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Monday May 20th, 2013

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COLUMNS : PHOTO SCRAPBOOK (ARCHIVES)	Back to Current

Biking with a camera (12/28/2008)

Biking is said to be the most efficient mode of travel. Besides that, it’s fun, good exercise, inexpensive, environment-friendly, reasonably fast, but slow enough that one can observe his or her sur ...

FULL STORY >>

Photos from a vibrating vehicl (12/14/2008)

I recently had the good fortune of taking a cruise in Australia. I was able to get many excellent pictures with my digital camera, using the standard good picture-taking techniques that I advocate. ...

FULL STORY >>

Catch the spirit (11/09/2008)

When people go to the Grand Canyon, what do they take pictures of? The big ditch, of course. One of my favorite shots taken at that location is of a scraggly pine tree along the edge of the canyon ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (10/22/2008)

-- Doing the zoo, Part 2

Just getting a picture of an exotic animal in the zoo can be an exciting experience. But usually we can do better than that. Today, most zoos house the animals in natural-appe ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (10/15/2008)

-- Doing the zoo, Part 1

Most of us are fascinated by animals that are normally found in parts of the world other than our own. And, fortunately, many of these animals can be discovered near our hom ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (10/05/2008)

-- Photos at the beach, Part 2

Last time you were given some precautionary measures to follow when taking a camera to the beach. This time we’ll cover a few pointers that are somewhat unique to beac ...

FULL STORY >>

Photos at the beach, Part 1 (09/28/2008)

Nothing is as enjoyable as a day at the beach, and nothing can be as devastating as having something happen to your camera while you're there. Believe me, things can happen. The possibilities i ...

FULL STORY >>

Water photography, Part 2 (09/21/2008)

When photographing a quiet lake or pond, our intent is to convey the feeling of peacefulness and tranquility - but that was covered last time. Now we want to show the dynamics of water that’s in a ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (08/27/2008)

-- Water photography, Part 1

by Tom Hirsch

Water is the most common thing in the world, covering seventy percent of the Earth’s surface. But even as prevalent as water is, we humans are fascinated ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo scrapbook (08/17/2008)

-- Lightning photography, Part 2

Attempting to point a camera in the direction of lightning can be tricky because you never know where it will strike. When you see lightning in the distance, you could ...

FULL STORY >>

Lightning photography, Part 1 (08/13/2008)

Some of the most fascinating photographs are those made under adverse weather conditions. You’ve seen the pictures. They are phenomenal shots, ones that you’re sure you could take under the same cir ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo scrapbook (08/03/2008)

Rainy day photos, Part 2

Whether it’s a gentle drizzle or a devastating deluge, rain has a fascination for all of us. We might pass a location several times a day, but when it’s drenched in rain, ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (07/13/2008)

-- Pictures on display, Part 3

Who says photographic displays have to be dull, commonplace, monotonous or hackneyed? Probably nobody, but that doesn't mean you can't make them more interesting. Follow ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (07/06/2008)

Pictures on display, Part 2

Okay, you've selected the pictures that you'd like to have enlarged, have located their negatives or digital storage medium, and have decided on what size prints you w ...

FULL STORY >>

Pictures on display, Part 1 (06/29/2008)

-- by Tom Hirsch

You've come home from vacation, turned in the rolls of film or disks for processing, identified and marked each print for identification, culled out the bad pictures and, if necessary ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (06/15/2008)

-- Using the ISO

The ISO rating in film or digital imagery is the relative sensitivity to light of the image-sensing medium. The higher the ISO number, the greater its sensitivity to light. In 35mm ph ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (05/28/2008)

-- A refresher course, Part 2

Last time we reviewed a few rules and generalizations of good photography. The following is another set of reminders. We'll cover ways of utilizing factors present in a s ...

FULL STORY >>

Make sure your photos have a future, Part 3 (04/30/2008)

All right, you know the possible dangers of improper print storage, but what about the negatives? The same conditions hold: Archival containers, fairly consistent temperatures around 70 degrees, app ...

FULL STORY >>

Make sure your photos have a future, Part 11 (03/26/2008)
By Tom Hirsch -- The following two articles are for anyone who has ever taken pictures with a film camera. That includes most of us, including those of us that have switched to digital picture taking. Now, admit it, t ... FULL STORY >>

Make sure your photos have a future, Part 1 (03/02/2008)

Let's say you've taken a two-week trip to Hawaii and shot five rolls of film with your 35mm or APS camera, or 300 pictures with your digital camera but only kept 95 of them. Anyway, you have lots of ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (02/10/2008)

-- Vacation and travel photography

First, a couple of definitions.

