Welcome to the 97th issue of PhotoFlash

Hi {FirstName} {OPENEDEMAILMARKER}

There's lots of excitement at BetterPhoto with the launch of our May school session. And what better time to take your photography - or Photoshop - to the next level? Our interactive online classes are just getting under way, so don't wait any longer: Enroll now, and we'll send you the first lesson pronto. See our schedule of classes. Also be sure to check out some of our newest courses, including Adobe Lightroom: A Comprehensive Look and Pro Tips for Great Exposure.

In this issue of PhotoFlash, be sure to read Jim Zuckerman's terrific article - "Off-Camera Flash: How to Get the Right Flash Exposure" - and review the interesting and enlightening Photo Discussions.

That's it for now. Have fun with your photography!

Kerry Drager
Newsletter Editor

Where is Jim Miotke? Follow BetterPhoto's founder and president on Twitter - BetterPhotoJim

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: Wednesday, May 04, 2011

• Featured Photo: Chicago River Sunset
• Featured Article: Off-Camera Flash: How to Get the Right Flash Exposure
• Where in the World?
• New Photo Discussion 1: Dreamy
• New Photo Discussion 2: Blue Dawn
• New Photo Discussion 3: Dancing in The Snow
• New Photo Discussion 4: Frog Shadow
• New Photo Discussion 5: Painted Water
• The Next Step: Where to Go From Here

Featured Photo: Chicago River Sunset

Chicago River Sunset © Leslie McLain Canon EOS 5D Mark ...

Featured Article: Off-Camera Flash: How to Get the Right Flash Exposure
BetterPhoto pro instructor Jim Zuckerman prefers off-camera flash because: 1) The light is much more dramatic, 2) The subjects have pronounced texture and dimension, and 3) I like to avoid that flat, pasty look of on-camera flash. Read his excellent article on how to get the best exposure!
Read more...
 

Where in the World?

 

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New Photo Discussions

New Photo Discussion 1: Dreamy D R E A M Y Lensbaby Pinhole Optic in very bright light. © Erica Murphy Canon EOS 1D MarkI... Perfect title for this inviting and beautiful image, Erica! - Deborah C. Lewinson See Deborah's Basic BetterPholio™ Visit newjerseyphotos.net - Deborah's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:Thank you Debby! - Erica Murphy See Erica's Basic BetterPholio™ Response 2:Great title for this dreamy beach scene. I love what you are doing with your new Lensbaby, Erica! Keep it up!!! - Donna Pagakis See Donna's Basic BetterPholio™ Response 3:Thanks Donna! I always enjoy trying new things and seeing things differently. - Erica Murphy See Erica's Basic BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 2: Blue Dawn Blue Dawn 4/25 Flowers Blue Dawn Morning Glory, 3 second exposure in low evening light. © Michael Kroth Nikon D40 Digital ... Love the POV and beautiful lighting. Memoriee - Memoriee G. Sconce See Memoriee's Basic BetterPholio™ Response 1:Just brilliant, Michael. A favorite for me. - Michelle Alton See Michelle's Basic BetterPholio™ Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 3: Dancing in The Snow Dancing in The Snow Walt and Joanna dance amidst the snowflakes during their September wedding in Boulder, CO. Their outdoor wedding had been cancelled due to a major early winter storm that came in the previous day; they regrouped and held the wedding at a friend's home and then went outside for a dance in the afternoon. Shot with a 100mm f2 lens with Tri-X. © Paul F. Gero 4-Week Short Course: Introduction to Your Canon Flash Digital Wedding Photography Canon EOS 3 35mm S... Love the B&W. How did you achieve this? - Shawna Scabar See Shawna's Basic BetterPholio™ Response 1:Hi Shawna, That was shot on good old fashioned film (Tri-X, 400 ISO)... Lots of folks still shoot film (including me!)... Cameras are cheap compared to digital (you can get a used Elan 7 or 7e from a place called keh.com and find a camera for well under $100!)...or if you spend a bit more, you can get an EOS3 or EOS 1v (still the best film camera I have ever used)... Color negative film can still be processed and scanned - viola, you have your image in digital format! I use a great lab called Richard Photo Lab in LA (http://richardphotolab.com) and they have become the place for portrait and wedding photographers to send their work for processing and scanning. I highly recommend them! Hope that helps (probably more than you expected ;-) P.S.: Richard Photo Lab can also scan silver-based films like Tri-X in addition to the c41 (color negative films). There's even a c41 b & w film available that gives you some advantages in scanning...though I'm kind of a film purist and LOVE Tri-X. It's the first film I learned to shoot when I was a kid and it is still an awesome film. - Paul F. Gero See Paul Gero's Basic BetterPholio™ Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Paul Gero: 4-Week Short Course: Introduction to Your Canon Flash Digital Wedding Photography Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 4: Frog Shadow Frog Shadow Metal frog shadow (which is on a screen security door) appears on tile floor; f/19 @ 1/4 second, 105mm lens, ISO 200; tripod © Kerry Drager kerrydrager.com 4-Week Short Course: Creative Close-ups Creative Light and Composition Nikon D3 Digital S... Way cool shadow, could be spider man! - Emile Abbott See Emile's Basic BetterPholio™ Visit emile-abbott-photography.com - Emile's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:Hi Emile, Thanks for the nice comment - glad you like it ... and a fun observation too (Spider Man) :-) lol !!! Kerry P.S. This photo was the result of a self-assignment one day: searching around the house (next to windows and doors) for light-and-shadow scenes. This shadow caught my attention. As usual with stationary scenes, I used a tripod to keep the camera steady and to tweak the composition. I used a small aperture to ensure top to bottom sharpness (deep depth of field), plus I slanted the camera to get more of a diagonal angle. - Kerry Drager See Kerry Drager's Basic BetterPholio™ Visit Kerry Drager's Web Site - KerryDrager.com Take an Online PhotoCourse™ with Kerry Drager: 4-Week Short Course: Creative Close-ups Creative Light and Composition Read this discussion online Respond to this discussion

New Photo Discussion 5: Painted Water Painted Water This is a hot air balloon reflection on our lake in Lake Havasu City during the Hot Air Balloon Fest. This is not a filter, the only editing done was slight saturation to bring color out a tad more. Otherwise..it is what it is! © Jillian Danielson Canon EOS 1D Mark ... Wow!!!!! What a fantastic image, Jillian! The colors are like butter they are so rich! Wonderfully creative capture! I love it! - Sarah A. Christian See Sarah's Basic BetterPholio™ Visit schristian-photography.com - Sarah's Deluxe BetterPholio™ Response 1:Simply beautiful Jillian. Great eye to see this and capture it so perfectly. Love all the colors and abstract feel the ripples give it. - Marcie Fowler See Marcie's Basic BetterPholio™ Response 2:One more reason for all of us to look beyond the beauty of the obvious... to the water and the reflections created by its own palette. Congratulations for seeing and capturing both a fantastic image and the Gold! - Karen E. Baumann See Karen's Basic 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