Sam Wormley's Digital Photography - Point & Shoot Basics

Digital Photography - Point & Shoot Basic http://edu-observatory.org/cfs/DP1/Week1.html UNDERSTANDING YOUR CAMERA MANUAL It doesn't really matter whether you are capturing images on film or with a digital sensor, with a throw away camera, a shirt pocket digital point and shoot camera, or an expensive single lens reflex (SLR) camera--The goals are the same--to understand what your camera can and can't do. Once you understand your camera's capabilities (and its limitations), you can capture images without the camera getting in your way. That's why it is important to read your camera manual! Lost your camera manual? Most can be found online in pdf format. Here are a few examples. Canon Camera Manuals http://www.canon.com.au/support/manuals.aspx Canon Cameras - Making Comparisons http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113 Canon Camera Museum (Data) http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/dcc/series_psg.html Canon A620/A630 Manual (and example images) http://www.nycv.com/manuals/Canon/PSA620610CUGad-EN.pdf http://photo.net/photodb/presentation?presentation_id=317651 http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/powershot_a630 Fuji FinePix E900 Manual (and example images) http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/bin/FX_E900_Owners_manual.pdf http://www.pbase.com/cameras/fujifilm/finepix_e900_zoom HP Photosmart M420/M425/M525 Digital Camera (and example images) http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00637832.pdf http://www.pbase.com/cameras/hp/photosmart_m425 Nikon dSLR Camera Manuals http://edu-observatory.org/cfs/DP2/Nikon_Manuals.html Nikon Coolpix 950 (and example images) http://www.ccsf.edu/Departments/Photography/pdf/nikonCool950.pdf http://www.pbase.com/cameras/nikon/coolpix950 Why Your Camera Does Not Matter - by Ken Rockwell http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamera.htm "...it's entirely an artist's eye, patience and skill that makes an image and not his tools. Even Ansel Adams said 'The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it'." "Leica, schmeica. The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE." --Ernst Haas The Science of Photography - Controlling the Image http://www.ted.photographer.org.uk/photoscience_control.htm Aperture Limitations This graphic compares the aperture ranges of three telephoto lenses used on single lens reflex (SLR) cameras and the aperture ranges of two popular point and shoot cameras, Canon A620 and Fuji E900, zoomed to the telephoto end. Even though the point and shoot digital cameras can make excellent images, they don't really have the creative control via available aperture as do SLR cameras. As a result, the background will be more in focus than the image below by Robert Harrington made with a wide aperture (low f-stop number). Want to know more about f-numbers and aperture? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture Your point and shoot camera allows you many creative tools. Controlling the aperture, however, is limited. ASSIGNMENT No.1 - With your flash turned off, make interesting images, indoors. Be prepaired to share your results (at least verbally) in class next week. PHOTOGRAPHY TUTORIALS http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm http://www.geofflawrence.com/photography_tutorials.htm BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS Tim Daly "The Digital Photography Handbook" Amphoto Books (2003) ISBN: 0-8174-3793-2 David D Busch "Mastering Digital SLR Photography" Course Technology PTR (2004) ISBN: 1-59200-605-1 Jon Canfield "Print Like a Pro: A Digital Photographer's Guide" Peachpit Press (2006) ISBN: 0-321-38554-3 Harald Johnson "Mastering Digital Printing, Second Edition" Course Technology PTR (2004) ISBN: 1-59200-431-8 swormley1@mchsi.com