Vacation Photography: Pictures taken over a period of time longer than one hour, including preparation time.

Travel Photography: Ph ...

FULL STORY >>

Depth perspective (01/23/2008)

In a scenery photograph, or a picture of any subject matter on more than one plane, we are representing three-dimensional space in a two-dimensional image. In order to reproduce the feeling of depth ...

FULL STORY >>

Bloopers and bungled shots (01/16/2008)

I like to think of myself as a pretty good photographer, but like other good photographers I could have several albums full of photographic flubs, if I had saved them. Many of our goofs are due to l ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (01/06/2008)

-- A photo inventory

We insure our lives, our cars and our homes in case of unforeseen events. When we buy insurance on these things, we must prove that we are alive, or that we own a car or a house. ...

FULL STORY >>

Window light portraits (12/30/2007)
By Tom Hirsch -- On the cold, snowy days of winter, or those hot, sticky days of summer, or anytime in between, daylight coming through a window can provide a great light source for informal portraits. Some of its adv ... FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (12/26/2007)

-- Informal portraits

by Tom Hirsch

I tried to avoid using the term "portrait" here because for many of us the word conjures up the idea of a formal photograph of a person taken from the waist up ...

FULL STORY >>

When children become kids (12/16/2007)

When children reach the age of three or four, they are very much aware of the picture-taking process, and from then on they have the ability to control the results. Now they are kids.

At any age, ...

FULL STORY >>

Child photography (12/09/2007)
By Tom Hirsch -- When does a baby become a child? This depends, but usually it's around five to seven months when he or she begins getting around pretty well on hands and knees, and starts developing a degree of curio ... FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (12/05/2007)

-- Baby pictures

Unless you're an obstetrician with ultrasound equipment, the first baby pictures you will probably take will be in the hospital nursery. To get the best shots, hold the camera up to ...

FULL STORY >>

Taking the group shot (11/28/2007)

Have you ever heard this statement? "Okay, everybody. When I count to three, look at the camera and give me an expression like this is the last thing you want to be doing." Probably not, but when t ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (10/31/2007)

-- Cleaning the camera

If you're an active photographer, at one time or another, dirt or dust will get on or into your camera. This can happen on a camping trip, at a sports event, at family affairs - ...

FULL STORY >>

Getting the best exposure (10/24/2007)

We can usually rely on our camera's meter to give us the best exposure, but there are some situations in which the meter reading is not accurate, needs some adjustment, or is of no use at all.

One ...

FULL STORY >>

Winter photos, Part 2 (09/30/2007)

As we pointed out last time, there are a few precautions to take when you venture into the world of winter photography. But once you enter that world, you will probably be hooked.

If you were to ta ...

FULL STORY >>

Photo Scrapbook (09/12/2007)

Believe it or not, there is no such thing as bad weather. There is inappropriate clothing and poor preparation, but, photographically at least, no bad weather. Each season and every type of weather ...

FULL STORY >>

Available light photography, Part 2 (08/26/2007)
By Tom Hirsch -- Available light photography is much more interesting, fun, and challenging than using flash in dim light situations. Speaking of challenges, the following paragraphs will cover a few that you should k ... FULL STORY >>

Available light photography, Part 1 (08/19/2007)
By Tom Hirsch -- While attending an indoor event such as a basketball game, a graduation ceremony or a circus, have you noticed the unmistakable flash from cameras in the bleachers? When these photographers get the re ... FULL STORY >>

Selecting a digital camera, Part 2 (08/08/2007)
By Tom Hirsch -- We've covered resolution in terms of the number of megapixels a digital camera can provide. Resolution is the primary factor on which all digital cameras are compared. The reason is that resolution de ... FULL STORY >>

Selecting a digital camera, Part 1 (07/29/2007)

Deciding on which digital camera to buy (or whether to buy one at all) can be a daunting decision, even for an experienced photographer. Knowing your needs and wants in a digital camera will help, b ...

FULL STORY >>

Becoming digitally aware (07/22/2007)
By Tom Hirsch -- A major difference between film and digital photography is the monitor on the back of a digital camera that provides immediate feedback to the photographer. The LCD display can be used either as a pre ... FULL STORY >>

Disadvantages of digital (07/15/2007)

Almost all modern cameras rely on batteries as their source of power - this is just a fact of photo life. Film cameras are relatively easy on batteries, allowing you to go from one to five years on ...

FULL STORY >>

Advantages of digital over film photography (07/08/2007)

-- by Tom Hirsch

The advantages of digital in a moment, but first a little review. Last time we compared the various degrees of compression in JPEG files. It was noted that JPEG compresses pictures so ...

