Presentation for the Library Communications Conference. Improve your library’s image through better digital photography. Taking pictures is more than just pointing the camera and pressing a button. To get the kind of photos libraries need for promotional purposes, attendees will learn more about the basics of digital photography and how to get the most out of digital cameras. Concepts such as framing, lighting and ISO will be reviewed. Working with a DSLR camera will be highlighted. Attendees will review images and discuss how library photos can be improved through simple editing techniques. Transition from taking just snapshots to producing inspired images that will make your library shine!

2. 
If they don’t know what
you’re library is doing,
then you’re not telling
them!

Understanding your
community.

How do I currently reach
patrons?

How could I do a better
job?

Budget for PR!

4. 
Webcams/phone
cams

Point and shoot

Intermediate

Advanced
Consumer

Prosumer dSLR

Professional dSLR

5. 
Wide-angle
zoom

Standard

Super zoom

Telephoto
zoom

Macro

Fisheye

6. What are pixels? The word "pixel"
means a picture element. Every
photograph, in digital form, is made
up of pixels. They are the smallest
unit of information that makes up a
picture. Usually round or square,
they are typically arranged in a 2-
dimensional grid.

7. Setting the Right
F-Stop for Your
Digital Photo
• Use an almost-wide-
open f-stop to
boost sharpness.
• Adjust
your depth of fieldb
y moving f-stops.
• Avoid too-small
f-stops.

12. 
A prefix on film speed
ratings that stands for
International
Standards
Organization, the
group that
standardizes, among
other things, the
figures that define the
relative speed of films.

14. What do
you like?
What would
you
change?

20. DSLR
Basics
www.canonoutsideofauto.ca

22. 
Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is the
simplest rule of
composition. All you do
is take your frame and
overlay a grid of nine
equal sections. This
means you split the
vertical space into
three parts and the
horizontal space into
three parts.

26. 
Photographing your
subject straight-on
is sometimes the
right choice, but you
can create visual
impact by moving
the camera left,
right, above, and
below.

29. Light

Manual settings

Natural light

Indoor lighting

Consider all options!

30. 
Auto focus

Focus Points
photographylife.com/dslr-autofocus-modes-explained

31. 
Indoor

Outdoor

Landscape
mode?

Portrait mode?

Frame the image

33. Size of
subjects

Consider
settings

Lens type

Tiny?

Giant?

34. 
Skin tones

Hair and makeup

Eyeglasses/sunglasses

Other details?

35. 
Tags are “Subject
headings” (flickr)

Tagging someone
(Facebook) -
considerations

Image descriptions,
titles, etc.

36. 
Consider image size

Make a call to
confirm

Only send 2-3
images per email

Best option: upload
to site and share URL
via email

37. 
Pixlr.com

Use express
mode

Upload and edit
your image

Crop, adjust
colors, use
effects, etc.

38. PicsArt

39. 
Questions? Comments?

Dr. Curtis R. Rogers

Communications Director

803-734-8928

crogers@statelibrary.sc.gov

Slideshare.net/crr29061