Photo Of The Week

Today's photo of the week was taken by Glenn Perrow from Hancock, Michigan. He captured this gorgeous landscape along the Upper Michigan Portage Canal. 

We Want To Feature Your Work!

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

How To Photograph A Solar Eclipse

Most of you have already heard that on August 21, 2017, the Great American Eclipse will be visible across much of the country when the moon completely obscures the sun. If you’re one of the lucky ones in the total eclipse’s path, here is some great tips from Consumer Reports that explains what you need to know in order to photograph the event.

Photo credit: National Geographic

Photo credit: National Geographic

Plan Ahead

If you live outside the 70-mile-wide path where you will be able to see the total eclipse that angles across the country from Salem, Oregon, to Charleston, South Carolina, you'll need to plan a roadtrip to catch the total eclipse or simply settle for simply seeing a partial one. If you are not sure, check out this NASA map to help show where the eclipse can be seen. 

Be sure you think ahead of time about the ideal backdrop for your photo, because you won't have much time for location scouting on the day of the event. At best, the total eclipse will last 2 minutes and 40 seconds, depending on your location. Try finding a spot flanked by a mountain range, a lake, a stand of trees, or even a great old barn—anything that will add context and character to the snapshot.

Be Prepared To Not Look Directly At The Sun

It is dangerous to look directly at the sun, so in order to view the solar eclipse safely, you'll need special tinted glasses. If you still do not have your safety glasses, you can get your own on Amazon here. According to NASA, they should be certified to meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard and include the manufacturer's name and address somewhere on the product.

You also need a special solar filter designed to block infrared and UV radiation to safeguard your camera. According to the article on Consumer Reports, "The intense magnification through a lens creates a concentration of heat and energy similar to burning a leaf with a magnifying glass," says pro photographer Ken Sklute, who co-authors Canon's eclipse blog. "So choosing to photograph without a solar filter can harm your image stabilization and aperture mechanism, damage the sensor and shutter, and cause permanent eye damage.”

Even with a filter on the lens, be sure that you do not view the solar eclipse through a camera's viewfinder... use the device's LCD screen to compose the shot instead.

The Consumer Reports article also states that the one time when it's okay to remove the solar glasses and the solar filter is during totality, when the moon completely blocks the sunlight. Before attempting to do that, though, make sure you know and understand the stages that lead up to that phase, said Artur Pietruch, who handles the digital camera testing in the Consumer Reports labs.

Photo credit: Los Angeles Times

Photo credit: Los Angeles Times

Use The Right Equipment

It is best to use a an interchangeable lens camera, something like the Canon EOS Rebel T5i or the more advanced Nikon D7200 just to name a few. You also want to make sure you have a tripod with you so you can be sure to not have any camera movement while snapping your shots. Remember that you are not going to have a second change so you want the shots you take to be the best you possibly can. 

Find The Right Exposure Settings

Since the eclipse happens so fast, be sure to take some time beforehand to experiment with exposure settings so you can capture the perfect shot. 

Photojournalist Babak Tafreshi says, "Since there is not a bright light source for a digital camera to focus on, you can't use auto focus so you should turn on the manual focus instead, and set it to infinity. Now turn off the camera's flash. It won't help you."

As the sky darkens, be sure to test various exposure combinations to find the right balance between aperture and shutter speed so you save yourself from a frantic guessing your settings during the actual eclipse. For a solar eclipse, a setting between f/8 and f/16 is ideal, depending on the shutter speed you've selected.

If you take photos of the eclipse, be sure to show us your great work! If you have one that stands out from the rest, submit it to us so it can be considered as one of our photos of the week. You can read more about the submissions guidelines in this post here.  

Are you tired of wasting tons of time editing photos? Now you can with The Ultimate Season Action Bundle from BP4U! Get yours today for only $19.99 (a $199.99 value)!

BUY THE ULTIMATE SEASON ACTION BUNDLE NOW!  

Have You Signed Up For Our Newsletter?

If not, be sure to enter your info below to to stay up to date on our other giveaways and industry deals and news!






Photo Of The Week

Today's photo of the week was taken by Phyllis Jess. She took this shot from the saddle of her horse at the Columbia River in Wenatchee, Washington.   

We Want To Feature Your Work!

