Ppt on Digital Photography
Transcript of Ppt on Digital Photography
Digital Photography 101for Library Applications
Workshop AgendaDigital Camera OverviewHints on Taking PhotosWho Owns That Image?Photo Design and RepairManaging Your Digital Photo Collection
Digital Camera Overview
Why Digital Photography?Advantage over film cameras Immediate feedback / results Don’t need to develop film Ease of image manipulation
Add interest to your web site Publicize and document library events Pictures are worth a thousand words
Provide material for library displays
Overview of Digital CamerasLens typesCase sizesPixel depthZoom powerStorage media types Older memory formats Newer memory formats Alternative memory formats
Lens TypesRegular fixed lens with or without zoom
Digital SLR (single-lens reflex) More control over depth of field Interchangeable lenses
Large format For incredible detail
in a large image Huge file sizes
Digital Camera Case SizesListed in order of price Compact Micro Medium Large
Pixel DepthWhy would you want more pixels? 3 megapixels 4 megapixels 5 megapixels Foveon technology 3.4
• Three layers to each pixel• Equivalent to 10 megapixels
Pixel Print ComparisonTo maintain quality, choose higher megapixel settings if you need larger print sizes 1 megapixels 4 x 6≅ 2 megapixels 5 x 7≅ 3 megapixels 8 x 11≅ 4 megapixels 11 x 14≅ 5 megapixels 12 x 16≅
Zoom PowerOptical zoom changes the image by moving the lensDigital zoom changes the image by cropping (enlarging the pixels)Interchangeable lenses on SLR digital cameras – expensive! Gives you more shutter speed control Wide-angle, panoramic, specialty lenses
Types of Storage MediaSome can be used in multiple portable devices Digital cameras, notebooks, PDAs, music
players, car stereo
Standardize on a flash memory type Secure Digital (SD) - up and coming Compact Flash (CF) - still a good choice
Older Memory FormatsThese formats are being phased out SmartMedia (SM) MultiMediaCard (MMC)
Mini-CDs, floppy disksCompact Flash (CF) More devices use CF that any other media
type High capacity
Newer Memory FormatsMemory stick (MS) only used by Sony
xD-Picture Card Fujifilm, Olympus Projected highest capacity
Secure Digital (SD) Projected highest use Broadest support
Alternative Memory FormatsCF Mini hard drives IBM microdrive Up to 1 GB in storage
Digital camera off-load units
Now For Our Camera Tour…
Finally, Taking Photos…
Before You StartPractice with the cameraDouble-check your camera settingsCarry extra batteriesExperiment with flash How close to subject? Test red-eye settings
Hints On Taking PhotosUse a tripod or lean against stationery objectConserve batteries Limit use of
screen viewer Is camera turned off
when not in use?
Automatic & Forced FlashAutomatic Fires automatically as required Useful for ordinary photography
Forced Flash Photograph backlit scenes Use outside in shade Color correct
fluorescent light
Suppressed & Red-Eye FlashSuppressed Flash Indoors where flash is ineffective Photos taken through glass
Red-Eye Reduction Pre-flashes so subject’s
eyes appear more natural Fires automatically
as required
Slow-Synchro Flash TypesSlow-Synchro Slow shutter speed for taking pictures of
people at night Will show both subject and night time
backdrop Recommend tripod
Red-Eye Reduction plus Slow-Synchro
Example of Flash Icons
Red eyereduction
Forcedflash
Suppressedflash
Red eyereductionplus slowsynchro Slow
synchro
White Balance ControlWill attempt to correct the color for given light sources such as: Daylight fluorescents Warm white fluorescents Cool white fluorescents Incandescent lights Outdoors Shade
Delayed Shutter ResponseAnticipate shutter lag Shutter delay varies between cameras
Ask your subject to hold still!Image-writing delay while the camera stores the photo Some cameras are able
to store images more quickly
Taking Photos of PeopleAvoid red-eye Use red-eye flash function Ask subject to look away from flash Use natural light
Don’t get too close Distortion You can crop
image later
Flattery Or Kindness?Avoid harsh shadowsTry different viewpointsUse natural light instead of flashRed clothing will overpowerskin tones
Hold Still!Posing versus natural actionTake numerous photos of same pose Subject may relax Pose will look more natural
Shutter lag makes naturalaction shots difficult
Connect That Camera…
Connecting to a ComputerInstall camera softwareCheck camera battery charge or plug in power adapterChoice of connections Camera to computer Memory media to computer
Copy or move files from camera to computer
Problems?Where to go if you have problems with your cameraCamera batteries weak?What if your computer won’t talk to the camera?Software updates andother annoyances
Indoor LightingFluorescent light is greenIncandescent light is redNorth light bulbs are blue“Color-corrected” light bulbs are bestUse two light sourcesif possible
Photographing ObjectsAvoid parallax effect if object has straight lines Align camera to object Align lines of object with frame of
viewfinder or LCD monitor
Use a tripod or standMacro lenses
Lighting ObjectsLighting Two lights are best 45° angle to object Measure distance of lights
Use a “color key” for fine reproductions
Camera Purchase Decision
Before You ChooseWhat is your budget?Will it connect to your computer?Evaluate your photographic needs Pixel depth Power supply requirements Memory needs (16 MB to 1 GB+) Do you have other portable devices? Zoom capability needed?
