Here's a great program for all you photo enthusiasts out there! The program is called PhotoScape and it has a ton of features!

PhotoScape is a free program that does just about everything when it comes to photos and images. It can edit, alter, resize, crop, frame, combine and so much more. I couldn't even find enough time to go through everything this program does! The makers of the program even say it supports RAW files, which is something you don't find very often.

A couple of my favorite features are the easy to use page layout for making collages of prints and the cool clip art it comes with so that you can add a little flare to your photos!

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You can download PhotoScape for yourself right here. Enjoy!

A reader asks: "I have a problem with my digital camera. When I shoot an off-center subject, the camera focuses on the wall behind them. How can I make the camera focus on what I want?"

Many digital cameras focus on whatever is in the very center of the viewfinder or LCD screen. So, if your subject isn't there, the stuff behind (or in front) of them will be nice and sharp, but it won't.

One time to really watch out for this is when you're photographing two people cialis prescription online standing side by side. You have a person on each side of the viewfinder, but the sensor is busy focusing on the wall behind them.

For example, take this photo of two chairs I just shot in the basement (sorry, I was the only one around, so I couldn't get any actual people to pose):

In this close up, you can see how the camera focused on the wall behind them (gasp!):

Ah, but not to worry. There's an easy way around this little problem!

Most digital cameras have a feature called "focus lock." The vast majority of these activate when you press the shutter release half way down and hold it there. Usually, there's some sort of light to indicate you have sharp focus (and this light is usually located next to the viewfinder and glows green when the image is properly focused).

So, all you do, again with most cameras, is move the camera so your subject is temporarily centered, press part way down on the shutter release to lock in the focus, hold the button in position as you recompose and finally, press the shutter release the rest of the way down.

In this instance, I just centered one of the chairs, held the focus lock, moved the camera back to the composition I wanted and shot.

Note that if you let up on the shutter release at any point in this procedure, you'll lose the focus lock and have to start over.

As always, consult your owner's manual for specifics, but this is one procedure that seems universal for most digital cameras. Happy shooting!

Weather plays a big part in your day when you're out taking pictures. Because of that, it helps if you weatherproof your camera. If you're using a camera that has an extended lens and accepts filter lenses, this tip should definitely help to ensure that weather doesn’t come between you and the scene you're trying to capture!

Tools Required

One plastic bag, one rubber band and an ultraviolet (UV) filter. Note: In the screenshots below, the UV filter is already mounted on the camera lens, which is why you won’t see the lens separately.

Step 1:

Mount the UV filter on your camera’s lens. Once that's done, cut a hole in the plastic bag and smuggle the camera inside it in such a way that the camera lens sticks cialis effectiveness out of the hole. That means, the entire camera is hidden inside the plastic bag, except for the camera lens sticking out.

Step 2:

Wrap a rubber band around the UV filter in such a way that the plastic bag is pinched against it. That's to ensure grip and to prevent the plastic from covering the lens when a picture is being taken.

Step 3:

Your camera is now weatherproofed! All you need to do is practice, practice, practice. After all, unlike before, you now need to put your hand inside the plastic bag and operate the camera. That might take some getting used to, but the trade off is great: your expensive equipment is saved from the rain and snow and you'll come away with some great shots!

And Finally…

Sometimes the wind can be overwhelming. That's particularly true when you're in the great outdoors and shooting landscapes. In such circumstances, you just need another inexpensive rubber band to close the hole in the bag. The rest remains the same. Simply continue to operate the camera through the plastic bag and you'll have all-weather gear that's inexpensive as well.

However, if you have the money, another way to protect your shooting gear is to buy a rain hood for your camera. Or, if you're not ready to invest in a rain hood, you could also try wrapping a towel around your camera to keep the rain or snow away. Either way, I wish you happy shooting!

Do you have trouble with your camera shaking when you're taking pictures? Well, never fear, because I'm here to help! Simply follow the six options below for avoiding camera shake and in no time at all, you'll be taking crisp images like a pro. Let's check them out!

Pods

You can create your own tripod by resting your elbow on your knee when you're in a seated position. You can also bring your other elbow in for even more support. Or, you could try using a cam pod when a tripod seems awkward or cumbersome to use.

Beanbags

Simply get a beanbag and put your camera on it. Beanbags are especially handy when you're doing street photography and traveling light. They really can be used in several different ways when you're trying to avoid camera shake.

Burst Mode

Another technique is to shoot in burst mode and take three to eight shots. That increases the chance of getting a stable shot that looks nice as well.

Wrap Around and Exhale

Wrap the camera strap around your hand a few times to keep the camera close and tight to your head. Also, be aware of your breathing. It's best to shoot while you’re exhaling rather than inhaling, because your body tends to be more still when exhaling.

Get the Hold Right

Take a medium sized tripod, attach your camera to it, fix it in the position as if you're taking a vertical shot, lock it in place, fold up your tripod with your camera still attached and hold it in the sniper position with the tripod over your opposite arm. You can also use a monopod to do this. It works best when working on steady shots that require you to move around a lot. Sometimes just setting up a tripod doesn’t work, because when you need to move, there isn’t much time to readjust your tripod.

Shutter Speed

Go faster! Set your camera to A/TV and crank it to double the focal length. For example, if you're shooting with a 100mm lens, set your shutter speed to 1/250 and use your exposure compensation if it’s darker than you'd like. You can also shoot in RAW/NEF mode and non-destructively adjust the exposure.

Body Language

Holding your elbows firmly against your sides, taking a shoulder-width stance and holding the viewfinder right up against your eye is a good way to steady the camera.

