CHAPTER 1 QUICKSTART TO DIGITAL: PIX TO PRINT IN SECONDS 9IF YOU LEARN ONLY ONE THING IN THIS BOOK...
Get closer. To set yourself apart from the billions of amateur photographers and their
common full-length portrait snapshots, put yourself in the story by getting closer.
Almost all amateur photos are the same: people smiling at the camera from 6–12 feet
away. All nationalities are guilty of this monotony, but Americans seem to have mastered it.
When you take a picture of anything or anyone, move in closer to the subject or the
action. Eighty percent of the time the background doesn’t matter, the person’s legs don’t
matter, and framing the subject in the center doesn’t matter. All that matters is a person’s
expression and what his or her eyes convey. If you can’t get closer, use a telephoto lens.
Get closer and see how your images improve.The Absolute Minimum
This chapter shows you how to jump into the digital photography hobby quickly
without burning through your savings account. Keep these important points in mind
if you’re shopping for a camera or eager to print your first series of images:
■ A digital camera is all you need to “go digital.”
■ The least expensive form factor for “digital film” is Compact Flash (CF).
■ The most prolific form of digital film is Secure Digital (SD).
■ Use in-store printers to print your photos. This is by far the best way to get
your pix in print.The rest of the book will show you how to take better pictures, import the images,
and correct them before printing. You will also learn how to present your images,
which is important for those who are serious about photography and the memories
they capture.