How can I get my photos from my camera to a computer?

November 2nd, 2009

How can I get my photos from my camera to a computer?

There are several ways to get photos from a camera to a computer. The easiest simplest method is to connect the camera to your computer with a USB cable. Most if not all cameras come with a USB cable that has a small connector on one end and a USB on the other. Once plugged in and the camera turned on, windows will open a window or start the software that came with the camera if you installed it.

Personally I like to use a memory card reader like the ones installed on most new computers. These readers will read all newer memory cards from digital cameras such as Secure Digital (SD) or Compact Flash cards. Take the removable memory card out of your camera and push it into the memory card reader. The card is usually in the battery compartment or sometimes behind a little door on the side of the camera.

This method does not drain the cameras battery and there’s no dealing with connecting cables or even software if you don’t want to. If your computer doesn’t have a card reader you can buy one for around $15 at an electronics store that will install in a slot in your computer and plug into your motherboard. They are easy to install but if you don’t want to bother then buy an external card reader for about $10 that simply plugs into a USB slot and presto you are in business.

When the card is inserted the computer will automatically open a window to display the files on the card. Now it’s really easy to import your pictures to the Pictures folder or you can Right click on a file to open a jpg file and select the program you wish to use from the drop down menu depending on what software you have on your computer.

What if you connect your camera to your computer and nothing happens? Go to the start menu and open windows explorer to display all the files on your computer. Click the my-computer plus sign to display all the drives. The memory card will show up like another drive that you can open. From there you can open any image file on the card or transfer all of them by dragging to a folder or to software like photoshop.

The images will copy to the folder and still be on the memory card in case you want to keep them there. You can delete any file you want on the card or computer. Also pictures can also be copied to the memory card if for some reason you need to do that. Some cameras have a special connection mode and all of them must be turned on to work.

Another way is to Open AutoPlay by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Hardware and Sound, and then clicking AutoPlay. If that does not solve the problem, and if this is the first time you’ve tried to copy pictures from the camera to the computer, it’s possible that your camera needs a special driver to copy pictures.

You can usually find the driver on the camera manufacturer’s website or on a disc that came with your camera. Install the driver and try again. Photos can be imported to any computer as many times as you want until you delete them from the camera.

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Great Deals on Point and Shoot Digital Cameras

October 27th, 2009

Great Point and Shoot Digital Cameras
Ideal for people who value simplicity, the top cameras in the point and shoot category produce high quality pictures with an absolute minimum of effort. My 2 favorites of the bunch are the Canon PowerShot A630 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3.
The A630′s great physical controls and easy-to-use features will appeal to those who appreciate a variety of settings to capture their photos.
I really like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 When looking for a darn nice for a little more money don’t settle for less. The TZ3 has a powerful (high quality glass) zoom lens with a nice wide viewing angle, and it takes awesome pictures. You will love this camera even if photography has become a serious hobby or your thinking about it as a career.
If so then you should add a few hundred more and get yourself a Canon Digital Rebel T1i (aka EOS 500D). This camera is a fantastic consumer DSLR and is full featured, yet within a very reasonable price range for camera enthusiasts. Go take a look at the quality of this camera and feel it in your hands. Think about that vacation and all the picture you will take and have more fun than a box of puppies.
Hint, you can get these cameras at Costco for less or you can click through to my website and pay a little more, I don’t mind. www.walterminton.com
Walter

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A Phone Call with Ansel Adams

October 22nd, 2009

The first time I knew anything about digital cameras was many years ago while talking on the phone with Ansel Adams. It was around 1981, not sure of the date.

I called him and didn’t expect him to answer the phone but thought it would be someone in his office. He answered the phone and said “hello”. I said “is this Ansel Adams?” and he said “yes, who is calling?”

I was star struck at first and told him so. He said “that’s OK.”

Anyway he was really nice and we talked for a while about the Zone System and the problems with photo contests I was having at the time. He didn’t like most of them and didn’t care much for photography schools either.

One thing that I remember that will interest lots of people is that he knew a lot about the future of digital photography and what was going to happen. Amazing isn’t it, remember this was 1981, no computers to speak of, no cell phones, no internet, but he knew digital photography was coming.

He said “I hope I’m around to see it!” Then he said “good luck” and we said goodbye.

My wife came in as I hung up and said “what’s wrong with you?”

I said, “I just talked to Ansel Adams!”

she said, “that’s nice, I have to fix dinner, and the cat’s in the highest tree on the mountain.”

I said, “you don’t understand, I called Ansel Adams and I know the future!.

She said, “OK, what’s happening in the future? Are you making any money?”

I said, “I’m taking you out tonight”

She said, “Wow, maybe you could talk to this guy more often.”

