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Internet Marketing for Artist Workshop Interview
Listen to my radio interview about the INTERNET MARKETING for ARTISTS WORKSHOP
This week I was a guest on the “Friends of Kevin Radio Show “ on WSMN radio in Nashua, NH. Kevin Willett, the founder of the Friends of Kevin Networking Group, and all around nice guy, was my host. His radio show is a terrific platform for business people to discuss their enterprises and it is always a pleasure to be his guest. We had a great conversation about the different business activities of Test of Time Photography and some of my more interesting activities.
In this segment we are discussing the upcoming workshop INTERNET MARKETING for ARTISTS that I’m presenting on November, 14, 2012.
To listen in on our conversation click on the following link.
Radio interview with Dan Splaine (4 min) 10/24/12 FRIENDS of KEVIN RADIO
I am presenting this workshop to artists, performers and creative professionals who want to learn how to build their audience using internet marketing tools, like email and social media. I will be sharing my experience and knowledge that I have acquired promoting my program of photography workshops and photographer tours for the last three years. Using only internet marketing I have successfully built enrolled over 1300 people in one of my sessions.
Commerce and creativity go hand-in-hand and this workshop will bridge those worlds and introduce folks to the powerful tools they have for marketing their creative talents. For details and registration CLICK HERE
For more information go to the event website or contact me at info@testoftimephoto.com.

Also posted in Radio Interview
Tagged adult education, Dan Splaine photographer, Friends of Kevin, internet marketing, photography for social media, Radio interview, Test of Time photography, workshop for artists
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Photo Model Casting Call in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Aug. 29, 2012
We are casting models for a client advertising photography project
TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY and photographer Dan Splaine has been selected by the folks at Bowl-O-Rama in Portsmouth , NH to create new advertising photography for their new company website and marketing materials. The project involves shooting all the activities and client offerings at the family entertainment company.
We are holding a casting session for models on Aug. 29, 2012 to recruit models who want to appear in the client photography project. This is an open casting call and we are seeking male and female models of different ages. We are looking for children (age 5 and older), teenagers, young adults, middle-aged adults and seniors to take part in photography session on Sept.6, 2012.
This model casting call is open to experienced and beginner models. Our budget for this project is limited, and this is an unpaid assignment. The models selected for the photography will receive gift cards from Bowl-O-Rama and three photos from TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY to include in their portfolio as compensation for their participation and in exchange for use rights.
Bowl-O-Rama offers bowling, parties, games and food and beverage service that has to be illustrated with our photography. This is a fun photography session and is good opportunity for less experienced and amateur models to gain some valuable experience working with a pro photographer.
For complete information about this model casting call and to register go to the event website CLICK HERE. Registration is required for this event – no walk-ins please!
Photographer Dan Splaine has extensive experience with corporate assignment and location photography projects for public relations, editorial , advertising and marketing projects. He also creates original images for model portfolios and actor head-shots in his Nashua, NH studio and locations throughout New England. TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY offers a range of model portfolio photography packages to meet the budget and professional goals of every model. If you are new to modeling or and experienced pro: we can create original photography that makes your portfolio stand out. We bring thirty years of experience , photographing thousand of people in locations all over the world to your model photography session. Our clients benefit from our technical and creative abilities and the insights we have gained from the thousands of images we have published in editorial , corporate and internet productions.
For more information on our model photography services CLICK HERE or contact us at model@testoftiemphoto.com
For details on our MODEL PORTFOLIO PACKAGES and MODEL and ACTOR HEADSHOTS CLICK HERE

