Welcome to the 35th issue of PhotoFlash

Hi there

February is shaping up to be a thrilling month at BetterPhoto! For example, this month I'm taking my free digital photography program to the Seattle area (February 4th) and Florida (February 26th): Where Is Jim? Calendar. Also, I'm excited about my upcoming Better Workshop: Wolves, Horses & Ranchers in Snow.

In addition, I am pleased that our partnership with the manufacturer of a very creative product - Lensbabies - has been extended! The Lensbaby 2.0 continues to be a First Place prize option in our monthly photo contest. Lensbabies are unique selective-focus SLR camera lenses that bring one area of an image into sharp focus, while surrounded by graduated blur. The other First Place option is also a very cool product: a Tamrac Compact Sling Pack, which can be carried like a backpack, but can be easily accessed by sliding the pack around to the front.

And more good stuff: The Spring schedule of BetterPhoto's online photography courses has just been posted. In this issue of PhotoFlash, don't miss instructor/author Jim Zuckerman's terrific article, "What Is Graphic Design?".

To read the online version of PhotoFlash at our Web site, visit http://www.betterphoto.com/photoflashes/

Have a great month!
Jim Miotke
http://www.betterphoto.com/MG.asp?ID=124

In This Issue: Thursday, February 02, 2006

• Featured Photo: The Rusted Door
• Featured Article: What Is Graphic Design? ... by Jim Zuckerman
• Where in the World?
• New Photo Discussion 1: French Press
• New Photo Discussion 2: Zooming Oak
• New Photo Discussion 3: Flowers
• New Photo Discussion 4: Twilight
• New Photo Discussion 5: Tungsten White Balance
• New Photo Discussion 6: Arushi
• New Photo Discussion 7: Wild Reception Dancing
• New Photo Discussion 8: Spring Dreams #1
• New Photo Discussion 9: Galaxy #38
• New Photo Discussion 10: Drink
• The Next Step: Where to Go From Here

Featured Photo: The Rusted Door

The Rusted Door Shot at Fort Columbia, near Chinook, Washington, bright shade, ISO 100, f11, 1/2 sec, Canon 70-200L. © Robert O. Brown robertobrownphotography.c... Canon EOS 20D Digi...

Featured Article: What Is Graphic Design? ... by Jim Zuckerman
The two most important aspects of a picture are lighting and graphic design, points out master photographer, author, and BetterPhoto instructor Jim Zuckerman. And when you put together these two ingredients in a photograph, it will be a superb work of art. Jim discusses this important subject in a new article ... don't miss it!!
Read more...
 

Where in the World?
Can you guess where this picture was taken? If you think you have a clue, try offering a response.

To learn the correct answer to the last quiz - and see who came the closest, visit the previous Where in the World quiz.

© Kerry Drager kerrydrager.com Creative Light and Composition 4-Week Short Course: Details and Close-ups - April 4-Week Short Course: Details and Close-ups - May Nikon F5 SLR Camer...

 

BetterPhoto's Online Photography School: Learn, Shoot, and Have Fun!

Would you like to learn more about photography? Are you struggling to gain a better understanding of the principles of composition, light, digital photography, photographic field techniques, or Photoshop? Join us this spring for an inspiring online photo course at BetterPhoto.com. Let us be your guide ... with our online courses, you WILL become a better photographer. Our talented instructors are experienced professionals who are well-published, have extensive teaching backgrounds, and love sharing their expertise.  Learn more...

 

