LKSD Digital Photography

J. Levine

Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Getting Started with Photography
I. What is a JPEG?
a. JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Group
b. Most common file format for digital photos
c. All photos should end with .jpg or .png
I. Ensures any computer/web application can see them
d. Can display millions of colors  why it’s perfect for photos
e. Jpegs are compressed to create smaller image files that load well trough the internet
while still looking good
f. Compression  allows you to save more photos in less space
II. Memory Card
a. Cameras store photos on removable memory card
b. Common memory card formats
I. SD (Secure Digital)
II. MS (Memory Stick)
III. xD (Extended Digital)
IV. CF (Compact Flash)
c. Come in different capacities
I. Measured from small to large
1. MB (megabytes) – GB (gigabytes)
II. Larger capacity = more images that can be stored
d. Memory cards are also rated by speed
I. There are several different rating scales
1. Megabytes per second (MBPS)
2. “x” suffix following a speed number
3. Class rating
II. The most commonly used & easiest to understand is class rating
III. A class 10 card has a minimum data transfer rate of 10 MBPS while a class 2 card
has a minimum data transfer rate of 2 MBPS
III. On/Off
a. Make sure the battery is charged & you’ve inserted the memory card
IV. Date & Time Settings
a. Digital cameras code with the date/time they are taken
V. Cleaning Your Camera Lens
a. Shooting with a dirty lens is just as bad as shooting through a dirty window
b. Make sure your lens is clean
c. DO NOT start wiping off the dirt
I. This will scratch the lens  worse than a dirty lens
d. DO NOT spray the lens with compressed air
I. This can force dirt inside the lens housing
e. How do you clean a camera lens?
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J. Levine
1. CAREFULLY blow away any grit/dust OR brush it away with a camel’s
hairbrush made for camera lenses
2. GENTLY wipe the lens with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth
a. Like a microfiber cloth for cleaning glasses
3. If needed, use a little lens cleaning fluid (or water if you must) applied to
the cloth
4. Consider buying a lens-cleaning tool that has a brush on one end and a
lens pen on the other end (about $8)
VI. Photo Preview, Playback, & Delete
a. Digital cameras have LCD screens
I. Liquid Crystal Display
II. Used for previewing images as you shoot
III. The camera has a button to switch between camera & playback mode
1. Often marked with a triangle icon
IV. In preview mode, you can delete photos
1. The camera also has a delete button
a. Typically has an icon of a trash can
b. Auto-focus mode
I. Ease of use
II. When shooting a photo, press the shutter button about halfway to allow the
camera to automatically focus the image
III. Once the image is focused, press the shutter button the rest of the way to shoot
the photo
VII. How to Share your Photos
a. There are several ways to share photos
b. One way is to download them to a computer using a USB cord that connects to your
computer
1. Connect the cord, then turn on the camera
c. Another way is to insert the memory card into the computer
I. The card appears as another drive on “My Computer”
1. File Explorer  “This PC”
II. Double click he drive icon to open it
III. The image files will be in a folder called DCIM
IV. When you open this folder, you can copy the image files onto your computer
d. Another way to share photos is through social media

1.2 Camera Modes

I. Digital cameras have 3 main shooting modes
1. Auto
2. Semi-manual
3. Manual
II. All of these relate to shutter speed & aperture & who/what is setting them
III. Auto mode is the easiest to use
IV. Some digital cameras have more than one auto mode such as:
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J. Levine
a. Program auto
i. This is the basic auto mode to get the optimum exposure
b. Intelligent auto
i. Tries to understand your intension with the photo and adjust accordingly
V. Special Scene Modes
a. Digital cameras have special scene modes that control the camera’s settings specific
situations
b. Common scene modes include:
i. Portrait
ii. Landscape
iii. Night
iv. Sports
c. Scene modes are usually represented by little icons that visually indicate what each
scene mode does

1.3 Steady Camera: Taking Good Pictures

I. The first and most important thing to learn about taking good photos is keeping the camera
steady
II. A steady camera captures clear & sharp photos
III. Moving the camera makes photos blurry (this is one of the most common mistakes beginners
make)
IV. One way to keep the camera steady is to use a tripod or a monopod
a. Tripod  a stand with 3 legs
b. Monopod  a stand with only one leg
V. Tripods and monopods allow you to hold the camera on something solid, so it’s easier to keep
the camera steady
VI. Alternatively, try setting the camera on a solid surface, like a table, chair back, fence, railing, or
even a pole
VII. Even without something else to steady the camera, it’s possible to hold the camera very steady
a. Stand with your feet firmly on the ground, shoulder width apart, and weight evenly
distributed
b. Hold the camera with both hands and pull your elbows to brace them against your body
i. Variations include sitting or kneeling