The Warning signs of Online Fraud and How to avoid it

The number may seem grim for Web-based commerce. In 2004 in the Unites States alone, computer users logged in more than 207,000 Internet fraud reports to the U.S. Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you look hard at this number, you may be astounded, and a good bit frightened, by the implication. You may ask, "Is it really safe to buy and sell at an online site?"

Put simply, the answer is: yes. The Internet is an incredibly powerful tool for business, so you can't pass it over just because of a few crooks and conmen-even if they do seem like they're behind every pop-up window and banner ad. The truth is that you can create opportunity and make more money online than you could lose in fraud.

Better yet, you could lose absolutely nothing if you know the warning signs of fraud and the tricks to avoid danger during your Web-based business dealings.

Whether you're looking to buy or sell goods online, the first-and the best-way to fight fraud is prevention. There are certain warning signs to watch for, which should set off a chorus of alarms and flashing red lights in your head. Don't do business with this person! For buyers, these potential warning signs can be when a seller:

• asks you to pay through non-traceable avenues, such as Western Union or MoneyGram, or a third party, or via an overseas address. You should ask yourself-and the seller-why he or she won't accept payment options that are traceable and convenient for you.
• posts an image on his auction or classified ad that's obviously from an outside source. Sometimes these images may not even match the type of item, let alone the brand, that the ad features.
• sells a typically expensive item at cut-rate prices, which is a good indicator that it could be counterfeit.
• refuses to provide tracking numbers when you purchase an item. Tracking numbers are another way to trace a valid transaction.
• offers only excuses, instead of help, when your purchased item doesn't arrive at your doorstep.

If you're a seller, you ought to be wary of signs of a suspicious buyer, such as when a buyer:

• asks to pay only some of the fee, offering to the pay the rest sometime in the future. This is the old excuse from Popeye's friend Wimpy, who always could be heard saying, "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." Wimpy never paid Tuesday.
• sends you a cashier's check for more money than the agreed price "by mistake." In this scam, the buyer then asks you to repay him the difference by personal check, wire transfer, or money order-before you find out that the cashier's check didn't clear. Believe it or not, this scheme works because cashier's checks can be cashed before they bounce.
• sends you a cashier's check for the correct amount of money but then demands a refund, requesting that you repay with your own money. See the scheme above for how this trick works.

These warning signs, of course, are only for a handful of the frauds and scams out there. Conmen are good at what they do, trying to separate you from your money. That's why it's best to always follow these golden rules of online commerce whenever buying or selling on an Internet auction or classified site. 

Keep your common sense. No matter how good a deal seems, or how much clients say they want to pay, always remember the old adage: "If it sounds too good to be true... ."

Do your business locally. Try to buy and sell from your neighbors as much as possible. It's safer, more convenient, and better for your local economy. What's more, it saves you the trouble of dealing with foreign vendors and buyers. Though they may be legit, dealing with them can be complicated because of different legal systems and customs, which can make any conflict difficult.

Seal the deal with plastic. Paying for items with credit cards, and allowing your customers to charge for purchases, is a great all-around business decision. Under U.S. law, all plastic purchases are protected from fraud and allowed to be disputed in case of problems.

Meet at the middle man. Intermediary services are virtual middle men that protect both buyers and sellers from cyber shysters. Services like Escrow act as a holding pen for both payment and sale items until both the buyer and seller are content. Only then will Escrow finish a transaction.

Purchase with PayPal. As Escrow and credit cards do, PayPal guards against fraud for both buyers and sellers. It's a secure and reliable way to transfer money over the Internet. No wonder PayPal is the most popular online money transfer service.

As you can see, the odds are actually in your favor when it comes to doing business on online classified or auction sites. The resource of the internet is far too valuable than to be taken away by a few crooks and conmen. It simply comes down to being smart, sensible, and observant whenever buying or selling on the Web. Then again, that's what all good business is about, whether you're doing it in a mall or on the information superhighway

Fuji Underwater Cameras - Photography Above And Below Waves

People are never satisfied! We came from the primitive world of black and white pictures to the colored ones that we have today. But did we satisfy ourselves? No, still we look for a higher trend, to add something new to our technology. Now we have the underwater cameras that allow us to see the world underneath the waves. To capture the time spent with the creatures of the sea.

Fuji is recognized globally for its technological innovation and high quality. Fujifilm actually introduced the world's first one-time-use 35mm camera - the QuickSnap. Fujifilm's technology is now licensed to many other manufacturers of one-time-use cameras. 

Fujifilm is also becoming a Hollywood standard. Up to date movie blockbusters, including Punch-Drunk Love, The Wedding Planner, and Holes were all filmed on Fujifilm motion picture film. Fujifilm has received both an Academy Award and an Emmy for Technical Merit.

How dependable are these cameras? Lets take a short look at the latest innovations - Fuji Underwater cameras.

The Fuji Fine Pix F440 packs just a bit more zoom than any other cameras in its class. When it comes to charging the battery, you have two options, either use the AC adapter built within the camera, or to use the included camera dock. In both case, it takes two hours to charge the battery. The camera has only two accessories, a carrying case and an underwater case. The underwater case lets you take the camera upto 40 metres underwater. The F440 doesn't support conversion lenses or an external flash -- not surprisingly.

This camera is an all-metal camera that can go anywhere you want. Its construction is definitely good and of higher quality than cheaper Fuji cameras. The controls are well-placed, although the micro buttons on the four-way controller are a bit too small for some. One thing that bothers some consumers is that cameras like this can easily be scratched!

Another camera is the FinePix F10. This camera can shoot at 6.3 Megapixels at ISO 1600 -- something no other point-and-shoot camera can do. It has a unique "natural light mode" for taking sharp pictures for lower light conditions without having to dwell on flash. There are a few accessories that can go along with this camera. But the most amazing of all these accessories is the WP-FXF10 waterproof case, which let you take the camera for 40 meters down under water. 

