Sheppard/Digital Photo Simplified Sample Chapter

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Chapter 1Getting Readyto Take PicturesNo matter what camera youhave, you can customize it sothat it works really well for you.Camera manufacturers make alot of decisions about how acamera works based on whatthey think photographers whomight buy a particular camerawill need or use.

However, manufacturers canonly guess, and sometimes, thedefault settings of your camera are designed for the needs of the averagephotographer; as a result, they are not optimal for a person who wants to takebetter photographs.

Is your camera set up right to support your picture taking? In this chapter, youwill learn the basics of getting ready to take great pictures with your camera.

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Set Up Your LCD for Optimum Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Viewfinder or LCD — Which to Use? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Choose a Resolution and File Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Choose a Memory Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Hold the Camera for Sharpness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Choose a Program Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Using Your Camera’s Autofocus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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Set Up Your LCD for Optimum UseThe LCD on a digital camera is a wonderfulinvention. It gives you an accurate view of yoursubject so that you see exactly what you aregoing to get in your photograph. But in orderto get the most from your LCD, you need to use

the camera’s menus to make some choicesabout how it works. You want to be sure it ishelping you, not holding you back. Here aresome tips in setting up your camera for thebest use of your LCD.

Review TimeAfter you take the picture, the actual image showsup on most LCDs. This image review gives you aquick look at what your photo looks like. Forexample, you can quickly look to see that it issharp, and that your subject’s eyes are open. Youknow immediately if you need to make changes toyour photography.

Set Review TimeOn most cameras you can set review time between about 2and 10 seconds in the camera or setup menus. Short timesare not of much value because you really cannot evaluatemuch of what is in the picture. Try 8 to 10 seconds. Onceyou have seen enough, press the shutter release lightly, andthe review goes away. If the time is too short, you simplypress your playback button for a longer view.

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CHAPTER

1Getting Ready to Take Pictures

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Auto RotateMost digital cameras today automatically rotate a verticalpicture so that it shows up vertically in the LCD when youhold the camera horizontally. Unfortunately, a verticalpicture does not fill the horizontal space and uses the LCDinefficiently. You can get the most from your LCD and getthe largest picture possible if you set the camera so that itdoes not auto-rotate vertical pictures. The Auto Rotatesetting is usually in the playback or setup menus.

Camera Sleep Time (Auto Power Down)A frustrating thing for digital photographers is to try to take apicture and find that your camera has gone to sleep. Mostdigital cameras have the auto power down time set too early.This setting is usually in the setup menu, and a good settingwould be 2 to 4 minutes for most people. You can set thistime longer, but then you could be using your battery morethan you want to.

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Viewfinder or LCD — Which to Use?Many cameras have both a viewfinder and anLCD. Viewfinders can be either optical or EVF(short for electronic viewfinder), A viewfinderonly works when you hold your eye up to it.Most people use the LCD when possiblebecause it seems so natural to do. And some

cameras do not even have viewfinders. Whywould you want to use a viewfinder comparedto an LCD? There are some distinct advantagesto both. Knowing the possibilities of aviewfinder can help you use your camera better.

Use the Viewfinder in Bright LightLCDs can be hard to see in bright light,especially when there are bright subjects thatyou are photographing. Because an optical orelectronic viewfinder limits extraneous light,and your head blocks more light, both allowyou to see the subject better for framing inthose conditions.

Use the LCD InsideThe LCD is ideal for shooting indoors. It has aconsistent brightness, even if the light is low,which makes it easier to use than a viewfinderin those conditions. It also shows you if yourexposure and white balance are correct so thatyou can get the best-looking image.

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Use the Viewfinder for MovingSubjectsMovement can be hard to follow with an LCDheld away from your face. This is where aviewfinder comes in handy. You have to havethe camera up to your eyes to use aviewfinder. This makes it easier to followmovement (the camera simply follows yourgaze), and distracting movement around thecamera and LCD is blocked from view and notseen. Optical viewfinders are especially goodfor action.

Use the LCD for Close ShootingYour LCD is showing you exactly what the lensis seeing on your camera. A separate opticalviewfinder as used on compact digital camerashas its own lens system, and so it is seeingsomething slightly different. At a distance, thisdoes not matter. But when you get up close,the optical viewfinder may not frame the scenecorrectly, which can mean that parts of yoursubject get cut off. You never have thatproblem with the LCD.

