Photos and Slideshows

Abstract Photography – Selective Focus, Light and Shadows, Lines, and Texture

2011-12-17T12:50:00.000-08:00

This post offers a number of techniques (selective focus, light and shadows, lines, and texture) which you can use to create abstract images. Each one of these techniques may be used with many different types of subject matter. The goal is to understand the techniques then apply them to whatever subject matter is discovered that will create impressive abstract images.

Selective Focus

Selective focus is one of the most common techniques employed when making abstract images. To apply this technique, a large aperture is needed to produce a very narrow depth of field. The camera is then focused on the center of interest of the image. Everything else is going to be out of focus.

When using selective focus, there are a couple of ways that the technique can be made more effective. First, the color of the background should be different than the center of interest. This will make the center of interest get noticed. Second, curves enable you to help direct the viewer's attention to the center of interest.

Light and Shadows

Using the interplay of light and shadows can create drama within an image. Many photographers have a tendency to think only in terms of light. This can be a mistake -- for light is nothing without shadows. Shadows are not simply a dim mass that borders the light. Instead, shadows are an entity as alive as the light. It is the shadows that shape the light, that bring attention to the light, and that integrate with the light to make striking photographic opportunities. This is particularly true with abstract images.

When using this technique, the primary purpose of the shadows is to enhance the forms within an image. As a result, for this technique to achieve success, it's important to start with quite interesting or remarkable forms.

One more thing to note with this technique is the fact that it usually is most effective if the shadows are fairly dark. This creates the contrast that brings drama to an image.

Lines

Lines can be very effectively employed in abstract images. For this technique to work, the lines must be the principal characteristic of the subject matter. You might say, the lines pretty much become the center of interest.

The lines need to be either graceful or dynamic. Additionally, all the lines must work in harmony. Just having a lot of aimless lines going in every which direction is not going to work.

One last point is that, when utilizing lines in this manner, it is almost always best not to have very strong, saturated, or contrasting colors in the image because this can detract from the lines and weaken the image.

Texture

A technique that is very similar to the use of lines is the use of texture. In actual fact, texture and lines are often used jointly. To be used successfully, the texture should be one of the most dominant characteristics of the subject matter. Furthermore, the texture must work in harmony with any lines that are present.

As when using lines, it is almost always best not to have very strong, saturated, or contrasting colors in the image in order to avoid having the colors detract from the texture.

Synopsis

With these four techniques, you have a nice beginning on creating some fascinating abstract photos. On the other hand, there is a lot more to learn about Abstract Photography.

Abstract Photography - Blur, Zooming In, Partial Object, and Photoshop Filters

2011-04-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

Four great techniques for creating abstract images are presented in this article: blur, zooming in, partial image, and Photoshop filters. When the techniques have been mastered, they can be applied to various subject matter to produce great abstract images.

Blur

The deliberate blurring of objects can create very interesting images. Dreamy or romantic images work best with this technique Therefore, it is important to select the subject matter carefully.

This technique can be done in a number of ways. Soft focus lenses produce soft images. An alternative is to attach a soft focus filter to a regular lens. If you would prefer to save some money, panty hose stretched over the front of a lens also works. Of course, the blur can always be added during image editing with Photoshop (or any other editing software).

As a last comment on this technique, deliberately blurred images often print best on matte paper. Matte paper produces a softer, gentler image than glossy or luster papers.

Zooming In

This next technique requires a zoom lens. A long shutter speed is used, and the focal length of the zoom lens is changed during the exposure. Generally, it is best to start at a wider angle and zoom into a narrower angle.

There are a few important points with this technique. A tripod is a necessity. Otherwise, there will be blurring caused by camera movement during the exposure. A strong center of interest is required. Without a strong center of interest, the image just ends up being a blur of lines with nothing to grab the viewer's attention. A contrast of tone or color between the center of interest and the background is necessary. This contrast makes the center of interest stand out. Last, this is a trial and error technique. It requires many images to be shot in order to produce one outstanding image.

