Attendees will learn the basics about using a digital camera, settings, image framing and composition, as well as how to use free online image editing tools. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own digital cameras. There will be time for Q&A.

1. Digital Photography
and Editing Basics

3. Types of digital cameras
• Webcams/phone cams
• Point and shoot
• Intermediate
• Advanced Consumer
• Prosumer dSLR
• Professional dSLR

4. Camera lenses
• Wideangle
zoom
• Standard
• Superzoom
• Telephoto
zoom
• Macro
• Fisheye

5. Pixels
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.

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

7. Shutter Speed
The unit of measurement which
determines how long the
shutter remains open as the picture
is taken. The slower the shutter
speed, the longer the exposure time.
The shutter speed
and aperture together control the
total amount of light reaching the
sensor.
Shutter speeds are expressed in
seconds or fractions of a second. For
example 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15,
1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500,
1/1000, 1/2000, 1/4000, 1/8000.
Each speed increment halves the
amount of light.

11. • 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 makes a good
photograph?

15. Composition
• 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.

19. Perspective
• 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.

22. Light
• Manual settings
• Natural light
• Indoor lighting
• Consider all options!

23. FOCUS
• Auto focus
• Focus Points
http://photographylife.com/dslr-autofocus-modes-explained

24. Location
• Indoor
• Outdoor
• Landscape mode?
• Portrait mode?
• “Frame” the image

25. Size of subjects
• Consider settings
• Lens type
• Tiny?
• Giant?

26. Considerations
• Skin tones
• Hair and makeup
• Eyeglasses/sunglasses
• Other details?

27. Tagging and Descriptions
• Tags are “Subject headings” (flickr)
• Tagging someone (Facebook) - considerations
• Image descriptions, titles, etc.

28. Emailing images
• 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
• NOTE: you can share photo
albums from Facebook to
those not on Facebook!

29. Editing Digital Images with PIXLR

30. Choosing the right camera
for your needs
• Best Reviews
– http://bestreviews.com/best-digital-cameras
• CNET
– https://www.cnet.com/topics/cameras/best-
digital-cameras/
• If price is an issue, check out eBay for DSLR
kits of older models.

31. http://www.canonoutsideofauto.ca

32. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWxo6Dl3E14

33. DSLRs
www.digitalslrphoto.com

34. Thank you!
Dr. Curtis R. Rogers
Communications Director
803-734-8928
crogers@statelibrary.sc.gov