Details
  • cameranone
  • iso100
  • Shooting styleHand Held
  • Lenscanon 28-90
  • Exposure0,+2,-2
  • SoftwarePhotomatix ProPhotoshop
  • Shoot numberMultiple Exposure
  • File formatRAW
  • Notesnone
  • Photo by : pandarino
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This deteriorated horse carriage of Sultan Pakubuwono X, the tenth ruler of Surakarta (Solo), can be found in the museum of the Karaton Palace in Surakarta, Middle Java.


Details
  • camera : Nikon D300
  • iso : 200
  • Shooting style : Tripod
  • Lens : Tokina 116 ATX 11-16mm f/2.8
  • Exposure : -2, -1, 0, +1, +2
  • Software : Photoshop, Photomatix Pro, Others
  • Shoot number : Multiple Exposure
  • File format : RAW
  • Notes : none
  • Photo by : wocram

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Details
  • camera : Canon EOS Rebel 300D
  • iso : none
  • Shooting style : Hand Held
  • Lens : none
  • Exposure : none
  • Software : Others
  • Shoot number : Single RAW File
  • File format : none
  • Notes : none
  • Photo by : syldeles59
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Older one ...made with panasonic lumix dmc-fx12 and 7 expositions 


Details
  • camera : Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX12
  • iso : 100
  • Shooting style : Tripod
  • Lens : none
  • Exposuren : one
  • Software : Photomatix Pro
  • Shoot number : Multiple Exposure
  • File format : JPEG
  • Notes : none
  • Photo by : Martin_vlk (www.martinvlkfoto.wgz.cz)
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A tattoo shop called "Sleep Hollow" located in Milford, CT. The theme of the shop is Halloween and the legend of Sleepy Hollow New York. They have this clown sitting in the corner in an old fashioned wheel chair. Gives a lot of people the creeps!
  
Details
  • camera : Canon EOS Rebel T2i
  • iso : 100
  • Shooting style : Hand Held
  • Lens : 18-200
  • Exposure : -2 -1 0 1 2
  • Software : Others, Photoshop, Photomatix Pro
  • Shoot number : Multiple Exposure
  • File format : RAW
  • Notes : Lightroom > Photomatix > Lightroom > Photoshop > HDR Creme
  • Photo By : fritzphotography
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Taranco Palace, located in front of the Plaza Zabala, in the heart of the Old City of Montevideo, Uruguay, is a palace erected in the early 20th century during a period in which the architectural style was influenced by French architecture. It was designed by French architects Charles Louis Girault and Jules Chifflot León who also designed the Petit Palais and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This colonial building contains Uruguayan furniture and drapings and currently contains the Museum of Decorative Arts in Montevideo. The palace is often used as a meeting place by the Uruguayan government.

The palace was formerly the residence of the Taranco Ortiz family, who commissioned the construction of the building in 1907 and it was completed in 1910. It was erected on the site of Montevideo's first theatre in the historical theatrical centre of the city which had been built in 1793. In 1943 the Uruguayan state purchased the residence and part of the furniture, and gained access to its works of art but it wasn't until 1975 that it was fully transferred to the Uruguayan state and it became a National Historic Landmark in 1979.



Details
  • camera : Nikon D7000
  • iso : 200
  • Shooting style : Tripod
  • Lens : AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105 mm
  • Exposure : From -2 to +2 (Steep 2 EV)
  • Software : Photomatix Pro, Photoshop
  • Shoot number : Multiple Exposure
  • File format : RAW
  • Notes : none
  • Photo By : Rcuello

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Long Pier in Harvey Bay QLD Australia, 5 shot HDR


Details
  • camera : Nikon D700
  • iso : 100
  • Shooting style : Tripod
  • Lens : nikon 20mm 2.8f
  • Exposure : 5
  • Software : Photomatix ProPhotoshop
  • Shoot number : Multiple Exposure
  • File format : RAW 
    Notes : none
    Photo By : Laddy
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 Details

  • camera : Nikon D300
  • iso : 200
  • Shooting style : Tripod
  • Lens : Nikkor 18-200mmVR
  • Exposure : -3,0,+3
  • Software : Photomatix Pro
  • Shoot number : Multiple Exposure
  • File format : RAW
  • Notes : Topaz Adjust and DeNoise
  • Photo by : Digicam
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Recently, royalty free photography has experienced a surge in popularity. By understanding the background of photography royalties, amateur and more experienced photographers can learn how to submit and protect their photographs.
With advances in technology, the Internet and digital photography, thousands of photographs can now be accessed and downloaded for use on websites, in brochures and as illustrations for other products. With such open access to photographs, the landscape for selling and purchasing these photos has changed. Traditional rights-managed or contracted photographs have become the expensive alternative to royalty free photographs.

What are photography royalties?
Photography royalties refer to the money paid to a photographer each time the photograph is used commercially.

When is a photograph royalty free?
Royalty free photography is photography that can be licensed for continued use by a single user for a one-time fee. Different from rights-managed photography that has a per use fee, royalty free photography allows the purchaser to use the picture multiple times (although usually a limited number) without additional fees.

Who can use royalty free photographs?
Anyone who purchases the rights to a royalty free photograph can use it, within the limits of the agreement. Generally, agreements allow the purchaser to use the photograph a specific number times while forbidding him to sell or license the photograph to a third party.
Individuals or a business may purchase royalty free photography. If a business purchases the photographs, the license may limit the people that have the right to use the images. If this number is exceeded, another license may be required or additional fees may be charged.

How can royalty free photographs be used?
Royalty free photographs can be used for private or commercial use, including personal or business websites, company brochures, unique artwork, presentations and advertisements.
Most royalty free photography agreements have clauses that the photographs cannot be used in a defamatory way towards the creator. Also, the photographs may have decency guidelines, stating that the photographs cannot be altered to portray a pornographic scene that would violate the government’s standards of decency.

