Digital Photo Tips by Duane Brovan

(Article also posted in the Ridge Rider News)

Computer and Digital Camera Equal Digital Photos

 

Two pieces of electrical equipment are required for digital photography to be fun, convenient, and enjoyed all the time a Computer and Digital Camera. It is possible to get digital photos without one or the other (Computer or Digital Camera) but it becomes difficult, frustrating and very time consuming. Without a computer your digital camera will probably just sit on the shelf. Neither computer nor digital camera has to be top of the line to give you good photos.

The first piece of electrical equipment that should be purchased or have easy accessible to is a Basic Computer consisting of Pentium 4 or comparable processor, 512 mg RAM (min.), USB 1 & USB 2 connections, CD burner, and a monitor with 1024 x 768 resolution (min.). Without a computer it is almost impossible to adjust and manipulate your photos. A computer can also be used for the Internet, writing documents/text editing, bookwork and much more. Possessing a good working knowledge of your computer and Windows XP will help you enjoy and get the most from your digital photographic experience. Sometimes it is advisable to have professional help in setting up your computer and giving you some shortcuts and tips to make it easier to use and understand your computer.

Once you have and know how to operate your computer it is time to purchase a digital camera. Again it does not have to be top of the line to give you good photos. One is better off to put more money into a computer then a digital camera. In fact higher priced cameras often require more expensive computers to work with the larger sized photo files. Minimum specifications for a digital camera are: 3.3 Megapixels, 3x optical zoom and removable memory cards. A digital camera does not have to be used to get digital files from your film photos. Scans and CDs written by a film developing shop can be used on your computer and manipulated by an after market Digital Photo Editing Program (i.e. Photoshop Elements 3).

Your computer can receive the digital photos many different ways: Digital Camera via USB cord; Card Reader via USB cord; written CD placed in the CD drive; or from the Internet. It is usually better to use a Card Reader then hooking your camera to your computer because you use your camera’s batteries as you are downloading, plus, you tie up your camera. I personally use a portable Card Reader/CD Burner to download my photos. This gives me a hard copy of my original photos and can be opened from almost any computer. For persons traveling the portable Card Reader/CD Burner works great, very small, light and simple to operate (put memory card in slot, place blank CD in drive and hit record). One can virtually take as many photos as one desires. If a person has access to another persons’ computer they can burn CDs from a Card Reader/CD Burner and later manipulate their photos. A little inconvenient but one could get away without owning their own computer, as long as, the person doesn’t mind you tying up their computer.