Digital Photography Basics

Digital Photography Basics

Through the feedback received from the readers and some of my friends, I understand that most of them need some basic information. These few lines are for those who are already familiar with general photography and need to know a few things special to digital camera.

INTRODUCTION
In the recent past, it was quite a task to shoot or convert analogue photos/ movies into digital format. Now, any one can directly acquire high definition digital images/ movies with the help of affordable digital cameras. These images in the form of bits & bytes ( or 0s and 1s) can be sent/ viewed through a computer and do not require films for storing purpose.

Being a film-less camera, Digital Camera is light weight, compact, hassle free and requires less power for its operation and consequently battery lasts longer. Once we purchase a Digital Camera, the rest of our photography become free of cost as no input material, like photographic film, printing paper, developer or fixer is required.

We may experiment with by taking, retouching photographs as many times as we desire without incurring any expenses (if we have rechargeable battery).

UNDERSTANDING RESOLUTION AND MEGAPIXEL

In the photographic film or printed photograph, we judge its quality and ability to enlarge by dots per inch it contain. In digital image we judge the same thing by pixels it contains and call it resolution. Mega pixels mean one million pixels. A digital camera having resolution of 1216x912 pixels is called 1 Mega pixel camera.

With the resolution of 1600x1200 (almost 2 Megapixels), we can print a 4x5 inch photograph with the same quality that we would get from a photo lab. The current standard Digital Cameras are 4 Megapixel (2240x1680) cameras and we may obtain a good quality photograph upto 16x20 inches.

Top of the line digital cameras upto 12 MP are available in the market and we may obtain up to 14x9 inch print with this resolution with no loss of picture quality. However, it may be noted that emailing pictures does not necessarily require high resolution. Normally 1 mega pixel resolution is used for sending large images.

Increasing resolution and quality of pictures generate large amount of data and more space is required to store it. To solve this problem, almost all digital cameras have option to store images in a compressed format called JPG. The more we compress the size of image file, the space required to store it is reduced. Most of the photos stored or transferred through internet are in JPG format. However, quality of image suffers with the increased compression. Following chart may explain it:





DIGITAL AND OPTICAL ZOOM

A digital camera may have optical as well as digital zoom.

Optical Zoom
The Optical Zoom occurs when we change focal length of the lens. A zoom lens is any lens which has an adjustable focal length. A 50mm lens gives a natural view of the subject. When we increase focal length, the subject appears bigger and total covering area become smaller. Similarly, decreasing the focal length decreases the magnification but increases covering area.

Digital Zoom
Digital Zoom in Digital cameras does not change focal length. It acquires information (pixels) from the centre of the sensor and interpolates this data into full size image.


ISO or ASA
ISO is how sensitive your digital camera is to light. Up to 1980, the term ASA was used to determine how sensitive your film is to light. In films, normal ISO (ASA) is 50 to 200. Higher ISO films (like ISO 400 & 1000) are also available to shoot fast moving objects and low light photography.
Digital Cameras are more sensitive to light than film or fixed-lens digital cameras, so their slowest ISO is often ISO 200. At present, top of the line Digital cameras are ISO 1600 feature. we need slower ISO to capture subtle shades and reduce graininess.

High Definition Video Cameras - What to look for...

High Definition Video Cameras - What to look for...

If you've been looking for a high definition video
camera, there are many out there for you to choose
from. In this article, we will take a look at
some of your options available in each of the
different formats.

HDV
JVC, Sony, and Canon all produce HDV cameras of
various stripes and abilities. The JVC HD100U
shoots 720p, offers a true 24p frame rate, and
provides a professional looking form factor, along
with sporting the ability to change out lenses.

The two popular HDV cameras from Sony include the
HDR-FX1 and the HVR-Z1U. Both of them shoot only
1080i and provide 24p. The XL h1 is Canon's
entry to the HDV roundup. It provides HD SDI
output and gives you the option of interchanging
lenses. Like Sony, it shoots 1080i without true
24p capabilities.

All of these cameras are 3CCD models and all
sport level professional XLR audio inputs, with
the exception of the HDR-FX1. Sony also offers
single chip HDV cameras. The consumer HC1,
which is actually a miniature version of the FX1
is an excellent camera.

DVCPRO HD
on the budget end of the Panasonic spectrum is the
AG-HVX200. This widely hyped camera does away with
tape based HD recording and will instead record
HD to either memory cards or even an attached hard
drive. It also offers the ability to shoot all
the above mentioned HD resolutions along with 50
and DV25.

Another popular camera for Panasonic is the Varicam
which shoots at 720p. A great feature with this
camera is the ability to shoot at variable frame
rates, which range from 4 - 60fps at 1fps intervals.
These different frame rates will allow you to
achieve a look similar to that of over cranking a
film camera.

