Fill Flash

Fill Flash 

When shooting outside I keep my flash attached to give a little fill light. I tend to set the flash a stop or two under the aperture. This prevents shots from being blown out.  And in backlit or midday shooting conditions where there can be a lot of shadow, Fill Flash is a must. 

Fill Flash also helps to eliminate shadows cast by facial features (under eyes, noses, chins) or under hats – especially when light is shining down from above. It also adds a small catchlight (little sparkle) to the eye of the person you’re photographing.

If you are using a point and shoot camera, most will allow you to use the fill flash in auto mode. The main button to look for will be the one with the lightning bolt (flash) on it.  On most cameras you can push this multiple times and it will scroll you through the different options for flash (on, off, automatic, red eye reduction etc.). Some point and shoot cameras even have a fill flash option that adjusts the strength of the flash which is ideal.  Check your owner’s manual for specifics to your camera.

Finally, try a few different test settings before you start shooting to see what works. Fill Flash can be overdone - most of the time less is better and looks more natural. Keep experimenting, shooting and most importantly… have fun!

With Fill Flash

Without Fill Flash

Duplex for sale in Ridglea Hills

Nice little duplex in Ridglea Hills situated on a bluff. Large spacious living room with fireplace, two car garage, balcony, bedrooms downstairs and much more.

Home Owners Showing More Willingness to Sell?

Home Owners Showing More Willingness to Sell?

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

The number of listings on the market increased 2.36 percent in March from the previous month — possibly an indication that sellers are becoming more willing to put their homes on the market as asking prices increase, according to housing data from realtor.com.

While the data shows a month-to-month inventory increase, inventories are still down 15.22 percent compared to last year. 

The median age of the inventory continues to drop year-over-year by 12.35 percent, the amount of time homes are sitting on the market has fallen by 20 days since February, according to realtor.com. The median age of inventory of for-sale listings was 78 days in March.

“The next three months will be significant in determining the impact of the recovering housing market,” says Steve Berkowitz, chief executive officer of Move Inc. 

Median list prices have increased year-over-year in a greater number of the 146 markets realtor.com tracks. California continues to show the greatest increases, as well as the largest drops in inventories as well. Denver, Detroit, and Seattle are also showing some of the biggest improvements in its housing markets too, according to realtor.com. 

A Photographers Musings...

A Photographers Musings...

Here are a few things that I have learned from being in the photography business:

1. Enjoy what you are shooting.

2. A better camera doesn’t guarantee better images.

3. Prepare for your session, realizing that your battery isn’t charged when you’re setting up to photograph a family is too late!

4. Try to compose more and to hit the shutter less.

5. Get inspiration from the work of other photographers.

6. Every shooting situation is different than you expect.

7. Always turn around, sometimes the better image is behind you.

8. Mistakes are allowed! The more mistakes you make, the more you learn!

9. Shoot as often as possible.

10. Don’t be afraid of getting dirty.

11. Believe in yourself.

12. It’s who’s behind the camera, not the camera!!!

How to Prevent Weeds from Ever Sprouting

How to Prevent Weeds from Ever Sprouting

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon

Published: March 5, 2013

When it comes to weeds in your garden, an hour of prevention is better than a season of yanking.

But if you prevent weed seeds from germinating, your garden will be weed-free. Here are some surefire ways to keep weeds from growing in the first place.

Shhh! Don’t Disturb the Soil

Weed seeds “sleep” in your soil all the time, just waiting for sunshine to enable them to germinate. Left underground, many weed seeds remain dormant for years. So the less you disturb the soil, the more likely weed seeds will remain asleep.

Avoid high-powered tillers, and go easy on the hand cultivating. Sow your flower and vegetable seeds above the ground in mounds of compost, shredded leaves, or even in bags of topsoil. Better yet, plant seedlings and starts.

Smother Weed Seeds

Another way to keep seeds asleep is to cover your soil with sun-blocking organic or synthetic mulches.

