merblog

Anti-Aging Photography made simple.

As you age or put on weight, you don't have to avoid having your photo taken if you have the right software techniques. Most of us are familiar with Photoshop where you can work on getting rid of your wrinkles using the Healing Brush or the Clone Stamp Tools. But I recently discovered Picnik which is linked to my Flickr account and with only a few clicks I can use their Wrinkle Remover, Insta-Thin, Sunless Tan, Mascara or Highlights tools. I will have to get to work now on a few of my Facebook photos...

Ways to get free lessons in photography

Photography is an expensive hobby or profession with so many new toys and must-have's on the market it's nice when you can find ways to save a few dollars here and there, which I am finding often comes in the form of free training. Of course nothing is ever free and there is still the overhead expense of Internet, computer and possible appleTV to consider but it's all going to pay off when you get that perfect photo someday - right?

Today is Sunday and I have spent my day listening to Podcasts though my appleTV. Some of what I have learned are that part of being a good photographer is connecting with your subjects. I learned this through listening to Episode 13 of the http://digitalphotographylife.com/ podcast called "How to Make People Like you in 90 Seconds or Less" by NicholasBoothman.com. I also now have a great new way to describe focal length from watching Episode 1 :: the Camera Obscura by The Art of Photography. Of course my Sunday is not complete without an episode of Photography 101 by Scott Wittenburg. Today's lesson 25 was on Flash Photography (http://photooneoone.blogspot.com/).

The other ways I learn are through Camera store workshops, photo clubs, author websites, meetups.com and by volunteering or shadowing professionals. I'd write more, but it's time for bed...

5 Innovative Photo Services

I always enjoy finding creative uses of photos. I take so many photos it is nice to find ways to use and display them apart from the traditional photo frame. Some of the ways I currently display photos in my house are with photo coasters, with scrapbooks, and with my appleTV. 

Here are a few web sites I recently came across which offer some unique services for photos:

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Sweet Images Ltd is the innovator of this direct reproduction process onto confections. The company reproduces photos/logos/any graphic or text onto confections such as various cookies, chocolates, rice krispie treats™, lollipops and more. With over 10 years of experience in this field, Sweet Images maintains a technological and product advantage over others in this field. They continue to expand their line after significant consumer testing. Their corporate slogan, "We have great taste in pictures," truly exemplifies what they do. Their attention to detail is seen in the products, packaging, and customer support.

This is one of their products which I like, it is called the Chocolate Card -

Small Chocolate Card:
Business card size milk chocolate. Ideal for giveaways and gifts. Individually wrapped and decoratively tied.

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My Life Designs supplies Solid Sterling Photo Jewelry that you create online using your favorite photos. My Life Designs is the leading designer and manufacturer of solid sterling photo jewelry and gifts. Your photos are reproduced and permanently sealed into beautiful pieces of solid sterling jewelry, making them guaranteed to be completely waterproof.

I thought these photo necklaces would make a cute gift for Grandmothers:

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Magic Portrait Studios™ is an innovative digital imaging company servicing professional photographers as well as on-line and retail clients in the digital photo-processing industry. Magic Portrait™ is a hi-resolution digital composite photo that takes the subject from a customer's digital photo can seamlessly merges it into an imaginative background. Magic Portrait Studios™ utilizes leading edge photo compositing technologies and proprietary photo enhancement techniques, along with libraries of the company's copyrighted imaginative backgrounds to create the customized Magic Portraits™. The resulting studio-quality portrait can be repeatedly used by the end customer to encourage customer retention. 

I like this idea, and I would love to expand upon it some day:

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New Digital Celebration Photo Greetings have been designed specifically for use with today’s digital labs. Our new greetings seamlessly blend customer photos and greeting-card art, for an updated look your customers will love. We have popular, traditional templates plus new, art-quality designs not previously available in the photo-greeting market. Most greetings include horizontal and vertical formats and room for personalization

I've always been fascinated with the idea of goal boards and visualization. What a great way to help yourself in that area by getting a photo print out of yourself on the cover of a magazine:

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PhotoTidings provides digital templates to photographers, studios, and photo labs for printing photo greeting cards, borders, announcements, calendars, sports cards, magazine covers, and many other products. Celebrate baby, graduation, engagement, wedding, Christmas, seasonal holidays, and more.

It's interesting to me that this web site is where you purchase and download templates individually so you can create your own photo magazine covers service.