micdesigns

Dock on the Foggy Marsh - Michael Thomas

2012-01-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

Trees in the Mist - Michael Thomas

2012-01-28T19:17:00.000-08:00

20 Gorgeous Butterfly Pictures

2012-01-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

Beautiful butterfly pictures

Butterfly by Shay Habba

The baker’s butterfly by Kolomija

The challenger by Roarmagne

Patience by jimmy hoffman

blue and green by Yvan Barbier

88 Butterfly by Boris Godfroid

The emergence by Jimmy hoffman

Apollo by Yvan Barbier

Butterfly and shadow by Angus McIntyre

August by Janini

Butterfly on hand by Igotyoursoul

The saints are coming by Fabien BRAVIN

Geometer moth by jimmy hoffman

Simply Love BY Brizadly Arifin

by Roarmagne

Butterflies by Trevor Dennis

Blue morpho butterfly by Armando Maynez

Symmetry by Jimmy hoffman

Incidental Tourist BY Mandy Schoch

In the morning by Yoshiaki Oikawa

About the Author (Author Profile)

My name is Radwa ,I am a graphic designer and I have a big passion to photography also i am the founder of photopoly.net , you can contact me via my E-mail , and you can also follow me in twitter

Turn Your Images Into Distinctive Photo Gifts

2011-11-14T08:22:00.000-08:00

In the past there were limited signifies by which to do this. Photographs could be printed and then put away in a box or a drawer and brought out to display off and distinct favourites could maybe be enlarged and place into frames. Aside from this, nevertheless, the possibilities were restricted, with even simple re-prints becoming dependent upon the presence of negatives in excellent enough problem to function with. That was back in the era when photographs had to be taken onto rolls of film and the amount of shots taken by an person had been as a result limited to 24 or 36 at a time.

Digital cameras, on the other hand, are capable of taking hundreds if not thousands of pictures and saving them all, and this plethora of availability is matched by the flexibility with which the resulting pictures can then be handled. If, for example you have an adorable photo of your young children and you want the two sets of grandparents to have their very own copies of this image, then creating new copies is instantaneous, easy and low cost.

It doesn’t have to cease with just photograph prints, nevertheless. Any image of your option can be turned into a photo gift which exactly matches the image in question, the person you’re giving it to and the occasion on which you’re handing it over. Personalised photo gifts variety from little easy objects such as Mousepads mats to entertaining novelty items like personalised Christmas cards, Coasters, Ceramic Tiles or Glass Cutting Boards, all the way to, at the other finish of the spectrum, 1 off works of art produced by printing photographs onto canvas. The important to the whole method lies in the flexibility obtainable- whether or not you’re looking for something tiny and cheerful to hand above as a more novel implies of sharing The important to the whole method lies in the flexibility obtainable- whether or not you’re looking for something tiny and cheerful to hand above as a more novel implies of sharing.

Photo gifts which fall into this latter category include distinctive canvas wall prints which take the image of your option and turn it into a single personal work of art matched to grace the wall of any gallery or art shop. Printed on top rated quality artistic canvas, these prints are mounted on sturdy wooden frames and will be a striking and extraordinary addition to any property.

Photo gifts from the small and inexpensive to the large and lavish supply an chance to take the pictures which indicate the most to you and turn them into objects which mix beauty with high quality and meaning.

Contact me at www.micdesigns.com or 313-407-3897.

Michael Thomas

Tips on Photographing Museums

2011-11-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

Museums are one of the best and most interesting places to visit. More often than not it’s also one of the best places to take that camera out and start taking shots of the things that can be seen inside and outside of the museum. You will never run out of ideas and subjects because you are being surrounded by lots and lots of art pieces, paintings, replicas etc. This article will discuss different tips on Photographing museums.
One important tip to remember in Photographing museums is to make sure that you are well informed about the policies of the museum and its restrictions on shooting inside or outside their building. It doesn’t matter whether you are using a point-and-shoot, film SLR, digital SLR or whatever kind of camera, the first thing you should do is contact them and ask them about their policies.

Unfortunately, there are some museums that don’t allow visitors to take photos inside the establishment. They will probably ask you to leave your cameras at the counter before entering the museum. If that is the case, then you can say goodbye to photographing inside the museum. You can try your luck in shooting outside the museum though. But there are some museums that allow visitors to take photos of certain exhibits and art pieces. You are fortunate if they allow you to use your pop-up flash or Speedlight inside the museum.

