The best way to improve your results in taking digital photograph is to gain thorough familiarity with all of the features and capabilities of your digital camera. This episode of DIY's Digital Photography workshop addresses some of the basics of using your camera effectively -- including use of flash and exposure, image resolution, motion photography and tips for use of batteries and memory cards.
Using the Camera's Flash for Fill-Lighting
Just because you're shooting outdoors on a sunny day, don't assume you can always rely on available light and your camera's autoexposure mode. There are cases where use of the flash will improve your results even outdoors.
For example, if you're taking portrait shots and your subject is back-lit or lit from directly overhead, the camera may not pick up all of the detail on the subject's face. Though you may visually be able to see detail adequately with your eye, the limitations of the camera may result in an image with less-than-perfect lighting and detail. Notice in our example shot made without a flash (figure A) that the exposure on the background is better than that of the subject.
With the camera's builti-in flash activated (figure B), under the same natural-light conditions, a better overall exposure results (figure C).
Using the Camera's Flash to Eliminate Shadows
The camera's flash is also useful in outdoor-shooting situations where objects (such as overhead tree limbs) cast annoying shadows across the subject (figure D).
With the camera's built-in flash activated, the shadows disappear as the flash casts light directly on the subject (figure E).
Using the Camera's Flash in Shaded Outdoor Settings
Consider using your flash outdoors when your subject is in the shade (figure F). Aside from the possibility that the overall exposure may be too dark, overhead light that's being filtered through leaves or other overhead shade may cause a greenish cast on the subject, resulting in unnatural skin tones (figure G, LEFT). Shade may also result in the exposure requiring a shutter speed so slow that blurring results.
Proper use of the flash give fuller illumination to the subject, providing sharper detail and more natural and accurate colors (figure G, RIGHT). The flash setting will also allow for a faster speed, suitable for most shooting situations.
Using the Camera's Flash Indoors
In most indoor-shooting situations (figure H), normal available lighting is not sufficient for a good photograph. There may not be enough light to get an exposure at a reasonable shutter speed, resulting in a blurred photo. Even in brightly lit interiors, the overall picture may be too dark or have overly dark areas (figure I).
Tip : With indoor flash photography, strive to compose your picture so that your main subject fills most of the frame. Otherwise, your subject may be overexposed as the flash tries to provide enough light to fill the whole area. Move in closer to your subject in order to fill more of the frame (figure J).
Avoiding Glare in Flash Photography
You may run into problems using your flash if your shot includes mirrors, glass surfaces or other highly reflective surfaces that may give a direct reflection from the flash. In our example, a reflection appeared behind the subject as the light of the flash bounced off of a glass display case (figure K).
If you're shooting against a reflective background such as glass, shoot so that you are standing at an angle to it (figure L) rather than shooting toward the surface straight on.
By shooting at an angle, you're less likely to pick up glare or reflection on glass and other reflective surfaces (figure M).
When Not to Use Flash
There are situations where it's best not to use a flash. One example may occur when you're shooting subtleties of light or light sources.
In our example, the photographer was shooting from an arbor at dusk (figure N). When the flash was used in close proximity to the tiki torch and arbor surfaces, the result was an overexposed shot that robbed the photo of detail and the nuances of the twilight sky.
The same shot made without a flash (figure O) allowed the definition on the arbor surface and torch-basket to come through, as well as the subtle lighting of the flame and the darkening sky. A slower shutter speed was required to get this exposure, so it was important to hold the camera perfectly still during shooting.
Tip: Use a tripod when shooting in low-light, naturally lit situations to reduce the possibility of camera movement while using a slower shutter speed.
RESOURCES :
Kodak Information
Tips, techniques, tutorials and information on cameras and film.
To e-mail Kodak, click here.
To access Kodak's contact information, click here.
www.kodak.com
Kodak
Website: www.kodak.com
Rick Sammon, professional photographer
Web site: www.ricksammon.com
Learn more about photography with Rick Sammon's new e-book on CD. More than 100 tips and photographs from Rick's travels around the world.
And check out Rick's column on Kodak's site:
Web site: www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/magazine/tips/2001_10
Rick Sammon
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
Email: RickSammon@aol.com
Website: www.ricksammon.com
Special Thanks for DIY's Digital Photography workshop, episodes 101-105
Adobe Photoshop
Web site: www.adobe.com
PC Photo magazine
Web site: www.pcphotomag
Kodak
Web site: www.kodak.com
Epson America, Inc.
Web site: www.epson.com
Kinkos
Web site: www.kinkos.com
Ulead Cool 360
Web site: www.ulead.com
The Digital Wallet
Web site: www.mindsatwork.net
The L.A. County Arboretum
Web site: www.arboretum.org
PC Photo magazine
Website: www.pcphotomag.com
Online version of the magazine devoted to digital photography and related technologies.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Digital Photography
Model: 002864235X
Author: Steven Greenberg
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Prentice Hall
Paramus, NJ 07652
Digital Photography For Dummies
Model: 0764506463
Author: Julie Adair King
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Hungry Minds, Inc.
Complete Digital Photography
Model: 1584500077
Author: Ben Long
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Charles River Media
Website: www.charlesriver.com/
50 Fast Digital Photo Techniques
Model: 0764535781
Author: Gregory Georges, Cris Rys
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Hungry Minds, Inc.
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