With these great Fuji underwater camers you can enjoy the sights of the underwater over and over again.

Nikon Underwater Cameras - Capturing The Underwater World

Technology has indeed taken a leap - with its advancement it opens a gateway for us to see the world beneath the waves, to capture the details which seemed to be impossible. Nikon - one of the world's leading brands in innovation - has been established since the year 1917. With its dependability and consistency in the world of cameras it has been a market leader for years. 

It is really the functionality of Nikon that has made them so desirable.

Camera controls are intuitive to operate, starting with the upper toggle switch on the rear of the camera, switching between wide angle and telephoto views. The image that you are focussing on is displayed on a small screen on the rear of the camera - there is no eye piece as such, unlike the conventional cameras the you may have seen. 

A little pressure on the focus/execute button makes the camera focus and calculate exposure - a full press will cause the camera to take a picture. Most users will use this fully automatic mode. 

The screen found at the back of your camera will allow you to review images taken. It makes it possible to review the shots that you have taken, and you can delete the images you do not want to keep. Use the lower toggle switch to step through the shots you have taken. 

To quote the words of one professional underwater photographer, "the Nikon D70 allows access to all of the most frequently used buttons and functions. Absent is the Depth-of-Field preview button, which I feel is rather useful but some may not even know exists!"

Indeed, using the additional settings of AF-C (Continuous Auto-Focus) and Dynamic-AF area, one can shoot macro, wide-angle and even portraits by simply and quickly changing the lens. You'll see the benefit of this sharp and precise auto focus system when it comes to chasing and capturing very fast subjects.

Nikon underwater cameras are designed both for professionals and first time users.

14 Great Tips for Better Holiday Photos

Do you want better holiday photos? Are your snaps a bit of a let down? Follow my 10 top tips to get photos that will live up to the memories. You'll be amazed how good they'll look and your friends and family will too.

1. To get clear photos avoid camera shake or moving the camera as you take the photo. Squeeze the shutter gently and steady yourself against solid objects.

2. Frame the shot carefully to get well framed photos and keep fingers and other items away from the lens. Obvious but true and yes I have done it.

3. Experiment with compositions. Use roads and paths as strong lead-in lines, use objects in the foreground to add interest and tilt the camera for added drama.

4. Look for details. Often close-up shots of local objects can say as much about a location as scenic panoramas.

5. Take photos in the early morning light or the hour before sunset, know as the 'Golden Hours', for dramatic lighting.

6. Get up early and capture your holiday destination with a different character, empty of tourists and peaceful.

7. Really fill the frame with your subject for extra impact. Get close and then closer still. Move around and take photos from different angles.

8. Ask permission first if you want to take photos of local characters to avoid causing offence on cultural, personal or religious grounds.

9. Take photos on bad weather days. Some great atmospheric shots can be achieved when the weather is bad especially with stormy seas.

10. Frame your subject through doorways or windows to create a frame within a frame. Street entrances or trees can also work.

11. Photograph the old next to the new, modern next to the traditional or poverty in the midst of riches. These statement making photos will really stand out.

12. Look for strong graphic images such as sunset silhouettes or combinations of colour and form.

13. The sky can often be as dramatic as the land. If it is include more sky or even just the sky.

14. If you're shooting digitally check your shots as you go to make sure you get the best ones.

My final words are experiment, get involved, have fun. Don't be too stiff, relax and get into it. With digital cameras you can take as many photos as you want and just keep the good ones.

Take Better Photographs

People think that with the arrival of the digital camera, it is easy to take good photographs.

What is easy, is for us to delete the bad ones. It is still tricky to take a good photograph.

The best thing you can do is relax and not be in too much of a hurry to take a photograph. Really take time to compose your shot and make sure everything looks right before you press that shutter. Even though it easy to just delete the picture with digital, it is good practice to slow down, otherwise you could end up with 50 quickly taken photos and not a decent shot among them.

There are many ways that even the average snapper, with a few pointers, can take photographs that will actually make them money.
If you are trying to sell your work to magazines or other publications, the following tips will help you with some of the techniques needed to take a photograph that will sell.


1) Always use a tripod or monopod when shooting in bad light or when usinga slow speed. If you haven't room for either, pack a small beanbag to steady the camera.

2) To avoid camera shake, hold the camera in a comfortable position before you take the shot, squeeze the shutter gently and tuck elbows into the body to avoid camera shake.

3) Try and fill the camera frame with your subject for greater impact (unless your photois for a magazine cover in which case you need to leave room at the top for the title).

4) Look ALL AROUND the viewfinder before you press the shutter to avoid any clutter spoiling the photo or any stray branches sticking out of a subjects head!

5) When photographing kids, try to shoot them when playing and having fun for more spontaneous pictures. Don't forget to get down to their level otherwise you will end up with shots of the top of their head.

6) When taking photographs, especially landscapes, always turn around and look BEHIND you.There has been many an instance of the best photo of a shoot lurking there.

I hope these points will help you take better photos. Have fun with your camera

Old Fashioned High Resolution Photo Camera

Tired of trying to keep updated with the highest mega pixel resolution digital camera? Well even if one has tried to do that, most certainly he will soon find out that his few months old digital camera is outdated in terms of mega pixel resolution. It's an ever changing kind of product that has become very hard to keep updated, unless one is willing to spend more money by making purchases every six to twelve months.

