Keep Your Family Photo Memories Safe With Archive Photo Storage
October 22, 2009
With the advent of digital photography, most of us take more photos than we even did on film. No longer having to worry about the cost of processing and printing frees us up to snap away, to experiment more and to take loads of photos of our children, recording every special minute of their life. Downloading them onto the computer is easy enough but with the temperamental nature of computers we need to find a better long-term way of keeping our best photos safe. Everyone should find a way of backing up their photos that works for them and you should also look into archive photo storage to keep your best photos in good condition for at least the duration of your lifetime.
One reliable back-up method is burning your photos to CD or DVD as soon as you download them. CDs are supposed to be long-lasting, but it has now been discovered that they can actually degrade within 2 years and start losing content, if exposed to acidic elements in the air. The boxes that they come in don’t even guarantee their protection, as the plastic used in them can give off vapors that contribute to their deterioration. So if you want to keep precious family photos safe for many years what are your best options?
You can buy special pocket pages that protect CDs from corrosion and help them last for 40 or more years. These pages can be kept in an archival quality CD album or storage box which gives added protection and makes them easier to organize. For long term storage of your digital photos you should also choose archival quality CDs to burn them onto and label them with a special non-corrosive pen that won’t damage their surface.
It is up to you whether you store every single photo you take, or just choose your best for this special treatment. If you take loads of pictures but don’t want to keep them all, a good idea is to make a selection of your favorites about once a month and burn an archival CD to preserve them. This will ensure that you have a continuous record of your family history stored safely, without creating an unmanageable bulk of CD albums by storing every single picture. You should still back up all your photos to an external hard-drive or to your D-drive as you download them, to avoid losing them to computer failure before you have burned your CDs.
Make sure you protect your digital photos so that you and your children can enjoy them for years to come.
Mum and Photographer
Should You Move Up To A Starter Digital SLR Camera?
October 20, 2009
Most of us start off our photographic adventures with a compact camera of some sort. Easy to use, small enough to slip in a bag or even a pocket they are very versatile and mean that we always have a camera with us when we suddenly get the urge to photograph our children. They can also produce some great quality pictures, so how do you know when the time has come to move up and buy a starter digital SLR?
If you love taking photos of your kids and family, but are starting to get frustrated by the limitations of your camera, if you look at a friend’s photos and wonder why your portraits don’t quite have the same glowing quality and the sharpness, then maybe it is a sign that you are outgrowing your trusty point and shoot camera and need something more to allow your photography skills to grow and develop.
An SLR camera gives you far more control over your photography than a compact camera, but the starter versions all come with easy to use basic settings, as well as more versatile settings for the creative photographer. This gives you the chance to experiment and learn when you have plenty of time, but still gives you the option of returning to easy automatic settings when you are immersed in the chaos of a birthday party and don’t have a minute to think!
With an SLR camera you can decide on the lens quality you want. The easiest option to start with is to buy a zoom lens that will take you from wide-angle to telephoto, but if you get more serious about your photography you can purchase other lenses that offer even better quality. For example, if you love photographing flowers a dedicated macro lens will give you whole new avenues of photography to explore. When you are looking at professional photos and admiring the sharpness and clarity of the picture it is the excellent quality of the lens that is responsible for this. The better the lens you have the better your photos can become.
When you are deciding whether to buy an SLR camera or not, bear in mind that you don’t have to give up your compact camera altogether. An SLR is bigger and bulkier to carry and though it is well worth it for the quality it gives you, there may still be times when you just want to slip a compact camera in your pocket and go. But once you see the improvement in your photography that comes with a good SLR, you’ll find it harder to go back to the snapshots of before.
In the end though it comes down to one thing: which camera is more likely to inspire you to take plenty of pictures of your kids, so that you will record all those special moments as they grow?
Mum and Photographer
Putting Your Pictures On To Canvas Ensures That Your Memories Will Last A Lifetime.
October 19, 2009
I am no stranger to putting pictures on to canvas, but when I saw the word Tyvek on the website I had to check it out. Long before my pictures were gracing my walls or anyone else’s I would awaken at four thirty in the morning to eat breakfast before I left for work. My whole family is in construction so most days I would drive at least an hour to work almost always in a house wrapped in Tyvek.
If ever I had any questions regarding the durability of my photo canvas creations they went out the window when I discovered that one of the main companies that manufactures the canvas on which my photos are printed also makes the material that is so durable that they wrap houses in it before they add the siding. In fact they also offer the Tyvek up for inkjet printing to make ultra durable outdoor signs and banners.
I find photography more satisfying than the drywall finishing that I did for nearly a decade, although I do take pride in the fact that I can fix most minor home hiccups myself. While my skills in drywall make my surroundings strong and beautiful, my skills in photography lend strength and beauty to my memories as well as my surroundings.
Having a precious moment in your life on display where it can brighten your day bolsters that memory until its strength is unshakable. In a world where Alzheimer’s is striking before retirement, archiving a photo in a box isn’t enough. Displays like canvases and photo collages are the foundation of archiving those memories in your mind. I would happily lose my keys everyday if I never forget the day my son was born.
