http://www.adorama.com/alc/category/185 Turn your snapshots into great shots! <p><span style="font-size: small;">Here's a modern modification of a rule of thumb for shake-free handheld photos.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/13527 <p><span style="font-size: small;">&ldquo;First, I took picures. Then I learned to walk so I could get a higher point of view.&rdquo; That's what I say when someone asks how long I've been into photography. When would be an appropriate time to teach your child photography? No matter the age, my answer is: NOW!</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/13267 <p><span style="font-size: small;">No matter what kind of camera you own or your level of photographic knowledge, you can capture stunning fireworks this 4th of July!</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8080 <p><span style="font-size: small;">The problem with beaches (or snowy landscapes, or any scene where there&rsquo;s a lot of white or light colors) is that they mislead camera meters. </span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8320 <p><span style="font-size: small;">When the light gets low and you don't have a tripod, you need to get a better grip on your camera. Here are a few tips to help you and your camera go steady.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/12965 <p><span style="font-size: small;">Very few photographers use a tripod or monopod to take all their pictures, and even the best built-in anti-shake systems have limitations. That's why it's still very important to hold your camera steadily when shooting pictures.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8402 <p><span style="font-size: small;">Are your pictures coming out too blue or orange? It's time to learn how to set your White Balance.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11867 <p><span style="font-size: small;">At the longest focal length, zoom lenses on compact cameras produce darker images, especially when shooting with your flash. </span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11866 <p><span style="font-size: small;">Have you ever shot pictures of a ballgame or a concert at a stadium or arena&mdash;or just across a room&mdash;and were disappointed to see...not much of anything?</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11865 <p><span style="font-size: small;">What to do when a mode designed to save people pictures in low light ruins them instead.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11864 <p>Avoid on-camera flash as much as possible. But when there's insufficient light to get a decent shot without it, here's a simple way to get more flattering people pictures with it.</p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11862 <p><span style="font-size: small;">While taking pictures in open shade is generally a good thing, there&rsquo;s an exception to this rule when you&rsquo;re under the shade of a big, leafy tree and the sun light peaks through here and there.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11855 <p><span style="font-size: small;"><em>You've followed my advice and are shooting frame-filling portraits with your compact digital camera. But did you remember to zoom, or did you leave your lens at its widest setting?&nbsp; Here's the one time you shouldn't zoom with your feet!</em></span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11854 <p><span style="font-size: small;">The trouble with people pictures is most photographers don't get close enough. Look at the difference a more intimate approach can make!</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11853 <p><em><span style="font-size: small;">When taking photos of your friends and loved ones with your digital camera, pay attention to what&rsquo;s going on behind them. Otherwise, unintentional hilarity might ensue.</span></em></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11852 <p><span style="font-size: small;">When photographing people, don't waste half the frame with stuff that isn't important. If you can fold the picture in half and not lose anything you won't miss, it's time to change your shooting habits.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11851 <p><span style="font-size: small;">Your subject is sitting by the window and you can see her face perfectly, but your digital camera can't. Here's why, and how to fix the problem.</span> <!--EndFragment--></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11844 <p><span style="font-size: small;">One of the most common picture-taking mistakes is camera shake. But it's easier than ever to avoid.</span><!--EndFragment--></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11863 <p><span style="font-size: small;">If are using an older autofocus camera, there may be times when focus "misses" your subject's face, and instead the background is in sharp focus while the person or people you're photographing are blurred. </span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11841 <p><em><span style="font-size: small;">When part of a face is thrown into deep shadow by bright overhead sunlight, the results are not flattering. Here's how to get better photos with your digital camera in the mid-day sun.</span></em></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11840 <p><span style="font-size: small;">Turning faulty snapshots into great photographs, believe it or not, doesn't take much. Mostly, it's about being aware of what your photographing, framing and exposing it right, and using the right lens. With today's compact digital cameras, that's easier than ever to accomplish.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11896 <p><span style="font-size: small;">There you are, on the vacation of a lifetime with an incredible view before you and BOOM, your camera decides to have an attitude problem.&nbsp; Here are ten common digital camera breakdowns and how you should handle them.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11815 <p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Often, it's the everyday moments that make up our fondest memories. But capturing the essence of a family can really be a challenge. Can it be done? Read on for some great suggestions!</span></span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/11464 <p><span style="font-size: small;">With summer travel time upon us, you may find yourself trying to capture the beauty of scenic vistas. Landscape mode helps you take the guesswork out of properly exposing and focusing on the vast scenes before you.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8543 <p><span style="font-size: small;">A contented baby will smile, laugh and play. A hungry and/or tired baby will cry, squirm, and generally won&rsquo;t be very cooperative or photogenic.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8500 <p><span style="font-size: small;">If you&rsquo;re going out for a family photo, doing it yourself, or are photographing other families, there&rsquo;s one visual element that will tie the photo together in a nice, neat bow: clothing. </span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8499 <p><span style="font-size: small;">Here's one thing that separates snapshots from great shots: Clutter. It could be a distracting background, a tree seeming to grow out of Aunt Doris's head, or irrelevant elements distracting the viewer from what you want to emphasize.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8372 <p><span style="font-size: small;">When you use your camera's built-in flash, or a dedicated shoe-mount accessory flash unit, the length of the exposure is determined by the duration of the flash itself rather than the camera's shutter. </span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8359 <p><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes the best photographs are lying at your feet. </span><em><br /></em></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8317 <p><span style="font-size: small;">Can this feature actually improve your people pictures? Here's the surprising answer!</span><em><br /></em></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8096 <p><span style="font-size: small;"><em>Dedicated to my father, Seymour Resnick, of blessed memory, January 15, 1920-January 14, 2007.</em></span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8283 <p><span style="font-size: small;">If you've ever wondered why some photos have a sharp subject but everything else in the foreground and background are out of focus, but other photos are sharp from near to far, it's all about <strong>depth of field (DOF)</strong>. </span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8191 <p><span style="font-size: small;">Working in cold weather presents problems for both photographers and their equipment.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8151 <p><span style="font-size: small;">Don't get me wrong: Anti-shake technology, either built into a lens or a camera body's image sensor, is amazing. It has become invaluable in low-light situations when it is not possible or practical to set up a tripod or use a flash. But it can't un-shake everything.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8136 <p><span style="font-size: small;">You can use two different approaches for entering photo contests. The usual way is to submit your &ldquo;favorite&rdquo; pictures. You might even win, but the odds are definitely stacked against you. The best technique is to treat the contest you&rsquo;re entering like any other competition.</span></p> http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/8197