How can amateur photographers submit work on royalty free photography websites?
The internet has many websites that offer royalty free photographs. Each company has its own regulations for submitting work to be used in a royalty free capacity.
Some organizations, like the International Library of Photography, set up contests for amateur photographers to submit their photographs. Winners are selected from the applicants to have their photographs added to the website’s collection of royalty free photographs.
Other companies, like PhotoSpin.com, accept low-resolution samples of your photography for review. They evaluate the submitted photographs and contact you if they’re interested in using your photographs on their site.
Shutterstock is an example of a firm that has a less rigorous screening process to encourage amateur photographers. Interested photographers can upload their royalty free photographs to websites that automatically include the photos in their collection.
The best way to know the requirements of a company that deals in royalty free photography collections is to visit the company’s website. If, after reviewing the site, you’re still not sure of their policy, contact the company directly.

How can photographers protect their photographs?
Since copies of digital photographs are usually the same quality as the original, photographers can have trouble protecting their photographs from unauthorized use. To limit unauthorized use, new digital copyright protection techniques have been created. These techniques include:
  • encryption: Some companies embed virtual “fingerprints” on photographs in their collection. While such fingerprints are invisible to the naked eye, they can reveal ownership information when used with Photoshop software.
  • low-resolution distribution: This technique allows interested buyers to review photographs only as “thumbnail” images. While this method keeps the photograph from being illegally duplicated, it tends to dissuade buyers from purchasing the photograph, since they can’t see it clearly.
  • watermarks: Similar to “proof” markings on physical photographs, this method superimposes a semi-transparent watermark over a photograph, preventing the theft of an image directly from a computer screen.
Although none of these techniques is completely secure, each helps a photographer protect his copyrighted royalty free photographs.
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Street Photography, also known as straight photography, refers to the body of photography that uses scenes from everyday life for its subjects. While street photography can focus on shots of streets, it may also focus on parks, malls, parades or any other urban center or celebration. While it is a subset of documentary photography, street photography differs from traditional documentary photography in that it documents a portrait of the world, rather than a specific subject.

Similarly, although street photography may have a social or political message, it tends to center more on an ironic statement relating to its subject directly, instead of commenting on all similar subjects. Essentially, the intent of street photography is to function as mirror that directly reflects its immediate subject.

While it may seem counterintuitive, black and white prints tend to be the main medium of street photography. By eliminating color, the photographer pulls the views focus into the action or onto his subjects, preventing distraction from garish color.

The history of photography highlights the time from 1890 to 1975 as the heyday of street photography.
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Night Photography, as the name suggests, refers to the practice of taking photographs outside at dusk or during the night. Due to the lack of light available in night photography, photographers would traditionally use artificial lighting or long exposure times to make sure that the film would be properly exposed. These days, powerful flashes, as well as digital cameras, make better use of available light (such as the moon) in a night scene.

Night PhotographyTwo photographers who paved the way for night photography were Brassai, who took pictures of Paris at night, and Bill Brandt, who took night photos of London during the WWII blackouts.

However, Michael Kenna of Great Britain is possibly the most famous night photographer to date. His black and white cityscapes, as well as his pictures of textile and power plants, sold well during the 1990s.

If you are just begining to dabble in night photography, experiment with your camera’s manual setting to evaluate with ones work better in conditions of varying light. Keep in mind that most digital cameras have a night setting.
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Infrared Photography refers to the area of photography in which photos are taken with film sensitive to infrared light. In infrared photography, the filter only allows the infrared wavelengths, not the wavelengths of visible color, to pass through and produce an image. Visible color wavelengths range from 400 nm (nanometers) to 700 nm; infrared wavelengths range from 700 nm to 1200 nm. Most modern cameras have an infrared setting.

Although infrared photos can present everyday images in a new light, they can also highlight objects that aren’t commonly visible to the naked eye.

Infrared Photography
During the 1960s, infrared photography was especially popular in the designs of musician album covers. Jimi Hendrix was one of the more famous musicians who used the psychedelic feel of infrared photography to produce a trippy effect. However, professional photographers, such as Elio Ciol, have also used infrared photography for subtle aesthetic effect.

While people and animals can be subjects of infrared photography, cityscapes are more popular images rendered through an infrared lens. For example, top-down views that show the layout and infrastructure of the city are commonly shot through the infrared setting. Most often, infrared photography is a tool for professional photographers and scientific researchers, rather than hobbyists and amateurs.
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Holography refers to the area of photography that is dedicated to producing holograms and other three-dimensional images. Holography works by transferring an image onto film or photo paper with a laser and then developing it with laser or another light source.

This avenue of photography is also known as lensless photography due to the fact that it reproduces images without the aid of a lens. While physicist Dennis Gabors is credited with fathering holography in 1948, it wasn’t until 1960 that lasers were involved in producing three-dimensional hologram images.

The DVD laser is one of the most notable instances of how holography technology infiltrates our modern life. Similarly, refinements in holography lasers have made them accessible to low-budget researchers and artists.
Yet, while conventional modes of holography revolve around still, permanent images, new methods of creating dynamic holograms are becoming more popular. These dynamic holograms, also known as “real-time” holograms, that allow the information contained within the hologram to be updated frequently. Although real-time holography is not used extensively in the realm of photography, it is central to the aerospace and fiber optics industries.
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Gothic photography is an elusive term that is almost as hard to define as Goth culture itself. Although some Goth photography is dark, somber and macabre, the subjects of gothic photography can be more diverse than cemeteries and desolate landscapes. Goth photography may include portraits that range from being serious and fetishistic to playful and darkly humorous.

