoid unwanted elements that are distracting. Make certain you see nothing in the viewfinder or on the LCD screen that you don’t want in the final picture. Be especially alert for cluttered backgrounds. Finally, just before you shoot, check that the horizon appears level in your camera’s viewfinder or on the LCD screen.

2. Vary the Format of Your Pictures.
Cameras make pictures that are rectangular, not square, so you should remember to turn your camera vertically for appropriate subjects, such as portraits of people. In other words, don’t be so lazy that you always hold the camera horizontally. Appropriately, horizontal images are in the format called landscape, while the format for vertical shots is known as portrait.

3. Shoot, Shoot, Shoot.
If you used to shoot with a film camera, break the old habit of just making one or two exposures. The memory cards that are substitutes for film in digital cameras will hold hundreds of pictures and you can easily erase the images you don’t like. So shoot away until you get the perfect picture. A big bonus is that you won’t have to spend extra time at your computer fixing up mediocre shots with image-editing software.

4. Press the Shutter Release Button . . . Don’t Jab It.
More pictures are ruined because of camera shake than for any other reason. The main offense is jabbing or snapping your finger down on the shutter release (which jars the camera). It’s easy to avoid blurred pictures: Just remember to arch your shooting finger and slowly press or squeeze the shutter button. Also, be sure to hold your camera with two hands to help keep it steady.

5. Shoot with Flash Outdoors.
Pictures taken outdoors, especially of people and pets, are frequently better when you use your camera’s built-in flash. That’s because direct sunlight often causes annoying shadows on faces, particularly around the eyes. Flash “fills in” those shadows to provide uniform illumination and a more pleasing portrait. Also, to keep your subjects from squinting in bright sunlight, ask them to turn their backs to the sun. That puts their faces in shadow, which you’ll then illuminate with the flash.

6. Memorize the Shooting Range of Your Flash.
Although they are convenient, built-in flash units are not very powerful and underexposed flash pictures in dark places are often the result. To avoid underexposures (or overexposures) with your flash, memorize its operating range. How distant (or close) can your subject be for a proper exposure? The flash range of a point-and-shoot camera may only be 3 to 12 feet. Caution: the flash range will change as you adjust your camera’s zoom lens; check the instruction manual.

7. Set a Higher ISO for Sharper, Non-blurred Images, and Greater Flash Range.
Keep in mind that adjusting your camera’s ISO to a higher number, such as ISO 800 instead of ISO 100, automatically sets smaller lens openings for more sharply focused images, as well as faster shutter speeds for stop-action, non-blurry pictures. It also extends the maximum distance range of a built-in or dedicated flash unit. Unfortunately, a very high ISO, such as ISO 1600 or 3200 (if available) may cause unwanted effects in digital images called artifacts. Take some test pictures at different ISO settings to compare the results.

8. Read and Reread Your Camera Manual (and our Digital Photo Book).
Most new camera owners look at the instructions only once or twice, if at all. But modern digital cameras, whether point-and-shoot or SLR (single lens reflex) models, are not as simple as their advertisements suggest. Study the instruction booklet until you’re familiar with all of the camera’s buttons, symbols, and picture possibilities. If you lose the instructions or forget to bring them on a trip, log onto your camera manufacturer’s Web site and download a copy of the manual.

9. Compose Pictures with Your Viewfinder, Not the LCD.
Unless you’re taking close-ups, it is easier, faster, and steadier to compose pictures by using your camera’s viewfinder (if available) instead of the LCD screen. There is more support with the camera pressed to your face as you look through the viewfinder instead of trying to hold it steady at arm’s length while composing subjects on the LCD screen. Also, you won’t be bothered by bright light that makes it difficult to see images on the LCD.

10. Don’t Let the Date and Time Deface Your Pictures.
Make sure your camera is not set to automatically print the time and date of your shots on the front of your pictures; it will ruin their appearance. Besides, you should be aware that the time and date are embedded in every photo image file as hidden metadata that can be viewed at anytime with image-editing software on your computer.

©2009 Tom Grimm and Michele Grimm, authors of The Basic Book of Digital Photography: How to Shoot, Enhance, and Share Your Digital Pictures
Tom Grimm and Michele Grimm, authors of The Basic Book of Digital Photography: How to Shoot, Enhance, and Share Your Digital Pictures, are a husband-and-wife photojournalism team who have spent nearly four decades traveling the globe; the couple has visited every continent and more than 130 countries in search of the perfect photographic image. Their photographs and articles have been published worldwide in magazines and newspapers and on the Internet. The Grimms are authors and illustrators of thirteen adult and children’s books.

For more information, please visit www.TomGrimm.com and www.amazon.com.

As if decking the Halls, and scheduling everyone’s holiday schedule isn’t stressful enough, it’s that  time of year when all of us seem to be scrambling to find the perfect gift for the people we love, the ones we only get to see once a year if we are lucky! Can I get an Amen? Hopefully, I can help you out in your quest, and you may be surprised that you can find everything you need in a shoebox in the closet and a computer.

