Photo tips image storage solutions.

Photo tips by Robert Vautour

Improve your Photography. Rules are meant to be broken.

What are the rules? Some are found in a book listed below.
Here are some of my insights. I just like taking pictures.
We can't be everywhere at once. The camera is a great tool to capture the energy of a moment in time.

I have a great obsession for picture taking as does the rest of the world. Tons of photos can be seen on the web, and shared websites such as photo-bucket or flickr (more recommended - no flashing Ads) & my new favourite picasaweb.google.com. Links provided at end of story.
There was at a time when I was young and could spend a lot of money. I have shoe boxes of 35mm slides, prints and negatives to prove it.
Everyday on walks with my dog, I started to see nature and its unique shots. My dog would get in the way, so she became the focal point.

With digital I started to build a library of photos. I don't have to travel far, there are lots of images in my neighborhood; or off my front porch. (below) Now my shoe-boxes are filled with images burned on CD's.

Because I want to share images with everyone, I've joined an international community called i-stock photos. Really neat is photographers comments from around the world.

To get better - you have to press the shutter.
Shoot, shoot and shoot some more. With digital, I review all my photos on a TV then delete over or under exposed and out of focus shots.

Read books! The best resource your library. My favourites from the Preston Library:
Advanced digital camera techniques / Jack and Sue Drafahl.
This book helped me decide to go digital. big time.. They have a website.

Learning to see creatively : design, color & composition in photography / Bryan Peterson.

Epson complete guide to digital printing / Rob Sheppard. He has an easy approach to using some tools with photoshop elements.

Learn from your mistakes. Be aware of your surroundings. I once shot wedding pictures outside the Church and noticed tombstones in the background of the photos. (not pleasing-but OK for an effect). I shot a wedding party facing the sun. The males were all squinting, with their hands clutched over their privates appearing as if they had to go.

Check out tips & tricks via web like Henry's, I-stock photo and photoworkshop.com. Use flash outdoors. Use the sun as back or side lighting. Take advantage of the sun bouncing off buildings for lighting.

Light man helpers, invaluable.

I have a white walled sun-room that diffuses the late afternoon sun. For photos of pets, small children & plants - get down to their level. You may find me slinking like a snake on my belly with the camera in my hands.

Shoot people in their surroundings. At work, at play, at a pool......

Get permission to shoot and take advantage of some unique shots. Always ask for permission before you take a shot of anyone. On the diving board "Go Jeff Go. Check out Pool shots.

Share your experience with others, join a photo club or start one. I'm starting to learn that lighting is very important. But under low light, play and experiment with extended exposures. My all time favourite shot is on a beach with kids running around with sparklers. If it was film I would have never experimented with this shot (too expensive). I can view on the monitor to experiment on different exposures. Digital also remembers all information eg. below Exposure 3.2s at f/5.6 ISO 400 54mm

I have a subscription to Photo-life. Photo-life (the Art, Culture, and Science of Photography) has a website as well as photo contests and lots of information. I would love to submit an article. This maybe it! I've just read an inspiring article by Richard Martin-photographer and may I be bold so to say a visual expressionist. He has some incredible motion blurs and other great shots.

For reading this far, you may have the FREE image below as wallpaper on your monitor - a purple flower out of Grandmas Garden from the farm.