Ladies and Gentlemen … Start Your Backups
September 22nd, 2010 Subscribe To Our Feed
Honey!?! Why won’t the computer boot up?
What’s that smell? Is something burning?
Weren’t all your digital photos on that computer?
Oh, no!
Don’t be a loser … like me. I am talking about loss, data loss. In terms of digital photography I am talking specifically about the pictures of your life that are more than likely all stored in one place only: the hard drive of your computer.
Life gets busy and it is easy to just collect data, take pictures and make movies, write documents and put our financial data in our checkbook program. We just collect all that stuff in one place (our PC’s) and just think its always going to be there for us forever, just like a good friend. Well, just when you least expect it your technology can turn on you. I’ve lost important pictures and let me tell you huge gaping hole in my heart that I experienced. I was a looser. My first thought was, do I have my stuff backed up? My response was “no”, then “OH, NO!”
How much are your digital photos worth to you? A hard drive failure could cost between $300 and $3000 to recover the data depending on the severity of the hard drive crash, if in fact your data is even recoverable.
Here is a short list of things you can do to protect your valuable photos, videos and other personal data:
Buy and Keep Your Antivirus Software Up To Date
Malicious viruses can erase your hard drive. Use a product that is updated every day automatically with the latest anti-virus definitions.
Keep Your PC Serviced
As dust collects in your PC and around your hard drives, they overheat and shorten the life of the drive. Your computer acts just like an electrostatic air filter. Have it serviced by a professional at least once a year and keep them off of the carpeted floor, away from dust and pet dander.
I recommend getting an air filter and keep it in the room with your PC. Your PC will not inhale as much dust and dander. As an added benefit, the air will be fresher and you will breathe easier at the same time.
Backup Your Photos and Data
Photos and data backup over the Internet is becoming a very popular as a data backup choice. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. This is a great, cheap insurance policy. Online backup is like buying an insurance policy for your digital photo archives.
Here are the advantages of backing up to the Internet:
You can backup securely over any high speed Internet connection.
Since your data is stored on a server offsite, you are covered from events such as PC theft, fire or hard drive failure. Have you considered what would happen if there is an earthquake, flood or other natural disaster in the place your backups are stored.
The best way to regularly back up your data and keep your data backup offsite is to open a free account with Mozy.com. With MozyHome you can backup 2 Gigabytes for free, and for $4.95 per month (even less with an annual subscription) you can back up an unlimited amount of data from your home computer. They have great prices for business computers as well.
Many online backup companies offer a low cost data backup only to charge you on the back side to restore your backup data. Not so with Mozy. They have no hidden fees! When I asked their tech support to confirm, they told me “We don’t hold your data for ransom.”
So, don’t be a loser. You’ve invested hours and dollars in your digital photo library. It is literally priceless. One day (maybe even tomorrow) you will be glad you did, or sorry you didn’t. Save early and save often, and make data backup a critical part of your digital photography processes.
You might even encourage your friends to back up their data (send them a link to this article!) You may become one of their biggest heroes the next time they experience a data loss event.
Sign up for a free digital photography tip of the week at www.photonack.com. If you shoot in camera RAW (you should be), please visit www.rawconverterreview.com for news and reviews about popular RAW converter programs.
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Small Digital Cameras - How to Choose the Right One
December 15th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
The selection and quality available in small digital cameras has never been better. And they keep improving every day.
When digital cameras first came out, they were very expensive, and they were relatively large compared to many of today’s models. These cameras use an image sensor in order to capture image data and save it to the camera so you can instantly see the photos that you have taken, as well as transfer them to computers and printers. These days it is possible to get small digital cameras that work extremely well for between $200 and $600. Which of these compact type cameras is the best for you will depend on which features you find the most important.
Because there are so many choices available to you, it’s necessary to do a little studying before you make a choice. First you will have to decide which features are most important to you. Do you want to have a high resolution, a very compact camera, a good optical zoom, or some of the special features like smile recognition that some of the cameras offer?
Most compact cameras are point and shoot type cameras, although there are a few that have the option to manually change the settings. These are best for amateur photographers rather than professionals.Then you will need to decide what price range you are comfortable with in order to help you narrow down your options. There are numerous websites available with reviews that you can use to get a better idea of the pros and cons of each camera that you are considering.
