SnapShot Archives - 03/13/2000
SNAPSHOT - PHOTO NEWS FROM BETTERPHOTO.COM
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Welcome to SnapShot, the weekly newsletter on the art
of photography from http://www.betterphoto.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
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Monday, March 13, 2000
* SPOTLIGHT: Win with Wedding Pictures at OnlinePhotoContest.com
* BETTERPHOTO: How to Photograph Paintings, Part II - Slides
* WEB NEWS: Learn More about Popular Photoshop Plug-ins
* WEB NEWS: Send Ofoto Your Film for Free Processing
* WEB NEWS: Webshots Desktop Screen Saver for Windows 95/98/NT
* THIS WEEK'S TIP: Before going on a trip...
* PHOTO Q&A: Why do you only need to print images at 250-300 dpi?
* PHOTO Q&A: Why are shutter speeds named they way they're named?
* PHOTO Q&A: Best Economy SLR - Nikon N70 vs. the Canon Rebel 2000
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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Win up to $5000 at OnlinePhotoContest.com
This is the last chance to enter your excellent wedding photos! Deadline is Wednesday, March 15, and the Grand Prize is $5000. Other prizes include HP PhotoSmart C200 Digital Cameras and Tamrac 5201 Photo Bags:
http://www.onlinephotocontest.com
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WHAT'S NEW AT BETTERPHOTO.COM
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How to Photograph Paintings, Part II - Slides
In our first look at shooting artwork, we explored how to achieve the best results with a digital camera. In this second part of our series, artists can learn how to photograph paintings with slides:
http://www.betterphoto.com/exploring/shootingpaintingsII.asp
Revisit How to Photograph Paintings, Part I (with a digital camera):
http://www.betterphoto.com/exploring/shootingpaintings.asp
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PHOTOGRAPHIC HAPPENINGS ON THE WEB
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Learn More about Popular Photoshop Plug-ins
With Adobe's new Photoshop 5.5, you can do just about anything with your digital image. However, it isn't necessarily the easiest thing to do and, believe it or not, the software has its limitations. To help you, a host of other companies simplify things - and extend the possibilities of Photoshop - by providing plug-ins. Learn what each does in a worthwhile tour from CNET:
http://www.builder.com/Graphics/PSPlugins/
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Send Ofoto Your Film for Free Processing
Online photo finishers (companies that make prints from your digital images) can be found on every digital street corner but Ofoto, IMHO, consistently shines above the rest. They have recently introduced a new service where they provide you with mailers, develop your film, scan your negatives, create an online album for you, and then send you your negatives! All free of charge! Worth checking out:
http://www.ofoto.com/index.cfm?action=tour_film
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Webshots Desktop Screen Saver for Windows 95/98/NT
Check out this fully-featured desktop screen saver! It will automatically cycle though collections of great photos on everything from cool cars to romantic castles. The software also ties into the Web and makes it easy for you to download new photos on a daily basis:
http://files.webshots.com/direct/excite/direct.html
Submit your own slides and possibly make a little money:
http://www.webshots.com/html/photo-submissions.html
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THIS WEEK'S TIP
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Before Shooting Travel Images...
If you are planning to do some travel photography, look through picture books of the area you will be visiting. Study postcards, travel brochures, and anything else with good pictures. Review these photos - and question what you like about each - to find inspiration and insight on selecting subjects. As you research, make a list of the photo ideas that come to mind; this way, you will know what to look for when you are out on the road.
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CAMERA AND PHOTOGRAPHY Q&A
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Q. Regarding the comment made in on of your tips: "you would never need to print an image at 720 dots per inch because printer resolution is yet another definition altogether... If you did, you would end up trying to print 500 MB files which would look exactly the same if printed at 250-300 dpi (image resolution)." Is there a good place that explains why you only need to print the image at 250 - 300 dpi? Why a range of 250 to 300? And why do many printing houses tell me the art only needs to be 150 dpi for whatever size the art is being printed?
A. Each pixel (dot) in a digital image can have one of many colours. Eg. if it is a true colour image, ie 24 bit per pixel or 8 bits ( = 256 gradations) per red/green/blue, then each pixel can have one out of 256*256*256 = 16 million colours.
