Reference Book - Government of Nova Scotia
Contents
1. Sometimes lighting comes from below the subject such as at campfires This kind of lighting will produce dark shadows in the eyes and cast some strange shadows on the rest of the face This is also known as horror lighting Use this type of lighting if that is the effect that you want to go for If light would not naturally come from below the subject avoid lighting a shot Light Meters Many cameras have built in light meters that measure available light and direct or change the camera settings Built in meters average the light in the scene but may not give the precise reading needed for your subject A hand held meter allows you to measure precisely the light being reflected off your intended subject Using a flash A flash adds light to a subject freezes action and extends our opportunity for taking pictures Most cameras are set for exposure control Page 39 Reference Book with a flash A flash can throw harsh shadows create red eye and make pictures look flat How fast your flash recycles will depend in part on the freshness of your batteries and the size and make of your flash Always carry spare batteries and replace them before an important photographic event Fill flash Fill flash adds to existing light Often fill flash is bounced off the ceiling or other surfaces and is not directed at the subject filling the environment with more light Fill flash can add light to reduce shadows such as tho2. high in the frame If you cannot get the entire scene into one shot take several overlapping a bit at the edges of each shot Keep your camera the same height as you rotate your body at the hips Take several shots When you get the pictures back home try stitching them together using photo processing software to create a cool panoramic shot If your shot does not line up seamlessly you can add a border where your images meet up to merge the two images together Night Photography Night photos can be extremely beautiful but very challenging to take J ust like most other things in life the more you practice the better at it you will become The most important aspect aside from weather is the exposure You will need to use a longer exposure time for night pictures in order to allow as much natural light to enter the camera as possible you will also need a tripod If you want to capture incredible details in your night photography using a longer exposure is the only way to do it You can also use a long exposure to capture lightning at night Make sure you are set up somewhere out of the rain and will provide protection against the lightning bolts You will need to have lots of trial and error to get the correct camera settings but once you do your photos will be awesome If you don t like a shot erase it and start over again don t ya just love digital 4 H Digital Photography Project Black and White Phot
3. bunch of photos to store a DVD has 4500MB of available storage space that s a lot of photos Keep the copies of the discs in a CD binder with soft sleeves or mail them out to friends and family to share your work 2 E mail your photos Send your photos to friends and family all over the world with e mail It seems that everyone today has access to the Internet and e mail This is a great and inexpensive way to share your images instantly Make sure that you RESIZE the images to make them smaller before you send them otherwise the e mail attachment will be really big and take the person on the other end very long time to download it We will go over how to resize an image so that it is e mail friendly a little later 3 Upload your photos to a website There are several photo storage websites that you can access over the web for free Photobucket Flickr and Mozy are a few great FREE online photo storage sites which allow you to upload store manage and share your photos with others Be sure to check out the privacy settings and set them to private so 4 H Digital Photography Project your work can only be viewed by people that you approve Google free online photo storage to find a site you like If you computer crashes and loses all of its files your pictures will be gone too Be sure to back up your images on CD and keep them in a safe place 4 Printing photos J ust like with film based photography you ca
4. or T n iLn oe sig T 3 hii di da iae t baak iod i Lic dai Liu d lsu Aan abi A Patch Clone and Crop to remove unwanted elements Eye Dropper The eye dropper allows you to sample colour from anywhere on your document This is fantastic when trying to match colours from your photo or document Layers amp Masking Do make a point as you become more advanced with your Photoshopping Skills to familiarize yourself with layers and masking These two tools enhance your ability to manipulate your images in many ways There are so many more features that your post processing software can offer Familiarize yourself with your program as much as possible and experiment Burn edges of the image to create a vignette and draw he eye to the subject 4 H Digital Photography Project Members I Can Checklist Refuse to put myself in danger for the sake of a better picture Identify and avoid dangerous situations when taking pictures Identify and manage any hazards related to photography Demonstrate photographic courtesies Explain how different people and groups feel about having their picture taken Explain how taking a picture of someone might offend them Identify situations in which photography would not be appropriate Explain in simple terms how my camera works Clean my camera Explain and demonstrate camera care Demonstrate how to hold camera for portrait and landscape shots Navig
5. This means no basements or attics no glove boxes or car trunks Avoid writing on the back of your photographs If you must do so use a felt tipped marker or photo labeling pencil to avoid damaging the photo When you mail a picture to someone inset a piece of cardboard in the envelope to protect the corners of the photo and avoid damage during shipment Page 45 Reference Book When you frame a photograph use matting so that the photograph does not touch the glass Keep photographs out of direct sunlight or they will fade If your photos are laminated and dry mounted you do not need to frame them behind glass If gluing photographs onto something use glue that is designed for photographic use Other kinds of glue will ruin the picture 4 H Digital Photography Project Post Processing Your Images Image Processing There are two important factors to remember when processing your images Are to ensure your photo is of a higher quality If you are processing for web to email or to post on FaceBook MySpace etc then you will want your photo to be saved at a smaller resolution A good idea when processing for both print and web is to create two versions ALWAYS keep a copy of your original photos as well You never know when you might want to re process an image at a later time when you have learned a new processing technique Processing for Print When processing your photos for print you will want to ensure that yo
6. f stops on the lens that come with the camera If you are going to get serious about photography you will need to have a couple of lenses that can be switched out depending on what you are shooting Some lenses can cost 2 3 times what you paid for the camera itself A lens that will open up to f 1 4 is more versatile than a lens that only opens to f 2 8 The lens and the purpose you want it to serve are the most important features to consider when buying a camera or lens Your budget will factor in somewhere as well 4 H Digital Photography Project White Balance Have you ever seen or taken a picture where everyone s skin is a blue or red tone and none of the colours seem vibrant That is the result of not having the correct white balance settings for the type of lighting the image was taken in This is one of the easiest things to fix and will make your photos look much better instantly All digital cameras have white balance settings for all sorts of conditions that may arise Adjust your settings as the lighting conditions change If you are taking pictures indoors and there is fluorescent lighting go into the menu on your camera and change the white balance setting to the icon that looks like a fluorescent light bulb If you go outside and have a lot of natural light choose the icon that looks like the sun If it s cloudy outside choose the cloud icon If you have incandescent lighting choose the light bulb icon You can also s
7. the water appear to be flowing while everything else in the photo is in focus Using a fast shutter speed will freeze the water giving you fine drops frozen in mid air You will need to use a tripod or hold your camera very steady for a long exposure shot to turn out Don t give up Intentionally Blurring the Action Page 43 Reference Book When you can anticipate a moving subject in a particular spot set up with your camera on a tripod and focus on the background As the subject passes in front of the camera squeeze the shutter button this will keep the focus on the background and make the subject appear to be moving Examples include a runner crossing the finish line or a bull and rider exploding out of the stall at a rodeo Storing and Sharing your Digital Images With digital photography you can take hundreds of photographs depending on the size of your memory card but what do you do with all of the great images once you have captured them There are 4 main ways to store your images so that you can keep them for years to come 1 Store your photos on a CD Backing up your images on a CD or DVD is a great way to store and share your photos You will need a writable CD or DVD drive in your computer and appropriate software in order to burn your files onto disc One CD R has the capacity to store 700MB of data On average you can store 50 100 images per disc depending on how large your files are If you have a whole
