05/01/2008 by admin.

Low-Energy Bulb Disposal Warning

First an overview:

Since we’re all now all supposed to be going green low energy saving light bulbs has popped up as one of the greatest bright ideas (no pun intended). They’re meant to be energy saving and money saving too! In essence, they use up to 80 per cent less electricity than a standard bulb, but produce the same amount of light. This is undoubtedly a phenomenon meaning you can be good to the environment as well as saving money.

Advances in technology mean that energy saving light bulbs is now available in a wide variety of fittings, shapes and sizes to suit all. They are fast becoming the norm and the recommended alternative to the outdated bulb.

Just recently the Environment Agency has called for more information to be made available on the health and environmental risks posed by low-energy light bulbs.

These bulbs actually contain a small amount of mercury (Mercury(IPA: /ˈmɜrkjʊri/), also called quicksilver, is a chemical element with the symbol Hg (Latinized Greek: hydrargyrum, meaning watery or liquid silver). Mercury is commonly used in thermometers, manometers, barometers, sphygmomanometers, float valves, and other scientific apparatus. There are in fact a few concerns about mercury’s toxicity have led to mercury thermometers and sphygmomanometers being largely phased out in clinical environments in favour of alcohol-filled, digital, or thermistor-based instruments.

The Environment Agency suggests more information is provided about the safe recycling of these products. It also wants clear and precise health warnings printed on all packaging and information exactly how to clear up smashed bulbs in our home.

There is, however, a toxicologist called Dr David Spurgeon that says “Because these light bulbs contain small amounts of mercury they could cause a problem if they are disposed of in a normal waste-bin. “

“It is possible that the mercury they contain could be released either into the air or from land-fill when they are released into the wider environment.”

“That’s a concern, because mercury is a well known toxic substance.”

Advice from the Department of the Environment states that if you accidentally smash a low-energy bulb in your home you’ve got to make sure that the room is vacated for at least 15 minutes, making sure not to vacuum any of the debris and taking care not to inhale the dust particles.

They basically instruct us to use rubber gloves when picking up the low energy bulb fragments and putting them into a sealed plastic bag, then taking it down to your local council for disposal.

A vacuum cleaner should not be used to clear up the debris, and care should be taken not to inhale the dust.

This is written by Joe Polanski Smith. If you’re interested in Environmentally Friendly Products for Sustainable Living check out Nigel’s Eco Store - eco stuff you’ll love or for more information check out

http://www.doeni.gov.uk/ni-ised_rohs_consultation_september_2007.pdf which is a consultation paper by the government.

Posted in Digital Portrait Photography Lighting | Print | No Comments »

03/01/2008 by admin.

Digital portrait photography will produce superb results if you are able to see the person you are photographing, as one of your favorite people at that moment.

Digital portrait photography is for you if you care about people, are interested in what drives them, and how they came to be where they are. Good portrait photographers seem to get the best out of their subjects by being fundamentally interested in them, and being able to connect with them, even if it is just for the duration of the shooting session.

With digital portrait photography nothing has changed about the nature of this interaction! However, you will discover a number of creative - and financial! - advantages.

Whether your aim is professional digital portrait photography, or practicing it as a hobby, one of the best ways to go about it is to heed the written advice of experienced professional portrait photographers. Various aspects of this field have been covered in a number of informative books on the subject.

In ‘A Comprehensive Guide to Digital Portrait Photography’, Duncan Evans covers the different types of digital cameras available, including compact, single-lens reflex (SLR), and specialized models.

He also shows how to create a home studio, and explains the basics of portrait composition, texture, and mood. He includes topics such as color, computer manipulation, using duotones, tritones and sepia tones, and manipulating light and shadow.

A photographer who has published more than one book on digital portrait photography, is Jeff Smith. His books include ‘Professional Digital Portrait Photography’, where he walks you through the steep learning curve for digital portrait photographers. He shows you how to avoid commonly experienced problems, and he provides various techniques for shooting and editing.

Another of Jeff’s books is ‘Learn How To Make All Of Your Clients Look Their Very Best!’, where he gets very practical about photographing real people, and not just models.

He discusses how to be tactful with people about those aspects of their appearance that they don’t want to be highlighted in the portrait image.

