Ok, so excited about this. I got my Ram and memorycard reader (been so lazy transferring pictures from the camera to pc since I lost our USB wire for our cam in a vacation in Philippines. The thing with the USB is that it's not standard size. The slot for the camera is so small), and now hubby and I agreed on upgrading to SLR from our compact cam Nikon Coolpix 3700. The great thing with compact cam is that you can have it with you anywhere, and just take a random shot in an unexpected moment, and it's so light, hence compact camera. But it also makes you lazy and fed up (much like the texting craze that wore off), since it's so easy and the limitation in settings doesn't make great pictures. I know I have gone crazy with my camera, or maybe I am not using it to the fullest (I haven't even touched o experimented with the ISO setting, and I totally lack knowledge which is the reason why I am getting a good book once we invest in an SLR). One unfortunate incident in the beach in the Philippines also got sandcorns near the lens preventing it to shut and protect the lenses. I haven't gotten it to service, since I am just semi happy with my camera. The only thing I change in it usually is the flash setting (it has only 3, half, full or none). The no flash, sometimes makes it too orange and the full is so not flattering. The semi requires minimum movement where my subjects patience and my hands stability is put on the test. Often I feel guilty to make them pose again. My subjects are most often not camwhores obviously.

I often loved those sharp vivid color images from a camera, and always looked for this kind. After doing a LOT of searching and enlightenment on the internet, I found that a precise color rendition and shadows is more important. Like with a sky. There was a test between 4 dslr; nikon d50, canon eos 350d, olympus and pentax. They took the picture of the same thing with all 4 cameras. See how the blue sky completely disappears in canon. Before, I would pick which has more vivid color, but now i also read that some of these camera taking vivid and sharp images are artificial. When you enlarge them , you'll see it. I think it means something like when you overuse or not use the unsharp mask correctly, it will become artificial, maybe this is what they are talking about.




Good photos also makes a good page. Ofcourse anything can be manipulated nowadays with a good photoediting software. Usually, one can get these in bundles with hardwares and photoequipments (especially an old version of elements is bundled with these stuff). That's why I am trying to learn photomanipulation simultaneuously with layers and scrapideas. Usually I touch up my photos before I drag them to the scraplayers.

So when the taxmoney arrives and the 13th month pay in the summer, we are going to storm the cheapest and best shop so we can get good summer pictures for us to enjoy, and for me to scrap. The thing that also motivates me to good camera is that it's not long before babies will be popping (well, I wish it would pop for the pain and birthing experience scares the living daylight out of me) in our world.

I am torn between Nikon d70, nikon d50 and canon eos 350d (dpreview.com is a nice place to get educated about the different cameras). What we know is that with the camera, we are going to invest in an external flash (which you can move to give warmer light), an extra battery pack, 2 gb of memory card and a good camera bag. Also want to buy that lensbaby thing that bend your lens to give more focus on things (check lensbabies.com). The effect of the lensbaby can be done in photoshop. Tutorial is on the movement effect on the link to the right. We are also weighing 2 options. Buy a kit where the camera and lens is included or just buy the housing and then buy a seperate medium priced lens with better performance than the one included in the kit. The only existing extra equipment I have is a tripod, and I am too lazy to drag it with me.



With Nikon D70 and D50, the lens that comes with it has gotten plenty of raves for a kit lens. It's 18-70mm and covers most usage area. If we were to get a seperate, i decided to go for the 18-200 with a VR2 technology for stabilizing the shot (although I heard that the stabilizator is good only for still subjects and landscapes). Nikon D50 with the same kit lens as Nikon D70 is considerably lower in price, keeping all the essential goodies in Nikon D70. I looked at some comparison tables and the difference that appeals to me with the Nikon d70 that it has a faster shutter speed. On the other hand, Nikon D50 uses SD memorycard which we have plenty of with our old camera. That would be nice for action photos. It has always irritated me in my compact cam. The ability to freeze a movement without using too much flash.Canon and Nikon has very few points where they differ. I heard it's marginal. I checked netshops though and Canon rebel is the most bought slr camera. Quite a popular one. Canon have been in the biz awhile and it's name is trusted. My sister used a canon during the time it wasn't digital and they had photography classes as part of their curriculum.

Things I want for my camera is fast shutter speed, that the flash is adjustable (can bounce...just like when you are in a makeuptable with spotlights. If you move the spotlight to another angle, your looks change slightly) and that I can make pictures that blurs foreground or background for focus on subjects (depth of field/aperture thingy).

Now, I ain't no photo and camera expert. I have yet to capture a great picture. A lot of things is stilll unknown to me. When we had dinner at our engagement pictorial with my photographer, I asked him how he became a professional photographer. He said it was definitely not education. He started doing trial and error which I hear from many is the starting point. He took the same picture, same angle with different settings all the time, noting it down, and seeing what worked. he didn't base it on any formula or calculations. He tempered it till it was according to his liking. But, nevertheless, I want to get the basics, and have plans of buying the book of Bryan Peterson; Understanding Exposure (and want to learn cs2 more to get the full use of it and wishes for a book by deke mclle. I saw it in a netshop here in Norway, but it seems it is popular since it won't be available before 25-30 days. Another recommended site; play.com also is out of stock. I did see it on amazon though, but might wait a bit. I am really scared of this internet shopping thing. It's so easy to get carried away, it's so easy to click that buy/checkout button/process button, and all while your in your home sitting with a coffee in your hand. This convenience is not good for the pocket. I am a little afraid of hetting used to this. Before, I would just buy computer stuff on Norwegian netshops, now it has reached international domains, and I was terrified of that. I was so untrusting to buy from international shops and feared scams and the possible abuse of delicate information.





