The crazy, hazy days of summer beckon us outdoors to celebrate nature’s beauty with family and friends. Such memory-filled moments deserve our best efforts when trying to capture them on digital images.
No one wants a blurry image of a sunset, a colorful rainbow or a child’s birthday celebration. If your images could use a new focus on details, perhaps a visit to the library might offer some creative advice and direction.
If this is your first adventure in photography, take a look at “Digital Photography for Dummies” by Julie Adair King. This book starts with the very basic decisions such as selecting a camera, settings for the device and using the phone application on your cell phone.
Many of the new cell phones have camera applications that make them equal to or better then individual cameras. This text offers sound advice to get started snapping photos and even emailing them from your camera device.
Should your photo selection involve light and dark backgrounds, many newer cameras will seek to correct an imbalance by adding light. In the case of a sunset or landscape, the shadows are what make the picture.
To “out-think” my smart phone camera, I solved the problem with advice found in the book “Transient Light: A Photographic Guide to capturing the Medium” by Ian Cameron. This book takes on the topics of light, aperture settings, and speed so that the image you shoot looks exactly like it appears to your eyes. The dramatic photos and scenery in this book will take your breath away, as will your photos.
If your eyes are drawn to color as mine are, you will want to investigate books about photographing the garden. First, take a look at the text “Photographing Your Garden” by David Bjurstrom.
His expertise regarding close-ups of flower petals, buds, trees and the shade fields created by each of these varying subjects is spot on. Photos are enhanced with greater planning and attention to the final composition of your delicate flowers.
Whether you are photographing your garden or the garden of your vacation destination, that blooming radiance can last forever in your captured image.
When your summer photos will include capturing a trip down the aisle for a bride and groom, you may wish to preview the “Wedding Photographers Handbook” by Bill Hurter. Here the focus is not just on the smiles of the couple, but on the details of enchanted moments and lighting. Again, the illustrations will get your creative thoughts flowing about unique angles and settings that showcase the newlyweds.
Last but not least, take a look at the book “Travel Photography” by Christian Heeb and Detlev Motz. This resource brings all of this information together to capture the essence of places and people of various cultures from around the globe.
There is even a chapter on aerial photography for your photos of clouds and towns that carpet the earth under your flight. Your “birds-eye-view” of creation never looked so good as these photos from cameras and cell phones.
Summer travel plans and summer sunsets only happen once, so it is important to capture the memory in the clearest image. May your photos be enhanced following a quick trip to Rowan Public Library and a visit to the photography collection.
I “shutter” to think what great pictures await you and your new found knowledge of photography. Happy reading.

Summer movie series — The library offers movie night every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at RPL headquarters in Salisbury and at South Rowan Regional at 2 p.m. Wednesdays. Movies are free and all ages are welcome. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Free popcorn and lemonade.
At headquarters: this Tuesday, “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.” (PG).
At South Regional (China Grove): Aug. 12, “The Andromeda Strain.” (PG).
Future Foods — Headquarters, Aug. 11, 6:30 p.m., Stanback Auditorium. This will focus on the latest technologies for producing excellent quality fruits and vegetables. Some of the topics will include aquaponics, hydroponics, intensive production, high tunnels and grafting vegetables. It will be led by Danelle Cutting, local food and horticulture agent for the Rowan County Cooperative Extension. She focuses on local foods, farmers’ markets, urban and consumer horticulture, Rowan County Master Gardener Program and pesticide trainings.
Book Bites Club: South Regional (only), Aug. 26, 6:30 p.m., “The All-Girl Filling Station,” by Fannie Flagg. Book discussion groups for adults and children meet the last Tuesday of each month. The group is open to the public and anyone is free to join at any time. There is a discussion of the book, as well as light refreshments at each meeting. For more information, please call 704-216-8229.
Darrell Connor and the Country Music Legends Band — headquarters, Aug. 28, 7 p.m., Stanback Auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. His concert is part of our Cheerwine Music Hour, co-sponsored by Friends of Rowan Public Library. Please enter the Stanback Auditorium at the entrance near the historic Henderson Law Office.
Displays for August: headquarters, anime by Robert Clyde Allen; South, lunch boxes by Sharon Ross; East, flowers by Helen Holland.
Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.