The Basics of Photography

People have different hobbies and sometimes they even develop a hobby into a profession. These days photography is one hobby which people are developing on a large scale. The two most important things in photography are the camera and the concept.

For the beginners it is important to know the functions of the camera properly. Once you know all the functions of a camera, you can start using them to create your own concept. If you are interested in photography and want to take it as a profession, you should be able to come up with ideas and implement them properly to take amazing photographs. Some of the basic tips which could help you to learn photography are mentioned below-

The first thing that you should know as a beginner is how to use the viewfinder. Hold up the viewfinder and move it till you find a perfect scene to click. This will help you click better pictures.

You should know when to click. You should be able to aim and shoot properly to take good pictures. Make sure that you don't shake your hand much while clicking a picture. To avoid shaking you can hold your camera more close to you or can keep the camera on a still surface for less blurring.

The basic function of a camera is to measure the correct light amount and send it to the digital port or film. Then it saves the image so that it can be printed. The most important part of a photograph is the subject. It is important for a beginner to choose a subject carefully as the whole picture will be focused on the object. A subject can be anything like a person, a dog or a flower.

A film darkens when it is exposed to light. A case is there in each and every camera which protects the film from the light. The image is saved on the film in an upside down position.

After processing of the film is done, it is called a negative. You can see the reversed colors on a negative. The negative is then lighted on a photographic paper and the color is reversed again which means the actual colors of the scene is printed on the photographic paper.

These are some basics of the camera and photography which you should keep in mind. Light and shade plays an important part in photography and you will develop the knowledge about them slowly.

Five Easy Tips to Make Your Digital Photography Five Times Better

There's no doubt that the advent of the digital camera has made photography much easier for the average person. And while it's true that you can often "point and click" and achieve a reasonable results, it's not that hard using a little technique and "know how" to improve your photography substantially. Here are five easy tips that will make your digital photographs at least five times better.

1. Think about composition

Always try your best to compose your pictures correctly at the time you take the photo, ensuring you crop tightly and remove unwanted elements from your photo. Many people are tempted not to worry about composition, thinking that they'll simply edit the photo on their computer. However, cropping your image on the computer reduces image detail, and your pictures lose sharpness and overall quality.

2. Get close to your subject, fill the frame

A common mistake made by beginners is allowing the subject to get lost in the background. If you're taking a photo of someone, get as close to them as possible. You can do this by moving closer to them or by using your optical zoom. Don't be afraid to zoom in to remove distracting backgrounds.

3. Avoid placing the subject dead centre

One of the easiest ways of ensuring a boring photograph is to the place your subject exactly in the centre of the photo. One way around this is to mentally divide your image into thirds, and place your subjects along these imaginary one-third lines. You'll be surprised at what a difference this can make.

4. Draw the viewer into the photo

Want to create photos that draw the viewers into photo? One technique is to use leading lines, such as roads or fence lines, natural frames, such as door ways, to lead the viewer's eye to the subject.

5. Consider lighting when taking a photo

Many beginners overlook that lighting plays an important part in photography. While the professionals can afford the latest lighting equipment, there's a lot that a beginner can also do to make their photographs special. Try taking photographs at different times of day - the early morning in particular offers opportunities for taking dramatic images. When indoors try using window light. Avoid taking photos in harsh, bright conditions, particularly in the middle of the day.

Laguna Beach Photography Location - Crystal Cove State Park

Crystal Cove State Park is located just north of Laguna Beach and offers a number of terrific formal portrait settings as well as a relaxed atmosphere in which to shoot candids. It is free to get into the park and unlike a photo shoot in a studio, the location allows children (adults as well if they so desire) to run around, play and act in a natural non-posed manner.

Upon arrival at the park you need of course to park. The parking structure is on the other side of the highway of where the park is. There is a modest fee for parking. The short walk into the park itself is a wonderful photographic opportunity. The walk includes walking down a paved path in the middle of a nature preserve. Beautiful shots of couples or children holding hands and walking down the path with lusch trees, rocks, and hills as a backdrop create a photographic sense of family unity and direction.

Halfway down the path there is an arched tunnel. A shot of a group standing at the base of the tunnel with the entrance archway framing the shot and light from the tunnel entrance providing backlight, creates an artistic piece which is sure to be a conversational point when framed and mounted in the home.

