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Art or Science: the True Nature of Digital Photography

What is the true nature of digital photography? Many people have been asking this question for a long time. In fact, when people ask the question about the true nature of digital photography, they often mean to ask whether it is art or it is science.

Here are some arguments for both sides:

A) Art - many people consider digital photography as an art because it allows for an expression of emotion. They believe that digital photography is a continuation of the art of drawing or painting. You see, digital photography is just like painting in the sense that although it does take accurate pictures of reality, it also allows for some modification through the various digital tools available today.

Even without the editing many people still believe that digital photography is art because of the fact that it does take an artist’s eye to find a great subject of digital photography. The nature of digital photography as an art has something to do with the fact that an artist is able to express emotions and statements through visual subjects.

The supporters of the “artistic nature of digital photography” also argue their case by stating its ability to convey emotional messages through aesthetics. The beauty of each photograph, of course, needs also to be credited to the person taking the pictures. One of the strongest arguments for the artistic nature of digital photography is the fact that the picture is rarely really what is seen with the naked eye. Through the camera and computer, a person can alter the image in order to present what he or she wants to show.

B) Science - some people argue that science is the true nature of digital photography. One argument is that photography, unlike painting, actually comes from something existing and not from a painters mind or emotion. This can be very persuasive since, indeed, a photographer does not actually make photographs. He or she merely takes them.

Another argument regarding the scientific nature of digital photography is the fact that the editing that people do and adjustments that photographers make are based on a series of steps that can be narrowed down scientifically. People who argue for the scientific nature of digital photography may reason that the same series of steps can be taken in order to achieve the same results. There is a certain quality of constancy about digital photography that renders it a science.

But what is the true nature of digital photography? We have read the various arguments supporting science and art. There appears to be no solution to this question, right?

The true nature of digital photography will always remain to be a paradox. This means that though it can be considered as an art, it can also be considered as a science. When is the paradox of the nature of digital photography solved? Well, it is solved when a person takes a digital photograph.

The true nature of digital photography lies in the hands of the person who takes the pictures. The way a person treats the process defines the nature of digital photography for him or her. It is not absolutely art nor is it absolutely science. The true nature of digital photography is a paradox. It might seem to be contradictory, but it is somehow true.

Equipments Used in Digital Photography

So you want to take up digital photography? While most of
the specialized equipments used in this field are pricey,
you can take it up on a budget.

Below is a list of the pieces of equipment used in digital
photography along with some recommendations whether or not
amateur photographers really need them.

1. Digital camera

- anyone who wants to take digital photographs needs this
of course. While there are higher end models out there with
dozens of pixels available, you should first find out your
needs before buying one.

Do you plan to take only pictures of your friends during
parties? Maybe a point and shoot model would fit you
better. If your needs are much simpler, you can opt to just
buy a camera phone with a decent resolution.

2. Memory

- this is another consideration when buying digital
cameras. If you’re a professional photographer, you will
need tons of memory so you should buy those with large
capacities.

3. Tripod

- need to keep that image stable? A good camera with an
image stabilizer can do that for you.

If however, you have more specific needs, you may opt to
buy a tripod for your camera. It keeps your camera stable
far better than your hands can, resulting in clearer
images.

4. Lighting

- if you work in a studio and need more controlled
lighting, then you’ll need specialized lighting equipment.
But if you’re just a point and shoot photographer, you can
survive with your camera’s built-in flash.

Storage Types for Digital Cameras

Unlike the 35mm film camera which differed only in the
number of shots and manufacturers, different digital
cameras use different storage media.

This is usually the case for different camera manufacturers
as some brands prefer to have a proprietary storage medium
for their cameras.

Aside from the different types of storage media, they also
differ in the amount of memory they can handle. Today’s
cameras eat up more memory which is why bigger memory is
the order of the day especially for professionals.

Here are some of the most popular storage media used by
digital cameras today:

1. Compact flash

- this is perhaps the most common storage device for
digital cameras, especially high-end ones like digital
SLRs.

Compact flash memory comes in two flavors: Type I and II.
Most cameras accept Type I although the Type II varieties
have a higher capacity.

2. Memory Stick

- this is a proprietary storage media produced and
developed by Sony not only for their digital cameras but
also on their other products.

Early Memory Sticks were able to store only up to 256MB
although Sony has already come up with the Memory Stick Pro
which has capacities up to 1GB.

3. Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMedia Cards

- are yet other varieties of storage media. Aside from
digital cameras, they can also be used on a host of devices
such as mobile phones.

