Photos from Pixels

dhitchco@rochester.rr.com Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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A Bit about Me • Avid Photographer
– Travel, boating
– Family
– Eastman House lectures
• 4th Digital camera
– 2004 will be 100%

• Video Editing on PC
– Dad’s Movie-making

• Marketing Mgr.

• No relation to Alfred
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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What You’ll Learn:
• What is a digital photograph?
• How does a digital camera work?
• How good are digital cameras?
• What features should I look for?
• What accessories do I need?
• How do I get the pictures out of the camera?
• How do I edit and print the photos?
• What else can I do with digital?

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Tell me about Yourself:

• Current type of Camera

• Uses
• Type of computer
• Type of Internet connection
• Type of home printer

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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FIRST things first
• www.dpreview.com
• www.shortcourses.com
• www.google.com (Picasa)
• www.microsoft.com (Picture Resizer)
• www.imagerescue.com (photo media recovery)

• Online archival & storage? (too many to mention)

– http://rollingthunder.smugmug.com (multiple sizes & video)

• Online sites for prints:

– www.ofoto.com, snapfish, photoworks, etc
– www.clubphoto.com (photo items)
– www.mypublisher.com (photo books)

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Photo “Workflow”: Three EASY steps

Input

Optimize

Output

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Pixels not Pixies!
If the World was:
Black & White: 0 and 1

Two shades of Gray: 00, 01, 10, 11

The eye can “see” 256 shades of a color
256 shades in digital is “8 bits”
00000000 up to 11111111
All 65 million colors can be made
from shades of Red, Green, Blue

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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What makes digital “film”?

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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What makes digital “film”?

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Types of Digital Cameras
Point & Shoot
     (no zoom)

•“Big Box” Retailers
•Camera Stores
Megapixel  •Online Merchants
with Zoom •E­Bay

Professional (Dedicated & 35mm adaptable)

Digital Video Cameras
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Digital “Film”
• Older Styles:
– Compact Flash
– Smart Media
• Newer Styles:
– XD Media
– Optical (CD/R & DVD)

• Sony-unique:
– Memory Stick
SanDisk T-flash (for cell phones)

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Batteries & Charging

Ni­MH

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Typical Viewfinder
Flash 
mode

Macro 
mode

Zoom
Level
Image
Pictures
Quality
Remaining
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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ViewFinders & Menus
Use TV 
cable at 
home to 
“play” with 
menus

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Digital Camera has TWO zooms
• Digital Cameras have:
– Optical Zoom T
– Digital Zoom

• Optical uses the camera’s LENS

• Digital zoom uses only a portion of the
camera’s megapixels
(extrapolated means GRAINY!)
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Effects of Digital Zoom

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Setting the Aperture
Long
Depth-of-Field
Short

Low F-stop High F-stop

3.2 16
Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006
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Good use of Depth of Field

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Shutter Speed
1/1000 sec.
1/2 sec.
4 sec.

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Flash Pictures

Wall Shadow

Red Eye

Fill-in

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Uploading Images from Camera
• Cable to PC
• Card Reader
• Docking Station

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Digital Camera Workflow
Camera PC Home Inkjet
USB printer Or Thermal
port
USB
port USB
Camera Memory
Control device
Software

Memory Kiosk
card Internet Photo Editing
Software Input Photo
Browser
printer
Docking Web
CD/R Site Other
Station
Burner Media

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Photo “Workflow”

Input

Optimize

Output

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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10 Tips BEFORE you edit
1. Get Closer
Look through the viewfinder!
Professionals typically use long lenses (85-105mm)
Most point and shoot cameras have 35mm lenses.

2. Include People in your Shots

Add atmosphere and context.
Makes the subject easier to relate to
Gives a sense of scale

3. Capture Action
Keep the people moving
Try to 'catch the moment'

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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10 Tips BEFORE editing (page 2)
4. Simplify the Composition
Uncluttered backgrounds offer less distraction
Focus on the subject material

5. Put the Subject Off-Centered

Place the main subject off the center
Professionals use a 'rule-of-thirds'

6. Vary the Angle

Can add humor and drama
There are many other possibilities

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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10 Tips BEFORE editing (page 3)
7. Put Foreground in Scenes
Gives depth to the shot and adds interest and context
Used to frame the subject.

8. Pay attention to Lighting

Where is the sun?
Light alone can 'make the shot'.

9. Use Flash
Flash can be used even outdoors on dull days
Effective range is very limited
Add additional natural light to a room

10. Hold Still

Brace against objects
Flash can help to freeze the action.

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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The Rule of Thirds
• Eyes at 2/3 line
• Leave “walking & Talking” room

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Basics of Cropping
• “Casually” crop in the camera’s viewfinder
• Plan to “tighten-up” later on
• Cutting-off heads is quite acceptable

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Photo Formats

Portrait

Landscape

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Camera comes with Software

Installer
• Drivers
• Editing s/w
Thumbnails
• Viewing
• Sorting
• Printing

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Picasa (by google.com)
• Free

Built-in Archival Tools

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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3rd-party Photo Editing Software
• Adobe Photoshop Elements

• Jasc Paint Shop Pro 7

• Microsoft Picture It!

• Ulead PhotoImpact 8

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Microsoft’s Digital Suite

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Microsoft’s Digital Suite

Can OUTPUT “Photo Story Lite” to CD

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Microsoft’s Smart Erase
• No need to “paintbrush” the artifact

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Red Eye removal
Where does the red come from?
Light from the flash passing through the
pupil and being reflected on the blood-rich
retina

How it happens:
•Flash (built-in) is close to the lens
•More pronounced with a telephoto lens
•Getting close to the subject
•More common in dark rooms or in the
dark

Effect is less dramatic when a person's

reactions are impaired, e.g. during a night
on the town

But…Don’t shoot and drive!

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Converting Format
• Don’t do this in the camera; use your PC
– Black & White
– Sepia Tone
– Fine Art Effects

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Special Effects: Panoramas
Only what the lens could see
Print to 4”x10” frames

PIC0001 PIC0002 PIC0003

A A B PAN0001.JPG
B
(2-3X size)

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Making a “work of Art”

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Making a “work of Art”
My Comix Book

Lorum ipsum jib jab

Blah, blah, blah

Hi
there

www.kodak.com

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Everybody wants to SEE them now...

Input

Optimize

Output

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Printing Digital Pics
• At home

• Corner Store
• Photo Lab store
• Online (Internet) Bypass your PC

• Not at all (video & LCD display)

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Digital Format Differences
• Film format & size is “slightly different”
than digital
• Digital is 4:3
• So…….
– 4”x6” print is
• 4”x5.33”
– Crop lines automatic

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Carry-in Kiosk Printing
• Take your media card (digital “film”) into the store:
– Grocery store
– Photo store
• Edit on-site (touch screen)
• Prints ready shortly

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Online Print Stores

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Other Things to Make!

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Too many pictures?
PhotoMontage software

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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“Soft” Pictures from Camera

“Ken Burns” Effects

Movie file (mpeg)

Video Slide Shows

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Keep your Pictures with You
• LCD Jewelry
• USB Memory Watches
• FIRST on a “stick” for patrons

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Novel Uses for Digital Camera
• Home inventory
• Remembering something before taking
it apart
• Legal proof and claim

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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Thank You
• Please feel free to follow-up
with me

• Doug Hitchcock
– dhitchco@rochester.rr.com

Digital Photography - Doug Hitchcock - 2006

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