And the Latest info on Macro Photography and getting the very best posters and artwork...

Macro photography is considered to be the most challenging to master out of all photography methods. Making small objects appear big is a fascinating concept that captures the imagination of all individuals. A great macro photograph can be artistic without much forward planning. Recent advances in camera and lens technology has made high quality equipment available to the masses and macro is quickly growing in popularity. Macro is defined by the ratio 1:1 which means the subject will appear the same size as it would in real life on the photographic medium (film or sensor). Any photograph taken below this ratio is considered close-up rather than macro. The benefit of working below 1:1 is that you can get more of your subject in the frame. This often provides the best results.

The most important factor in macro photography is the aperture setting. Aperture means small hole or gap and in photography it controls how much light enters the camera. The light travels through the lens into the camera and reaches the photographic medium. Aperture is measured in f/numbers or stops which will be clearly marked on the camera lens. Beginners find aperture confusing at first because a large aperture is signified by a small number and a small aperture by a large number. The aperture setting controls a set of blades within the lens to alter the size of the opening. A large aperture setting (f2.8) will allow a large amount of light into the camera. A small aperture setting (f22) will allow a small amount of light into the camera.

A combination of aperture and shutter speed is required to produce a correctly exposed photograph. This means that the colours captured in the image are as true to real life as possible. An over exposed image will be too bright and an under exposed image too dark. It is sometimes possible to salvage an incorrectly exposed image with image editing software. It is always better and less time consuming to get the exposure right at the first attempt.

The aperture setting is not just used to control the exposure. In macro photography it is also used to control the depth of field. This is the area of the frame that is in sharp focus. Depth of field can be determined by the distance and magnification used for the shot. A small depth of field will mean only a small area of the image will be in sharp focus and the rest of the image will be blurred. A large depth of field means that a much larger area will appear to be in sharp focus.

At very high levels of magnification the distance between the subject and the camera lens is very small. This reduces light levels quite dramatically and can cause under exposure. The use of flash is a popular way to overcome this problem. Special flash systems can be bought and attached to the end of the camera lens providing a source of light close to the subject. This type of technology was originally used in dental and medical photography. It is now used by photographers to capture nature shots of insects and wildflowers.

Keeping the camera steady is the difficult part of macro photography because the slightest movement will be magnified. It is not possible to handhold when using small aperture settings. This would result in camera shake which blurs the shots. The weather conditions can make outdoor macro photography more challenging. To take a sharp image of an insect the camera has to be kept still, the insect has to remain relatively still during the exposure, and the object (often a plant) the subject is positioned on needs to remain still. A windbreak or adapted light box can be used to minimise any movement of your subject. This technique is very successful with botanic photography.

Macro photography can be a very difficult photographic discipline to accomplish and It can be very expensive collecting all the equipment required. It often takes years of practice to get consistently good macro and close up shots. Despite these negative aspects, is has to be the most rewarding form of photography to be involved in. Taking macro photographs is very addictive and people are always fascinated and astounded by the pictures. It is a great way to get some outdoor exercise in peaceful and relaxing locations. Macro will not just get you closer to nature but bring you closer to everything.

How to Use Shutter Speed to Get Better Macro Photographs by Marvin Africa

If you are new to digital macro photography, it can all seem a little bit daunting and confusing at first. Digital cameras are covered in lots of buttons, dials and small switches. It's worthwhile figuring out what all the controls do by reading the instruction manual. Then you will need to learn how to set the aperture and shutter speed. Comprehension of how to use the correct shutter speed is possibly the most important lesson to learn for getting better photographs. This will ensure that your photographs have a good exposure. This means that they will not be too dark (under exposed) or too light (over exposed). The fact is that in all photography exposure is the difference between a poor shot and a great shot. Nobody wants to look at a poor photograph but a great photograph will bring you adulation and respect. When it comes to macro photography the challenge is even greater because of the limited amount of light available. The high levels of magnification used in macro photography reduce the amount of available light. When you increase the magnification you reduce the amount of light available. In addition the close working distance between lens and the subject reduces the amount of ambient light that enters the lens.

