The Basics of Digital Photography

1. The Basics of Digital Photography By Dana Reese

2. Poll #1 A poll will be displayed on your screen. Please select the appropriate responses You have 15 seconds

3. Do I Need Photographs of my Product? The answer is YES! Absolute necessity to have digital photographs to market your product Brochures Web page Email Press release Juried shows Spotlight a new product Made In Alaska website

4. Poll #2 A poll will be displayed on your screen. Please select the appropriate responses You have 15 seconds

5. Advantages of Digital Cameras • Save time • Save money • Memory cards hold large amounts of photos • Easy to use programs for downloading photos • Easy to use

6. Advantages of Digital Images • More creative control • Use computer and photo-editing software to touch up and enhance pictures • Instant, easy, photo sharing • E-mail • Website • Photo gallery

7. Digital Camera Terms • Resolution • Image Quality • File Formats • Media Storage Devices • OPTICAL vs. DIGITAL ZOOM • Exposure

8. Resolution • Digital Pictures are made up of thousands of pixels • Pixels square “tiles” of color that make up all digital images. • 1 Megapixel (MP) = 1 Million Pixels • More Pixels = Better Image Detail and Quality • More Pixels = Higher Camera Price • Most digital cameras allow you to change the resolution setting

9. Selecting the Image Quality • Good, Better, and Best • These settings reflect the compression levels of photos • Compression refers to the amount of image your camera collects when taking a photo • Lower Compression = Large File Size • High Compression = Small File Size

10. Selecting the Image Quality • Best – Excellent Picture Quality, Large File Sizes, and Prints (11x17) • Better – Acceptable Picture Quality, Medium File Sizes, Prints 8x10 and Smaller • Good – Lowest Acceptable Quality, Good for Online Usage, Prints 5x7 and 4x6

11. To maximize both the resolution and clarity of your photos, set your camera on its highest resolution and Best Image quality setting

12. File Formats • JPEG – Joint Photographic Experts Group • Most Common Format • Low Quality - Compressed File • Ideal for Web and Email • TIFF – Tagged Image File Format • High Quality – Uncompressed File • Capable of Editing • Intended for Printing • RAW • Digital Negatives • Not directly usable as an image, but has all of the information needed to create an image

13. Media Storage Device • Memory Stick • CD • DVD • Measured in Megabytes (MB) & Gigabytes (GB) • Hard Disks

14. Memory Cards • Size does matter • Take as many pictures as needed; delete bad pictures, keep the good ones • Limited Storage • Higher resolution photos • Takes up more storage space • Lower resolution photos • Takes up less storage space

15. Memory Cards

16. Digital Zoom vs. Optical Zoom • Most Cameras come with both • Optical Zoom • The lens changes focal length and magnification as it is zoomed. • Image quality is high throughout the zoom range. • Digital Zoom • simply crops the image to a smaller size, then enlarges the cropped portion to fill the frame again • zoom results in a significant loss of quality

17. Exposure • Image affected by shutter speed, aperture, and ISO (sensitivity to light) • Programmed auto exposure • Camera selects proper aperture and shutter speed • Very Convenient

18. Built-in Flash • Very Convenient • Low Power • Limited Range • 10-20 ft range • Prone to Red-eye

19. Flash Heads • External Flash • More Power • Good Range • Up to 100’ • Ability to Bounce Light • Eliminates Red-eye • More Features and Flexibility • Hot Shoe

20. Tips for getting the most from on-camera flash • Stay within the Flash Range • Turn on Additional Lights • Avoid Reflective Surfaces

21. Taking Great Digital Photos • Know your camera • Diffuser • Close Up • Stabilize • Angles • Lighting

22. “A picture is worth a thousand words.” • This quote goes a long way but not if you take a terrible photo • Know your camera • Learning just a few of your digital camera features can help in achieving powerful and meaningful photos • Read your cameras manual! • Read about the various features and play around with them

23. Light Diffuser • White-translucent fabric that is setup between a light source and subject • “softens” Light • Diffusing the light source allows for greater detail to be revealed • Eliminates dark shadows and bright spots caused by direct light

24. Light Diffuser Captured without diffuser Captured with diffuser

25. Close Up – Zoom In • Always get as close as possible to subject • Removes background clutter • Zoom in • Beware: some auto focus cameras have limits on how close they will work • Fill picture with the subject • For small objects, use the camera’s Macro Mode and a Tripod

26. Take Vertical Pictures • Many subjects look better in a vertical picture • Make a conscious effort to turn your camera and take vertical pictures Wasted Space

27. Use Auto Focus • Center the subject • Press Shutter Button halfway down • Re-Frame your picture • Finish by Pressing the Shutter Button all the way down

28. Stabilize • Tripods • Use for sharp images • Eliminates shake • Get a stiff tripod • Great for close ups

29. Use a Plain Background • A cluttered background is distracting • Plain background will emphasize your subject • Experiment with different color backgrounds • Use sheets, towel, etc.

30. Control Your Flash • Turn it off experiment with available light • Know your flash range • Pictures taken beyond the maximum flash range will be to dark • Check your manual

31. Light • Great light makes great pictures • Study the effects of light in your pictures • Avoid strong over head lights that cast hard shadows • Use a diffuser between light source and subject • Diffuser spreads light over larger area of subject • Use natural light to your advantage

32. Light • Manipulate the scene to create the effect you want • Move lights • Move the subject • Purchase additional light • Professional Photo Studio Light Kit – • 3 Head lighting set, stand and light bulbs ($149.00) • Wireless Flash ($360.00) ours ($50.00 Cheapest)

33. Angles • Try different Angles • Move the subject • Shoot your photo from different angles

34. Verify details in the display screen • For close-ups with a digital camera, use the display screen to compose the picture and then review it • If you think it could be better, you can delete the picture and retake it

35. Editing and Enhancing Digital Photos • With picture-editing software, you can enhance your pictures • Recommend • Photoshop Element (less than $100 @ Costco) • Photoshop Element • Resize • Rotate • Crop • Adjust Lighting • Adjust Contrast • Work with Tiff files

36. Create Your Own Studio • A simple setup outside or inside by a window is all you need • Create a plain background by draping a bath towel or solid-color sheet over something, or tacking it to the wall • Smooth out any distracting folds • Cheaper

37. Purchase Portable Lighting Studio • Sunpak EBOX Portable Mini Studio • Less than $80.00 • Everything need to take professional studio-quality images • Two 50 watt floor-standing lights • Mini aluminum tripod with 3-way panhead • Includes carrying case

38. Practice, Practice, Practice • Experiment with lighting • Experiment with different color backgrounds • Experiment with different angles • Have fun • Read your manual • Research online • Take lots of pictures • Create your own studio

39. Resources • The Complete Guide to Digital Photography • Michael Freeman • Digital Photography Bible Desktop Edition • Dan Simon • The Joy of Digital Photography • Jeff Wignall • The Complete Guide to Light and Lighting in Digital Photography • Michael Freeman • Digital Photography for Dummies • Julie Adair King

40. Questions?

41. Made In Alaska Website • Made In Alaska Permit Holders have the opportunity to display one photo on the Made In Alaska website, along with your business information. • We Need Your Photos! • Please email your photo to dana@anchoragemarkets.com