Partial Object

With the partial object technique, the entire object is not photographed. Rather, the image focuses on just a part of an object. This technique depends heavily on form, color, and lines. The use of lines tends to be particularly important.

Photoshop Filters

Abstract images can also be created during image editing. An easy way to do this is to use Photoshop's filters. Photoshop has many filters that can be found in the Filter menu. The key here is to try different filters until one is found that produces an interesting abstract image.

One thing to keep in mind is that abstract images created during editing often look best when printed on matte paper.

Summary

Each of these techniques can create great abstract images. Now, all you have to do is grab your camera and try them out. While these four techniques are a good start, there is a lot more to learn about Abstract Photography.

Springtime Photos

2011-04-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

Primavara

View more presentations from Betty Budeanu.

Twelve Common Digital Photography Mistakes

2011-03-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

Inexpensive digital cameras make it easy and affordable for anyone to become a good photographer. Unfortunately, it takes more than a camera, even a good camera, to take high quality pictures. You must also educate yourself on the proper use of digital cameras.

Photography is an art form. It takes a certain way of looking at things to be able to take pictures that are truly impressive and rise above the ordinary. Fortunately, this can be learned and the skills get better with practice.

Let's begin by analyzing some common mistakes people make when taking digital pictures.

Not Knowing Your Camera

Your camera's manual is a valuable resource. Using it will help you to get the most from your camera's features.

Not Using a Tripod

Tripods help you to achieve sharper pictures, even in low light conditions. It's well worth the extra time and effort. You may not always be able to use a tripod, but it can greatly improve your results when this is possible.

Not Allowing Enough Time for the Camera to Focus

Digital cameras need some time to focus properly and to get the right exposure. Depending on the situation and camera, this could take a fraction of a second to several seconds. Get in the habit of accounting for this when taking pictures. A little patience goes a long way in improving your photographs.

Relying too Much on Zoom

Zoom is a great feature, but it does make the picture grainier, so it's preferable to get closer to the subject then to rely too much on zoom. Of course, keep safety in mind, too. A grainy picture is preferable to entering an unsafe situation.

Relying too Much on the Flash

Natural light generally provides the best pictures. Flash can make pictures look harsh and unnatural, so it's preferable to use natural light as much as possible.

Not Taking Enough Pictures

A digital camera with a good memory card can easily store many hundreds of pictures. This makes it easy to experiment. Try many different angles and compositions and simply delete the pictures you don't like.

Always Putting the Subject in the Exact Center

Pictures like this can get boring. Learn the rule of thirds in composition and you will achieve better, more interesting photographs.

Forgetting to Check the Horizon

If you can see the horizon, make sure its horizontal in the picture. This can be a good way to level your shots.

Selecting a Low Resolution Setting

It's generally not necessary to select a low resolution setting on your camera. It's better to buy additional memory for your camera than to rely on a low resolution setting just to save memory space. Digital memory keeps getting cheaper and it's a good investment for photographers.

Trying to Include too Much

Don't try to cram too many objects and or people into one picture. Pictures are usually more effective when they focus on a single subject. Simplicity is often better than unnecessary complexity.

Not Using the Camera

You never know when you will get a good opportunity to take some great pictures, so make a habit of always having your digital camera with you.

Amuzing and Interesting Photographs

2011-03-01T18:46:00.000-08:00

Nl Super Fotky

View more presentations from renny.

How To Make Money With Digital Photography

2011-02-27T12:35:00.000-08:00

If you have a digital camera and enjoy taking pictures, chances are you have thought about making some extra cash with your photos. Digital photography is a hobby that is becoming more and more popular, as most people today have a digital camera in their home. If you just have a little bit of creativity digital photography can turn into a money making business. There are several different ways that you can use your camera to make money.

All it takes is a little imagination, a flair for showmanship, a bit of salesmanship and the willingness to do some work - and you are set.

