Sunday, September 19, 2010
Quote for Today...
Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter. ~Ansel Adams
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Spread the News~Share the Excitement!
Every momarazzi can capture incredible moments, both on and off the field. But the truly successful momarazzi spread the news and share the excitement with others. This is much easier than you think...
Most communities have newspapers that focus on community news and events. These same papers often have online versions of the print edition--here is where a true momarazzi lives!
First, you will need to register with your local paper. Visit the paper's website to locate how to begin "posting/sharing" photos and stories. This usually requires you to enter your email address or create a user name and password. AND...this is usually a free service.
Many community newspaper editors just don't have the budget dollars to have reporters and photographers at every event going on in town--so they appreciate when "community reporters/photographers" submit their stories and photos. There is always an obligation and opportunity for the editor to do any necessary "editing" of something you post--so don't be offended if your original story doesn't appear in its entirety! I've got a journalism background, been published, and have often had my submitted stories edited for clarity or simply space available for print! Photographs also may need to be in a specific format~either re-sized for upload or of a high resolution for printing. Specific instructions are always available on paper websites.
The best part of sharing your excitement online...even if the news/photos don't make it to the print edition, it is so easy to share the link of the story/photos with family and friends online! Point your team families to the website address of the online story/photos and they'll be just as excited as if it were in print! Plus, this provides families and friends from across the miles to see what is going on with your little athlete!!
Now...spread the news! Share the excitement! Get out there and find your local papers to submit your game/event photos and stories!! You just may see your efforts pay off in print...and begin the process of creating your own momarazzi portfolio!!
Most communities have newspapers that focus on community news and events. These same papers often have online versions of the print edition--here is where a true momarazzi lives!
First, you will need to register with your local paper. Visit the paper's website to locate how to begin "posting/sharing" photos and stories. This usually requires you to enter your email address or create a user name and password. AND...this is usually a free service.
Many community newspaper editors just don't have the budget dollars to have reporters and photographers at every event going on in town--so they appreciate when "community reporters/photographers" submit their stories and photos. There is always an obligation and opportunity for the editor to do any necessary "editing" of something you post--so don't be offended if your original story doesn't appear in its entirety! I've got a journalism background, been published, and have often had my submitted stories edited for clarity or simply space available for print! Photographs also may need to be in a specific format~either re-sized for upload or of a high resolution for printing. Specific instructions are always available on paper websites.
The best part of sharing your excitement online...even if the news/photos don't make it to the print edition, it is so easy to share the link of the story/photos with family and friends online! Point your team families to the website address of the online story/photos and they'll be just as excited as if it were in print! Plus, this provides families and friends from across the miles to see what is going on with your little athlete!!
- Tips for photos...clarity. Your photo should capture an exciting moment (whether on or off the field), but the photo must also be clear to view. Fuzzy or slightly out of focus photos will now show well online or in print--don't use these, even if it is the only great shot of that touchdown!
- Tips for stories...score of the game & players' names are key. First...ensure your coach is aware you are going to post a story--get his or her permission and comments from the game whenever possible. Second...ensure that your team parents are in agreement on using names in a story. Most will be thrilled with the fact that you are sharing the good news! But privacy is a big issue--particularly on the web.
Now...spread the news! Share the excitement! Get out there and find your local papers to submit your game/event photos and stories!! You just may see your efforts pay off in print...and begin the process of creating your own momarazzi portfolio!!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Capturing Your Moments for FREE!!!
The Momarazzi Treatment's Fall Deal...everyone is entitled to amazing photos that capture their child in action! Through October 31st, the Momarazzi Treatment will waive all event fees and photograph your team's games/events AT NO CHARGE TO THE ORGANIZATION!
I know...it's crazy...but every child deserves to have his or her amazing moments captured, and not every parent has the time or ability to be a momrazzi at every event! That's where The Momarazzi Treatment comes into play! We will photograph your event at NO CHARGE...the only way The Momarazzi Treatment benefits from this is if the photos are fantastic enough that your parents & families want make a purchase!
