Chapter 1. DIGITAL IMAGING FOUNDATIONS

Photography is, and always has been, a blend of art and science. The technology has continually changed and evolved over the centuries but the goal of photographers everywhere remains the same: to make compelling images.

Mastering photography means mastering the art and the craft. Proficiency with current tools facilitates much greater creative potential.

This chapter provides the technical foundation to process your photographs for the highest quality.

The State of the Art

Until just a few years ago, professional photographers commonly would expose rolls or sheets of film, send them to a lab for processing and then review them on a light table. Though some photographers processed their own film and/or produced final prints, the amount of control offered in the analog process was inherently limited by the technology. As a result, not all photographers took a creative role in the final outcome of their photographs.

With the switch to digital imaging over the past decade or so, the technical demands on today's photographer are much greater than in the past, but the potential for individual creativity in photography is also greatly enhanced. With digital capture and processing, the photographer can remain in control all the way through the imaging process. The final manifestation of each image can be exactly what you want.

Making the most of this new technology requires learning new skills. Processing your digital photos requires strong computer abilities ...

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