8. their camera user s manual is placed on a shelf to collect dust and is never seen again The camera s user s manual is the BEST tool you have to learn all of the features and settings for a camera Read the manual while you have your camera there to practice You ll be amazed with what your camera can do The pictures Use on board flash when in low light conditions if your are too dark pictures are blurry or as a fill light on a sunny day to get rid of shadows Shooting at a slower shutter speed will allow you to take pictures in lower light situations The focal point There is nothing more frustrating than snapping a great picture is behind the and having a large tree ten feet behind your subject in perfect subj ect focus and your subject out of focus This is an easy fix press the shutter release button halfway the camera will automatically select the focus area containing the subject closest to the camera recompose your shot while holding the button halfway press the shutter button the rest of the way to take the photo The colour is White balance needs to be adjusted for the type of lighting off conditions mae emm 000000 Too many things going on in the picture Pictures are cluttered Always shooting from eye level Only taking one shot Relying only on the LCD to provide accurate results Forgetting to adjust camera settings for the lighting conditions and setting them back Pag
9. to photograph them too Resources for Learning People Places Events and Local media photographers Oreanizations Commercial photographers Maken diaries io b which use photography yai cd Exhibitions and fairs that have a photography class Colleges and universities that Resources offer photography design or similar courses Your camera s user manual Books or magazines any book Web Sites by Freeman Patterson world class photographer and a former 4 H member Comics and cartoons advertisements posters Search for photography tutorials for a list of websites and you can learn about lighting tips and tricks posing your subjects post processing Sales displays your images and pretty much Video tutorials on YouTube everything else that is related to and other sites photography Most of these tutorials are free Reference Book Page 10 4 H Digital Photography Project Page 11 Reference Book Digital Photography A Brief History Charles and Vincent Chevalier created the first camera that could actually produce a picture while J oseph Niepce developed the first photograph using this camera in 1826 The prototype of the film camera as we know it today was invented by George Eastman in 1884 George is also credited with inventing film on a roll In 1888 George trademarked the name Kodak and the Eastman Kodak Company was created making photography available to the main
10. 1 i l y n Y AB w Ww A Fs v j mE LE re N A _ i E ES n r F s D loda cm J E n EM a Project Reference Book i Jd Agriculture and Agriculture et NOVA SCOTIA Agri Food Canada Agroalimentaire Canada Agriculture k The 4 H Motto Learn to Do by Doing The 4 H Pledge pledge My Head to clearer thinking My Heart to greater loyalty My Hands to larger service My Health to better living For my club my community and my country The 4 H Grace Tune of Auld Lang Syne We thank thee Lord for blessings great on this our own fair land Teach us to serve thee joyfully with head heart health and hand Published by Canadian 4 H Council No portion of this manual may be reproduced without written permission from the Canadian 4 H Council Resource Network Ottawa Ontario For more information on Nova Scotia 4 H contact 4 H and Rural Organizations Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture Box 550 Truro Nova Scotia B2N 5E3 Phone 902 893 6585 Fax 902 893 2757 www gov ns ca agri 4h Written by Elizabeth Webster Goddard M Agr First edition 2003 J ode J orgensen Picture Us There Photography Second Edition 2009 Photo Credit Jennifer J orgensen Picture Us There Photography The photos in this document are copyright of Picture Us There Photography and are not to be used for other purposes C ontents 4 H Digital Photography Project
11. Hmmm Here are some silly situations How could a photographer deal with those hazards or situations Nice cliff think lIl just lean out here a 3 bit and ahhhhhhhh Y TAKE NOTHING Wow Look at those fy y ane flames If can just ll S BUT PICTURES Tome A get a little closer WN T LEAVE eee I need a good action PN uT 1E shot for my album K r NOTHING s j ee Those chuckwagons FOOTPRINTS should be coming around the corner in just a few seconds l Il just stick my head out and I ll just lean in a bit closer and get a picture of those whirling gears My long hair keeps flipping in the way That new mother is blocking my view of the new calf Guess I ll have to get in the pen with her What a great electrical storm If shelter under this tree it will keep my camera dry while take shots That volcano is due to explode this afternoon want to get a close up These silly yellow police tapes keep flapping in my way l II just step over and wonder how that killer whale will respond to my flash wonder how fast polar bears can run You get the idea No picture is worth risking life and limb for think this is where My Head to Clearer Thinking comes in Think and plan before you take a picture Place yourself in a safe spot Plan for an escape route if necessary Page 7 Reference Book 4 H Digital Photogra
12. O the more sensitive the film was to being exposed to light allowing for faster or slower shutter speeds The lower the ISO the longer it took to take to get a properly exposed image Therefore a slower shutter speed was required The same principles apply with digital photography but instead of changing film you can make all of the adjustments in your camera If you were taking pictures of daisies in a meadow you would probably use an ISO of 200 If you were at a hockey arena taking action shots because of the low lighting and speed of the game you would need to use an ISO of at least 800 in order to get a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action of the game If you were to use an ISO of 200 at the hockey game the shutter would have to be open for too long and all of your action shots would turn out as a blurry mess But beware if you are using a high ISO you will be sacrificing image quality and your shots may be grainy or produce noise 4 H Digital Photography Project Controlling Light Inside the Camera There are two ways to control the amount of light that reaches your camera s digital sensor by adjusting the shutter speed and by changing the size of the aperture If you have a point and shoot digital camera that has no manual or semi automatic controls you may not be able to manually adjust the aperture and shutter speed Some cameras adjust automatically depending on the lighting conditions and the mod
13. Objectives ssessennnnn 4 Getting the Most from this Project issssssesssen nme 5 Achievement Requirements for this Project cccccceeeeeee settee nn 5 Sar ely aNdir NOLOUFaNINY depu roadside ed quta Qaae NM UR dU I qM E The Photographer s Comfort cccccccceeeeesneeeteeeeeeeeeetteeretseretseeneraeees 8 Sal eb OD the NOE tacaniiaiy ater bina ta danse on PER ERU daa adobe 9 Courtesies or PhOLOOEdD Dy ssa cid er iar a e acta RC ORG QU rdc dl D dci p aia c 9 Resources Tor Ledin orsi did uno cbehariocietdici A ascendens 10 Digital Photography A Brief History cccccee cee eeeeee eee nmm 12 How Does a Digital Camera Work icssssssssennn mme 13 Getting to Know Your Gael isssasampicvetexs qu edepDxE PERRO LEER EE I EI TREO ESI 15 Parts or d Camera sainn or RUOTE DUET VEREOUqu TENE e E DIEN REP 15 Caring or Tour Came asset tines dada deas sd dadas dd A ddeia daa babeant dci md ibd 19 ECU OIE IM chiens ts tiim nida best Sone w a aticcairaE poraech occ ed puras na d edu DER EDS UARaSEE 20 TUDO c HE 22 FILMS nda TEIG Sambia p taint ida dott adeat ep Rc beds ub ia b dta 26 COMMON MISTIKE Sainai erna te Seb EE Made Sab dtf dct ana nea RW Pd On RR eden 26 POR AIEO NTTHE 28 Anal P MOOG ra DIN catch caveat naaieude e te UE d aab Fo D pate 30 Black and WAIE PNOLOGKADIY sixss ex tise ecareniiaidbessiiaeabeabissenesesaeaenredeasets 33 Exposure Seb iub aboar
