| OPTICAL & DIGITAL ZOOM |
 In some instances, you may find yourself wanting to get closer to a subject without physically moving closer - for example, there's a bear in the middle of the road in the wildnerness and you want proof that it wasn't just an oversized dog. Using the "zoom" control on your camera will allow you to get "close" enough to capture a larger image without having to physically move closer, thus endangering your safety. (The same zoom control will allow you a wide angle image as well.) Most point-and-shoot digital camera are equipped with an optical zoom lens, optical and digital zoom settings, or a digital zoom only. Knowing the difference can make or break an image.
What is Optical Zoom? Optical zoom lenses move in and out physically to magnify your subject. A motor controls the lens movement. When you press the switch to "W" or "T," the subject is either magnified or reduced in size. The "T" stands for "telephoto" (magnify).The "W" stands for "wide-angle" (reduce). Normally, images made with the Optical Zoom are good, high-quality images you'd typcially expect.
What is Digital Zoom? Using the digital zoom allows you to get closer to your subject when you want to be discreet about taking pictures, or when you simply can't get physically close enough to your subject. Digital zoom crops your image then magnifies the result of the cropping. This magnification process is called "interpolation." It's important to know what this term means to your end result: To make the cropped area larger and more visible, digital zoom makes up, or interpolates, pixels to add to the image, which usually gives less than satisfactory results.
The SnagTthat Gets You. We're all trained to view our images on the little camera LCD monitor. Most of the time, that little tiny image lies to you by showing you an acceptable image of a scene you just took. Not until later do you realize the destruction caused by usig the Digital Zoom either by itself or in addition to the Optical Zoom. Until you know the differences and similarities (if any), be sure to practice and read up on your camera manual. Knowledge is power, especially when you're in a situation where you have to make a quick decision.
Can you combine Optical and Digital Zoom ? Using the digital zoom allows you to get closer to your subject when you want to be discreet about taking pictures, or when you simply can't get physically close enough to your subject. Digital zoom crops your image then magnifies the result of the cropping. This magnification process is called "interpolation." It's important to know what this term means to your end result: To make the cropped area larger and more visible, digital zoom makes up, or interpolates, pixels to add to the image, which usually gives less than satisfactory results.
Sacrificing image quality to capture the moment (as in the bear example) is more important than not getting the picture at all.
Use this feature sparingly and always refer to your camera's manual for insructions and features of your particular camera mode.
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EVERYDAY PICTURES |
Think "inside" the box, the camera's viewfinder, that
is. Sometimes looking at a scene as a "whole" doesn't
inspire a photograph. Instead, try to look closer for a photograph
within a photograph.
One of the
most common errors taking photos is that of something "growing"
out of someone's head. Be careful when snapping Grandma with
a tree growing out of her head! Zooming in (or moving closer)
will often times take care of that situation.
Have you
ever heard "shoot with the sun behind you"? Meaning,
the sun is shining right smack dab in your subjects face. Give
shade a try! Position your subject in the shade of a tree, porch,
or other covered area that receives indirect sunlight. An indoor,
north-facing window is a good spot to position your subject
as well. Just remember to make sure the rest of the photograph
does not have sunshine or it could ruin your efforts all together.
Don't skimp
on film. Do you know the odds for getting one really good shot
of one person on film? It’s about 1 in 12! So, don’t hold back
on taking many frames of your favorite subject.
Choosey scrapbookers
are choosey with colors! Keep your scrapbooking endeavor simple
by choosing
2-3 colors from your photos for the layout. Lay your photos
on several different cardstock colors and see what color pops
out at you. When you begin working on your layout, you’ll find
that the complimentary colors cause your photos to be the center
of attention; just the way it’s supposed to be!
Don’t let
yourself be caught without a camera! Disposable cameras come
in very handy if you don’t own a camera, if your camera is being
repaired or if you’re simply out of film. Disposable cameras
make wonderful gifts for teenagers, newlyweds, party-goers,
campers, and much more!
Choose one
day of each month to organize your photos!
