Give Your Photos a Fresh Start

With the end of the holiday season comes a new year and the promise of a fresh start.  Now’s the perfect time to consider a few new resolutions when it comes to your favorite photographs, but don’t worry—none of these recommendations include a treadmill or dessert bans! These three steps will have you organized and backed up in no time flat.  Just pick one half hour once a week and you’ll be amazed at how well-sorted your photo library becomes!

Out With the Old:  Did you know that the average person has about 1,500 digital photographs on her computer?  Sometimes the mediocre pics crowd out the truly stellar ones, and too many random images can clutter your collection as well as your hard drive.  All you need is a half-hour in front of the computer to sort through your photographs.  Delete the blurred images, the duplicate photos and pictures of old acquaintances with whom you no longer stay connected.

For those who take photographs for school or fundraiser events, now is the time to copy the images to CD/DVD and deliver them to the proper people.  Your hard drive will thank you and you’ll feel better knowing they made it into the right hands.

Find Your Favorites:  Many photo organizing software programs have a function that lets you mark your favorites so you can find them for the next slide show, gift, or scrapbook project.  It only takes a little time to scan through your pictures to find your favorites and tag them accordingly.  You can then easily select those favorites and copy them to CD/DVD to send to loved ones or relatives.

Hard-Copy Back-Up Made Easy:  Now that you’ve deleted the old photos, marked and organized them, take one of the CDs that you made and bring it to our shop for 4x6 prints.  Viewing photos on the computer is fine but nothing compares to the experience of holding a printed photograph in your hand.  Plus, a printed-picture is the perfect back-up solution as paper doesn’t crash! Better yet, make two copies—one to keep and one to share.

 

Meet Emma.

Well if you guys remember a while back we where asking for suggestions and recommendations on who should be the new face to represent FWC.... (Old Blog Post) and the majority agreed!

Meet Emma, she is a 5-year-old female Weimaraner.

Qualifications:  She is great with people, easy going, great listener, plays well with others, likes children, she is patient, and respects boundaries. All thou we find out she likes to express her verbally to people who wear hats.

Hrs of availability: All day Wednesdays

Her Duties: Is to save you money!

For the moment Emma is staying home recovering from her spaying surgery. Thanks to Dr. Spikes and the staff at A-Animal Clinic, Emma's recovery is coming along smoothly.

Please keep and eye for "Emma is in the House" savings. Savings will vary week by week and it will happen only when Emma is in, so don't miss out.

Telling Your Story

Telling Your Story: How to Create a Powerful Photo Essay 

Photography has long been considered a powerful storytelling medium, and the photo essay is simply a more deliberate method of telling a particular story or chronicling a certain event.   Photojournalists such as Lauren Greenfield and Deanne Fitzmaurice have captured our imaginations and touched us through powerful photo narrative, and with today’s digital technology and a few storytelling techniques, you can begin experimenting with your own photo essays. 

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

·       Clearly Define Your Story:  It can be as simple as the first day or school or something more complex such as a controversial topic or current event.  Whatever the case may be, make sure you can clearly define it and explain it in one or two sentences.  The clarity gleaned from this exercise will help guide you throughout the process.

·       Go a Little Deeper:  Consider what aspects of the story you wish to convey.  Is it the wonder of seeing a natural wonder for the first time? The excitement of playing in a first little league game? Spend a little time contemplating the topic as you may uncover other aspects of the event to explore.

·       Plan Your Images in Advance:  It doesn’t have to be exact, but think about each photograph as a paragraph or chapter of your story.  How many images you take is up to you as each story is unique.  You may find that ten images portray the event as you wish while others may take fifteen or twenty.  There is no right or wrong number;  just make sure that each photo serves a particular purpose and plays a role in moving the story forward.

·       Consider How to Share Your Story: Continue to play with your creativity by enlarging the photos and having them mounted or framed as a series. We’d be happy to help you put the final polish on your photo essay. The completed result can become a wonderful conversation piece hanging in your living room or even in a local community center or art gallery!  

Taking It All In:

Your Guide to Fantastic Panoramic Photographs

Summer vacations often include locations with amazing outdoor scenery and stunning landscapes.  The desire to shoot panoramic photographs once meant investing in expensive equipment, but digital photography advancements mean that you can create picturesque panoramic s with your existing camera and computer. If you’ve hit the road in search of the great outdoors, make sure your images do Mother Nature justice.

Get in the Mode:  Check your camera to see if you have a panoramic mode.  If you aren’t sure, thumb through the menu or the manual to find out.  The panoramic mode is designed to help stabilize lighting conditions between photos in the series, and it will not change exposures between pictures as it would in automatic mode. 

Learn to Stitch:  Most of today’s image editing programs have a stitching tool that is designed to create a panoramic image from multiple pictures.  You may also be able to find a free software plug-in specifically for this purpose.  Check online for the options available.  You should be able to get what you need at no cost.