If you are a digital photography hobbyist, the chances are good that you already have the equipment you need to get started. The first thing that you are going to need for this is a digital camera with features similar to those of a SLR film camera, along with a tripod for some occasions. You will also need an excellent printer or printing service.

You will also need good digital photo editing software. The best applications that you can use are Adobe Photoshop CS3, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Corel Paint Shop Pro X, and Adobe Photoshop Elemts 5.

You might want to invest a few hundred dollars in these programs if you want to get off to an excellent start.

Before we move on, this is a good time to clear up one misconception. Many people believe it's impossible to make money at photography these days. They explain that almost every person has a digital camera or a camera phone. Most people think that no one will pay for pictures when people can take their own pictures.

The answer is simple. The fact of the matter is that everyone has some sort of camera. However, how many people can really use them?

If you look closely at the pictures that most people take, you will see what I mean. Let's be honest. They're horrible. There are usually motion blur pictures from holding the camera the wrong way. bad color or lighting, Akwardly positioned objects. No composition skills. There are shadows on the subject of the picture. Even those people that know how to use photo editing software may need help when it comes to taking amazing pictures. You can only do so much with correcting a bad photograph.

What do you think is going to happen when these people try and print their photos. Undoubtedly, you?ve seen some of these images. The prints have poor resolution. This happens when the photographer had no idea how to adjust the camera settings to produce printable photos.

This is where you come in. Use your extensive digital photography skills to work up a few samples that you can show to potential customers and reel them in.

Maybe you do not think this is likely. I attended a birthday party recently and I am going to tell you about it. The hostess hired an amateur photographer who was striking out to start her own business, much like you are.

Almost everyone at the party brought their own digital cameras - but once the party got rolling, who remembered to take pictures? Those of us who did take snapshots were poorly positioned and usually couldn't get a good view of the scene.

The photographer received payment for her services. She then uploaded the pictures to her own website. Party-goers received the link by email. The photos were then downloaded, printed, or saved to the computer of those that attended the party.

This photographer had a good gig, since she didn't even have to bother with printing and delivering the work, although she received generous pay.

Pretty awesome, huh?

You can do this too. So, learn all you can about photography and photo editing, create a marketing plan, and get out there!

Beautiful Canada

2011-02-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

M A R T C A N A D A B E A U T Y

View more presentations from Joaquim Almeida.

An Introduction to Digital Photography

2011-01-14T15:47:00.000-08:00

Digital photography is quickly becoming the preferred method of taking pictures for both amateurs and professionals. This popularity is a result of the fact that digital photography has numerous advantages over traditional photography for most people.

Reduced Expense

Generally, digital photography is far less expensive than traditional photography, in the long run. Digital photos are recorded electronically in a digital format so they can be downloaded directly to your computer. This allows you to avoid the repeated costs of buying film and photo developing. You can also send unlimited electronic copies of these pictures by email at no extra cost.

Speed

Most digital cameras allow you to see your pictures right away. This is immensely satisfying and provides immediate feedback on your photography techniques. You no longer have to wait until you use all of your film and then get your pictures developed before finding out if they even turned out. This is especially valuable for capturing precious family moments that you can send right away to friends and relatives.

Editing

Most digital cameras have easy to use, built in editing features. You can easily crop and center the picture or sharpen the image to produce a picture that's worthy of printing. If you buy inexpensive photo editing software, you can do much more with your digital photos including applying special effects.

Convenience

You can avoid the hassles of running out of film, because even a small memory card for a digital camera can easily store many hundreds of pictures. There's no need to ration your pictures. You can easily take several and just delete the ones you don't like.

It's not surprising that digital photography is becoming so popular. Digital cameras and digital memory are becoming so inexpensive that it makes it pretty easy to get started with digital photography. Even an inexpensive digital camera can often produce good results in the hands of a beginner. You can always invest in more expensive equipment after you become more experienced.

