by Christina VanGinkel
I have been focusing on the things I can do with my home printer more lately than I ever thought I would. What got me started was a photograph that I had done in a studio a few years ago. It was inexpensive, and I never saw the actual photograph itself outside of its finished, framed form, as I had ordered it matted and framed. So, when I accidentally shattered the glass when I was moving it the other day, I was shocked to see that though it was printed on very thin paper, it still looked great. The more I looked at it; I was able to determine that it had been printed on an early version of a home printer. This really did not shock me, as I recall the photographer at the time going on about her new equipment, and that she was doing some of her printing in house on a new color photo printer, and that is why she was doing the prints so inexpensively
Now a few years down the line, it still looked great, done in sepia tones to look as if it was printed at the turn of the century. I was thinking of this when I saw some pendants an acquaintance of mine had made. She had taken photographs of various objects, printed them on her home printer in color, black and white, sepia tone, and assorted effects. They were printed relatively tiny, and were encased behind glass and trimmed with wire. Some were set like a cabochon, but with glass over the front of the pictures. Little wonders, beautiful, and made for a fraction of the cost over what a focal bead would cost. She also does stained glass, and I believe that technique somehow plays a part in how she assembles these.
The most amazing part of it is though, that without access to a computer and printer, these never would have been accomplished, and yet so many of us take our computers and photo printers for granted, as if we have always had technology of this degree available. It is all so relatively new, that many of us are just starting to spread our wings when it comes to ways to put these fantastic resources to use, outside of printing our family's vacation photos, and filling our latest scrapbook pages.
The next time you are taking photos, reflect on all the possibilities that exist for putting your finished photographs to use. Think about the capabilities that lie within your computer and printer for both altering the photos and the infinite ways to print them. Think of how to put them to use beyond filling a frame or pasting into a scrapbook. Snap away a whole days worth of prints, print them off, and assemble under glass over your coffee table. Try some of the different papers available for running through your home printer that allows you to create iron-on designs and decals. Get creative, try something new, and most of all, have fun!
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Touching Up Digital Photos
Everyone who owns a digital camera knows how much more versatile they are compared to their film counterparts. You have many features that you can switch off and on at the touch of a button, and you can preview and delete any photos that don't quite measure up to your standards. Even when you get a good photo on your digital camera, it's probably not the absolute best it can be. So before you print your pictures out on your own or take a CD full of snapshots to a store for printing, review the images on your computer. Then use some photography software, more properly called graphics software, to enhance your pictures.
Even when you think your pictures look pretty good on your screen, graphics software can make them much better. One of the most well-known and trusted graphics software programs is Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop is an extremely powerful tool that takes most people a long time to master. There are lots of features and the user interface looks a bit complicated at first. Don't let that scare you off, though. There are some very simple and quick touch-ups that you can perform without having to wade through several user's manuals. For those of you who might balk at the $600 or so price tag, there is a scaled-down version called Photoshop Elements. There are fewer features, but beginning users won't even know what's missing.
One common problem in photos is redeye. This has ruined more film pictures for me than I can count. But redeye can be fixed quite easily in Photoshop. In fact, the software that came with your digital camera probably has a redeye removal tool. The exact steps for removing redeye depend on the software you have, but it's pretty easy to figure out.
The other quick fixes that you can perform have to do with color and brightness. These functions can be found under the "Enhance" tab in Photoshop. The first thing you can do is click Enhance and then Auto Levels, which ought to brighten your picture up a bit. Remember, if you don't like what your picture looks like after any of these steps, you can just click the Undo arrow. Next, go into Enhance again, and click on Color, and then click on Hue/Saturation. Play with the slide bar until you get the colors in your picture to a hue that you like. This step can really make your pictures look great by making the colors come alive. The last thing I like to do is click on Enhance, and then Brightness/Contrast. Again, just move the slide bar until you like what you see on the screen. You might find you don't even need to change anything here.
This is what I do to every digital photo I take before printing. These four simple steps help ensure that all my pictures are free from redeye, are bright, and are alive with color. Try it for yourself and see what a difference it makes!
Even when you think your pictures look pretty good on your screen, graphics software can make them much better. One of the most well-known and trusted graphics software programs is Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop is an extremely powerful tool that takes most people a long time to master. There are lots of features and the user interface looks a bit complicated at first. Don't let that scare you off, though. There are some very simple and quick touch-ups that you can perform without having to wade through several user's manuals. For those of you who might balk at the $600 or so price tag, there is a scaled-down version called Photoshop Elements. There are fewer features, but beginning users won't even know what's missing.
One common problem in photos is redeye. This has ruined more film pictures for me than I can count. But redeye can be fixed quite easily in Photoshop. In fact, the software that came with your digital camera probably has a redeye removal tool. The exact steps for removing redeye depend on the software you have, but it's pretty easy to figure out.
The other quick fixes that you can perform have to do with color and brightness. These functions can be found under the "Enhance" tab in Photoshop. The first thing you can do is click Enhance and then Auto Levels, which ought to brighten your picture up a bit. Remember, if you don't like what your picture looks like after any of these steps, you can just click the Undo arrow. Next, go into Enhance again, and click on Color, and then click on Hue/Saturation. Play with the slide bar until you get the colors in your picture to a hue that you like. This step can really make your pictures look great by making the colors come alive. The last thing I like to do is click on Enhance, and then Brightness/Contrast. Again, just move the slide bar until you like what you see on the screen. You might find you don't even need to change anything here.
This is what I do to every digital photo I take before printing. These four simple steps help ensure that all my pictures are free from redeye, are bright, and are alive with color. Try it for yourself and see what a difference it makes!
Photo Shoot: Acapulco!
If you want some exotic photographs of a tropical paradise, grab your photography equipment and head for the steamy and exciting "city that never sleeps". . . Acapulco, Mexico.
You will most likely never feel a temperature below 65 degrees while visiting here, so although you may want to take a thin jacket for evenings, you most likely won't need to use it. Even during the coldest part of the year, Acapulco is usually in the low 80s.
Acapulco is known for its exciting nightlife, so if you happen to be a photographer by day and enjoy the nightlife later in the day, this would be a perfect choice of vacation destination for you.
One of the top photographic opportunities offered here is that of the glorious sunsets. For some reason the colors seem brighter and deeper here, and it usually shows on photographs. There will be some great foreground options for your pictures, too, from this paradise of a city.
There are many beaches to be found that complement those exquisite sunsets, and also a great opportunity for photography. If you happen to be an underwater photographer, the snorkeling is excellent here. And for still another water activity, check out one of the many cruises that are offered that board at Acapulco. Each company has its own amenities, so be sure to compare before you choose one to make sure you're getting exactly what you want.
If you want to try to capture some great sports shots, be sure to see the La Quebrada cliff diver shows. They perform daily with the last show of the day being a torch-lit presentation after dark. If there's something about this spot that seems familiar and you haven't watched any of the sports coverage of the divers, it is the same cliff that Elvis used in his movie "Fun in Acapulco." Many other movies have also taken advantage of the cliffs in their storylines.
You will be able to catch some diving shows as well as dolphin shows at the CICI Water Park. Again, if you do water photography, it is possible to arrange to swim with the dolphins.
If you are visiting during bullfighting season (November through April) you will be able to get some unique shots if this is the sort of thing you would enjoy photographing. Acapulco has the second largest arena for this sport in Mexico.
If your idea of "paradise" includes some tropical birds, you will find over 50 acres of land with such birds at Papagayo Park. There is also a fully sized Spanish galleon at this site, as well as a garden and lagoon.
There are countless opportunities in Acapulco for the photographer. Just a few other options to mention include:
-- The El Fuerte de San Diego. This was a fort used long ago when pirates tried to invade this area. There is a museum located at this site as well.
-- Visit the aquarium, take some shots at the sea lion show, ride a boat with a glass bottom, or rent a jet ski at Magigo Mundo Marino.
-- Either take a glass bottom boat or go diving to see the famous Virgin of Guadalupe statue (sunken statue).
You will most likely never feel a temperature below 65 degrees while visiting here, so although you may want to take a thin jacket for evenings, you most likely won't need to use it. Even during the coldest part of the year, Acapulco is usually in the low 80s.
Acapulco is known for its exciting nightlife, so if you happen to be a photographer by day and enjoy the nightlife later in the day, this would be a perfect choice of vacation destination for you.
One of the top photographic opportunities offered here is that of the glorious sunsets. For some reason the colors seem brighter and deeper here, and it usually shows on photographs. There will be some great foreground options for your pictures, too, from this paradise of a city.
There are many beaches to be found that complement those exquisite sunsets, and also a great opportunity for photography. If you happen to be an underwater photographer, the snorkeling is excellent here. And for still another water activity, check out one of the many cruises that are offered that board at Acapulco. Each company has its own amenities, so be sure to compare before you choose one to make sure you're getting exactly what you want.
If you want to try to capture some great sports shots, be sure to see the La Quebrada cliff diver shows. They perform daily with the last show of the day being a torch-lit presentation after dark. If there's something about this spot that seems familiar and you haven't watched any of the sports coverage of the divers, it is the same cliff that Elvis used in his movie "Fun in Acapulco." Many other movies have also taken advantage of the cliffs in their storylines.
You will be able to catch some diving shows as well as dolphin shows at the CICI Water Park. Again, if you do water photography, it is possible to arrange to swim with the dolphins.
If you are visiting during bullfighting season (November through April) you will be able to get some unique shots if this is the sort of thing you would enjoy photographing. Acapulco has the second largest arena for this sport in Mexico.
If your idea of "paradise" includes some tropical birds, you will find over 50 acres of land with such birds at Papagayo Park. There is also a fully sized Spanish galleon at this site, as well as a garden and lagoon.
There are countless opportunities in Acapulco for the photographer. Just a few other options to mention include:
-- The El Fuerte de San Diego. This was a fort used long ago when pirates tried to invade this area. There is a museum located at this site as well.
-- Visit the aquarium, take some shots at the sea lion show, ride a boat with a glass bottom, or rent a jet ski at Magigo Mundo Marino.
-- Either take a glass bottom boat or go diving to see the famous Virgin of Guadalupe statue (sunken statue).
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Digital Camera Movie Mode
Many of the digital cameras you find on the market today have a variety of fun and useful features. For example, you can easily switch between many different shooting modes depending on your subject and lighting conditions. Most cameras have a sports mode for action shots, a close-up mode for detailed shots, and maybe even a special mode for nighttime pictures. One of the best features of digital cameras, however, has to be the movie mode.
The exact specifications of the movie mode (or if your camera even has one) will depend on the make and model that you have, of course. But in general, movie modes allow you to record between one and two minutes of live footage, with sound and everything. The data is saved on your camera's memory card, usually in the form of an mpeg file. You can record as many of these mini movies as your memory card will hold. Later, you can upload the file to your computer and play the video back using Windows Media Player, or the equivalent. Most cameras allow you to watch videos in the preview window, just as you would be able to review regular photos.
This movie mode feature is great because of the versatility that it affords you. Instead of having to lug around your digital camera plus a camcorder on your next vacation, you can just bring the digicam. I don't know about you, but I never shoot more than a couple of minutes at a time with a real video camera anyway, so it doesn't bother me that the recording time on the digital camera is so short.
Movie mode can add a lot to your collection of vacation photos. You can take all your regular pictures, of course. Then when you get to a really interesting place or if you find something unique that you want to explain, you can switch over to movie mode and record your findings that way. The movie files are small enough that they can still fit onto the same CD as the rest of your photos, making it very easy to stay organized.
Another great use of the movie mode is for sharing videos with family or friends who live far away. For example, my husband's parents live quite a long way away from us, so they naturally complain that they are missing out on a lot of their grandson's "cute" toddler antics. They are too impatient to wait for us to fill a whole standard videotape, and they don't get as much satisfaction from seeing still photographs all the time. So what we do now is record my son on our digital camera's movie mode as he's playing or whatever. Then we coordinate a time to "meet" with my husband's parents online via one of the instant messaging services. Next, we transfer the newly minted mpeg movie file of our son using the instant messenger's file transferring feature. Since we both have high-speed internet connections, it only takes a couple of minutes to transfer the small files. The result is that my in-laws can watch a lot of short videos of my son engaging in everyday activities. They feel more connected to him and don't feel as though they're missing out as much. It's a nice compromise.
As you can see, there are many good uses for your digital camera's movie mode. Try it out today!
The exact specifications of the movie mode (or if your camera even has one) will depend on the make and model that you have, of course. But in general, movie modes allow you to record between one and two minutes of live footage, with sound and everything. The data is saved on your camera's memory card, usually in the form of an mpeg file. You can record as many of these mini movies as your memory card will hold. Later, you can upload the file to your computer and play the video back using Windows Media Player, or the equivalent. Most cameras allow you to watch videos in the preview window, just as you would be able to review regular photos.
This movie mode feature is great because of the versatility that it affords you. Instead of having to lug around your digital camera plus a camcorder on your next vacation, you can just bring the digicam. I don't know about you, but I never shoot more than a couple of minutes at a time with a real video camera anyway, so it doesn't bother me that the recording time on the digital camera is so short.
Movie mode can add a lot to your collection of vacation photos. You can take all your regular pictures, of course. Then when you get to a really interesting place or if you find something unique that you want to explain, you can switch over to movie mode and record your findings that way. The movie files are small enough that they can still fit onto the same CD as the rest of your photos, making it very easy to stay organized.
Another great use of the movie mode is for sharing videos with family or friends who live far away. For example, my husband's parents live quite a long way away from us, so they naturally complain that they are missing out on a lot of their grandson's "cute" toddler antics. They are too impatient to wait for us to fill a whole standard videotape, and they don't get as much satisfaction from seeing still photographs all the time. So what we do now is record my son on our digital camera's movie mode as he's playing or whatever. Then we coordinate a time to "meet" with my husband's parents online via one of the instant messaging services. Next, we transfer the newly minted mpeg movie file of our son using the instant messenger's file transferring feature. Since we both have high-speed internet connections, it only takes a couple of minutes to transfer the small files. The result is that my in-laws can watch a lot of short videos of my son engaging in everyday activities. They feel more connected to him and don't feel as though they're missing out as much. It's a nice compromise.
As you can see, there are many good uses for your digital camera's movie mode. Try it out today!
Photo Shoot: Cairo!
Is it possible to shoot a bad picture while in Egypt and standing in the Valley of Kings with your photography equipment? This is one of the most impressive places in the world for avid and amateur photographers alike to utilize their craft.
It needs to be mentioned first that you will need to have your passport up to date and be sure you have your visa in time. Because of its location, you will also want to make sure that there aren't any current travel advisories to Egypt issued by the State Department.
When Egypt comes to mind, one of the first icons that most people will envision is that of the Great Sphinx. You will be able to get some incredible pictures in the Giza area, and the Sphinx is just one of them. Be sure to go back at different times of day for your photo shoots and you may capture a great sunset in the background.
You may enjoy visiting the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. It is an open market and since it is the most "famous" market of this type in the city, you could most likely find better prices elsewhere, but perhaps not better pictures. While visiting the bazaar, look across from it and you will see the ancient and very beautiful El Azhar Mosque.
Another mosque found in Islamic Cairo is the Sultan Hasson Mosque and Madrassa. These extremely beautiful and aged buildings make excellent subjects for photographs.
What mention of Egypt would be complete without pointing out the spectacular pyramids? You will definitely be snapping a lot of photo shots from this area. If you are into low light or nighttime photography, there is a sound and light show at the pyramids and sphinx three times every night and all those monuments are lit.
You will be able to see some magnificent views of Cairo from the Citadel in Islamic Cairo. There are other things to see and do in the citadel, too, including a palace, mosques, and museums.