If you would prefer a really slim camera, the Sony Cyber-Shot T900 is one of the options you should consider. It is only a half inch thick, and very light. It has a touch screen for controls, 12.1 megapixels, and a 4x optical zoom. It does have a relatively short battery life though, so you might want to purchase an extra battery or two to have on hand.
Another popular series for compact digital cameras is the Nikon CoolPix series, including the Nikon CoolPix S70. The CoolPix S70 has a 3.5 inch LCD screen with touch screen controls, 12.1 megapixels, image stabilization and a 5x optical zoom. It is also one of the smaller cameras, measuring 3.8 inches wide, 2.4 inches long, and.8 inches thick. There are some cool features available with this camera, including the ability to tap on a subject to focus and shoot rather than always having to use the shutter button. The battery needs to be charged in the camera however, so you will want to have an extra battery.
Small digital cameras continue to improve in quality. As technology continues to move forward, small sized digital point and shoot and sub sized cameras are gaining features and picture quality that only their big brothers, the DSLR’s, had at one time. Check out the various mini digital cameras and slim digital cameras and after a little research you’ll easily be able to find one that meets your needs and your budget.
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8 Reasons Why You Should Own a Square Picture Frame
December 15th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
If you are looking for a unique and fashionable way to add to your home’s decor, you need to check out square picture frames. Square frames are gaining in popularity with the comeback of square format cameras.
Taking square format pictures was once only used by professional photographers but now are available to just about everyone. Square format cameras can now be found in photography retail stores as well as in places like Urban Outfitters.
Are you wondering what makes these square photo frames so hot?
- One of the top reasons is that square frames have a non-traditional look that provides a wider view of the artwork than a rectangular shape helping it set off almost any piece of art beautifully. If you want to help your images stand out, square photo frames are a great way to make your images catch attention. Professional photographers and artists know that square frames are a great way to showcase their work.
- Art galleries and trendy retailers are now displaying square format photos and cameras. A new generation is discovering all that square format pictures have to offer. Square picture frames are the perfect way to showcase fun and artsy photos for a truly unique display.
- Square picture frames are a stylish alternative to a rectangular shaped frame. Square photo frames, unlike some rectangular frames, can hold both a vertical and horizontal picture either by cutting the picture to fit or by using a mat.
- Do you have an old record album collection that is tucked away in boxes? Whether you have a collection of old 78 or 45 rpm records, there is a square frame available to display your collection. It’s a fun way to showcase your music memorabilia and share your collection with family and friends.
- Another great use for a square picture frame is to display your favorite scrapbook pages. For an interesting and fun display, you can regularly display different scrapbook pages and create a revolving display of memories.
- Square photo frames make a great wall grouping. You can showcase a series of pictures or artwork. Creating a collage of square frames on your wall makes an attractive and eye catching display. Hang the square frames together tightly as a unit or space them evenly across your wall. Either way makes for an interesting display.
- A square picture frame style is simple with no ornamentation. These frames have clean lines in a mix of colors from basic black frames to bold, striking colors like orange, ocean blue or olive green.
- Square picture frames come in a wide variety of sizes and depths so you can frame all kinds of items from pictures to artwork and collectibles like records, embroidery and porcelain plates.
Square picture frames are a great way to make a statement on your wall. They’re stylish and give each photo a distinct look. For a wall that looks professionally decorated, square picture frames can’t be beat. These are a few reasons why square picture frames are so hot, and their popularity is sure to last for many years.
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Portrait Photography Is Easier With Green Screen Software
December 15th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Do you need to find a new way to increase your business? We all need to find new and smarter ways to increase sales, unless you are the only photographer in town. The top technique for increasing business is to offer what your competition barely has a clue about.
You will be able to silently grin watching a customer yawning over boring fabric backgrounds your competition offered him. Have they come back drenched after a rainy photo shoot at a beach, too?
Okay, let’s take your new customers photos with backgrounds all over globe. And don’t worry about the weather. Learn now how to save your clients from posing against a boring background in a professional photograph. Plus meet your budget guidelines better than ever before.
You can quickly and easily place couples against romantic backgrounds such as beaches, rivers, parks, mountains…or anywhere they wish to be. The best part of all is that you will only need a green piece of cloth (green screen) and a computer.
