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September 9, 2009

Focus on Photos!

Posted by: Ella

Today's author focus is on the talented Rebecca Cooper, author of 40 Top Tips for Better Photos. Rebecca's difficult to catch (she's mom to three little ones with another on the way, and she's a professional photographer to boot!) but we elephants have ways of making people talk! (That trunk comes in handy!). We managed to corner her long enough to have her answer our popular Ella questionnaire.

Ella: So, Rebecca, what did you have for breakfast this morning?

Rebecca: Oatmeal today. But on Saturday, I had apple cinnamon waffles, bacon, and orange juice. We usually do a big breakfast on Saturday. It's oatmeal the rest of the week.

Ella: Save me a place at the table next weekend! I'll be there. Okay, what cartoon character do you most resemble?

Rebecca: I have no idea! A short, round one?

Ella: That would be Garfield. I don't know; you seem more the Judy Jetson or Polly Purebred type to me! But hey, I'm not judging... What's the last thing you purchased online?

Rebecca: Webhosting for my new photography site... shhh! Don't tell!

Ella: Our lips are sealed! What's the strangest topic you've ever scrapbooked?

Rebecca: I really haven't done anything too crazy. Taking all three kids grocery shopping AT THE SAME TIME is about as crazy as I get.

Ella: Slow down, swinger!! What do you want everyone to know about your book?

Rebecca: It's so CUTE! And it's got some good photography info in it too!

Ella: And the most important question... Hugh, Daniel, or Gerard?

Rebecca: I'm going to have to go with Hugh.

*****************************

TODAY'S PRIZES

Whether you've just purchased your first DSLR or you're trying to make the most of your point-and-click, 40 Top Tips for Better Photos will help you make your photos shine! And Rebecca's article, "3-Minute Makeovers," will help you make those great shots even better with tips on how to process your digital images.

But wait! What's a day without a giveaway? We're offering one of two photo action sets to two lucky readers. Fantastic photogs Maggie Holmes and Brenda Acuncius have each graciously offered a pack of their most popular actions (used in Rebecca's article) as prizes. Brenda is offering a full set of 16 actions, valued at $50, and Maggie has donated a set of her three action packs, valued at $70. In addition, Maggie has donated a spot in her upcoming online photography class, a $200 value! All you have to do is leave us a comment and tell us what photography topic you'd most like to read more about. Oh, and you can tell us what you had for breakfast, too!

YESTERDAY'S WINNERS:

The winners of yesterday's Obscenely Important Memo pads are:

 SherriK (who had a poptart and Diet Coke for breakfast), and

 Cupcakemomcolorado (who started her day out right with Raisin Bran!).

Email us at comments@ellapublishing.com and let us know where to send these goodies!

 