Shopping for a Digital Camera

2011-01-04T15:58:00.000-08:00

Digital cameras come in a wide variety of different sizes, shapes and colors. Features and quality also vary greatly form one model to the next. It's no wonder that choosing a digital camera can be a very confusing experience for many people. However, there are simple ways to make this process easier and to ensure that you'll find a digital camera that will satisfy your needs and fall within your budget.

Here are five criteria to help you choose a digital camera that's appropriate for you and your photography needs.

Cost

It's helpful to first consider the amount of money you can set aside towards purchasing a new digital camera. You can then limit your research to just those digital cameras in your price range. This will help you to avoid becoming distracted by a lot of fancy features you may never need or that are unsuitable for your current level of experience.

Your Photography Needs

What kind of pictures do you want to take? Will most of your pictures be portraits? Or do you favor landscapes and nature photography? Will you use the camera mostly indoors or outdoors? If you will be taking a lot of the pictures of people, it can be helpful to have a camera with face recognition and red eye reduction features. However, if you will be taking a lot of pictures of moving objects, such as at sporting events, you may want a camera with high speed burst shooting.

Printing Your Pictures

The way you share or print your pictures can help you determine the quality of camera and how many megapixels you will need. For example, if you plan on printing poster size pictures, you will probably want to a camera with ten megapixels are more. However, you won't need that many if your printing needs are more modest. If you only share your pictures online or by e-mail, then you can get by with even fewer megapixels.

Who Will Use Your Camera?

You might not mind learning the advanced features of an expensive camera, but if your friends, spouse or children will be using it, then you may want to choose an easier to use camera with automatic program settings and image stabilization features. Some of these cameras are even easy enough for children to use.

How Serious a Photographer are You?

Do you expect to always remain an amateur photographer or do you plan on become an advanced user or even a professional who earns income from photography? If you want to grow in your photography skills, then look for a camera with features that will grow with you. For example, a camera which allows you to set your own aperture, shutter speed, focus and other settings will give you plenty of room for experimentation and the ability to gradually improve your photography skills.

You can use these criteria to make a short list of digital cameras that will meet your needs and expectations. You can then take this list to a nearby electronics store and personally look at the cameras on your list. You will want to pay attention to how each camera feels and how easy it is to reach the buttons. Be sure to consult the salespeople if you have any questions. I hope your new digital camera will bring you many years of enjoyable use.

The Dry and Hot Desert

2011-01-01T18:41:00.000-08:00

The dry and hot dessert.

View more presentations from Roelof v d Berg.

A Super Collection of Photographs

2010-12-15T18:39:00.000-08:00

Super

View more presentations from pzee.

A Photographic Tribute to the Color Orange

2010-12-02T18:29:00.000-08:00

Orange World.

View more presentations from Roelof v d Berg.

Very Beautiful Pictures

2010-11-15T18:27:00.000-08:00

Very Beautiful

View more presentations from Roelof v d Berg.

Beautiful Images (Garden Photography)

2010-11-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Images.

View more presentations from Roelof v d Berg.

Eternal Snow

2010-10-16T18:19:00.000-07:00

'Eternal Snow'

View more presentations from John J.

Incredible Photographs

2010-10-04T18:17:00.000-07:00

Fotos Aaa

View more presentations from renny.

Beautiful Canyons

2010-09-15T18:13:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Canyons.

View more presentations from Roelof v d Berg.

Extraordinary Photographs

2010-09-01T17:53:00.000-07:00

FOTOGRAFIAS EXTRAORDINARIAS

View more presentations from Maria Gabriela Silva.

Marvelous Illuminated Photos

2010-08-15T17:48:00.000-07:00

Maravillas Iluminadas

View more presentations from Juan Carlos Fernandez.

Creative Nature Photography

2010-08-03T17:44:00.000-07:00

Creative Naturfotografie

View more presentations from renny.

Mario Video Game, Paper Stop Motion Photography

2010-07-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

This video really brings back a lot of memories. This stop motion photography produces a really unique effect, although I'm sure that I wouldn't have the patience to do this.

The Art of Photography

2010-07-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

Art Of Photography

View more presentations from 8manu.