Working with fantastic third-party production companies, The Momarazzi Treatment is able to offer parents and families amazing products--from prints to specialty products like magnets, t-shirts, mouse pads, & more! AND...the Momarazzi Treatment has worked hard to provide you wonderful products and momarazzi prices! Our prices are extremely competitive...just check us out and see for yourself!!
For more information or to schedule your memory-making event, contact The Momarazzi Treatment today!
I know...it's crazy...but every child deserves to have his or her amazing moments captured, and not every parent has the time or ability to be a momrazzi at every event! That's where The Momarazzi Treatment comes into play! We will photograph your event at NO CHARGE...the only way The Momarazzi Treatment benefits from this is if the photos are fantastic enough that your parents & families want make a purchase!
Working with fantastic third-party production companies, The Momarazzi Treatment is able to offer parents and families amazing products--from prints to specialty products like magnets, t-shirts, mouse pads, & more! AND...the Momarazzi Treatment has worked hard to provide you wonderful products and momarazzi prices! Our prices are extremely competitive...just check us out and see for yourself!!
For more information or to schedule your memory-making event, contact The Momarazzi Treatment today!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
How Do I Get Those Great Action Shots??
Capturing those great action shots of your amateur athlete, dancer, or dog (jumping through the yard!) can be easy if you know how to work with the settings on your camera. This is also where choosing the right lens comes into play.
First...lens choice. I have found a valuable online photography site that offers helpful hints regularly, http://www.picturecorrect.com/. Recently, there was a post from Morris Scjomin, How To Pick the Right Camera Lens that addresses this issue in such a concise way that I'd rather link to him than try to comment on my own! If you are a budding momarazzi, definitely consider visiting Picture Correct and subscribing to their online newsletter for tips and techniques to assist you!
Stopping action...it can be difficult and many blurred photos can result if you don't have your camera setting correct. While there is an artistic reason to have a blurred action shot, most of us would like to see our young athlete mid-air catching that pass, making that check on the ice, or in the midst of a pirouette. Here's a few things to consider if you have a SLR camera that allows you to manually select the settings.
My Canon Rebel has two settings that I use regularly for action photography. TV stands for Time Value, and it can be used to freeze or blur your action. To freeze the action and catch that mid-air reception, you want to have your shutter speed higher--between 1/500 sec. to 1/4000 sec. This takes some getting used to, and you'll want to check your own camera's instructional manual to determine how to set your shutter speed. Ultimately, the faster the shutter speed, the better you will stop the action. The lower the shutter speed (1/60 sec. to 1/250 sec.) the more blurred action you will get. Depending on your lens, you may not be able to get as high as 1/4000...but don't worry, go as high as you can go and your pictures should turn out!
AV stands for aperture value. I like to use AV for most of my sports photography because I am able to blur the background and focus on the action in front of me. This way, the distracting field house in the background doesn't take away from the player I am capturing in action! I have learned that photographers who use a wide-angle lens don't have to worry about this setting, since wide-angle lenses have a wide depth of field; however, telephoto lenses have narrow depth of fields and this is where setting the AV correctly can give you the shot you want. The higher the aperture value, the slower the shutter speed--so when taking photos at night or under dark, overcast conditions, you can control the amount of light that is available by working with aperture value. That said...the long shutter speeds demand you are working with a tripod/monopod to keep the camera steady. Momarazzis taking photos of a night football game can struggle with this challenge--which is where choosing the right lens comes into play.
Lenses for action photography...most digital SLR cameras come standard with a standard f/3.5-5.6 lens. Many people also choose (or sometimes get in a package deal) a 70-300mm, f/5.6 zoom/telephoto lens. Working closely with the aperture value and shutter speed can provide you with quality action shots with these lenses. That said, a better (and more expensive) lens for shooting action at night is a f/2.8 lens. This is an investment, and you need to be sure you are getting the proper lens for your camera type. Typically, if you have a Canon, you cannot use a Nikon lens...and while there are more generic brand lenses out there, it is important to consult with your photography supply expert to ensure you are getting a lens that will fit your specific brand camera.
