Digital Photography
Although film cameras still have a place in professional and artistic photography, digital cameras have become the standard for personal photography. Digital photography can be as good as traditional film work and it is much more flexible and convenient. How can you beat being able to take as many pictures as you want, check them on the spot and erase the duds, clean them up easily on your computer, and print only the ones you love? Explore our Digital Photography Gift Theme and give someone on your list the power of great memories.
To help someone get into the picture with digital photography, begin with a digital camera. There's an enormous range of prices and styles to meet every budget and need. Some digital cameras are so small you can literally slide them into a shirt pocket and hardly see or feel the bulge. High-end cameras are virtually indistinguishable from the traditional film cameras, with zoom lens, tripods and so on. Many come in more then standard black so why not choose fire-engine red or royal blue? With a memory card or two, digital cameras can hold hundreds of pictures. Digital cameras are an easy and powerful way to capture all sorts of wonderful pictures, from a baby's first step to the highlights of a vacation in Mexico to the stunning beauty of a sunset or a blooming flower.
Rechargeable batteries, USB cables, and zippy little cases are key digital camera accessories. Being able to recharge the battery means less cost in the long run and it's better for the environment. Get a spare battery and always have a back up so you don't miss that perfect memory waiting for a battery to charge. USB cables let you connect to your computer or printer for easy download, editing and printing. The right case not only protects your digital camera but can provide pouches for other accessories and clip on to your belt, purse, or backpack for quick and easy access.
Never wait for photos to come back from being processed again or find out irreplaceable shots have been lost. Printers now have an enormous range of options for printing high quality photos in the privacy of your own home. Try an inexpensive photo printer that prints great quality images in full color and prints from edge to edge of the paper (with no border). Simply plug in your camera, choose which shots you want, and hit print. Some of these photo printers even let you do basic editing right on the printer. Get an all in one printer with scan, copy, and print functions for great photos but also for that family letter you want to send to Grandma explaining what's happening in each picture. You can even scan in old photos, edit them on your computer, and reprint them.
To get the most out of your photo printer, you will want high quality photo paper and photo quality printer ink. You can still print pictures on regular office style paper but glossy photo paper will make those images look like they were professionally printed and you'll be able to show them off with pride for years to come. Photo quality printer ink has the vibrant, saturated color to bring your photos to life. It's worth the higher price to get top quality images.
Are little Sally's eyes glowing red in that perfect shot where she actually smiled? Is the edge of a trashcan marring an otherwise lovely shot of the botanic gardens? Photo editing software is where the real power and flexibility of digital photography becomes obvious. With the right software and a bit of practice, you can lighten photos that are too dark, remove red-eye, crop out the thumb on the edge of the perfect photo, and more. You can get playful too and add everything from lovely borders to horns and moustache on your younger brother (even if you're both all grown up). Your imagination is the only limit!
Once you've touched up and customized your photos, you will of course want to show them off. Are there too many to choose from? Get a digital photo frame and load it with dozens of pictures then set it to slideshow mode. The pictures will gradually rotate through the frame. Print out your absolute favorites, put them in a traditional wall frame and hang them in your living room. Or start an album with notes for every photo. Warning: once you get started, this can be addictive since it's so easy to take and print your photos!
Need a little help figuring out how to take really great shots? Want to know exactly how to clean up a photo or add special effects? There are a number of excellent guides and how-to books on all aspects of digital photography, from books for seniors or absolute beginners to books on creative retouching techniques to books on creative photo projects. Whether just learning or already advanced and seeking to develop new skills, there is a book for you!
Turning someone on to digital photography can be a great gift. Basic cameras run under $100 and accessories like cases or photo editing software are under $50. A good how-to book or an attractive wooden frame can be less then $20. You can splurge and get a fancy digital camera with decent zoom and image stabilization for $200 - $300 or a really good printer for about $200. With our Digital Photography Gift Theme, you can give the gift of ongoing memories and creative fun.
TIP: GiftStashers, create a registry called Digital Photo Gift Theme and save choices there until you're ready to buy.