Digital Photography - Digital Photography and Imaging - SAPL's Resource Guides at San Antonio Public Library

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Digital Photography 101 - Tip #3

Take many pictures of the same subject from different angles, and if possible under different lighting conditions. This will allow you to have a variety of images from which to cull a best, representative image of the subject and help eliminate the "snapshot" quality often seen in picture albums. Keep in mind that National Geographic photographers take hundreds of photos of the same subject in the quest to achieve the one image to submit for publication. Have several high capacity memory cards on hand; they are relatively inexpensive compared to just a few years ago, and will enable you to have a reasonably low-cost way to explore your photographic composition.

Make adjustments to basic settings like white balance, exposure compensation, apeture, and shutter speed. Knowing how and when to make these adjustments can add significant power to your photographs. Consult your camera manual to confirm which of these settings can be altered and which are set automatically by the camera's processor. Most contemporary consumer digital cameras will allow for a fair amount of user customization.

Above all experiment with your camera and familiarize yourself with its strengths and limitations. Remember that the photographer creates the image, the camera is just the medium - a compelling image can come from a professional digital SLR just as well as it could come from a cell phone camera. What truly makes the image is the photographer's eye, the lighting conditions, the focus, and the composition.

Magazines and Periodicals

American Photo Magazine
One of the oldest and most prestigious monthly photography magazines in publication. Contains articles, techniques, and product reviews.
Apeture Magazine
A fine art photography magazine that is very useful for inspiration.
PC Photo Magazine
This is an excellent magazine devoted to digital photography and imaging. The editors of this magazine always have an eye out for the latest photographic hardware and software.
Popular Photography and Imaging
The flagship photography magazine; Popular Photography and Imaging magazine's content covers a wide array of topics for photographers at all levels.

Database Resources

ProQuest Safari Select
ProQuest Safari Select contains technology related e-books including a good selection of books on digital photography and Photoshop from renown publishers including Adobe Press, O'Reilly Media Inc., Peachpit Press, and SAMS.

Welcome to the Digital Imaging Guide

*The Changing Season*

The fall season will present you with a grand variety of images to photograph with your digital camera. Whether it's autumn colors in the trees, a cloud of butterflies, or your children going back to school; there are evocative images all around just waiting to get captured and shared. If your photographic cravings lean more toward action, football season provides many opportunities for creating dramatic and exciting photos. Regardless of your photographic mood, our research guide will help find resources to make the most of your megapixels.

Favorite Books

The Sandy Puc' guide to children's portrait photography - Sandy Puc'

Like many things that change with the passing seasons, children grow rapidly. Author and photographer, Sandy Puc, provides real world strategies for creating what are sure to become cherished portraits. Although the book is geared toward professional portrait photographers, the casual photographer or the camera-wielding parent can draw equally from Puc's advice on encouraging cooperation and enthusiasm from young photographic subjects.

Digital sports photography : take winning shots every time - Serge Timacheff and David Karlins

Get into the action with this primer on sports photography techniques.

The Betterphoto guide to digital nature photography - Jim Miotke

An excellent resource for developing better nature photography skills.

The complete guide to digital photography - Michael H. Freeman

This book is an excellent starting point for digital camera use and digital image processing techniques.

Photoshop elements 6 for dummies - by Barbara Obermeier and Ted Padova

Adobe Photoshop Elements provides digital photographers and image-makers with an excellent set of tools with which to edit and manipulate their digital files.

Web Sites of Interest

The following web sites may provide some helpful information about digital photography, scanning, printing, and other related matters.

Flickr
Flickr is a great way to share your images with family, friends, and the world. They offer both free and premium accounts, and access to a variety of pay services that will give you hundreds of possible things to do with your digital photos.
Digital Photography Review
Here you will find all the latest digital photography and imaging news, reviews of the latest digital cameras and accessories, the most active discussion forums, a large selection of sample galleries, and a digital camera database and buyers guide.
National Geographic Photography
National Geographic photographers have enjoyed international prestige for many years. This website gives access to tips and techniques from these contemporary photographic masters.
Adobe Photoshop Elements User
The website of Adobe Photoshop Elements User magazine. Premium content requires a subscription to the magazine, but there is plenty of useful free content available.
Photojojo
Photojojo is one of the best photography project sites available on the web. Here you will find a variety of creative ideas for your digital photos, as well as have the opportunity to connect to a social network of "photo-creative" individuals from around the world.