This article is written to give you a comprehensive guide to experiencing fall color in it fullness. The guide is not written for any area in particular as the colors vary in differing environments and areas. However, you can be certain that certain seasonal factors all remain constant no matter where you may experience the change from summer to winter.

The first and most important factor to having a pleasurable fall foliage experience is to choose an area that is near you which has a lot of trees which lose their leaves in the winter. Evergreen forests do not offer much color variation and you are certain to be disappointed if you visit an evergreen forest looking for fall colors. So find a rural area that has a lot of deciduous trees.

Next you will want to visit at the right time. The fall season begins around September 20th or so each year. So depending on your latitude (that is how far north or south you live) in our country you will need to plan accordingly. The leaves on the trees in the far northern areas such as Vermont or Connecticut will certainly change sooner that the leaves will in the South Carolina or Georgia mountains. So you may need to plan for your fall foliage vacation of photography shoot earlier in these regions.

The third factor that you will need to consider is the weather. Dry arid weather will definitely produce more vibrant colors but the leaves will be brittle and the first strong wind or storm that comes along will blow the leaves right off of the tree. The best seasons and the most vibrant colors will show when the weather is dry and not much rain is falling. So watch the weather and try to go before the fall rainy season begins and after the end of the dog days of summer.

This article will explain long exposure photography and help you prepare to take that awesome picture that you have dreamed to take.

A few things you will need

*  Digital Camera with M for manual settings
*  Camera Tripod
*  ND Lens filter or Circular polarizing filter
*  Beautiful waterfall

Find the angle and point of view that will look best in your picture. Use the camera viewfinder or LCD screen to get the perspective that will look best with your picture. If possible it is best to find a waterfall and perspective where the light is dim and where the waterfall is not reflecting bright sunlight.

Position your camera tripod on a solid and sturdy surface so that it will not fall or move; then mount your camera on the tripod positioning the camera so that you can obtain the original perspective you chose in the above step.

Place your ND – neutral density filter or circular polarizing filter on the front of the lens of your camera. If you have an SLR camera the filter will screw onto the front and if you have a point and shoot camera it may require fitting the adapter to the camera.

This will slow the light down on a bright day so that you can take a long exposure without over exposing the water.

Turn your camera to the “M” setting so that you have manual control. You may also use the “TV” time value setting so that the camera will automatically choose the “AV” aperture value.

If you chose the “M” setting you will now need to adjust the “TV” time value and “AV” aperture value in order to get the right exposure. This is accomplished by changing the settings while watching the exposure indicator which will have a positive and negative value.

You need the exposure to be in the middle or “0″ zero. +1, +2 or +3 will over expose the image and your picture will be too bright. -1, -2 or -3 will under expose the picture and it will be too dim.

The TV setting which is indicated in seconds should be at least 1″ one second or more. The longer the time it is exposed the smoother the fluid look of the water. A TV setting of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 – 500 etc is a measurement in 100ths of a second. A setting this fast will not give the preferred effect. Ideally you should have a TV setting of 10″ or up to 30″ if the lighting permits.

The AV setting is the aperture and this is how much light is let in the set time as opposed to the TV which controls how long the light is let through.

The AV setting should be as high as possible on a bright day, typically this will go as high as F22. But on a dimly lit evening you may need to open it up some (F11 – F18) to let more volume of light to come through.

You should notice that as you adjust the aperture this also affects the exposure value -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 so you will need to adjust your time value to keep it as close to zero as possible.

You may want to experiment once you get the hang of it and you may tend to underexpose you images to get a little more detail.

You will find that the circular polarizing filter and/ or Neutral density filter are crucial to slowing the light down so that you can have a longer exposure.

You may even choose to stack the ND filter and CP filter to achieve a very long exposure even in the bright day light. Also note that turning the CP filter will either allow more light or less light depending on where you stop turning it. It is best to slow the light down as much as possible.

If you choose the “TV” setting instead of the “M” setting you will simply need to adjust the setting for the longest amount of time possible without over exposing the picture.

Remember to keep the exposure setting around or slightly below zero.

-3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3

Again, you will find that stacking the CP and ND filters will slow the light down so that you can adjust for a longer exposure.

If your camera has an IS (image stabilization) mode turn it off. This will allow for a sharper image.

Unless you have a remote control now you will need to set the timer.

Some cameras have 2 second timers and some have 10 second timers. Depending on how quickly you can move your hand and not touch the camera you may choose to use the 2 second timer if you need more time to not touch or shake the camera then opt for the 10 second setting.

Click the shutter button and wait….

If you are taking a 10, 15 or even 30 second exposure you will need to wait for it to expose the image.

If you move or shake the camera at all it will blur everything and not just the water.

Take note that the water is the only thing that is moving through this long exposure and that is what causes the silky motion effect.

This in contrast with the stationary landscape gives the impression of motion.

Enjoy your new photography technique and start shooting like a pro. Experiment with stacking filters and different exposures for different details and effects.

You are sure to find that this is a very artistic and rewarding photography technique.

You can view some nice long exposure waterfall photography shots at ForestWander Nature Photography

Others ways you can make money with your photography work is to license your work to be reproduced on calendars, cups and other objects which pictures may be reproduced on. When you perform a search on any search engine, you will find several sites that will give you ideas on how to make money with your photography. Other significant ideas include greeting cards, modeling, and photojournalist photography. If you can be at the right place at the right time you can make money selling your photographs to the newspapers and television news shows. This is a very lucrative and exciting way to make money with photography if you have the time for it.

Do not fall for any gimmicks that promise to teach you how to make money from your camera if you by their book and money making system. These types of swindles typically prey on those who are sincerely interested in doing something with their talent but do not know how to get started. Be patient and fully research making money with photography by using the internet before you purchase anything. You should be able to educate yourself cost free by simply reading and wading through the scams and gimmicks.

Also, do not let anyone discourage your photography efforts through criticism and ridicule. You can make extra income if you are seriously interested in taking and utilizing photographs in various methods. Put your heart into it and you can do whatever you want. There are sites that will allow you to submit your photo, and each time the photo is used, you will get paid for it.

Some other examples that are great ways to make money in your spare time are:

Pet Photography – Taking pictures of customer’s pets at their home and them processing and delivering them.