To overcome the factors that reduce light levels to a minimum you must learn how to use the shutter speed effectively. The shutter is a small device that opens and closes when the shutter button is pressed. The shutter acts like a curtain in front of the cameras sensitive photographic medium (sensor or film). This is the button you press to take the photograph with your camera. Shutter speed is measured in fractions of seconds. A fast shutter speed means the shutter opens and closes quickly, allowing a small amount of light into the camera. A slow shutter speed means the shutter will remain open for longer, allowing a lot of light to enter the camera. Used in conjunction with the correct aperture value this will reward you with the correct exposure. Aperture values are measure in f numbers and relate to the controllable diaphragm inside the lens itself. In macro photography aperture is used to determine the depth of field. This is the area of the composition that is in sharp focus within the frame.

Once you begin to see the correlation between shutter speed and the overall exposure of your images you can move out of "auto" mode. If you are using Aperture Priority mode (usually marked Av or A) and still having exposure problems its time to venture into full Manual mode (usually marked M) and use a different shutter speed. A fast shutter speed can be used to freeze motion in your photograph. A slow shutter speed can be used to add motion blur to moving objects. In insect photography this can be used to good effect for wing movement. If you are working in a situation where you are unable to use flash it may be useful to turn up the ISO setting. The ISO setting determines how sensitive the camera sensor is to light. The only problem with using a high ISO is that it will add noise to the image. Noise appears in the image as small coloured speckles. The noise will increase and become more evident as the ISO setting is increased.

The use of specialist flash systems is important in macro photography. This is the way most photographers solve exposure problems. The flash is used to give a soft diffused light effect. The idea is to use the flash to "fill-in" all the areas that are under shadow. This picks out all the small detail in the subject and makes it look much less flat. The flash has another benefit, allowing the photographer to use a faster shutter speed and small aperture. This combination helps to reduce camera shake. A tripod and remote switch are also useful for eliminating the fuzzy and blurred effects of camera shake.

I hope this article has enlightened you on the importance of understanding shutter speed. It does not matter what type of camera you are using or what style of macro photography you are attempting. Shutter Speed is the most influential factor in how your exposure turns out. You can now go and take some great macro photographs using this new found knowledge of shutter speed.

Marvin Africa is a freelance writer & photographer and author of MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS. Email: marvin.africa@yahoo.com

Tips: How to Sell Dog Pictures Online by Al Sanchez

Dogs are great animals. Everybody's got to love dogs and taking pictures of them. But did you realize that you could sell dog pictures online and actually make money doing it? If you have a dog and have a digital camera why aren't you making money taking pictures of your dog!

You may be wondering how you can sell dog pictures online and the answer is through micro stock photo websites. These are websites where they let anybody submit photos and earn money from them. Of course, your photo must be accepted and be good quality. But once it's in the website then anybody can download it and for each download you make some cash.

Many people on the internet need photographs of dogs for their websites, advertisements, etc. You can submit a photo of a dog and have it end up on a website some day! Or it could even end up in advertisements in magazines. People use these stock photos because they don't have the time or skills to go out and take quality photos for whatever they are doing.

Picture Quality You must have photos that are of good enough quality. There's no need to go out and pay money for some photography school or get your bachelors in photography but if you know how to take better photos your photos will be much more highly desired.

As with posing models, dogs must be posed properly. You must make sure that your dog is authentic looking and relaxed. The lighting also must be good quality. Unless you have a big studio, shooting outdoors with the sunlight is the best option. Don't shoot at 12 PM because the sun will be directly overhead making bad lighting. Try early in the morning or later I the afternoon.

Taking one single picture of your dog can make you a little bit of money but you will want to take more than one. Try to get photos of all your dogs and even the neighbor dogs. Build a dog photo collection of all the dogs from your friends and family. Ask them for the rights to the photos and in return you'll give them copies of the photos you take. Making money selling dog pictures online is real and many people are doing it earning lots of money already.

From Amphibians to Wolves: Taking Wildlife Pictures by Al Sanchez

Taking wildlife photos is fun and can be very easy to do if you follow some simple steps. I really enjoy taking wildlife photos of nature because it gives me a reason to go hiking through unexplored mountains. I love going through the woods and forests and taking photos in beautiful places can make some very beautiful photography.

The key to taking great wildlife photographs is being prepared. If you are not prepared for the wild then you will not be as successful at taking good photos of it. The wild is what it says it is. It is wild and unpredictable. If you saw a mountain lion lying around at a certain spot a few days ago don't expect it to be there again the next time you go. There are, however, some animals that follow a specified routine. For example, donkeys live near the mountains by my house and always are in the same spot during certain times of the day!

