If you’ve waited until the last-minute to shop for your favorite shutterbug’s Christmas gift, then you are in luck. Fortunately, there are a myriad of great options for photographers of all skill levels that are easily accessible and won’t drain your wallet. If you are working on a really tight budget, then consider giving the gift of camera cleaning supplies. Photographers–both amateur and professional–need to take care of their equipment. I can’t think of an avid shutterbug out there, who wouldn’t appreciate camera cleaning and maintenance gear, such as microfiber cleaning cloths, lens brushes, blower bulbs, and cans of compressed … Continue reading →

I’ve been lusting after the Nikon D7000 for a while now. Unfortunately, I don’t have $1,200 plus to drop on my dream camera, so for now all I can do is drool over the one my friend has. The same friend who reminds me: “A camera doesn’t make the photographer.” Easy to say when you are wielding a DSLR with 16.2 MP DX-format CMOS sensor, 6 fps continuous shooting and breathtaking full 1080p HD movies with full time autofocus. Still, as much as I would love to be shooting with the rock star Nikon, there is a bit of truth … Continue reading →

One of the biggest misconceptions in the world of photography is that the camera records exactly what your eye sees. If you have ever taken a shot of a waterfall, sprinting child or sunset, then you know that this is simply not the case. The human eye and a camera (no matter how fancy) are two separate entities. The former has the capability to see a range of light and color that is practically limitless, while the latter has major limitations. Think about the last time you snapped a photo of a subject in a room saturated with fluorescent light. … Continue reading →

Yesterday I spent the better half of the morning holed up in a doctor’s office waiting to get chest x-rays to determine if my nasty case of bronchitis had morphed into pneumonia. Thankfully, the waiting room was stocked with old issues of Men’s Fitness Magazine to keep me company. Good grief; have you seen the half-naked cover boys they feature on that pectoral… I mean…periodical? Who is the lucky duck who gets to take those photos? I didn’t get a chance to look up the photographer’s name. I was too busy drooling. Regardless of who snapped the saliva-inducing images, they … Continue reading →

Many of the videographers I used to work with when I was in TV news have branched out and are now making money taking still photos with professional-grade digital cameras. I had the chance to catch up with one of them Saturday night and discovered that the digital photography revolution has some hidden downsides most amateur shutterbugs may not be aware of. My former colleague’s biggest complaint is that digital cameras are so affordable these days it has created a wave of amateur photographers thinking they can make a quick buck. My pal claims that in an effort to generate … Continue reading →

Some photographers refuse to snap photos outdoors at high noon on cloudless sunny days. Sure, the lighting conditions are not ideal. You’re forced to contend with harsh shadows and squinting subjects; however, after spending two days this past weekend trying to photograph my neighbor’s 9-year-old participating in an intramural basketball tournament, I would gladly shoot midday on a sunny day rather than in a gym lit exclusively by fluorescent bulbs. Now, that’s agony. In case you are caught in the same predicament this season, consider the following: First, scout out the location prior to shooting. I didn’t… and I paid … Continue reading →

I just scanned a dozen photos for my BFF. The pictures will now be added to a digital scrapbook she is making for her parents 50th wedding anniversary. The big day takes place in less than two weeks, and my friend is scrambling to get everything done in time for the huge party she and her siblings are throwing for their mom and dad. My pal, her siblings, as well as all of the grandkids, are responsible for designing one scrapbook page each using their favorite shots of the guests of honor. Then, as the icing on the anniversary surprise, … Continue reading →

My parents are about as technologically inept as they come. Believe me; to them, that’s a compliment. When it came time for my mom and dad to finally trash their Kodak camera (circa 1972) and learn how to use a 21st century digital camera, they were far from happy. My mom especially has a hard time embracing change, so it’s no surprise that she refused to shoot with anything other than the most rudimentary digital camera on the market. She got a basic digital camera, but instead of keeping her finger on the shutter button only, she would randomly push … Continue reading →

I finally got around to organizing my photo corner. Believe me; it’s not as fancy as it may sound. My “photo corner” is basically a small square of space I carved out in the family room. It boasts a table, chair, computer and a few storage items that are used to organize images, and eventually place them in scrapbooks. I haven’t touched the space since spring, except to pile more and more “stuff” on the sagging wooden table. The mess included notes about certain photos and tips I found online or in books. Some of them are quite old, like … Continue reading →

I knew from an early age that I wanted to major in journalism. I was in second grade and my mother informed me that in order to be like my idol, Jane Pauley, I would have study hard in school and graduate college with a degree in journalism. I did exactly what my mother told me to do, yet I still didn’t end up co-hosting the Today show. However, I did learn a lot about all aspects of journalism along my educational journey, including photojournalism. To this day I am so thankful that I signed up for high school photojournalism … Continue reading →