FULL STORY >>

Differences between digital and film photography (07/04/2007)
By Tom Hirsch -- Probably (no, definitely) the greatest difference between film and digital photography is the image-storing sensors. In film photography, photos are recorded on tiny particles of grain imbedded in the ... FULL STORY >>

Basics of digital photography (06/24/2007)

Okay, let's get serious about digital photography. This is a relatively new phenomenon, and improvements are continually being made in the digital field, including improved cameras, image sensing de ...

FULL STORY >>

Sunrises and sunsets, Part II (06/20/2007)

-- Capturing a sunrise or sunset in a photograph is a rewarding experience. Getting photos that are properly exposed, sharp, and well composed can be a rewarding challenge.

Exposure is the first challen ...

FULL STORY >>

Sunrises and sunsets, Part 1 (05/30/2007)

-- by Tom Hirsch

A colorful sunrise or sunset renews our appreciation of the beauty of nature. A sunrise also signifies a beginning. It's the bridge between the darkness of night and the brightness of ...

FULL STORY >>

Photographs and snapshots (05/20/2007)
By Tom Hirsch -- Okay, so what's the difference between a photograph and a snapshot? Good question. The difference lies in the way the entire image frame is utilized. A snapshot is the effect of concentrating on the s ... FULL STORY >>

The trusty tripod, Part 2 (05/13/2007)

-- A tripod is a wonderful piece of equipment for assuring camera steadiness, but only if it's used properly. There are still ways of getting camera movement, even with the most substantial tripod.

With ...

FULL STORY >>

The trusty tripod, Part 1 (05/06/2007)

Tripods are the backbone of photography. A tripod will provide for maximum camera stability, and make it easier to get greater precision in composition. Every advanced photographer has a tripod as s ...

FULL STORY >>

Framing the image (04/18/2007)

A photograph is a snippet of reality, a small representation of the world. The borders of a picture delineate that portion of reality that we wish to emphasize. But we also want to give a feeling of ...

FULL STORY >>

Get in on the action, Part 2 (03/21/2007)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Using a fast shutter speed or high ISO setting to stop action or taking advantage of the peak point of an event to imply motion are two very good techniques, but what if you're photographing a skatebo ... FULL STORY >>

Buying a new camera (03/07/2007)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Maybe you're in the market for your first camera, or perhaps you've had your 35mm Gismomatic Deluxe XL 5000 for a while and you think it's time to buy a more versatile camera. Possibly you'd like your ... FULL STORY >>

Wedding photography from start to finish, Part 3 (02/28/2007)
	By Tom Hirsch -- If the wedding includes throwing rice, or an appropriate substitute, this is not the time to use flash. If flash is used, you will just get a bunch of white specks in the picture. You'll get a much mo ... FULL STORY >>

Wedding photography from start to finish, Part 2 (01/27/2007)

by Tom Hirsch

Nowadays it seems that more and more couples are having the individual and group wedding pictures taken before the ceremony. Taking the pictures beforehand saves a lot of time in tryi ...

FULL STORY >>

Wedding photography from start to finish, Part 1 (01/07/2007)
	By Tom Hirsch -- If you have a relative or friend who's planning on getting married and they know that you own a camera, you might be asked to take some candid shots to supplement the pictures taken by the professiona ... FULL STORY >>

Spectacular scenery shots, Part 2 (12/31/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- There are no absolutes in photography; there are only generalizations that can be used as guides to making better pictures. The Rule of Thirds, for example, is a generalization designed to get the cen ... FULL STORY >>

Direction of light (12/20/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- In photography, the direction of light falling on a subject or scene can create a mood, control depth perspective, and enhance or diminish subject detail. Knowing this, we can often improve our pictur ... FULL STORY >>

Lighting effects (11/26/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- The word "photography" literally means "writing with light." Light is not just used for illuminating a scene or subject. It also gives it form and shape, depth perspective, and it can create mood. L ... FULL STORY >>

Airport anxiety, real and imagined (11/19/2006)
By Tom Hirsch -- If you'll be traveling by air, have your camera ready at the airport because there are many wonderful pictures to be taken while you're waiting to board your plane. You can get some shots of planes ta ... FULL STORY >>

Preparing for a trip, Part 2 (11/08/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- For film camera users, how much film should you take on a trip? A good generalization is two 36 exposure rolls (three 24 exposure rolls) for each day of the trip. This might sound like a lot, but it w ... FULL STORY >>

The gadget bag (10/15/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- What kind of gadget bag do you need? Hard case, soft bag, shoulder bag, camera holster, waist pack, or back pack? Or do you really need a gadget bag at all? Answering the last question first, if you t ... FULL STORY >>

