Are photographs really an Art?

Why do some people desire a painting than a photograph? What’s the difference between having a canvass, brushes, and paints from having a camera? But for some reasons, there are three essential components of what we call art. First, is the artist; second, is the medium; and third is the artwork. All of these are interrelated according to Tad Beckman.

Photographic art has a lot of definitions. It will depend on how we understand it. Others say it’s about creating a stunning image that is an interpretation of the panorama that you saw in your mind captured on film, rather than just a recording of what is already there. It is playing with the lights, weather conditions and the colors. Timing is everything. The most challenging is that there are some things that you can control but the weather throws out surprises that can add that hint of drama to a picture. These hindrances will result creativeness.

A photographer will capture an image that delights their eye. They will create something that is close to their heart. That is why a photograph is more than just a piece of paper with a representation on it. Well, they are allowing you to see how they perceive the world to be, one moment at a time.

Does subject matters? I assume it’s not. There are a lot of subjects. It is in the heart of the photographer on what really his passion. As for me, I like landscapes and sunsets. Others prefer sports, portraits and flowers. The image you captured is subjective. Your approach is different from your viewer’s approach.

It is in the heart and hand of the creator behind the brush, camera or pen that executes the creative vision. Not the tools used. Then photography really is an Art.

Treasured Memories - Photos to Canvas

Printing your photos to canvas is an excellent method of recapturing treasured memories; with the technologies that are currently available there is a multitude of effects that can be used. A canvas print can be a fantastic addition to the artwork in your home; you can achieve a tasteful piece that will be unique and commented on by all your friends and family.

A printed piece can be a cost effective way of personalising your home with original art that does not cost the earth. Now that the festive season is over, recapturing a warming moment can lift the spirits when generally people are feeling a little flat. A photo printed onto canvas is a lovely idea for a thank you gift, say you have visited relations over the festive season and they have footed the expense of putting you up and laying on all the food, this type of gift will really say thank you and will be warmly received.

It is not difficult to obtain a photo canvas print; many companies offer a service on-line where you can post your photo or negative to be used to them. Many photo-shops also offer printing photos to canvas and will be able to advise you on what the effects available will look like. Some companies are able to digitally produce your photo onto roller blinds or a large wall mural which can dramatically change a room in the home or a workspace. This could be a viable alternative to completely redecorating and can totally alter the feel of the space.

Canvas is a good material to work with as so many effects can be created using it and if looked after correctly will last and last without fading. Printing onto canvas is not limited to purely photograph a Child's first drawing can be captured on canvas, holding onto that precious memory.

There are many occasions that could easily warrant the importance for being captured on canvas, such as, a birth, a marriage, a great holiday, Christmas and New Years. As well as this you could capture the family pet or favourite scenery that inspires a feeling of well being.

If wishing to transfer a photo to canvas it is possible to have red eye and blemishes that are in the photo removed from the image that will appear on the canvas. This enables a greater choice of which photo to use as we all have photos that would be great if not for some red eye or blemish that spoil it. Another option is to have a photo converted to either black and white or different tones of the same colour. These options can help create a piece of art in superb quality colour. It may be possible to pre-view these effects especially if visiting a photo-shop, which are normally extremely helpful. It is possible to create a collage of photos onto one canvas, using this method you can capture many memories in one or even tell a story.

One idea is to use photographs from each stage of a child's life, so a newborn picture, a photo of the child crawling, the child's first steps and so on, capturing each important hurdle in the child's life. Great gifts for grandparents or for parents to hang in their home as children are our pride and joy.

By Jenny Austin

Tips For Taking Better Photos With Your Digital Camera

Why are my photos so dark? Why are my pictures blown out? How do I get rid of red eye? Here are some simple tips that will produce better photos.

Lighting is extremely important when taking photos. Natural light is the best. Photos taken on a slightly overcast day will give the best results. If you are taking pictures on a sunny day, try to find some shade. Avoid having your subjects facing the sun because there will be a tendency to want to squint. Sunlight behind the subject will tend to produce a photo that is underexposed. If you are taking pictures indoors you will most like want to use a flash. Try to stay far enough away from the subject so the flash doesn't cause too much overexposure. Red eye is cause by the light from the flash reflecting off the retina in the back of the eye. Red eye is easily removed by using the software applications that are usually bundled with your digital camera. You can also use applications like iPhoto and Adobe Photoshop.

