Buyers and collectors have accepted photography as art for some time, but only if it’s of significant artistic merit. Great landscape photography sells because the buyer is searching for escapism and the need to dream. As a species we have always been linked to and drawn to the landscape. Do you have a love for the countryside and a understanding of the landscape?

When you’re out in the great outdoors, away from the bustle, what do you see …

… sunlight filtering through trees and dancing on the landscape?

… snow on the mountains and a gushing river in full flow?

… coastal cliffs with the shimmering sea lapping onto the shore?

… a brooding sky casting a spell over the windswept moors?

… the warm glow of the sun setting at the close of day?

… or mists and changing patterns of wind, clouds and magical light?

Do you see the beauty and feel the connection?

To produce a great photo landscape you need to understand the countryside and how light affects it. You need to have a passion for the land and experience an intimate connection with nature. The best way of doing this is to explore an area on foot and become part of the landscape before taking any photos.

On your walk look for:

* Light (shadows and highlights)

* Shapes (round and angular)

* Colour (harmony and discord)

* Texture (rough and smooth)

* Composition (strong and weak)

* Tones (light and dark)

* Patterns (even and odd)

* Mystery ( ? and ? )

So the next time you’re out with your camera looking for that open vista of rolling hills and mountains, also observe the intimate details in the landscape and maybe just photograph a small section of the bigger picture.

Your personality and your vision must come through in every photo you take; it’s up to you to capture the essense of the landscape in front of you. If your photograph works, the person viewing your image will feel they can step into your picture and experience the emotion of being there. A great landscape photograph is a great escape.

More than likely some of your more recent goals would have been to take up a hobby that will include the latest in electronic gadgets. It will also encourage the mind to learn something new and at the same time allow you to indulge in a pastime that reflects your enjoyment for photography. Digital photography is an ideal hobby that mixes together all these three goals together. Now go out and purchase and learn to use your new digital camera.

If you are new to all this type of latest technology, it is very important to educate yourself with a well thought out basic digital photography lesson plan. Your basic digital photography lesson plan should include how to shop for a digital camera and a basic understanding of how to utilize this new electronic apparatus.

Some Basic Features

A no frills digital photography lesson plan will start with the purchase of a digital camera. Let’s not forget there are many factors that need be considered prior to purchasing your digital camera.

One of the first considerations should be the number of mega-pixels that the camera is rated at. A pixel is considered the smallest unit of a digital image that encompasses the entire digital picture. Therefore a mega-pixels can be defined as over one million pixels. This attribute of a digital camera is very important as the greater number of pixels equates to a higher quality digital image. For that reason it is important to select a digital camera that has over five mega-pixels.

Another essential learning step in the digital photography lesson plan is the purchase of a memory card. The memory card should meet your digital photography needs. Generally speaking the physical size of these memory cards are the same. However, the amount of data that the memory cards can hold varies from card to card. Quite often the memory cards come in 4 different capacities. Those capacities are 8MB, 16MB, 32MB or 64MB. Obviously the more megabytes the more data the memory cards will hold. Let’s not forget that the greater the capacity size of the memory card, the greater the cost will be.

Another essential accessory that you will need to invest in is the battery charger. Often digital cameras will expend the power of the batteries quite quickly, especially when the viewfinder is utilized repeatedly. Therefore, it is important to have a spare pair of batteries as well as a battery charger.

Basic Operation Steps

The next step that you will work towards in the digital photography lesson plan is the basic steps required to operate the digital camera.

When the power has been turned on, an indicator light usually signals to the photographer that the camera is ready to take photographs. Some features on the camera may allow for the activation button to be depressed without taking the photograph. This action allows for the lens to focus on the image to be captured.

Once the digital image has been taken, the camera may allow for the image to be viewed on the viewing screen. This gives the photographer the opportunity to immediately view the digital picture to make sure it meets their standard.

The final step of the digital photography lesson plan is to become acquainted with the enclosed software that the digital camera is packaged with. Often this software can be simply inserted into the CD drive and the software will begin to download itself onto your computer. In addition, a number of digital cameras are equipped with a USB cable. This cable when attached to a USB port on one end and the other end of the cable to your digital camera will allow for the easy downloading of the digital photographs that were taken by the camera.

