Tips & Tricks – Improve Your Personal Snapshots

Tips on taking better “snapshots.” A comparison of before and after photos to show how simple it can be to dramatically improve any photo.

We are available to speak to any group on a variety of photography topics including, “The Art and Science of Restoring Old and Damaged Photos” and “Tips and Tricks for Improving Your Personal and Vacation Snapshots.”

E-mail us for more information: mark@spectralight.com

Fireworks photos with a unique twist… these aren’t your mamma’s snapshots!

 

Fourth of July fireworks get a new look with photo enhancing software! Photo by North Ridgeville photographer, Mark Madere, of SpectraLight Photography.

For years I've been bored with photographing fireworks. Fighting the crowds to get a good spot, dealing with hot and humid July weather, bugs, crying children… the list goes on. I'd rather stay home and chill-out with the Mrs. – UNTIL NOW! …

Fireworks photos with a unique twist… these aren’t your mamma’s snapshots! Read More »

How to Fix Out-of-Focus Pictures and Blurry Photos with Topaz Sharpen – Easier Than Photoshop

 

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This video shows before-and-after photos that were blurry and then fixed with Topaz Sharpen AI. It does not show how to fix them with the software but only the final results.

It only takes a couple of clicks to fix an out-of-focus or blurry photo within the software so that’s why it isn’t demonstrated here.

If you want to try it before you buy it, click here: Topaz Labs “Sharpen” software

How to Fix Out-of-Focus Pictures and Blurry Photos with Topaz Sharpen – Easier Than Photoshop Read More »

How to Photograph the Total Solar Eclipse on 8/21/17

 

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Total Solar Eclipse 2017: A Guide to Viewing and Photographing it — Hudson Henry Photography

Here's a great video with tips and tricks to view the August 21st, 2017 total solar eclipse. The sun will cross the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina. This rare event is a great opportunity for photographers – both amateur and professional.

How to Photograph the Total Solar Eclipse on 8/21/17 Read More »

Amazing software makes Winter in Northeast Ohio come to LIFE

Original photo before Topaz Adjust filter (Photo by SpectraLight.com)
Original photo before a Topaz Labs “Studio” filter was applied. [Photo: Mark Madere | SpectraLight.com]
Winter in Northeast Ohio can be pretty dull – white and gray everywhere. Almost makes you want to hibernate (let alone take outdoor photos) until the weather gets nice.

However, a cool and affordable software program I discovered has changed all that! It can take ANY drab photo and make it a work of art.

What is so amazing about the software is that once you load a photo into the program – you can make dramatic changes to it with a couple simple clicks! Yeah, I was skeptical about that until I tried it. Two of the three photos in this story were instantly created with this software. The original, black-and-white photo was taken in Wakeman, Ohio in Lorain County. …

Amazing software makes Winter in Northeast Ohio come to LIFE Read More »

Great Photo Opportunities at the 2015 Cleveland National Air Show

 

Photo of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds at the Cleveland National Air Show was modified in Photoshop to make the jets "pop" against the sky.
Photo of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds at the Cleveland National Air Show was modified in Photoshop to make the jets “pop” against the sky. (Photo by Mark Madere | SpectraLight.com)

It's been a long time since I've attended the Cleveland National Air Show – going back to the days of shooting film. With my digital photo and video cameras in hand – I just couldn't resist the opportunity to go this year!

I kept my photo count down to around 350 shots – unlike the guy next to me who was there all three days – shooting several thousand pics with a variety of extreme telephoto and zoom lenses. And he said he was just shooting for himself!

I captured some nice shots of a few of the stunt aircraft but the high flying Thunderbirds were my main focus as seen here.

Great Photo Opportunities at the 2015 Cleveland National Air Show Read More »

Low camera angles can add visual interest to portraits

Senior-Pictures-Cleveland-Ridgeville-Olmsted-Tori-Pishkula
Sometimes, you just gotta “take one for the team” to get an interesting portrait. Click the photo to see it bigger. (Photo of me lying on the ground by Colleen Pishkula)

Over the years, I've found some of the best portraits require climbing a ladder or laying on the floor or ground.

Olmsted Falls High School class of 2015 student, Tori Pishkula, her mom, Colleen, and I set out for a “photo safari” in The Flats near downtown Cleveland this summer to create something a little different for Tori's senior portraits.

