Digital Slr Pro Secrets

by Busch,David D.

• ISBN13: 9781598630190
• ISBN10: 1598630199
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-12-20
• Publisher: Cengage Learning PTR

Summary

This book is aimed at providing advanced techniques to digital camera buffs, as well as business people, using the new breed of digital SLR in their work environment. For anyone who has learned most of a digital camera?s basic capabilities and who now wonders what to do with the enhanced features found in digital SLR cameras, this is a dream guide to pixel proficiency. It is packed not only with tips, tricks, and sophisticated techniques, but also easy-to-complete, useful projects that will allow you to do more with your cameras. Although the techniques lean toward being advanced, there will be enough grounding in basics that any serious photographer can benefit from this book. More than just a general digital camera book, this is a book about digital SLR photography: how to take great pictures with the newest cameras and make great images that leverage the strengths of computer technology, while taking into account the special needs of digital cameras.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Introduction	xiv
Pro Secrets for Raising the Bar on Quality	1	(54)
Technical Quality Busters	2	(1)
Understanding Image Sharpness	3	(4)
What's Sharpness, Anyway?	4	(3)
Optimizing Sharpness	7	(20)
Lens Sharpness	8	(2)
Choosing the Right Aperture for Sharpness	10	(2)
Testing Your Lenses for Sharpness	12	(3)
A Simple Lens Test	15	(2)
Shutter Speed	17	(3)
Testing for Camera Motion Blur	20	(2)
Fixing Camera Motion Blur	22	(5)
Getting Some Support	27	(9)
Your Support Options	30	(4)
Do-It-Yourself Support	34	(2)
Focus on Focus	36	(12)
Focus Challenges for dSLR Users	36	(2)
What's in Focus, and What's Not	38	(2)
Autofocus Basics	40	(2)
Choosing Autofocus Modes and Parameters	42	(3)
Testing for Back Focus and Front Focus	45	(3)
Tonal Rendition	48	(3)
Enter the Histogram	49	(2)
Noise and ISO Settings	51	(1)
Next Up	52	(3)
Using Telephoto Lenses Like a Pro	55	(36)
Lenses and Focal Lengths	56	(3)
Telephotos and Long Lenses	59	(6)
Choosing a Telephoto Lens	65	(11)
Image Quality	66	(2)
Lens Aperture Range	68	(3)
Zoom or Prime?	71	(1)
Autofocus Accuracy, Speed, and Distance	71	(1)
Build Quality	72	(2)
Dealing with Bokeh	74	(2)
Add-ons for Your Telephoto Lens	76	(4)
Lens Hoods	76	(1)
Extending Your Telephoto's Range	77	(3)
Using Telephoto Lenses Creatively	80	(10)
Compressing Distances	80	(2)
Producing Images of Isolation	82	(1)
Getting Close to Sports Action	83	(2)
Getting Close to Nature	85	(1)
Trompe L'oiel	86	(2)
Taking the Stage	88	(2)
Macro Photography	90	(1)
Next Up	90	(1)
Pro Wide-Angle Lens Tips	91	(40)
Telephotos versus Wide Angles	91	(3)
How Wide Angles Work	94	(3)
Optical Problems	97	(4)
Chromatic Aberration Again	97	(1)
Barrel Distortion	98	(1)
Angle on Wide Angles	98	(3)
Internal Reflections	101	(1)
Rectilinear versus Intentional Distortion	101	(5)
Testing for Distortion	104	(2)
Choosing a Wide-Angle Lens	106	(1)
Add-ons for Your Telephoto Lens	107	(2)
Up Front	107	(2)
Polarizer Problems with Wide Angles	109	(1)
Behind the Scenes	109	(1)