New Photo Discussions

New Photo Discussion 1: French Press French Press Emulsion Transfer © Jim Miotke Miotke.com Digital SLR Photography Canon EOS Elan (EO... I just love this technique ... very interesting !!! - Ivan G. Chacon Response 1:Thanks very much, Ivan. I appreciate your comments. If you want to learn more, look in BetterPhoto's Articles section for pages on Polaroid Emulsion Transfer. We also have an 8-week online course on the subject that's taught by the great Kathleen T. Carr. - Jim at BetterPhoto.com See Ivan Chacon's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit Ivan Chacon's Web Site - www.Miotke.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Ivan Chacon: Digital SLR Photography Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 2: Zooming Oak Zooming Oak © Jim Miotke Miotke.com Digital SLR Photography Canon EOS 5D Digit... Wow! this is gorgeous. Is this partly Photoshop or all camera? - Kara Kalacay See Kara's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thank you so much, Kara! This zooming effect was created entirely in the camera. I don't have anything against using the motion blur filters in Photoshop. In this case, however, the motion blur effect was created by placing my camera on a tripod, selecting a slow shutter speed, and zooming in as I took the picture. Thanks again for your comments! - Jim at BetterPhoto.com See Kara Kalacay's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit Kara Kalacay's Web Site - www.Miotke.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Kara Kalacay: Digital SLR Photography Response 2:Jim, Wonderful depth of field ... beautiful color. Stunning. - Kerby L. Pfrangle See Kerby's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 3: Flowers flowers © Tony Sweet tonytsweet.com Image Design: Revealing Your Personal Vision Fine Art Flower Photography Nikon D2X Digital ... Hi Tony, I am a great admirer of your work. I have your books, but I would like to know how you made this photo. Thanks! - JOSEPH PIZZARELLO Response 1:Looks like the work of a Lensbaby to me. - Kristine Slipson Response 2:Thanks for your kind words, and Kristine is correct. It is the Lensbaby! Editor's note: Check out Tony's Lensbaby 2.0 review. - Tony Sweet See Tony Sweet's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit Tony Sweet's Web Site - www.TonySweet.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Tony Sweet: Image Design: Revealing Your Personal Vision Fine Art Flower Photography Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 4: Twilight Twilight © Tim Cooper 4-Week Short Course: Understanding Natural Light - April 4-Week Short Course: Understanding Natural Light - May Canon EOS 10D Digi... Love the composition. It has a sense of loneliness. Great shot. - Richard S. Sudney Response 1:Yeah, I've been to a gas station exactly like this out in nevada somewhere. Excellent shot - colors, composition, emotion. - Nan Fischer Response 2:Thanks for your comments! This gas station is inside the park at Death Valley National Park in California. I waited for the sky and the pumps to be about the same exposure, and started shooting. This "perfect" moment occurs about 1/2 hour after the sun sets and lasts about 15 minutes. I uploaded the image as an example in my Understanding Natural Light course. - Tim Cooper See Tim Cooper's Premium BetterPholio™ Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Tim Cooper: 4-Week Short Course: Understanding Natural Light - April 4-Week Short Course: Understanding Natural Light - May Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 5: Tungsten White Balance Tungsten White Balance © Peter K. Burian peterkburian.com Mastering the Digital Camera and Photography Miscellaneous Does... This is a good shot. Nice and peaceful. - Elisa B. Layhue Response 1:Thanks, Elisa! It's an illustration for my BetterPhoto course - Mastering the Digital Camera and Photography - to show the effect that Tungsten White Balance can produce in an outdoor scene. In truth, however, the more typical versions of this scene (with normal or warm White Balance) are much more pleasing. - Peter K. Burian See Peter Burian's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit Peter Burian's Web Site - www.peterkburian.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Peter Burian: Mastering the Digital Camera and Photography Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 6: Arushi Arushi © Bruce Smith Fashion and Beauty: Intro to Fashion Photography Nikon D100 Digital... Hey Bruce, I was curious about the lighting on this image. It looks like a little more than just reflectors. Thanks! - Hollye Schumacher Response 1:Hi Hollye That's all that was used. It was taken in a summer house at a polo club in Dubai last February. Taken at 4PM with just soft sunlight outside, which I bounced into the summer house with 2 white 6ft x 3ft lastolight reflectors. Editor's Note: Check out Bruce's awesome Fashion and Beauty: Intro to Fashion Photography online course. - Bruce Smith See Bruce Smith's Premium BetterPholio™ Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Bruce Smith: Fashion and Beauty: Intro to Fashion Photography Response 2:Beautiful image. Thanks for sharing that! - Hollye Schumacher Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 7: Wild Reception Dancing Wild Reception Dancing Friends dance at a wedding reception in Phoenix. Shot with two flash lights and a slow shutter speed. © Paul F. Gero Digital Wedding Photography Canon EOS 3 35mm S... Wow!! What a great capture, Paul!! Love the expression and movement you caught!! - Michelle J. Harvey Response 1:Hi MIchelle, Thanks! I appreciate that... Paul Editor's Note: Be sure to check out Paul Gero's Digital Wedding Photography course at BetterPhoto.com. - Paul F. Gero See Paul Gero's Premium BetterPholio™ Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Paul Gero: Digital Wedding Photography Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 8: Spring Dreams #1 Spring Dreams #1 © Brenda Tharp brendatharpphotography.co... Creating Visual Impact Travel Photographs with Impact 4-Week Short Course: Mastering Macro Photography - April 4-Week Short Course: Mastering Macro Photography - May Canon EOS 1N 35mm ... This is absolutely beautiful,. One of my favourite flower photos on the site. I love yellow flowers and I really like the way the background compliments this one - Ray & Audrey Clarke See Ray & Audrey's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thanks! It's a Golden Poppy - a yellower version of the classis California Poppy - found in souther Arizona in great clusters when the rains have been good. This meadow was filled with magenta owl's clover as well as poppies, so it made for a great color contrast. Glad you like it. - Brenda Tharp See Brenda Tharp's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit Brenda Tharp's Web Site - www.BrendaTharp.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Brenda Tharp: Creating Visual Impact Travel Photographs with Impact 4-Week Short Course: Mastering Macro Photography - April 4-Week Short Course: Mastering Macro Photography - May Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 9: Galaxy #38 Galaxy #38 Nikon D100, 105 mm lens, 1/2.5 sec. at f/22. Waterpitcher shot from the side toward the bottom. Bubbles on side of glass from water left overnight. © Kay Beausoleil KayBeausoleilPhotography.... Nikon D100 Digital... This is cool, Kay... very creative! - Brinn MacDougall See Brinn's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:Awesome!! Very well done! - Cyn D. Valentine See Cyn's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit valentineslane.com - Cyn's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 2:Very imaginative and fantastic capture, Kay! Love that little bit of color! - Terry L. Ellis See Terry's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit terryellisphotography.com - Terry's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 3:Wow, awesome galaxy in a glass indeed, Kay!! - Goshka Grabowska See Goshka 's Premium BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 10: Drink Drink I saw this lighting effect in a book and had to try it myself. © Margie Hurwich margiehurwichphotography.... Canon EOS Digital ... Wonderful lighting on this. You said effect, is this lighting done in PS or was it done with lights? :o) - Dr Silly See Dr 's Premium BetterPholio™ Response 1:It was done with lights. One on either side of my soft box, but more towards the back to give a backlit effect. - Margie Hurwich See Margie's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit margiehurwichphotography.com - Margie's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 2:Great job! Love the lighting! - Cyn D. Valentine See Cyn's Premium BetterPholio™ Visit valentineslane.com - Cyn's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

 

The Next Step: Where to Go From Here

• Browse more photo discussions at BetterPhoto.com
• Start your own discussion on any photo in the Galleries
• Read archived issues of PhotoFlash

Until next time, thanks for reading and keep having fun with photography!
Jim Miotke
BetterPhoto.com, Inc.

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