Also posted in Commercial Photography, Digital Photo classes
Tagged Lifestyle models, Model casting
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What is ISO and how do use it in my photography?
Some Tips And Info For Selecting The “correct” ISO For Your Digital Photography
ISO selection is important because it is allows the photographer to adapt to the lighting conditions found in their scene. The ISO value you select is one leg of the exposure triangle, along with aperture and shutter speed, which allows for precise exposure and creative control. Understanding ISO and how to use it is a fundamental photographer skill.
With digital cameras the ISO is a numerical value given for the level of sensitivity your camera sensor has to light. We saw the same rating system with film. Remember shooting ISO 100, 400, 800 etc… rated rolls of film? Do any of you old timers remember ASA ratings on film (pre-ISO)? With digital cameras we have the option to select a particular ISO value for every shot, which is a big advantage with digital photography.
In general the lower the ISO setting the less sensitive your sensor will be to light, the higher the ISO setting the more sensitive your sensor will be to light. This means that when you are shooting in bright conditions you can use a low ISO value and when shooting in low light conditions you select a high ISO value.
Most digital cameras offer a range of ISO values to choose from; 100 to 3200 is a common range of choices, although many models of camera go higher and lower. In general, the lower the ISO the better quality your results will be. Using a higher ISO will increase noise (digital artifacts), reduce sharpness and decrease the contrast ratio of your results. Digital cameras with larger sensors produce less of these negative effects than cameras with smaller sensors. Low ISO setting will then have less noise, more sharpness and a larger contrast ratio which will produce the higher quality images relative to high ISO settings.
In my opinion these disadvantage, the reductions in image quality have to be weighed against the benefits of having the option to shoot at a higher ISO rating. Most issues with noise, sharpness and contrast can be restored with software and I would urge you to shoot high values when conditions dictate. Being able to shoot action photos at high shutter speeds, with a telephoto lens in an indoor scene is only possible with high ISO values (1600, 3200, 6400) makes the trade-off in quality acceptable .
A variable ISO allows you to adapt your exposure settings to the scene and the creative options you want to use in your photography.
My general recommendation is to select the lowest ISO value that will allow for a proper exposure with the least noise.
ISO TIPS FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Here are some of my recommendations for using different ISO values in your digital photography. This is an important photographer tool and I encourage you to explore this option for exposure control in your photography. Good images always start with good camera work and ISO is a fundamental tool for photography.
- TURN OFF your AUTO ISO – By using auto ISO you are letting the camera give a ISO value choice and you are not deciding which ISO suits your photographic intent best the scene. This is one habit you want to change if your goal is to take control of your creative results.Turn AUTO ISO off, and leave it off!
- SELECT the ISO FOR THE SCENE: When you are beginning to determine your exposure settings, one of the first steps is to select an ISO value that is right for the scene and your photographic intentions. If you are in the woods with an overhead canopy of foliage blocking your light you would select a higher value. If you are shooting portraits with plenty of window light and you want to use large apertures for shallow depth of field then a low value would be your best choice. Evaluate the lighting resources and exposure options for the image you want to create and choose the ISO according to those objectives.
- CHANGES in ISO ARE EQUAL TO “STOPS” – When we change our exposure settings (in whole stop increments) we are halving or doubling the amount of exposure. For example if you move from F 11 to F 8 you are doubling the aperture size or if you move from 1/250th of second to 1/125th of a second you are cutting the duration of your exposure in half. The same ratio holds true with ISO, when you move from 400 to 800 you are doubling the sensitivity setting or as we would say increasing it by a “stop”. Digital cameras allow for incremental changes in EV (Exposure Value = Stops) usually and half and third stop amounts. You can refine exposure equally with aperture, shutter speed or ISO in those partial stop increments.
- SHOOT RAW – RAW is the best format for image capture and will yield the best results because you are collecting the maximum amount of data when you make your photo. JPEG is great file format to distribute photos but it produces less quality for capture. RAW files can be processed with photo editing software post capture to yield the highest quality images. The negative effects of shooting with high ISO (noise, sharpness, and contrast effects) are increased when shooting JPEG compared to RAW
- PLAY with EXPOSURE COMBINATIONS – There is no exact recipe for exposure combinations. Play with a variety of exposure combinations and ISO settings and compare your results on your computer. Each variable in the exposure triangle makes a difference in how your images will ultimately look. Experimenting with combinations will produce a variety of visual results.
- USE A TRIPOD – If you are seeking low noise, high sharpness and a wide contrast ratio that low ISO settings provide use a tripod. Long lenses and long exposure times make hand held photography difficult, especially in dim light at a low ISO. Securing you camera on a tripod is the solution for this type of shooting situation.
- SHOOTING HAND HELD with TELEPHOTO LENS – Long lenses are difficult to use when shooting hand-held. By increasing your ISO setting you can then shoot at faster shutter speeds which will eliminate the blur caused by camera movement. For example an ISO of 1000 with a shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second shooting with a 500 mm lens.
- HIGH SHUTTER SPEEDS = HIGH ISO – If you want to stop subject action you need to shoot at high shutter speeds. Increasing your ISO will allow you to increase your shutter speed. This is especially useful for shooting indoor sports or performances with limited stage lighting.
- USE ARTIFICIAL LIGHT – Sometimes we run into the limits of ISO choices in particular photographic conditions. For example you are shooting a portrait in a low available light setting. Facial details and skin looks best at low ISO values (100-200) and raising the ISO to a high value will produce less than flattering results. The solution to this situation it to use flash or other artificial light sources to keep the quality you desire. More light is often a better solution than a higher ISO.
Digital cameras have very precise exposure refinement tools and a variable ISO option is one of the most important. Understanding this feature and how to deploy, and how to select ISO for your scene ,to achieve your desired photographic result is essential for good image making.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Photographer and photo educator Dan Splaine has more than thirty years experience producing photography for public relations, marketing and editorial clients. His company TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY based in Nashua, NH provides commercial photography services in studio and at client locations all over the world. He presents a program of digital photography workshops and photography tours for adults throughout New England.

