Photography Week in Review for June 16-22, 2008

Are you wondering what to do with all those wedding pictures you snapped earlier this month… or the ones you took at your son’s graduation… or the photos you took a few weeks ago at your family reunion? And speaking of snap happy photo events are you ready to point and shoot the blazing night sky on the Fourth of July? This week the photography blog covered ways to preserve your prized shots and provided tips on how you can capture many more in the days leading up to our country’s birthday. Take a look at what you missed: June … Continue reading

New Trends in Digital Photography

Are you looking to purchase a new digital camera in time for your Fourth of July BBQ? Or perhaps you want a new camera to shoot some frameworthy shots at your family reunion this summer. Whatever your reason now is a great time to snap up the latest and greatest digital cameras and accessories for a decent price. Most stores are trying to get their current stock off the shelves so they can make room for new models to be unveiled in time for the holiday season. The following digital cameras have been given the thumbs up by Consumer Reports: … Continue reading

Shooting Fourth of July Fireworks

Now that you know what images to snap at your Fourth of July parades, picnics and parties let’s turn our attention to the main event of any Independence Day celebration—-the fireworks displays. Here are some tips to keep in mind before the sparks start flying on the Fourth: Snapping Sparklers Last year I tried unsuccessfully to capture my 3-year-old using her sparklers to draw pictures in the night sky. However, during a Chinese New Year celebration a few months ago, I learned a trick from a photo expert. First, to best capture sparkler sky writing you should place your camera … Continue reading

A Picture Perfect Day Courtesy of a Perfect Stranger

Have you ever had one of those days? A day that begins completely ordinary, but magically turns extraordinary? I had one a few weeks ago and have been meaning to write about it ever since. The day started off very typically—-feeding my daughter breakfast and getting ready to tackle our to-do list. The one thing that made this day a bit different was the fact that there was not a cloud in the sky. It was an unbelievably beautiful spring day with above normal temperatures. After what has been dubbed by many around Wisconsin as the longest winter on record … Continue reading

Feeling Safer During Your Next Trip to Hawaii

Frankly, I don’t see what all the fuss is about. For those of you who plan to travel to Hawaii in the near future you might be interested to know that dozens of surveillance cameras will soon be installed in Waikiki and on various spots on the Big Island. County officials say the new cameras are part of an effort to reduce crimes against tourists. Good news, right? Not according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which objects to the cameras over privacy concerns. ACLU attorneys say the cameras divert taxpayer money away from other crime reducing measures such as … Continue reading

Your Dad’s Photo on the Cover of a Magazine

If you are looking for the perfect Father’s Day photo gift then you’ve come to the right place. While some men are more willing to admit it than others I doubt there are many dads out there who haven’t dreamed of seeing their photo grace the cover of a magazine. Some dads would kill to see their faces on the cover of Sports Illustrated or Golf Digest (or in my brother’s case—-SURFING Magazine). Heck, I know some dads who wouldn’t mind seeing their mugs on the cover of GQ magazine. Regardless of your dad’s preference in periodicals there is a … Continue reading

What Else the Digital Era has Eliminated

In a previous blog I detailed the single event that made me switch from my trusty and beloved traditional film camera to my new shiny and mighty digital one. (For the record I am still holding tightly to my film camera, though I rarely shoot with it anymore.) Up until a couple of years ago I was the type of person who reluctantly embraced change. These days though I have learned that positive things can happen when you venture out of your perceived comfort zone and take advantage of new and exciting opportunities. I’m willing to bet that many photographers … Continue reading

Film Cameras Fading Away

In a previous blog I mentioned that my traditional film camera decided to go on vacation while I was on vacation. My trusty Canon EOS Rebel K2 went on strike during part of my trip to Hawaii a few months ago. Needless to say, I spent the better part of an entire day trying to track down a camera repair shop that could help me salvage my cherished sharpshooter. It was a frustrating endeavor to say the least for one simple reason: film cameras are becoming obsolete. I can’t tell you how many camera storeowners were shocked to hear that … Continue reading

A New Camera for Dad for Father’s Day

So you don’t want to give dad any of the Father’s Day photo gifts I listed in this blog. And you don’t think my Mother’s Day camera will go over well with him either, well, I have one more item he might be delighted to unwrap on Father’s Day. Canon’s PowerShot 650 IS is perfect for the snap happy dad who wants a camera that packs a punch, but doesn’t have the time or energy to read an owner’s manual the size of a pocket dictionary to get it to work. (Not that most dads read owners manuals to begin … Continue reading

My Mother’s Day Photo Surprise—The Gift that Keeps on Giving

I know, Father’s Day is just around the corner so why I am writing about my Mother’s Day gift? For starters, it’s an incredible gift and one that could easily be given to dad on his big day as well. The other reason… I wanted to experiment with my gift for a couple of weeks before writing this blog so I would be better able to assess its pros and cons. So what was my big Mother’s Day surprise (besides the gorgeous pink rose my young daughter picked out all by herself to give to me)? Canon’s PowerShot A720 IS … Continue reading