At the entrance of the park, there are some rustic looking barns and buildings. These buildings give the feel of being at a farm located in the Midwest during the 50s. Shots in these locations are often changed to black and white, or pastel. This creates an authentic retro feel which adds variety and warmth to a photography collection.

After passing the buildings, you arrive at the beach. The beach at the park is large and varied. Rocks that seem to have been built for posing are scattered throughout. Cliffs overhang sections of the beach creating stunning cliff/ocean backgrounds. Unlike many beaches, there are numerous locations to get cliff shots without distracting beach houses in the background.There are also many locations to get just sand/ocean background shots. When at the beach, the best children and couple shots are often obtained when the subjects relax and are sent out to play. Doing this is easier at a place like Crystal Cove then it would be indoors in a studio.

Family Photo Shoot - How to Get Great Photos Every Time

What are your memories of a family photo shoots? Are they of dressing up in your best clothes and sitting uncomfortably for hours in a hot studio while being blinded by the camera flash? Or were you a bridesmaid at a wedding where you endured hours of being photographed in a dress that resembled a Christmas tree decoration? If so, then you may not have fond feelings for photo shoots. However, it doesn't have to be this way. Armed with a digital camera and a sense of fun, you might find that family photo shoot time can mean fun for everyone.

One plus with using a digital camera is that the pressure to get the photo right the first time is eliminated. If someone blinks or coughs or if your son makes donkey ears behind your daughter's head, simply take another shot. You don't have to print anything that's not great.

However, a digital camera can't perform miracles and some preparation before hand will ensure that family photo shoots go off well. First (and most importantly), make sure you know how your camera works. If you're not comfortable with it, practice first and don't get everyone together until you're sure you can work the camera confidently. This includes understanding how to set the remote timer if you plan to set up the camera to shoot on its own. Also make sure you have a tripod or some surface handy to put the camera on to keep it steady.

Play dress ups

When choosing clothing for the shoot, organize it so everyone's clothing works well together. A simple solution is to get everyone into a white T-shirt and blue jeans or black T-shirt and black jeans or another combination that looks smart. Alternately, just plan for clothing colors that all work well together - all pastels, all darks etc. and avoid colors that clash or are similar but not the same. Settle for solid colors in preference to patterns or florals. Also avoid clothes with logos on them unless you're photographing a team and they're all wearing team outfits.

Location, Location, Location

Scout out a suitable location to use. The local park in springtime is a good place to shoot because there are plenty of flowers to add color and there will be chairs and tables or swings and roundabouts that everyone can sit on. If you must shoot indoors find a room with light walls, lots of natural light and shoot on a sunny day with all the windows and blinds open. Also ensure you have an uncluttered and neutral background behind your subjects. Place people close to the light source to ensure they're well lit.

Never plan a family photo shoot at night - the flash will wash out the colors in everyone's faces and the photos won't be flattering. On the other hand, when you're photographing outside on a sunny day, turn your flash on (yes, On!) so it is forced to flash. When you do this, you will ensure that people's faces aren't marred by unsightly shadows.

If young kids insist on taking their favorite doll or toy with them, all the better - they will be more comfortable if they have familiar items around them. In this case, color coordinate the child's clothes with the colors in the favorite toy (or vice versa).

When photographing, spend time with each child and take a series of photos of them by themselves (with and without the toy). Pair up the children too and take photos of them interacting with each other. Provided you have plenty of storage on your camera's card, shoot lots of pictures taking time out occasionally to make sure they are focused and framed attractively.

If you're photographing active young children, put your camera onto sports mode to speed up the shots so you freeze the action and don't get out of focus pictures. Enlist the help of a friend to look after the younger children while you take photos of the older ones. If that friend is also able to use the camera, he or she can take photos of all the family together.

If your make your shoot fun and if everybody is laughing and enjoying themselves, you will get some wonderful candid shots that show your family as they really are. And don't forget to take plenty of photos - any empty space on your memory card at the end of the day is a wasted opportunity.

Helen's 4 best tips for great family photos

The family clown

When one of the kids insists on sticking our their tongue or acting up, allow them two or three shots doing just that. Then insist that they are sensible for the remainder of the shoot. Keep the "silly" photos in a safe place - you'll get your revenge when they turn 21 when you show off these photos to all their friends.