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Pint-Sized Pro Cameras in People Photography

October 9th, 2009

People photography of all kinds is in demand but good photographs of people are natural and unposed. Most people are not actors or models and if they sense the presence of a camera they react in all kinds of ways. Some people feel awkward or shy or even overly proud.

Even movie stars don’t like a giant lens pointing at them unless it’s someone they trust and of course they should be PAID in some way. At least report something good along with the clothing malfunction.

Cameras like the Leica’s and Nikons are worth the money if you can afford them and you have the photographic skill to use them. Digital cameras like the new but old school looking Leica M9 and X1 are small and cost around five grand with extra lens.

If you don’t want to spend quite so much money the Nikon 8000 or Canon G11 will get you in the ballpark, well maybe the same city but anyway they take great pictures and are small enough to hide in a large pocket.

Very interesting and not only because of price, is Leica’s new X1. It’s kinda like a miniature SLR camera, only with a single, fixed lens. To me the great thing is it’s a high quality camera you can hide in your hands and photograph everyday life without interfering with it. Later after you get the photos you want then pretend you are shooting and ask for a release. If they say no then you’ve lost nothing so keep moving.

The Leica’s have almost every feature you would ever want in any camera. The Leica M9 Full Frame 35mm is a huge 18 Megapixels and will sell for around $ 5000 and like all Leica Cameras is worth it if you can afford it.

In my opinion if you are rich and don’t even take pictures the Leica is still worth the five grand just to hold it in your hands and feel it’s quality and history. Just be sure not to use it because it’s too expensive for that. Oh, and don’t walk around at night with it either. It’s small so you can probably hide it from the wife unlike that old car you bought; )

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Hello Photographers!

August 11th, 2009

Welcome to Walt’s Digital Photo Blog

Digital Photography Made Easy

Today, digital photography is considered the most popular not only in the business industry but also for personal use. For all those who have shifted from film cameras, it is vital that you know the different terms related to it.

The first part of the digital photography tutorial will focus on the basic parts and terms you need to know before handling a digital camera. Below are the common terms used in digital photography.

  1. Pixel- means the tiniest part of the digital photo. A photo image is composed of combined millions of pixels.
  2. Resolution- the over all quantity of pixels in a photo. Increasing the resolution would make the image become sharper. Thus more pixels are needed to achieve a better photo image quality.
  3. Mega pixel- a photo composed of three to four mega pixels will have a better quality that a photo with only one mega pixel.
  4. Dots Per Inch (DPI) – this term is used to describe quality of the computer monitor and printer. Specifically, laser printers have more dpi resolution than monitors. Hence, higher the dpi resolution means better quality.
  5. JPEG (joint photographic experts group) – it corresponds to the format for saving images in the digital camera.
  6. Memory Card- this is where the digital files are stored. Memory cards consist of different sizes and capacity. A memory card with higher storage capacity would be more convenient to purchase.
  7. LCD (liquid crystal display) – almost all digital cameras have this specification. The purpose of LCD is for the photographer to be able to view the scene first before capturing the photo.

Now that you already understand the first part of the digital photography tutorial, the second part will discuss basically on correct handling of digital camera.

Proper handling of digital camera is the next important step in digital photography. This is because the success of a digital photographer depends on his output. And the key to achieve quality photos starts in the way you use and handle the digital camera.

Learning how a digital camera works, understanding the strategies in taking photos, and how to take indoor and outdoor pictures are all part of the things a beginner should learn.

Below is the second part of the digital photography tutorial. These are good ideas to help beginner master the secrets of taking photos.

1. Pay attention to the subject

One of the most fundamental digital photography tips. You should be able to compose carefully by working on the frame. Play with your camera, and explore the different shots. Avoid positioning your object at the center of the photo, as it may result to dead center image.

2. Capture Close up Photos

Take great images by capturing them in extreme close up. Close up photos add a little creativity and excitement to the photos. In addition, this feature is only of the different ways to enhance you photo.

3. Use a tripod

Oftentimes digital cameras results to blurry photographs if your hands quiver a little. Getting a tripod will surely save your effort from taking low quality photos, and preserve otherwise great photos.

4. Be active

Try creative shots. Take photos from the top of a hill, or off the side of a yacht. Go outside and explore your environment. You’ll surely have fun taking those once in a lifetime photo shots.

5. Join a photography class

Your learning doesn’t only focus on the practical part. You must not only learn through your experience. Learning from an expert would also help to improve your skills as a photographer. Try to join a photography class in your community, or if there are online classes you can log on.

Becoming a professional digital photographer really takes time. You just have to be resourceful and keep on trying new techniques. Start by learning the digital photography tutorial because this will serve as a stepping stone for your future career growth.

The great photographers I knew were workaholics but they didn’t know it because they were having so much fun. Both are gone now God bless them. AA wanted so much to see the Digital Photography progess he knew was coming way back in 1980. He said, “I hope I’m around to see it!”. Maybe he can.

Walter Minton

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