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Top Ten Tips for Great Pictures
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TIP ONE - Get down to their level |
- Hold your camera at the subject's eye level to capture the power of those magnetic gazes and mesmerizing smiles
- For kids and pets that means getting down on their level to take the picture
- They don't have to look directly into the camera, the eye level angle by itself will create a personal and inviting feeling
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TIP TWO - Use a plain background |
- Before taking a picture, check the area behind your subject
- Lookout for trees or poles sprouting from your subjects head
- A cluttered background will be distracting while a plain background wil emphasize your subject
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TIP THREE - Use flash outdoors |
- Even outdoors, use the flash setting on the camera to improve pictures
- Use it in bright sunlight to lighten dark shadows under the eyes and nose, especially when the sun is directly overhead or behind your subject
- Use it on cloudy days, to brighten up faces and make them stand out from the background
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TIP FOUR - Move in close |
- To create impactful pictures, move in close and fill your picture with the subject
- Move a few steps closer of use the zoom until the subject fills the viewfinder. You will eliminate background distractions and show off the details in your subject
- For small objects. use the camera's macro or 'flower' mode to get sharp close-ups
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TIP FIVE - Take some vertical pictures |
- Make subjects look better in a vertical picture - from the Eiffel Tower to portraits of your friends
- Make a conscious effort to turn your camera sideways and take some vertical pictures
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TIP SIX - Lock the focus |
- Lock the focus to create a sharp picture of the off-center subjects
1. Center the subject
2. Press the shutter button half way down
3. Re-frame your picture (while still holding the shutter button)
4. Finish by pressing the shutter button all the way
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TIP SEVEN - Move it from the middle |
- Bring your picture to life simply by placing your subject off-center
- Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid in your viewfinder. Now place your subject at one of the intersections of lines
- Since most cameras focus on whatever's in the middle, remember to lock the focus on your subject before re-framing the shot
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TIP EIGHT - Know your flash's range |
- Pictures taken beyond the maximum flash range will be too dark
- For many cameras that's only ten feet - about four steps away. Check your manual to be sure
- If the subject is further than ten feet from the camera, the picture may be too dark
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TIP NINE - Watch the light |
- Great light makes great pictures. Study the effects of light in your pictures
- For people pictures, choose the soft lighting of cloudy days. Avoid overhead sunlight that casts harsh shadows across faces
- For scenic pictures, use the long shadows and color of early and late day
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TIP TEN - Be a picture director |
- Take an extra minute and become a picture director, not just a passive picture taker
- Add some props, rearrange your subjects, or try a different viewpoint
- Bring your subjects together and let their personalities shine. Then watch your pictures dramatically improve
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Nightsong: A New Vampire Musical -- Woonsocket November 5, 2009 to November 8, 2009 |
“A Dickens's Christmas Carol, a Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts” – Derby Line November 5, 2009 to November 8, 2009 |
“The 39 Steps” – New Haven November 5, 2009 to November 7, 2009 |
"Hello?" An Evening of Telephone Operas -- Brattleboro November 6, 2009 to November 7, 2009 |
Fair Earth Bazaar -- Madison November 6, 2009 to November 8, 2009 |
Provincetown Restaurant Week Now through November 12, 2009 |
Rooms with a View -- Southport November 6, 2009 to November 8, 2009 |
Cirque Mechanics Birdhouse Factory -- Portsmouth November 6, 2009 to November 7, 2009 |
Milton Artists Guild Holiday Art Show -- Milton November 7, 2009 |
Music For A Green Planet -- East Providence November 7, 2009 |
Pianist Di Wu with the Burlington Chamber Orchestra – Burlington November 7, 2009 |
James Montgomery Band – Essex November 7, 2009 |
Breakfast with George Washington -- Exeter November 7, 2009 |
Flamenco Guitar with Jesse Cook – Woodstock November 7, 2009 |
"My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm in Therapy" -- Worcester November 7, 2009 |
NH Open Doors -- Statewide November 7, 2009 |
Craftsmen's Holiday Craft Show -- Portland November 7, 2009 to November 8, 2009 |
Tray Chic! -- Bangor November 7, 2009 |
Bangor Arts & Crafts Show -- Bangor November 7, 2009 to November 8, 2009 |
Cakebread Wine Dinner -- Newport November 7, 2009 |
New Hampshire Folk Fest -- Rochester November 7, 2009 |
Imagination Movers -- Boston November 7, 2009 |
The Posh Sale -- Hartford November 7, 2009 |
Open Hearth Cooking: Pies – Deerfield Now through November 28, 2009 |
Vermont Winds Concert – Burlington November 8, 2009 |
New Haven Cocktail Competition November 8, 2009 |
Squirrel Nut Zippers – Salisbury November 8, 2009 |
The Bluegrass Gospel Project – Norwich November 8, 2009 |
