Teach Yourself VISUALLY Digital Photography E-Book

Chris Bucher

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Serie: Teach Yourself VISUALLY (Tech)
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 318

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2010

Beschreibung

All-new update to this complete photography guide-over 125 photography tasks explained! Teach Yourself VISUALLY Digital Photography, Fourth Edition is a brand new take by a brand new author and professional photographer, who packs this book with heaps of essential tasks and new photos. Step-by-step screen shots show you best practices for completing more than 125 digital photography activities, including composing and lighting pictures; mixing and matching focus and lens settings; cropping, resizing, and sharpening photos; and enhancing photos with software. You'll find great tips and tricks for capturing your best photos and turning them into impressive prints and photo-based projects. * As digital photography technology and photo-editing software evolve, so do the latest digital photography techniques * Explores essential digital photography concepts, including composition, lighting, focus, sharpening, and enhancing photos with photo-editing software * Demonstrates through step-by-step instructions and numerous, full-color screen shots and photos, so you can see exactly how to perform tasks * Offers tips and tricks to help you make the best captures and turn them into impressive prints and photo-based projects See how to produce your best digital photographs ever with this easy-to-follow visual guide!

Leseprobe

Teach Yourself VISUALLY™ Digital Photography, 4th Edition

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Understanding Digital Photography

Why Go Digital?

Discover Digital Cameras

From Start to Finish: The Digital Workflow

Chapter 2: What You Need to Get Started

Choose a Digital Camera

Consider Digital Camera Accessories

Build a Digital Darkroom

Choose a Photo Printer

Chapter 3: Controlling Exposure and Focal Length

Learn About ISO

Learn About Aperture

Control Depth of Field

Understanding Shutter Speed

Discover Exposure Modes

Learn About Focal Length

Use a Wide-Angle Lens

Use a Telephoto Lens

Use a Zoom Lens

Learn About Digital Camera Lenses

Chapter 4: Understanding Light

Learn About the Color of Light

Measure and Correct Light for Color

Learn About Light Quality

Use a Flash

Chapter 5: Learning About Focus

Understanding Focus Systems

Focus on an Off-Center Subject

Use Focus Modes

Discover Focus Techniques

Chapter 6: Composing Pictures like a Pro

Visualize Composition

Consider Design Principles

Discover Rules of Composition

Learn to Control Composition

Chapter 7: Putting It All Together

Experiment with Depth of Field

Mix and Match Settings

Change Shutter Speed for Effect

Focus Selectively

Compose Creatively

Explore Different Lighting Options

Try Creative Techniques

Chapter 8: Taking Your First Digital Photos

Set Up a Digital Camera

Take Test Pictures

Troubleshoot Problems

Transfer Pictures to Your Computer

Evaluate Your Photos

Fine-Tune Camera Settings

Chapter 9: Taking Advantage of Your Camera’s Settings

Match the Scene to the Setting

Be Aware of In-Camera Settings

How Do the Scene Settings Change the Images?

Use the Settings Creatively

Evaluate Your Photos

Better to Change Things Later?

Chapter 10: Avoiding Digital Photography Pitfalls

Avoid Taking Unfixable Pictures

What Is a Histogram?

Use a Histogram as You Take Pictures

Compensate for Shutter Lag

Avoid Blowouts

Keep Your Camera Steady

Avoid Undesirable Colorcasts

Never Use Digital Zoom

Reduce Digital Noise

Chapter 11: Capturing Unique Photo Opportunities

Photograph Products to Sell on eBay

Take Great Close-Up Photos

Take Photos at Night without a Flash

Capture Firework Displays

Chapter 12: Organizing Your Photos

Why Use Image Editing Programs?

What Is a Digital Editing Workflow?

Photo Editing Options

Basic Photo Editing Options

Advanced Photo Editing Options

Understanding Metadata in Your Photos

What Are RAW Digital Photos?

Import Photos to Your Browser

Review, Sort, and Tag Your Photos

Tag Photos

Find Images Using Tags

Use Tags to Sort

Chapter 13: Enhance Your Photos with Basic Photo Editing

Learn about Global and Local Changes

Zoom In with the Zoom Tool

Rotate an Image

Straighten an Image

Crop an Image

Adjust the Exposure

Adjust the Color Temperature

Adjust the Tint

Adjust the Saturation

Adjust Noise and Sharpness

Remove Red Eye

Retouch Spots on Your Photos

Apply Photo Effects

Use the Auto Enhance Button

Chapter 14: Advanced Photo Editing with Photoshop Elements

Why Calibrate and Profile Your Monitor?

