Short Courses in Canon EOS D Series SLR Cameras

A ShortCourse Book
Canon EOS 20D Photography

Canon EOS 20D Photography

This clearly written and easy-to understand short course on your Canon 20D explains step-by-step how, why and when you use your camera's controls for better pictures. This guide is available as a traditional 130 page large-format (8.5 by 11) spiral bound book printed in black and white, and as a full-color, fully searchable PDF eBook you can order on a CD or download instantly.

Introduction

New, a Short Courses digital photography book for people who own the Canon EOS 20D digital camera and want to get better pictures. This beautifully written and illustrated guide, drawing on the much more comprehensive information on the ShortCourses Web site, pulls together answers to the questions you might have about using the 20D, including the following:

Taking a Picture in Full Auto Mode
Using Menus
Reviewing Images
Managing Your Images
Giving a Slide Show on TV
Selecting Image Quality and Size
Changing Exposure Modes
Using Image Zone Modes
Using Program AE (P) Mode
Using Program Shift
Using Shutter-Priority (Tv) Mode
Using Aperture-Priority (Av) Mode
Using Manual (M) Mode
Changing the Metering Mode
Using Exposure Compensation
Using Autoexposure (AE) Lock
Using Autoexposure Bracketing (AEB)
Displaying Histograms
Using Histograms
Using the Self-timer
Changing the ISO
Increasing the Sharpness of Moving Objects
Selecting an Autofocus Mode
Selecting an AF Point
Using Focus Lock
Using Manual Focus
Increasing Depth of Field
Using Auto Depth-of-Field AE (A-DEP)
Setting Your Lens to the Hyperfocal Distance
Zone Focusing
Decreasing Depth of Field
Capturing Creative Blur
Selecting a White Balance Mode
Setting a Custom White Balance

Selecting a Specific Color Temperature in Kelvins
Using White Balance Correction/ Bracketing
Using Bulb Exposures
Mounting and Unmounting a Lens
Increasing Depth of Field in Close-ups
Zooming the Lens
Using Autoflash
Turning Red-eye Mode On and Off
Using Fill Flash
Using Slow Sync Flash
Preventing the Flash from Firing
Using Flash Exposure Compensation
Using Flash Exposure (FE) Lock
Turning Continuous Mode On and Off
Changing Custom Functions
Clearing Custom Functions
Shooting w/o a CF Card
Setting the Time and Date
Reviewing Just Captured Photographs
Specifying File Number Sequences
Turning the Beep On or Off
Adjusting Monitor Brightness
Changing the Language or Video Setting
Adjusting Auto Power Off Time
Formatting a CF Card
Checking/Updating Your Firmware Version
Turning Auto Rotate On and Off
Clearing Camera Settings
Entering a Print Order
Choosing and Adjusting Parameters
Selecting a Color Space

The book is designed to work with the on-line books on the www.shortcourses.com site. The book explains how to get better pictures but you'll find more on that subject on the site. In addition, there is lots of information on the site about what you can do with your pictures after you've taken them.

Contents

Chapter 1
Camera Controls and Creativity ...6

The EOS 20D Camera ...7
Jump Start: Using Full Auto Mode ...8
Good Things to Know ...9
Operating the Camera ...10
Using Menus to Change Settings ...12
Managing Your Images ...13
Selecting Image Quality and Size ...15

Chapter 2
Controlling Exposure ...21

Understanding Exposure ...22
Choosing Exposure Modes ...23
Using Image Zone Modes ...24
Using Program AE and Program Shift ...25
Using Shutter-Priority (Tv) Mode ...26
Using Aperture-Priority (Av) Mode ...28
Using Manual Mode ...30
How Your Exposure System Works ...31
How Exposure Affects Your Images ...34
When Automatic Exposure Works Well ...35
When to Override Automatic Exposure ...36
How to Override Automatic Exposure ...40
Using Histograms ...43

Chapter 3
Controlling Sharpness ...46

Getting Sharper Pictures ...47
Sharpness Isn’t Everything ...49
How to Photograph Motion Sharply ...50
Focus and Depth of Field ...52
Focusing Techniques ...54
Controlling Depth of Field ...57
Capturing Maximum Depth of Field ...58
Using Selective Focus ...60
Conveying the Feeling of Motion ...61