Do you grow
tired of the same types of photos you take? Are all of your
shots horizontal? Vertical? Here are a few tips for getting
creative with your camera...
Get down to eye level, especially if the subject is a small
child, someone on the floor, a pet and so on.
Over-the-shoulder photos are incredible! Have your subject with
their back to you then have them turn their head so you get
an over the-shoulder shot. These are terrific especially with
siblings and/or close friends.
Up close shots can be such fun so move in closely to your subject!
Assuming that your camera allows for close up shots (check your
minimum focus distance in your camera's manual), line up your
subject in the viewfinder then take 1 big step closer. For example,
instead of taking a photo of Grandma from across the room, move
closer so that you're just a few feet from her. Take 2 or 3
exposures of her so you have a greater chance of one great shot.
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| CANDID
PHOTO TIPS |
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Candid photos are all about capturing a natural moment rather
than a posed shot. When possible, snap the photo when your
subject is unaware and not saying "cheeeese".
Great candids have people interacting with their environment,
not the photographer.
Have patience - and plenty of film! You might find a particular
idea for a candid shot so be ready to take several frames
of the same subject or event.
When photographing small children, position yourself at their
eye-level. This may mean kneeling, sitting, or even lying
on the floor.
Positioning yourself below the subject and aiming the camera
upwards will cause the subject to look larger just as positioning
yourself above the subject and aiming the camera downward
will cause the subject to look smaller.
Watch what's going on in the photograph! The last thing you
want is background clutter or trees growing out of heads.
When in doubt, get closer!
Fill the frame when possible. When you think you're close
enough, step in another foot or two. Don't hesitate to fill
the frame with just the features of a face (eyes, nose, mouth).
Here is an example of a candid shot and a posed
shot. |
| BLACK
AND WHITE PHOTO TIPS |
Don't you just long for the simple days of years gone by when
there was time to sit on the front porch sipping lemonade
with your grandma and grandpa or favorite aunt and uncle?
You can capture the warmth of these memories by adding a hint
of color to your favorite black and white photos. Wouldn't
you agree that black and white photos provide a distraction
from today's busy life styles while evoking a feeling of nostalgia
from the simpler days of the past?
Adding
color to black and white photos is a breeze with Close To
My Heart® products! Join me as I share some simple tips and
techniques for tinting your black and white photos:
1. Try to use simple photos. The slight addition of color
will make more of a statement on your black and whites.
2. Always start with less ink. You can always add more but
will be unable to take applied color off. Plus, too much ink
may ruin your photo AND the technique.
3. Using a Q-tip or make-up applicator and the Close To My
Heart® Exclusive Inks™ stamp pads, pull color off and apply
to area of photo you wish to color. Or, try coloring directly
on a small area of your photo with one of our Exclusive Inks™
markers. Soften the color using a Q-tip or sponge make-up
applicator.
4. Less is more in both the amount of color you apply, how
many colors you use and the number of areas of the photo you
tint.
5. When finished, try matting your tinted photo on a piece
of coordinating background and texture paper.
Did you
know you can turn any color photo into a black and white photo
using your computer and image editing software? It's very
simple. Simply scan a photo in or open an existing photo in
a program such as Adobe Photoshop®. Go to Image/Mode/Greyscale.
(You can always use the program's HELP file for complete instructions
on converting color photos to black and white.) Print out
on photo quality paper and add color as described above. Be
sure you use an acid-free, photo safe paper. Keep in mind
that different papers will take the ink differently so you
might want to practice a bit first.
When scrapbooking with black and white photos, keep in mind
that soft colors are most suitable. They will not be overwhelming
to your page but will enhance it.
Choosing the right "white" is also important. How aged are
your photos? Do they look yellowed? Then the Colonial White
cardstock might enhance the page much more than the Pastel
or Ultra White. The Close To My Heart® background & texture
papers are also a wonderful enhancement to your photos provided
the colors are soft. A note on using B&T Papers: Avoid putting
your black and white photos directly on top of or next to
a patterned paper. Too much pattern could become a detractor
very quickly. Layer the photo on a solid color before layering
it onto a patterned paper. |
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