HDCAM
Sony couples their HDCAM cameras together under
the name CineAlta. They cover a broad range of
prices and features, ranging from the XDCAM HD
models and the F350 to the widely used and widely
popular F950.

The XDCAM HD cameras record directly to Sony's
professional disc media, which is physically
similar to Blu-ray discs. These cameras can also
record various quality levels of 1080i and 1080p,
along with regular SD DVCAM. Unlike other HD
cameras from Sony, the XDCAM HD supports i-Link
for file access and DV output.

Near the high end of the Sony HD solutions is the
F900. It captures both 1080p and 1080i at
various frame rates, including 25p and 50i. This
is also the most expensive camera from Sony, as
it costs around $80,000!

Editing HD Video

Editing HD Video

Working with the video of camcorders such as the Sony
HDR-HC1 can produce a serious business. HD video
contains four times the number of pixels that
standard definition offers, and it's much more
heavily compressed.

Keep in mind that you need a powerful computer with
a lot of memory to deal with the extra data and
compression. Pinnacle for example, recommends a
minimum 512 MB of RAM and a graphics card with 128
MB of RAM for standard resolution video, although
that goes up to a GB of RAM and a 256 MB graphics
card when working with 1080i HD video.

You can find plenty of software available that
supports editing high definition videos. For example,
the latest versions of Pinnacle Studio and Ulead
Media Studio 8 can import and edit files in HDV
format.

Even though the high definition video with these
types of looks great when played back on an HDTV,
at the present time is there is no way store HD
video on a DVD. The only way you can store HD
video for playback is on your PC or the same type
of media you used in your HD camcorder.

There is however, a new generation of high definition
optical media format coming soon. Products that
are based on the HD-DVD and Blu-ray disc formats
are very expensive, and they will remain that way
for the near future.

HD-DVD players were announced a while back that
they will cost $500 and up, and will be available
very soon. You'll also need one of the new HD-DVD
drives to write to the disc, which will cost as
much again. You can expect the same story with the
Blu-ray disc, as both the recorders and the players
are going to be expensive for a while to come.

There is one other option as well. There is a
DVD player from KISS, the DP-600, which can play
back high definition files that have been compressed
to Microsoft's Windows Media 9 format. This can
at least provide a stop gap until the price of the
HD-DVD and Blue-ray disc players and writes come
down to an affordable price.

You can always play back the recorded video you
have through the camcorder itself, although you
shouldn't expect to be able to write it out on a
disc with the current available equipment and
preserve its quality. If you wait it out, the new
generation of available media will be everything
you need for your HD video.

Share Hundreds of Wedding Photos In Just One Click!

Share Hundreds of Wedding Photos In Just One Click!

You’ve opened the wedding gifts, sent the thank you cards, and are on your way to settling into your new home (and life) as a married couple. Just one thing remains: preserving and sharing your wedding photos.

This often seems like a daunting task, given that your wedding photographer will send you hundreds of photos (not counting the ones that you, your friends and your family took yourselves). But though it seems easier to just stuff them into one box, you know once you do that those photos will never see the light of day. Here’s how to organize them, and
share them, in a few easy clicks.

Create a folder in your computer specifically for your wedding photos. Divide it into subfolders: getting ready, church, reception, portrait shots (of you and your groom), and portrait shots with your entourage. Having them developed will be much easier now, as you can do them in batches, and arrange them in albums as you go along. You can also separate a separate folder for photos you want to have reprinted in special sizes, like a large portrait to hang in your bedroom.

Why you need an online album
You can also create virtual albums, which you can instantly share with family and friends. There are three benefits to creating these albums:
• It’s a way of thanking your guests for coming to the wedding.
• You share the big day with friends and family who were unable to attend the event.
• You can create a special album for your wedding entourage, who are probably some of your dearest friends and relatives. By putting captions with quotes about love and friendship, the album can be a meaningful and touching gift.
• You can incorporate the album into your personal blog or family website.
• It is less costly and time-intensive as reprinting photos for family and friends.

The search for a good online album service
Usually, couples face the frustration of online album services that have too little little storage or expensive membership fees. After all, it’s natural that you want to include as many photos as you can, and as a young couple, you’d probably want to watch those expenses too! But these problems disappear with Weddingtrix.com’s online photo albums. The service is absolutely free, and best of all, has unlimited storage and bandwidth. You can have an infinite number of photo albums with an infinite number of photos. You can even create separate albums for your bridal shower, honeymoon, and future milestones like your first anniversary and your first baby.

Weddingtrix.com also allows you to put captions on your photos, and to create mini albums to put on your blog or discussion forums.

