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Friday, July 18, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
touching up photos
A major advantage of digital photography is being able to easily rewrite history – you can make changes to the photos before printing or displaying. There are a variety of software packages that will allow you to do this - some photo album software will allow simple touch ups, like Google's Picasa, Apple's iPhoto or LView, while more complex packages offer more diverse editing flexibility and more professional results, such as Adobe Photoshop, or Corel Paint Shop Pro. Most software packages offer inline help features and tutorials to guide you through these techniques and more.
Common edits to photos include the elimination of red-eye, which many software packages can do with a simple click of a button, and the removal of an unwanted item from a scene, like a stray swimmer or unwanted car on the road – this is called cloning, where the software samples one section of the image to replace the other. By using parts of the original image, the colouring and texture are the same, so results are good enough to fool almost anybody. Another common touchup is to adjust the amount of light that was available when the photo was originally taken – literally, changing how bright some colours are in relation to others, and how bright the image looks overall. For example, this can make a dark photo look brighter, or a dull photo more vivid.
post-processing
Common edits to photos include the elimination of red-eye, which many software packages can do with a simple click of a button, and the removal of an unwanted item from a scene, like a stray swimmer or unwanted car on the road – this is called cloning, where the software samples one section of the image to replace the other. By using parts of the original image, the colouring and texture are the same, so results are good enough to fool almost anybody. Another common touchup is to adjust the amount of light that was available when the photo was originally taken – literally, changing how bright some colours are in relation to others, and how bright the image looks overall. For example, this can make a dark photo look brighter, or a dull photo more vivid.
adjusting the horizon
Another simple correction that can be made is to rotate the photo so that the horizon or objects captured appear straight. This is often more than simply rotating the image 90 degrees one way or the other, from portrait to landscape, but instead leveling the photo so that it looks straight. Because of the perspective of the photo, it may not be possible to make everything level at once, so you should use the horizon as your ruler, or take a dominant object in the scene, like a person or building, and use that as a guide.
cropping
Cropping can be another powerful editing tool, especially with newer cameras that have greater resolution (giving you a larger source image to work from). Cropping trims off unwanted parts of the photo leaving you with the parts you want to keep. This can have a significant effect on the photo, since you can change the balance, composition and drama of a photo, for example, in a photo where a subject was centered, you can crop off more on one side to align objects with the rule of thirds, or remove portions of the background, like a building, tree or stray person. You can also crop a photo to change it from landscape to portrait, leading to a more interesting picture than the one you originally took.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
What can I do with my cell phone photos?
So you're out in the park with the little one, and out of nowhere he takes his first steps! Ten years ago you would have to just relay the story to friends and family. Now you can whip out your camera phone and take a quick snap to preserve the moment! But now what?
SHARE
Now you can easily share your cell phone photos online, using PhotoWorld.com online service. Simply email your photo from your phone to your online account and instantly share your memorable moments with family and friends. For more info Click Here.
PRINT
To give you an idea of the discrepancies between the download speed and the upload speed take a look at these broadband Internet connection speeds.
TIPS
Although most camera phones take average quality photos, there are a few things you can do to improve camera phone photos.
1. Make sure there is plenty of light, if not use the low light or night setting if you have one.
2. Be steady! Set the phone down if you need to, this will increase sharpness.
3. Use the highest quality settings on your cell phone. Most phones have multiple quality settings so be sure to check what yours is set to.
4. Get close to your subject. Most phones don't have a zoom, so the closer you are, the sharper the image.
5. Edit and enchance. Have fun with your photos from your cell phone. Use PhotoWorld.com online site or your favorite photo editing tool to enhance photos or turn them into cards, collages, etc.
SHARE
Now you can easily share your cell phone photos online, using PhotoWorld.com online service. Simply email your photo from your phone to your online account and instantly share your memorable moments with family and friends. For more info Click Here.
PRINTTo give you an idea of the discrepancies between the download speed and the upload speed take a look at these broadband Internet connection speeds.
TIPS
Although most camera phones take average quality photos, there are a few things you can do to improve camera phone photos.
1. Make sure there is plenty of light, if not use the low light or night setting if you have one.
2. Be steady! Set the phone down if you need to, this will increase sharpness.
3. Use the highest quality settings on your cell phone. Most phones have multiple quality settings so be sure to check what yours is set to.