So far, what I have learned while browsing literally the whole day yesterday is the different lenses, and what they do, wideangle, standard, zoom, macro and tele (I will post lots of new useful links from my learning day yesterday). What interests me is the rule of thirds which I will definitely practice more on.

I want to go to a short course to learn more about basic photography besides from a book. The thing is that i would prefer to be taught in english, but I think that will be hard to come by in Norway.
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So yah thought I was finished. Nope, I have more scrappie news for yah. Check this out:

If you are all organized freak like me, news like this would certainly delight you. There are a lot of organizer now. Photoshop album, bridge, etcetera. This news came from Amy Edwards blog (owner of SBB) and she has a review in pdf file of the software here:

*DIGITAL SCRAPROOM*

According to Amy Edwards who have bought it, it is good for it has left out extras not necessary for scrapbookers, but have lots of stuff usful for us scrapbookers, although there is stil some functions she wish it had. For me, I like the fact that it can save what file you have used in work mode so you'll end up with the name for each thing you have used and it can be exported to a text file. This does the tracking and crediting so much easier, given that you named the files properly. Another thing I like is that one can view png files properly without having to open it in PS. Their site is at dgitalscraproom.com and it sells for 20 USD. This goes in my virtual shoppping cart.





So to please our shopping pleasures:

*SALES*

Andrea Burns is having sale on both her stores at ACOT and The Digichick. Digichick has undergone a site mainteneance and change of server, so maybe that's why her store is not updated with the discounted price. However it is updated at ACOT and love her playtime and robin's nest kit over there. Still dwelling on buying. There's so many stuff I want and must definitely prioritize.



Lynn Grieveson over at Scrapbook Elements also has sale in connection with memorial day. I just love that country garden kit. So funky colors. She will soon debut in Digichick as I mentioned earlier.



A previous Digichick, Kelly Shults, has also sale at her own shop at scrapix-design in connection with memorial day as well. She is offering 25% off as well and a patriotic mini paper pack for free. Love the textured oh boy kit and fairy blossom paper pack. The latter reminds me of a paper pack Folksy I bought at Designer Digitals by Jackie Eckles, the color and the textures.



Last, check out Digital Scrapbook Previews site for a 1USD off coupon code for Meredith Fenwick and Modscraps has also sale on some items (I wish they had sale on cutie patootie kit. I love that). I am gonna get her license plate with that coupon or the glitter brown bag alpha; or both, LOL. Btw, checked out DDE just now and the snippet essentials sale I told you about in an earlier post is over (it lasted one day longer I think). They have now updated the price to normal.

*CONTESTS*

It's fun with a challenge, a contest. Something that will push your creativity and the feeling of thrill.

Here are the ones I have seen that i wish to join:

Kristy Ann Nernes has a competition wherein you must use atleast 3 items from her noteworthy series. I snagged the elemement pack during the NSD sale, and hopefully, I'll get something done. But with the way I am blogging and using so much time on so many other stuff, I barely have time to scrap, even though I sit here all day being jobless. Btw, Kristy Ann Nerness' product can be found on holly mc caig shoppe, link to the right



I mentioned earlier about the Jasbeanie contest at ACOT, here are the specs:



A new update, one more contest at Digichick in connection with their change of host:



*PRODUCTWATCH*

New product coming to Holly's place. She had a preview of the kit on her blog, which by the way has a new look. Lovely new collaboration kit with Kristin Cronin-Barrow



Felt as I said is in, and look who else has made felt items and put them up for sale (earlier I showed you Gina C's and Katie Pertiet's version), Tracy Ann Robinson at SBB:




and also Miss Mint from Peppermintcreative.com. I also included some nice items of her from her shop in my collage.




And besides from felt, glitter is also in, but that came a little earlier. Here is Dawn Stocstill's aka Hunibuni (modscraps and SBB) glitter sample:




Dianne Rigdon has just recently put her Little Man at Scrapartist, and Michelle Coleman before that with It's a Guy Thing, and I put images of those further below in seperate posts. Now it's Nancie Rowe Janitz' turn, and she too with a masculine pack, Quiet Love (not certain if the brushes on the corners are included, didn't found it on the specs). I have only the elements pack on the collage, but paper packs (one in solid and one patterned) is available as well. Cd is being scraplifted at Scrapartist. I totally adore her layouts and photos, and her 3 girls are simply adorable. Anyways, browsing her galleries, I saw an earlier work of Michelle Coleman (which is in my wishkits folder) that I appreciate even more now, and which I posted on the collage as well; Grungy Boy. Yet another masculine kit. We do need them for the guys in our lives.



More previews for Gina Miller Collection in her blog, check it out.

That's the news for now. Hope it filled your scrappy apetite :)
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Certain bugs are annoying me nowadays. One of them is in Flickr. My LO below is not displaying due to this. But the image is intact in my account.

I blog too much here, and must head over to my other blog. Hasn't posted for 2 days, and has plenty stuff to tell. By the way do check my post below for some useful tips on improving performance of your Photoshop, particularly, CS2.