The Most Reliable Laptops
By Stacey Bradford | Feb 22, 2011
If you’re a parent like me who works from home, then you know how crippling it can be when your computer breaks down. I nearly went insane the last two weeks waiting for Sony to fix my laptop. This is the second time I’ve had a big issue with my machine and couldn’t write my stories. I’m hoping my next purchase proves more reliable.
What will I buy next? I don’t know much about computers, so I decided to call Dean Gallea, Senior Program Leader at Consumer Reports, to see which brands the publication recommends. It turns out that every year the magazine runs an Annual Product Reliability Survey that asks 43,000 laptop owners about their experience. Here’s what Gallea and his team discovered:
PC Users
If you like using a PC, Toshiba and Acer are tied as the most reliable brands for laptops, says Gallea. Owners reported needing a repair or having serious problems with their models just 15% of the time.
So which models should you buy? In the 13-inch laptop category, Consumer Reports recommends two Toshiba models as “Best Buys”. For $700 you can get a Toshiba Portege, which has an “Excellent” performance rating. For just $400, you could pick up a Toshiba Satellite, which gets a “Very Good” mark for performance.
If you want a 14-inch laptop, Consumer Reports again recommends the Toshiba Satellite. The larger size costs a bit more at $750. But it also scores an “Excellent” on performance.
In the 15 and 16-inch category, the Acer Aspire isn’t a Consumer Reports top pick but it costs just $620 and also gets an “Excellent” for performance.
Apple Users
Apple users are a loyal bunch and for good reason. Owners reported having problems and needing serious repairs just 17% of the time. While this is slightly higher than Toshiba and Acer, Gallea actually prefers this brand.
“If you have an Apple you probably have a leg up on everyone else,” Gallea says. When your computer does have problems, it should be easier and faster to get it fixed, he says. He also points out that Apples are less likely to get infected by viruses.
Consumer Reports recommends six Apple models in its Ratings Overview, including the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air ($1,300) and the 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro ($1,500). And it gives the 17-inch MacBook Pro its top rating of 80 out of 100. Warning: this last one isn’t cheap and will set you back $2,300.
I’m personally partial to PCs. I’m just more used to them. But I’m willing to consider making the switch to a Mac if it means I won’t miss as many work days.
How important is computer reliability to you?
Stacey Bradford is the author of The Wall Street Journal Financial Guidebook for New Parents.
MacBook Pro Keyboard image courtesy of Flickr, CC 2.0.
MY THOUGHTS
computers are indeed more expensive here. of course, we can go for the cheaper brands - which normally means less reliability. but you see, i prefer the cheaper brands. it's so much easier to let go in a year or 2. at the rate styles and models change, getting the cheaper ones works best for me.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Fireworks Photo Tips
Fireworks Photo Tips
How to Shoot Fireworks Photos on July Fourth
By Kyle Schurman, About.com Guide
Firefighters and explosive experts will tell you that shooting fireworks can be a dangerous activity that only should be done under the supervision of professionals.
Emergency room workers will tell you that those experts are correct.
There is another way to shoot fireworks and be safe at the same time: Use your digital camera to shoot fireworks photos. Fireworks photography can be an enjoyable hobby for beginning and intermediate photographers that lends itself to amazing images of Fourth of July celebrations or other occasions with fireworks.
Here are a dozen fireworks photography tips that can help you shoot some amazing photos during Independence Day celebrations.
* Equipment. Make sure you have everything you need, including extra memory cards, extra batteries, and tripods. Chances are good you'll have to park a vehicle far from where you shoot your fireworks photos, so plan ahead to make sure you have the needed equipment. Also, bring a small flashlight or penlight to help you make changes to the settings on your camera in the dark.
* Location. Determining the best location to shoot fireworks photos is an often overlooked aspect of fireworks photography. Obviously, you need to find a location that is free of trees, tall buildings, and overhanging wires that could ruin your photo. However, you also should make sure the wind is at your back as you face the fireworks show. Then, the wind will carry any smoke away from you, giving your camera a clear shot of the fireworks. Try to pick a spot well away from other people, thereby avoiding having a stray head or somebody walking in your shot.
