Size Matters

Image size is somewhere in your camera menu.  This is how it looks on my D3.  Do not pick this setting.

I am working on a project for a non-profit where I will be putting some 25 - 20"x30" prints on display at their offices.  Most of these will be from images I did for them, but some we were hoping to use would come from volunteers who have been to different countries for them.

I went to their offices today and spent an hour or so going through folders of images.  90% of all the images were unusable.  They were not usable because they were too small.  They were only big enough for Facebook or a small website image.  Most of the images when blown up to 100% would fit in this blog here.

Those size files are big enough to make an acceptable 4"x6" print. 

Always pick the largest size image.

If you pick the largest size you will not be able to shoot as many photos on a memory card.  The good news is the memory card is so cheap today you can carry many cards in your wallet.

If you pick the largest size you now can make prints and large prints with today's digital cameras.

You can always downsize the images for your Facebook or to email someone, but you cannot take the small image and make a large print.

This is the same as setting your camera to take color or black and white photos.  Why shoot it in black and white?  You can do that later with your Lightroom or Photoshop.  You can't go back and make it color.

Keep your options open and shoot your images on the highest quality setting for your camera.  Since each camera is different on how to do this, pull your camera manual out or Google your camera model and how to set the quality of the images. 

By the way all those wonderful shots of Kenya, Guatemala and Brazil are not usable for the exhibit.  Be sure your photos are always considered for usage, by being sure your images are the largest size possible for your camera.