Photo by: petercastleton
Most art pieces in museums are lit artistically, so you probably won’t have problems shooting without flash. But there are some instances when the sculpture or the painting you want to photograph is placed in a room that has dim lighting. That’s why another tip in photographing museums is to leave your telephoto lens in your camera bag and use faster lenses instead. Most probably museums won’t allow you to use a tripod either, so if you do not have a fast lens, you better think of an alternative way to avoid camera shake. You can do this by either using the Image stabilizer setting of your camera, or leaning on walls to help keep your hands still. What most people do is to put their camera on the floor, tables, or stairs while clicking the shutter button. Of course you can always choose to set your ISO in to a higher setting, around ISO 800 is okay. Using an ISO higher that 800 may cause your photos to have disturbing noise. Noise can of course be lessened or even removed during the Post Processing by using Photoshop or Lightroom.

Photo by: Alex T.

Photo by: digital cat
Aside from the exhibits inside the museum you can also try shooting the building itself. These buildings usually have impressive architecture, that’s why you must never forget to shoot the walls, pillars, doors, staircases, the frames and everything you see that you find interesting. When you’re done shooting the building, you can proceed in taking photos of artworks you find interesting. Take a closer look at each piece and notice its every detail. You can also use the artworks, especially the huge paintings as backdrop or as background to the viewers. Show the relationship between the artwork and its viewers.

Photo by: Keith Williamson

Photo by: ared jan wonink
Shoot in different angles and try different depth of fields and point of views. It’s also best to use a Polarizing filter to help remove the reflections of display cases. Photos taken inside the museum may appear a bit yellowish. You can either adjust your camera’s White Balance setting or tweak it in post processing.

Photo by: Fabio Bruna

31 Inspirational Examples of Portrait Photography

2011-08-15T16:51:00.001-07:00

by Radwa
Portrait photography is a type of photography that focuses on taking photos of people’s faces and facial expressions. The human face can reflect many meanings and expressions, which makes portrait photography very challenging, as the photographer needs to be able to capture each person’s character and unique facial expressions. The collection below includes portrait photos from different places and different cultures around the world. I hope you will enjoy them and find them inspiring.

Glitter by toyan

Autumn Portrait by supersonnig85

Bhaktapur by toyan

portrait. by dechobek

It’s a long story by toyan

Meet my old friend I. by ambrits

Winter portrait by fotouczniak

Wedding portrait by gomezalgaba

Portrait by tracie76

Learn To Fly by Jennifer

Summer by Viktoria Haack

Portrait by Ryan Pendleton

Henna by Cathy Evans

Tex by Viktoria Haack

Seyba by CARLOS DUARTE

port7 by dechobek

Uncertainty by Risquillo

Montagnard by Cathy Evans

Eliza by dechobek

J-Portrait by h9351

Crystal portrait by vanillaswan

haunted by Senju-HiMe

Kid portrait by TACartoons

portrait 14 by ZufPhoto

everything is twisted by Largeboy30

у причала 2 by Julia Maier

Self-Portrait by Jam Adams

P8739 by h9351

port6 by dechobek

Грани настроения by good pixel

Tina by Vedran Vidak

What Is a Fisheye Lens?

2011-08-11T03:16:00.001-07:00

by Anna Altez

A fisheye lens is a type of camera lens that has an ability to capture wide-angle images. In theory, the images captured using a fisheye lens will have a close similarity to how the image would look like viewed through the eyes of a fish. The center part of the image will appear normal or magnified, depending on the distance of the subject to the lens, while most of the parts of the background, including the edges of the image will appear bent and a bit distorted. Thus, the background elements in your composition will just be secondary most of the time. This is why it’s essential to decide on which part of the composition you want to focus in the photo.

The effect that a fisheye lens creates gives photographers a lot of room for creativity. The wide field of view of the fisheye lens will enable you to fit huge landscapes, or a large number of subjects in a single frame. In situations where a room is too cramped or too small, the wide field of view of the fisheye lens will make it possible for you to capture great images.
The first company in optical industry to develop a fisheye lens was the Nikon Corporation. Back then, fisheye lenses were used as a tool for meteorological research to capture cloud formations. Today, fisheye lenses have become very popular, not only among professional photographers, but also among photography hobbyists, due to the unique effect it produces.
There are two different types of fisheye lenses: the one that produces a photo with dark edges is called a circular fisheye lens, the other type of fisheye lens is called a full-frame fisheye lens, which does not produce images with dark edges.

Photo by: kevindooley
Above is an example of a photo taken using a circular fisheye lens.

Photo by: signither

Different Ways of Using Your Fisheye Lens

Landscape Photography

There are many ways to use a fisheye lens. A fisheye lens’s hemispherical effect gives landscape shots an artistic approach of showing the curve of the Earth.