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Choose a Resolution and File TypeYour camera comes with a certain resolution,such as 10 or 12 megapixels. This resolutionstrongly affects the price of your camera andthe capabilities of the sensor. Your camera alsocomes with a default setting for the file typeand compression that may or may not be best

for you. Understanding a little about resolutionand image files will ensure that you make theright choices for the highest-quality photos.This will also mean you get your money’s worthfrom your camera and sensor.

Find Your SettingsResolution and file type are settings that affectimage size and quality. They are usually foundin the camera operation section of the menusfor your camera. Unfortunately, cameramanufacturers have not made the icons forthese settings consistent, and so you may haveto check your manual.

Use Your MegapixelsA common way of showing image size isL, M, and S (for large, medium, and smallresolution). Large uses the full size of yourcamera's sensor, giving you themegapixels you paid for. Use it. Only usethe smaller sizes if you really have to getsmall photos, such as for a Web site, andyou are sure that you will never need alarge photo.

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Choose JPEG with High QualityThe default image type for most digitalcameras is JPEG shot at mediumcompression or quality (quality refers tohow the image is compressed for size). Foroptimum JPEG images, choose the highest-quality compression, such as Superfine.This makes files a little larger, but notmuch, and so you might need a slightlylarger memory card to handle larger filesizes.

What About RAW?Some compact digital cameras and alldigital SLRs include an image type calledRAW. This is a special format that saves farmore tonal and color information from thesensor than JPEG offers. It is very useful forphotographers who want to do extensiveprocessing on their images in the computer.It does not have more detail than a JPEGfile (that is dependent on megapixels).

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Choose a Memory CardYour camera is built to hold a certain type ofmemory card. A memory card stores yourpictures, and you save photos to it or erasephotos from it. These cards come in a variety oftypes such as CompactFlash or SD cards, butyour camera is only designed for one type

(except for a few digital SLRs that have slots fortwo). While you cannot decide what type touse, you do need to decide how large a card toget and whether a certain speed will affect thischoice.

Memory Card TypesYou should know your memory card typeso that you can recognize it in a store andbe sure you have the right type. Each cardtype is quite different in size and shape.Open the door to the memory card sloton your camera, and take out thememory card to see exactly what it lookslike (be sure the camera is off when youdo this).

Choose Memory CapacityMemory cards have become less expensive for more capacity. Itis easy to find 1- or 2GB cards at very affordable prices. Thelarger the capacity, the greater the number of images you canstore. Capacity is key with higher-megapixel cameras, andespecially for RAW files. A 2GB card is a good starting size andwill hold about 500 standard quality, full-resolution JPEGs froma 10 megapixel camera.

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Download from a Memory CardA simple way of downloading photos is to useyour camera and the cable that came with it. Abetter way is to get a memory card reader. Amemory card reader is usually faster, takes uplittle space on your desk or computer, andnever has problems with battery power (if yourcamera loses power while downloading, youcan lose your photos).

How Important Is Memory Card Speed?You will often see memory cards listed with speeds — 80X,100X, and higher. This does not speed up your camera. Itaffects how fast images are recorded to a memory card fromthe camera’s memory buffer. Keep in mind that not all camerassupport high speeds. Speed can also affect how fast you candownload images to your computer.

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Hold the Camera for SharpnessDigital cameras are capable of truly excellentsharpness. Yet all too often photographers aredisappointed in blurry photos. They lookunsharp, and people often blame “cheapcameras.” Yet, the number one cause ofblurriness is camera movement during exposure.

How you hold the camera and release theshutter can determine whether you capture asharp or blurry photo. This will be especiallynoticeable if you want to enlarge the image ina big print.

Camera Movement CausesBlurry PhotosWhen a camera is handheld, it can moveslightly while the camera is taking thepicture. As shutter speeds get slower, thismeans blur in your photo, and sharpnessthat is much less than your camera iscapable of. Even if the blur is notobvious, it can still be there, degradingthe contrast of the image. No amount ofwork on the computer can make theseimages truly sharp.

Support the Camera WellSupport your camera to minimize cameramovement. With a digital SLR, put your lefthand, palm up, under the lens, with your righthand gripping the side securely. With compactcameras, keep both hands gripping the sidessolidly (no one-handed shooting!). Then keepyour elbows in to the side of your chest as youphotograph, in order to keep arm movement toa minimum.