To be properly prepared for the wildlife be sure to have all the equipment you will need to take those photos of the wild. If you're going to take close ups be sure to bring your telephoto lens. Also, it is very important that you bring extra batteries. I once hiked up a 10,000 foot high mountain and by the time I reached the top my battery had given up on me. The view was absolutely amazing! But I had no battery and ended up taking photos with my cheap flimsy camera phone.

When going out in the wild, it is a good idea to carry all your equipment in something very light and accessible. I usually bring a small backpack that is easily opened and closed. It will be very annoying having to open five pockets to reach your telephoto lens.

When you are not taking pictures and wandering around be sure to leave your camera on automatic mode. And don't put it away! If a coyote or bear passes by unexpectedly you want to be able to catch that animal with your camera in an instant. Setting shutter speed or aperture, even FOCUS, can take too long and the photo opportunity can be gone!

Be sure to bring lens cleaning equipment or protection filters for your lens. I once went into the wild to shoot some photos when it was snowing and my camera got a big black blob dead in the middle of the lens. I was wearing snow clothes that were rough and couldn't clean the lens with it because it would scratch it. Always be prepared!

The wild has many photo opportunities and it is fully up to you to take the great photos. Be sure to compose your photos as precisely as you would if you were in a studio. Make sure you're composing pictures, not just taking them.

Using Color in Digital Photography - Tips and Guidelines by Al Sanchez

Color is a very amazing tool in photography. Unfortunately, many people take it for granted. Because we see everything in color we already take it for granted somewhat. But since the use of color cameras and photographs is so common now it's very highly taken for granted. Color can be used very effectively with photographs and setting moods and emotional impacts.

Color is a very useful tool for the photographer and thus most photographers want to have ultimate control to the color that will be seen in their photographs. For most photo shoots the color of costumes, backgrounds, etc is all carefully scrutinized by the photographer. Having a subject of interest wearing a dull color and an object of unimportance that is bright red will not work.

Each color has different types of moods and emotions that are tied to it. For example, think of green. Green is usually used to show healthy people, organic foods, energy, go, money, strange, etc. Think about yellow. Yellow can represent optimism, happiness, jaundice, etc.

There are different types of colors such as strong powerful colors and cooler colors. The bright colors like red and yellow are very strong and will attract lots of attention to themselves. The other types of colors can be blues, greens, and other dark colors. These colors are much less powerful and when used with powerful colors will seem very weak.

You can use colors very effectively to tell moods and emotions in your photos. For example, if you have a photo shoot of a shy person, you will not want them to wear bright clothing that attracts lots of attention to themselves. Rather, having them wear cooler colors can show their calmer personality.

Colors are very important when taking pictures of people. You want to have colors that go well with the colors of people's skin. Try to get people to wear colors that are complimentary to their skin tones. Examples of complementary colors are green and red and blue and yellow. It is no coincidence that Christmas colors are green and red.

Getting that Eye for Photography by Al Sanchez

Having the ability to see something and know it will make a great photo is a great skill to have. This should be where you focus your most attention to at first. An eye for photography is a skill and can be developed if worked on. This article will show you how to improve your eye for great photos.

The amount of effort and time that it will take all depends on you. It is depended on how much effort you put in, how artistic you are, what you've previously done, and how you teach yourself.

A person that takes photos should be taught to look at the world differently than everyone else. You should always look around and search for things that would make great objects for your photos. You can always improve how you see things and how you can see if something is good to be photographed.

A great way that you can develop your eyes for taking better pictures is to start looking at other pictures that are great. Look through famous magazines and galleries and see these photos and analyze them. Look at how the photo was composed. Imagine the scene if you were there and see where you would have stood to take that same photo. Look at the places where the shadows fall and see where the lighting was coming from.

Create a clip file filled with photos that you admire. Then when you take your photos compare and contrast them with the photos that you are collecting. Think of what you could have emulated in your photos to make them better.

You should really try to get your hands on as many photos as possible. Not just good quality photos but bad photos too. Look at photos that family members took and ask yourself what could've been done to improve that photo. Imagine that you are at that location and where you would stand to get a better photo. Would you crouch down or would you get up higher?

Al Sanchez has a great program that teaches you how to take better photos. He also teaches people how to sell pictures online

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