Photo by: kain kalju

Photo by: Ian Sane

Portrait Photography

Another fun and creative use of a fisheye lens is capturing portraits. If you position your subject at the center of the photo you will notice that the background and the edges of the photo will bend towards the subject. This effect will lead the eyes of the viewers to the center of the image where your subject is.
You can also use a fisheye lens for capturing wacky portraits. The subjects will appear magnified and distorted, giving the portrait a comical effect.

Photo by: mangpages

Architectural Photography

A fisheye lens is also great for architectural photography. Its wide field of view will enable you to produce impressive architectural photographs. Try shooting from different angles to achieve perfect architectural photos like the ones below.

Photo by: serge melki

Photo by: nigelhowe

Astrophotography

Since fisheye lenses were originally developed for meteorological research, they are perfect for astrophotography.

Photo by: Computer Science Geek
Creativity has no limits, that is why it’s best if you try to make use of your fisheye lens in any creative way possible; you can use it for shooting flowers, pets or whatever you have in mind. Use your imagination to create great compositions and to produce breathtaking photos.
Check the fisheye lenses below:
1- 0.42X FISHEYE LENS W/ MACRO FOR CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL
2- Rokinon FE8M-N 8mm F3.5 Fisheye Lens for Nikon
3- Rokinon FE8M-C 8mm F3.5 Fisheye Lens for Canon

Poppies!

2011-08-08T04:34:00.001-07:00

Using Ordinary Objects to Create Interesting Photos

2011-08-08T04:32:00.000-07:00

By Kristine Hojilla

Objects that we see and use every day may appear commonplace and boring, and we often cannot imagine how they could be the focus of interesting photos. Paper clips, stones, grass, keys, clothespins and the like are usually thought of as ordinary, and seldom do they end up as the main subjects in photographs. In fact, many photographers find it frustrating not to have ‘fascinating’ subjects available to shoot, when in reality, countless objects are just lying around waiting to be given a chance to shine. The ‘ordinariness’ or ‘extraordinariness’ of objects as visual subjects really depends on how the photographer depicts them in the shots.

Photo by Habeeb…out of Ideas!

Discover What Makes the Object Physically Attractive

Interesting photos are created when the photographer shows off the object in its best light. This would mean presenting in a photograph the subject’s curve and form, colors, patterns, or textures that would make it stand out and be appreciated. To do this, observe the object from all its angles, if possible, and examine what sides are visually appealing. Notice the intricacy or simplicity of its design, and always accentuate the interesting features of the object when composing the shot.
One reason why this example below makes an interesting photo is its rustic, or should I say ‘rusty’ charm. The texture of the obviously old key, emphasized by the weathered wooden background, makes this a stunning shot.

Photo by Kerekes János Csongor

Experiment with Camera Angles and Context

When we see household objects on a daily basis in their same exact position, we tend to ignore them because we have become desensitized. But if we were to look at them from another angle, they may appear different and even interesting enough to warrant a closer look. Placing objects in a spot that is less common than where they usually are would also create interesting photos.
Take a soda can, for example. If one is upright on a dining table, we might not really notice the way it looks, how malleable it is, or how condensation has created thousands of tiny beads of water on its surface. But if you take a soda can and place it somewhere you would not normally see one, you will end up with something similar to this eye-catching photo. Notice that the camera angle is low on the ground, adding more dramatic interest to the scene.

Photo by Kerekes János Csongor

Use Lighting to Enhance the Appearance of an ‘Ordinary’ Object

Lighting is essential for creating interesting photos. Without the right lighting, even the most attractive objects can look dull. Creative use of artificial or natural light sources can greatly improve the appearance of your subject. Play around with lighting techniques, such as backlighting to create more drama, or side lighting to highlight textures.
With this close-up photo of a lamp head, the photographer used the lamp itself as the light source to supply illumination. The lamp is not recognizable; it appears more as a strong graphic abstract.

Photo by Federico Pelloni

Use Creative Composition Techniques to Make Interesting Photos

Even the most ‘ordinary’ of subjects, such as grass and paper clips, can be gorgeous when composed creatively. In this photo, the effects of bokeh (out of focus points of light) enhance the appearance of plain grass by making it ethereal and magical.

Photo by Blomstrom
Here, a simple paper clip was shaped into a heart, and the concept of infraction was used. Tiny hearts from the background were reflected off the water drops on the clip. The result is a whimsical, clever, and interesting photo.

Photo by Irargerich

More Ways to Create Interesting Photos:

Go closer to the object, especially if it is small in size. Try for a close-up or macro shot to capture various details that are normally hard to detect from afar.

Use all the composition techniques in your arsenal, from the Rule of Thirds to leading lines. These will all help strengthen the visual appeal of your photo.

