Touchdown Shouting Tips to Shoot Digital Photos of American Football Part 1

American Football - a game of high stakes and even higher emotions, whether it's the joy of watching an immaculate catch, the anguish of losing a game by a "wide-right" field-goal, or the worry of seeing your quarterback blindsided by an angry lineman with something to prove.

What makes football a high-paced, anything-can-happen event also makes it very difficult for digital photographers. You must deal with 22 players on the field (not to mention referees and coaches trying to get their points across), plus the midday sun outside or inconsistent lighting inside domes. Unless you have a press pass, you also must deal with nose-bleed seats in large stadiums and shouting and screaming fans ready to jump up at a moment's notice to block your shot. Whew!

To help you score a touchdown with your digital photos I've listed 9 digital photography tips. The first five are mentioned in this article with tips 6-9 listed in Part II.

1) Don't Get Your Hopes Up

This sounds like a lousy tip to start things off, but hear me out. If you're sitting in nose-bleed seats and don't own a digital camera with a large optical telephoto zoom (digital zoom doesn't matter), football players will likely appear as just large dots in your photos. And if you're sitting behind a tall person that loves to stand up and cheer after every play, good luck taking great photos from your seat without getting a shot of the person's head in the way.

In either of these two scenarios, look around the stadium for aisles or walkways where you can hang around without impeding others' views (and getting security nervous). You need a clear line of sight; an errant head or foam "we're number one" hand appears in too many photos.

2) Buy a Camera with Plenty of Adjustment Features

I'm not saying you must run out and purchase a $1,000+ digital SLR (though it may help!), but make sure the digital camera you buy has plenty of adjustment options. At a minimum you should be able to adjust the shutter speed, ISO settings (more on both later), and metering or exposure levels to adjust to difficult lighting scenarios.

One other point - look for digital cameras with image stabilization features or lenses. Though this won't offset any blurriness caused by football players moving at high speed, it may reduce blurriness caused by shaking when holding a camera.

3) Ensure Your Camera can be Taken to the Game

Don't get sacked before you even get a chance to sit down. Stadiums have different rules about what you can bring to the game. At high-school or intramural games you may be able to bring any camera you desire. For college and professional games you may be limited to cheap compacts, "non-professional" digital cameras, or cameras with a small maximum telephoto zoom.

4) Bring the Right Accessories

Bringing a digital camera is just the tip of the iceberg, like the extra point that comes after a touchdown. At a minimum you need:

* A lens hood - Focus light to your camera, essential on sunny days (even if it's cold).

* Extra memory - Great shots won't end at halftime; don't let your memory fill up by then.

* Extra batteries - What if a game goes to overtime?

* Waterproof camera bag - In case soda or alcoholic beverages are spilled.

* Cleaning supplies such as dry napkins and a lens-cleaning kit - See above.

If you're attending a football game that lets you take photos on the sidelines, bring along a tripod AND if you own one, a spare digital camera. The digital camera mounted on the tripod can be focused near the center of the field to take photos without camera shake, and you can use your spare camera for quick photos if the action is outside the other camera's range of vision. Just be prepared to move quickly if the action gets too close!

5) Don't Forget Tailgate Parties

Tailgate parties are as much of a part of the football experience as the game itself. Bring extra memory and batteries to take photos of your friends and other fans around the stadium. Snap a photo of the person wearing a rainbow wig, the fans painted in their teams' colors, and of impressive grilling setups.

Part II of this article will discuss more camera settings necessary to take quick photos during plays, as well as more advice on what you can do to prepare before the game.

Copyright 2008 Andrew Malek.

About the Author

Andrew Malek is the owner of the MalekTips computer and technology help site at http://www.malektips.com . Whether you're ready to buy a new digital camera and need buying advice, or need hints on taking advantage of the camera you already own, visit http://malektips.com/camera for hundreds of free digital photography tips.

Wedding Photography: Making Memories More Alive for the Married Couples

"1,2,3… Say Cheese!" One of the most common things we hear as we pose to have our photos taken. Needless to say, that every person makes sure that they have cameras with them on the most important events of their lives. Even as simple as your babies taking their first steps, you want to have it documented and captured. It does not only serve as an evidence but it is needed as every picture can represent achievements, happiness and most of all it makes memories more alive.