* Location, again. Many large fireworks shows take place near historical buildings or other well-known landmarks. If you can frame your fireworks photos with these landmarks in the background of the shot, you may end up with a more interesting photo.
* Fill flash. If you want to include some family members in the foreground of your fireworks photos, try firing a fill flash that will illuminate the people near the camera while capturing the fireworks in the background. It can be tricky to time the shutter speed with this technique, so you may want to try several shots at different shutter speeds to find a good shot. Otherwise, make sure the flash is turned off.
* Go manual. Most fully automatic, point and shoot cameras rarely capture good shots of fireworks. Such cameras simply cannot set the exposure and shutter speed correctly because of the random nature of when the fireworks appear in the sky and because the light from the fireworks is very bright and doesn't last long. Some point and shoot cameras have a fireworks option in the scene modes, which may create a few good photos. However, the most reliable option is to manually control the shutter speed and exposure. With a manual focus camera, be sure to set the focus to infinity.
* High quality. Make sure you set your camera to the highest-quality settings possible. Use plenty of resolution with fireworks photos.
* Use low ISO settings. Because of the intensity of the light in a fireworks burst, it's best to use a low ISO setting that will limit the light striking the image sensor. Something between ISO 50 and ISO 200 usually is best, but you'll have to adjust the ISO setting manually.
* Be steady. Always use a tripod to shoot fireworks photos. Because of the slow shutter speeds required to capture fireworks, such shots are especially susceptible to camera shake, which leads to blurry photos. Even the image stabilization features built into many new cameras cannot overcome the problem from camera shake with a slow shutter speed. Only a tripod can hold the camera steady enough.
* Timing. When trying to time a fireworks burst for the best exposure, you might need some trial and error. However, it usually works best to open the shutter when you hear the shell launch into the air. Try to keep the shutter open for the entire burst. However, this can be tricky if several bursts are occurring simultaneously, which can interfere with the original burst that you're trying to capture. Try a few different techniques to determine what works best during a particular fireworks show.
* Fully open shutter. One trick you can use is to open the shutter fully (by setting the shutter speed to "bulb") and place a piece of black cardboard over the lens to block all external light. Then remove the cardboard when you want to expose the photo and return the cardboard when you want to stop the exposure. If you do this several times, you can capture multiple fireworks bursts in one frame. Once you have the number of bursts you want, close the shutter. Just be careful not to bump the camera when moving the piece of cardboard.
* Use a remote. If you have a remote or a cable release you can use to fire the shutter, it will greatly minimize the chances that you will bump the camera and ruin a shot by bumping the camera on the tripod.
* Hope for some luck. With fireworks photography, luck plays a role. With a large fireworks show, you never quite know what a particular burst will look like ahead of time, and it could appear anywhere in the sky. Try a variety of shutter speeds and exposure settings, to give yourself the best chance of capturing some high quality photos.
MY THOUGHTS
fireworks fascinate me. so do fireworks photos. and i should be fascinated considering the amount of thought and preparation that should go into taking those photos.
How to Shoot Fireworks Photos on July Fourth
By Kyle Schurman, About.com Guide
Firefighters and explosive experts will tell you that shooting fireworks can be a dangerous activity that only should be done under the supervision of professionals.
Emergency room workers will tell you that those experts are correct.
There is another way to shoot fireworks and be safe at the same time: Use your digital camera to shoot fireworks photos. Fireworks photography can be an enjoyable hobby for beginning and intermediate photographers that lends itself to amazing images of Fourth of July celebrations or other occasions with fireworks.
Here are a dozen fireworks photography tips that can help you shoot some amazing photos during Independence Day celebrations.