Nervous Folk

When someone is nervous and won't relax, try some funny exercises. Ask them to scrunch up their shoulders and face really tight then, on command, tell them to let go. Capture them as they relax into peals of laughter and you'll get a wonderful shot. Diverting their attention to something else while you take their photo can help too.

Move in (and out)

For more interesting photos take some up close and others from further away. Also vary the angle and shoot from front on, a higher position and then get down low and shoot upwards. Mix up your shots and have everyone looking into the camera for some and looking elsewhere for others.

Positioning people

Photos don't have to be taken using formal seating arrangements. Try everyone sitting on the grass or have the kids lie down and take the photo facing down onto them. Sit an adult backwards on a chair or cross legged on a table or look for other interesting and varied poses. Talk to the person you're shooting, tell them they're doing great and keep them relaxed - remember this is fun!

Photography Workflow - Pre-Production For New Photographers

Okay - you have decided to do some work as a stock photographer. We have talked about what you believe to be a good topic or specialization, compared Royalty-Free versus Rights-Managed licensing and discussed the proper releases that may be required. Now let's talk about your workflow. We will need to address both pre and post production, so let's get started.

Pre-Production - "Be prepared" is the Boy Scouts motto, so you should be prepared for whatever might throw you a curve while performing a photo shoot. In many cases, as a freelance stock photographer, you will be shooting on spec, so make sure that you have camera equipment in your vehicle at all times. You never know when a situation will arise that creates an opportunity for a unique image, it would be a shame to miss it. Once traveling in central Alabama, a F3 tornado hit 5 miles from my location. I was one of the first photojournalist to capture the aftermath. Many of those images, were used by area news agencies and three were licensed and published in textbooks.

Here is an idea of the equipment I carry on a normal road trip: Three digital bodies, four lenses of various sizes, flash, batteries, ten compact flash memory modules, rain suit, tripod, monopod, batteries, protective rain shields for gear, gps, light meter, cleaning kit, batteries, releases, portable hard drive and a laptop. By the way, did I mention batteries? You can never have enough batteries. I would also suggest that you get insurance, some homeowners policies may cover your equipment, however, there are companies that will provide policies that not only protect you against thief, they will also cover damage to gear.

Now you are ready to go, you've got camera in hand, selected the correct white balance and exposure and you are ready to make that first shot. Here is your first decision what format do you shoot? RAW, JPEG or TIFF - make this decision wisely, for this will determine how the post-production proceeds once you get back to the comfort of home or hotel. RAW is the natural format used by each camera manufacturer and will provide the most image information. You will not be able to store as many images per module, but the additional benefits it provides in post-production far out way any drawbacks. Everyone is familiar with JPEGs and in most cases this is the format of choice for amateurs, since nearly any image viewer allows you see what you shot without any conversion. You will be able to shoot and store many more images per module, but image quality will suffer as you save and re-save the image in post. The third most poplar format is TIFF. Like RAW, the TIFF format provides a much larger file, so once again, the image count per memory module will be reduced, however TIFF is a loss-less format, good benefits when you start working with the image, but as in JPEG you will lose some adjustment freedoms that you get in shooting RAW.

So when it really counts, shoot RAW, if you are just shooting for practice or experimenting, the JPEG format will work fine.

I'm going to make an assumption here. Most people starting out do not have more than one camera and that is the case, I would like to make a suggestion. Make sure you have numerous memory modules with you. They have gotten rather affordable, so the out of pocket expense will not be to great. Here's where I'm gong with this. When on a shoot, I always have two completely outfitted cameras and will take similar images of the same subject on both cameras. Why? As reliable as these modules are, they do fail. If you have everything on one module, then you have lost all the work you have put in for that project. If you have multiple modules, then you can split your work across multiple chips, thus protecting all that hard work. It only takes a moment to do a switch out and it could save you pain, agony and money should a failure occur. Just keep track of your, naming nomenclature when you transfer the files over to your system, so you won't overwrite an image.

I Just Made a Thousand Dollars From Digital Photographs

I have just made a thousand dollars from my internet business. The first day I saw the computer I fell in love with the computer and I decided that I was going to work with the computers and since I have tried so many things with the computer from hard ware to software and I have found the internet marketing good for me. I have sold and done some jobs online and I have been paid but not up to a thousand dollars. I sold two digital photographs online and I got a thousand dollars.