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Squeeze the ShutterHolding the camera securely does not help if youpunch the shutter button. Put your finger on theshutter button, and then squeeze your fingerdown in a smooth motion to push the button andtake a picture. Keep your finger depressed as theshutter goes off, and then release it gently.

Turn Your Car Off for SharpnessGo to any national park, and you will see peopledriving along, photographing from cars, bracingtheir arms against the frame of an open window. A moving car, combined with the vibration from the motor, always causes problems with cameramovement and blurry photos. For optimumsharpness, stop the car and turn off the engine forthe picture. At the minimum, avoid leaning againstthe car frame if the car is running.

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Digital cameras typically have a choice ofseveral modes of operation that affect exposureand how an image is captured. Theseprogrammed ways of operating the cameraoffer you options that affect how you can getthe best pictures of a particular subject or

scene. They are often set up for specificsubjects or types of scenes so that the cameracan be quickly prepared for them. Byunderstanding a bit about them, you canquickly choose what works best for you.

Exposure Mode ChoicesCameras have to be set for a proper exposure.That includes both a shutter speed, whichaffects action, and an aperture or f-stop, whichaffects depth of field (sharpness in depth).These settings also affect how much lightcomes through the camera. Exposure modeschange how these controls are chosen — thatis, how much is done by the camera’s internalelectronics and how much you control.

Program, Aperture-Priority, and ShutterSpeed-PriorityAll digital SLRs and many small digital camerasinclude the modes P for Program, A or Av forAperture-Priority, and S or Tv for Shutter Speed-Priority exposure. The camera chooses both shutterspeed and aperture in P, making it good for quickshots. In A, you choose an aperture for depth-of-field,and the camera sets the shutter speed. In S, youchoose a shutter speed, and the camera sets theappropriate aperture or f-stop.

Choose a Program Mode

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Program ModesMany popular cameras include specialprogram modes that are designed to makedecisions easier about setting up a camera forspecific subjects. You will find options such asLandscape, which affects exposure, color, ISOsetting, and white balance for scenic pictures;Portrait, which affects the same things forclose-up shots of people; and Sports, which isdesigned to optimize the camera for action.

Do You Need Manual?Manual is a mode where you set all exposure parametersyourself. Many photographers never need it, but it is helpfulwhen conditions seem to fool all the other modes. InManual mode, you can set shutter speed and f-stop basedon how the meter works in your camera, take a picture, andthen check your exposure in the LCD. If the exposure is notwhat you need from a scene, you can then change theshutter speed or f-stop until it is right.

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Using Your Camera’s AutofocusAutofocus, or AF, is a great innovation. Thecamera works with the lens to determine wherethe lens needs to focus. AF helps your cameraand lens find the right things to make sharp inyour scene. That makes it easy to photograph

quickly, but AF can also focus in the wrongplaces. However, you can learn how to controlit. A few simple techniques will help you ensurethat the autofocus is finding the right part ofyour scene to focus on.

Focus Points Are ImportantOne of the most annoying things for aphotographer is to have a nice picture wherethe focus is in the wrong place. For example,you have a great shot of grandma, but she isnot sharp, though the tree behind her is. Oryour beautiful flower stays blurred while thewoodchip mulch behind it is sharp. Learn tolook quickly at a scene so that you know whichare the most important points that must besharp.

Lock Focus on Your SubjectOnce you know what has to be sharp,point your camera, set it on single-shot AF at that point, and then pressyour shutter button slightly to lockfocus. The camera usually beeps orgives some other indicator of focus.While still pressing the shutter button,quickly move the camera to frameyour shot properly, and then take thepicture. Some cameras also haveseparate focus lock buttons.

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Use Continuous Autofocus for ActionIf you are photographing a sporting event such asa kids’ soccer game, you usually cannot lock focusbecause of the continuous movement. Changeyour camera to continuous AF if it has that choice.Now the camera continuously focuses as you shootthe action. Sometimes the action will be too fastfor it to keep up, but mostly it will keep findingthe right focus as the action progresses.

Start Autofocus EarlyAny AF system needs some time, however brief, to examine the scene,determine the focus point, and focus the lens. If you wait until you needthat focus, especially with a moving subject, then you will often miss theshot because of this time delay. Start your autofocus early, before youneed it, by lightly pressing your shutter button enough to get AF going,but not enough to trip the shutter.

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Sheppard/Digital Photo Simplified Sample Chapter