* Equipment. Make sure you have everything you need, including extra memory cards, extra batteries, and tripods. Chances are good you'll have to park a vehicle far from where you shoot your fireworks photos, so plan ahead to make sure you have the needed equipment. Also, bring a small flashlight or penlight to help you make changes to the settings on your camera in the dark.
* Location. Determining the best location to shoot fireworks photos is an often overlooked aspect of fireworks photography. Obviously, you need to find a location that is free of trees, tall buildings, and overhanging wires that could ruin your photo. However, you also should make sure the wind is at your back as you face the fireworks show. Then, the wind will carry any smoke away from you, giving your camera a clear shot of the fireworks. Try to pick a spot well away from other people, thereby avoiding having a stray head or somebody walking in your shot.
* Location, again. Many large fireworks shows take place near historical buildings or other well-known landmarks. If you can frame your fireworks photos with these landmarks in the background of the shot, you may end up with a more interesting photo.
* Fill flash. If you want to include some family members in the foreground of your fireworks photos, try firing a fill flash that will illuminate the people near the camera while capturing the fireworks in the background. It can be tricky to time the shutter speed with this technique, so you may want to try several shots at different shutter speeds to find a good shot. Otherwise, make sure the flash is turned off.
* Go manual. Most fully automatic, point and shoot cameras rarely capture good shots of fireworks. Such cameras simply cannot set the exposure and shutter speed correctly because of the random nature of when the fireworks appear in the sky and because the light from the fireworks is very bright and doesn't last long. Some point and shoot cameras have a fireworks option in the scene modes, which may create a few good photos. However, the most reliable option is to manually control the shutter speed and exposure. With a manual focus camera, be sure to set the focus to infinity.
* High quality. Make sure you set your camera to the highest-quality settings possible. Use plenty of resolution with fireworks photos.
* Use low ISO settings. Because of the intensity of the light in a fireworks burst, it's best to use a low ISO setting that will limit the light striking the image sensor. Something between ISO 50 and ISO 200 usually is best, but you'll have to adjust the ISO setting manually.
* Be steady. Always use a tripod to shoot fireworks photos. Because of the slow shutter speeds required to capture fireworks, such shots are especially susceptible to camera shake, which leads to blurry photos. Even the image stabilization features built into many new cameras cannot overcome the problem from camera shake with a slow shutter speed. Only a tripod can hold the camera steady enough.
* Timing. When trying to time a fireworks burst for the best exposure, you might need some trial and error. However, it usually works best to open the shutter when you hear the shell launch into the air. Try to keep the shutter open for the entire burst. However, this can be tricky if several bursts are occurring simultaneously, which can interfere with the original burst that you're trying to capture. Try a few different techniques to determine what works best during a particular fireworks show.
* Fully open shutter. One trick you can use is to open the shutter fully (by setting the shutter speed to "bulb") and place a piece of black cardboard over the lens to block all external light. Then remove the cardboard when you want to expose the photo and return the cardboard when you want to stop the exposure. If you do this several times, you can capture multiple fireworks bursts in one frame. Once you have the number of bursts you want, close the shutter. Just be careful not to bump the camera when moving the piece of cardboard.
* Use a remote. If you have a remote or a cable release you can use to fire the shutter, it will greatly minimize the chances that you will bump the camera and ruin a shot by bumping the camera on the tripod.
* Hope for some luck. With fireworks photography, luck plays a role. With a large fireworks show, you never quite know what a particular burst will look like ahead of time, and it could appear anywhere in the sky. Try a variety of shutter speeds and exposure settings, to give yourself the best chance of capturing some high quality photos.
MY THOUGHTS
fireworks fascinate me. so do fireworks photos. and i should be fascinated considering the amount of thought and preparation that should go into taking those photos.
Monday, February 21, 2011
HOW TO GET YOUR PHOTOS RIGHT
HOW TO GET YOUR PHOTO SHOTS RIGHT
from the article "Common DSLR Photography Mistakes"
Use These Tips to Avoid Typical Errors DSLR Photographers Make
By Jo Plumridge, About.com Contributing Writer
One of the joys of digital photography is that you can take as many shots as you want, without worrying about the cost! Even so, it's frustrating to have to delete loads of shots. This article contains tips to help you to get the shot right the first time and avoid common DSLR photography mistakes.
