Digital Photography Essentials

Digital Photography Essentials

A guide to digital hardware and general photographic operation

by Duncan Evans LRPS

Copyright 2012-2021 Duncan Evans

Smashwords Edition version 3

Updated 2021

Smashwords License Statement

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

SECTION 1. THE HARDWARE

SECTION 2. THE DIGITAL ADVANTAGE

SECTION 3. PHOTOGRAPHIC OPERATION

SECTION 4. DIGITAL DARKROOM

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

SECTION 1. THE HARDWARE

How the digital camera works

CMOS and resolution

Storage cards and readers

SECTION 2. THE DIGITAL ADVANTAGE

Instant review

Erasable pictures

Digital ISO

Automatic White Balance

SECTION 3. PHOTOGRAPHIC OPERATION

The PASM dial and Program Modes

Aperture Priority

Shutter Priority

Manual Mode

Metering & exposure compensation

Electronic flash

SECTION 4. DIGITAL DARKROOM

Photo editing

Printing and DPI

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to your guide to the most exciting new technology of the 21st century, one that has revolutionised photography as we know it. I am the published author of no fewer than 13 photography books, covering everything from portraits and landscapes to glamour, nudes, travel and digital output. I am also a member of the Royal Photographic Society and was the Editor of Digital Photo User for almost five years. This book is an intensive primer for digital photography and covers some of the basic technicalities, in an informative, but not simplistic fashion. It is aimed at anyone who is either new to digital photography, new to photography or has had a digital camera for a while and wants to really progress with how it works. This book will explain all about how the hardware works, what are the advantages digital cameras have over film, and how the most common program modes work. When you can master program settings you can bend photography to your will. When you leave everything on automatic, it's the camera that decides what picture you will get.

Digital photography has come a long way since the turn of the century and now represents the most innovative, fastest moving and exciting hobby or profession to be involved with. Today's cameras are super sophisticated pieces of technology, but there is no need to be wary of this electronic marvel - instead you should embrace it, and with the help of the information presented in this e-book, exploit the digital advantage yourself. No more health-risk chemicals, waiting for mail order slides or being dismayed by high street prints. No more failed photos when you thought you had a winner and no struggling with the consequences of artificial lighting. When you go digital, it is you in control, from the picture taking process, through the darkroom tweaks and enhancements, to the final print.

Duncan Evans LRPS

www.duncanevans.co.uk

SECTION 1. THE HARDWARE

How the digital camera works

While digital cameras have many similar characteristics to traditional film cameras in that they use a lens and a combination of aperture and shutter speed to produce an exposure, what goes on inside is radically different. Unusually in these days of ever increasing efficiency, the move from film to digital actually introduces an extra stage in the image making process. In a film camera the light entered the lens and hit the film inside. The chemicals on it reacted and the basic image was formed (it still needed to go in the developing tank but that's neither here nor there for