Another option for a photographer that should not be missed is taking a cruise along the Nile. There are numerous companies that offer the cruises and many of them are dinner cruises. Do some research to choose which cruise you would rather take because each company has a different show and food, etc.
For a sort of living history museum slash sort of a theme park, try Dr. Ragab's Pharaonic Village. You will be riding a barge and seeing actors presenting scenes from Egyptian history. There is a reconstructed temple here as well as a reproduction of King Tut's tomb. There will be places that you can walk as well as ride the barge. This attraction is on the banks of the Nile.
To get some unique pictures that aren't necessarily thought of when Egypt comes to mind, try seeing the Egyptian National Circus. This is a late-night show and there are many acts that will make superior photographs. Some of the acts you will see are lion and tiger acts, acrobats, and poisonous snakes. A circus wouldn't be complete without the clowns and magic show, and the Egyptian National Circus offers those, too. Be aware that at various times of the year, this circus goes traveling to other parts of Egypt.
It needs to be mentioned first that you will need to have your passport up to date and be sure you have your visa in time. Because of its location, you will also want to make sure that there aren't any current travel advisories to Egypt issued by the State Department.
When Egypt comes to mind, one of the first icons that most people will envision is that of the Great Sphinx. You will be able to get some incredible pictures in the Giza area, and the Sphinx is just one of them. Be sure to go back at different times of day for your photo shoots and you may capture a great sunset in the background.
You may enjoy visiting the Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. It is an open market and since it is the most "famous" market of this type in the city, you could most likely find better prices elsewhere, but perhaps not better pictures. While visiting the bazaar, look across from it and you will see the ancient and very beautiful El Azhar Mosque.
Another mosque found in Islamic Cairo is the Sultan Hasson Mosque and Madrassa. These extremely beautiful and aged buildings make excellent subjects for photographs.
What mention of Egypt would be complete without pointing out the spectacular pyramids? You will definitely be snapping a lot of photo shots from this area. If you are into low light or nighttime photography, there is a sound and light show at the pyramids and sphinx three times every night and all those monuments are lit.
You will be able to see some magnificent views of Cairo from the Citadel in Islamic Cairo. There are other things to see and do in the citadel, too, including a palace, mosques, and museums.
Another option for a photographer that should not be missed is taking a cruise along the Nile. There are numerous companies that offer the cruises and many of them are dinner cruises. Do some research to choose which cruise you would rather take because each company has a different show and food, etc.
For a sort of living history museum slash sort of a theme park, try Dr. Ragab's Pharaonic Village. You will be riding a barge and seeing actors presenting scenes from Egyptian history. There is a reconstructed temple here as well as a reproduction of King Tut's tomb. There will be places that you can walk as well as ride the barge. This attraction is on the banks of the Nile.
To get some unique pictures that aren't necessarily thought of when Egypt comes to mind, try seeing the Egyptian National Circus. This is a late-night show and there are many acts that will make superior photographs. Some of the acts you will see are lion and tiger acts, acrobats, and poisonous snakes. A circus wouldn't be complete without the clowns and magic show, and the Egyptian National Circus offers those, too. Be aware that at various times of the year, this circus goes traveling to other parts of Egypt.
Disposable Cameras
While some might view disposable cameras as too cheap to produce high-quality pictures, that is largely untrue, and for many people they are a viable picture-taking option.
What Are They?
Disposable cameras are cameras that are meant to be used once. They function just like traditional point and shoot cameras. The camera itself is made of cardboard and plastic, and you turn the entire camera in to be developed. A number of film companies make disposable cameras, including Kodak and Fujifilm, although there are also various store brands available.
Advantages
Disposable cameras are convenient and cost-effective. You never have to worry about replacing batteries or exposing the film as you load it into the camera. If you break or lose a disposable camera, you'll certainly be sad that you lost the pictures you had already taken, but you'll be out much less money than if you lost a traditional camera. This makes them ideal for children, although anyone can benefit from a stress-free camera.
There are a few specialty disposable cameras available. Perhaps you want to take panoramic photos of the Grand Canyon but you don't want to invest in an Advantix camera just for that occasion. You can buy an Advantix disposable camera that includes the panoramic setting for a fraction of the cost. There are also underwater disposable cameras available for your diving and snorkeling adventures, or even just for bringing to a pool party. Encased in plastic, they're slightly more expensive than a basic disposable camera, but still far cheaper than any sort of underwater photography gear.
If you would like digital prints, there aren't any disposable cameras out there that automatically take digital photos, but it's simple to turn your pictures into digital files through either choosing to receive a picture CD when you develop your film or later scanning photos you'd like to share with your friends.
Fun and Games
One of the most popular uses of disposable cameras is to gather candid shots at weddings. A disposable camera is placed on each table at the reception and it's up to the guests sitting at that table to take pictures of the events of the evening and each other. There are cameras with specially designed covers that are made just for this purpose, but it's often cheaper to buy standard cameras. It's really up to you if the white lace design is worth an extra few dollars for each camera. When you develop your photos, it will be well worth it to do it at a store that allows you to return photos that you don't want, because there you will inevitably end up with out of focus shots and other accidents of the camera.
Disposable cameras are also popular for scavenger hunts. Whether it's for a club event or just a group of friends, you first come up with a list of things that people should get pictures of (you can get really creative here) and then send out small groups with a disposable camera to hunt down as many photo ops as possible.
What Are They?
Disposable cameras are cameras that are meant to be used once. They function just like traditional point and shoot cameras. The camera itself is made of cardboard and plastic, and you turn the entire camera in to be developed. A number of film companies make disposable cameras, including Kodak and Fujifilm, although there are also various store brands available.
Advantages
Disposable cameras are convenient and cost-effective. You never have to worry about replacing batteries or exposing the film as you load it into the camera. If you break or lose a disposable camera, you'll certainly be sad that you lost the pictures you had already taken, but you'll be out much less money than if you lost a traditional camera. This makes them ideal for children, although anyone can benefit from a stress-free camera.
There are a few specialty disposable cameras available. Perhaps you want to take panoramic photos of the Grand Canyon but you don't want to invest in an Advantix camera just for that occasion. You can buy an Advantix disposable camera that includes the panoramic setting for a fraction of the cost. There are also underwater disposable cameras available for your diving and snorkeling adventures, or even just for bringing to a pool party. Encased in plastic, they're slightly more expensive than a basic disposable camera, but still far cheaper than any sort of underwater photography gear.
If you would like digital prints, there aren't any disposable cameras out there that automatically take digital photos, but it's simple to turn your pictures into digital files through either choosing to receive a picture CD when you develop your film or later scanning photos you'd like to share with your friends.
Fun and Games
One of the most popular uses of disposable cameras is to gather candid shots at weddings. A disposable camera is placed on each table at the reception and it's up to the guests sitting at that table to take pictures of the events of the evening and each other. There are cameras with specially designed covers that are made just for this purpose, but it's often cheaper to buy standard cameras. It's really up to you if the white lace design is worth an extra few dollars for each camera. When you develop your photos, it will be well worth it to do it at a store that allows you to return photos that you don't want, because there you will inevitably end up with out of focus shots and other accidents of the camera.
Disposable cameras are also popular for scavenger hunts. Whether it's for a club event or just a group of friends, you first come up with a list of things that people should get pictures of (you can get really creative here) and then send out small groups with a disposable camera to hunt down as many photo ops as possible.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Photo Album Ideas
We all have our own photo albums that we've maintained over the years. We know how nice it is to be able to relive our most precious memories by looking at pictures. But most people fail to take advantage of the creative possibilities that their photo albums present. Instead of just putting your pictures in the albums nicely and neatly, why not add a little flair to the presentation? You will find that when you get creative with your photo albums and put in a little extra effort, they can make great gifts for friends and family.
What do I mean by "get creative"? Well, the first thing you will need is a pair of craft scissors. Craft scissors are scissors that have fancy edges rather than straight. You can get lots of different shapes, but the most common is probably the scallop edge. When you have your craft scissors, experiment a little bit by snipping away the superfluous backgrounds in some of your pictures. Then instead of the boring straight edges, you will have nice wavy ones. You don't have to stick to rectangle or square patterns, either. Cut out different shapes, such as hearts or circles, or cut in irregular patterns. This will prevent your photo album from having the same boring look page after page.
You might also want to get out some construction paper for your photo album project. With construction paper, you can make simple borders for pictures that will add a splash of fun color and allow them to really stand out. You can also cut out stars, flowers, and other easy shapes to add to the overall theme of your album.
If you want to make your album a personalized gift for someone, don't just limit yourself to photos of people. Take pictures of the intended recipient's favorite things, and make special pages like that. For example, we recently held a farewell party for one of the mothers in our children's playgroup. Among her favorite foods were Doritos and chocolate chip cookies. So we took pictures of open and closed Doritos bags and plates full of homemade chocolate chip cookies for one page in our photo album gift. It might sound a bit corny, but these kinds of pages are always a hit with the recipients.
The great thing about photo albums and pictures is that your presentation options are limitless. You can make the albums as fun or as formal as you wish, and you can tailor them to fit almost any theme you can dream of. They are also very inexpensive to put together, so you can create a personalized album no matter what kind of budget you have to work with.
So the next time you are called upon to give a gift to a friend or family member, why not do something creative with a photo album? You will be giving that special someone a gift from the heart that he or she can treasure for years and years to come.
What do I mean by "get creative"? Well, the first thing you will need is a pair of craft scissors. Craft scissors are scissors that have fancy edges rather than straight. You can get lots of different shapes, but the most common is probably the scallop edge. When you have your craft scissors, experiment a little bit by snipping away the superfluous backgrounds in some of your pictures. Then instead of the boring straight edges, you will have nice wavy ones. You don't have to stick to rectangle or square patterns, either. Cut out different shapes, such as hearts or circles, or cut in irregular patterns. This will prevent your photo album from having the same boring look page after page.
You might also want to get out some construction paper for your photo album project. With construction paper, you can make simple borders for pictures that will add a splash of fun color and allow them to really stand out. You can also cut out stars, flowers, and other easy shapes to add to the overall theme of your album.
If you want to make your album a personalized gift for someone, don't just limit yourself to photos of people. Take pictures of the intended recipient's favorite things, and make special pages like that. For example, we recently held a farewell party for one of the mothers in our children's playgroup. Among her favorite foods were Doritos and chocolate chip cookies. So we took pictures of open and closed Doritos bags and plates full of homemade chocolate chip cookies for one page in our photo album gift. It might sound a bit corny, but these kinds of pages are always a hit with the recipients.
The great thing about photo albums and pictures is that your presentation options are limitless. You can make the albums as fun or as formal as you wish, and you can tailor them to fit almost any theme you can dream of. They are also very inexpensive to put together, so you can create a personalized album no matter what kind of budget you have to work with.
So the next time you are called upon to give a gift to a friend or family member, why not do something creative with a photo album? You will be giving that special someone a gift from the heart that he or she can treasure for years and years to come.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Photo Shoot: Anchorage
If it is at all within your budget, a trip to Alaska's Anchorage will provide one of the best photo shoots a photographer could ask for. There is something for everyone as far as activities are concerned and whether you are a pro or amateur photographer, there will be plenty of things to keep you snapping pictures constantly.
One area that you will most likely want to visit is Prince William Sound. If you enjoy nature photography, you will find some excellent shots whether you are hiking, biking, or even renting a kayak for some unique photographs of the great outdoors.
While in this area, check into one of the many tours that go out for things like whale watching, nature viewing, or one of the cruises that are offered. The cruises are a great choice because they allow shots that are impossible to get anywhere else in the 48 continuous states. You will see (and be able to photograph) things such as glaciers and fjords when you take one of these tours or cruises.
You may find native Alaskans doing storytelling or one of their native dances at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Find out all about the legacy of the native peoples at this relatively new center found at 8800 Heritage Center Drive.
If you want to take some animal and wildlife photographs, try the Alaska Zoo on O'Malley Road. Some well-known species are housed here, but also some more exotic animals such as tigers, camels, yaks, etc. The size of this zoo is 25 acres.
For additional outdoor nature shots, there are numerous lakes around Anchorage. A few of them that you may want to check out are Eklutna Lake, Lake Hood, Campbell Lake, DeLong Lake, Lake Spenard, Goose Lake, and Jewel Lake. Also plan to spend some time in nature at the Katmai National Park and Preserve. There are actually quite a few parks of this type in Alaska and present many opportunities for outstanding photographs.
Don't be surprised if you are just driving along a highway in some part of Alaska and you see that a moose is sharing the road. If you have rented a car, by all means have your photography equipment ready to grab and use on very short notice for things like this or perhaps catching a sight such as a bear fishing for salmon.
You will want to be sure to shoot some pictures of Mt. McKinley while you are spending time in Alaska, of course. Consider hiring a plane tour company for this part of your photo shoot unless you're a climber as well as a photographer.
For quiet time that also allows great pictures, try the Alaska Botanical Garden. It is large with over a hundred acres and you will get some lovely plant and flower shots here.
If all that didn't present enough photo op options, try riding the railroad, rafting the white waters in one of the canyons, or booking a tour to do some dog sled riding. There are so many diverse areas within a short distance of each other that an avid photographer will feel as if he or she definitely struck the jackpot while shooting photographs in the Anchorage area.
One area that you will most likely want to visit is Prince William Sound. If you enjoy nature photography, you will find some excellent shots whether you are hiking, biking, or even renting a kayak for some unique photographs of the great outdoors.
While in this area, check into one of the many tours that go out for things like whale watching, nature viewing, or one of the cruises that are offered. The cruises are a great choice because they allow shots that are impossible to get anywhere else in the 48 continuous states. You will see (and be able to photograph) things such as glaciers and fjords when you take one of these tours or cruises.
You may find native Alaskans doing storytelling or one of their native dances at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Find out all about the legacy of the native peoples at this relatively new center found at 8800 Heritage Center Drive.
If you want to take some animal and wildlife photographs, try the Alaska Zoo on O'Malley Road. Some well-known species are housed here, but also some more exotic animals such as tigers, camels, yaks, etc. The size of this zoo is 25 acres.
For additional outdoor nature shots, there are numerous lakes around Anchorage. A few of them that you may want to check out are Eklutna Lake, Lake Hood, Campbell Lake, DeLong Lake, Lake Spenard, Goose Lake, and Jewel Lake. Also plan to spend some time in nature at the Katmai National Park and Preserve. There are actually quite a few parks of this type in Alaska and present many opportunities for outstanding photographs.
Don't be surprised if you are just driving along a highway in some part of Alaska and you see that a moose is sharing the road. If you have rented a car, by all means have your photography equipment ready to grab and use on very short notice for things like this or perhaps catching a sight such as a bear fishing for salmon.
You will want to be sure to shoot some pictures of Mt. McKinley while you are spending time in Alaska, of course. Consider hiring a plane tour company for this part of your photo shoot unless you're a climber as well as a photographer.
For quiet time that also allows great pictures, try the Alaska Botanical Garden. It is large with over a hundred acres and you will get some lovely plant and flower shots here.
If all that didn't present enough photo op options, try riding the railroad, rafting the white waters in one of the canyons, or booking a tour to do some dog sled riding. There are so many diverse areas within a short distance of each other that an avid photographer will feel as if he or she definitely struck the jackpot while shooting photographs in the Anchorage area.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Coffee Table Photo Books
by Christina VanGinkel
A favorite hobby of mine is photography. Not a professional, and with no glorified aspirations or ideas that I will ever be one, I do, nonetheless, love good photography. One of my favorite ways to express this love, beyond my amateur attempts at actual photo taking, is to surround myself with coffee table books celebrating photography in all its beauty and glory.
