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11 Gift Ideas for Photographers

November 21, 2012 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Looking for some awesome gift ideas for that serious photographer in your family. Here are my top ten, okay eleven gifts for the serious photographer, and a few fun ideas thrown in for good measure.

1.Lens Strap Holder

This is a must have for me. I’m always misplacing, losing and forgetting where I put my lens caps. Often I find on in a coat pocket, in the glove box of my car, or even under the seat. So I buy lens caps by the dozen, ok, maybe not that many, but I find them in coat pockets, under the seat of the car and in the couch cushion. I’ve tried lens cap keepers, you know the elastic with the string that dangles and those are an economical solution, but the lens clip holders that slide on the camera strap are really nice.

Now, repeat after me, I will not lose my lens cap, I will not lose my lens cap.

Universal Lens Cap Anti-losing Holder Clip Buckle for MegaGear Camera Buckle Lens Cap Holder for 67,5 Pieces Lens Cap Keeper Holder + Microfiber

2. Macro Extension Tube Adapters and Tools

I did get a set of extension tubes for Christmas since I wrote this, and they are wonderful, But, you do need additional tools to accomplish really good macro photography. I wish I had a real Macro lens, but they are out of my budget. I love taking flower porn shots in the spring and summer (just check it out) before you judge.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Fotodiox Canon EOS Macro Extension Tube Set for Extreme Close-Ups BiG DIGITAL Macro Ring Light Kit + Macro Extension tube set for Cowboystudio Macro Focusing Rail Set with 4 Way, Fine Control and Camera Fotodiox M-Reverse-77-Nikon-Kit RB2A 77MM Macro Reverse Ring Kit with G and DX

3.Fun Camera lenses

This isn’t a need, fun camera lenses such as fish eyes, tilt lenses and spy lenses that will shoot around the corner are just that, FUN. An escape and reason to be creative with your photography when life gets boring.

Opteka Voyeur Right Angle Spy Lens for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras Bower SLY358C Ultra Wide-Angle 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye Lens for Canon Lensbaby Spark for Canon

4. White Balance Cap

Oh this sounds so dreamy. Ever been in a setting where the color just doesn’t turn out right. Yellow cast in a room, gymnasiums with that awful yellow wooden floor, or the grey days that make skin tones blue. Just shoot a photo with this cap and automatically set your cameras white balance. Perfect tones.

BRNO baLens BAL58 58mm White Balance Snap-on Lens Cap with Neutral and Warm Domes Promaster SystemPRO White Balance Lens Cap – 52MM

5. Sturdy and Lightweight Tripod

Taking really sharp photos requires a steady hand, but more times than not it requires a tripod. One that won’t shake in the wind and one that will handle a 300-400mm lens without falling over. I borrowed my son’s professional tripod while he was in the Marines, but once he left for film school I had to give it back. Didn’t know it was a loan at the time.

Ravelli APGL4 New Professional 70 XCSOURCE Professional Portable Magnesium Aluminium Alloy Tripod Monopod Flexpod Flexible Tripod

6. Fun Photography Gifts

Not everything needs to be a lens, or a tool to improve your photography. Serious amateurs and photographers like to have a little fun, show of their hobby, or profession with novelty camera gifts. My favorite photo related gift I received was my Canon lens cup, I use it every day at work and it has fooled several people.

Fotodiox Camera Lens Shaped Self-Stirring Stainless Steel Interior 24-105mm Camera Lens Cup Travel Coffee Mug /The Shot Glass Lens Set – Looks Like High Quality 16 GB Camera shape USB Flash Vintage Camera Lens Necklace, Camera Pendant, 24 Vintage Camera Photo Album Lina & Lily Vintage Camera Print Loop Infinity

7. Fashionable Camera Bag

I’m sorry, but the the standard black Canon camera bag is boring, ugly, and unyielding. Don’t get me a wrong, it’s a standard in the industry, keeps your camera and lenses protected. But, I’m a woman, I want a little variety and when I don’t need to carry ALL my lenses I just need a combination purse-camera bag combination.

The camera bag insert looks amazing. With as many times as I change purses why wouldn’t I want to change camera bags. This insert will fit into any large size pouch purse or fun shopping bag, all while keeping your camera and gear protected. Makes sense to me!

