photography

[clay dube]

We'll use this corner of the forum to share photography tips.

It's probably a good idea to stock up on film prior to heading to China (if you use a film camera). Piracy is a huge problem in China and it's possible that you'd be getting fake Kodak or Fuji film, even if you are purchasing it in a large hotel or shop. On the other hand, it is readily available, so don't fret too much about running out. In Japan this is not a problem.

Digital photographers should take advantage of sales to get memory cards to take along. Pick up a Sunday paper (3/19) for the CompUSA ad and you can get PNY 512 mb Compact Flash or Secure Digital cards for $10 (after the usual instant savings and mail-in rebate). This is a terrific deal. Memory cards tend to be cheaper here than in China or Japan.

In both China and Japan, many photo shops can copy your photos from your cards to cd-roms. You can get your photos printed out cheaply in China and in Japan there are self-serve kiosks where you insert cards and can choose which images to print.

[Anonymous]

Hi Clay,

What a great idea to have a disussion forum on photography issues. I was considering buying a new digital camera for the trip. A friend who recently traveled to Africa recommended a Nikon 8 megapixel. I want to be able to enlarge and frame some photos without having to worry about fuzzy pictures. Is an 8 megapixel too much camera for our needs?

Ana

[Edit by="amitchell on Mar 21, 5:42:35 AM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

I recently purchased a Cannon A520, I believe it has 4 megapixels. I don't intend to blow up larger then 8x10, and got a great price on it on the Internet. We know several people who own one, and they are easy to use for those of us who are challenged with gadgets.

[Anonymous]

Clay, I have always taken my laptop on all my travels and downloaded my pix to my hard drive in the evenings. Do you see any problems with this on our trip to China?

[Anonymous]

Hi Darlene and Linda,

Thanks for the info on the Canon. It sounds like you have been happy with the results of your 8x10 pictures. That is the size I would also like to enlarge my photos but wanted to ensure quality photos.

In response to Linda's post regarding downloading photos, my husband is suggesting that I use an ipod for that purpose.

Ana

[clay dube]

Linda -- I would avoid bringing a laptop. In China we'll be using trains and buses and there's considerable risk of damage or losing the beast. I think that it's a better idea to bring memory cards and, as needed, to have shops make cds for you.

Ana and others, on the megapixel front, I think you can get great shots without the latest gear. All the photography shops suggest 6 mp is enough for sharp 8x10 prints. Some cameras come with a nice variety of preset modes (one Sony I've seen had one for "food") that automatically adjust a number of settings.

One feature my camera (a large Olympus beast) has that I find essential is a viewfinder. In bright light, I find it difficult to use most of the video screens now found on digital cameras. We will often be taking photos outdoors and in bright light (using sweaty palms....). I wish my camera had a stronger optical zoom like those I've seen on some Kodaks (10 times). And image stabilization seems like a feature worth having (it wasn't common when I bought my camera two years ago). Business Week's 3/27 issue has a comparison of cameras with image stabilization.

I think the future belongs to digital cameras, but it isn't necessary to buy one for this trip. If you've got a film camera that you know how to use, it will do just fine. Virtually all photo services will scan your images on to a disk for you, so you needn't suffer from email or web displayed photo-envy. It's the eye of the photographer that ultimately matters most.

We shouldn't let taking pictures get in the way of SEEING. A friend of mine said the best thing about a 6 month trip he made to Africa was having his camera fall under a truck tire after the first month. "It was liberating," he said, explaining that instead of taking pictures to show others, he concentrated on really looking at things, trying to imprint them deep into his mind. I'd have bought another camera, but I take him at his word. He was liberated to concentrate on the experience of being there rather than thinking about how he would show the experience to his friends.

Having written all this, I know that most of us intend to take photos and perhaps video to use with our students. And I can attest to the power of being able to say to students, "when I took this..."[Edit by="Clay Dube on Mar 22, 6:29:33 AM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

I needed something simple to operate. I am not too "mechanical."

