Camera Raw

What is Camera Raw? - It is not one file format, but many. Camera Raw formats are proprietary, developed by camera manufacturers to best handle the data produced by individual models. Hence, the Raw file format produced by Canon's EOS 5D will differ from that produced by the Nikon D3 and even from other Canon dSLRs.
Though there are some important differences. Raw is just another file format like JPEG or TIFF. The major difference is that Raw files contain unprocessed data from the camera sensor. Before Raw data can be viewed as an RGB image, they have to undergo a number of processes. If you shoot in an RGB format, such as TIFF or JPEG, this processing is done in the camera.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 BETA

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is an image management application database which helps in viewing, editing, and managing digital photos. Lightroom is designed to assist both professional and amateur photographers in managing thousands of digital images and doing post production work.

Lightroom 3 beta (Click Here to Download) delivers a preview of new tools that will be in Lightroom 3, including more intuitive importing, unparalleled noise reduction and sharpening tools and enhanced slideshow capabilities. Flickr users now have direct access to their accounts from within Lightroom and can drag and drop images directly into their Photostreams. Flickr Pro account users can automatically synch their images and even view comments made on Flickr directly within the Library. Also offers advanced output options, including the ability to export slideshows as videos with audio and title screens that can be posted to video-sharing sites or optimized for mobile media.

  • Brand new performance architecture, building for the future of growing image libraries

  • State-of-the-art noise reduction to help you perfect your high ISO shots

  • Watermarking tool that helps you customize and protect your images with ease

  • Portable sharable slideshows with audio—designed to give you more flexibility and impact on how you choose to share your images, you can now save and export your slideshows as videos and include audio

  • Flexible customizable print package creation so your print package layouts are all your own

  • Film grain simulation tool for enhancing your images to look as gritty as you want

  • New import handling designed to make importing streamlined and easy

  • More flexible online publishing options so you can post your images online to certain online photo sharing sites directly from inside Lightroom 3 beta.

click here to download Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 BETA for Adobe Labs

Erase and format the memory card



Erasing the memory card
You can either select and erase images individually or erase all images. Protected images will not be erased. Once an image is erased, it hard to recovered, you will need a photo recovery software running on a computer to do that. Make sure you no longer need the images before erasing it. To prevent important images from being erased accidentally, protect them.

Formatting the memory card
If the card is new or was perviously formatted by another camera or PC, particularly if the camere was make by a different manufacturer, formatting the memory card with the camera is recommended, optimal performance as well. When the memory card is formatted, all images and data in the card will be erased. Even protected images will be erased, so make sure you transer the images to a personal computer (PC), etc.., before formatting the memory card.

Download images from digital camera to the computer

When you've filled a memory card with thousand of pictures, you want to save all your hard work, which need to download them into your computer.

Many of digital camera came with a USB cable, use the USB cable connect to the camera UBS port and plug other end to the your computer USB port, once your turns on the camera, your computer will detect as an external hard drive contains pictures. Select Copy pictures to a folder on my computer using Microsoft Scanner and Camera Wizard.
I used the Sony Cyber-shot for demonstration


Now you can select the pictures that you want to save into your computer or you can select all



Click Next and allow you choose a place (any folder you want) to save your group of pictures, by default is under C:/My Documents/My pictures/pictures


Click Next again when chose the place to save them, in few minuters all your pictures will save in your computer.

Adobe Photoshop CS4



New unrivaled power of Adobe Photoshop CS4 software through a more intuitive user experience, greater editing freedom, and significant productivity enhancements. Photoshop CS4 features new ways to make image adjustments and create masks, which provide more intuitive access to the most powerful editing techniques, rewarding your creative experimentation and helping you achieve desired effects more efficiently.
New Features:

  • Adjustments panel - tools that easily access to nondestructively adjust and enhance the color.
  • Masks Panel - easily select noncontiguous objects.
  • Better raw image processing
  • Content-Aware Scaling
  • Extended depth of field

Canon EOS 7D




Canon EOS 7D is an 18.0 Megapixel APS-c up to ISO 12800 and speeds of up to 8 fps DSLR, which is a great tool of choice for serious photographers and aspiring-professionals. It has a new all cross-type 19-point AF system that allows user to select AF area he/she wants. The EOS 7D's Intelligent Viewfinder, an entirely newly-designed technology, provides 100% coverage and displays user-selected AF modes as well as a spot metering circle and on demand grid lines. New iFCL Metering with 63-zone dual-layer metering system uses both focus and color information to provide accurate exposure even in difficult lighting. The EOS 7D also captures Full HD video at 30p (29.97 fps), 24p (23.976 fps) and 25p with an array of manual controls, including manual exposure during movie shooting and ISO speed selection. The EOS 7D features a magnesium alloy body that is dust- and weather-resistant and shutter durability of up to 150,000 cycles. Compatible with over 60 EF and EF-S lenses as well as with EOS System accessories, the creative opportunities - not just with stills but also with video - are beyond amazement.