Also posted in Digital photography tips, Learn Photography
Tagged Dan Splaine Photo educator, Dan Splaine photographer, digital photo how to, digital photography, learn digital photography, learning digital photography, NH photo workshop, photo class, photo how to, photographer habits, photography skill building, photography tips, Test of Time photography, understanding photography
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Thirty Five Years behind the Camera – A Word of Thanks
July 11 is an auspicious day in my calendar.
July 11, 2012 marks a milestone in my career as a photographer. Thirty five years ago on a sweltering summer day I entered the federal office building in Manchester, NH a civilian and emerged a few hours a freshly inducted private in the Army. On that day I began my journey to becoming a professorial photographer by volunteering for a four-year enlistment. I was to become an 84 Bravo, in Army speak. (MOS 84-B = Military Occupation Specialty STILL PHOTOGRAPHIC SPECIALIST).

This photo was made very early in my photography career (1978). At the time of this shot I had just graduated from the US Army still photographic specialist training school at Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora, Co. This was my first photography job! I was attached to the Public Affairs office at Fort Rucker, AL which was the home of Army aviation training. The wall behind me covered with copies of the press photos that I cranked out of the my tiny darkroom.
I spent the summer of 1977 in basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in the heart of the Ozark mountains in Missouri. This experience looms large in my memory . I was a goofy 17-year-old kid from NH who suddenly found himself in a completely unfamiliar reality. It was a “Dorothy, we aren’t in Kansas any more” sort of epic paradigm shift. I learned how to march, I developed some proficiency with weapons and I discovered that there are all kinds of people in this world. Life has presented few opportunities to show my marching skills but the weapons thing and the insight into human behavior has come in handy.
From there Uncle Sam sent me to Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora , Colorado for photography school. To this point in life my academic record could be bets described as erratic. Most of my reports cards contained the full range of letters and the classroom never seemed to contain my wandering brain. This school was different. My teachers were a mix of civilian and active duty military photographers whose experience as combat photographers ran from WWII through Viet Nam. This program was intense and thrilling. This impressive bunch shared their knowledge freely in exchange for performance. Every week we had proficiency tests score 80% and up you get to continue in the program. Score less than 80% and you earn a one way ticket to the infantry,for the remainder of your enlistment. I maintained a 97% test score average for the entire nine month program!The peril that I could spend my four years as an infantryman was a factor, although truth be told, I have never been motivated by threats. What inspired my performance was the passion I witnessed and ultimately embraced for the craft of photography. The photography instructor’s enthusiasm was contagious and they required that I respect this vocation that shaped all of their lives. The lessons they taught, both big and small, have informed my approach to photography every day of my thirty-five years behind the lens.
I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those men who trained me so well, who shaped my attitude and gave me a life of photography. As I reflect on the passing years and consider my experiences: the miles traveled and most importantly the people I have met due to the camera, the measure of their gift is immeasurable. Happy anniversary to me!

