Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Monday, June 27, 2011

How to photograph fireworks

How to photograph fireworks

  • You will need to use a tripod
  • If possible use your remote or cable release
  • Set your camera in manual mode
  • Set your ISO to 100 or 200
  • Set your exposure to 2-4 seconds
  • Set your aperture to f8 or f/11
  • Set your lens to manual and then to infinity focus

Also see this article by DPS

Friday, June 17, 2011

Free images weekly

Free images weekly, a free font monthly, plus more screensavers, wallpapers, and activity books than you can stuff into your digital pockets.

www.veer.com/free/

Sunday, June 12, 2011

factory refurbished items from Hunts

Here is a list of the Nikon and Canon refurbished quipment we have available. We have limited quantities of some product so please call Keith at 781.662.8822 to confirm availability.

Nikon

D7000 Body: $1059.99

D5000 Body: $479.99

D3000 Body: $299.99

D3100 Kit with 18-55mm lens: $529.99

D300 Body: $1199.99

D300s Body: $1349.99

18-200mm lens: $649.99

70-300mm VR lens: $369.99

55-200mm VR lens: $139.99
Canon

Powershot G12: $379.99
Powershot S90: $229.99

Please feel free to forward this list to clubs members.

Thanks,
Keith Patankar
Photo Sales
Hunts Photo & Video
patankar@wbhunt.com
781.662.8822

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

How to Add Realistic Smoke or Mist to a Photo

How to Add Realistic Smoke or Mist to a Photo

Photoshop tutorial showing how to create and add realistic looking smoke/mist into your images. This a popular technique for movie posters or similar projects.

Monday, June 6, 2011

The Lazy Rule of Thirds

The Lazy Rule of Thirds

http://www.jakegarn.com/the-rule-of-thirds/

"To find the real story behind the “rule of thirds” we need to go back in time, not to the renaissance, not to the Greeks, and not even to Adam nor Eve… even further.  We need to go to the creation of the universe, why is that?  Well I’ll tell you why.  There is a number that determines how a sunflower’s seeds grow, it determines the path a hawk takes when diving at it’s prey, it is echoed in the breeding habits of rabbits and it even determines how the spirals in a spiral galaxy are laid out.  It’s all very simple in it’s beauty and best of all, it’s all true. If you want to wrap your head around it further then I highly recommend the book The Golden Ratio by Mario Livio (Check it out here The Golden Ratio: The Story of PHI, the World’s Most Astonishing Number"

See the pictures and read the entire article here:
http://www.jakegarn.com/the-rule-of-thirds/

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Studio Lighting - Flash Mounted homemade DIY Softbox

Studio Lighting - Flash Mounted homemade DIY Softbox

Really cheap homemade

"If you are a photographer and using flash (either for studio pictures or for outdoor shooting), you are probably aware of the problems that a hot-shoe flash introduces: the shadows of an object are crisp-sharp, creating an artificial look to the object. When dealing with studio lighting, you can use a softbox to diffuse your shadows and this is an acceptable solution, but for the amateur photographer it does have some disadvantages: 1. A softbox is very expensive. and  2. A softbox is big, and can not be carried around.

The amateur photographer can compromise and us a flash mounted softbox like this softbox from Lumiquest, or a stoffen box. The problem with this one (although a minor one compared to the "big" Softboxes), is the cost, nearing 30 dollars. Well, I guess that for some 30 bucks is no big deal (and especially no big deal for photography equipment), but I am going to try and do even better."

In the following tutorial, I will demonstrate how to make your own flash mounted, homemade softbox (view results). You will need two good hands, and some patience, but your reward will be a nice softbox for the cost of only 3-4 dollars. (Not to mention that wonderful feeling of cutting and gluing, like you are small kids again).
http://www.diyphotography.net/homestudio/cheap-diy-flash-mounted-softbox#cheap_softbox_results

Friday, June 3, 2011

Call for Submissions!

Call for Submissions!


Stamford Art Association Presents
Black, White and Shades of Gray
Art at the Ferguson
This is a Juried Exhibit at the Ferguson Library Gallery
Stamford, CT
July 14th to October 6th 2011

We are inviting artists to submit work to the next exhibition at the Ferguson Library Gallery, located on the 3rd floor of the library in downtown Stamford. This juried show is open to all SAA members and non-members and will be juried by Tatiana Mori. Ribbons will be awarded. All two dimensional mediums are welcome.



The theme of this show is “Black, White and Shades of Gray”. The receiving dates for the show are Thursday, July 7th from 5-7 pm and Saturday, July 9th from 10-Noon. The opening reception will be Thursday, July 14th from 6-8 pm and the exhibit will be on display until Thursday, October 6, 2011.