Stand Strong: Make sure to stand in the same position throughout shooting your series of images.  A slight adjustment of your location can result in photographs that don’t properly line up during the stitching process.   A quality tripod can help you retain your position while also keeping your camera stable. We offer a number of quality models here: http://www.promaster.com/products/tripods

Be Open to Overlap:  Make sure to leave some overlap on each image so that the photos can be properly combined.  When shooting the subsequent image, consider a 15-30% overlap of scene from the previous one.

Keep it Clean:  Nothing can ruin a fantastic panoramic picture like a finger smudge or dirt spec on your camera’s lens.  Keep a lens cleaning solution and cloth in your camera bag.  Many vacation photos have been ruined due to smudges and dirt, so a little preparation really pays off. http://www.promaster.com/products/cleaning

 

Try it Vertical:  Shooting a waterfall or other vertical wonder of nature requires the same basic principles as shooting a traditional horizontal panoramic.  Feel free to play with the images until you get the feel for shooting vertically.  You may find that the vertical element gives an additional creative twist to your panoramic photography!

Getting Great Underwater Photos

Summer means swimming pools and ocean depths, and those fun moments can be photographed even when everyone is wet! Aquatic photography does require a bit more planning and additional equipment, but for those who venture into this form of imaging, the results are well worth the effort.

Many of the same basic photographic principles apply regardless of whether your subject is in the shallow end of a pool or immersed in the Pacific. However, different environments do require different considerations. It’s important to remember safety above all, so make sure that you have the proper training and certification, and always be aware of your environment. Shooting underwater requires learning how to work within certain constraints and limitations such as a confined space, fast moving sea life and limited light.

Consider these tips the next time you consider shooting underwater:

Hone your Diving Skills: If you’re shooting in the deep, you’ll need to be able to keep yourself stable. Buoyancy control is very important in this environment and can have a great impact on the results you achieve.

Keep it Close: You’ll want to shoot your subjects closer than normal. Try to keep the distance less than two feet if possible. The water will ‘swallow’ light and getting well-illuminated shots is far more challenging if you’re shooting from farther away. You’ll also find that color fades the deeper you dive, so this is another consideration. Your flash won’t be as effective either, so try to close the gap between you and your subject.

Enlarge Your Subject: Try shooting upward to better capture your subject. This approach makes subjects appear grander and will allow you to show greater detail as well. This is a powerful technique in aquatic photography that adds scale and dimension to underwater life.

Pool Fun Photos: Try to shoot when the sun is overhead and strong, which is usually between 10am-2pm. This allows you to use the robust light to your advantage. You can also experiment with capturing action dive shots above and below water. Try a few test runs (kids love to ‘cannonball,’ so this shouldn’t be a problem) to make sure your placement allows you to capture the best shots.

Waterproofing Options: If underwater photography is something you’d like to pursue in a regular basis, consider purchasing a waterproof camera. There are a variety of models that can operate in wet conditions without fear of damage. If you prefer to use your existing camera, there are a number of watertight camera housings that will allow you to take your camera into the deep. Stop by our store and we’ll be put together the right solution for you.

Rent Scenic Backgrounds.com by Westcott

Would you like to save hundreds of dollars and have your images be the talk of the town? If you answered yes, then you've found the right place. Most companies charge about $300.00 to buy one single scenic background that only gives you one look for all the images you take. No one wants their photo to look the same as their neighbors did. Would you?

For only $49.99 (or $29.99 for those of you that most likely have "the coupon code") you could rent 6-10 backgrounds for the same price you could buy just one.

For you senior portrait and fashion photographers, options of over 100 backgrounds can set you apart from your competition ~ that has been using the same bench and garden background for years. Let your client choose backgrounds ahead of time, discuss clothing, then have it shipped in for the shoot and returned within a week.

For the photo enthusiast, get creative! Holiday cards, greeting cards, birthday invitations and more. The list is endless. The amount of things you can place an image onto now is mind boggling. Blankets, mouse pads, coffee cups, clothing...give a gift that is personalized and unique.

Take a look at what Westcott has to offer!

SAVE $20!

Use Code:AM0662QZ

Looking for Shiny Happy People.

We are so fortunate that Fort Worth Camera is continuing to grow. Due to this growth, we are looking to expand our fortune to "shiny happy people" (any R.E.M. fans?) who are looking for a fast paced professional environment?  We have both part-time and full-time positions available. Retail experience is a plus; reliability and  an energetic personality is a must. What are your strengths... we want to know!

Graphics: fluent in Photoshop, iPhoto, Aperture, Lightroom, etc.
Specialty Sales: cars, jewelry, boats, homes, pharmaceuticals, etc.

Retail: Department store sales, Jack in the box, Payless, etc.
Photography Experience: My Kids only, Point and shoot only, SLR's, Studio Photography, Weddings, Freelance, etc.

How to apply: Please come in to fill out a mini-application at Fort Worth Camera , 2900 W. 6th. St, Fort Worth, TX 76107 during store hours. Bring in your resume and INCLUDE your contacts and reference. 