14. about the pictures How do you think they got the shot What can you try What would you change Pay attention to other communication forms such as paintings sculpture music or writing which might spark some ideas for you Refer to the I Can Checklist at the end of the book to see how you are doing Achievement Requirements for this Project JO a ts x A completed record book Exhibit a collection of 10 to 15 photographs taken during the club project One picture each of a pet animal a home for people or others a plant wild or domestic shot from the viewpoint of a very young child two to four years of age Three examples of textures leading lines and framing Exhibit at least three photographs of another 4 H project or topic that would spark interest in that project Exhibit of at least three pictures that intend to trigger a specific reaction in the viewer labelled Page 5 Reference Book 4 H Digital Photography Project One special project from the list of special projects from the Activity Guide Reference Book Page 6 4 H Digital Photography Project Safety and Photography Sometimes people get so interested in taking pictures they stop paying attention to where they are and what is going on around them Sometimes they keep going even when they re tired or hungry That s when accidents can happen Think of the situations people take pictures of and then think of the hazards
15. are expressed in amount of time For example you can set your shutter speed to 1 1000 really fast 1 125 1 60 1 15 of a second slow Every time you blink your eye it takes about 1 100 of a second For hand held shots use speeds of 1 60 of a second and up For anything slower than 1 60 use a tripod Otherwise your shots will not be sharply focused A shutter speed setting lets in twice as much light as the next higher setting because it is open for twice as long right For example a 1 30 of a second setting will let in twice as much light as the 1 60 of a second setting Each change of shutter speed has the same effect as one f stop change in aperture If you want to change the exposure of a shot you can either change the aperture or the shutter speed Or you can do a combination of both For example f you are shooting in a dark situation you can either open up the aperture let in more light or you can use a slower shutter speed let light in for a longer time f you still cannot get a correct exposure you can increase the ISO to change how sensitive the sensor is to light Adjusting the ISO may cause noise in your photo making your image grainy and pixelated f you are shooting in bright light you can close the aperture let in less light through a tinier hole or use a faster shutter speed open the hole for a shorter time If you are shopping for a camera it is important to compare the range of
16. ate the options menus of my camera Remember tips for taking better photographs of people animals and scenery Find and use resources for photography tips Listen to and consider feedback about my photography Evaluate work by other photographers to learn their techniques Prevent damage to my printed images in storage and on display Use my photographs as gifts to complement my school projects to serve my community Explain and name the main parts of my camera and their functions Determine equipment need Decide a specific result that want to achieve with a photograph Plan a picture while considering the subject background Make pictures that focus attention on my intended subject Limit visual distraction from my subject in the picture Explain how changing the angle will affect a photograph Challenge myself to look at things from different angles and points of view To change the impact of a shot Experiment with different angles arrangements and lighting backgrounds View and photograph a subject from several points of view Use panning flash and shooting at peak of action to suggest action Use a flash composition and timing of a shot to suggest movement Evaluate my own work and think of new ways to shoot the same subject DOODO DLDDDDDUDLDLUL OOUDDA DOOOOUOUUL Oo OOOO Page 51 Reference Book LJ Can create photographs that suggest movement of feelings as well as physical movement LJ Pla
17. ccessible to anyone who might come across them Even once you delete the photo there may still be someone else out there who has a copy of it Use the following guidelines when posting your photos on the Internet Never post embarrassing photos of yourself or anyone else you never know who might come across that picture one day The Internet is forever Think before you post Do not attach any personal information to your photos names addresses phone numbers what school you attend etc ALWAYS REMEMBER the person you are talking to in a chat room may not be the person that they claim to be When using social network groups like FaceBook and MySpace set your on line profile to private That way only people that you approve to see your profile and images can view your work Don t give out your passwords to anyone but your parent or guardian and never meet anyone in person that you just met on these sites Report any inappropriate comments or messages if they violate the terms of service for that site and tell your parents or guardian if anything happens on line that makes you feel scared or uncomfortable Courtesies of Photography It is important to show respect to people and their property especially when you are taking pictures Here are a few basic rules to follow 1 Always ask permission to go onto another person s property Make sure you leave it in the same or better condition as you found it 2 Ask permis
18. ce the horizon line in the photo at different spots in the frame to put the focal point either on the landscape or sky Q Explain ISO LI Set the white balance options on my camera for different types of lighting LI Select camera settings appropriate for different lighting conditions L Tell the difference between side lighting back lighting and direct lighting L Use a flash to provide or complement light LI Use available resources to reflect or diffuse light LI Experiment with side lighting back lighting direct lighting and reflected light Explain the relationship between the shutter and aperture Adjust the shutter speed and aperture Use extended exposure to compensate for difficult light Use a tripod to reduce blur at longer exposure Use tripod and long exposure for night time effects shots Adjust exposure settings to compensate for light levels Can demonstrate painting with light to create photographs DOOOUOUUL Leaders Comments Glossary 4 H Digital Photography Project Aperture The aperture controls how much light enters the camera and is measured in f stops Autofocus Automatically adjusts the lens position to bring your scene into focus Depth of Field The area which is in focus in your scene Digital Camera A camera that captures images electronically Exposure Time The amount of time it takes for the camera to take an image The length of the exposure is how long the shutter will
19. d detis duca abit Parier Pun Marb sie pta pras ddp bad 34 Controlling Light Inside the Camera ssssssnnn nn 35 ie nidi RR TET T TTE 38 Sueeisi tT 41 Suggesting Movement in Photography s sssssssrerererererererererererersrerererer 43 PANNING 43 SUGGESTING MOVEMOCNG susbeti eria da min dad cadavedioetai daretur etd ad add opc d 43 Storing and Sharing your Digital Images sssssssnnn 44 Post Processing ToUF IImIadeS vostusasudds Va Vb d i d be iC C deb rc e Pr d ates 47 Members Gan heck ISbrcaadiitadie sacos pw aie Veo dde Deb aco dep m AUR ER Ra 51 EEE PEA P A EEE EE P E A E E T E TA 52 RE O COS E AAE LI A AE A 55 4 H Digital Photography Project 4 H Digital Photography Project Objectives Upon successfully completing this project the members will be able to Think and plan before making a photograph Create great photographs of people places and things using a point and shoot and DSLR camera Try new things to improve their photography Develop skill in observing making decisions being part of a group solving problems handling money and communicating with others Identify opportunities for photography Compose and make clear pictures Use photography to communicate Use a flash and tripod to enhance their photographic skills Develop skill in observation decision making leadership problem solving finances and communication Create pho
20. e Other times the light is so bright that there are dark shadows on someone s face like taking a picture of a cowboy with his back to the sun wearing a cowboy hat If you do not use a fill flash to get rid of the shadows on his face cast by his hat then his face will be too dark to make out any of his features Most point and shoot cameras have a flash built right in that work automatically when the camera sensor notices that you need more light Some cameras have a flash that you have to switch on anytime you need it Make sure you switch it off when you do not want it Your camera can easily be fooled into thinking that flash is needed to properly expose your image Using the on board flash will drain your batteries at a quicker rate Page 21 Reference Book Tripods Tripods are a great invention Not only will you take better pictures but people may clear a path through crowds for you when you carry one Ah power Tripods eliminate the problem of camera shake They also act as a second set of hands if you are arranging the subjects of a picture They allow you to shoot at slower shutter speeds that then allow you greater depth of field Tripods are our friends Tripods vary in size features and of course price But if you are going to do much photography they are an essential tool Having a tripod will expand the type of photography you are able to do and help you improve what you already do Using a Tripod P
