The old digital mailbag is overflowing again, so it's time to dedicate a newsletter to some of your questions.
Hot Pics Galore
Where can I find the winning photos from the Hot Pic of the Week contest?
--Janet Layetti, Olympia, Washington
Right here in this newsletter. We publish a winner every week, and once a month we tell you who won the Hot Pic of the Month. And I've got some good news. For as long as I can remember, readers have been asking for a Web page that shows off all the past winners in one place. Now we've got one on Yahoo Photos.
To see the whole collection, just visit the 2006 Winners page. Looking for a specific photo? You can search the collection by the winner's last name in the Search My Tags box. Over time, we'll be adding older winning entries to the site, so eventually you'll be able to browse six years' worth of Hot Pics.
Do you notify people who lose the contest or are disqualified?
--Dennis Trulove, Peoria, Illinois
I wish we could, Dennis. Unfortunately, we get an awful lot of submissions, and I'd need to bring in a few interns to keep up with all the e-mail. Rest assured that we look at all of the submissions, and as long as you give us the minimums--a file that's around 640 by 480 pixels, your name and address, and a description of the photo and how or why you took it--we'll consider your entry in the weekly contest.
Camera Buying Tips
Should I buy the 6-megapixel Acme Digital? What about the Ace DX4000?
--Digital Focus readers
This is a composite question based on about a quarter of all the e-mails in my inbox right now.
Readers often ask me for specific camera recommendations, and my answer is always the same: Buying a camera is such a personal choice that I don't like to suggest a specific model. Instead, you should read reviews and handle the camera yourself in a store to make the final decision. To get started, you can browse our camera reviews and scan specs such as resolution, zoom, media, and so on.
Always consider the basics in your buying decision:
- The optical zoom is an important criterion; the digital zoom level is not.
- More megapixels in itself is not always better; when you read reviews, you'll want to look for cameras that take sharper pictures with less digital noise.
- If you want a camera that records video, make sure it has a microphone to also capture sound.
- Advanced controls like aperture priority for controlling depth of field and long exposure time for night photography can dramatically enhance the fun you have with your camera.
We've got a helpful buying guide that goes into much more detail than I can here.
Finally, make sure the camera feels good in your hands and its controls are easy to operate. If it feels like a leftover prop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, you'll end up disappointed no matter how good the image quality might be.
Rule of Thirds
You've mentioned the rule of thirds. Can you explain what that is?
--J.L.B., Atlanta
Sure thing. The rule of thirds is a basic tenet of composition in which the photo is divided into thirds with imaginary vertical and horizontal lines. If you position the main subject along any of those lines, the photo looks more interesting than if you were to simply stick the subject in the center of the scene. If you thumb through a magazine or even watch a movie, you'll find the rule of thirds to be used almost universally.
ISO in Digital vs. Film
Does increasing the ISO speed in a digital camera have the same effect on the print that it does with a 35mm? I generally like to leave the ISO on 100, but have found times when increasing the speed would have allowed shots otherwise missed.
--Sharron Puryear, Kennesaw, Georgia
Yes, Sharon, the effect of increasing ISO is eerily similar in digital as compared to film.
It's kind of strange, actually. Physically, digital ISO is quite different from film ISO, yet both have the effect of increasing the "noise" in the photo.
Bumping up the ISO on your digital camera makes it more sensitive to light, so you can shoot in low-light situations with a faster shutter speed--and sometimes it's worth the extra noise. Always remember, though, to reduce the ISO level to the camera's lowest setting when you're done shooting in the dark.
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