For 11th grade history class we need to write a report about how technology effects something. My topic is how technology effects photography. Then my thesis is digital technology has made photography easier and cheaper...
As long as you have strong facts to back up your thesis, it sounds fine ;- )
hi . im 13 years old and i want to take photography classes . i dont know what to buy first . plz help . whats better for starters . and do u know a store from where i can get green screen software (not expensive )becaus im painting my wall green
thx
"...and i want to take photography classes"
If you're doing this for class I'd stop right here and ask the instructor. I don't think you'll need either for that class.
sure, avid pro - its around $15,000 for a commercial copy, or downlaod a cheap copy from the interweby
I would like to trial run a green screen process for digital photography.
Until I know what the results will be like I don't want to spend a fortune.
Does anyone know of any free programs I can use?
try wax 2.0 its free, and it can be any coloured background u like to change
I've just got my first digital SLR camera. It's a Nikon D40. But I don't just want to use the 'auto' settings. What would be the point of that! I want to learn how to use all the manual settings and all that stuff. I am a total beginner. How can I learn about digital SLR photography? Should I enroll in a course? Get a training DVD?
Just switch it to manual and go out and take photos. Have a go at changing each setting and take the same photo a few times with different settings - you'll soon work out how to use all the settings to get the best photos (better than using auto). It's how I did it - i'm too impatient to read a guide, and a course while studying a degree would be too much. Mine seem to come out ok. Good luck and have fun!
I am planning to teach an introductory and advanced digital photography class in the spring at the High School and Adult levels. Students will have some cameras (both SLR and “point and shoot) as well as PhotoShop CS available to them. Each course will be for 18 weeks with meetings of 110 minutes every other day.
I need a complete syllabus and course of study outline that should include goals, objectives, activities and performance indicators. A recommended text book and reference material would also be helpful.
I have taught photography for 32 years and wrote the curriculum for traditional photography for the state rubric in 1987. I am a firm believer in uniform "standards" so what students are being taught at one school can used by other schools as a guide to the students abilities. I am asking for specific curriculum, not philosophy here as I everyone has their opinion.
Wow, you're asking for a lot there. This will involve you taking on the burden of research and analysis.
I was able to track down the links to a syllabus page from my college (SAC). It's going to take you hours and hours to research it and compile your own, but the following link should prove extremely helpful to you.
http://www.accd.edu/sac/j-p/mainsyllabipage.html
I've taken many photography and photojournalism courses at San Antonio College, and found them all to be very helpful.
Good luck.
20+years as pro shooter.
http://lamplightphoto.com
Hi i am new at photography "am great at digital video"
I am going to take pictures of a rap singer for his album cover
and pictures posters.
should i use the preloaded setup for the eos camera, like portait
or should i use manual settings, which is the best settings
for a rap album cover?
I am going to use 2 points lighting, with chroma key background.
which iso? which wb? should i use built in flash or not? ect..
use full manual, auto wb, iso depends on what types of lights you have, do not use built in flash.
Are there any differences, in terms of lighting equipments needed in studio environment for shooing digital and shooting film?
No differences.
ISO settings are the same, lighting is the same and all techniques are the same.
The only differences you will find is you do NOT have to use colour correction filters that you used when shooting film. Digital cameras can be set for different lighting situations or corrected when processing RAW files.
There is something that you will find helpful when setting white balance. This is the Xrite Colorchecker Passport.
Here is how that works.
http://www.xritephoto.com/ph_learning.aspx?action=webinarsarchive&eventid=803&eventdateid=4460
It's simply amazing that ten years into the digital revolution, Eastman Kodak is trying to figure out what business they are in. For decades Kodak dominated the chemically based photographic process. You shoot a roll of film, and then you physically took the roll to a developer, and made a second trip to pick up the finished prints. Their only competition in the industry was the Japanese company, Fuji. The upstart would just eat away each year at Kodak's market, but never becoming a real threat to Kodak's dominance.
Meanwhile from outside the industry, Polaroid back in the late 1950's invented a camera where the chemical based development of the pictures took place inside the camera. The picture was ready in about 60 seconds. Polaroid developed a wonderful business and made a fortune for both its shareholders and its genius creator, Dr. Edwin Land.
What happened next was a business disaster, and Kodak should have learned from Polaroid's mistakes. Dr. Land came up with a moving picture development system. They poured hundreds of millions of dollars into a chemically based system. It would allow users to take moving pictures. The movies would be developed chemically inside the camera system, the same as the still picture system then utilized.