21. e 27 4 H Digital Photography Project If there are too many things going on in a picture it is distracting to the eye Instead of trying to fit everything into one shot take 4 or 5 different shots Get rid of clutter in the background of your pictures as it draws the eye away from the subject If you can t remove the clutter try shooting at a different angle to eliminate as many of the distracting elements as you can Adding different levels and angles to your photography will make your images stand out and give you dramatically different results Get on the floor when you are taking a picture of a small child or dog to get a shot from their perspective Experiment with as many angles and levels as you can to compose interesting shots Digital FREE Shoot as many shots as you need to get the perfect shot You can go through them on the computer later and keep the best ones If you are running low on memory delete some of the unwanted photos to free up space but don t always rely on the LCD screen see next point The LCD screen on your camera is a great feature but the best way to review your photos is on the computer Because of the size of the LCD screen it is tough to see some of focal points and fine details in your shots If you find that you need more memory space invest in additional memory cards or larger ones White balance ISO aperture and shutter speed should be adjusted for the conditions If you shoot in
22. e that you have selected The camera will take an average reading of the light using a built in light meter and set the aperture and shutter speed accordingly Sometimes this will be acceptable sometimes it will not It is important to know how to do this manually just in case Check your camera s LCD screen to see if you need to make any changes to the settings reviewing your photos is called Chimping by photographers but am not too sure why When taking a shot in tricky lighting get close to the subject and take a reading where you want the exposure to be correct step back and snap your shot This way you will get the proper exposure reading for you subject not everything else around it Setting the Aperture DSLR cameras use a ring on the lens barrel to adjust the aperture This controls HOW MUCH light enters the camera The settings are marked on the barrel of the lens in numbers called f stops such as f 2 8 f 5 6 f 8 f 16 The smaller the number the larger the opening or aperture is and the more light it will let in Adjust the aperture by dialing up or down to the f stop you would like to use each increase in f stop cuts the amount of light in half So an aperture of f 2 8 will let in twice as much light as an aperture of f 5 6 Page 35 Reference Book Setting Length of Exposure shutter speed By adjusting the shutter speed you can change HOW LONG the digital sensor is exposed to light Shutter speeds
23. elect auto white balance to have the camera make the adjustments for you Sometimes the camera can be tricked into choosing incorrect settings depending on what part of the image the camera meters for light White Balance x Incandescent Fluorescent Dir Sunlight Flash Page 37 Reference Book Lighting The quality of your photos will depend on the quality of light available In a perfect photographic world the light would be soft and plentiful In the real world you will come across all sorts of different lighting conditions Quality of light is broken down into two categories Hard light and Soft light Hard light throws distinct shadows and will usually come from one point of light your flash the sun and gives a dramatic effect Soft light does the opposite and usually comes from a reflected ambient or large light source Soft light has no defined shadows and is perfect to use for portraits Directional lighting is the angle that light hits your subject Here are some examples of directional lighting Thanks to our friend Cleaver for modeling for us Front Lighting Beginning photographers rely on front lighting light falling in front of the subject This is relatively safe and easy to work with However it is not very exciting and often fails to show the texture of the subject Sometimes pictures taken with front lighting look flat Frontal flash lighting also causes red eye when light is re
24. ent damage to your camera if the batteries leak Memory Compact Flash CF The most common types of memory cards are SD Secure Data or CF Compact Flash cards SanDisk Extreme CompactFlash Secure Data Cards Are some of the smallest cards avallable and are used in both point and shoot and DSLR cameras They can also be used as memory for cell phones video game systems MP3 players and PDA s Mini SD cards are also available Secure Data SD Compact Flash Cards Are mostly used in DSLR cameras and have the benefit of a built in controller chip SanDisk allowing for faster transfer rates Ultra Both types of memory cards are available in sizes from pre 512MB to over 32 Gigabytes Always have more 32GB memory than you need For an amateur photographer Sandisk 3 10 Gigabytes should cover all of your needs It is not a good idea to have one 16 or 32 GB card If you need that much space get a few 4 or 8 GB cards That way if you lose a card or it becomes corrupted at least you don t lose all of your photos Label all of your memory cards with your address phone number and reward in case you lose one 4 H Digital Photography Project A general guide to how many images you can fit on each size of memory card based on 6 10 Mega pixel cameras 16 GB 32 GB 1 200 4 800 9 600 3 680 7 360 10 MP 165 Flash Sometimes it is just too dark or there is not enough light in the area to take a pictur
25. er snapping the image Memory Card Slot amp USB Port The USB port lets you to connect your camera to your computer allowing you to update the camera s software and transfer images onto your computer The memory card records the image as a J PG TIFF or RAW file These file types will be discussed later in the Glossary Options Menu The options menu allows you to manually change the settings of your camera Access your options menu to use effect settings black and white sepia negative effect etc and to adjust things like white balance or ISO to select a focus mode set the red eye reduction adjust the image resolution how big your file will be after you take the picture set the self timer or to select multiple sequential shots Play around with the options menu and try out different settings If you can t figure out what you did and messed something up select the reset settings option to reset the all of the options of your camera and start again Page 17 Reference Book Exposure Modes Point and shoot cameras have built in features that allow a photographer to automatically choose the correct camera settings to create images in many different lighting conditions Here are some of the most common icons and what they do What is a Mega Pixel Most digital cameras are at least 6 mega pixels or higher A pixel is a tiny square that is so small that it appears as a dot The more dots you have the higher the
26. flected off the retinas of the subjects Reduce this problem by moving asking the people to avoid looking directly at the camera or by using the red eye reduction feature if your camera has this capability Side Lighting Side lighting helps emphasize texture and shape because it produces good shadows The best time of day for natural side lighting is early morning or late in the day If you examine professional photographs you will notice by the shadows that many of them were taken using side lighting Side lighting is not recommended for portraits because it rarely enhances skin texture and is not very flattering Use a combination of frontal and side lighting for portraits Front Lighting 4 H Digital Photography Project Back Lighting Back lighting is challenging but can contribute to great photographs if you learn to manage it properly It produces a ring of light around the subject and casts shadows on the subject To get the correct exposure with back lighting use a fill flash to add in some light to the front change angles to reduce the back light or reflect light onto the front of the subject with a reflector mirror or piece of white card stock Top and Bottom Lighting Top Lighting We are used to light coming from above so some lighting from slightly above looks normal in pictures Light from directly above a person produces unattractive shadows on the face black hollows under the eyes and nose
27. full automatic mode your camera will take care of most of these settings Double check to make sure you have auto ISO and auto white balance selected in the options menu Reference Book Portraits When taking portraits of people try to make them as comfortable and relaxed as possible When people are relaxed and having a good time it makes for much better pictures ie Use the portrait setting on your B camera or a 50mm portrait lens at Au a low f stop If you have the ability to change lenses This will give you a shallow depth of field and make the subj ect pop while A the background is in soft focus Fill the frame with your subject as much as you can Fix your focus on the eyes recompose and snap the image Try shooting close up images of faces and eyes You can get some very dramatic shots that really capture that person They say that a picture is worth a thousand words A successful portrait photograph captures a person s character and personality and is able to tell a story about them Children s Portraits Taking pictures of kids can be fun entertaining and exhausting Photograph kids playing in their own environment where they are most comfortable and get down on their level Take as many shots as you can and you will be sure to capture some great images of the kids making silly faces playing and doing typical cute kid stuff Sometimes getting kids to smile can be quite a challenge You can