Fishing Contest Photography – Visiting a fishing contest and taking pictures during the weigh in and solicit to the contestants.

Parade Photography – Go and watch a parade and take pictures of the interesting events. You can then solicit to those who participated or bystanders.

Landmark and Tourist Photography – As tourists arrive at areas or in areas that have frequent tourists or attractions you can offer to take pictures of families and tourists.

School Graduation Photography – By simply attending a graduation you can take pictures and sell the photos to the family members and graduates.

Holiday Event Postcard Photography – This may mean giving up some of your holiday time but you can make certain that everyone is in the photos that are taken.

Novelty Item Photography – You can tailor your shots for cups, mugs and calendars and then solicit your shots to companies that manufacture these items.

Used Car Photography – Car dealers will typically pay a set price for photographs of their inventory that can be sent to the paper.

Promotional Slideshow Photography – Conventions and other professional gatherings will likely benefit from having their event documented for future exhibits.

Newborn Baby Photography – Everyone wants to have pictures of their newborn babies. You can offer (of course with the hospitals permission) to provide this service.

Overall there are several fun and exciting ways to make money with photography. Whether you are an amateur or a professional there is a need for your creative photographic ideas.

Photography is very interesting to me as you always have so many subjects and areas to choose from. You will never run out of subjects and ideas if you are truly looking for them. You can pursue a career in photography that focuses on different areas such as nature (which is what I like), sports, technology, reporting, modeling, or others areas of interest. The great thing about a career in photography is that you can do it in your spare time as I currently do. It can be a hobby to begin with and then gradually progress into a career or even just a second income. I have never had any formal training in photography nor have I even taken the first class. I simply just got a camera and started taking pictures. However, if you are serious about a career in photography you should either attend a formal college course or at least take some classes on you own such as those offered at betterphoto.com, that by the way are completely free.

You can get a statistical outlook on a career in photography by visiting the U.S. Department of Labor bureau of labor statistics. Simply perform a search on any major search engine and you will find the link for the statistics site. The site will list several different avenues that can be taken in a photography career. Some that are listed include; Portrait photographers, Commercial and Industrial Photographers, Scientific Photographers, News Photographers (also called photojournalists), Fine art photographers, and then Freelance or self employed photographers. All of these provide some rewarding employment opportunities but it takes a special skill and desire for each photography career field.

The earnings are not the greatest out there by far as there are other higher paying jobs in the career fields available in America . However, when you do something you like you will be rewarded in more than one way. A career in photography does not mean getting rich it means maybe being rich in what you do and love. If you enjoy capturing moments that you have never seen before or that you may never see again then a career in photography may be just right for you. If you enjoy capturing emotions of people laughing, crying or of excitement then a career in photography may be for you. When you go hiking through the woods and see a special scene or something that amazes you about God’s creation and you want to show the whole world, a career in photography may be for you. If you like to pay attention to detail and find things in the micro worlds that are all around us then a photography career may be just right. Are you attracted to the center of the action and want to capture it in real motion to show everyone later what happened, you may be headed in the right direction.

So much has changed in the world of photography over the past 50 years and the advent of the computer. Computer and transistor technology has made digital cameras capable of taking pictures and storing them on removable media in much less time than developing. Not to mention developing film has nearly become a technology of the past because of digital printer technology. If you think you may be interested in pursuing a career in photography, first get a cheaper digital camera and try it out for a while. Then if you feel that it is something you may have a nacht for then try out a higher performance camera. You may find that you can do a lot more custom things with the higher end camera that you only wished you could do with a regular camera.

In order to make use of theses photography techniques you should use a SLR
(Single Lens Reflex) or an advanced point and shoot camera. You should be
able to manipulate the length of time that the film or digital sensor is
exposed to light EF or exposure factor. You should also be able to
manipulate the amount or volume of light that enters at once or aperture
value AV. Depending on the amount of natural lighting you will need to
possibly dim the light with filters or other methods in order to manipulate
these values.

Night Sky Photography Technique

Moving Water (i.e. Waterfalls and Creeks or Streams) Photography Techniques

Night Photography Technique

Landscape Photography Technique

Night Sky Photography Technique

When photographing the night sky image and camera stability is of utmost
importance. With the low amount of light, this presents a unique photography
opportunity. However, long exposure factors require rock solid image and
camera stability so that the image is not blurred. With some of the
photographs I have throughout www.forestwander.com there are night sky
images that have exposure times as high as 30 seconds. This means that the
shutter was open for 30 seconds in order to allow the maximum amount of time
for light to enter the lens. I do not have an IS lens or Image Stabilization
lens so I use a tripod and set the timer so I do not move the camera at all
while the aperture is open. With this technique you can gather enough light
to allow stars and constellations to show up in a photograph.

Moving Water (i.e. Waterfalls and Creeks or Streams) Photography Techniques
One of my favortie types of photography techniques to work with is moving
water. I love the blurred, cottony type looks that moving water makes when
photographed properly. This type of photography technique is accomplished by
manipulating the exposure factor.

8-bit image: An image containing 256 or fewer colors.

16-bit image: An image containing roughly 32,000 colors.

24-bit image: An image containing approximately 64 million colors.

A

Additive color: Combining or blending two or more colored lights in order to simulate or give the sensation of another color.

Aliasing: A digital-image defect that gives the picture a jagged look, usually due to a too-low image resolution. See jaggies.

Alpha channels: Selections stored as masks in the form of grayscale images. Fully selected areas appear white, non-selected areas as black, and partially selected areas as shades of gray.

Analog: An effect, representation, or record that is proportionate to a physical property or change.

Anti-aliasing: Smoothing away the stair-stepping in an image or computer typesetting.

Application: A computer program designed to do a certain job.

Archive: To store a permanent copy of something you don’t need to access very often.

Artifacts: Features in an image, introduced during capture or processing, that were not originally present.

Artifact: Noise, an unwanted pattern, or some other image defect caused by an image capture or processing problem.

Attachment: A file that is sent along with an e-mail, such as an image or other complicated or large item.

B

Background: The bottom layer of an image; the base.

Back up: To make and store second or further copies of computer files.

Bit: Stands for binary digit. It is the basic unit of digital information. Eight bits equals one byte.

Bicubic: interpolation A type of interpolation in which the value of a new pixel is calculated from the values of its eight near neighbors.