All I am saying is that you can also make more than a thousand dollars from the internet by selling digital photography all you need are digital camera, internet connection soft ware that will enable you upload your photography online and little knowledge on how to edit photographs online.

There are so many ways you can sell your photographs online you can sell direct to individuals online who need your digital photographs through your websites or you can sell by uploading your photographs to big websites online that will help you sell your digital photographs or pay you some commission when any of your photographs is downloaded.

The good thing about this business is that you can do it from your home. The business is good for stay at home mum, student's retired individuals and those that need extra income to pay their bills.

To make the real money in this business you have to search for good sense and also learn how to take good photographs.

I must also warn that you need to know what is legal to shoot. Here is some good website you can sell your digital photographs. Shutterstocks.com, fotolia.com, istockphoto.com, shutterpoint.com, dreamstime.com, canstockphoto.com, alamy.com and fototopic.net.

Before you start to upload your digital photographs for money please name them appropriately with the proper keyword. Good luck and I wish thousands of dollars online.

Digital Photo Tips - Landscape Photography

It does not matter in what part of the world, the sunset on the beach is a scene every photographer would love to capture, as it truly is. But, because there is such a wide variation in the hues of lighting, this act requires some skills.

The contrast between the brightness of the sun and the dark edge of the water become a big problem for the photographer. In that case, usually a GND filter and a tripod help. GND stands for Graduated Neutral Density and its purpose is to limit how much light should go across the image. It can be done by blending the different hues of the light or radiating from the border into the center of the picture.

There is such a variety of GND filters. Some are considered "soft" and some are considered "hard". The "soft" filter works by producing a subtle transition of the light; while the "hard" one creates the opposite effect, it blends in a sharper, more abrupt manner.

The use of a tripod is very significant when trying to catch the sunlight, because in order to get the perfect result from the GND filters, you will have to increase the exposure times. You also have to comprehend the settings for f-stop blend.

If you want to try different results with landscapes that are very bright, consider GND filters. Unlike editing software, the use of GND filters enables you to obtain the image as it really is, preserving its true beauty. So, think about your next upgrade to your digital camera.

Cheap Digital Cameras - Stunning Looks With Unique Technology

Photograpy and video capturing are the two common interests of almost every man. Everyone may not be professionally adept in using or operating such devices, but most of them do prefer to give a try or look out for such gadgets which are easy to use and produce excellent picture quality. Earlier we had the famous SLR or Laica cameras that were cumbersome and heavy. They were both difficult to carry as well as difficult to use. In fact, it had almost everything manual starting from setting shutter speed, Aperture, Depth of field etc. Compared to them, the latest cameras are much more user- friendly and portable. Other than just being sleek and attractive in looks, these gadgets also allow general people to try their hands on photography. What makes you feel more excited is that, these cameras are now available at economical prices. If you visit any shopping website, you would find a vast list of cheap digital cameras with impressive discount rates and excellent offers.

These digitally enhanced gadgets have multiple options to enhance picture quality. In fact, the old SLR cameras have now been updated with digitally enhanced options which leave a wide option to improve your creativity as well as user-friendliness. A very good example is the Nikon D700 which has got accolades for its amazing picture quality and noise reduction options for better clarity. It has launched a new f/2.8, 24-70 mm lens that produces amazing photo realistic effects. For example, the fading back ground of any picture. Other than this, it has an amazing high resolution LCD screen, a dust removal filter along with fabulous auto focus facility which also provides 3D light effects. One of the main reason for the popularity of this Camera is its sleek and smart shape which clearly gives a feel of superior attitude. The body is strong and solid with scientifically analysed ergonomics and operational clarity. What makes this gadget outstanding is its price range which is comparatively cheaper in comparison to the number of other options that it has and the picture quality. Most of the cheap digital cameras have become a craze among people for their long list of features and easy operational facility. The most stunning fact is it can also support operations in Win 98, Millennium, 2000 as well as XP. Other than this, it also supports MAC PCs.

