A ShortCourse Book
Nikon Coolpix 4500 Photography

Nikon Coolpix 4500 Photography

Nikon Coolpix 4500 Photography

This clearly written and easy-to understand short course on your Nikon Coolpix 4500 explains step-by-step how, why and when you use your camera's controls for better pictures. This guide is available as a traditional 132 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 Nikon 4500 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 Nikon 4500, including the following:
 
  • Taking a Picture in Auto Mode
  • Using Menus
  • Resetting the Menus
  • Reviewing Images
  • Managing Your Images
  • Using Playback Zoom
  • Using Thumbnail Playback
  • Deleting Some or All Images
  • Turning Disable Delete On and Off
  • Protecting Images
  • Displaying a Slide Show
  • Connecting the Camera to a TV
  • Hiding and Unhiding Images
  • Selecting an Image Quality and Size
  • Changing Shooting Modes
  • Using Scene Modes
  • Using Program and Flexible Program Mode
  • Using Shutter-Priority Mode
  • Using Aperture-Priority Mode
  • Using Manual Mode
  • Changing the Metering Mode
  • Using Exposure Compensation
  • Using Exposure Lock
  • Using Autoexposure Bracketing
  • Displaying Histograms
  • Using Histograms
  • Turning Info.txt On and Off
  • Using the Self-timer
  • Using Best Shot Selector
  • Changing the ISO
  • Increasing the Sharpness of Moving Objects
  • Changing the Autofocus Setting
  • Using AF Area Mode
  • Using Manual Focus
  • Using Focus Lock
  • Turning Focus Confirmation On and Off
  • Selecting Continuous or Single Autofocus
  • Using the Infinity Focus Setting
  • Increasing Depth of Field
  • Using Focus Lock for Maximum Depth of Field
  • Using Focus Lock for Minimum Depth of Field
  • Decreasing Depth of Field in Automatic Mode
  • Capturing Creative Blur
  • Setting White Balance
  • Setting White Balance Preset
  • Using White Balance Bracketing
  • Turning Noise Reduction On and Off
  • Using Bulb
  • Zooming the Lens
  • Turning Fixed Aperture On and Off
  • Setting the Zoom Startup Position
  • Using Digital Zoom
  • Turning Digital Zoom Off and On
  • Using Lens Converters 95
  • Changing Flash Modes
  • Changing Speedlight Options
  • Using Red-eye Mode
  • Using Anytime Flash Mode
  • Using Slow Sync Flash Mode
  • Using Flash Cancel Mode
  • Taking Macro Close-ups
  • Increasing Depth of Field in Close-ups
  • Adjusting Brightness and Contrast
  • Specifying Image Sharpness
  • Adjusting Saturation
  • Taking Panoramas
  • Attaching a Voice Memo to a Photo
  • Playing Back a Voice Memo
  • Using Continuous Photography
  • Using User Sets
  • Choosing or Deleting Folders
  • Using Perspective Control
  • Creating a Small Pic
  • Preparing Print Sets
  • Deleting a Print Set
  • Using the Set-up Menu
  • Using AE Lock


The book is designed to work with 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
Getting Started with your Nikon 4500 ...6

The Nikon 4500—An Overview ...7
Jump Start: Using Auto Mode ...8
Good Things to Know ...9
When Things Go Wrong ...11
Using Dials and Buttons ...12
Using Menus ...14
Managing Your Images—The Basics ...17
Managing Your Images—Using Zoom and Thumbnail Playback ...18
Managing Your Images—Other Features ...19
Giving Slide Shows ...21
Selecting Image Quality and Size ...22

Chapter 2
Controlling Exposure ...29

Understanding Exposure ...31
Understanding Exposure Displays ...32
Choosing Exposure Modes ...33
Using Auto Multi Program Mode ...34
Using Shutter-Priority Mode ...35
Using Aperture-Priority Mode ...37
Using Manual Mode ...39
How Your Exposure System Works ...40
How Exposure Affects Your Images ...43
When Automatic Exposure Works Well ...44
When to Override Automatic Exposure ...45
How to Override Automatic Exposure ...49
Using Histograms ...51

Chapter 3
Controlling Sharpness ...55

Eliminating Camera Movement ...56
Sharpness Isn’t Everything ...59
How to Photograph Motion Sharply ...60
Focus and Depth of Field ...62
Focusing Techniques ...64
Controlling Depth of Field ...68
Capturing Maximum Depth of Field ...69
Using Selective Focus ...70
Conveying the Feeling of Motion ...71

Chapter 4
Capturing Light & Color ...72

Where Does Color Come From? ...73
White Balance ...74
Color Balance and Time of Day ...76
Sunsets and Sunrises ...77
Weather ...79
Photographing at Night ...81
The Direction of Light ...84
The Quality of Light ...86

Chapter 5
Understanding Lenses ...87

Zoom Lenses ...88
Normal Zoom ...90
Wide-Angle Zoom ...91
Telephoto Zoom ...93
Digital Zoom ...94
Lens Converters ...95
Lens Filters ...96
Portraits with a Zoom Lens ...97
How a Photograph Shows Perspective ...98

Chapter 6
Using Automatic Flash ...99

How Automatic Flash Works ...100
Portraits with Flash ...102
Using Fill Flash ...104
Using Slow Sync Flash ...105
Using Available Light ...106
Using an External Flash ...107

Chapter 7
Exploring Close-up Photography ...108

Macro Mode ...109
Focusing and Depth of Field ...111
Exposures and Backgrounds ...112
Arranging Lighting ...113
Using Flash in Close-ups ...114

Chapter 8
Other Features and Commands...115

Controlling Brightness and Contrast ...116
Controlling Sharpness and Saturation ...117
Capturing Panoramic Images ...118
Adding Voice Memos ...120
Taking Continuous Photographs and Movies ...121
Using User Sets ...122
Using the Playback Menu ...123
Using the Set-up Menu ...127
Using AE Lock ...132


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 business or pleasure, 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 Nikon Coolpix 4500 camera are integrated throughout the concepts, appearing in those places where they apply. This integrated approach lets you first understand the concepts of photography and then see step by step how to use the Nikon Coolpix 4500 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 learn 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.

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