What Polaroid not only didn't plan for, but couldn't even imagine was that a disruptive technology would be created from another industry that would basically destroy Polaroid's business model. Japan would create digital photography. The first Japanese VHS and Betamax camera systems became available. The electronic based technology made so much more sense than Polaroid chemically based system. It forced Polaroid to shut down its movie system products. It also resulted in the immediate write off of hundreds of millions of dollars (equivalent to billions today) that it would never recoup.
Now I ask you, Kodak was in the business, we know that. They saw what this new technology did to Polaroid OVERNIGHT. Couldn't they imagine that it could happen to them? The answer is apparently not. The management team at Eastman Kodak has been brain dead for at least 20 years. The management team and the Board of Directors should have been dismissed more than a decade ago for gross incompetence. They took a magnificent cash generating machine, and allowed it to turn into a boring, mundane second class company.
They simply chose to ignore what was coming, and what was coming was a TIDAL WAVE, that would sweep away Kodak's traditional business. Kodak could have chosen to lead the digital revolution. They could have chosen to take the billions of dollars of cash generated by their traditional chemically based systems, and redeploy in other high end technology driven businesses like digital imaging in the medical industry. No, neither choice happened. The company chose instead, to DO NOTHING. Try to maintain the status quo was the order of the day.
Now Kodak is faced with a "what do we do now" decision? It is just a question of how many years it takes before the Kodak way of doing business (chemical processing) completely evaporates. There are a number of lessons to be taken from this example of a formerly world class company going belly up because of an inappropriate business model. Among them are:
•Every company must absorb the central thesis of Clayton Christensen's two books, "The Innovator's Dilemma", and "The Innovator's Solution". Harvard professor Christensen was the individual who coined the term, disruptive technologies, or what happens when a new innovation comes in and completely blows away a company's formerly dominant technology.
•No company has the luxury of sitting on its rear end, and counting on its cash hoard to keep it in business forever.
•Theodore Levitt of Harvard always talked about "What business are you in?" You'd better make sure that you are constantly thinking about how to obsolete your own business, because your competitors are thinking about it all the time.
•Every company should have an internal team that is separate and apart from the company. The sole function of this team would be to come up with ways to destroy the company by developing better products, or better yet technologies that would obsolete the company's current technology. Xerox decades ago created Xerox PARC (the PARC stands for Palo Alto Research Center) in 1970. They intentionally put it in Palo Alto, California because they didn't want to have their thinking contaminated by the atmosphere in Rochester, NY, a dead town. The same town as Kodak's corporate headquarters by the way.
You want to talk about accomplishments; Xerox PARC came up with the mouse that we use on personal computers. They also created the graphical user interface that you use on your PC, and the basic design of the personal computer was taken from Xerox PARC by Steve Jobs. Xerox completely failed to cash in on any of these creations. The guys in Rochester were just as asleep at the switch as the guys at Kodak. There must be something about the air they breathe in Rochester that lulls them into a sense of complacency.
•Companies need to buy smaller companies who are creating the innovating technologies that will put them out of business. If they wait until the technology enters an actionable phase, it is too expensive to purchase. Examples are Yahoo and Microsoft, both of whom had an opportunity to buy Google for millions of bucks. Google now has a market cap of $150 billion, and is virtually untouchable.
Is it too late for Kodak to save itself? The answer is probably yes. Very rarely can a company in such a downward spiral find the managerial talent, and more importantly COURAGE to transform itself internally. The current management team is too interested in continuing its own benefit package and retirement benefits, to make the hard, tough, and necessary decisions to be transformative. Hopefully, other American companies, and investors can learn from the bitter story that Kodak has to teach us. Good luck.
Information on interpersonal communication skills can be found at the Communication Techniques site.
I am going to purchase my first SLR camera very soon. It is a bit intimidating and I need some good sources of information so that I can learn what I am doing. I will try to find some loca classes, but I am not sure I will have time to join any long term courses until after June. In the meantime I will have to do some self-study. What is the best site/book/DVD for complete beginners?
There are lots of good websites. I like Digital Photography School. Lots of good articles on DSLR photography and extensive forums. Be sure to sign up for the weekly news letter while you’re there. Adorama Camera also has a lot of free tutorials online. Ken Rockwell’s site has a lot of information on hardware and technique. And, of course, the Shutterbug Magazine web site. (links below)
For books:
"The Digital Photography Book" by Scott Kelby
"Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson
"PC Magazine Guide to Digital Photography by Daniel and Sally Grotta.
