Basics of Photography

Photography captures a moment in time. It is a creative process as much as painting or writing and has the power to communicate the meaning of a scene or event. Photography is simple to learn yet at the same time challenging to execute. Learning the finer nuances of photography is based on three key aspects - Light, aesthetics and focus. Understanding these three aspects forms the basis of expressing yourself effectively through photography.

Ideally suited for commercial, hospitality, healthcare, retail and residential applications, the downlight accepts a number of trim options including reflectors, baffles, and lensed trim models. UL 1598 listed with a three year warranty, the LED downlight also exceeds Title 24-2008 effective mid-2009.For those of you who want to work with a slightly more sophisticated camera, you have the option of a Single Lens Reflex camera popularly called the SLR system. This type of camera is available in both 35mm film format as well as digital format. Digital cameras have no film but the image is captured on an image sensor and stored in photo memory. Digital cameras in general provide superior picture quality. The internal system of the SLR camera is made up of angled prisms and mirrors that actually work like a lens when you click. But you have a few things to learn about this camera system before you can achieve better light exposure, sharpness and good focus. While it is imperative that you study the instruction manual of your SLR camera system thoroughly to understand the features and functioning, given here are some of the features and a brief explanation on how these features can help you in achieving the right exposure.Understanding light is one of the very basic principles of learning to be a photographer. When you have a group of people in front of you with smiling faces ready for you to say �cheese� or if you are taking a shot of a scenic area, the most important consideration is the light factor. Light controls the type of exposure and therefore the quality of the photo is dependent on the quality of the light on your subject and the amount of light that impacts on the film or digital sensor when you click. Controlling the amount of light is a good pre-occupation in the mind of a photographer keen to get a good shot. It should be one of the key considerationsIn the same survey, only 16 percent correctly identified carpet as the dirtiest home surface.For photos, research and more, please visit http://oreckhalonewsroom.com/Aesthetics requires a good eye for detail. The following factors have to borne in mind in creating an aesthetically appealing photograph:-->Background-->Objects Impinging on the PictureEach of these factors that go into aesthetics are described and explained below-A common problem among beginners in photography is not paying attention to whether the image is being captured fully. When you view your subject through the viewfinder, you may think you have clicked a person from head to shoulder or from head to toe in a full shot. But when the actual photograph is processed, the top of your subject�s head or part of the hair may be missing! Or, if you did not center your subject when you composed the shot through your viewfinder, a part of the shoulder or hand may be lost into the edges of the photo. You need to concentrate when you view your subject through your camera before you click, in order to get the picture exactly the way you want it.The use of the flash can be a boon when you operate in different light conditions. If you have an overcast sky, the flash in your camera will serve the purpose of letting some light into the image that you are trying to capture and brightening it up. The flash also works to your advantage when your subject is not too close but slightly away from you. But you have to check the �flash range� of your camera in your manual. The flash works best when your subject is within a recommended range that is usually at least 4 ft and generally not more than 10 ft.--Changing the direction of your camera based on picture dimensions--Avoiding too many elementsBesides Light and Aesthetics, the third issue in photography basics refers to �focusing� the picture. Getting the right focus is the difference between a blurred image and a sharp image. If you have an auto focus camera, the camera will do the job for you. This is available in most basic models. You can also achieve focus manually in other cameras using the mechanism to adjust the focus and to lock the focus on the subject before you click.--A happy group of people will not look as vibrant if there was inadequate light when you took the picture.Many a time you may not be able to capture the subject in it�s entirety in the conventional horizontal position in which the camera is usually held. You can easily change the direction. Hold the camera vertically and then view your subject. You will be able to capture more of a longish subject like a tall monument, a full-length picture of a child, and so on.--Poor lighting may not bring out the colors in the scene to maximum effectYou can also look for a model with an optical zoom lens that gives you the flexibility of variable focal length and a range of lens options within a single zoom lens.The IC-rated, AIR-TITE[TM] recessed fixture exceeds high-efficacy requirements for California's Title 24, with energy savings in excess of 75% when compared with a 65 watt incandescent lamp. Virtually maintenance-free, the Halo LED fixture is constructed to provide greater than 70% of its initial light over 50,000 hours of use. (The Halo LED fixture could deliver over 70% of the initial light over 20 years when used six hours per day.) Plus, for additional energy savings, the LED module is dimmable to approximately 15% using standard AC incandescent analog dimmers and approximately 5% with dimmers that have a low-end minimum brightness adjustment.--If there is too much light, the photo will look overly bright and over exposed.For additional information on the Halo LED Downlight, visit www.cooperlighting.com or email TalkToUs@CooperIndustries.com. For additional information on the specific ENERGY STAR eligibility criteria, visit www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_specs.ssl_luminaires.Cooper Industries, Ltd. (NYSE:CBE) is a global manufacturer with 2008 revenues of $6.5 billion, approximately 88% of which are from electrical products. Founded in 1833, Cooper's sustained level of success is attributable to a constant focus on innovation, evolving business practices while maintaining the highest ethical standards, and meeting customer needs. The Company has eight operating divisions with leading market share positions and world-class products and brands including: Bussmann electrical and electronic fuses; Crouse-Hinds and CEAG explosion-proof electrical equipment; Halo and Metalux lighting fixtures; and Kyle and McGraw-Edison power systems products. With this broad range of products, Cooper is uniquely