Hope you're having a wonderful summer. I just returned from a few days at the lake. We spent most of the time on the water, in a pontoon boat -- a great way to putter along, fishing, sunning, swimming, etc. I took tons of pictures and want to pass on some useful tips for taking photos in bright sun and shadows -- it can save you a lot of time later trying to fix shadowed faces. See the Photo Tip of the Month below. Also, if you've been piling up photos on your computer and still need to print them, now is a good time. There are lots of good discounts on photo processing right now.

Sharpcast Photos Update
Photo Tip of the Month - Compensating the Exposure
Roxio - for digital photos, audiofiles, ipod/iphone users
Digital Camera & Equipment Sales
Digital Photo Software Sales/Promos
Digital Photo Printing Services Sales & Discounts

Sharpcast Photos Update

Last month I talked about Sharpcast, a downloadable desktop application loaded with great features that offers free unlimited photo storage, free interactive sharing and chat, FAST upload and automatic synchronization between devises like PC and laptop, cell phone, etc. Remember that you can Download Sharpcast for FRE*E. Sharpcast is now giving you 10 free prints for trying a free account. You can also earn free photos each time you share photos with friends or invite them to join Sharpcast. With summer travel, weddings, reunions, etc. this is a super way to share your photos with your friends.

Sharpcast also offers an enhanced service with all the above features plus automated back-up of all your images along with all your edits, captions and comments. It's $5.99/month, which is a small price to ensure your images are safe in case of computer failure, flood, theft, etc. I strongly recommend a service like this to back-up your photos. You can download the free trial first and then upgrade to the paid plan. Sharpcast is offering a special promo: up to 100 free prints when you upgrade to a premium plan.

I have posted a full review of Sharpcast here.

Photo Tip of the Month - Compensating the Exposure in Bright Light

It can be hard to take photos in bright sunlight where your subject's face is shadowed, or when you take a photo outdoors but in a partially shadowed area. I have done this many times and ended up spending lots of time with my image editing software using the curves or shadows/highlights features to try to fix shadowed faces. Fortunately, there are several workarounds.

If you adjust your camera's exposure setting before you take your shot, you stand a better chance of a getting a properly exposed picture. Look at your subject either on the LCD screen or viewfinder. Now find the exposure function on your camera. Generally you can compensate (adjust) the exposure from -2 EV to +2 EV (with 0 being the default setting). EV means exposure value. If the image looks too darkly shadowed, move your camera's exposure setting toward the positive. If there is too much light and glare, move the exposure to the negative. Be careful not to move it too far, or you could end up with the opposite effect.

Other ways to improve beach or other outdoor photos: take pictures in shade or around sunrise or sunset. Also, try using your camera's flash when taking pictures in direct sun. This will help eliminate strong shadows on faces.

Here's an example. The first image of my dog Molly getting ready to swim. (My sweet Springer Spaniel loves the water but she's timid without a lifejacket!).

Too darkly shadowed                                       Better with exposure compensation

ROXIO

Roxio makes an outstanding array of products for the digital world. Here are highlights of their most popular products for camera, video, music/audio enthusiasts -- including iPhone users!

Buy Easy Media Creator 9 Suite for an additional $10 off in addition to the $20 Mail-in Rebate Additional $10 savings with this special coupon code not listed on the site or landing page: SAVE10C9 (case sensitive). Read my ROXIO review here

Buy Toast 8 AND 15 Premium DVD Menu Styles for $89.99 ($149.99 value - SAVE $60) Copy & Converts DVDs, Enjoys TV Shows anywhere, Burns Mac & PC Photo Discs for friends and Family, Disc Cataloging, and Audio Guru

MyDVD 9 Studio Premier : Imports movies from camcorders and digital cameras, edits, customizes photo calendars, greeting cards, etc., creates slide shows, burns movies and slide shows

Roxio's RecordNow 9 Music Lab Premier : Converts old music LPs and cassette tapes, creates playlists for any occasion, uses collection as ringtones, rips and converts music, transfers playlists, streams music .

Roxio Crunch™ is the essential video converter for your Apple TVTM, iPod®, and iPhoneTM Users of the Apple TV, iPods, and iPhones will love this. The essential video converter One-Stop shop for all video conversion needs. Batch export, iTune syncing.

Digital Camera and Equipment Sales

>> AMAZON.com
Save on the hottest digital cameras and get a free memory card--up to 2 GB of photo storage--with the purchase of one of more than 25 top cameras from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Samsung, and others.

