Probably the best shooting tip ever given to me was, “F8 and be there,” which basically meant being in the right place at the right time. From framing to composition, and perspective to timing, there are many tricks of the trade a photographer can use to make better pictures.

So if your looking to brush up on some basics, or just looking for some good, quick photo tips — Kodak has lots of information, tips, and fun ideas to share with you on their website. Kodak’s Taking Great Pictures

By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. contractor and her husband have been fired after her photograph of 20 flag-draped coffins of American troops going home from Iraq was published in violation of military rules.

“I lost my job and they let my husband go as well,” Tami Silicio, who loaded U.S. military cargo at Kuwait International Airport for a U.S. company, told Reuters in an e-mail response to questions. The Pentagon tightly restricts publication of photographs of coffins with the remains of U.S. troops and has forbidden journalists from taking pictures at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, the first stop for the bodies of troops being sent home.

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By Alicia Karen Elkins

If you publish much work, chances are good that your work has appeared online without your permission. Recouping your losses is an aggravating and lengthy procedure, but it can be executed successfully. Here is the procedure for getting your fair market value from sites that infringe upon your copyright or illegally use your intellectual property.

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Say you just snapped a work of art or a prize-winning photo. Do you own the rights to this photograph — and how does one copyright this image? Unless the photo was made as an employee for a company, or you have a written and signed agreement saying otherwise, you own the rights to your work and its copyright.

The American Society of Media Photographers has released a mini-guide as a service to photographers, buyers and users of intellectual property. Download a copy of this guide here.

Rewrites the Definition of Superior Quality and Performance.

Latest Coolpix Camera Establishes New Benchmark for High-End Consumer Digital Camera Market - to The Power Of 8

MELVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 28 (PRNewswire) — Nikon has taken the lead in the popular and powerful “prosumer” camera category with its new Coolpix 8700 digital camera (http://www.nikoncoolpix.com). This remarkable new product combines 8.0-megapixel resolution with an 8x Optical Zoom-Nikkor ED lens (35-280 mm, *35mm equivalent) and legendary Nikon quality and design to bring experienced digital photographers the most versatile and capable compact digital camera available today. The Nikon Coolpix 8700’s impressive performance and stunning images will quickly establish it as the new flagship for high-end consumer compact digital cameras.

Including the First Five Megapixel Digital Elph Camera. New Top Tier PowerShot S500 Digital ELPH Camera Adds High Resolution Sensor as Entire New Elph Line Streamlines Image Printing and Sharing Process.

LAS VEGAS (PMA, BOOTH # E11), Feb. 9, 2004 — Whether it is the picture-perfect merger of style and substance or simply an inevitable advance, Canon’s newly enhanced line of “go anywhere” Digital ELPH cameras—including its first high-resolution five megapixel model—continue to capture consumer consciousness and those irreplaceable images that only exist because a diminutive digital camera was conveniently in-pocket, in-purse and on-hand to preserve memorable moments.

Well another year has passed by and I was reviewing my old website and realized I haven’t done much with it in the past few years. Updating the old site was always put on the back burner and it look so 90ish. It was definately time for a change.

I began looking at the sites I like to visit often and realized the thing that attracts me, and many others, to today’s popular sites is its personality and interactivity. So in my quest to be able to offer something along these lines, I offer you the opportunity to participate and contribute along with me at the new photosbyray.net.

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SHAMOKIN — The News-Item has won statewide awards for writing and photography in the prestigious Keystone Press Awards contest, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA).

The News-Item won three awards in the 2003 competition, which involves work published the previous year. The newspaper competes in Division V (daily newspapers under 20,000 circulation), which involves dozens of newspapers throughout Pennsylvania.)

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SHAMOKIN - News Item staff photographer Ray Silcox has won a 2002 Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) award.

His photograph of murder suspect Brandon Brown, his eyes closed, being led out of a court proceeding by police officers, won second place in the News Photo category. A crowd of youngsters and others were looking on in the background of the photograph, which was published Sept. 28. Silcox, who has been a newspaper photographer since 1983, has been with The News-Item for two years. He was previously employed with The Citizen-Standard, The News-Item’s sister weekly in Valley View, for six years.

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