Beautiful Architecture at Night

2010-07-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

Great Views At Night

View more presentations from Sandip Garg.

Flower Photography

2010-06-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

Flowers Macro 30 Foto

View more presentations from renny.

The Frozen Black Sea

2010-06-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

The frozen black sea.

View more presentations from Roelof v d Berg.

A Mother's Love (Nature Photography)

2010-05-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

Mothers Love.

View more presentations from Roelof v d Berg.

Interesting Buildings

2010-05-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

BUILDINGS

View more presentations from Gyula Dio .

Fantastic Photography

2010-04-22T17:29:00.000-07:00

Fantastic Photography

View more presentations from pedronr3.

Cubism

2010-04-18T15:35:00.001-07:00

Cubism

View more presentations from DOINA __COME HERE ONLY if YOU LIKE PP.

Beautiful Roses

2010-04-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

Roses

View more presentations from 8manu.

Winter Worries

2010-03-03T17:01:00.001-08:00

Winter Worries

View more presentations from Ivanšek Renata.

Moebius Transformations Revealed

2010-02-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

This is a cool video. If you don't like mathematics, you can just watch the pretty pictures and listen to the pretty music.

Petals

2010-02-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

PETALS

View more presentations from 8manu.

Irish Waterfall

2010-01-19T16:47:00.000-08:00

This beautiful picture comes from PD Photo. If you wish to use this picture, please see this page to verify that it is in the public domain and to learn other details about the photograph.

National Geographic Photographs

2010-01-11T18:13:00.000-08:00

Evilox National Geographic

View more presentations from Ivanšek Renata.

Simply Interesting Photos

2010-01-09T18:15:00.000-08:00

Simply Interesting Photos

View more presentations from Ronald L.

Beautiful Places

2010-01-07T18:18:00.000-08:00

Beautiful places on our Earth.

View more presentations from Roelof van den Berg.

Relaxing Tropical Pictures

2010-01-05T18:11:00.000-08:00

Relax

View more documents from ionascus.

Awesome Illusions

2010-01-03T20:21:00.000-08:00

Awesome Illusions

View more documents from thiru.kalpa.

Alaska

2010-01-01T11:39:00.000-08:00

Alaska.

View more presentations from Roelof Van den berg.

Orchids

2009-12-31T15:24:00.000-08:00

Orchid

View more documents from ionascus.

Beautiful Seashells

2009-12-27T15:22:00.000-08:00

Shells Gems Of The Sea

View more presentations from Helga Zimmermann.

Infrared Photography

2009-12-25T13:05:00.000-08:00

Ir Talk @ Masham Photography Club, Feb 09

View more presentations from sovietuk.

Sundial Dreams

2009-12-24T13:04:00.000-08:00

'Sundial Dreams'

View more presentations from John J.

A Slideshow Tribute to the Color Blue

2009-12-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

Blue

View more presentations from Ivanšek Renata.

Optical Illusions Video

2009-12-21T12:51:00.000-08:00

Some things aren't what they appear to be at first glance.

Best Optical Illusions - The most popular videos are here

Beautiful Nature Slideshow

2009-12-19T12:47:00.000-08:00

Naturel

View more presentations from Ivanšek Renata.

Amazing Volcanoes

2009-12-17T12:41:00.000-08:00

Volcanoes

View more presentations from trisha garcia.

Beautiful Old Trains

2009-12-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Old Trains.

View more presentations from Roelof van den Berg.

When Graphic Artists Get Bored

2009-12-13T12:08:00.000-08:00

Here's an amusing video I think you will enjoy.

Amazing Photographs

2009-12-01T09:43:00.000-08:00

Photo

View more presentations from pzee.

Editing Your Digital Photographs

2009-11-19T19:48:00.000-08:00

While the use of digital cameras has made it easier for photographers to quickly check whether or not they like the shot they have taken, there are still often flaws that need to be touched up or minor adjustments to be made. Because of this, an image editor may be necessary to produce your desired results.