RTFM (Read The...uh...Friendly Manual). Really.
Other: Most major camera models have video tutorials and cheat sheets available. And check the manufacturer’s site for tutorials. Nikon, for one, has a bunch.
Red & Gold's Nick Griffin gives tips on what to consider when buying a digital camera.
Introduction
There are four simple things to consider in making a smart camera purchase:
How?, What?, Features? and Price. We have expanded on each in the article below.
1: How?
Decide on your budget. The expression that ‹you get what you pay for› is never truer than in the world of digital photography. My advice is to set your budget as high as you can afford.
2: What?
Decide what you want to use your camera for ask yourself: Are you a professional. are you wanting to take quick shots of the family or kids, is camera size important (does it need to fit in to a handbag or pocket), do you mind changing lenses, do you need to photograph specialist scenes (for example underwater or sport). Once you have made your decision, it is time to look into and understand the features and functions of cameras that are currently on the market.
3: Features
Understand the pro and cons of camera features. Here is a short guide on what to look for:
a: LCD vs Optical Viewfinder. Many cheaper cameras lack an optical view finder having an LCD screen that is used to compose shots. An LCD camera has its drawbacks and these should be considered. An LCD:
- causes batteries to drain faster than an optical viewfinder.
- in high levels ambient light, the LCD may be difficult to see.
- a screen may lack the detail of an optical viewfinder, crucial in some photo composition situations.
b: Be careful when considering second-hand cameras. They may be damages, connectors may be worn and spare parts may be hard to come by.
c: Consider the Camera›s ISO levels. Choose one that has a low ISO (50) if possible. A low ISO number reduces the amount of noise (or pixelation) in a picture. For more information in ISO please look at Red & Gold›s Tutorials.
d: Consider where the tripod socket is. When purchasing a digital camera, if you plan on using a tripod, check the underside of the digital camera to see where the tripod socket is located. For best balance, the socket should be in the middle of the camera, though some manufacturers design sockets on the left or right side of a camera. A poorly designed socket placement may make it more difficult to steady the camera for crystal-clear photos using a tripod
e: Consider buying a higher end camera and lenses separately avoiding kit packages.
Most kit lenses have a limited zoom range such as 18-55mm which won›t allow you to get close to your subject. For a smaller additional investment, you can purchase a zoom lens.
f: Be cautious when buying ‹Package Discount Deals›. It is an unfortunate fact that technology becomes obsolete very quickly. Products are discounted for a reason and, as Warren Buffet says ‹If it seems too good to be true, then it is too good to be true!›
g: Consider Media type. There are lots of media types available for cameras, such as CompactFlash, SecureMedia etc. If your previous camera uses a particular media, it may be beneficial to remain with that format or selecting a camera that permits multiple format cards.
h: Consider how much zoom is needed? Purchasing a digital camera with a greater optical zoom distance is more expensive than one with only a 2x or 3x zoom, so this decision can greatly affect your pocketbook.
While there are no hard and fast rules, consider the following:
- For photos of friends and family, a 2x or 3x zoom should be plenty.
- For photos of outdoor scenery, or architectural elements in a cityscape, a 5x+ zoom should suffice.
- For photos of wildlife, sporting events or other situations where it will be difficult to get in close to your subject, a 7x+ zoom may be needed to get the photos you want.
I: Mega pixels. A digital camera with 5 or more mega pixels will offer advantages over smaller-megapixel cameras, including the ability to crop out information allowing prints up to 8×10 with a little space for cropping. For more information in mega pixels, please visit Red & Gold›s Tutorials.
J: Small does not mean underpowered. More and more manufacturers are packing the power of a professional level camera into a pocket-sized case. Some even have interchangeable lenses. Do not overlook small cameras. They have significant advantages over larger bodied ones.
K: Understand how the camera›s controls work before purchasing it. Though control placement obviously should not be the only consideration when comparing digital camera models, if you like to adjust settings frequently, do consider a camera that complements your work style.
