|
|
So you got a camera for Christmas,
Now what?
|
|
FTLComm - Tisdale - Saturday, December 27, 2003 |
Though many of us have been using digital cameras for some time this Christmas they
were particularly popular gifts in many homes and with the flash going off and media
cards filling up it is time to discuss how this means of capturing an image is significantly
different from using film.
|
|
The advantages of using a digital camera are well known and we need not go over them
at this time but it is many of these properties of digital photography that require
attention and therefore you need to think through what you are doing with this great
means of documenting your life and your experiences.
|
Perhaps the first and most important aspect of any photograph, film or digital is
that it is in itself a valuable record of a moment in time and therefore you need
to have respect for that moment and since no one knows the future we never know just
what value an image is at the time it is taken. One of the advantages of the digital
camera is the ability to erase that picture if it is not "good" as you
view things. My advise is to avoid editing your pictures or erasing them from the
camera for two important reasons: the first reason is that this kind of self evaluation
and reevaluation leads to a sort of false reality for you, the second reason is that
there is a more than 60% chance you will expunge pictures you will want to have kept.
|
Several printers are now available that allow you to print directly from your camera.
For the individual who wants just to have prints of their pictures this is great
and very inexpensive. For others who might want to be able to use their pictures
in other ways there is a need to establish a routine, sequence of doing things that
will preserve your images just as you might have a way of organising your negatives
in the past.
|
|
Here are the steps that I would recommend you follow to keep your pictures and have
them available for the future,
|
- Download your pictures to your computer and place the raw images as they are
imported from the camera in a file with the day they were downloaded to identify
them as the file label.
- Place this file in a file for the month and year in which they were taken.
- When you have enough copy those months onto a CD to be your permanent archive.
|
|
Every single image you see on this web site is modified. I correct for exposure and
colour since the pictures used here come from different cameras and different situations
I want a consistent look to this web site and digital cameras tend to over expose
all images. This means that all pictures I use are changed I store the changed pictures
in another place but make sure I keep the originals unmodified.
|
|
Now for some simple tips:
|
- Whenever possible
turn off the flash and take your pictures using the natural light of the scene. Since
inside this will mean that you need a really steady hand to get your pictures a tripod
is a great investment.
- Though many of the new cameras come with telephoto lens your pictures will always
be made with wide angle or one to one magnification as these pictures are less likely
to suffer from the jitters and you will have sharper focus.
- With your camera on wide angle or what you see rather than a telephoto there
is no real need to get your eye into the view finder. You will make excellent pictures
if you learn to hold the camera at arms length and use it to cover the subject you
are trying to capture.
- Waist high images are particularly attractive and when ever possible move your
camera down from eye level to your belt height.
- To get a steady shot without a tripod jam the camera up against a window, door
frame or some fixed object to get that shot that may be a bit jittery hand held.
- In your vehicle jam the camera against the side window to avoid the camera's
reflection.
- Don't be afraid to try things out at night, you will capture amazing images and
there is no film to waste.
|
If you are still just thinking about buying a camera there are some important things
to know. No matter how great your camera the best pictures are created by the eye
and instinct of the photographer. Don't be sucked in by the idea that you "need"
an expensive camera. For starters buy an inexpensive camera and get used to the idea
of using it and storing your pictures. The cameras shown here are all the bottom
of the line, entrance level cameras but each of them will produce outstanding results.
When you have determined that you want to make digital photography a serious hobby
then you can think about spending serious money.
|
As for care and feeding of your camera you should purchase an extra media card for
your camera, it is like an extra roll of film but it also helps in organising the
pictures you take. Digital cameras are not unlike film cameras, they do not fall
well. Besides being susceptible to damage from dropping they have problems with low
temperatures this means you need a protective case for your camera and always carry
extra batteries.
|
|
When you send pictures as attachments to friends and relatives save them as ".jpg"
this format "medium" compression can be seen on a web browser and will
open in email. Avoid sending a "tiff" or working with a bit map picture.
|
|
One other really important piece of knowledge is to realise that when you print a
picture in your ink jet printer the printer is the least important part of the process
and the most important thing is the paper you print your pictures on.
|
|
If you have some specific problems you would like to know about send along
a question and I will do my best to help you out or call upon other experts to
get a solution.
|
|
Timothy W. Shire
|
|
|
References: |
Askey, Phil, Canon Powershot
S20, January 2000
|
|
Sony CyberShot
DSC-P72
|
|
HP PhotoSmart
635
|
|
|
|
Return to Ensign
- Return to Saskatchewan
News
|
|
This page is a story posted on Ensign and/or Saskatchewan
News, both of which are daily web sites offering a variety of material from scenic
images, political commentary, information and news. These publications are the work
of Faster Than Light Communications . If you would like to comment on this story or you wish to contact
the editor of these sites please send us email. |
|
Editor : Timothy W. Shire
Faster Than Light Communication
Box 1776, Tisdale, Saskatchewan, Canada, S0E 1T0
306 873 2004
|
|