Digital
Photography
Session #1
Summer Workshop 2013
Rose Memorial
Library
Stony Point NY
Bill Greenlee & Pam Grafstein
Slide 1
Agenda Session #1
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Introductions
Informal Audience Poll - Interests and Experience
Why Shoot Digital ? Most Common Motivations
Types of Digital Cameras
Typical Workflow – Scene -> Camera ->PC -> Final Output
Common Photographic terms
Break (10 min)
Image Transfer Demonstration
Basic Image Editing (PC Software & Projector)
Common Image Formats & Applications
Elements of a High Quality Image
Handouts &Homework Assignment for Session #2
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What is a Histogram?
Elements of a Good Photographic Image
Elements of a Good Competition Image
Q& A Session
Slide 2
Audience Interests
• Informal Poll –Interests and Experience – How Many:
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Own A Digital Camera?
Have Read the Manual Recently?
What experience level? None? Beginner? Intermed? Advanced?
Can Use Its Basic Functions?
Know How to Transfer Images to Local PC or Website?
Have Printed Their Own Images?
Have Used Image Processing Software?
• Why Shoot Digital ? Most Common Motivations/Advantages
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Much Wider Availability to Consumers & Pros (Film Now a Niche/Commercial Market)
Simpler Than Film (No More - Rolls of Celluloid, Chemicals, Darkroom, Opening Camera in Dark Space)
Quicker/Easier Review and Sharing
(Local Display, Electronic File Sharing)
Less Physical Storage Space Required (Memory Card holds 100’s or 1000’s of Images)
Greater Control Before the Shot (Depending on Camera Features)
Slide 3
Types of Digital Cameras
Images: Amazon.com
Mobile Devices
Compact ($79)
“Point n’ Shoot” ($349)
Entry Level DSLR ($355)
“Prosumer” DSLR ($1497)
Professional DSLR ($5999)
Professional DSLR
High End/Specialty
($17,995)
Types of Digital Cameras
Feature
DSLR
Compact
Interchangeable Lenses
X
Full Range of Auto/SemiAuto/Manual Settings
X
Thru the Lens Viewfinder
X
True Shutter Action
X
Remote Shutter Activation (Cord & Wireless)
X
Still and Video
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Flash: Built-In
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Flash: “Hot Shoe”
X
Shutter Delay (After Pushing Button)
USB Cable Image Download
Focal Plane Area
Fast
Slow-to-Med
X
X
Med or Large
Small
Slide 5
Common Digital Photography
Terms
Exposure
Common Digital Photography
Terms
DSLR
Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) – type of camera that
relies on a retractable mirror system allowing thru the
lens composing and metering and moves the mirror out
of the optical path when shutter is released.
Focal Length
Focal Length - distance from the center of the first lens
element to the focal plane of the lens (Actually Effective
Focal Length)
Common Digital Photography
Terms
DSLR
Image: Wikipedia
Focal Plane
Location Mark
Focal Length
Common Digital Photography
Terms
Compact
Camera Focal
Plane
Exposure
Setting
(1/1000 Sec)
Out
(Electronic Shutter)
Image: Wikipedia
JM
(Electro-Mechanical Shutter)
(Shutter Open Duration in Seconds)
<- Dim Scenes/Low Light
Shutter
Release
Button
Bright Scenes/Strong Light->
Common Digital Photography
Terms
Shutter
Release
Button
Smaller Hole (Less light)
Bigger F Number =
And
Greater Depth of Field
Aperture
Setting
(F 8)
F- Number = Focal Length
Aperture Dia
JM
Image: Wikipedia
Common Digital Photography
Terms
Image: Wikipedia
Small Aperture = Large DoF
Large Aperture = Shallow DoF
Image: Wikipedia
Common Digital Photography
Terms
Think of ISO
as Focal Plane
(Sensor)
Sensitivity to
Light
Camera
ISO
Setting
Image Signal +
Readout Noise
To Memory Card &
Camera Display
Low
Amp
Gain
Med
Hi
ISO
Button
Gain X (Image Signal +
Readout Noise + Amp Noise)
Camera Focal Plane (Sensor)
(After Shot)
Image: Wikipedia
ISO 400
Common ISO Values 100
ISO 6400
200
400 800 1600
3200 6400
ISO
Setting
(400)
Common Digital Photography
Terms
Common Digital Photography
Terms
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A Feature of Many Types of Digital Cameras
Unique for Each Image
Useful for Immediate Evaluation Intensity (Tonal) Range
Can be Manipulated in Processing Software
More Practical Details in Session #2
Image: Wikipedia
Intensity
Value
0
128
255
Think of the
Histogram as a
“census” of the light
intensity (0-255)
captured by each pixel
in the focal plane
Common Digital Photography
Terms
Zoom
Optical vs Digital
Optical Zoom –variable magnification
controlled by moving lens elements
Digital Zoom – variable magnification by
electronically undersampling (cropping) image
on focal plane
Macro Lens
Closeup lens capable of producing image size
(on focal plane) equal to subject size (1:1)
Telephoto Lens