Traditions to weddings and Importance

Just as it is important to simple events, it is even more important to big occasions like the celebration of marriage. Yes, almost in every wedding celebration you will definitely be seeing bright lights flashing in all places where the couple is. It is already a tradition to have pre-wedding, during and post-wedding pictorials. Pre-wedding photos are usually done days before in places that make great scenes. It can also cover photos, hours before the wedding as the bride undergoes a makeover and the as the groom gets ready on his own. Photos taken before, during and post-wedding are done on the same day. It is done spontaneously including the guests while making the bride and the groom the star in every photo.

Wedding photography is always in this celebration. Some may hire a professional to do it while others settle to have one of their family members to do it on their own. Remember, time has evolved and technology has brought many changes. Manual cameras are out and digital cameras are in. Most of the professional photographers have the best cameras to allow you to have the greatest photos in all lighting conditions and they have great eye to take the best angles and focus of their subject. Any person will definitely be happy if they see a photo of themselves capturing their best forms. You can have this with the aid of these professionals. However, if one of your family members has talents in using digital camera, why not right? It will be an added bonus on your part because you can surely save money from it.

If you ask, why do you need them? The answer is very simple. Ten, twenty or even 50 years from now if you are still alive, you will remember your wedding day. When this happens, you would want to look back at your precious memories and looking at the photos will make it more alive. Moreover, as you impart stories to your kids, you will be able to show them how wonderful your wedding was. The photos themselves are symbolic as they represent how a wonderful marriage life started with a simple love for each other.

Wedding photography is one service that makes a simple photo look wonderful. Any couple will highly appreciate how photos are tweaked to make it more appealing to the eye. With the right tools and equipment, you will surely enjoy your wedding photos and without a doubt, you will be happier to display them on your rooms and your homes.

Summary: You can keep your memories alive in your wedding with the photographs. You should consider a professional service on your wedding. It is one thing that you should make sure that you have on the wedding day.

About the Author

Find out more about wedding photography phoenix at http://www.memoriesputtomusic.com/wedding_photography/index.html

So You Want to Buy a New Digital Camera?

The world of digital photography is ever-growing. There are seriously hundreds of digital cam marks and types. Which kind should you pick? Which one is the smartest decision for you? We have various advice for purchasing a new digi cam that'll make picking out the correct one simple.

The first decision in choosing your new camera is deciding what you want to use it for. Are you going to be capturing still shots, sports shots, or dark shots? Take these into consideration since you need various features for each one. The kind of pics you want to take is the most essential factor to consider. If you're going to be taking darker images, you want to go with a camera that has ISO features. The more ISO equivalents the cam boasts, the more options you'll have for taking photos in various kinds of lighting. A cam with the ISO equivalents 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 will give you all of the options you'll require.

If you're looking to print your pictures you'll want to look for a camera with modest resolution. Mega-pixels are mega-essential! The larger the amount of mega-pixels, the greater the res of the pictures. Printing pictures that have a low res results in distorted and unprofessional looking photos. Make sure the printer you'll use supports the resolution of the digital camera.

The size of the camera is another factor to think about. Take into account where exactly you will be taking the camera. If you plan to use your camera frequently and carry it with you a lot of the time, you may want to think about purchasing a compact camera that will fit into your purse or shirt pocket. Consider the weight of the camera if you plan on carrying it hiking or climbing. Cameras come in all weights and sizes so finding one that accommodates your requirements won't be challenging.

Lastly, think about who will be utilizing the camera. If you are buying the cam for an avid photographer you might want to think about lenses and tripod options. If you're purchasing the digital camera for a adolescent you might think about something light and durable, while still stylish and trendy. A traveler might be interested in more memory space for pictures, while a mom of young children may be more interested with a camera that has rechargeable batteries so she will never miss a picture perfect moment.

About the Author

Written by Alberto Maeses. Come to my website for top info on MP3 players plus MP3 players

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY - Obtaining a Good Photograph

We use our eyes to view things in our environment. However, through time, man has devised ways on how to preserve the things normally seen and thus treasured, whether these are beautiful or not, and one of which is by using cameras.

The images that are captured by cameras can make our eyes see things that have happened before. Moreover, it enables the heart to wish for beautiful things to happen in the future.

