Learning Your Digital Camera can be Fun!

In the film world, photography was relatively simple for the photographer. We selected our film, shot our photos, developed the film (either ourselves or at a lab), edited the photos, and finished with a final product. We had a choice in film speed, and type of film. For creative affects, we had filters for our lenses, camera mounted flashes and other gadgets.

With digital photography, cameras are programmed with all this information. Film has become a media card (Compact Flash, SD, XD, etc.). Digital Photography is defined by processors and megapixels, instead film brand and speed. Instead of the photo lab developing our pictures, we have computer software (Photoshop, Lightroom, Elements, Picasso, Gimp and others). We can print our photos at home on our printers or send them to a photo lab.

So, where do we begin with our digital cameras?

copyright Karen Ulvestad
Kodak Slide Film scanned to a Digital file.

For some, the transition from Film to Digital is easy. For others, it is a struggle, and can be confusing. I’ve worked with all ages (children, teens, adults & seniors) and levels (beginning & intermediate) photographers with understanding the functions of their Digital cameras. Each person has a different way to learn the complex menus and functions of modern cameras, and need individual attention to learning the information.

The photo above was taken in 1997 with Kodak slide film and scanned to a digital file. It was taken at Arches National Park, and all the elements came together for a wonderful photograph. The photo below was taken in 2005 with a Canon 10D digital camera. It was taken at Arches National Park too. Both of these images were shot in Manual mode.

From the Digital Camera to the Digital Darkroom Intensive is a one day (6 hour) hands-on venture into camera operations and workflow for digital photography. I offer this class once a year at the Pacific Northwest Art School on Whidbey Island. Here is a link to their website and the class.

Join my workshop for a fun-filled day of learning Digital Photography and the Digital Darkroom. The last photo is John Day Fossil Beds, and was taken in 2012 with a Canon 5D Mark II.

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

copyright Karen Ulvestad
Canon 10D (6.3 megapixels)
copyright Karen Ulvestad
Canon 5D Mark II (21.3 megapixels)

What’s in a Digital Darkroom?

Often times, I get asked if I “Photoshop” my photographs.  If it was a film image, it would be like asking me if I took my film to a photo lab, which I worked at one for a couple of years.  Our job as employees was to give the customer the best photograph possible from their film.  We would color correct the prints, before they left the lab.

In the digital age, there is a lot of concern about “manipulating” photographs.  In truth, all photographs are a manipulation of a scene through composition, and use of exposure.

So, what is a Digital Darkroom?

A Digital Darkroom is a software, such as Photoshop, Elements, or Aperture, where a photographer can color correct his/her photographs.  There are tools to remove dust spots, filters to enhance color and cropping tools.  What comes out at the end is the photograph the photographer wanted to take.

To answer the question. . .yes. . .I use Photoshop.  I gather the best possible data with my camera, then polish it into the photograph I saw through my lens.

Here is an example of what computer software can do. . .

copyright Karen UlvestadIn this photo, I used Photoshop to remove dust and correct color.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

In this photo, I started with Photoshop to remove dust and correct color.  Then, I used Topaz filters to reduce haze, and further enhance the color.

Happy shooting, and More Later. . .Karen