What Happens To My Photos When My Hard Drive Crashes?
August 31st, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Honey!?! Why won’t the computer boot up?
What’s that smell? Is something on fire?
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. For digital photography I’m talking about all of your life’s photography that is likely stored all in one place: your PC’s hard drive.
Wedding pictures, vacation pictures, birthdays, holidays; these precious moments of your life can be lost in an instant from a bolt of lightning or the spark of static electricity you might pick up from rubbing your feet across the carpet. Machines are imperfect and do fail, and by Murphy’s Law, they will fail at the worst possible time.
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:
Anti-Virus Software
Malicious viruses can erase your hard drive. Use a product that is updated every day automatically with the latest anti-virus definitions.
Service Your PC Regularly
When dust collects in and around your hard drives, they overheat and that will shorten the life of the drive. Your PC is one big 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 computer will not ingest as much dust, and as an added benefit, the air you breathe will be fresher at the same time.
Keep Your Data and Photos Backed Up
Backing up your photos and data over the web is becoming a very popular choice for data backup. This was formerly a pretty expensive solution for the convenience, but with the lowering cost and expanding capacity of hard drives, many web based services are popping up. 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. Just think what would happen if there is a flood, earthquake or other natural disaster at the place your backups are stored.
Mozy.com is the online backup system that I use. Recommended by PC World Magazine, it works equally well on PC and Mac. You can back up to 2 Gigabytes for free and you can backup unlimited data from your home computer for only $4.95 per month (even less with an annual subscription). They have a pro version as well for your office computer.
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. There are no surprise charges! 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!) The next time they experience a data loss event, you may just become one of their biggest heroes.
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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Great Ideas To Buld On Photography Portfolio Tipss
August 26th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
However, it also has many a nooks the users of the digital camera must be conscious of and also must be well educated to deal with to produce good pictures worth the most valued digicam for the best Photography Portfolio Tips
To appreciate what this red eye actually is, a little detailed introspection is mandatory.
Fundamentally conversation red-eye is a product of by smallest amount three things, they are first of all, ambient level of light as stumpy light level causes the retina of the person to be snapped to undeveloped wider to confess more light so helpful undeveloped the iris, which is the original part so as to reflects the red light so giving the facade of red eyes used for the subjects. Also second the more younger the person being shot the a wider area remains the retina and therefore the huger the effects of red eye in the picture. Thirdly, the reflection angle of the flash plays a crucial role, as the light is recoiled back to the electronic camera and the closer the event light beam is to this reflected light beam, the bigger becomes the red eye effect. Top stop these kinds of instruments like flash brackets because they make the flash a bit more removed from the placement of the lens. So the red eye effect is rather disclosed until this part of this dialogue which will improve your Photography Portfolio Tips
Now’s the time to look into a finer detail in order to investigate the varied sides of the red eye effect and also find out techniques of reducing the difficulty so far as possible. ambient level of light since stumpy light level causes the retina of the person to be snapped to commence wider to confess more light so instructive commence the iris, which is the initially part with the intention of reflects the red light hence giving the advent of red eyes pro the subjects. The main rule here is the paparizzi has to keep a very wide angle enoght for a light to beam from a flash really does not reflect off of the retina of a persona being shot and then comes back into the camera's lens.
The super great tips is to take a flashlight and shine it into the persons eyes before they a shot and this reduces red eye dramtically. This will cause the irises in the eyes of the person being snapped to cut down or shrink. As a result of this the eye develops a smaller opening fin the eye viewer of the camera and does not show off the bolld filled retina. And awfully importantly this process works only if the person to be snapped is in point of fact looking immediately at the flash for the pre-light to come. Other considerations influencing the red eye are the level of ambient light during the time when the picture is being taken and how close to the flash light is to the lens. The tenet comes out the brighter the ambient light ; the lesser is the consequences of red eyes, the rest being one and the same. As the flash goes further from the camera, the less become the result of red eye, the rest is one and the same. So the main idea is that red is not caused if the ambient light is very high.
