Digital Camera Buying Guide – part 4

Here is the final post on my whitepaper on how to buy a digital camera. You can download the entire compiled whitepaper here. If you have any further questions, post it in the comments below or send me a message.

Part 1 covers:

Point-and-shoot or DSLR? (the basics)
Budget
Response Time and Speed
Zoom


Part 2 covers:

Resolution
The Sensor & Processor
Macro
Screen
Manual Options

Part 3 covers:

ISO
Durability
Battery
Size, Shape and Weight

Part 4 (this post) covers:

Flash
Memory Cards
Other Options
Video


Flash

I tend to ignore the flash that is prebuilt into the camera. All P&S cameras have a built in flash. Not all flash is good though. Most P&S cameras have a fixed flash. In other words, it is close to the lens and points forward and unchangeable. The problem with straight on flash like that is that it is terrible for Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Camera parts, photography | 3 Comments »

3 Comments

The importance of lighting direction for tone

Lighting is really what makes a photograph. And as a subset of lighting in general is directional lighting. The direction your light source comes from makes a big difference, especially in the tone of a photo. So here for you I have a multi-directional example of how light can look. I also did a couple from further and further behind the head to see how the light wraps around to the face.

These are shot with a single strobe in a variety of directions, but a consistent distance from the face. There is also a Canon 580EX II Flash on camera pointed to the side with the catchlight panel pulled out, just to add some sparkle in the reflection of the eyes. And yes, that’s me making faces for the camera. I removed the color just to put more emphasis on how the light itself is working. Below I will go into a little more detail.

Light direction from all angles
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in photography | 3 Comments »

3 Comments