If the main intention of purchasing a photo camera is enlarging the image, then mega pixel resolution indeed will become the main factor. In this case one might consider a different option, which will keep his product updated for years to come. I'm talking about a used 4x5" film photo camera, together with a high resolution flat bed film scanner. All of this for less than one thousand US dollars. With all of this, one will get over 100 mega pixels in fine detailed film resolution and fine scanned digital images that can be enlarged up to 30x40" in size with professional quality. These 4x5" film cameras have done a remarkable job in general personal and commercial photography such as wedding, portraiture, product, documentary, advertising and landscape for nearly a hundred years.

Where to find 4x5" used film cameras? Since some of these cameras were mostly used in the past, until the 1960's, it should be no problem in finding them in American auction web sites. Anyway, a good used 4x5" camera with lens can be found for less than four hundred US dollars.

As for the flat bed film scanner, one can find brand new ones for less than five hundred US dollars. Just make sure the scanner is able to scan films.

Whenever purchasing a 4x5" film camera, one should look for the following features: folds into a compact box, flexible bellows, lenses that can be easily interchanged, accepts sheet film, ground glass focusing screen, easily handheld and optical viewfinder accessory.

As for the lenses, there are four main categories: 1 - general purposes; 2 - wide field (mostly used for close up work and landscape); 3 - extreme wide angles lenses; 4 - special effects lenses (telephoto). However, one might use a general purpose 127 or 152mm lens for most of his photograph sessions. In cases where it requires special lenses, such as architecture or macro photography, one will still find lots of them available in auction sites. Used lenses for 4x5" cameras made after world word II have excellent performances comparable to today's modern lenses.

Whenever making a purchase of a 4x5" camera make sure that: 1 - the bellows have no light leaks, 2 - the lens shutter works accurate at all speeds; 4 - the lens elements have no fungus and scratches of any kind; 4 - the focus is working properly between the ground glass and the film.

The option of using a 4x5" film camera, together with a flat bed film scanner, for enlarging images with professional quality is viable and accessible. Cheaper than top digital cameras, the 4x5" film camera offers better image quality and will always be updated in the future, maintaining its original value.

For those who wishes the very most detailed image enlargement, one can always use the 8x10" film camera. Four times the physical film size of the 4x5", this option offers so much film resolution that it is considered by many as the ultimate step for photo image enlargement.

Sometimes analog products deliver better results that its digital counter parts. If you are doing the job of enlarging photo images, you should give it a try with a 4x5" camera. You might just surprise yourself.

What to Photograph in Las Vegas

Las Vegas might be known worldwide as a gambling and entertainment city but there is definitely more you can do there. The city is full of attractions that you might need a whole week to explore it.

For hobby photographers, this article will guide you what to look and capture in the city of sins.

The City's Panorama
There is one place perfect to get a good overview of the city and that is the Stratosphere Tower. You will have to pay to get to the top but it's definitely worth it. The sweeping view of the city from the top is overwhelming, and getting even more impressive during the night. You'll have a great photo opportunity too of the famous Las Vegas Strip, having a bird's eye view of the strip hotels. Alternatively, you can climb up the Eiffel Tower at Paris Hotel for a great panorama too.

The Hotels
Hotels in Las Vegas are known for their size, extravagant style and luxurious interiors. It is a great idea to take some shots of these hotels from Wynn, The Venetian, Caesar's Palace, Paris Hotel to the Bellagio. If you're impressed with the exterior then hold your breath for the inside.


GARDENS OF VEGAS

Roman Garden - This beautiful roman-themed garden in front of the Caesar's Palace is a great subject for photography. With its statues and magnificent fountains, the place is worth capturing.

Botanical Garden - Looking for exotic flowers and plants in Las Vegas? Bellagio Hotel has a conservatory and botanical gardens which display an array of plants and flowers that highlight every season.

Secret Garden - Siegfried and Roy's secret garden at the Mirage is a home to some rare animals like the white tigers and lions.


THE ATTRACTIONS
Make your cameras ready for these following attractions...

The Venetian Grand Canal - At the hotel's front yard is a copy of the original Grand Canal of Venice where interested visitors can ride a gondola.

The Forum Shops - The building's entrance is inspired by the ancient gates of the Roman Forum. As you turn right from the entrance, you'll find a copy of the Trevi Fountain. The interior is gorgeous too, it has a fountain just as you enter inside and a beautiful painted ceiling with ornate pillars everywhere.

The Bellagio Fountains - Probably the most famous attraction in Las vegas. These giant fountains dance choreographically with the music being played.

The Eifel Tower - Just like in Paris, the tower attracts a lot of visitors. It has a restaurant on top and offers a great view of the city. If planning to get a good shot of the Bellagio fountains, the tower is one good place.

Treasure Island - An exotic island is being integrated in the hotel's facade with palms, cabanas, sailing ship, ship wreck and a seaport all in one place.

Mandalay Bay's Artificial Beach - Yes they have a beach and what is most interesting about it is that it can simulate waves up to 6 feet high. You can even go surfing here.

New York New York's Facade - It is where you can see all of New York's attractions in one place. You've got the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and Manhattan's skyscrapers.

The Fremont Street Experience - This is a light and sound show at the famous Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.

Downtown Las Vegas - You might be enjoying yourself already with the so many attractions on the strip but visiting the original would complete your visit.


These all in all could make a great Las Vegas photo collection. Enjoy yourself!

What to Photograph in Los Angeles

There are several places of interest in Los Angeles, not just in its big city but also in other famous cities which are part of the county. So here's a list of where to go, what to visit and what's worth capturing in that place. 

HOLLYWOOD
This place is the capital of movie-making. Hollywood is famous all over the world for its movies, there's no doubt about that. And of course, where movies are created, stars are also being born. This is the home to several celebrities.

Hollywood Sign - The most photographed in the place. The Sign is located on top of Hollywood Hills and is normally visible from the distance. A good place to get a shot is the Hollywood & Highland. 