Put up a green screen background, light it up and the customer and let them pose with or without props. Then, use this green screen program wizard to place them in any location they desire. The backgrounds may come from any previous photographs you’ve taken. Or, you may purchase royalty-free photos online for a few dollars.
After over 4 years of development, the green screen wizard software makes using green screen as simple as pie. All you really need to do is plop the customer's green screen photo and the scenec image into the program. Then, the green screen wizard helps you swap the green background with your scenic image. The simple-to-use program makes your customer blend naturally into the chosen background for the real-life look.
As you can see, using this green screen photography program opens up a new door of possibilities. And that all happens without shelling out a fortune or hauling your equipment all over the place.
Let your business grow at warp speed by using the chroma key software. This green screen free guide shows you how to make it happen quickly and with less effort.
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An Introduction To To The Uses Of The Social Media Site Flickr
November 21st, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Flickr is one of the most popular photo sharing websites out there. There are some very popular social networking websites which you have no doubt heard of, but these are often not the best places to share photos. What you probably need to use, is a site like Flickr.
These days, Flickr has been upgraded somewhat are now also allows the sharing of videos. However, if you want something completely private and only had to be able to share photos with your friends, then this is probably not what you want to use. In this case, you can stick with the regular social networking sites which use to keep in contact with your friends and family. In these sorts of cases, it is easy to keep your photos private and only viewable to a select group of friends.
However, most web design and blog building interfaces will allow you to attach photos from this boat or directory directly to your website so as far as your viewers are concerned, the photos might as well be hosted on your website itself. Because the photos are not actually posted on your website, you will save bandwidth and storage space from your hosting company.
This can also help to save you money. However, the biggest advantage is that it makes for a much more efficient way of storing all your data. Are also, if you are a photographer or have anything which requires a large portfolio of work, this site is absolutely invaluable.
This helps you to save money. It helps you to save money simply because you don’t need to pay for any extra bandwidth or space to your web hosting company. Also, you have the convenience of everything being located in one side. This is especially helpful if you own a large number of websites, and you want to have all your image is located in one area which is easy to access.
To get started, you need to do is create a free account. Every account is useful for a lot of people, but if you need to host a larger number of pictures, and get access to a wide range of useful features, you can pay a very modest sum of money per month for it. There are various options available and the right one view largely depends on how much storage space you need and what features to which you need access.
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How To Use Chroma Key For Authentic-Looking Backgrounds
November 21st, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
There can be nothing worse than taking a professional photograph with a squirming 2 year old child, and a parent staring you down for that perfect shot. Add to that other nasty problems such as a boring backdrop, a backdrop that doesn’t belong with the child. Throw in an extra boring background to the sum and the resulting chaos makes you feel a tad on the edge from it all. How can you solve these problems and come out with professional portraits that will make others search you out? Here is how by using chroma key or a.k.a green screen effects.
No one likes to see a phony photographed backdrop when using a professional printed background. Here are some tricks of the trade to assist you.Finding high-quality, realistic props helps a great deal. By using a green screen and the work-horse (fast chroma key software), the work becomes effortless and more profitable when using a digital photograph for the background. On top of that, you can arrange the object and the background just right instead of trying to juggle so many items at a time.
Ask the person to sit right in front of the green screen. Then, insert a prop or two that can create the impression that the person is really present in the digital background.Some examples are to show special time of a birthday with a gift-wrapped present.If the final shot is to be in a flower garden, then have them hold flower props in their hands…or even real flowers. The important factor is to make the photograph look natural.Working with a better quality prop coupled with an equally superior digital background makes for an enchanting natural looking scene.
Props help to draw the viewer into the photograph and make the portrait more emotional.Thisnk about it, which is more eye-catching a person standing or a person holding a soccer award with a smile mile-wide on their face?Many times a prop can tell a whole story all by itself. Imagine a child holding a birthday present untying the bow and the rest of the story unfolds before your eyes.
Bet you would say the same: we all love to hear good stories … and the same goes for photography. Nothing tugs at our heart strings to see a new puppy with its owner. Take that puppy and place it into a park with its favorite ball and you can feel the joy surround the photograph.Props always infuse any portrait with instant emotions and add real life to any photograph. Green Screen Wizard software helps you make it a snap.
Imagine how much fun you will have: how to use green screen software program with your portraits a.k.a chromakey program to create high-quality, real-life looking snapshots of peoples’ lives.
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