Bilinear interpolation: A type of interpolation in which the value of a new pixel is calculated from the values of four of its near neighbors – left, right, top, and bottom.

Black: An area that has no color or hue due to absorption of most or all light.

Bleed: (1) A photograph or line that runs off the page when printed. (2) The spread of ink into fibers of support material; the effect causes dot gain.

BMP: The Windows bitmap graphics format. Reserved today for images that will be used as system resources on PCs, such as screen savers or desktop wallpaper.

Brightness: The quality of visual perception that varies with the amount or intensity of light.

Brush: An image-editing tool used to apply effects such as color, blurring, burn, dodge, and so on.

Burst mode: A special capture setting, offered on some digital cameras, that records several images in rapid succession with one press of the shutter button.

Burning-in: The alteration of the local contrast and density of an image by making certain parts darker. while masking off the rest of the picture.

Byte: A word or unit of digital information.

Byte: Eight bits. See bit.

C

Calibrate: To adjust a device, like a monitor, m meets certain standards.

Camera exposure: A quantity-of-light sensor. It depends on effective aperture of lens and duration of exposure to light.

CCD: Short for charge-coupled device. One of two types of computer chips used to capture images in digital cameras.

CIE: A color model developed by the Commission International de 1′Eclairange. Used mostly by higher-end digital imaging professionals.

Channel: A set of data used by image-manipulation software to define a color or mask.

Click-drag: To place the mouse pointer over the picture or file you want to move, press the mouse button c, and hold it down as you move the mouse pointer where you want to place the item.

Cloning: The process of copying, repeating, or duplicating pixels from one part of an image or another image on to another.

Cloning: The process of painting one portion of an image onto another image or another part of the same image.

Colorize: To add color to a grayscale image without changing the original lightness values.

CMOS: Pronounced see-moss. A much easier way to say complementary metal-oxide semiconductor. A type of computer chip used to capture images in digi­tal cameras; used less often than CCD chips.

CMYK: Cyan Magenta Yellow Key. The colors of inks used to create a sense of color.

CMYK: The print color model, in which cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks are mixed to produce colors.

ColorSync: Proprietary color-management software system that helps ensure that colors seen on screes match those to be reproduced.

Color cast: A hint of color evenly covering an image.

Color correction: The process of adjusting the amount of different primary colors in an image (for example, lowering the amount of red in an RGB image).

Color gamut: The range of colors that can be handled or output by a device such as a printer or screen.

Color management: The process of controlling the output of all devices in a production chain.

Color model: A way of defining colors. In the RGB color model, for example, all colors are created by blending red, green, and blue light. In the CMYK model, colors are defined by mixing cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

Color saturation: This measures how rich or pure color is: highly saturated colors are very pure, and appear strong.

Color Space: An abstract way of showing how afferent colors relate to each other. The most oxmnon color space is that created by RGB.

Color temperature: Refers to the amount of red, green, and blue light emitted by a particular light source.

CompactFlash: A type of removable memory card used in many digital cam­eras. A miniature version of a PC Card — about the size and thickness of a matchbook.

Compositing: The putting together of parts of different images to create a new one. Its similarity to stacking bits of pictures and other things together gives it the alternative name of collage.

Compositing: Combining two or more images in an image editor.

Compression: A process that reduces the size of the image file by eliminating some image data.

Compression (2): The process of reducing the size of digital files by changing the way the data is coded.

Contrast: This measures the differences between the lights and darks in an image

Crash: The sudden, unexpected, and unwelcome non-functioning of a computer.

Crop (1): To use part of an image for the purpose of, for example, improving composition; fitting an image to available space or format; squaring up an image to correct the horizon. (2) To scan the required part of an image.

D

Default settings: The settings that a camera or software offers you in the absence of other instructions.

Definition: A measure of how much detail is recorded Low definition equates with not much fine detail being visible; high definition shows fine detail clearly.

Delete: To remove the name of a file from the computer records. The file itself may still be present, so it may be possible to retrieve it.

Depth of field: The space in front of, and behind, the plane of best focus within which objects appear acceptably sharp.

Digital image: Any picture or graphic in digital form. It could be created directly by drawing, but could also be caught in a camera or scanner.

Digital photography: A type of photography in which any stage involves or uses a digital image.

Digitize: To turn an analog record, such as a print, into a digital file – either using a scanner or a digital

Direct-vision finder: A type of viewfinder in which the subject is observed directly – that is, through a hole or optical device.

Display: A device that provides the temporary visual representation of data. Examples: monitor screen, LCD projector, information panel on camera.

Dodging: The selective lightening of parts of the image that would otherwise appear too dark. Compare Burning-in.

Downloading: Transferring data from one computer device to another.

DPI Dots per inch: The measure of the resolution of an output device as a number of dots or points that can be addressed or printed by the device.

DPI: Short for dots per inch. A measurement of how many dots of color a printer can create per linear inch. Higher dpi means better print quality on some types of printers, but on other printers, dpi is not as crucial to quality.

Driver: The software used by a computer to control or drive a peripheral device, such as a scanner, printer, or removable-media drive.

Drop shadow: A graphic effect in which an object appears to float above a surface, leaving a fuzzy shadow below it and offset to one side.

Duotone (1): A photomechanical printing process using two inks to increase tonal range. (2) A mode of working in image-manipulation software that simulates the printing of an image with two inks.

Dye-sub: Short for dye-sublimation. A type of printer that produces excellent digital prints.

E

Edges: Areas where neighboring image pixels are significantly different in color; in other words, areas of high contrast.

Electronic viewfinder: An LCD screen, viewed under the eyepiece, that shows the view through the camera lens.

EV compensation: A control that slightly increases or decreases the exposure chosen by the camera’s autoexposure mechanism. EV stands for exposure value; EV settings typically appear as EV 1.0, EV 0.0, EV-1.0, and so on.

Exposure: The process of allowing light to reach light-sensitive material to create an image.

F

f/number: A lens-diaphragm setting that determines the amount of light transmitted by the lens.

Feathering: Blurring a border or bounding line by reducing the sharpness or suddenness of the change.

Field of view: (of a lens) This measures the angle of what can be seen at the viewer’s position, from one corner to the opposite corner of the image.

