Photography
Photography can be a method of documenting news to share it with the world or capturing moments of your life to enhance your own memories. Or photography can be an art form focused on creation, expression, and experimentation. Whatever the basis of your interest in photography, the Internet is your starting point for finding what you want to know. Whether you're just starting to learn about technique or thinking about offering your own photographs for sale, this guide will show you where to look for the information you need.
Photography magazine Web sites and photo blogs are excellent sources of general information, ... read more »
Thirty years ago, the only ways to learn about photography were books, classes, or direct ... read more »
Ready to buy? A variety of Web sites exist to help you navigate the potentially overwhelming world ... read more »
Various Internet directories provide lists of photography schools organized by geographic area. ... read more »
Numerous online tutorials are available to help you learn how to use photo software to enhance your ... read more »
A variety of Web sites exist that allow you to upload and share your photos. Some provide an interface primarily for the purpose of organizing and sharing (emailing snapshots to your family and friends, for instance). Others are more "gallery" oriented, allowing you to upload your best pictures to share with a wider range of people for feedback and critique. These are recommended if you're serious about improving your technique or your primary purpose in taking photos isn't simply documenting your life's moments.
- Some photo sharing and storage Web sites offer premium services for a fee, but the free Web sites offer enough services to satisfy most. Others provide a limited amount of free storage and require a monthly or yearly fee for usage above that amount. Test-drive a few different sites to see which appeal to your needs.
- Most Web sites have a system that allows you to order prints to be delivered by mail. These are comparable to the quality of typical in-store prints, and in some cases you can even pick them up at a store.
- Some Web sites that use a gallery format for showing off your best photos or those that exist for the purpose of critique may require you to apply for membership and be approved rather than simply register to use them. There is generally little advantage to them compared to the free Web sites.
For general organization and sharing ...
Flickr
lets you upload photos by e-mail, Web, or camera phone; organize into collections and sets; set topic tags and privacy controls; and even map the locations where your photos were taken. Go to the
Map page and you can explore all geographically tagged photos on the site.
Snapfish
has a similar uploading system as Flickr, and you can store and share your photos in the same way. Unlike many photo-sharing sites, you can edit your photos directly on the Web site. You can also order prints and personalize mugs, mousepads, and more with your photos.
Smugmug
is preferred by many users for its streamlined black interface and features that go beyond those found on most photo storage sites. While many other sites are free, Smugmug's membership plans start at $39.95 a year, but you may find the premium features worth it-for example, the site keeps four backups of each of your photos in three different states.
Google's Picasa
is one of the best interfaces available. Install the program on your computer and it will organize your photos automatically without moving them from their original locations. Uploading to the Web for sharing is straightforward, and there is a unique Timeline view that lets you see your photos in chronological order.
Fotki
lets you upload and organize photos, and it provides free, unlimited hosting for your Web site, blog or auctions. Fotki also features blogs and forums to encourage the social networking aspect of photo sharing.
Kodak EasyShare Gallery
(formerly Ofoto) is a relatively basic and straightforward Web site for sharing, storing, and ordering photos. There are no bells and whistles here, but you may appreciate the simplicity (and occasional discounts on prints).
Pixagogo
allows you to send photo e-cards, create full-screen slide shows, and keep a photo blog in addition to basic storage and sharing. You can get a free trial, but after that, membership fees are five dollars a month.
Shutterfly
features the standard organization and sharing features of other sites, but also offers printed photo books, calendars and gifts-and for convenience, you can order photos and pick them up at Target stores.
For feedback and critique ...
Photo.net's Gallery
feature lets you create an account to upload your photos for critique and view other users' photos so you can critique them. The layout is subtle and more streamlined than many other such Web sites. You must register (for free) to use the uploading feature; if you use the site heavily you'll be asked to subscribe, which costs $25 per year.
PBase.com
is another sharing and critiquing Web site with a simple design and layout. A 30-day trial membership is available, after which you'll pay either $23 or $60 per year depending on the amount of photo storage you require.
PhotographyReview.com
has a fairly active critique forum where you can post your photos for feedback. You must complete a free registration process before you can post your photos for critique.
DPChallenge
runs a weekly theme-based or technique-based photo challenge. Viewers then have the chance to vote on submissions for each challenge. This can be a fun way to get feedback and learn from the winners.
DeviantART
is one of the most popular art gallery Web sites. Because it includes more than photography, you may not find the audience you're looking for, but it can still be a good way to showcase your work. You may register to participate at this site for free, or pay a yearly membership of $29.95 or less, depending on the length of the
subscription you desire.
When you want to expand your creations beyond simple prints, you can turn your photos into photo ... read more »
The Internet provides many resources for buying photos for your own use and for selling your own ... read more »
You'll probably meet a few photographers before you finally select one, but the sites below can you ... read more »
Photography enthusiasts often have Web sites focusing on famous photographers and their works, and ... read more »
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