It’s not too late! We can transfer most video tapes ( 8mm, miniDV, and VHS ) to DVD in 3 days. We don’t ship your memories, so you can rest assured they are safe with us.
Archive Page 2
09
Dec
10
Transfer Video Tape to DVD
30
Nov
10
Photography 101 – Lens Part 3
PHOTOGRAPHY 101 – LENS, part 3
As we talked about before, your glass (lens) makes a huge difference to the finished image. It’s not just about megapixels and sensors (though very important); a good lens can make an image either sub par, or cause a double take!
Focal Length:
The Focal Length, or zoom capacity of your lens can either flatter a person or make them look AWEFUL! It’s simple – zoom out all the way (lots to see in viewfinder) and the image starts to stretch (think big noses!). Zoom in all the way (closeup) and you instantly flatter faces! Not only that, but your flash won’t be so harsh, and have more room to spread.
Perspective:
The more zoomed in you are, the closer the background will appear. The more zoomed out your are, the the more distant the background will appear.
Lens Sweet Spot:
Most, if not all zoom lens, have a “sweet spot” – say you have a 35-70mm zoom (35 being “zoomed out” and 70 being “zoomed in”). Your sweet spot would most likely be somewhere in the middle..say around 55mm. When I say sweet spot, I mean getting the sharpest image possible from your lens. The more quality (and expensive) the lens, the sharper it will be and more constant from zoom to zoom.
Macro:
What is a macro lens? Well, this means that you can focus on objects with the lens very close. This is often available on nicer point and shoot cameras as well (look for the flower symbol). These are a must for any nature (think flowers) or still life (think food) shots. Being able to get so close with your camera also helps you get very unique views of your subject that a normal lens wouldn’t be able to get. In most cases, you will do well to have a tripod or shooting stabilizer bag.
Next time, we will discuss different filters – Polarizing, Neutral Density, Skylight, UV – why do we need these!?
My Photo Classes are now being offered through the Marysville Parks and Recreation.
Cheers!
Ps. – we have lot’s of photography items for sale or for free use (like our light-table and loupe) to help out. Come on in!
Our portrait studio and lab can take or make your perfect greeting card this holiday season! Add your own personalized message, even change the card template! We will build it in front of you, and for you. Choose from 50 different, new, fresh, hip, and beautiful designs. Book your family portrait by calling 360.653.5005 or bring us (or email us) your photo to make your own greeting card – call us @ 360.474.7773 or stop by our Darkroom in Marysville, wa.
Oh, and we even include tuxedo envelopes for free with any purchase!
Need just the right mirror for your bathroom, bedroom, entry way, or business? We can custom frame almost any size mirror with any of our hundreds of moulding samples to your exact specifications. Don’t want to to install it? We can do installation as well! We offer our crystal clear mirrors with a bevel or not. Here is a picture of a recent 60″x80″ mirror built by our Darkroom, and installed onsite.
10
Aug
10
Merging the Old and the New
http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/the-ghosts-of-world-war-iis
A sobering look at history as if it were today. Take a look.
27
Jul
10
Portrait Studio Beach Portraits
Call our studio today 360.653.5005
Free sitting for a limited time – a GREAT deal!
Beach Portraits Fee Sitting Marysville wa
I personally grew up in a home where we had a great aunt’s portrait, holding a violin (the same beautiful voilin hanging next to her), so I have a lot of sentimental reason to offer this service at our company. The beautifully ornate oval frame, with it’s wonderful
Restored Portrait in Custom Oval Frame
convex glass, is something hard to find. If you have an oval portrait that needs restoration, we can reproduce almost any size and any shape. We love this kind of work and can’t wait to talk to you about it, so give us a call!
Have an old tape from your garage band? An audio message from your traveling aunt? A story from grandpa to his grandkids? What about an old LP? We now offer audio transfer in Marysville, WA- cassette to CD or MP3, and LP to CD to MP3. Starting at $19.99. Note: Copyright laws apply.
15
Apr
10
Photography 101 – Lens Part 2
PHOTOGRAPHY 101 – LENS, part 2
Previous 101 articles are in our blog archives.
As we talked about before, your glass (lens) makes a huge difference to the finished image. It’s not just about megapixels and sensors (though very important); a good lens can make an image either sub par, or cause a double take! The good thing about spending money on a lens is that technology won’t make it obsolete in 3 years (well, probably – you never know these days!) like a digital camera or computer. With lens, it’s still about quality materials and craftmanship – technology just makes things nicer.
Let’s talk about some of those nice features:
Vibration Reduction (VR) or Optical Stabilization:
Different companies call it diferent things, but this feature helps sharpen the image when you’re shutter speed is too slow for the movement of your body, creating “shutter shake” in your image…the image becomes a bit blurry – not because of a focus issue, but because of shutter shake. Now, pros don’t always appreciate this feature, because, if you are shooting in ideal circumstances, and with a tripod – you sacrifice sharpness because the lens will try and compensate anyway!
Silent Wave: More expensive lens have the technology to zoom and focus with great speed and at barely a whisper. A must for a pro, nice for the consumer.
Lens Hoods: From a great colleague in the business, Ken Rockwell (if you want unbiased reviews before buying, he’s the man!): “There is a reason that lens hoods are included with your lens. It’s not because these companies are ‘nice’, or ‘generous’…no, but the hood is PART of the lens.” What he means is, the hood is a major part in the consideration of the manufacturing and performance of the lens. It is meant to be there…your images will have better color saturation as well as keep intruding light (and those pesky lens flares) away.
Zoom vs. Fixed
Zoom lens are incredibly convenient, and almost all modern cameras have them included. However, with few exceptions, a fixed lens is going to be slightly sharper. You will still find many commercial, still life, and landscape photographers that are avid fixed lens users. One exception to this principle, is the jaw dropping, drool causing, get-u-hoppin Nikon 14-24mm wide angle zoom…which, according to Ken, is a bit sharper than the fixed version.
On an ending, but important note, the Focal Length, or zoom capacity of your lens can either flatter a person or make them look AWEFUL! It’s simple – zoom out all the way (lots to see in viewfinder) and the image starts to stretch (think big noses!). Zoom in all the way (closeup) and you instantly flatter faces! Next time we will go into more detail on this, which is called “perspective”, the “sweet spot” of some lens, as well as notes on macro (closeup photography).
Cheers!
Daniel Jolly
Ps. – we have lot’s of photography items for sale or for free use (like our light-table and loupe) to help out. Come on in!
Clear Image Photography & Portrait Studio 