Most digital cameras also come with different settings to use in unique situations. Often called scene modes, you are able to select a mode that relates to the situation that the photo is being shot. Samples of these modes are beach, snow, fireworks, and kids and pets. These settings adjust the exposure of the camera to give the best results. It is best to test these and see which works for you. Take several photos of your subjects. The nice thing about digital cameras is that they come equipped with viewers and you can keep or delete the photos before you download them to your computer or printer.

Technology keeps advancing faster than you can keep up with. This case is true with digital cameras as well. Cameras keep getting smaller and the megapixels get higher. Don't be mislead, however, by a camera that has the capability of taking 12 megapixel images is better than a camera that only takes 8 megapixel images. Some of the newer 12 mp cameras are smaller than their predecessors and therefore have smaller CCD sensors (This is part takes the light that enters the lens and translates it into a digital signal). If your 8mp camera has a larger CCD sensor, it will be able to pickup a larger range of colors than your smaller 12mp camera creating a higher quality photo. The megapixel size of your camera doesn't have anything to do with the quality of photos that you take, only the size of photos you take. The higher megapixel size also allows you to crop photos and still maintain a decent resolution for printing purposes.

You will find that the more you use your digital camera and practice with the different settings the better pictures you will take.

By Matthew Swendseid

Get Closer to Your Subject

Almost any shot will look better if you take two or three steps closer to your subject. Filling the frame entirely with your subject will make a terrific difference to your photos.

Alternatively, instead of moving closer, use the Optical Zoom of your camera to get a close up shot. Don't use your Digital Zoom as it will degrade your image quality.

When taking shots of family and friends, most people place the subject's full body in the frame, or place head and arms in the shot. Instead, fill the frame with your subject's FACE only - particularly if they are smiling or are in a moment of reflection.

Why does this work? With less clutter in the image, there's less to draw the eye away from the main subject of your photo. Also, human faces (particularly children's faces) are something we all feel pleasure looking at.

If you can't get close enough when you're taking the shot, you can zoom in later using photo editing software - crop out everything except the subject's face and see what a difference it makes.

When using the viewfinder for close shots, be careful of Parallax. Because the viewfinder is not at the same position as the camera's lens, centering the subject in the viewfinder may mean it is not centered for the lens resulting in an off-center final picture. Most digital cameras now come with an inbuilt LCD screen. You can eliminate this problem by using the LCD - which shows you what the lens sees - rather than the viewfinder.

Nature Photography - Experimenting with Nature

Nature photography is one of the best ways to create an appreciation of nature, whether that nature photography is flowers, landscapes or animals.

Nature photography can be one of the most rewarding - and one of the most frustrating - types of photography. Wind can cause blur, not only with too much motion in the flora, but also making it difficult to depress the shutter smoothly. (If background is unimportant in your nature photography, consider a light tent to reduce wind and to block out background.) Sunlight also can cause problems in nature photography with too much exposure. Experiment to find what works best with what you want to accomplish through nature photography.

One thing that you'll want to be able to do with nature photography is to take close-ups of flora. Make sure to have a zoom or macro lens. A tripod is helpful to stabilize the camera in nature photography. Tripods that have a rotating central shaft allow you to get in closer.

Experiment with angles in nature photography. The most common angle in nature photography is looking down from the top. This has the advantage of being able to photograph flowers that are very close to the ground. Try eye level or photographing upwards for an interesting and unique shot.

Try differing backgrounds in your nature photography. If you have nothing in the background, context is hard to determine. Too much in the background, though, will detract from the main focus of your nature photography. However, by zooming in closer, the background will become softer. Your main focus, then, will stand out in sharp relief.

Another way to experiment with nature photography is with camera position. Most photographs are horizontal. See what kind of self-expression you come up with by simply rotating the camera 90 degrees.

With practice nature photography can become second nature.