Some of my favorites are books that are about specific photographers, such as Ansel Adams. His black and white photos, whether in their full-blown glory or within the pages of a book always leave me wanting to view even more of his work. A favorite book of mine that displays some of his most spectacular work is the hardcover, Ansel Adams: National Park Service Photographers. Some critics have said that this book is a bad representation of his work, and while it surely does not rival his actual work, for the price, I think it is useful as an introduction to his work for someone unfamiliar with his style. AS a coffee table book, I love displaying in it just that manner, to get a discussion going about him with visitors to my home. In it are 125 duotone photos, highlighted within 144 pages, each measuring 10 1/4 x 10 1/4" and published 1995. The photos were initially taken by Ansel Adams when he was hired in 1941 by the United States Department of the Interior. While supposedly a several year project, due to the war it was cut short after only a year. Still, in that short time, Ansel Adams snapped enough photos to more than fill this book with his unique style of landscape photography that I feel no other photographer has yet to rival.
Other favorite books of mine that highlight photography at its best are those put out by Time Life. A new purchase of mine, though actually already a few years old, is 'The American Spirit, Meeting the Challenge of September 11'. It displays photography surrounding the tragic day and the pulling together of our Nation after that fateful day. In addition, while it portrays photography by different photographers, it tells through journaling some very interesting perspectives of the photographers themselves. One in particular, the man who took much of the aerial photography for our government, is unique in the fact that he was picked because of an ad he ran in the Yellow Pages offering twenty-four hour service.
If you are fan of photography in any form, you will surely find coffee table books that will not only inspire you, but also provide you with the opportunity to include in your home touches of photographic art that you may not otherwise be able to afford. Coffee table books are also a great way to open your own eyes to styles of photography that may inspire your own photo taking. Think of a subject that interests you, whether it is travel to a particular destination, wild animals, pets, horticulture, a craft such as beadwork, absolutely anything, and you will most likely find a photo book that has chronicled the details of your interest. Head to your local books tore, or shop online, and you will surely find a book worthy of gracing your coffee table in both photographic glory and a subject that interests you.
A favorite hobby of mine is photography. Not a professional, and with no glorified aspirations or ideas that I will ever be one, I do, nonetheless, love good photography. One of my favorite ways to express this love, beyond my amateur attempts at actual photo taking, is to surround myself with coffee table books celebrating photography in all its beauty and glory.
Some of my favorites are books that are about specific photographers, such as Ansel Adams. His black and white photos, whether in their full-blown glory or within the pages of a book always leave me wanting to view even more of his work. A favorite book of mine that displays some of his most spectacular work is the hardcover, Ansel Adams: National Park Service Photographers. Some critics have said that this book is a bad representation of his work, and while it surely does not rival his actual work, for the price, I think it is useful as an introduction to his work for someone unfamiliar with his style. AS a coffee table book, I love displaying in it just that manner, to get a discussion going about him with visitors to my home. In it are 125 duotone photos, highlighted within 144 pages, each measuring 10 1/4 x 10 1/4" and published 1995. The photos were initially taken by Ansel Adams when he was hired in 1941 by the United States Department of the Interior. While supposedly a several year project, due to the war it was cut short after only a year. Still, in that short time, Ansel Adams snapped enough photos to more than fill this book with his unique style of landscape photography that I feel no other photographer has yet to rival.
Other favorite books of mine that highlight photography at its best are those put out by Time Life. A new purchase of mine, though actually already a few years old, is 'The American Spirit, Meeting the Challenge of September 11'. It displays photography surrounding the tragic day and the pulling together of our Nation after that fateful day. In addition, while it portrays photography by different photographers, it tells through journaling some very interesting perspectives of the photographers themselves. One in particular, the man who took much of the aerial photography for our government, is unique in the fact that he was picked because of an ad he ran in the Yellow Pages offering twenty-four hour service.
If you are fan of photography in any form, you will surely find coffee table books that will not only inspire you, but also provide you with the opportunity to include in your home touches of photographic art that you may not otherwise be able to afford. Coffee table books are also a great way to open your own eyes to styles of photography that may inspire your own photo taking. Think of a subject that interests you, whether it is travel to a particular destination, wild animals, pets, horticulture, a craft such as beadwork, absolutely anything, and you will most likely find a photo book that has chronicled the details of your interest. Head to your local books tore, or shop online, and you will surely find a book worthy of gracing your coffee table in both photographic glory and a subject that interests you.
Friday, June 24, 2005
I'm Ready For My Close-Up
Some people seem to be naturally photogenic. The camera lens eats them up. In photograph after photograph, they look radiant and beautiful. When the camera comes out, they are thrilled to have their picture taken. Not me. I am one of those people who cringes when the camera comes out. I want to run and hide, because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the picture is going to turn out badly. I am NOT photogenic. In every picture, my eyes are so red I look like something out of a horror film. I have more chins than a Chinese phone book. My face is shiny and glare is bouncing off my suddenly huge looking forehead. My red devil eyes are usually half closed, or at least one of them is, and I look stiffly posed and uncomfortable.
If the camera is your enemy as it is mine, here are some tips to help make posing for the camera a more pleasurable experience:
1. Relax. This is easier said than done, I know, but people who look great in front of the camera usually do so because they are not intimidated by having their photograph taken. They are relaxed and at ease, and so they don't come off stiff and looking posed. Here's where having a good photographer comes in handy. A good photographer will help you to relax by engaging you in conversation, playing music and generally helping you take your mind off the fact that your picture is being taken. Try to pretend the camera isn't there and be yourself. You'll eventually get the hang of it and become a much more photogenic subject.
2. Lighten Up. You'll be happy to know that, if your forehead, nose and chin appear to be shiny in photographs, it's entirely the photographer's fault. When photographs are taken under inadequate lighting conditions, the flash is going to find and reflect any little bit of light it can. You can reduce glare by powdering your face before having a photograph taken, but full and adequate lighting is the real key to a glare-free photograph…and forehead.
3. Chin Up. If you struggle with double or even triple chins, make sure you pay attention to the position of the camera. If a photographer shoots you from below, the appearance of double chins is going to be amplified many times over. Again, a good photographer knows to angle his or her lens at eye level or above, but if the amateur family photographer is making the rounds, you're going to have to watch the angle yourself. Become a diva (or divo) and refuse to allow your photograph to be taken from an unflattering angle.
4. The Eyes Have It. Again, lighting is crucial to reduce the appearance of red devil eyes in photographs, as is distance of the flash from the lens. Make sure there is full and adequate lighting in the photography area. Also, if the flash is too close to the lens, there is a higher risk of red eye, so good equipment counts. If you struggle to keep your eyes open for photographs, try this old photography trick. Close your eyes and have the photographer do a countdown before taking the photograph, then open your eyes and have the photographer snap the shot immediately after your eyes are opened.
Remember, the most photogenic subjects are those that are at ease in front of the camera, are themselves and let their personalities shine. Learn to relax and have fun, and you will soon join the ranks of the photogenic.
Copyright (c) 2005 by Leanne Phillips
Older Cameras
By Christina VanGinkel
In all my cleaning, organizing, and sorting I have been doing around my house the last couple of months, I was surprised at how many cameras I turned up, four to be exact, all thirty-five millimeters, with the oldest one being at least two decades old. None is old enough to be considered a collector item, though my husband tried to tell me the one must be as it was our first camera when we were married!
What to do with the cameras was my dilemma. We had a perfectly good digital camera, and are currently shopping for a second one along with a new camcorder because we are interested in having a camera with a bigger optical zoom. Our twelve year old already has a very nice thirty-five millimeter of his own, that he wants to trade me for on our older digital when we purchase a new one.
All appeared to be in working order as they were each stored in their perspective cases, and batteries had been taken out of them before they were put away. While I barely remember putting them into the back of the closets where I found each of them, it seems my husband or myself had taken great care with them when we did store them. Neither of us is a professional photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but we both have been avid photo takers through the years and always enjoyed each camera we owned until we traded it for something newer with more options.
We still had no idea what to do with them, but felt they were worthy of more than the dumpster. I first called our two oldest children and inquired of them if they would have an interest in ay of them. Both responded that they each had a newer digital, which I knew, and that they did not think they would use them. Film had to be developed, and you had to wait to see whether a picture turned out or not, so, not for them.
Our youngest son had one, and even he showed no interest in obtaining a second one. With summer in and school out, I did not know if I would reach anyone there, but tried it. The girl who answered did not know and said if I called back in the fall, one of the teachers may have a use for them, but as they had digital ones in most classrooms, she did not really think so.
My next try was the library, and surprise, they said they would take the newer one. As it came in a nice case, instruction booklet included, plus several extra lenses, they agreed that they were sure they could find some use for it. Later, a friend said I could probably have sold them on Ebay, but I was just glad to see them go, and one to be put to use. The other three I ended up donating to our local Goodwill, so overall, it was much better than tossing them in the trash. When I think of how far cameras have evolved in the last twenty years, I can hardly wait to see what they will be doing in the next twenty!
In all my cleaning, organizing, and sorting I have been doing around my house the last couple of months, I was surprised at how many cameras I turned up, four to be exact, all thirty-five millimeters, with the oldest one being at least two decades old. None is old enough to be considered a collector item, though my husband tried to tell me the one must be as it was our first camera when we were married!
What to do with the cameras was my dilemma. We had a perfectly good digital camera, and are currently shopping for a second one along with a new camcorder because we are interested in having a camera with a bigger optical zoom. Our twelve year old already has a very nice thirty-five millimeter of his own, that he wants to trade me for on our older digital when we purchase a new one.
All appeared to be in working order as they were each stored in their perspective cases, and batteries had been taken out of them before they were put away. While I barely remember putting them into the back of the closets where I found each of them, it seems my husband or myself had taken great care with them when we did store them. Neither of us is a professional photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but we both have been avid photo takers through the years and always enjoyed each camera we owned until we traded it for something newer with more options.
We still had no idea what to do with them, but felt they were worthy of more than the dumpster. I first called our two oldest children and inquired of them if they would have an interest in ay of them. Both responded that they each had a newer digital, which I knew, and that they did not think they would use them. Film had to be developed, and you had to wait to see whether a picture turned out or not, so, not for them.
Our youngest son had one, and even he showed no interest in obtaining a second one. With summer in and school out, I did not know if I would reach anyone there, but tried it. The girl who answered did not know and said if I called back in the fall, one of the teachers may have a use for them, but as they had digital ones in most classrooms, she did not really think so.
My next try was the library, and surprise, they said they would take the newer one. As it came in a nice case, instruction booklet included, plus several extra lenses, they agreed that they were sure they could find some use for it. Later, a friend said I could probably have sold them on Ebay, but I was just glad to see them go, and one to be put to use. The other three I ended up donating to our local Goodwill, so overall, it was much better than tossing them in the trash. When I think of how far cameras have evolved in the last twenty years, I can hardly wait to see what they will be doing in the next twenty!
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Is My Camera Too Good?
I bought a pretty nice camera a couple months ago. It is a digital SLR, and set me back more than a thousand dollars. I know that's nothing to professional photographers, but I'm not a professional. I wouldn't even consider myself an amateur photographer because photography is not a real hobby of mine or anything. I just happen to like taking pictures of action sports and occasionally submitting these photos to various online magazine websites for publication. So now I have this nice camera with a big lens that looks pretty imposing, and it just feels awkward sometimes. Let me explain.
There are a few times when I need the capabilities that a digital SLR provides, such as when I am covering motorcycle races or other sporting events. But that happens only once in a great while. The rest of the time, I just need my camera for everyday events that anyone else would want to take snapshots of, such as birthday parties, days at the park with my toddler, summer festivals, etc. On these occasions, it can be a little embarrassing to pull out this big camera and have to attach the lens, fiddle with the settings, and do a number of other things prior to taking a picture. It feels like too much of a big production and calls undue attention to what I am doing. I invariably get questions and smart remarks from friends and family, such as, "If I had known we were doing Glamour Shots today, I would have worn more makeup." Needless to say, it's getting a little old!
Another bad thing about having a good camera on informal occasions is that it raises everyone's expectations in terms of the final product. They think that just because I have a nice camera, every single picture I take will be flawless and suitable for framing right out of the box. This couldn't be farther from the truth. I have to touch up almost every image in photo editing software in order to make them printable. I guess this is kind of a common problem for average Joes and Janes like me now that the digital revolution has made the price of good cameras and equipment come down to reasonable levels that almost anyone can afford.
So I'm beginning to think that my camera is too good for a majority of the times I want to use it. I am seriously looking into spending another few hundred dollars to get a regular digital camera for taking snapshots. A smaller camera will be easier to tote around, won't stand out so much when I'm taking pictures, and won't unduly raise people's expectations. I think it will just make things easier for me in the long run.
Who would have thought that you could have a camera that's too good? It sounds strange, but it can happen. I am living proof of that. So if you have a relatively nice camera and are experiencing similar problems, maybe you should just bite the bullet and buy a regular digital camera, too!
There are a few times when I need the capabilities that a digital SLR provides, such as when I am covering motorcycle races or other sporting events. But that happens only once in a great while. The rest of the time, I just need my camera for everyday events that anyone else would want to take snapshots of, such as birthday parties, days at the park with my toddler, summer festivals, etc. On these occasions, it can be a little embarrassing to pull out this big camera and have to attach the lens, fiddle with the settings, and do a number of other things prior to taking a picture. It feels like too much of a big production and calls undue attention to what I am doing. I invariably get questions and smart remarks from friends and family, such as, "If I had known we were doing Glamour Shots today, I would have worn more makeup." Needless to say, it's getting a little old!
Another bad thing about having a good camera on informal occasions is that it raises everyone's expectations in terms of the final product. They think that just because I have a nice camera, every single picture I take will be flawless and suitable for framing right out of the box. This couldn't be farther from the truth. I have to touch up almost every image in photo editing software in order to make them printable. I guess this is kind of a common problem for average Joes and Janes like me now that the digital revolution has made the price of good cameras and equipment come down to reasonable levels that almost anyone can afford.
So I'm beginning to think that my camera is too good for a majority of the times I want to use it. I am seriously looking into spending another few hundred dollars to get a regular digital camera for taking snapshots. A smaller camera will be easier to tote around, won't stand out so much when I'm taking pictures, and won't unduly raise people's expectations. I think it will just make things easier for me in the long run.
Who would have thought that you could have a camera that's too good? It sounds strange, but it can happen. I am living proof of that. So if you have a relatively nice camera and are experiencing similar problems, maybe you should just bite the bullet and buy a regular digital camera, too!
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Hand Tinting Black and White Photos
By Christina VanGinkel
I came across several old photographs of my father from the Second World War, resplendent in his Navy uniform, in black and white, but with notations on the back as to the colors of the medals he was wearing, his eye, and hair color, even the color of his uniform. I originally thought that my mother must have made note of all of this just for reference, which was until a friend shoed me a photograph that came from a similar time, but had been hand tinted with color.
I was awestruck, and I knew I wanted to create the same affect on my father's picture. After quite a bit of research both online and at the local library, I knew that I would be practicing on many other photos before I attempted the original of my father. I also discovered that different techniques have been used. Everything from colored pencils to paint, oil based worked better, especially colors that were on the transparent side, and to avoid acrylics as the paint itself was too opaque. Oil paint was also easy to wipe the excess off as long as you used the proper accessories and did it in a timely way.
As I was absorbing all of this, or at least trying to, I came across a set of markers that sounded almost too good to be true. Photo Twin markers from EK Success said they colored black and white photos without all the muss and fuss of other methods. The examples shown looked fantastic, and the markers were not outrageously priced, so I thought I would try them.
