Photographing Fall Foliage

The season’s vibrant forests filled with leaves changing colors beckons us to spend a day outdoors with camera in hand.  Taking time to enjoy nature can inspire us in several ways and influence our photography in positive ways.

Each time of day offers advantages and challenges, but many pros agree that shooting in the late afternoon – when your shadow is taller than you are – is a great time to photograph the great outdoors. Early mornings are also excellent, although you’ll need to decide if morning dew adds to your composition or simply complicates things.  And don’t let overcast skies deter you, either – the clouds can help emphasize the vibrancy of leaves and other changing foliage.

Life’s A Beach! 

Summertime means beach fun and frolicking, and it also means fantastic photos that will serve as a reminder of those adventures long after they’ve ended.  Beach photos can be tricky, however, in that the sun can work against us.  For example, strong sunlight can create harsh shadows, but using your flash can help combat that issue. 

Most people (rightfully) assume that the flash should be used in an absence of light, but in cases where harsh shadows fall on the subject, a fill-flash can eliminate the issue of darkness under the eyes, nose and chin.  Just remember that the flash needs to be only a few feet from the subject to be effective!

Quick Tip: Fabulous Firework Photography

Photographing fireworks can be a bit tricky due to a variety of factors. The crowds can complicate what kind of access you’ll have and the uncertainty of where and when the fireworks will unfold in the sky can also keep you guessing. Allow yourself a few junk shots in the beginning to get settled and, if possible, try to get to the site early to stake a claim for the best space.

Because you don’t want your camera to keep searching for what to focus on in each shot, set your camera to Manual Mode and your ISO at 200. You can preset your camera in advance by focusing your lens on something that is about the same distance from where you anticipate the fireworks to be and then fix that setting in place in Manual Mode.

Also, if you don’t have a wireless remote release to use with your tripod, now’s the perfect time to get one! A cable release will prevent camera shake or moving the camera during the shot and it will also allow you to keep your eyes trained on the sky and ready to react at the right time. Stop in your local Cord Camera to find the one right for your camera.

Father's Day Gift Guide

June is a jam-packed month with the start of summer vacation, Father’s Day and graduations galore! This month’s issue tackles all those topics and much more. Nothing says summer like a great road trip, and we've included tips and ideas to help you make the most of your next mobile adventure. We've also covered the Rule of Thirds and how it can improve your photography as well as your perspective. Our Father’s Day gift guide remains a favorite with our readers, so we've put together our top suggestions for Dad’s special day. We can also create personal gifts, so if you have a creative idea for a Father’s Day gift, stop by our store or visit us online.

With Father’s Day soon upon us, we know that you’ll want to find that special gift that lets Dad know just how much he’s appreciated. We've put together our Father’s Day Gift Guide to help you choose that perfect present for the special man in your life.

Keep it Close to the Vest: Today’s top working photographers know the value of a well-designed photographer’s vest. Keeping key accessories, media cards, extra batteries and other items in designated pockets means more attention paid to shooting than searching for the right accessory. Our ProMaster Ansel Photographer’s Shooting Vest is made of sturdy materials designed to withstand the elements and is capable of carrying lots of gear.

Adventures To Go: A quality camera bag is one of the most important items a photographer can own, but choosing the right bag means taking into consideration how Dad shoots, what he carries and where he travels. Stop by your local store to choose the perfect bag for your Dad, or shop online at www.cordcamera.com

Power Up! Nothing can ruin a photo opportunity faster than running out of power. If your camera powers down while you’re shooting, you run the risk of damaging the images stored on the camera card. Power is always ready with the Universal Go! Charger. This charger can charge your digital camera, smartphone, iPod, iPad or any other USB-powered device. It’s a practical accessory that will come in handy more times than you can count. Dad would love this gift, and you might want to pick up one for yourself, too!

Fight Flare: Shooting outdoors means understanding how to work with the environment and available light. Having the right accessories can greatly improve your final results. One such accessory is the ProMaster Universal Lens Hood. This lens hood is specially designed 
for the wide focal lengths required by today’s digital SLR cameras and its petal shape design helps to reduce glare. 
The unique two-piece design of this lens hood allows you to quickly and easily reverse the hood for storage.

Spring Has Finally Sprung!

Spring has graced us with her presence, and the warmer weather is drawing shutterbugs back outdoors. This month we turn our attention to helping you create beautiful memories in nature. We’ll show you how to manage unexpected shadows in your shots and how to take your macro photography to the next level. We’ve included some tips from the pros to help you with posing for portraits, and also included our recommendations for the top tripods for sports shooting.  If you need any help, we’re standing by so please call, email or stop by the store. You can easily find us at www.cordcamera.com.  We have many budget-friendly gift ideas, and we can also transform your perfect photo into something spectacular for gift giving. We look forward to seeing you!