Working with Wide Angles	109	(21)
Minimizing Barrel Distortion	110	(4)
Small Move, Big Change	114	(2)
Using Size Distortion	116	(2)
Emphasizing the Foreground	118	(2)
Working with Perspective Distortion	120	(2)
Using Depth-of-Field	122	(1)
Wide Angles and Flash	123	(3)
Wide-Angle Tips	126	(4)
Next Up	130	(1)
Advanced Infrared Photography	131	(26)
What's Infrared Photography?	132	(8)
The Eyes Have It	133	(1)
How Sensors Perceive Color	134	(3)
Characteristics of Infrared Photography	137	(3)
Technical Requirements for Infrared Photography	140	(8)
What Can You Photograph?	140	(1)
What Kind of Light Do You Need?	140	(1)
Is Your Camera IR Capable?	140	(1)
Testing for IR Sensitivity	141	(1)
Desperate Measures	142	(1)
Obtaining an IR Filter	143	(3)
Make Your Own IR Filter	146	(2)
Taking Your First Infrared Photo	148	(3)
Set White Balance	148	(1)
Mount the Camera on a Tripod, Compose, and Focus	148	(2)
Set Exposure, Mount the IR Filter, and Shoot	150	(1)
Infrared Post Processing	151	(5)
Next Up	156	(1)
Close-Up, Macro, and Product Photography	157	(44)
Elements of Close-Up and Macro Photography	159	(7)
Magnification	159	(2)
Perspective	161	(2)
Depth-of-Field	163	(3)
Equipment Required	166	(4)
Your Macro dSLR	166	(3)
Image Stabilization: In the Camera or In the Lens?	169	(1)
Lenses for Macro and Product Photography	170	(1)
Using Your Existing Lenses	170	(1)
Using Special Macro Lenses	171	(1)
Close Focus Gadgetry	171	(10)
Close-up Lenses	171	(2)
Extension Tubes	173	(2)
Bellows	175	(2)
Other Useful Gadgets	177	(4)
Lighting Equipment	181	(2)
Flash Light	181	(1)
Flashlights	182	(1)
Practical Close-Up and Product Photography	183	(16)
The Chessboard	183	(3)
Ode to a Glass	186	(3)
Knock Yourself Out	189	(3)
Outdoors, with Glass	192	(1)
It's a Jungle out There	193	(3)
Making Your Own Subject Matter	196	(2)
Part of the Whole	198	(1)
Next Up	199	(2)
Pro Lighting and Studio Techniques	201	(34)
Vive Les Differences!	202	(3)
Your Studio Camera	203	(2)
Studio Set Up	205	(12)
Deep Background	205	(3)
Lighting Equipment	208	(2)
Types of Electronic Flash	210	(3)
Flash Accessories	213	(4)
Studio Lighting Basics	217	(4)
The Qualities of Light	217	(2)
Balance of Light	219	(2)
Working with Multiple Light Sources	221	(3)
Main Light	221	(2)
Fill Light	223	(1)
Hair Light	223	(1)
Background Light	224	(1)
Common Lighting Techniques	224	(9)
Short Lighting	224	(1)
Broad Lighting	225	(3)
Butterfly Lighting	228	(2)
Rembrandt Lighting	230	(1)
Side Lighting	230	(3)
Backlighting	233	(1)
Next Up	233	(2)
More Build-It-Yourself Gadgets and Tricks	235	(32)
No Camera Left Behind	236	(1)
Reversing Ring on the Cheap	237	(4)
Pinhole Camera	237	(4)
The Amazing Multi-Color Shutter	241	(6)
Three Discrete Exposures	243	(1)
Making and Using the Harris Shutter	244	(1)
Digital Harris Shutter	244	(3)
Soft Lights Are Your Friends	247	(2)
Milk Bottle Soft Light	247	(1)
Milk Bottle Tent	247	(2)
Clean Your Sensor	249	(16)
Identifying and Dealing with Dust	250	(2)
Avoiding Dust	252	(2)
Removing Unsightly Dust	254	(1)
Sensor Cleaning	255	(4)
Making Your Own Tools	259	(1)
Rocket Blower	260	(1)
Sensor Brush	260	(1)
Sensor Swab	261	(4)
Next Up	265	(2)
Glossary	267	(32)
Index	299