Open the Photoshop Elements Quick Fix Workspace

Get Familiar with the Quick Fix Workspace

Open a Photo to Fix in the Quick Fix Workspace

Open a RAW Photo File

Zoom In and Out

Move Around the Image

Rotate an Image

Select a Comparative View

Improve Composition by Cropping

Use the Quick Fix Auto Buttons

Try an Auto Fix for a Quick Improvement

Remove Red Eye with One Click

Undo Changes

Convert a Color Photo to Black and White

Add a Colored Filter Effect to Any Photo

Chapter 15: Printing Photos and Other Projects

Archive Your Photos to CD or DVD Media

Create a Contact Sheet

Understanding Resolution

Digital Photo Printing Options

Get the Best Prints

Choose a Photo Printer

Match Prints to Monitor Display

Optimize Printer Settings and Print a Photo

Print One Photo as a Traditional Picture Package

Use the Create Tab for Fun Photo Options

Create a Greeting Card

Print to an Online Photo Service

Chapter 16: Sharing Photos Electronically

Add a Personal Copyright to Protect a Photo

Save a JPEG for the Web

Preview an Image in a Web Browser

Create a Web Photo Gallery

Send an Image with E-mail

Chapter 17: Special Projects for Photoshop Elements

Customize the Panel View

What Are Layers and Why Use Them?

Find Your Way Around the Layers Panel

Straighten a Crooked Photo

Make a Creative Crop

Select an Area of a Photo

Whiten Teeth Digitally

Duplicate the Background Layer

What Are Photoshop Elements Filters?

What Is the Filter Gallery?

Understanding Styles and Effects

Colorize a Black-and-White Photo

Create a Sepia-Toned Photo

Remove Blemishes with One Click

Fix Skin Tone

Adjust a Photo before Applying Filters

Convert a Photo into a Sketch

Convert a Photo into a Painting

Create a Digital Photo Collage

Create a Digital Panorama

Understanding Type Layers

Add and Edit Text

Move and Resize Type to Fit a Photo

Add Text and Match the Color to the Photo

Rotate Text

Warp Text

Stylize Text

Teach Yourself VISUALLY™ Digital Photography, 4th Edition

by Chris Bucher

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc.10475 Crosspoint BoulevardIndianapolis, IN 46256

www.wiley.com

Published simultaneously in Canada

Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201-748-6011, fax [phone], or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2010932455

ISBN: 978-0-470-58946-5

Trademark Acknowledgments

Wiley, the Wiley Publishing logo, Visual, the Visual logo, Teach Yourself VISUALLY, Read Less - Learn More and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

Manufactured in the United States of America

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Illustrators

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Credits

About the Author

Chris Bucher is an award-winning, Indianapolis-based commercial, editorial, and fine art photographer, and the author of Lighting Photo Workshop. His work is seen in publications throughout the country and his documentary fine art photography has been exhibited in many galleries in the United States and internationally. He has also been a technical editor for numerous Wiley titles and also has written for projects attached to his editorial photography. Chris is an avid mountain biker, and, along with his wife Jennifer, works with the foster care program of the Humane Society of Indianapolis.

Author’s Acknowledgments

Special thanks go to Aaron Black, Sarah Hellert, Scott Tullis, and Dennis Cohen for their work, guidance, and patience in working with me on this project. Without their help and suggestions this book would not have happened. I would also like to thank the Wiley graphics team for making my vague ideas into great illustrations explaining difficult concepts.

Extra special thanks to Enrique Lima for bailing me out of difficult, last minute, and panicked Windows problems and questions. He willingly went above and beyond what he needed to do, and always with a smile. Thanks EEL!

I also have to thank Kenneth Rhem and Nicole Fraga for their assistance.

And I especially need to thank my wife Jennifer for always being helpful, patient, and supportive in all the projects that we enter together.

How to Use This Book

Who Needs This Book?

This book is for the reader who has never used this particular technology or software application. It is also for readers who want to expand their knowledge.

The Conventions in This Book

Steps

This book uses a step-by-step format to guide you easily through each task. Numbered steps are actions you must do; bulleted steps clarify a point, step, or optional feature; and indented steps give you the result.

