About the Buzz

If this is your first time to the Photog Buzz... welcome!  The concept is simple.  Think of this site as a free classroom on photography where you can learn about what you want, when you want.

The site is a work in progress.  Besides a daily blog I will be developing and adding photography related classes under the following categories:

1  Photography and Cameras
2  Photoshop
3  Lightroom
4  Photomatix and HDR

I also provide a "Top 10" list of  photography/educational websites that I think are pretty awesome!  You can check them out to learn additional information or to gain a different perspective.

Enjoy the site and I hope you stop back by often.

Ryan

Ryan W. Hansen... Photographer

Ryan Hansen is an admitted photography addict.  He has been taking photos ever since he received an Argus Argoflex Seventy-five as a kid, a hand-me-down from his dad.  The advent of digital reignited his passion, opening the door to a whole new world of possiblities. 

Ryan studied photography through the New York Institute of Photography, but considers Kelby Training to have played a huge role in both his technical and compositional education.  His digital tools of choice are Canon DSLR cameras, Photoshop, Lightroom, and Photomatix.

Ryan is an active member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals and the Professional Photographers of America.  He is constantly striving to impove his photography skills, attending multiple photographic conferences each year including the Photoshop World Conference and Imaging USA.

When not pursuing his passion for photography (and sometimes even when he is) you will find Ryan goofing off with his wife and kids.  They live in Reno with a golden retriever and a cat that seems unable to catch mice.

Megapixels and Print Size

Camera makers tout the size of their cameras in megapixels and they seem to get bigger every year.  That's all fine and dandy, but the question is... how many megapixels do YOU really need?  I shoot with Canon cameras and I love em'.   Here are Canon's recommended sizes that an image should be printed according to the resolution and print sizes (suggested maximum) of the digital camera:

2 MP     4"x6" print (1,600 x 1,200)
3 MP     5"x7" print (2,048 x 1,536)
4 MP     6"x8" print (2,272 x 1,704)
5 MP     8 1/2" x 11" print (2,592 x 1,944)

7 MP     11" x 17" print (3,072 x 2,304)
8 MP     13" x 19" print (3,264 x 2,448)
12 MP     16" x 20" (4,000 x 3,000)
15 MP     16.5" x 23.4" (4,416 x 3,312)

What this tells us is that the resolution of most quality cameras will satisfy the print needs of the average shooter.  Instead of megapixels look for features that will improve your photos.  See "Choosing the right camera for YOU" for a list of features.

Where's My Camera?

I love to write about photography.  In order to write about it, though, I have to get out there and experience it.  These are some of the cool events where you will find me and my camera:

• Reno Balloon Races, Reno, NV Sept 11-13, 2009
• Reno Air Races, Reno, NV Sept 18-20, 2009
• Jessie Beck Charity Golf Tournament, Sparks, NV Sept 20, 2009
• Photoshop World Conference, Las Vegas, NV  Oct 1-3, 2009
• Imaging USA, Nashvillle, TN Jan 7-12, 2010

Fun Photos

I love exploring the fun and creative side of photography.  These are photos that I have experimented and played with in Photoshop, Lightroom and Photomatix.  In the future I will be adding links to tutorials where I explain how they were made.

"Balloons Over McCarran"

"Victorian Avenue Train"