Battery: The heart of the camera, Part 2 (10/08/2006)
By Tom Hirsch -- Many digital cameras come with a proprietary battery, one made specifically for that brand of camera. If your camera came with this type of battery, that's good because it's rechargeable, and the char ... FULL STORY >>

Managing the camera manual (09/24/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Upon opening the box containing your new Gismomatic Deluxe XL 5000, you also find a packet of silica gel, the camera strap, a battery, and a booklet with a picture of a girl on horseback jumping a hur ... FULL STORY >>

Compact camera concepts (09/20/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- They used to call them "simple" cameras; those compact point-and-shoot wonders that allow the photographer to bring the camera up to his or her eye and fire away. Compacts come in both film and digit ... FULL STORY >>

Facts about film (09/13/2006)

-- All you digital camera people can come along on this one if you want to. Just don't feel too smug. Okay, feel smug if you want to.

At the time of this writing, there are nearly fifty print films on t ...

FULL STORY >>

Concepts of composition, Part 2 (08/20/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Do you have the concept of the Rule of Thirds firmly in mind? That's good, because there are several other basic compositional factors that can also be followed or ignored as the photographer sees fit ... FULL STORY >>

Fundamentals of photography (08/06/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Today's cameras are marvelous things. As we press the shutter release, the shutter opens, just the right amount of light passes through the lens (a marvelous instrument in itself), and we get a good p ... FULL STORY >>

Camera preservation, Part 3 (07/23/2006)
By Tom Hirsch -- One of the greatest dangers that can befall any camera is letting it remain in storage for long periods of time, unused. Inactivity can cause the lubricants to dry out and the rubber and fabric materi ... FULL STORY >>

Camera preservation, Part 2 (07/16/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Last time we covered ways of avoiding damage to a camera caused by impact such as dropping it or bumping it into things. But there are other bad things that can happen to a good camera. Some of these ... FULL STORY >>

Copy photography, Part 3 (06/25/2006)

-- You're still with us. It's obvious, then, that you are definitely interested in copy photography. Well, so much for the preliminaries. Now you're ready to begin copying.

Place the camera on the tripo ...

FULL STORY >>

Copy photography, Part 2 (06/18/2006)

-- Since you've come this far, it can be assumed that you are interested in copy photography. But don't get in a hurry. There are still a few things you should know before betting too involved.

About th ...

FULL STORY >>

Compiling your photo history, Part 3 (05/24/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- As you probably know, many of yesteryear's photographs were not taken care of as they should have been. They became dirty, torn, or worse. You might be able to correct a minor problem, but if the dama ... FULL STORY >>

Travel and vacation photography, Part 2 (04/12/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- What happens if your primary camera fails? I've had this happen, and it's not fun. The answer is to carry a spare. It can be a digital or film camera, but it should be compact. It's no good to downsiz ... FULL STORY >>

Wide world photography (03/29/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- The idea of panoramic pictures has been around for a long time, but it has only beena within the last few years that this concept has become popular, or practical as a photographic option. To encourag ... FULL STORY >>

Nasty weather photography, Part 2 (03/22/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- For strikingly dramatic shots, there's nothing like a nice, gentle spring shower, or even a mist or light drizzle, to give the world a fresh appearance. Moist flowers and foliage glisten, and wet sid ... FULL STORY >>

Nasty weather photography, Part 1 (03/19/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- If you want ideas for pictures to fill an empty space on a wall in your living room, office or den, consider taking photos during less than ideal weather conditions. We're not trying to get you to go ... FULL STORY >>

Private plane photography (03/09/2006)
By Tom Hirsch -- It seems like every vacation spot has an airport or heliport that offers rides so visitors can get a better view of the area and its special points of interest. Some provide brief excursions that circ ... FULL STORY >>

Aerial photography (02/26/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- When on a trip, you want to take as many meaningful photos as possible. Most of us don't begin shooting until we reach our destination. Frequently, though, there is a period of hesitation before reall ... FULL STORY >>

Play and performance photography (02/19/2006)
By Tom Hirsch -- Do you know a budding Barrymore or Bernhardt? What with grade school skits, Sunday School programs and high school plays, young up-and-coming actors and actresses have lots of opportunities to show of ... FULL STORY >>

A child’s birthday bash (02/12/2006)
By Tom Hirsch -- A child's birthday party is another page in the family history. Not only are photos a great way of recording these events, but they will also provide lasting records of who the child's friends were th ... FULL STORY >>

Photographing strangers, Part 2 (02/09/2006)
By Tom Hirsch -- When photographing a stranger, should you explain your reasons for wanting the pictures? Only if you're asked. Unless you're carrying something like a Gismomatic Deluxe XL 5000 with 35-300 f/2.8 lens ... FULL STORY >>