Plus, if it is out for all to see, it is easy to share the memories with friends and family. Pass on photos and stories like traditions and they will never be lost. What do you want your legacy to look like? My great-grandmother made the most amazing gravy, a recipe that endures unchanged to this day, but there is not one surviving photograph of her. In this day and age where there is even a camera in your phone, make sure your legacy is one of happy and enduring memories.
Every construction company that I’ve ever worked with has trusted Tyvek to keep out the wind and rain and ensure the safety of the house in progress. If it is sturdy enough to build your house with, it is durable enough to entrust your memories to. Start with one photo, a moment that you want to endure all the tests of time and go from there. Soon you will be surrounded with beautiful memories that grow stronger every day.
Christy Higby
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Digital slr Camera Body
October 18, 2009
The Canon EOS Rebel T1i Digital slr camera body encompasses all the latest features of a Canon Rebel entry level camera. The Canon T1i looks the same as the XSi, but if you look closely you will see the differences.
The Front
Let’s start with the center of the camera face. The Rebel T1i is compatible with the over 60 Canon lens currently available. This allows for plenty of flexibility and development as a photographer. Behind the lens, Canon placed a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sensor. This 15.1 megapixel sensor can be cleaned with the built in EOS Integrated Cleaning System as found in previous models. This Integrated Cleaning System uses vibrations to remove the dust from the sensor. To the right- side of the lens, is where the lens release button is located. Above the lens, is the built in pop up flash that the camera uses for auto focusing and as a light source. When the flash is closed, you can place an addition lens in the hot shoe that is on top of the flash. Moving to the side of the lens, above the EOS label you will find a microphone. The Canon T1i shoots full HD video with sound or you can capture video in SD or HD quality. On the opposite side of the lens above the grip, is where the red eye reduction lamp, self-timer and the receiver for the optional wireless remote are located. The shutter release is also found on this side above the grip.
The Back
The large 3 inch LCD screen displays the menu, picture playback and live view mode. The viewfinder is above the LCD. Between the viewfinder and the LCD, is the sensor that turns the LCD off when the camera is placed up to the face. The viewfinder displays the photo shooting information on the bottom of the view. If you need to adjust the focus on the viewfinder use, the diopter correction knob that is found on the upper right-side of the viewfinder. The left of the viewfinder are the buttons that activate the menu and change the information that is displayed on the LCD. Moving to the right side of the viewfinder is where you will find a majority of the function buttons. In the far right corner is the AF/AE button and the focus point selection. Both buttons are used to zoom in or out. Below the two buttons is the speaker, so you can hear your video when played back on the camera. As you work down the right side of the LCD screen, the first button is the AV/Exposure compensation button. The next button is the print button; this button is used during the shooting of video and live view. The navigation pad is used to look through menus and some functions. Below the navigation pad you will find the playback button and to the right of the playback button is the delete button.
The Canon T1i is packed with plenty of functions but is well designed not to overwhelm the photographer.
Canon Rebel 12.2 mp Digital Camera Review
October 17, 2009
This review of the XSi, the Canon Rebel 12.2 mp Digital camera, will discuss why this camera is ideal for travel and on the spot pictures. Two main reasons, I think, that this is so versatile is the enhanced ability to take pictures in low light and the Highlight Tone Priority feature.
Low Light
When reading many reviews you may come across the term ISO. ISO indicates how sensitive the image sensor is to the amount of light present. To take pictures in low light, when a flash is not an option, you need a higher ISO. The Canon XSi has a dedicated button to change the ISO manually or in Auto Mode this will be done for you. If you have ever seen pictures that appear dotty, this is a result of what is referred to as noise. The higher the ISO then more noise you will receive in the picture. Canon has improved upon this situation with the XSi, which has extremely little noise at high ISO. This means better-quality pictures even if your pictures are enlarged. Top this improvement off with an Image Stabilization lens that is offered in a XSi kit or can be purchased separately. Canon does not include image stabilization in the camera itself. When shooting in low light your shutter speeds slows if the camera is moved even slightly the picture can blur. The Image Stabilization feature helps control the camera shakes.
High Tone Priority
The High Tone Priority allows for better detail of the highlights in a bright picture where there is contrasting light. Digital cameras have had a problem in this area. When taking a picture in a sunlit space you have shadows and highlights. The shadows and highlights lose their details. The shadows details can be enhanced when using photo editing software. The highlights details are lost and cannot be brought back. Canon has up the limits that can capture the highlights. For example, if you take a picture of a view with bright sunlight. The sky can appear white when taken with some cameras. The Canon XSi captures the blue of the sky. This feature is great when you have only one chance to take the picture, such as when traveling. Outdoor portraits will benefit from this feature. The picture still will have contrasts and can be edited with photo software. The camera’s shooting speed is not effected when this is enabled. The High Tone Priority is off by default when it comes from Canon.
These are the few notable features that will keep the Canon XSi high on your consideration list.
