Pro Techniques

Last year I wrote about one of my favorite software programs, Panorama Maker 3. The folks at ArcSoft have unveiled an updated Version 4 ($39.99 new, $24.99 upgrade), so I thought I'd give it a try.

Version 4 is more intuitive than Version 3, and that's really saying something. The first couple of panoramas I tried went together easily, but I noticed that...

In the last several years, the digital revolution has completely changed how photo books and albums are created...and change has been for the better in every respect. It's out with the old--covers without images, prints painstakingly glued in or slipped into boring 4x6" sleeves, improvised captioning (often by hand), heavy pages (often with unappealing acetate...

The legal issues of privacy rights and copyrights in photography are usually not covered thoroughly enough in photo schools. Many professionals don't take the time to learn the law. This often leads to confusion and chaos when photographers start selling their work. Whether you are part-time or full-time, amateur or pro, one of the most important legal issues you will...

Image theft is a real concern for many people. Anyone who has a website, posts a photo to one of the many sharing sites, or even e-mails a photo to someone is at risk of their image being used without permission. And, if they aren't asking for permission, you can bet they aren't planning to pay you for the fair use of your work.

As if this wasn't...

I don't know if I have found my photographic "vision" yet, but I have definitely found my obsession. For me, it began five years ago when I bought my first sophisticated 35mm SLR film camera. Before then my photographic experience had been limited to the typical point-and-shoot family snapshots, but with this new camera something "clicked" (other than...

Capturing the beauty of artwork with a camera has always been a challenge. Sure, it's easy to take a picture of a picture, but to reproduce the full range of colors, textures, and tones that will carry the power of the original, that is a challenge. There is a growing demand for high-quality digital files for juried shows, portfolios, and even for limited edition inkjet...

In 30 years of taking photographs I have always been more or less indifferent to the camera I use. Various instamatics have been my mainstay, and sometimes I end up using a disposable camera. I have nothing against a good camera: I own one (with only a 135mm lens), and sometimes borrow others. The indifference to the camera comes from the fact that the images that attract me are...