Digital Photography: Introduction (Second Edition for Windows)

Course Specifications

Course Description

Whether you're a novice at photography or fairly experienced with taking shots using film, this course will help you to take great shots with a digital camera and to share those images in print and electronically. You'll begin with an overview of the differences between film and digital, and will learn important criteria and resources for choosing a camera and accessories. Next, you'll learn to improve the photos you take, by controlling both the composition and subject matter, and by fine-tuning your camera's settings. You'll then transfer images to your computer, and use strategies and tools for managing the ever-growing collection you build over time. To improve the images you've taken, you'll apply straightforward techniques for cropping, removing red eye, and making brightness and contrast adjustments. The course then shows you ways of getting “traditional” prints as well as ones from your desktop printer, how to email photos easily, and how to quickly create a gallery of your photography on the Web.

• Windows 98: Introduction
• Windows 2000: Introduction
• Windows Millennium Edition: Introduction
• Windows XP: Introduction

Hardware/Software Requirements

You will need:

• Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows XP (Windows XP recommended)
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, trial or full version
• ACDSee, trial or full version
• A digital camera, recommended for one lesson

Performance-Based Objectives

• Choose the right digital camera and accessories to fit your needs and budget.
• Take professional-looking photos with good framing, subject matter, and lighting.
• Choose appropriate resolution, compression, and file format settings on your camera for your needs. Adjust camera settings to control exposure and image sharpness, and to ensure that you get a great shot in various scenarios.
• Manage a large library of pictures and perform straightforward edits with ACDSee. Make more precise color and contrast adjustments with Adobe Photoshop Elements.
• Print layouts of photos, including contact sheets and standard sheet sizes.
• Order prints online.
• Share scaled-down versions of photos via the Web and email.

Course Content

Lesson 1: Buying Photography Hardware

Topic 1A: Digital and Film Photography

Topic 1B: Choosing a Camera

Topic 1C: Choosing Digital Camera Accessories

Topic 1D: Researching Specific Camera Models

Lesson 2: Taking Pictures

Topic 2A: Choosing Camera Angles and Lighting

Topic 2B: Resolution, Compression, and File Format

Topic 2C: Controlling Exposure

Topic 2D: Controlling Image Sharpness

Topic 2E: White Balance

Topic 2F: Special Camera Features

Lesson 3: Managing Photos with Windows XP

Topic 3A: Transferring Images to Your Computer

Topic 3B: Windows XP Picture Tasks

Lesson 4: Managing Photos with Image Browser Software

Topic 4A: Managing an Image Library

Topic 4B: Performing Simple Exposure Adjustments

Lesson 5: Editing Images with a Separate Application

Topic 5A: Launch an External Image Editor and Perform Edits

Topic 5B: Eliminating Red Eye

Topic 5C: Adjust Image Contrast, Color, and Focus with Photoshop Elements

Topic 5D: Applying Effects and Filters

Lesson 6: Sharing Photos

Topic 6A: Printing Photo Layouts

Topic 6B: Emailing Photos

Topic 6C: Creating a Web Photo Album

Topic 6D: Creating a Slide Show

Appendix A: Image Browser Software

Image Browser Software for Windows

Appendix B: Image Editor Software

Image Editor Software for Windows