2. Introduction to Digital Photography
Key West
Naval Air Station
Introduction to Digital Photography
Earl D. Gates

3. Overview Quick overview of what this workshop is all about
Identifying the Hardware
Developing a digital image workflow
Photographic Techniques
Image Editing

4. Hardware Terminology Digital Camera (Digicam) Scanners Megapixels
File Format
Batteries
Lens
Scanners
Flat Bed
Film

5. Digital Imaging Workflow
Preparation
Shooting
Transferring
Organizing
Processing
Archiving
Outputting

6. Photographic Techniques
Composition
People
Landscape
Pets

7. Image Editing
Software
Tools
Special Effects

8. Resources
Internet
Magazines
Books
Workshops

9. Summary
Review topics
Identify level to achieve
What Next?

11. Preparation Select digicam and accessories Check batteries
Clean the camera
Adjust controls
Extra memory cards
Field storage
Items to take include: camera(s), lenses, filters, flashes, tripod and lens cleaning supplies.
Make sure batteries are fully charged.
Take several memory cards to backup the one in the camera.
Take a laptop computer or stand alone CD burner or portable hard drive to transfer images.
Clean the camera to minimize problems.
Preset the controls to match the objective of the shooting session.
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12. Shooting Autofocus White balance Set other controls Review images
Remove unwanted images
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Adjust white balance based on shooting conditions and color preference.
Select either single-shot or continuous mode depending on desired outcome.
Adjust metering, exposure, image size, and custom controls based on shooting situation.
Use the LCD to review images and look for improvements to get the correct exposure.
When reviewing images, protect the images that are keepers and remove the undesired images.
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13. Transferring Decide on a transfer location Memory card transfer
Cable transfer
Infrared transfer
Before downloading, select a folder on computer where the images will be placed.
Use a card reader to speed up the downloads.\
Use the camera transfer cable if a card reader is not available.
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14. Organizing Sort through images Print contact sheets
Rank images in groups
Separate the keepers
Use image browsing software.
Select and rename the good images and add comments to aid searches.
Copy and paste the keepers in a separate folder to edit in the future.
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15. Processing Working file format (TIFF) Evaluate images
Make overall adjustments
Make local adjustments
Save as master
Sharpen image
Convert the image file to a working file format such as TIFF of PSD.
Assess each photograph for adjustments needed in an image processing program.
Adjust brightness and contrast for the whole image checking the tonal range and color against familiar colors like the skin tones, sky, grass and trees as reference points.
Correct isolated problems in the photo using selections and layers.
Save the adjusted image with layers as the master copy.
From the master the photograph can be cropped, resized, sharpened and other finishing tasks.
Save a flatten TIFF file for resizing and sharpening.
Always sharpen the image last as resizing changes the makeup of the data and affects how sharpe the image looks.
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16. Archiving Organize Choose medium Make multiple backups
Delete all unnecessary copies of image
Backup original image file as well as the edited master file on a separate medium.
CDs or DVDs are inexpensive and DVDs can store data for more than 80 years.
Delete all unnecessary copies of images from the hard drive to free up space on the storage medium.
Rename and rearrange files as needed.
Cataloging or indexing files helps make the images easier to locate.
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17. Outputting Select output File format Email Slide shows Prints
digital image files need to be resized and compressed to speed sending images.
Slideshows, online albums and personal web pages require images to also be resized.
For clear sharp printed images, follow these steps:
Calibrate the monitor and printer for consistent and accurate color\.
Set the ppi for the size print desired.
Choose the paper size and type.
Set printer driver.
Print test images and record adjustments for future prints.
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18. Composition Learn to see Rules of thirds Viewfinder awareness
Simplicity
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19. People
Lens
Lighting
Posing
Props
Groups
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20. Landscapes
Lens
Lighting
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21. Pets
Lens
Red Eye
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22. Software
Photoshop
Photoshop Elements
Included with camera
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23. Tools Opening, saving and deleting Cropping
Adjusting brightness, contrast and color
Sharpening
Removal tools - redeye, dirt, scratch, noise
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24. Special Effects
Filters
Masks
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25. How Many Megapixels? 2 Exc Good Fair Poor 3 4 5 8 11 MP 4X6 5X7 8X10
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26. File Format Refers to the way the computer stores the data
More common formats include:
JPEG
EXIF
TIFF
RAW

27. JPEG Stands for Joint Photography Experts Group
Most widely used format
Biggest advantage - can compress image data
Do not edit JPEG images in photo-editing programs to minimize data loss

28. EXIF Stands for Exchange Image File Format Used by many digicams
Is a variation of the JPEG format
Stores extra data as metadata with the image file
Metadata stores shutter speed, aperture, and other capture settings
If the original file is opened and resaved inside a photo editing program, the metadata may be stripped from the file.
Always work on a copy of the original image file.

29. TIFF Stands for Tagged Image File Format
Is the choice for bringing images into publishing programs
Does not compress as much as JPEG
Choose when picture quality is more important than file size
Can be opened in both Mac and PC environments

30. RAW Simply means raw Used by high-resolution digicams
Does not include any in-camera processing features
Provides a truer version of the scene in front of the camera
Large file size
File size is smaller than TIFF.
Many photo editing programs can not open RAW files without plug-ins.
Many programs can not import the RAW file format.
Each manufacturer’s version of RAW is different
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31. Rechargeable Batteries
Must Know Info

32. Why Batteries?
Batteries are the soul of photographic equipment

33. Battery Types Rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd)
Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH)
Lithium Ion (Li-ion)

34. NiCd Batteries Memory effect Still have memory effect.
Repeatedly charging and discharging only a small portion of battery capacity can reduce the total capacity of the battery
More common in cordless tools/phone than cameras.

35. NiMH Batteries More widespread
Does not suffer same memory effect as NiCd.\

36. Li-ion Batteries
Proprietary for specific cameras

37. Milliampere hours (mAh)
Refers to how long the battery will last
2300 mAh - the largest capacity available.
Supplies 2.3 A for one hour or any combination.
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38. Its About The Speed
Lenses

39. Why does speed matter?
The more light a lens gathers, the less time it needs to hold the shutter open for proper exposure

40. Zoom Lens
Maximum zoom is hard to hold camera steady for a sharp picture

41. (Based on 35mm equivalent)
Shutter Speed
Slowest shutter speed without a tripod is 1/focal length of lens
(Based on 35mm equivalent)

42. To Avoid The Shakes Image stabilization:
Using gyro-sensors to detect shakes and compensate
Allows image to be shot at slower shutter speed