In Loving Memory

David Pearson

1958-2009

Fort Worth Camera will be closing at Noon on Monday, July 13 to honor our beloved David Pearson. FWC staff will be attending memorial service.

He was a dear friend to many and forever will be missed.

Dallas Zoo Photography Contest

Feathers Fur & Scales

 Photographs taken at the Dallas Zoo between April 1, 2009 and September 30, 2009 are eligible for competition.

Registration Form

"Pic of the Day"

Visit our new blog and participate. Share your favorite images with friends, family and the Fort Worth Camera supporting community.

PIC OF THE DAY

Summer Travel

Summertime signals that adventure awaits. There are family excursions, girls’ weekend trips, father/son outings and solo journeys ahead. Now’s a good time to get your gear ready and pick up any accessories you might need to make your trip a photographic nirvana.

Whether it’s a weekend trip or a two month-trek, here are a few items you’ll need to make sure your travel bag is ready to go.

Expand Your View: There’s no better time to consider a new lens for your camera than when you’re about to embark on a new adventure. A new lens can help you see your environment in an entirely different way and help you take your photography to a higher level. Let us show you how a new lens can expand your view: http://www.promaster.com/products/lenses

Pick the Perfect Bag: The right camera bag is critical in keeping your photography gear protected and organized. Whether you’re looking for a backpack with compartments, a messenger style for hands-free access jet-setting or a waterproof model for turbulent weather conditions, it’s important to find the right fit for your travel needs. We have a variety of choices and can help you find the perfect bag to accompany you on your journeys. http://www.promaster.com/products/bags

Extra Memory Cards: It’s a safe bet that you’ll be taking tons of pictures so make sure you have enough memory cards to keep up with the entire trip. You’ll want to choose high quality digital memory cards with a high-speed transfer rate. We offer a wide selection here: http://www.promaster.com/products/memorycards

Rechargeable Batteries: Don’t get caught with a dead battery in the middle of your trip. Just tuck an extra rechargeable battery in your bag and it will help carry you through your entire trip. And don’t forget to pack the charger! Here are a few high quality batteries to consider: http://www.promaster.com/products/batteries

Travel Back-Up Method: Do you have a way to download and protect your digital pictures while you’re on the road? If you’re traveling with a laptop, consider using an online photo backup service or a portable external hard drive. Give us a call or come by the store so we can find which model would work best for your needs and budget.

Grand Re-Opening Sales Continue!

We invite you to come in and take advantage of all the clearance offers and great value.

How Do I Get to the New Store?

We have moved! Thank you for all of you patience. We are finally in our new store, we still have to tighten some loose ends but we are ready to help!

Photo Round-Up!

Hi Guys,

 Thank you for all your support.  Fort Worth Camera is inviting you, our customers, to help us improve our website, our blog, and our showroom, by displaying fresh and creative new images in our brand new store. We are encouraging you to submit images that are creative and best represent your talent.

Work may be on any category, including:  Landscape, Macro and Close-up, Stills, Sports, Travel, Pets and People-- lots of people!  People categories will include, but not limited to, Kids, Babies, Senior shots, Graduation, at play, at parties, at the lake, at the park, B-day fun and, remember, many happy people. We would also like images that highlight the core rules of photography, for example, rule of thirds, framing your subject, shutter speed and aperture priority, panning, shallow and great depth of field.

All images are subject to prior approval by Fort Worth Camera (FWC) staff before images may be used.  By submitting images you agree to allow FWC to use any or all images submitted in anyway needed, e.i. on our website, in-store artwork, and new product samples. Please be advised, you as a photographer, will be the copyright owner of the images, and you are only agreeing that the image(s) be used by FWC.  

Images should be submitted to:

fortworthcamera@gmail.com

In your E-mail please state the following:

• Title of your Image


• Photographers full name


• In your own words, please state that you are releasing copyrights to allow FWC to use all images for website, in-store use, product samples, classes and seminar material, printed ad's and uses as needed. 

New Position Opening!

We finally convinced Jeff we need a new fresh face for you guys to come and visit at the store. So we are looking for a talented individual with experience. The following qualifications are a must: Great with people, easy going, great listener, gets along with others, likes children, is patient, likes to play, respects boundaries, obedience as a first priority, and available to wag its tail when you come to visit.  Please let us know if you know of anyone qualified and with the following characteristics. Here are our three final candidates:

1) Blue Great Dane.

2) Vizsla.

2) Weimaraner.

So please cast your vote. Let us now your opinion and by whom would you like to be greeted by next time you come to see us at our new store!

Does Size Really Matter?

Well, it should when it comes to memory cards!

All thou is absolutely impossible to know the exact number of images that can possibly fit into any memory card, due to the inconsistency of the size of your image files. You can at least get an idea about what size of Memory Card you should purchase according to your needs. Hope that the following chart makes your decision a little bit easier.