This does have a huge effect on shooting in an area that is super dark.
Many digital cameras have in-built features for anti red eye that is used to reduce red eye when taking an image of an individual looking straight at the camera also. But by hand the best red eye reduction can be acquired with the aid of an external flash as shown.
The above consultation has dealt with the most vital concepts per the red eye effect.
The consultation has researched the basic facts about the digicam red eye effect, their causes as well as cures. The one thing that remains is the users must implement these concepts while shooting under circumstances debated here so the red eye effect can’t harm the beauties of art made with the help of the wonderful device, the electronic camera which is a great Photography Portfolio Tips
Visit his digicam guide and learn the way to take better photographs with your digicam.
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Shopping For A Digital Camera Is Certainly Not The Easiest Task In The World
August 26th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
The most important consideration that you must address at the time of buying a digital camera is knows beforehand just what you intend to do with your camera and in addition you will also need to determine which the correct features set is for your needs and budget. In any case, you will already have realized that the digital camera has revolutionized the way in which people take photographs and also the way in which the photographs are stored.
Storage, Resolution And Special Features
There is therefore also a problem with having to sift through a plethora of makes and models before you are able to find a camera that has everything that you want it to have and at a price that is affordable to you. To simplify matters, before you choose a digital camera you should think about three main factors: storage capacity, resolution and special features.
The most important consideration is the resolution provided by a digital camera and this resolution is defined in terms of pixels and of course the higher the density of these pixels (dots per inch) the better resolution the camera is going to provide. However, usually you would find that budget digital cameras only provide resolution of between two and five megapixels.
Each succeeding generation of digital camera of course has been able to provide better resolution. Also, because such cameras do not make use of film they are now able to store the images on an internal disk within the camera and here again low-end digital cameras do not provide any major storage capabilities.
However, by adding memory to your digital camera you can, much as is the case with a computer, increase the storage capacity and all it requires is adding a tiny sized memory card into the camera. Such disks come in various sizes starting from 64 MB and going all the way up to two gigabytes with the latter type being able to help you store hundreds of photographs, with each picture being of the highest quality.
Last but not least, when you go out to buy a digital camera you will have to make a few important decisions regarding various features as well as options and you will also have to think about whether to buy wide-angle or even telephoto lenses for your camera. The choices that you have to make are certainly endless and only by researching each aspect can you hope to find the right item for your needs and budget.
Just like you have to make important decisions regarding your digital camera it is also just as important that you choose digital camera accessories with equal amount of care. The right accessories can really improve the performance of your digital camera while the wrong ones will result in quite a letdown.
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Photography As a Profession
August 26th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Becoming a professional photographer is a challenge. The majority of large cities and even smaller towns have quite a few professionals working in the field of photography. As important as artistic abilities is their know-how in business. Someone who wants to be a photographer and be successful at it will need to stay up to date in order to compete. Likewise, someone looking for a professional to handle their business or personal photography should be well informed so that they can ask the right questions and find a photographer that will understand and ultimately achieve their vision.
Education is key in both instances. A good photographer will not only have a background in visual arts but will continue to update their knowledge in order to stay on top of the latest trends. The Internet can be a tremendous helpin this regard, but the professional photographer must make sure that the information they obtainfrom a website is accurate. Research is important in developing a comfort level with the information available. Look for web sites that present the facts clearly and easy to comprehend. Many can provide tips and suggestions which might never have occurred to the inexperienced photographer.Good offerings should include such topics as photographic lighting, commercial, portrait, wedding and still life photography, working with models, digital photography, the business of photography, the required equipment and photographing on location. Some also have sections on what they don’t teach you in photography school, which could be particularly helpful when starting one’s own studio.
