Photography Basics

Lesson 2: Toolbox

Capture Types

Film versus Digital - need I say more? When I hear people speak of one or the other, they are very passionate about their beliefs in the capability of either one. Remember this, no photographer needs to be mutually exclusive. I know more wedding and event photographers that use both. Why restrict yourself to one or the other if you enjoy the benefits of both?

Film

Color negative films are made for color prints and enlargements whereas color positive films (slide film) are made for color transparencies. The advantage of color negative film is that they tolerate color correction in the printing stage and can be forgiving of exposure errors. Slide film is not forgiving of exposure error and cannot be color corrected as there is no printing stage to this.

Films also vary according to their ISO number or film speed. This number denotes the film’s sensitivity to light. The higher an ISO number, the “faster” or more responsive to light it is. For example, if you’re shooting in bright sunlight then a film speed of 100 will suffice. However, if you’re indoors or in a dimly lit situation, you’ll need a faster film like 400 or 800. Also, if you’re in a museum that says no to flash photography, a film speed of 1600 or 3200 could be used.

Do the film speeds seem like random numbers to you? Each number is equal to one stop of light. Therefore, an ISO 400 film is twice as fast as an ISO of 200 film, or one stop more sensitive. Next light stop? 800. Next after that? 1600. Random factoids, I’m full of them!

Black and white films are all negative films, so the choice comes down to speed.

Based on your experience, what types of film do you like and why? I use Kodak, Agfa, Fuji, and Ilford. Which one depends on what I’m shooting, but this is a personal preference. If you shot a lush grassy hill, a person, and the ocean with each of these color films, you’d find discrepancies with each. What works for you and your color preference can only be determined by shooting a roll of each of these and then determining what color combination works for you. Color film and its processing is basic chemistry. Find the chemistry that calls out to you.

Digital

A digital camera is a computer with a lens. It produces an image by converting the tones of a scene into numbers. The positive side is that you don’t have to buy any more rolls of film. You can take pictures, transfer this to a computer, and then reuse the same media card. You see immediate results and get immediate gratification. The down side of this is that there’s a learning curve for various software and its initial investment. As performance in technology improves, the prices come down.

Some things to look for when going digital include image resolution, memory, and basic features. One of the topics that comes up constantly with digital capture is resolution. “What’s your res?” digital photographers say when first meeting up and comparing notes.

Lens sharpness aside, resolution in a digital camera depends on the number of pixels that the image contains. At the lower end of consumer cameras, the resolution provided is 640x480 pixels which works for posting to a website, sending via e-mail or small prints (4x6). In the mid-range are the megapixel cameras (1 million pixels) that are about 1152x864 pixels and can make good prints up to 5x7. At the upper end of the chain are the two-megapixel cameras. They store 2 million pixels. How much res you buy depends on how critical you are regarding image quality and what you can afford.

Memory, not your own, but your camera’s is significant when considering how many images can be stored before you have to have the images downloaded to a computer. Digital cameras became more flexible for people with the invention of removable storage cards. It doesn’t matter which brand you buy as long as the memory cards are compatible with whatever camera you buy. Some of these cards can store a handful of images at a moderate resolution (~4 megabytes) or it could get you through a whole vacation (160 megs). More, bigger, and better are on the horizon, too.

Features in digital cameras are varied as well. LCD display screen on the back and what size is to be considered. The bigger it is, the easier it is to view the photo you’ve just shot. Capture time and download time are something to keep at the back of your mind. How long does it take the camera to capture and store the image? For working with children, unless it’s a high-end digital camera, the capture time is not quick enough for me. I’ve photographed children who’ve just discovered the joys of walking…whew! What a workout that can be!

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