These days, the biggest sellers in the camera market are the so-called digital SLR cameras. These are the modern gadgets that can trigger our creativity and seats of emotion.

Though relatively new, most people choose digital SLRs because it can be easily manipulated. However, having these cameras does not completely guarantee that the every captured image is great and perfect.

Following are some point by point guidelines that should be considered to maximize the expense of your digital cameras:

1. Simplicity

Zoom in to capture the part you want to emphasize. Thus, irrelevant objects or areas can be taken away or just allow them to soften.

2. Rule of thirds

When capturing a moving object, it is advisable to capture them moving into the imaginary tic-tac-toe frame from one of the two sides.

3. Shapes and lines

Capture a straight line at an angle by moving five to ten feet away to the side to capture at an angle.

4. Vantage point

To add significance or emphasis to an object, take a picture at a lower vantage point. Increasing the height away from the object can reduce its significance. 5. Balance

Pick out the dominant objects and arrange them so that they complement each other. However, unbalanced or asymmetrical objects are often more visually stimulating than balanced objects.

6. Framing

You can use the frames of your windows to capture an outdoor scene. You can also use doors and walls of a building to capture a person a walking person.

7. Indoor photographs

You can use natural lighting when you are taking candid shots so that the subjects will not be bothered by the flash coming out of the camera.

8. Camera adjustments

The aperture allows light to enter. You must learn how to adjust this properly and appropriately so that images will not appear as either very bright or very dim.

Lowering the shutter speed allows the image to be more exposed to light. You must learn the proper length of exposure so that images will not appear as blurry. 9. ISO speeds

Digital cameras have ISO speeds ranging from 100 to 800. The higher the ISO, the higher the camera's sensitivity to light's exposure. Be sure to master using this element along with the camera's aperture and shutter speeds. 10. Lens/Filters

There are digital cameras that allow additional lenses to be attached to the main lens, or the lenses can be completely interchangeable. Lenses can be categorized as follows:

a. macro lens - allows you to get closer to objects like insects and flowers

b. wide-angle lens - used for capturing landmarks, and large and wide sceneries

c. telephoto lens - allows longer zooms that let you get close to objects that are rather unsafe

Filters, on the other hand are used to:

a. soften the effect of the image b. provide blurring on the edges for portraits that have sensitive moods c. add light flares for the image to be more dramatic d. to reduce glare so that pictures appear more saturated, crisp, and vivid.

However, if you still want to improve on the images that you have taken, the following list of software can allow touch-ups:

• Adobe Photoshop • Apple's iPhoto • Corel Paint Shop Pro • Google Picasa • LView

Once you have understood and mastered the important points on digital photography and capturing pictures, you will soon realize that the keys in getting great pictures are: "Even a simple aim and shoot camera" and "Creative ME."

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About the Author
by kamaljit bassi

lover of SLR ! please prove me wrong

Choosing the right wedding photographer can be easy, if you choose the right photo retouching company

For Additional Wedding Photography Tips See Blog About Digital Photography

Your big day is approaching. You've spent months and thousands of dollars on planning the perfect wedding day. You've got the best spot in town for the ceremony, the best caterer and even the best cake designer in the area. There's one crucial thing that a lot of people leave until the last minute that can make or break the wedding. Yes, it's the wedding photographer.

How important is the photographer to your wedding? You might think you can get the cheapest photographer with a decent photographer out there, but be warned. In 30 years, you will not be able to wear your dress or your tuxedo. No one will remember the food or what color the chair covers were. The only thing you will have to really pass on from your wedding are the photos taken by your photographer. That's why it's important to get the best wedding photographer you can afford for your wedding photos.

However, there is a way you can save a considerable amount on your wedding photography and still have great photos. How? Simply choose a photo retouching company that can edit all of your photos as soon as you get them. You see, wedding photographers usually provide you with a disc of all your photos in digital form. If they don't, then just ask them, as most will if you build it into your agreement up front.

After you've received your photos, just go to a wedding photo retouching company, like us, FixUpPix.com. No doubt, even the best photographers take photos that can use some help. We see those photos everyday at FixUpPix.com. You may have a photo that is perfect except for one person standing in the background. Or the best photo of the bride may capture the groom squinting his eyes. This photo would be ruined if it weren't for wedding photo retouching.

