“A great photo happens when a photographer sees a situation unfolding in front of them that evokes an emotion that the photographer feels deep down,  in the middle of their chest.  And in a split second, they then make a conscience choice of exposure, lens, depth of field, lighting, body language, composition, etc., and releases the shutter.  The film is then processed, scanned, laid out on a page, printed on a press, driven across town to the newspaper carrier who throws it on some guy's porch, who then opens the newspaper and looks down at that photo ... And if that guy gets the same feeling deep down in the middle of his chest that the photographer did when they viewed the situation in the first place, the photographer has made a great photo."

--Nancy L. Ford, photographer

Day 1: Basic Concepts to Understanding Photography

Film vs Digital

• Film– potentially better quality

photo (equal to 20 mp)– better at high speeds and

low light– better crispness and

vividness– potentially better color– longer print/source life– camera is less expensive

• Digital– immediate feedback

– viewing screen

– can see creative changes as you adjust (on some)

– free if you don’t print

– easier digital manipulation

– no developing costs (some storage and battery costs)

Types of Digital Camera

• Ultra-compact– Very small (1” thick

max)– Generally Inexpensive– Simple and convenient– Images not as good– 3.2-7+ megapixels– Limited or no zoom

Types of Digital Camera

• Ultra-compact– Very small (1” thick max)– Generally Inexpensive– Simple and convenient– Images not as good– 3.2-7+ megapixels– Limited or no zoom

• Compact (Intermediate) – Still fairly inexpensive– Creative presets – Better lens & sensor– 5-9+ megapixels– 3-4x zoom

Types of Digital Camera

• Ultra-compact– Very small (1” thick max)– Generally Inexpensive– Simple and convenient– Images not as good– 3.2-7+ megapixels– Limited or no zoom

• Compact (Intermediate) – Still fairly inexpensive– Creative presets – Better lens & sensor– 5-9+ megapixels– 3-4x zoom

• Prosumer (SLR-like, Ultra-zoom)– Better lenses– Longer zooms, 10x or more– View through the lenses– 7-12+ megapixels– Attachable accessories– May have Image Stabilization

Types of Digital Camera

• Ultra-compact– Very small (1” thick max)– Generally Inexpensive– Simple and convenient– Images not as good– 3.2-7+ megapixels– Limited or no zoom

• Compact (Intermediate) – Still fairly inexpensive– Creative presets – Better lens & sensor– 5-9+ megapixels– 3-4x zoom

• Prosumer (SLR-like, Ultra-zoom)– Better lenses– Longer zooms, 10x or more– View through the lenses– 7-12+ megapixels– Attachable accessories– May have Image Stabilization

• Professional – More manual control– Changeable Lenses– Up to 12-20+ megapixels– More creative options

Batteries

• Alkaline--cheaper, but drain in 1/2 hour• Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH)

– Rechargeable– Environmentally friendly– Good for about 1,000+ charges– Don’t mix and match

• Lithium Ion– Camera specific– Good for about 500 charges

• AC adapter– Especially good while downloading

• Carry some spares (No battery = No pictures)

Memory Cards

Each camera will require a specific type. They are not always interchangeable. Determine what you need.

• CF (Compact Flash)

• SD (Secure Digital)

• xD (Extreme Digital)

• MS (Memory Stick)

• MMC (MultiMediaCard)

• SM (Smart Media)

What size memory card do I need?• This depends on how many megapixels your

camera shoots per shot (look at camera specs).• Shoot at highest resolution possible for

maximum quality.

64MB 256MB 512MB 1GB 2GB

5 mp 25 100 200 400 800

7 mp 19 76 152 304 608

8 mp 16 64 128 256 512

Card Size in megabytes

Number of images that can be stored

How many megapixels do I need?• More MP = Allows bigger, better images, and

digital cropping of your pictures • Shoot at highest resolution possible for

maximum quality pictures and most control

Megapixels needed (with no cropping)For screen display -- 2+ Megapixels neededFor a snapshot (3x5) -- 3+ Megapixels neededFor an 8 x 10 -- 5+ Megapixels needed

Picture file formats• Jpeg—suitable for e-mail, computer, Internet, printing

– most common file type– loses crispness with each resizing, resaving– various levels of compression (good, better, best)