Goth Culture
As a product of the Goth subculture, gothic photography can be understood only through having an understanding of Goth culture.
Gothic Photography
The Goth subculture began over the late 1970s and early 1980s. Initially part of the punk scene, Goths gradually diverged from punks to take on a distinct identity.
Rather than ignore the darker side of life, Goth culture accepts and focuses on death, suffering and pain. However, this doesn’t mean that Goths deny life and positive emotions. Instead, they have an interest in areas of life that non-Goths usually view with discomfort.
While Goth fashions tend towards predominantly black and white colors, reds and purples also play a role. Yet, like any area of fashion, individual tastes come into play. While some Goths favor fishnets and the lacey fashions of 18 th century costumes, other Goths prefer more industrial or leather-based fashions.
Goth culture, and Goth photography, is ultimately about a willingness to see beauty in the disturbing or morbid. Goth is as diverse as the writings of Poe and the lyrics of contemporary Goth bands.

Black and White Goth Photography
Because of the centrality of the colors black and white to Goth culture, black and white film is a natural choice for Goth photography. By removing color from photographs, black and white Goth photography can concentrate on the interplay of light and shadows. Cemetery photos are popular, whether or not people are present in the picture.
Black and white film lends Goth photography a mysterious, nostalgic feel. Similarly, the timelessness of the black and white tones helps gothic photography set scenes that remind the viewers of life, death and other such constants.

Sepia Hues and Gothic Photographs
Sepia options are available on many digital cameras. While sepia is a monochrome color scale (like black and white), it uses a brown-scale, rather than grayscale. With an early 1900s feel, sepia tone can produce ghostly, surreal images.

Gothic Photography Subjects
Goth photography subjects include both landscape and portraiture. Cemeteries, unusual headstones and crumbling architecture are all popular gothic photography subjects.
Some common themes for a gothic photographer may revolve around decay, isolation or desolation. Yet, gothic photography also can have a playful, even erotic, side. The PVC and leather outfits popular among Goths easily lend themselves to fetish photography, often with a nod towards 1950′s pin-up and leather goddess Betty Paige.

Gothic Landscapes and Structures
Landscapes are common images in gothic photography. Unlike traditional landscapes, the gothic tone may not stress the beauty or color of a scene but a mood of isolation and somberness. Moors, rocky precipices and barren fields are possible subjects for gothic photography.
When taking pictures of tombstones and architecture, Goth photography often employs low angle shots, making the structure appear to tower over the viewer. Conversely, Goth photography may use macro settings to zoom in on details or imperfections in structures to stress fragility and impermanence.

Natural Goth Photography
Although nature photography may seem antithetical to gothic photography, nature provides plenty of gothic inspiration. One example of natural gothic photography would be a spider web or a macro shot of a spider trapping its prey. Other subjects for natural gothic photography include:
  • an animal (with the proper lighting) that appears ghostly
  • an old bone lying on the grass
  • road kill at a low angle so that it appears eye level in the print.
Posing for Gothic Photography
Posing for Goth photography depends on the nature of the photo shoot. A photographer can capture the mysterious, languid feel of Victorian pre-Raphaelite paintings with the subject reclining on old stairs, kneeling by graves or staring dreamily into the distance.
Posing for fetishistic gothic photography takes an entirely different tactic. Studying some of the “naughty” 1950s pin-up girls (especially Betty Paige) could be of value for aspiring fetish photographers. Other Goth photographers may wish to suggest suicide or murder or feature vampires and post-mortem themes. The key in all cases is to strive for an alternative, slightly macabre feel.
As part of the Goth subculture, Gothic photography focuses on the mysterious, the paranormal and the macabre.
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Fashion Photography is the area of photography that concentrates on taking pictures of clothing or accessories (on models or alone) to be published in fashion magazines, advertisements or circulated among designers.

Fashion Photography
Baron Adolphe de Meyer is credited as the first fashion photographer. In 1913, Meyer took the first fashion photographs for Vogue. Modern fashion photography can be done with a commercial or aesthetic twist. Fashion shots tend to be taken in exotic locales with dramatic lighting.
Some of the more noted fashion photographers include Phillipe Halsman, Helmut Newton and Herb Ritts. Vogue, Bizarre and Life magazines have all been noted sources of fashion photography.
Fashion photography tends to be a credible watermark of beauty ideals of a given era, as well as an indicator of the political and social climate. For example, with the enduring Iraq War, fashion trends (and, consequently, fashion photography) display a remarkable increase in fatigue-print clothing.
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War photography changed how people perceived war and how news publications reported armed conflict. While people may not fully understand the grim reality of war by reading a news article, they often immediately grasp it by viewing graphic pictures of war.
War photography has always been controversial, both in terms of the explicit nature of combat photography and potential military censorship of images. Both issues are as true to day as they were when Mathew Brady’s team first took pictures of the American Civil War during the 1860s.

War Photography History
The American Civil War marked the first time a team of photographers took pictures of war. The resulting photos of battle and death shocked the public, who were used to seeing war portrayed as a romantic, noble endeavor.
While combat photography had been around for over a century before World War I, not many pictures were taken during this war due to extensive military censorship. Combat photography during World War II prompted both patriotism and public outrage, culminating in the horrific pictures of the Nazi concentration camps.
Since the Second World War, war photos have become almost commonplace. The Vietnam War proved war photography could sway public opinion against a war.
Famous war photos from the Vietnam era include one of a little girl running as she burned from a napalm attack and one of the massacre of Vietnamese villagers by U.S. troops in My Lai.
In recent years, war photography has covered the Gulf War and the invasion of Iraq. In both cases, war photos influenced both supporters and protestors of the wars.

Combat Photography Dangers
Combat photographers place themselves in great danger to capture pictures of war. Although international law protects journalists and photographers, both are still targets in a war zone.
In addition to the dangers inherent to a war zone, war photographers are sometimes deliberately targeted, abducted or executed. Evidence of this has become clear with the abduction of journalists during the Iraqi War.

