Pixel Power: Getting the Most from Digital Photography

Evaluate Technical Needs

• Digital Cameras: 3 mega pixels and above. Set file size to highest resolution setting.

• Storage cards: How many high resolution pictures can you store on each card?Always have an extra backup card.

• Where will you store your photographs?Home, office, or online?

• Do you need photo editing software?

In The Field Tips and Best Practices: Before the Shoot

• In your waterproof camera bag: Batteries!! Extra storage card. Notepad and pen or audio recorder.

• What pictures do you have to have (i.e. picture of an important sponsor?) Write them down before the Cleanup!

• Read your camera manual and practice using your camera ahead of time. Take some practice shots.

• Set up your camera for lighting conditions. If you know light will be low, plan to bring a tripod.

In The Field Tips and Best Practices: During the Shoot

• Check out the area for good places to shoot.

• Write down names of people and places during the shoot for captions.

• Look at the histogram, not just the LCD screen.(Read your manual.)

• Take LOTS of pictures, even of the same scene to make sure you get a good photo.

Photography Basics

• Purpose: What will you be using this photograph for? Print or Web or both? Plan for the highest resolution.

• Lighting: Indoors, outdoors, action, and mood.

• Composition: A few basic examples of how to make a photo more interesting.

Purpose

• What is a pixel and why should I care? The more pixels, the better!

• Why is resolution important?

• You may have the winning photograph, but is it usable? Shoot pictures at the highest resolution for your web and print needs.

Examples

Poster Magazine Web site

Highest resolution needed

High resolution needed Medium to low

resolution needed

Lighting Conditions

• Indoors: To flash or not to flash? Indoor settings on digital cameras.

• Outdoors: Where’s the sun? Outdoor settings on digital cameras. Avoid shooting into the sun when possible.

• Action: Blurry or in focus? Camera speed settings on digital cameras.

• Mood: Challenge the “rules” and experiment.

A Word About Exposure

• Exposure is how much light is let into the camera lens to record an image.

• Automatic or manual settings? Know when you need to control the light.

Over Exposed Correct Exposure Under Exposed

Composition: The Rule of ThirdsPosition horizon lines and subjects along lines and intersecting points.

Move Around

• Get Up Close

• Get Down Low

• Shoot From Above

• Consider the Foreground, Middle ground, and Background.

• Over the Shoulder

• Sequence: Tell the Story.

Tell The StoryTell the story using a sequence of photographs. Pick a person or team and follow their experience.

Great PhotosHere are some of our favorites! Great composition, lighting, and high enough resolution to use in our print materials.

The photographer got down low, up close, and recorded action.

The photographer angled the perspective to make the subject Appear heroic.

The photographer considered the backgroundand action of the volunteers.

The photographer got up close and used lighting in this underwater image To give it a serious overtone.

Storing and Sharing Photographs

• Copy photographs onto your computer before you edit. Always keep copies of original unedited files.

• Make copies of key photographs onto another storage device.

• When sharing a photograph be sure to note: Photo credit, date, location, and description.