diy photography

Most any of the solutions offered are good. I'll add my two cents worth. Check out my DIY Product Photography tutorial.

http://diyphotocheapodepot.blogspot.com/

Just place a light source on each side. Adjust your white balance and shoot away. Very cheap and easy to put together.

God's light to all,

chris

Hanna,

When you get three or four Vivitar 283 flashes. Check out Ralph Paonessas site. He has

some superb lessons for photographing hummingbirds.

http://www.rpphoto.com/howto/hummer/humguide1.asp

Good luck and God's light to you

Chris<div></div>

Arthur,

That is a great site. One I didn't know about.There are a lot of articles I want to explore

Thank you and God bless,

Chris

I've started a blog that has some good tutorials for beginning photographers. Most of them deal with

nature photography. I think it would be great to list other sites and blogs that would be useful as

well.

Sincerely,

Chris

http://diyphotocheapodepot.blogspot.com/<div></div>

Thanks for all your suggestions for blog sites. It seems after looking at some of your

work. (excellent variety and interesting work) that I can probably stick with Blog Spot. I

determined this after looking at what others are doing on the same site. It is really

apparent that my limited internet skills need an upgrade.I'm obviously ignorant of all the

tools available and how to use them on that site. There is no easy road as they say. I

just will need to wade through and learn some of the tools available to use.

Chris<div></div>

I finally have taken the plunge and started a blog along with fifity bajillion other people. I am using

Blogspot. The main problem is that I like creating tutorials that use step by step images to show

what to do. Sometimes this can be as many as 6 steps or more. The Blog Spot site seems to limit

you to four. I'm not really very internet savvy so there may be a way to do it and I just don't fully

comprehend it. I would love to hear of some good sites to use. Maybe

I will change to a new site.

Like Ray and many others I learned on the Argus C3 Brick. I still have it to this day.

Following that camera i bought a used Pentax K1000 which many baby boomers owned

and learned on.

God's light and love to all,

Chris

One other thought is to wet the deck down before shooting it to bring out the grain

patterns. If this is done in early morning light the results can be quite beautiful.

God's light to all

Chris

It isn't a webmaster but i would suggest looking into PhotoMission as a means of ministry.

It is a site that uses photography as a means to exemplify God. Work is donated or sold

very reasonably to Christiian organizations and publishers. Also members go on missions

as small groups to spread the word of the Lord.

Good luck in your search. May God's light and love bless you,

chris

What ever you do you need to make it as hands on as possible. Make sure that you have

enough camera equipment. Hopefully all of the same kind. Sit down beforehand with a

teacher familiar with the students you will be working with and have him or her help you

with setting up a seating chart and pairings of students that will work well together.

Also go over with the teacher what the behavioral expectations are generally acceptable at

that school. When you first start classes set down your rules, what you plan to cover and

what they will be expected to do and learn.Tell them about yourself and what you do as a

photographer to establish some credibility. Don't brag.

Lesson plan wise I would begin with a simple demonstration of how cameras are to be

treated. Show them all the basics of how to hold a camera and act out what you shouldnt

do. If you are a good actor ham it up a bit but don't over do it or you will lose them.The

next step would be to explain how a camera works. Then pass out the cameras and let

them explore them a bit. Have them demonstrate back to you how to hold the camera.

Press the shutter etc. Have them point to the major parts etc.

Next on the agenda discuss framing. Explain what framing is but don't give away how it is

commonly done. Pass out magazineswith a lot of pictures National Geo, Nature BMX,

Skateboarding to student groups or pairs and let the students brainstorm on what they see

and write it down. Have each group report out on how they see pictures are framed. Then

go over the general guidelines for framing with the students. Have them hold up

examples that show what you are talking about. Rule of thirds. Action going into the frame

etc. Be sure to point out that these are guidelines and not rules. Hopefully you can find

some samples that do just that.

Next I would as others above have suggested go over f/stops and shutter speeds. Make

sure the students have cameras with no film so the can experiment with the cameras to

help see the relationship between f/stops ,shutter speed and depth of field.Stop and show

a short slide show that demonstrates what effects can be achieved through thier use.. At

this point I love to throw out situations and the effect I'm looking for and have them tell

me what camera settings I should use. How do I stop the action of a pole vaulter at a track

meet.

How do I get someone in focus in front of me along with the mountains and trees in the

background in focus too. What settings would be the same as f/8 at 125th of a second.

Assignment wise I start with simple things. Create a photo that demonstrates depth of

field. Make an image that shows the effect of speed. Make two images one with panning

and one that stops the action.

This should be a good start for you. Above all have fun and be yourself. Middle school

students can spot a phony miles away. If you don't know the answer to something tell

them you don't know but you will try to find out or point them in a direction where they

can find it.