* Keep your camera level. Use the tops and sides of your AF points in the viewfinder as references to line up buildings, so that the horizon is straight. Alternatively, you could invest in a small spirit level, which slides into the camera's hot shoe. A few cameras with Live View even come with a grid which can be displayed on the LCD screen to ensure things are straight.
* Get rid of distracting clutter. Before you press the shutter, remember to check that the image is free of distracting clutter. It's easy to become sidetracked by the beauty of a landscape and miss the fact that a car is parked in shot, or that a lamp post is seemingly growing out of a subject's head. Take a few minutes to scan your shot's background and move people around if necessary.
* Don't try to capture everything in one shot. A common mistake when starting out in photography is to try to cram everything you see into one shot. However, this can lead to cluttered photographs, where there's no real focus for the viewer. Instead, try to look for an interesting area or single person in your shot, and zoom in to focus on them. You'll end up with a far more powerful image this way.
* Be patient with landscapes. The difference between a good and bad landscape shot nearly always depends on the light. Cloudy days often make for better shots, as they add texture to the landscape. But you need to be patient and wait for the sun to peep out through the clouds, lighting the main points of your scene. Alternately, if you're faced with very dramatic lighting, you could consider investing in a graduated neutral density filter to allow for evenly-lit skies and foregrounds.
* Use a tripod for long exposures. It doesn't matter how steady your hands are -- you will end up with increasingly bad camera shakes as you use shutter speed at anything slower than 1/60th of a second. If you plan on shooting a lot of landscapes or running water, you'll need to consider investing in a tripod, or, at the very least, a pod.
* Remember the eyes in portraits. A good portrait always has pin-sharp eyes. Obviously the aperture you select will have a big influence on how much of your image is sharp, depending on the depth of field. But, as good as your DSLR is, it's best to give it a little help. You can either switch to manual focus or, if your eyesight isn't great, you can manually select an AF point which can be placed over the eyes to ensure sharpness.
* Keep an eye on the sun. Unless you want to create a silhouette, it's easiest to always shoot with the sun directly behind you. Using this technique, your DSLR will find it easy to produce well-exposed images. Once you've mastered this technique, you can start to work with side light and direct light using exposure compensation.
MY THOUGHTS
that's quite easy to understand. and to follow. i don't think i'll ever get back to using those big, heavy cameras. my hand just can't handle it. and i don't want to lug around a tripod all the time.
from the article "Common DSLR Photography Mistakes"
Use These Tips to Avoid Typical Errors DSLR Photographers Make
By Jo Plumridge, About.com Contributing Writer
One of the joys of digital photography is that you can take as many shots as you want, without worrying about the cost! Even so, it's frustrating to have to delete loads of shots. This article contains tips to help you to get the shot right the first time and avoid common DSLR photography mistakes.
* Keep your camera level. Use the tops and sides of your AF points in the viewfinder as references to line up buildings, so that the horizon is straight. Alternatively, you could invest in a small spirit level, which slides into the camera's hot shoe. A few cameras with Live View even come with a grid which can be displayed on the LCD screen to ensure things are straight.
* Get rid of distracting clutter. Before you press the shutter, remember to check that the image is free of distracting clutter. It's easy to become sidetracked by the beauty of a landscape and miss the fact that a car is parked in shot, or that a lamp post is seemingly growing out of a subject's head. Take a few minutes to scan your shot's background and move people around if necessary.
* Don't try to capture everything in one shot. A common mistake when starting out in photography is to try to cram everything you see into one shot. However, this can lead to cluttered photographs, where there's no real focus for the viewer. Instead, try to look for an interesting area or single person in your shot, and zoom in to focus on them. You'll end up with a far more powerful image this way.