Notes

Notes give additional information — special conditions that may occur during an operation, a situation that you want to avoid, or a cross reference to a related area of the book.

Icons and buttons

Icons and buttons show you exactly what you need to click to perform a step.

Tips

Tips offer additional information, including warnings and shortcuts.

Bold

Bold type shows command names, options, and text or numbers you must type.

Italics

Italic type introduces and defines a new term.

Chapter 1: Understanding Digital Photography

Are you confused about how digital photography works? This chapter introduces you to the advantages of digital photography, the different types of digital, and how easy it is to work with and use digital pictures.

Why Go Digital?

Discover Digital Cameras

From Start to Finish: The Digital Workflow

Why Go Digital?

With digital photography, you can do more than take snapshots for your family album. You can use a digital camera to quickly and significantly improve your photography skills. You can e-mail your digital pictures to family and friends, share your photos on social networking sites, or create interesting Web pages about your hobbies, family, or even home business. You can also simplify everyday tasks, or take part in documenting your family history with a digital scrapbook.

Improve Your Photography Skills

Because digital pictures do not require film and processing, you can experiment with lighting, composition, camera modes, and creative techniques at no cost. Because you see images immediately, you can modify your setting or approach, and try new things, then evaluate all your images when you get home. The best way to become a better photographer is to take many pictures.

Simplify Everyday Tasks

A digital camera allows you to share and convey information easily. For example, you can capture special moments such as birthdays and anniversaries and almost immediately send the pictures to your friends in an e-mail message, or share them on a Web site. You can also take digital pictures of club members for a visual directory. Other tasks include creating a home inventory for insurance records, and photographing items you are selling online.

Share Pictures Online and in E-mail

Within minutes of taking a picture, you can share it in an e-mail message, or upload it to an online photo site to share with family and friends. By doing it this way, those loved ones who want prints of the photos can buy them online and receive the prints in the mail. There are countless online options for sharing photos and having prints made quickly.

Create Photo Slide Shows on CDs or DVDs

You can use programs such as iPhoto, Windows Live Photo Gallery, and Photoshop Elements to create digital image slide shows on recordable CDs and DVDs. Then you can add voice narration, captions, music, digital movie clips, and transitions to finish the slide show. Photoshop Elements and iPhoto also let you organize your digital images by assigning each photo a keyword. If you want, you can even add a rating, color, or flag to help select your favorites. You can use these keywords or ratings to find and select a particular photo for your slide show or just see all your best photos with a click of a button.

Discover Digital Cameras

When you understand how digital cameras work, you can take that knowledge and make an informed decision when it comes time to purchase your first digital camera or to upgrade your existing one. Knowing how digital cameras work also enables you to get better images from your camera.

How Digital Cameras Record Pictures

Digital cameras record pictures using an image sensor array — a grid composed of millions of light-sensitive pixels. The term pixel describes a picture element. The pixels are the building blocks of all digital images. A red, green, or blue filter covers each pixel on the sensor so that it responds to only one of the primary colors of light. Each pixel reads the brightness and color in a scene to produce an electrical signal. The signal is then converted to a digital number that represents the color and brightness of the pixel. The camera’s onboard computer processes the information to build a final image before storing it in memory.

Types of Image Sensors

Most digital cameras use one of two types of image sensors: a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS). Although each type of sensor has technical differences in how the light energy is transferred into electronic signals, both produce high-quality images.

Resolution and Image Quality

Resolution is a measure of pixel density; higher-resolution images have more pixels per inch and the possibility of greater detail. On a digital camera, the greater the number of pixels on the image sensor, the larger you can print the photo. There are consumer cameras with sensor resolutions of up to 15 megapixels. Digital cameras with 6 to 8 megapixels offer excellent image quality for prints larger than 8×10 and can be very affordable. Cameras with higher resolution allow for more creative cropping and often come with more advanced features.

From Start to Finish: The Digital Workflow

A digital workflow is a step-by-step process that helps you get the best digital images and also manages your collection of images. The workflow includes taking, editing, sharing, organizing, and storing digital pictures. You can use the digital workflow described here as an introduction to and ongoing guide for working with your digital images.

Capture Images

The digital workflow begins by choosing camera settings that will produce the best photo. You can choose a preset scene mode (portrait, landscape, sunset, for example), use a fully automatic setting, or set the camera to operate in manual shooting mode. To learn more about exposure, see Chapter 3.

