Goodbye Bullet Points, Hello Digital Photography

by Rick Gilbert

Are you as sick of seeing bullet point slides as I am? It is hard to get your point across or get much credibility if your audience is asleep, or checking their email. Here is a typical example, usually read to the audience with the comment, “I know you can’t see this...”

There are a host of good reasons to start using more graphics in your presentations, and in this e-tip we show you how easy it is using digital photography.

At least once a week, someone asks me about what digital camera to buy. It seems that we have reached the “tipping point” when it comes to film vs. digital.

So, as we start the new year, here are some reasons to buy, as well as suggestions about what to buy when it comes to digital cameras.

We begin by looking at how you can use digital in your professional presentations. We then have an interview with Mark Hatasaka, author of two exceptional books on digital nature photography. Mark is also a very popular seminar leader on those topics.

Why should you go digital?

• Economy

With digital, the cost of producing quality photos drops almost to zero. No more film cost. No more development cost. More good news: the quality of digital images is as good as film.

• Ease of use

With digital you can take your best shot, import it into your computer and immediately: use it in your presentations; put it up on your web page; or make a print of it.

 • Take your presentations to the next level

Today’s presentation software, for example, PowerPoint ’04 or Keynote 2 for the Mac, make it simple to bring in your photos. Drag and drop – it is that easy. Recent research from the work of cognitive psychologist Richard Meyer at U.C. Santa Barbara, indicates that to ensure impact and retention, give up bullet points and use graphic images instead.

Furthermore, the work of Michael Alley in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech indicates that photos with topic sentences create the longest and strongest impact.

The world is moving away from bullet point driven PowerPoint presentations for three reasons. First, people are very tired of this format. Second, it runs the risk of over simplifying complex presentations. Third, research is showing that graphic images are far more successful.

• Create stunning slide shows and / or DVD movies

From product demos to family memories, digital still photos can be used to tell the story. With Mac’s iPhoto it is easy to create slide shows complete with special effects, and music. All of this can then be easily imported into iMovie to create a DVD that you can share with anyone.

Mark Hatasaka on Digital Photography.

 Q: Why go digital?

Mark: Primarily cost. What inhibits most photographers is the cost of the film and the developing. With digital being almost free, you are freed up to take more photos, and that is how you get better.

Q: How important is the megapixel rating for a camera?

Mark: It is not important in terms of creating beautiful photos. Far more important are the seven fundamentals:

• Subject - What you choose to photograph is critical.

• Lighting - Get a camera with a good “fill flash” which can perk up a photo. Otherwise always look for good natural light like you get in the early morning, or the late afternoon.

• Composition - Digital cameras let you focus mostly on composition. Look for a camera with a 10X optical zoom and a flip out view finder. Then you have maximum creative control.

• Color - Always keep a eye out for great color, often enhanced with early morning and late afternoon light.

• Focus - Auto focus is great with most digital cameras. With more experience, you can use manual focus. Also, in low light situations, you can increase the ISO setting and / or use a tripod to avoid the effects of camera shake.

• Exposure - Digital cameras mostly do this automatically. However, they also give you the option to use the histogram to check for over or under exposed shots.

• Timing - Keep a digital camera with you. Capturing great moments is what makes photography fun.

Q: Any recommendations about what camera to buy?

Mark: Absolutely.

• Under $500 - Canon PowerShot A620 or the Canon Powershot S2iS.