Low camera angles can add visual interest to portraits Read More »

Fix grainy photos with amazingly affordable software

 

Topaz DeNoise – easily fix grainy and “noisy” photos.

Shooting pictures under low light has always been a choice between getting a photo that looks too dark (underexposed) or using a fast camera ISO so the photo exposure looks just right. The only problem with either choice is the photo looks “grainy” compared to one taken with adequate light. …

Fix grainy photos with amazingly affordable software Read More »

Cute pet Halloween costumes make the best dog and cat photos

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Halloween is just around the corner and fans of the season are already shopping for unique costumes in stores and online. So why should humans have all the Halloween fun? Statistics from an October 2012 report by The National Retail Federation reveal an astounding 2.2 billion dollars was spent on costumes with 11.5% of trick-or-treaters dressing their pets.

Every year, people dress their pets in the craziest Halloween costumes! Dog and cat costumes let your pets tag along to dog-friendly Halloween parties, carnival events, and fairs where costumes, characters, and make believe are the prevailing theme.

There are plenty of super hero costumes for pets including Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Let your cat be a show-stopper by dressing her in an Underdog costume. Have a Dachshund? Dress him in a cute “wiener dog” hotdog bun costume with your choice of catsup or mustard across your four-legged friend’s back.

What dog doesn’t want to channel his “inner-dinosaur” by becoming a raptor or triceratops? You gotta love the kitty dressed as a lion… roarrrrrrrrrrrrr! Have you seen the cat with a cloth saddle on her back being ridden by a mouse? Or the feline dressed like a pharaoh? Too funny.

For “crafty” people who like creating their own designs, there are sources on the Internet with loads of ideas. With a few materials and some imagination, you can make a “howling” good costume for your four-legged friend. Just keep safety first and make sure your pet isn't constrained in a way that prevents him from hearing, seeing or breathing.

Do you plan on dressing your pet for Halloween this year? What will they be wearing? Please share this article with your friends!

Check out some of the cute costumes this year's best dressed pets will be wearing in the related video! Shop for pet costumes at http://superproductreview.info/PetCostumes.

Cute pet Halloween costumes make the best dog and cat photos Read More »

Discover 7 Secrets to Better Vacation Photography

Changing camera angles and take an ordinary pose and transform it to an extraordinary one.
Changing camera angles and take an ordinary pose and transform it to an extraordinary one. These photos are from the presentation: “7 Secrets to Better Vacation Photography”

I'm really excited to be asked to show how to take better vacation photos at the May 20th meeting of the North Ridgeville Arts Council. I will be presenting “Discover 7 Secrets to Better Vacation Photography.” The information can be used to improve vacation photography, pictures of friends and family, sporting events and more.

Topics to be covered include: how to choose a camera, creative composition from unusual camera angles, use of natural light and electronic flash, how to help people look their best, enhancing photos after they're taken, saving and preserving picture files to guard against loss from a computer crash, different ways to display photographs for maximum enjoyment and more.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

The meeting is on Monday, May 20th at 7 p.m. at North Ridgeville Library,35700 Bainbridge Rd, North Ridgeville.

Discover 7 Secrets to Better Vacation Photography Read More »

How to create a professional looking book of your personal snapshots

Mark Madere, SpectraLight Photography, North Ridgeville
Mark Madere - SpectraLight Photography

The North Ridgeville Arts Council has asked me to present to the community my special, free presentation: “How to create a professional looking book of your family snapshots, child’s wedding, vacation pictures and more.”

Discover how to create a beautiful, coffee table-style book of all your snapshots as a lasting keepsake for family and friends. You will also learn how to quickly and easily publish books of your travel, nature, and scenic photos and earn income from them with minimal effort, NO expense and NO inventory.

I have taken photos of area landmarks throughout my career with my largest collection of images of Olmsted Falls – where I lived and operated my studio for 19 years.

View a sample of my self-published book – Picturesque Olmsted Falls – Gazebos, a covered bridge, waterfalls and more – Oh My!
http://bit.ly/olmsted-book

The meeting is on Monday, March 19th at 7 p.m. at North Ridgeville Library, 35700 Bainbridge Rd, North Ridgeville.

Have you ever wanted a high quality, hard cover book of your personal photos? Have you already created one? What company did you use and how did it turn out? Please comment.

How to create a professional looking book of your personal snapshots Read More »

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