28. get them smiling by telling a joke or by asking them to say silly words that have a long e sound like doggy kitty or chimpanzee Asking them questions that have a yes answer always works well too Long e words naturally form your mouth into a smile If your camera has a good zoom lens you can zoom in on the child from far away and capture some really great non posed natural looking shots 4 H Digital Photography Project Group Photos The first and most important rule of taking group photos is to take your lens cap off before you start taking your first picture It is really embarrassing if you don t trust me If possible go to the spot where you would like to take the picture before everyone gets there so you can plan where you d like people to stand This will save everyone s time and help keep people in a good mood It is always a good idea to know how many people will be in the picture too Pose the group so their heads form triangles Triangles make the image more visually pleasing and naturally lead your eye from one person to the next Stagger the group so their heads are at different levels Make sure you can see everybody and everybody can see you As a general rule of thumb you will need to take a minimum of one shot for every person in the group For example if you are taking a shot of 12 people you will need take at least 12 pictures of the group in order to get ONE shot of everybody smiling loo
29. ies A nickel metal hydrate cell A NiMH cell can have two to three times the capacity of an equivalent cell and are rechargeable Overexposure When an image looks washed out This happens when too much light has entered the lens Panning A term to describe moving the camera while taking a photo to follow a moving subj ect Panoramic Picture An extra wide view of a scene best used in landscape photography Pixels Tiny dots that make up a digital image Reflector A material used to reflect light onto your subject Sepia A filter which adds a faded brownish tone to your image giving them an aged feel Shutter The part of the camera which opens amp closes to allow light to enter and hit the sensor SLR Single Lens Reflex A camera that allows you to capture exactly what the camera sees Telephoto Lens A lens that is mainly used to photograph objects that are far away Tripod A camera stand with three legs which holds your camera steady for long exposure shots and eliminates camera shake Underexposure When your subject is dark not enough light is entering the lens This often happens when your scene is brighter than your subj ect Viewfinder The window you look through when framing focusing on your subj ect White Balance The process of removing improper color casts so that objects which appear white in person appear white in your photo Wide Angle Lens A lens with a wider degree of view than the h
30. ing pictures of wildlife or a macro lens to do fine detail shots Aperture The sensor needs the correct amount of light to fall on it in order to get a properly exposed image The aperture determines the amount of light that hits the sensor Think of the aperture as the pupil in your eye It controls the amount of light that gets let in If the opening is smaller less light gets in for when there is lots of light available If the topening is larger then more light gets in for low light situations f 2 8 f 5 6 f 8 f 11 f 16 f 22 The aperture determines the f stop that you will be shooting at The lower the number the MORE light you will let in The higher the number the LESS light you will let in Low f stop larger opening more light entering camera softer images High f stop smaller opening less light entering camera sharper images Page 15 Reference Book Parts Of A Camera On Board Flash Red Eye Reduction Light Camera Body Digital Sensor Mirror Locked Mirror Mode Dial Lens Aperture LCD Screen Memory Card Slot 4 H Digital Photography Project Shutter The shutter is between the lens and the camera s sensor The shutter opens and shuts quickly when the shutter button is pushed This lets a controlled amount of light determined by the aperture to focus through the lens and onto the digital sensor Think of this shutter as your eyelid and blinking as the shutt
31. king at the camera and not blinking If you are taking the picture on a sunny day place the group with their backs at an angle towards the sun so you are not shooting directly into the sun This is one way to help avoid squinting Another good trick is to get everyone to close their eyes and open them on the count of three snap the shutter when they open them Use a fill flash or reflector to get rid of any shadows Page 29 Reference Book Animal Photography Much like children animals tend to do their own thing when it comes to posing for pictures It is best to go with the flow work with the animal and try to anticipate what it will do next so you can be one step ahead and get that awesome shot You may have to be very patient in order to get the exact animal shot that you are trying for Waiting with your camera in hand is the key to getting that shot when it happens Use natural light if at all possible and avoid using your on board flash as it will cause red eye and may frighten the animal Always remember safety first No shot is worth risking your own safety Getting a close up shot of a bear might make for a great picture but is worthless if the bear eats you If you enjoy taking pictures of wildlife invest in a good zoom lens SO you can stay a safe distance away 4 H Digital Photography Project DIGNI n A classic landscape shot includes four elements the foreground the focal point the background and the horizo
32. l work well 4 H Digital Photography Project Caring for Your Camera Protect Your Camera Avoid lending your camera to others Carry your camera in a camera case or bag Always use your camera strap Label it with your name and phone number in case it goes missing Keep it from extreme temperatures not in the glove box or trunk Do not open your camera to switch memory cards or change lenses in dusty conditions This could damage the inside of your camera which can be expensive or impossible to repair fina dusty environment put it in a ziplock bag When passing your camera to someone use two hands Do not let go until you are sure the other person has a good grip also with two hands Do not touch the lens for any reason ever Write down the details about your camera make model and serial number Have someone take a picture of it for you to store somewhere safe in case you lose it Lens Pen Cleaning your Camera Digital cameras require periodic cleaning to keep the camera operational and allow you to take the best possible pictures Most point and shoot cameras have very little to clean and are sealed to keep out dust and other things that may damage the camera It is always a good idea to keep the exterior of the camera clean by using a lint free cloth To clean the lens use a lens pen or a can of compressed air For fingerprints use lens cleaner and lens paper and wipe gently as to no
33. ments from your photos Patch Used when a more seamless look is required when copying from one area to another Great for wrinkles amp blemishes Clone Displayed as a stamp the clone tool is a fantastic way to rid your image of unwanted elements by cloning and copying from a different area of the image Dodge Dodge is best used when working on portraits The dodge tool takes darkness out of images This is perfect to use on areas that are darker than what you would like them to be in and around the eyes dark circles wrinkles etc Be careful You can also take the colour out of the images when this tool is overused Burn Burn is the opposite of dodge Burning adds dark to your images which is perfect when trying to draw the attention of your viewer to a certain element in your photos Text The text tool allows you to add text to your images create slogans add names dates whatever you like Shape Brushes The shape tool has a submenu or options palette where you can select from a number of the shapes and add them to your image Page 49 4 A NANE Be FIOR L Ja Ja L D7 3 c LZ CS No Uli j A A A LT J vom A 4 H Digital Photography Project Move Marquee Lasso Magic Wand Crop Slice Heal Patch Brush Clone Stamp History Brush Erase Gradient Blur Dodge Burn Pen Text Path Selection Shape Notes Eye Dropper Hand Zoom Reference Book f
