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Advertise with ATL Photographers
Add or Edit a Directory Listing
Please direct general inquiries to info@atlphotographers.com
Choosing great Locations for your portrait photography can be a daunting task. For years I have been the type of person to drive by an old decrepit barn or house and think to myself “I need to do a shoot there”. More often than not, I never return to the place that would’ve been so great. My advice to you though, is to go ahead and mark the location on paper or a map, and note the direction the “desirable” part faces – that way when you decide to return you have an idea of what time of day should work best.
There are several other things that you should think about…
Some of the other things you might need when shooting outdoors:
So good luck in your hunt for perfect locations for you photography!
I am a professional photographer and perhaps among my biggest concern is finding a case that would not only accommodate all my things but also keep it safe and protected. There are tons of products out in the market that promises to address this concern. However, mind you they are not cheap. They come with a rather expensive price tag. I am not after sporting the trendiest or the most lucrative case. I am content in the thought that I wouldn’t have to worry about breaking my camera or carrying a lot of baggage to hold everything that I need for a photo shoot.
The Zeikos ZE-HC36 Medium Hard Case was just the product that I needed. The case actually measures 18 x 13.5 x 6.5 inches and weighs 5.4 lbs without all my things in it. The exterior of the product doesn’t say that it costs less than a nice branded camera case. It comes in chrome, dark grey and light grey which makes it look sleek and classy. Its interior is made up of soft, diced foam that secures all the equipment in place. The interior is also made for easy customization. The sides of the case is made of strong panels that make it durable enough to withstand the bumps and bruises that cannot be overlooked when travelling for a photo shoot. The clasp is very strong and it does not easily get open even if it gets bumped. On the other hand the handle is made of a highly durable plastic that is structured and designed to fit perfectly to the hand. Another thing worth mentioning and something that makes this product seemingly unique is that the lid actually stays upright when opened. This makes things much easier, especially if you are working on a very limited space.
A photographer’s gadgets are quite expensive and frankly you can’t afford to have it broken or damaged because repair would costs as much as buying a new one. This is why we photographers invest in buying a durable and reliable case that will protect our valuable investments. At under $30 on Amazon you have just the right hard case that will not only hold all your things but protect them as well.
Best Price = Amazon.com

Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens Features:
The Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 features Nikon’s ED glass and nano crystal coat to further reduce ghost imaging and flare for crystal clear images every time. Even experts would agree that despite the weight penalty (which is perfectly understandable, but more on that later) the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens gives outstanding speed of focus for sharp, clear images with every photograph taken. It’s the perfect companion for your Nikon SLR and gives absolute clarity on your portraits as it keeps facial features in perspective without any visible sign of distortion. The extra focal range is a plus, too as the added distance between you and the subject would give a more natural and relaxed expression. No need to be inches away from your subjects, with the camera pointing very near the face, which is bothersome and quite irritating at the same time.
As mentioned earlier, because of the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8’s weight, it could be a little cumbersome and tiring to use for long and extended photo sessions. With its 900gram (2 pounds) weight, dropping it on your foot would be a bad idea, but at least it could double as a weapon when the need arises (being chased by a lion? Keep this is mind before you run.) Also, using the 24-70mm f/2.8 on a lightweight camera like the D40 would give it the balance of a leg amputee without prosthetics, so its better to use it on other heavier models instead. This, however, is negated by the fact that this wide angle lens is built to last, with a durable heavy-duty metal construction hence making it reliable. Sure, it costs an arm and a leg and it could take the place of all your primes and promises not to disappoint.
The Opteka RC4 is a direct replacement for the Canon RC-1 Remote for Digital SLR cameras.
I can’t seem to remember using a TV without a remote. It’s such a hassle to get up from your comfy couch or bed just to change channels and settings on your TV right? But we’re not talking about TV’s here. Instead, I want to introduce to you a nifty little gadget for your Canon EOS SLR that would enable you to control your camera from a distance. It’s called the Opteka RC-4 and it promises to deliver the same range of controls efficiently at a much lower price than other comparable RF remotes for your Canon EOS.
