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Issue 440 - March 21, 2007

ISSN 1488-3163; PC Improvements © 2007
==== 1507 Subscribers in 50 Countries ====

Welcome to the 440th issue of the PC Improvement News. PCIN consists mainly of news highlights and tips. There is something for everyone, and if this is your first issue, I'm sure there will be something for you. If you give me two or three issues, I know that you will come back for more!

You can reach me at editor@pcin.net with any suggestions or comments.

Support PCIN at http://PCIN.net/donate.php

Contents

Opening Thoughts

It's been a slow week for PCIN as I've been on vacation and doing various things with Lisa celebrating our 10th anniversary. Therefore the newsletter is much shorter than normal. Everything should be back to normal next week.

Graham editor@pcin.net and Chris chris@pcin.net

News Highlights

SueTube?

Viacom ratcheted up its battle against YouTube Tuesday, announcing it has sued the video portal and its parent Google for more than $1 billion in damages, citing alleged infringement of the company's copyrights. The suit, which was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, also seeks an injunction prohibiting YouTube and Google from further copyright infringement.

Read the Forbes article...
Leave a comment...

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Digital Photography Tip of the Week

Using Selective Focus Points - Digital Photography Tip of the Week

I am a control freak. When I shoot, I like to have as much control over my photo as possible. I use primarily aperture priority mode to control my depth of field though will switch over to shutter speed priority when I am shooting an image where I need to stop action or where there may be movement in the frame that I do not want to capture. I also often use full manual mode which allows me to control both aspects of my exposure independently of each other. I shoot RAW to ensure I have complete control over how the image is processed. For my macro photography, I manually focus to ensure that my focus is always exactly where I want it. For much of my other photography though I use auto focus, but I still control that aspect of my photo.

The default mode for cameras that offer selective focus points is usually either the center focus point or all focus points. The problem with using the center focus point is that is not conducive to good composition. Sure you can focus on your subject using the center focus point then recompose your image, and if that is the only option you have, it works, but I think that people in general will not do this on a regular basis. Using all of the focus points your camera offers can cause problems for you as well. While you know what part of the subject you want to be in sharp focus, the camera does not and so may focus on a different part of the your scene than you would.

By turning off both of these options and selecting one single focus point, I can be sure that where I put my focus point in my photo will be sharp. My camera offers 5 focus points across the middle of my frame and one centered above and below the middle. I generally the focus point second from the right though of course, it is really determined by my image. For portraits where I want the eyes sharp, that will be the focus point used most often as I tend to shoot most of my portraits vertical and that particular focus point lines up almost right in line with where I want the eyes to be place in my image.

Camera manufacturers all have different methods of selecting focus points. To find yours, refer to your manual.

Until next time, Happy Shooting.

Leave a comment on this week's Digital Photography Tip of the Week

The digital photography tip of the week is written by the PCIN Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Chris is a long time photographer and is currently the President of the Niagara Falls Camera Club. You can see more of his photography at his Photo of the Day website.
If you have a tip to send Chris, or a question about digital photography he can address in the newsletter, send it to chris@pcin.net.

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PCIN.net Site Update

Check out these new or updated pages on the PCIN.net site:

Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 and Adobe Premier Elements 3.0 Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/photoshopEL5_Premiere3.php

ExpoDisc White Balance Filter Review
http://PCIN.net/help/hardware/expodisc.php

Paragon Software Group Partition Manager 8.0 Professional Software Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/ppm8.php

Update PCIN.net home page with "Top 10 Most Popular..." features
http://PCIN.net/

Microsoft Digital Image Suite Plus Review
http://PCIN.net/help/software/msdimagesuiteplus.php

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PCIN.net Affiliated Sites

Both of us have other sites other than PCIN.net. These are all sites that we are actively involved in (they aren't client sites). Don't forget to check them out from time to time for updates:

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Disclaimer and Other Stuff

PCIN is brought to you by Graham Wing. The opinions expressed are those of the Editor, Graham Wing and the Assistant Editor, Chris Empey. Graham Wing and Chris Empey accept no responsibility for the results obtained from trying the tips in this newsletter.

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Graham Wing can be reached at editor@pcin.net
Chris Empey can be reached at chris@pcin.net

Copyright 1998-2007, Graham Wing. All rights reserved.

This publication may be reproduced in whole, or in part, as long as the author is notified and the newsletter is presented as is.

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