A quick search in Google or one of the other search engines can easily yield dozens of images from everyday life, snapped on camera phones, small pocket-sized digital cameras, or high-end digital SLR’s. In many cases, camera phone images are so blurry as to be of little value, but they abound in the wide world of the Internet, and as small portable imagery devices get into more and more hands, the sheer volume of electronic images just continues to increase.

Some people ask the question of whether the digital photography revolution is necessarily a good thing. It is easier, faster and cheaper than ever before to capture memorable moments for later viewing. Because of this, digital photos often feel more “real” than traditional film-based images, as dozens or hundreds of images can be snapped continuously at no cost without interrupting the flow of a moment in order to have participants re-create it “for a picture”.

Because of this essential freedom to review, arrange, and remove unwanted images, we are far more generous with our shutters than was generally the case with more expensive film-based methods of image capture. Because of inexpensive storage however, many people never bother to remove most unnecessary images, resulting in bloated virtual albums with duplicates, accidental pictures of thumbs, uninspiring shots of brick walls, pavement, and more.

However, because of this essentially greater freedom to snap, some make the argument that many of our images have less value. This is tricky territory, however – who’s to say that a plastic bag lying on the sidewalk isn’t lovely, or that an overexposed picture of Fluffy the dog isn’t artistic or as valuable as a more traditional family photo? In the end, there’s not much point arguing about taste.

One thing is certain, though – as more and more cameras find their way into more hands, the numbers of images available on line are sure to continue to multiply – and whether good, bad, or ugly, each of these images has meaning for someone. And when you get down to it, individual freedom is one thing we can all likely agree on.

So you plan to create a website meant solely for photography and topics related to photography? The most important thing to do for this is to gather and create useful and interesting content for the website. Remember that your photography website is going to become a marketing tool for your website, and so your website content should accordingly reflect this. You could actually create the web design for your photography website using the numerous software and templates available on the Internet. However, if you do use this software or template, you will not be able to create a unique website as anyone else can design a website using the same software or template, and will thus resemble your photography website.

So if you plan to have a photography website that is unique, you could enlist the services of a professional web designer. The web designer helps you create a website using his expertise. If you are not satisfied, you could make some changes to the designs he gives, to finally come across the best website designs. The additions and deletions you make in the website design all come in the web designer’s package, and he is not to charge extra for that work. The professional web designer may cost a bit but compared to the profits you make through the website, this fare can be considered negligible.

If you plan to write your own content for your photography website, remember to appeal to the emotions of your web site visitors. Make it a point to highlight the benefits of photography; like the benefits of digital photography, where you can do all the developing and printing of photos in the comfort of your house; without having to go to a photo developing shop. You could include programs for novices to organize photos into albums. By doing this, the visitor learns how to load the photographs into a community building web page that permits sharing of photos address books and chat rooms. Including photography tips is very important in a photography website, as everyone is always on the lookout for tips to make their photography better and more attractive. All these points make the visitor more interested in visiting your website to read the content of the website.

Of course, other content that could be entered in a photography website would be newsletters and articles of new products and services that are available for improved photography. The photography market is improving everyday, with new cameras, video cameras, printers and photo accessories coming out everyday. By including all this in the photography website, people will be informed about the developments in the world of photography. Since there are many photography contests going on around the country and the world, including information about this too is feasible for the photography website. In this way, people who are interested in the competitions may participate in these competitions. News about the numerous photography events going on too is another piece of information that could be included in the photography website. This way, photographers can visit these events to have a look at the work of others’ photography and thus make improvements in their own photography.

To make the content of your photography website more interesting and appealing to the visitors, you could consider including banners buttons and clip art in the photography website. However, avoid creating too big banners and graphic designs for the photography website, as visitors are not actually that patient to wait for these big files to download; they may leave the website for waiting for so long. Another thing to remember when creating a website for photography; is that it is vital to use terminology that the general public understands, as it is they who will be most visiting your website. Don’t use industry jargon and abbreviations, as a well-written site is one that entices sales and improves your search engine rankings. This can be done only if the visitor actually understands what is on your photography website!