War Photography Subjects
War photos cover a wide range of subjects, both on and off the battlefield. Pictures of war and combat are only one possible subject for war photography. Often combat photography shows images of the aftermath of conflict, depicting destroyed buildings and casualties.
Combat photography has been accused of desensitizing the public to scenes of violence and death. However, many war photos attempt to put a human face on war. Such war photos might include a portrait of an exhausted soldier, civilians fleeing a hot zone or the sad features of a child caught in a war zone.
While the subjects of war photography are varied in nature, pictures of prisoners of war (POWs) are considered to be off-limits to this genre. Although military groups do air photos of captured prisoners, war photos of POWs are considered an unnecessary humiliation.
Terrorist groups operating in Iraq have broadcast images of captured American military personnel to the outrage of the American public. American forces themselves came under fire for publishing a photo of Saddam Hussein after his capture.

War Photography and the Public
War photography can have powerful effects on the general public. Sometimes war photos reinforce the belief that the war is justified, stirring up feelings of patriotism and solidarity within the troops. Such pictures show a country’s forces in a positive light or depict crimes committed by the opposing forces.
However, pictures of war can have the opposite effect, turning public opinion against a military campaign. Vietnam War photos are a prime example.
A steady stream of images of American dead in Vietnam slowly turned popular sentiment against the war, as the public began to believe the war was not worth the lives of so many U.S. soldiers.
Combat photography can also prove that a country’s own soldiers are capable of atrocities, a fact that can quickly turn public sentiment against a war. A country’s public generally wants to believe in the decency of their armed forces. Combat photography that contradicts this belief, such as war photos of the massacre at My Lai, can quickly turn pubic support into public outrage.

War Photography and the Military
The power of combat photography is not lost on military organizations. The right war photos, published at the right time, can either serve as demoralizing propaganda or as a rally for public support.
The history of war photography shows that pictures of war can turn public sentiment against war. As a result, the military tends to see combat photography is a double-edged sword.
During the 20th century, various military and paramilitary groups have attempted to censor or use war photography for their own ends. In countries that value freedom of the press, censorship inevitably brings the military into conflict with journalistic freedom.
To be fair, the military must walk a tightrope: Too little censorship can put military forces in jeopardy on the battlefield or cause them to lose public support. Too much censorship causes the public and journalists to wonder what’s being hidden.
The Gulf War saw the U.S. military attempt to control almost all journalism and combat photography in the war zone. Critics believed that the military was attempting to “sanitize” the war and avoid negative reactions. Similar charges have been made during Operation Freedom in Iraq.

Combat Photography Today
War photos have often been decried as too gruesome or violent for the public. Attempts by the military (in any country) to control pictures of war have led to what some call a whitewashed portrayal of war.
War photos released of smart bombs striking buildings are not as personal as pictures of dirty, exhausted combatants. Some have claimed military-sanctioned war photos attempt to portray the image of a war without casualties.
One fact remains clear: For better or worse, combat photography influences how we see war and conflict.
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For most of the history of photography, black and white photography was a photographer’s only choice for taking pictures. Even when color became available, black and white photos were initially of better quality and less expensive to develop than their color counterparts.
As its quality improved, color film became a more popular choice for photographs, causing black and white photography to decline in popularity.
However, at present, black and white photos are enjoying a revival. Photographers are rediscovering the power and timeless nature that black and white film can lend to photos.

Black and White PhotographyWhy Take Black and White Photos?
With the vibrant colors available in modern film and with digital cameras, why opt for black and white photos at all? Depending on the subject, a photographer may use black and white film to create a stark, somber tone for his photos. This quality has paved the way for black and white photography in photojournalism.
The vibrancy of color can, at times, actually detract from the desired photographic effect. Subtle effects of texture and lighting that can be lost in color photographs will stand out in black and white photography.
Black and white photos can add an air of romance, class, timelessness and mystery to otherwise ordinary photographs. A run-of-the-mill color photo may look entirely different when seen in black and white. For this reason, both wedding and gothic photography have embraced the timeless quality of black and white photos.

Black and White Photography Tips
Without the distraction of color, other elements of photography stand out in black and white photos. Consequently, the photographer must pay extra attention to lighting, textures and the basic photography composition within his viewfinder’s frame.

Framing With Light and Shadows
Black and white photos emphasize the play of light and shadows without the distraction of color. This is both a strength and weakness for black and white photos. In the right lighting conditions, black and white photographs are beautiful. However, when taken in the wrong light, black and white images may look washed out or too dark.
Because shadow and light play such a key role in the effect of black and white photography, two pictures of the same subject can create very different looks at different times of the day. Imagine the play of light through trees. The contrast between dark tree trunks and light will look very different on a sunny afternoon than on a misty morning. In both cases, however, the mood achieved with black and white photography is still powerful.

Because light and shadow come to the fore in black and white photography, play with the framing in your pictures. Taking black and white photos framed by, say, the branches of a tree or an architectural arch can produce beautiful effects.
Color Conundrums
Black and white photography is a good choice when the colors in a scene just don’t work together. A photo of a loving couple hugging, for instance, can look awful if the colors of their clothing clash. In such cases, opt for black and white to avoid colors that can distract the viewer’s eye.
Texture
At some point, a photographer may want to capture the texture of a specific object, such as a tree trunk, rock face or the wrinkles and lines in an older person’s face. Because color can detract from texture photographs, experiment capturing textures of your subject with black and white film.

Timeless Subjects
Black and white photography gives photos a timeless, nostalgic feel simply by the absence of color. Color often dates a picture either because the original colors in the print have faded or because the popularity of colors in the photo can be traced back to a certain generation (i.e., rusty oranges and pea greens are a trademark of the 1970s). Black and white photography circumvents this problem.
When aiming for a timeless feel to a landscape or architectural photo, try to avoid anything that might date the photo: cars, posters, telephone poles and other items. Wedding photos often work well with black and white photography, as wedding dresses and tuxedos don’t suggest a specific time period when color isn’t a factor.
Because clothes can also date a photo, try a head portrait rather than a full-figure photo.