Do something to the object. Freeze it, submerge it in water, cover it in syrup, burn it, bend it, etc.
Experiment with exposure settings. Adjust the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to make visual effects, such as creative blur or a very shallow depth of field.

Keep an open mind and do not immediately dismiss objects that might seem very ordinary. Always be imaginative with how you can turn them into subjects for interesting photos.

Tags: interesting , objects, photography, photos

Dead Tree and the Beach - Fairhope Alabama

2011-08-05T05:16:00.000-07:00

Group Photography – A Guide to Posing Groups

2011-08-05T05:13:00.000-07:00

When taking a photo of an individual, you have to take in to consideration which angle will show your subject’s best asset, you have to check if their clothes look good, and pose them in a way that will make the photo appealing to the eye.
There are many factors to consider when posing a couple or a larger group of people. You have to make your subjects pose in a way that will make them look good individually and as part of a group at the same time.

One important thing to consider when taking group photos is the clothing. No matter how creatively you make your subjects pose, if their clothes are not coordinated, the outcome of the photo will not look good, unless you want to draw attention to a particular subject. What you should do is tell your clients prior to the date of shoot to wear clothes that have similar colors.

Photo by makelessnoise
The photo above shows a family with matching color of clothes. This helps the viewer focus on the faces of the family members and helps them avoid getting distracted by what the subjects are wearing.
As for the composition, the objective should be to lead the eyes of the viewer across the frame, looking at every face in the photo. Always remember that when posing groups there should not be too much space between the subjects. Most portrait photographers pose groups in a way that forms triangular shape, while others try to pose groups in a circular shape, which leads the viewer’s eyes to every face in the photo. You don’t want to make your subjects pose in a firing squad position, because it will make them look stiff and uncomfortable. Your objective is to pose them in a way that will give the photo a dynamic feel and will make your subjects feel comfortable.

Photo by PhilipPoon

Notice that the pose of the family in the image above forms a triangular shape. The viewer’s eyes will enter the frame at the left part of the image (brother wearing blue socks) then to the mother’s face, the daughter, the dad and finally the little boy at the left. This is a good example of giving a dynamic feel to the photo.
The best way to direct your subject is to demonstrate the poses you want them to make, because this will help your subject to see what pose you want them to make. This will also help you know if the pose will be comfortable for your subject.
When you’re posing groups, you can use different props, such as chairs or stools to give your photo a better composition. If you are taking the group shot outdoors, you can make use of the elements in your location, like a staircase, a bridge, sloping terrain or a landscaping rock.

Photo by makelessnoise
In this photo the family was asked to sit on the carousel and everyone was positioned in a circular shape.
One of the most challenging factors when taking a group photo is when the group or family has kids. You can’t make them pose for a long time, because most kids have a short attention span, and they do not have enough patience to sit and pose for a long time. In this case you might want to try doing freestyle posing. This is a less formal and less traditional way of posing your subjects.

Photo by Seth Lemmons

Photo by Seth Lemmons
The photos above are examples of freestyle posing, less traditional, but they still look pleasing to the eyes. This way the kids will have fun without even noticing that they’re having a photo session.
Lastly, when you think you have taken enough group photos, do not forget to ask the clients if they have some poses in mind that they want to do. You should be open for suggestions. Who knows, they might have something brilliant in mind!

An Introduction to Film Photography

2011-08-04T04:02:00.000-07:00

by George Milabo
There are still many film photographers, but the number of those using digital technology, who are not familiar with the way of processing images from film, increase daily. As time passes, digital photography becomes more entrenched. Film photography will ultimately become a niche with only a few practitioners as the production of new film cameras—and films—slows down to a halt.
In a survey conducted during the rapid transition to digital photography, respondents said that low cost and the ability to view images immediately were the two most popular reasons why they favored the use of digital cameras. It was only in the mid 1990s that serious commercialization of digital cameras started. In about two decades, digital photography has overtaken film as the standard process for producing images.

Photo by Fabrice de Nola
For more than a century, film was the standard medium for photography. It is now an expensive process in the eyes of some modern photographers, who no longer buy film or spend on processing to view the images that they take.

Film Photography – A Chemical Process

Film photography is a chemical process. Photographic films are transparent plastic strips layered with light sensitive emulsions that produce images when exposed to light using a camera. The images emerge when processed in a darkroom, or the once ubiquitous commercial photo processing laboratories.

Photo by Alan Vernon
Variable scenes to be photographed and ways of displaying images require different types of film; the difference being the distinct properties of their emulsions, each reacting differently to light. A few examples of film types are:
• Negative or positive
• Black and white or colored
• Low or high ISO
• Standard or saturated colors
• Regular or high contrast
• Infrared
The most popular size is 35mm; however, they are also available in sizes for medium or large format cameras.

