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I've posed the question "which small camera" on this blog before. I have read your recommendations and researched, and looked, and pondered...what am I giving up to have a camera small enough to carry in my purse?

Saturday I took the plunge and purchased the Cannon PowerShot SX110.
Here are the things I liked about it.... 9mp, 10x zoom, manual choice of flash use, good auto modes (for quick shots), manual settings as well, and a great macro.

The 'icing on the cake'...it is only 4.4 x 2.8 x 1.8 in size...actually fits into my hand, I'm in love. A man might not consider this a true 'pocket camera'...but it will fit into a jacket pocket or perhaps a pair of dockers. As for me...in my purse, I hardly know it's there.

I have to admit, I spent most of Saturday playing with my new toy.

I have the Rebel XTi...and two 'very nice' lenses. Love this camera and I use it regularly to take photographs for commissioned portraits, still life setups, and to photograph my art. Yet, of late, it remains in my studio...just too big to keep with me all the time. I'm continually missing good photo ops.

I'm heading to NY in a couple of weeks to visit my daughter and grandson. I'm really looking forward to 'traveling light' with my new camera. I'm sure I will have more to say when I get home...for now, I'm excited with what I see.
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The "Lumiquest Soft Screen"
The best little "find"...not sure how I got along without it

The majority of my photography is done in natural light...either outside or with a lighting set-up to provide the shadow detail that I look for in my still life drawings.  I have the 430EX speedlite, yet there are times when you don't have it with you or it just isn't practical.  I found the Lumiquest Soft Screen on the web while researching flash techniques. I have used it most of the summer.  It is just the best little "find"...not sure how I got along without it. 

The Lumiquest Soft Screen is one of the most useful accessories that I have picked up in awhile.  It is a simple vinyl and plastic diffuser that will adapt to most pop-up flashes and will fit in a shirt pocket or purse with no more fuss than and index card.  At around $13.00 it is in everyone's budget and can make the quality of light from your on camera pop-up flash less harsh...producing better results.

In my search to learn more about this new find I ran across the website of Joseph LaQuiere...he has a marvelous review of the Lumiquest Soft Screen.  He includes some great "with" and "without" photographs and some adaptations which give the Soft Screen a better fit on some cameras.

Take a look at Joseph LaQuiere's site...it is informative and his reviews are written in a manner which makes them easy to understand; and his photography is exceptional.

PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment. Read More

Choosing Reference Photos:  The accuracy of your finished portrait is dependent solely on the quality of your reference photo.  If I can't see it, I can't draw it.

Digital Photos... this is the best type of reference image for me to work from.  I am able to enlarge them on the computer screen and see detail that would otherwise be hidden.  You can send them to me by email or put them on a CD and drop them into the mail box.

I can work from a regular photograph... if the image is clear and contains lots of detail.  However, if it is for a portrait, The subject's face must be at least three inches tall, from hairline to chin.  If you are desiring a commissioned portrait from an older photograph  or one where the face is smaller than three inches...please go ahead and send it to me.  I can sometimes use a magnifying glass or scan these photos into "Photo Shop" and end up with a fairly good reference, especially if I have several photos to work with.  Check out The Drawing Board and take a look at the P. Melcher...Portrait Commission Preview.   This was a commission in which I used an older childhood photo for reference.

**Sending Your Images...Your digital references can be e-mailed if the image is not "downsized" in the process...if this is an issue, your photos should be copied to a DC and sent by regular "snail mail".  I need to have the largest file size your camera can give me.  Take your photos in color, do not crop, and do not convert to black and white.

Any traditional paper photos can be scanned at 300dpi or greater and emailed...or of course, photo copied and sent by regular mail.  Do not send your "Treasured one of a kind family photographs."  All reference materials will be returned with your commissioned drawing.

**Combining Images... If you want to combine people or pets into the same commissioned piece from different photos, make sure we talk, or at least email before you begin your photo shoot.  The same is true for those of you who are wanting a commissioned drawing of a car, motorcycle, boat, airplane, etc.  I have some additional photography composition guidelines not listed here that will make this process much easier for both of us.

**Using Studio Photographs... If you are thinking of using a studio photo, you will need to provide me with written permission from the photographer.

PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment
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Guidelines for taking photographs:   Whether you are planning to take photographs specifically for your commissioned drawing, or plan to use a favorite photograph that you already have...you will find the "Photography Guidelines" listed below helpful.  If after reading these you still have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

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Indoor Photography:
1.  Inside photos are great if your camera will take a clear, detail-filled image
     without the use of a flash.
2.  Please...use natural light (no flash);  side lighting is best. Try taking 
     some of your photographs near a window...but do not have the subject
     facing the window.

