I discovered an interesting fact about RAW. If you use a D-SLR camera and shoot photos in RAW format, the photos are stored in the camera’s native format. You can edit RAW files using Photoshop and a RAW plug-in from your camera manufacturer or you can use Aperture photo editing software which runs on Mac OSX.

Why do photographers shoot in RAW?
1. It gives more flexibility when editing in post-production.
2. Because RAW files are stored in a camera’s native format, it retains the details and gives the photographer the flexibility to manipulate the white-balance and ISO during post-production.
3. This is possible because RAW files are not compressed or processed like JPEG.

Would you shoot in RAW?

1. Thing to consider when shooting in RAW format is storage size and how much time do you want to spend on post-production.
2. RAW files are large because they are not processed or compressed. You will need a lot more storage space on your card if you want to shoot in RAW.
3. If you are printing large prints then it would be advisable to shoot in RAW because you maintain the details but if you want to spend as little time as possible doing post-production, then it is best not to shoot in RAW.
4. Most D-SLR cameras allow you to shoot both in JPEG and RAW so if you want a lower resolution photo then you can use the JPEG and keep RAW in case you require to hack into the details using Photoshop or Aperture.

Here’s a better idea
If you are adamant in shooting all your photos in RAW, you can do away with spending hours in your digital dark room, doing post-production and you don’t have to set your D-SLR to shoot and save your photos in both JPEG and RAW on your storage card.

Do you know that a JPEG file is embedded within most RAW files? The embedded JPEG file is what the camera use to create the on-screen image when you preview your photo. So if JPEG is created and embedded in a RAW file, it means you can get to it, extract it and use it.

There is a software which runs on both Windows XP SP2/Vista and Mac OSX which does the task of extracting the embedded JPEG from RAW. The software is free and it downloadable from rawworkflow.com. Using the Instant JPEG From RAW (IJFR) software you have the option of extracting the JPEG in native size only or smaller sizes. You can define the max width and max height.

How long does it take to extract JPEG from RAW?
According to what I read, you can extract 86 JPEG images in just nine seconds. That is impressive but the time taken to do the job depends on what PC/Mac you use but we won’t go into that.

My friend sent me a photo of a Quikpod today and I said to myself, I should get one of this awesome gadget to use when I am travelling. How many times have I gone on a holiday where I have to ask another tourist to take a photo for me because I can’t take a good photo of myself on my own. Well, that’s when I don’t carry a tripod.

Quikpod is actually a monopod. I have a monopod that I hardly use because they are actually no replacement for a tripod but when you are on holiday and want to quickly snap photos of tourist sites, a monopod like Quikpod is extremely handy. Quikpod now has a model for DSLR, one that is hardier and can support heavier DSLR cameras. It is lightweight, weighs only 9 ounces with quick release head, a panoramic mirror and extends into a monopod.

Would you get a Quikpod? They cost around $25 and comes with a carry bag and the Quikpod DSLR costs $49.95

Here’s a video by Calumet photographic.

Quikpod review

Website: http://www.quikpod.com/home.asp

Whether you are a photographer or web designer, chances are you either sell or buy stock photos online. There are hundreds of stock photography websites available that compete with each other but none provide a way for stock photo buyers to search for photos across the hundreds of stock photography websites. For example, lets just say you write about pedigree dogs and decided that you want to include a photo of a poodle in your feature story. Which stock photography website would you go and find a suitable photo of a poodle? Thats when you will find xcavator.net useful. xcavator.net is a stock photograph search engine for professionals.

Xcavator.net has 6 million images in their search database and the number is growing. You can use xcavator.net to compare prices and cross shop between stock photography websites. Photos from companies such as iStockphoto, Fotolia, Lucky Oliver and 123RF are indexed by xcavator.net’s search bot.

You search for photos on xcavator.net using keyword search which is text-based search. So photos are tagged with keywords that will help you find the closest and matching results for your search. Xcavator.net also has an introduction video for users to familiarize themselves with the website.

The Eye-Fi card is a memory card that uses built-in Wi-Fi technology to transfer photos direct from a digital camera to a computer or photo-sharing website. The technology is a brainchild of a California-based company Eye-Fi.

The card works by storing photos like a regular SD card and enables users to upload the photos automatically to the home network if the camera is switched on. Eye-Fi currently produces a 2GB wireless SD memory card and claims that it works at a range of more than 90ft outdoors and 45ft indoors.