These varieties are the smallest among storage media
especially when the micro SD memory was introduced to the
public. The SD card and the MMC (MultiMedia Card) are
basically the same except for the fact that SD cards have a
write-protect switch to protect the data that is stored
inside.

Digital Photography Made Easy

Today, digital photography is considered the most popular not only in the business industry but also for personal use. For all those who have shifted from film cameras, it is vital that you know the different terms related to it.

The first part of the digital photography tutorial will focus on the basic parts and terms you need to know before handling a digital camera. Below are the common terms used in digital photography:

1. Pixel- means the tiniest part of the digital photo. A photo image is composed of combined millions of pixel.
2. Resolution- the over all quantity of pixels in a photo. Increasing the resolution would make the image become sharper. Thus more pixels are needed to achieve a better photo image quality.
3. Mega pixel- a photo composed of three to four mega pixels will have a better quality that a photo with only one mega pixel.
4. Dots Per Inch (DPI) - this term is used to describe quality of the computer monitor and printer. Specifically, laser printers have more dpi resolution than monitors. Hence, higher the dpi resolution means better quality.
5. JPEG (joint photographic experts group) - it correspond to the format for saving images in the digital camera.
6. Memory Card- this is where the digital files are stored. Memory cards consist of different sizes and capacity. A memory card with higher storage capacity would be more convenient to purchase.
7. LCD (liquid crystal display) - almost all digital cameras have this specification. The purpose of LCD is for the photographer to be able to view the scene first before capturing the photo.

Now that you already understand the first part of the digital photography tutorial, the second part will discuss basically on correct handling of digital camera.

Proper handling of digital camera is the next important step in digital photography. This is because the success of a digital photographer depends on his output. And the key to achieve quality photos starts in the way you use and handle the digital camera.

Learning how a digital camera works, understanding the strategies in taking photos, and how to take indoor and outdoor pictures are all part of the things a beginner should learn.

Below is the second part of the digital photography tutorial. These are good ideas to help beginner master the secrets of taking photos.

1. Pay attention to the subject

One of the most fundamental digital photography tips. You should be able to compose carefully by working on the frame. Play with your camera, and explore the different shots. Avoid positioning your object at the center of the photo, as it may result to dead center image.

2. Capture Close Up Photos

Take great images by capturing them in extreme close up. Close up photos add a little creativity and excitement to the photos. In addition, this feature is only of the different ways to enhance you photo.

3. Use a tripod

Oftentimes digital cameras results to blurry photographs if your hands quiver a little. Getting a tripod will surely save your effort from taking low quality photos, and preserve otherwise great photos.

4. Be active

Try creative shots. Take photos from the top of a hill, or off the side of a yacht. Go outside and explore your environment. You’ll surely have fun taking those once in a lifetime photo shots.

5. Join a photography class

Your learning doesn’t only focus on the practical part. You must not only learn through your experience. Learning from an expert would also help to improve your skills as a photographer. Try to join a photography class in your community, or if there are online classes you can log on.

Becoming a professional digital photographer really takes time. You just have to be resourceful and keep on trying new techniques. Start by learning the digital photography tutorial because this will serve as a stepping stone for your future career growth.

Canon XLH1

On September 18 of 2005, Canon broke new ground in
the digital video camera industry, announcing the
XL H1, which was Canon’s first DVC featuring high
definition. Originally developed based on the needs
of professional and enthusiast videographers, the
XL H1 retains the operability of Canon’s very popular
XL2 while increasing the professional function and
supporting high definition recording.

The flagship DVC for the company of Canon, the XL H1
is ideal for use all across the spectrum of
professional content making, from film and television
production to filming weddings. The XL H1 also
comes equipped with a HD 20X zoom video lens, the XL
5.4-108 mm L IS II, which contributes to Canon’s
development aim of delivering the highest possible
quality of recording available today.

As Canon’s first HD video camera, the XL H1 camcorder
and 20X HD video zoom lens will provide broadcasters
with a low budget 1080i resolution option for ENG,
documentary or even reality television productions.

Film makes will also fall for the extensive Cine
controls and 24 frame rate option the XL H1
has to offer. Canon’s custom jackpack features
include uncompressed digital HD-SDI output for
seamless integration into broadcast studios or high
quality image transfer to non linear editing systems.

The genlock feature will allow movie sets to
easily synchronize camera settings across multiple
camcorders and SMPTE time codes will allow for
streamlined tape and edit management.

