It’s Not All Firewood

There are two types of cameras – digital and film, and each type has several different categories, we’ll limit our discussion to the kind that is generally referred to as point and shoot and the SLR (Single Lens Reflex) varieties.

Today, the vast majority of cameras available are digital, but film cameras have their benefits as well. Film has far superior resolution and the resulting print will always be sharper than any of today’s digital cameras. Digital may eventually catch up but it will take a very long time. Another benefit of celluloid film cameras is that they can use slide film which results in exactly what the photographer took. Slides can be printed in ultra high quality Ciba Chrome or projected on a white wall or silver screen.

Let’s assume that digital pictures are the desired end result, suitable for alteration on the computer and posting on a blog or sending via e-mail. What camera features will be required to photograph a woodturning (or any other similar object)?

1. Manual white balance settings

2. Manual or semi-automatic exposure settings

3. Medium telephoto lens

4.Tripod socket

5. Self timer/Camera shake stabilizing system

6. Large memory card capacity

7. RAW format picture files

8. More than one battery

9. Easy downloading to computer

10. Auto Exposure/Auto Focus Lock

In the next pages I’ll expand on each of these points. Some are more important than others.

If you have any questions, please ask.

Tags: art photography, Auto Exposure, Auto Focus Lock, Camera Selection, Camera shake stabilizing system, check your camera’s manual, digital photography, digital pictures, digital still life, digital vs film, Grey Card, How to Select a Camera, Large memory card capacity, Manual or semi-automatic exposure settings, Manual white balance settings, Medium Telephoto Lens, photographic techniques, Photography, point and shoot, point and shoot camera, posting on a blog, posting pictures on a blog, proper colors, RAW format picture files, Self timer, Self timer/Camera shake stabilizing system, Single Lens Reflex, SLR, Tripod socket, Which Camera Should I Buy, woodturning photography

One of the more important lessons I learned from my career in camera sales is the difference between taking snapshots and making photographs.

A good photographer can make a great photograph with the cheapest featureless camera available but a person who doesn’t care or can’t tell the difference will still take snapshots with the most expensive fully decked out camera money can buy.

The main point of this lesson is to make the distinction between a photograph and a snapshot. Take a moment and think about the photograph’s subject – the lighting, the background, the camera position and angle, the camera settings, etc. or just whip out a camera and grab a quick shot. Either can become a great photograph or a snapshot, depending on how the photographer approaches the end result.

One can also make the distinction between different types of photographers. Some will choose one with many settings and attachments, others will require a camera that’s simple to use with all automated settings. There are photographers who buy the latest greatest model as soon as it comes out, others who wear the most expensive camera the way a woman would wear a diamond necklace – they don’t really understand the camera’s functions completely but, hey! do they ever look good wearing it!

Only after deciding which type of photograph one wishes to present can one move on to the purchase of the most appropriate camera and accessories suited to the needs. The best of both worlds would be a model that offers a complete set of desired features with the ability to become completely automated.

For the purposes of this site, we’ll discuss photographic equipment and features suitable for photographing finished woodturnings of various sizes and shapes. We’ll further delve into the accessories required and techniques involved as well as some of the problems that might be encountered and solutions.

As always, if you have some questions, please ask and I’ll try my best to answer them.

Tags: art photography, Auto Exposure, Camera Selection, check your camera’s manual, digital photography, digital pictures, digital still life, digital vs film, How to Select a Camera, Manual or semi-automatic exposure settings, photographic techniques, Photography, point and shoot, point and shoot camera, portrait photography, portraits, Which Camera Should I Buy, woodturning photography