Hollywood & Highland - This entertainment complex is a rather new attraction at Hollywood Boulevard. The Kodak Theater and Renaissance Hotel are integrated into it plus several shops, restaurants and a spacious courtyard.

Kodak Theater - Known as the home of the Oscars. The academy awards ceremony is being held here every year and it's the dream destination of most movie stars who like to grace the annual red carpet show.

Grauman's Chinese Theater - The most famous movie theater in the world which had been a host to important movie premieres. At its forecourt, you can find the hand and foot prints of several famous stars like Tom Hanks.

Walk of Fame - These are the stars embedded on the side walks along Hollywood Boulevard which are being honored to respective artists who contributed to the entertainment industry.

Historical Buildings of Hollywood - Among its most famous historical buildings are the Capitol Records Tower, the First National Bank of Hollywood, Masonic Temple, El Capitan Theater, Grauman's Chinese and Egyptian Theater, and the Roosevelt Hotel. Mostly located at the famous Hollywood Boulevard.

Sunset Strip - A part of the long Sunset Bouleavard that is famous for boutiques, restaurants, clubs and its nightlife.

Melrose Place - This is an extension road of Melrose Avenue which is a home to several upscale stores and boutiques. Melrose Place was made famous by the TV Series after its name.


BEVERLY HILLS
This is a smaller city between Hollywood and Santa Monica which is famous to be the nest of the rich and famous. Some interesting places to see in the place are...

Beverly Hills City Hall - The beautiful building is designed in Italian-Renaissance and is normally illuminated during the night. The city hall was also featured in the film Beverly Hills Cop.

Rodeo Drive - A famous and expensive shopping area in Beverly Hills which is also known for its beautiful sidewalks and arcades.


SANTA MONICA
A coastal city part of Los Angeles known for its beach-front promenade, resorts, long boardwalk, shopping, amusement, restaurants and an upscale living at Pacific Palisades.

Santa Monica Pier - The pier is a must destination for its lively atmosphere and nice views of the beach. It has an amusement park which is a great subject of photography, especially during the night.

Santa Monica Boardwalk - A haven for bikers, rollerskaters and joggers. The boardwalk is stretched parallel to the beach, offers a relaxing and the same time fun atmosphere.

Santa Monica's Beach - The city's most famous natural attraction which is an all-time favorite because of the place's beautiful weather. You can get a great panoramic photo of the beach and the nearby area while riding the Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier.


MALIBU
Another favorite living place of the rich and famous because of its beautiful coastal view. Take a peek at the gorgeous beach houses lined up on the coast.

Malibu Beach - The beach got its worldwide fame during the 90's from the very famous TV series, Baywatch. Stars on the show like Pamela Anderson fell in love with the place that she even bought a villa here.


DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
At downtown LA, you'll find the city's financial district. It is the home to banks, offices, hotels, business establishments and institutions, and upscale shops. These normally are the one defining the city's skyline. 

City's Skyline - To get a good shot of the skyline, drive your way up to Mulholland Drive. From there, you'll have a sweeping view of the city and its skyline.

Los Angeles City Hall - This white huge building was once the tallest upon its completion and was recently featured in the film War of the Worlds.

These all in all can contribute to a great Los Angeles photo collection. Enjoy!

Camera Profits - Use Your Camera for Extra Money

One of the easiest ways of making extra money is with a camera. More people own cameras than radios, and photography is the fastest growing hobby in the world. Yet using a camera as an extra income tool is largely overlooked! 

With a little imagination, a flair for showmanship, and just a hint of
salesmanship, the average man or woman, or even teenager, can easily make an extra $300 a week with his camera. 

You don't have to have one of the popular, more expensive cameras either, or a loot of high priced attachments and equipment. In many instances, a Polaroid or other "off-the-wall" camera will suit the purposes perfectly. The only special piece of extra equipment you may want to invest in would be a tripod for mounting the camera in certain situations. 

One of the easiest ideas is to visit a children's clothing store in one of your busy shopping centers, or the children's department in one of your large department stores. Sell the manager or store owner on the idea of your setting up in a corner of the store or department, and taking pictures of the shoppers' children. He can promote the fact that you'll be in the store taking pictures for special prices during certain hours - perhaps on Friday evenings and all day Saturdays - in his advertising, thus drawing patrons into his store because of you. 

You'll need a sheet or a plain piece of material, or some sort of imaginative set for a background. But this you can easily make or build yourself. 

You should also have an eye-catching poster that calls attention to what you're doing and the prices you're charging. 

Unless you're a commercial artist, spend the money to have this sign made for you by a professional. The next and last thing you'll need will be a 2-part receipt or coupon. 

This can be a simple piece of paper about 2" wide by 5" long. On the left side draw lines for your customers to fill in their name, telephone number and address. You might also want to include space for additional information such as the child's name and age and the number of children in the family, for future efforts, but keep it brief and simple. 

On the right hand side of this coupon, have your business name, address and telephone number, plus a quick outline of the different kinds of photography work you handle, and perhaps a business slogan such as "Satisfaction Guaranteed or You Don't Pay." 

To add a little bit of class to this coupon, take the basic outline of this idea over to an instant print shop. Tell them what you want; show them your outline; and have them typeset everything. Then put a fancy border around the whole coup on and have it printed on colored paper. The best color of paper is a "dollar bill" shade of green. If you want to give it even more class, you could have it printed on green, lightweight card stock. You'll want to divide the "information" side o f this coupon from the "business card" side with a dotted line and perforations. 

If you layout this coupon properly. You should be able to get six of them on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper or card stock. This means the printer can print and cut 6,000 of them for about the same cost as printing 1,000 circulars or flyers. 

On your printing, shop around for the best deal, but in the end, it shouldn't cost you more than about $60 for all 6,000 coupons which will come from those 1,000 sheets of paper or card stock. 

