Arts and Photography

It's true that so many amazing sceneries can be found on land worth taking photos of. There are the beautiful landscapes, sunsets, mountain ranges, plains and a lot more.

But while these are easily available to people anywhere they may go while on land, there are also wonderful sceneries awaiting you at the bottom of the sea. And it's very possible these days to take images of what's underneath from sea creatures, plants and caves.

So what type of camera is best for underwater photography? Is it the compact point and shoot or the more advanced DSLR?

Experts point out that, of course, the DSLR is the sure winner. Being an advanced photographic device, it has its advantages over the compact unit. Firstly, one is able to change lenses depending on his needs in terms of focal length and optics. Secondly, it assures of quality images owing to its large sensor. Thirdly, it has reduced shutter lag and focus delays.

But of course, certain features of compact digital cameras should not be ignored. Despite their small size, they are also capable of capturing great photos under the sea.

Some advantages of a compact underwater camera include its small size and light weight which means it's very ideal for travel, less drag when underwater and lower cost compared to the DSLR. You should also know that a point and shoot camera can shoot video and in the event you get your lenses wet, you can always shoot using the macro mode in wide-angle.

Now if you're on a budget and would like to just get the compact digital camera for your underwater photography, what features should you look for?

The first consideration is a unit that has full manual mode. The experts believe this is an important factor particularly in controlling light.

Get a top quality housing for underwater use. There are plenty available today but if possible, find one that allows you to easily adjust the manual controls including the aperture and shutter speed.

Find out if the brand can take images in wet lenses, macro mode and wide angle. You can also ask if t is able to take fisheye lens.

Look for low shutter lag and long battery life features as well.

A good auto focus feature is also necessary so ask about it from the staff. Keep in mind that certain cameras are slow to focus when underwater.

Some older cameras that can help you achieve your goal when doing underwater photography are the Canon A570 and G9, Olympus 5050 and SP350. There are newer models, however, that can perform better.

One of the latest is the ReefMaster Mini. It is a dive camera that is totally waterproof and one that can be used up to 200 feet. This 9-megapixel camera is very affordable and features automatic settings for diving and snorkeling. It also comes with a color correction software and detachable wide angle lens.

The Canon S95/S100 is also strongly recommended. It comes in a Recsea housing made from solid aluminum and has F2.0 lens as well as a 3-inch LCD.

So choose wisely the digital camera that fits your need to ensure that you get quality images when snorkeling or diving.

For information on photography digital cameras please visit http://www.42photo.com/.

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Most people who visit the state and federal parks in the United States are in awe of the beauty in nature that has been preserved for them and their children and grandchildren. Still, even if they go out of their way to visit most of the state and national parks they are only getting half the picture, they are seeing what is above ground and not necessarily what is under the water, where a whole new ecosystem exists.

It is for this reason that the National Park system in the United States encourages underwater snorkeling and diving in many of its parks. And what better way to learn about all you are missing than to get a book that shows you through pictures what it is all about? If this sounds good to you, then let me make a book recommendation to you of a book I personally own myself:

"Underwater Wonders of The National Parks -Diving and Snorkeling Guide Compiled by the National Park Service" by Daniel J. Lenihan and John D. Brooks; Diane Publishing Company; 1998. ISBN: 978-0756765231.

You will be amazed at all the information in this picture book, as it lists camping areas, locations, pictures of underwater spectacular scenes, and where to find them, along with all the best places to eat, stay and get supplies. Check out the coral reefs, Lake Superior, sunken ships, Hawaii's coasts, the Channel Islands in California, in fact there are over 60-locations listed in the book.

This is perhaps the best introduction to the underwater wonders of the United States and best of all it's all in pictures, truly incredible. I recommend this book for snorkelers, diving tourists or beginners. And even if you don't dive or have never tried snorkeling, you'll love this book.

Lance Winslow enjoys community philanthropy - Lance Winslow likes small business. Lance Winslow has also been involved in the Oil Industry; http://www.oilchangeguys.com/aboutus.shtml.

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I was extremely happy with the recent e-book I purchased from Kindle entitled, "How to paint an underwater scene" by Sherri Carden. I have always wanted to learn to paint, but have never had the time or money to actually take lessons.

This book was easy to follow and was nicely designed. I liked that it didn't have too many extraneous instructions or a huge amount of rules to follow. What I found to be most helpful was the ease of use of this book. I also liked that there was professionalism as well as creativity in it's approach.

I have always found the sea fascinating, my entire life. The ocean creatures, seaweed, shells and water have always been a challenge for me. So when I first purchased this book, it was with the hope that I would be able to create a painting. I was able to utilize the instructions and information in such a way that I could create my own versions of the underwater scene. I loved that there was instructions on painting a mermaid as well, as I have always had an affinity for these creatures of the sea.

I loved experimenting with acrylic paints, as I have never used them before. I had always been afraid to use them, and had only dabbled once or twice with watercolors. However, since the instructions were easy to follow, I had no problem grasping the concept of working with acrylic paints. It was so much fun, and I will use these techniques in the future to create other works of art.

This book enabled me to experience my own creativity, and explore my skills as an artist. It is an experience I would not have had if I hadn't purchased this book. I learned how to work with the medium, paint over my mistakes and play a little with the paint. It was a first for me.

Because of the easy to follow instructions, it was no problem to create my first canvas painting! I have even created several pieces to share with family and friends for the holidays. I am thrilled. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn how to create an amazing painting in a very short time.

I hope this review will be helpful for other readers so that they too can enjoy the creative process, and explore their own "inner artist."

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