File format: A way of storing image data in a file. Popular image formats include TIFF, JPEG, and GIF.

Fill-in (1): To illuminate shadows cast by the main light by using another light source or reflector to bounce light from the main source into the shadows. (2) To cover an area with color, as achieved by the Bucket tool.

Filter: Software that converts one file format to another or applies effects to the image.

FireWire: The standard for rapid communication between computers and devices. Also called i.Link and IEEE 1394.

Flare: The light that is present in the image but that does not actually help show detail or colors — it is just an unwanted nuisance. It’s caused by stray light bouncing around inside the lens.

FlashPix: A new image file format developed to facilitate the editing and online viewing of digital images. Currently supported by only a handful of software programs.

Flash (1): A very brief burst — less than Wooo of a second in duration – of intense light. This light is added to that from the available, or ambient, light. (2) The equipment used to provide a brief burst or flash of light. (3) A type of electronic memory used in digital cameras.

Flatten: To combine multiple layers and other elements into a background layer.

Focal length: For a simple lens, the distance between the center of the lens and the sharp image of an object at infinity projected by it.

Font: A computer file describing a set of letter forms for display on screen or to be printed.

Format: The shape (or proportion of the length to the width) and the orientation (upright or horizontal) of a picture. Applied to film, it means the size of image.

G

Gamma: A combined measure of how bright and contrasty the screen image appears

Gamut: Say it gamm-ut. The range of colors that a monitor, printer, or other device can produce. Colors that a device can’t create are said to be out of gamut.

GIF: Pronounced gif, with a hard g. GIF stands for graphics interchange format. One of the two image file formats used for images on the World Wide Web. Supports 256-color images only.

GIF: Graphic Interchange Format. A compressed file format designed lor use on the Internet.

Gigabyte: Approximately 1,000 megabytes, or 1 billion bytes. In other words, a really big collection of bytes. Abbreviated as GB.

Grayscale: An image consisting solely of shades of gray, from white to black.

Grayscale (2): A measure of the number of distinct steps between black and white in a record.

GSM: Grammes per square metre. This measure tells you how much substance paper has, which is roughly proportional to how thick it is.

H

Hard copy: A visible form of a computer file printed more or less permanently on to a support such as paper or film.

Histogram: A graphical representation showing the relative numbers of something over a range of values.

Hot-pluggable: A connector that can be disconnected or connected while the computer and machine are powered. Examples are FireWire and USB.

HSB: A color model based on hue (color), saturation (purity or intensity of color), and brightness.

HSL: A variation of HSB, this color model is based on hue, saturation, and lightness.

I

Ink-jet Printing: based on the squirting of extremely tiny drops of ink on to a receiving substrate.

Interpolation: See Pixel interpolation. Jaggies The appearance of stair-stepping artifacts.

J

Jaggies: A nipper term for aliasing. Refers to the jagged appearance of images that have been printed or displayed at too low a resolution.

JPEG: Pronounced jay-peg. One of two formats used for images on the World Wide Web and also used for storing images on many digital cameras. Uses lossy compression, which sometimes damages image quality.

JPEG (2): Joint Photographic Expert Group. A data-compression technique that reduces file sizes with loss of information.

K

K (1): Binary thousand – that is, 1,024. For example. 1,024 bytes is abbreviated KB, or K. (2) The Key ink in the CMYK process. (3) Degrees Kelvin, which measure color temperature.

Keyboard shortcut: A keystroke to execute a command-Key tone The principal or most important tone in an image, usually the mid-tone between white and black.

Kelvin: A scale for measuring the color temperature of light. Abbreviated as K, as in 5000°K. (But in computerland, the initial AT more often refers to kilobytes, as described next.)

Kilobyte: One thousand bytes. Abbreviated as K, as in 64K.

L

Layer mode: A picture-processing or image-manipulation technique that determines the way in which a layer in a multilayer image combines or interacts with the layer below.

LCD: Liquid crystal display. A type of display using materials that can block light.

LCD (2): Stands for liquid crystal display. Often used to refer to the display screen included on some digital cameras.

Lossless compression: A file-compression scheme that doesn’t sacrifice any vital image data in the compression process. Lossless compression tosses only redundant data, so image quality is unaffected.

Lossless compression (2): A computing routine that reduces the size of a digital file without reducing the information in the file – for example, LZW.

Lossy compression: A compression scheme that eliminates important image data in the name of achieving smaller file sizes. High amounts of lossy compression damage image quality.

Lossy compression (2): A computing routine that reduces the size of a digital file but also loses information or data – for example, JPEG.

LPI: Lines per inch. A measure of resolution or fineness of photomechanical reproduction.

Luminance range: A term given to the difference between the brightest and darkest parts of the image

LZW compression: A way of reducing file size that does not damage image quality.

M

Marquee: The dotted outline that results when you select a portion of your image. Also sometimes used as a verb, as in “I’m in the mood to marquee something.”

Marquee (2): A selection tool used in image-manipulation and graphics software.

Mask: To obscure selectively or hold back parts of an image while allowing other parts to show.

Megabyte: One million bytes. Abbreviated as MB. See bit.

Megapixel: Refers to digital cameras that can capture high-resolution images; technically reserved for cameras that can capture 1 million pixels or more.

Megapixel (2): One million pixels; used to describe a digital camera in terms of sensor resolutions.

Menu: A list of options offered by the camera. You must select one to set the camera to that option.

Memory card: An electronic chip encased in a slim plastic casing; it stores information such as image data. Memory cards are often nicknamed “digital film.” There are many kinds and standards.

Memory Stick: a memory card used by several Sony digital cameras and peripheral devices. About the size of a stick of chewing gum.

Metadata: Extra data that gets stored along with the primary image data in an image file. Metadata often includes information such as aperture, shutter speed, and EV setting used to capture the film, and can be viewed using special software.

Metering mode: Refers to the way a camera’s autoexposure mechanism reads the light in a scene. Common modes include spot metering, which bases exposure on light in the center of the frame only; center-weighted metering, which reads the entire scene but gives more emphasis to the subject in the center of the frame; and matrix or multizone metering, which calculates exposure based on the entire frame.

Moire: A pattern of alternating light and dark bands or colors caused by interference between two or more superimposed arrays or patterns that differ in phase, orientation, or frequency.