How To Choose A CameraTry out cameras for a good fit Does it fit your hands? Controls easy to locate? Display screen large enough? Light enough to carry? Zoom power?
Purchase at a store or buy online?Keep an eye on sale prices
Bookmarks Topics to VisitDigital camera glossaries and dictionariesDigital camera overviewVendor web sites fordigital cameras andphotography
Taking Photos Outdoors
Outdoor LightingSunlight causes shadowsNorth light is blueOvercast daysIndirect lighting best for peopleUse fill-in flash or reflector
Taking Photos OutdoorsSunrise, sunsetHigh noonOvercastFill-in flashFew filters availablefor digital cameras Glare and reflections Dust and smog
Legal Issues…
Do The Right Thing! Get a signature release from your subjectsCopyright considerationsInfopeople course materialsavailable
Signature ReleasesWho owns that photograph?If you put a photo of a person on the web, get a signature releaseLegal issues Sample signature releases
Copyright ConsiderationsAgain, who owns that photograph?Legal issues Get permission!Protect your images
Bookmarks Topics to VisitInfopeople course Library Laws For The Web Environment -
2002
Signature release samplesCopyright law
The Art Part…
Photo Design and RepairDesign and color hintsCroppingResizingColor correction
Design HintsView as abstract artwork (turn the photo upside down)Save as black & white for a fresh viewLook at negative spacesAvoid clutter
The Rule of Thirds in DesignHum Beethoven’s FifthImagine a tic-tac-toe grid on your image Line objects on the grid Offset the focal point
within the composition
Check for proportions of two-to-one
Value, Contrast & LuminanceValue Relative lightness or darkness of a color Black & white photography helps you see
value
Contrast Difference between highest
and lowest luminance values
Luminance relates to light
Hue, Saturation & BrightnessHue Intensity or gradation of color
Saturation Chromatic purity - has color
been diluted with white?
Brightness Brilliance of a color relating
to hue or saturation
Color ImpactEmotional impact of color What kind of message do you wish to
convey?
Reds “bleed” May overpower other parts
of the image
Color HintsThe rule of threes in colorSquint to see the values in the imageCheck proportions of color of two-to-one
Cropping and ResizingFocus on the subjectGet rid of clutterThe web can only show so much!Reduce image file sizeImprove your design
Software Can Correct Color
Balance your colorCorrect bad lightingPunch up the valuesIncrease the hue
Photo & Graphics Software
Types of SoftwareBeginner Apple iPhoto, Hypersnap, LviewPro
Intermediate PaintShop Pro, Photoshop Elements
Advanced Fireworks, Photoshop
Camera software
Exporting for Web and Print
Exporting For The WebUse “save as” - keep original safe PC vs Macintosh color differencesReduce image and file size Crop image Resize image Change file format
to jpg or gif Set resolution to 72 dpi
Exporting For PrintUse “save as” - keep original safe Use largest pixel size setting available for camera You won’t be able to take as many photos at a
time, but the print quality will be greater
Save to highest quality TIFF format setting Talk with your printer!Color-correct your monitor
File ExtensionsJPEG (*.jpg) web graphicsGIF (*.gif) flat color web graphicsTIFF (*.tif) print graphicsPSD (*.psd) Adobe PhotoshopPNG (*.png) FireworksPDF (*.pdf) Adobe AcrobatProprietary extensions
Digital Photos Can Be Huge!Managing disk spaceOrganizing your photosTypes of file management softwareInfopeople course materials availableon digitization projectsDon’t forget metadata!
Bookmarks Topics to VisitGraphics software vendorsDigital collections projectsInfopeople course materials Planning To Digitize Your
Treasures, 2000 Planning Your Digitization
Project, 2001 Creating Web Images
With Fireworks, 2002
Planning A Photo Session
Back To Reality…What photos do you need (or want) to take for your library? How / where will you use these photos? What camera settings to use? What is the subject matter? Environment? What kind of lighting? Legal issues?
Summary and EvaluationOverview of digital camerasHints on taking photosWho owns that image?Design and color hintsManaging your files and disk space