1. Set the Camera Options  Resolution  Focus  Exposure  Zoom  Flash  Self-Timer/Remote Control

2. File Formats  What are formats? (native vs standard)  Controls the file type and the size of the photograph  All cameras save in JPEG  Some also save in TIFF and RAW

3. Resolution  Choose the resolution within the file formats available on your camera  Know your pictures destination: WEB or print / Snapshot or 8x10  Resolution determines the image size and the amount of picture information

4. Resolution  Why not take all your images at the highest resolution? The higher the res the larger the file size and the fewer images you can fit on a card The higher the res the longer it takes to record the image on the card Law of diminishing returns: if you are sending these via email to be seen on the monitor you will be throwing pixels away

5. Resolution  Two methods for changing settings Most commonly used features are usually buttons on the camera Most settings are accessed using a menu Some cameras allow you to save settings Manual describes the options

6. Focus  Autofocus works in most situations  Set the focus by moving the camera and reframe to shoot your picture  Manual focus Measure the distance Viewfinder not always reliable

7. Focus  Normal settings allow you to get about 10-12 inches from the subject  Use Macro focus to get closer (you will need to set this)

8. Exposure  “Letting in Light”  Shutter priority: Set the speed and let the camera auto expose  Aperture Priority: set f-stop and let the camera choose the shutter speed  Manual Exposure: setting both the shutter speed and the f-stop (experiment)

9. Exposure  For some control use Exposure Compensation  Slightly lighter ore darker to tone down glare or enhance highlights  Expressed in positive and negative numbers Positive: brighter Negative: darker

10. White Balance  Artificial light (indoors) You can compensate in Photoshop Or you can keep it from causing a problem  Set for: Incandescent Fluorescent Cloudy outdoors Bright outdoors

11. White Balance  Most cameras have an auto setting that determine the best setting  No set rules: so experiment

12. Zoom  Optical vs Digital  Optical zoom uses the lens  Digital zoom uses the “computer” in the camera the same as image editing (Photoshop)

13. Flash  Most cameras automatically detect when the flash is necessary  Solid light indicates the flash is ready  After the shot there is a delay while the flash powers up again  Most flash light is limited to 10-15 feet

14. Flash  Reducing Red Eye Human eye’s iris reflects the flash as a bright red Most cameras offer a red-eye reduction feature Flash will fire twice to close the iris Image editing software can reduce this effect

15. Flash  Fill flash will bring out the darker areas of an image  When set to fill flash the camera will reduce the amount of flash

16. Flash  Some situations may contain reduced light but a flash may be inappropriate  Most digital cameras allow you to suppress the flash  Without the flash the shutter speed may be so slow that the image is blurred  Use a tripod

17. Shooting at Night  At night the flash will illuminate the subject, but the shutter speed may be too fast to capture outside the flash range  Some cameras offer a night flash or slow shutter setting  Shutter stays open and captures the area around the flash

18. Flash Correction  Sometimes the flash is too light or dark or too glaring  Some cameras offer a flash correction option  Set the flash to be brighter or darker

19. Self-Timer / Remote Control  Some cameras offer a remote control option which allows you to press a button and waits 10-20 second for you to get in the shot  This can also be useful if you are taking a tripod shot and you don’t want to shake the camera