FotoNation has recently acquired licensing for their new technology -- SmileCheck. This is the newest part of FotoNation's FaceTracker product line. Basically, using the technology ensures all faces on the frame are smiling. The technology places a “Smile Shutter” mode in digital cameras. Using the mode, although the trigger is pressed, the shutter won't go off until smiles are detected on every face in frame. The technology works by detecting faces and then associating the expressions with how smiles are supposed to look like. SmileCheck was specifically developed for volume photos like class pictures. The SmileCheck technology is going to be demonstrated in the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) Convention this January 31-February 2, 2008 in Las Vegas.

Continue reading "SmileCheck: Ensuring You Say Cheese" »

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Many amateur and professional photographers believe that more pixels are always better. Logically, an 8.2 megapixel digital camera is superior to a 6 megapixel digicam, making it more expensive as well.

What if I tell you this is NOT exactly true? At least for compact cameras. An expert at 6mpixel.org proudly claims that higher pixels do not improve the quality of the pictures. More surprisingly, it concluded that the more pixels the worse the image.

What makes this article very credible is its airtight technical arguments to support this myth-debunking allegation.

Quite a while ago we noticed that the image quality of digital cameras was getting worse instead of better. The reason is that today’s sensors are divided into more and therefore smaller pixels. We want to clarify the consequences on this website. The reason we bring this up is the vicious circle we are in and have to break out of. Most people have heard that a lot of pixels make a good camera hence they buy the cameras with the most pixels. Thus, manufacturers produce cameras with more and more pixels so that they will sell better. But this does not improve the quality of the pictures.

So, what exactly is the best alternative for a compact? Well, it’s very easy to guess considering the name of group – a sensor with 6 million pixels or better the size of pixel with >3µm.

Continue reading "Why More Pixels Won’t Do You Any Good" »

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Here is an interesting video I found on Youtube which gives a lot of tips on Camera RAW using Photoshop!

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Here is a video tutorial which explains the tricky Depth Of Field! The concept is explained by Shelton Muller of Total Image magazine (www.total-image.com.au)

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The Hole - video powered by Metacafe

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Here is an interesting tutorial which helps in to convert your boring old web-cam to an infrared camera.

The Hole - video powered by Metacafe

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A Star Wars Junkie? Love to get a piece of some action? Then check out this cool video!

Tutorial For Lightsaber Effect On A Picture - video powered by Metacafe

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Here is yet another great video to help brush up your Photoshop skills.

How To Change The Color Of A Car? - video powered by Metacafe

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Always dreamed of being a movie star and seeing your face adorned in billboards? Well here is the next best thing.

Trick Your Friends By Adding Your Face To A Movie Poster Or CD W - video powered by Metacafe

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Here is another great video to help you get more creative in the art of photography. If your photography skills are better than your drawing skills watch tis video to learn how to convert images to drawing.

How To Make A Photo Look Like A Drawing In Photoshop - video powered by Metacafe

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A cartoon buff? Want to convert your photos into cartoons via Photoshop. Then stop reading and start watching !

The Hole - video powered by Metacafe

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Here is a cool video which tells you how bring the darker side of an individual!

The Hole - video powered by Metacafe

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Here is another great tip for some creative photography! Dont you just love Photoshop?

The Hole - video powered by Metacafe

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Here is another cool video on how to morph images! Sorry Bush supporters!

The Hole - video powered by Metacafe

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I love playing around with images on Photoshop and other photo cools. However sometimes the results are less than perfect to say the least! Here is a cool tutorial on how fade images together.

The Hole - video powered by Metacafe

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If you always wanted to capture screenshots but found it too cumbersome to actually download one of those exorbitant programs, then check out this nifty video which teaches you how to capture screenshots via WMP!

CAPTURE SCREENSHOTS IN WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER - video powered by Metacafe

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Here is a cool program which animates your images. So if you are ever feeling crazy and want your images to speak, then try it out!

Check out the video!

BRING ALIVE YOUR PHOTOS - video powered by Metacafe

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Here is a handy tutorial which explains how one can convert old B&W images in color via Adobe Photoshop.

GIVE LIFE TO B/W PHOTOS!! - video powered by Metacafe

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Here are the Top 10 Cameras Of 2006 according to PC World:

1) HP Photosmart R727
2) Canon Powershot A450
3) Casio Exillim EX-Z600
4) Fujifilm Finepix F30
5) Canon Powershot SD630
6) Fujifilm Finepix E900
7) HP Photosmart R927
8) Nikon Coolpix S6
9) Kodak EasyShare C743
10) HP Photosmart R967

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David Pogue of New York Times wrote an interesting article on digital cameras which are under the 300$ tag. His general observation is that these days one doesn't need to spend big bucks for decent images and there is a whole plethora of affordable yet functional cameras available. He listed his favourite cameras which were judged on the following points:

* SPEED
* LOW LIGHT
* STABILIZER
* MEGAPIXELS
* BATTERY
* MOVIE MODE
* OPTICAL VIEWFINDER
* NEXT-GENERATION FEATURES
* PICTURE QUALITY

His Fav Cameras Under The 300$ Include:
The Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z700, the Fuji FinePix F30, the Kodak EasyShare C875, the Nikon Coolpix S7c, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX3, the Pentax Optio A20, the Samsung Digimax NV3 and the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W100.

