Zinc Road
near Maybee, in Monroe County Michigan
The whole idea that the cost of the camera or type of camera you use to take the picture is not the final determining factor in the outcome of the pictures you take. the determining factor is much greater than that. It is ow you use the camera you have. All of the pictures on this page today will be from either a cell phone or a cheap (free) camera. This is to show that any camera you choose falls can get great pictures, if remember the the basics...see my previous postings. You just need to know your camera, think of what your shooting, and don't be afraid to work with what you have.
Sunrise over BASF Park in Wyandotte, MI
Broken tree
Near Hillsdale, MI
The Board Walk
Oscoda, Michigan
The Bishop Park Dock at sunset
Wyandotte, MI
Trees behind 33rd district court
Woodhaven, MI
Tallest indoor waterfall / fountain @ time of the shot.
Compuware building lobby
Detroit, MI
Teri Jerome (sister in law)
The White's landing dock
Catalina Island, CA
Sunset over Avalon
Catalina Island Ferry to Delray, CA
If you have been doubting what a cell phone can and cant do, just realize that all of the pictures above were taken with my cell phone. that isn't necessarily a big deal. the cameras on phones are getting very impressive, but these are all dumb phones...not a smart one in the bunch...all from "free" phones. The photos and phones all come down to the basics. Know your phone/camera and what it can and can't do in modes, effects, zoom capabilities. flash, and focus. set ups.
After The fall
Wyandotte, MI
Modes...black & white, special effects programming that you can adjust things and the such.
Effects are usually these days the photo editing apps that can be taken advantage of these days. I don't use anything more than the basics of the system. I try to get in the best position to do it in the moment. If I can't go in with the camera set to what I want to shoot I feel that I have wasted my time, or will be wasting my time later trying to correct the image to what I wanted in the first place. Why do that. Know what tools you have going in, and it will make the work that much easier...in the long run...and you will be looking for those opportunities to make memories, not just let them come. You'll be up at sunrise or out at sunset. Life will be more interesting.
Elizabeth Park walking entrance
Trenton. MI
Zoom... getting closer without getting closer. With your camera, and the zoom it may may not have there is one Small detail with these camera zooms is that they tend to be digital. Digital zooms expand the pixels, so you need to shoot with a higher pixel level, so the stretching becomes less noticeable, due to the size of the picture is larger. an optical zoom actually moves the lenses, thus moving the image closer to you. With optical zoom you have much more clarity when playing with the pictures, if you want...and far greater clarity.in the long run.
Blue Spruce
Woodhaven, MI
Flash... You might be thinking this is a simple yes/no question...it isn't. If you don't have a flash, you then to start moving people and ways of shooting around to have the light in the right place. I have been trying to tell my family all this for years, but they still shoot into the sun so nobody can see anybody faces, for they all in solute. Just shoot with the sun behind you, not them. If your lucky enough to have a flash don't be afraid to use it, but also know how far its light goes out from the camera. You normally won't be able to shoot a good picture with a flash more than a few feet away from your desired image. play & know how it works...you will start getting far better pictures when you know where you and you subjects need to be to make the camera work efficiently.
The use of a free or very cheap camera doesn't mean that you can't do great things with it. You might need to do some adjusting of the images in your computer. I take the shot, and then use my computer to tweak it back into what I actually saw that made me take the shot in the first place. My computer has, and I use windows live photo gallery to help me, when I need to. 
Tawas Point Lighthouse
Tawas State Park, Tawas MI
The Fernell Lens at Tawas Point Lighthouse
Tawas State Park, Tawas MI
Labor Day Sunrise over Lake Huron
On The Mackinaw Bridge
Straits Of Mackinaw, MI
Top of a sunflower
... Farm
Between Carleton & Maybee, MI
A gander in Elizabeth Park
Trenton, MI
early Fall 2012 in Elizabeth Park
Trenton, MI
Mackinaw City Light & The Mackinaw Bridge
Mackinaw City MI
So, in conclusion, do not be afraid to shoot with that cheap camera or your phone. Just when you do, please keep in mind the basics. Know your camera, pay attention to the lighting, and where its coming from, and what your shooting...see previous postings for more on all these subjects...and enjoy.
Pinstrip...my cat ready to pounce.
A cool pic of Moffit Bridge and Maple Ridge Rd.
Rifle River Valley
Aranac Co. MI
