Try Backlight in your Photos

Contrary to popular belief stunning photographs can be taken when shooting into the light. Whilst this may contradict advice given to beginners to always shoot with the light coming from behind the camera the art of backlighting is a technique that can produce wonderful images. However, many nature photographers are intimidated by the idea of pointing the camera towards the light and shy away from many worthwhile opportunities.

Phil McDermott has a nice article on The Art Of Backlighting and gives us the goods on how he has mastered this technique.

How Much Money do Photographers Make

Interested in knowing the average salary of a photographer? Well the answer to such a questions is always a little more complex and therefore requires a little thought before a solid number is able to be given. First of all, it should be noted that there is a wide discrepancy between the earnings of photographers. Some make very little money, others spend more money than they make, while still others make decent livings, some of whom even make upwards of $100,000 a year. However, according to statistics the average photographer makes between $14,000 and $54,748 with the median falling somewhere in between those two numbers.

If you want to be a photographer who makes more money than average you?ll need to be very strategic with how you approach your career. Read these tips to ensure that you earn as much as possible during your tenure as a photographer.

Tags: money, photographer, paparazzi

Converting Digital Images to Black and White

How do you convert your colour images to black and white?  Or should I ask- Do you convert your images to black and white?

Photodoto reminds us of the drama and power only available in black and white photography and tells us how to go about getting the best results-

"By eliminating color, black and white forces us to concentrate on other aspects of the photo. Textures. Lines. Something as simple as a surface receding into shadow becomes positively sensuous when care is taken in the conversion process. There are many techniques for converting a color image to black and white. The only consensus seems to be that simply converting to grayscale is the wrong way to do it."

Read Converting color images to black and white

Tags: BW, black and white, greyscale, grayscale

Buying A Digital Camera That Matches Your Photography Skill

For many folks buying a digital camera can be a confusing and bewildering purchase since there are so many models to choose from and so many different types of digital cameras. Unless you are a photography hobbyist you probably won't be familiar with all of the acronyms and language used to describe the features of each camera.

Thad Pickering has written Your Guide To Buying A Digital Camera That Matches Your Photography Skill and provides general suggestions but hopefully they can help point you in the right direction so that you can more easily select and buy the digital camera that will most closely match your photographic skills.

Start Today to Sell Your Photos

"I have a great product, and I know exactly where it can be sold at this moment. But the only thing standing between me and seeing my product in national circulation is procrastination." Have you heard this before? By applying the same management techniques that are used by successful businesses, you can move your stock photography operation forward.

Read Rohn Engh's article-

Start Today to Sell Your Photos

You're probably not going to find a lot of information on forensic photography. The truth is, this is an area of photography that your typical photographer does not get into. You're dealing with taking photos of people who have been brutally murdered and an assortment of other crimes. Forensic photography is not for the weak stomach. But just what is involved in becoming a forensic photographer? The course outline may not rival going to medical school, but it's quite a handful.

Michael Russell has written a short article on the topic iff you're thinking that this is something you'd like to do, head over and read:

Forensic Photography

ACD Systems releases ACDSee Photo Editor

Today, ACD Systems announced the release of ACDSee Photo Editor (http://www.acdseephotoeditor.com/) - an innovative photo editing application that offers memory keepers and photo enthusiasts the tools and guidance needed to turn their digital photos into something truly special and unique.

ACD Systems Introduces ACDSee(tm) Photo Editor - the Groundbreaking Photo Editing Software that Redefines Digital Creativity

New software teaches users how to be creative with their digital photos with easy-to-use features and guided walk-throughs that produce amazing creative results.

VICTORIA, British Columbia -July 6, 2006 - ACD Systems International Inc. (TSX: ASA),makers of ACDSee(tm) photo management software and Canvas(tm) technical illustration software, announced today the release of ACDSee Photo Editor - an innovative photo editing application that offers memory keepers and photo enthusiasts� the tools and guidance needed to turn their digital photos into something truly special and unique.