34. n Because you cannot move your subject you need to time your photography to take best advantage of natural light On sunny days landscape shots are best made early in the morning or late in the TLE LE s tpi et day The shadows produced at those times are strong dramatic and show off landscape features well Overcast days offer great opportunities for landscape photography You can shoot all day when it is overcast Some shots are also better at different times of the year Certain lakes in the mountains are frozen for many months of the year Certain rivers or lakes may become very low during the summer Some features may only appear after the leaves have dropped in the fall Some scenes that seem boring in the fall become works of art when draped with snow Take these changes into consideration when planning landscape shots Occasionally include a human or identifiable animal in your landscape shots to add interest This also helps give a sense of scale You can tell that these rocks are huge when the little girl stands in front of them You can use any lens to shoot landscapes A wide angle lens allows you to capture more of the landscape A telephoto lens can save you leg work and allows you to zoom in on features you find attractive If you want to emphasize the sky in a shot put the horizon line of the photo low in the frame If you want the emphasis put on the landscape put the horizon Page 31 Reference Book
35. n share your pictures by having a printed version As long as you use quality photo paper most home computer printers can produce high quality photographs But beware if you are printing lots of photos this could cost you a small fortune in ink If you do not have a printer for your home computer or want to print lots of photos many department stores have self serve kiosks that you can use to print your images in several different sizes quite inexpensively There are on line photo printing services that allow you to upload all of your images from your home computer to their website You select the sizes and quantities you need Once they have been printed the photos can be shipped right to your front door Caring for Prints Protect your pictures from fingerprints spills and scratches by putting them into albums as soon as you can you can always put an album on your wish list Some print labs offer the option of having your picture dry mounted on a board which will preserve the image and keep it from curling over time You can also have you photos laminated so the colours will not yellow or fade over time even in direct sunlight When you choose an album buy one with archival quality materials This quality of album will not accelerate the breakdown of your precious photographs The best albums for your pictures use materials that are acid free and buffered Store pictures out of extremes of temperature and humidity
36. ography By using your camera s black and white settings you force yourself to think about the content of your picture If you have not planned your shot a poor black and white picture can be boring because it does not have colour to draw your eye into the picture A well planned black and white shot will draw your eye directly to the subject and get rid of some distracting background elements Sometimes you will take an image that looks okay in colour But once you turn it into a black and white it really adds character to the shot and makes the image pop The image of the blacksmith speaking with the other gentleman is a good example of this Adding sepia tone see pee uh to the image of the blacksmith would add a faded brownish colour giving it an older feel So if you want to force yourself to improve shoot occasionally in black and white Page 33 Reference Book Exposure Settings It is very important that the correct amount of light enters the camera for the right amount of time creating the correct exposure Point and shoot cameras adjust automatically by taking a light reading to determine how much light to let in to get the proper exposure There are also several settings to choose from for different lighting conditions DSLR cameras allow you to adjust all of your settings manually as well as shoot in full automatic mode ISO In the days of film ISO related to the speed of the film the higher the IS
37. osing images navigating menus and viewing your wonderful captures Many point and shoot cameras also have a video function which can be perfect for capturing a story that cannot be told with a still image this feature is becoming more common with DSLR cameras Point and Shoot 4 H Digital Photography Project Getting to Know Your Camera Parts of a Camera Viewfinder This is the window that you look through to see your subject Most point and shoot cameras available have a live LCD monitor built in on the back of the camera It is as easy as capturing the moment as you see it DSLR cameras come with an LCD screen for reviewing images and are starting to offer the live LCD feature although most photos are composed through the viewfinder Lens Do not touch the lens The lens focuses the light from your subject on to the cameras digital sensor When taking a picture make sure that nothing is in front of the lens like your finger hair or camera strap digital cameras today are very compact and it is easy to ruin a shot by having your finger over the lens or flash during a shot Many point and shoot cameras have a door that covers the lens when the camera is not in use to protect the lens from dust rain and curious fingers DSLR cameras have lenses that can be removed and switched out This allows the photographer to use the proper lens for the job Examples are a wide angle lens for landscape shots a zoom lens for tak
38. phy Project Avoid startling animals or crowds of people Watch where you are stepping Wear clothing that will not catch on things When working with younger or less experienced photographers show them safe ways to get better shots Do not endanger yourself your subjects or property when planning or taking pictures This is an important responsibility of all photographers No picture is more important than the safety of people or property The Photographer s Comtort Cold hungry sore and sunburned Not the best conditions mm mr 1 al FCR for making your best B we Uu I y pa pictures Prepare A s wW a AA ow lt yourself when you go out on photo shoots If you are going out to take picture by yourself tell someone where you are going just in case you break a leg or get lost It is always fun to go out taking pictures with friends or other 4 H members Sunscreen wash hands before touching your camera Hat Layers of clothes Water Good snacks or a lunch Ashirt with a collar to protect against the sun Sturdy boots and thick socks Acellphone for emergencies Reference Book Page 8 4 H Digital Photography Project oafety on the Net One of the great features of digital photography is sharing your awesome photos with friends and family through emails and over the Internet When you post your images on the Internet using groups like FaceBook or MySpace those images become a
39. ractice adjusting a tripod without the camera attached first You will save your camera and look like a pro when you set up in front of people Open the legs of the tripod and practice setting it up for different heights and ground surfaces Practice locking the legs securely after setting the height you want Use the heavier legs of the tripod before extending the thinner legs The heavier legs are stronger and will be more stable Extend the tripod legs before spreading them out This makes it easier to set them at the same height The centre column can be moved up and down either by a push pull mechanism or a gear system A gear system gives you more precise control Be sure to lock the centre column securely Use the centre column the part that your camera is attached to for fine adjustments only If you extend the centre column too high your tripod may become dangerously top heavy and fall over n windy or crowded situations stabilize your tripod by hanging something heavy from the bottom of the centre column use my camera bag for this have seen some people use a rock in a bag Some photographers install a hook on the bottom of the column for this purpose Point one of the tripod legs the same direction as the camera lens There is less chance that you will trip over a leg that way 4 H Digital Photography Project Your camera has a socket in the bottom which you will screw onto the post on top of the t
40. rame your subject is a great way to enhance your images This will take practice and a creative eye but the results are well en y Tpveeemy worth the effort Leading Lines By using leading lines you bring the viewer into the photograph Strong lines like roads bridges rows of trees buildings walking trails and fences will add depth to your images Placing the leading lines using the rule of thirds will draw the eye into the picture mi Orie Cipry SEF P E s ea wir ee aet s aig 2 gee ae E e DN Dura yids dri aor aa Pr t ar pet Portrait and Landscape 4 H Digital Photography Project Portrait shots emphasize height and relative size Landscape suggests wideness Consider both views when planning a shot You will challenge your thinking and lead to some great pictures ouggesting Movement in Photography B Panning Using the Sports Action mode follow the moving subject with your camera keeping the subject in the center of the frame Press the shutter release halfway down to keep the subject in focus while you pan This will create a background that is moving but the subject appears to be standing still If you have the ability to take multiple frames per second use it You will probably have to do this several times to get it down pat but when you do you will be very pleased with the results Suggesting Movement Using a slow shutter speed when taking pictures of flowing water will make