Numerous sample photos later, I have learned a few things. Use photos printed on a matte surface. Glossy finishes do not let the marker color adhere well. It just seems to sit on top of the paper, which is a perfect way to create a smear. Do not repeatedly go over a spot, as it will eat into the picture quicker than you think it will. If you think an area needs more color, let the color you have already applied dry before adding more. Keep cotton balls and Q-tips handy to help control the color. These pens also have two tips, one on each end. The narrow tip is perfect for getting at tiny areas that just need a spot of color, while the large end is perfect for general use and large areas. Resembling a paintbrush, but with the consistency of a marker, they are easy to control.
Above all else, practice until you think you have the technique down, then practice some more. This craft has a lot of room for individuality to it. Some people highlight just a spot or two on a photo, while others color the complete picture. Though I have not even gotten close to feeling comfortable enough to attempt to color the original photo of my father, I am noticing a lot of improvement in the photos I have colored. I love the different look it gives, and I have used several of my practice photos in my scrapbook and have even framed one of my grandson. If you enjoy photography, but are looking for something a bit different to try with your photos, I highly recommend trying this.
I came across several old photographs of my father from the Second World War, resplendent in his Navy uniform, in black and white, but with notations on the back as to the colors of the medals he was wearing, his eye, and hair color, even the color of his uniform. I originally thought that my mother must have made note of all of this just for reference, which was until a friend shoed me a photograph that came from a similar time, but had been hand tinted with color.
I was awestruck, and I knew I wanted to create the same affect on my father's picture. After quite a bit of research both online and at the local library, I knew that I would be practicing on many other photos before I attempted the original of my father. I also discovered that different techniques have been used. Everything from colored pencils to paint, oil based worked better, especially colors that were on the transparent side, and to avoid acrylics as the paint itself was too opaque. Oil paint was also easy to wipe the excess off as long as you used the proper accessories and did it in a timely way.
As I was absorbing all of this, or at least trying to, I came across a set of markers that sounded almost too good to be true. Photo Twin markers from EK Success said they colored black and white photos without all the muss and fuss of other methods. The examples shown looked fantastic, and the markers were not outrageously priced, so I thought I would try them.
Numerous sample photos later, I have learned a few things. Use photos printed on a matte surface. Glossy finishes do not let the marker color adhere well. It just seems to sit on top of the paper, which is a perfect way to create a smear. Do not repeatedly go over a spot, as it will eat into the picture quicker than you think it will. If you think an area needs more color, let the color you have already applied dry before adding more. Keep cotton balls and Q-tips handy to help control the color. These pens also have two tips, one on each end. The narrow tip is perfect for getting at tiny areas that just need a spot of color, while the large end is perfect for general use and large areas. Resembling a paintbrush, but with the consistency of a marker, they are easy to control.
Above all else, practice until you think you have the technique down, then practice some more. This craft has a lot of room for individuality to it. Some people highlight just a spot or two on a photo, while others color the complete picture. Though I have not even gotten close to feeling comfortable enough to attempt to color the original photo of my father, I am noticing a lot of improvement in the photos I have colored. I love the different look it gives, and I have used several of my practice photos in my scrapbook and have even framed one of my grandson. If you enjoy photography, but are looking for something a bit different to try with your photos, I highly recommend trying this.
Educational Model Trains
I read an article in the local paper several months ago about a unique project in a special education class. In the class the teacher really focused on using the students' interests to bring daily lessons to life, and it just so happened that one of the teacher's students was in love with trains. So it became the teacher's quest to bring trains into the classroom.
It's all well and good to read books and watch videos about trains, but sometimes you need something a little more hands-on. So naturally, the best way to bring trains into a classroom is to install a model train display.
Of course, model trains can be expensive, so they had relied on members of model railroading clubs and other benefactors to provide donations, and of course, they were more than happy to support the love of a young hobbyist when it was such a good cause. But once they had the basics, they didn't need a lot of money to round out their display. With creativity and ingenuity, they were soon building their own villages and scenery for the trains, developing important math and reading skills along the way.
While it started with just one student wanting to learn more about trains, soon everyone was enthralled by the subject. They were having so much fun, they never realized they were learning at the same time. The student who originally brought his love of trains to the class blossomed in this new environment because he suddenly became the subject expert on this newly important topic. His increased confidence and newfound love of school was even more valuable than any specific school skills he may have gained.
At the time of the article, the students were trying to raise money to pay for a bus to take them to Crossroads Village, a local park that focuses on colonial life but, more importantly, offers train rides on the Huckleberry Railroad. While model trains are entertaining and educational, sometimes your love for the vehicles makes you want something life-sized.
As a former educator, I was inspired by the article because of the way the teacher used something like model trains to engage her students in learning. Hearing about the appeal of the model trains to these students also made me think back on the few times I've seen a model train set. I've always been interested in miniatures, and these trains were miniatures at their best. I know that it's never too late to start a model train hobby. Maybe someday I'll have to indulge in the iconic image of the train around the Christmas tree.
Whether you're a parent or a teacher, consider adding a model train to your educational repertoire. Students will delight in the tiny world that they can create. Along the way, they can learn about ratios, proportions, measurement, economics, the science of trains, and almost any other topic you can relate to the models. Working with such small pieces requires fine motor skills, and student develop patience when creating tiny accents for their trains involves painstaking work.
It's all well and good to read books and watch videos about trains, but sometimes you need something a little more hands-on. So naturally, the best way to bring trains into a classroom is to install a model train display.
Of course, model trains can be expensive, so they had relied on members of model railroading clubs and other benefactors to provide donations, and of course, they were more than happy to support the love of a young hobbyist when it was such a good cause. But once they had the basics, they didn't need a lot of money to round out their display. With creativity and ingenuity, they were soon building their own villages and scenery for the trains, developing important math and reading skills along the way.
While it started with just one student wanting to learn more about trains, soon everyone was enthralled by the subject. They were having so much fun, they never realized they were learning at the same time. The student who originally brought his love of trains to the class blossomed in this new environment because he suddenly became the subject expert on this newly important topic. His increased confidence and newfound love of school was even more valuable than any specific school skills he may have gained.
At the time of the article, the students were trying to raise money to pay for a bus to take them to Crossroads Village, a local park that focuses on colonial life but, more importantly, offers train rides on the Huckleberry Railroad. While model trains are entertaining and educational, sometimes your love for the vehicles makes you want something life-sized.
As a former educator, I was inspired by the article because of the way the teacher used something like model trains to engage her students in learning. Hearing about the appeal of the model trains to these students also made me think back on the few times I've seen a model train set. I've always been interested in miniatures, and these trains were miniatures at their best. I know that it's never too late to start a model train hobby. Maybe someday I'll have to indulge in the iconic image of the train around the Christmas tree.
Whether you're a parent or a teacher, consider adding a model train to your educational repertoire. Students will delight in the tiny world that they can create. Along the way, they can learn about ratios, proportions, measurement, economics, the science of trains, and almost any other topic you can relate to the models. Working with such small pieces requires fine motor skills, and student develop patience when creating tiny accents for their trains involves painstaking work.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Photo Shoot: Istanbul, Turkey
If you are fortunate enough to be able to go to Istanbul as a photographer, you will be totally exhausted running around the city all day long with your camera. Whether your forte is architecture or landscape, there will be innumerable "great shots" to capture.
One fact that visitors may not realize right away is that the city of Istanbul actually sits on two different continents; Europe and Asia. You will be getting photographic shots of the ancient part of the city as well as a very modern section.
If you speak with anyone who has visited Turkey and Istanbul in the past, it is very likely that one of the first things that will come up as a place to visit first with your equipment is the Hagia Sophia. This is also known as Aya Sofya, and the church in Byzantine architecture will provide some stunning pictures. The building itself is currently a museum, but it served as a mosque for five centuries in the past. The structure was first built in the 6th century!
When you are finished with your shoots of the Hagia Sophia, turn around and look across the street. The beautiful building you see is the Blue Mosque, a.k.a. Sultan Ahmet Camii. The building is from the early 1600s and the six minarets make it stand out as one of Istanbul's most gorgeous buildings. This mosque is still operational, so please keep that in mind and use the proper code of behavior.
Another building that is now a museum is the Topkapi Palace. Ottoman sultans made this place their home for hundreds of years and it is another striking piece of architecture. These are just a few of the mosques and ancient sites found around the city, so you will not be running out of places to use as photo subjects.
In addition to snapping pictures at the Grand Bazaar (called the Kapali Carsisi), you may want to do some shopping here, too. There are numerous bazaars like this all over Turkey, and the things the vendors sell are often beautiful. This would include (of course!) Turkish rugs as well as jewelry, etc. The sellers will perhaps follow you in order to make a sale, however, so be prepared. And don't be afraid to haggle the prices, they usually expect it.
For another historical photo shoot, try Sultan Mehmet's "Rumeli Fortress." This place is known for its remarkable acoustics, so if you catch a play or concert here on a video camera, it should be great footage.
Another great place for pictures is Princes' Island. You will need to take a ferry to the island and you will be moving around by foot because no vehicles are allowed. Be sure to shoot a photo of Istanbul's skyline from the island. This is to where princes who were exiled centuries ago were sent to spend their days. If you don't want to spend all of your time walking, horse and carriage rides are offered.
There isn't very much of the ancient Hippodrome left, and you won't be able to see the chariot races that were held there in the 3rd century, but it is still a spot that you will want to shoot some pictures while you are in Istanbul. In its heyday, the Hippodrome was able to hold 100,000 spectators.
One fact that visitors may not realize right away is that the city of Istanbul actually sits on two different continents; Europe and Asia. You will be getting photographic shots of the ancient part of the city as well as a very modern section.
If you speak with anyone who has visited Turkey and Istanbul in the past, it is very likely that one of the first things that will come up as a place to visit first with your equipment is the Hagia Sophia. This is also known as Aya Sofya, and the church in Byzantine architecture will provide some stunning pictures. The building itself is currently a museum, but it served as a mosque for five centuries in the past. The structure was first built in the 6th century!
When you are finished with your shoots of the Hagia Sophia, turn around and look across the street. The beautiful building you see is the Blue Mosque, a.k.a. Sultan Ahmet Camii. The building is from the early 1600s and the six minarets make it stand out as one of Istanbul's most gorgeous buildings. This mosque is still operational, so please keep that in mind and use the proper code of behavior.
Another building that is now a museum is the Topkapi Palace. Ottoman sultans made this place their home for hundreds of years and it is another striking piece of architecture. These are just a few of the mosques and ancient sites found around the city, so you will not be running out of places to use as photo subjects.
In addition to snapping pictures at the Grand Bazaar (called the Kapali Carsisi), you may want to do some shopping here, too. There are numerous bazaars like this all over Turkey, and the things the vendors sell are often beautiful. This would include (of course!) Turkish rugs as well as jewelry, etc. The sellers will perhaps follow you in order to make a sale, however, so be prepared. And don't be afraid to haggle the prices, they usually expect it.
For another historical photo shoot, try Sultan Mehmet's "Rumeli Fortress." This place is known for its remarkable acoustics, so if you catch a play or concert here on a video camera, it should be great footage.
Another great place for pictures is Princes' Island. You will need to take a ferry to the island and you will be moving around by foot because no vehicles are allowed. Be sure to shoot a photo of Istanbul's skyline from the island. This is to where princes who were exiled centuries ago were sent to spend their days. If you don't want to spend all of your time walking, horse and carriage rides are offered.
There isn't very much of the ancient Hippodrome left, and you won't be able to see the chariot races that were held there in the 3rd century, but it is still a spot that you will want to shoot some pictures while you are in Istanbul. In its heyday, the Hippodrome was able to hold 100,000 spectators.
Panasonic and Sony DVD Camcorders
By Christina VanGinkel
With my youngest son involved in sports, and my grandson an active toddler, I am considering upgrading my current camcorder. I have decided I would like to purchase a model, which will record, directly to DVD. This way, unless I want to edit something, my video is ready to view via my home computer or my DVD player, as long as it is compatible with the disc used in the camcorder.
The main one I am considering is a Panasonic. Their VDR-M53 DIGA DVD Palmcorder® MultiCam™ Camcorder with 24x Optical Zoom seems to fulfill my every wish where a new camcorder is concerned. The one drawback I see with the camera is more of an image problem with camcorder companies in general, than any one-thing concrete with this particular camera or Panasonic itself. Why is it that they all continue to push the digital zoom factor when promoting these cameras, when it functions as nothing more than a crop feature? This one in particular has a very respectable 24x Optical Zoom, then goes on to say that it also features an 800 Digital Zoom. I wish they would put the money spent on this useless aspect into something that we, the consumers, would benefit more from, such as a higher optical zoom.
There is much to like about this camera though. The Digital Electronics Image Stabilizer (D-EIS) says that it helps eliminate blurred images caused by typical human interaction, i.e., movement. It says that it works well enough to allow for taping while walking or in a moving vehicle.
The camera also doubles as a digital still camera, with photos being saved either to the DVD discs, or to an SD card. Online though, when doing some research on this camera, I was unable to find the mega pixel size associated with the still images.
The other contender that I am considering is the Sony DVD DCR-DVD403 digital camcorder. My current still camera is a Sony, so I am comfortable with the brand. Not only does it record video direct to DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW, it snaps still photos in a very useable 3.3 mega pixel. It also features a Carl Zeiss lens, which is renowned for it clarity and excellence. The optic zoom is lacking in comparison to the Panasonic, at only 10x.
With such a wide range of features between the two, I think I will end up looking at other contenders before I make any firm decision on which one to purchase. Because I intend to use the camera to record video footage of my son when he is out on a field participating in a sport, the higher optic lens on the Panasonic is a major plus. Call it motherly pride, but when he makes a tackle that wins the game, I want to be sure that I can zoom in on all the action. I also like the fact that I can combine my camcorder with a still camera all in one now. My current camcorder has a still built in, but the quality of the photos is not worth using for anything beyond the occasional photograph to email or post on a website. The resolution is not worth printing for use to frame or even include in my scrapbook.
With my youngest son involved in sports, and my grandson an active toddler, I am considering upgrading my current camcorder. I have decided I would like to purchase a model, which will record, directly to DVD. This way, unless I want to edit something, my video is ready to view via my home computer or my DVD player, as long as it is compatible with the disc used in the camcorder.
The main one I am considering is a Panasonic. Their VDR-M53 DIGA DVD Palmcorder® MultiCam™ Camcorder with 24x Optical Zoom seems to fulfill my every wish where a new camcorder is concerned. The one drawback I see with the camera is more of an image problem with camcorder companies in general, than any one-thing concrete with this particular camera or Panasonic itself. Why is it that they all continue to push the digital zoom factor when promoting these cameras, when it functions as nothing more than a crop feature? This one in particular has a very respectable 24x Optical Zoom, then goes on to say that it also features an 800 Digital Zoom. I wish they would put the money spent on this useless aspect into something that we, the consumers, would benefit more from, such as a higher optical zoom.
There is much to like about this camera though. The Digital Electronics Image Stabilizer (D-EIS) says that it helps eliminate blurred images caused by typical human interaction, i.e., movement. It says that it works well enough to allow for taping while walking or in a moving vehicle.
The camera also doubles as a digital still camera, with photos being saved either to the DVD discs, or to an SD card. Online though, when doing some research on this camera, I was unable to find the mega pixel size associated with the still images.
