Life in Color :Red Photos

Photograph by Tim Laman
Red, the color of human blood, symbolizes passion, fire,
love, and anger. In Eastern cultures, it also connotes
luck and prosperity. Red occurs throughout nature, from
dying stars to dying leaves, and humans have evoked its
powers for everything from politics to sports.
Here, a brilliant red sea fan coral spreads behind a golden
damselfish in waters off Fiji’s Namenalala Island.



Photograph by David Evans
Rich red draperies and glowing paper lanterns transform
a rocky cave into a magical wedding hall in China's Hubei
Province. Red is the traditional color of Chinese wedding
celebrations.


Photograph by Michael Melford
Iron-rich rocks create a rust-red creek bed for fast-flowing
waters in Alberta's Waterton Lakes National Park.
The Canadian park lies across the international border from
Montana's Glacier National Park.



Photograph by Emory Kristof
Kenya's Lake Magadi blushes under a bacteria bloom
following a rainstorm. The extremely salty, alkali lake
holds little life, but its waters are a favorite spot for
wading birds.




Photograph by Tim Laman
A triplefin fish is nearly indistinguishable from the bright
red sponge on which it rests. This shot was taken on
the pristine reefs around the Tukangbesi Islands,
protected by an Indonesian national marine park.



Photograph by Medford Taylor
Darkness lends a reddish tint to sea oats bending with
storm-whipped winds in Saxis, Virginia. The salt-loving
tall grass thrives in beach ecosystems and helps to form
and protect sand dunes by collecting windblown grains.



Photograph by Raul Touzon
A solitary red maple leaf lies on the trunk of a downed tree
in Maine's Acadia National Park. The United States is home
to some 90 different species of maple trees.



Photograph by Nick Norman
A brilliant red sea star lies amid algae-covered rocks in
the waters off Vancouver Island, Canada. The invertebrates
use some colors to scare off potential predators and other
hues to blend in with their surroundings.



Photograph by Steve McCurry
A crimson Turkish flag becomes a patriotic bedspread in
an Istanbul bedroom. The crescent and star are symbols
of Islam, but their use predates the religion and the flag's
origins are a matter of debate.



Photograph by Thomas J. Abercrombie
A glowing keyhole arch and dusty-red walls frame
the minaret of Al Berdain Mosque in Meknès, Morocco.
The arch's lighting also suggests a crescent moon, one of
Islam's traditional symbols.


Photograph by Chris Johns
The fleeting shadow of a San (Bushman) child races across
a red wall in Welkom, South Africa. Like many San the boy's
family lived as squatters for nearly two decades, forgotten
by African governments.



Photograph by Michael Yamashita
A Hindu ascetic, or sadhu, wrapped in a bright-red cloth,
smokes underneath a vad (banyan) tree outside a temple in
Mumbai (Bombay), India. Sadhus devote themselves to
the spiritual life, own few possessions, and typically depend
on donations to survive.



Photograph by Ed Kashi
A red car sits on a dirty and deserted side street in
communist East Berlin. East and West Germany were
reunited in 1990 after 45 years of separation following
the end of World War II.


Photograph by Joel Sartore
Musical legend Chuck Berry holds his cherry-red guitar
during a performance at a music festival in Aspen, Colorado.
With early classics like "Rock, Rock, Rock,"
"Go, Johnny, Go!" and "Johnny B. Goode,"
Berry is considered one of rock-and-roll's pioneers.



Photograph by Jodi Cobb
A geisha in Kyoto, Japan, applies the blood-red lipstick
that completes her traditional makeup. Modern geisha
carry on an ancient profession; they privately entertain
Japan's rich and powerful men and maintain total
confidentiality.


Photograph by Al Petteway
A Maryland maple tree shows off the flaming foliage
beloved by "leaf-peepers." Experts say most people judge
the quality of each autumn's foliage by the prevalence
of red leaves.



Photograph by Jim Richardson
Sumac leaves glow red in the autumn light at the Tallgrass
Prairie National Preserve in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas.
The grassy prairie landscape is dotted with shrub thickets
of sumac and dogwood, which are favored by birds and
small animals.



Photograph by Jodi Cobb
Nothing can dampen the enthusiasm of Taipei
schoolchildren gathered for a celebration of Double Ten,
Taiwan's national day. Double Ten remembers
the October 10, 1911, revolution that ended China’s
last dynasty.



