You just bought a brand new digital camera. You take it out of the box and glance at the instruction guide book. Uh oh, this looks a little more complicated than you thought. But you take the camera out in the yard and take a couple of pictures anyway. After you push the button you may see your picture in the display monitor on the back of the camera, but then what. Then what is the big question. You took a picture and now you want to look at it, but where and how? If you want to hold it in your hands like the old days you might consider heading to the drug store to get them printed, or will you save them on your computer, then what. The dilemma goes on and that is the down fall of many new digital camera owners, but it doesn't have to be that way. Everybody has different reasons for taking pictures. Some people just want to have keep sakes of family events. Others take pictures of vacation scenery and others take pictures just for the fun of taking pictures. I fit into all three categories and probably a few more.
Digital photography is a wonderful thing, no more buying film, no more waiting a week to pay for pictures that don't come out. If you have a bad picture we might be able to fix it. But best of all you can look at your pictures right there on your computer monitor screen, however if you still like the idea of holding it in your hands just print it. There is no need to have someone else do it. Most printers do an excellent job and they are inexpensive.
But again the dilemma, how do you get your pictures from your new camera onto your computer? And where do you store them and how do you find them if you ever want to look at them again. Very often this learning curve is enough to deter the new camera owners from really enjoying the great pleasures of digital photography. There are many websites and articles written on basic digital photography but there is nothing like hands on, one on one instruction. Of course many of us would prefer to just skip the technical hardware stuff and go take pictures. And many of us are looking to get that really great picture where everything is just perfect. That is the fun part and digital photography will stack the odds in your favor if only you could get through that darn learning curve that takes all the fun out of it. If any of this sounds familiar welcome to the club, but I can help.
A Basic Course in
Digital Cameras and Photography
by
Bucks County photographer Todd White
Scenic Bucks County
A photographic tour of Bucks County,
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OK, here's the deal. Before you can take those really cool pictures you have to learn how to use the camera hardware and software. Then you need to see the picture. I mean really see the picture. After you've gone through the technical learning curve it's time to see the picture, that's when the fun begins. Feel free to experiment, take as many pictures as you want. Try this, try that, just have fun. Remember, if you don't like it just delete it. So if you are ready to take some jaw dropping pictures but are having trouble getting started just give me a call and I will work with you one on one until you are a full fledged shutterbug.
How to use a digital camera?
Technical versus Artistic
As we already said, the fundamental learning curve is a major obstacle for the technology challenged individual. A modern day electronic engineer or a computer geek will have no problem with this, but the keen eyed artist may stumble. On the other hand the technowizard may not see the see picture the same way the artist sees it. Thus the two dilemma factor. Let's address these two points separately. First off there are many cameras to choose from and the photo-viewing and editing software programs that go along with the camera can also be overwhelming. Because there are so many cameras and software programs available to choose from, it is impossible to cover them all so we will deal with them individually. Don't worry we will get you through that part. Next comes the fun part, seeing the picture. Let's cover that in the next paragraph.
Many people buy digital cameras just so they can take pictures of family functions and relive old memories. If that is all you want to do we just need to get you through the technical learning curve. But after you start getting comfortable with your new digital camera a whole new world will open up and you might find yourself taking pictures just for the enjoyment of taking pictures. That involves seeing the picture. So lets look at a few examples of seeing the picture.
OK, this is just a picture of a birdhouse with icicles hanging from it, not a real beautiful thing... but it does capture an image, a mood or feeling. It might just make you glad you are not outside. Also the ice coated branches sort of frame the picture and add some dimension. This is the kind of picture that would never have been taken by the person only interested in family events. But since we are no longer worried about how many pictures we take, why not. This is just one example of a picture that might not have been taken if you were worried about the cost of film and developing. So go ahead take lots of pictures. If you don't like birdhouses just delete it.
Speaking of framing, this picture from Bryce Canyon in Utah is an extreme example of framing. In fact it is over done, the frame is just too solid and in fact overwhelms the photo. But you get the idea. The picture below is almost three pictures in one. Without the fishing pier in the foreground the picture wouldn't be as interesting.
Here are a couple more examples of pictures that wouldn't have be taken by the person that only takes pictures of people. That is not to say people pictures aren't good pictures, it just means think outside the box. These two pictures are very simple, who would think of taking a picture of a fishing pole or a lone umbrella. But it is the simplicity that adds interest. It is left to the viewers imagination to fill in the rest.
Now when you do take pictures of people it is not always necessary to stage the picture and tell everybody to smile. Sometimes it is better to catch a more natural pose by not letting the person know your intentions. Simply get your camera ready, call their name and when they look your way snap the picture. Had the picture on the left been staged, the subject would have buttoned his shirt and pushed the hair out of his eyes, but this is a more interesting shot. The picture on the right was taken from a very low angle looking up. This adds interest because of a different perspective compared to normal eye level.
Speaking of perspective, the pictures below are the same picture. The picture on the left has been cropped moving the red flowers forward and pushing the background further back adding a more pronounced perspective. Cropping a picture is a great way to enhance a picture.
The picture below also is a good example of perspective and framing. The Tiger Lilies in the foreground add depth to the picture giving it the impression you are looking into the picture. They also give another important quality to the picture, color.
This picture of the woman on the beach is not a good picture because her head is behind the sea oats but the red bathing suit adds color. This picture has some perspective with the sea oats in the foreground. It is also simple and uncluttered, but it is just that little bit of color that adds interest.
This picture of the red barn has perspective with the red berries up front, a framing effect with the trees at either end and a lot of color. The other most important thing we haven't talked about yet is light. The light was perfect that day. An hour earlier or an hour later may have been totally different. The real photographer is always aware of the light. Good light will make a picture a good picture. But no matter how wonderful the subject may be, it will always be a bad picture if the light is not right.
Here is a good example of the seeing the right light. I was riding down a country road and happened to look off to my left and saw this tree lit up by the late afternoon sun. This picture was taken out of the driver's side window (be sure to check your rear view mirror). It is not a pretty building and the tree is nothing special, but it is the color of the light on the branches and on the ground that make it an interesting picture.
If anything you have seen on this page sparks your interest in digital photography but you still have questions about getting started I hope you will give me a call. I will work with you on all aspects of putting that new digital camera to good use. We can do it in my studio or your living room. I can also take you out for a photo shooting adventure that will show you how to see the picture. There is truly a picture around every corner, you just have to know it when you see it.
Give me a call or send me an email whenever you're ready to start. We will take as much time as you need to cover all the areas of interest.
Todd White
(215) 249-3826
Todd@scenicbuckscounty.com
Action shots are always fun. In many cases just having your camera set on automatic will work. But there are also other settings that will stop the action and give great pictures. In fact there are probably several settings on your new digital camera that are designed to take the guess work out of getting those special shots.
The next two pictures are examples of using the special function settings on the camera. On the left the long distance setting was used, note the branches that frame the picture. On the right the close up setting was used, note the respective looking up at the butterfly.
Another setting is time lapsed. This is when the shutter stays open for a long time letting in a large amount of light. These pictures require a tripod or some way of holding the camera steady. The picture on the far right was taken in the black of night.