Confirm that the camera’s white balance matches the light in the scene or is set to auto. For more information on white balance, see Chapter 8.

Then compose the image in the frame, adjust the zoom, ensure the autofocus has the subject in focus, and take the picture.

Verify Exposure and Composition

Next, review the picture on the camera’s LCD screen to ensure that the exposure and composition are acceptable. As you review the image in your LCD, look for distracting background elements, closed eyes, and other elements that you can improve. If the picture is too light (overexposed), or too dark (underexposed), most cameras set to automatic allow you to easily correct that by adjusting the exposure using exposure compensation. When in doubt, retake the picture and try new things — as many times as you want.

Use the LCD

The LCD screens on today’s cameras are getting ever bigger, brighter, and clearer, but it still may be difficult to determine how good the photo is. Learn how to zoom the LCD display to get a closer look at the details of your photo. Unless the picture is hopelessly flawed, do not delete it. Instead wait and evaluate it on your computer — you may be able to save the picture or use the information in the photo to help you learn.

Transfer Pictures to a Computer

You can transfer pictures from your camera to your computer with a USB cable, a card reader, or a docking station. The fastest way to transfer pictures is by using a card reader. Card readers come in many forms, they are inexpensive, and they do not drain your camera battery — which happens when you hook your camera to the computer.

From Start to Finish: The DigitalWorkflow (continued)

Edit Pictures

You can use image-editing software that comes with your camera or computer, or software that you purchase to edit pictures. Image-editing programs enable you to rotate, adjust color and saturation, correct red eye, remove unwanted elements (even people), crop, resize, sharpen, combine, and add text to digital pictures. There is no end to the things you can do to your digital photos. See Chapters 12 and 13 to learn more about working with image-editing software.

Print and Share Pictures

After you edit, crop, and sharpen your pictures, you can print them on a home photo-quality printer, or at a commercial printing service — either online or at your local photo lab and even grocery stores. In many ways it is just like dropping film off to be processed, but now you only have to print the photos you know that you like. You can also share them in e-mail messages, on social networking Web sites, or on a photo-sharing Web site. For more information about printing and sharing pictures, see Chapters 15 and 16.

Organize and Store Digital Negatives

You should not alter the original image, which is the equivalent of a film negative. If you need to make changes to an image, get in the habit of making changes to a copy and keeping the original file untouched. This is not as hard as it sounds. Some image editors automatically apply your changes to a copy rather than to the original.

It does not take long until your picture collection will become large, so take advantage of the photo organizer programs that are available. Even with a photo organizer program, take some time to come up with a smart way to label and organize the folders of photos — either by date or event, or whatever makes sense to you and you can stick with. You can always find a particular photo quickly without spending hours searching for it if you consistently assign keywords and descriptions to your photos using programs such as iPhoto, Windows Live Photo Gallery, Photo Organizer, or Photoshop Elements.

Clear the Memory Card

After your pictures are on your computer, you can safely delete pictures from your memory card. Many image editors offer to delete pictures after they have been transferred, but you should be sure that the images have been successfully placed on your hard drive because when the images are deleted from the card, you cannot get them back. The optimum choice is to delete all the photos in the camera by formatting the card using your camera after you have downloaded the photos. The card format option is typically found as a menu option accessed from the menu on the LCD screen of your camera. Using this method also helps to maintain the internal file structure of the memory card, which should keep it working smoothly.

Chapter 2: What You Need to Get Started

Knowing the basics about digital cameras, resolution, lenses, batteries, and accessories helps you choose the right camera for you. Having the right equipment for your digital darkroom enables you to edit and print your images faster and easier.

Choose a Digital Camera

Consider Digital Camera Accessories

Build a Digital Darkroom

Choose a Photo Printer

Choose a Digital Camera

When choosing a digital camera, consider the size of camera, the resolution, how much control you want to have over the camera settings, the quality and focal range of the lens, the shooting modes you use most often, the life of the battery, and the type of storage media available.

Compact

Compact, or point-and-shoot, digital cameras typically capture photos with image resolutions ranging from 10 to 14 megapixels. They include a built-in flash and zoom. Although compact cameras offer limited manual controls, they often provide a number of handy shooting presets that allow you to optimize the settings for better pictures more easily.