As your photography website may also contain cameras and camera accessories for sale, it is important that you eliminate apprehensions of visitors buying online. You have to ensure them that you have a privacy policy, which they can easily access. Display your contact information on your website as this lends credibility and reassures potential buyers. Showing satisfaction of your products and services with testimonials from past clients too is an important part of your photography website. They are an excellent marketing tool, just make sure that the testimonials are legitimate. You could legitimize the testimonials by including the person’s title, business name and website too. Make your purchase process in the photography website easy for the visitor to understand. Keep the purchase buttons at easily identifiable points by using action words like ‘buy now’ on the buttons. This is sure to give an increase in the sales of your photography equipment and also more visits to your website! So keep all these points in mind when creating a photography website and see the popularity of the website soar!

Although, the daylight hours in winter are short, it is fun working outdoors because of the variable weather patterns. Shorter days also mean that you can indulge in night photography, which is quite challenging. The best time for taking night photographs is always around 30 minutes after sunset because all though, it may be dark but there is usually a small amount of light in the sky. Let’s proceed to look at some of the components that can enhance your winter photography skills.

Photography equipment is one of the most important components of any kind of photography and the first equipment to look at is the Camera. They can mainly be divided between two types, one is the Pro Camera, and the other is the amateur Camera. The advantage that the top range pro cameras like Canon EOS-1V, Nikon F5, Nikon D70, and D100 have is weatherproofing. These cameras have been developed to work in poor weather conditions and as a result they prove a worthy asset if you are interested in winter photography. Then there are the underwater cameras like Nikonos, which can be great if you planning to take a jump in the cold waters of the Norwegian Sea. The Nikonos can work in all bad weather conditions including rainy and stormy conditions. If you have a normal or amateur camera then you will have to make alternate arrangements to take picture of a snowfall. You will have to cover the camera and lens with a plastic bag because snow or water will damage the lens.

Another important yet small component of a camera is the batteries. Most of the time, we are so engrossed in taking pictures that we forget to remove the batteries once the camera goes into the bag. The problem is that batteries run down faster in winter or cold weather conditions. To increase the life of the batteries, you can wrap your camera in some warm clothing like jackets.

A Film roll is something you cannot do without and hence, it should always be kept inside your jacket or any other warm clothes. In cold temperatures, the film can become brittle and may be difficult to load.

Snow problem is something you will encounter in winter photography. The snow covered mountains or landscapes will invariably fool the exposure meter built in your camera because snow adds to the overall brightness in the scene. So, you will have to increase the exposure although the amount will differ according to the lighting conditions as well as the metering system on your camera.

Using flash is an important aspect of taking spectacular winter photographs. If you are trying to shoot an animal in the snow then you will have to use fill in flash in the snow. The flash will help you to maintain a natural look if kept between -2/3 to -2 stops.

Remember, photography is not something you can learn in a day or two with a tutorial. It requires practical exposure. So go out there and start shooting some real ones!

1. If using a tripod, compose your portrait and then take one step just to the side and forward from the camera. Do not look through the viewfinder as you capture your subject’s image. This allows you to make eye contact initially with your subject, and then direct her in mood, expression, position, and the angle of gaze you are aiming for. When your subject interacts with your camera, the result can be a cold or lifeless rendering, but when you engage your subject through eye contact, expression, gestures and words, the result can be a warm and candid reflection, charged with mood or emotion.

2. If you are not using a tripod, you really should redouble your effort to maintain constant interaction with your subject. Many photographers tend to keep their eyes in the viewfinder of the camera, but this leads to your subject interacting more with the front glass in your lens than with you. Again, you do not want the sterile and lifeless rendering that most often comes when the camera serves to isolate you the photographer from your subject. Interaction with an inanimate object (your camera) can never be a substitute for interaction with another human being (you), when your goal is to capture the essence of your subject, and reflect the attitude and emotion she was feeling at that moment in time.

