Digital photography has been a creative outlet for me. I
never realized that so much artistic thought can encompass a world so
technology driven. Photography is
no longer the untimely task of chemically exposing film, but rather an
innovative computer based technology that uses sensors and lenses to capture
the unexpected beauty of the world. The Digital Age is upon us and so is the
increasing use of digital photography.
There are three
different kinds of digital cameras: digital SLR cameras, compact digicams, and
cellular camera phones. This semester I used a cellular camera phone and a
digital SLR camera this semester. I got to know my cameras very well. My
cellular camera phone was convenient when I did not have my digital camera;
however, both had similar features and capabilities that provided high quality
photos. This proves to me that camera phones feature more creative controls and
functions that produce better images as technology advances.
As Dr. Hart always says, “You don't take a photograph.
You make a photograph." No matter if
it is film or digital, this concept still applies. Digital photography has made
the arduous and chemically- driven task of making a photograph not only simpler
but easy enough for even the most amateur to master. However, there are
countless terms such as LCD, EXIF, parallax, composition, previsualizing, JPEG,
TIFF, raw, pixel, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, f-stop, white balance, and
macro mode that a photographer must now remember. There is so much more to
taking and publishing a photograph than the olds days. There is so much more to
know and learn.
In order to make a photograph, I’ve learned that you have to use the helpful guidelines
of the rules of composition. One
rule that I’ve learned to live by if all else fails is the rule of thirds. This
gives me a grid to work with and compose more compelling photos that have more
tension, energy, and interest. Simply placing the subject in the middle just
doesn’t cut it anymore. The photograph below illustrates this point. I took the
shot during a panel discussion during MCJR week. I positioned my camera so that
the panelist was in the first third of the grid from the right in my
viewfinder. He is now the subject of interest, which entices the viewer to
wonder who he is talking to.
Another rule that I like to use is framing. Framing draws attention to a
focal point, which can give the photograph layer, depth, content and layers. A
frame does not have to have four sides or be an actual frame, but rather
objects or shapes that block a side. Below is a basketball I saw under a small
end table. The end table legs and patterned carpet provided a nice frame that
opposed the rather round ball. This drew more attention to the ball.
One
key thing that I learned is the magic of photo editing. With the advancement of
technology, there has even been expansion in altering photos via different
effects and enhancements. Nowadays, an original picture can be easily altered
into a totally different image once it hits a computer. Below are two photos
that I altered and combined in order to create a ghost image and a UFO.
Exciting stuff!
As
you can see, photography is continually progressing towards a technology-based
industry. People are seldomly using the older form due to the lack of convenience,
ease, and adjustability. The Digital Age has now provided photographers with
ways to capture images effortlessly but with more technicalities. But as I have
said, photography is a never-ending learning process. Pointing and shooting is
easy to do but actual composition is studied and learned.