Photograph by James Stanfield
The College of Cardinals, the Catholic Church's
highest-ranking clergy, meets in Vatican City to elect
new cardinals. Supreme among their tasks is the selection
of new popes, who traditionally come from within
the college itself.

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Digital Photography Tips

From: Photography Field Guide: Landscapes and Ultimate Photography Field Guide: Landscapes
By:Robert Caputo
August 2007

Keep these tips from photographer Robert Caputo in mind as you're taking landscape photos.

Take time to explore. Part of the joy of landscape photography is being out in nature. Wander around and get a sense of the place. It will take time and patience to discover the best way to show what makes it unique.








Photograph by William Albert Allard

• Visualize your photograph. Create the image in your mind the way a painter would create it on a canvas. Then think about the time, light, and composition that will translate what you see in your mind into a photograph.
• Get out before sunrise and stay out after sunset—the times when the light is best. Use the harsher light of midday to scout.
• It's much more fruitful to spend time on one or two locations than to race around. A great shot of one place beats several mediocre ones of many. Such an approach allows you to be creative. Once you have recorded the image you were thinking about, try something different. Climb a tree, wade out to the middle of a stream, use a flower or other object in the foreground, try another lens or a slow shutter speed. Play with the subject and your gear. Have fun. You may be surprised at the results, and you will often capture something more than what postcards show—something original and quite personal.
• Be careful in the placement of foreground elements. You don't want them to detract from what your photograph is really about.
• Framing can be very helpful when you cannot get close to your subject. It can give you an interesting way to deal with empty space in the foreground or in the sky.
• Since we usually look for details, it can be harder to see blocks of color or shape. Squint a bit: Details will blur and you will see things as masses.
• Buy a small liquid level and attach it to your tripod head.
• Lens flare can be a problem with wide lenses. Use your hand or a piece of cardboard to screen the lens from the sun—but keep the screen out of the frame.
• If you are staying in one place for several days, check out the long-range weather forecast and plan your shoots around the weather that is best for specific subjects.
• If you are with friends, don't be shy about using them in images to get a sense of scale. But remember that the photos are of the place, not the people.
• To learn how light direction affects the look and feel of images, photograph a tree lit from the front, the side, and the back.
• Gaffer's tape is an essential photographic accessory. Among its innumerable uses: taping reflectors and flashes in place, labeling film type on the back of cameras, and sealing camera cases.
• If you want circular star trails, point the camera at the North Star.
• When making long exposures, use a remote release to avoid camera movement. If you don't have a remote release, use the camera's self-timer. And be mindful of any breeze that might be moving your subject.
• Avoid getting your equipment wet. If you are shooting near a fall that is sending up a lot of spray, cover your camera with a plastic bag as you would to protect it from rain. If it or a lens gets wet, wipe the item immediately and put in the sun to dry.
• Never be content with what you see in the viewfinder the first time you raise it to your eye. Move around, lie down, find a different angle.

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Lomo fisheye No.2

The world's greatest compact Fisheye camera is now more amazing than you ever thought possible! Not only does it have same 180-degree wide-angle view and stunning fisheye barrel distortion, but the Fisheye No. 2 adds a bulb setting for long exposures, a switch for multiple exposures on the same frame, the ability to fire both a hotshoe flash and the built-in flash, a true fisheye viewfinder, and a "full metal jacket" body treatment. With this new arsenal, the possibilities for your Fisheye lomography are endless! Uses normal 35mm film that can be developed anywhere.

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Sony W300

Brand Sony
Type Cybershot DSC W300
Resolution 13.90 Mpixel
Maximum resolution 4224x3168
Minimum resolution 640x480
Sensor size 1/1.7-inch
Sensor type CCD

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Canon 40D

Welcome to the next generation of digital SLR photography-the Canon EOS 40D. The EOS 40D combines Canon's tremendous know-how in both the digital and photographic worlds, creating a camera that not only does everything one would expect of a traditional digital SLR, but one that incorporates staggering leaps forward in technological innovation. With new features like Canon's EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a more powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, plus a 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3.0-inch LCD monitor and more, the EOS 40D elevates digital photography to new heights, enhancing the shooting experience, and delivering images one could only expect from a Canon.