Camera steadiness without gadgets (01/25/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Last time we covered factors to consider when taking photos that you intend to enlarge and display. It was pointed out that for these pictures, absolute sharpness is essential, and the use of a tripod ... FULL STORY >>

Dealing with daylight (01/22/2006)
	By Tom Hirsch -- It has been said (I know, because I've said it) that the best times of day for photographing scenery, landscapes, cityscapes, people, flowers, events (well, almost anything outdoors) are within the fi ... FULL STORY >>

Theme park photography, Part 1 (12/14/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Theme park photography is similar to any other type of photography in which people are the primary subjects. You'll want a camera with at least a 35-70mm zoom lens, plenty of film or digital memory ca ... FULL STORY >>

Fabulous family photos, Part 2 (12/04/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Can you imagine having a graduation ceremony, a birthday party or family gathering without a camera on hand? Pictures taken during special family events provide a continuing history as the family chan ... FULL STORY >>

Photo-snorkeling (11/16/2005)
By Tom Hirsch -- Photos at the beach can be interesting and challenging, but are you the adventuresome type who would like to take pictures at the beach while getting more than just your feet wet? Then maybe your next ... FULL STORY >>

Photo-snorkeling (11/13/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Photos at the beach can be interesting and challenging, but are you the adventuresome type who would like to take pictures at the beach while getting more than just your feet wet? Then maybe your next ... FULL STORY >>

Flower photography, Part 2 (10/31/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Time of day has an effect on the quality of flower pictures. Strong midday sunlight is the worst for many types of flowers, especially the darker colored ones, because shadows are the most pronounced ... FULL STORY >>

Flower photography, Part 1 (10/23/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Beauty is fleeting, and this is especially true of flowers. The freshness of a perfect rose lasts only a day or so. Early morning dew on a flower garden disappears by mid-morning, and cut flowers in a ... FULL STORY >>

Flower photography, Part 1 (10/16/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Beauty is fleeting, and this is especially true of flowers. The freshness of a perfect rose lasts only a day or so. Early morning dew on a flower garden disappears by mid-morning, and cut flowers in a ... FULL STORY >>

Festival photography (10/12/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- A festival is a place where people go to have fun and be entertained. Beyond that, it's difficult to describe just what a festival is because they come in such a wide variety of types and sizes. Festi ... FULL STORY >>

Touring by bus, Part 2 (09/28/2005)

-- by Tom Hirsch

The fundamental law of bus travel is OBEY TIME SCHEDULES. At each stop, you'll either be given the exact time that the bus will leave, or the amount of time you'll have for sightseein ...

FULL STORY >>

Festival photography (09/18/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- A festival is a place where people go to have fun and be entertained. Beyond that, it's difficult to describe just what a festival is because they come in such a wide variety of types and sizes. Festi ... FULL STORY >>

Touring by bus, Part 2 (09/11/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- The fundamental law of bus travel is OBEY TIME SCHEDULES. At each stop, you'll either be given the exact time that the bus will leave, or the amount of time you'll have for sightseeing. Make a note of ... FULL STORY >>

What to do when you get there (08/28/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Most of us travel for the pleasure and wonderment of seeing new places. A sense of discovery takes place within us when we experience the terrain and climate of another part of our country or the worl ... FULL STORY >>

Planning a trip, Part 2 (08/21/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Tip Number 1: As you pack your luggage for a trip, photograph the contents of each suitcase and leave the roll of film or small-capacity digital memory card at home. If your bags become lost or stolen ... FULL STORY >>

Planning a trip, Part 1 (08/14/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- A journey begins with the first step. That's fine if the first step is to get pencil and paper. Whether you're traveling across the street or halfway around the world, you should begin a trip with som ... FULL STORY >>

A self-timer primer (08/10/2005)

-- by Tom Hirsch

For most of us, the self-timer is one of the least used gadgets on our camera; but it can be the one that is the most practical, allows for the most creativity, and is the most fun to ...

FULL STORY >>

Secrets of good photography (07/24/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Don't blame the camera. If it has a lens and a viewfinder, whether it's a 35mm, an Advanced Photo System (APS) or a digital camera, you can take good pictures with it. You just have to know the secret ... FULL STORY >>

Buying a used camera (06/26/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Why would you want to buy a used camera? Well, there are several reasons. For one thing, you might be going on a trip and would like your spouse or the kids to have a camera. Maybe you would want a 35 ... FULL STORY >>

Small-print display (06/19/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- If you're like me, when you go on vacation or attend a family affair, a sporting event or any activity calling for picture-taking, you take lots of shots. I used to waste a bunch of expensive film at ... FULL STORY >>

Immortalize your hobby, Part 2 (06/12/2005)

-- Last time we emphasized the importance of the background in hobby photography. This is a biggy, but there are other factors that should also be kept in mind.

