Digital Photography Essentials

By Duncan Evans

New to digital, new to photography? Confused by digital terms or the basic operations of your new digital SLR? Don't know what metering is, exposure compensation or one end of the aperture range from the other? Well, here's the book for you.

Digital Photography Essentials is an intense, introduction to digital technology, the main photographic concepts and picture control. It is designed for anyone who is new to digital from film or new to digital at all. It explains what the hardware is, how it works and then what the main photographic operations are and how you can use them. The book is illustrated with photographs showing these principles in action. This is a short and specific book which is 10,000 words long and also has a 2000 word additional glossary of technical terms, explaining what they mean. It is an introduction, a primer for the subject of digital photography. I will be publishing specific titles for numerous genres in the coming months. Here's the contents list:

INTRODUCTION

1. THE HARDWARE
How the digital camera works
CCD/CMOS and resolution
Storage cards and readers

2. THE DIGITAL ADVANTAGE
Instant review
Erasable pictures
Digital ISO
Automatic White Balance

3. PHOTOGRAPHIC OPERATION
The PASM dial and Program Modes
Aperture Priority
Shutter Priority
Manual Mode
Metering & exposure compensation
Electronic flash

4. DIGITAL DARKROOM
Photo editing
Printing and DPI

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

• Language: English
• Publisher: Duncan Evans
• Release date: Jul 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476211718

Duncan Evans

Duncan Evans LRPS is a member of the Royal Photographic Society and the published author of 12 photography books. He is a journalist, photographer and author, working in photography and hi-tech fields. Duncan first got involved with digital photography in 1999 and was the Editor of Digital Photo User, one of the first magazines covering the rise of the format from overpriced novelty to essential photography tool. The digital books on sale here are the result of 12 years experience, reviewing, writing and authoring in this field.

Book preview

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

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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