41. remain open allowing light to hit the lens F Stop Determines how much light enters the camera Fill Flash Using flash or reflected light to light up your subject Fish Eye Lens A lens that has a view of 360 degrees The center of the image often looks larger with rounded edges Flash On board flash provides a blast of light which allows you to take pictures in low light situations Focal Point Where your eye is first drawn to in an image Usually the subject will be in sharp focus Frame The area that you see when looking through the viewfinder ISO International Standards Organization The rating system used to determine film speed When using a digital camera it is basically translated as the sensor s sensitivity to light LCD Screen The LCD liquid crystal display allows you to navigate the options menu and review your images Lens A piece of glass that is convex in shape to bend rays of light onto the digital sensor Lithium Battery Lithium cells can produce twice the voltage of an ordinary alkaline cell which increases shooting time Macro Lens A lens with a short focal length these are used for taking photos of subjects that are close to the camera and fine detail shots Mega Pixel One mega pixel is equal to one million pixels which determines the resolution of the image Mono pod A camera stand with one leg used to help steady the camera while shooting Page 53 Reference Book NiMH Batter
42. resolution of your photo One mega pixel is equal to one million dots If your camera is 8 mega pixels then the image is made up of 8 million pixels allowing you to print images larger than 20 x 24 without losing image quality 88 BH A2UGG O Automatic Mode Puts the camera in charge of of all settings Great for first time users Landscape Mode Get great detail for nature shots Macro Mode Take close ups of flowers insects or other small subjects Sports Action Mode Freezes motion in sports and action shots fast shutter speed Night Mode Use at night or in low light conditions slow shutter speed Portrait Mode Shoot portraits with the background in soft focus shallow depth of field Aperture Priority Adjust aperture to soften or sharpen the depth of field DOF or to allow more light to enter the camera Shutter Priority Select fast shutter speeds to stop Motion slow speeds to suggest movement Manual Mode Take full control of the shutter and aperture settings and experiment Auto Multi Program Automatically sets aperture size and shutter speed for a perfect exposure but allows for more creative control So a 12 mega pixel camera should be better than a 6 mega pixel camera right Wrong Having a camera that captures more mega pixels just means that you can print larger images without compromising quality If you are only printing images that are 8x10 or 11x14 both cameras wil
43. ripod After you screw the camera on secure it completely by tightening the knob just under the camera You can carry the camera and tripod together with the tripod legs collapsed if you need to For the safety of your camera take the camera off the tripod and carry them separately The head of the tripod should allow you to shoot both vertical as well as horizontal shots shoot 360 degrees and be able to adjust and operate all the locks smoothly and set them firmly Some tripod heads have a quick release feature This allows for the quick removal of the camera to do hand held shots when you need to be able to move freely Caring for Your Tripod After you have bought your tripod label it clearly with your name and phone number It is less likely to be stolen if labelled in an obvious way and more likely to be returned if found Keep your tripod folded up and out of the way when not in use Grit isan enemy of moving parts Keep your tripod clean Do not let anyone lean on your tripod don t know why people do this but it is hard on the tripod Choosing a Tripod Make sure the tripod is sturdy enough to support your equipment How heavy are your camera and flash You do not want your tripod to crash over with your camera and flash falling into a ravine With tripod legs fully extended your camera should be at least at eye level Page 23 Reference Book without raising the centre column E
44. rocessing might not seem important but once you take on photography as a serious hobby or get into events sports or equine photography you are going to start processing a lot of images You can find printouts for default keyboard shortcuts for your program by searching on line or checking the help menu within the program itself These shortcuts will save you a lot of time by using the keyboard instead of navigating the windows and menus with the mouse For example hitting Ctrl 4Z in Photoshop will undo your last action Ctrl Alt 4Z will allow you to undo and take as many as 20 steps back If you were to use your mouse to undo your last action you would have to move the cursor to file and click undo With this keyboard shortcut you can save 3 seconds every time you need to undo your last action When you are just learning to use post processing software this shortcut will be your best friend Commonly Used Photoshop Tools Move Usually displayed as an arrow with this tool selected you are able to move elements that you are working on within your document Erase Obviously does as stated Paint Allows you to paint colours into your image Blur The Blur tool which is displayed as a drop is great when wanting to take the eye away from certain areas of your photo or to enhance the depth of field Crop Displayed as either a cross hair or a crop is best used to enhance your composition or to crop out distracting ele
45. se caused by wrinkles noses hair hats and eye sockets don t laugh you ll have wrinkles someday It can also reduce the problems of back lighting Fill flash is much less harsh than direct flash and looks much more natural 4 H Digital Photography Project Composition The compositional goal of photography is to NOT place the subject dead center in the frame However as with most rules there are always exceptions If you are trying to emphasize symmetry for example you might take a picture of someone s face and have the center point of the image even with the center of their face making for a very well composed photo that is balanced on both sides The Rule of Thirds One of the most valuable rules you will learn is the Rule of Thirds Imagine the frame has lines that form a tic tac toe board dividing the frame into thirds from top to bottom and from left to right There will be four spots on the frame where the lines intersect These are the sweet spots When the focal point is placed on or near one these spots your photo will have more Page 41 Reference Book impact and be more visually appealing to the eye Once you learn practice and understand the rule of thirds go ahead and break the rules Experiment Framing Your Subject A great way to add depth and impact to your photos is framing your subject with an object in the photo Taking a photo through an archway or using an open window to f
46. sion to take pictures of people Some individuals and groups have strict rules against having their pictures taken If a person says no respect that 3 Do not flash your camera in someone s face or in the face of an animal 4 f you are at an event where there is an official photographer such asa national event stay out of the line of shooting they are being paid a lot of money to be there Page 9 Reference Book 4 H Digital Photography Project 5 Sometimes you might take a picture of someone that makes them look terrible It would not be kind to display that picture Think of how you would like to be treated 6 If an area is posted NO PHOTOS obey the sign Otherwise you might lose your memory stick or camera If you are in a military zone you also might have some explaining to do 7 Do not handle another person s camera equipment without their permission 8 Never publish a person s picture without their permission Be sure to take your best manners with you when you go out to create photographs remember you represent your Club Community and Yourself while you are out there Always respect people their space and property Be aware of individual local and cultural viewpoints about photography in some cultures it is highly offensive to take a person s picture Some parents are particularly leery of strangers taking pictures of their children When in doubt ask first And make sure you thank people who allow you
47. stream When it was time to have the film developed the camera was sent in to Kodak with a processing fee of 10 The film would be developed printed and returned to the customer along with a new roll of 100 exposure film In 1986 Kodak inventors created the George Eastman world s first megapixel sensor capable of recording 1 4 million pixels that could produce a 5x7 inch digital photo quality print In 1991 Kodak released the first professional digital camera system the Nikon F 3 camera equipped by Kodak with a 1 3 mega pixel sensor and the Kodak Brownie 2A Instamatic 100 DC 200 1907 1963 1999 Digital Age was born In the past with film cameras the photographer had to be selective with the shots that they wanted to capture as the cost of the film and processing were quite high Digital photography allows the user to take images get instant feedback and delete any unwanted photos that have been taken 4 H Digital Photography Project How Does a Digital Camera Work Viewfinder Pentaprism How a Camera Works Digital Sensor Light Path J ust like a conventional camera digital cameras have a series of lenses and mirrors that reflect light to create an image of a scene As seen in the diagram light travels into the camera and bounces off a mirror into the pentaprism and through the viewfinder When you push the shutter release button the mirror pops up Light goes through the lens through the aper
