Digital technology is finding a place in almost everyone's life. From digital music to digital films, we are regularly exposed to images and sound that have passed from traditional analog domains to new digital formats. Digital photography has become popular every year and is popular every year.
They can of course be printed, and not as traditional 4x6 pictures. They can be used to print on personal calendars, greeting cards, and even items such as coffee mugs and T-shirts.
For many, the biggest advantage of digital photography is that it eliminates the need for picture processing. No more travel to the photo store - pictures can be seen almost immediately on the camera's display screen.
Since there is no development, digital photography does not require hazardous chemicals that can end up in our water supply.
Another great advantage of digital photographs is that they can be easily edited. Computer software allows digital images to be visualized in any way.
They can be cropped, colors can be changed or enhanced, contrast can be adjusted, plugged, and images can be added to create stunning new designs. All of this can be accomplished in a few seconds with a few major strokes or mouse clicks.
Using a digital camera is the best way to take advantage of all the features of digital photography, but you can also use a traditional film camera and convert your negatives into the digital domain.
If you are unsure whether to take the digital plunge or not, negative converting allows you to taste the wonders of digital photography without investing in new equipment. Most photo developing stores offer this service.
However, digital cameras offer much more than film cameras. They have a viewing screen that acts as both a viewer and a picture viewer. This means that you can preview pictures that you have taken a few seconds before.
If you don't like it, remove it, or if a segment is good, crop it before saving it in the camera's memory. Many digital cameras also act as simple video recorders that can capture sound as well as video anywhere, anytime.
This should all come at a steep cost, though - right? wrong! Digital photography is becoming more affordable every year, and the technology to create stunning photos is well within the reach of the average consumer.
Add to that the money you will save on development costs and you have an affordable, practical, solution for all your photography needs.
Benefits of Digital Photography While Taking Wildlife Photos
In a previous article, Affordable Wildlife Photography, I wrote about how the new digital cameras, equipped with powerful 24x (or more) zoom lenses, are making wildlife photography more affordable.
I would like to expand on that which has other advantages that a digital camera can bring to wildlife photography and most other forms of photography.
Although many of these advantages apply to all digital cameras, I am mainly talking about fixed lens digital cameras here.
1. Compact and Light
All these in-one cameras are compact and lightweight, an important consideration when you are in a game-drive vehicle, often with limited space.
Pro Wildlife photographers will have three or four camera bodies, each with a separate lens, which will extend around the vehicle within easy reach.
But when you are sharing a vehicle with others, who are paying a premium to be driven around a game park by an experienced guide, you will usually have no luxury. In the case of any group, some consideration is necessary for the comfort of its co-passengers.
No one will resent you carrying a small bag with your digital camera, extra battery, extra memory card, and possibly some filters. The only addition I would recommend is a small beanbag to use as support for your camera. It may lie at your feet when not in use.
2. No film and processing costs
On a wildlife safari, you should not worry about how many films you use. Yet too many of us don't want "useless" pictures brought on film because of the cost.
In fact, you must be shooting madly. Frame your pictures horizontally and vertically; Zoom in as close as possible, then zoom out to keep the subject in perspective, with some circles visible.
If lighting is difficult, for example, backlighting or surface reflections from the water, do not be afraid of brackets - take a few shots under-exposed and some over-exposed.
The illustrations below show a hippo stepping out of a lake at the Nidumo Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Although it was wet, the lake's surface was highly reflective, allowing the camera's light to affect reading, hence exposing the dark-toned hippo.
I tried to compensate for this by exposing the hippo using the camera's spot meter, but it went far beyond over-exposing the hippo and blowing any detail into the water.
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