Long-focus lens in which the physical length
of the lens is shorter than the focal length
Break
Image Transfer Demonstration
Typical Workflow
USB
OR
USB or Wireless
CD
Storage
Plan Shot
Shoot
Download
Disk
Storage
Process/Archive
Display/Share
Basic Image Editing (PC)
•Common Image Editing Software
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Elements (Adobe)
Light Room (Adobe )
Photoshop CS (Adobe)
Picasa (Google)
MS Office (Microsoft)
“In-the-Box” Applications
•Common Editing Tasks
Resources:
http://picasa.google.com/
•Cropping
•Rotation
•Red Eye Removal
•File Conversion
•File Sizing
•Creative Effects (Frames, B&W Conversion, Contrast, Saturation, etc)
Common Image Formats
For Photographers
JPEG (*.jpg) – Joint Photographic Experts Group
Most common format, 8-bit grayscale/24-bit color, lossy compression
Smallest file size (w/full compression), web friendly
RAW (?) -
Not an industry standard, variations among camera vendors
Unique software required, not web friendly, lossy or nearly lossless
Greatest advantage: post-processing flexibility w/PhotoShop, Lightroom apps
Examples:
Nikon: *.nef
Canon: *.cr2
TIFF
(*.tif)- Tagged Image File Format
Commercial applications 24-bit/48-bit, lossy or lossless compression
Largest file size (w/lowest compression), not web friendly
GIF (*gif) -Graphics Interchange Format
Web and graphic arts applications , 8-bit color only. Medium file size
Most useful for drawings diagrams poster art simple animations, web friendly
BMP (*.bmp) - Windows Bitmap
Graphics files within the Microsoft Windows. Simplicity and wide acceptance in
MS Windows applications. No compression, large file size
Elements of a High Quality Image
Impact – Initial reaction, emotional response
Creativity – Obvious contribution of maker to image message/thought
Style – “Signature” elements of image characteristic of maker’s vision
Composition – Placement and relationship of visual elements in image
Presentation – Vehicle or environment chosen to display image
Center of Interest – Point or points in image which attract viewer’s eye
Lighting – Maker’s use of natural or artificial to enhance image
Subject Matter – Foundation for the visual story being told
Color Balance – Harmony of color/tonality to effectively support image
Technical Excellence – Maker’s skill/knowledge of equipment, environment
Technique – Collective approach creating the final image
Story Telling – Ability to strongly evoke viewer’s imagination or association
Handouts & Homework
Assignment
Practical Exercises - preparation for Night 2 (choose 1 or more )
Bring in favorite image for a basic critique according to principles of a
good photographic image (.jpg on memory stick + print)
Bring two .jpg images of identical composition/subject, one with flash,
one without as examples for Night 2 discussion of the role of flash vs
ambient light (.jpg’s on memory stick + prints)
Will discuss/critique on Night 2 as time permits
Handouts:
1) 12 Elements of an Outstanding Image
2) What’s a Competition Image?
3) What is a histogram?
Q & A Session
What’s on Your Mind?
Resources
Rockland Photography Club (NY)
http://www.rocklandphotoclub.org/
Meets Sep-May first and third Thursdays of the month at 7:00 pm in the Clarkstown
Community Center in New City, 31 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956-4301.
Picasa (Google)
http://picasa.google.com/
Archive, edit, share personal images. Free download. User’s guide available at:
https://support.google.com/picasa/answer/1753765?ref_topic=1751920&rd=1
The Luminous Landscape
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/index.shtml
High quality learning site for landscape, nature and general image processing info
Photographic Society of America (PSA)
http://www.psa-photo.org/index.php?home
Provides education, information, inspiration and opportunity to all persons interested in
photography; fosters personal growth and expression, creativity, excellence and ethical
conduct in all aspects of photographic endeavor
Credits
• Graphics and Text Not Credited
– Bill Greenlee RPC
– Pam Grafstein RPC
– Microsoft Clip Art (Public Domain)
• Other Graphics Marked as
– Jay Matusow/”Photo Aspirations 2013”
– Wikipedia.com Image: Wikipedia
– Amazon.com Image: Amazon.com
JM
Contact Information Date________
Your Name
Email
Phone
Your Interest
Element (Discussion Example)
Impact
Back
Element (Discussion Example)
Creativity
Back
Element (Discussion Example)
Style
Back
Element (Discussion Example)
Composition
Back
Element (Discussion Example)
Center of Interest
Back
Element (Discussion Example)
Lighting
Back
Element (Discussion Example)
Color Balance
Back
Element (Discussion Example)
Technical Excellence
Back
Element (Discussion Example)
Technique
Back
Element (Discussion Example)
Story Telling
Back