Posted at 01:30 PM
Comments
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Excited to find your blog. I am always keen to read about improving my photography. right at the moment I am really focused on portraits, particularly teenagers. Such a hard age to photograph. And i had muesli for breakfast coz it keeps me regular.
Posted by: linz on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 04:26
Hi, I'm a new reader, Jodie McNally told me about you. Also, I am a new photographer and bought a NikonD80 one year. I am very happy to have met you. For breakfast I took a cup of coffee with milk and French bread with margarine. Hugs.
Posted by: AnaFlor on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 04:38
I can't pass up a photography-related giveaway... what I'd most like to hear more about is lighting. Seems I'm always getting weird color casts in my photos because of using the wrong shutter speed to f-stop to ISO ratio (yes, I play way too much with the manual settings on my Canon PowerShot!) And I had the last of the leftover pancakes and tea for breakfast again.
Posted by: sunnyb64 on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:02
I have an SLR and am taking Maggie's class currently. I highly recommend it if you are interested in taking better photos. I'm learning so much! I would love to win some actions! Oh, and I haven't had breakfast yet, but I plan on having Cheerios and OJ.
Lynn
Posted by: Gracewick on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:07
I for sure would love to know more about getting great focus. Lighting would be a close second. For breakfast I had vegemite on toast (for the homesick Aussie in me ;) )
Posted by: swisskris on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:07
I had a poptart for breakfast. I would like to learn how to use my camera better. I would love to get a new camera but I will have to stick it out with my point and shoot. It does have different settings so I can do a little with it. Also, I am getting into digital photography and being able to altered the photos with a photoshop type program.
Posted by: robindiane on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:08
I love photography related articles! I definitely would like to learn more about how to get those bright and true colors to pop on digital SLRs. I have the quality of the shot, but sometimes it looks like the colors are a bit washed out.
Posted by: chia on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:11
DoodleBop's picture
I LOVE to read all kinds of photography related articles, but I would love to learn how to make my photos using my point & shoot really POP! I have a hard time with that and it is so frustrating! I just want super crisp and pictures that make people go WOW! BTW, I had part of my 2 year olds Pop Tart...such a nutritious breakfast...lol. Thanks again for all of the great articles and love the blog reads each day as well!!!
Posted by: DoodleBop on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:16
Lighting! I think the next thing I get for my DSLR is a flash and that scares me. But, I'd also love some home lighting tricks. (Are there ways to use what we all typically as lights for a shot, etc)
Amy J
Posted by: AmyJ on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:20
I could always use photo tips -- I want to be a great photographer, but only have a point and shoot, so I rely heavily on my digital adjusting! Would love to know more how to make the most of my point and shoot camera. I had homemade banana muffins this morning --- I was up early and the brown bananas in the fruit bowl either had to be cooked or tossed --- I decided to cook! :)
Posted by: HeatherC on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:21
I know the basics of photo editing, but I'm always looking for tricks to improve "bad" photos. Any way to salvage a priceless memory, you know?
Posted by: brungrrl on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:26
Always looking for posing ideas for one or two people. I don't want them to seem the same all the time.
Posted by: stamphappy2001 on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:28
Love Ella and all the resources! I've got a new Olympus DSLR that I'm afraid to start using, lol! So I guess any topic will help me, but low-light photography without a flash would be my first choice (always trying to get good shots of my kids at school, playing sports, etc. w/out a flash). Oh, and for breakfast, coffee and Kashi cereal!
Candace www.creatingwithcandace.blogspot.com
Posted by: Candacehnc on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:32
Fun! I have been really focusing on my photography lately - love doing nature but would love tips on people! For breakfast I had a sliced avacodo (wierd?)
Posted by: Jayne on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:34
simplyparticular's picture
My photography frustration is lighting based - living in the NorthEast, it's dark huge chunks of the day for most of the year. So natural light is out, and I haven't mastered taking good photos with tungsten light. I don't know whether to get and learn a hot shoe flash, or focus more on the tungsten. Or upgrade to CS4 so I can run actions? Which will get me better results of people? Breakfast today was just probiotic yogurt with a little granola to give it crunch - I need crunch in the morning.
My blog: www.simplyparticular.com
Posted by: simplyparticular on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:40
nutragrain bar ala peanut butter....AGAIN. I love all the child photo tips I can get my hands on;)
Posted by: h2mccollom on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:50
Christa Paustenbaugh's picture
Love any and all photo related topics!! Just got a DSLR in February and continue to learn it every day!
Posted by: Christa Paustenbaugh on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:52
Lisa Kisch's picture
Intermediate SLR skills... there are a lot of basic classes and advanced classes for pros, but nothing in the middle. I know aperture and shutter speed, but need help to really shoot on full manual...
Posted by: Lisa Kisch on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 05:57
Sports photos - I would love to be able to get better pics of my kids participating in sports. I had Wheaties today - the breakfast of champions ;)
~TanyaS
Posted by: TanyaS on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:01
I would like to learn how to a soft background with my subject clear ... I think that is shallow depth of field? I had yogurt with fruit and granola - yum, YUM!
Posted by: ScrapMel on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:00
Photography topic -- how about PhotoShop Elements touch-up tips. I had peanut butter toast for breakfast today and most mornings :)
Posted by: oakdale_cricket on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:00
Focus, focus, focus... I would say that I need help with learning how to nail my focus! (Breakfast = Special K with red berries)
Posted by: dawns on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:03
breakfast: toast with jam...and a glass of milk. photo tips: equipment review (meaning some cheap, good lenses).
Posted by: heidi on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:03
I need major help with portraits. Posing or not posing kids & families. So far I've been diggin' the non-posed, spontaneous pictures, but as I'm getting better, I have dreams of never paying for another photographer to take my kids pictures again. Oh, so far I've had a Pepsi this morning, I should start thinking of real food for breakfast
Posted by: Jenny in Illinois on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:05
Plain bagel w/cream cheese & choc milk - healthier than yesterday's breakfast, also eaten in the car while driving to work. The photography topic that I'd most like to read about is depth of field.
Posted by: JMcKinneyWard on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:06
I want to be able to use my camera in manual mode instead of auto.
Posted by: mrich2500 on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:09
I would love to use the Manual Mode. This looks like a great book. I had a power bar & coffee for breakfast :) Jenny Alfonso
Posted by: jenjeb on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:19
I would love to know why my point and shoot is now taking forever to take the stinking picture!
Posted by: Yazlow on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:22
I have a point and shoot - Olympus SP510 - It has all sort of neat features that scare me! I just use the auto setting and half the times my photos are washed out. WHY? For breakfast - coffee and cheesecake yogurt
Posted by: lma1800 on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:26
I had a pop tart in the car on the way to work :( Oatmeal sound glamorous compared to that. I most like hearing/reading about composition. I find it to be the place I struggle most. I gobble up anything to do with night photography too (you know, city lights, the moon, etc).
Posted by: asiakief on Thu, 09/10/2009 - 06:26