Digital cameras 101

[cjanda]

This is one of the first pics I took with my new Canon G6 and 420EX flash.

It's not exactly quite the quality I hoped for so I'm looking for tips.

I shot it with the flash bounced at 60 degrees, Tv Mode (1/125), AWB.

Here is a link to the picture:

http://www.pbase.com/cjanda/image/52196767.jpg

Thanks in advance.

[cjanda]

FYI -- here is the full shooting info for the pic:

File Name      IMG_0060.JPG
Camera Model Name      Canon PowerShot G6
Shooting Date/Time      11/12/05 13:25:04
Shooting Mode      Shutter Speed Priority AE
Photo Effect      Off
Tv (Shutter Speed)      1/125
Av (Aperture Value)      3.0
Light Metering      Evaluative
Exposure Compensation      0
ISO Speed      50
Lens      7.2 - 28.8mm
Focal Length      28.8mm
Digital Zoom      None
Image Size      3072x2304
Image Quality      Fine
Flash      On
Flash Type      External E-TTL
Flash Exposure Compensation      +2/3
Shutter curtain sync      1st-curtain
White Balance      Auto
AF Mode      Continuous AF
Color Space      sRGB
File Size      2412KB
Drive Mode      Single-frame shooting

[ShutterbugGail]

Hi cjanda and welcome to the Q&A Board!

What are the things you are looking for in terms of quality? The image looks quite nice to me. One of the benefits of using an external flash really shows in that there are no harsh shadows behind the subjects.

If it's the slight color cast that you're concerned about, then you need to adjust the white balance according to the main source of lighting in the room. You have it set to auto, perhaps you should have used incandescent or flash white balance. Better yet is to do a custom white balance.

You can remove the color cast with image editing software. The only other thing I'd do if it were my photo, would be to sharpen it slightly using Unsharp Mask.

If you had other concerns, let us know.


Related reading:
Removing a color cast (this is a very basic tutorial)
http://www.digicamhelp.com/correcting-digital-photo-color-cast/

Unsharp mask
http://www.digicamhelp.com/learn/image-editing/image-sharpening.htm

[ShutterbugGail]

I did some quick editing (color correction and unsharp mask) to show you what can be done through the wonder of the digital darkroom:

http://www.pbase.com/gailb/image/52299502

[cjanda]

Yes .. wow...  thanks so much for the information and the example!

I do have Photoshop Elements 3 on my Mac -- but I guess I'm trying to get the images better right out of the camera.   Maybe I'm expecting too much in that respect ??

Yes -- the issues I had with the photo were mainly that it seemed to lack sharpness most of all and it had a color cast to it.

[Deb]

Hi Cjanda, yep, digital camera images do seem to be softer (less sharp). This is normal. With digital images, you apply an unsharp mask (or sharpen by whatever technique you prefer such as sharpen edges, Nik Sharpener, etc.) appropriate for the size of print you are making. You'll want to avoid using too much in-camera sharpening. If you're only going to be using your images for say 4x6 inch prints and don't intend to enlarge them, then you can get away with using in-camera sharpening a bit more aggressively. In this case, you can go ahead and increase the amount of in-camera sharpening if you want. But remember, you'll be limiting your original image file's post-processing potential. The choice is up to you. It all depends on your individual needs.

As for the color cast, what you were getting was a typical warm-cast set by the camera's auto white balance feature. If you prefer cooler looking images, then go ahead and manually select a white balance setting that will give you the results you like. Some camera's also allow you to fine-tune the white balance setting. Look for a customizable white balance feature. You might like to play with this as well to achieve the look you want.

Have fun!

[cjanda]

Thank you Deb !

Ok.. here's a stupid question --  why is it called an UNsharp mask if what you are doing is SHARPENING the image ?

Forgive me for the newbie question, please.

Thx again.

[cjanda]

Hi cjanda and welcome to the Q&A Board!

What are the things you are looking for in terms of quality? The image looks quite nice to me. One of the benefits of using an external flash really shows in that there are no harsh shadows behind the subjects.

If it's the slight color cast that you're concerned about, then you need to adjust the white balance according to the main source of lighting in the room. You have it set to auto, perhaps you should have used incandescent or flash white balance. Better yet is to do a custom white balance.

You can remove the color cast with image editing software. The only other thing I'd do if it were my photo, would be to sharpen it slightly using Unsharp Mask.

If you had other concerns, let us know.


Related reading:
Removing a color cast (this is a very basic tutorial)
http://www.digicamhelp.com/correcting-digital-photo-color-cast/

Unsharp mask
http://www.digicamhelp.com/learn/image-editing/image-sharpening.htm

I found this very helpful too in figuring out how and which things to adjust in the Unmask filter:

http://www.webreference.com/graphics/elements2/4.html


Here is the same image after I tried my hand at adjusting the color cast and using the Unsharpen filter:

http://www.pbase.com/cjanda/image/52326254.jpg


Thanks again!
Jeff.

[cjanda]

Correction -- at this link:

http://www.pbase.com/cjanda/image/52326254

[cjanda]

And one more..  a little different --  my favorite.

http://www.pbase.com/cjanda/image/52327347


Thanks so much for getting me going in the right direction (at least I think I'm going in the right direction -- correct me if not !!!).

[ShutterbugGail]

Outstanding! It's amazing what a few clicks can do to improve an image.

Don't forget to do some experimentation with white balance settings when taking photos. In the G6 Photo Effect menu, you can change the sharpness setting though I generally don't recommend increasing it unless you do no post processing (editing) at all.

[Deb]

... why is it called an UNsharp mask if what you are doing is SHARPENING the image ?

That's a dandy question. Actually Unsharp Mask gets its name from a "sharpening" process used in wet darkrooms when working with film negatives. For a discussion and translation of that process to the digital darkroom, you might like to read these indepth articles:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-usm.shtml

and

http://www.bythom.com/sharpening.htm#contrast



Also, I took a look at your editted photos. GREAT JOB!!! I, too, am partial to the last version. You did a splendid job of maintaining the warmth of the scene. Way to go!  

[cjanda]

Just for comparison ..   this photo was also shot the same day.   This one is straight out of the camera -- not touched at all.    I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's a keeper  :-)

http://www.pbase.com/cjanda/image/52440390

[ShutterbugGail]

It certainly is a keeper! What a wonderful photo of an adorable little girl! It's great right out of the camera and should print very well.

If you want to add a little more "zing" to the image, for presentation on the web try some slight sharpening and minor adjusting of brightness and contrast. As to the latter, I like to use levels. Other than resizing an image, these are the two editing techniques I apply to every image. Of course, it's all a matter of personal taste.

Congratulations on the lovely photo.


Related reading: Levels
http://www.digicamhelp.com/what-is-a-histogram/levels-histogram.htm