Further information on exhibit requirements will be posted on the Stamford Art Association’s website: stamfordartassociation.org Work must be framed and wired for hanging, Plexiglas, not glass, and must not be larger than 48"x60"framed.

If you are interested in being considered for the show, please submit up to 3 JPG digital images to: Barbara.campbell@greenwichhospital.org no later than Sunday, June 5, 2011. Please include artist, title, size, medium, price and your contact information: name, email, phone, address. Entries not properly labeled with all information required will not be accepted. You will be notified by email in June if your work will be included in the show. There will be a $35.00 charge per artist that will be collected at receiving. Further information will be supplied with acceptance notification as to library receiving/pick-up location and other exhibit information.

All artwork must be for sale. A commission of 25% on all work sold will go to support SAA.

Stamford Art Association, 39 Franklin Street, Stamford, Ct. 06901
Phone: 203 325 1139 email: stamfordartassn@optonline.net http://www.stamfordartassociation.org/

Hummingbird Feeder for Pennies

Hummingbird Feeder for Pennies



This window feeder doubles as a hand-held hummingbird magnet. Find out how to make it today, just in time for hummingbird season!

By Lisa Szczygiel-Durante, Thomaston, Connecticut

http://www.birdsandblooms.com/Backyard-Projects/Bird-Feeders/Hummingbird-Feeder-for-Pennies

Thursday, June 2, 2011

JUNE 10, 11 & 12, 2011 52ND ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHIC CONFERENCE

52ND ANNUAL BERKS PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPHIC CONFERENCE


JUNE 10, 11 & 12, 2011

AT BOEHM SCIENCE BUILDING, KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY, KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA

Featuring:
  • LINDSAY ADLER, Sponsored by Mpix
  • Mollie Isaacs and Mary Lindhjem of Awake The Light
  • MICHAEL MOATS, Sponsored by Tamron
  • HAZEL MEREDITH, Sponsored by Hunt’s Photo
  • RON WYATT, Sponsored by SIGMA and Panasonic
Door Prizes Courtesy of WACOM and PHOTODEX

More information and Conference Registration: http://www.berkscamera.org/annual-conference

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Cricket Hill Garden’s Peonies

Tom and I went to this awesome and peaceful garden twice over Memorial Day weekend. We went Friday -- and we saw Paula and Pat and Carol and a few other photographers! What a place for flowers! Peonies and various perennials. and They have HUUUUGE Frogs as well! What a place -- if you have never been there you have to go visit! Lisa





Cricket Hill Garden’s Annual Peony Festival 2011


May 1st to June 19th 2011
Garden hours : Tuesday - Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm.
Closed Mondays ... except Memorial Day, May 30th we will be open.

2011 marks our 22nd year of growing peonies here at Cricket Hill Garden. We have invited people to see the bloom since 1993. Our still expanding display collection of 300 + varieties of peonies begin to bloom in early May. Every week for a period of about 6 weeks, there are different peonies in bloom. The Chinese tree peonies bloom first, followed by the Japanese tree peonies, and then American varieties.

A trip to our garden/nursery will delight you. Our 7-acre garden, is set in a terraced woodland of northwestern Connecticut. Visit us for a great day trip from all parts of Connecticut, western and central Massachusetts, most parts of New York and New Jersey. Come see the garden and bring home a plant of your own from our selection of potted peonies. We have many container plants, though not every variety we list on our web site is potted. Many are field grown and we will reserve for digging. We have additional varieties not listed on our website in pots. We also have a selection of younger potted peonies in our 'Prudent Purchase Corner' as well as older plants in the 'Collectors' Corner.'

Special weeks and bloom times during our celebration of the flowers:

Fancy Bloomers Peony Party II - May 31st to June 5th
Japanese tree peonies, late Chinese, American tree peonies, herbaceous and intersectional peonies- all bloomin’ their heads off for you.

Meet the Artist, Mundy Hepburn: Garden Glass June 4th, 2-4 pm. See the wonderful glass sculpture on display in the garden.

Grand Finale Peony Herbaceous – June 7th to the 12th
The late bloomers send us off into summer. Many herbaceous peony specials, be sure to visit.

The garden will be open during our regular hours of Tuesday -Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm for the late herbaceous blooms until the Sunday, June 19th. Depending on the weather, the peony bloom may last this long into the season. In 2003 to 2008, we did have late blooming herbaceous peonies go to the first day of summer. In '09 and '10, very warm and early springs ended the season by June 10th. We will post updates as we see the weather progressing in 2011.

For directions to Cricket Hill Garden click here.

We are located in Thomaston, CT, in the foothills of the Berkshires, northwestern Connecticut. It's a lovely area to visit for an afternoon, a day or a weekend. http://www.treepeony.com/