To read the whole article head over here: NY Times

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By now we all have a digital camera we love and spent big bucks on it. However our love affair with spending money aint just over yet. For extra care and enhanced performance it is important and in some cases mandatory to invest in some accessories. However the market is flooded with them and for a first time user it may just be a little daunting. Thus here are some important camera accessories according to me:

Cleaning Kit - This one is the most obvious yet the most tricky. If you go for any kit then in most likelihood the liquid solution just may leave streak marks on your lens. I personally like using a chamois leather cloth and even micro-fiber cloths and blow-brushes are great too. Just avoid any sorts of liquid till you can!

Camera Bag - A nice cushiony bag with lots of pockets and zipper would be great.

UV Filter - if you are using a DSLR or even a Film SLR this one is absolutely mandatory. Not only does it protect the lens itself but it doesn�t interfere with the camera exposure. A UV filter is also cheaper and easier to maintain than the kit lens itself thus never use your cameras without it!

Tripods - Tripods of any variety be it mini or full stand are important if you want your pictures to have an extra edge. In some stage you will use your tripod so when you can invest in a good sturdy yet lightweight tripod. However if your photography is just going to be limited to casual scenarios you can skip this one.

Lens Shade - Some people just ignore these but they are important as not only do they protect the lens from harsh sunlight but also from other debris. They also help in reducing glare, which is a common occurrence in digital photography.

LCD Hood - Viewing LCDs on bright sunny days are a pain even if you have 20/20 vision. Thus a LCD hood is quite a nifty accessory as these transparent devices protect the LCD from direct sunlight.

So these are my list of must have accessories. If you think I have missed an accessory then do drop us a line!

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Who doesn�t love Top 5 lists? Especially when it comes to cameras. The website Popular Photography has come up with the Top 5 Digital Camera f the month of July and let�s see who all got into this coveted list!

1. Sony DSC-W50 6MP

2. Nikon Coolpix L3 5.1MP

3. Nikon Coolpix L4 4MP

4. Canon PowerShot A530 5MP

5. Canon PowerShot SD600 6MP

Let me know what you think about the list and if any of you are using these cameras do send us your feedback!

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Everyone aspires to have some great looking portraits of themselves and the family; however many times our pictures look something out of a horror film! While most of us will never photograph like an Angelina Jolie or a Brad Pitt, but we can surely try! So here are some tips to get some decent portraits:

Composition:
Very important and not just in Portrait Photography! Make sure you are getting the whole face and focus on the person you want to click. If it�s a group shot, then don�t play favorites!

Catch Light:
The first thing I learnt in photography school was the importance of catch-light in portraits or even animal shots. For the uninitiated, catch light means that glint or light in the subjects eyes and makes the picture more animated.

Black And White:
I know in this digital era, B&W is losing its popularity. But believe me nothing like black and white portraits as they imo add more character and has an old world charm. Many digicams have a B&W mode and of course there are always imaging softwares like Photoshop. Usually the B&W mode on the cameras doesn�t suffice, so I suggest you do tweak the image via imaging software.

Flash:
Flash can be dangerous as it can produce red eye and make you look like vampires (bad joke, I know!). But seriously if possible increase available lighting, than relying on flash.

Background:
This is very important and often neglected! Make sure you select a simple background as we don�t won�t the subject to be overshadowed by the background!

Moods:
If you have a willing model/subject, try taking pictures in different moods. It always adds more versatility to your photography.

So these are some tips from me. If you think I have missed something or you just want to give your two cents, please don�t hesitate to write to us!

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Every photographer no matter how amateur he or she is wants to capture the sun in all its glory. How many times have been moved by a great sunrise image and wished we had taken it? Well here are some tips which will surely come in handy for shooting the sun.

Be An early Riser:
The most obvious tip. But believe me, if you are like me, getting up in the morning is pain and if you successfully do that, half the battle is won. Hey if you are really lazy, remember god make sunsets too 

Sunrise:
Please find out in advance when the sun rises at your desired location

Full View:
Try getting a full view, so place your self at an elevated point, if possible. Do include the surroundings like a lake, or mountains as that really enhances the picture! Experiment by taking images where the landscape is more evident and at times where the sunset is more evident.

Tripod:
Yes the tripod is important and so carry it around with you!

Optical Viewfinder, A Big No No:
Please don�t focus using the optical viewfinder as its not tinted and can cause eye damage! Just use the LCD in conjunction with a tripod.

Use Multiple Exposure Settings:
Bracketing is a key here. By that I mean shooting images at different exposures and if possible note them down. This way you will find out what are the best settings for you and this will come in handy later on.

So use these tips on your next sojourn and let me know if these tips helped!

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