With all of its advantages, digital technology does present some challenges. For example, shooting digitally is comparable to shooting slide or color transparency film, which is less forgiving than print film for exposure latitude. For this reason, it is best to use a softer light source when shooting digitally so that there is detail in the highlights and shadows. Just be careful not to overexpose the highlights! In addition, while digital camera technology continues to improve, there is a short delay between the time you press the shutter and the time at which the image is capturedalthough this has become less of a factor of late. Of course, in food photography, the delay is much less of a concern because the subject is almost always a still life. But in sports and action photography (and to some extent in portrait photography), this can be a major issue. Like a quarterback leading a receiver on a pass play, the photographer must be able to anticipate the subject's motion and position fractions of a second in advance. That said, although digital cameras lack the physical response of a film camera's shutter release, over time you get used to the feeling of taking a shot and holding the camera steady to compensate for the delay. Tip I get the electronics in my camera ready by lightly tapping the shutter release button for a few seconds before I plan to take a picture. Finally, as digital files become bigger because of higher-resolution cameras, archiving and cataloging libraries of images becomes more of a problem. Sure, it's great to be able to take more pictures and make unlimited backup copies, but where do you keep them all?
Now that you've seen the digital advantage, let's get down to the nitty-gritty and talk in detail about the cutting-edge tools of the trade. I love shooting digitally. It provides the freedom and versatility to work with clients in a creative atmosphere I have never been able to experience before. Digital food photography is a beautiful thing!
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