3. Allow your subject to be herself. A little girl dressed up in fairy wings for a special picture is very cute, and I suppose there is a place in this world for cute. But, contrast this with the little girl who just loves to dance. You put her in her everyday clothes, stand her in front of a plain backdrop, put on her favorite music and say to her, “can you show me how to dance to this song?” You should have no difficulty in capturing timeless expressions there. Now imagine a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy whose true passion in all of life is sailing. You dress him up in a tailored suit; formally pose him in front of a low key backdrop, seated in a Chippendale chair, and use classic loop lighting. What would be said of this portrait years later? “Who was this guy, an executive?” But just suppose, you photographed this same guy in his favorite t-shirt and blue jeans, at the helm of his beloved sail boat, on a beautiful late afternoon, just as the boat was coming about? What would be said of this portrait years later? “This was Charlie, doing what he loved most! That was such a glorious day.” The point is, “keep it honest”. Fantasy can be cute, but your subject being herself, years later this will be much more meaningful.

4. Allow your subject’s expression to be honest. A frown or a grimace that is genuinely felt can be more interesting than a smile that is forced. I try to never just pose my subject and then say, “Okay, now smile for me.” If you want your subject to smile then tell a joke, put on a face, or perhaps merely smile at her and she will smile back at you. People generally tend to reflect in their face what they see in yours, but in my experience this is not always so. Nevertheless, interaction with your subject is the key. That being said, the next time you have a difficult subject ask him to tell you a joke, to bring out a smile, if that’s the expression you are after. If you are a professional, you know that smiles sell, but if you’re an amateur, you are under no pressure to sell, so make your portraits interesting. Not everything in the world is to smile about.

5. Direct your portraits. Take control of the composition of your portraits! Do not be afraid to tell or show your subject what you want. Sometimes showing is best. I often find that actually demonstrating a pose I have in mind, works better than trying to direct my subject through words alone. If you are photographing a group, your life will be easier, if you arrange and pose the adults first. Then, work your way from oldest (or more mature and settled) to youngest of the children. The point to remember is, as the photographer, you should take charge of the shot. The success or failure of the portrait will be your responsibility, so take charge.

Engage your subject to establish and build rapport with her, to take your photos to a higher level. Make your portraits more meaningful by keeping them honest, and natural. We all know a fantasy photo can be cute, and a formally posed portrait can be graceful and dignified, if that is your subject’s personality. But, a portrait that is true to the subject is always more meaningful. Allow your subject to be herself, and never force an expression. Learn to take charge and direct your portraits and you will move far ahead in your journey as a photographer. Practice your people skills with each portrait you take. People skills are the prerequisite to all else, if you want to take great portraits. Good day and happy clicking!

African masks are not made for commercial purposes. They are used in tribal rituals and ceremonies. Over the years, the African mask has been the icon of Africa’s culture. They are used in religious ceremonies and everyday living. Not all African masks are old because most of them are used once or twice during rituals.

Creating your own collection of African tribal art can be very challenging. These are not pieces that you can easily purchase. Genuine African masks, statues and other original tribal art are very rare to find. Plus, you need a good eye to distinguish genuine artworks from those that are mass-produced.

There are a lot of antiques stores that mixes tourist-art with genuine African tribal art pieces. What you can do is to know more about your art dealer. You should be confident about your dealer’s credibility before making an expensive purchase.

Before you purchase and African art, look at it closely. African masks are well carved. The worn out look is just normal. Always have an image of an original tribal art in your mind and you can compare it with the ones that you would about to buy.

The origin or the location where African art are found usually dictates the price of the artwork. The older an art piece is, the more value it has. Most collectors sell their pieces to dealers. Remember that African masks that are obviously restored decrease their value. If one artwork is very unique in design, prepare to cash out a small fortune. In buying African tribal art, size and appearance rarely matters. Uniqueness and quality are the two things that are sought after.

If you are tempted to purchase an “original” African tribal art from auction sites, be on the look out. Most auction art pieces skyrocket their price, not because of their rarity, but basically because there may be bogus bidders whose goal is to increase the bid value of the product.

The best place to look for genuine African art is in credible art dealerships. You can also find a number of online shops offering original art pieces from Africa. Be wary of fakes and imitation. Since you would not have a chance to take a look at the artwork itself, make sure that they have a guarantee that you can return the goods if you are not satisfied with the “originality” an quality of the art piece. Request for as much pictures as you can and if possible, request for a certificate of authentication.

