1. The Guildford Institute
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS
Thursday 27th September 2012
10 am - 4pm
Tutor: Mike Sleigh
Photographer at Polypodphoto & Associate
Photographer at Surrey Heritage Photography
2. A one day course aimed at those
who have a basic digital camera
and wish to know how to use it and
capture good photographs.
3. “Now anyone can be a Photographer...”
The advent of digital photography and reasonably
priced digital cameras giving good quality images has
seen a major take up by people who may not in the
past have used a camera on a regular basis mainly
due to the cost of film and processing.
The ability to see and review what has just been
taken has made photography a lot easier without
incurring any cost - just reshoot or delete as
necessary.
4. Digital Camera Overview
Digital cameras: types of digital camera
available, their plus points and their
limitations; other considerations and
how to achieve good results.
5. Any digital camera, even the most basic, can capture an
image suitable for use on the internet. It’s not the
resolution/file size that is a problem but the limitation of
what the camera can do – fine under good lighting
conditions but not so good if taking photos indoors, under
adverse lighting or where the subject is moving.
The better the camera the more opportunities there are of
getting an excellent image but it usually also requires the
person taking the photo to have a ‘good eye’ - technical
aspects of the image OK but poor visual awareness
(some people just can’t see things in a creative way!).
6. A lot of the benefits of digital photography reply
on post capture computer processing using
Photoshop or similar software, unlike film where
once the shutter button is pressed further options
are limited and usually involve time consuming
darkroom work.
Digitally processing and enhancing an image does
take time and requires an understanding of the
software but in many cases the original ex camera
image can be used without enhancement but it
may still be necessary to adjust the resolution/file
size for its required end use.
7. Types of Camera available:
Camera Phones
Compact Camera and Advanced Compact Cameras
Small, light, easy to carry around. Usually fully automatic
with some control over the image settings.
Bridge and Compact System Cameras (CSC)
Between point & shoot cameras and Single Lens Reflex
(SLR). Smaller and lighter than SLR’s yet offering
comparable power, image quality and creative control.
Interchangeable lenses on CSC .
Single Lens Reflex (SLR)
Complete control over image capture.
Able to see through the lens for precise framing and
composition. Interchangeable lenses
8. Camera Uses:
Camera phones:
Probably only good enough for web use and on screen
viewing, are limited when it comes to producing good
quality prints.
Compact cameras:
Use for ‘snaps’ and basic photography under good lighting
conditions and where the subject is not moving quickly.
Image/file size suitable for the web and for prints up to
7x5”. Camera limitations – unable to see precisely what
you are taking due to LCD screen on back of camera, little
creative control, focusing/exposure time lag, small file size
on low end cameras.
9. Camera Uses:
Compact System Cameras:
Use for ‘snaps’ and more creative situations where
a small physical size camera is more convenient.
Good for web and quality prints up to A4 size.
Limitations – limited range of lens available.
Single Lens Reflex cameras:
To achieve the best possible images, with full
creative control in all situations. Limitations –
Overall size and weight.
.
10. Picture Taking
Questions to ask yourself before starting:
What do I want to use the images for? –
A record of a subject/thing/place or a
creative image?
How is the image going to be used? –
for a website, social media posting, print?
11. Things to consider before taking the photo:
*Does the photo/subject require good lighting? If not right can it be
photographed at another time when the light is right? Or is it a subject
that will change with time (such as a flower) or a place that can’t be
revisited and therefore has to be shot even if conditions are not perfect
– a record shot.
*Could the use of flash help? Flash can be useful but has drawbacks
and should only be used with consideration – flash can make some
subjects look artificial but fill-in flash can help on a sunny day.
*Is the subject moving? If so how fast? Can it be captured with the type
of camera being used? There is usually a delay before the picture is
taken with compact cameras, but not a problem with CSC and SLR’s if
set up for moving subjects.
12. *Can the camera be focused on the part of the photo that needs to be
in focus? Does it matter? Knowing what is in focus with a compact
camera can be difficult, not such a problem with CSC & SLR’s
(but difficult in bright light viewing the image with an LCD screen on
the back of the camera).