Black and White Photos Go Digital
While black and white photographs reach back to the very origins of photography, digital cameras represent the forefront of photo technology. At first glance, the two might not seem to go together. Yet, digital cameras have enhanced the advantages of black and white photography.
Many digital cameras now have black and white settings. Keep in mind that the effectiveness of these settings depends largely on the quality of the camera.
If a digital camera’s black and white setting doesn’t produce good quality photographs, you can still produce them with a few extra steps. Take the photo using the camera’s normal color settings, then use the camera’s editing software to turn the photo into black and white on your computer. Computer software allows a photographer to alter a picture’s contrast and brightness to improve the quality of black and white photos.
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Ballistics Photography refers to the area of photography concerned with taking pictures of bullets being fired from a gun or bullets penetrating their respective targets. The techniques involved with taking ballistic related photos are similar to those for any other subject of high-speed photography, such as pictures of splashing liquids or popping balloon.
As with any other specialized area of photography, ballistics photography demands a certain set of equipment. In addition to a high-speed flash, a photographer may also need a cable release and a trigger to align the flash with the event. The trigger, perhaps the most important piece of equipment, activates the camera to take the picture based on either the sound or light emitted from the high-speed event.
While a bullet shot out of a gun will have a trigger that is rigged to go off based on the sound of the gun being fired, the trigger will be set to be light-sensitive if it is attempting to capture a flash of lightning. For sound triggered shots, a photographer may also want to use a microphone to make the trigger extra sensitive to perceiving the first whispers of sound.
Although ballistic photography may be taken for artistic effect, it most often comes into play for scientific research and experiments.
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Wedding photos are among the most important photos a married couple ever owns. Because wedding photography allows you and your mate to revisit your big day, choosing a photographer you trust is particularly important.

Choosing a Wedding Photographer
Choosing a photographer to trust with your wedding photos takes time. For this reason, couples should start considering what they want from their wedding photographer early in their wedding plans. Remember, the best wedding photographers can be fully booked up to a year in advance, especially during the summer. Start looking early.
Choosing a photographer requires a little detective work. Ask family, friends or recently married coworkers for referrals: some of the best wedding photographers are often referred by previous clients. You might want to ask for advice on wedding photographers from other wedding service providers. Your caterer or wedding planner may know of wedding photographers you’ve overlooked.
Interviewing more than one photographer is recommended when choosing a photographer. From the moment you make contact, start evaluating how professional you think the photographer is. Phone calls should be returned promptly, and you should be treated with courtesy and respect.
Wedding PhotographInsist on seeing samples of the photographer’s recent wedding photos. A good photographer will be willing to provide these, along with referrals from former clients. Beware the photographer who seems unwilling to display his work or offer up references.
Your vision of your wedding photos should be a priority to the photographer. Don’t let him or her try to force you into a “preset” set of wedding photos. By the same token, you should choose a professional who knows what works and is willing to tell you if something won’t. Communicate your ideas but be willing to compromise your vision.

Wedding Photographer Contracts
As you’re choosing a photographer, remember to discuss the contract. A wedding photo contract is essential because it protects both you and the photographer.
Items that should be covered in a contract for wedding photos include:
  • the name of the wedding photographer
  • the exact date and time of the wedding, reception and photo shoot
  • the total price of the wedding photography services
  • the exact services the wedding photographer will provide
  • the date when wedding photo proofs will be ready.
Some wedding photographer contracts state that the photographer has the exclusive right to take pictures at the wedding. This would mean family members would be unable to take any wedding photos.
You may wish to negotiate some aspects of the wedding photos contract. This should always occur before signing the document. Many photographers are willing to discuss changes if you give them advanced notice.
While it’s not included in the wedding photography contract, the photographer’s demeanor on the wedding day should also be discussed prior to the event. Explain to your photographer your expectations for dress and attitude for the event. Whether you’re having a laid back or a more formal ceremony will have a bearing on how the photographer acts and takes your wedding pictures.

Wedding Photos Budgeting
Wedding photos can be costly. In fact, wedding photos are among the most expensive purchases made for the wedding. For this reason, a couple should balance cost with quality when purchasing their photos. Cutting costs too much can result in poor quality wedding pictures.
Some wedding photographers, especially those who are booked months in advance, offer payment plans that can ease the financial sting. However, most wedding photo payment plans do require that the photographer’s services be paid for in full by the wedding date. Again, financial considerations are dealt with in the photographer’s contract and, therefore, should be settled before your wedding day.

Videotaping Weddings
Because videotaping weddings has become popular, some wedding photo studios offer videotaping services. Keep in mind that a wedding photographer cannot videotape and take wedding pictures at the same time. Consequently, couples should plan for the cost of a professional video cameraman if they wish to have a video or DVD of the event in addition to traditional wedding photographs.

Staying Flexible
Couples should be flexible with their plans for wedding photos. After all, circumstances tend arise that neither you nor the photographer can control. For example, no one guarantee a rain-free wedding day. A good wedding photographer should be able to adapt to a changes of venue. Having a plan B ahead of time is a good idea for both you and your photographer.
Many couples now plan for at least some black and white photographs in their wedding photos. Black and white photos give a wedding album a timeless feel. The traditional wedding attire of tuxedos and wedding dresses look fantastic in black and white.
Black and white wedding photos have another advantage. If the weather is overcast or it’s raining on your big day, color wedding photos can look dreary. With black and white film, the color of the sky isn’t a problem: dreary raindrops that ruin color photos tend to look romantic in black and white wedding photos.
Planning wedding photos is very important. Your wedding photographs will provide a lifetime of important memories. Choosing a photographer to take wedding photos, then, is a serious matter for most couples.
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Fine Art Photography, also known simply as art photography, refers to the branch of photography dedicated to producing photos for purely aesthetic purposes. Fine art photography, housed in museums and galleries, is mainly concerned with presenting beautiful objects or ordinary objects in beautiful ways to convey intensity and emotion.
Much of art photography is produced in limited quantities and, at times, is used in advertisements or magazines.
Fine Art Photography
However, because each person has an individual view of what constitutes beauty, deciphering what is or isn’t fine art photography is entirely subjective. Another challenge in the world of fine art photography is the fact that photography is a relatively new medium of art, as compared to painting or music.
While it can be aligned with fashion photography, fine art photography generally lies in opposition to documentary photography that exists primarily for utilitarian purposes.
Many colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate programs in fine art photography. Some of the more noted fine art photographers include Albert Sands, Timothy O’Sullivan and Carleton Watkins.
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Underwater photography equipment is more advanced than it has ever been. Even so, taking excellent underwater photos relies on technique as much as on equipment. By understanding the unique challenges of underwater photography, you can produce good quality underwater photos.