positioned for several long-term growth trends including the global infrastructure build-out, the need to improve the reliability and productivity of the electric grid, the demand for higher energy-efficient products and the need for improved electrical safety. In 2008, sixty-one percent of total sales were to customers in the industrial and utility end-markets and thirty-seven percent of total sales were to customers outside the United States. Cooper, which has manufacturing facilities in 23 countries as of 2008, is incorporated in Bermuda with administrative headquarters in Houston, TX. For more information, visit the website at www.cooperindustries.com.A picture cluttered with too many objects may detract from the actual subject. For instance, a wide view of a room in which your subject is sitting may create a photo in which too many objects vie for attention. If the person in the picture is your main target then narrow down and concentrate mostly on clicking the subject. While a good background adds value to a picture, too much paraphernalia could take the attention away from the main subject. Your picture may be focused and the lighting may be good but there is so much going on in the picture that it becomes aesthetically lacking and maybe even a little jarring.Background"The Oreck Halo represents the future of home hygiene. It gives you peace of mind knowing that you're doing all you can to provide a clean and healthier environment for your entire family," Oreck added.What You Can't See Can Hurt YouOreck, boasting a storied history of innovation, views UV-C as the most significant emerging technology in homecare and home hygiene. It acquired this technology from the Garcias and made more than 100 design and performance enhancements to deliver the Oreck Halo with a vastly improved user experience.-->Distance from SubjectThe word �exposure� is a very important word in the lexicon of both amateur and professional photographers and is based on the understanding of light in creating good photographs."Every time we enter our homes, we track in germs, bacteria and viruses from outside," said David Oreck, Founder of the Oreck Corporation. "Think about when you come home from work, or when the kids come in all dirty after playing outside. What about the dog digging in the neighbor's trash?"An additional feature in an SLR camera that makes it far superior to a simple �point and shoot� camera is the ability to use add-on lenses. When you attempt to take a close up shot of objects in nature like a flower or a butterfly, you might want a very high level of clarity. You can add power to your camera by attaching an additional lens onto your camera lens for greater magnification of your subject. These supplementary lenses are available at reasonable prices in different powers like +2, +3 and so on.The background in a photograph requires much consideration. It influences the manner in which your subject is portrayed in the photograph. Depending on your choice of background, your subject will be shown to effect or may be overshadowed. The background also makes the difference between a boring and an interesting photograph. The colors, the type of background and the context add to the vibrancy of the photo.--Periphery-->Avoiding Too Many Elements-->Changing the Direction of Your Camera Based on the PictureThere are a few basics that you can apply to circumvent poor picture quality due to unfavorable light conditions:Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Oreck Corporation is a leading manufacturer in the homecare industry, offering a variety of vacuum, air purification and other cleaning products. Oreck sells its products through approximately 450 Oreck Clean Home Centers, as well as through phone and online direct sales. The company distributes products in the U.S., Canada and parts of Europe. For more information, please visit www.oreck.com.Cooper Lighting, a subsidiary of Cooper Industries (NYSE: CBE), is the leading provider of innovative, high quality lighting fixtures and related products to worldwide commercial, industrial, retail, residential and utility markets. For more information, visit www.cooperlighting.com.--Distance from subjectAt times there are certain objects in a scene that seem to almost invade into the picture. For instance, if you take a picture of a group of your friends on a street, chances are that a street sign may gain prominence in the photograph unbidden and may seem to sprout out of the head of one of your friends in the photograph. Or the light fixtures in your living room may find a place in the picture and appear in the form an unseemly blob in your photo. And the tough part is, when you take the shot you may not be aware of this because the eye is focused on the people in the picture.A high-powered UV-C bulb is housed in a patented light chamber with a durable quartz glass exterior, and independent tests prove this UV-C light kills more than 99 percent of many common germs it comes in contact with.The Oreck Halo's patented UV-C light comes with a five-year warranty and the vacuum has a three-year warranty and includes three free tune-ups at any Oreck Clean Home Center.The basics of photography are better applied when you put into perspective the capabilities of the camera model that you use or plan to purchase. Simple point and shoot cameras require minimal knowledge in operating them. They are easy to use and have the bare minimum controls. The user has to just compose and aim the shot on the subject and presses the shutter button. �Click� and the job is done. The camera handles its functions automatically.The second issue in photography is the aesthetics of the picture. Aesthetics is the creativity and attention to detail that you bring to your photograph. It is the most interesting part of photography since it is almost like a visual equivalent of composing a poem or writing a story. Aesthetics requires the use of visual skills to compose and deliver a pleasing, eye-catching and captivating image. It is a type of vision that you have for your photograph in terms of look and appeal.The technology for the Oreck Halo was born from one family's quest to protect its premature triplets. Ken and Carrie Garcia were told their best option was to rip up all their carpet to minimize exposure to potentially fatal germs and allergens.When told the number of germs and bacteria on carpets and floors, nearly 80 percent indicated strong interest in a product that could minimize this health concern.-->Shutter Speed--Change the position from which you take the shot

The guidelines discussed here on the basics of photography and the additional features of the SLR system, will not only get you started but also help you avoid the common mistakes that many budding photographers make. Study your manual thoroughly for insights and ideas. Learning photography requires patience and the ability to constantly experiment and teach yourself through a process of trial and error.

Author: Chris Haslego