The other contender that I am considering is the Sony DVD DCR-DVD403 digital camcorder. My current still camera is a Sony, so I am comfortable with the brand. Not only does it record video direct to DVD-R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW, it snaps still photos in a very useable 3.3 mega pixel. It also features a Carl Zeiss lens, which is renowned for it clarity and excellence. The optic zoom is lacking in comparison to the Panasonic, at only 10x.
With such a wide range of features between the two, I think I will end up looking at other contenders before I make any firm decision on which one to purchase. Because I intend to use the camera to record video footage of my son when he is out on a field participating in a sport, the higher optic lens on the Panasonic is a major plus. Call it motherly pride, but when he makes a tackle that wins the game, I want to be sure that I can zoom in on all the action. I also like the fact that I can combine my camcorder with a still camera all in one now. My current camcorder has a still built in, but the quality of the photos is not worth using for anything beyond the occasional photograph to email or post on a website. The resolution is not worth printing for use to frame or even include in my scrapbook.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Family Portraits
If you're like most people, you probably have countless snapshots of family members stashed away in shoe boxes, photo albums, scrapbooks, or on CDs or your computer's hard drive. A majority of those pictures are likely candid shots from days at the zoo or at the park. You probably have several staged photos, too. These are the shots that you set up with family members standing by the Christmas tree, surrounded with unopened presents or standing in front of Mount Rushmore on your family vacation. But do you have a professional family portrait, either casual or formal? If not, I recommend that you get one. Before you know it, your kids will be grown up, so you will be glad to have a family portrait around to treasure.
There are many portrait studios around. You can usually find them in large department stores, such as Sears, or you can go directly to a professional photographer who has his or her own studio. The benefit of going to a portrait studio or other professional rather than doing it on your own is that they have the right equipment, experience, and knowledge of photographic techniques and principles that will help make your portrait turn out great. They also have a wide range of backgrounds and even costumes for you to use if you so desire.
Although the photographer will be more than happy to help you select a background and pose, it would be better for you to have a general idea of how you want your portrait to look. I live in Chicago, and one of the cutest family portraits I have ever seen was of my friend, her husband, and their three sons. The five of them were each wearing jeans, and also a jersey from each of the five professional sports teams. So the Cubs, Bulls, Sox, Bears, and Blackhawks were all represented, and the portrait showed how important sports is to that family. That was a great idea for a picture, and I'm sure my friend loves that shot now that her boys are all in high school and beyond. You can definitely have fun with your family portrait by doing something similar, or you can also choose to have a more formal portrait with everyone wearing suits or dresses.
Backgrounds are another matter that you need to consider. Some people prefer standard white backgrounds or the blue backgrounds that you might remember from your annual grade school pictures. Others go with themed backgrounds. I have seen family portraits centered around Disney characters, fake snow, and piles of autumn leaves. If the background is important to you, and you have a specific setting in mind, you should probably call the studio ahead of time to see whether or not they can accommodate your request. You might have to do some shopping around in this respect.
When your family portrait is finished, be sure to order the biggest print possible, splurge on a gorgeous frame, and then hang it with pride in a prominent place in your house. Your family portrait will bring a smile to your face every time you see it!
There are many portrait studios around. You can usually find them in large department stores, such as Sears, or you can go directly to a professional photographer who has his or her own studio. The benefit of going to a portrait studio or other professional rather than doing it on your own is that they have the right equipment, experience, and knowledge of photographic techniques and principles that will help make your portrait turn out great. They also have a wide range of backgrounds and even costumes for you to use if you so desire.
Although the photographer will be more than happy to help you select a background and pose, it would be better for you to have a general idea of how you want your portrait to look. I live in Chicago, and one of the cutest family portraits I have ever seen was of my friend, her husband, and their three sons. The five of them were each wearing jeans, and also a jersey from each of the five professional sports teams. So the Cubs, Bulls, Sox, Bears, and Blackhawks were all represented, and the portrait showed how important sports is to that family. That was a great idea for a picture, and I'm sure my friend loves that shot now that her boys are all in high school and beyond. You can definitely have fun with your family portrait by doing something similar, or you can also choose to have a more formal portrait with everyone wearing suits or dresses.
Backgrounds are another matter that you need to consider. Some people prefer standard white backgrounds or the blue backgrounds that you might remember from your annual grade school pictures. Others go with themed backgrounds. I have seen family portraits centered around Disney characters, fake snow, and piles of autumn leaves. If the background is important to you, and you have a specific setting in mind, you should probably call the studio ahead of time to see whether or not they can accommodate your request. You might have to do some shopping around in this respect.
When your family portrait is finished, be sure to order the biggest print possible, splurge on a gorgeous frame, and then hang it with pride in a prominent place in your house. Your family portrait will bring a smile to your face every time you see it!
Do I Really Want a Digital Camera?
I feel like I'm one of the last people in the world who doesn't have a digital camera. As prices come down and they become more and more common, kids in middle school have digital cameras and I still don't. My very non-technical dad has a digital camera. In fact, he bought a computer just so that he could print out the pictures he takes with this digital camera. But something makes me hold back on actually purchasing one. I want one, but I don't want to actually spend the money on it.
It's actually kind of funny that I should be fixated on this issue when I'm not much of a picture taker, so not having a digital camera should be a non-issue. I used to take pictures at the end of the school year in middle school and high school. Looking back, I'm not sure why. Everyone seemed to do it like we weren't going to see each other back in the same school in late August. But I have a few fun pictures from those times, so I'm glad now that I did it so that I have a memento of my school days.
For a while in college I took a lot of pictures. I was in a club that had a scrapbook competition at the end of the year, and I also made a newsletter, so I had a definite motivation to chronicle the year so that the club could have my double prints and I could scan a few shots into the newsletter. I had a Kodak Advantix camera, and I loved to play with the panoramic shot option. I felt like a real photographer when I took a panoramic shot of chickens on the grill at a chicken dinner fundraiser.
In fact, I still have that camera, although I've been slowly working my way through the same roll of film for a couple of years. Without any outside motivation like a newsletter to populate with photos, I'm just not a natural picture taker. When we got a new cat, I took a few pictures so that I could show him off to family and friends. Of course, I would need to finish off that roll and actually develop it in order for any sharing to happen. I also haven't gone on any vacations recently, and there are only so many photos you can take of your place of residence before it just gets ridiculous.
But I feel like there are so many things I could do if I had a digital camera that I don't bother to do with my standard camera. I have a few items around the house that I would like to sell on eBay, and I think a few pictures would be necessarily to really garner any bids. There are moments when I see something that I would like to share with my friends across the country, and the spontaneity is gone with a regular camera. I could scan a picture for either of these purposes, but scanned photos are never quite the same as a clear digital image because you always get a bit of lint or a smudge on the scanner plate that keeps the final scanned image from being its best.
I suppose for the time being, I'll just have to keep pondering my digital camera ownership status.
It's actually kind of funny that I should be fixated on this issue when I'm not much of a picture taker, so not having a digital camera should be a non-issue. I used to take pictures at the end of the school year in middle school and high school. Looking back, I'm not sure why. Everyone seemed to do it like we weren't going to see each other back in the same school in late August. But I have a few fun pictures from those times, so I'm glad now that I did it so that I have a memento of my school days.
For a while in college I took a lot of pictures. I was in a club that had a scrapbook competition at the end of the year, and I also made a newsletter, so I had a definite motivation to chronicle the year so that the club could have my double prints and I could scan a few shots into the newsletter. I had a Kodak Advantix camera, and I loved to play with the panoramic shot option. I felt like a real photographer when I took a panoramic shot of chickens on the grill at a chicken dinner fundraiser.
In fact, I still have that camera, although I've been slowly working my way through the same roll of film for a couple of years. Without any outside motivation like a newsletter to populate with photos, I'm just not a natural picture taker. When we got a new cat, I took a few pictures so that I could show him off to family and friends. Of course, I would need to finish off that roll and actually develop it in order for any sharing to happen. I also haven't gone on any vacations recently, and there are only so many photos you can take of your place of residence before it just gets ridiculous.
But I feel like there are so many things I could do if I had a digital camera that I don't bother to do with my standard camera. I have a few items around the house that I would like to sell on eBay, and I think a few pictures would be necessarily to really garner any bids. There are moments when I see something that I would like to share with my friends across the country, and the spontaneity is gone with a regular camera. I could scan a picture for either of these purposes, but scanned photos are never quite the same as a clear digital image because you always get a bit of lint or a smudge on the scanner plate that keeps the final scanned image from being its best.
I suppose for the time being, I'll just have to keep pondering my digital camera ownership status.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Baby Pictures
When my daughter was born, the hospital brought in a photographer that offered baby portraits for all of the newborns. They took pictures of all the babies right there in the hospital-- my daughter's was taken on her second day out of the womb. When the hospital portrait package arrived at my home a week later, I was so excited. I was already feeling extremely loving and maternal and to have this gorgeous picture of my beautiful baby-- well, it meant the world to me. It was a great picture as far as baby's first pictures go. To this day I get comments on it, because let's face it, not all newborns are feeling very photogenic right out of the womb. But my little girl was all wide eyed and pick cheeked-- she looked absolutely precious. I bought the deluxe version of the packet and sent the photos out to everyone. I still treasure that picture today.
When my son was born 2 1/2 years later, it was a whole different ball game. After a difficult trip down the birth canal, he wasn't in the mood to pose for any portraits. When his photo package arrived a week later, my husband nixed the purchase.
"Send it back, "he said. ""It looks like they tortured him to wake him up for this thing."
It was true. My baby boy looked none too pleased and the bright light of the flash must have scared the wits out of him because that's how he looked. The picture didn't even look like him, to be honest.
"But it's his first picture!" I cried.
"He looks miserable in it," my husband said. "Do you want him to see that picture someday and think we let them torture him?"
I had to agree that my husband was right-- the picture wasn't pleasant to look at. The kid looked startled and annoyed.
And then to soften the blow, my husband reminded me of an adorable picture I had taken of our son the day we got home from the hospital. It was a side view of his perfect little profile and he looked so snug all dressed blue. It was a precious keepsake and it became our signature photo of him.
"Now that's our baby," my husband said as he admired the photo I had taken of our beautiful boy.
Time goes by so quickly when you have a baby. With both of my kids, the time slipped by before I realized they were too old to have one of those cute Picture People newborn portraits taken-- you know, a photo of the baby lying on a rug or in a Christmas stocking or in an Easter basket or with a sunflower on his or her head.
A neighbor of mine has a whole collection of professional portraits of herself holding and playing with her newborn. I am jealous of those pictures every time I see them, because they encompass a time that is all too short-- moments with your little one that you can never get back. Moments that I forgot to get.
There's just a short window of time before the next photo your child gets taken is his or her high school class picture. Take those baby pictures while you can.
When my son was born 2 1/2 years later, it was a whole different ball game. After a difficult trip down the birth canal, he wasn't in the mood to pose for any portraits. When his photo package arrived a week later, my husband nixed the purchase.
"Send it back, "he said. ""It looks like they tortured him to wake him up for this thing."
It was true. My baby boy looked none too pleased and the bright light of the flash must have scared the wits out of him because that's how he looked. The picture didn't even look like him, to be honest.
"But it's his first picture!" I cried.
"He looks miserable in it," my husband said. "Do you want him to see that picture someday and think we let them torture him?"
I had to agree that my husband was right-- the picture wasn't pleasant to look at. The kid looked startled and annoyed.
And then to soften the blow, my husband reminded me of an adorable picture I had taken of our son the day we got home from the hospital. It was a side view of his perfect little profile and he looked so snug all dressed blue. It was a precious keepsake and it became our signature photo of him.
"Now that's our baby," my husband said as he admired the photo I had taken of our beautiful boy.
Time goes by so quickly when you have a baby. With both of my kids, the time slipped by before I realized they were too old to have one of those cute Picture People newborn portraits taken-- you know, a photo of the baby lying on a rug or in a Christmas stocking or in an Easter basket or with a sunflower on his or her head.
A neighbor of mine has a whole collection of professional portraits of herself holding and playing with her newborn. I am jealous of those pictures every time I see them, because they encompass a time that is all too short-- moments with your little one that you can never get back. Moments that I forgot to get.
There's just a short window of time before the next photo your child gets taken is his or her high school class picture. Take those baby pictures while you can.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Photo Shoot: St. Simons Island!
One of coastal Georgia's Golden Isles, St. Simons Island, offers many unique opportunities for the photographer. Spanish explorers were the first to set eyes on these islands more than four centuries ago. Among the many photo ops available are:
1. The Atlantic Ocean. As with anywhere along the shoreline, the marvelous ocean and beaches provide many photographers with some outstanding pictures. There is a pier going out into the ocean and a shopping village near the ocean. Plan to be at the pier with your photographic equipment for sunrises.
2. St. Simons Lighthouse is still a working lighthouse and is more than two centuries old. You will be able to snap some great pictures from the front of the lighthouse looking up toward the top of the structure.
3. Tree Spirits. Look around for them yourself or ask a local where to find them, but these are faces carved right into trees. The sculptor did these to honor sailors who died at sea and there are a few of the tree spirits spread out around the island.
4. Bloody Marsh Battle Site is where Spanish soldiers were defeated by the British in the summer of 1742.
5. Fort Frederica was the first military outpost in Georgia, build in 1736. Only a portion of the fort remains standing. It was originally built to protect the island from the Spanish menace from the south in Florida. Also at the Fort Frederica site is a small visitor center and museum. The foundations of many of the old houses that stood in this Colonial town can be seen.
6. Christ Church is breathtakingly beautiful and once again will offer lovely photos. Take a moment to relax here when you're finished with your camera. There is also a hiking trail here for some nature pictures.
7. You will cross the Marshes of Glynn when you are traveling to the island from Brunswick. Take a moment to read about these marshes in the poem by the same name before traveling here.
8. Gascoigne Bluff is where oak was gathered to build two rather famous items, the warship USS Constitution (a.k.a. Old Ironsides) and the Brooklyn Bridge. These grounds in the past served as an Indian campground and the home to a monastery. It was the Headquarters for the Navy during the Civil War and the site of a sawmill operation after the war.
9. Various antebellum plantations on the island offer some great photo opportunities.
10. Live oaks draped with Spanish moss. What more needs to be said? Beautiful photo ops with these!
11. Take a Salt Marsh Nature Tour if that is the type of photography you wish to do. There are various options on which tour to take, so the best thing to do is go to the tour office and tell them which kinds of photographs you wish to take. They will be able to suggest which of the tours will offer the best opportunities. There is even a tour that goes out at sunset, so be sure to consider what it is you want to capture in your pictures.
12. For some totally different photos, try one of the Ghost Walks of St. Simons. The walk lasts for ninety minutes but you will need to check the schedule because they do not operate every night. You never know what will end up on your film or digital display!
1. The Atlantic Ocean. As with anywhere along the shoreline, the marvelous ocean and beaches provide many photographers with some outstanding pictures. There is a pier going out into the ocean and a shopping village near the ocean. Plan to be at the pier with your photographic equipment for sunrises.
2. St. Simons Lighthouse is still a working lighthouse and is more than two centuries old. You will be able to snap some great pictures from the front of the lighthouse looking up toward the top of the structure.
3. Tree Spirits. Look around for them yourself or ask a local where to find them, but these are faces carved right into trees. The sculptor did these to honor sailors who died at sea and there are a few of the tree spirits spread out around the island.
4. Bloody Marsh Battle Site is where Spanish soldiers were defeated by the British in the summer of 1742.
5. Fort Frederica was the first military outpost in Georgia, build in 1736. Only a portion of the fort remains standing. It was originally built to protect the island from the Spanish menace from the south in Florida. Also at the Fort Frederica site is a small visitor center and museum. The foundations of many of the old houses that stood in this Colonial town can be seen.