Underwater Photography Equipment
Underwater photography equipment varies considerably in type and quality. Of course, inexpensive disposable underwater cameras are readily available at tourist spots. However, these cheaper varieties produce cheap, poor quality pictures. The best thing that can be said about underwater disposables is that they are cheap: you get what you pay for.
Underwater PhotographyFortunately, much better underwater photography equipment exists. Self-contained underwater digital cameras vary wildly in price, quality and options. Various camera models also vary in their maximum water depth. While some will flood in as little as ten to twenty feet of water, others are good at recreational diving depths and beyond. Bear in mind that a flooded camera is a useless camera.
Among the underwater photography options available for both traditional and digital cameras are underwater housing units. A housing unit is a plastic unit that encloses a land camera to adapt it to underwater photography. Housing units allow a photographer to take good quality land cameras into the water.
Housing units come with rubber rings that must be rubbed with diving silicon to achieve a watertight fit. The silicon must be applied correctly in order to be effective. Too little or too much silicon will both cause the housing unit to leak. The ring must also be free of grit, sand, dry sea salt residue, hairs or other debris. If it’s clogged in any way, the housing ring will not be watertight. Water leaking into the housing unit can ruin your camera.

Underwater Photos and Magnification
Above the water, the camera sees at the same level of magnification as your eyes. The same cannot be said for underwater photography. Many budding underwater photographers are shocked to discover that that huge fish they photographed underwater looks much smaller in their photo. Another common problem is that a subject is inadvertently chopped in half by one side of the photo.
Light refracting through water and the diver’s mask magnifies everything seen underwater by approximately 25 percent. In other words, that four-foot nurse shark is, in reality, only three feet long.
In practical underwater photography terms, the refraction of light means that what you see won’t be exactly what you get, unless your eye and the camera lens are exactly parallel. Digital cameras with LCD screens have an advantage here, as you can check what the camera sees even as you take the picture. Unfortunately, as LCD screens consume a large amount of battery power, using them may drastically shorten your timeframe for taking underwater photos.

Underwater Photography Focusing
In underwater photography, the ideal focus occurs three to four feet in front of the camera. Due to water refraction, it takes a little practice to determine exactly where this is, as opposed to where your eyes think it is due to the mask distortion. Stretch out your hand underwater. Have your diving buddy do the same and touch fingers. The length from you shoulder to hers is approximately four feet.

Steady . . .
Motion is more important in underwater photography than regular photography. While subjects on land might be moving, everything’s moving underwater: your subject, the background, your diving buddy, air bubbles and even you are in constant motion as you move with the water’s currents.
Because of this, underwater photography beginners should start small. Underwater photos of coral, crustaceans, eels hiding in coral outcrops and other relative immobile or slow moving critters are good starting subjects for underwater photos.
Watch for fin kick-up when taking underwater photography. A flurry of sediment kicked up by your fins can obscure underwater photos and scare off potential photo subjects.

Underwater Photography Lighting
Light refraction is another factor that can affect underwater photography. The deeper you go underwater, the less light you get. As you go deeper and deeper, red colors disappear first. The color spectrum gets progressively narrower the deeper you dive.
To compensate for restrictions in the color spectrum, underwater photographers use strobe flashes to provide the missing portions of the color spectrum. Strobes provide much-needed color for underwater photos taken at that magic range of three to five feet. Specific types of strobes are required for different depths.

Underwater Photography Practice and Preparation
Practice is the key to successful underwater photography. As with any type of photography, the more you practice, the better your underwater photos become. In time, the diver develops a feel for underwater photography, improving his or her photos. By all means, practice before spending your life savings on that Great Barrier Reef trip!
Snorkeling is a great way for divers to practice basic underwater photography. Snorkelers don’t encounter the lighting problems divers must deal with at greater depths. Similarly, snorkeling is a great way to become accustomed to water magnification, light refraction and water motion.
Preparation is also important. If you know you’ll be diving in areas with fast-moving fish, set the camera to fast shutter speeds and high-speed exposures before you dive. A diver has little enough dive time to take underwater photos without fiddling with the camera just as the perfect shot swims into view.
Underwater photography presents challenges not seen in normal photography. The photographer must retrain his or her eyes to see objects in a different way. Start practicing to make your underwater photos spectacular!
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Glamour photography is a sexy, romantic form of photography meant to be erotic without being pornographic. Posing for glamour shots has been common for models and movie stars for years. Because of glamour photography’s allure, many advertisements use glamour photography to catch people’s eyes and interest.
Glamour Photo
Because glamour photography is featured in magazines, advertisements and other widely circulated mediums, it is a lucrative industry. Consequently, many institutions of higher learning offer course (or degrees) in glamour photography.

Glamour Photography History
Glamour photography is redefined by every generation depending on the social and political currents of the time. In the 1940s, pictures of “pinup” girls were considered glamourous. Pictures of Betty Grable, one of the most popular glamour photography models, were carried to war by hundreds of GIs. Glamour photography from the war era featured models either fully clothed or wearing swimsuits.
Over time, glamour photography has become more risquT. By the 1960s, models were posing for glamour shots in skimpier clothing, smaller bathing suits, lacy lingerie or partially nude.
Women have most often been the subject of glamour photography, probably because men were usually behind the camera! While today women are still posing for glamour shots more than men, men are gaining a stronger presence in the realm of glamour photography.