* Be patient with landscapes. The difference between a good and bad landscape shot nearly always depends on the light. Cloudy days often make for better shots, as they add texture to the landscape. But you need to be patient and wait for the sun to peep out through the clouds, lighting the main points of your scene. Alternately, if you're faced with very dramatic lighting, you could consider investing in a graduated neutral density filter to allow for evenly-lit skies and foregrounds.
* Use a tripod for long exposures. It doesn't matter how steady your hands are -- you will end up with increasingly bad camera shakes as you use shutter speed at anything slower than 1/60th of a second. If you plan on shooting a lot of landscapes or running water, you'll need to consider investing in a tripod, or, at the very least, a pod.
* Remember the eyes in portraits. A good portrait always has pin-sharp eyes. Obviously the aperture you select will have a big influence on how much of your image is sharp, depending on the depth of field. But, as good as your DSLR is, it's best to give it a little help. You can either switch to manual focus or, if your eyesight isn't great, you can manually select an AF point which can be placed over the eyes to ensure sharpness.
* Keep an eye on the sun. Unless you want to create a silhouette, it's easiest to always shoot with the sun directly behind you. Using this technique, your DSLR will find it easy to produce well-exposed images. Once you've mastered this technique, you can start to work with side light and direct light using exposure compensation.
MY THOUGHTS
that's quite easy to understand. and to follow. i don't think i'll ever get back to using those big, heavy cameras. my hand just can't handle it. and i don't want to lug around a tripod all the time.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
MAKE BETTER PHOTOS
Make Better Photos
Try These Simple Tips for Quick Improvements in Your Photos
By Kyle Schurman, About.com Guide
One of the great things about digital photography is the ease with which you can make changes to your photos after you shoot them. With good photo-editing software on your computer, you can fix quite a few problems. Better yet, though, you can save a lot of time and require less editing by making a few adjustments to your photography techniques, which should result in better photo quality immediately. Here are several simple tips you can use to make better photos with even the least expensive point and shoot camera.
* If at all possible, shoot in good lighting. Many low-priced point and shoot digital cameras struggle to create good images in low light. If you can add light to the shot with a good flash unit or with external lights, do it. Better yet, move the photo subjects outdoors, if at all possible. Having plenty of light will help you make better photos immediately.
* Try to avoid using the digital zoom of the camera. The optical zoom measurement represents a magnification of the image by the lens. Digital zoom measurement is the process of software inside the camera magnifying the image, which leads to lower image quality and less image sharpness. Only use digital zoom if you have no other option.
* In fact, try to avoid relying on the zoom feature of your camera whenever possible. Obviously, with some types of photos (wildlife, sporting events, etc.), you cannot move closer, but if you get in the habit of moving closer to the subject, you'll probably be surprised by how much your photos improve. By moving closer, you can try some different angles and vantage points, too, such as crouching or kneeling when shooting images of children, which changes the angle of the photo, matching the height of the subjects.
* Keep in mind that if you're using a point and shoot digital camera over a long distance or with a flash, you'll probably experience some shutter lag, which is the delay from the time you press the shutter button until the camera actually records the photo. Your shutter lag might only be half a second or a full second, but that is a lot of time when shooting a photo with moving subjects. Familiarize yourself with the length of time of your camera's shutter lag so you won't miss a spontaneous photo. If you're unsure about the shutter lag on a particular camera, just plan on pressing the shutter button a little sooner than you normally do ... and shoot a lot of backup images.
* Finally, with a photo where you simply cannot make a mistake, take several shots from several angles. Shooting many images should improve your odds of ending up with a high-quality photo. Remember: You can't waste film with a digital camera, so don't feel guilty about shooting plenty of images.
MY THOUGHTS
a case more money for better quality. of course, there are those miracle workers who can produce high quality photos with the cheapest camera you can find.
