Digital Photography 101for Library Applications

Workshop AgendaDigital Camera OverviewHints on Taking PhotosWho Owns That Image?Photo Design and RepairManaging Your Digital Photo Collection

Digital Camera Overview

Why Digital Photography?Advantage over film cameras Immediate feedback / results Don’t need to develop film Ease of image manipulation

Add interest to your web site Publicize and document library events Pictures are worth a thousand words

Provide material for library displays

Overview of Digital CamerasLens typesCase sizesPixel depthZoom powerStorage media types Older memory formats Newer memory formats Alternative memory formats

Lens TypesRegular fixed lens with or without zoom

Digital SLR (single-lens reflex) More control over depth of field Interchangeable lenses

Large format For incredible detail

in a large image Huge file sizes

Digital Camera Case SizesListed in order of price Compact Micro Medium Large

Pixel DepthWhy would you want more pixels? 3 megapixels 4 megapixels 5 megapixels Foveon technology 3.4

• Three layers to each pixel• Equivalent to 10 megapixels

Pixel Print ComparisonTo maintain quality, choose higher megapixel settings if you need larger print sizes 1 megapixels 4 x 6≅ 2 megapixels 5 x 7≅ 3 megapixels 8 x 11≅ 4 megapixels 11 x 14≅ 5 megapixels 12 x 16≅

Zoom PowerOptical zoom changes the image by moving the lensDigital zoom changes the image by cropping (enlarging the pixels)Interchangeable lenses on SLR digital cameras – expensive! Gives you more shutter speed control Wide-angle, panoramic, specialty lenses

Types of Storage MediaSome can be used in multiple portable devices Digital cameras, notebooks, PDAs, music

players, car stereo

Standardize on a flash memory type Secure Digital (SD) - up and coming Compact Flash (CF) - still a good choice

Older Memory FormatsThese formats are being phased out SmartMedia (SM) MultiMediaCard (MMC)

Mini-CDs, floppy disksCompact Flash (CF) More devices use CF that any other media

type High capacity

Newer Memory FormatsMemory stick (MS) only used by Sony

xD-Picture Card Fujifilm, Olympus Projected highest capacity

Secure Digital (SD) Projected highest use Broadest support

Alternative Memory FormatsCF Mini hard drives IBM microdrive Up to 1 GB in storage

Digital camera off-load units

Now For Our Camera Tour…

Finally, Taking Photos…

Before You StartPractice with the cameraDouble-check your camera settingsCarry extra batteriesExperiment with flash How close to subject? Test red-eye settings

Hints On Taking PhotosUse a tripod or lean against stationery objectConserve batteries Limit use of

screen viewer Is camera turned off

when not in use?

Automatic & Forced FlashAutomatic Fires automatically as required Useful for ordinary photography

Forced Flash Photograph backlit scenes Use outside in shade Color correct

fluorescent light

Suppressed & Red-Eye FlashSuppressed Flash Indoors where flash is ineffective Photos taken through glass

Red-Eye Reduction Pre-flashes so subject’s

eyes appear more natural Fires automatically

as required

Slow-Synchro Flash TypesSlow-Synchro Slow shutter speed for taking pictures of

people at night Will show both subject and night time

backdrop Recommend tripod

Red-Eye Reduction plus Slow-Synchro

Example of Flash Icons

Red eyereduction

Forcedflash

Suppressedflash

Red eyereductionplus slowsynchro Slow

synchro

White Balance ControlWill attempt to correct the color for given light sources such as: Daylight fluorescents Warm white fluorescents Cool white fluorescents Incandescent lights Outdoors Shade

Delayed Shutter ResponseAnticipate shutter lag Shutter delay varies between cameras

Ask your subject to hold still!Image-writing delay while the camera stores the photo Some cameras are able

to store images more quickly

Taking Photos of PeopleAvoid red-eye Use red-eye flash function Ask subject to look away from flash Use natural light

Don’t get too close Distortion You can crop

image later

Flattery Or Kindness?Avoid harsh shadowsTry different viewpointsUse natural light instead of flashRed clothing will overpowerskin tones

Hold Still!Posing versus natural actionTake numerous photos of same pose Subject may relax Pose will look more natural

Shutter lag makes naturalaction shots difficult

Connect That Camera…

Connecting to a ComputerInstall camera softwareCheck camera battery charge or plug in power adapterChoice of connections Camera to computer Memory media to computer

Copy or move files from camera to computer

Problems?Where to go if you have problems with your cameraCamera batteries weak?What if your computer won’t talk to the camera?Software updates andother annoyances

Indoor LightingFluorescent light is greenIncandescent light is redNorth light bulbs are blue“Color-corrected” light bulbs are bestUse two light sourcesif possible

Photographing ObjectsAvoid parallax effect if object has straight lines Align camera to object Align lines of object with frame of

viewfinder or LCD monitor

Use a tripod or standMacro lenses

Lighting ObjectsLighting Two lights are best 45° angle to object Measure distance of lights

Use a “color key” for fine reproductions

Camera Purchase Decision

Before You ChooseWhat is your budget?Will it connect to your computer?Evaluate your photographic needs Pixel depth Power supply requirements Memory needs (16 MB to 1 GB+) Do you have other portable devices? Zoom capability needed?