• Tiff—very good form for pictures to be printed– retain crispness and clarity best– larger file size– uncompressed (will not lose quality when edited)

• RAW—best for high end photography, printing– uncompressed, unprocessed image– must be edited with software

• Gif—suitable for Internet and line art– least clear but fastest loading on Internet– smallest file size

Archiving Photos• A normal inkjet print may not last• Save the original, unedited photo (like saving a

negative)• DVD’s can store up to 15,000 photo quality

images (7 x more than regular CD’s)• CD’s are more reliable and stable than DVD’s• Gold foil disks last 100 years. Normal disks last

7-10+ years.• Don’t leave images on computer w/o backing

them up.• Or . . .

Use Online Resources

• Digital photo albums like Picasa by Google– http://picasa.google.com/

• Online hosting and photo albums like flickr– http://flickr.com– http://flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/

• How does this work?– http://23thingsonastick.blogspot.com/

2007/11/thing-7-more-flickr-fun.html

Outputting Pictures--dpi

• dpi = Dots per inch

• Higher the dpi, the better the resolution

• On Screen – 72/96 dpi

• Small Prints (3 x 5) -- 200+ dpi

• Larger Prints (5 x 7 and up) -- 300 + dpi

Printing Picture--300 vs 72 dpi

Test Area

Lowest Resolution Highest Resolution

72 dpi 300 dpi

Printing Tips

• Get a good printer– one that uses at least 4 colors– get highest dpi possible--some say 4800 x 1200

should be minimum standard

• Use photo paper– paper brand should match printer brand

• Allow 24 hours to dry before framing or scrapbooking

• Use a good editing program to improve photo before printing

with matching paper -- w/o matching paper

Basic Camera Use

Holding the Camera

• Hold camera with two hands

• Hold steady

• Tuck elbows in

• Have firm feet

• Hold breath, then press carefully

• Or use tripod

Turning On The Camera

• Shoot setting

• View setting

Focus the Camera

• Shutter button--depress 1/2 way and hold

• Use focus points

• Focus, hold and move to off-center subject

Zooming

• Optical Zoom– like film cameras– lens extends/contracts

• Digital Zoom– begins to crop into picture– lose overall image size/resolution– better to crop on computer

Optical Digital

Viewing Pictures

• Be sure camera is on view setting

• Use 4 way selector button to scroll through pictures– Left is back– Right is forward

• Delete Pictures– Camera

typically must be in play mode.

– Pressing button deletes displayed image

Intermediate features

• Flash control– Camera in

shoot mode– Usually a

button that allows you to toggle through settings.

– Settings appear as icons in window

Intermediate features

Using a flash• General Settings

– automatic (It will fire when needed)– fill flash (It will fire but with less light)– red eye reduction (Strobes first, then fires)– off (Camera will adjust for shot w/o flash)

• Inside– only effective for about 10-15 feet– use red-eye reduction setting if needed– flash off may result in blurrier pictures

• Outside– fill flash--w/in 5 feet in sun or on cloudy days– full flash--greater than 10 feet in sun– take portraits in shade with flash– may not need flash at all

• Menu Options– Image quality/

resolution (good, better, best)

– File type (Jpeg)– ISO (film speed)

Understand Menu Options

Setting Film Speeds--ISO

ISO Speed Use Grain

100 Medium/SlowOutdoor or bright light

Fine

400 FastIndoor or dim

Fast outdoorMedium

1600 Very FastVery dark or fast

(Sports indoor or at night)

Course

Compensate For Low Light

Shot at 400 speed Shot at 1600 speed

Freeze Action Better

Shot at 100 ISO Shot at 1600 ISO

Setting Film Speeds--ISO

ISO Speed Use Grain

100 Medium/SlowOutdoor or bright light

Fine

400 FastIndoor or dim

Fast outdoorMedium

1600 Very FastVery dark or fast

(Sports indoor or at night)

Course

Typical Setting OptionsCanon Rebel

Olympus

Most new point and shoots have menus with multiple presets.

Study the manual!

Know Your Camera

Practice• Turn camera on• Hold the camera properly & Focus• Take several pictures• View them back• Delete at least one picture• Zoom in and out• Try to take a picture with and w/o flash• Open the menu and change the image quality to best• Try to change the resolution, film speed, creative

setting--Then restore original settings