Try These Simple Tips for Quick Improvements in Your Photos
By Kyle Schurman, About.com Guide
One of the great things about digital photography is the ease with which you can make changes to your photos after you shoot them. With good photo-editing software on your computer, you can fix quite a few problems. Better yet, though, you can save a lot of time and require less editing by making a few adjustments to your photography techniques, which should result in better photo quality immediately. Here are several simple tips you can use to make better photos with even the least expensive point and shoot camera.
* If at all possible, shoot in good lighting. Many low-priced point and shoot digital cameras struggle to create good images in low light. If you can add light to the shot with a good flash unit or with external lights, do it. Better yet, move the photo subjects outdoors, if at all possible. Having plenty of light will help you make better photos immediately.
* Try to avoid using the digital zoom of the camera. The optical zoom measurement represents a magnification of the image by the lens. Digital zoom measurement is the process of software inside the camera magnifying the image, which leads to lower image quality and less image sharpness. Only use digital zoom if you have no other option.
* In fact, try to avoid relying on the zoom feature of your camera whenever possible. Obviously, with some types of photos (wildlife, sporting events, etc.), you cannot move closer, but if you get in the habit of moving closer to the subject, you'll probably be surprised by how much your photos improve. By moving closer, you can try some different angles and vantage points, too, such as crouching or kneeling when shooting images of children, which changes the angle of the photo, matching the height of the subjects.
* Keep in mind that if you're using a point and shoot digital camera over a long distance or with a flash, you'll probably experience some shutter lag, which is the delay from the time you press the shutter button until the camera actually records the photo. Your shutter lag might only be half a second or a full second, but that is a lot of time when shooting a photo with moving subjects. Familiarize yourself with the length of time of your camera's shutter lag so you won't miss a spontaneous photo. If you're unsure about the shutter lag on a particular camera, just plan on pressing the shutter button a little sooner than you normally do ... and shoot a lot of backup images.
* Finally, with a photo where you simply cannot make a mistake, take several shots from several angles. Shooting many images should improve your odds of ending up with a high-quality photo. Remember: You can't waste film with a digital camera, so don't feel guilty about shooting plenty of images.
MY THOUGHTS
a case more money for better quality. of course, there are those miracle workers who can produce high quality photos with the cheapest camera you can find.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
HOW TO CREATE PANORAMIC PHOTOS
Create Panoramic Photos
Use These Tips to Ensure Shooting Successful Panoramas
By Kyle Schurman, About.com Guide
Shooting panoramic photos can be very tricky, especially if you don’t have a tripod available. Keeping the camera steady enough to record the images required to create the wide panoramic photo can be difficult. Use these tips to learn how to create panoramic photos with your camera and without a tripod available.
* Check the scene modes. With your point and shoot camera, you may have a "scene mode" specifically for panoramic photos. Many newer point and shoot cameras are making panoramic photos very easy to shoot, as the camera will guide you, helping you line up each shot. Some cameras even shoot the photos for you automatically. Some cameras perform much better than others with panoramic photos. Be sure to learn about the panoramic features your camera offers before you start to create panoramic photos.
* Shoot plenty of photos. When you know you’re going to have to create the panoramic photo using image-editing software and stitching together a series of photos, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of photos available from which to choose.
* Use the lens with the widest angle that you have. If you have multiple interchangeable lenses available with your DSLR camera, consider selecting a wide angle lens for the best results. After all, you’re trying to present a wide look for your panoramic photo, and a wide-angle lens will give you the look you want.
* Use landmarks. As you shoot a photo, select a landmark that is about one-quarter to one-third from the edge of the image. Then use that landmark to give you an aiming point for the next photo, placing that landmark at the opposite edge of the next image.
* Avoid people. If any people are in the area where you’ll be shooting the individual photos for the panoramic photo, wait until the person moves out of the scene. Otherwise, if the person is moving as you shoot the individual photos, you might find that person ends up in more than one individual photo, appearing multiple times in your final panoramic photo.
* Stay consistent. Make sure that you use the same exposure and shooting settings for each photo, ensuring a similar color and sharpness for each photo. In fact, it’s probably best to use fully manual control settings for a panoramic photo, because you’ll ensure each photo contains the same exposure. If you use automatic settings, the camera might select different exposure settings for the individual photos.