The XL H1 also offers three 1/3 inch 1.67 megapixel
interlaced CCDs that capture images at 1080i
resolution. It also features selectable frame
rates of 50i and 25F, so capturing fast motion and
just about everything else is possible with the
XL H1.

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Get the most useful tips from home theater magazines

Going to the movie theater after a long day of work may be an entertainment you look forward to every single day. However, if you continue doing this everyday, in the end you will notice that this proves to be very expensive. Thus, if you truly want to continue watching movies everyday, a home theater system may be what you need. However, people believe that a home theater set up is a luxury only accessible for the rich and the famous. This is because you may need to invest quite handsomely in order for you to have the home theater set up that resembles a movie theater. Even with this notion, I believe that if you want to watch movies every single day, in a year or so, you will spend the same amount or even higher than what you invested in your home theater set up. It is thus practical for you to bring home the entertaining experience you get from a movie theater. If your budget is limited, you may opt for the basic setup of home theater system, and when you finally get enough money to dress-up your home theater system, you may be able to do so with no problem.

If you want to ensure you will be able to get the best entertainment in your home theater system, you may start reading tipsters from home theater magazines. Home theater experts maintain various columns and publish numerous articles that will give home theater owners the most useful tips concerning their home theater system. You will definitely find one entertaining article, which will give you deeper understanding of the benefits of your home theater system from the pages of home theater magazines.

Even if you are still contemplating on acquiring home theater system or are already an owner of a home theater system, the useful tips and in-depth analysis of home theater equipments and furniture from home theater magazine may be very useful to you.

You may also find home theater reviews from the pages of your home theater magazine. These reviews will keep you up to date on the latest industry news. It is thus necessary for you to subscribe to a home theater magazine if you want entertainment right in your own living room. You may find all types of home theater equipments and furniture, reviews of each of them are also be available in the home theater magazine. You will find that you will never commit the mistake of buying inferior product if you can follow the recommendation of home theater experts found in home theater magazines.

Movies and shows you may enjoy in your home theater system may also be available in the pages of your home theater magazines. Industry news and updated models of home theater equipments with the corresponding pros and cons of home theater products are available in the pages of home theater magazines as well.

Finally, home theater magazines may also recommend the best place to buy superior home theater equipments and supplies. You may find articles on the latest innovative designs of home theater paraphernalia in home theater magazine. Thus, you are sure to be able to enjoy the most out of your home theater set up because of the useful information and recommendations coming from home theater experts and home theater designers. Features of the most recommended setup for your home theater system may also be available.

Find the most entertaining home theater magazine and get the useful information from its pages to keep you updated in the latest industry news and home theater reviews available.

In Praise of Digital Photography

In any discipline, you will have what many think of as “the purists”. Purists are those who revere the way things have always been done and view new innovations in the field as upstarts and obviously of poorer quality than the tried and true methods.

This is nowhere more true than photography. For decades the film and chemical processing method has undergone continual refinement to achieve higher and higher levels of sophistication and to find higher levels of quality. Small wonder that when the digital revolution came along, “the purists” were, to say the least, a bit snobby about the idea of professional photography moving in this direction.

But there are some genuine reasons to at least incorporate digital technology into your professional photography game plan. These reasons are compelling enough that more and more we are seeing the big studios going all digital. So if you are running an independent photography business or if you are “just” a photography hobbyist (and thank God for the hobbyists), you may have to think through the value of moving to digital processing yourself.

Ease of Use.

The amount of fuss and sheer “stuff” of doing a shoot digitally is dramatically less involved than using the older technologies. Witness how the digital revolution in photography has revolutionized the personal camera world. Now people can take as many pictures as they want and have them to review virtually instantaneously.

Probably the biggest leap forward in the use of digital photography is that you can do re-shoots quickly, easily and for virtually no cost. If you conduct a portrait session with a customer, you can have the “stills” of the session available almost as soon as the session is done. If a shot was good but not perfect, you can correct it and re-shoot immediately saving huge amounts of time and improving the chances you will get the portfolio you want and that the customer wants on the first session.

Rapid Customer Service.

The impression we get when a technology delivers so much value to the public is that quality will go down. But, amazingly, this is not the case with digital photography. If anything, the quality of the photographs is as good or better than any we could do with prior technologies. And the cost both to you as the photographer and to your customer drops off so dramatically that the age old complaint the customer has had about professional photographs costing too much can be eliminated making the customer want to use your services more often.