How To Choose A CameraTry out cameras for a good fit Does it fit your hands? Controls easy to locate? Display screen large enough? Light enough to carry? Zoom power?

Purchase at a store or buy online?Keep an eye on sale prices

Bookmarks Topics to VisitDigital camera glossaries and dictionariesDigital camera overviewVendor web sites fordigital cameras andphotography

Taking Photos Outdoors

Outdoor LightingSunlight causes shadowsNorth light is blueOvercast daysIndirect lighting best for peopleUse fill-in flash or reflector

Taking Photos OutdoorsSunrise, sunsetHigh noonOvercastFill-in flashFew filters availablefor digital cameras Glare and reflections Dust and smog

Legal Issues…

Do The Right Thing! Get a signature release from your subjectsCopyright considerationsInfopeople course materialsavailable

Signature ReleasesWho owns that photograph?If you put a photo of a person on the web, get a signature releaseLegal issues Sample signature releases

Copyright ConsiderationsAgain, who owns that photograph?Legal issues Get permission!Protect your images

Bookmarks Topics to VisitInfopeople course Library Laws For The Web Environment -

2002

Signature release samplesCopyright law

The Art Part…

Photo Design and RepairDesign and color hintsCroppingResizingColor correction

Design HintsView as abstract artwork (turn the photo upside down)Save as black & white for a fresh viewLook at negative spacesAvoid clutter

The Rule of Thirds in DesignHum Beethoven’s FifthImagine a tic-tac-toe grid on your image Line objects on the grid Offset the focal point

within the composition

Check for proportions of two-to-one

Value, Contrast & LuminanceValue Relative lightness or darkness of a color Black & white photography helps you see

value

Contrast Difference between highest

and lowest luminance values

Luminance relates to light

Hue, Saturation & BrightnessHue Intensity or gradation of color

Saturation Chromatic purity - has color

been diluted with white?

Brightness Brilliance of a color relating

to hue or saturation

Color ImpactEmotional impact of color What kind of message do you wish to

convey?

Reds “bleed” May overpower other parts

of the image

Color HintsThe rule of threes in colorSquint to see the values in the imageCheck proportions of color of two-to-one

Cropping and ResizingFocus on the subjectGet rid of clutterThe web can only show so much!Reduce image file sizeImprove your design

Software Can Correct Color

Balance your colorCorrect bad lightingPunch up the valuesIncrease the hue

Photo & Graphics Software

Types of SoftwareBeginner Apple iPhoto, Hypersnap, LviewPro

Intermediate PaintShop Pro, Photoshop Elements

Advanced Fireworks, Photoshop

Camera software

Exporting for Web and Print

Exporting For The WebUse “save as” - keep original safe PC vs Macintosh color differencesReduce image and file size Crop image Resize image Change file format

to jpg or gif Set resolution to 72 dpi

Exporting For PrintUse “save as” - keep original safe Use largest pixel size setting available for camera You won’t be able to take as many photos at a

time, but the print quality will be greater

Save to highest quality TIFF format setting Talk with your printer!Color-correct your monitor

File ExtensionsJPEG (*.jpg) web graphicsGIF (*.gif) flat color web graphicsTIFF (*.tif) print graphicsPSD (*.psd) Adobe PhotoshopPNG (*.png) FireworksPDF (*.pdf) Adobe AcrobatProprietary extensions

Digital Photos Can Be Huge!Managing disk spaceOrganizing your photosTypes of file management softwareInfopeople course materials availableon digitization projectsDon’t forget metadata!

Bookmarks Topics to VisitGraphics software vendorsDigital collections projectsInfopeople course materials Planning To Digitize Your

Treasures, 2000 Planning Your Digitization

Project, 2001 Creating Web Images

With Fireworks, 2002

Planning A Photo Session

Back To Reality…What photos do you need (or want) to take for your library? How / where will you use these photos? What camera settings to use? What is the subject matter? Environment? What kind of lighting? Legal issues?

Summary and EvaluationOverview of digital camerasHints on taking photosWho owns that image?Design and color hintsManaging your files and disk space