All advice documents, training courses and blog entries tagged 'photography'
Still images advice tagged 'photography'
Introduction to digitising bound volumes
Bound volumes such as books need to be digitised with care to avoid poor quality capture or damage to the book. This document looks at the specific problems posed when capturing bound documents and compares commonly used digitisation devices.
Read full advice document...The Book Scanner
While it is possible to digitise books and bound volumes using scanners or copystands the most efficient and least harmful device is the dedicated book scanner. For the purpose of this document we have tested a Zeutschel OS1200HQ which scans open books with a total area of A2+ at 400ppi book scanner and compared it to a copystand mounted Nikon D3 camera which captures at 4256 x 2832 pixels camera and an A4 Epson Perfection 4990 flatbed scanner with a maximum resolution of 4800ppi.
Read full advice document...Model Release - Permission to Use Images of People
This document answers some frequently asked questions on getting consent to use images or recordings of people and includes links to sample model release forms.
Read full advice document...The Copystand
The copystand is a commonly used device that securely supports a stills camera above a two-dimensional original object. Copystands might be used in libraries, archives or anywhere where there is a need to digitise large 2D objects. This document is an introduction to the copystand and how to use it.
Read full advice document...Introduction to GIMP Image Editing Software
GIMP is a free open source image editing program. It has a comprehensive set of tools comparable to those available in commercial software such as Adobe Photoshop. GIMP can help you with simple and advanced image editing tasks. This document will look at the GIMP features that are of most use to those wanting to edit images for use in teaching and research.
Read full advice document...Tethered Camera Operation
As technology has improved digital cameras have become more and more portable. Smaller and more ergonomic cameras have made digital photography more practical - however, there are times when it is preferable to use a more static system with camera and computer connected. This is known as tethered camera operation. This document is aimed at anyone who might need to operate their camera from a distance, in an awkward position or wants to preview the image on a high quality computer screen.
Read full advice document...Free Online Image Editors
You don't need Photoshop if you want to edit your digital images. There are now countless alternatives - this advice document looks at free-to-use online image editors which let you work on images via your internet browser. As these free image editors are web-based, you don't need to install anything on your computer.
Read full advice document...Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
This advice document looks at the process of converting printed type into a computer readable format. In the 1950s the first commercial optical character recognition (OCR) applications appeared, however it wasn't until the early 1990s that 'off the shelf' products were made available. This document looks at the OCR process and how the condition of the original document and the capture technique can affect the quality of the digital output.
Read full advice document...How Do I Digitise Difficult Objects?
Scanners and digital cameras are the most commonly used devices for capturing still images; the digital files they create fit seamlessly into the modern workflow. This document looks at scanners and digital cameras and how they can be used to capture non-typical objects. In this document we look at a range of different objects and how we can capture them with a camera or scanner and a few accessories.
Read full advice document...Taking Pictures under Available Light
Most modern digital stills cameras have built in flashes, however these do not always produce a pleasing light, have a limited range and the flash can be distracting in some situations. Professional photographers normally like to have complete control over lighting in order to produce the highest quality images. It is however possible to produce high quality images without the cameras built in flash or in situations where you do not have total control over the lighting. Available or ambient light is the light in the scene before the photographer starts work and this FAQ document looks at common problems associated with available light and how to overcome them. You may also be interested in our Light Sources for Still and Moving Images advice document.
Read full advice document...Digital Cameras
Digital cameras come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, this document details the different technologies used to capture a digital image. This paper also covers the features that a user should consider before choosing a digital camera.
Read full advice document...Useful Books, Magazines and Online Publications for Digital Imaging
This is a list of books, papers, magazines, journals, online publications and mailing lists that JISC Digital Media thinks are useful to keep up to date with developments in digital imaging.
Read full advice document...Using a Budget Digital Camera for Teaching, Learning and Research
Over recent years the price of digital cameras has tumbled while there has been a corresponding improvement in image quality. Compact digital cameras are compact flexible devices that work well in the modern workflow. This document provides an introduction to the compact camera and how to get the most from it.
Read full advice document...The Digital SLR Camera for Teaching, Learning and Digitisation
Digital SLR cameras have improved dramatically over recent years, they have also become much cheaper. Consumers can now buy an entry level digital SLR for around the same price as a top of the range compact. This paper explains the difference between a digital compact and digital SLR and shows how to get the most out of this type of camera.
Read full advice document...The Camera Raw File Format
The Raw file format is the native format offered by most digital SLR cameras. The format can offer greater levels of control over the conversion of capture data to more widely accepted formats such as TIFF or JPEG formats. This document is an introduction to the format and how to make use of it.
Read full advice document...Photographic Guidelines
There are many factors that need to be considered before and during a photographic session, this document provides a set of guidelines which will assist in planning a photographic project.