Now, when you take a person's picture, regardless of whether it's an "in-store" set-up, out on the golf course, or along the street, you give your customer one of your coupon-receipts and tell them their prints will be ready in a couple of days. They fill in the information part of the coupon and give it back to you, retaining your "business card" portion of it. 

When the prints are ready, you can phone the customer and remind him - volunteer to deliver and collect; send them through mail with a bill; or make arrangements with a store to take care of them until the people call for them and pay at that time. 

Most stores, golf courses, bowling centers, and other retail merchants will be glad to handle this part of it for you, because it brings the customers back into the places of business, and provides another sales opportunity for them. 

By all means, be sure to include an advertising circular with each set of pictures you deliver. This circular should explain how the customer can get more
prints, how he can get enlargements of his
favorites, and details relating to all the other photography services you offer. 

Back to the original "in-store" picture taking set-up during evening shopping hours and on weekends for extra income. You can call attention to your "in-store" set-up and bring in more business with a few merchandising promotional ideas. In the following paragraphs we give the highlights of a few ideas that have worked well, how evþer, you should keep your eyes open to observe additional promotional ideas that could be adapted to fit your new business. 

Dress a helper in a clown suit, and take pictures of the kids on his lap or with his arm around the kids. Put a sandwich
advertising board on a helper and let him stroll through the shopping center
advertising the fact that you're in Kiddie Clothing store taking pictures. 

Promote a "Baby of the Year" contest where you take pictures of babies, display the pictures on a "show board" and offer $100 cash plus a merchandise prize in a big drawing at the end of the year. 

Set up a booth in the mall and promote "Instant Snapshots." Be a Roving Photographer and take candid shots of shoppers and promote a "Shopper of the Year" contest. Work with a clown and
have him "attach himself" to the kids, and ask if they'd like to have their pictures taken with him. Build an inexpensive and portable set, such as an air plane, a race car, bucking bronco, hand-shaking scene with a famous person or "balloon figures" and take pictures of people standing in
or on these sets. 

Get out to the golf course and take pictures of the golfers teeing off. Get over to the bowling centers and take candid shots of the bowlers in action. Do the same thing wherever there's a sports event taking place. Be on the spot and ready whenever there's an opportunity to take team pictures. 

You might follow, or hire someone else to follow a Little League team through its season, take candid and action shots. You then arrange the best of these pictures in a photo album with the team's name and year on the front. You should be able to sell one of these albums to each member of the
team. 

There's also the idea of "just strolling through the park" on a Sunday afternoon. You take candid and interesting pictures of couples, children and people in general spending time with their relatives. 

Keep tabs on the announcements of new births. Send advertising literature to the new mothers, and follow up with phone calls efforts to set up photography sessions. 

Keep tabs on the engagement notices in the weekend papers. Send your sales literature to the brides-to-be, and follow up with phone call efforts to take the wedding pictures. 

Set up household and business photo inventory service. With this idea, you contact the insurance companies and determine if they will approve and endorse photographs you take of their policy
holders' household, personal and business property in loss claims. 

Most will, and from there - working either with the help of an insurance agent, the agency itself, or on your own - contact owners of property and sell them on the idea of your taking pictures of the
household goods they have insured. You take pictures - a pictorial inventory of everything they're claiming or would like to claim on an insurance policy - and then identify the pictures, giving one set to the property owner and the other set to his insurance agent or company. 

Picture inventories of household and personal property is still a new thing, but everywhere it's been introduced, it's definitely proven to be a super money-maker for the people willing to get out and
hustle. 

If this idea arouses your interest, you might want to check into a online photography service,that specializes
in helping you sell some of your best photography photos online, this offers photographers a quick and easy way to start earning some quick cash. 

Once you decide that using your camera to generate extra income is what you're going to do, get out and use your camera, start taking pictures, and allow yourself the opportunity to build. Give yourself the chance, and you'll quickly begin to think of hundreds of ideas for taking pictures, merchandising ideas for promoting your services, and sales angles for increasing your profits. 

The important thing is to get started, regardless of how small your start, and begin chasing in on an idea that's still in its infancy. This is an idea that can produce new concepts for profit every day of the week. An idea that can be fun, as well as financially rewarding for you! 

You've got the idea and the plan - the rest is up to you. You've got the ball; now run with it!

Digital Photo: Things to Know

The best thing about a digital photo is that you can manipulate it to the extent of your imagination. This manipulation can be achieved thanks to various software packages available on the market, varying in complexity from the feature packed Adobe Photoshop to Paint Shop Pro. 

Still, there is magic when a digital photo is modified by experienced hands and eyes, allowing that unbelievable moment to be captured in such a way as to never be forgotten, but even then they can be refined further. It is the story or the impression behind that moment that keeps the viewer enamoured with the photo for a longer period of time. 

It takes time to become a perfect photographer and one needs to grow though experimentation and experiences. 

However a basic knowledge of the techniques of photographing is must. A digital camera is not all that is required to make a good photographer. 

Primarily, know your camera well. Read the manual top to bottom, and then go out to play with the machine. 

Now come back to the basics and learn about other things like exposure, shutter speed, aperture etc that helps you to customize your digital photo in real time. You can find a lot of hand books online and offline to get an initial idea of how this is achieved. 

As a brief explanation of some of the primary terms; exposure is the point in the process of taking a photo when the light sensitive film or sensor is exposed to a light source. Over or under exposure may destroy the image, so be careful while setting it in your digital camera and capturing the photo. 

Shutter speed is the time period for which the shutter is held open for light to reach the digital photo sensor. Depending on the variations of combinations of lens aperture and sensor's sensibility, it regulates how much light the camera will record when taking a digital photo. Shutter speed can directly affect the quality of your digital photo dependant on the situation and whether the object is moving or still. 

