Digital Photography for Dummies- Fundamentals & Benefits of Digital

Photography

In this article, the first on my series of articles on digital photography for dummies, I am going to share information with you on basics of digital photography. I will also discuss about some of the advantages of digital photography to explain why and how digital photography is better than the normal film photography.

How normal film photography works?

In normal film photography chemical processes are used for exposing and capturing images. The camera body and lens allow a controlled amount of light to come into contact with the film. The film is a simple plastic sheet which is coated with a light sensitive chemical compound. After film is adequately exposed to light an invisible image is formed. The image negative becomes visible when the film is developed by applying chemicals. Thereafter the negative can be enlarged and printed on photographic paper.

The way digital photography works

In case of digital photography the film is replaced with a light sensitive electronic device known as an image sensor. Made up of millions of photoelectric devices these sensors convert light into an electrical signal. In digital cameras mostly 2 types of image sensors are used. These are

CCD -charge coupled device and

CMOS-Complementary metal-oxide-semi conductor sensors Strength of the electrical signal depends upon the intensity of the light that exposes the image sensor. These electrical signals are then processed with the help of a series of complex electronic circuits. Finally these are stored internally or externally in a flash memory in a standard image file format such as a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) file. These files reproduce an image which can be printed on

photographic paper after being processed by a computer. Just like a camera file, digital image sensors too are available in different sizes. Small sensors are found in cell phone cameras, small point and shoot cameras. This type of sensor normally produce image of a lower quality as compared to the ones found in a digital single lens reflex camera (DLSR) which has a larger sensor.

Given below is a diagram detailing different parts of a standard DLSR camera

Advantages of Digital Cameras

No need to develop films

Gone are the days when precious time and energy used to be spent in developing the roll of film in a dark room. All that you need to with DLSR Cameras is to click a picture and transfer it to a computer with the help of a camera's data cable. You can print it in a printer at home or take it to a photo store in a CD for taking good quality pictures!

Capacity for storing data

Almost 10000 photos can be stored in a normal DLSR camera. Depending upon the size of the memory card this capacity can be greater or smaller. Even in case the storage limit is exhausted a larger capacity card or back up facility can be easily used.

Speed of operation

In the good old cameras one had to wind a camera film after clicking photographs. This meant additional time and effort being spent in getting good pictures. In case of digital cameras there is no need to do any of this. Auto focus and image stabilizing features are already inbuilt in digital cameras. All that you need to do is to point and shoot without worrying about your subject not being in focus or your hands shaking!

Special Features

Gone are the days when clicking pictures in the dark used to require a high degree of skill and experience. Thanks to DLSR cameras which come with special night mode features anyone can take pictures in the night also. Similarly some of the high-end digital cameras are equipped with inbuilt motion detection mechanisms which adjust moving images. This ensures that the image is not blurred and is very useful for clicking images of moving objects.

Editing and Sharing with ease

Editing software in DLSR cameras enable users to upload images to a computer or erase unwanted objects, images, colors from a photograph. You can share photos using social media. Since you can upload pictures almost instantly, it is easy to put up photographs for public viewing on an image uploading site or an online store.

Check image quality

Digital cameras enable users to view an image as soon as they click it. This enables users to delete the picture if the quality of picture is not too great.

Video Recording

Inbuilt video recording features are there in most digital cameras these days. This gives you the option of recording a video instead of clicking a picture if you really want to.

Green alternative

Film processing with the help of toxic chemicals is not eco friendly. Thanks to digital cameras we can bid farewell to the erstwhile film processing methods and go for a greener option.

Digital cameras are technologically way above and very advanced as compared to ordinary film cameras. Ease of use, low operation costs, option of checking picture quality in advance before printing the picture and convenience of sharing make it an excellent tool for people like me who are completely new to photography.

I had been gifted a DSLR camera for my graduation last year. Although I like taking pictures, I had no idea how to use this new camera and how to get into photography. Honestly I was intimidated and a little apprehensive about using my new, fancy camera. I looked out for online help on digital photography for dummies. I even considered enrolling for photography classes Denver based ones which was close to where I lived.

Finally I chanced upon Photography Masterclass- an online course which helped me take mind blowing

photos with the help of my new camera. This online photographer’s course covered everything I needed

to know about taking wonderful photos. Thanks to this online video course I got to learn the basics of

photography and can proudly say today that I can click good quality pictures from my new camera.

Click Here to Watch a Free Video Presentation on What Photography Masterclass Program is all

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