Digital Photography 101

Beginning Concepts for taking great

pictures!

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Understanding your digital Camera -
Models

 Subcompact
 Compact
 Super Zoom
 Advanced
 SLR

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Front of Camera

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Back of Camera

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Features
 Most cameras have sufficient megapixels for
everyday picture taking. For editing and
professional printing you need 8 to 10
megapixels
 Optical Zoom vs. Digital Zoom – always go with
at least 3X optical
 External memory card
 USB connectivity
 Good flash
 Easy to under buttons/features
 Batteries that can be recharged
 Lens can be protected
 Sturdy

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Things to know
 Shutter Button- Half down is focus and
light adapter – always pre-focus
 How to turn you flash on, auto, off, or
red-eye…
 Take lens cover off
 If you use red-eye option, tell your
subject – flash is delayed
 Turn your macro function on and off – for
extreme close-ups
 Where the focus points are for your
camera

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Taking pictures – Some tips

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Fill the Frame

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Rule of Thirds

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Rule of Thirds

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Rule of Thirds

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Macro Shots – Getting Close

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Framing

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Getting down on their level……

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Getting down on their level…..

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Interesting Angles

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Series

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People and Portraits

When photographing people

take shots that are either:
•Whole body including feet
and head
•Waist up
•Head shot

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Action Shots
 Focus on
subject and
hold onto that
person
 Press shutter
as you move
and keep
moving until
picture is
taken

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Grouping Pictures

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Resolution
 Use highest resolution for
pictures that will be printed or
cropped
 Use 640X840 for web pages and
power point

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Pixelization

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Your camera and the computer
 Upload your pictures to a computer
and erase your storage device:
 Always name your folder (including
data and activity)
 You can use a variety of programs
and online services to display and
print your photos including
powerpoint or an editor like pixlr

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Formats
 .JPG or .JPEG– easiest format to
save
 .TIF – higher quality but uses more
space
 .JPG and .GIF are used on web sites
 .RAW is highest quality but difficulty
to work with

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Some tips and suggestions
 Avoid mergers – telephone poles
and strange objects sticking out of
heads
 Never shoot into a light source
 Use your flash when shooting
pictures in bright daylight
 Low light is best for outdoor shots –
early morning, late in the day,
cloudy

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Adding Interest and Identification

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Plan your photos
 Take pictures of signs or plaques to
help place your photos
 Consider the background – a simple
background works best
 Take pictures in a series
 Think of your pictures as a group or
set – how could they be used?

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Plan your photos
 Take lots of pictures – they won’t all
be great
 Take 2 shots of every person or
scene every time
 Overlapping 1/3 or ½ of a previous
shot allows you to create a series of
shots that can be stitched together

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Schoolwires and Web Photos
 If you intend to add captions keep
your subject in the top 2/3 of the
picture.
 Use landscape pictures unless you
intend to edit.

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