Brand Canon
Type EOS 40D
Resolution 10.50 Mpixel
Maximum resolution 3888x2592
Minimum resolution 1936x1288
Sensor size 22.2x14.8mm
Sensor type CMOS









Canon EOS 40D digital SLR camera
The seven models, from EOS D30 to the 40D, have changed drastically. The image sensor and processor took huge steps forwards and also the DSLR camera itself improved a lot. Can you still imagine how happy a 1.8-inch monitor on the back of a camera made you? The difference with today's cameras is evident and the EOS 40D is a true example of where we stand now and how the technique has advanced. If there are still people who are not convinced of the fact that modern DSLR cameras exceed 35mm cameras, I suggest they work with the Canon EOS 40D for a while!

Canon EOS 40D - Good image quality
The image quality of the Canon EOS 40D leaves little or in fact nothing to wish for. High ISO pictures are still usable. You can shoot using ISO 800 or 1600 without a problem. There is some noise but not annoyingly visible, even less when you convert the pictures with Adobe. Using DPP, noise is visible which gives you a film-feeling from old-fashioned times.

Canon 40D - White balance & Sharpening
The colour rendition of the Canon 40D convinces and I'd be splitting hairs if I tried to find a negative thing. If I have to mention one it would be the auto white balance that is too red in incandescent light. But shooting in RAW or creating your own white balance solves this problem. You could moan about the soft sharpening but you can use Picture Styles to improve it or you can change it afterwards through the software. All in all these are only small details and I wonder: 'What more do we want on this field?'

Canon 40D - Joystick for focus points
If there is any criticism at all it would be the camera itself. For example; I cannot disconnect auto focus and exposure the way I would like to, but this is something very personal as you already might have thought. The joystick however is a more general example. I can hardly get used to it. Its response is not good enough. Maybe I would also like to have an auto focus working on the sensor (Live View). And the monitor could improve with better colours and more pixels. No, not on the sensor for the sensor is perfect. Besides that my personal wish-list has more on it: the metering rendered in the viewfinder would be nice and a GPS connection available without having to purchase an expensive WiFi module. These are all marginal issues though, that have not much to do with the excellent quality of the EOS 40D.

Canon 40D - Outstanding D-SLR camera!
Let's be honest; the Canon EOS 40D is a D-SLR camera that is about the most complete a camera can be. It is a solid camera, with excellent auto focus, a silent shutter and mirror, a beautiful viewfinder and fine operation. On top of that Live View works perfectly, you can walk in the rain with the camera and it is an excellent tool with high quality functions. The minus points are just there because I did my utmost to find them; it was like seeking for the famous needle in a haystack. It is always possible to improve a product although that might be difficult with the EOS 40D. After seven models you might want to admit that we have reached the ultimate consumer EOS DSLR. Outstanding!

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Nikon D60

The D60 is the third incarnation of Nikon's compact, user-friendly entry-level SLR line that started back in 2006 with the D40 (which replaced the first Nikon 'starter' model, the D50). The original D40 was a hugely important camera for Nikon and can be given a lot of the credit for the resurgence in Nikon's fortunes at the volume end of the SLR market (which had been totally dominated by Canon since the launch of the EOS 300D / Digital Rebel). The D40's success (which continued long after the D40X made its swift appearance only 6 months later) isn't hard to explain; it was keenly priced, nicely designed and built and capable of excellent results. It was also a camera that proved cameras do not sell on megapixels alone (even at launch its 6MP resolution was far from 'class leading').

The D40X, which was positioned as a premium alternative to the D40 rather than its replacement, didn't mess around with the formula much at all; a new sensor with more (ten) megapixels and a lower base ISO, plus a slightly higher continuous shooting rate. The D60 is a direct replacement for the D40X (the D40 will stay around for a while as Nikon's budget option), and once again it's not a major upgrade; the sensor remains the same (though now has a dust reduction system) and the external design is almost identical. There's a few new features, including the same Expeed processing 'concept' seen in the D3 / D300, Active D-Lighting, an eye sensor (to control the screen display), and some tweaks to the interface, but perhaps the most significant change isn't to the camera at all; the move to an optically stabilized version of the kit lens.

Brand Nikon
Type D60
Resolution 10.75 Mpixel
Maximum resolution 3872x2592
Minimum resolution unknown
Sensor size 23.6x15.8mm
Sensor type CCD








Extraordinary 10.2-Megapixel DX-format Nikon Picture Quality: Nikon's high-performance, 10.2-megapixel DX-format CCD imaging sensor and exclusive EXPEED image processing concept provide added cropping freedom and the ability to make larger prints.
Includes AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization Lens: NIKKOR lenses are famous for breathtaking sharpness and faithful color. With Nikon's fast, accurate autofocus and Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilization technology built in, pictures are even sharper, free from blur caused by camera shake when shooting hand-held.
Fast Startup and Split-Second Shutter Response: With fast startup and split-second shutter response, the D60 eliminates the frustration of shutter delay, capturing moments that other cameras miss.

