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May 23, 2008:...When checking  the Exposure level after capturing the image with our digital camera, it is confusing as to what is the proper exposure point. Most Image editors like Raw Processors, and PhotoShop, have  a very helpful tool built in. Select the Info tool (window) then use the eye dropper, or measuring tool to sample (measure), the portion of the Skin tone that does not shine, and is not in shadow. The proper term for this area of Skin tonne, is the Diffused Highlight area. Read only the Red value and adjust your Digital Camera Exposure Value control to produce the following values. Light Skinned Persons should be in the 210 to 220 range. Black Skin will be in the 150 to 170 area. Make sure  the images are sRGB formats.

 June 24, 2007:... The Subject of  ISO or speed rating as relating to Digital Cameras is on my mind today. The old ASA standard was devised for film speed (aka. sensitivity) then subsequently changed to ISO ,( ie... 160 or 400 ISO). Digital cameras have a similar setting, that raises or lowers the electrical gain of the signal  generated by the imaging device, either CCD or CMOS array. This feature allows the Photographer to make images as the light levels diminish. As electrical signal amplification is increased however, the base level noise of the imaging device is also increased. Visually this looks to the observer like film grain , or white (snow) noise in other visual technology. Therefor it is important to use only the necessary level of amplification necessary to accomplish the goal. Although in moody shots, the grain / noise can enhance the ambiance, most of the time the noise is to be minimized. Applying additional light is the preferred way to accomplish this where practical. Other considerations are the depth of field necessary to make your artistic statement with a given focal length of lens.

June 21, 2007.: It would be easy to assume that in the digital photography era, the lens is now of secondary importance. However in reality the lens is now of greater importance than ever.... Here's why::... All digital cameras have much less exposure latitude than film. This means you (and your customers), will see more exposure variations than ever before. As a rule Portrait Photographers use umbrellas, and or soft boxes with a fixed light output. As the lens transmits more or less light the image will become brighter or darker to a greater degree than  was the case with film. The ideal situation is for the photographer to use fixed focal length lenses ie... 50mm or 100 mm focal length. This means the lenses will have to be matched one to the other. This is usually accomplished with neutral density filters on one or more of the lenses. Use the lens that makes the darkest image as the reference. Then add N.D. filters to make the other lenses match. Then all images made with the lights in that same position relative to the subject will  match. Zoom lenses are of much greater concern however, Select only zoom lenses that have the same F-Stop at all zoom settings. For example:... if the zoom lens has a F4.0 to F5.6 rating at it zoom range settings, the lens would be unusable in photography of people under indoor conditions.

June 18, 2007: Photographers that have had a Digital camera for more than just a few months, will undoubtedly have seen the dreaded Black Specks on their images. What on Earth causes these pesky little black specks you might ponder? Well, it is quite simple really. Each time a lens is removed and replaced on the camera body, a dangerous dust infiltration opportunity is produced.
Dust from the room environment can fall on the imaging array, either CCD or CMOS and throw it's nasty shadow on your images.
The only way to prevent this is to change lenses in a very clean room. Keep the body and lenses perfectly clean, and always replace all body caps and lens caps as soon as possible. Keep all the caps spotless also. If this advice finds you after the Specks  have attacked your camera, you will need to have the body professionally cleaned. There  are some products that claim to allow the end user to clean their own equipment, but it's risky. Maybe do it yourself on older less expensive, less used  cameras. Then used PhotoShop clone tool to replace the dark specks with image data from adjacent pixel areas,

June 14, 2007: When we decide whether to shoot the image "tight" in the camera or to leave a little extra room around the image so that we can go back and crop in later on the computer, one thing is often overlooked. Many precious extra dollars were spent to get the highest MegaPixel image Camera we could afford. When we crop the images later we are in effect just throwing away those expensive extra Mega Pixels and  wasting that advantage.


June 12, 2007: Most Camera manufacturers would have all of us believe that the most important specifications to consider in the purchase of a new digital camera is the total number of MegaPixels. This may come as a shocker, but there are other thing to consider when selecting a model  to part with your hard earned dollars.