Human Touch

You can always use your friend’s shoulder as a very flexible and adjustable tripod.

Cradle It

You could create a cradle for the lens between your shoulder and your wrist. You could stabilize the hold by balancing your elbow on your knee. By holding the body of the camera with your right hand and gripping the lens firmly with your left, you can take clear photos at 1/25, with a 50mm lens on a 1.6 crop body.

Lie Down

If the previous tip doesn’t work for you, lie down on the ground, holding your breath or leaning up against a tree. You could lie flat and let the lens sit directly on the ground or place your hand flat against the ground and balance the lens on top of it to give yourself some height.

The Death Grip

This involves hand-holding the camera with the strap wrapped around your arm just above the elbow. Then you wrap it around the outside of your wrist and pull it tight. The bottom line though buy cialis online is that it's very effective regardless of which lens you're using.

Add More Weight

Another way to reduce camera shake is to increase the weight of the camera. So, it’s better to use a light weight camera with a heavy battery grip.

Experiment

Keep experimenting with your grip. One grip that works decently is to hold the grip of the camera in your fist, like a roll of quarters, and trigger it with your thumb. That has the effect of letting you get good pressure on the grip. The pressure is good as it has the effect of locking the wrist and stabilizing your joints.

And Finally…

If none of those methods work for you, try this simple one. Put your camera on a steady surface, such as a table. Lean yourself against a wall and get closer to your subject. The less you have to zoom, the less your lens will shake. Have a small tripod attached to the camera. Even pressing that against your stomach or chest will stabilize the camera nicely. Some find it's more effective to train themselves to breathe slower as well. Jogging, swimming, cycling, yoga and other kinds of aerobic exercises should be able to help you breathe slower. You also need to remember your body language. Dig your arms in, stand with your feet apart and exhale before clicking. Happy shooting!

A photograph conveys what a thousand words cannot. But to achieve that, there are a few qualities a photographer needs to possess in order to capture a Kodak moment. Let's check them out!

Go Outdoors

To bring the outside inside, you need to go out and explore the great outdoors. That means travel far and near! It could be your neighborhood marketplace or a nearby park. Or, it could be going out and exploring on one of your vacations. Either way, you need to step out of your normal routine and check out the unknown.

Be Curious

Curiosity can result in great pictures! There’s no virtue as fulfilling as that, because if you're curious, photography doesn’t become a chore. Instead, it's a joyful experience. Also, when it’s all work and all play, you'll end up with a far greater output than a less curious photographer who's doing it only for the money and recognition. Also, curious people see things around them with renewed interest, as if they're seeing it for the first time. You need to perceive things without your mind being in a hurry. That's the main secret! Great photos may come, but being curious itself is greatly enjoyable. Remember, the voyage of discovery lies not in finding new landscapes, but in gaining new eyes.

Make Mistakes

Know no fear! It's okay to mess up a photo by trying out all kinds of exposures, angles, subjects and moods. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The way to take great photographs is to take a lot of them. Learn from the mistakes of others, but don’t be afraid to make your own as well. Some photographers have a weekly ritual of taking approximately 50 photos a day and reviewing them over the weekend. Many have reported that their photography techniques have improved and their level of quality has gone up. It could be their ability to understand light and manipulate the aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Or, it could be their creativity that has reached a new high. It could also just be their constant exposure to photography and its elements. Therefore, the lesson here is shoot, shoot, shoot!

Be in Control

I don't mean that in a negative sense. I'm talking about keeping an eye on everything that makes up a good photo every time you're out with your camera. That buy cialis 10mg could mean changing the ISO, aperture value, shutter speed, light, etc. Shooting becomes more fun when you control the settings. That's also when you become more creative. When you can control the settings, you can control anything for a good photo. With control comes your own style. Be brave enough to do something crazy. Shoot what impresses you and you'll impress others!

See Things Differently

A good photographer is one who notices things others are oblivious to. The best way to testify to that is to go through interesting photos on the Flickr Web site every other day. One of the things you'll notice is that most photos are of ordinary subjects, but are taken in an extraordinary manner; be it lighting, angle, contrast, background, foreground, focal length and so on. For example, sometimes a building that appears ordinary by day might end up looking spectacular by night.

Be Different

Great photographers don’t do different things, they just do things differently. So, try and be different in everything you do. Stay away from monotonous angles, subjects and backgrounds. Step out of your comfort zone and push the envelope of creativity to break new ground. Know the rules, but also set out to break them. Just be different!

View and Review

It’s always good to be pals with other photographers taking similar shots. That way, you get to learn from their mistakes and even solve some of the problems you're facing in your photography. Swap ideas, give each other tips and share the lessons you learn. Once a sense of sharing develops between you and other photographers, you'll end up becoming a better photographer through viewing and reviewing.

Resort to Lateral Thinking

Put disconnected ideas together and see where your creativity takes you! Just place random ideas together and find new solutions to problems. Do that regularly and you'll never be short of ideas.

Be Playful

Some of the best photos come about when you're just fooling around with your camera with no agenda whatsoever. Therefore, the key is to play with new angles, with different shooting distances, with shooting from different perspectives and so on. A playful approach to life could very well take your photography to a new level.

Be Patient

Many of us feel happy when we take many photographs, no matter how bad they are. And to achieve that, we end up racing against time and shortening our life cycle. Instead, a better bet would be to give time a break and just relax. Just watch the world go by with no intention of shooting scores of images. At one time or another, you'll end up capturing a Kodak moment. Just wait it out and enjoy life at the same time!

Happy photographing!