Photos from Pixels
dhitchco@rochester.rr.com
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
A Bit about Me
• Avid Photographer
– Travel, boating
– Family
– Eastman House lectures
• 4th Digital camera
– 2004 will be 100%
• Video Editing on PC
– Dad’s Movie-making
• Marketing Mgr.
• No relation to Alfred
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
What You’ll Learn:
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What is a digital photograph?
How does a digital camera work?
How good are digital cameras?
What features should I look for?
What accessories do I need?
How do I get the pictures out of the camera?
How do I edit and print the photos?
What else can I do with digital?
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Tell me about Yourself:
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•
Current type of Camera
Uses
Type of computer
Type of Internet connection
Type of home printer
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
FIRST things first
•
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www.dpreview.com
www.shortcourses.com
www.google.com (Picasa)
www.microsoft.com (Picture Resizer)
www.imagerescue.com (photo media recovery)
• Online archival & storage? (too many to mention)
– http://rollingthunder.smugmug.com (multiple sizes & video)
• Online sites for prints:
– www.ofoto.com, snapfish, photoworks, etc
– www.clubphoto.com (photo items)
– www.mypublisher.com (photo books)
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Photo “Workflow”: Three EASY steps
Input
Optimize
Output
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Pixels not Pixies!
If the World was:
Black & White: 0 and 1
Two shades of Gray: 00, 01, 10, 11
The eye can “see” 256 shades of a color
256 shades in digital is “8 bits”
00000000 up to 11111111
All 65 million colors can be made
from shades of Red, Green, Blue
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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What makes digital “film”?
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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What makes digital “film”?
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Types of Digital Cameras
Point & Shoot
(no zoom)
Megapixel
with Zoom
•“Big Box” Retailers
•Camera Stores
•Online Merchants
•E-Bay
Professional (Dedicated & 35mm adaptable)
Digital Video Cameras
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Digital “Film”
• Older Styles:
– Compact Flash
– Smart Media
• Newer Styles:
– XD Media
– Optical (CD/R & DVD)
• Sony-unique:
– Memory Stick
SanDisk T-flash (for cell phones)
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Batteries & Charging
Ni-MH
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Typical Viewfinder
Flash
mode
Macro
mode
Zoom
Level
Pictures
Remaining
Image
Quality
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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ViewFinders & Menus
Use TV
cable at
home to
“play” with
menus
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Digital Camera has TWO zooms
• Digital Cameras have:
– Optical Zoom
– Digital Zoom
T
W
• Optical uses the camera’s LENS
• Digital zoom uses only a portion of the
camera’s megapixels
(extrapolated means GRAINY!)
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Effects of Digital Zoom
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Setting the Aperture
Depth-of-Field
Long
Short
Low F-stop
3.2
High F-stop
16
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Good use of Depth of Field
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Shutter Speed
1/1000 sec.
1/2 sec.
4 sec.
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Flash Pictures
Wall Shadow
Red Eye
Fill-in
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Uploading Images from Camera
• Cable to PC
• Card Reader
• Docking Station
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Digital Camera Workflow
Camera
PC
USB
port
USB
port
Memory
card
Docking
Station
Camera
Control
Software
Internet
Browser
Photo Editing
Software
CD/R
Burner
Home
printer
Inkjet
Or Thermal
USB
Memory
device
Kiosk
Input
Web
Site
Photo
printer
Other
Media
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Photo “Workflow”
Input
Optimize
Output
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
10 Tips BEFORE you edit
1. Get Closer
Look through the viewfinder!
Professionals typically use long lenses (85-105mm)
Most point and shoot cameras have 35mm lenses.
2. Include People in your Shots
Add atmosphere and context.
Makes the subject easier to relate to
Gives a sense of scale
3. Capture Action
Keep the people moving
Try to 'catch the moment'
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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10 Tips BEFORE editing (page 2)
4. Simplify the Composition
Uncluttered backgrounds offer less distraction
Focus on the subject material
5. Put the Subject Off-Centered
Place the main subject off the center
Professionals use a 'rule-of-thirds'
6. Vary the Angle
Can add humor and drama
There are many other possibilities
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
10 Tips BEFORE editing (page 3)
7. Put Foreground in Scenes
Gives depth to the shot and adds interest and context
Used to frame the subject.
8. Pay attention to Lighting
Where is the sun?
Light alone can 'make the shot'.
9. Use Flash
Flash can be used even outdoors on dull days
Effective range is very limited
Add additional natural light to a room
10. Hold Still
Brace against objects
Flash can help to freeze the action.
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
The Rule of Thirds
• Eyes at 2/3 line
• Leave “walking & Talking” room
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Basics of Cropping
• “Casually” crop in the camera’s viewfinder
• Plan to “tighten-up” later on
• Cutting-off heads is quite acceptable
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Photo Formats
Portrait
Landscape
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Camera comes with Software
Installer
• Drivers
• Editing s/w
Thumbnails
• Viewing
• Sorting
• Printing
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Picasa (by google.com)
• Free
Built-in Archival Tools
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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3rd-party Photo Editing Software
• Adobe Photoshop Elements
• Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7
• Microsoft Picture It!
• Ulead PhotoImpact 8
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Microsoft’s Digital Suite
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Microsoft’s Digital Suite
Can OUTPUT “Photo Story Lite” to CD
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Microsoft’s Smart Erase
• No need to “paintbrush” the artifact
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Red Eye removal
Where does the red come from?
Light from the flash passing through the
pupil and being reflected on the blood-rich
retina
How it happens:
•Flash (built-in) is close to the lens
•More pronounced with a telephoto lens
•Getting close to the subject
•More common in dark rooms or in the
dark
Effect is less dramatic when a person's
reactions are impaired, e.g. during a night
on the town
But…Don’t shoot and drive!
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Converting Format
• Don’t do this in the camera; use your PC
– Black & White
– Sepia Tone
– Fine Art Effects
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Special Effects:
Panoramas
Only what the lens could see
Print to 4”x10” frames
PIC0001
PIC0002
A
A
PIC0003
B
PAN0001.JPG
B
(2-3X size)
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Making a “work of Art”
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Making a “work of Art”
My Comix Book
Lorum ipsum jib jab
Blah, blah, blah
Hi
there
www.kodak.com
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Everybody wants to SEE them now...
Input
Optimize
Output
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Printing Digital Pics
• At home
• Corner Store
• Photo Lab store
• Online (Internet)
Bypass your PC
• Not at all (video & LCD display)
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Digital Format Differences
• Film format & size is “slightly different”
than digital
• Digital is 4:3
• So…….
– 4”x6” print is
• 4”x5.33”
– Crop lines automatic
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Carry-in Kiosk Printing
• Take your media card (digital “film”) into the store:
– Grocery store
– Photo store
• Edit on-site (touch screen)
• Prints ready shortly
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Online Print Stores
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Other Things to Make!
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Too many pictures?
PhotoMontage software
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
“Soft” Pictures from Camera
“Ken Burns” Effects
Movie file (mpeg)
Video Slide Shows
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Keep your Pictures with You
• LCD Jewelry
• USB Memory Watches
• FIRST on a “stick” for patrons
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Novel Uses for Digital Camera
• Home inventory
• Remembering something before taking it
apart
• Legal proof and claim
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved
Thank You
• Please feel free to follow-up
with me
• Doug Hitchcock
– dhitchco@rochester.rr.com
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
All rights reserved