Welcome, Spring!

The weather’s warming up, and we’re ready to spend more time outside with our cameras. This month’s issue covers a variety of topics ranging from how to photograph fidgety kids to keeping your camera’s firmware updated. We’ve got tips to help you capture that incredible sunset and a recommendation for the perfect travel tripod. Plus, our feature on how to maximize online product sales can mean great things for your bottom line. As a final bonus, our interview with professional photographer Katherine Mathis will inspire anyone dreaming of one day turning a photo hobby into a career. 

We hope you’ll take every opportunity, large or small, to explore the world--camera in hand – and share your vision of the world around you. 

Quick Quotable: 
“You cannot depend on your eyes if your imagination is out of focus.” – Mark Twain

The Working Photographer:
Behind the Lens with Katherine Mathis

Katherine Mathis knows a thing or two about photography, and equally important, she understands the value of connecting with her subjects. Katherine runs Photography By Katherine, an up and coming full service studio in Grove, Oklahoma, specializing in high school senior portraits. “We want every senior to leave her session feeling confident and beautiful and to feel that the portraits we’ve taken represent her well.” 

Katherine has always loved photography, but it was upon graduating from John Brown University that she decided to get serious about turning her craft into a career. “I was fortunate to work for Mark Jackson in his studio, and I learned a great deal from him. I realized that I loved every aspect of this business and I wanted to learn as much as possible.” 

Spring Is Around The Corner

If you find yourself fantasizing about spring break, you’re not alone! The month of March marks the end of winter, but chilly weather still grips many of us across the country. Spring just can’t get here fast enough, but until that happens, we can still take advantage of the gifts the current climate offers. This issue includes photography tips to use on your spring break trip, how to pick quality memory cards, when to use burst mode, the latest in bounce flash techniques and what one item you need to have with you on your next vacation. Plus, for working photographers, we provide insight on how to handle difficult client conversations in a professional manner. Throw in an iPhone camera tip and this issue is wrapped up and ready for you to enjoy!

Quick Photo Tips for Your Next Vacation Getaway

The month of March means winter will soon end. It also offers a much needed spring break holiday. Whether you’re packing your bags for a quick weekend road trip or a ten day international excursion, we’ve got a few tips to help you create some stunning images sure to make you smile long after your holiday has ended.

Winter Shooting

Winter has hinted at its impending departure but many parts of the country find themselves still firmly in her embrace.  For those who love cold weather photography, we have some tips designed to help you leverage the season to its full potential.

We also have a treat in store this month with our interview of Nell Carroll, formerly USA Today’s sports photo editor and now editor of the Austin American-Statesman. Nell has graciously shared her expertise on what it takes to become a successful photojournalist in today’s competitive marketplace.  Her advice is inspiring, on point and designed to help you launch a career in this arena if you so choose.

We’ve closed the issue with some great gear recommendations and a refresher course on depth of field and how to create different effects through aperture adjustments.  We’ve crammed a lot of photography fun into February’s issue, so spend a few minutes with us and get inspired.  And remember to drop by the store to show us what you’ve been shooting.  We’d love to see your latest work!

2013 - A NEW PHOTO YEAR!

Can you believe it’s 2013 already?  Where does the time go?

This month’s issue celebrates the New Year and, with it, the promise of new beginnings and fresh starts.  Our feature this month provides a roadmap to help guide you through organizing and backing up your digital photo library so that you can find your favorite images and feel confident they are properly protected.  We have also included some tips for winter weather shooting and experimenting with panoramic photography.  For those who have dreamt of test-driving a photography dream job, we have some tips on how to make that dream a reality.

Plus, if you’ve ever wondered what the graph is on the back of your LCD screen, we explain what it is and how it can help you improve your images.  Add in a few quick photo tips, and this month’s issue is complete. 

Remember that we’re standing by if you need help with any of the topics we’ve discussed.  We can assist with anything related to imaging, and we look forward to helping you with any project or dilemma, regardless of size.  Just give us a call or stop by the store!

New Year’s Resolution:

Organizing Your Digital Photos

The New Year signals a fresh start, a chance to start over or begin a new project.  Unfortunately, when it comes to managing our growing digital photography libraries, it seems the only thing we know to do is simply buy a larger hard drive.  The idea of sorting and organizing photos can seem a daunting task, but you’ll find that once you have a strategy and get started, it’s a pretty simple process.

If you’re thinking that there has to be a better way, you’re right.  We’ve got a plan designed to help you tame and organize your digital photographs so that you can find your favorites and free up some well-needed hard drive space.  The steps below are designed to be done on your schedule. You can even break them up into different time slots, such as one step per week.  Just make sure to finish the job so you can enjoy the reward of knowing you can now find those favorite images on a moment’s notice.