Search Results for: blog an indestructible camera

A New Camera for Mom

I got the funniest email from a reader the other day regarding my blog on Mother’s Day gift ideas. In the post I listed a few photo accessories I thought would make affordable presents for a mother/photographer. The reader didn’t take aim at my choice in items, but he did have a problem with their prices (all the gifts were under $50). He noted: “Isn’t mom worth more than a $20 beaded camera neck strap?” Frankly, I found his remark quite funny. Do I think moms are worth more than 20 bucks? Absolutely. Definitely. Without a doubt. Of course. Hel… … Continue reading →

An Indestructible Camera

My camera is more likely to be destroyed by a toddler than a tumble from the side of a cliff. Yet, I was still intrigued by Olympus’ newest addition, which was supposedly designed for adventure shooters who sign up for National Geographic-type expeditions. The company claims its new 10.1-megapixel Stylus 1030 SW is the “toughest point-and-shoot camera in the world.” There is no way I have the means to travel to the far reaches of the globe to put the camera to the test so I did the next best thing, I called my professional photographer pal who gave me … Continue reading →

Encouraging Budding Shutterbugs

In addition to soccer camp, t-ball and swimming, this summer my 7-year-old will be enrolled in a photo workshop for kids. The opportunity presented itself last month and I jumped at the chance to sign-up. Fortunately, my daughter is as excited about the workshop as I am. She loves to take pictures and having someone other than mom giving her instructions on how to snap frame worthy shots is a golden moment in my book. This is not to say that parents make bad teachers. Rather, in many cases, having an expert in the field of photography work with a … Continue reading →

Getting Kids Involved in Photography

My daughter owns two digital cameras. Did I mention that she’s six years old? My mom says I am to blame for my daughter’s camera obsession. According to my dear, sweet mother, I’ve scarred my child by having her pose for nearly 15,000 photos since her birth. Apparently, my kid is so sick of being in front of the lens that she has taken to hiding behind it. I think my mom’s analysis may be a bit dramatic, though my daughter really does prefer being behind the camera than in front of it. However, I attribute that trait to her … Continue reading →

Inspiring Young Shutterbugs

My 6-year-old has more cameras than I do; real, digital cameras that take superior shots. In addition to the Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera Santa brought her a couple of years ago, grandma and grandpa recently gifted my young shutterbug with a VTech KidiZoom Plus Digital Camera. The latter comes equipped with built-in video games and a plethora of other special effects. Needless to say, my daughter has been putting her photo equipment to good use. She took the VTech camera on our recent trip to Hawaii and captured some incredible images. Seriously, the kid has an amazing eye. Her photo … Continue reading →

Should You Upgrade for Christmas?

Tis the season to make known your ultimate photo-related wishes. After all, you never know who might be able to deliver that new DSLR camera you’ve had your eye on, just in time for the holidays. Camera shop owners will be the first to tell you that the month of December is a chaotic time for them. The weeks leading up to Christmas are when many folks decide that they need a camera upgrade in order to capture unforgettable holiday memories, from greeting card group shots to candid gift-opening images. Still, choosing the right DSLR camera (or any camera) comes … Continue reading →

Knowing When to Upgrade

How do you know when to upgrade your camera? In my case it’ll take winning the lottery before I can purchase my dream camera: a Nikon D90. My current digital camera is decent, but I’m always looking to upgrade. It doesn’t help that camera technology is constantly evolving and there seems to be updated versions of top-rated cameras debuting every season. But, do you really need a new camera? Before you break the bank buying a new camera, review these points: Shutter Lag: If you take a lot of action shots or sports photos, then you don’t want to deal … Continue reading →

Christmas Showdown: Parents vs. Toy Packaging

Some call it “wrap rage,” others call it a nuisance; I like to refer to it as a parent’s worst nightmare. Moms and dads with young children, you know the pain I am describing: The agony of liberating new toys from their plastic packaging. It used to be that on Christmas morning all a parent needed nearby was a camera, a pad and pen to jot down who gave what to whom, and maybe, maybe, a single pair of scissors to release a few stubborn pieces of tape. (Though, if someone in the family had sharp teeth you could skip … Continue reading →

Pictures and Color Temperature

When avid photographers hear the term “color temperature” most think of White Balance. When I was working in TV, white balance was a critical factor in daily shooting and is the reason you see some interview subjects holding up a white piece of paper in front of TV cameras prior to the start of a press conference or other major media event. White Balance essentially measures the color temperature of a photo and on most digital cameras there is some function that allows you to control the White Balance in your shot. While most people simply employ the Auto White … Continue reading →

Shooting Fourth of July Fireworks—Lenses and Settings

Now that you know where to shoot and what to bring along, let’s discuss some other factors that you should keep in mind while documenting your local Fourth of July fireworks display. LENSES Simply put, wider is better. Without a doubt a wide-angle lens works better for fireworks photography. If you can get your hands on a 20mm to 35mm lens, for example, you will increase your field of view and have better luck capturing the full effect of the entire explosion. Conversely, a lens that’s too long (80mm to 200mm) will almost certainly limit how much you capture in … Continue reading →