Outdoor Photography:
3.  If you plan to take your photographs outside...a cloudy, but reasonably
     bright day is good because you will have nice soft shadows.
4.  On bright sunny days take photos in the shade, or with the sun a little to
     the back and side, to avoid squinting.
     ...mid mornings or late afternoons are best.
     ...Soft shadows on the face are a good thing.
     ...Please try to avoid harsh shadows on the face, as they sometimes tend
        to hide detail. If this is unavoidable, try using a "low key" fill-flash.  
        Note: In this situation, give me a photo with and without the fill-flash.

General Photography Guidelines: 
5.  Fill the lens with the subject.
6.  Where the portrait is to be "three-quarter" or "full length," also take
     some close-up shots of the head and face, before the subject moves! 
     Making sure the head  is at least close to the same angle as in the 
     "full length" photograph you just took!
7.  Make sure you always get some additional close-up shots of the facial
     features, especially the eyes and mouth.
8.  When you are photographing pets or children,     
      ...keep the camera at their eye level or  below. 
      ...Sit in a chair or get on the ground if necessary. 
9.  Take lots and lots of photos from different angles and in different
      lighting situations.
      ...Don't skimp here; digital photos are cheap!! 
      ...You can never take too many and you can never send me too many!
10. Don't pose them all...try some candid shots. 
      ...Those unplanned photos will often "say" the most amazing things in 
         a drawing. 
11. I can't say it enough...it's all about the detail...detail, detail, detail. 

Camera Settings and Misc.
12. Use the highest resolution your camera supports.
13. Save the images in "extra fine jpeg."
14. Do not crop your photos.
15. Take your photos in color.
16. Your digital references can be emailed if the image is not "downsized" 
      in the process, I need to have the largest file size your camera can 
      give me....if this is an issue, your photos should be copied to a CD
      and sent by regular mail.
17. Any traditional paper photos can be scanned at 300dpi or greater
      and emailed, or of course, photo copied and sent by regular mail. 
18. PLEASE...do not send me your "Treasured one-of-a-kind Family
      Photographs."  You need to have them either scanned or
      photocopied, which ever produces the best image.

PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment
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I am just an Artist...not a professional photographer.  I take photos as reference for my drawings, and this is the equipment that works best for my needs and style of photography.

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I believe that I have, except for perhaps a good macro lens, settled into the equipment that I need for the type of photography that I do .  Most of my photos, if not all, are taken as reference material for my drawings.  Because I try to do all of my photography in natural light, no flash, the lenses that I have chosen are suitable for that purpose.

My camera is the Canon Rebel XTi.  I traded up from the Rebel XT...an upgrade which some photographers would say didn't offer enough for the $$.  For me it was a no-brainer.  The rebel XT was always blowing highlights unless I remembered to adjust the exposure compensation...but my biggest complaint about the XT was that I could not see the LCD screen to make these adjustments when I was outside.  The Rebel XTi exposes a little more to the left, saving the highlights, and the LCD screen is bigger and brighter...I have never had difficulty seeing it, in any type of lighting.  The extra 2 MP on the XTi have proven helpful also, as I do a lot of extreme cropping and zooming in on the computer screen, to see the small details.

This camera was rather controversial when introduced by Canon...with some people experiencing alot of "exposure" issues.  In my opinion, the way it washed out was, that most of the issues were experienced when the "kit lens" was used.  I believe Canon did finally admit or offer to correct this issue if you sent your camera in.  This is certainly a short explanation of the problem.  If you are interested the the XTi and want to know more about the "exposure issues" that I touched on here, I would suggest doing a search on DPREVIEW.  This is a wonderful photography forum for professionals and amateurs alike...the members are helpful and informative.  The-Digital-Picture is another good place to find reviews on cameras and lenses.  I have used these sites often.

The lens that I have on my camera most of the time is Canon's new EFS 17-55mm 2.8 IS...for me this is the perfect general purpose lens.  It has great low light ability with the F2.8 and IS.  The range is where I shoot most.

I also have the Canon 50mm 1.4 and the 85mm 1.8.  These are my portrait lenses, and again, good in low light.  I find the range of these two lenses work well in most situations, there are times however, when the 50mm is a little to long, especially in a small room.  I have, in these situations, been able to use the 17-55mm...but a 35mm would have been my first choice.

My latest purchase is the 70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO...This is my "Street Photography" lens.  It's small size and black color and IS makes it the perfect lens for this type of discrete photography, and I love its reach.  I am excited to get out and really use it this summer.  The photos taken with the DO require a little more post processing, but never underestimate the fine detail and color this lens is capable of capturing.  The 70-300 DO is a lot of lens in a small package.

I am not a photographer...just an artist who takes photos, and this is the equipment that works best for me.  Over time I have learned many things that have improved my "picture taking experience".  Today's digital cameras are wonderful, sometimes exasperating, yet exciting tools for documenting our life experiences in a way never before possible.  Check back often, for new hints and techniques.

PS...make a "Point"...leave a comment. Read More