6. Christ Church is breathtakingly beautiful and once again will offer lovely photos. Take a moment to relax here when you're finished with your camera. There is also a hiking trail here for some nature pictures.
7. You will cross the Marshes of Glynn when you are traveling to the island from Brunswick. Take a moment to read about these marshes in the poem by the same name before traveling here.
8. Gascoigne Bluff is where oak was gathered to build two rather famous items, the warship USS Constitution (a.k.a. Old Ironsides) and the Brooklyn Bridge. These grounds in the past served as an Indian campground and the home to a monastery. It was the Headquarters for the Navy during the Civil War and the site of a sawmill operation after the war.
9. Various antebellum plantations on the island offer some great photo opportunities.
10. Live oaks draped with Spanish moss. What more needs to be said? Beautiful photo ops with these!
11. Take a Salt Marsh Nature Tour if that is the type of photography you wish to do. There are various options on which tour to take, so the best thing to do is go to the tour office and tell them which kinds of photographs you wish to take. They will be able to suggest which of the tours will offer the best opportunities. There is even a tour that goes out at sunset, so be sure to consider what it is you want to capture in your pictures.
12. For some totally different photos, try one of the Ghost Walks of St. Simons. The walk lasts for ninety minutes but you will need to check the schedule because they do not operate every night. You never know what will end up on your film or digital display!
A Model Train Christmas Village
Few things say Christmastime like an electric model train set chugging its way slowly down a track that meanders around a Christmas tree and between the brightly wrapped gifts. Children of all ages enjoy the steady hum of the engine, the movement along the track, and the cars that follow faithfully along, usually trailed by a cheerful red caboose. A wonderful addition to a Christmas model train set is to add a Christmas village to adorn the train track. A Christmas village will bring to mind simpler times, days of old, and will add to the Christmas experience for the entire family. Following are some ideas about setting up a Christmas village for your model train set.
1. Be creative with your track design. Some train sets offer only an oval or round track option, but if possible, purchase more track so you can make a larger overall set up. The track should go around the tree, but it shouldn't be right under the tree; leave room for gifts and of course, the village. If you like, have it go under a chair and around the piano bench. If possible, it can travel all around the room.
2. Village buildings and accessories can be made of a variety of different things. Beautiful ceramic buildings complete with lights and even gardens are a lovely way to build your village. These may include a general store, a hotel, a church, a few small homes, and of course, a barn with a Nativity scene. Use cotton balls or fleece to spread snow throughout your Christmas village; after all, what is Christmastime without fluffy snow? Tiny Christmas trees, decorations and lights can be scattered throughout the town.
3. If there are small children in your home and you are concerned about breakables, you need not limit yourself to ceramic village buildings. Have the children join in the building of the village with Lego or Lincoln Log constructions. Houses made of toothpicks and popsicle sticks are also a fun addition to the town. Any type of building will do. The children may even want to paint the houses green and red, and add cotton balls all around for snow. The idea is to have fun and bring out the Christmas spirit.
4. For an extra-special Christmas train, carefully string tiny Christmas lights all along the edge of the train track. Make sure the train will not roll over any lights. This is an especially nice touch in the evenings when all the lights are off and the only light is from the tree, the village and the track.
5. If your model train is large enough or has open cars, decorate the cars with small wrapped gifts and sachets full of potpourri. The gifts will give the appearance of a Christmas train full of bustling travelers taking gifts to a variety of destinations. The potpourri will give off a Christmassy scent as the train travels around the track.
Enjoy your Christmas model train set up; you will find that it brings out the child in everyone, especially you!
1. Be creative with your track design. Some train sets offer only an oval or round track option, but if possible, purchase more track so you can make a larger overall set up. The track should go around the tree, but it shouldn't be right under the tree; leave room for gifts and of course, the village. If you like, have it go under a chair and around the piano bench. If possible, it can travel all around the room.
2. Village buildings and accessories can be made of a variety of different things. Beautiful ceramic buildings complete with lights and even gardens are a lovely way to build your village. These may include a general store, a hotel, a church, a few small homes, and of course, a barn with a Nativity scene. Use cotton balls or fleece to spread snow throughout your Christmas village; after all, what is Christmastime without fluffy snow? Tiny Christmas trees, decorations and lights can be scattered throughout the town.
3. If there are small children in your home and you are concerned about breakables, you need not limit yourself to ceramic village buildings. Have the children join in the building of the village with Lego or Lincoln Log constructions. Houses made of toothpicks and popsicle sticks are also a fun addition to the town. Any type of building will do. The children may even want to paint the houses green and red, and add cotton balls all around for snow. The idea is to have fun and bring out the Christmas spirit.
4. For an extra-special Christmas train, carefully string tiny Christmas lights all along the edge of the train track. Make sure the train will not roll over any lights. This is an especially nice touch in the evenings when all the lights are off and the only light is from the tree, the village and the track.
5. If your model train is large enough or has open cars, decorate the cars with small wrapped gifts and sachets full of potpourri. The gifts will give the appearance of a Christmas train full of bustling travelers taking gifts to a variety of destinations. The potpourri will give off a Christmassy scent as the train travels around the track.
Enjoy your Christmas model train set up; you will find that it brings out the child in everyone, especially you!
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Combining Photographs with Poetry for Money
by Christina VanGinkel
I have been looking into ways to make some extra money the last few months. As I love poetry and have written several pieces that have elicited numerous requests for copies, I -decided it might be profitable to incorporate some of my shorter pieces with photographs of some local scenery. The scenery is what inspired much of the poetry, so the two naturally go together.
Living where I do, there are some breathtaking shots residing in my digital camera waiting to be brought to life. Several of some locals shooting the rapids at the river that runs by our house. A few misty morning shots of a neighbor's barn that looks like it could have been shot anytime in the last century, one of a female black bear with her two cubs up a tree. Moreover, my favorite, a shot taken of the sky on a fall afternoon, so blue it looks like you might be able to spy the paintbrush that surely painted it. And, filling the sky with contrasting color is a shower of orange and red leaves floating on the sea of sky, beautiful.
The big question, would there be a market for prints made from a combination of the two, still needs to be researched. The scale I am considering, would involve self-publishing. I would format the words into the appropriate pictures, and then either send them out for professional printing, or print them myself on my personal photo quality printer. I would then have several framed professionally to show them off, and have the ones for sale matted and sealed.
While this is somewhat new territory, I did a similar project several years back with some success. I made note cards from photographs, printed on a home printer, and sold those, and I handcrafted note cards that included a poem penned by myself, poem on the back, with a print on the front. I sold a reasonable quantity at local craft shows that I was already attending to sell my jewelry.
For this project, I would like to sell them to a much wider audience, possibly through the Internet and at specialized art shows. I had run across a few photographers that sold prints of their work, but none that incorporated the photographer's prints and words.
I also would have to consider what works would not only be cohesive to working together, but also if they would be marketable. Just because I liked them, did not mean someone else would want to pay money to hang them on their own walls.
I would have to look at this from as professional a point of view as I could muster also. Business cards, ads in publications both in print and online, and a new fresh look for myself if I was going to hit the shows again. My wardrobe lacks dearly in nice clothes because the usual people I encounter in any given week are the mail person and the checkout clerks at the local stores. Neither they nor my computer cares much about how I dress. In addition, while my husband tells me, I look nice; my normal attire is jeans and t-shirt. Well, the wheels are spinning on this new venture, so wish me luck!
I have been looking into ways to make some extra money the last few months. As I love poetry and have written several pieces that have elicited numerous requests for copies, I -decided it might be profitable to incorporate some of my shorter pieces with photographs of some local scenery. The scenery is what inspired much of the poetry, so the two naturally go together.
Living where I do, there are some breathtaking shots residing in my digital camera waiting to be brought to life. Several of some locals shooting the rapids at the river that runs by our house. A few misty morning shots of a neighbor's barn that looks like it could have been shot anytime in the last century, one of a female black bear with her two cubs up a tree. Moreover, my favorite, a shot taken of the sky on a fall afternoon, so blue it looks like you might be able to spy the paintbrush that surely painted it. And, filling the sky with contrasting color is a shower of orange and red leaves floating on the sea of sky, beautiful.
The big question, would there be a market for prints made from a combination of the two, still needs to be researched. The scale I am considering, would involve self-publishing. I would format the words into the appropriate pictures, and then either send them out for professional printing, or print them myself on my personal photo quality printer. I would then have several framed professionally to show them off, and have the ones for sale matted and sealed.
While this is somewhat new territory, I did a similar project several years back with some success. I made note cards from photographs, printed on a home printer, and sold those, and I handcrafted note cards that included a poem penned by myself, poem on the back, with a print on the front. I sold a reasonable quantity at local craft shows that I was already attending to sell my jewelry.
For this project, I would like to sell them to a much wider audience, possibly through the Internet and at specialized art shows. I had run across a few photographers that sold prints of their work, but none that incorporated the photographer's prints and words.
I also would have to consider what works would not only be cohesive to working together, but also if they would be marketable. Just because I liked them, did not mean someone else would want to pay money to hang them on their own walls.
I would have to look at this from as professional a point of view as I could muster also. Business cards, ads in publications both in print and online, and a new fresh look for myself if I was going to hit the shows again. My wardrobe lacks dearly in nice clothes because the usual people I encounter in any given week are the mail person and the checkout clerks at the local stores. Neither they nor my computer cares much about how I dress. In addition, while my husband tells me, I look nice; my normal attire is jeans and t-shirt. Well, the wheels are spinning on this new venture, so wish me luck!
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Make Money With Your Digital Camera
There are many benefits to using digital cameras rather than their film-based counterparts. By using a digital camera, photographers can shoot as many images as they like; they only expend real cash when they decide to print out the images. This is great for amateurs for two important reasons. First, of course, they can get more practice in order to hone their craft. The only way to get better at taking pictures is to do it over and over. In the days of film, this kind of practice represented a major expense. Now, photographers can review and critique their shots on their computers without spending a dime. Second, this allows amateurs a good way to make a little extra money with their cameras.
I know several people who have very nice (i.e. expensive) digital cameras. These cameras yield high-quality images that are suitable even for print in magazines. Some of the photographers that I know are so passionate about their hobby that they would like to turn it into a paying gig, but they are a little hesitant to quit their day jobs to make a serious run at photography. Digital cameras are allowing them to test the waters a bit in order to see how much income they could reasonably expect to receive.
For example, one of my photographer friends has a 10-year-old son who is in Little League. So my friend brings his camera, a laptop, and a portable printer to his son's games on the weekends. My friend takes hundreds of action shots, not only of his own son, but of every single kid out there. Then, he goes around to other parents and shows them previews of their children's pictures. If a parent likes a particular shot, my friend prints a photo on the spot and sells it for $8. If nobody wants to buy a picture, the only thing my friend has lost is time. He just clears the memory card and moves on to the next game. On a good weekend, my friend easily clears $250. That's not enough to allow him to get into photography full-time yet, but the money allows him to slowly move to better and better equipment. After several good weekends, my friend will have acquired enough funds to purchase a new lens or a better printer. He's going to keep doing this through the baseball season and then for soccer and football in the fall.
You can do this, too. Their are various sports leagues throughout the summer and fall, so it's not too late to get started. Just remember that you have to build your reputation, so don't skimp on the photo paper. Give your customers high-quality prints and they will come back for more. Give them junk and you will, at the most, make one sale per person. If you like your results, then you can reinvest in better equipment to try to take your skills to the next level. If not, then you haven't really lost anything. You'll never know until you try!
I know several people who have very nice (i.e. expensive) digital cameras. These cameras yield high-quality images that are suitable even for print in magazines. Some of the photographers that I know are so passionate about their hobby that they would like to turn it into a paying gig, but they are a little hesitant to quit their day jobs to make a serious run at photography. Digital cameras are allowing them to test the waters a bit in order to see how much income they could reasonably expect to receive.
For example, one of my photographer friends has a 10-year-old son who is in Little League. So my friend brings his camera, a laptop, and a portable printer to his son's games on the weekends. My friend takes hundreds of action shots, not only of his own son, but of every single kid out there. Then, he goes around to other parents and shows them previews of their children's pictures. If a parent likes a particular shot, my friend prints a photo on the spot and sells it for $8. If nobody wants to buy a picture, the only thing my friend has lost is time. He just clears the memory card and moves on to the next game. On a good weekend, my friend easily clears $250. That's not enough to allow him to get into photography full-time yet, but the money allows him to slowly move to better and better equipment. After several good weekends, my friend will have acquired enough funds to purchase a new lens or a better printer. He's going to keep doing this through the baseball season and then for soccer and football in the fall.
You can do this, too. Their are various sports leagues throughout the summer and fall, so it's not too late to get started. Just remember that you have to build your reputation, so don't skimp on the photo paper. Give your customers high-quality prints and they will come back for more. Give them junk and you will, at the most, make one sale per person. If you like your results, then you can reinvest in better equipment to try to take your skills to the next level. If not, then you haven't really lost anything. You'll never know until you try!
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Kids and Cameras
My daughter loves to borrow my digital camera. She'll snatch it from the book shelf that I keep it on and take pictures of just about everything in site-- the kitchen cabinets, the couch, her little brother's chin. She will usually scamper through the house and take pictures until the cameras' memory card is completely full. And then she'll run over and show me all of the beautiful (her word) pictures that she has taken. She's darn proud of herself, by the way, as she beams with delight while I review her shots. Yes, I'm pleased that she has such a knack for photography, but there's just one problem: she's only four years old.
Digital cameras are the greatest invention since sliced bread. In fact, I'm not sure how we survived without them. Back in the stone age, we had to go through an entire roll of film and then take it or send it some place to get developed. The whole process could take days, even weeks. So we weren't really sure if that photo of our great Aunt Tilly turned out or not until the film came back. With the digital age, that hassle is gone. No more waiting game. Suddenly we have instant gratification and if we don't like how the picture looks then we just get rid of it and take another one. Which is why my four year old loves my digital camera.
It's almost as though she thinks it's a toy, albeit an expensive one. I tell her over and over again that I don't want her to play with my camera, but then when she gets a hold of it she has so much fun that I feel like a tyrant if I take it away from her. I'll say, "Just one picture, honey" and she'll take ten. I'll say, "Be careful with the camera, honey" and she'll hold it gingerly and continue on her merry way.
I'll admit she does know to handle it with care and she's very good about turning the camera off when she's done using it. But for me, it's just a little disconcerting to do a review of my saved pictures and to come across a picture of the ceiling fan. I feel bad deleting it because it's something my little girl "made". This picture-- as silly as it is-- is her artistic expression, so to speak, so I feel that deleting it is the same as if I were to toss away one of her finger paintings. It's very hard for me to do it.
But I do it anyway. Delete delete delete. I have to. This puppy only holds so much space and my computer hard drive is already overrun with my daughter's "artistic expression". I can't possibly have a need for another picture of the living room ottoman, so delete it it is. No more wasted space on my camera card. Until the next time, when she find the camera in my new hiding place and turns it on and lets her creativity flow once again.
Digital cameras are the greatest invention since sliced bread. In fact, I'm not sure how we survived without them. Back in the stone age, we had to go through an entire roll of film and then take it or send it some place to get developed. The whole process could take days, even weeks. So we weren't really sure if that photo of our great Aunt Tilly turned out or not until the film came back. With the digital age, that hassle is gone. No more waiting game. Suddenly we have instant gratification and if we don't like how the picture looks then we just get rid of it and take another one. Which is why my four year old loves my digital camera.