However, in most printers, each dot is either on or off; there are no intermediate gradations. In order to give the "illusion" of different shades, printers usually use a technique called "dithering" (which comes in a number of flavours). The main idea is that, if you print certain patterns of very small on/off dots, the eye sees them as a single area of a particular shade. Various different kinds of patterns may be used, each of which is best for different types of images (you've probably seen options like "error diffusion" etc. in your printer driver). Inkjet printers use such a printing technique (each colour head either "spits" a droplet of ink or it doesn't).
Of course, there are certain printers that can produce dots with truly varying shades of colour, most notably the so-called "dye sublimation" printers. These use solid inks and transfer them onto the paper by applying varying degrees of heat. Heat vaporizes a portion of the (solid) ink (hence the "sublimation" part), which then is then "impressed" on the paper. Using this technique, dye sub printers can achieve even 256 gradations per colour. As a side note, most professional photo printers (eg. models from Kodak, which cost around $2K) are relatively hi-res dye sub printers...
-Spiros
Respond to this question:
http://www.betterphoto.com/QnAredirect.asp?threadID=152
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Q. I'm in a photography class, and we were learning about shutter speeds a while back, and what I wondered is why the speeds change, like so: 2s, 1s, 2, 4, 8, *15*, 30, 60, *125*, 250, 500, 1000. Where instead of 16 there is 15, and instead of 120 there is 125? I'm wondering the science/history behind that, and why it is the way it is.
A. I am a mathematician and I am trying to answer your question based on intuition and logic. If you look at the numbers carefully, whenever the number is smaller than 10 it just doubles without any fuss. However, when the number is more than 10 then some numbers do not follow the pattern. The reason could be because it is difficult to use numbers which are difficult to remember such as 16 when you double 8. As you go one doubling, you get 32, 64, 128, 256 and so on and they are double or triple digits which are difficult to remember. So the intelligent guy decides to use numbers which are easy to remember such as doubling 15 you get 30, then 60 and then suddenly change to 125 as doubling 125 is 250 and then 500 and 1000 which are easier to remember. My answer is hypothetical based on mathematical logic and my own intuition.
- Ho Kheong
Respond to this question:
http://www.betterphoto.com/QnAredirect.asp?threadID=401
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Q. I'm currently evaluating the N70 and Rebel 2000. Setting the skill of the photographer and the quality of film aside, which camera would you choose (based on photo quality, fancy features, etc.)?
-Igor
Q.(a second one) Strangely, I have the _exact_ same question! I am looking for a decent SLR and would like something I would not outgrow easily. I am considering these two cameras, although they belong to different categories.
I am attracted to the Rebel 2000 for two main reasons (and to the N70 for all others). One is the lower price. The other is its 35-zone (!!) AE (and on an entry-level SLR!). I have to admit that I am sceptical about the latter; does it really make that much of a difference? How does it compare to the N70? I imagine that I will be using the camera in point-and-shoot mode for quick travel snapshots as well, so I guess that is why this has attracted my attention? But even there, will it make a difference and, also, will it make a difference on anything else?
-Spiros
A. The AE on both cameras is extremely good. Of course there will be the occasionally situation where you will be required to override the automatic but, for the most part, the cameras are great at judging the required exposure.
The Rebel feels a little more like a lightweight than the N70; it may not be the best for travel unless you treat it with care. The N70 has a spot autofocus feature and is currently being promoted with a free camera bag, not that a camera bag should sway such a big decision ;^)
Nikons tend to be more appreciated by technically adept people. Judging by your previous comments, Spiros, I would consider you to be strong on the technical; you probably won't have a hard time learning to use the Nikon. Many other people, however, complain about the manual and Nikon's less intuitive interface. The N70 is much better, though, than their previous models.
The main decision is which brand will you commit yourself to using for the next 5-10 years. Nikon is well-known for excellent lenses but Canon's USM models are super fast on the autofocus.
I hope this helps get you two going in the right direction.
Rebel 2000 Kit ($400):
http://www.betterphoto.com/product/productDetail.asp?productID=228
Nikon N70 Kit:
http://www.betterphoto.com/product/productDetail.asp?productID=455
Respond to this question:
http://www.betterphoto.com/QnAredirect.asp?threadID=378
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Ask a question or answer a few from your fellow photographers: http://www.betterphoto.com/qnaTOC.asp
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Until next week, enjoy shooting!
Thank you,
Jim Miotke
BetterPhoto.com
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