Shoot Continuously at up to 3 Frames per Second: Capture sports action, precious moments and fleeting expressions at up to 3 frames per second, for as many as 100 consecutive JPEG images.
Active Dust Reduction System with Airflow Control: Nikon's Active Dust Reduction System activates automatically, along with Airflow Control technology to reduce the amount of dust that reaches the sensor.
Easy Operation with Intuitive Controls: Intuitive controls and an onboard HELP Menu System with Assist Images make the D60 truly easy to use, enabling everyone to capture beautiful memories perfectly.

Nikon's EXPEED Image Processing Concept: Nikon's original digital image processing concept, EXPEED, comprehensively optimizes pictures, shot after shot.
8 Digital-Vari Program Automatic Shooting Modes: Eight Digital Vari-Program Modes include: Auto, Auto Flash-OFF, Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close Up and Night Portrait; each of which adjusts automatically for optimal results for everyday shooting situations. Each mode considers lighting conditions and possibilities, aperture, shutter speed, white balance, hue, tone, sharpening and more to make creative photography as simple as rotating the mode dial.
Nikon's Smallest Digital SLR Ever! Beautifully styled, the D60 makes high-performance digital SLR photography easier and more convenient than ever. You'll be amazed at the power packed into a camera that weighs just over 16 ounces.
2.5-Inch, 230,000-Dot Color LCD Monitor with 170-Degree Wide-Angle Viewing: Playback images are easy to see and function menus are easier to use with a larger and brighter color LCD monitor. The large 2.5-inch LCD monitor enables image preview at up to 19 times magnification and has large type fonts with easy-to-view menus. Auto rotating LCD display provides automatic horizontal and vertical graphic display orientation.

Advanced HELP Menu System with Assist Images: The D60's Assist Images help you select the appropriate settings for many camera features by showing an example image typical of that setting, as well as an advanced HELP Menu for the current item selected. The D60's Question Mark icon (?) indicates that help is available for the currently selected item; just press the HELP button beside the LCD monitor to see a context-sensitive HELP page.
Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II: The D60's 3D Color Matrix Metering II evaluates each scene for brightness, color, contrast, size and position of shadows and highlights, selected focus area and camera-to-subject distance, comparing that information against an onboard database of more than 30,000 actual photographic scenes. The result delivers instantly and precisely determined exposures for each scene, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Image Optimization Options: The D60's Optimize Image setting lets photographers adjust color, contrast and sharpening, as well as other image settings, according to the type of scene or output desired. Settings include: Normal, Softer, Vivid, More Vivid, Portrait, Custom and Black and White, each of which are automatically adjusted based on sophisticated Nikon algorithms or user-selected settings for optimum results.

Built-in Speedlight with i-TTL Automatic Flash Control: Nikon's innovative i-TTL flash control evaluates flash exposure with incredible precision to achieve better automatic flash balance and deliver outstanding results. The built-in Speedlight is always ready to bring beautiful exposures to darkened conditions, as well as add sparkle for fill flash in outdoor situations for enhanced twilight shots or an added impact to daylight images. In low-light or back-light situations, added illumination from the built-in Speedlight can make the difference between an average snapshot and a dazzling picture.
Fast, Accurate 3-Area Autofocus: The D60's advanced 3-Area AF system and the refined algorithms inherited from more advanced Nikon digital SLR cameras deliver fast, efficient and precise Autofocus. AF refinements deliver greater precision with fast, more consistent subject acquisition and improved focus tracking for consistently sharper pictures.
In-Camera Image Editing and Enhanced Retouch Menu: Highly versatile in-camera editing features through the Retouch Menu include Nikon D-Lighting, Red-Eye Correction, Image Trim, Image Overlay, Monochrome (Black and White, Sepia and Cyanotype) along with Skylight, Warm Tone and Color Balance filter effects. New effects and controls include Quick Retouch, NEF (RAW) Processing, Cross Star and Color Intensifier filters. This provides greater creative freedom without the need for a computer for those who prefer to send pictures directly to a printer.