An aperture is a hole or the gap through which light enters into the camera sensor or the film. 

One should always remember that they cannot go far when skipping the basics of the trade when taking these elements into consideration. 

There are so many other important aspects that you need to know for taking visually good digital photo. We will come to them later. 

Now, when you go out again to play with your digital camera, try to realise the potential for variance with all aspects mentioned here. With a digital camera you always have the option to know about the quality of the photo without taking a print. 

One last thought: while taking a digital photo try to sort out by yourself the relationship between "object" and "film-depth". 

Last minute experiment: keeping camera settings the same, change the location of the object in respect to the frame. Download these digital photos in your computer and study them critically and objectively. 

North Wales Landscape Photography Guide

The route along the A4086, particularly between the two villages of Capel Curig and Llanberis has an abundance of opportunities for the landscape photographer, it is also the route most first time visitors to Snowdonia take as it passes through some stunning scenery. Capel Curig, surrounded on all sides by impressive scenery, is a popular place from which to climb the many mountains in the area and provides an excellent base if wishing to spend some time discovering the mountain summits. The Afon Llugwy river also runs through the centre, providing the spectacle of the Pont Cyfyng falls, particularly photogenic after a period of rainfall.

On leaving Capel Curing via the A4086 towards Llanberis, the valley widens and the lakes of "Llynnau Mymbyr" appear in view surrounded on one side by the solitary Moel Siabod and the Glyderau mountains on the other. More distant can be seen the highest mountain in Wales, Snowdon. These lakes provide a good subject, particularly with the surrounding mountain backdrop and a short walk will produce several vantage points. Moel Siabod too provides the perfect vantage point, either for an aerial shot of the impressive valley or more likely the unbroken view across to Snowdon. It's also a relatively gentle mountain to climb so requires a little less energy than most in the area.

Continuing along the A4080, passing the lakes of Llynnau Mymbyr, several abandoned barns are easily located and with a little effort can create a very effective foreground to the distant Snowdon. The Glyderau mountain range towers above the road all the way to the junction of the A498 and the A4086, the start of the 'not-to-be-missed' Llanberis Pass. Parking near the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel, allows access to several hiking routes which climb the Glyderau - in my view the most distinct and feature rich mountains around Snowdonia - don't miss the rock formations of Yr Wyddfa and Castell y Gwynt on Glyder Fach, essential photography subjects. One word of warning though, this area is extremely busy during peak holidays so to capture a landscape shot devoid of people requires a very early start, alternatively winter is much quieter and the weather often more conducive to photography.

Immediately after the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel turn right onto the Llanberis pass. This climbs steeply and reaches the carpark & Youth Hostel at Pen-y-Pass, the most popular starting place for those climbing Snowdon. For the photographer looking for some impressive aerial photographs, Snowdon will certainly not disappoint. From Pen-Y-Pass the "Pyg Track", is the route to take, after a short distance the view to Llanberis and its lakes appears, an impressive sight and worthy of a photograph. Also from here mountain streams start to tumble down the mountain side, great foreground interest. The routes here provide many photographic opportunties, too many to describe tham all. Most notable however, are Grib Coch, an ominous looking ridge only to be crossed by experienced hikers. There are two particularly photogenic lakes well below the mountain path, Llyn Llydaw and Glaslyn - a wide angle lens is essential to do them justice. The mountain views to Lliwedd, Crib Y Ddysgl and Snowdon itself are all impressive. For the energetic photographer who continues to the summit, whilst the view is impressive, personally I don't believe it's nearly as photogenic as those available during the climb. One notable summit feature is the unique train that, except for the winter months, brings hundreds of tourists to the top of Snowdon - forget any thought of mountain isolation, this is a difficult summit from which to capture a "person free" shot. The train itself makes an interesting photographic subject as it winds its way up the steep track from llanberis. It also provides another option for those photographers not too keen on hiking to the top of a mountain.

Back at the Pen-Y-Pass Youth Hostel an excellent vantage point of both Snowdon and the Llanberis Pass itself can be captured with minimum effort. Take the path which climbs the mountain side directly at the side of the Youth Hostel, heading up the Glyderau mountains. Within a very short distance and minimal climbing the impressive views of Snowdon, Crib Goch, Crib y Ddysgl and down the Llanberis Pass itself are seen. This viewpoint is a much easier option than the "Pyg Track" and still provides some rewarding photography.

Back on the A4086, the road drops dramatically down the boulder strewn Llanberis Pass towards the village of Nant Peris, passing along the way a series of waterfalls and mountain streams, each increasing in drama and photogenic qualities following heavy rainfall. Nant Peris itself provides an opportunity for a walkabout with the camera, there are also hiking routes up either side of the pass, towards either Snowdon or the Glyderau mountains. Once again as the height increases so does the mountain panorama that can be capture.

Continuing from Nant Peris towards Llanberis be careful not to miss a hidden gem, Dolbadarn Castle. It's perched imposingly alongside the entrance to Llanberis but is hidden from view on approach. Fortunately signposts uncover its hiding place. The small climb to the castle produces a surprisingly impressive panorama of the Llanberis Pass, Snowdon and the Glyderau. The castle itself, relatively unknown amongst Welsh castles, is a great subject - a "must visit" on my photography list. The lake of Llyn Padarn can be seen from the castle, together with the numerous slate quarry workings scattered around the Llanberis mountainsides. Llanberis itself was built around the Slate mining industry and retains many of the scars, however these actually add to the photogenic qualities of this interesting place, as does Llyn Padarn. Llanberis is also the base for the Snowdon Mountain Railway, a "must see" for train enthusiasts. It's worthwhile having a stroll around the village, streams and waterfalls can be found within a short distance, Llyn Padarn is particularly photogenic. Another series of hiking routes onto the surrounding mountains leave from here too, the most popular being the Llanberis Path which follows the route of the railway to the top of Snowdon.