It's almost as though she thinks it's a toy, albeit an expensive one. I tell her over and over again that I don't want her to play with my camera, but then when she gets a hold of it she has so much fun that I feel like a tyrant if I take it away from her. I'll say, "Just one picture, honey" and she'll take ten. I'll say, "Be careful with the camera, honey" and she'll hold it gingerly and continue on her merry way.
I'll admit she does know to handle it with care and she's very good about turning the camera off when she's done using it. But for me, it's just a little disconcerting to do a review of my saved pictures and to come across a picture of the ceiling fan. I feel bad deleting it because it's something my little girl "made". This picture-- as silly as it is-- is her artistic expression, so to speak, so I feel that deleting it is the same as if I were to toss away one of her finger paintings. It's very hard for me to do it.
But I do it anyway. Delete delete delete. I have to. This puppy only holds so much space and my computer hard drive is already overrun with my daughter's "artistic expression". I can't possibly have a need for another picture of the living room ottoman, so delete it it is. No more wasted space on my camera card. Until the next time, when she find the camera in my new hiding place and turns it on and lets her creativity flow once again.
Capturing Mood in Photos
by Christina VanGinkel
After complaining to a friend recently that most of the photos I had snapped recently just were not what I expected, she asked to see them. They were ok; I went on to tell her, it was just that none of them were exceptional. Nothing I would want to frame and hang on the wall. After she looked, she asked me what I was aiming for, what goal I was trying to obtain. She felt that they were fine, all were clear, in focus, no heads even chopped off. I told her that while many of the photos were nice, I wanted to capture the same look, the same feel that my daughter had achieved in a photo of my young grandson walking on the beach. I took that photo out of its binder, where I had it sitting waiting to be framed, to show her.
The photo in question has this surreal quality about it. My grandson's head is tipped down, he is not looking at the camera, but more at the sand, at his feet leaving little footprints, his hands are in his pockets, a whole ocean behind him, and the overall photo has a soft feel about it. As I showed her this photo, and the more I tried to explain to her what I felt my photos were lacking, I discovered the answer to own question. I should say I realized what I felt was wrong with the photos I had been snapping. They were too staged. The subjects knew they were being photographed, which is ok, except when you are trying to take a photograph that emits a natural feel to it.
The time of day she took the photo had a lot to do with it also. She had snapped that particular photo as the day was winding down. Plenty of light existed yet, but not the bright, midday light that many of us assume we must snap photos in to avoid using a flash. The lighting had provided the natural, soft feel to the overall picture. This can usually be obtained in the first few hours of the morning, or as this picture had been taken, in the last hour or two before nightfall.
Because he was not looking directly into the photo, you are able to see and feel the rest of the photo, the ocean, his mood as he contemplates his footsteps, the combination. I asked my daughter if she had been aiming for any particular shot when this was taken, and her reply was no. She had taken probably twenty or thirty shots that evening. In some he was looking up at the camera, some were close-ups, others were as far away as this particular shot, yet the lighting was not as good, or the mood just was not conveyed. She told me directly that is why she loves her digital camera. She can snap away with no thought of wasted film, and while she understands lighting, she is not an expert. By taking numerous pictures as the light was changing, she increased her chances of obtaining just such a picture.
I do not think I will ever be able to reproduce a picture that comes close to the quality of those my daughter takes, but my Sony Mavica and I sure have fun trying.
After complaining to a friend recently that most of the photos I had snapped recently just were not what I expected, she asked to see them. They were ok; I went on to tell her, it was just that none of them were exceptional. Nothing I would want to frame and hang on the wall. After she looked, she asked me what I was aiming for, what goal I was trying to obtain. She felt that they were fine, all were clear, in focus, no heads even chopped off. I told her that while many of the photos were nice, I wanted to capture the same look, the same feel that my daughter had achieved in a photo of my young grandson walking on the beach. I took that photo out of its binder, where I had it sitting waiting to be framed, to show her.
The photo in question has this surreal quality about it. My grandson's head is tipped down, he is not looking at the camera, but more at the sand, at his feet leaving little footprints, his hands are in his pockets, a whole ocean behind him, and the overall photo has a soft feel about it. As I showed her this photo, and the more I tried to explain to her what I felt my photos were lacking, I discovered the answer to own question. I should say I realized what I felt was wrong with the photos I had been snapping. They were too staged. The subjects knew they were being photographed, which is ok, except when you are trying to take a photograph that emits a natural feel to it.
The time of day she took the photo had a lot to do with it also. She had snapped that particular photo as the day was winding down. Plenty of light existed yet, but not the bright, midday light that many of us assume we must snap photos in to avoid using a flash. The lighting had provided the natural, soft feel to the overall picture. This can usually be obtained in the first few hours of the morning, or as this picture had been taken, in the last hour or two before nightfall.
Because he was not looking directly into the photo, you are able to see and feel the rest of the photo, the ocean, his mood as he contemplates his footsteps, the combination. I asked my daughter if she had been aiming for any particular shot when this was taken, and her reply was no. She had taken probably twenty or thirty shots that evening. In some he was looking up at the camera, some were close-ups, others were as far away as this particular shot, yet the lighting was not as good, or the mood just was not conveyed. She told me directly that is why she loves her digital camera. She can snap away with no thought of wasted film, and while she understands lighting, she is not an expert. By taking numerous pictures as the light was changing, she increased her chances of obtaining just such a picture.
I do not think I will ever be able to reproduce a picture that comes close to the quality of those my daughter takes, but my Sony Mavica and I sure have fun trying.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Posters from Photos
By Christina VanGinkel
After my recent introduction to photo books, I started thinking about other things that could be done with photographs that I might not normally think of. That was when I discovered posters! With a twelve year old son who is into baseball, football, and snowboarding, besides constantly redoing his bedroom, save for his Kawasaki green walls, which he has informed me he has no plans to change, ever, posters from photos we took might be just the thing to decorate with!
We started by looking at the different sizes available to give us an idea of what we could use them for. He currently has four matching generic posters on his wall above his bed of four different sports, one snowboarder, one skateboarder, one surfer, and one motorbike rider. If we could have posters produced in the same sizes as those, along with a larger sized one that matched, for the back of his door, I thought we might be onto something as far as pulling together a theme for his room.
Well, sizing was not a problem. A 12" x 16" would be ideal for the smaller posters, and a 20" x 30" would be perfect for his door. So, now that we knew we could order sizes that would work, we had to decide on prints to use. I suggested that we use photographs of his self, participating in his sports of choice. He vetoed that idea immediately. He did not want to be looking at his self.
My next idea was not much different. I suggested we use photographs of him, participating in the sports of his choosing, but before we had them printed, we would alter them, so that no one would know who they were unless he told them. He wanted to see some samples before he decided.
I found a few photos that I thought might work, one of him on his motocross bike going over a jump, one of him riding the rails in the snowboard terrain park, up at bat on the baseball field, and a close-up of him making a tackle during football. I opened up Paint Shop Pro Studio, and opened up the motocross picture. I clicked on Effects on the toolbar. From the drop down menu, I opened up Artistic Effects, and then clicked on Chrome. We also looked at the pictures with several of the different effects, including colored pencil, pencil, chalk, and more. We also looked at several of the effects underneath Texture Effects including fur, rough leather, sculpture and more. We ended up going back to the chrome.
By choosing chrome, we had actually found a color scheme that would not clash with his green walls, and while he knows all the pictures are of him, nobody else will unless he tells them. We had one minor problem, and that was we needed a fifth picture for his door. Instead of going back through more, he decided to reuse the motocross one going over a jump. That way they really tied together the overall look of the posters. Once ordered and put up, I must admit they look cool, and the big bonus is that he likes them too! Who would have thought that a digital camera would lead to so many fun things, including decorating my son's walls!
After my recent introduction to photo books, I started thinking about other things that could be done with photographs that I might not normally think of. That was when I discovered posters! With a twelve year old son who is into baseball, football, and snowboarding, besides constantly redoing his bedroom, save for his Kawasaki green walls, which he has informed me he has no plans to change, ever, posters from photos we took might be just the thing to decorate with!
We started by looking at the different sizes available to give us an idea of what we could use them for. He currently has four matching generic posters on his wall above his bed of four different sports, one snowboarder, one skateboarder, one surfer, and one motorbike rider. If we could have posters produced in the same sizes as those, along with a larger sized one that matched, for the back of his door, I thought we might be onto something as far as pulling together a theme for his room.
Well, sizing was not a problem. A 12" x 16" would be ideal for the smaller posters, and a 20" x 30" would be perfect for his door. So, now that we knew we could order sizes that would work, we had to decide on prints to use. I suggested that we use photographs of his self, participating in his sports of choice. He vetoed that idea immediately. He did not want to be looking at his self.
My next idea was not much different. I suggested we use photographs of him, participating in the sports of his choosing, but before we had them printed, we would alter them, so that no one would know who they were unless he told them. He wanted to see some samples before he decided.
I found a few photos that I thought might work, one of him on his motocross bike going over a jump, one of him riding the rails in the snowboard terrain park, up at bat on the baseball field, and a close-up of him making a tackle during football. I opened up Paint Shop Pro Studio, and opened up the motocross picture. I clicked on Effects on the toolbar. From the drop down menu, I opened up Artistic Effects, and then clicked on Chrome. We also looked at the pictures with several of the different effects, including colored pencil, pencil, chalk, and more. We also looked at several of the effects underneath Texture Effects including fur, rough leather, sculpture and more. We ended up going back to the chrome.
By choosing chrome, we had actually found a color scheme that would not clash with his green walls, and while he knows all the pictures are of him, nobody else will unless he tells them. We had one minor problem, and that was we needed a fifth picture for his door. Instead of going back through more, he decided to reuse the motocross one going over a jump. That way they really tied together the overall look of the posters. Once ordered and put up, I must admit they look cool, and the big bonus is that he likes them too! Who would have thought that a digital camera would lead to so many fun things, including decorating my son's walls!
Monday, June 06, 2005
Your Own Photo Books
By Christina VanGinkel
I have been a fan of the digital camera from its initial incantation. I have used mine for everything from photos for my son's and grandson's scrapbook pages, to snapping photographs of wild black bears that frequent the woods around my home. I have even used the photographs for the occasional gift. What I did not realize until this morning when I was doing a bit of browsing on the Internet, was exactly how many different things you could do with your digital prints.
Shutterfly, an online photo site, has a section of their website dedicated solely to personalized gifts. I must say that I find it hard to believe I was missing some of the most wonderful ways to put my photos to use.
By uploading your photos to their website, you are then capable of ordering items that include your chosen photos. Items such as mouse pads, tote bags, magnets, coffee mugs, note-cards, aprons, t-shirts, posters, even canvas prints that are hand stretched and gallery wrapped. However, the most inspiring and unique gift that they have listed is your very own book.
With a choice of hardcover or soft cover editions, you can quickly create your own coffee table or gift book for a loved one that is filled with your very own photography! I cannot say enough about this idea. Each book will hold between 20 and 100 photos. With the cover design featuring a cut away opening, the first picture in your book is also displayed when the book is closed. These make ideal gifts for almost any occasion you can image. Better yet, make one for yourself! No more fumbling with photographs in an album when you want to show visitors snapshots of your newest grandchild, or your son racing around the motocross track. By building a book of each, they will always be on permanent display, ready to share.
Text can also be added to each photo. Memories can be captured both visually and through your own verbal interpretation for generations to come. Talking of generations, this idea is a great way to correlate all those ancestral photos. With many older black and white and sepia toned pictures deteriorating from handling, age, and lack of proper storage, this is a great way save those photographs. Have a few copies printed and share them with the older family members. They will make beautiful gifts to be passed down to younger family members in the years to come.
These books would also make a great gift for new parents. Assemble one of baby and present it to them on babies first birthday. This will truly become a keepsake gift. Have an older pet that is like part of the family. Assemble photos of Fido along with some heartwarming stories, and your beloved little friend will always be with you. Special occasions, from weddings to weekends fishing, are all excellent reasons to assemble one. Actually, I may have to make room on my bookshelf by the time I am done putting together all the books I already have ideas for, let alone those yet to be thought of!
I have been a fan of the digital camera from its initial incantation. I have used mine for everything from photos for my son's and grandson's scrapbook pages, to snapping photographs of wild black bears that frequent the woods around my home. I have even used the photographs for the occasional gift. What I did not realize until this morning when I was doing a bit of browsing on the Internet, was exactly how many different things you could do with your digital prints.
Shutterfly, an online photo site, has a section of their website dedicated solely to personalized gifts. I must say that I find it hard to believe I was missing some of the most wonderful ways to put my photos to use.
By uploading your photos to their website, you are then capable of ordering items that include your chosen photos. Items such as mouse pads, tote bags, magnets, coffee mugs, note-cards, aprons, t-shirts, posters, even canvas prints that are hand stretched and gallery wrapped. However, the most inspiring and unique gift that they have listed is your very own book.
With a choice of hardcover or soft cover editions, you can quickly create your own coffee table or gift book for a loved one that is filled with your very own photography! I cannot say enough about this idea. Each book will hold between 20 and 100 photos. With the cover design featuring a cut away opening, the first picture in your book is also displayed when the book is closed. These make ideal gifts for almost any occasion you can image. Better yet, make one for yourself! No more fumbling with photographs in an album when you want to show visitors snapshots of your newest grandchild, or your son racing around the motocross track. By building a book of each, they will always be on permanent display, ready to share.
Text can also be added to each photo. Memories can be captured both visually and through your own verbal interpretation for generations to come. Talking of generations, this idea is a great way to correlate all those ancestral photos. With many older black and white and sepia toned pictures deteriorating from handling, age, and lack of proper storage, this is a great way save those photographs. Have a few copies printed and share them with the older family members. They will make beautiful gifts to be passed down to younger family members in the years to come.
These books would also make a great gift for new parents. Assemble one of baby and present it to them on babies first birthday. This will truly become a keepsake gift. Have an older pet that is like part of the family. Assemble photos of Fido along with some heartwarming stories, and your beloved little friend will always be with you. Special occasions, from weddings to weekends fishing, are all excellent reasons to assemble one. Actually, I may have to make room on my bookshelf by the time I am done putting together all the books I already have ideas for, let alone those yet to be thought of!
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Photography for School Projects
Children love to take pictures and love to see themselves on film and in print. With the advent of digital cameras, children now can have the instant gratification of having their picture taken, or taking a picture themselves, and then seeing it immediately. While this can be fun for all involved, it also has educational benefits. Many children are not artistically inclined, or are simply hesitant to explore their artistic abilities. Photography can be a way for them to explore their creativity in a new way. Other children may struggle with writing, story telling, or organization. Arranging their photos into book or story form can give them a means of saying what they want to say without struggling with the words; and often, the words will come.
Children will love using photography for creative writing. Let them take several digital photographs of themselves, their friends, their pets, their home, or whatever else interests them, print out the pictures on half-pieces of paper, and have the children put the pages in story form and write the story on the other half of each page. The pages can then be bound together, either by staples, rings, tape, or other form of binding material, and the children will have their very own published books.
Recording field trips is a good use of photography. Allow children to photograph important aspects of the field trip, such as the travel to and from, the lessons learned, any activities in which they participate, and of course candid shots of the teacher and other students. Print out the photos and encourage the children to cut around the photos in creative ways and make them into a field trip scrap book. This can be a fancy photo album or simply a spiral notebook. Photos can be glued on the pages with captions, explanations and dates recorded beneath each one.
Many children will benefit from the artistic aspect of photography. Often a child will have a very big imagination but is self-conscious or negative about his artistic abilities. While he may struggle over a drawing or piece of artwork which, to him, is never quite right, photography, especially digital photography is an easy way to make something beautiful and give him just the encouragement he needs. When the pictures are just the way the child likes them, they can be printed out and framed, pinned on the wall, or put into a book of artwork. Some children may even enjoy printing out black and white photos and adding their own special colors to the picture.
