Have
you seen the new Microsoft Office 2007 yet? It's very
different than the previous versions. If you're anything
like me your first reaction was "Where's my stuff!"
Well take heart, it's all still there. It's
just in a different place.
Most of the changes are in the Ribbon, the area that spans
the top of Word. The Ribbon brings the most popular commands
to the forefront, so you don't have to hunt in various parts
of the program for things you do all the time.
There are three basic components to the Ribbon. It's good to
know what each one is called so that you understand how to
use it.
Tabs. There are seven basic ones across the top.
Each represents an activity area.
Groups. Each tab has several groups that show
related items together.
Commands. A command is a button, a box to enter
information, or a menu.
Everything on a tab has been selected according to user
activities. For example, the Home tab contains all
the things you use most often, such as the commands in the
Font group for changing text font: Font,
Font Size, Bold, Italic, and so on.
Click here for
free
information on how to use the new
Word 2007.
I am teaching a PowerPoint course at OUC College in
Salmon Arm for 3 nights starting March 12 6:30 - 9:30
pm. Sign up by calling 250-804-8888
Do you want to brush
up on your computer skills? RDSweb Training has the following
classes:
·Microsoft Word & Excel
·Photo Editing &
Restoration
·Digital Photography
·Internet & Email
·Windows for Beginners
·Powerpoint
·Quickbooks
·Computer Maintenance
Learn in a fun
environment with a small class size for individual attention.
I am also teaching at the Seniors
Drop in Centre on Hudson St in Salmon Arm and at OUC Collage
also in Salmon Arm.
For more information on any of the
classes call me at 250-675-4801 or 250-833-2999
Tips & Tricks is a quarterly
newsletter designed to help with some of your common computer
problems. If you have a question send it to
jude@RDSweb.net and I’ll do my best to answer it.
Digital Photography Tip
Romantic Candlelight
Have you ever wanted to capture a
beautiful candlelit scene, or perhaps a stunning close-up of
your favorite candle? The results can be amazing and
breathtaking.
Candlelight is a golden light and can
invoke a feeling of romance, serenity and warmth.
Unfortunately candles don't put off a lot of light, which
can make shooting a definite challenge. Here are a few tips
to get you started:
Turn off Your Flash and the Lights
- This might seem obvious, but it is very
important. If you leave your flash or other lights on you
will cancel out all the beautiful light from your candles.
Combat Slow Shutter Speeds
There is very little you can do to increase the light in the
scene, so you will be working with a slow shutter speed,
which can easily result in a blurry photo either from the
camera or the subject moving. Here are some tips that can
help:
Use a tripod - Tripods are
great for eliminating camera shake; just be careful that
you move the camera as little as possible when pressing
the shutter button. Also make sure your subject tries to
stay as still as possible during the exposure.
Increase your ISO - The
higher the ISO, the faster the shutter speed you will be
able to use. However there is a trade-off, because the
higher the ISO the more grain you will have in your
picture. I would set your ISO to at least 400, and no
higher than 800. If you aren't enlarging the pictures,
800 should be fine.
Choose a small aperture -
Once again, the smaller your aperture, the faster your
shutter speed will be. And again there is a trade-off; a
smaller aperture will result in a smaller depth of
field, so be sure to focus 1/3 of the way into the
frame.
Composition
Keep the
lights on - While you
are setting up the shot, keep the lights on. Trust me;
it is a lot easier when you can see what you are doing.
Be aware of candle
position - You
will want to position the candles closer to the
camera than the subject. This will prevent a
silhouette effect. It also helps to have the candles
at roughly the same height as the subject's face;
otherwise you could get some harsh shadows. Also try
moving the candles out of the shot altogether.
Move in
close - If you are just
shooting candles, move the camera closer. Try not to use
your zoom too much because that can slow down the camera
and the shutter speeds.
Just
Experiment
Take three
exposures - The camera
tends to underexpose the shot if the candles are
included, since it sees them as a bright spot. For each
shot, I would suggest taking three exposures: one based
on what the camera tells you is the correct exposure,
one a stop up and one a stop down. You never know which
one you will like better.
Play around
- Move the candles,
move the subject, move the camera; just have fun and
play. I promise you that while you may get a few
not-so-great shots, you will get some great shots.
Taking photos by candlelight is
definitely a challenge, but with a few tips and lots of
practice you can be well on your way to taking amazing and
dramatic candlelight photos.