While image editors that come with your computer’s operating system can do basic editing, more advance users will likely want a more sophisticated program.

There are a number of good image editors out there that are popular among both photographers and web designers. Adobe Photoshop is one of the most popular.

Ever since it's release in 1990, it has become an industry standard in the image editing industry. There’s also Corel PHOTO-PAINT of the CorelDRAW Graphics Suite. This program specifically targets photographers who wish to edit their images by means of their computer.

Another photo editing software is GIMP which stands for GNU Image Manipulation. The good thing about this photo editor is that you can use it on a variety of operating systems.

For those who are used to the Photoshop interface, there is the GIMPshop developed by Scott Moschella.

Google has also developed Picasa which is a basic photo editing and organizing software which can be useful to photographers who only need to crop, fix red eye, and adjust the hues on their photos.

There is no lack of possible solutions for your photo editing needs. Take the time to research the possible alternatives. Many programs are either free or have a free trial version or lite version that can be upgraded later. Whatever your editing needs, you will likely be able to find a practical solution.

Waterhouse Paintings

2009-11-15T08:11:00.000-08:00

Waterhouse is one of my favorite painters.

Paintings by John William Waterhouse

View more documents from pics.

Beautiful Glaciers

2009-11-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

Very Beautiful Glaciers.

View more presentations from Roelof van den Berg.

Special Sunsets

2009-11-06T19:04:00.000-08:00

Special Sunsets

View more presentations from Manuel Velasco.

Poppy Pictures

2009-11-05T18:59:00.000-08:00

Nice Poppy Flowers

View more presentations from DINISHA .

Beautiful Volcanoes

2009-11-04T13:56:00.000-08:00

Hot but beautiful Volcanoes.

View more presentations from Roelof van den Berg.

Funny Pictures

2009-11-03T12:53:00.000-08:00

Funny Pictures.

View more presentations from Roelof van den Berg.

Palace of Versailles

2009-11-02T14:49:00.000-08:00

Palace Of Versailles

View more presentations from RAISSA Panu.

Nice Petunias

2009-11-01T09:37:00.000-08:00

Nice Petunia Flower

View more presentations from Dinisha .

Aurora Borealis

2009-10-31T13:16:00.000-07:00

I love the northern lights. These pictures are beautiful.

Aurora Borealis

View more presentations from Helga Zimmermann.

Beautiful World Slideshow

2009-10-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

Beautiful World

View more presentations from ionascus.

Beautiful Deer

2009-10-01T07:34:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Deer.

View more presentations from Roelof Van den berg.

The Thirteen Most Amazing Gardens in the World

2009-09-19T16:34:00.000-07:00

Niagara Falls in Winter

2009-09-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

Cataratas Del Niagara En Invierno765[1]

View more presentations from jsacv2.

Converting Slides to Digital Photos

2009-08-22T20:28:00.000-07:00

Do you have boxes of old family photographs on slides cluttering up your closet? If you do, you're not alone. They were great at the time. Now they seem to be an unnecessary source of clutter and an impractical media format. The good news is that they can be easily converted to convenient digital photographs.

There are numerous services on the Internet that will convert your slides for you. It's also likely that there is a service near your home. This may be the best choice if you don't have too many. Otherwise, at twenty to thirty cents or more per slide, you might prefer to do it yourself.

There are numerous slide copiers and scanners on the market. If you have thousands of slides, this might be the best option. It's even possible that you could make some money copying slides for others. Here's an inexpensive slide copying instructions document and here are a few links for slide copiers from Amazon.com.

Which Image Format Should I Use?

2009-08-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy digital photography, like I do, you probably have already come across several different file formats used by digital cameras.

Regardless of whether you are an amateur or a professional, you will have to deal with image formats when you are taking pictures and transferring them to your computer and editing them.

Which image format is best for you? Much of it depends on the results that you want and how much control you need to have over editing your images. Below are some of the most common image formats used in use today.