Photo by mingwei
For digital photography, which does not use film, there is no need for such a selection. The desired result from a specific film type can be attained by a camera setting or an image editor. A good example is ISO. Digital cameras allow the setting of sensor sensitivity which, like film, also influences image resolution by the presence of noise (grains for film).

Working in a Real Darkroom

Film needs to be developed and printed, or made into slides, before their images can be viewed. Film photographers also edit their photos mostly for the same reason digital images are edited. In fact, many photo editing concepts and techniques used in digital photography were originally accomplished in the darkroom. Even terminologies were retained (e.g., dodge and burn, or the use of filters).

Photo by Kevin Dooley
Digital photography has simplified image processing significantly. It also increased the capability to do more things that used to be impossible to do with film. Several images can now be easily stitched seamlessly into one large image (usually a panorama) or blended together to improve quality (e.g., high dynamic range imaging). The photographer has more control of how the final image is processed now.

Photo by Paul Hart

Subtle Differences between Film and Digital

It is rather difficult to discuss film without comparison to digital photography, which more people are now familiar with. Digital photography, or those behind it, has done a good job of preserving the essence of photography, many of which were founded under the watch of film.

Photo by LeDonne Morris

Photo by LeDonne Morris
The debate on film versus digital is still brewing with many issues pertaining to the superiority of one over the other and is still left unresolved. Digital photography is yet at an early stage, but it has already surpassed film’s dynamic range. Whether it will match film’s spatial resolution or simulate its non-linear sensitivity is something to watch out for.
Note: All photos attached to this article were taken with film.
An Introduction to Film Photography This is a post from: photopoly Join Photopoly on facebook: Photopoly on facbook
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War Eagle

2011-05-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

2011 Fairhope Art Festival map

2011-03-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Click on map for larger view.
Come visit us at the Windmill Market during the Fairhope Arts and Crafts weekend. Get out of the sun, see great art and crafts inside the Market while you listen to music, use the restrooms, have a beer or have lunch at MaryAnn's Deli or Moe's BBQ. We're open Friday 10am - 9pm. and Saturday and Sunday, 10 am - 5pm. Come on down!

Magnolia Springs Boat House

2011-01-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

-- 11x14 Matted Print - $20.00
--16x20 Matted Print - $50.00
--10x15 Gallery Wrapped Canvas Image - $50.00
--14x19 Gallery Wrapped Canvas Image - $75.00
Shipping charges extra....

interested? micthomas1@gmail.com...
Larger sizes available.

Pecan Forest

2011-01-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

BW Sailboat on the Magnolia River

2010-12-09T08:01:00.001-08:00

Contact me for better prices and larger sizes on these items...
-- 11x14 Matted Print - $20.00
--16x20 Matted Print - $50.00
--10x15 Gallery Wrapped Canvas Image - $50.00
--16x20 Gallery Wrapped Canvas Image - $100.00
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interested? micthomas1@gmail.com...
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Old Yellow Barn and the Field

2010-11-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

-- 11x14 Matted Print - $20.00

--16x20 Matted Print - $50.00
--10x15 Gallery Wrapped Canvas Image - $50.00
--16x20 Gallery Wrapped Canvas Image - $100.00
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Red Peppers

2010-10-08T16:48:00.000-07:00

-- 11x14 Matted Print - $20.00

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile

2010-10-01T04:49:00.000-07:00

Lone Bench

2010-09-22T18:30:00.000-07:00

-- 11x14 Matted Print - $20.00
--16x20 Matted Print - $50.00
--10x15 Gallery Wrapped Canvas Image - $50.00
--16x20 Gallery Wrapped Canvas Image - $100.00
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Watermelons

2010-09-20T06:48:00.000-07:00

Old Deserted Home

2010-09-20T06:46:00.000-07:00

The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception - Mobile

2010-09-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

Crimson Tide - BW Closeup

2010-09-18T04:19:00.000-07:00

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile

2010-09-18T04:14:00.000-07:00

Peaches in a Basket

2010-09-13T16:45:00.000-07:00

Blue Pots and Pink Flowers

2010-09-10T04:21:00.000-07:00

Blue Heron closeup on the Beach

2010-09-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

Fairhope Alabama, Antique Garden

2010-09-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

Dew Dropped Blaze Caladium

2010-09-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

City By the Park

2010-09-01T20:01:00.000-07:00

City by the Park - Gulf Shores, Alabama

11x14 Matted Print - $20.00