Digital photography is the scientific process of taking an image and reproducing it digitally. Digital photography uses digital cameras containing multiple arrays of photodiodes to create images captured by a single lens, rather than an exposure on film. The captured images are then digitized, stored as a digital file and then available for future digital processing, online viewing, online printing, or other digital image processing.
Digital photography has evolved significantly over the years and continues to do so. The evolution is happening in the field of macro-photography which is far more dynamic and challenging than its micro-photography counterpart. Digital photography is used for everything from simple black and white images, to high-resolution color images. Digital cameras are now cheaper than ever before. Digital photography is not just about better image quality. The popularity of digital photography is based on another reason: the ability to capture, store, and share images with others.
Digital Photography tells stories in a variety of ways that traditional photography didn’t allow. Whether the story involves movement, action, color, depth, contrast, composition, or timing, the outcome of a digital photography story often speaks volumes about the photographer’s skill and professionalism. Digital photography lets a photographer tell stories that can’t be told using film or even film negatives.
The ability to change angle, focus, and subject matter in post-production greatly enhances the value of digital photography. The ability to adjust and move images around within their images greatly enhances the “story” a photographer tells. An image could have been taken using one specific focal point, captured on film, and saved as a micro-image on your computer. The ability to alter those images with different focal points and change the background, lighting, and angle within the image vastly changes the quality of that image. Digital photography allows a photographer to focus on the big picture while still giving the consumer or viewer a wonderful image.
A common question that most digital photography beginners have is, what is aperture and why is it important? In essence, aperture refers to the amount of light the camera captures. More aperture means a wider depth of field and more light is exposed for each focused area of the photo. The larger the aperture, the less light is exposed for the photo. A smaller aperture will result in less light being captured within the focused area, which will result in a duller image with less dimension.
Digital Photography also has the advantage of allowing for motion. Traditional film photography is limited to continuous motion. A photographer must have some ability to turn the camera on and off at different speeds to capture continuous motion. Digital photography provides photographers with the ability to capture images continuously, without the need for continuous operation of the camera. Digital cameras are also designed to be easy to use and understand, two factors that make digital photography a favorite among all types of photography lovers.