How does Eye-Fi card upload photos?

Upload to computer
Photos are sent wirelessly from the Eye-Fi Card inside your camera to your home Wi-Fi network directly. It works on PC or Mac. Your computer must be switched on and the Eye-Fi manager software must be running. You can upload to the folder of your choice.

Upload to web
Eye-Fi card connects wirelessly to your home Wi-Fi network and uploads your photos to photo sharing and social network websites. Eye-Fi service handles login, re-sizes photos and upload is free.

Upload to computer and web
If you wish to share photos as well as transfer photos to your PC or Mac, Eye-Fi card allow you to choose both option to upload to your computer as well as the web.

Which websites can Eye-Fi card automatically deliver your pictures to?

costco.com
dotPhoto
facebook
flickr
Fotki
Gallery
Kodak Gallery
Phanfare
Photobucket
Picasa
Ritzpix.com
Sharpcast
Shutterfly
SmugMug
snapfish
TypePad
Vox
Walmart.com
Webshots
WindowsLive

The Eye-Fi card and service provides convenience and the company claim it will change the way people save and share their digital photos.

How much is the Eye-Fi card?

It is priced at $100 for a 2GB wireless SD card.

Eye-Fi website
www.eye.fi

Here is a good site making the understanding of photography easy.
There's explanation on lighting, landscape, colour, people, etc. All
in a minute. Not bad.

http://www.idigitalphoto.com/blog/post/improve-your-photos-in-60-

seconds.html

Taking photos with moving subjects can be tricky because the wrong shutter speed will result in the subject not being in focus. Since I started taking photos I have experience many frustrating moments when I view my photos on the computer. They always don’t turn out the way I want them to simply because the subject matter is out of focus

I came across advice given while going through various threads in a forum and the recommendation or rule of thumb for capturing motion in photos are :

1/30 for jogging speed
1/8 for walking speed

I am amateur photograph rambling about my hobby and how I am learning to improve my photography skill.  To be a good photographer one must be able to identify what is good and bad in a photo.  It is called the ability to give constructive criticisms.  I find this an extremely difficult task simply because of my inexperience in photography but I am trying to improve by training myself to look at photographs taken by professional and amateur photographers.  You can find a huge resource of photographs from stock photography web sites, magazines, books, etc. and I am learning to analyze the photographs.  I tell myself I must set a standard of what I personally see as a good photograph and use that as a base line to evaluate the quality of my photographs. It's setting a personal photography benchmark.  As a realistic measure I would use an average photograph as a base line and set to improve
above the average benchmark. So what criteria do I use to determine my base line? I use a list of criteria that I think is a good starter's guideline to evaluating the quality of photographs. It is divided into 8 categories as shown below.  I use a rating scale of 1 to 10. 1 being bad and 10 being perfect.  This will provide measurable quantitative indication of a good or bad photo.

1. Composition
This is the arrangement of the elements of art in a work.

2. Creativity/Originality
This is a quality given to ideas expressed as unique, novel or different from any other previously recognized ideas of a similar nature

3. Depth of Field/Focus
The maximum clarity or distinctness of an image rendered or the apparent sharpness of a photograph considering the distance between the nearest and farthest elements that appear to maintain acceptable sharpness and clarity

4. Colour/Tonal Range
The quality of a given colour and how that differs slightly from a primary colour

5. Noise/Grain
The granular particles in photograph

6. Exposure/Lighting
The intensity of light falling on a photograph

What I also do is upload my photos to stock photography web sites so that more experienced photographers can critique my photographs.  Ideas and comments are very useful improvement tools.  Sometimes when I come across a good photograph online, I will look at the EXIF data.  All digital cameras will provide EXIF data showing the photo details, i.e. exposure value, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, etc.  The data is useful because it tells you what settings were used when taking the photograph.  When I am I taking photographs in the similar environment or lighting, I will use those settings and compare the result with the settings that I would normally use. 

What I learnt so far about photography is taking good photographs come with a lot of experiment, patience, constantly referencing the camera manual and having a good tripod.  Of course a good DSLR camera will definitely help
 

My interest in photography has led me to display my photos online and hopefully as I improve, people will buy my photos

Please take a look and post comments.

Link: http://www.algodon.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Ash/mypage.html