Here are five tips to help you move from beginner to master of digital photography, whether you’re using your cell phone or a point-and-shoot camera to snap shots.

Compose Carefully

One of the most basic digital photography tips is to pay attention to what’s in the frame of the viewfinder. Fill the frame. Nothing but blue sky, for instance, behind a single subject throws off the proportions of the photo and decreases interest. You can also turn the camera sideways to see if a vertical photo might have more impact than a horizontal shot of the same subject.

You can also try positioning your subject off to the side, rather than in the center of the photograph.

Take Great Close up Photos

Your digital camera has a “macro mode” – think of it as a super magnifying glass. An extreme close up of something like flower petals can bring out textures that you never knew existed, and will add excitement to your photos. Play with this feature, you will find dozens of ways to use it to enhance your pictures.

Buy a Tripod

Digital cameras are prone to blurry photographs if your hands shake even a little bit. Several companies manufacture light, portable, inexpensive versions. Digital photography tips like this can save you hours of frustration and preserve otherwise perfect shots.

Get Active

Take your shot from the top of a teeter-totter, off the side of the boat, or standing on your head. Thinking outside the box can really pay off in unexpected ways. You will truly get once in a lifetime shots by adding a bit of creativity to your thinking.

Take a Class

Are you still hungry for digital photography tips? There’s nothing like practice to improve your photography – except practice plus experience gained by learning from a pro. You can find photography classes online, at your local recreation centers, and community colleges.

Becoming an expert at digital photography takes time; you won’t become a professional photographer in your first week. Just keep trying new methods each time you use your camera, and before long, your friends and family will be admiring your newfound skills.

Taking a good photo isn’t as hard as you may think. You don’t need the most expensive camera or years of experience, just 10 simple tips.

Tip 1 – Use All Your Available Space

Don’t be afraid to use all the space in your photo. If you want to take a picture of something, it’s ok for it to take up the whole shot with no or very little background showing. Keep distractions out of your shot

Tip 2 – Study Forms

This is a vital aspect to photography. Understanding forms in your photos. Don’t see an object, she its shape and its form and find the best angle to photograph it from. Form is all around us and I highly suggest you read as many books on it as possible.

Tip 3 – Motion In Your Photos

Never have motion in your photos if you are photographing a still object. If there is something moving while you are trying to photograph a stationery object, your photo won’t turn out anywhere near as well. Also never put a horizon line in the center of your frame.

Tip 4 – Learn To Use Contrasts Between Colors.

Some of the best photos have shades of white, gray and black. You can take great shots with just one color on your subject, but the contrasts between colors in a shot is what makes you a great photographer.

Tip 5 – Get Closer To Your Subject

This is one of the biggest mistakes most photographers make, not getting close enough to their subject. Get up and personal and close the distance gap. You can always reshape and resize a good shot but you can’t continue to blowup a distant object.

Tip 6 – Shutter Lag

Shooting action shots with digital camera’s can be tricky due to shutter lags. What this means is, when you press the button to take the photo, it can take up to a second for the shutter to take a photo, by that time what you were photographing would have moved or changed somehow. This means you have to compensate for shutter lag by predicting what your subject is going to do and taking the photo just before it takes the action you want. More expensive digital cameras don’t have this problem.

Tip 7 – Pan

If you are taking an action shot and your shutter speed is slow, pan with the object. Follow through with the subject, from start to finish and one of those shots will be a winner. You have more chance of getting a good shot if you take more then one photo.

Tip 8 – Continuous Shots

To pan like I suggested above you will need a camera that does continuous shots and doesn’t need to stop and process after every shot.

Tip 9 – How To Take Fantastic Night Time Shots

Night time shots can be spectacular, almost magical…. if done right! If not they can look horrible. Really horrible. Without adequate lighting, even good camera’s can turn out crappy photos if the photographer doesn’t know what he or she is doing.

Tip 10 – Study Your Manual

If your digital camera has a special night time mode, read the manual and follow their instructions on how to use it properly.