Basic Skills in Digital Photography

Basically, there is not much difference between using a digital camera and a manual camera. In fact, most experts believe that using a digital camera actually spoils the photographer, making everything so easy for him. Still, there are many who remain daunted by the prospects of using a digital camera especially when their training comes mainly from manual photography.

There are a number of skills that one needs to learn before switching to the digital format. Read through and find out some of the things that you need to develop.

Computer skills

Digital photography involves dealing with computers. In fact, operating the digital camera is like operating a small computer. There are functions that are actually similar to the computer like formatting and delete and a whole lot of other things. You need to be familiar with the functions in order to be able to maximize the digital camera.

In addition, you also need to be really familiar with computer when storing your picture files and adjusting your photos. With this, you need to be able to perform computer tasks such as cutting, pasting, copying, renaming and opening and closing of files and folders.

There are a number of good books that provide tutorials that will enhance computer skills as well as teach you some of the basics in using the computer with regards to photography. Some books in photography, digital photography will for sure contain sections that deal with computers.

Knowledge in graphic programs

One can actually adjust photos and create a whole lot of effects with the use of graphic programs such as Photoshop. One can actually change the size of the photo, alter the pixels and even change the format into different file types. One good thing with digital cameras is the fact that one can actually alter the pictures taken before printing it.

With the use of these programs, one can erase flaws, sharpen some features of the photo, blur the background and even transfer one photo with another. If one is really good, you can even create one new photo by cutting different elements in various photos and put them all together.

Working knowledge with the various functions of the camera

As mentioned before, working with a digital camera is similar to working with a small computer. In order to maximize the digital camera, you need to master the functions including adjusting the various levels such as the shutter speed, the brightness, the contrast. There are even digital cameras that you can actually use as a manual camera; you just need to learn to adjust the functions.

Source: Ezinearticles.com

Digital photography: The art of digital photography

Many of the techniques used in traditional photography also apply to digital photography. The composition of the picture, use of light, line, shape, pattern, etc. also apply to digital photography. Three elements that are different in digital photography are white balance, picture resolution, and digital effects.

White Balance
In a traditional camera, film records and determines the colors of the scene captured in the photograph. As digital cameras have no film to interpret color, they use white balance settings for this purpose. These settings (called Kelvin temperature ratings) are represented by symbols for sun, indoor light, clouds and shade on most digital displays and can be manually selected. The Auto function, however, enables the camera to adjust the settings automatically. For most non-professional needs, this is quite satisfactory.

Some digital cameras contain a histogram function that will also help you adjust your light exposure.

Resolution
Digital cameras record images in pixels. If you expand a picture on your computer with graphic software by zooming in on the picture, you will eventually see the picture rendered as a series of colored dots. The more dots per inch in a picture, the higher the resolution. High-resolution photos have better image quality and bigger file sizes as well.

Many digital cameras on the market allow the user to select the low or high-resolution settings. Since resolution affects file size, more of the photos taken in low resolution can be stored in your camera at a time. High-resolution images may saved in BMP, TIFF, or RAW image formats. These are large file type images. High resolution settings vary with each camera. A low resolution setting on one camera is a high resolution setting on another. It all depends on the camera’s megapixel resolution that could be anywhere in the range of .1 megapixels to 9.1 megapixels.

Resolution is an important consideration when buying your digital camera. If you are only going to be using your images on the web, very high-resolution images will not be as mandatory for you (although high resolution graphics allow more manipulation of the graphic in graphics software programs). Web images are typically lower resolution images since file size is a consideration for the web. If you are going to be printing your images, however, high resolution is necessary for a quality print. To be able to expand an image for an 8x10 print is going to require a high-resolution graphic for a good quality photo.

Digital Effects
Many digital cameras also have built-in effects that can be used to change the presentation of your photos. Fisheye is an example of one such feature that will reshape an image giving it a totally different effect. Soft-focus, Portrait, Scene, Landscape, and Wide-angle are some of the focusing effect capabilities that your digital cameral may have. These are nice features to have fun with. If you have a graphics software program, your images can be further manipulated once you have downloaded your images to your computer.

Source: Starephotography.com

Role of Digital Photography in Event Photography

Event Photography is a well established profession where a photographer will capture images at your event and make them available for sale to anyone who is interested at the event. With the rise of digital technology in photography has made the photography very easy.

Before digital photography an event photographer would take the photos at the start of the event then have to rush off and get the films developed, printed and mounted and rush back to the event before the end of the night to try and pick up any sales from guests who were still there and still interested. But these days with the digital equipment the guests can now have the photos taken and see them almost instantly.

Images can be processed almost instantly at the sale desks by digital capture of the images and automatic transmission of the images to the computer systems via a wireless network. Once the images are at the sales desk they can be viewed by clients, they could then choose to purchase any of the images or have the photos retaken if they weren’t happy with the results. Digital photography allows the photographer to shoot multiple images and get an image that’s going to please the whole group or at least a large portion of them.

Digital photography has also played a part in the output of the final prints. Modern Dye-Sub printers are portable, easy to use and capable of producing “Real” photos that are durable, won’t fade and of a high quality.

Digital Photography really has changed the face of event photography.

Mason Photography - Services

Mason Photography offers a unique, tailored approach to corporate photography.

We specialise in location based commercial photography, but can also offer a more traditional studio based approach if required.

We work in partnership with our clients to understand the scope of their project in detail. Our pre-shoot planning and consultation process allows the creation of a brief that maximises the potential of each shoot.

Our comprehensive service combines our photographic skills and knowledge with in depth experience of branding and marketing.

This approach means that in conjunction with our clients, we can create images that can be easily suited to a number of post shoot applications, be they av, web or print based.

You see, we believe that there is an awful lot more to business photography than just turning up and pressing the shutter.

Whether it be commercial photography or corporate headshots - our aim is to create images that wow, but also images that work.

If you have a project in mind, call Jeremy or Louise now on 01264 712135 - we'd love to talk to you.

Mason Photography

For us, photography and business is a passion.

Mason Photography offers their clients a lot more than just the click of a shutter. We offer a whole of range of corporate photography, from headshots and executive portraits, through to product shots and marketing imagery.

Being a small (and beautiful) company, we understand business - we live and breath it. With a professional heritage that includes over thirteen years retail marketing experience for both high street and luxury brands, coupled with over fourteen years experience in UK broadcast television camerawork - we not only offer the skills to create stunning imagery, but also offer businesses a valuable insight into the potential applications of the images we create.

Call us to talk about your project on 01264 712135 - we look forward to working with you soon.