Discover Digital Photography

About This Course

Join us and explore the world of digital photography!

Completely rewritten and updated, Discover Digital Photography introduces the technology that has catapulted the photographic world into the 21st century. You'll explore a broad overview of the basics of digital photography, including equipment, software, and practical uses. We'll discuss different types of digital cameras, from phones and tablets to digital SLRs, all of which offer a wide array of photographic options. We'll also help you decide what type of equipment fits your needs, and you'll have hands-on exercises so you can explore the areas that interest you.

A discussion of digital photography wouldn't be complete without digital editing options. We'll explore a number of software packages, and you'll learn how to compose your shots when you know you have digital editing available to you. You'll also find out about your digital storage options—on the camera, the computer, and even beyond into cloud storage and online backups.

Whether you plan to print or upload your images, you'll want to be sure that they're the right size to display with excellent quality and speed. We'll review how to size images for use on your computer, the Internet, and with social media. You'll also get a good introduction to printing images and making decisions about your archival options. And we'll discuss how industry and business use digital imaging today.

Digital photography plays a big part in social media communication and image sharing, and we'll discuss the basics of posting images online and some pros and cons of uploading to the Internet. This is especially important if you're traveling and sharing pictures with friends and family back home. As we get to the end of our class, you'll have a chance to explore more options for traveling with your camera that might be new to you!

Whether you're new to photography or a long-time photographer looking to move comfortably into the new world of digital work, this class provides opportunities for putting digital photography to use. This course serves as an excellent introduction before taking Secrets of Better Photography where we focus our time on camera settings, features, and the mechanics of taking better pictures.

Course Revised September 2013

About The Instructor

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Beverly Schulz.

Beverly Schulz is a freelance photographer and a graduate of the New York Institute of Photography's Professional Photographer's program. She teaches a number of classes in digital photography and has more than 25 years of classroom instruction experience. Her writing and photography have been published in a number of magazines. She has traveled extensively and participated in onsite photography workshops as well as independent photo quests. In addition to teaching and photographic work, she provides consulting services for digital photographers and clients.

Syllabus

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

Week 1

Wednesday - Lesson 01

In our first lesson, you'll have a chance to become familiar with the online classroom and discover the many resources available to you, including the beginning of our Digital Dictionary. You'll also learn how digital photography works and what you'll need to get started with a digital workshop at home. We'll discuss computers and provide you with information so you can make the best decision about which type you need, if you need one at all! You'll also come away from this lesson with a good understanding of how we find ourselves in the midst of the digital age and so many fascinating opportunities.

Friday - Lesson 02

In today's lesson, you'll have an opportunity to understand the key features of a digital camera. This will be helpful as you learn about what to look for both inside and outside the camera and as you explore the different levels of equipment available.

Week 2

Wednesday - Lesson 03

When it's time to make a decision and buy the camera that's right for you, you'll want to know how to make your best choice. In this lesson, we'll discuss more of the attributes and features of digital photography so you're ready to go shopping!

Friday - Lesson 04

Digital storage is a big issue (no pun intended!). So in this lesson, we'll look at ways to address this aspect of digital photography. When it comes to digital images, you'll need storage space—not only on your camera, but also on your computer and somewhere offline for backup. Today, we'll discuss recommendations and guidelines for getting the most out of your storage space, as well as how to choose the best backup option for you and your work.

Week 3

Wednesday - Lesson 05

Digital photography isn't limited to traditional cameras! You probably have your phone or tablet with you most of the time, and this lesson explores the option of using that camera to take pictures, display your images, or even do quick editing. If you've been a bit confused by all the new terminology connected with smartphones and tablets, here you'll find easy explanations and clear examples of how to make the most of this technology.

Friday - Lesson 06

The ability to edit your digital images is one of the most compelling features of digital photography. In today's lesson, we'll look at several of the software programs available to you and some of the many features you'll find in digital editing programs.

Week 4

Wednesday - Lesson 07

Using digital images online and on your computer are big parts of digital photography. In this lesson, you'll discover ways you can easily use digital images with email and on websites. We'll also discuss sizing images for use on the Internet so they display quickly. You'll love learning how simple it is to use your images as backgrounds and computer wallpaper. With digital photography, you can customize almost anything!

Friday - Lesson 08

Printing digital images can take many forms, and in this lesson, we'll explore the options for printing at home and the extensive network of retail printers available for digital work. You'll also learn how to prepare your images for the best quality prints, regardless of where you print them. If archival quality is important to you, or if you're scrapbooking, there are some things you'll want to know!

Week 5

Wednesday - Lesson 09

In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy saw a whole new world spill out in front of her, and she turned to her dog and said, "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore!" Sometimes our world seems a bit like that with all the changes that the Internet, digital imaging, and high-end technology have brought to everyday life. In this lesson, we'll look at what's new and how digital imaging is changing our communication, business practices, and the way we, as photographers, manage, and protect our images.

Friday - Lesson 10

Scanning printed images is an important option for digital photography. In today's lesson, we'll look at restoring old and damaged photos, as well as using scanners to convert slides, negatives, and prints into digital images. You'll even learn how to capture an image of a 3-D object with a scanner! A scanner is a terrific tool for digital photographers and does an excellent job of connecting traditional photography with the digital era. This is an especially important lesson for scrap bookers working on family histories with damaged images or printed documents.

Week 6

Wednesday - Lesson 11

Travel photography is always a favorite subject for photographers, whether you're shooting in your own backyard or around the world. Digital photography presents some different challenges and opportunities, so in this lesson, we'll look at how professionals in the field handle the challenges, as well as techniques and opportunities you can use when you travel, including file organization with Adobe's Lightroom.

Friday - Lesson 12

In our final lesson together, we'll look at how to compose your pictures with digital options in mind. There's a lot more to being a digital photographer than just owning a digital camera, and today you'll see some great examples of difficult situations that you can remedy with digital solutions. The more you learn about your options, the more you'll want to experiment!

Requirements

Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).

A few computer-specific examples are included, which are based on Windows. Mac students are welcome, but may not be able to duplicate all examples.