By Paul Birkhead
Rowan Public Library
Digital cameras ranked in the top 10 gift ideas for this Christmas, so there’s a good chance you might have found one under your tree. Some cameras were put to use immediately while others have remained in their boxes.
Any new technology can be intimidating, but it may seem more so for someone who has only used film cameras in the past. However, Rowan Public Library has many books that can educate anyone venturing into digital photography.”Understanding Digital Photography: Techniques for Getting Great Pictures,” by Bryan Peterson, is a good book for those unfamiliar with digital cameras or photography in general. Peterson has a laid-back style of writing that puts digital novices at ease right away. Topics range from learning about pixel size to using software that will bring out the best in your photos. Peterson’s book is filled with digital photographs specifically chosen to show the right and the wrong way to do things.
Tom Ang, a full-time photographer, writer and television host, is the author of several books, including his latest “How to Photograph Absolutely Everything.” In it, Ang’s self-proclaimed goal is to show the reader how to photograph any subject in any situation they might encounter. His photographic recipe for success starts with the basic ingredients of color, light and space. Then he cooks things together with such techniques as exposure, framing and focus. The hundreds of beautiful photographs shown throughout the book were actually taken with the more common digital point-and-shoot cameras, seemingly proving Ang’s theory that proper technique and not fancy equipment make good pictures.
For those with a little more experience, “Shooting Digital: Pro Tips for Taking Great Pictures with Your Digital Camera,” is a good resource for learning how to take your photography to the next level. Author Mikkel Aaland published one of the first books on digital photography back in 1992 and has not stopped writing about the subject since. In this latest book, Aaland goes beyond the basics and explains how professional photographers get the most out of their digital cameras. In each chapter, stunning photographs are featured. Then, the techniques used to make them great are explained in detail.
Whether you’ve recently acquired a digital camera or are contemplating a purchase, Rowan Public Library has plenty of books that will expose you to the world of digital photography.
Holiday hours: For New Year’s, all branches will close at 5 p.m. Monday and be closed Tuesday.
Let’s Talk About It: The book discussion program on Southern fiction begins Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in the Hurley Room at headquarters and continues every other Thursday. The five titles are “Shiloh,” “The Known World,” “Nowhere Else on Earth,” “Wolf Whistle” and “Song of Solomon.” Call 704-216-8230 to register.
Computer classes: South branch ó Basic Powerpoint, Monday, Jan. 7, 7 p.m.; Basic Word, Thursday, Jan. 17, 11 a.m.; Digital Photography Part 2, Monday, Jan. 28, 7 p.m.
Tuesday movies: Headquarters library, Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
Displays: Headquarters ó Photography by Spencer Bevis. East ó baskets by Lucille Patterson. South ó Jewelry by Ester Sims.Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.
Web site: www.rowanpubliclibrary.org.