His approach is to combine careful lighting, posing, and retouching to correct those flaws. The end-product is a portrait the client will love.

Is you main interest outdoor digital portrait photography? Jeff has also published ‘Outdoor and Location Portrait Photography’, in which he explains how to understand and control natural light, and how to select the best scene. He also includes tips for posing, selecting clothing, as well as marketing your portraits.

If you are keen to set up a digital studio, don’t miss ‘Master The Skills You Need To Build A Digital Portrait Photography Business’, by Lou Jacobs Jr. This book deals with topics such as the following: how to select your equipment; locating and outfitting a digital portrait photography studio; designing an efficient workflow; and presenting and marketing your work.

Know you camera, be interested in the people you deal with, and you will soon be a master of digital portrait photography.

For more information visit Best-Digital-Photography.com

Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rika_Susan

Posted in Digital Portrait Photography Lighting | Print | No Comments »

03/01/2008 by admin.

Whether you’re a photography newbie or you’ve been around the block a few times, it doesn’t take long to learn that properly lighting a portrait subject can make a huge difference in the quality of the finished portrait.

Thus begins the never ending torment.

First, we wonder what kind of lighting patterns there are.

We go to our local camera store and discover a book that discusses Rembrandt light. Then another guru says that narrow light is the way to go. But for each narrow light application, there’s another time when broad light will do the trick. They talk about split light, backlight, hair light, fill, ambient.

They use terms like main light, key light, fill, diffused, hot, continuous, strobe and so on…

It’s no wonder so many people throw up their hands in frustration. Then they light every subject the same tired old way.

So then, we start to question - why bother?

What difference does it make?

We soon learn that wide faces can be visually narrowed, narrow faces can be visually widened, noses can be shortened, cheekbones can be raised. Not to mention - blemishes can be minimized, wrinkles softened and weight reduced.

Then it finally hits. Lighting is important. We start to realize that being a photographer entails more than buying the latest digital gadget and spending countless hours in Photoshop.

By now we are in information overload. Which way to turn? How many hundreds of dollars do we need to spend - buying all the latest magazines and photo books?

There is an easier way.

It’s true that photo equipment is being improved all the time. Trying to keep up with all the most recent improvements in technology is impossibly difficult - but - peoples faces are pretty much the same now as they were 10 years ago, 50 years, 100.

The best lighting patterns haven’t changed. Rembrandt light is called that because Rembrandt used that lighting pattern! In the early 1600’s!

The point is, to learn the basic lighting patterns, old photo books work just as well as the new ones. You don’t have to spend a fortune at the local camera store, book store or on line. Go to the library. It’s free.

Find a book that shows a lighting pattern you want to learn, check it out and go home.

Now comes the expensive part.

You need some flashlights. I mean the kind you hold in your hand. The kind you keep in the kitchen junk drawer. (Yes, the one that always has dead batteries when you need it.) You will also need a notebook.

Now, for the fun part. Grab one of your kids, boyfriend, girlfriend, next door neighbor, next door neighbor’s kids…somebody! Bribe them. Tell them if they’ll help you learn about lighting, you’ll do a nice portrait of them!

Have them sit on a chair in a darkened room. (Leave your camera in the bag. We don’t need it.) Take out your flashlights and starting with one (add more as needed)- light up their face. Move it in and out, raise it, lower it, go to the sides and so on.

Watch what is happening! Learn how to exaggerate and minimize noses, bumps, acne, wrinkles. Learn where the light needs to be positioned to get the patterns in the book.

What happens when you put some tracing paper over the light? Bounce it off a nearby wall?

Then for each new discovery you make, write it down in your notebook. Use plenty of diagrams.

In a couple hours, you’ll know more about photographic lighting than 75% of all the photographers out there. Plus, you can have a great time!

Dan Eitreim has been a professional photographer in southern California for over 16 years. His data base exceeds 6000 past clients, and he says that selling YOUR photography is easy - if you only know a couple tried and true marketing strategies. He’s created a multimedia presentation that can teach ANYONE how to sell their own photography and generate freelance income in as little as two weeks. To learn more and enroll in a FREE photo marketing course, go to: http://www.PartTimePhotography.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danny_Eitreim

Posted in Digital Portrait Photography Lighting | Print | No Comments »