These Cheap Digital Cameras have become a craze among youngsters and adolescents because of their economical prices. Most youngsters depend solely on their limited pocket money and hence cannot afford to buy expensive stuffs. These gadgets are best suited for them as they are available at economical rates and have multiple high end options. Other than the latest SLR's, these cameras also have high end features which have attracted professional as well as non professional photographers. For example, the Premier digital camera provides excellent picture output with the help of 3.2 Mega Pixels CMOS Sensor. Other than this, it has high image resolutions with a Fixed Focus Lens that functions in the range of 0.4m~0.6m. This camera has a classy exterior with high resolution TFT display, which would be obviously admirable for both youngsters as well as the adults.

Better Pictures With Your Digital Camera

Photography is about knowing your camera and knowing how to look for the angel, light get the bet framing, so your picture looks as good as any professional shot.

Do you ever wonder how the best photographers' in the word get there fantastic picture? We could always say that professional photographers have the best cameras that a very expensive and much too complex for the everyday person to operate. But the truth is, we now have a verity of digital cameras that are able to take hi quality photos at a very affordable price.

Tips on Purchasing a Digital Camera

Firstly consider what you will be using the camera for. And what features you really need the camera to have. A person that will use the camera for taking quick holiday snaps may want a camera that is fully automatic and dose most of the background work for the owner, like auto focus, whit balancing and aperture settings. But for the more astute photographer who wants to have much more control over the image a more advanced camera with options for manual overrides may be a better option.

So when purchasing a camera consider the following:

What will I use it for?

How much do I want to spend?

What features do I need?

What quality do I need? (mega pixels)

What brand do I want, and why is it better than others? (compare everything)

What is the backup service like?

When you buy a digital camera, you have to take care of and keep it in its best condition. Make an effort to regularly clean your lens, because if this gets dirty parts of your pictures will be blurry, Do not use anything but proper lends cleaning solution, with a lens cleaning cloth, anything else may damage your camera lens and cause blurred pictures.

Understand how your camera focuses will help you get better pictures. Most digital cameras have an autofocus when you press the button halfway down, the picture will focus, Then, when you press the button down fully, you take the picture. If you want the subject of your photograph not to be in the centre but still focused, first centre them in the picture and focus the frame by pressing down halfway. Without removing your finger, reframe the picture with your subject in the right position, and take the picture. Your subject will still be focused.

A great technique for taking eye-catching pictures is the rule of thirds. This creates a a pleasing balance between the different objects in a photograph. To use this rule, divide your screen into six different parts: three horizontal sections, and three vertical. Then place the subject of the picture at near one of these focal lines. This will give your photo better balance making it more pleasant to look at.

Successful Travel Photography

Travel photography is quite different from other photographic endeavors especially if you plan to make a living from it.

Most successful travel photographers are writers as well. Actually in the print world, you can't separate words from pictures. They complement each other.

What the picture can't show, the words explain in greater detail. So it's no surprise that some travel articles are sometimes from husband and wife teams.

That's the perfect job for couples. Think exotic locations, the love of your life with you and endless adventures together.

My biggest problem with travel photography is that a lot of the imagery you see have been so photographed that they're the equivalent of visual clichés. What comes to mind when you think of China? Great Wall of China, or the Forbidden City in Beijing? Egypt? The Great Pyramids. India... the Taj Mahal. Indonesia...Borobodur. Cambodia...Angkor Wat.

As in most printed media, the pictures tend to be more important than the words. A visually striking image will draw a casual browser of publication into reading an article even if the headline is not well-written.

A great selection of pictures of one destination can save a article with mediocre writing. But the same can't be said if the pictures are of poor quality.

No matter how good and compelling the writing, if the pictures are just mediocre, readers will not be drawn to the story.

Poorly composed images, especially ones with lots of technical flaws like low resolution, artifacting and digital noise cannot be rescued. As powerful as Photoshop is, it simply can't fix or add something that isn't in a picture.

Even if it can, there is the ethical question of are you allowed to? Most magazine have strict guidelines against such manipulation of images especially in their editorial content.

But poorly written articles can be "massaged" and fine-tuned by editors into some quite readable.

Tips for a successful trip:

1. Careful planning and research of your destination.

Obvious yet a lot of people don't consider this when making their plans. Festivities like Oktoberfest in Germany, Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California takes place annually at the same time.