Test of Time Photography on The Friends of Kevin Radio Show
On Monday (7-9-12) I will be Kevin Willett’s guest on his radio show broadcast on WSMN radio in Nashua, NH. Kevin is the founder of the FRIENDS OF KEVIN NETWORKING GROUP, a really terrific business networking group that I am a member of. He connects business people from around the Merrimack valley and southern New Hampshire together with his program of events and activities.
There are two things about this group that make it distinctly different from the other business networking groups I have experienced. The first is Kevin’s goal of doing some good for the communities while helping members build their businesses. He opens the group to not for profits, leveraging the network to support their needs in any way possible.
The other feature of the group adds to its effectiveness, is Kevin himself. This guy is really working on behalf of the members, deploying a mix of technology (social media) and a friendly personal touch. The FRIENDS OF KEVIN RADIO SHOW, that I am a guest on tomorrow, is a perfect example of the extra value he provides members.
I am looking forward to our conversation and having a unique platform for getting the word out about my photo services and photography workshops. Please listen in from 11 to 12 to WSMN 1590 radio to catch his program. I am scheduled from 11:40 to 12:00.
We will be discussing how to use photography for business communications and social media, specifically how my commercial photography services can add to bottom line. The other topic we will cover is my program of digital photography workshops and photographer tours. I have a number of events, like the Bronx Zoo Photographer Tour (July 21) and my Photo Walk Workshops that I want to promote to Kevin’s audience.

(Nashua, NH - Nov, 21, 2011) Kevin Willett, on the air during the Friends of Kevin radio show on WSMN in Nashua, NH. Friends of Kevin is a business development/networking group that serves the business, non-profit and artist communities. The group’s goal is to promote member businesses both online through our website and social media presence, and in person at networking events.
The Friends of Kevin raises awareness of local non profits while allowing our friends to network in a stress free environment. For more information go to www.friendsofkevin.com. Photo courtesy of Dan Splaine - Test of Time Photo ©2011Daniel J. Splaine All rights reserved.

Tagged Business Photography, commercial photography services, Dan Splaine Photo educator, Dan Splaine photographer, Friends of Kevin, Friends of Kevin Radio, New Hampshire, photography tips, public relations, public relations photography, radio broadcast, Test of Time photography, WSMN 1590
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Fireworks Photography Fun
Fireworks Photography How To
Have some summer fun with your photography!
The photography challenge for the members of the IMAGE MAKERS PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOPS, my meet-up group for photographers, for the month of July is FIREWORKS PHOTOGRAPHY.
Photographers have the month of July to produce new fireworks photos and post them to the event website. The group is free to join and adult photographers are welcome to register for this event.
The reward for the best submitted image will be a two-hour private photography tutorial session with me at my studio in Nashua, NH. We will be posting the top five images and the photo that gets the most votes from the public will win.
I am also offering a FREE GUIDE TO FIREWORKS PHOTOGRAPHY that I will send to you via email. Send a message with your first and last name to info@testoftimephoto.com with the word “fireworks” in the subject line. I will reply with a message that includes the PDF photo guide document.
Go to the event website to check out the photos already posted by other photographers. For complete details and to join in this challenge CLICK HERE:

Join in the IMAGE MAKERS PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP for the July 2012 photography challenge – FIREWORKS PHOTOGRAPHY for a chance to win a two-hour private photography tutoring session with photographer Dan Splaine. ©2012 Daniel J. Splaine – All rights reserved