L: Read the reviews: There are many sites online that provide free, and excellent reviews on all cameras. Take time to check out what other users think of the camera you are considering and use their information to weigh up the pros and cons of your purchase. Here are some links to sites we use:
- Digital Photography Review
- Photo.net
M: Ignore Digital Zoom. Only look at cameras› optical zooms statistics. Digital zooming performs an interpolation, or computer-based ‹guesswork›, of an image to try to increase the perceived zoom distance. These can result in «fuzzy» images or those with less than optimal clarity, especially if you blow them up into 8×10 or larger photos. However, optical zoom provides for a true zoom-in or zoom-out on your subject.
N: Image Stabilisation. Keeping your digital camera stable when taking photos is vital if you want your photos to remain clear and crisp, free of blurriness. When abundant light is available, stabilization is less important as your digital camera can shoot photos with faster shutter speeds, usually nullifying any shaking of your hands. However, when shooting in less than ideal lighting conditions or fast-moving subjects, a tripod or other stabilization device is highly recommended.
O: Consider the cost of accessories: While a digital camera may be a certain price, consider the following accessories you will most likely consider buying to enhance your photography or protect your investment:
- Digital media to store photos
- Media card reader to transfer files to your computer
- Extra rechargeable batteries to prolong photo shoots
- UV Filter to remove UV light and protect your lens
- Protective camera bag
- Accessory lens, and for a digital SLR, you have to buy one lens to begin with
- Tripod to stabilize your photos
- Backup device if you don›t have a CD burner
P: Consider a Wi-Fi enabled camera. Does your photography often take you out in the field where you wish to send photos back to a central computer or e-mail them to others? Some digital camera makers are starting to build wi-fi directly into the camera, so you could take your camera to a wi-fi hotspot and upload photos from there.
Q: Consider the higher cost of owning an 8+ mega pixel camera. 8+ megapixel digital cameras, especially digital SLRs, are great in that they allow you to take photos with far greater detail than lesser-megapixel cameras. Plus, crisp photos can be printed blown up to a larger width and height. However, these cameras may contain some hidden costs, consider:
- To take full advantage of the digital camera›s features by shooting photos in super-fine JPG or RAW format, you will need much more digital camera media.
- To process the larger photos, you may need a faster computer with more RAM, at least 512 megs, 1+ gigabytes recommended.
- To store your digital photos will require either more hard drive space or more time backing-up photos to external media.
R: Pre-Programmes Scene selections may help: Scene modes make it easier to take digital camera photos in tough lighting conditions, especially if you are a beginner to digital photography. Pre-programmed scene modes can configure the digital camera›s settings to assist in taking pictures under difficult situations.
- Night photography
- Sports scenes or other action sequences
- Portrait photography
- Inside lighting situations
- Firework displays
While these modes will not result in professional-quality photos every time, they can assist you in taking better photos «out of the box» until you are able to familiarize yourself with f-stops, apertures, shutter speeds, white balance settings, and the like.
Shop Around
Thank you
Nick Griffin is the CEO of WilsonGriffin, a marketing and communications expert. Nick is also the co-founder of Red and Gold. For more on Red and Gold please click here
My wife and I need to take great digital stills AND digital videos primarily to send to family/friends via computer across the country. We were looking at getting one "do-it-all" camera, but have been discovering that we're going to lose either still or video quality. Are we correct? Is there such a "do-it-all "camera out there that doesn't lose quality in one way or another?
We would also like to have both cameras (especially the still camera) do a great job in the telephoto arena because we like nature photography like eagles' nest activity or "moon shots" in which the moon doesn't "shrink" in the photo.
What are these products and appoximately how much would we have to spend? Would it be more cost-effective to get both a digital camera AND a camcorder if we want great quality in both areas? If so, what products would you suggest? We would really like to stay under $800 or so, preferably less. Also, it would be great if we could "grow" with these cameras.
Thanks much!
The camera at circuit city w/ 1080p is not a high quality video cam just because it has 1080p resolution. 7-8mp images does nothing for nature photo's like eagles (where you're typically far away) unless it comes with a 500mm or greater lens (35mm equivalent) unless you don't want close up shots of that eagle.
As for the canon with a 390mm equivalent.. I wouldn't even try to use my 300mm lens w/ my D70 (450mm equivalent) for shots of that eagle because it isn't an IS lens. The problem is that you're usually too far away to get a decent shot w/out possible camera shake issues even when on a tripod.
Perhaps the Sony DSC-H9 w/ a 465mm max focal length, image stabilization @~$400+ or the Olympus SP-560 UZ w/ a 486mm max focal length, image stabilization @~$360+.
As for the video quality you'll probably want to check both or any other camera you might be considering.
HTH
