This article from PhotoTuts: Photography Kick-start Guide: Adjusting Your Camera’s Settings for the Photo You Want , shows you how to acheive the looks you want in your photos based on the situation. If you want to take your camera out of Auto, and learn what all the different modes are for, this article is for you! Click here to go to article.

Rollip is a new site offering a simple online photo editing tool. You can convert your photo in a variety of ways and do so in two formats, either Polaroid, or regular size. The effects include various sepia tones, soft focus, and neon effect.  Using the site is simple, just click on the image of the effect you want, and follow the instructions to upload your photo.

I tried out the editor on this photo

And converted it to a  Polaroid as well as gave it a vintage look as you can see at left.

If you choose to make your photo into a Polaroid, you also have the option of adding text or decorations to the edges of the image as shown

Once the transformation is complete you have the following options

1. Download your photo

2. Share a direct link in email, on a website or in instant messaging

3. Share the photo in e-mail, on Facebook, MySpace or a variety of other social media websites

If you use Flickr, you can also share your Rollip creations in the Rollip group.

I quite like this site and can see myself converting a variety of photos. it’s simple and quick. My main reservation is with regards to the file sizes of the converted photos which are quite small (less than 100K in some cases, and only 400 pixels wide). I haven’t had a chance to print them out to see the quality, but according to the site you should be able to print the photos out.

I also would like it if the different conversions were given names, so that it would be easier to distinguish between them. Also suggestions as to what kind of photos work well with each conversion would be useful. But with a little time and trial and error I think that anyone can get neat effects on their favourite photos!

Click here to go to Rollip to try it out!

Creating Keepsakes is giving away the Tamron AF 18-270mm on their blog! Click here to go to the blog and follow the instructions to enter. Giveaway ends August 27th

Use this tutorial from Jen on the Scrapbook Trends blog to convert a photo to black and white. I used it to easily convert the photo shown above. Click here to go to tutorial.

Camera Strap Slipcover

Photojojo has a tutorial up to make a reversible slipcover to pretty up your camera strap. Click here to go to tutorial.

Download tons of free actions from Nightfate on Deviant Art. To download the set shown above click here. To see all the action sets click here.

Tina Cockburn shows how to lighten, boost colour and add sparkle to a portrait using steps in Adobe Photoshop.  I followed her instructions and was quickly able to edit the photo of my son as shown above.  Go to tutorial.