JPEG

This is perhaps the most popular image format. It is used in both digital photography and in web design. This is an advantage because you can be sure that you can open your file using any computer and without the need for special
software.

There is a downside, however. JPEG is considered a lossy format, which means that a lot of details are lost due to compression.

TIFF

The answer to JPEG’s lossy quality is the TIFF format. This means that more details are saved for a better image quality.

The main disadvantage is that TIFF files ar much larger and therefore require more storage space.

RAW

Among the three, RAW could be considered as the file that shows images in their most raw form. RAW images are unprocessed which gives photographers more control in
editing them later on.

The choice you make depends largely on your specific needs. The good news is that there are many different alternatives to choose from.

Impressive Photos

2009-08-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

I really like the cave in the second picture. Look for the footprint a little later on.

Camera Collecting

2009-08-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder if we have it too easy, with all our modern technological gadgets. I don't think so. I like easy. Still, it is best to not entirely forget our past and the simple pleasures it provided. Cameras are a good example. I like modern digital cameras and their ease of use. I especially like the way digital photographs can be stored, processed and shared electronically. I'm a bit spoiled and don't really know much about the cameras and photographers that preceded me. I decided to remedy this situation by doing an online search about old cameras and camera collecting. Here are some links I found useful.

Collecting and Using Old Cameras: This site features photo galleries of collectible cameras. Detailed descriptions and usage tips are provided.

Camera Collecting and Restoration: Here you will find detailed information about many old cameras and how they can be repaired so you can actually use them. He makes the point that many older cameras can be purchased inexpensively, yet take better pictures than many of the far more expensive cameras on the market today.

Antique and Nineteenth Century Cameras: It's kind of fun to browse through all these photographs of antique cameras. This site also features information and links for the camera collector.

Giant Wind Chimes

2009-08-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a beautiful, relaxing video. A very large, finely tuned set of windchimes is being played by hand. It's great music to listen to while browsing through photos.

I enjoy making wind chimes and tuning wind chimes that have been purchased elsewhere. Here is an ebook on making and tuning wind chimes that can be useful for those who would like to learn about that hobby. You might also enjoy this blog about microtonal music for general and free information about tuning.

Majestic Mountains

2009-08-16T23:47:00.000-07:00

I especially enjoy the pictures of the mountain tops among the clouds.

Majestic Mountains

View more documents from pics.

Slideshow Help

2009-08-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

Putting a slideshow together isn't very difficult. I use Open Office software. It's free and relatively easy to use. It's also useful for much more than slideshows. It can also be used for text documents, spreadsheets and databases. It's good to know that you can insert clickable links into your slideshow. This is useful for promoting websites that have similar content.

Finished slideshows can be uploaded to SlideShare. This is a great way to share it with the world. It's an active community, so you will likely get comments on your production and meet people who post their own slideshows for you and others to enjoy.

American Photo Magazine (June, 2009)

2009-08-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

This is kind of cool, an entire photography magazine in an embedded Scribd document.

American PHOTO 2009-06

Paris

2009-08-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

Paris

View more presentations from Roelof Van den berg.

Amazing Finger Paintings

2009-07-29T20:13:00.000-07:00

I love the elephant on slide nine.

Amazing Finger Paintings

View more documents from terrorking.

Underwater Photography (Web Magazine)

2009-07-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in underwater photography or just enjoy cool pictures, check out this magazine.

Underwater Photography

Underwater Photography Links:

Underwater Photography Magazine
Ocean Photos

Columbine Flowers

2009-07-01T08:31:00.000-07:00

Columbine Flowers

View more presentations from Raissa_ro. (tags: flowers columbine)

Sand Dunes

2009-06-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

I got this image from PD Photo and believe it is in the public domain. Please do your own research by checking the source page for this image to verify its copyright status and find out other details about this photograph.

Persian Nature

2009-06-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

On the Beach

2009-06-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

On The Beach

View more presentations from 8manu.