The Pioneer Consort in Concert -- Wickford November 8, 2009 |
Great Stories to Tell with the Portland Symphony Orchestra – Portland November 8, 2009 |
"L’histoire Du Soldat" with the Portland Ballet – Portland November 8, 2009 |
Dirty Dozen Brass Band – Norfolk November 8, 2009 |
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band -- Portsmouth November 10, 2009 |
Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company -- Providence November 10, 2009 |
Lipizzaner Stallions --Durham November 10, 2009 |
Yamato Drummers of Japan -- Portland November 10, 2009 |
Star Wars in Concert – Providence November 11, 2009 |
The Nutcracker Ballet Day – Boston November 11, 2009 |
Pfizer Fantasia -- West Springfield November 12, 2009 to November 14, 2009 |
Neko Case -- Portsmouth November 12, 2009 |
"As You Like It" -- Manchester November 12, 2009 to November 14, 2009 |
November Aha Night -- New Bedford November 12, 2009 |
Paula Cole -- Salisbury November 13, 2009 |
Tavern Fare in 18th & 19th Century New England with Bean Supper – Essex November 13, 2009 |
"Dixie’s Tupperware Party" -- Hartford November 13, 2009 to November 15, 2009 |
Mother-Daughter Holiday Tea -- Bristol November 13, 2009 |
New England Craft & Specialty Food Fair -- Salem November 13, 2009 to November 15, 2009 |
Nature Mania and Wolf Night – West Hartford November 13, 2009 |
Sugarloaf Crafts Festival -- Hartford November 13, 2009 to November 15, 2009 |
Jim Brickman: Beautiful World -- Providence November 13, 2009 |
Comedian Juston McKinney -- Rochester November 13, 2009 |
Augusta Arts & Crafts Show -- Augusta November 14, 2009 to November 15, 2009 |
The Machine – Salisbury November 14, 2009 |
A Tribute to Louis Armstrong with the Portland Symphony Orchestra – Portland November 14, 2009 to November 15, 2009 |
Ladies of the Lake Quilt Show – Shelburne November 14, 2009 to November 15, 2009 |
"The Art of Murder" -- Plymouth November 14, 2009 |
Jim Brickman -- Worcester November 15, 2009 |
Taste of Newport November 15, 2009 |
Kenny Wayne Shepherd -- Salisbury November 17, 2009 |
Downtown Dance Party with DJ Logic -- Portsmouth November 20, 2009 |
Shawn Colvin -- Salisbury November 20, 2009 |
Artfull Gifts Gift Show – Camden-Belfast November 20, 2009 to November 22, 2009 |
Arlo Guthrie & Family --Portland November 20, 2009 |
Artfull Gifts Gift Show – Camden-Belfast November 20, 2009 to November 22, 2009 |
Paula Poundstone – Fairfield November 20, 2009 |
America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration -- Plymouth November 20, 2009 to November 22, 2009 |
Crafts at the Capitol -- Concord November 21, 2009 to November 22, 2009 |
Tupelo Night of Comedy – Salisbury November 21, 2009 |
Tap Dogs – New Haven November 21, 2009 |
Homes for the Holidays Tour -- Gloucester November 21, 2009 |
Cuisine of Provençale dinner – Deerfield November 21, 2009 |
Big-Time Vaudeville with Michael Trautman and Michael Menes -- Gardiner November 21, 2009 |
Thanksgiving Parade -- Plymouth November 21, 2009 |
Big-Time Vaudeville Show – Gardiner November 21, 2009 |
Fine Art and Craft Show by Designing Women -- Freeport November 21, 2009 |
Open Hearth Cooking Class: A Thanksgiving Menu -- Deerfield November 21, 2009 |
Pianist Peter Serkin -- Portland November 22, 2009 |
Pennsylvania Girlchoir -- Westport November 22, 2009 |
Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood -- -- Norfolk November 25, 2009 |
Peterborough Thanksgiving Eve Contra Dance – Peterborough November 25, 2009 |
Vineyard Artisans Holiday Festival – West Tisbury, Martha’s Vineyard November 27, 2009 to November 28, 2009 |
Gallagher -- Salisbury November 27, 2009 |
Not Another Bite. Dining in the Early 19th Century -- Waltham November 27, 2009 |
BLiNK! An Evening of Magic -- Portsmouth November 27, 2009 to November 28, 2009 |
Parade of the Big Balloons -- Springfield November 27, 2009 |
Holiday Tree Lighting -- Portland November 27, 2009 |
Local Craft & Wares Fair – Bethel November 27, 2009 |
Lighting of the Nubble -- York November 28, 2009 |
Season of Thanks 2009 -- Deerfield November 28, 2009 |
BEATexpo 2009 -- Stamford November 28, 2009 to November 29, 2009 |
Torchlight Parade & Fireworks with Santa & Mrs. Claus -- West Dover November 28, 2009 to November 29, 2009 |
Charles Dickens's Great-Great-Grandson Performs "A Christmas Carol" – Sutton November 28, 2009 to November 29, 2009 |
Makem & Spain Brothers -- Rochester November 28, 2009 |
Coco Montoya with Jen Lowe -- Norfolk November 29, 2009 |
Wynonna Judd Holiday Show – New Bedford December 1, 2009 |
The Lee Duo performs chamber music -- Storrs December 1, 2009 |
Hansel and Gretel -- Boston December 4, 2009 to December 6, 2009 |
"My Three Angels" -- Hyde Park December 4, 2009 to December 6, 2009 |
Maine Indian Basketmakers Sale and Demonstration -- Orono December 5, 2009 |
Holiday Culinary Tour – New Haven December 7, 2009 |
Trans-Siberian Orchestra -- Providence December 10, 2009 |
seARTS Wearable Arts Show & Sale – Gloucester December 11, 2009 to December 12, 2009 |
Craft Boston Holiday 2009 -- Boston December 11, 2009 to December 13, 2009 |
Cultural Survival Bazaar – Cambridge December 12, 2009 to December 13, 2009 |
Children's Concert with Jay Mankita – Manchester December 13, 2009 |
Handel's Messiah with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra – Fairfield December 16, 2009 |
Winter Solstice Celebration at the Travelers Science Dome – West Hartford December 18, 2009 |
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra Family Holiday Pops – New Bedford December 19, 2009 |
Christmas Plus Concert with the Shoreline Ringers -- Norwich January 13, 2010 |
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