Digital Photography What do you need to Know?

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Digital PhotographyWhat do you need to Know?
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Advantages of Digital Camera over Film Cameras
Speed Images recorded by the camera can be
transmitted directly into the computer without
processing. Conservation Film and chemicals are
not expended. Safety There is no exposure to
processing chemicals.
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Disadvantages of Digital Camera over Film Cameras
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Historical Perspective on Digital Imaging
Lets face itdigital photography has only been
with us for about 10 years. It is still in its
embryonic state. Digital technology continues to
evolve and become more technically sophisticated
as quality keeps getting better and costs
incrementally get less each year for higher
resolution cameras.
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Is there a really difference between traditional
photography and digital?
Digital photography is another form of the
photographic medium, and a background in
traditional photography will allow you to go
further, faster, in the digital realm however it
is not imperative.
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Analog vs. Digital
A digital system is one that uses discrete
values (often electrical voltages), especially
those representable as binary numbers, or
non-numeric symbols such as letters or icons,
for input, processing, transmission, storage, or
display, rather than a continuous spectrum of
values (ie, as in an analog system).
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What is Digital Imaging?
A digital or electronic, image is one that has
been produced with a computer or camera. The
machine (or digital camera) takes (captures) a
visual image and translates it into a series of
mathematical values ones and zero's, or bits of
information. The image can be acquired via
digital camera or by scanning any two-dimensional
image such as a photograph, printed page, or any
other type of picture. Even a three-dimensional
object can be placed on a scanner and its surface
captured. The scanner then digitizes the image
and displays it electronically on the monitor.
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What happens when you take a digital photograph
Digital images are made up of pixels. Pixels
(short for picture elements) are the small
sections of color and/or tone that together form
a digital image. Pixels form an image like
pieces of a mosaic. A digital image is a grid of
pixels. When the pixels are viewed together in
proper registration, the image is formed. When
there are enough pixels and they are small enough
so as not to be individually discernible, the
digital image can achieve photo quality.
Increased magnification of any digital image
will eventually show the individual pixels,as in
the enlarged section in the image at right.
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Digital Photography is based onthe Pixel -
Picture Element
The more pixels per square in the better the
quality of the image - it is that simple.
Pixel(Picture Element) The smallest element
of a digitized image. One small dot of light
among the many dots that makeup an image on a
computer screen.
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Digital Imaging Methodology and Imaging Options
An understanding of resolution issues is critical
to getting good photographs (output)
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Lets Talk Pixels, File Size and Resolution
They all interrelate!
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Megapixel
MegapixelA unit equal to one million pixels.
The higher the resolution, the more pixels in
an image and therefore the greater the image
quality. An image file that is 1 megapixel (MP)
can make a photo realistic print of 5 x 7
inches a 2 MP file can make an 8 x 10-inch
print a 3 MP file can make an 11 x 14-inch
print.
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Resolution
Low
High
The number of pixels in an image. A higher
number correlates to a higher quality image. More
is ALWAYS better! Minimum 240 resolution Needed
for photo quality - 300 Ideal
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Digital Camera vs. Scanning (Negatives/Prints)
Better off scanning negatives than prints for
higher quality output (photographs)
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File Formats
File types are mathematical formulas that help
the computer read the colors in the file. There
are hundreds of file types. Tiff Tagged Image
File Format (Universal Format - High Quality) Gif
Graphic interchange format (For the Web) Jpeg
Joint Photographers Expert Group (Web or
Prints) Png Portable Network Graphic In every
graphics application, when you save your file,
the program asks you, What file format would you
like to save this as? In the land of print work,
most labs will use the Tiff file format. They
will create a Tiff file and save it at 300dpi.
The Tiff file is a big file format.
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Basic procedure for getting better digital
photographswith Photoshop
Or minimum 240
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Most of rules are the same (composition, content,
creativity) equipment, but the process is very
different.
Getting the latent image from camera to print is
vastly different.
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Some Basic Shooting Tips
1. Dont always shoot standing up (eye
level) 2. Stay away from busy / chaotic
backgrounds 3. Use flash Outdoors (Opens
Shadows)) 4. Move in close to your
subject. 5. Rule of Thirds - Dont place subject
in middle of frame 6. Ask Yourself what is my
main subject before shooting. 7. Know your
flash's range 8. Watch the light - Light is the
key to great photos 9. Take some vertical
pictures - vertical subjects like people 10. Be a
picture director - direct your subjects when
possible
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Great Web Resources
http//www.alpenglowimaging.com/resolution.htm ht
tp//www.sillybilly.com/art101a.html http//www.k
odak.com www.mpix.com www.adorama.com
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Lets take some Pictures!