JAVOedge Medium Synthetic Leather Camera Messenger Style Bag for Nikon/Canon/Sony/Pentax/Panasonic DSLR (Light Brown)Koolertron Vintage fashionable Canvas DSLR Camera Bag Shoulder Messenger Bag Fit DSLR with 3 lenses For Canon Sony Nikon Canon Olympus And So On Features: (Green)Evecase Large Canvas Outdoor Travel Camera Case/Bag w/Laptop Compartment & Rain Cover for Nikon D810, D800/D800E, D750, D700, D610, D600, D90, D80, D60, D4S, D4, D7100, D7000, D5300, D5200, D3300 (Olive)Kelly Moore B Hobo Bag – Walnut Clik Elite Klettern Backpack for Photographers CE735GR BBP DSLR Camera Insert, Make Your Own Camera Bag – Orange

8.Photography Books

Yes, I know you can learn everything about photography from the internet and YouTube, so why would you want a photography book? It’s the same difference between looking at your photos on a computer or actually holding a photograph in your hand. With a how to Photoshop book you can write in the margins, bookmark, make notes and admire the amazing photographs anywhere, any place while being unplugged.

Adobe Photoshop CC Classroom in a Book Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Book: The Complete Guide Improve Your Wildlife Photography (Improve Your Photography Book Pet Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots Newborn Photography Made Easy Insights From Beyond the Lens: Inside the Art Mastering Macro Photography – Ideas, Tips, Tutorials &

9.Wancom Tablet

I love photo editing and graphic design and use Photoshop all the time. I would like to learn how to take my photographs and art to the next level and a Wancom tablet seems to be the next step. Many newborn photographers rely on their Wancom to smooth blotchy baby skin tones, and senior photographers use it to erase acne from teenagers. Then there are the digital artists that can take

Wacom banboo one Pen Tablet CTL471 for PC How to Draw Digital Art in Photoshop Digital Paintings 2001-2015: 14 years with a Wacom®

10.Moniter Calibration System:

Ever wonder why the prints you get back are not the same color as what you saw on your screen, or what you saw on your friends screen? It’s because monitors go out of calibration and mess with our heads. Extremely important if you’re adjusting skin tones and really need the magenta to be accurate. Lately I designed something that contained burgundy. But when it was printed the color was brown. I liked it still the same, but not what I expected. Hint, hint to any of my family who is thinking of something for Christmas.

X-Rite CMUNPH ColorMunki Photo ColorVision Spyder2PRO Win/Mac

11. Black Rapid Camera Strap

Nope, couldn’t hold myself to 10, I have a love/hate relationship with my camera strap. It’s a pain to wear around your neck, but it’s a pain to carry the camera separately. The Black Rapid or Luma strap is ergonomically friendly and I think I would like it better than what I have now. The solution to not wearing my camera around my neck is the hand grip strap, then I wouldn’t have to worry about the strap getting in the way at all.

OP/TECH USA 3510242 Utility Strap-Sling Connector for Fast Black Rapid RS-Sport Strap – Slimmer Version with eForCity Leather Hand Grip Strap Compatible with Nikon

Now that I’ve gone over my limit, and can see what I consider essential camera gifts for the photographer, what else would you add? I, on purpose, did not add any iPhone accessories, since I don’t own an iPhone, but there are tons of very cool gadgets for iPhones for the casual and serious iPhonetographer. (is that a word?)

I have a 3 Quarter Camera Store on Amazon with all the cool stuff that you may not be able to find in your local “big box store”

Online Camera and Camcorder Sales in the US Industry Market Research …

Demand for photography services, such as those used for weddings, school pictures and family portraits, also rose, therefore, increasing demand for photography supplies. As a result of these positive trends, overall revenue for the Online Camera and …

What Not to Buy on Amazon

Plus, this study only looked at just a single day of Amazon pricing, and since the retailer frequently changes its pricing, it may be worth it for consumers to check prices even on expensive things like electronics and photography supplies there.

Denny Manufacturing Releases 2015 Catalog Early

We are honored that photographers continue to choose us as their source for photography supplies. Readers will also see great prices on vinyl banners and expansion of products offered in the photo gifts division, http://www.photonovelty.com. You can …

Best Photography Apps for Smartphones

We live in a wonderful digital age where the ability to capture life’s memories are at our fingertips. Smartphones have made making memories and even having some fun with them as easy as the touch of a button. With that in mind, here are 10 great apps …

Summertime Sports Photography

June 7, 2012 by info@3QuartersToday.com

I am always trying to expand my photography skills and shoot different topics, events, and subjects.

