Take Better Digital Photos
AND STOP SENDING ME GIANT IMAGE FILES
RESOLUTION
Computer monitors are limited to the number of pixels that can be displayed. So when setting your digital camera up for a photo shoot, choose low DPI (dots per inch); 72-100 DPI is plenty. There is no advantage to high
DPI for display on websites; it only creates bigger image file sizes and longer load times to display the image. High DPI is for print output when a printer wants and can physically display a lot of detail for say magazine or calendar art.
SIZE
Set up your camera for output to a jpg file to one of the standard default size settings no greater than 640 pixels wide. Computer monitors are generally set to display 800 x 600 pixels (800 pixels wide). If you are shooting
both "portrait" and "landscape" orientation (vertical and horizontal orientation) set the portrait size from 320-480 pixels wide and the landscape orientation size from 480-640 pixel wide. This results in the least amount of vertical and
horizontal adjustment that the viewer will have to make when viewing on their monitor.
PROXIMITY
If you are taking photos of people, animals or objects like art pieces, cars or buildings; get as close to the subject as
possible. Don't include the background as part of the "border"; use the camera to frame the shot, tight to the subject. Getting close to the subject produces the best detail because computer monitors are limited in the number of pixels that
can be displayed. You must get your camera close to the subject otherwise there will be less detail and definition recorded and the camera will approximate (fill in) colour detail resulting in un-crisp colour transition and loss of gradation.
STANCE
Use a tripod with the timer setting so that you do not have to touch the camera when shooting. Camera or subject movement means loss of detail and dull mushy looking photos.
LIGHTING
You need to read
your digital camera instructions for choosing the best light settings. It's trial and error; make notes in your instruction book for reference. Look at the results, and take multiple shots with different settings as a warm-up to the photo
shoot. The best shots will result with indirect lighting.
COMPOSITION
Getting close to the subject solves a lot of compositional problems because the focus is on the foreground. If a background element is essential to
informing the viewer then use the camera to frame the foreground subject in relationship to the background.
PHOTO EDITING
The less often you (or I) have to "edit" your photos in an editor the better the image will be.
Each edit produces a generation of result further away from the original. Don't add template borders. Use "effect" tools sparingly unless the results are the goal.
CLIP ART
If you do not have a digital camera (or analogue)
use clip art to convey a theme. Clip art (both graphic and photographic) is available from scores of sources. I use Microsoft's free service here:
www.office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us
If you see something you like, send
me the file #.
LINKS TO PHOTO DEMONSTRATIONS
NOTIFY ME IF ANY OF THESE OFF-SITE LINKS FAIL HP
http://www.hp.com/united-states/consumer/digital_photography/take_better_photos/index.html
KODAK
www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=317&pq-locale=en_US
O'REILLY MAC DEV CENTER
www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2002/10/22/digi_photo_tips.html
NOTE TO PHOTOGRAPHERS
Please send me your comments or links to source material if you have any suggestions to improve this digital camera primer page.
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