Monochrome: A photograph or image made of black, white, and grays, which may or may not be tinted.

Morphs: Digital distortions that can be highly and precisely localized.

N

Navigate: To move through menus until you find and select the control option you are looking for.

Nearest neighbor: A type of interpolation in which the value of the new pixel is copied from the nearest pixel to it.

Noise: Irregularities in an image that reduce the information content.

Noise: Graininess in an image, caused by too little light or a defect in the electrical signal generated during the image-capture process.

NTSC: A video format used by televisions and VCRs in North America. Many digital cameras can send picture signals to a TV or VCR in this format.

O

Opacity: A measure of how much can be “seen” through a layer.

Operating system: A special type of software that controls the computer itself and the way it interacts with you. It does things like organizing files, managing connected devices, and putting the display on to the monitor.

Optical viewfinder: A type of viewfinder that shows a subject through an optical system, rather than via a monitor screen.

Out-of-gamut: Colors from one color system that cannot be seen or reproduced in another.

Output: A hard-copy printout of a digital file – for example, an ink-jet print.

P

Paint: To apply color, texture, or effect with a digital “brush.”

PAL: The video format common in Europe and several other countries. Few digital cameras sold in North America can output pictures in this video format (see also NTSC).

Palette: (1) A set of tools, colors, or shapes. (2) A range or selection of colors.

PCMCIA Card: A type of removable memory card used in some models of digital cameras. Now often referred to simply as PC Cards. (PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association.)

Peripheral: Any device connected to a computer – for example, printer, monitor, scanner, or modem.

Photo CD: A special image format used for writing images to a CD.

Photomontage: A photographic image made from the combination of several other photographic images.

PICT: A graphic file format used on Mac OS.

PICT (2): The standard format for Macintosh system images. The equivalent of BMP on the Windows platform, PICT is most widely used when creating images for use as system resources, such as startup screens.

Pixel: Short for picture element. The basic building block of every image.

Pixel: Short for picture element. Pixels are the building blocks of the image. Usually square in shape, they are virtual, having no size until they are printed or displayed.

Pixel interpolation: A mathematical process for working out new intermediate values between known ones. It is used to interpose new pixels between existing pixels.

Pixelated: Describes images in which the individual picture elements – square blocks of color – can be easily seen.

Platform: A fancy way of saying “type of computer system.” Most folks work either on the PC platform or the Macintosh platform.

Plug-in: An application software that works in conjunction with a host program into which it is “plugged” so that it operates as if part of the program itself.

Posterization: The representation of an image that results in a banded appearance and flat areas of color.

PPI: Points per inch. The number of points that are seen or resolved by a scanning device per linear inch.

PPI(2): Stands for pixels per inch. Used to state image resolution. Measured in terms of the number of pixels per linear inch. A higher ppi translates to better-looking printed images.

Pre-scan: In image acquisition, a quick view of the object to be scanned, taken at a low resolution for cropping, for example.

Prosumer: A term applied to cameras designed for amateur or hobbyist photographers but capable of making professional-quality images.

R

RAM: Random Access Memory. The component of the computer in which information can be stored or rapidly accessed.

Raster: The grid-like arrangement of pixels or dots of ink, like that of a chessboard.

Read: To access or remove information from a storage device such as a hard disk or CD-ROM.

Resampling: Adding or deleting image pixels. A large amount of resampling degrades images.

Resolution: The number of pixels per linear inch (ppi) in an image. Generally speaking, higher resolution means better images. Also used to describe printer, screen, or scanner capabilities.

Resizing: Changing resolution or file size of an image.

RGB: Red Green Blue. A color model that defines colors in terms of relative amounts of red, green, and blue components.

RGB(2): The standard color model for digital images; all colors are created by mixing red, green, and blue light.

Rubylith: A red paint applied to negative film that prevents painted areas from being printed out.

S

Saturation: A measure of intensity; a highly saturated color is said to be pure.

Scan: To use a machine to make a digital copy of your original photograph.

Scrolling: The process of moving to a different portion of a file that is too large for the whole to fit on to a monitor screen.

Selection: A defined area of the image that you can work on and to which you apply effects.

Sharpness: A subjective judgment of how clearly details can be seen in an image.

Sharpening: Applying an image-correction filter inside an image editor to create the appearance of sharper focus.

SLR: Single-lens reflex. This type of camera uses the same lens for viewing as for taking the picture. For focusing and framing, you view the image on a focusing screen; the image you see on the screen is how your photo will turn out.

SmartMedia: A thin, matchbook-sized, removable memory card used in some digital cameras.

Softening: An effect that surrounds sharp outlines with blur, often with more blur at high-contrast edges than at low-contrast ones.

Soft proofing: The use of a monitor screen to proof or confirm the quality of an image.

Stair-stepping: The jagged, rough, or step-like reproduction of a line or boundary that is intended to be smooth.

Suffix: The dot and a few letters added after the file name. It is used by some operating systems.

T

Telephoto: An optical construction that enables the physical length of the lens to be less than the focal length.

Thumbnail: The representation of an image as a small, low-resolution version.

TIFF: Pronounced tiff, as in little quarrel. Stands for tagged image file format. A popular image format supported by most Macintosh and Windows programs.

Tint (1): A color that can be reproduced with process colors; a process color. (2) An overall, usually light, coloring that tends to affect areas with density but not clear areas.

Tolerance setting: This determines how different a pixel can be before it is ignored. A low tolerance selects very similar pixels; a high tolerance selects a wide range of pixels.

Tone reproduction: In photography, this describes the way in which a record represents the changes of light and dark. When you get it right, it looks convincing and part of the effect of the image.

Transfer functions: These define the way one measure changes as a result of applying an effect — for example, dark tones are made less dark, while light tones become darker. A curve represents these changes through the shape of its line.

Transparency adapter: An accessory light source that enables a scanner to scan transparencies.

TWAIN: Say it twain, as in “never the twain shall meet.” A special software interface that enables image-editing programs to access images captured by digital cameras and scanners.

TWAIN(2): A standardized software “bridge” used by computers to control scanners via scanner drivers.

U

Undo: To reverse an editing or similar action within application software.

Unsharp masking: The process of using the Unsharp Mask filter, found in many image-editing programs, to create the appearance of a more focused image. The same thing as sharpening an image, only more impressive sounding.