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Cross-media advice tagged 'photography'
The Video Enabled Digital SLR
Until very recently if you needed to shoot video you purchased a video camera and if you needed to shoot stills you bought a stills camera. However, over the last couple of years manufacturers have started to release stills SLR cameras that can also capture video. With many of the middle and higher range camera models now offering video capture we should look at this new feature and try to identify its strengths and weaknesses. This document is aimed at anyone who has or is about to purchase an SLR camera and needs to know if the video option is of use to them.
Read full advice document...Introduction to Lenses
This document looks at the camera lens (stills or video) and how it contributes to the quality of the photographic image. It describes the component parts of the lens and how they contribute to the final image. The document should also help the reader to select a specific lens for a task.
Read full advice document...Light Sources for Still and Moving Images
The word photography means drawing with light, without light it is impossible to record a video or still image. So lighting whether in a classroom, office or dedicated photographic studio is an essential component in a photograph or video. The captured image is a record of the light that is emitted, reflected or absorbed by the subject. With a basic understanding of light and how it can be modified the photographer or filmmaker should be able to improve the appearance of their images. This document will look at commonly used light sources and how the user can get the most from them.
Read full advice document...Stands and Supports for Still and Moving Images
One of the easiest ways to improve the quality of still or moving images is by using a support. Supports and stands can reduce or eliminate vibration or movement which otherwise would degrade the quality of the captured media. Supports come in all shapes and sizes: this document looks at a variety of support types including tripods, copy-stands, clamps and brackets as well as improvised solutions.
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Training courses tagged 'photography'
Advanced Techniques in Digital Image Capture
This course looks at the technical background behind, and procedures for, image capture and optimisation delivered through hands-on activities. This workshop will teach you how to produce the correct end product for your intended purpose and teach you the easy 'science' of scanning to remove the guesswork from your image capture.
Read course description...Digital Photography - Taking Control of your SLR
This action packed course looks in depth at using a digital SLR's creative controls to put you in charge of your photography. You will also have plenty of hands-on practice with the camera and be shown how to effectively illuminate 2D and 3D objects using tungsten and fluorescent studio lighting.
Read course description...Digital Photography - Getting Started with your SLR
This entry level course will provide you with an understanding of the techniques and skills needed to produce great quality images from a digital SLR camera with ease. Some illuminating background theory will be supported by hands-on practical exercises in photography.
Read course description...Colour Management
Effective colour management is vital within the digital workflow and anyone working with digital images should understand and be employing the core principles. This training course introduces colour management theory and 'good practice' to ensure that you understand how to achieve consistent and accurate colour between applications, platforms, and devices.
Read course description...Essential Techniques in Digital Image Capture
This entry level course provides an easy to understand theoretical overview of digital images and image capture combined with practical exercises using both a scanner and digital SLR camera for those getting started with creating digital images.
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Blog entries tagged 'photography'
Tethered camera app for Android phones
It has been possible to operate a digital SLR from a mobile device for some time but this has required a direct conection between the camera and a PC.
Read blog entry...High-end iPhone photography?
Photojojo has just released a new product: a mount which enables you to use standard SLR lenses on an iPhone 4.
Read blog entry...Refocus a picture after it has been taken!
A newcomer to the photography market is close to launching an impressive new camera which allows the user to refocus the picture after it has been taken.
Read blog entry...How do light meter Apps measure up?
I know a few photographers who can quite accurately predict the correct exposure to use under a variety of challenging lighting situations, most of us however require a little help from a light meter.
Read blog entry...An antidote to the digital zoom
The cameras built into most portable devices use fixed focal length lenses, to alter the framing the user normally has to move closer or further away from the subject or use the dreaded digital zoom. The digital zoom simply crops into the original frame to give a closer look. The zoomed image has no more image detail than the un-zoomed shot and so digital zoom should be avoided whenever possible.
Read blog entry...New Additions to VADS Collections
The Visual Arts Data Service (VADS) has made two new additons to its collections which contain images from artists working from the middle of the 20th century until the present day. A statement from VADS contines:
Read blog entry...Camera phones come of age
As a photographer I have never found the camera stuffed into most mobile phones to be a deal breaker. Whenever I have bought a new phone I have tested the camera, but have always found it lacking. After a recent phone upgrade I thought I should repeat my usual test on the camera, this was mainly to confirm my firmly entrenched prejudices.
Read blog entry...Remarkable eclipse photo
Sometimes taking just one photo requires a tremendous amount of preparation and perspiration.
Read blog entry...The 12 Days of JISC Digital Media Christmas
Tuesday the 7th of December 2010 sees JISC Digital Media launch the 12 Days of JISC Digital Media Christmas, a very lighthearted and tongue-in-cheek series of videos.
Read blog entry...Photos should be relevant
In Jakob Nielsen's latest alertbox Photos as Web Content he demonstrates the results of a recent eyetracking study regarding the use of photos with/as web content.