* Double or triple up. Consider shooting multiple shots of each frame, just to ensure a sharp, bright photo. You don’t want to begin stitching the individual photos, only to find that one of the individual photos is a little out of focus, compared to the other photos. If you shoot multiple shots of each individual scene, you’ll be more certain that at least one photo of each scene is in sharp focus.
* Choose the best image-editing software. Finally, check your image-editing software carefully. Some image-editing software programs have features that automatically stitch together several photos for a panoramic photo, making the job pretty easy.
MY THOUGHTS
sounds exciting! not just focusing and then clicking the shutter. effort is required. and effort usually results to quality.
Use These Tips to Ensure Shooting Successful Panoramas
By Kyle Schurman, About.com Guide
Shooting panoramic photos can be very tricky, especially if you don’t have a tripod available. Keeping the camera steady enough to record the images required to create the wide panoramic photo can be difficult. Use these tips to learn how to create panoramic photos with your camera and without a tripod available.
* Check the scene modes. With your point and shoot camera, you may have a "scene mode" specifically for panoramic photos. Many newer point and shoot cameras are making panoramic photos very easy to shoot, as the camera will guide you, helping you line up each shot. Some cameras even shoot the photos for you automatically. Some cameras perform much better than others with panoramic photos. Be sure to learn about the panoramic features your camera offers before you start to create panoramic photos.
* Shoot plenty of photos. When you know you’re going to have to create the panoramic photo using image-editing software and stitching together a series of photos, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of photos available from which to choose.
* Use the lens with the widest angle that you have. If you have multiple interchangeable lenses available with your DSLR camera, consider selecting a wide angle lens for the best results. After all, you’re trying to present a wide look for your panoramic photo, and a wide-angle lens will give you the look you want.
* Use landmarks. As you shoot a photo, select a landmark that is about one-quarter to one-third from the edge of the image. Then use that landmark to give you an aiming point for the next photo, placing that landmark at the opposite edge of the next image.
* Avoid people. If any people are in the area where you’ll be shooting the individual photos for the panoramic photo, wait until the person moves out of the scene. Otherwise, if the person is moving as you shoot the individual photos, you might find that person ends up in more than one individual photo, appearing multiple times in your final panoramic photo.
* Stay consistent. Make sure that you use the same exposure and shooting settings for each photo, ensuring a similar color and sharpness for each photo. In fact, it’s probably best to use fully manual control settings for a panoramic photo, because you’ll ensure each photo contains the same exposure. If you use automatic settings, the camera might select different exposure settings for the individual photos.
* Double or triple up. Consider shooting multiple shots of each frame, just to ensure a sharp, bright photo. You don’t want to begin stitching the individual photos, only to find that one of the individual photos is a little out of focus, compared to the other photos. If you shoot multiple shots of each individual scene, you’ll be more certain that at least one photo of each scene is in sharp focus.
* Choose the best image-editing software. Finally, check your image-editing software carefully. Some image-editing software programs have features that automatically stitch together several photos for a panoramic photo, making the job pretty easy.
MY THOUGHTS
sounds exciting! not just focusing and then clicking the shutter. effort is required. and effort usually results to quality.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
BEST PHONE APPS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS
The Best Smart Phone Apps for Business Travelers
By Peter Greenberg | February 9, 2011
There are anywhere between 250,000 and 500,000 smart phone apps now on the market (depending on whose estimates you believe), and some of the most useful ones are for business travelers.
Here are some of my favorites:
Flightstats -Track your flight status in real time, plus find out airport delays, weather and traffic conditions around the airport.
Tripit - This is one that I’m seeing more and more travelers take advantage of to keep track of their itineraries and alert others of their plans. Email your confirmations to Tripit and that in turn will generate a one-stop-shop itinerary document for you.