Uploading: The same as downloading; the process of transferring data between two computer devices.

USB: Stands for Universal Serial Bus. A type of high-speed port included on computers. USB ports permit easier connection of USB-compatible peripheral devices such as digital cameras, printers, and memory-card readers.

USB(2): Universal Serial Bus – a standard port design for connecting peripheral devices – for example, a digital camera, telecommunications equipment,or a printer – to a computer.

USM: Unsharp Mask. An image-processing technique that has the effect of improving the apparent sharpness of an image.

V

Veiling: flare Light – like an overall mist – in the image that does not form the image. It lowers contrast.

W

Warm colors: Hues such as reds, through oranges, to yellows.

White balancing: Adjusting the camera to compensate for the type of light hitting the photographic subject. Eliminates unwanted color casts produced by some light sources, such as fluorescent office lighting.

Write: To commit data on to a storage medium – for example, a CD-R.

Z

Zip: The proprietary name for a data-storage system.

You can do a search on Google or another major search engine for photography contests and you will find several. However, if a company has a sponsored advertisement that is promoting their contest it is likely that they are using the contest to promote their membership, and they will in turn not only take you photograph but hit you with an email asking for a hefty membership fee. Anyone who is sponsoring a true “contest” will not need to promote their site using advertising. Why would you advertise to give away money???

Some of the better photography contest sites that I have found to be legitimate are not just a photography site. These legitimate sites have another cause they are working for, such as magazines or wildlife preservation oraganizations. These types of organizations are not simply sponsoring “contests” that supposedly give away money. They have a real cause they are working for such as preserving nature areas and wildlife which by the way is something I personally support.

To help you with your search I have compiled a few names of organizations that sponsor photography contests. Forest Wander does not endorse or are affiliated with these organizations or companies in any way. I do not even have a link to or from them, I simply want to give you good advice so you do not get ripped off.

Photography sites I have researched

The National Wildlife Federation is one of my favorite contests that I know of. This organization is dedicated to preserving and promoting wildlife preservation in our great nation.

DPChallenge A Digital Photography contest is a great site to promote your work and see what the photography community thinks about your work.

Better Photo also provides a nice site that you can share you work and promote your abilities in the photography community. They also provide free courses.

International Photography Awards is sponsired by several magazines and other entities that can actually support a contest.

Outdoor Photographer Magazine is another site that is sponsored by their magazine sales. They have a pretty good magazine too! The have monthly “Win This” Contests.

Nature’s Best Photography Magazine also is a magazine sales and sponsored contest site. They focus primarily on nature type photography.

POP Photo is another site that has several contests to choose from.

Although there are several other activities throughout the state of West Virginia such as fishing, hunting, white water river rafting, I enjoy just simply exploring and finding the most beautiful areas to photograph. Exploring and Photography is what the good Lord has given me for a new hobby once I was Born Again. You know when you turn your life over to Him He will replace the old corrupt things of the world with the pleasant things that are of Him. Whenever I get away and go up to the mountains it is so relaxing to find a beautiful spot, just relax, and read the Holy Bible. When you get away from all of the hustle and bustle of daily life you can focus more on the presence and love of God almighty. One day there is going to be a New Heaven and a New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. There will no longer be corruption, death or despair and depression. He has all this prepared for those that love Him and except the precious gift of His son Jesus Christ.

In order to help those that visit this site and have the same interests in photography, I have compiled a list of areas that are very nice to visit and explore when you get a chance to either get away from where you live outside of West Virginia, or if you are a resident of the Mountain State. I am not going to provide website links but simply just the name of the places that you can visit and a link to my favorite photograph of the mentioned area. You can use any search engine such as Google or others to find the official sites and maps of the areas. You can recognize the names of these areas in the following paragraphs by the italicized fonts.

The Monongahela National Forest stretches from the southeastern region of West Virginia all the way to the northeastern panhandle area of the state. The Monongahela National Forest contains several smaller individual parks that have recreational areas, which provide activities for everyone in your family. I highly recommend obtaining a Monongahela National Forest map so you can see all of the individual parks and areas of interest through the areas. We will give some details about my favorites that the Lord has allowed me by His grace to visit in this article however, there are so many areas to visit I could never include them all in an article.

One of the most popular areas is the Cranberry Wilderness area, which is in the lower parts of the Monongahela National Forest . Cranberry Glades is a unique and picturesque area for hiking, camping, fishing and photography. The glades are a type of boggy swampy forest area that usually only exists in areas more northern than West Virginia . Cranberry Glades Botanical Area has a very nice boardwalk that you may walk on to preserve the bog and see the diverse plant life that is in the swampy forest. Some of the unique types of flowers that you may happen across are carnivorous insect eating plants that trap bugs that inadvertently climb into the plants mouth! There is a visitor center just outside of the road that leads to the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area that you can stop of and visit to learn about all of the areas wildlife and plant life that exist in the area. If you continue past the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area you will enter into the Cranberry Wilderness Backcountry which is a wonderful area for hiking, exploring, camping and fishing. You should be aware that black bears, bob cats and coyotes live in these areas so if you hike or camp throughout the area make certain to keep your food put away because they can smell your food for a long way. The backcountry is especially a nice area for photographing streams and falls of the runs that come down the mountain into the cranberry river.

Within the Cranberry Wilderness Area is another unique scenic park, which is called The Falls of Hills Creek. This is probably one of my most favorite areas in all of West Virginia . The Falls of Hills Creek is an area that contains 3 distinct and beautiful waterfalls that cascade down the mountain from the swampy bog area that is up above. There is a wooden boardwalk and stairs that lead to all of the falls but some are more beautiful and scenic if you actually rough it and climb down the mountains (at your own risk of course). The first waterfall at The Falls of Hills Creek is 25 feet high and is one of the most beautiful. This fall is not very visible from the boardwalk but it is very beautiful, if you can climb down to see it (again at your own risk, this is very dangerous). Thankfully, the good Lord has allowed me to climb down safely and get some wonderful shots of this fall from the creek side and on a rock in the middle of the creek as well as directly in front of the fall. Next throughout the path of The Falls of Hills Creek is a nice viewing area of the creek and the pools of water that have collected as the water rushes through the area. A nice little trail and a bridge that crosses the creek provide a very comfortable means of getting to the next waterfall. The second waterfall at The Falls of Hills Creek is 45 feet high and is extremely beautiful. The boardwalk and platform provides a convenient viewing area directly in front of the waterfall and even has a little bench that you can set on and relax. Just down the trail, a short ways is the next fall, which is the highest waterfall in the park. This waterfall is an amazing 65 feet high and is absolutely beautiful to see and photograph.