ACDSee Photo Editor helps photo enthusiasts of all levels turn their creative inspiration into photo perfection. From performing quick fixes such as lighting and red-eye correction to creating fun projects like scrapbook pages, CD covers, invitations, and more, Photo Editor walks you through the creative process, step-by-step, using interactive How-To lessons easy enough for even beginners to quickly master, yet powerful enough to handle the most creative details.

For people just starting out with photo editing, Photo Editor offers unique tools designed to make usually complex tasks much easier to accomplish. It does so by providing users with a sense of confidence and direction right from the very first time they use the application, so they can learn while doing, guided by the program itself.

Some of the major features in the programs that make photo editing easy and enjoyable for users include:

  How-tos:Offer guided walk-throughs of projects that teach you how to be creative with your photos step-by-step, from start to finish. That way, users can easily create CD covers, albums, and other great creative projects from the very first time they open the application.

  Vignette Tool:Creates stunning portrait-style photos in one simple action - streamlining and facilitating a process for new users that would normally require more advanced techniques.

  Adjustment/Filter Variations:Simplifies the creative process by displaying up to eight different previews of your original photo, right on screen, each preview showing a different variation of the effect, adjustment, or filter you're applying.

  Text Support:Simplifies the process of adding clever, descriptive text to your creative projects and provides the option to wrap text into thought bubbles or curve your text with a�simple click.

  Batch Process:Saves time by allowing users to perform certain processes like applying an adjustment/filter, copying objects such as logos, clipart, or images, or creating vignettes to more than one photo at a time with just a couple of clicks.

  Cookie Cutter Tool:Crops your creation into fun shapes like letters, numbers, animals, or shapes, or add distinctive borders to your projects with a simple click.

Photo Editor also contains deeper features that meet the needs of more advanced users. Advanced users can create complex projects in Photo Editor's object-based environment using selection tools, gradients, masking techniques, blending modes, and in-depth vector object support.

"Photo Editor is the next step in our strategy of offering exceptional products at a reasonable price for specific audiences," said James Latham, vice president of marketing for ACD Systems. "The product is made for the population of creative individuals without the time or inclination to master such complex products as Photoshop, but who nevertheless have the desire to imbue their photos with creativity."

Pricing and Availability

The full version of ACDSee Photo Editor is available in English for $69.99 (USD), $49.99 for the upgrade from ACDSee Photo Editor 3.1, ACDSee PowerPack, or FotoCanvas. For more information, visit www.acdsee.com.

About ACD Systems

Headquartered in British Columbia since 1993, ACD Systems International Inc. (TSX: ASA) is one of the world's leading developers and marketers of digital imaging software, including the renowned ACDSee image management tool and Canvas, an advanced cross-platform technical illustration and graphics program. ACD has delivered value to a global marketplace through Internet distribution and partnerships with manufacturers and developers.� ACD has millions of consumer and business users, and over 33,000 corporate customers including many Fortune 500 companies.� For further details, please visit www.acdsee.com.

ACD, ACD Systems, ACDSee, and FotoSlate are trademarks or registered trademarks of ACD Systems Ltd. in Canada, the United States, or certain other jurisdictions. Trademarks of ACD Systems Ltd. are used under license by ACD Systems of America, Inc. Canvas is a trademark or registered trademark of ACD Systems of America, Inc. in Canada, the United States, or certain other jurisdictions. Trademarks of ACD Systems of America, Inc. are used under license by ACD Systems Ltd.

Contact for Media James Latham Vice President, Marketing ACD Systems International Inc. TEL: (250) 544-6700 FAX: (250) 544-0291 pr@acdsee.com

Contact for Investors Doug Vanderkerkhove Investor Relations ACD Systems International Inc. TEL: (250) 544-6700 FAX: (250) 544-0291 ir@acdsee.com

THIS NEWS RELEASE MAY CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS BASED ON THE ESTIMATES AND OPINIONS OF MANAGEMENT AT THE DATE THE STATEMENTS WERE MADE AND THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS IF CONDITIONS OR OPINIONS SHOULD CHANGE.

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