search  current discussion  categories  techniques - photography 

digital photos forever

updated wed 22 feb 06

 

mel jacobson on tue 21 feb 06


i think we are all stuck with
new things to learn.

it is critical if you are going to publish your
images in books or magazines.

we all know that the instruction manuals
for digital photography/cameras are just
a bit larger than the holy bible, but
our work is cut out for us.

just ask sherman hall what is the biggest
problem at cm.

`bad pix` unpublishable images.
bad digital junk.

so. take a course, read the book, over and over.
get good software like photoshop and learn a few
of the 156,000 tasks.

i am using arcsoft photostudio 5 and find
it easy to use and simple to manipulate.

in most cases you will not need high end phototshop.
i have it, but do not use it any longer. just too complex.

i have several digital cameras, just bit the bullet and
paid the freight, just like a new wheel or pug mill.
a part of doing your craft.
i bought a nikon d-70 use it `raw` for most images
for publication. have a short lens.

i love my canon sure/shot. use a cellphone carrier
on my hip for quick action.

i am now using sunlite florescent bulbs in my photo
lay out. the image that was published for our
`iron saga` brochure was shot - F24 at 14 seconds.
now, that had depth of field. low light, long exposure.
the gal from the los angeles grahics arts company that
does the brochure said it was a `kick as photo, as good
as she ever gets`. now, that made me smile.

for all publication work depth of field is the biggest issue.
focus, all the way from front to back. all around the rim. that means
slow, slow
speed, and closed shutter. `auto` settings with digital just
don't work for that sort of photo.

i am just learning. it is a long curve. but, each of us
as to start someplace...or do the hire. just like throwing.
start at the beginning. move on up.
(to hire the work done for the iron saga article and brochures
would have cost us more than the price of the new nikon d-70.
a lot more.)

we are also lucky here on clayart to have
some dandy folks that have experience and will help us
along....just talked to karen t on the phone...she was very
pleased with tony ferguson's workshop. critical for her kids
to learn. she even had some stand back faculty...scoffers, that
showed up and learned a thing or two. nice.

i am getting `into` digital. it is fun and exciting. and it is
not going to go away. won't sell my big nikon f. slides
are almost dead. but there is still a little breath in them.
(in fact, when i do serious digital work, i use the slide camera
as back up. just need two tripods. lights work for both.)
i have a nice little one legged bipod that i use with the canon
on `auto` for quick shots for my website. easy as can be. i often
just hold a piece of scrim/ white fabric a few inches from the flash.
diffusion is good.
mel



from mel/minnetonka.mn.usa
website: http://my.pclink.com/~melpots3