Stop motion video: Creates a stop-motion animation from a sequence of images for added creative fun to your pictures.

Up to 500 Images per Battery Charge: The supplied EN-EL9 rechargeable battery will allow for shooting up to 500 images per charge based on CIPA battery testing standards.
Supplied accessories (may differ by country or area): EN-EL9 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-23 Quick Charger, UC-E4 USB Cable, DK-20 Rubber Eyecup, AN-DC1 Camera Strap, BF-1A Body Cap , DK-5 Eyepiece Cap, BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cover, Software Suite CD-ROM

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Digital Photography Quick Tips

From: Photography Field Guide: Digital Media and Ultimate Field Guide to Photography
By: Rob Sheppard & Bob Martin
August 2007
Keep these tips from photographers Rob Sheppard and Bob Martin in mind as you're taking photos with your digital camera.


When researching equipment, visit your local camera store first. Read reviews in photography magazines and on special Web sites. Each source can bring you closer to an informed, solid choice that's appropriate for you.
Most point-and-shoot digital cameras have a limited-range optical zoom with the ability to further zoom in electronically. This merely crops your picture and uses only a small section of your sensor.


Photograph by Rob Sheppard

Switch off this facility and use only the optical zoom if this is possible on your camera, since you can always crop the picture at a later stage.
A disposable waterproof camera might be a good option when photographing kids at the pool.
Image quality depends on more than a sensor. It is also affected by lens quality and the image processing done inside the camera.
To compare digital camera lenses, look for the 35mm equivalent size. The actual focal length can be misleading because sensor sizes are different.
Never buy a digital camera based on features alone. How it handles and how you react to the controls vary enough to strongly influence how much you will like and use the camera.

Digital Photography

Regardless of camera type, the photograph is ultimately the most important thing. From photojournalism to family photos, digital photography is still photography.
Good photography is always about recognizing and responding to the subject, not about the computer. That means shooting the right way from the start, no matter what camera you use.
Get close. Check out your lens. See what it can do by stepping in closer and placing something in the foreground. What happens to the background? Is it fuzzy or sharp?
Shoot a lot of pictures. Remember, it's digital, so you can!
Low light will increase digital grain. Use a flash or other added light if grain could be a problem and must be kept to a minimum.
Being perfectly still is the first step to making better pictures.
Get used to your camera's delay. That way you can avoid near misses such as a child jumping out of focal range.
A different vantage point can be refreshing when photographing kids and animals.
Try different angles with a flash unit to eliminate unwanted shadows.
White balance is more than a color correction tool. Use it creatively to get the colors you want in your scene.
The sensor sensitivity (commonly referred to as ISO) is simply a measure of the sensor's sensitivity to light. If you are setting the ISO manually, here is a basic guide: 100 ISO in bright, bright sunlight; 400 ISO on a dull, dreary day; 800 or 1600 ISO for indoors under floodlights; generally speaking, the higher the ISO, the lower the picture quality.
If there are too many colors and bad light, switch to black and white so that the content of the picture dominates rather than the clash of colors.
Black-and-white photography has many possibilities with digital cameras. A scene can be shot directly in black and white with the camera or it can be captured in color and later changed in the digital darkroom.

Transferring and Storing Images in the Digital Darkroom

Protect your images from hard drive crashes by backing them up outside your computer.
Both Mac and Windows computers work very well for photographers. Image quality is not affected.
Buy the largest memory card that you can.
If you intend to store, print, and edit your pictures on a computer, a really good accessory is a card reader, rather than connecting your whole camera to the computer with a cable.
JPEG is a great shooting format, but you should not use it as a working format in the computer. Always resave your images in TIFF or in your image processor's file formats.
Buy the better CD/DVD recordable disks for your photos. Look for the mention of long life or archival life to ensure the image data will remain stable.
Use an image browser that lets you see all of the photos as thumbnails for quick and easy sorting of digital images. The photos can be quickly deleted, copied, or renamed as needed.
Testing was an important part of the traditional darkroom, and it can make significant improvement in digital prints too. Testing can mean the difference between adequate and stunning prints. Just remember that there is little you can do to an image in the computer that can't be undone. Let yourself go, and don't be afraid to experiment in the digital darkroom.
Most digital camera images must be adjusted so their resolutions will be appropriate for their purposes from print to email, printed page to the Internet. Never email photos directly from a digital camera without resizing them. They are too big and will likely cause problems for recipients who don't have fast internet connections.

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