*If a ‘creative’ photo is required can it be taken with a compact camera
knowing its limitations?
*Is there a possible problem with camera shake leading to a blurred
photo? some cameras do offer an ‘anti-shake’ option which can be
set in the menu.
A blurred result is more likely when using the telephoto end of a zoom
lens, especially if the subject is also moving.
Optical stabilization is offered on some better cameras either within
the body or in the lens.
13. Picture Composition
Good subject composition and framing can turn an
ordinary picture into a great photograph. Use your
eye to look at the subject within a frame, place the
subject(s) within the frame to create a good
composition. If it does not look right from the
position that you are in move your position or
move the angle of the camera relative to the
subject. Moving subjects are more difficult and can
be a challenge – both for the photographer and for
the camera if it’s not possible to set up manually.
15. Depth of Field
The amount (depth) of the photograph that is in focus.
Depth of field is governed by the size of the hole in the
lens aperture – basic compact cameras don’t usually
allow the user to alter the ‘stop’ setting but higher end
cameras do (smaller number = larger hole, higher
number = smaller hole) the smaller the hole the greater
the depth of field. DoF can be used creatively to
deliberately put the background out of focus (larger
aperture). The amount of the view that is in focus can
also be dictated by the focal length of the lens used on
SLR cameras.
16. Focal Length of Lenses
On cameras with interchangeable lenses a range of
focal lengths are available, from wide angle to
telephoto. On compact and advanced compact
cameras ‘Zoom’ takes the place of interchangeable
lenses. Basic compacts usually have a limited zoom
range whereas some of the higher end cameras
will have a wide zoom range equivalent to an SLR
using 2 or 3 interchangeable lenses. Many cameras
and lenses will have a ‘Macro’ setting allowing
close-up photos to be taken.
17. Shutter Speed
Again on basic compact cameras this usually is set
by the camera automatically but being able to
change the shutter speed according to the subject
is very useful - a faster shutter speed allows the
capture of moving subjects.
Focusing
Automatic on all compact/advanced compact/CSC
cameras , auto on SLR cameras or can be focused
manually for more creative control.
18. Camera Settings
ISO – the ‘speed’ (sensitivity) setting – use higher ISO
for low light situations. White Balance – usually auto on
basic cameras but on higher end can be set to suit the
lighting conditions.
Flash on/flash off – most cameras will allow the auto
flash to be turned off if required.
Image Recording Quality – Higher end cameras allow a
range of image quality settings from Small/Normal
through to Large/Fine, the larger the file size the better
the quality of the image.
19. Automatic Shooting
Other than basic compacts most cameras will give
the option of automatic shooting by selecting
pictograms/symbols for the type of target subject,
such as Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night etc.
Higher end cameras will allow the selection of
‘modes’ to suit the situation and to be creative.
These settings include the ability to set the aperture
and shutter speed independently.
20. Other things to consider:
ISO (old ASA rating with film) is the sensitivity setting
and is usually automatic on compacts but can altered
on CSC & SLR cameras giving more opportunities to
shoot under poor lighting conditions, when shooting
moving subjects or for more creative photography –
change ISO to suit situation.
Can the photo be improved by using a different lens
or accessories such as filters? (on CSC & SLR’s).
21. No matter how good the camera is or how many
accessories there are, capturing a ‘good’ photo
depends on the photographers ability to see and
interpret what is being viewed before pressing the
shutter button. No matter how good the kit some
people just can’t take good photos!
The resulting image can be technically correct but
may be poor from a creative viewpoint or just be
badly composed /out of focus. Post capture image
processing can rescue some photos but getting it
right at the point of taking the photo is a better
course of action.
22. Checklist
• Record or creative photograph ?
• Is the lighting OK? Is the subject moving?
• Is there a copyright issue?
• Model Release Form required?
• Does taking photos require a permit?
• When going out to take specific photos always
plan in advance - check access restrictions.
• Always take spare batteries and SD/CF cards.