This is by far the most technical posting I have written--and I am not a technical person! I have many resources to thank for providing me with the knowledge I've gained--my personal "coaches" include Glenn Nagel and fellow momarazzi Becky (Becky truly is a talented momarazzi, but she doesn't have a website for me to link to!). I also scan through several online resources (note Picture Correct above) to gain valuable tips and techniquesues along the way.
It may take a little more time to prepare yourself, but with practice (and it truly just does take practice with the settings) you can achieve the photos you want over time! Good Luck with the technical stuff...
...and see you at the rinks and fields!
First...lens choice. I have found a valuable online photography site that offers helpful hints regularly, http://www.picturecorrect.com/. Recently, there was a post from Morris Scjomin, How To Pick the Right Camera Lens that addresses this issue in such a concise way that I'd rather link to him than try to comment on my own! If you are a budding momarazzi, definitely consider visiting Picture Correct and subscribing to their online newsletter for tips and techniques to assist you!
 |
| Using a 1/2000 shutter speed and a f/4.0 I was able to catch the players as they flew through the air in this tackle |
My Canon Rebel has two settings that I use regularly for action photography. TV stands for Time Value, and it can be used to freeze or blur your action. To freeze the action and catch that mid-air reception, you want to have your shutter speed higher--between 1/500 sec. to 1/4000 sec. This takes some getting used to, and you'll want to check your own camera's instructional manual to determine how to set your shutter speed. Ultimately, the faster the shutter speed, the better you will stop the action. The lower the shutter speed (1/60 sec. to 1/250 sec.) the more blurred action you will get. Depending on your lens, you may not be able to get as high as 1/4000...but don't worry, go as high as you can go and your pictures should turn out!
AV stands for aperture value. I like to use AV for most of my sports photography because I am able to blur the background and focus on the action in front of me. This way, the distracting field house in the background doesn't take away from the player I am capturing in action! I have learned that photographers who use a wide-angle lens don't have to worry about this setting, since wide-angle lenses have a wide depth of field; however, telephoto lenses have narrow depth of fields and this is where setting the AV correctly can give you the shot you want. The higher the aperture value, the slower the shutter speed--so when taking photos at night or under dark, overcast conditions, you can control the amount of light that is available by working with aperture value. That said...the long shutter speeds demand you are working with a tripod/monopod to keep the camera steady. Momarazzis taking photos of a night football game can struggle with this challenge--which is where choosing the right lens comes into play.
Lenses for action photography...most digital SLR cameras come standard with a standard f/3.5-5.6 lens. Many people also choose (or sometimes get in a package deal) a 70-300mm, f/5.6 zoom/telephoto lens. Working closely with the aperture value and shutter speed can provide you with quality action shots with these lenses. That said, a better (and more expensive) lens for shooting action at night is a f/2.8 lens. This is an investment, and you need to be sure you are getting the proper lens for your camera type. Typically, if you have a Canon, you cannot use a Nikon lens...and while there are more generic brand lenses out there, it is important to consult with your photography supply expert to ensure you are getting a lens that will fit your specific brand camera.
This is by far the most technical posting I have written--and I am not a technical person! I have many resources to thank for providing me with the knowledge I've gained--my personal "coaches" include Glenn Nagel and fellow momarazzi Becky (Becky truly is a talented momarazzi, but she doesn't have a website for me to link to!). I also scan through several online resources (note Picture Correct above) to gain valuable tips and techniquesues along the way.
It may take a little more time to prepare yourself, but with practice (and it truly just does take practice with the settings) you can achieve the photos you want over time! Good Luck with the technical stuff...
...and see you at the rinks and fields!
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