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Street Photography Workshop at Chinese New Year Parade
On Sunday I held a street photography workshop during the Chinese New Year Parade festivities in Boston’s Chinatown. Sixteen photographers joined me for a day of photo education and image making. The Lion Dancers and festivities made provided a unique subject to photograph and plenty of excitement.
Street photography is one of the oldest traditions in photography. As camera technology became smaller and more mobile (Moving from large format view cameras to smaller roll film cameras) photographers turned their cameras to the realities and moments they observed around them. The aim of this workshop was to immerse the participants into the urban environment and to have them practice this type of on the fly documentary photography. Despite the cold and crowds, they were able to make some remarkable images.
Check out the results on the group Flickr page.
This workshop is one of the program of digital photography workshops and photography tours that we offer at Test of Time Photography. Our objective its to build photographer skills and creative abilities so our students can create the images they imagine. This was a fun event and a great way to start of the year.

Also posted in Digital Photo classes, Digital photography tips, Learn Photography, Photo workshops, Photographer tours, Travel Photography
Tagged adult education, Boston, Chinatown, Cninese New Year, Dan Splaine Photo educator, Dan Splaine photographer, digital photo how to, digital photo workshops, event photography, learning digital photography, NH photo class, photo how to, photographer tour, photography skill building, photography workshops, street photo workshops, stret photography, Test of Time photography, understanding photography
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New Photo project for the New Year – 2012 IMAGE MAKER’S 52 PHOTO WALK program
The New Year is upon us and of course our inclination is to set some goals and resolutions to carry out in 2012. One of the goals I have tasked myself with is spend some time on a regular basis practicing my photography skills. This goal has led me to develop a program that I would like to share with other photographer’s to help them grow their photographic skills.
I invite you to join me for the 2012 IMAGE MAKER’S 52 WEEK PHOTO WALK program. The concept is simple, make a commitment to take a walk with your camera for one half hour once a week and post a single image from that excursion online. The aim is 52 new images in 52 weeks. The idea behind this is to spend a small amount of time each week practicing your skills , and over the course of the year your work will improve. The weekly investment in time and effort can easily be accomplished and the online conversation will encourage folks to stick with it for the entire year.
The photos will be posted and shared online through a Flickr group I have organized.
Full details and the rules for participating are listed on the Test of Time Photography website CLICK HERE
Jump into the challenge, the more folks participating the more motivation to continue. Sign up here

Also posted in Digital Photo classes, Digital photography tips, Learn Photography, Photo workshops
Tagged 52 week photo walk program, Dan Splaine Photo educator, Dan Splaine photographer, digital photo how to, digital photo workshops, digital photography, Image Maker's, learn digital photography, learning digital photography, NH photo class, online photo group, photo class, photo how to, photo project, photo sharing, photo walk, photographer habits, photography group, photography skill building, photography tips, Test of Time photography, understanding photography
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ISLE of SHOALS Photographers Workshop – July 23rd, 2011
Still time to Register (Deadline is July 1!)
Photographer Dan Splaine and TEST of TIME PHOTOGRAPHY with the able assistance of NH TOURS is presenting a one day workshop for photographers on Saturday July 23rd at the ISLE of SHOALS.
This day long excursion to the scenic and historic chain of islands and ledges off the coast of NH and Maine is a photographer’s dream event. The workshop includes round trip passage on the M?V Thomas Laighton, a four-hour stop over on Star Island, photo instruction and box lunch.
I was able to preview the location last week and I am excited about the photo potential of this location. I only had a half hour to shoot and was happy with the photography I was able to create. Watch the attached video to examine some of the shots I made.
This trip is being offered to adult digital photographers of all skill levels. This is a remarkably beautiful location to visit, with an amazing selection of photography subjects. If you have never been to the Shoals or you want a chance to photograph a truly unique location I would encourage your to attend this workshop.
For complete information and to register click here.
After July 1 there may be more seats available but they are subject to confirmation by the boat company. Sign up today to confirm your place.

Also posted in Learn Photography, Photo workshops, Photographer tours
Tagged Dan Splaine photographer, digital photo how to, Isle of Shoals, landscape photography, learn digital photography, New Hampshire tourism, photographer tour, photography skill building, photography tips, photography workshops, Star Island, Test of Time photography, understanding photography
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