Glamour Photography is Not Pornographic
While posing for glamour photography can mean posing nude or partially clothed, glamour photography is not intended to be pornography. At most, glamour photography consists of erotic pictures taken within a general consensus of good taste. A full evening gown can be just as much a part of glamour photography as a nude photo that tastefully hides the model’s genitals.
Glamour photography relies on the power of suggestion, alluding to curves and erogenous zones without actually showing graphic details. Consequently, glamour photos carry a tone of mystery and romance, as much as physical allure. Playfulness is also a key part of part of glamour photography, as if the model were flirting with the viewer. The crudeness of pornography should not be part of a glamour photography shoot.
While the model is the central feature of glamour photos, other aspects light lighting and soft filters are key to producing a professional looking glamour shot. Like fashion photography, glamour photography locations are either in studio or at exotic locations.
For example, Maxim is one of the more popular magazines that exhibits glamour photography. In contrast, Playboy is a more pornographic magazine and, therefore, not considered to be a display of glamour photography.

Why Glamour Photography?
Why is posing for glamour photo shots so popular? People become interested in glamour photography for many reasons. While models may wish to pose for glamour shots for their job portfolios, advertisers use glamour photos to sell their products.
Sometimes, glamour photos are for personal rather than commercial use. The person posing for glamour shots may intend to give someone special the photo as a present. Others may enjoy posing for glamour shots to get a taste of being the center of a glamorous life. Being the center of a photo shoot, made up with alluring clothing, can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
Posing for Glamour Shots
Posing for glamour shots requires that the model trust and feel comfortable with the photographer, especially if the person being photographed is not used to modeling. Most people feel self-conscious and possibly silly posing for glamour shots. Experienced photographers are considerate, striving to create a trusting, comfortable atmosphere.
Talk with potential photographers before posing for glamour shots. Discuss what types of poses, dress and attitude you want the resulting photos to contain. Do you want the glamour photography to have a mysterious or nostalgic theme? Do you want to present a loved one with a “cheesecake” or “beefcake” photo? Or do you have a specific theme in mind?

The Cheesecake or Beefcake Picture
A cheesecake photo refers to an erotic photo of a scantily dressed woman that is meant to be a pinup photo. Similarly, a beefcake shot is a seductive picture of a male for pinup purposes

Preparing for a Glamour Photography Shoot
Before going into the shoot, assess the degree to which you’re comfortable with nudity or partial nudity. If you aren’t comfortable with something, let the photographer know before the shoot. A photographer who tries to “force” the shoot by insisting on certain conditions isn’t the best choice for amateurs posing for glamour shots.
However, once you’ve discussed your intentions and limits, trust the photographer. Listen to his direction during the glamour photography shoot–you’re paying him for his professional expertise, after all. You can also collaborate with him by offering your own suggestions. Posing for glamour shots can be a fun experience that may provide you with photos you (and others) will never forget.
Glamour photography has been around since at least World War II when American GIs took pinup pictures of Betty Grable to war. Since then, posing for glamour photographs has become a popular way to present a spouse or loved one with a uniquely sexy photo. While glamour photography can include nude shots, more often it features a partially or even fully clothed model.
Glamour photographers of note are Herb Ritts, Beverley Goodway and Harrison Marks. Similarly, famous glamour models include Bettie Page, Lena Li and Sydney Moon.
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Macro photography, also known as macrophotography, refers to taking pictures of small things at close range. Although macro photography traditionally referred to taking pictures with a sensor that is larger than the subject, it currently includes taking pictures in which the image appears at least as large as it does in reality. The advent of digital cameras has made macro photography more accessible to the general photographer. Yet, professional macro photography with traditional cameras requires a keen awareness of lighting, focus and lens requirements.
Traditionally, macro photography is defined as any photo in which the subject has a 1:1 ratio with the photo negative. This means that the image of the subject on the negative is exactly the same size as the real life subject. So, no magnification is used.
Macro Photography
With the development of digital cameras, the old definition of macro photography has begun to change. Today, zoom lenses and magnification are often used for macro photography. Macro photography requires a number of different accessories, including a macro lens, an extension tube to attach a lens to the camera and a reversing ring (an attachment allowing the photographer to attach the lens backwards). Other tools, such as a close-up lens or a telephoto extender, may also enhance macro photos.
The concept of macro photography is becoming more inclusive: if a tool or technique improves the final picture, use it!

Macro Photography Subjects
Any small object can be a subject for macro photography. A good macro photo reveals details and textures in the object that can’t be observed with normal photography or by an undiscerning eye. By definition, macro photography subjects are endless! Because macro photography enhances the details of its subject, nature serves as an excellent subject for them. For photographers just beginning to experiment with macrophotography, here are some possible subject ideas:
  • baby feet or fingers
  • butterfly wings
  • clockwork gears
  • clothes with unusual textures
  • feathers
  • fern fronds
  • flower petals
  • insects
  • sea shells
  • spider webs.
Images for macro photography can be limited only by the photographer’s imagination. While nature provides the most obvious subjects for macrophotography, common items around the house are also possible subjects.

Traditional Macrophotography
Macro photography with a traditional camera requires the use of an SLR, or single-lens reflex camera. An SLR camera shows the image in the lens through the viewfinder in its exact dimensions. When working with macrophotography even a slight deviation between what is seen in the viewfinder and what the lens captures can ruin a photo.
The SLR camera must be fitted with a lens that supports macro photography. There are two types of macrophotography lens: a “macro zoom lens” and a true macro lens.
A macro zoom lens is, essentially, a magnification lens that attaches to the camera. This lens produces pictures that are of inferior quality to those rendered by a true macro lens. However, the macro zoom lens is considerably less expensive and is a good choice for the beginning macro photographer.