48. t damage the lens Digital single lens reflex DSLR cameras have more parts and are more complicated to clean Consult your user s manual for directions Most camera manufacturers will clean and service your camera for you It isa good idea to have this done every couple of years to make sure your camera is in top working condition Inspect the batteries and battery compartment for any signs of corrosion Rub the contacts on the batteries and camera with a clean cloth If you see any marks Page 19 Reference Book on the contact points use a pencil eraser to rub them off Brush out any dust and discard any corroded batteries Equipment Batteries What kind of batteries does your camera use Some cameras use AA batteries while others use special rechargeable batteries that can only be used for that type of camera If your camera uses AA batteries choose a NiHM or lithium battery over an alkaline battery as they will give you a much longer shooting time Your camera will drain batteries faster if you are using the LCD display and on board flash If you find you use up batteries quickly invest in some rechargeable ones Make sure you carry spare batteries when you are going on a trip or taking pictures of a special event Missing the perfect shot because you did not have your camera is one thing Having your camera and no batteries is another If you will not be using your camera for a while take the batteries out This will prev
49. tographs to record situations and events honour achievement and inspire action Identify use and store photography equipment and supplies in a safe manner Challenge themselves with variety and varying levels of complexity of tasks in photography Work cooperatively with others Apply their photographic skills in day to day living Have fun while taking great photos Reference Book Page 4 4 H Digital Photography Project Getting the Most from this Project Attend club activities regularly Listen and ask questions You will learn from other members as well as your leaders Carry your camera with you and take as many pictures as you can you never know when a great photo opportunity will happen Look at pictures other people have taken in books magazines and newspapers What do you admire about the pictures What can you try What would you change Look at your surroundings Look for interesting lines textures patterns events and people Practice taking pictures With digital photography the results are instant and free So take as many shots as you can Learn to do by doing Keep organized notes about techniques you use and shots you take in a journal or log Include subject matter camera settings conditions flash lighting changes and refer to them when you review your images on a computer Look at pictures other people have taken in books magazines and newspapers What do you admire
50. ture and through the open shutter to create the image Instead of focusing this light onto a piece of film to record the image it focuses it onto a digital sensor A computer then breaks this electronic information down into digital data and saves this data onto your memory card All the fun and interesting features of digital cameras come as a direct result of this process There are 3 different Digital Single Lens Reflex categories that digital cameras fall into basic Point and Shoot DSLR Digital Single Lens Reflex and Medium Format cameras The camera you end up buying will most likely depend on the function it will serve and the budget you must follow For this project we will cover Point and Shoot cameras and touch on DSLR cameras throughout the book One of the main differences between a point and shoot camera and a DSLR digital camera is that an DSLR has a detachable lens DSLR cameras also give you full control over manual settings such as exposure and shutter speed Page 13 Reference Book Advantages of point and shoot cameras are that they are lightweight and portable which make them perfect for the beginner photographer who wishes to capture everyday moments They fit easily into backpacks purses or even front shirt pockets Everyone should own a good point and shoot camera even the pros because the worst camera to have is the one you left at home Most compact cameras offer a large LCD screen which helps in comp
51. u are taking your time to edit Your image resolution will need to be at least 150dpi which refers to how many dots per inch a printer is capable of printing When working with photos that are larger than an 8x10 you will want your photo resolution to be as close to 300dpi as possible to achieve the best quality Processing for Web E mail When saving your photos for the web resolution size should be no more than 72dpi Most photo editing programs have a Save for Web feature If you do not have any post processing software available search online for resizing photos and download some free photo resizing software Photos saved at 72dpi resolution can still produce a print of about a 4x6 in size without losing sharpness Page 47 Reference Book Enhancing your Photos There are several different ways to enhance your photos by using such programs as Photoshop PaintShopPro amp Painter You can find several free programs on line such as Gimp amp Picasa which can offer many of the same features as professional photo editing software The types of photos you prefer to capture will determine how you manipulate your photos The most commonly used tools will be explained here Please note Photoshop terms will be used as examples You can find tutorials on the Internet that will explain how use the program you have available Learning the shortcuts for whichever program you prefer will save you a lot of time Saving time during p
52. uce camera shake as well If you don t have a tripod handy leaning against a tree or other large object will help steady your shot Movement by the subject can also make a blurred image Try Panning the moving object Follow the subject with your camera while you snap the picture This will create motion blur an effect where the subject is frozen but the background appears to be moving Using a faster shutter speed Using a flash to add more light to the subject The other cause of blurry images is having the wrong settings chosen for the lighting conditions available Open scene from your cameras menu and choose an appropriate setting Page 25 Reference Book Hints and Tricks Look Plan amp Shoot Shoot Shoot Make sure you select the appropriate camera settings and white balance for the shooting conditions Get up close and fill the frame with your subject The best zoom lens is your own two feet Avoid putting your subject in the dead centre of the picture Use a simple background that does not distract the viewer from the subj ect Common Mistakes Some common mistakes made by new photographers can be easily corrected as long as you know how to fix the problem Here are ten problems and solutions that will improve your photos in no time men ccn Don t know When people get a digital camera they rip open the box pop in how to use the memory card and batteries and start snapping away The
53. uman eye Zoom Lens A lens which allows you to zoom in close or back out to capture a wider scene 4 H Digital Photography Project Resources www digitalphotography tipcentral net www cambridgeincolour com www malektips com www eastmanhouse org www digitalphotographysecrets com www digitalphotographybusiness com www wikipedia com www youtube com www pictureusthere ca All images Picture Us There Photography unless otherwise stated n de Agriculture and Agriculture et Agri Food Canada Agroalimentaire Canada Page 55 Reference Book
54. ven better is a tripod that will let you get right down to ground level How is the tripod adjusted Are there squeeze or screw mechanisms for adjusting the leg lengths If these break or fall off can buy parts or do I have to buy a whole new tripod In how many directions does the head move Test it Is it still stable at all angles Is there a quick release on the platform so you can remove the camera with the base then reattach it How much does it weigh If it is too heavy you will avoid carrying it and using it What are its dimensions If it is too big you may find it awkward to carry How low and how high will it reach Can you test someone s tripod before you buy one Talk to other photographers about their tripods and what they like or dislike about them Need More Light But No Flash Available Fill dark areas on your photos by reflecting light to your subject with an inexpensive collapsible reflector A 48 reflector costs less than 30 and folds up to about the size of a frisbee If you don t have a reflector a light coloured piece of fabric mirror or white cardstock will work just as well 4 H Digital Photography Project What Causes Blurred Pictures Most of the time blurry images can be blamed on camera shake When you take a picture tuck your elbows close to your body hold the camera steady with your left hand and press the shutter button gently Using a tripod will red
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search