"For this girl, I wanted to represent my interpretation of her story," wrote Amber Rossman. By her outfit, she knows she is cooler than the rest of us and she stops for no one... except to light her cigarette (which added to her movie star quality). But the blur the city continued around her. I don't smoke... but i imagine this is what it feels like to give attention to your addiction -- you stop your busy life to get a moment of relief as the world buzzes around you."

"When I posted this shot on Flickr, I was blasted for posting a blury shot that 'appears to be a mistake.' I felt disappointment and maybe embarrased that I posted a silly shot like this -- I liked the framing... the dinginess that provokes the feeling of a big city street... the blur that conveys busy-loud-city vibe."

"Because I seek to learn from experienced photogs, I went to the critic's profile to see what I could learn from his work. Hmmm vindication! His profile exhibits his favorite quote (interestingly enough, his own), "Good photography is a science, Great photography is an accident". Cool."

Derrick's note: Amber had sent in a handful of candidates to be featured on Grab Shots. I'm so glad she stuck to her guns and included this image. I love it. And I'm happy to share it with our virtual camera club.

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. We'll try to get it published for you on The Digital Story.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

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Now Available! The Digital Photography Companion.
The official guide for The Digital Story Virtual Camera Club.

• 25 handy and informative tables for quick reference.
• Metadata listings for every photo in the book
• Dedicated chapter on making printing easy.
• Photo management software guide.
• Many, many inside tips gleaned from years of experience.
• Comprehensive (214 pages), yet fits easily in camera bag.

"After watching this kid first try lifting rather than rolling, then resorting to pushing his prize-found pumpkin at the local pumpkin patch," said Craig Tooley, "I grabbed this shot as a reminder of the passions of youth."

Craig captured this autumn classic with a Nikon D2X in Aperture Priority mode at f/6.3. ISO was 250 and the focal length on the lens was 200mm.

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. We'll try to get it published for you on The Digital Story.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

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Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography, technique, Technology, The Digital Story

"As an American living abroad I think Oslo, Norway is a great city," writes Lynn Rosentrater. "With only 500,000 residents, it has a small town feeling. Yet, as a European capital, it is very cosmopolitan. Oslo takes center stage every autumn when the Nobel Committee announces the recipient of the annual Peace Prize. After the former Finnish president Martil Ahtisaari was recently awarded the Peace Prize for 2008, I made my way downtown to the Nobel Peace Center to learn more about him and other Nobel laureates."

"One of the permanent exhibits at the center is a virtual garden with motion sensors that trigger presentations of each Nobel laureate's history and philosophy when it is approached by a visitor. The installation hums with life and the glow of the room is intoxicating so I had to try to capture it."

"I snapped this image (one of two in total) as a couple made their way through the sparkling blades of grass. I shot it in RAW using a Nikon D80 with a 50mm lens at ISO 800, f/2.2 and 1/20 sec. After setting a proper white balance using Lightroom, I straightened the image, but have otherwise not done any processing."

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. We'll try to get it published for you on The Digital Story.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

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Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography, technique, Technology, The Digital Story

"I'm sending this grab shot on the heels of your High Impact post," writes Buck Heim. "The impact here is the same, in that we were both in the middle of the street. The difference being I am dodging a taxi cab while in the middle of the crosswalk. There is no 'how I did it' other than using VR and being struck by the clean shiny scene just after an evening rain."

Buck used his Nikon D200, Nikkor 18-200 VR lens, Exposure: 1/13 at f/3.5, ISO: 400.

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"I spotted these statues (and pigeons) at Columbus Circle at the southern end of Central Park, New York," said Rick Brandt. "So I captured this grab shot with my Canon G9."

The ISO was set to 100, shutter speed 1/250th at f/4.

Now Available! The Digital Photography Companion. The official guide for The Digital Story Virtual Camera Club.

• 25 handy and informative tables for quick reference.
• Metadata listings for every photo in the book
• Dedicated chapter on making printing easy.
• Photo management software guide.
• Many, many inside tips gleaned from years of experience.
• Comprehensive (214 pages), yet fits easily in camera bag.

Technorati Tags: candid, Canon G9, Derrick Story, digital photography, Technology, The Digital Story

"A workman checks the skylights embedded in one of four hills of the Living Roof of the new California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco," writes John Hershey. "As hot air rises from the exhibit floor, the skylights automatically open, functioning as vents. The planted rooftop provides superior insulation for the building below, substantially reducing energy needs. It absorbs 98 percent of the rainwater -- preventing ecosystem pollution, and is planted exclusively with native species."

"I shot this during a reserved preview day a week before the official opening of the new Academy structure."

John used an Canon PoewerShot SX100 IS at ISO 80 to capture this great shot.

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Technorati Tags: candid, grab shot, Technology, The Digital Story

"This image was taken in Central Park, New York," said Martin Herrera Soler. "I guess these things only happen in New York? I never got to really know why this couple went o grab a hot dog... perhaps the reception food was not so good?"

Martin captured the newlyweds with a Canon 20D, ISO 400, 1/160 and f5.6.

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. We'll try to get it published for you on The Digital Story.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

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Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography, technique, Technology, The Digital Story

"I was rambling around, looking for subjects for the TDS Photo Assignment when I came across this window," said Mark Given. "Odd little storefront building with other flags behind other windows, too. I was struck by the contrast between the 'Americana' montage created by the flag/building/trees reflection, and the concept of a flag behind glass. Is it a patriotic display or a simple curtain, keeping us from seeing inside?"

It certainly is a sign of the times right now in the States. Mark used a Nikon D80 with the lens set to 28mm and the ISO at 400.

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. We'll try to get it published for you on The Digital Story.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography, technique, Technology, The Digital Story

"Took my family to the Crayola Musuem in Easton PA," said TDS member Jim Stocking. "I always try to take pictures of signs to identify in a slideshow where a group of pictures were taken."

"The museum has this interesting sign, which I thought would be a candidate for grab shots after I saw the result. The Crayola Museum features a number of hands-on activities with Crayola products along with great activities for children and a demonstration of how the crayons are made."

"I took the picture from the second floor of the parking garage across the street, to flatten the angle looking up at the sign. I used my Canon Rebel XTi with the Canon f/1.4 50 mm lens. Considering that most of the days pictures were to be taken inside, I gave myself the assignment to film the whole day with just the 50mm lens. In this case, I had to crop down on the sign because I could not zoom out to take in the full display. However, I think the tighter shot heighens the sense that the box of crayons is tumbling out from the sky."

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. We'll try to get it published for you on The Digital Story.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography, technique, Technology, The Digital Story

"The picture was taken at Deerfield Village, MA," said Joan V. Hall. "I used a Canon 40D and the Canon 85mm 1.8 lens. The shot was captured at F8, 1/60, ISO 100.The only post processing was cropping. I had just attended the New England Camera Clubs photography weekend at U Mass."

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. We'll try to get it published for you on The Digital Story.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography, technique, Technology, The Digital Story