When photographing hobby objects, select ...

FULL STORY >>

Protect your stuff (05/08/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- When you travel any distance, whether it's across the street or around the world, protect your camera gear. Even if it's just a compact camera (the word "just" refers to quantity, not quality), you ... FULL STORY >>

Selecting a compact camera, Part 1 (03/27/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- What is the best camera buy? If there were a simple answer, it could be told in this sentence and the article would be over. The "best" camera is one that has all the features that the buyer will use ... FULL STORY >>

The camera’s broken, Part 1 (03/06/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- At an event of a lifetime, you bring the viewfinder to your eye as you've done hundreds of times before, but this time nothing happens. What should you do? No, slamming the camera to the ground is not ... FULL STORY >>

Architecture photography, Part 2 (02/27/2005)

-- Last time, a few hints were given on ways of photographing the exteriors of famous or intriguing buildings and monuments. Interiors pose different but no less interesting photographic challenges.

A c ...

FULL STORY >>

Architecture photography, Part 1 (02/20/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- For many of us, the best part of returning from a vacation is getting our pictures back from the photo dealer or putting them on the computer and looking through them several days after we've returned ... FULL STORY >>

Caring for your camera (02/13/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Have you ever taken a camera in for repair? If not, you haven't experienced the shock of a lifetime, and if you have, you have. The cost of camera repair is enough to cause many of us to abandon photo ... FULL STORY >>

Recording reflections, Part 1 (01/30/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- What makes reflection so appealing? It might be that a reflection gives us a mirror image of reality; sort of a reality that is not exactly real. It is as though we are looking into another world; a w ... FULL STORY >>

Consider candids (01/09/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- "Let's be candid." You know the expression. It means, let's be honest, sincere, genuine. A candid shot is the same, representing a slice of life as it really is. In successful candid photography, the ... FULL STORY >>

Photos on the slopes (01/01/2005)
	By Tom Hirsch -- You've seen pictures of downhill skiers holding their skis and poles while standing in front of a chalet, or posed on flat ground in a crouched position, looking toward the camera. But have you seen s ... FULL STORY >>

E-mailing photos, Part 2 (12/05/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Okay, you have your original picture on the computer, and you've made a copy of it in the TIFF or BMP format. You've named it Mountain 1, and made all the necessary modifications. With the modified im ... FULL STORY >>

Biking with a camera (11/28/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Biking is said to be the most efficient mode of travel. Besides that, it's fun, good exercise, inexpensive, environment-friendly, reasonably fast, but slow enough that one can observe his or her surro ... FULL STORY >>

Photos from a vibrating vehicle (11/21/2004)
	I recently had the good fortune of taking a Caribbean cruise. I was able to get many excellent pictures using the standard good picture-taking techniques that I advocate. But on some of the shore excu ... FULL STORY >>

Catch the spirit (10/17/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- When people go to the Grand Canyon, what do they take pictures of? The big ditch, of course. One of my favorite shots at that location is of a scraggly pine tree along the edge of the canyon, but none ... FULL STORY >>

Doing the zoo, Part 2 (10/03/2004)

-- by Tom Hirsch

Just getting a picture of an exotic animal in the zoo can be an exciting experience. But usually we can do better than that. Today, most zoos house the animals in natural-appearing se ...

FULL STORY >>

Doing the zoo, Part 1 (09/26/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Most of us are fascinated by animals that are normally found in parts of the world other than our own. And, fortunately, many of these animals can be discovered near our homes. Of course I am referrin ... FULL STORY >>

Fall photography, Part 1 (09/12/2004)
By Tom Hirsch -- Whatever the season, there are distinct characteristics that distinguish that time of year from all others. A few of the things that define fall are football, kids returning to school, chrysanthemums, ... FULL STORY >>

Photos at the beach, Part 1 (08/29/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Nothing is as enjoyable as a day at the beach, and nothing can be as devastating as having something happen to your camera while you're there. Believe me, things can happen. The possibilities include ... FULL STORY >>

Water photography, Part 2 (08/22/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- When photographing a quiet lake or pond, our intent is to convey the feeling of peacefulness and tranquility - but that was covered last time. Now we want to show the dynamics of water that's in a hur ... FULL STORY >>

Water photography, Part 1 (08/15/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Water is the most common thing in the world, covering seventy percent of the Earth's surface. But even as prevalent as water is, we humans are fascinated by it. Whether it's the quietness of a serene ... FULL STORY >>