Digital photography, being a child of the internet and the digital revolution that has swept our lives via personal computers, can be delivered in a myriad of ways and at a speed that was unheard of prior to the arrival of this technology. We can deliver the photos via email, by posting them to an online gallery or by burning them to a DVD or CD so the customer can order lots more shots for the same cost and have them delivered in a way that easy to view and store.

Editing

Editing has similarly moved from the realm of the back room wizards to something any of us can do due to the sophisticated computer programs, such as Photoshop, that we can use to improve the pictures we take. It is really amazing the effects that can be imposed on a picture with this software. But more importantly we can so much more easily correct minor problems with a photograph so what might have been a lost session can be improved to become acceptable with some clever use of digital editing.

In virtually every way, digital photography, delivery and editing is superior to the way “the purists” would have us hold on to. It makes our lives as photographers easier, faster and more profitable. But above all, this is something our customers want us to use. They get to enjoy their pictures so much faster, at a more reasonable cost and the pictures can be emailed to friends and posted on their family web sites which is fun for everyone. So despite our desire to be “purists”, every reason we need is there to convince us that digital photography is the way to go.

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The advertising campaigns of iPod and iPod video

The ipod presents, besides an interesting technical evolution, an original and innovative way of promoting and advertising, which differs in style and slogans from the first ads of the first generation of iPods, to the most recent iPod video advertising campaigns.

The first campaigns concentrated upon the new product promoted both the iPod and iTunes brands. These advertising campaigns were leaded by the slogan A thousand songs, in your pocket, which was launched in November 2001. The colors which were selected for the first iPod campaigns were brisk and full of live: turquoise, cyclamen, bright grass green and other joyful nuances were chosen to represent the idea of both music and video, meaning both visual and auditory sensations. The wrap advertising was used, at the same time with the other and more traditional types of BTL advertising: there were various light rail wraps in busy centers or midtowns, using the same visual message as the banners. Large banners and billboards were displayed in various busy centers, with high visibility. The promotion was intense, forward and dynamic, with only intense and optimum quality for all the elements: the colors were vivid, the actual ads were large and the represented images were dynamic. The TV ads were concentrated upon the idea of music, dancing and mobility and the text of these was just limited to the slogan of the product and of the Apple brand (Think clear).

In 2003, the new advertising campaign that Apple introduced was due to the conjunction with the launch of the iTunes music store. The campaign concentrated mostly on the interpretation of popular songs by different persons wearing iPods. This campaign was a big hit, due to the fact that it was based on famous pop, rock and hip hop songs, belonging to artists such as Eminem or Pink.

Later that year, in October 2003, iPod released a new series of ads, based on the silhouette campaign, which was the base for most of the print ads, like banners, billboards and wraps, even from the appearance of the first generation of iPods: the images basically showed black silhouettes of people dancing while wearing iPods. This new campaign was realized based on the same intense colors and dynamic images like the first campaign. Even more, the success of the campaign was owed to the popularity of the performed music, such as The Vines’ Ride, The Caesars’ Jerk it Out, Gorillaz’ Feel Good Inc., Steriogram’s Walkie-Talkie Man, Jet’s Are You Gonna Be My Girl, Propellerheads’ Take California, Ozomatli’s Saturday Night, N*E*R*D’s Rock Star (Jason Nevin’s Mix), Franz Ferdinand’s Take Me Out or Daft Punk’s Technologic.

With the release of the new iPod video, the image of the product and its promotion began to change. The slogan of the new product was One more thing…, meaning the new and expected video feature, which was a big plus comparing with the latest model of 2005. The ads for this new product were focused on the video playing capabilities of the device. Actually, the ad featured U2’s Original of the Species from the Vertigo: Live From Chicago DVD. Based on the same idea, there were 2 more videos which featured Eminem and Wynton Marsalis. Still, at the same time, the ad which was presenting the dancing silhouettes continued, but it was modified into something more representative for the new video device: the backgrounds were not simple vivid colors anymore, they were textured and had various patterns, symbolizing the evolution concerning the image and the video properties of the new model of iPod. The 2 variants of the videos featuring the 2 popular artists ranged from an orange urban theme of the hip hop music to a cool blue one of the jazz look.

The latest iPod ad, released in March 2006 is not based on the silhouette style anymore; instead, the producers opted for a video showing various CD covers, integrating in an iPod nano, under the same older slogan A thousand songs, in your pocket.

