4th+Week

Objectives
Assignments
 * Learn about QR codes and investigate ways to used them in teaching and learning scenarios
 * Understand the basic features of digital cameras
 * Review basic concepts of digital photography such as lighting, composition, night photography, motion capture, etc..
 * Learn the basic features of Google Maps and how to use them in classrooms
 * Understand how to use and create custom maps
 * Review the features of Google Earth and Google Literature Trips

Using Web-based Maps
> ** Contribute to Google Maps Street View through Photo Spheres (Links to an external site.) ** > **Contribute to Google Maps through Panoramio** (Links to an external site.)
 * **Explore these two options.**


 * Twelve ideas for teaching with QR codes**

Cameras and Digital Displays - [|Material]

 * **Introduction to digital cameras:**
 * **Using digital camera**: capture memories, share your photos online, use it as a scanner, capture data, take pictures as a hobby
 * **Choosing a camera:** digital SLR (or DSLR), point-and-shoot, bridge cameras, camera phones. Infographic
 * **Special features**: red eye correction, sports/active child mode, anti-blink, smile detection, blemish reduction, artistic effects - higher end cameras has less of these features, you have to rely more on your own skill and post-processing the photos
 * **Memory cards**
 * **Batteries**
 * **Getting to know your camera**
 * **The parts of camera:** shutter button (most cameras have two stage shutter button (halfway = lock in the focus and exposure, all the way = take the photo), LCD screen, Zoom buttons (W = wide, T = tight), menu and mode buttons (change the settings in the camera, video/scene mode), play button (watch your pictures after taking them, zoom the pictures, scroll wheel (scroll through the photos, navigate the menus), trash button (delete pictures),
 * **Getting the right exposure =** sensor behind the lens => captures the photo, when taking a photo the sensor is exposed to light. The total amount of light that is captured is called exposure. If the exposure is not right, photo can come out too dark or too light.
 * **Focusing** the subject is sharp not blurry, focus indicator = shows what your camera is focusing on
 * **Shutter button** half way down = lock in the focus and exposure settings, gives a beep when it is ready for taking a photo- you should give the camera time to adjust settings before you take the photo. Otherwise it might be blurry.
 * **Common settings:** flash, timer (take a group photo with your self), macro mode (for closeup shots), exposure compensation (if the photo is coming too dark or too light). zoom (optical, digital => avoid this, it will lower the quality of the pictures)
 * **Shutter speed =** amount of time the shutter stays open (slow speed = more light, fast = freeze the action, avoid blurry photos), **Aperture (f-number, f-stop) =** window which controls the the amount of light that can reach the sensor. wide aperture + faster shutter speed. Large aperture = the background is blur, subjects are in focus = shallow depth of field. **ISO number =** 100 = lower sensitivity, more light than ISO 3200. Higher ISO numbers add image noise, makes the photo grainy.
 * **Depth of** **Field**, background out of focus **= shallow depth of field** (f 1.4), smaller apertures (f 16) will give a **deeper depth of field** = more of the photo will be in focus
 * **Scene modes** are geared about specific situation = a great way to take more successful photos
 * **Lightning**
 * **Lighting basics** - light create highlights and shadows, which create contrast - you want a balance of highlights and shadows. But in a dramatic photo you may want more contrast.
 * **Outdoor photos** - High contrast situations = bright, sunny days, light behind subject - **fill flash =** fills shadows with additional light, use only when you notice problematic shadows. **The golden hour =** just before the sun sets or just before it raises, creates longer, softer shadows. **Midday =** dark shadows, bright highlights = harsher appearance. **Cloudy weather and twilight** = soft light, camera is able to pick up details without shadows and highlights.
 * **Indoor photos -** **Flash =** may make the photos to harsh and unflattering, **Indoor lighting tips =** professional lights, one in front and another on the other side of the subject. **Avoid having a sunny window behind your subject (**better to have 45 degree angle), **try turning of the ceiling lights and using other light sources** (if you have two lamps, put one on each side of the subject), **use tripod, use party/indoor mode, if you must use flash, move the subject away from the wall (**reduces dark shadows)
 * **Composing your shot**
 * **Composition =** the way things are arranged in the photo
 * **Tips for composition = Decide how much of the background you want** (avoid including too much unnecessary background), **avoid mergers (** when a background object is directly behind the subject, it may look like it is growing out of the subjects head), **do not crop out body parts, try changing distance from the subject, try different angles**
 * **The rule of thirds =** imagine that the photograph is divided in thirds horizontally and vertically, the places where the lines intersect are called **power points** and these are often good places to put your subject. Anyway, think in which power point you want to put your subject - if he example is looking to one side, you usually want more space on that side, so the subject is looking "inside" the photo. **In landscape -** try to placing the horizon near the top or bottom grid line.
 * **Photographing at night**
 * **Big ISO number** = grainy photos; **slow shutter speed =** blurry photos; **dark =** too little light.
 * **Use night portrait scene mode, hold the camera as still as possible or use a tripod, use the flash if necessary** (won't help, if the subject is more than 15 feet away). **adjust the exposure compensation (**might make the pictures lighter, but does not improve the quality of the photo), **try increasing the ISO setting** (reduces blurriness but makes the picture more grainy).
 * **Capturing motion**
 * **Using faster shutter speed (**sport scene mode/motion detection)
 * **Use sport scene mode (**fast shutter speed), **motion detection (**reduces blurring by using faster shutter speed when necessary), **don't wait the perfect shot** (take lot of extra pictures), **anticipate your subjects actions** (move the camera with the subject to reduce motion blur), **press the shutter button halfway** **down ahead of time (**a few seconds ahead, so the camera will be ready to capture the exact shot you want), **use continuous shooting** (takes several photos every second)
 * **Photographing landscapes**
 * **Rule of thirds =** try to place horizon near the grid line rather than in the middle of the photo
 * **Use landscape mode** - focuses on infinity = as far as possible and keeps depth of field as large as possible
 * **Use smaller aperture if possible -** like f/16 - increases the depth of field and ensures the background and foreground are in focus
 * **Keep the camera level** - landscapes look better
 * **Try to find an interesting foreground object -** adds a sense of depth to the photo
 * **Use leading lines** - road, sidewalk, river - leads the eye to the photo
 * **Capturing closeup shots**
 * **Macrophotography -** the object is larger than life size
 * **Focusing -** as you move camera closer to an object, the depth of field becomes shallower
 * **Use closeup scene or Macro mode** - allows to focus on objects that are only inches away - focus is always on centre
 * **Watch the auto-focus -** be sure the camera is focusing on the object, not the background
 * **Once your camera has focused don't move it** - otherwise the photo might may come out blurry
 * **Avoid using flash -**
 * **Try shooting in cloudy weather -** bright sunlight creates dark shadows that block out many of the details.