Digital Photography For Dummies

Photographers! Your guide is here! The demand for high-quality photographs is higher than ever. Whether you’re building your influencer rating online, capturing the moments of a child’s life, or are looking for ways to improve your skills, photography know-how is a must-have skill. Digital Photography For Dummies helps you do more than pointing, shooting, and hoping for the best or slapping a filter on a camera phone shot. This book introduces you to the camera settings and techniques that separate okay pictures from frame-worthy portraits. It then explains how to apply those skills to capturing your own portraits, landscape shots, and high-action photos. Develop a better eye for image composition Discover how to light photos better, including using natural light Learn to get quick results in auto settings or take full control in manual mode Discover the elements of exposure and how they influence the final product Find instructions on taking a formal or casual portrait Apply basic editing techniques to finalize your image Go beyond photo apps and apply the techniques pros use for their images. Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Introduction About This Book How This Book Is Organized Part 1: Fast Track to Super Snaps Part 2: Taking Your Photography to the Next Level Part 3: Pro Tips for Capturing Specific Subjects Part 4: After the Shot Part 5: The Part of Tens Beyond the Book Icons Used in This Book Where to Go from Here Part 1 Fast Track to Super Snaps Chapter 1 Choosing the Right Camera Choosing the Right Level of Camera How much control do you want? How important is picture quality? Do you want to use multiple lenses? Looking at Lenses Camera compatibility Lens focal length Prime versus zoom lenses Lens aperture range Minimum focusing distance Lens weight and size Lens quality Reviewing a Few Final Camera Features Shooting modes Image stabilization Viewfinder: Optical or electronic? Video-recording capabilities Memory-card features Convenience features So . . . Is It Time for a New Camera? Chapter 2 Starting Out Right: Setup Do’s and Don’ts Preparing the Camera Buying and using memory cards Preserving battery power Working with interchangeable lenses Choosing Initial Camera Settings Selecting the exposure (shooting) mode Setting the shutter-release mode Setting photo resolution Setting the file type (JPEG or Raw) Looking at a Few More Setup Options Chapter 3 Shooting Your First Photos (and Movies) Looking at Automatic Shooting Modes Shooting in Auto Mode Stepping Up to Scene Modes Portrait mode Landscape mode Close-up mode Sports mode Recording Movies in Auto Mode Enabling movie mode Reviewing recording settings Recording a movie in Auto mode Part 2 Taking Your Photography to the Next Level Chapter 4 Starting to See Like a Photographer Exploring Composition Basics Dead center is deadly boring Create movement through the frame Eliminate clutter Leave some “head room” Using Depth of Field to Artistic Advantage Capturing Motion: To Blur or Not to Blur? Becoming a Student of Light Exploring New Subjects and Angles Find a new angle Notice reflections, patterns, and textures Look beyond the usual suspects Chapter 5 Taking Control of Exposure Understanding Exposure Introducing the exposure trio: Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO Doing the exposure balancing act Adjusting f-stop, Shutter Speed, and ISO Taking advantage of exposure guides Changing the Metering mode Using “priority” exposure modes Adjusting Autoexposure Results Applying exposure compensation AE Lock (autoexposure lock) Expanding Tonal Range Bracketing Exposures Chapter 6 Adding Flash and Other Lights Enabling and Disabling Built-In Flash Comparing Built-In and External Flashes Pros and cons of built-in flashes Pros and cons of external flash heads Adjusting Flash Power Exploring Special Flash Modes Flash with red-eye reduction Slow-sync flash Rear-curtain sync Improving Outdoor Photos with Flash Considering Continuous Lighting Setting Up a Small Lighting Studio Looking at Simpler (and Cheaper) Lighting Setups Chapter 7 Manipulating Focus and Color Understanding Autofocus Options Enabling autofocus Locating your camera’s focus points Selecting a focus point or zone Choosing focus lock or continuous AF Using the right autofocus technique Focusing Manually Diagnosing Focus Problems My entire picture is blurry The wrong thing is in focus Moving subjects are blurry The camera won’t focus at all Playing with Depth of Field Controlling Color RGB: A new way of thinking about color Choosing between sRGB and Adobe RGB Using white balance to adjust color Looking at Picture Presets Shooting Raw for More Color Control Part 3 Pro Tips for Capturing Specific Subjects Chapter 8 Shooting Frame-Worthy Portraits Starting with a Classic Portrait Recipe Creating Good Portrait Lighting Shoot indoor portraits by window light Catch light with a reflector Lessen the chances of red-eye in flash portraits Try slow-sync flash for softer flash lighting Shoot a subject in silhouette Use flash to fill in shadows outdoors Building a Better Backdrop Capturing More Memorable Portraits Chapter 9 Photographing Action Choosing an Action Plan Freezing Action Following the classic action recipe Shooting subjects “moving in place” Improving your odds of freezing action Blurring Motion Panning for Cool Background Effects Chapter 10 Taking in the Scenery Reviewing a Few Basics Composition is critical Lens focal length matters (a lot) Remember the impact of depth of field Pick the right exposure mode Pack a lens filter (or two or three) Taking a Panoramic View Photographing Tall Structures Catching the Night Lights Capturing Small Wonders Part 4 After the Shot Chapter 11 Discovering Cool Playback Features Switching to Playback Mode Adjusting the Playback Display Getting a Close-Up Look at a Photo Displaying Thumbnails and Calendars Viewing Shooting Settings (Metadata) Reading histograms Displaying highlight alerts (“blinkies”) Rating, Protecting, and Deleting Files Rating files Protecting photos Deleting files Checking Out In-Camera Editing Tools Viewing Photos on a TV Chapter 12 Downloading, Editing, and Sharing Photos Sorting through Photo Software Basic (and free) programs Advanced (and not free) options Downloading Your Images Looking at connection options Completing the download process Preserving Your Files Converting Raw Files Looking at Your Printing Options Avoiding Printing Pitfalls Checking resolution: Do you have enough pixels? Getting print and monitor colors in sync Preparing Pictures for Online Sharing Sizing photos for screen display Saving files in the JPEG format Part 5 The Part of Tens Chapter 13 Ten Fixes for Common Photo Flaws Discover a Few Easy Exposure Fixes Take Steps to Avoid Blurry Pictures Scan the Frame Before You Shoot Blur a Busy Background Level the Horizon Crop Away Excess Background Solve Color Miscues Turn Down the Noise Deal with Dust Spots and Lens Flare Watch Out for Weird Halos Chapter 14 Ten Accessories to Enhance Your Photography Invest in a Good Camera Bag Pick a Sturdy Tripod Consider Smaller Stability Solutions Find a More Comfortable Camera Strap Get a Better View of Your Monitor Download Some Cool Apps Calibrate Your Monitor with Precision Dive In with a Waterproof Housing Treat Your Wrist to a Graphics Tablet Pick Up a Portable Printer Index EULA Your digital camera can do so much! And Digital Photography For Dummies, 6th Edition helps you shoot, edit, and share great photos. This full-color guide is packed with stuff that's not in your camera manual -- tips on upgrading your equipment, working with focus and exposure, shooting like a pro, organizing and enhancing your images, and printing them or getting them online. Are you already you're hip-deep in images? Here's how to manage them. This guide helps you learn what you need for the way you take pictures, how to prolong battery life, the pros and cons of digital SLR, and more. Baffled by the lingo? The glossary explains all those terms and acronyms. You'll also learn to: Set up your camera for basic shooting and learn to use automatic mode, common scene modes, and all the camera's features Manage depth of field, exposure, and white balance, and make easy fixes with your photo editor Compose your photos for better pictures Easily transfer your pictures to the computer, print them, or distribute them electronically Edit your images and fix common problems like dim photos and red-eye Send photos to a cell phone Organize your pictures so you can find what you want Decide if your camera needs updating, what equipment you need, and what your digital darkroom should have Rich, full-color examples show what you can achieve. Digital Photography For Dummies, 6th Edition will make your digital camera a lot more fun!