How to create an online wedding album on Weddingtrix.com

Creating an online wedding album is easy. Simply go to weddingtrix.com, register, and within seconds you’ll be given an account. You’ll then be able to upload your photos into different albums (once you group your photos into different albums, this will be very easy!). You can even put a description to each album to help you keep track of what’s inside. When you’re ready to share your album, just click an icon, type in the emails of your friends and family members, and you’re good to go.

Still Life Photography In A Home Studio

Still Life Photography In A Home Studio

Still life photography has a long dated history and goes back to ancient times where a camera obscuras where used. This type of still life was done by standing in a dark room and through a pinhole placed in the wall the outside world was projected onto the opposite wall, but it is given that they where shown upside down and in vivid color. So as it stands today, still life photography has the same concept and idea, but done a lot differently and much more hi tech. Still life photography in the home studio is an old and ancient form of art and very prestigious.

The beauty of having to do still life in the comfort of a home studio is that you can capture a certain mood you are looking for and express it on film. All that will be needed is any object or objects that strike you as beautiful, strange or even the most common thing found in or around your home. Add some unique lighting sources at different angles and you are well on your way to take a great still life photograph. It is easy to produce a very creative and beautiful picture because you have the control over all the elements in your studio.

The subjects of still life can convey a classic look and flowers do the perfect job for this look, they are extraordinary and very easy to photograph. This type of still life subject will always be a reminder of a simple but a powerful beauty that we see almost every day in a photo. To create a bold still life that gives off flair try placing your subjects on a white background. This will accentuate the color of the object and create a unison look overall in the photo.Remember - with still life photography - everything has a special beauty.

Why should you use HD Cameras

Why should you use HD Cameras

If you own a camera, as millions of us around the world
do, your probably aware of the fact that there are
many to choose from. The cameras of the past were
black and white, enabling you to take a black and
white photograph that printed out from the camera
right in front of your eyes.

From then, cameras evolved. Digital cameras came
out later on, which the ability to put them on your
computer or even take your camera card to a local
store and have the photos printed out on professional
paper. Over the years, cameras have evolved in so
many ways that it isn't even funny.

These days, high definition video cameras are
dominating the market. They are relatively new and
quickly catching on, giving you so much you can do
with your camera. Unlike the past, cameras are
now capable of capturing full videos as well, proving
that they are indeed capable of capturing any
memory you can possibly imagine.

High definition video cameras also offer you 20X
zoom lens or more, meaning that you can zoom in
quite a distance on things that you want to capture
up close and personal. For the most part, you can
do things with these cameras that you may have
never before thought possible.

When you capture a picture or video with high
definition cameras, you'll be very amazed at what
you see. Just like HDTV, the pictures of the
camera are very lifelike. If you have a newborn
baby, a high definition video camera may be just
what you need to capture each and every precious
moment. For this reason and many more, you
shouldn't hesitate to get a high definition video
camera - that is if you don't own one already.

3 Different Types of Camera’s: Box, Folding-Roll, and Viewfinder

3 Different Types of Camera’s: Box, Folding-Roll, and Viewfinder

This article will outline 3 different types of camera’s: Box, Folding-Roll, and Viewfinder. This information will help you decide which camera suits your photography needs the best.

For over several decades the box camera was the gadget of choice for the typical amateur photographer. This is because it was cheap and simple, yet still capable of excellent results under most conditions. Box cameras were usually fitted with a single-element lens, a limited range opening control, and a single-speed shutter.

Next up is the Folding-Roll Film Camera, which was also very popular but not quite as much so as the box camera. The folding camera came in several types of formats, but basically, it was a box camera whose lens was included into a movable disk that could slide back and forth on a rail, allowing the lens to change focus from close to long range.

There were more complicated models available, but they were more expensive and considered very high quality. But, the most important benefit that they had over the box camera, was their compact design when folded, which made them easier to pack and transport. There has been something of a minor renaissance in folding-roll film cameras in recent years, with appearance of several new professional instruments. They are appreciated for their large negative size and compact design.

Next is a Viewfinder type camera which does not use a lens to view the subject but instead relies on a separate viewing system in the camera for aiming and for focus. The range finder camera allows for accurate focus, however, by using two views of the same subject to adjust focus. In this camera there are two images in the viewfinder. One is usually only a portion of the viewer area and is usually slightly yellowish in color. The photographer adjusts the focus ring on the lens and as they do the two images move. When both on directly on top of each other they blend together and almost disappear which signifies that the camera is in focus. The rangefinder is accurate and very quiet as well as being light weight. It is also useful for taking pictures in low light conditions or for candid photographs. These cameras can easily be spotted because of their double view windows in the front.

Enjoy your photography hobby and remember – keep experimenting with different angles and new lighting. Don’t be afraid to get creative!