Chapter 4
Capturing Light & Color ...62

Where Does Color Come From? ...63
White Balance and Color Temperature ...64
Using White Balance Correction & Bracketing ...67
Color Balance and Time of Day ...68
Sunsets and Sunrises ...69
Weather ...71
Photographing at Night ...73
The Direction of Light ...75
The Quality of Light ...77

Chapter 5
Understanding Lenses ...78

Canon Lenses ...79
Zoom Lenses ...83
Normal Lenses ...84
Wide-Angle Lenses ...85
Telephoto Lenses ...87
Portraits with a Telephoto Lens ...88
Macro Lenses and Accessories ...89
Tilt-Shift Lenses ...91
Lens Accessories ...92
How a Photograph Shows Depth ...93

Chapter 6
Using Flash & Studio Lighting ...94

How Flash Works ...95
Using Autoflash ...96
Portraits with Flash ...98
Using Fill Flash ...100
Using Slow Sync Flash ...101
Using Available Light ...102
Controlling Flash Exposures ...103
Using an External Flash ...105
Using Flash in Close-ups ...107
Studio Lighting ...108
Studio Portrait Lighting ...111

Chapter 7
Other Features and Commands ...112

Continuous Photography ...113
Remote Control Photography ...114
Using Custom Functions ...115
Other Settings ...118
Entering a Print Order ...122
Selecting and Adjusting Parameters ...123
Selecting a Color Space ...124
Caring for Your Camera ...125
Capturing Images in RAW Format ...127

Preface

A great photograph begins when you recognize a great scene or subject. But recognizing a great opportunity isn't enough to capture it; you also have to be prepared. A large part of being prepared involves understanding your camera well enough to capture what you see. Getting you prepared to see and capture great photographs is what this book is all about. It doesn't matter if you are taking pictures for real-estate ads or self-expression, there's a lot here to help you get better results and more satisfaction from your photography.

To get better, and possibly even great photographs, you need to understand both concepts and procedures; the "whys" and "hows" of photography.

Concepts of photography are the underlying principles that apply regardless of the camera you are using. They include such things as how sharpness and exposure affect your images and the way they are perceived by viewers. Understanding concepts answers the "why" kinds of questions you might have about photography.
Procedures are those things specific to one kind of camera, and explain step-by-step how you set your camera's controls to capture an image just the way you want to. Understanding procedures gives you the answers to the "how" kinds of questions you might have.

This book is organized around the concepts of digital photography because that's how photographers think. You think about scenes and subjects, highlights and shadows, softness and sharpness, color and tone. The procedures you use with the Canon EOS 20D camera are integrated throughout the concepts, appearing in those places where they apply. This integrated approach let's you first understand the concepts of photography and then see step by step how to use the 20D in all kinds of photographic situations.

To get more effective, interesting, and creative photographs, you only need to understand how and when to use a few simple features on your camera such as focus, exposure controls, and flash. If you've previously avoided understanding these features and the profound impact they can have on your images, you'll be pleased to know that you can learn them on a weekend afternoon. You can then spend the rest of your life marveling at how their infinite variety of combinations makes it possible to convey your own personal view of the world. You'll be ready to keep everything in a scene sharp for maximum detail or to blur it all for an impressionistic portrayal. You'll be able to get dramatic close-ups, freeze fast action, create wonderful panoramas, and capture the beauty and wonder of rainbows, sunsets, fireworks, and nighttime scenes.

As you explore your camera, be sure to have fun. There are no "rules" or "best" way to make a picture. Great photographs come from using what you know to experiment and try new approaches. Digital cameras make this especially easy because there are no film costs or delays. Every experiment is free and you see the results immediately so you can experiment step by step.

This book assumes you've mastered the mechanics of your camera. It's about getting great pictures, not about installing batteries and connecting your camera to your computer. That information is well presented in the user guides that came with your camera, however it is summarized in the Appendix of this book.

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