If you continue past The Falls of Hills Creek and the Cranberry Wilderness Area, you will come to another wonderful place of interest. The Highland Scenic Highway is a nice place to drive and even hike out some trails along the way. This road is about 15 miles long and is very scenic along each mile of the road. Several stops along the way provide a nice picnic area and high overlook scenic views from the mountaintop. There is very little traffic on this road and it is a nice scenic drive through the wilderness. The Williams River and Tea Creek are also areas along the Highland Scenic Highway that are great places to fish, camp and hike.

Another part of the Monongahela National Forest is also famous for the Cass Scenic Railroad, which is an old-fashioned steam locomotive that takes you on a ride up the mountain for a trip that lasts several hours. Plan to take a picnic lunch and bring the kids because they will enjoy the ride. The train moves at a slow pace and allows you to openly see and photograph the scenery as you meander up the mountain. It is advisable for you to purchase tickets ahead of time during busy periods of the year so you are not left behind. The little rural town of Cass has old-fashioned logging cottages that you can stay in overnight or through the week.

Beartown State Park is a nice area to visit as well. The pathway out to the rocks and formations is very smooth and gradual. The winding boardwalks and trails provide a nice area that is enjoyable for everyone. This is definitely worth the visit if you are in the area. Do not hesitate to take your camera and get some pictures because you are certain to be fascinated by the scenery Beartown State Park provides.

Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia and is very remote. It is about 12 miles out a rural road, which is very beautiful and scenic. You can see for miles up on Spruce Knob as the park service has provided a nice lookout tower that you can climb up and take in the mountain top view from the highest point in West Virginia . Make certain that you take a little snack or a picnic lunch out to the area because there are absolutely no stores or especially fast food restaurants out there, and I am glad it is that way. The wind blows constantly up on top of Spruce Knob as there are not any hills or trees around to slow the wind down. The Spruce trees that are up there have all of their branches growing on one side, which is the side that the wind does not blow.

Just up the road from Spruce Knob is one of the most notable rock formations in West Virginia . Seneca Rocks is very majestic and beautiful for its grandeur and unique shape. Seneca Rock has a nice visitor’s center that you may go in and take a break from your travels. They have several exhibits in the visitors center that teach you about the area and the culture as well as the history of the area. Rock climbing and repelling is one of the unique attractions that Seneca Rocks offers because of its vertical slope. The park area provides a nice trail that can be hiked up from the base and it approximately 1 and ½ miles up from the bottom of the rock formation. There is also the creek below that offers wonderful fishing and camping areas that provide a nice mountain wilderness experience. There are several places to eat and stay in the area so convenience is not an issue when visiting Seneca Rock. Seneca Caverns is also a nice place to visit that is in the area. These caverns are very beautiful and neat to visit and photograph. The admission is cheap and it is an easy hike through the caverns as you are lead by the guide. Beware of the dark though; they turn the lights out on you!

Germany Valley is a wonderful valley that can be viewed from a roadside pull off and overlook. The valley looks like a Swedish town or area in the Rockies somewhere. It is well worth the trip up the mountain to get a bird’s eye view of the farms and homesteads below. I like to think of how this looked to those who were exploring this area when they first saw the views from the mountaintop.

One of the most unique and remote areas of West Virginia is Dolly Sods. This wonderfully diverse area of nature is a virtual paradise that provides camping and hiking areas galore. This area is very remote and beautiful park area that has wild flowers and berries that scour the landscape. The views from up on the mountaintop are breathtakingly spectacular. Dolly Sods takes a while to get out to and there is no major road that leads to the park, but there is a nice rural route with country homes and farms along the way that give access to the park. Watch closely for the road that leads out there because you will miss it if you are not careful. There are all kinds of nice areas to camp throughout the trails at Dolly Sods as well as a designated campground. Be careful not to get lost out the wilderness trails in Dolly Sods as they are very remote and seldom traveled. There are sign in and sign out sheets at the head of each trail, so make certain you sign these in case someone has to come looking for you. The weather and clouds move extremely fast up here and you should be prepared for anything at a moments notice, the wind blows constantly and in my opinion is responsible for the wonderfully fresh air. The air seems so clean up here and is a refreshing change from the air that you breathe in populated areas. There are wild azaleas and wild rhododendrons that are scattered throughout the mountainsides. The smell of these flowers is so sweet and this adds to the term that West Virginia is “Almost Heaven”.

The last place on our stop for this article is Blackwater Falls State Park . This wonderful park is my favorite place I have stayed overnight so far. This is perfect for the entire family, as there is a petting zoo, horse back riding, swimming and other recreational activities that provide fun and adventure for everyone. Do not get discouraged when you first get there by just going to the main waterfalls and thinking that there is nothing else to explore. Make certain that you travel out to the lodge and take a hike out the Elakala trail where Elakala waterfalls are. As far as I am concerned, the Elakala Falls are even more beautiful than the main Blackwater falls. The Pendleton waterfalls are very nice also and provide a challenge to when hiking down the trail that leads to the waterfalls. Make certain that someone is with you or at least someone knows where you are going. There are also several trails that you can hike out which provide breathtaking views of the Blackwater River Canyon .

Overall, the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia is very rugged and beautiful. Make sure you are prepared to visit the area so you can make the most out of your trip.

During the modern technology age that we live in today it would seem unlikely to find a place that is seemingly untouched that flourishes with abundant wildlife and nature scenery around every turn. Nestled alongside a country forest road in one of the most remote areas of West Virginia is a modern day Garden of Eden known as Seneca Creek.

The Entrance

If you are not careful, you will drive right past the entrance of the trail that leads into the wilderness area. Near Spruce Knob West Virginia (which is the highest mountain point in West Virginia) you will see a little parking area that accommodates at most 10 to 12 vehicles. You will also see a map and accompanying common sense points to consider before embarking on a Seneca wilderness adventure.

