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MATTING YOUR PHOTOS The November 2006 program featured tips on matting your photographs. All LPS entries and all State Fair entries (that is entries, not photos) must be 16” X 20” in total, including the mat. (Note—a photograph that is, itself, 16” X 20” is acceptable, as long as it is secured to a mat board or a foam core board.) Photo prints that are 8 X 10 are reasonably priced, and are a good size for competitions. Photographs that are smaller than 7 ½ x 9 ½ are not acceptable. There are several places where 16 X 20 mat board can be purchased. Ben Franklin’s in Middletown and also Hobby Lobby in So. Indiana have inexpensive mat board. (Ask for “scrap” mats.) A photograph can be placed on the mat board with double-sided tape. This is called “floating.” But you must be sure that the photograph is secure, and the mat board is sturdy. It is a cardinal sin to have your photograph fall off of or out of your matting. A strong mat board should be used or the result will be too flimsy. Do not tape the photograph to a single mat board that has the photo area cut out where the photo shows through, unless you place an additional mat board on the back of the entry. There is not enough protection for the photo showing through the hole without a mat behind it. The photos in the demonstration were attached to the mat board with masking tape. Small “photo corners” can also be used. These are available at craft stores. The cost of mat board at Ben Franklin’s is $2.00, and it is even cheaper at Hobby Lobby if you can catch a sale. Ben Franklin will cut an opening in the mat board for you for $3.00. The cut board can then be attached to a second uncut board, with your photo showing through the cut. This gives the entry extra strength. The cut board is attached to the second board with duct tape which is used as a hinge. Be sure the duct tape is taped to what will be the insides of the presentation. Cost of the matting: $2 for each board and $3 for cutting = $7.00 total, plus tax and cost of tape. Do-It-Your-selfers can get their own mat cutter from any company that supplies mat cutters. I would suggest going on the internet to find the best deals. The mat cutter used in the demonstration at LPS is the “Logan Intermediate” and it runs around $149.00. A number of companies carry this brand. Another product mentioned in the demonstration was “Clear Bags.” These are purchased from www.clearbags.com. This company also offers mat board in large quantities at reasonable prices. The clear bags are useful in protecting your matted photos, and can also be ordered in small sizes for people who make their own greeting cards. Duct Tape will act as a hinge
Mat board with a rectangle Photo, lined up to show through
Fold the two mat boards together with the masking tape hinge on the inside.
The photo should now be showing through = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
FLORAL PHOTOGRAPHY Several hints were given at our October meeting on how to take better floral photographs. Thank you to Lynn Shea who was willing to be a teacher as well as a judge! > Always use a tripod. > Photographing a flower in direct sunlight overexposes all or part of the flower, causing it to lose the detail. The same is true when photographing people. It is better to photograph flowers or people in light shade or on an overcast day. You can create light shade by using a diffuser. (A cheap way is to use a piece of wax paper! Just be sure you have a way of holding it where you want it.) > If it is too dark in the shade, you can use a reflector to put a glow on the flower. (Cheap way— use aluminum foil as a reflector.) > Do not center your flower. Remember the rule of thirds: If you divide your photo into 9ths, (think Tick Tack Toe) the best place for the focus of the photo is in the corners or along the sides.
> Creating a diagonal movement in the photo gives an attractive appearance. (See the lovely tulip stems in the above drawing.) > When indoors, photographing flowers near a window gives nice soft light. Be sure to avoid direct sunlight. > Keep your background uncluttered. This is true for portraits, also, unless you are trying to associate the subject with a specific location or mood.
> To keep the background blurred (which makes it look less
busy,) use a low aperture number. But do not go too low, or all of the flower
will not remain in focus from front to back. For another way, try photographing
the flower in very low light and setting the shutter speed at 6 seconds, (more
or less—you’ll need to experiment.) Obviously, a tripod is necessary. Note: this
is not possible with a camera that is completely automatic. Use a
tripod mounted camera with an f/22 or higher
with a macro lens, or just really close, pop a strobe on it and see what
happens...especially of the strobe is off to the side. If you want to blow out the
background with a long lens then use the largest aperture opening you can
get or with a macro, pump the aperture up to between 8-22 to get mere inches
in focus. > Fill the space with the subject you are photographing. Do not leave large amount of sky or background. > If you want to create a water drop effect on a flower, you can use a spray bottle with a little glycerin in the water. > It is usually not a good idea to cut off the tips of the petals in the photograph. ALL THE ABOVE ARE ONLY SUGGESTIONS. RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN! = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
HELPFUL SITE for
CONDITIONS FOR OUTDOOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
MAKING A VIDEO FROM YOUR
PHOTOS If you haven’t tried making a
“movie” of your photos, give it a try.
Windows Movie Maker is available on all Windows XP or Go to Start > Programs, and select Windows Movie Maker.
Follow the steps outlined in the left panel. 1. Capture Video.
Open the folder containing your
photos, highlight all your photos, and click Import.
Then open the folder containing your music choices, highlight your
music, and click Import. Drag your photos down to the Video area below.
Drag your music below your photos.
The program may switch to the “time line” view.
This is where it should be, and the program will make it so.
Drag your music so that it ends when your photos do.
2. Edit Movie.
If you want to add a video effect to a photo or
transition between two photos, it must be
dragged to the spot where you want it.
Make titles and/or credits if you would like to. Then preview your
movie. Experiment to see what other options you might want to use.
3. Finish Movie.
Save the movie to computer.
(Save in the folder you created.)
Then save it to a CD, or to DVD (if using Things to think about.
> You can change the amount of time that an individual photo lasts, but generally, a photo should last only 7 seconds.>
Use music that fits your photos. Try
to insert energetic music at some point.
Long photo shows with soft classical music put people to sleep. >
Captions on travel photos help keep
them from being boring.
When your edit your photo in your folder, the edit will show up in the
time line of Movie Maker. >
Be consistent with transitions.
A different transition between each slide can be distracting. >
DO NOT sell your movies with music
unless you have paid the photographers and the musicians the appropriate
royalties.
Click the camera to contact someone at LPS 
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