Lightning photography, Part 2 (08/08/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Attempting to point a camera in the direction of lightning can be tricky because you never know where it will strike. When you see lightning in the distance, you could aim the camera in that direction ... FULL STORY >>

Lightning photography, Part 1 (08/01/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Some of the most fascinating photographs are those made under adverse weather conditions. You've seen the pictures; they are phenomenal shots, ones that you're sure you could take under the same circu ... FULL STORY >>

Rainy day photos, Part 2 (07/25/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Whether it's a gentle drizzle or a devastating deluge, rain has a fascination for all of us. We might pass a location several times a day, but when it's drenched in rain, it takes on a whole new atmos ... FULL STORY >>

Rainy day photos, Part 1 (07/11/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- One of my favorite pictures was taken on a very rainy day. I took it through the front windshield of a car in which I was a passenger. The shot shows the wipers going full speed, the hood of the car i ... FULL STORY >>

Pictures on display, Part 3 (07/04/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Who says photographic displays have to be dull, commonplace, monotonous or hackneyed? Probably nobody, but that doesn't mean you can't make them more interesting. Following are a few ideas for creatin ... FULL STORY >>

Pictures on display, Part 2 (06/27/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Okay, you've selected the pictures that you'd like to have enlarged, have located their negatives or digital storage medium, and have decided on what size prints you want. The next decision is where t ... FULL STORY >>

Pictures on display, Part 1 (06/06/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- You've come home from vacation, turned in the umpteen rolls of film for processing, identified each print with its roll and frame number, culled out the bad pictures, and prepared the negatives and pr ... FULL STORY >>

Using the ISO (05/30/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- The ISO rating in film or digital imagery is the relative sensitivity to light of the image-sensing medium. The higher the ISO number, the greater its sensitivity to light. In 35mm photography, the ph ... FULL STORY >>

A refresher course, Part 2 (05/23/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Last time we reviewed a few rules and generalizations of good photography. The following is another set of reminders. We'll cover ways of utilizing factors present in a scene. These are things you can ... FULL STORY >>

A refresher course, Part 1 (05/16/2004)

-- A lot of information has been covered in the previous articles. This seems like a good time to review a few basics of photography.

For good camera steadiness:

1. Keep your elbows comfortably at your ...

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Make sure your photos have a future, Part 3 (05/09/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- All right, you know the possible dangers of improper print storage; but what about the negatives? The same conditions hold: Archival containers, fairly constant temperatures around 70 degrees, approxi ... FULL STORY >>

Make sure your photos have a future, Part 2 (05/02/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- There are many reasons why we take pictures. It might be to produce a record of an event, to capture the unpredictable expression on a child's face, to record the golden anniversary of loved ones, or ... FULL STORY >>

Make sure your photos have a future, Part 1 (04/25/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Let's say you've taken a two-week trip to Hawaii and shot five rolls of film with your 35mm or APS camera, or 300 pictures with your digital camera but only kept ninety-five of them. Anyway, you have ... FULL STORY >>

Photography in museums (04/18/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Most of us are familiar with the museum in our home town, and we have heard of or have visited some that cover such subjects as the fine arts and natural history. But do you know about the George East ... FULL STORY >>

Vacation and travel photography (04/11/2004)

-- First, a couple of definitions.

Vacation Photography: Pictures taken over a period of time longer than one hour, including preparation time.

Travel Photography: Photos taken beyond the limits of you ...

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Depth perspective (03/28/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- In a scenery photograph, or a picture of any subject matter on more than one plane, we are representing three-dimensional space in a two-dimensional image. In order to reproduce the feeling of depth a ... FULL STORY >>

Bloopers and bungled shots (03/21/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- I like to think of myself as a pretty good photographer, but like other good photographers I could have several albums full of photographic flubs, if I had saved them. Many of our goofs are due to lac ... FULL STORY >>

A photo inventory (03/14/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- We insure our lives, our cars and our homes in case of unforeseen events. When we buy insurance on these things, we must prove that we are alive, or that we own a car or a house. But when we insure ou ... FULL STORY >>

Window light portraits (02/29/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- On the cold, snowy days of winter, or those hot, sticky days of summer, or anytime in between, daylight coming through a window can provide a great light source for informal portraits. Some of its adv ... FULL STORY >>

Informal portraits (02/22/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- I tried to avoid using the term "portrait" here because for many of us the word conjures up the idea of a formal photograph of a person taken from the waist up by a professional photographer; but thi ... FULL STORY >>

When children become kids (02/15/2004)

-- When children reach the age of three or four, they are very much aware of the picture-taking process, and from then on they have the ability to control the results. Now they are kids.

At any age, you ...

