Digital Photography 101 - How image quality can vary

[DPNow]

Here is a summary or excerpt from an article that has just been published on DPNow:

If you are interested in improving your technical appreciation of digital image quality, but you consider yourself a novice, why not have a look at the first instalment of our Digital Photography 101 series. To start with, we look at some fundamental ways in which images can vary in quality, and why.

More...

[Bob Ross]

Re: Digital Photography 101 - How image quality can vary

Hi Ian,
Very good idea and your first segment is well layed out. Given the number of facets to digital image quality, it should keep you busy and out of trouble for some time to come
If you decide to expand the DR subject, you could explain how the DR of the capture device relates to the output device or print/paper/ink. I read a nice article by Ctein about how SBR (scene brightness range) related to DR, over on The Online Photographer site, a while back.
I suppose the tricky thing would be to avoid any reference to film as a comparison, though it is the ghost that haunts what we expect to see. There are enough photographers that never used film and it might be like explaining how you can fit 2000 songs in the hole of a 45RPM record (what's that?).
I look forward to each segment, as it appears.
Bob

[Stephen]

Re: Digital Photography 101 - How image quality can vary

I'd very much agree with Bob about your article Ian and I too look forward to the next one. The photos clearly show differences due to dynamic range and illustrate well the content. I kept wishing there was a Levels histogram to back up what we could see, though I expect this will come in a later article. Don't keep us waiting too long

[Ian]

Re: Digital Photography 101 - How image quality can vary

I'd very much agree with Bob about your article Ian and I too look forward to the next one. The photos clearly show differences due to dynamic range and illustrate well the content. I kept wishing there was a Levels histogram to back up what we could see, though I expect this will come in a later article. Don't keep us waiting too long

I felt including a histogram would have been overload for some of the target audience, but that will be introduced in the next instalment

Ian

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Digital Photography 101 - How image quality can vary

I am often asked to explain about elements of image quality, such as these, and this shows exactly the effects that are so often seen.

101's are mostly over complicated, but this is ideal as a guide to new photographers and perhaps more importantly the increasing number of older people who are switching from film to digital and just want really simple tips to improve their images.

Thanks Ian, I shall be pointing several people to this series...

[coupekid]

Re: Digital Photography 101 - How image quality can vary

I felt including a histogram would have been overload for some of the target audience, but that will be introduced in the next instalment

Ian

Look forward to it Ian, it made interesting reading!

[Ian]

Re: Digital Photography 101 - How image quality can vary

I'm working on it now

Ian

[bouffie]

Re: Digital Photography 101 - How image quality can vary

Thanks for clearly explaining to a novice exactly what people are talking about when they throw these terms around.

Look forward to similar articles

[Ian]

Re: Digital Photography 101 - How image quality can vary

Part 2 is now up - intgroducing the exposure histogram - don't be intimidated by what is a very useful and easy to understand tool!

http://dpnow.com/6170.html

Ian