[Anonymous]

Went yesterday to Comp USA. Joe told me they opened early on Sunday, and were lined up waiting to get in the door. They were sold out. I am going to keep an eye out for future deals. If not, I will order them on the internet. If I took over 300 pictures in Hawaii in a week, I figure I should probably have the capability of 1,500 for this trip. I intend to use photos in some of my lesson plans. One that comes to mind imediately is a "Gallery Walk." I have done one in the past on the Renaissance, and the kids really enjoyed it.

[Anonymous]

Ana:
There was one advertised this last Sunday in the LA Times. (Office Depot or Staples).
My son (photo expert) says that unless you are making posters, no one really needs more than a 4-5 megapixal camera. He recommends looking at the depth of field, etc., as that is more important that large mexapixals.
Courtney Lockwood[Edit by="clockwood on Mar 22, 6:34:41 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information on camera features. I have a better idea of what I think I need and will begin doing some research. It sounds like the memory cards are the way to go.

Ana

[Anonymous]

Clay,
Is there a way to create a thread or site where we can upload and share our pictures? I know there is Snapfish and a few others, but maybe people in the group might want to submit or upload their best twenty--that shouldn't be too overwhelming? And that way if you miss a shot, someone else will maybe have the shot you missed.

Just an idea,
LaRue

[Anonymous]

I am thrilled there are several of you who are so savvy with computers and cameras. At least there will be teachers with us who can help those of us who are "challenged."

[Anonymous]

I did not want to worry about "card" capacity for my digital, so I broke down and bought 2 cards, both 2 mgea, something or other. One of my students picked them out. I now have enough space, in between my 3 cards to shoot approximately 3,600 photos. I will have loads of pictures to choose from when designing my "Gallery Walk," and I won't have to worry about running out of space. I feel relieved already.

[Anonymous]

Clay: Many digital cameras require recharging of batteries. Will this be a problem in China or Japan?
Courtney Lockwood

[Anonymous]

I'm no expert on cameras, but I've done a little research and asked some questions because I'm going to be buying a new camera myself. The requirements I've come with up for digital cameras are:

5-6 megapixels, preferrably the latter, which produce sharper picture quality (they also use up more memory space, but with the high volume memory cards they have now, that's not really a problem),

at least 3 X optical zoom-- the optical zoom maintains the picture quality, while the digital zoom--which all digital cameras also have--can make the pictures less sharp and somewhat blurry. Most digitals come with 3 X optical, there is a small black Nikon with 5 X, and some new Panasonics with 6 X, these are all relatively small. If you don't mind a small but slightly bulkier camera, you can get much higher optical zoom. Personally, I like the less bulky especially since its mainly for snapshots. I'm leaning toward the Nikon right now since there is a noticeable difference between the 3 X and the 5 X.

2.5 inch screen-- I bought a digital with a 1.5 inch screen, about the size of a postage stamp, about 3 years ago, and have been envying the 2.5 and 3 inch screens I've seen come out in the past couple of years. The pictures are much easier to see, and allow you to show a slideshow of your pictures that can almost take the place of prints.

all digitals also are able to record video clips with sound. The quality is not as good as a video camera, but its decent enough, and its neat to be able to have that ability when something with movement comes up that you want to record (I recently recorded my students singing happy birthday to one of their fellow students and then hooked up the cable that came with the camera to the television to show them what it looked like--they loved it.)

with digital pictures or videos, you can show them on TV's, record them onto VHS or CD's, show and record them on your computer to look at individually, as a slideshow, or paste them as the background for your opening page or anywhere else--its fun!

I didn't really get into all this until this year, but once you see how easy it is and how much you can do with it, you learn fast. Also, you can take your memory cards to any drug store. Costco, and other places, and plug them into self-service machines where you can select, enhance, crop, and zoom-in to customize your pictures--and most computers have programs where you can do this also, so that you change what is on your memory cards before you have them developed.

Those of you who already have digital cameras know all this, but for those who are just getting into this now, this is just a little review of some of the neat stuff that you can do.

[Author]

Posts