BIG savings on digital photo frames from Phillips:

Digital picture frames let you view your digital photos directly from memory cards, at professional looking levels. You can display single photos, display thumbnails, or create slideshows to view from your stored photos, all without needing to fire up your PC.

Philips 6.5-Inch Digital Picture Frame List Price: $199.99, sale price: $129.99 - save $70
Philips 8-Inch Digital Picture Frame List Price: $249.99, sale price $179.99 - save $70
Philips 6.5-Inch Digital Picture Frame with 4 Interchangeable Frames List Price: $199.95, price: $127.05 - save $72.90

CAMERA DEALS & TOP SELLERS:

• New new low prices on Canon A-series digital cameras, up to 48% off
• Canon PowerShot A550 7.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom - $128.94
• Canon PowerShot SD1000 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom - $216.25
• Canon PowerShot SD800 IS 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom - $303.94
• Canon PowerShot Pro Series S3 IS 6MP with 12x Image Stabilized Zoom - $295.83
• Canon PSC-55 Deluxe Leather Compact Case for SD430, SD500, SD550, SD600, SD630, SD700 IS, SD800 IS, SD850 IS & SD900 Digital Cameras - $15.99
  

There are many more great deals, especially on Canon.

Go to Amazon.com

• Casio 7.2 MP Exilim EX-Z75PK Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, Ultra-Compact, 2.6" LCD screen, Image Stabilization, Pink. List Price: $198.84. Sells for $171.54. Shipping to home is $1.87.
• Kodak 6.1 MP EasyShare Z612 Digital Camera w/ 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.5" LCD screen and G600 Printer Bundle - $298.84
• Any Kodak 10 MP V1003 Digital Camera with Image Stabilization 3x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom plus Bonus 1 GB SD Card Bundle - $229.88

  Many more camera deals are on line.
  

• Save 15% on Photo Paper Kits with coupon code AFECA7PPK.
• Save 10% on Select Kodak Digital Camera Accessories
• Free Standard Shipping on Kodak EasyShare All-in-One Printer supplies
  
• Save up to 35% on camera accessories + 10% on a new camera when you add an Accessory Pac at KODAK!
• Save 20% off Fashion Camera Bags at Kodak with coupon code: AFECJL7FAS

Shop the Kodak Store

• Get 30 Free Prints for new customers in July. No Coupon required.
• Get 20% off photo collage posters at Snapfish use coupon code SNAPCOLLAGE Thru 8/01/07
• Get 10% off your entire Snapfish order. Coupon code: AFF10COUPOFF thru 8/01/07
• Get an Extra 10 FREE Prints with Coupon code AFF10PRINT07 thru 8/01/07

• $0.99 shipping credit on your first print order

NEW: You can now upload your digital images to Shutterfly and pick up your 4x6 prints at your local Target store.

• Enjoy 15% off orders $10 or more. New Member Offer (expires August 14, 2007).

• Save 20% on personalized photo books. Use coupon code: 28AF-BK07 (expires August 14, 2007).

• 10% Off Entire Order

• Free Standard Shipping at PhotoWorks.com thru July 31. Use Coupon Code FREESHIP

Go to Photoworks.com

• FRE*E SHIPPING on $30+ purchases. Offer valid through 7/23/07. Enter coupon code: FUNTIMES at checkout.

• Save 20% on Photobooks at Kodak Gallery with coupon SUMMERTIME. Valid thru August 15

• Save 20% on Collages at Kodak Gallery with coupon SUMMERTIME Valid thru August 15
  Photo collages are great for scrapbooking, party posters and framed mementos.

• Free instore delivery on photo gifts
• Get online access to all photos you develop at your local Wal-Mart store. Just use the code on the claim card provided when you pick up your print order.

Digital Photo Software - Sales, Rebates

Here are the current sales/promos on digital photo editing and organizing software as of July 17.. They can change at any time. There are several rebates available too.

ACDSee Photo Editor $69.99 or download a free trial. SAVE 20% on ACDSee products with the coupon code cjacd20off (Read my review). Get ACDSee Pro and Canvas X for only $99.99. Save over $300. Only until July 30.

Save 20% on ACDSee 9 Photo Manager - only $39.99 (you can download a free trial). Read review

Adobe Photoshop Elements 5 for Windows (reviewed here) is $99.99 full or $79.99 upgrade at Adobe.com. Get a free 30-day trial. Or you can get it for $79.99 at Amazon.com with free shipping.

Corel Paint Shop Pro XI is $64.99 with free shipping at Amazon.

Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006 Anniversary Edition $49.99 with free shipping at Amazon