Features:



  • 18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor

  • 8 frames per seconds continuous shooting

  • 1080p Full HD video recording (1920 x 1080): 30p (29.797 fps)

  • 3.0 inch LCD Display in viewfinder with 100% fielf of view and 1.0 of magnification

  • new 19-point, all cross-type AF system

  • Magnesium body with shutter durability up to 150,000 cycles and exclusive dust and weather resistance.

Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III is an engineering tour de force which, true to the EOS-1 legacy, redefines the state of the art in no uncertain terms. An entirely new 21.1-megapixel full-frame Canon CMOS sensor delivers astounding image quality and creates new photographic possibilities. Dual "DIGIC III" Image Processors work in tandem to speed up data handling and camera operation, while further refining imaging performance. Tough, high-durability body and shutter designs, combined with the unique EOS Integrated Cleaning System, set new standards for professional dependability. Cutting-edge features-such as a large 3.0-inch LCD monitor with Live View Function, and a fast, precise 45-point AF system-make the EOS-1Ds Mark III powerful and versatile. And, of course, the EOS-1Ds Mark III is part of the unparalleled EOS System, which, with more than 50 EF lenses, 15 interchangeable focusing screens, and extensive wireless remote control and lighting accessories, is the most advanced and powerful digital photography system in the world.

Features
  • 21.1 MP full-frame CMOS sensor
  • 3.0 inch LCD display with Live View and seven brightness settings
  • 5 frames per second at shutter speeds 1/500 second or faster (for bursts of up to 45 Large/Fine JPEGs or 15 RAW images)
  • sRAW mode; 35-zone metering system; 45-point AF; integrated Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit
  • Powered by LP-E4 lithium-ion battery pack; stores images on CF, SD, or some SDHC memory cards

Make money with your photographs


This is new way to make money for someone who love to take pictures. Just pick a subject that genuinely interests you, something that you’ve been shooting anyway just for fun and you’ll not only be earning a little extra cash, you’ll also have that unbeatable feeling that you’re being paid to do something you find immensely satisfying. It’s the perfect combination: an interesting photography project that costs you nothing and that actually gives you money. That’s what happened to Kevin Baumann, a photographer and Web developer from Detroit.

Kevin’s 100 Abandoned Houses project is a collection of images showing the derelict homes of his city. His images sell as prints, his online gallery earns ad revenue and his work has been highlighted in the New York Times and on ABC. Best of all, the attention his images have generated have helped him to bring donations to local charities that work in the subject his images portray.



Shutterstock .com wants your photos, and you will get pay if someone download your photo, $0.25 per download, That means that at just 2000 downloads/month, you can earn $500 (US) per month! Many of our photographers earn this and more every month.


Mpix.com - create your albums, Prints, sharing, buy prints or even Present and Sell them.


smugmug.com - Your Photos & videos look better here, password-protect your galleries, no reducing resolution of your photo, it's not a free site.


How to take good picture with Digital camera

Getting know your Camera - There was a manual came with the Camera when purchased it, most of us put it away and ignore it. Go over the manual, it ways tell something about your camera that you would not config out on your own, and Keep it handy in case you need to review it.

Composition - properly framing your subject, choosing the right backgrounds are important because they help set the mood for the shot and tells a story; Also be used to evoke an emotional response from the viewer. The first thing to decide before taking a picture is what's the main subject. To compose your shot, you either need to move your subject around or get closer yourself. most of times simple background and pattern would make better picture.


The Law of Thirds - The rule states that an image should be imagined as divided into three horizontal and three vertical (like a tic-tac-toe game), and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections.

This photograph of a sunset taken in the Thousand Islands demonstrates the principles of the Law of Thirds

Focus / Exposure Lock - point to the subject then press the shutter button down halfway, the camera locks the auto focus and the exposure. Once you do that you can move the camera around and recompose your photo the way you want it without change the focus and the exposure. When you see what you want in the LCD or viewfinder, press all the way down to take your picture.

Flash - you need to ture on the flash mode when taking picture indoor or place has not enough light, and all lights need to be switched on if possible. If you take picture outdoor sunny day, try to not use the flash, take advantage of nature light, it provides some of the best lighting for great shots with more vivid color and detail, just remember to take it with the sun behind you. This prevents loss of detail caused by bright light.


Steady the camera for sharp picture - The key to getting sharp photos is keeping your camera steady while pressing the shutter button. Digital cameras are so light that special care is required to hold them steady during shooting. Squeeze the button very gently, making sure you don't jerk the camera as you press the shutter button. Try to hold the camera with two hands of use the tripod.

Check your picture - Digital camera has LCD display that you can look at the photos immediately after you take them, if you don't like it, make some adjustment and take another one. The more you take, the bigger improvement you will get, So go out there, shot more and have fun.

Photographs credit to HP