And what are those settings? So glad you asked:

• ISO at 400
• If possible, don’t use “auto, “ use “P” if available.
• Set White Balance (WB) to auto or AWB
• Set image quality, sometime referred to as resolution, to the highest, or best, setting available.

If this list is Greek to you, or you would like to learn more about digital photography, The Cameras, Computers and Cyberspace courses still have some openings for private and and (small) group lessons.  In January and February 2010, we are offering a 2 for 1 special—bring a friend and pay the single student price.

Call or email now to reserve your preferred time before the prime dates are filled! Just click the contact link in the menu bar.

As a professional photographer, I know that a photograph that takes the viewer back in time will evoke the emotions of the day it was captured, and allow for hopefully a pleasant stroll down memory lane.  But as I recently was reviewing my own archive of images, I was taken by surprise at just how much of an impact such photos can have. And it reinforced for me just how important it is to preserve in photographs not only the milestones in life, but the little things that make up the fabric of that life too.

I’d like to share some snapshots of scenes that make up the fabric of our life here at the Viv Pix home. Our favorite images are of our dear pets. Some have gone to wait for us at the Rainbow Bridge, and others are now senior citizens who don’t have the strength to frolic like they used to. But these shots certainly make me smile as they take me back to a time when they did.

Little Spook up a tree–she loved to climb anything–trees, ladders–often ending up on the roof calling for rescue.

And Hogan, still a swimmer, will go anywhere to retrieve a stick, especially if he has to swim for it.  In his prime, he would leave quite a wake!

And as badly a Boris wanted to steal the stick from Hogan, the last thing he wanted to do was actually swim! Wading was ok, but absolutely no swimming!  That’s why we gave him the nickname “Coast Guard.”

I’d like to emphasize that although these are not the best for captures for many technical reasons, they are among my favorites. Yes there is a time to call upon the pros to capture images of life’s milestones, no matter how humble, and you will be very glad you hired a photographer for those moments.  But don’t allow yourself to miss these little moments so fleeting, but as time goes by, so precious too.

What’s the answer?  Well first let’s talk about why the lights on the tree are lost in the photo.  Quite simply, the on camera flash is responding to the need for light to properly expose the shot.  Properly expose according to the settings in the camera, that is.  The camera is set to give the scene lots of light. It doesn’t know that you actually WANT to have a moody, soft glow to capture the pretty lights on the tree.  So we have to trick it. 

Depending on the features your camera has, you can simply turn the flash off and expose for the lights on the tree, or you can use the night portrait feature.  But bear in mind that this low light setting may also require a slow shutter speed, so be prepared to put the camera on a tripod or steady surface and activate the shutter remotely or with the self-timer setting.

So, this year, your holiday photos will actually show off the beautiful lighting you worked so hard to display.

Happy Holidays!

Regardless of what cool features your chosen model has, they will mean nothing if they don’t produce good images.

Here are a  few tips to keep in mind as you shop for the camera that will be the best value.

1. When it comes to megapixels, more is not necessarily better. In the early days of digital photography, improved resolution was essential to producing images that would print well at larger formats such as 11×14 or 16×20. But that additional resolution, measured in megapixels, also can impair the quality of low-light images by producing digital noise—those ugly red, green and blue speckles that you usually will find in the darker areas of the image. Plus, the higher megapixel count fills the memory card faster. Models in the 5 to 8 megapixel range will provide more than enough resolution to produce good quality enlargements, so go for the lower count, even if you can’t find anything as low as 8 MP.
2. Optical zoom is the only zoom that matters. Forget the digital zoom.  You know the big sticker on the box that reads 3x optical zoom, 10X DIGITAL ZOOM? Well that digital zoom is really just the camera’s best guest at what a close-up should be, based on the information it receives from the 3x OPTICAL zoom.  You may get lucky once in a while, but most of the time, the digital zoom range will produce pixelated, soft images that won’t be worth the paper it’s printed on when you enlarge it.
3. Choose a model with an Optical Viewfinder. In the race to produce thinner, smaller cameras with larger LCD screens, one of the unfortunate casualties is the optical viewfinder.  That large LCD screen is great for reviewing your captured shots, but when you must rely on it to compose a shot in bright sunlight, you’ll be guessing at best. Do you want to leave that once in a lifetime shot to a best guess in an LCD viewfinder you can’t see? Optical viewfinders are increasingly more difficult to find, especially on the smaller, less expensive models. If you find a model with one, seriously consider buying it, no matter when the other features, becausewhen all is said and done, it is about getting the shot.
4. Look for manual override options. It is quite possible that you may never want or need to switch away from the automatic mode, but at the very least you want to be able to disable the flash for those situations when flash is not permitted.  Also, if you find this camera ignites the shutterbug in you, then the ability to take control of the settings will allow you to express your creative side as you learn and grow as a photographer.
5. Buy a spare battery and memory card. When you finally find the right camera, you don’t want to be stopped dead in your tracks by a dead battery or a full memory card just as the good stuff starts happening. So, spring for an extra battery, rechargeable of course, and a memory card, and keep them ready to use.

It’s easy to be confused and overwhelmed when you start your search for a digital camera, so try to keep in mind that ultimate goal for your camera is to capture images that will preserve your memories. Don’t let the gimmicks trick you into choosing a model that will leave you wanting more in the end.

Happy shopping!!

We’ll be doing things a bit different next year, with the biggest change that the classes will be held at the Recreation Center instead of the Southold High School.  We have been grateful for the use of the High School’s computer room, but as the course has evolved to meet the needs of the students, it has become less than ideal.

The first four week session will cover the real basics—downloading images to the computer, organizing and tagging image files, and sharing to social networking sites or online galleries. We’ll use Picasa, the free program offered by Google. The second four week session will cover the basics of the digital darkroom using Photoshop Elements and Picasa to perform basic editing and retouching.

Classes fill up very quickly, so mark your calendars and keep an eye out for the Southold Recreation Dept. brochure.

Hope to see you next year!