And by planning I don't just mean planning for the length of time you are going to be at your destination. If you're a digital photographer, you'll need power to charge your batteries and a way to download and clear off your memory cards or you will be up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

If you're headed abroad where electrical power is different from home, you'll also a voltage converter. I recommend the Kensington 3317 International All-in-one Travel Plug Adapter.

2. Precise note-taking.

Whether you use a laptop or pen and paper, having good habits like keeping receipts and other bills incurred during the trip is important.

Even if you're not writing the article, precise notes on how to get from town A to town B, how much the fare was, the duration of the drive are all details which add value to your pitch to magazines or collaborative effort with a writer.

Remember your recall will not be so good once you're home. Foreign names have a way of sounding the same when you get home, so good note-taking is critical.

Your article will have more credibility if you provide details since a travel article is part "how-to" and part narrative. Another reason for those notes is documentation when you claim the trip as a business expense.

3. Digital SLR with wide and telephoto zoom lens

Think "light." If you're lugging around a lot of gear, you'll be too beat to use your camera. Traveling light doesn't mean you leave essentials like a healthy supply of extra memory cards, batteries and flash units at home.

If you're bringing along a laptop, then a supply of writable CDs or DVDs is important.

Even if you don't have a chance to edit your images after you download them to your computer, you should burn those images as a backup and mail them to yourself.

A Beginner's Shopping List For Digital Photography Equipment

While it is very easy to spend lots of money on all the equipment that is available to the beginner in digital photography. You only need to get a few basic items to start learning how to take great photos. There are some essentials you need to have, like obviously a camera and a camera bag. Also items like batteries, memory, tripod, lenses and filters should also be on your shopping list. Below is a list of equipment you should consider when you want to get more out of shooting digitally.

A Camera. With the advances in digital technology, cameras have become feature packed. Cameras that range from simple point and shoot models to top professional level workhorses worth thousands. Features to look for in a camera are resolution, lens quality, image transfer mechanism, and wether you want goodie like movie modes or panoramic capture. The features and abilities of your basic digital camera has exploded over the recent years. So much so that with a little practice and the right equipment absolute beginners can take amazing photos.

An essential link in digital photography that is often underestimated by the beginner is your PC. Crunching data to process the photos you take with your digital camera takes a bit more processing power than just normal Word or Excel work. It is more RAM memory that is generally more useful than a faster processor. If you want to really get into image editing then you will have to spend a bit of time optimising your PC/laptop setup.

Digital cameras really chew through the batteries when you want to take a lot of photos. The best thing to do is buy several sets of rechargeable batteries, since they will pay for themselves in the long run. If you can, and I highly recommend it, buy an AC adapter from the camera vendor you bought your camera from. Use the AC adapter when you are doing tasks like transferring images to your laptop. Also when you are displaying your images on a TV if your camera has that ability.

When you are not using that camera it should be put snuggly away in a camera bag. Go for a camera bag that lets you arrange your equipment in a way that will protect them from damage. Water Proof! Most people take digital photos when on holidays in foreign locations and that can often make them targets for local thieves. So consider looking for a bag that doesn't look like it is holding camera gear.

If you want to get stunning close-ups or spectacular long-range landscape images, then a tripod is a must. Again approach the vendor that you bought the digital camera from for the right type of tripod for your camera. Most digital cameras today are light and small so the tripod does not have to be big or flashy, it just needs to hold that camera of yours steady.

Filters for your camera can reduce the effects of Glare. Consider purchasing lenses for extreme close-ups or wide-angle shots, that are beyond the range of the lens that came with your camera. Lenses and filters can lead your digital photography into all sorts of new directions.

When starting digital photography, you should only get the equipment you need to learn the basics of good photography. As the technology becomes accessible more and more people are taking up digital photography as a hobby. A lot of beautiful moments can be captured and saved with the right type of digital camera equipment. A beginner does not have to shell out lots of money to enjoy taking photos. Some basic pieces and your imagination can lead to some breathtaking photos.

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Lost Ziegfeld Photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston

Photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston was discovered by Flo Ziegfeld of the famed Ziegfeld Follies. Flo was a master of publicity and when he saw what "Cheney" was capable of creating with a large studio camera and glass plate negatives, Ziegfeld hired the young photographer on the spot. Cheney was shrewd beyond his years thanks to being mentored by family friend and famous illustrator Charles Dana Gibson who became famous for the Gibson Girl drawings.

