BlogHer - how-to - Comments

Not sure what's going on

Beth Terry — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:19:58 -0500

Not sure what's going on with Technorati these days. Many logs don't get indexed. Links do not get added to Reactions. Authority goes days and days without being updated. Check out the Discussion Forum and you'll see the same complaints from blogger after blogger: Can't claim my blog; Ping not working; Authority won't update; Site won't index.

Beth Terry http://www.fakeplasticfish.com

StumbleUpon Toolbar

Melanie Nelson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:21:17 -0500

I can understand your hesitation to install a toolbar at work. I would be too. Unfortunately, my understanding of StumbleUpon is that you need to have the toolbar installed in order to rate things or submit them. You do not have to be on a computer with the toolbar if you just want to visit your SU profile and see the links you've already accumulated.

Melanie
Contributing Editor at BlogHer.com (Web/Tech)
Blogging Basics 101
Bloggy Giveaways

Thanks for the tips

sylinthecity — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:08:01 -0500

Do you have to actually use stumbleupon to benefit from it, publicity wise? I usually use my work computer and I am hesitant to install the toolbar on it...

http://www.somewherethesunisrising.com

StumbleUpon

Melanie Nelson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:11:17 -0500

Frankly, I prefer StumbleUpon to any of these metrics! They don't seem to be geared toward 'regular' bloggers, only skewed toward business/corporate/professional bloggers. The rest are lost in the shuffle.

Melanie
Contributing Editor at BlogHer.com (Web/Tech)
Blogging Basics 101
Bloggy Giveaways

Pro Stumbleupon, Anti Digg

Denise — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:07:11 -0500

I definitely prefer Stumbleupon over Digg. No doubt about it.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

glittering jewels

deconstructingjen — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:48:12 -0500

I've been taking pictures of my jewelry designs for a few years now and I've run the gamut of using a light box as well as shooting indoors and outdoors and shooting outdoors wins hands down. I find that shooting on lightly overcast days gives me the absolute best photos but seeing as the weather is not something I have control over I prefer shooting in light shade with a tripod and boosting the contrast in Photoshop. I can easily take 15-20 pictures of one piece of jewelry before getting the perfect one, but in the end it's worth it.

I also make use of my cameras apeture setting. Lowering the apeture to decrease the depth of field gives me lovely pictures with wonderful selective focus and allows me to highlight certain aspects of a jewelry piece.

Moving targets are tough!

debra roby — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:39:38 -0500

Maybe you need to get her a mannequin friend?

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

I agree

debra roby — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:37:35 -0500

Finding that perfect spot to get good natural light without too much contrast and backlighting is the hard thing. I once heard to head outside at noon, then shoot in whatever shade you can find. Should give you the brightest light with no shadows.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

Contrast always helps

debra roby — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:34:51 -0500

I think I usually bump the contrast up a little when I'm editing fiber photos. Just makes things pop a bit!

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

Note to self: read about setting white balance.

debra roby — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:33:00 -0500

Alanna,

This is a really useful hint. I know I read one time about how to measure the white balance in my shot. I need to learn that all again. Thanks for the reminder.

(we love our point and shoot cameras.)

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

Scanners can be great!

debra roby — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:31:14 -0500

Our scanner is so old we can't get current drivers for it, for I never remember to think about a scanner. (think it's time to spring for a new one?) but I know many fiber artists use them regularly.

It's a great option over taking a photograph.

Debra
A Stitch In Time
Weight for Deb

Moving targets are my challenge

flourishes — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:56:33 -0500

Much of my crafting is sewing, usually for my daughter so I have her model. It's definitely one of my biggest challenges. At almost 4, she's not so big on the photo direction.

I'm often stymied by the odd dimensions of something I've made. I recently did a bow holder and it's such a long, skinny vertical that I couldn't get just the right perspective on it for a full-length photo. I ended up using a picture shot from slightly above with much of the bottom cropped out. Still not perfect but better than my original attempts.

http://confessionsofacraftaddict.com

product photography

the farmers wife — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:28:45 -0500

I've published a photoblog for over 3 years, but product photography is a challenge. Natural light is the best light box. Near an open window, but don't have the item in strong sunlight.

Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife

http://farmerwife.blogspot.com

Beware of backlighting your object

Condo Blues — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:54:13 -0500

Natural light is your friend - just make sure it's in the right place. The sun should be behind the photographer not behind the subject. Taking a photo with the sun behind your object is called backlighting and it casts horrible shadows on your subject and will not allow you to take a clear picture. Trust me, I know this one from experience!

Why don't decorating and DIY projects always work out like they do on TV? Condo Blues http://condo-blues.blogspot.com/

Editing pictures for best results

Creatively Belle — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:22:37 -0500

I love your tips - really useful.

I think it's really important to remember to also work up the pictures in a tool like Fireworks with the bright/contrast tool.

So many images are just too dark, even if taken in natural light and they can be improved without harming the details of color or tone.

Smiles,

Belinda

Enjoy Your Earrings more with Jewelry Display Stands