Ask your friends and family and also search the internet to find a photographer. Get information from trusted friends and family members, particularly if they have recently hired a photographer for a similar need such as a wedding or business brochure. The websites of experienced photographers outside your area can help too. Not only will they give you ideas as you peruse their photo galleries and online portfolios, but some offer tips for interviewing and choosing a photographer which can be invaluable. Since nothing is more important to you than the results, make sure you do your research before selecting a professional photographer and never be afraid to ask questions.
At the end of day, the more experience and education you get the better chances for success.In addition, more up front research that is done, they happier you will be with the results. With luck, a serious business relationship beneficial for everyone,including lovers of great photography, will be there result.
Many businesses like Orange County Photographers, a Houston Photographer , Los Angeles Photographers or a Las Vegas photographer can help.
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Tips For Beginner Photography
August 26th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
One of the most common types of hobbies that many choose is photography. {Some go to college to learn how to make the most of a camera, but you don’t have to do that to take some really great shots.} {To take some really great shots you don’t need to go to college to learn to use a camera, although some people do.} You will lay the foundation for exceptional picture taking talent if you take the time with beginner photography. As with any endeavour and photography is no different you need a good basic knowledge.
When you start photography, you may want to get reference material that explains how a camera works, and what most need to know about light, focus, and distance. There are various settings on a camera, and the manual ones are the ones that take the best shots. You have to know what all the settings on a manual camera really do for those truly artistic and breathtaking photos, although auto works well for many.
For beginners the next step is to find a camera. You can find a great camera no matter what your budget however some are very expensive. You do have to be aware that some of the lower end ones may not have the longevity of some of the pricier ones and they may have other limitations. Bells and whistles should worry you less however than the basics for beginner photography. Film or digital, you have to decide , or perhaps both.
If you don’t want to take classes for beginner photography, you can teach yourself. You can find many great books that will show you what you need to know about lighting, F stops, and even about framing a shot properly. Those are all essential for truly great photos. You may also find online courses for beginner photography that you can go through at your own pace and when you have the time. As a hobby photography for beginners should be fun not stressful. That is why learning at your own pace is the best way to go. Before you know it, you will have a fun hobby that gives you the creative outlet that you need.
Visit CanvasPrintsOnline.com to learn more
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Pro Studio Photo Lighting
August 16th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Whether capturing photos of products or shooting portraits or other images. Achieving great photos of publishable quality, does require some photographic ability whether natural or learned. Photographers often utilize photography equipment such as muslin backdrops and photo lighting kits or lighting stands to highlight the subject. Often times a back light or fill light will be employed as well to eliminate any shadowing affects in the background of the images.
Pro photographers who shoot modeling shots or portraiture will often use strobe flash lighting to achieve the best results in their photos. Using flash lighting requires the photographer to synchronize the lighting with the camera’s shutter to capture great shots at the perfect timing.
Though for some photography enthusiasts, they can also choose to utilize a different type of photo lighting equipment such as continuous lighting. This type of photo studio lighting is found in Fluorescent and Halogen photography equipment. Referred to as “hot lights” they are much easier to use than flash lighting because no synchronization is required. Once the light stands are in position, photographers can simply turn on their lighting source and begin.
Due to the brightness of halogen studio lighting, a considerable amount of heat is often produced as well. If you use this type of continuous lighting, the heat in your home or studio will not only rise but your electric bill will rise as well. Fluorescent studio lighting in comparison operates with less electricity and remains cool. With saying that, these bulbs don’t burn as brightly as halogen bulbs do. To counter that, photographers who want to use fluorescent for it’s coolness and energy efficiency simply choose a higher wattage lighting kit to overcome any luminosity differences in output.
The various choices for photographers with the availability of modern photography studio lighting equipment have been greatly improved in both quality and options. Digital photo studio lighting kits for instance are available in both halogen and fluorescent photo lighting kits to keep pace with the advancements of the world of digital photography.
Photography equipment is designed to enable photographers , regardless of whether they are a professional or a beginner to be able to elevate the quality of their photographic images on a consistent basis. Bringing both the craft of photography and produced photo images to a higher level.
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