4. Get close to your subject. Most phones don't have a zoom, so the closer you are, the sharper the image.
5. Edit and enchance. Have fun with your photos from your cell phone. Use PhotoWorld.com online site or your favorite photo editing tool to enhance photos or turn them into cards, collages, etc.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Composition: How to Frame a Photo
Greetings fellow photographers! In this installment we are going to examine photo composition and provide a few tips and tricks for framing your summer vacation photos. Summer may be winding down, but many people use the late summer season as a chance to leave their daily lives behind and explore some of the many wonders our world has to offer. Whether it’s a family road trip or a solo backpacking adventure, the summer vacation has become a longstanding American tradition. There is no better way to document your trip than by taking pictures. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind when shooting your vacation masterpieces:
Let your camera focus, then adjust your framing. Many people are not aware that they can lock in their auto focus before they actually take the photograph. Most cameras will automatically focus on the center spot in a photo, but the center may not necessarily be the most interesting area. Next time you shoot a photo, center in on your subject, push the button only halfway down, and hold it there. This will lock in the focus. Then, recompose your photo; move the subject left, right, up, or down, and take the shot. For scenic photos, lock in your focus with the horizon line centered, then shift it down to show more sky, or up to show more foreground. The same concept applies when photographing people; an off-center person or group is more interesting than a completely centered subject. As we all know, a centered human being is not all it’s cracked up to be!
Give your subject some space! We’ve all heard horror stories of people accidentally losing their digital photos. Imagine this: you book the family on a whale watching excursion, and after several cloudy hours, the sun breaks through and creates a perfect rainbow. You place your family in the foreground, and at that moment, a humpback whale surfaces in the background. You snap the photo, no one blinks, and you have a perfect shot of your family on the ocean with a humpback whale and a rainbow in the background. A few days later, you pull out your camera to show Uncle Joe the incredible shot you took, and you accidentally press Erase All, deleting your perfect whale shot, along with all the other photos from the trip. Now, you may be thinking, “That won’t happen to me.” Famous last words! Why take the risk?
Use natural framing to your advantage. Take a moment to examine any elements you can use to create a natural frame. For example, a low-hanging branch can help frame a scenic shot, a weathered door can add spice to a portrait, and a patch of grass surrounded by a field of wildflowers can help isolate your subject. Natural frames are everywhere – see what you can find!
Draw attention to your subject using linear objects. Our eyes naturally follow lines in a photo. For instance, a child leaning up against a fence post can make for a beautifully subtle photograph. By including some of the fence line in the foreground, you set up a natural arrow straight toward the child. A long stretch of railroad tracks can be the perfect pointer to a majestic mountain range. Examine your surroundings and see if you can use any linear objects in this way.
Look at the big picture. Before you shoot a photo, take a look at the entire area through the viewfinder. Sometimes in the excitement of capturing a fantastic photo, we forget to look at everything happening in the background. A bright red stop sign can ruin a beautiful portrait of Grandma by taking the attention away from her. You may see something that was not obvious before, and you’ll want to make adjustments. Take a knee, move around, or change angles. Did you mean to include all that dead space above your subject? If not, zoom in tighter and reshoot the photo. Or, perhaps you were already zoomed in too tight; zoom out and reshoot to include the vast surroundings and make a statement about how small we really are in nature’s grand scheme.
The basic lesson here is to be aware of your surroundings when framing your photos. Summer vacation shots often find their way to your desk at work or hung in the family room at home. Impress people with your composition skills. Play around with these ideas a bit and see what works for you. After a little bit of practice you’ll find it will start to come naturally. Remember that a great photograph captures not only the subject, but the way the subject interacts with the setting. Well, that does it for now. Next time we’ll wrap up our Summer Series by talking about back to school photos that even the kids will enjoy! See you then!
Let your camera focus, then adjust your framing. Many people are not aware that they can lock in their auto focus before they actually take the photograph. Most cameras will automatically focus on the center spot in a photo, but the center may not necessarily be the most interesting area. Next time you shoot a photo, center in on your subject, push the button only halfway down, and hold it there. This will lock in the focus. Then, recompose your photo; move the subject left, right, up, or down, and take the shot. For scenic photos, lock in your focus with the horizon line centered, then shift it down to show more sky, or up to show more foreground. The same concept applies when photographing people; an off-center person or group is more interesting than a completely centered subject. As we all know, a centered human being is not all it’s cracked up to be!
Give your subject some space! We’ve all heard horror stories of people accidentally losing their digital photos. Imagine this: you book the family on a whale watching excursion, and after several cloudy hours, the sun breaks through and creates a perfect rainbow. You place your family in the foreground, and at that moment, a humpback whale surfaces in the background. You snap the photo, no one blinks, and you have a perfect shot of your family on the ocean with a humpback whale and a rainbow in the background. A few days later, you pull out your camera to show Uncle Joe the incredible shot you took, and you accidentally press Erase All, deleting your perfect whale shot, along with all the other photos from the trip. Now, you may be thinking, “That won’t happen to me.” Famous last words! Why take the risk?