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

Tips And Inspiration On Sports Photography By Damian Strohmeyer

Everyone loves watching an awesome sporting event. Having a photographer capture those events with great photography is also important to each type of sport... it helps to showcase the best plays and moments of the game to fans all over the world. Damian Strohmeyer is a sports photographer who has shot at The World Series, The NCAA Basketball Tournament, The World Cup, The Stanley Cup, The Olympics, and the past 28 Super Bowls. 

We wanted to share a short video with you today where Damian is talking about his tips for taking the amazing sports photography that he takes. He will talk about some of the important parts of taking a sport photo to make it stand out from the rest, explains what his favorite lens is and so much more. Enjoy! 

Damiam Strohmeyer and this video was done by Canon in their Explorers of Light showcase series, in which members of their pro team discuss their careers and their passion for photography.

Established in the mid-90’s, Canon’s ‘Explorers of Light’ team comprises dozens of highly skilled professional photographers and cinematographers, representing a wide range of specialties and styles.

To see more from Damian Strohmeyer, visit his website at www.damianstrohmeyer.com. 

Are you looking for an easy way to prepare your photography business for the upcoming tax season? The Tax Spreadsheets For Photographers from BP4U is perfect for you! This product includes spreadsheets made by a professional accountant for a photographer. It also includes a guide that goes over basic tax terms and questions. Get yours today for only $19.99! 

GET TAX SPREADSHEETS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS TODAY! 

Have You Signed Up For Our Newsletter?

If not, be sure to enter your info below to to stay up to date on our other giveaways and industry deals and news!






Photo Of The Week

Today's photo of the week was taken by Keegan Meenagh, a freelance videographer and photographer in Norman, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma City.  

Here is what Keegan has to say about the photo: "Every April we have the Norman Music Festival, where hundreds of bands from across the state come and play down on Main Street at bars and on stages outside. I took about 3000 photos over 3 days and this picture is my favorite. This is a photo of my friend Parker Rhea right before his band, NoiseBleedsSound, performed.  If you look closely, you can see me in one of his eyeballs.  It's my favorite photo that I've taken."

To see more of Keegan's work, visit his Facebook page and on Instagram @rockandrollkeeg. 

We Want To Feature Your Work!

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

5 Tips To Take Great Photos With Your Phone

Technology today is pretty amazing and many photographers today are able to take awesome photography.... and all with their phone! If you love photography, but do not own a camera, you can still take great photos. Whether you take photos while on your commute to work, while outside exploring or even while traveling or hanging out at home with your family or friends, you want to be sure you know all the tricks to capture the best photos you can if you are using your phone. 

Check out these 5 tips below to help you take great photos with your phone.

1. Utilize natural light.

Natural light when taking photos with your phone is always best, especially for outside events. Aside from the obvious moments, such as night-time shoots, it’s best to utilize the organic light around you for the most authentic and untouched look. 

2. Be sure your shot is centered. 

Anytime you are taking a photo, you want to remember the rule of thirds to help you take amazing photos. (If you are not aware of the rule of thirds, it is when you align a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to section). Most phones feature a grid tool option to display a subtle set of lines, allowing for a more balanced shot. If your phone isn’t equipped with a grid tool, there are plenty of apps that you can download to help you out.

Photo credit: OS X Daily

Photo credit: OS X Daily

3. Make sure you utilize the burst mode. 

It can be really frustrating to realize that if there was half a second more or less with shooting, the photo would have been just right. You can give yourself options with the burst mode that most phone cameras offer. This tool is very handy and allows for a rapid fire of pictures, making it opportune for people trying to capture action shots and shots while in a bumpier environment.

Grid lines are present in the iPhone camera app for a better aligning of vertical and horizontal angles to the image being clicked. You can toggle them by going to the Photos and Camera menu in the Settings App.

4. Try to move closer before using the zoom.

All phone cameras have the zoom option where you can drag your fingers closer together but doing so makes the quality of the shot decrease. Zoomed-in pictures can get fairly grainy, but if you move closer to the subject instead, you will find that provides much better clarity.

Photo credit: GizBot

Photo credit: GizBot

5. Look at your subject from a unique perspective. 

Feel like your photos are all starting to look the same? Switch it up with a new perspective. Stand on a chair, lay on the ground, or even shoot upside-down. A fresh take on even the most unassuming objects and places can create an entirely new attitude in your photos.

