Visual  Storytelling with Photographs

 

Digital Photography:

-take as many pictures as you want

-immediately see the image you just captured

– upload pictures to the web to share

-save money on purchasing film

-easily edit photos on the computer

pixel: acronym meaning PICTure ELement. A pixel is a visual representation of datat in an image or graphic.

–megapixel = 1 million pixels

resolution: a measurement of pixels that are available to the human eye

Ownership, Copyright and Fair Use:

If a photo doesn’t belong to you, ask before you use it. Resources like Creative Commons offer images that are available for public use. Search terms on the website help define what purpose the photo is for.

Digital Camera Basics:

point and shoot: known as an “all-in-one” camera, it is more compact, easy to use, and affordable. Lens and flash are built in, and video features are available.

dslr camera: photo quality is higher because the image sensor is aproximately 10 times larger. However, with the added resolution comes a much higher cost and difficulty of use.

Basic Camera Functions:

camera modes: options for the photographer that very based on the lighting, action, location, and experience level.

optical zoom: moves closer in on the image

digital zoom: crops the image to make the subject appear closer

flash functions: auto-flash, “force” flash and red-eye reduction features

view/delete: view pictures that you have already captured and delete them instantly if necessary.

Tips for Better Photos:

–hold the camera steady

-fill the frame

-focus on one thing

-get closer

-go vertical

-shoot action

For better lighting:

– With natural or ambient light only

– With a flash as the primary light source

– With a mixture of flash and ambient light

For mug shots:

-avoid high-noon sunlight and strong backlight

-try to photograph when skies are overcast, use flash as a last resort

-pick the right background, as neutral as possible

-don’t push subject up against wall

-make sure nothing is “growing” out of their head

Editing Your Photos:

On the computer: iPhoto, Windows, Photo Gallery

Online full-featured: Picassa, Flickr, Photobucket

Online editing only: Photoshop Express Live, Picnik, Snipshot

Value-priced software: Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro

Professional: Photoshop

Tips for Editing Photos:

1. Edit a copy, never the original

2. Crop the photo

3. Resize the picture

4. Modify the resolution

5. Tone and color correct the picture

6. Save a web version

7. Keep it simple