Digital photography is becoming a very popular way to record memories. In this episode, we learn how digital photography works, how to choose a digital camera, and how to touch up digital photos after we've taken them.
Guests
David Husom
David Husom
David Husom is a lead instructor at the College of Continuing Education Web Designer Institute, a 10 week professional program in Web design. He also teaches a credit version of the program for full time University students. Along with teaching at the U of MN Husom is a digital media specialist, photographer and a partner in Husom & Rose Photographics near Red Wing Minnesota.
He has an M.F.A. in Photography and Film from the University of Minnesota. His large format color photographs have been exhibited widely including the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and published in numerous publications including Aperture magazine, Architecture Minnesota and Minnesota Monthly. He is the recipient of three Minnesota State Arts Board grants and a McKnight grant. His digital media and Web design work has won numerous awards including the SIGGRAPH Electronic Theatre award.
He has over 25 years of teaching experience and has done corporate training for 3M, Imation, Apple Computer and Kodak. He is a frequent conference speaker including: ImageWorld Orlando, Society for Photographic Education New Orleans, Reinventing the Photographer Chicago, and Strictly Business and Midwest Graphics Minneapolis.
Bob Hanson
Bob Hanson
Bob Hanson is an Information Technology Specialist at the University of Minnesota. Although his non-technical wife calls it play, he works very hard at researching new technologies.
For Your Files
David tells us that for standard 4x6 prints, 3 to 4 megapixel cameras will do an excellent job. These cameras are usually priced between $300-$500 and can produce very fine quality 8x10 prints.
David also said 80% of digital photos are processed on ink jet printers. If you are going to do that, remember two things:
- Use good quality paper. A high quality glossy photo paper can produce a rich, colorful image. Printing it on standard 81/2x11 bond paper is going to look pretty dull.
- Remember to look for the word "archival" on ink. Light and humidity can damage color prints, but keeping them behind glass can help protect them.
DPI
Dots per inch, a measure of image resolution.
GIF
An image file format designed to display line art on the Web.
JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group. This group established a standard method for compressing and decompressing digitized photos or images.
Megapixel
A measure of the resolution of an image or image sensor (such as a digital camera) which means "one million pixels." The larger this number is, the clearer the image will be and the larger it can be printed.
Pixel
A single dot on a computer display or in a digital image.
Resolution
The number of pixels per inch in an image, or the number of dots
per inch used by an output device.