Introduction to Digital

Photography

Key West

Naval Air Station

Earl D. Gates

OverviewOverview

• Quick overview of what this workshop is all about• Identifying the Hardware• Developing a digital image workflow• Photographic Techniques• Image Editing

Hardware TerminologyHardware Terminology

• Digital Camera (Digicam)• Megapixels• File Format• Batteries • Lens

• Scanners• Flat Bed• Film

Digital Imaging Workflow

Digital Imaging Workflow

1.Preparation

2.Shooting

3.Transferring

4.Organizing

5.Processing

6.Archiving

7.Outputting

Photographic TechniquesPhotographic Techniques

• Composition• People• Landscape• Pets

Image EditingImage Editing

• Software• Tools• Special Effects

ResourcesResources

• Internet• Magazines• Books• Workshops

SummarySummary

• Review topics • Identify level to achieve• What Next?

Preparation

Select digicam and accessories

Check batteries

Clean the camera

Adjust controls

Extra memory cards

Field storage

Back

Shooting

Autofocus

White balance

Set other controls

Review images

Remove unwanted images

Back

Back

Transferring

Decide on a transfer location

Memory card transfer

Cable transfer

Infrared transfer

Back

Organizing

Sort through images

Print contact sheets

Rank images in groups

Separate the keepers

Back

Processing

Working file format (TIFF)

Evaluate images

Make overall adjustments

Make local adjustments

Save as master

Sharpen image

Back

Archiving

Organize

Choose medium

Make multiple backups

Delete all unnecessary copies of image

Back

Outputting

Select outputFile format

Email

Slide shows

Prints

Back

Composition

Learn to see

Rules of thirds

Viewfinder awareness

Simplicity

Back

People

Lens

Lighting

Posing

Props

Groups

Back

Landscapes

Lens

Lighting

Back

Pets

Lens

Red Eye

Back

Software

Photoshop

Photoshop Elements

Included with camera

Back

Tools

Opening, saving and deleting

Cropping

Adjusting brightness, contrast and color

Sharpening

Removal tools - redeye, dirt, scratch, noise

Back

Special Effects

Filters

Masks

Back

How Many Megapixels?

MP 4X6 5X7 8X10 11X14 16X20

2 Exc Good Fair Poor Poor

3 Exc Exc Good Fair Poor

4 Exc Exc Exc Good Fair

5 Exc Exc Exc Exc Good

8 Exc Exc Exc Exc Exc

11 Exc Exc Exc Exc Exc

Back

File Format

Refers to the way the computer stores the data

More common formats include: JPEG EXIF TIFF RAW

JPEG

Stands for Joint Photography Experts Group

Most widely used format Biggest advantage - can compress image

data Do not edit JPEG images in photo-editing

programs to minimize data loss

EXIF

Stands for Exchange Image File Format Used by many digicams Is a variation of the JPEG format Stores extra data as metadata with the

image file Metadata stores shutter speed, aperture,

and other capture settings

TIFF

Stands for Tagged Image File Format Is the choice for bringing images into

publishing programs Does not compress as much as JPEG Choose when picture quality is more

important than file size

RAW

Simply means raw Used by high-resolution digicams Does not include any in-camera

processing features Provides a truer version of the scene in

front of the camera Large file size

Back

Rechargeable Batteries

Must Know Info

Why Batteries?

Batteries are the soul

of photographic

equipment

Battery Types

Rechargeable

Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd)

Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH)

Lithium Ion (Li-ion)

NiCd Batteries

Memory effect

NiMH Batteries

More widespread

Li-ion Batteries

Proprietary for specific cameras

Milliampere hours (mAh)

Refers to how long the battery will last

Back

Its About The Speed

Lenses

Why does speed matter?

The more light a lens gathers, the less time it needs to hold the shutter open for proper exposure

Zoom Lens

Maximum zoom is hard to hold camera steady for a sharp picture

Shutter Speed

Slowest shutter speed without a tripod is 1/focal length of lens

(Based on 35mm equivalent)

To Avoid The Shakes

Image stabilization:

Using gyro-sensors to detect shakes and compensate

Allows image to be shot at slower shutter speed