Ice Rain

2009-05-07T15:37:00.000-07:00

An ice storm at a garden can result in unexpected beauty.

The Grand Canyon

2009-05-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

I believe this picture of the Grand Canyon is in the Public Domain. If you want to use this image, please verify its copyright status by checking this page at PD Photo.

Beautiful Places

2009-05-01T08:22:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Places.

View more presentations from Roelof Van den berg. (tags: szepek)

Beautiful Landscape Photography

2009-04-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

Landscape photography is a real artform that can produce breathtaking results. If you are interested in landscape photography, you might enjoy checking out The Science of Great Landscape Photography.

Ocean Wave

2009-04-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

This image appears to be in the public domain. Please see this page at PD Photo to confirm its copyright status for your own use. See also this collection of public domain ocean images.

A Tribute to Salvador Dali

2009-04-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of pictures of distorted clocks in this slideshow. It's pretty cool and a fitting tribute to Salvador Dali's imagination.

A Tribute To Salvador Dali

View more presentations from Doina Kock. (tags: pictures_new_photos_art_... dali)

Public Domain Pictures

2009-03-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

I have decided to start including some public domain picture on this site. Public domain pictures are free for the public to use. Nobody owns the copyright on them. See this Wikipedia article about public domain. They are useful for adding to your website or for making slideshows or videos. You can click on the Public Domain Pictures label link to see what I have so far. (As time goes on, I will add Public Domain Pictures 2 and so on. Check the labels in the sidebar to access all the pictures.)

Wikimedia commons is a great place to find public domain pictures and other media types that are in the public domain. I usually use a search term like sunsets public domain to weed out the results that may be free to use, but still have some kind of copyright restrictions. It is still a good idea to check the information on the file to ensure that it is really in the public domain. Sometimes, it will be requested that you include an attribution on the picture, especially if it is from a government agency. I will be including links on the picture posts so you can check for yourself the status of the pictures.

Here are some other other sites I like that have good quality public domain pictures.

PD Photo
Gimp Savvy
US Fish and Wildlife Digital Library System
NASA Images

Beautiful Sunsets

2009-03-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Sunsets

View more presentations from pics.

Amazing Nature Photographs

2009-03-19T11:22:00.000-07:00

27 Fotek

View more presentations from renata123.

Beautiful Bonsai

2009-03-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

B O N S A I

View more presentations from Trinity Blu.

Bonsai is a fascinating hobby, but it can be difficult to find the information you need. You might want to try this ebook on Bonsai Gardening Secrets: The Insider Secrets to Creating Beautiful Bonsai. You can also sign up for a free bonsai gardening newsletter at that site.

Lovely Flowers

2009-03-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

Flowers

View more presentations from ionascus.

Sunset Over the Red Rocks Area of Arizona

2009-03-17T07:07:00.000-07:00

This image is believed to be in the public domain. Check this link for information on the file, including it's licensing status.

Various Nature Photographs

2009-03-15T11:55:00.001-07:00

Herrliche Farben

View more presentations from Betty Budeanu.

Winter Views

2009-03-01T08:15:00.000-08:00

Winter views

View more presentations from chlud.

Topiary Art

2009-02-19T09:45:00.000-08:00

Topiary Art

View more presentations from 8manu.

The World in Four Minutes

2009-02-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

The World In Four Minutes

View more presentations from kansara.

See also The Countries of the World for a collection of videos and slideshows from individual countries.

A Beautiful Mountain Range With Clouds

2009-02-12T07:55:00.000-08:00

I believe this image is in the public domain. Visit this link to confirm it's licensing status and to gain additional information about this picture file.

World Class Photos

2009-01-25T10:39:00.000-08:00

World Class Photos

View more presentations from jokechannel. (tags: professional beautiful)

Animal Photographs

2009-01-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

Animal Photo...Pap

View more presentations from guest8ce62a.

Beautiful Caves

2008-12-14T08:34:00.000-08:00

Beautiful caves.

View more presentations from Roelof Van den berg.