A photo retoucher can fix all of these issues, as well as generally enhance the color and beauty of each of your photos. Most will even give you a package price if you have multiple photos. You will find that the price of fixing your wedding photos is often far cheaper than hiring the best wedding photographer, and you know with retouching you will get the results you want.

About the Author

Doug Walls is the owner of FixUpPix.com, a photo retouching and photo restoration company that handles photo work for individuals and professional photographers.

How To Use A Gray Card

The How and Why of Using a Gray Card to Achieve Proper Exposure

It seems hard to believe that the key to getting consistent proper exposure in photography is nothing more complicated than a piece of gray cardboard about the size of a writing tablet and available for a couple of bucks at any photography store. Anyone who is in interested in learning photography should certainly have one of these in their camera pack.

Camera light meters are calibrated to average the light reflecting off a scene to 18% of the color, which is considered a neutral color. Focusing on this card will enable you to take pictures that more accurately reflect the actual colors in the scene.

Imagine you were trying to photograph a wedding with a very dark couple from Nigeria and they the groom was wearing black and the bride white. It would be nearly impossible to get accurate readings because if you focused on the black the camera would look to lighten the scene and if you focused on the white the camera would try to darken the scene. In comes the gray card.

Set your camera to manual and get your exposure off the gray card. Make sure you are using the spot meter setting on your camera and make sure that the light hitting your gray card is the same light that will be hitting your photographed subjects.

I took the liberty of borrowing a diagram from an old Pop Photography magazine that shows how to place the card.

Photo Tip

Since you can't always have a gray card available, always look to focus on the neutral colors of red, green and blue that you see in the scene, preferably with your spot meter

Digital Photography Success!

Flash Metering System of the Canon EOS Digital Camera.

Flash Metering System of the Canon EOS Digital Camera.

When Harold Edgerton invented the modern electronic flash in 1931, the world of photography was revolutionized. The principle behind the electronic flash is that when you charged up a capacitor or condenser and release the energy through a flash light bulb (A glass bulb containing inert gases), a split second burst of light will occur. This output of light occurs instantly when you send power to the flash light bulb. Therefore you can control this output of light through regulating the duration of electrical pulses to be sent to the flash light bulb. Before the advert of modern electronics, the duration of electrical pulses used to be controlled by a component called the thvristor. Today, modern electrical circuitry has taken over the function of this component.

Generally, there are two ways to control the quantity of light that enter the camera. The first way is adjusting the speed of the shutter which will affect how long the exposure time will be. The second way is through adjusting the aperture of the lens. This will determine how much light will enter the camera. Although you can use filter to block out additional light but here we will only talk about the fundamental ways of how to control flash exposure. Flash photography is an entirely different ball game because the flash pulse involves only micro seconds' display of light. As such, the mechanical shutter speed does not play any part in determining the amount of light which enter the camera except when the camera is in FP mode.

The shutter speed of a camera will only be effective if the light from the environment is a continuous source. However, flash light burst is so brief that the camera shutter hardly has time to register the change in the amount of light. As such to control the amount of light of a flash unit entering the camera;

You can change the size of the aperture of the lens. This is the physical diaphragm of the lens which controls the amount of light entering the lens.

Adjust the distance between the subject and flash unit. This method is an application of the laws of physics. The further an object is from a light source, the less illuminated the object is.

Use a diffuser on the flash unit to reduce the amount of light emitted by the flash unit. The main draw back to this method is the inconveniences of having to carry all these items around.

Lastly, we can affect the duration of the flash burst by adjusting the duration of the electrical pulse to the flash unit therefore controlling the amount of light produced. This is the primary ways today how we control electronic flash.

In conclusion, this is the main principle of flash metering. The precise measure of flash metering is difficult and it requires years of experience before anyone can accurately judge the right duration for the electrical pulse to be sent to the flash unit. Nowadays, we are fortunate as camera like the Canon EOS digital camera fulfill this function automatically with modern electronics.

About the Author

Tim Harris is a canon camera enthusiast. For tips on choosing and buying cameras, do check out Canon OS Camera website. Camera 40D Digital Rebel XTI 3D Blog