Read blog entry...New advice on the video enabled digital SLR
Video capture is an increasingly common feature in today's digital SLR cameras. While the controls are crude compared to those of a dedicated camcorder the video output has a cinematic look popular with many filmmakers.
Read blog entry...Blow up photographic studio
Not the location for Antonioni's 1966 film 'Blowup' but a 20 foot long inflatable photographic studio.
Read blog entry...Playing with the Zumi
I recently purchased a Zumi, properly known as the Digital Harinezumi 2++ and have been getting a lot of enjoyment out of it.
Read blog entry...Introduction to the copystand
Digital SLRs are increasingly being used to capture 2D objects which until recently would have been digitised using a scanner. Recognising the increasing use of the copystand we have just published a new document which explains what it is and how to use it is used: The Copystand.
Read blog entry...Guide to GIMP image editor
Following our recent guide to free online image editors, we have updated our Introduction to GIMP Image Editing Software.
Read blog entry...Photoshopping for alternatives
Photoshop was in the news last week - as the tool used by a BP photographer to alter images for use on its website.
Read blog entry...Operating your camera remotely
We have just published a new advice document on Tethered Camera Operation.
Read blog entry...Free online image editing tools
We've just published our latest advice document on Free Online Image Editors.
Read blog entry...How to get attention on Flickr
Once you have produced a collection of multimedia resources, it is typical to hope that many people will visit and view said resources.
Read blog entry...New lens document just released
We have just released a new introductory document on lenses, it describes the main components of the lens and what you should consider before choosing a lens for a task.
Read blog entry...Workflow by Thomas Hawk
One of the key tools needed to produce resources is the use of various workflows.
Read blog entry...New optical character recognition (OCR) document
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is the process of converting printed text into a computer readable format.
Read blog entry...New lens document and Adobe CS5 to be released soon
Adobe have just announced that they will be launching their new version of Photoshop CS5 (PDF) which will be available around the same time as we will be releasing our new document on camera lenses.
Read blog entry...Time to unplug
Eye-fi have recently released their new (and the first ever) range of memory cards fitted with wireless technology that allows you to upload photos and videos directly to your computer or the web.
Read blog entry...Interesting photography apps for the iPhone and iPod touch
Of the very many photography apps for the iPhone that exist, two have struck me as particularly nice, DOFMaster and DSLR Camera Remote Professional Edition.
Read blog entry...Instant film makes a comeback
In 2008 the Polaroid Corporation stopped manufacturing their instant film products.
Read blog entry...Using a digital SLR for video
There's a very interesting article in Creative COW about the Canon 5D Mk II, a very advanced digital SLR (or HDSLR) that the author has been using to shoot video with.
Read blog entry...How to photograph or scan those tricky objects
We have just published a new advice document on scanning and photography.
Read blog entry...Google snaps up online photo editor
Google has acquired Picnik an online photo editing site.
Read blog entry...Using photos to enhance user experience
Local usability consultancy Cx partners have a thought provoking take on the power of photos to enhance your resources.
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Negative thinking
We have just released a new advice document looking at the different materials used to make film for stills and moving images.
Read blog entry...Two new lighting documents
We have just released two advice documents which cover lighting for stills and video production.
Read blog entry...Time-lapse photographic evidence of climate change
Photographer James Balog is using over 30 time lapse cameras to document global ice loss caused by climate change.
Read blog entry...Flickr’s new search results page
The new layout for Flickr search results is now live.
Read blog entry...New digital restoration course among autumn training dates
The keen-eyed among you will have already noticed we have just released details of our new training programme for September to December.
Read blog entry...The answer to your camera-mounting dreams…
Ever been shooting still images or video and wondered, "How can I possibly provide a steady support for my camera here?"
Read blog entry...Updated digital camera document
To reflect recent developments in digital camera technology we have updated the Digital Camera paper.
Read blog entry...Real life in miniature: tilt-shift video
A great piece of timelapse/tilt-shift video.
Read blog entry...JISC Digital Media goes analogue
Yesterday lunchtime a few of us got back to basics learning a little more about pinhole photography.
Read blog entry...Large scale photo project visible from space
The French photographer, JR has created a huge photographic installation on the rooftops of houses and on the sides of trains that pass through a large Kenyan slum.
Read blog entry...Can I take a photograph anywhere?
Do you think that there has been an increase in the amount of legislation introduced which has curbed individual freedom?
Read blog entry...Red’s new cameras
In November, Red Digital Cinema announced their new range of cameras which are expected to be available between this spring and the summer of 2010. "Range of cameras" isn't quite accurate, as Red have adopted a completely modular approach. It includes two of what Red refers to as Brains, the sensing and capturing core of the system. These are called Scarlet and Epic and are accompanied by an almost mind-boggling list of performance specs.
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