Planning

It is highly recommended that you prepare for a lengthy hike to get to the best areas of the creek, but that is why this area is so unique. It takes someone who is wants to experience nature’s beauty and not just party and trash up the place. So it is around a 4 to 5 mile hike that gradually slopes downward as you descend into the Seneca valley canyon.

Judy Springs is a good area to camp and have as a goal to reach by mid-day if you are hiking with a group or family members. This gives you plenty of time to set up a tent and camping area before dark. The trail is fairly smooth and not hard to walk by any means. You will find that the creek is very small at the beginning and you should keep in mind that you are starting from about 5000 feet in elevation where there is little run off to feed the creek.

The Trail

The Seneca Creek trail is lined with ever green trees at the beginning and becomes more open and scenic as you walk further into the forest. As you reach about 1 to 2 miles into the forest you will notice the creek merges with other smaller runs from the mountainside and the water begins to exhibit the wonderful babbling sounds of a mountain stream. Once you have made it this far you will begin to see some nice little campsites along the trail.

The first campsites and hiking areas are very nice but pale in comparison to what lay ahead for the determined nature enthusiast. You will come to the first small waterfall and if you take the time to stop and watch you will see native brown trout swimming in the pool of water below. Fly fishing is the only type of fishing allowed in Seneca Creek so make certain you have your portable fly pole and trout stamp before attempting to harvest trout from this pristine creek as you may find yourself paying a hefty fine to a man in a green uniform.

Open fields filled with wildflowers and berries are around every corner. The smell of pollen and nectar fills the air if you are here in the early summer time. It is a good time to gather some berries to eat now or save for later at camp if you have brought a container to carry them. But be careful this area is filled with Black Bear that may want your berries and if they approach you just let them have them, remember this is their home, not yours.

You will need to cross the creek a few times and if the water is up at all you will get your feet wet; so hopefully you are wearing boots or at least have another pair of shoes to wear around camp while your boots are drying next to the camp fire.

The Campsite

Once you reach Judy Springs you will know for certain that you have reached your destination. The trail opens up into a beautiful field and you feel like you have been a dark jungle for the past 3 or 4 hours that it took for you to get here.

There will likely be several choices to choose from where to place your tent and where you will relax. There are campsites on both sides of the creek and there are enough that if you have a few neighbors that have braved the trail around the same time you did will not be too close. A nice wooden bridge separates the campsite areas and gives a pretty view of the creek as it meanders by.

You should take a mental note of the trees that are near the tent sites and make use of the methods that others have used to store their food in the trees. Bet you can guess why others have stored their food in the trees? Yep, that’s right this is to keep the bears out of your tent at night. They have a very powerful sense of smell and can smell even a piece of bubble gum in your pocket. Remember they have to survive out here.

There are apple trees all around the Judy Springs area so if you are here at the right time you will be blessed with the wonderful smell of apple blossoms. There are also several small waterfalls around this area and you must see the amazing Judy Springs that come right out of the side of a mountain. If you hike just a little ways up the mountain you will find some amazing meadows filled with berry bushes and meadow grass, this is the perfect place to just sit and relax.

The Waterfalls

After setting up your campsite, gathering firewood for the night and maybe resting for a little while why not go ahead and continue down the trail before it gets dark? As you walk down the Seneca trail you begin to realize the beauty of this place and why it is highly recommended that you camp around this area. Natural waterslides for playing and swimming are carved out of the rocks and small waterfalls abound each step of the trail. Seats and tables made from rocks are stacked every so often offering a place for you to set and relax next to a creek side fire place.

Waterfalls run down the mountainside and flow into the creek with wonderful splendor and grace. The wild rhododendrons line the creek side and waterfalls which paint a picture from the great artist. The water is crystal clear and you can see dozens of native brown trout zipping up and down the stream with swift accuracy.

The further you walk the more beautiful the scenery becomes. Again, you will need to cross the creek and get your feet wet and you can hear a rush of water that echoes through the creek valley. The water seems so inviting for swimming and bathing that you simply cannot help to take a dip in the natural made pools of perfectly clear and clean water. Once you cross the creek and continue down the trail a little way you find the most beautiful waterfall you have ever seen.

This waterfall is approximately a perfect 25’ feet high that spills into a large pool of crystal clear azure blue water. Trout swim all around the area that the water pours into the pool hoping to catch a bite to eat from the rushing water. You completely understand why this place is considered a modern day Eden and begin to only wish that you could stay here forever.

Other Trails

There are several other trails that branch off of the Seneca trail which are highly recommended for you to explore while on your stay here. This Includes the Allegheny mountain trail which follows the ridge top above the Seneca valley. Horton trail is one of many favorites that offer a wonderful view of the uninhabited mountainsides. The natural wildflowers and amazing views make this a great place to hike and explore. This trail leads up to Spruce Knob which is the highest point in West Virginia if you follow it for several miles up hill.

You should first print out a map of the Seneca creek area so that you can research and plan your hiking nature adventure prior to visiting this area. Even though the trails are marked it is nice to know how close you are to each trail head and where to watch for the trail marker just in case a bear has gnawed up the wooden sign (which you will see).

Exploring

After you pass the waterfalls and swimming areas which are very beautiful and peaceful you may choose to continue and see what else is down the trail. This is highly recommended for explorers and not advisable for the faint of heart or weary of body. As you continue you will see that the trail is quickly beginning to diminish and that there is not much of a beaten path. However, the scenery becomes completely amazing as you see that even those that have hiked the 6 or 7 miles to the end of the well traveled Seneca trail have not continued on through the rugged unmaintained canyon.

You should have a good hiking stick, and have at least a couple of friends with you if you are going to go this far. You will not likely see anyone down this part of the creek as there are hill slides and treacherous rocks each step of the way. You will find a man made pole bridge that stretches across a rough hill slide and you are truly thankful that someone has taken the time to build this.

Again, you will need to cross the creek if you plan to continue on the pathway through the canyon and this is probably the hardest place to cross as you see that very few have made a place to cross before you. The trail becomes more and more overgrown and may begin to wonder if you should continue. But if you have studied your trail map you will see that further down the creek canyon is a place called The Falls of Seneca. It is no doubt worth the effort to find this place that few have ever or will ever visit in the modern day garden of Eden at Seneca Creek West Virginia.