DR. K's WRITING MANUAL

CHAPTER 4: Kodak Digital Camera 40

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The Kodak Digital Camera 40 is one of the most advanced digital cameras available. It allows the user to take a photograph and store it as a digital image on its built in hard drive. This image can then be "dumped" into the computer and manipulated in a variety of ways using various programs.

A. Basic Photography

In order to maximize the use of the digital camera some basic photography tips will be useful.

It is always good to have an idea of how you will be using the photograph as this will assist you in composing the photograph. Therefore, as you plan your paper plan what photographs you need to enhance it, plan what you want to show your reader through your photographs.

Remember that the camera viewfinder is offset from the actual camera lens a few inches. This means that there is a slight difference, greater as you move closer to the subject, between what you see and what the camera sees. Use the guide lines in the view finder to compose the shot.

Be sure to be as close to your subject as possible as this will show it best. While it is possible to enlarge a smaller item using the computer, the clarity of the photo will suffer.

When you compose a photo look at it carefully to be sure it shows what you want it to show and not a lot of extraneous material. If there are too many things going on in the photo, it will look "busy" and distract from the subject.

Compose the photo so the lighting is as consistent as possible. The camera will try and pick the best possible exposure and if there are areas that are very bright and/or very dark it will throw the camera off.

Do not get too close to the subject as the camera, without close-up lens, will only focus to a minimum of about four feet.

If you are using the flash on the camera, you should not be more that about fifteen feet away from the subject. This is as far as the flash will reach.

Be familiar with the camera controls and use them to your advantage. For example, adjust the exposure (see below, section III. C. 3. Exposure) if your subject is in the shadows or there is a very bright background behind the subject.

B. Basic Use of the Camera

The camera is very simple to use but, since it is an expensive electronic instrument, it needs to be handled with care.

Turning the camera on is done by moving the slide on the top front of the camera which also opens the lens cover. (See figure 4) When the camera is on the controls mentioned in the next section will be visible on the rear of the camera.

After manipulating the controls, simply hold the camera firmly using the strap on the right side and view your image through the view finder. Remember that what you see might be a little different from what the camera sees. Use the guide lines in the view finder to adjust accordingly.

To actually take the photograph simply press the shutter button under the fingers of your right hand on the top of the camera.

To shut off the camera, simply slide the lens cover closed.

If you leave the camera on, it will automatically turn itself off to conserve the battery. To reactivate it, either open and close the lens cover or press the shutter button. The latter action will not take a picture at this time. It will simply reactivate the camera.

C. Controls:

On the rear of the camera are located two buttons alongside the window showing the camera controls. The button to the right will allow you to move from one control to another, as shown by the triangle above the control selected. The rocker button to the left will then allow you to manipulate the possibilities for each control.

1. Flash: The lightning bolt symbol allows you to regulate the flash for the camera. The variations are to have the flash used only when the camera senses it is needed, to have it permanently off or to have it permanently on.

2. Timer: The self timer is either on or off. If it is on there will be a delay of approximately fifteen seconds after the shutter release has been pressed. This delay

3. Exposure: The exposure control allows the user to increase or decrease the exposure by two units. The normal setting is in the middle and the controls allow you to move the arrow either two units to the left, making the photo lighter, or to the right, making the picture darker. This is useful for times when the subject is not under the same lighting conditions as the majority of the photo.

4. Delete Pictures: This control allows you to erase either the last photo taken, the "X" on the single piece of film, or all the photos in the camera, the "X" on the three pieces of film. The first option is useful if you decide the photo you just took is not going to be what you want while the second one allows you to erase all the photos after you have dumped them into the computer.

5. Battery: This icon tells you the condition of the batteries that run the camera. If you are going out into the field it is a good idea to turn the camera on and verify that the batteries are good. If not, put in new batteries.

6. Shots Taken: This number indicates the number of photos that have been taken, with the maximum being forty-eight.