The great thing about the Opteka RC-4 is the size. As I said earlier, it’s a nifty little gadget and is small enough to get lost in your deep pockets or on your camera bag. And since it operates using radio frequency (hence, wireless) you could operate your Canon EOS at a maximum range of 16 feet, so holiday pictures would always include you for those most precious moments with the mother-in-law and the drunk brother-in-law. The best part is you could be drunk yourself and still be able to take quality pictures with the group, or take photos of picturesque landscapes and rolling hills with the Opteka RC-4 on your left hand while holding a beer on the other! Can’t you picture the convenience of owning one of these things? It’s brilliant! And like all gadgets we admire the Opteka RC-4 looks cool and sophisticated enough to be paired with your equally cool and sophisticated Canon EOS SLR at almost half the price of other available wireless remotes available on the market.
The range is however limited from 15 to 16 feet maximum, but I can’t think of a photo op where you have to stand more than the indicated range to take pictures with your camera. The remote that features a “through-the-wall” function is just a novelty that would probably wear-off in due time, unless you want to take snapshots or videos of scandals which, ironically, involves you (you didn’t hear it from me, though.) But the Opteka RC-4 does have two shutter functions, one where in you could set the shutter delay for 2 seconds, enough time to put horns on the head of the guy beside you. Overall the Opteka RC-4 does the job that it’s supposed to do and for the price, it’s an extremely logical proposition.
Opteka RS-4 features:
Best Price = Amazon.com
Best Service = B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix DMC- FH20Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 features:
Everyone seems to be going gaga with Facebook these days, what with the ability to display and share pictures in your fan page. The next time you go on a vacation in that wonderful island paradise that exists only in your dreams, you might want to consider the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 as the ideal travel companion to shoot your various escapades with ease. I have to say that once you upload your bar-fight-in-a- drunken-rage pictures on Facebook your friends would be amazed at the depth and clarity of your swollen, bruised mug. But the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 is not just ideal for the island paradise that you’ve always lusted for, in fact it’s equally adept to be used anytime, anywhere.
It’s relatively slim design makes it easy to store in your pocket, but with its powerful features you’d be a fool to let it linger in your pocket, what with 14.1 megapixels and a 28mm wide-angle lens with 8x optical zoom you’d be taking pictures like a pro in no time. The iA mode (intelligent AUTO) will make sure of this, as the DMC-FH20 automatically adjusts light mode, aperture and ISO settings to every subject or landscape you want to capture. You will actually see the difference in the clarity and quality of your photos, taking time to appreciate the moment that you spent your money on the right product. The 2.7 inch high-resolution LCD with a touch screen feature make viewing potential subjects easier and will automatically adjust brightness levels in 11 steps according to shooting conditions. The screen is also coated with an anti reflective film to minimize glare, so clarity is evident whether shooting under the intense brightness of the outdoors or the dimness of night. It can even record motion images in HD (high-definition) with the pixel mixed readout method enabling bright motion picture recording even in low light settings.
All of this comes in a stylish, slim package that gives up nothing in terms of aesthetics. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20’s glossy paint job is an eye-catcher and is available in a variety of colors (candy apple red, black, silver and violet) that would suit any lifestyle or gender issues for that matter. The DMC-FH20 is Windows 7 ready right out of the box, and comes with PHOTOfunSTUDIO version 5.0 software to make uploading and editing photos (as well as videos) easy breezy. Mac users could take comfort in the fact that the DMC-FH20 works with iPhoto as well.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 is intended for sophisticated digital camera users who want all the best features in a digital camera in a light, slim package that looks techno-cool as well. Now, time to ponder on my next island getaway..
Best Price – Amazon
Best Service – B&H Photo
OTHER AVAILABLE LUMIX FH20 COLORS
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From the Development panel, adjust to the folowing values on any properly exposed photo:
Clarity to 100
Vibrance to 100
Fill Light to 100
Contrast to 100
Noise reduction (both color and luminance to 100)
Then adjust Saturation down to acceptable color levels
Adjust exposure with Brightness slider
Pull Blacks slider up to correct level
Set as a preset that will give you a perfect starting point
NOTE: THIS WILL NOT WORK WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN A FULL-RES RAW FILE