Digital Photography Guide – The End To End Digital Process
August 11, 2012 by PhotoGuru
Filed under Photography Articles
Digital Photography Guide -- The End To End Digital Process
Article by Paul Summers
Digital Photography Guide -- The End To End Digital Process -- Entertainment
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When you pick up your digital camera, and squeeze the shutter, you may have no idea what has gone on inside the camera. I have met many people who have taken hundreds of photos -- and excellent shots too -- who simply leave them sitting in their camera, and do nothing with them. This article aims to explain, in simple terms, what happens when you take a photo, and what you can do with the pictures afterwards.
When you use a digital camera, the exposure is recorded on a grid containing millions of tiny light-sensitive elements. This is called a charge-coupled device (or CCD). As soon as exposure has occurred, the CCD reads its captured image as a chain of electronic signals called the image file, and transfers it to the memory card already inserted into your camera.
The resulting images can be viewed immediately on the LCD screen on the camera, and erased, if you want to. At any time, or when the memory card is full, the image files can be downloaded on to a PC. This can be done directly from your camera, by inserting the card in a slot on the computer (if it has one) or by using a memory card reader device which slots into one of your PC’s USB ports. Another alternative is to download images directly to a printer without previewing, but of course this limits opportunities to manipulate the picture.
The size and quality of prints you can make will partially depend upon the number of megapixels available -- basically, the bigger the desired print, the higher the megapixel count required. To produce decent quality prints up to 10x8 inches a 3 or 4 megapixel camera would be needed. Larger than 10x8 inch prints would require at the very minimum 5 megapixels. That said, even basic modern digital compact cameras (and even mobile devices) now exceed these megapixel counts, so you can see that, for the modern photographer, technology is making things easier. After image download, the card can be erased and re-used almost indefinitely.
A multitude of image manipulation programs (from free tools such as Picasa, to mid range affordable software such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, right up to the top of the range fully blown Photoshop version) exist. These provide you with tools to carry out basic ‘post-production’ such as cropping, and controlling brightness, contrast and colour. More advanced techniques include merging elements of two, or more photos, or adding depth of field where it did not previously exist.
After you are satisfied with the picture, you can print it (using the guidelines above). Many printers these days (by manufacturers such as Canon and Epson) are specific models designed for producing quality photo prints. Models and technology change quickly, so it is best to refer to a Photo magazine, or ask in shop, before investing in a printer.
Another option is to upload your images to an image library (e.g. Shutterstock or iStock Photo) where you will receive reimbursement for anyone buying your images. It’s best to read the terms and conditions of the image library website first to find out the type of pictures they are looking for, and the quality (e.g. file size and megapixel count) that are accepted.
About the Author
Discover how easy it is to take professional looking photographs simply by learning a few digital photography tricks. Please check out http://www.photographycourseonline.info for further information.
Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.
Paul Summers
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Discover how easy it is to take professional looking photographs simply by learning a few digital photography tricks. Please check out http://www.photographycourseonline.info for further information.
Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.
