So what should you concentrate on?

Resolution - The higher the number:

· the better the resolution

· The more information captured

· More detail

· Greater clarity

· Higher sharpness

Typical Resolution

· 640 x 480 – Low resolution. OK for emails and web pages.

· 1216 x 912 – Usual resolution found on megapixel cameras. Good for printing pictures.

· 1600 x 1200 – This is a higher resolution, good for printing “photo lab quality “ 4 x 5 inch prints.

· 2240 x 1680 – Found on 4 megapixel cameras. Good quality prints up to 11 x 14 inches.

· 4064 x 2704 – Found in professional cameras (11 megapixels). No lost of picture quality even with prints up to 13 x 19 inches.

Taking Pictures

Camera Settings and Features

Recording Options

File Compression

JPEG - Joint Photographic Experts Group - universally adopted format for storing images

Compresses files using Discrete Cosine transformation. Works on 8 blocks of pixels at a time.

· JPEG Fine - lowest compression. Larger file size. Diagonal lines not perfect. A little bleed in the gray areas.

· JPEG Normal - medium compression. More imperfection & bleed.

· JPEG Basic - More compression. Loss of color definition, loss of clarity.

RAW & TIFF

RAW - unprocessed data - most faithful to the original image.

TIFF - Tagged Image File Format - larger file size than JPEG but better quality of information. Best used as a master photo file to work from.

TIP: If you want to archive the image, it is better to keep it a TIFF or RAW file. If you need to add that image to the web or email it, “save as” a JPEG or work from a copy, keeping the original TIFF in tact.

Settings

Lenses

· Zoom - most cameras have built in zoom feature, usually x3 (38-114 mm).

· Wide angle - Fit more into the image. Good for group shots.

You can also see if the camera manufacturer has any filters to attach to your lenses. These add some interesting effects like sparkles, colors, prisms, etc.

Focus Options

· Wide Area or Multipoint - allows you to focus on area other than center of photo.

· Landscape focus - for infinite focus.

· Macro - for extreme close ups.

· Continuous Auto focus - allows you to follow or track a moving subject.

ISO Settings - International Organization for Standardization

400 ISO - faster shutter speed, good for lower light, action shots, reduce shutter shake.

100 ISO - slower shutter speed, higher light (beach scene), stationary subject.

White Balance

Auto White Balance - adjusts for the type of light - sunny, cloudy, household lamps, etc.

Select the proper setting for the environment you are photographing in, including backlighting.

Flash Modes

Auto Mode - will flash when necessary

Off Mode - turns flash off

Red-Eye Reduction - uses multiple flashes to reduce the red-eye effect in photographs.

Batteries

AA / AAA - standard batteries. Inexpensive - questionable duration.

Lithium Ion / Ni-MH (Nickel Metal Hydride), last longer and sometimes rechargeable

Always pack extra batteries for special events.

Storage

Most cameras use removable flash memory cards. These come in all shapes and sizes, depending on the make of your camera.

Display Screen

· LCD - Liquid Crystal Display

· Sizes range from 1.8” to 3+”.

· Larger screens are easier to see images on.

· Plenty of room to list information such as battery charge, settings, and memory space.

· Swivel mount - can hold the camera at unusual angles. Great for holding a camera above a crowd.

Peripherals

Scanners

· Flatbed - Most popular. Affordable. For scanning prints - 600dpi is more than sufficient. Pick one with 48 bits of color or more.

· Dedicated Film Scanners - for negatives and transparencies. Not for Digital.

Scanner Resolution

o Optical resolution of 1200x2400 dpi good for photographic prints

o 2400x4800 dpi good for slides and negatives and prints larger than 8.5 x 11”.

o Dynamic range of 3 is sufficient for prints. It controls brightness.

o Color Depth 36bit good, 48 better. Avoid 24.

Printers

TIP: Before taking pictures, always take time to apply the best camera settings for the environment for which you are shooting.

If you are taking shots of a children’s event that is being held outdoors in the Summer, you should take lighting and motion into account.

Also keep in mind if the images are to be archived for printing or will be placed on the web. This will determine what file type you will set your camera to, JPEG vs. TIFF. If you will take numerous photographs or will need the camera for the entire day, keep extra batteries and an extra memory card on hand.

Posting Patron images on the Web

One of the many reasons librarians take to photography is to post images on the library’s web site. Usually the images are of the library building or other inanimate objects. Other times, they can be of events like story-time, book clubs, or meetings.

If some of the images are group shots or crowds, you may want to use photo-editing software to blur the faces of the people in the picture.

If you plan on posting a photograph where the faces of the patron are clearly recognizable, make sure you have their permission to do so. This is especially important if children are in the picture.

Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998

http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/coppa1.htm

In 1998, a law was passed concerning using the Internet to post or obtain personal information from Children.

(1) In General - It is unlawful for an operator of a website or online service directed to children, or any operator that has actual knowledge that it is collecting information from a child, to collect personal information from a child in a manner that violates the regulations prescribed under subsection (b).

(2) Disclosure to parent protected – Notwithstanding paragraph (1), neither an operator of such a website or online service nor the operator’s agent shall be held to be liable under any Federal or State law for any disclosure made in good faith and following reasonable procedures in responding to a request for disclosure of personal information under subsection (b)(1)(B)(iii) to the parent of a child.

Consent forms

To cover themselves, many schools and libraries have begun using consent forms to obtain parental permission to post a child’s picture or the intellectual property (such as artwork, poetry, and short stories) of a child on their webpage.

Below is a list of organizations who have posted their consent forms online:

Massachusetts Department of Education

http://www.doe.mass.edu/resources/consent.pdf

New Jersey Department of Education

http://www.state.nj.us/njded/techno/idconsent/form.pdf

Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

http://schoolctr.hebisd.edu/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=18664&catfilter=1471&PHPSESSID=3950a8acf9a4cabb16e225c509decf75#showDoc

Pittsylvania County School District, Pittsylvania, VA (Word Document)

http://www.pcs.k12.va.us/public/parents-newconsent-0102006.doc