Top 7 Ways Digital Is Better

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Features From LCDs To White Balance Give Digital Cameras Unique Capabilities Not Found In Traditional Equipment
Text And Photography By Rob Sheppard


Film traditionalists once felt that digital cameras were a distraction that took away from “real” photography. While I like working with film and there are a lot of great reasons to use traditional media, digital cameras offer some distinct advantages. They allow us to take pictures in totally new ways that either can’t be done with film or are difficult to do in traditional ways.



I’m excited about that. For me, the digital camera has opened up whole new enjoyable experiences with photography. I like working with all types of digital cameras, from simple point-and-shoots to high-end digital SLRs. I especially like the very compact and fully capable mid-range units that offer the capabilities of a 35mm SLR without interchangeable lenses.

The digital camera truly expands our photographic possibilities. The LCD monitor, rotating displays and white balance, plus the ability to review as you photograph, change ISO as you shoot and more, all greatly affect how we can photograph.


LCD Monitors

The LCD monitor is one of the great innovations of the digital camera. When you look at the little LCD monitor, it becomes something quite different than an optical viewfinder. What you see is more like a small picture than a sighting device. You can look at that picture and decide if you like it as a photo or not. This is a very different approach to making a photograph.

However, you must realize that what you see with an LCD monitor isn’t exactly what you’ll get in the final print or even on the computer screen. The LCD monitor has a very specific way of dealing with the image. For example, you can’t see the exact sharpness of the image unless you enlarge it (some cameras allow you to do that on-screen), and colors, tonalities and contrast aren’t precise on the LCD monitor.

Still, I love the connection you get to the scene in front of you when it’s translated into a picture on the LCD. To me, this is such a wonderful way to see how a scene becomes a photograph. In addition, it allows you to see exactly what you’re getting in the picture. Sometimes, the optical viewfinder sees less than what’s actually captured by the sensor.

Rotating Monitors

Rotating or swiveling monitors have long been a part of video camcorders. Right now, they can be found in some Nikon, Canon and Olympus cameras. It’s interesting that when rotating monitors first came out, a lot of people thought they were just a gimmick. Well, they aren’t. The rotating monitor is a tremendous tool for the photographer. Here are some ways it can help:

1. Easier close-ups. There are times when you’re making a close-up and it becomes difficult to get your whole body and camera close to the subject. With a rotating monitor, you can position the camera so that it’s in the best place for the photograph and tilt the LCD monitor so you can still see it comfortably. This can be huge.

2. High-angle shots. There are situations where getting a higher angle on the subject can give you better composition. Or maybe you’re photographing a parade or other situation where people are between you and your subject, so you have to photograph over them. The rotating monitor allows you to hold the camera overhead and still be able to see what your lens is seeing.

3. Extreme low-angle shots. Unusual angles can be a great way of gaining a viewer’s attention for your photographs. With a rotating LCD screen, you can literally put the camera right on the ground, even in a hole if you want, and comfortably sit or kneel by the camera.

4. Unobtrusive shots. Point the camera right at somebody and they react to it—sometimes well, sometimes not. If you can face away from the subject and still see him or her with your camera’s lens, you can sometimes get nice candid shots. You can easily do this with a swiveling monitor by pointing the camera at the subject while you face at a 90-degree angle to him or her. Then, swivel the monitor so you can see the composition on the LCD screen.

5. Awkward shots. Sometimes we get stuck in a location where we can’t easily get back far enough to get everything we want into our photograph. For example, you need to photograph in a room and the best spot is right in a corner. With a rotating monitor, you can stick that camera right up in the corner while you tuck yourself as close to it as you can, using the monitor to see your composition.

Review As You Shoot

I love the ability to review and check my shots as I go. Sometimes when you see that picture in the LCD frame, and it isn’t moving like it does when you’re actually preparing to take the picture, it looks a little different than expected. I often decide that I need a different composition. This ability to review encourages me to be more creative.

The LCD monitor also helps you confirm that your exposure is okay. Realize that the monitor won’t give you a perfect rendition of your real exposure. You need to take some pictures, see what they look like in your computer and compare them to what you see on the LCD monitor to really be able to interpret this. Still, the LCD gives you an idea of what your exposure is going to be. If your camera includes histograms, learn to use them, as they’ll help you determine best exposures.

It’s certainly nice that you can see any problems while you’re photographing—now you have a chance to correct them. It’s always a big disappointment when you get home, look at pictures as they come back from the processor and see instantly how they might have been improved. At that point, you can’t redo the picture because you’re long gone from your subject’s location.

White Balance

White balance is a very important part of every digital camera. Your camera has to know how to deal with the various colors of light that are all around us. Fluorescent light, sunlight and shade all give different color renditions.

In the past, we had to make those corrections with filters to make the colors look right on film (or you’d have to use a film with a specific color balance). With the digital camera, we can affect how the camera sees the color of light through “white balance,” a way the camera looks at light and corrects the colors to make white appear white.

On some of the very low-end cameras, white balance is only an automatic feature. However, most digital cameras allow you to actually set white balance. At the minimum, you’ll likely be able to set the white balance to sun, clouds or indoors. In many cameras, you can actually set it to a variety of indoor settings, including fluorescent, and you may even be able to use a custom setting to precisely adjust the white balance to an exact condition.

This makes white balance both a corrective tool and a creative tool. Try different white balance settings. You can see the effects in the LCD monitor. You may discover that you like a certain setting better than what might be the expected setting.

Changing ISO

The ISO of film refers to a rated speed or sensitivity of film to light. High numbers give you high speeds and more sensitivity; low numbers give you lower speeds and less sensitivity. In addition, high-speed films tend to be grainier than low-speed films, while low-speed films have the best sharpness and color qualities. For highest quality, lower-speed films are usually chosen. When you need a faster shutter speed or to shoot in low light, you choose a high-speed film. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to change film when needed to adapt to changing conditions.

Technically, digital cameras don’t have an ISO rating. However, they do have an ISO equivalent that effectively works much like film speeds. So a digital camera’s ISO settings can be adjusted for high and low sensitivity.

And the camera doesn’t have to be opened to change films. You can actually change ISO settings while you’re shooting. You can take a picture with a high-speed setting for an indoor shot, then change the camera to a low-speed, high-quality setting when you go outside. You can alternate settings as much as you want. This really offers a lot of flexibility.

Editing As You Go

It’s rare that you’ll run into a situation in which you can get a single picture that will totally capture the setting. Usually, you’ll take multiple pictures because you might want to try different exposures or compositions, or you’re photographing things that are changing because of action, wind, weather, etc. Not all of those pictures are going to be your best.

I like to edit these pictures as I go; in other words, removing pictures that really aren’t what I like or want. I believe you get a better set of photographs in the end. However, there’s more to it than simply removing the bad stuff. As you edit your pictures, you’ll discover what’s working and not working for you in that particular situation. This allows you to adjust your shooting as you go—and you get better pictures.

In addition, as you look at your pictures, you’ll see where you’ve missed shots or where you need to compose from different angles. Then, take those pictures while you’re still at your location! You couldn’t do that if you didn’t edit during your photography.

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