It’s no secret how I found my profession and passion. I remember it well, a spring ... Read More »]]>

As if decking the Halls, and scheduling everyone’s holiday schedule isn’t stressful enough, it’s that  time of year when all of us seem to be scrambling to find the perfect gift for the people we love, the ones we only get to see once a year if we are lucky! Can I get an Amen? Hopefully, I can help you out in your quest, and you may be surprised that you can find everything you need in a shoebox in the closet and a computer.

It’s no secret how I found my profession and passion. I remember it well, a spring day 12 years ago I had this overwhelming urge to get the family together for a family photo. No one could juggle their schedules to get together and the issue was dropped. It really bothered me but what can a girl do? Three days later my father died suddenly of a heart attack. I realized at that moment that every “thing” I was ever going to get from my father I owned, and every photo I had of him was already taken.

A few years later, my cousin presented me with a photo of me and my father embracing.  Obviously nothing fancy, but priceless!

You guess it! My gift giving ideas are all about photos!

The digital age has transformed the way we view our photos and has made it incredibly simple to reproduce and share.

One of my favorite sites for digital cards is www.smilebox.com.  Their creations can turn your photos into a mini slide show while having the look and feel of a greeting card. I use this company for every birthday and special occasion.

One of my “go to” companies for professional slideshows is www.emotionmedia.com. You can upload your photos directly from your computer, select your music and it will arrive on your doorstep within the week! E Motion Media will do all the work for you.

For online slide shows visit www.vimeo.com.

If you want to turn a photo into jewelry www.kimbrastudios.com is a wonderful place to visit. For men they have belt buckles, money clips, and key chains. For women, there are necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and so much more! Their designs are made out of sterling silver so need to worry about the “cheese” factor! Simply beautiful craftsmanship!

www.flashbags.com is a great place to make your own photo bags. Want to give someone a tote or a purse with special photographs? Flash Bags are wonderful and don’t break the bank.

And one more idea just for you, if you are giving a book you can turn the pages into a treasure trove by using photo splits to affix old photos throughout the book. Not only is the book a real page turner the photos are a nice added touch.

Turn your photos into gift tags. When you use photo gift tags there is no reason to read the tags just look at the photo. You will be amazed at how much people comment on the gift wrapping. Suddenly, your tag is a gift for the gift!

Let me know your ideas and what you like to do with your photos.

Coming soon a article just for decorating with photos at Holiday time!

Looking forward to getting to know each other better!

“In November 2008, with full support of my husband, I opened my online photography store. One week after the opening, I sold my first poster. It made me even more confident with my own photography. In the same month, we bought my first DSLR. Photography has become one ... Read More »]]>

Juliana RW is a freelance writer and amateur photographer. Born in Jakarta – Indonesia, she currently lives in the Netherlands.  She began her interest in photography the day her son was born. It all started by capturing  her new baby Jason and then she began to work with nature photography around her neighborhood.

“In November 2008, with full support of my husband, I opened my online photography store. One week after the opening, I sold my first poster. It made me even more confident with my own photography. In the same month, we bought my first DSLR. Photography has become one of my hobbies and passions. I am glad that I could turn this hobby into a small business that I could do from home. In January 2009, I opened my online graphic store.”

“What inspires me to do all those things is because it helps me build up more confidence and earn a little bit extra money to help us through our financial situation. Photography and digital graphics are my passion. My plan for the future: keep creating and making more products with my photos.”

You will find more about Julian at: Juliana’s Site, Picturing of Life, My Imaginary Travels and Juliana’s Bits & Pieces.

A fun craft for any child birthday is to create a character photo op. We made this one so that the children could stand behind it and wear the cowboy hat. All you need is:

* 48″ dowel, ¾ inch in diameter (available at the hardware store) * Two wire ties * Hot glue * Razor/box cutter * Sheet of craft board * Western shirt, jeans and vest * Plastic sheriff badge * Cowboy hat * Rope for belt * Bandana

Have your child lie down on the craft board and draw an outline of him/her. (You’ll notice that our cowboy is a little bowlegged and has one arm raised). Cut ... Read More »]]>

A fun craft for any child birthday is to create a character photo op. We made this one so that the children could stand behind it and wear the cowboy hat. All you need is:

* 48″ dowel, ¾ inch in diameter (available at the hardware store)
* Two wire ties
* Hot glue
* Razor/box cutter
* Sheet of craft board
* Western shirt, jeans and vest
* Plastic sheriff badge
* Cowboy hat
* Rope for belt
* Bandana

Have your child lie down on the craft board and draw an outline of him/her. (You’ll notice that our cowboy is a little bowlegged and has one arm raised). Cut the board out using the razor and then poke holes in the center of the chest and at the belt level. Insert your wire ties and secure the cutout to the dowel. Now dress your cutout and secure the clothing with hot glue if necessary. (Tip: We used an old shirt and jeans and cut them to fit the child size.) Pin on your sheriff badge, insert the dowel in the ground (in front of a hay bale if you have one) and set the cowboy hat on top. The kids will have a great time and you’ll get fun pictures for your scrapbook.