Use natural framing to your advantage. Take a moment to examine any elements you can use to create a natural frame. For example, a low-hanging branch can help frame a scenic shot, a weathered door can add spice to a portrait, and a patch of grass surrounded by a field of wildflowers can help isolate your subject. Natural frames are everywhere – see what you can find!
Draw attention to your subject using linear objects. Our eyes naturally follow lines in a photo. For instance, a child leaning up against a fence post can make for a beautifully subtle photograph. By including some of the fence line in the foreground, you set up a natural arrow straight toward the child. A long stretch of railroad tracks can be the perfect pointer to a majestic mountain range. Examine your surroundings and see if you can use any linear objects in this way.
Look at the big picture. Before you shoot a photo, take a look at the entire area through the viewfinder. Sometimes in the excitement of capturing a fantastic photo, we forget to look at everything happening in the background. A bright red stop sign can ruin a beautiful portrait of Grandma by taking the attention away from her. You may see something that was not obvious before, and you’ll want to make adjustments. Take a knee, move around, or change angles. Did you mean to include all that dead space above your subject? If not, zoom in tighter and reshoot the photo. Or, perhaps you were already zoomed in too tight; zoom out and reshoot to include the vast surroundings and make a statement about how small we really are in nature’s grand scheme.
The basic lesson here is to be aware of your surroundings when framing your photos. Summer vacation shots often find their way to your desk at work or hung in the family room at home. Impress people with your composition skills. Play around with these ideas a bit and see what works for you. After a little bit of practice you’ll find it will start to come naturally. Remember that a great photograph captures not only the subject, but the way the subject interacts with the setting. Well, that does it for now. Next time we’ll wrap up our Summer Series by talking about back to school photos that even the kids will enjoy! See you then!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Online Photo Editors
Fauxto - image editing application which allows you to free-transform beautiful, anti-aliased text within a layer, and then apply a multi-colored radial gradient with a variable focal point in another. You’ll be quite surprised with what you can do within Fauxto.
SnipShot is a browser based image editor. It enables to save pictures as GIF, JPG, PDF, PNG or TIF. It has basic editing tools like crop, rotate, resize, and basic image adjustments like contrast, brightness, saturation, sharpness and hue. There is unlimited undo and redo.
MyImager - is free online image editor. Upload or call images from anywhere on the web and edit them freely with the the dozens of tools and filters that myImager.com offers.
Phixr allows you to edit your pictures and directly upload them to Flickr, Fotopic, Livejournal, Photobucket, Fotolog.com, and others.With
Pixer.us you can edit your photos online using only your browser. You can apply functions like saturation, colorfx, blur and sharpen, brightness and contrast.
Pixenate is online photo editing software that you can use stand-alone or integrate into an existing photo-sharing or photo-printing website. If you provide a photo-based web service, Pixenate can significantly enhance the ’stickiness’ of your website by offering an easy-to-use integrated photo editor that doesn’t require your users to download and install additional software.
OnlinePhotoTool allows you to edit and save your images, screenshots and photos online. The following functions are possible: resize, crop, add text, sharpen, rotate, flip, colour balance, saturation, levels, paint, add icons, sepia, black and white.
With XMG Image you can host, edit, organize, and share your images with ease. XMG Image gives you the ability to manipulate your images in any way possible. Do simple functions like, crop, rotate, resize, and constrain images with 1-click. More advanced features include, advanced effects, image enhancing and more.
SnipShot is a browser based image editor. It enables to save pictures as GIF, JPG, PDF, PNG or TIF. It has basic editing tools like crop, rotate, resize, and basic image adjustments like contrast, brightness, saturation, sharpness and hue. There is unlimited undo and redo.
MyImager - is free online image editor. Upload or call images from anywhere on the web and edit them freely with the the dozens of tools and filters that myImager.com offers.
Phixr allows you to edit your pictures and directly upload them to Flickr, Fotopic, Livejournal, Photobucket, Fotolog.com, and others.With
Pixer.us you can edit your photos online using only your browser. You can apply functions like saturation, colorfx, blur and sharpen, brightness and contrast.
Pixenate is online photo editing software that you can use stand-alone or integrate into an existing photo-sharing or photo-printing website. If you provide a photo-based web service, Pixenate can significantly enhance the ’stickiness’ of your website by offering an easy-to-use integrated photo editor that doesn’t require your users to download and install additional software.
OnlinePhotoTool allows you to edit and save your images, screenshots and photos online. The following functions are possible: resize, crop, add text, sharpen, rotate, flip, colour balance, saturation, levels, paint, add icons, sepia, black and white.
With XMG Image you can host, edit, organize, and share your images with ease. XMG Image gives you the ability to manipulate your images in any way possible. Do simple functions like, crop, rotate, resize, and constrain images with 1-click. More advanced features include, advanced effects, image enhancing and more.
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