Comparing Traditional Photography With Digital Photography

One of the 20th century’s most innovative technologies has to be digital photography. The results are at least as good as traditional photography and many times even better, with the added benefit that it cost about half as much. You only print the images you really want or need which makes digital photography is both environmentally friendly and cost effective. There is absolutely no waste as there is not film required. You no longer have a waiting period for sharing your pictures either as long as you have a computer and internet connection pictures can be shared practically instantly.Progress in PhotographyTaking pictures is a popular pastime, hobby or even a source of income for many today. Since the early days photography has come a long way, and remained as popular as ever in the process. To be quite honest digital photography is opening the door for more and more people and has become more popular than film based photography. This is particularly true of professional photographers. Experienced photographers are finding the digital age to carry with it a bit of a learning curve.Digital CamerasThe digital camera is very popular with experts and amateurs alike and they are in effect tiny computers. The quality of images will vary depending on the camera you have and this quality has steadily improved however, there are those who insist they are not nearly on par with the standard camera. One common mistake people make when shopping for a digital camera is to look for the largest and most expensive model. What you should focus on instead is which camera is going to suit your needs and provide the type of images or options you are looking for. A big bonus for the digital format is the lack of film; you can use the storage device repeatedly and not spend an extra dime. Photographers who have used the typical camera and film know the frustration of limited storage capacity. You take a picture, print it and now must buy more film.Technology AgeDigital technology has added a great deal too traditional photography options. For the most part photography has all gone digital, from the camera to the processing. This is probably the biggest evolution in the world of picture taking since the invention of the technology. Not only are you able to take more images due to unlimited storage you can now manipulate them more easily.An individual with a proper digital camera, computer and the right software can produce studio like prints in no time flat. All you need to do is possess the correct equipment and learn how to use it to become a professional photographer. Digital processing and computer technology have opened the field up for just about anyone to enter.ConclusionTraditional and digital photography truly complement one another. Whether you are a professional or amateur each of these, have their respective places in your life. Traditional photography skills are definitely transferrable to the digital photography application. The bottom line is that both these forms of photography have a place in the world. In the perfect scenario, photographers will realize this fact and use both technologies to produce fantastic work. The world is changing becoming more modern and technology driven; digital photography is simply another example of this fact.

Easy Home Improvement Projects

Fixing up your home can be fun and often times very profitable even when you’re only doing a few easy home improvement projects. There are several touches that you could add to a bathroom or kitchen for added value in your home. These easy home improvement projects are very quick too. In this article you will learn some modest ways to fix up your home, and add significant value in less than a day.Adding Trim to Your CeilingOne of the neat tricks you can do when creating some easy home improvement projects is to add some trim around the top of your ceiling. Simply take a border of colorful wall paper about 5 to 6 inches wide and apply it around the top of the ceiling. This will give your room a rich look and is very cost effective.Paint Your Bathroom Light SwitchesIf you would like to save some money fixing up your bathroom you can paint the light switches. Don’t forget to do the plug-in covers as well. There are several easy home improvement projects that you can do to the bathroom. Maybe you could add a toilet seat cover and matching towels to add a nice look. The cost is very minimal, but can add a nice touch to the room. If you have a spare bedroom you may want to consider painting those switches as well.The kitchen is another place where you can apply some easy home improvement projects. Try changing the handles on your cabinets. If the timing is right, you may find some great deals on closeout cabinet accessories at your local stores. Often times at the end of the year your local stores will have huge clearance sales and unload very nice packages of hardware to add to your kitchen cabinets. This is great when searching for some easy home improvement projects to do.Change the Lights for Appearance and SavingsThere are so many choices in lighting these days. You could add a couple simple energy saving lights to your kitchen or bathroom for your next easy home improvement projects. Many lights can add value and energy savings, helping the budget as well. Once you have finished inside you may want to think about some easy home improvement projects for the outside of your home next.You can add some lighting to the outside of your home to make some nice touches. This is another one of those easy home improvement projects that only takes a couple hours, but if done right, can add value and convenience if you have nighttime gatherings at your home. As you can see there are many simple little projects you can implement to add some easy decorative touches to your home.Look Online for Some IdeasThe internet is a wonderful place to search for easy home improvement projects. You just might be surprised just how simple and fun it can be the next time you get ready to make a few changes to your home.

Investing 101: Before You Start Investing Money

Doesn’t it make sense to learn to invest (some basics) before you start investing money for real? Maybe a course called investing 101 or personal investing would be helpful. Here this retired financial planner relates a story, and then points the new investor in the right direction so he or she does not start investing uninformed.In the dean’s office of one of the largest universities in America, I recently asked if they offered investing 101, personal investing, or any finance course where the student could learn to invest. “After all, we all need to start investing money someday, and it is much to one’s advantage to be informed vs. uninformed, isn’t it?” That was my response when told, “no, or at least I can’t find one” by the dean. I was informed that they had well over 50,000 current students enrolled and offered THOUSANDS of courses in the various colleges throughout the university. But he could find no course under the heading of personal investing or investing 101, and he was in charge of the curriculum.We spent about an hour together searching and were both laughing out loud at what WAS offered. How about a course in “the art of falling down”? It’s offered. Investing 101? Which college in the university would offer such a course? “The athletic department is real big here; maybe they could help”, I suggested. After all, professional football players make big money. They need to learn to invest money (in case their career is short) and should start investing early. I knew a few players when I was a financial planner, but like most folks they tend to procrastinate when the money is flowing in. They’re too busy earning it, and don’t have the time to learn to invest.The truth of the matter is that I don’t find it funny that it’s difficult to find a down-to earth practical course that most people could truly benefit from, because as a new investor you need to learn to invest money before you start investing for retirement or any other financial goal. As a new investor you may not be able to find a financial planner you can work with or afford. Even if you found one, do you really want to start investing money with him or her without first getting your feet wet in the basics of personal investing? Let’s start at the beginning.Before you get into financial concepts like asset allocation and strategy, you should first learn the very basics: investment characteristics. How can you compare various alternatives to determine which best suit your needs, financial goals and comfort level? In other words, you need to decide what you are really looking for. And you need a list of factors to consider before you start investing money. For example, do you have a long term goal like retirement, and are you willing to accept a moderate level of risk? If so, there are numerous investment alternatives to consider, and you can also get tax breaks.On the other hand, if you have a shorter term financial goal and might need access to your money at a moment’s notice, that’s a totally different picture. You need to match your financial wants and needs to the various alternatives that have characteristics best suited to your personal investing goals. There is no single best choice for every financial goal. It’s a matter of give and take. I have a list of 5 factors you must consider and a few other things you should consider before making a decision. This is basic investing 101. Whether you are a new investor or you’ve been at it for a while and have never really taken the time to learn to invest – you should learn the basics.This is the first in a series of investing 101 articles I plan to write. In my next article I plan to put my list of characteristics you need to consider before you start investing money in black and white. Don’t feel bad if you are an uniformed new investor (or a want to-be). Do something and learn to invest starting with the basics.Once you have a handle on a few basic financial concepts you can start investing with confidence. Once you learn to invest you can reach your financial goals. If you think I’m trying to build your confidence, you are right. Stay tuned to investing 101 as we get back to basics. No offense to anyone at one of THE largest universities in the country, but there’s a void out there and I plan to fill it.