Gibson advised Cheney to make sure every photograph of his had the name, Alfred Cheney Johnston, clearly attached to it. Thanks to that bit of advice Cheney would become renown for his amazingly beautiful photographs of the gorgeous stars of the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway.

Cheney, though married since his art school days promoted himself in the Manhatten night club scene as a bachelor man about town. There is some evidence to suggest that this was an agreed upon arrangement between he and his wife Doris possibly to enhance his artistic career.

Alfred Cheney Johnston shot thousands of photographs in his life time. He was in great demand both by Flo Ziegfeld, the denizons of high society in New York City and the Hollywood Studios until the stock market crashed. It wiped out Flo Ziegfeld who'd always spent money like it was water. The Follies closed down and with it Cheney's steady and most lucrative job abruptly ended.

Cheney and his wife eventually bought a farm on the edge of Oxford, CT. The barn was converted into a photography studio. There he dabbled in giving photography lessons. On a couple occasions Johnston attempted opening studios in the surrounding towns but nothing much came of them. Alfred Cheney Johnston's star slowly faded over the years.

Sensing a need late in life to have his work live on, Johnston contacted the Museum of Modern Art where Stiechen was the curator of the photograpy department to offer the museum a collection of his famous images. Stiechen turned him down.

In the end it may have been Stiechen and Stieglitz who delivered the greatest blow to Alfred Cheney Johnston's photographic legacy. Did they deem him too commercial? If so, how unfair, for Stiechen did commercial photography throughout his career.

It appears that in the end, Alfred Cheney Johnston simply lacked the business sense to steer his photography career successfully. At the point that Johnston lost Flo Ziegfeld as his greatest and wealthiest client, his career began to slowly and systematically unravel. Johnston who was trained in the classic fine art traditions of Europe may have, in the end, been ruled totally by the his artist's soul which possessed little interest in the business side of his career as a photographer.

How to Photograph a Fireworks Display

Planning - Planning is the most important when photographing Fireworks Displays and this is what most people tend to ignore. Always get to the location early. Be sure of where the fireworks are being setup and what part of the sky will it be lighting up. Try asking the organizers if possible of what they are planning. Look around the location and take note of the lightings and surroundings. You might want to decide now on what lenses and the focal lengths to use. Remember the first and most important thing in fireworks photography is planning and anticipation.

Framing and Focusing - Where to aim your camera? This is one of the most difficult part in photographing fireworks displays. You normally need to aim your camera before the fireworks goes off. I normally spend most of my time looking in the sky rather then looking at my view finder so that I could see whats happening around me and also anticipate the moment or the right time to shot.

Always manually focus your camera or put it on infinity. Its quite impossible to use auto focus mode in low light and you may end up missing a lot of shots. So set your focusing in advanced and fix your focal lengths but remember to adjust your focusing if you happen to change your focal lengths.

Shutter Speed - Its not necessary to set your shutter speed to a very low setting. The temptation to keep your shutter open too long is because its dark and you need to do that. The problem is that fireworks itself are bright and you might over expose them and you may end up not having a clean and nice shot. What you may get is too much of the smoke in you photograph.

Aperture - What aperture to use in Photographing Fireworks Displays? Many people thinks that they need to open up the aperture in order to capture them right. But remember, the lights that fireworks emit is quite bright. I normally set my aperture between mid to smaller f stop and i find it tend to work well. And again it will also depends on what shutter speed you have selected.

ISO - Shot using the lowest ISO possible.

Capturing the Mood and Surroundings - When photographing Fireworks Displays many people tend to just capture the Fireworks and forgetting the foreground or the background. Remember Fireworks Displays are often relates to celebrations and occasions and I personally feels your picture must relates to the occasions and it must tell you where, what and when. Don't forget to include other elements such as people, landmarks or other perspectives to make your photograph more meaningful and the Fireworks Display looking more spectacular.

Take as Many Shots as Possible and Track Results - Keep taking as many shots as possible and do a quick check occasionally. But remember..... don't check after every shot or you may end up missing the action!!! You might not have enough time. If you are using Digital Camera take advantage of the zero processing cost and keep on taking.