Digital Macrophotography
Many digital cameras come with macro photography settings, greatly increasing the number of amateur photographers interested in macro photography.
Once the camera is set to macrophotography, the photographer only has to zoom in on the subject and take the picture. The LCD screen is one of the key digital camera tools used in macrophotography. Using the LCD screen, the photographer can get closer to his or her subject and can quickly check the photo to see if a retake is needed.
However, the LCD screen consumes battery power, so bring extra batteries if you’re planning to take many of these shots.

Macro Photography and Camera Control
Macro photography requires a very steady camera hand: the slightest camera movement can result in a blurry picture, especially if the camera is zoomed in for the close-up. While a tripod improves Macro photography pictures, the location of some nature subjects means that tripod use isn’t always possible.

Wind, even a small breeze, can move a macrophotography subject enough to cause blur on the picture. To avoid this, try to prevent the wind from reaching the subject. Taking the photo at a very high shutter speed helps catch a clear image when wind is a factor.
 
Macrophotography and Light
Lighting can be a problem for macro photography. Although flashes may provide needed light in some cases, they can also provide too much brightness when the subject is close to the camera. To get around this, place external flashes further away from the subject.
Another possibility for lighting macro photography is a light reflector. Light reflectors are available in camera stores and come in white and gold finishes.
Whether done with a manual or digital camera, macro photography pictures can reflect the beauty of an insect, small coin, flower, or any other small and overlooked item.
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Documentary Photography refers to the area of photography in which pictures are used as historical documents. Rather than serving as a source of art or aesthetic pleasure, documentary photography is often used to incite political and social change due to its ability to capture the “true” nature of an image or location. In simple terms, this school of photography uses pictures as documented evidence of a particular situation.
Lewis Hine and James Van DerZee are two of the pioneers of documentary photography. While documentary and artistic photography are considered to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, Paul Strand is one of the few photographers famous for slyly blending these two opposing schools through his avant-garde style.
Oftentimes, pictures taken in the vein of documentary photography tend to be shocking, grotesque, vivid and intense to prove a point and evoke a viewer’s emotions. Some of the most common examples of documentary photographs are featured in modern newspapers and magazines.
Through these images, the public learns truth information about cultural, political and environmental situations. Given this fact, it is no surprise that documentary photography exploded into the American consciousness during the Great Depression of 1930s when photographers were documenting the pervasive poverty.
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Photojournalism is an area of photography dedicated to taking accurate shots of current events. The basic mission of a photojournalist is to take pictures to accompany a news story (whether it is broadcast or published in a newspaper). However, truly great photojournalism pictures should tell the story BEFORE the text or broadcaster does.
Photojournalism pictures attempt to capture the viewer’s attention and emotion to entice him to continue listening to or reading about the story. Think of newspaper covers with large, dramatic shots of the latest current event: these pictures reflect the articles’ titles while adding a dynamic edge to story by visually communicating the pathos of the event.

Photojournalists and Ethics
PhotojournalismA key aspect of photojournalism is to present accurate pictures that don’t compromise the integrity of the actual situation. Consequently, altering pictures with computer software is considered taboo among serious photojournalists and news organizations. This code of ethics is one of the central features of photojournalism that distinguishes it from other areas of photography.
Careers in photojournalism can be destroyed by even a hint of photo manipulation. For this reason, many photojournalists prefer to use traditional film rather than digital cameras. Although digital cameras allow photojournalists to review photos immediately in the field, digital images are easier to manipulate than film negatives.
Manipulating images can seriously damage a publication’s reputation, as happened in 1994 when ex-football player OJ Simpson was arrested on suspicion of murder. Both Newsweek and Time Magazine ran cover pages appearing to feature Simpson’s mug shot. Time, however, ran a photo-illustration based on the mug shot. While the magazine noted the image was a photo-illustration inside, a casual observer of the magazine cover would not be aware of this.
The issue caused a scandal, including accusations that Time was pursuing a racist agenda and presupposing Simpson’s guilt. The respected magazine’s reputation was badly damaged by the fiasco, highlighting the need for image integrity in photojournalism.

Photojournalism Art
P hotojournalism is primarily a practical form of photography, especially given the importance of maintaining the integrity of the scene. However, the field of photojournalism may also be considered to be an art form in its own right. Scene composition, choices of angles and lens choices all determine the impact and power of the resulting shots.
In recent years, more and more art galleries have displayed pieces of photojournalism, lending it more respect as an art form. Working within the boundaries of photojournalism ethics and still producing art can be compared to writing haiku poetry: part of the beauty or impact comes from how the photographer (or poet) works within the genre’s restrictions.
The definition of photojournalism as art does raise some problems for the standing ethics of photojournalism. While image manipulation is taboo for photojournalists, does this restriction apply to photojournalism used as art? If photojournalism images are manipulated in the name of art, people may be less willing to trust the images they see in newspapers and magazines.

Photojournalism Careers
Odd though it may sound, comic books have inspired more people to consider careers in photojournalism. Jimmy Olsen (Superman creator) and Peter Parker (Spiderman inventor) hearken back to the days when a camera and a good eye for detail were all that were essential for careers in photojournalism. (By the by, Peter’s tendency set up his camera to take pictures of himself as Spiderman go against the deepest ethics of photojournalism. For shame, Spidey, for shame!)
Today, courses or degrees in photojournalism or professional photography are often requirements for careers in this field. While this doesn’t mean that a talented amateur photographer can’t break into the field, editors are more likely to consider hiring someone with formal training. Courses in photojournalism are available at some colleges and most photography schools.

Photojournalism Examples
The best photojournalistic pictures inspire the emotion of the scene within the viewer. Some of the more recent examples of photojournalism have been the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the Iraqi War.
Good examples of photojournalism engage viewers and make them want to read the accompanying story. Perhaps the most powerful examples of photojournalism in recent memory were the images taken of the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001.
Images of the hijacked planes slamming into the towers shocked people worldwide. For many, these images continue to linger in and haunt the memory long after the words in the news articles have been forgotten. Such examples of photojournalism convey the power and responsibilities of the professional photojournalist.
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