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Child photography (02/08/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- When does a baby become a child? This depends, but usually it's around five to seven months when he or she begins getting around pretty well on hands and knees, and starts developing a degree of curio ... FULL STORY >>

Baby pictures (02/01/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Unless you're an obstetrician with ultrasound equipment, the first baby pictures you will probably take will be in the hospital nursery. To get the best shots, hold the camera up to the nursery window ... FULL STORY >>

Taking the group shot (01/25/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Have you ever heard this statement? "Okay, everybody. When I count to three, look at the camera and give me an expression like this is the last thing you want to be doing." Probably not, but when tak ... FULL STORY >>

Discipline (01/21/2004)

-- by Al Thomas

One of the great "secrets" of successful people is discipline and it doesn't make any difference whether it is manufacturing, processing, servicing or investing in the stock market.

B ...

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Cleaning the camera (01/18/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- If you're an active photographer, at one time or another, dirt or dust will get on or into your camera. This can happen on a camping trip, at a sports event, at family affairs - almost any outdoor and ... FULL STORY >>

Getting the best exposure (01/11/2004)

-- We can usually rely on our camera's meter to give us the best exposure, but there are some situations in which the meter reading is not accurate, needs some adjustment, or is of no use at all.

One of ...

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Night photography (01/04/2004)
	By Tom Hirsch -- Night photography could be called Available Light Photography Outdoors After the Sun Goes Down, because that's what it is; but this gets pretty wordy, and we like to keep things as concise as possible ... FULL STORY >>

Available light photography, Part 2 (12/28/2003)
By Tom Hirsch -- Available light photography is much more interesting, fun, and challenging than using flash in dim light situations. Speaking of challenges, the following paragraphs will cover a few that you should k ... FULL STORY >>

Available light photography, Part 1 (12/21/2003)
By Tom Hirsch -- While attending an indoor event such as a basketball game, a graduation ceremony or a circus, have you noticed the unmistakable flash from cameras in the bleachers? When these photographers get the re ... FULL STORY >>

Flash photography (12/14/2003)

-- This information is useful for 35mm, APS and digital camera users.

One of the most convenient devices on a compact camera and some SLRs is the built-in flash. With it, we can easily shoot indoors or ...

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Winter photos, Part 2 (12/07/2003)

-- As we pointed out last time, there are a few precautions to take when you venture into the world of winter photography. But once you enter that world, you will probably be hooked.

If you were to take ...

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Winter photos, Part 1 (11/30/2003)
By Tom Hirsch -- Believe it or not, there is no such thing as bad weather. There is inappropriate clothing and poor preparation; but, photographically at least, no bad weather. Each season and every type of weather co ... FULL STORY >>

Selecting a digital camera, Part 2 (11/23/2003)
By Tom Hirsch -- We've covered resolution in terms of the number of megapixels a digital camera can provide. Resolution is the primary factor on which all digital cameras are compared. The reason is that resolution de ... FULL STORY >>

Selecting a digital camera, Part 1 (11/16/2003)

-- by Tom Hirsch

Deciding on which digital camera to buy (or whether to buy one at all) can be a daunting decision, even for an experienced photographer. Knowing your needs and wants in a digital came ...

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Becoming digitally aware (11/09/2003)
By Tom Hirsch -- A major difference between film and digital photography is the monitor on the back of a digital camera that provides immediate feedback to the photographer. The LCD display can be used either as a pre ... FULL STORY >>

Disadvantages of digital (11/02/2003)
By Tom Hirsch -- Almost all modern cameras rely on batteries as their source of power - this is just a fact of photo life. Film cameras are relatively easy on batteries, allowing you to go from one to five years on a ... FULL STORY >>

Advantages of digital over film photography (10/26/2003)
By Tom Hirsch -- The advantages of digital in a moment, but first a little review. Last time we pointed out the relative merits of JPEG and TIFF or RAW file formats. It was noted that JPEG compresses pictures so that ... FULL STORY >>

Differences between digital and film photography (10/12/2003)
By Tom Hirsch -- Probably (no, definitely) the greatest difference between film and digital photography is the image-storing sensors. In film photography, photos are recorded on tiny particles of grain imbedded in the ... FULL STORY >>

Sunrises and sunsets, Part II (09/21/2003)

-- Capturing a sunrise or sunset on film is a rewarding experience. Getting photos that are properly exposed, sharp and well composed can be a rewarding challenge.

Exposure is the first challenge. This ...

FULL STORY >>

The trusty tripod, Part 2 (08/31/2003)

-- A tripod is a wonderful piece of equipment for assuring camera steadiness, but only if it's used properly. There are still ways of getting camera movement, even with the most substantial tripod.

With ...

FULL STORY >>

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