Here are a few other articles you may enjoy:

 

Do you love taking photos with your phone and are thinking of starting your own photography business? Then you need to get this great guide from BP4U called "How To Start Your Photography Business." In this guide, you will learn how to get your business started, how to start finding clients, start a website and so much more! Get this guide today for only $15 (a $149.99 value)! 

GET "HOW TO START YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS" NOW! 

 

 

Have You Signed Up For Our Newsletter?

If not, be sure to enter your info below to to stay up to date on our other giveaways and industry deals and news!






Photo Of The Week

Today's photo of the week is of a praying mantis that was taken by Christy Lucas with Christy Lucas Photography.

She captured this shot with a Nikon d5200, 85 mm macro lens, f stop 4 ISO 200, shutter speed 1/200. 

To see more work from Christy, be sure to follow her on Facebook. 

We Want To Feature Your Work!

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

Awesome Photos From Winners of the International Drone Photography Competition 2017

The winners of the 4th annual International Drone Photography contest have been announced, Dronestagram, in partnership with National Geographic, has chosen the winning subjects ranging from vividly colored fields, to a colorful water lily pond in Vietnam. Each shot is so unique and we wanted to share a few of them with you today! 

Awards were given across a number of categories: Nature, Urban, People and Creativity. Take a few minutes to look at a few of the winners below.

1st Prize. Provence, Summer trim. Photo by user jcourtial

1st Prize. Provence, Summer trim. Photo by user jcourtial

2nd prize. Infinite Road to Transylvania by user Calin Stan 

2nd prize. Infinite Road to Transylvania by user Calin Stan
 

3rd prize. Ice formation by user Florian Ledoux

3rd prize. Ice formation by user Florian Ledoux

1st prize. Urban Concrete Jungle by user 

1st prize. Urban Concrete Jungle by user 

3rd prize. Peace by user luckydron

3rd prize. Peace by user luckydron

1st prize. End of the line by user Martin Sanchez

1st prize. End of the line by user Martin Sanchez

2nd prize. Waterlily by user helios1412

2nd prize. Waterlily by user helios1412

Next Level by user macareuxprod

Next Level by user macareuxprod

We originally saw these photos on Amateur Photographer. If you love these drone photos, here are a few other posts you may enjoy: 

Did you take a photo outside at a festival, street fair or sporting event and really want to add a little something extra to it? Overlays Made Easy! The Collection would be perfect for you! This product will help you to fix a blown out sky and edit in a "mood." It even includes bokeh overlays to really add some pizazz to your backdrops. Get this collection today for $99.99! 

CLICK HERE TO GET
OVERLAYS MADE EASY! THE COLLECTION
NOW!

Have You Signed Up For Our Newsletter?

If not, be sure to enter your info below to to stay up to date on our other giveaways and industry deals and news!






Photo Of The Week

Today's photo of the week was taken by Andrew Burgoyne. Andrew says, "It is a rare treat in the northern hemisphere to see Nā kuhikuhi (α and β Centauri) point towards Hānaiakamalama (the Southern Cross) over the very active Halemaʻumaʻu crater within the Kīlauea caldera."

He captured this amazing photo with a Canon 5D Mark iii, Canon 24mm, f/2.8, ISO 2000, 2 sec.

If you want to see more work from Andrew, be sure to follow him on Facebook or on Instagram. 

We Want To Feature Your Work!

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.

Photo Of The Week

Today's photo of the week was taken by Spencer L. Stanton, owner of Stanton Photography. The photo is of a NPC competitor named Jenny. 

To see more work from Spencer, check out www.stantonphotos.com. You can also visit him on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. 

We Want To Feature Your Work!

Do you have some really amazing photos you have taken recently or some of your past work that you simply love? We want to see! Each Tuesday, we will be featuring a "photo of the week" right here on the Camera Giveaways blog. We are looking for anything from amazing landscape photos, a gorgeous wedding or engagement shot, sports or animal photography, an awesome fashion photo...whatever you want to share, we would love to see!

Email your photos to contact@cameragiveaways.com with the subject "CG Blog Photo Submission" for consideration. In your email be sure to include a description of your photo, your name and company name as well as website and social media links. Please... no watermarks! If this information is not included, your photo will not be included.