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Controls And Features

The central part of a DV camcorder is the CCD, or
Charge Coupled Device. This sensor creates a video
picture by recording the light intensity to recognize
an image or shape, along with the color levels to
reproduce a full color picture.

There are several tape based DV camcorders that have
both color eyepiece viewfinders and a flip out TFT
LCD screen to view the action as well as the previous
recorded footage. Most tape-less models however,
only offer the TFT screen to preview your captured
video and to view while you make a recording.

When you need to get closer to the action, a zoom
lens can be a great feature. Don’t get swayed by
the digital zoom figure however; as no matter how
large it may be, you should always base your final
decision on the optical zoom.

The optical zoom will give you a true indication of
the video image, where digital zooms interpolate the
available pixels to zoom in on an image. Optical
zooms will normally range around the 10X mark, with
digital zooms ranging from 100X and above.

The auto focusing systems are great as well, although
manual focus options can be ideal for low light or
when focusing on a subject against a landscape. Being
available on most video cameras, the manual focus
control can be found as either a ring on the lens
or as a dual button system on the body.

Most video cameras these days will provide a tilting
feature in the camera itself, although this feature
should be avoided unless you don’t intend to edit
the video on a computer. The title effects on
many cameras are quite limited and cannot be
removed afterwards.

Almost all new high definition video cameras will
use a rechargeable Li-ion battery, even though a
spare battery might be useful as the batteries are
unique to each camcorder maker and normally each
model.

Most of the latest cameras allow you to capture
digital still images onto a removable flash memory
card. The most popular media is SD or MMC, but
Sony and Samsung cameras often capture to a memory
stick.

If your video camera doesn’t offer still image
capabilities, you can always perform a capture of
the screen in your editing program. Always remember
that the image resolution when capturing a still
this way will always be 640X480, which is actually
less than 1 MB, or Mega Byte.

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Samsung cellular phone, a basic phone

Cellular phones are now getting to be a necessity in this modern society. This is not how they foresee the cellular phone future some years back. Luckily, manufacturers are quick to recognize the booming cellular phone industry. Thus, they are able to answer the growing demands for this functional toy. Additionally, the introduction of various functional features for cellular phones by huge cellular phone companies makes cellular phones more a need to perform specialized tasks. Because of this, the use of a cellular phone is getting to be a requirement for business executives in going about their various tasks as they go about their business. However, not everybody needs these special functions, some only needs cellular phones for basic use like sending and receiving calls. If you do not require these high technology functions, buying a cellular phone for basic use may only be what is necessary. Some cellular phones are for basic use including Samsung cellular phones. It is more reasonable to buy basic cellular phone models if you do not need to play with your cellular phone and Samsung cellular phone may be what is the best for your.

Samsung cellular phones are generally of good design. They have wide and clear display, which is beneficial especially for sending and receiving text messages. Samsung cellular phones have good battery life compared to other cellular phone units. As already mentioned, these cellular phones are good cellular phones for basic use. Samsung cellular phones have beautiful designs; you may be pleased to choose one among the various models that will fit your need. You will not despair buying a cellular phone from Samsung if you only require the basic features; beauty of the product is thus a bonus. However, if you are looking for functional cellular phones more than the basic sending and receiving calls and text messages, Samsung cellular phone is not the one for you. People who want to play and require so many functions and features will not enjoy a the cellular phone from Samsung.

Some basic complaints encountered with Samsung cellular phone, which happens only to very few users, are choppy calls and scratchy and distorted volume generation. This only happens to very few users, and to ensure you will not experience this in a Samsung cellular phone, you may ask the recommendation of the friendly Samsung staff.

Some who endeavor to find functionality in a Samsung cellular phone give it a nickname “very good yet slightly bad phone. It is very good because the designs are superb and the battery life is good. Slightly bad because some high-tech features fail in Samsung cellular phone, precisely it is a cellular phone for basic use.

Do not expect Samsung cellular phone for other features rather than the basic ones, no picture transfer, no internet communication and some phone do not support blue tooth usage. Not a techy’s choice indeed. Some people who buy this phone feel that with the superb design, it should include additional feature and functionalities. The company is on its way to developing the phone you require, researches and product development are now on the drawing board.

For some who could not wait, buying Samsung cellular phone is still a neat choice because the designs are upbeat and beautiful. The added bonus is that the battery life is longer than other cellular phones. Enjoy the basic functions and beautiful designs with Samsung cellular phones.