If I were only to have a short time in this area and had to choose my favourite places for the most productive photography I would select Pen-Y-Pass and walk a short distance along both the "Pyg Track" and the route opposite, alongside the Youth Hostel - both produce impressive viewpoints. The other highlight for me is Dolbadarn Castle, infrequently photographed, which comes as a great surprise to me considering its excellent location and appearance.

Photography Guide to Snowdonia

These two valleys alone could provide the photographer with a lifetime of possibilities. Access is via the A5, travelling either from Bethesda in the west or Capel Curig in the east. Bethesda, although lacking the attractive appearance of the more picturesque Snowdonia villages is certainly not without character. It was built around the slate quarrying industry and is surrounded by the evidence of this, photographers particularly interested in industrial landscapes will find it a fascinating area, don't dismiss it on first impressions. In contrast, Capel Curig is much smaller and generally speaking, more visually appealing. It is more a hamlet than a village and is surrounded on all sides by impressive scenery. The Afon Llugwy runs through the centre, providing the spectacle of the Pont Cyfyng falls, particularly photogenic after a period of rainfall. Also, just on the outskirts are the desolate looking lakes known as Llynnau Mymbyr, surrounded by Moel Siabod, the Glyderau mountains and in the distance, the highest mountain in Wales, Snowdon.

Starting the journey along the A5 from the west, after leaving Bethesda the Nant Ffrancon valley appears dramatically in view, the road surrounded by two impressive mountain ranges, the Glyderau on one side and the Carneddau on the other. The picturesque river Ogwen flows through the valley too, nearby the road for much of the route towards Ogwen and it provides a great 'lead-in' for a shot along the valley, mountains and all. For those energetic photographers, equipped with a well-detailed "Ordnance Survey" map, there are several walking routes that start from Bethesda and climb the surrounding mountains, indeed it's possible to walk the full distance from Bethesda to Capel Curig along the mountains - a distance of 16 kilometres and height gain of 1600metres, a full day walk. The drive along the A5 to Ogwen presents multiple photographic opportunities, indeed the most difficult decision is what not to photograph. A stop at Ogwen is not to be missed as here you will find mountain lakes, waterfalls, impressive rock formations, flowing rivers and all of these no more than 30 minutes walk from the car park. For the more energetic the walking routes from Ogwen are nothing short of spectacular and provide a further wealth of photographic opportunities.

If the walking route directly behind Ogwen Cottage is chosen, ascending the Glyderau, a fascinating range of mountain scenery can be captured. The rugged and austere mountain known as Tryfan, world famous amongst climbers, the picturesque lake of Llyn Idwal and the mountain pass of Devils Kitchen. On reaching the summit the views down the Nant Ffrancon valley towards the Isle of Anglesey and across the Llanberis Pass to Snowdon are just breathtaking. Notable features on the summit include Bristly Ridge, Yr Wyddfa and Castell y Gwynt on Glyder Fach and the infamous Cantilever, a precariously balanced slate slab. These are only a few of the numerous attractions of this distinctive mountain range, all of which provide more than adequate compensation for the photographers efforts in reaching the summit.

If the path across from Ogwen Cottage is chosen then an ascent of the Carneddau is the objective. Even before starting the climb you arte confronted by the imposing figure of Pen yr olwen, a rugged and distinctive mountain standing directly alongside the A5. The Carneddau are quite different in character to the Glyderau mountains, equally as high, but on reaching the summit much flatter and less rugged in appearance. The view across to Tryfan from here is excellent, probably the place to capture Tryfan at its best. Walking along the ridge between Carnedd Dafydd and Carnedd Llewelyn, the Isle of Anglesey and the Menai straits are constantly in view, although some distance away so a good telephoto is essential. The reservoir of Ffynnon Llugwy also appears well below in a hidden valley, forming the source of the Afon Llugwy river that follows the A5 down to Betws-y-Coed.

Restarting the journey by road from Ogwen travelling along the A5 towards Capel Curig, the Ogwen valley opens out wider, mountains still surrounding the valley but less imposing. Open moorland becomes evident and the Afon Llugwy river continues its route through the valley. There are several parking places along the route and a photograph taken looking back towards Ogwen provides a view of Llyn Ogwen and its spectacular backdrop, the Glyderau mountains. Tryfan is outstanding from here too, the best photograph probably captured during a winter sunset. Nearing Capel Curig the valley sides flatten somewhat and the drama of earlier subsides as the rugged mountains are left behind. Capel Curig itself though has several possibilities, as already mentioned. 

Finally, if time was limited and I had to choose the best photographic opportunities along this part of the A5, without doubt it would be Ogwen. The variety of scenery and drama it provides the photographer, within such a small area, make it just too appealing to miss.

Earn Money Selling Photos on the Internet: Guide to Stock Photography

Got a digital camera? Now you can earn money selling your pictures on the Internet! If you have a good eye and if you are a creative person, you can generate very nice monthly income by selling your pictures on stock photography web sites. Personally, I am receiving checks and PayPal transfers for few hundreds bucks every month and you can do it too. At least, it pays you back for all that nice and expensive photographic gear you have purchased last year. 

I truly love online stock photography Internet phenomenon, since it is the first in the world and probably the only business model which allows amateur photographers like you and me to earn some money from they lovely hobby. In fact, if you are a talented photographer and you shoot hundreds of pictures every month you can earn a very significant part of your living by shooting high quality creative pictures for stock photography agencies. 