Lastly, photography is an excellent way for a child to record a family vacation. Made in much the same way as the field trip scrapbook, a scrapbook made by a child for a vacation can be bound together, captioned, and decorated in a special way. And it doesn't have to stop at photos; add any tickets, postcards, brochures, or anything else that made the vacation special. A photograph vacation scrapbook made by your child will be a treasured memento for the entire family for years to come.
Children will love using photography for creative writing. Let them take several digital photographs of themselves, their friends, their pets, their home, or whatever else interests them, print out the pictures on half-pieces of paper, and have the children put the pages in story form and write the story on the other half of each page. The pages can then be bound together, either by staples, rings, tape, or other form of binding material, and the children will have their very own published books.
Recording field trips is a good use of photography. Allow children to photograph important aspects of the field trip, such as the travel to and from, the lessons learned, any activities in which they participate, and of course candid shots of the teacher and other students. Print out the photos and encourage the children to cut around the photos in creative ways and make them into a field trip scrap book. This can be a fancy photo album or simply a spiral notebook. Photos can be glued on the pages with captions, explanations and dates recorded beneath each one.
Many children will benefit from the artistic aspect of photography. Often a child will have a very big imagination but is self-conscious or negative about his artistic abilities. While he may struggle over a drawing or piece of artwork which, to him, is never quite right, photography, especially digital photography is an easy way to make something beautiful and give him just the encouragement he needs. When the pictures are just the way the child likes them, they can be printed out and framed, pinned on the wall, or put into a book of artwork. Some children may even enjoy printing out black and white photos and adding their own special colors to the picture.
Lastly, photography is an excellent way for a child to record a family vacation. Made in much the same way as the field trip scrapbook, a scrapbook made by a child for a vacation can be bound together, captioned, and decorated in a special way. And it doesn't have to stop at photos; add any tickets, postcards, brochures, or anything else that made the vacation special. A photograph vacation scrapbook made by your child will be a treasured memento for the entire family for years to come.
Friday, June 03, 2005
A Digital Camera can Promote Your Craft and Antique Sales
By Christina VanGinkel
I had made a half a dozen different necklaces that I wanted to sell on Ebay. Each was different from the others, no two alike. Describing them was possible, but I knew that a potential buyer would never be able to comprehend exactly what they each looked like from a description alone. Thankfully, I had a digital camera, a Sony Mavica that was easy to use, and just as easy to download pictures from onto my computer. Within ten minutes, I had snapped several pictures of each necklace, so that I had a variety of pictures to choose from to post with any auction or sale I may place online. A few years back, I would have had to snap a whole roll of film of the six necklaces, or waited until I had finished a few more, than waited until the roll was developed, hoping that I had at least one useable picture of each necklace. Then, I would have had to scan each picture into my computer, individually, all before I uploaded the photographs to list them for sale on a site such as Ebay. Thankfully, those days are gone!
With limited markets in many areas, crafters today often sell their merchandise online, either though Ebay or various other online outlets. The main requirement to participate in these ventures, besides actually having a craft to sell, is to be able to adequately describe and offer photos of the product they are selling. If you are still snapping those photographs the old-fashioned way, save yourself the hassles you are surely enduring, and purchase an easy to use digital. Even a basic model will provide you with enough features to sell your wares online with ease.
What exactly are the benefits of digital? Thanks to the digital camera, you no longer have to wait until you have enough finished craft items to fill an entire roll. Nor do you have to hope that each picture you took is good enough to represent the items you are selling. With a digital camera, you can snap a photograph, instantly see it, upload it to your computer to clarify that it is of optimum use, and be ready to list the item it represents, i.e., no film to develop, no scanning, just instant photos.
Who would have thought that a camera would so affect the way crafters are able to promote and sell their wares? Besides the initial photographs, a potential buyer may contact you and ask for additional photos. Again, thanks to your camera being digital, this request can be met with no additional cost to you, other than the time it takes to photograph, upload, and email the pictures.
Antique sellers have netted many of these same benefits from the digital camera. By being able to offer close-up photos upon request from a potential buyer, their avenues for sales have opened up far beyond the areas they may live and work. From small-time antique hunters, to large enterprises that deal with high volumes of items, digital cameras have drastically changed the way they work.
Even those sellers who did not set out to sell something online, will be surprised at how much a difference having readily available photographs can help sell an item when they suddenly find themselves on the selling end of a deal.
I had made a half a dozen different necklaces that I wanted to sell on Ebay. Each was different from the others, no two alike. Describing them was possible, but I knew that a potential buyer would never be able to comprehend exactly what they each looked like from a description alone. Thankfully, I had a digital camera, a Sony Mavica that was easy to use, and just as easy to download pictures from onto my computer. Within ten minutes, I had snapped several pictures of each necklace, so that I had a variety of pictures to choose from to post with any auction or sale I may place online. A few years back, I would have had to snap a whole roll of film of the six necklaces, or waited until I had finished a few more, than waited until the roll was developed, hoping that I had at least one useable picture of each necklace. Then, I would have had to scan each picture into my computer, individually, all before I uploaded the photographs to list them for sale on a site such as Ebay. Thankfully, those days are gone!
With limited markets in many areas, crafters today often sell their merchandise online, either though Ebay or various other online outlets. The main requirement to participate in these ventures, besides actually having a craft to sell, is to be able to adequately describe and offer photos of the product they are selling. If you are still snapping those photographs the old-fashioned way, save yourself the hassles you are surely enduring, and purchase an easy to use digital. Even a basic model will provide you with enough features to sell your wares online with ease.
What exactly are the benefits of digital? Thanks to the digital camera, you no longer have to wait until you have enough finished craft items to fill an entire roll. Nor do you have to hope that each picture you took is good enough to represent the items you are selling. With a digital camera, you can snap a photograph, instantly see it, upload it to your computer to clarify that it is of optimum use, and be ready to list the item it represents, i.e., no film to develop, no scanning, just instant photos.
Who would have thought that a camera would so affect the way crafters are able to promote and sell their wares? Besides the initial photographs, a potential buyer may contact you and ask for additional photos. Again, thanks to your camera being digital, this request can be met with no additional cost to you, other than the time it takes to photograph, upload, and email the pictures.
Antique sellers have netted many of these same benefits from the digital camera. By being able to offer close-up photos upon request from a potential buyer, their avenues for sales have opened up far beyond the areas they may live and work. From small-time antique hunters, to large enterprises that deal with high volumes of items, digital cameras have drastically changed the way they work.
Even those sellers who did not set out to sell something online, will be surprised at how much a difference having readily available photographs can help sell an item when they suddenly find themselves on the selling end of a deal.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Photography Shoot: Gettysburg
This delightfully charming town in south central Pennsylvania is an excellent place for photographers to hone their hobby or career. There are countless places on these hallowed grounds for picture taking and many people from historians to ghost hunters take advantage of what the battlefield has to offer.
The first thing that will strike a first-time visiting photographer is the number of markers and monuments all over the area. Small markers and massive monuments . . . all waiting there for you to snap the camera and get some great shots.
It is advised to start your visit to Gettysburg at the visitor center. You may want to rent a CD or cassette for your vehicle that will narrate the auto tour route, but be sure to explore on your own, too. There are some places that the auto tour will not go. The visitor center also serves as a museum, so you will be able to get some inside photographs here.
Across from the visitors center you will find the National Cemetery. This is where Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address and the rows of flat stones are sobering. There are some lovely monuments in the cemetery as well.
Other photo ops that are not to be missed include:
1. Little Round Top. If you only have a short time in Gettysburg, try to keep Little Round Top for a sunset visit. The view is impressive with or without a colorful sunset, but even better if there are bright colors. Devil's Den can be seen from Little Round Top, so be sure to get some photos of that, too.
2. Devil's Den. These huge boulders have delighted photographers ever since they came to light after the Battle of Gettysburg. There are many angles from which to take your pictures from this area of the battlefield.
3. Big Round Top. Panoramic view if you can make it to the top. It is quite a steep climb. This is an unguided trail nearly straight up and there are only a few monuments and markers up there, but for photographs from a mountaintop, these will turn out well.
4. The Site of Pickett's Charge. This is one of the spots on the battlefield that is always heavily traveled by tourists. This is where to get a picture of the spot where thousands of southern soldiers walked across the open field, and directly into the fire of the Union Army. They kept coming, and kept falling and this place has a very solemn feeling to it.
5. Spangler's Spring and Culp's Hill. This is part of the "3 Hour Tour" if you are doing the auto tour.
6. Sachs Bridge. Beautiful covered bridge a very short distance from town. Soldiers passed over this bridge on their way to battle. Covered bridges always make excellent photo subjects.
Those are just a few of the best places to snap some incredible pictures. Other places to look for on the battlefield include the "Bloody Wheatfield", the Peach Orchard, East Cavalry Field, East Cemetery Hill, the Eternal Light Peace Memorial, 11th Corps line, the old buildings in town, witness trees, and various other points of interest.
If you don't wish to find all of these spots on your own, National Park Service guides are available and can be hired to drive the tour with you in your own vehicle.
The first thing that will strike a first-time visiting photographer is the number of markers and monuments all over the area. Small markers and massive monuments . . . all waiting there for you to snap the camera and get some great shots.
It is advised to start your visit to Gettysburg at the visitor center. You may want to rent a CD or cassette for your vehicle that will narrate the auto tour route, but be sure to explore on your own, too. There are some places that the auto tour will not go. The visitor center also serves as a museum, so you will be able to get some inside photographs here.
Across from the visitors center you will find the National Cemetery. This is where Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address and the rows of flat stones are sobering. There are some lovely monuments in the cemetery as well.
Other photo ops that are not to be missed include:
1. Little Round Top. If you only have a short time in Gettysburg, try to keep Little Round Top for a sunset visit. The view is impressive with or without a colorful sunset, but even better if there are bright colors. Devil's Den can be seen from Little Round Top, so be sure to get some photos of that, too.
2. Devil's Den. These huge boulders have delighted photographers ever since they came to light after the Battle of Gettysburg. There are many angles from which to take your pictures from this area of the battlefield.
3. Big Round Top. Panoramic view if you can make it to the top. It is quite a steep climb. This is an unguided trail nearly straight up and there are only a few monuments and markers up there, but for photographs from a mountaintop, these will turn out well.
4. The Site of Pickett's Charge. This is one of the spots on the battlefield that is always heavily traveled by tourists. This is where to get a picture of the spot where thousands of southern soldiers walked across the open field, and directly into the fire of the Union Army. They kept coming, and kept falling and this place has a very solemn feeling to it.
5. Spangler's Spring and Culp's Hill. This is part of the "3 Hour Tour" if you are doing the auto tour.
6. Sachs Bridge. Beautiful covered bridge a very short distance from town. Soldiers passed over this bridge on their way to battle. Covered bridges always make excellent photo subjects.
Those are just a few of the best places to snap some incredible pictures. Other places to look for on the battlefield include the "Bloody Wheatfield", the Peach Orchard, East Cavalry Field, East Cemetery Hill, the Eternal Light Peace Memorial, 11th Corps line, the old buildings in town, witness trees, and various other points of interest.
If you don't wish to find all of these spots on your own, National Park Service guides are available and can be hired to drive the tour with you in your own vehicle.
A Picture of Hope
By Christina VanGinkel
Framed pictures of altered photographs that you snapped yourself are a great way to use your camera to produce artwork for your walls at a fraction of the cost of purchased art. With the availability of both digital cameras and computer software to edit your photographs, it is possible for just about anyone to create a one of a kind piece of art.
Start by snapping some photos of a few subjects that interest you. It could be your kids, or a favorite view. The key being something that you know you would want to look at repeatedly. Snap many different views, including close-ups, faraway views, from the front, and behind, the point being to snap a lot so you have a lot to work with.
Examples from my recent pieces include two pictures that my daughter actually snapped. One is of my young grandson fishing. The overall scene is actually a view of a stream and lower portion of a bridge, with the backside of my grandson casting his fishing pole. Other than changing the mood of the picture slightly by softening it in Microsoft Picture It! Photo Premium 9, I did not really alter it much. I printed an 8 X 10 photo of it and framed it as is.
The second photo is also of my grandson. It is a close-up of his face. At first glance, it looks as if she snapped a photo that would never even be printed, let alone be blown up and framed. What I saw in the picture though, was his eyes, so expressive, so open to life, to hope for the future. I cropped the picture a bit more than it already was, and first turned it into a black and white photo. I liked it, but it was not what I was expecting when I was first drawn to the photo. The expression from the eyes was still there, but not to the degree that I knew, the photo had the potential to produce. I returned it to its original color and altered it with the antique affect, also referred to as sepia tone. The result was stunning. I now have a beautiful piece of framed art I call Hope.
The first time my daughter saw the picture framed, she asked me when I snapped it. To say she was surprised when I told her she had taken the photo, would be putting it mildly. She actually looked at me and said, no, she did not. It makes me wonder how often we, as amateur photographers, snap photographs that have potential to be much more than they first appear, but all we see is the flat product that is originally snapped.
By looking at your photos with the intent to make them into full size art, you may optimistically see what is often missed. Try to look past the photo's first impressions if something jumps out at you when you first view a photo. Consider what it is about the photo that draws you into it. Then, see if your photo editing software can help, by bringing that first impression into full-blown artistic inspiration. Maybe you will also be lucky enough to discover your own Hope of a lifetime!
Framed pictures of altered photographs that you snapped yourself are a great way to use your camera to produce artwork for your walls at a fraction of the cost of purchased art. With the availability of both digital cameras and computer software to edit your photographs, it is possible for just about anyone to create a one of a kind piece of art.
Start by snapping some photos of a few subjects that interest you. It could be your kids, or a favorite view. The key being something that you know you would want to look at repeatedly. Snap many different views, including close-ups, faraway views, from the front, and behind, the point being to snap a lot so you have a lot to work with.
Examples from my recent pieces include two pictures that my daughter actually snapped. One is of my young grandson fishing. The overall scene is actually a view of a stream and lower portion of a bridge, with the backside of my grandson casting his fishing pole. Other than changing the mood of the picture slightly by softening it in Microsoft Picture It! Photo Premium 9, I did not really alter it much. I printed an 8 X 10 photo of it and framed it as is.
The second photo is also of my grandson. It is a close-up of his face. At first glance, it looks as if she snapped a photo that would never even be printed, let alone be blown up and framed. What I saw in the picture though, was his eyes, so expressive, so open to life, to hope for the future. I cropped the picture a bit more than it already was, and first turned it into a black and white photo. I liked it, but it was not what I was expecting when I was first drawn to the photo. The expression from the eyes was still there, but not to the degree that I knew, the photo had the potential to produce. I returned it to its original color and altered it with the antique affect, also referred to as sepia tone. The result was stunning. I now have a beautiful piece of framed art I call Hope.
The first time my daughter saw the picture framed, she asked me when I snapped it. To say she was surprised when I told her she had taken the photo, would be putting it mildly. She actually looked at me and said, no, she did not. It makes me wonder how often we, as amateur photographers, snap photographs that have potential to be much more than they first appear, but all we see is the flat product that is originally snapped.
By looking at your photos with the intent to make them into full size art, you may optimistically see what is often missed. Try to look past the photo's first impressions if something jumps out at you when you first view a photo. Consider what it is about the photo that draws you into it. Then, see if your photo editing software can help, by bringing that first impression into full-blown artistic inspiration. Maybe you will also be lucky enough to discover your own Hope of a lifetime!
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