WorldMate - It provides a similar travel planner service as TripIt, plus upgraded features for gold members such as contact information for travel providers, and a list of flight schedules from the reputable OAG Worldwide data base.
FareCompare- This phone app tracks the real-time price of routes from your home airport, and alerts you when the fare drops…up to six times a day
GateGuru - Handy for when you’re stuck at the airport, GateGuru tracks down the restaurants, shops and amenities in airport terminals.
And, from the necessity is the mother of invention department, let’s not forget SitorSquat. You guessed it, it’s the phone app that tells you where to find a public toilet near you, with a review feature and star rating system to help determine the best place for travelers to, well, do their business.
Last but not least, my two favorites.
Shazam - How many times on a business trip have I been in an airport, a newstand, a clothing store and heard a song I liked but had no idea who sings it, or the name of the song? Most of the time the store employees have no idea as well. Shazam to the rescue. Just hold up your phone with the Shazam program and in less than 30 seconds you know the name of the song, the artist, the album title and the label. It’s invaluable information for a music junkie like me
And since your odds of being delayed on a flight, or worse, canceled, are relatively good, the challenge of course is how to productively use your time at the airport. Some folks will tell you that this is where a membership in a club like United’s Red Carpet or American’s Admirals Club makes sense. If you’re totally committed to work, these clubs do provide an efficient work environment far from the madding crowds. But if you really need to kill time, then at least be honest about how you kill that time… yes, I can’t overlook the iPhone phenomenon, Angry Birds. It’s perhaps the single best airport time killer out there.
MY THOUGHTS
these apps are great aren't they? a proactive way of dealing with your many business trips and the inevitable flight delays. i like the shazam thing. of course, it really doesn't seem connected to business. except maybe as a work-life-balance issue.
By Peter Greenberg | February 9, 2011
There are anywhere between 250,000 and 500,000 smart phone apps now on the market (depending on whose estimates you believe), and some of the most useful ones are for business travelers.
Here are some of my favorites:
Flightstats -Track your flight status in real time, plus find out airport delays, weather and traffic conditions around the airport.
Tripit - This is one that I’m seeing more and more travelers take advantage of to keep track of their itineraries and alert others of their plans. Email your confirmations to Tripit and that in turn will generate a one-stop-shop itinerary document for you.
WorldMate - It provides a similar travel planner service as TripIt, plus upgraded features for gold members such as contact information for travel providers, and a list of flight schedules from the reputable OAG Worldwide data base.
FareCompare- This phone app tracks the real-time price of routes from your home airport, and alerts you when the fare drops…up to six times a day
GateGuru - Handy for when you’re stuck at the airport, GateGuru tracks down the restaurants, shops and amenities in airport terminals.
And, from the necessity is the mother of invention department, let’s not forget SitorSquat. You guessed it, it’s the phone app that tells you where to find a public toilet near you, with a review feature and star rating system to help determine the best place for travelers to, well, do their business.
Last but not least, my two favorites.
Shazam - How many times on a business trip have I been in an airport, a newstand, a clothing store and heard a song I liked but had no idea who sings it, or the name of the song? Most of the time the store employees have no idea as well. Shazam to the rescue. Just hold up your phone with the Shazam program and in less than 30 seconds you know the name of the song, the artist, the album title and the label. It’s invaluable information for a music junkie like me
And since your odds of being delayed on a flight, or worse, canceled, are relatively good, the challenge of course is how to productively use your time at the airport. Some folks will tell you that this is where a membership in a club like United’s Red Carpet or American’s Admirals Club makes sense. If you’re totally committed to work, these clubs do provide an efficient work environment far from the madding crowds. But if you really need to kill time, then at least be honest about how you kill that time… yes, I can’t overlook the iPhone phenomenon, Angry Birds. It’s perhaps the single best airport time killer out there.
MY THOUGHTS
these apps are great aren't they? a proactive way of dealing with your many business trips and the inevitable flight delays. i like the shazam thing. of course, it really doesn't seem connected to business. except maybe as a work-life-balance issue.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)