Take Great Photos During the Holidays

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Confused by all the strange symbols on your camera? Frustrated by the instructions in your camera manual? This brief introduction to digital terms and processes will help you understand the most important features of digital cameras so you can get the most out of your photography:

Megapixel
This term describes the number of pixels (or picture elements) in the camera's recording sensor or "digital film" chip. A 1-megapixel chip has a total of one million pixels, which are calculated by multiplying the number of horizontal pixels by the number of vertical pixels. The higher the pixel count, the better the quality of your photos.

Optical vs. Digital Zoom
Digital cameras can have two types of image zooms: optical or digital. An optical zoom works like a conventional film camera, in that the camera lens increases the image magnification up to its maximum zoom range (i.e., a 3X optical zoom lens magnifies the image by three times the original). In contrast, a digital zoom uses built-in software to increase the size of the pixels, resulting in a lower-quality image. For the highest-quality photos, you should always use optical zoom and avoid using the digital zoom whenever possible.

TIP!
Get closer to your subjects
When they can't get close enough to their subject, many new digital camera users take the picture and then crop in on the photo using digital photo software. This often results in a nice close-up photo on the computer screen, but it also removes pixels from the image, thus resulting in a lower quality photo. Cropped photos will be lower-quality than non-cropped photos when printed. You can avoid this dilemma by simply standing closer to your subjects!

ISO
ISO (what used to be known as ASA) refers to the "light sensitivity" of the digital chip or sensor. Lower ISO numbers (100) require a lot of light to record a picture, while higher numbers (400 - 800) can record in relatively low light. If your camera gives you a choice of ISO settings, they will most likely include: Auto (the camera makes the selection), 100, 200 and 400. In most cases, it's best to rely on the Auto setting to choose your ISO. Also, beware of 400 or higher, because the result is often grainy pictures.

Image Quality
Most digital cameras give you a choice of image quality settings, which can either be selected through the on-screen menu system or by pressing an external button. While the symbols for Image Quality may vary, most cameras use "SQ" or "Basic" for "Standard Quality" (only good for e-mail), "HQ" or "Normal" for "High Quality", and "SHQ" or "Fine" for "Super High Quality." Although you won't be able to fit as many photos on your memory card at "High Quality" or "Super High Quality," we highly recommend using these settings (especially if you plan to order prints).

White Balance
Different light sources produce different color temperatures, each of which can produce unwanted color-casts in your pictures. White balance is the function your camera uses to determine the color temperature of the surrounding light (by measuring the purity of the whites) and makes adjustments to eliminate the unwanted color cast. White Balance settings, which are accessed through the on-screen Set-Up or Shooting menus, usually include auto, daylight, incandescent and fluorescent.

Exposure Modes
Most digital cameras have several exposure modes available, including Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual. Program mode is like a "point and shoot" camera, in that the camera set the aperture and shutter speed so the photographer can concentrate on the subject matter. More advanced users may use Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority or Manual. You may want to control the shutter speed yourself when photographing moving subjects. If you need stop-action of a fast moving subject, you need to use a fast shutter speed like 1/1000 of a second. When you turn your flash off, the camera needs a slower shutter speed to allow more light to hit the sensors. If your camera is set slower than 1/60 of a second, it is common to see blurry photos because of camera shake. Use a tripod at shutter speeds below 1/60.

Shutter Delay
The time a digital camera takes to capture a photo once you press the shutter button is longer than a typical film camera because it needs to focus and set the exposure. Many new digital camera users get frustrated because they miss the photo when the ideal moment passes by. You can avoid this by pre-focusing your camera: aim at your subject matter and hold the shutter button down halfway. Then, at the right moment, fully press the button and you'll have a better chance of capturing the picture you want. The shutter delay can also cause blurry photos when the photographer moves the camera right after depressing the shutter button. Hold the camera steady for a few seconds after taking any photo to assure a steady camera and a sharper photo.

Exposure Compensation
This is a common method of overriding the camera's built-in meter readings in order to lighten or darken images during exposure. Also known as EV Compensation, Exposure Compensation is normally accessed via the on-screen shooting menu, and allows you to select the degree of compensation in increments of +/- 1/3 or 1/2 exposure values (or Stops). In the majority of consumer digital cameras, this feature replaces Shutter Speed or Aperture (lens opening) selection, which are automatically controlled by the camera.

Macro vs. Infinity Mode
Most digital cameras provide a lens setting for close-up, or macro, photography, which allows you to focus on objects that fall closer than two feet from the lens. This setting is ideal for photographing close-ups of flowers or small subjects with lots of detail. Many cameras also offer a long distance, or infinity, mode, which focuses on subjects from several feet away to the horizon (ideal for scenic photography). The macro mode is usually identified by a picture of a small flower, while the infinity mode is identified by the "infinity" symbol (a horizontal figure 8) or a small mountain range. If your camera offers only a macro mode feature, it's usually because the Infinity setting is automatically assumed when the macro setting is turned off.

Flash Modes
Digital cameras with built-in flash units often provide several selectable flash modes. In Automatic mode, the camera decides when flash is necessary. In Fill Flash mode, the flash goes off with every exposure, no matter what lighting conditions exist to eliminate any facial shadows. In Flash Off mode, the flash does not go off, even in dark settings. Red-Eye Reduction has a short pre-flash, which helps to reduce the subject's pupil size before the final flash. Slow Synch (or Slow Synchro) is similar to a special effect, because it triggers the flash as usual, but leaves the lens aperture open a little longer. This is a nice option when photographing people at night when you want the flash to expose your subjects, but also capture the lights in the surrounding scene.