Photographers! Your guide is here!

The demand for high-quality photographs is higher than ever. Whether you're building your influencer rating online, capturing the moments of a child's life, or are looking for ways to improve your skills, photography know-how is a must-have skill.

Digital Photography For Dummies helps you do more than pointing, shooting, and hoping for the best or slapping a filter on a camera phone shot. This book introduces you to the camera settings and techniques that separate okay pictures from frame-worthy portraits. It then explains how to apply those skills to capturing your own portraits, landscape shots, and high-action photos.

• Develop a better eye for image composition
• Discover how to light photos better, including using natural light
• Learn to get quick results in auto settings or take full control in manual mode
• Discover the elements of exposure and how they influence the final product
• Find instructions on taking a formal or casual portrait
• Apply basic editing techniques to finalize your image

Go beyond photo apps and apply the techniques pros use for their images.

Photographers! Your guide is here! The demand for high-quality photographs is higher than ever. Whether you re building your influencer rating online, capturing the moments of a child s life, or are looking for ways to improve your skills, photography know-how is a must-have skill. Digital Photography For Dummies helps you do more than pointing, shooting, and hoping for the best or slapping a filter on a camera phone shot. This book introduces you to the camera settings and techniques that separate okay pictures from frame-worthy portraits. It then explains how to apply those skills to capturing your own portraits, landscape shots, and high-action photos. Develop a better eye for image composition, discover how to light photos better, including using natural light, learn to get quick results in auto settings or take full control in manual mode, discover the elements of exposure and how they influence the final product, find instructions on taking a formal or casual portrait, apply basic editing techniques to finalize your image, and go beyond photo apps and apply the techniques pros use for their images **Photographers! Your guide is here!** The demand for high-quality photographs is higher than ever. Whether you’re building your influencer rating online, capturing the moments of a child’s life, or are looking for ways to improve your skills, photography know-how is a must-have skill. __Digital Photography For Dummies__ helps you do more than pointing, shooting, and hoping for the best or slapping a filter on a camera phone shot. This book introduces you to the camera settings and techniques that separate okay pictures from frame-worthy portraits. It then explains how to apply those skills to capturing your own portraits, landscape shots, and high-action photos. * Develop a better eye for image composition * Discover how to light photos better, including using natural light * Learn to get quick results in auto settings or take full control in manual mode * Discover the elements of exposure and how they influence the final product * Find instructions on taking a formal or casual portrait * Apply basic editing techniques to finalize your image Take the fast route to better pictures with this guide packed with the advice of expert photographer Julie Adair King. It doesn't matter if you're shooting with a basic point-and-shoot camera, a pro camera, or the camera on your phone, the insights in this book help you get better results. Start with applying basic composition rules while you use your camera's automatic setting then move on to take full control of focus, color, and exposure