Good luck and God Bless you,

Chris (Retired Middle School Teacher)

I 'm not going to jump in on the ethics portion of the thread. I just wanted to add that

many ( not all)) of the Alaskan eagle shots are done this way. Apparently one of the secrets

is to freeze the bait beforehand so it floats. Unfrozen bait I have been told tends to sink.

I agree with Sam just go out and shoot yout own. I have a small collection of about 450

texture images that I use. It only took me a few hours each day over a period of about

three days to shoot them. Not only that it was a lot of fun to do. You get lots of questions

and strange looks from passer bys and business owners as you photograph sidewalks and

buildings walls etc.

God's precious love to all

Chris<div></div>

Some good comments about early in the morning. I would suggest Sugarloaf State Park

east of Santa Rosa. Some good trails that go up to the gunsight high on the ridge. Any

where on the coast can be good. The tidal flats of Bodega bay can be OK for some birds.

On the drive out to the coast stop in the town of Bodega. Up the hill from the town is the

schoolhouse that was used for a scene in Alfred Hichcock's "The Birds" The beach at the

mouth of the Russian river "Goat Rock" is good for harbour seals. Further North up the

coast is a recreation of a Russian Fort. Any of the backroads of Sonoma county can be very

interesting. I personally like Coleman Valley Road over to the coast from Occidental. Some

good Italian food there. The Napa Valley is close by. The Oakville Trinity Grade from

Highway 12 s Valley of the Moon is a nice drive. Plenty of Wineries to visit off of Highway

12. If you do go to the Napa valley lunch is superb but expensive at the CIA. The Cooking

Institue of America. Its in a really cool old stone winery that used to be run by the

Christian Brothers. A real rough and tumble drive can be had by driving Skaggs Spring

Road around lake Sonoma over to the coast from Highway 101. The Stewarts Point Store at

the end of the drive. A last possible suggestion would be Armstrong Grove for a good view

of some mighty Redwoods. Good luck and God's light to you.

Chris

The Phoenix/ Cosina/ Vivitar F 3.5 is still made being marketed by Promaster. It is a great

little lens that comes w/ an adapter so you can go to 1 :1 . It will work well as a portrait

lens.

Chris

I got my microscope and "T" adapter from the "Surplus Shed". Great pricing and a variety of

scopes.

God's light to all

Chris

I'm sure many of you get these all the time. Though some of you like to scam the scammers. So here is

another one for you to play with.

Chris

PHOTO WORKSHOP

LOTTERY HEADQUARTERS:

Ref:PWS/NL/9023118308/03

Batch: 074/05/ZY369

We happily announce to you the draw (Draw #1922) of the

PHOTO WORKSHOP LOTTERY, members online Program held on 10th

August 2007.Your e-mail address attached to ticket number:

56475600545 188 with Serial number 5368/02 drew the lucky

numbers:Which subsequently won you one of the lucky dip

prizes. You have therefore been approved to claim a total

sum of ?550,000 in cash credited to file

KTU/9023118308/03.

All participants for the online version were selected

randomly from the

World Wide Web through a computer draw systemand extracted

from over

100,000 Photo workshop members online.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our

European booklet representative office in Europe as

indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your (

?550,000 ) would be released to you by any of our payment

offices in Europe. Our European agent will immediately

commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds

as soon as you contact him.

For security reasons, you are advised to keep yourwinning

information confidential till your claim is processed and

your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit

to claim your prize.

This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double

claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program.

Please be warned

To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent

via email with the following details.

Name:

Age:

Sex:

Tel No:

Country:

Occupation:

Rev.Martin Rodger

Claims Department

The PWSNL Foundation

Email:martin.rodger@gawab.com

Once again congratulations from the entire staff of the

PHOTO WORKSHOPE LOTTERY.

Warm regards,

Sir Mark Dull.

Online Coordinator for the HOTO WORKSHOPE LOTTERY.

? Copyright 2007 The PHOTO WORKSHOPE LOTTERY INC.

Look around on the web. there are plenty of tutorials. I use four to six flashes in my set up.

Usually two on the hummongbird and two on the background.

Good luck and God's light to you

Chris<div></div>

California is so huge fall colors are everywhere at different times and elevations. Here on

the North Coast we are just finishing up. There are only scattered fall colors here and there

and this current storm should take care of that. The maples were spectacular this year and

the black oaks lasted longer than usual.

For current fall colors you would have to check with people further south.

Good luck

Chris

I'm in agreement with the above poster. I use the

Doghouse blind from Ameristep. It sets up in less than 30 seconds. Probably more like 10. It takes some practice to fold it back up as it is one of those spring loaded things like a reflector.The cost was aroud fity bucks or so from Cabelas. I have done some good birds with mine. It easily fits two people.

Good luck in your search.

God Bless

Chris