There are many stock photography sites that will be happy to sell your photos and share with you the received revenues. iStockPhoto, ShutterStock, Fotolia, BigStockPhoto and CanStockPhoto are just few stock sites to name. All stock sites allow you to register for free as their submitting photographer and start uploading your work to their banks. However, be aware that many sites will ask you to provide detailed personal information such as a scan of you picture ID or passport. Also, at many sites you will be requested to sign and fax back a signed copy of the site's 'submitter agreement'. These requirements are part of continuous effort of limiting the image fraud on the Internet and protecting both image buyers and image copyright owners from the fraudulent behavior. 

In addition to the submitters authentication, many stock photo sites will ask you to pass a professional online test, which should verify that you have all the required photographic skills and that you understand rules of the game on stock photography market. Do not be afraid of that test. If you know the difference between shutter speed and the aperture and if you can explain what is DOF you will pass this test for sure. And the basic stock photography rules are quite simple: 

1) Do not submit images that include any copyrighted material Avoid photographing company logos, trademarks, third-party images and brands. 

2) Provide a model release for any recognizable person in your image Each site has its own standard model release form that you have to fill in and send along with each image containing a recognizable person. It could be a good idea to keep handly printed copies of model releases for all the sites where you submit your photos. When you shoot a person, do not forget signing her on one or more model releases! Note, that most sites will also ask you for the copy of model's ID, the witness signature and a copy of witness picture ID. Keep all this in your mind when you prepare a stock shooting session 

3) Editorial content Some stock photo agencies, e.g. ShutterStock has a separate section / category for editorial images. Different rules set apply for editorial content. Editorial content can be used only in news and therefore editorial images do not require model releases and can include copyrighted material. So, if you have shot a carnival in Brazil do not throw out all your pictures because you do not have model releases for all these people. You still can submit your images as editorial content at some stock photography sites. However, be aware that there are not too much buyers for this type of content and the submitters' competition could be tight. 

4) Use appropriate lighting and composition This is common sense, but I will mention it anyway. Your images compete for the buyers attention with images created by highly qualified talented professional photographers which shoot for years, own nice equipment and definitely know how and when use it. You must think creatively in terms of lighting and composition, otherwise your images will never sell. 

For instance, if until now you relied on built-in camera flash as a proper source for indoor lighting it is a time to change your mind. Go to the stock sites and take a look how other photographers use light in their work. You will probably need to switch to some more professional sources of lighting for your indoor photography. Again – be creative and you will win the war for the buyers' attention and buyers dollars! 

5) Images format must be JPG at most sites, typically starting from 2 megapixels and with max file size of 8-10 MB 

6) Properly prepare your images before uploading them to stock photo sites First of all it means digital editing. There are many software applications that can help you to edit your image, starting from the industry standard de-facto Adobe Photoshop tool, followed up by the newest and much cheaper than Photoshop Adobe Lightroom and ending up with Google's Picassa, which is very limited in its editing capabilities, but is available free of charge. Do your best editing your pixels. In many cases some light extra-saturation will help. 

However, making your image look gorgeous is still not enough to create a bestselling picture. Think about buyers. Buyers still have to find your image among all the similar pictures in the web image database provided by a stock agency. It means you have to describe your image using appropriative keywords, title and description. It is important to do it before uploading images to a stock photo site, otherwise you will need to add keywords at every stock site, thus multiplying image preparation time. 

Fortunately, keywords data can be inserted directly into JPG file, so the image carries its own keywords. This image metadata modification protocol is called IPTC and is implemented by some graphical applications, e.g. Adobe Photoshop. Editing IPTC data and selection of proper descriptive keywords can take significant amount of time, especially if English is not your mother tongue or if you just much better in taking pictures than in describing them in words. Buyers will never find your image if it was loosely keyworded, but the proper keywording and upload to multiple sites can take a while! Additionally, if you wish to keep the control what image was uploaded to which site and when, you might be completely lost after uploading a few tens of images. 

Fortunately, there is dedicated stock photography management tool which takes care of all the issues above. ProStockMaster provides significant aid for a stock photographer by streamlining stock photography workflow. The application sports semi-automated images keywording, IPTC data editing, EXIF reading and provides simultaneous images upload to multiple leading stock photography agencies. ProStockMaster is available for free download from the product web site: http://www.prostockmaster.com. The free version is limited to 5 image uploads daily which certainly could be enough for many beginning stock photo submitters, saving them tens of hours of routine image preparation and management work in front of their computers. 

7) Prices and payments – what income you can expect Most stock photography agencies pay photographers for each download (a purchase) made by the image buyer. This is a micro-payment model and the prices you get paid start as low as $0.20. However, if you were successful to create a real bestselling image you can easy hit few hundreds downloads a month, so your earning arithmetic can be $0.2 x 300 = $60 monthly for a single image. Shooting 10 bestsellers monthly could generate you $600 monthly income – definitely not a bad return on a few hours investment. 

The rule of the thumb says the more images you have online in each and every stock photography agency the more images you sell and the higher monthly income you get. Typically, stock agencies send you a check or a PayPal transfer at the end of every month if you have earned more than a certain amount of cash, typically $100, during that month. Your earnings will be collected by the site until they reach this minimal payment. 

Well, that's all folks! Just take your digital camera now and go for a shooting session. Oh, - wait!, wait a second. First, open your web browser and look what other people submit to stock photography agencies. Note the most popular images and agencies suggestions for stock content categories and keep these subjects in mind when you shoot. My personal advice? Avoid flowers close-ups, typical landscapes, city scenes and buildings. Try to materialize business terms and shoot pictures which represent them,e.g. 'success', 'failure', 'partnership'. Be always creative in your work and your pictures will become online bestsellers. Good luck and happy shooting! 

Useful URLs: Online stock agencies: www.shutterstock.com, www.istockphoto.com, www.bigstockphoto.com, www.canstockphoto.com, www.fotolia.com, 

Free stock photography management tool: www.prostockmaster.com 

Adobe image editing tools: www.adobe.com