Organic mulches — hardwood mulch, newspaper, cardboard, straw -- degrade in a few months and improve soil structure and add nutrients. Synthetic mulches — landscaping paper, plastic — can last several seasons, but won’t help rebuild soil when they eventually degrade.

Heed these mulching tips:

• Wet the ground before you lay down layers of paper, which will prevent the paper from blowing away while you work.

• Scout yard sales for old carpet and wallpaper, efficient sun blocks that prevent weeds.

• Spread mulch 2 to 4 inches deep to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

• Always pick straw, not hay, to prevent weeds. Hay usually contains hayseeds, which will sprout where you’re trying to keep weeds out.

Wage a Chemical Attack

Pre-emergent herbicides prevent weed seeds from germinating, but don’t kill existing plants and grasses.

The exact timing for applying a pre-emergent herbicide is hard to pinpoint because you must spread the herbicide before seeds germinate, which happens underground at different times.

Conventional gardening wisdom says spread pre-emergent herbicides when the daffodils pop or the forsythia wilts. But advance planning is the best way to determine when to spread. Log the date when you see the first weeds in your garden, then subtract three weeks to arrive at the date you should spread the pre-emergent herbicide next spring.

Grow Up Close and Personal

The closer together you plant your flowers and vegetables, the less space weed seeds will have to grow.

If you double-dig — loosen (don’t pulverize) soil at least 2 feet down — you can plant cheek-by-jowl, because plant roots can grow down, not out, to find water and nourishment. If you plant intensively in a diamond-shaped pattern — rather than rows -- you’ll avoid barren spots where weeds will grow.

To keep weeds out of lawns, make sure your grass is lush and healthy so weeds have no room to grow. Reseed bald patches; fertilize if a soil test determines nutrient deficiencies; aerate in the fall.

Shooting modes to help you create better photos with your digital camera - Part 2.

Shooting modes to help you create better photos with your digital camera - Part 2.

Semi Automatic Modes

Aperture Priority Mode (A or AV) 

Aperture priority mode is a setting in which you choose the aperture and your camera chooses the other settings such as shutter speed to ensure you have a well balanced exposure. Aperture priority mode is useful when you're looking to control the depth of field in a photo. Choosing a larger number aperture (f 22) will give you a larger depth of field allowing more of your scene to be in focus. Your camera might choose a slower shutter speed. Smaller number apertures (f 2.8) means the opposite - depth of field will be smaller and your camera will probably choose a faster shutter speed. 

Shutter Priority Mode (S or TV)

Shutter priority mode is very similar to aperture priority mode but instead you select the shutter speed and the camera then chooses the other settings. You would use this mode when you want control over moving subjects, such as sports where a faster shutter speed will freeze the action (1/500 sec.). To capture the movement as a blur like a waterfall, you would choose a slower shutter speed (1/30 sec.). Another great use for a slow shutter speed is lower light situations.

Manual Mode

In Manual Mode you have full control over your camera and need to think about all of the settings including focus points, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance, flash etc. It gives you the flexibility to set up your photos as you wish. 

Thanks for reading my two part series on camera shooting modes. I hope that it has cleared up some of your questions and has shown you a few ways to be more creative or to make your photography easier. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Home for sale in Mont Del Estates

Welcome to Mont Del Estates!

This beautiful home is located in the quiet neighborhood of Mont Del Estates. It features a large circular driveway, rear entry oversized garage, beautiful view from the backyard, spacious living room, wet bar, large master bedroom with access to the patio, mirrored master bath, walk in closets, large laundry room. 

Front view.

Back view 1.

Back view 2.

Driveway to the back of the house.

Beautiful front door.

Back view 3.

Spacious living room with wet bar.

Formal dining room.

Entry has marble floors.

Half bath. 

Kitchen.

Kitchen opens up to the breakfast room and to the patio.

Living room. 

Full bath.

Bedroom one.

Bedroom or study.

Master bedroom with access to the patio.

Master bedroom view 2.

Arched doorway leads you into the master bath.

Master bath with mirrored walls.

Master bath view 2.

Oversized garage with plenty of storage and a sink.

Large laundry room with storage.