It isn’t often I have full permission from my daughter to take my camera (Canon Rebel XS) to her softball game. So when I got the chance I took it, and did I ever experiment with night action sports photography. Not easy, but I finally did get the hang of it. I set my camera on manual and just played until I got it right.

The above picture was taken with at 1600 ISO, 5.6 F stop, and a 1/160 shutter speed, 75 mm zoom with a continuous burst with the camera file size at small for a faster response. With the exception of the graininess at the high ISO I’m pretty happy with the results.

Again graininess with 1600 ISO, but right now I can’t see anyway around it, 800 was too dark with the needed shutter speed. The second photo was on large/RAW file size and was a little dark in the original image. With the lens resting on the fence I shot through the chain link at 300mm focal length, 1/160th of a second at a 5.6f

I increased the exposure in Lightroom, cropped the original horizontal shot to vertical, decreased the white and decreased the shadows. Don’t like how the grain distorts the background player, but couldn’t figure out a way to compensate.

Day of Softball and Summer — 400 ISO, 1/125 sec, f10 focal 105mm Aperture Priority

The last photo was obviously taken earlier in the night before the sun went down. All I did here was decrease the exposure, increase shadows, and warm the white balance. My camera tends to shoot cool (blue) and a the sun was glowing on all the players. I try really hard for realism in my editing and this is what my eye saw.

My daughter has played softball since T-ball in preschool starting at Elmwood-Murdock, then Lincoln Y-league, Eagle, and the past three years for Louisville. The Louisville team joined the Omaha league a few years ago and the first year they didn’t win a game. Competition was a little harder than their previous league and the girls had to try a little harder. The record the next year was about a 50:50 record.

A lot of the girls play on two teams, most of the teams are Select and have the intimidating matching travel bags, and “muscle” jerseys. Most play school ball, but it doesn’t matter what they look like, can they play? My daughter loves the game, she only plays during the summer and she has a mean steal and isn’t afraid to use it and slide to where she wants to go.

Photography Tips

Anticipate your shots, know when the pitcher is going to throw.
Push your ISO as high as you need to get a 1/200 speed exposure
Use a lower aperture, backgrounds will blur, but you will accent your subject.
Use a tripod, monopod, or rest your camera on a steady surface. Fence gaps work well
Get the “personality” shots, the concentration of the pitcher, or first base.
Shoot in RAW for “still” shot, JPG continuous for action
Use your longest zoom for outfield shots, even 2nd base is a long ways off

I’m a big proponent of shooting in RAW, but there are many instances that a regular JPG photo will work just fine, especially if you taking the photos for yourself and just going to post to Facebook and share with friends. If you’re goal is to enlarge the photos, post them for sale, or use them commercially, then a camera with a wider range of options is necessary.

Understanding ISO Sensitivity (nikonusa.com)
Photography and the “Big 3″ (joshmsmith.wordpress.com)
ISO – What is it and how do I use it? (joestechthoughts.wordpress.com)
Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority: Exposure Lesson #1 (digital-photography-school.com)
American Legion Baseball (3QuartersToday.com)

#2/52: Early Morning Commute, Country Style

January 15, 2012 by info@3QuartersToday.com

I pass this barn between Elmwood and Murdock every morning as I drive to work. My commute is about twenty eight miles and takes about 35 minutes to arrive in the parking lot at Hamilton Color Lab. My first fifteen minutes looks about like this before I get to the I-80 interstate.

The full moon behind the barn was just too good to pass by, maybe next time I’ll remember to put my camera setting on RAW.

This is Week 2 of my Project 52, here’s hoping to better and better pictures with my new camera my son gave me for Christmas.

Week 1: Happy New Year 2012

January 1, 2012 by info@3QuartersToday.com

I’m going to try my 365 project again, but this year make it realistic and try the 52 Week project. I’ll still try and add extra postings in between as I learn more about my camera, have a recipe to post, or food pictures. But I’m setting myself up to succeed, with less stress.

Last year was my first 365 project and I made it to day 312 posting everyday, but then life got in the way. I still consider it a success. I made some new friends, learned more about my camera and ultimately achieved my goal. I received a new camera. More on that later.

For today this week, it’s a simple Happy New Year 2012