Sunday, August 29, 2010

Click photos

DOCUMENT YOUR CASES BY CLICKING PHOTOS… SOME BASICS ABOUT CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAMERA
Today is my day (sun-(Divakar)-day)…as usual I don't want to create panic in your both hemispheres of the brain by telling a long story, at least today. Reading books or knowing things other than our own subject…always create some continuous enthusiasm, which will enable me to read our subject more passionately…Enthusiasm is the only thing which keeps me get going…otherwise life is little bit boring..How to take authentic medical photos? Here are some tips…1. I strongly suggest that one should keep the record of the patients by clicking photos at regular intervals…it has 4 advantages (I think... many) …(i)Patient can see the difference( ii)It can be very useful to you for case presentation later...(iii)Collection of successful case studies with good photos create a very good opportunity to write a book(iv) It enhances your confidence2. Whenever you take photo of a patient...Some points are always to be remembered:A. Explain to the patient that what you are going to do B. For Ano-rectal cases you may require consent of the patient3. Never take photos exposing the face of the patient; you can cover the face by editing (photo morphing and editing softwares are available online..eg.freeonlinephotoeditor.com & morpheussostware.net, etc.)4. Always take the follow up photos at the same place and at the same angle (it looks authentic)5. Always try to incorporate date of the photo in it.(many cameras have this feature..Otherwise you can write on a card board)6. If you want to take the picture of a drug, leaf etc...Back ground should be in contrast color for better look… (E.g. Leaf...Background should be Red or pink (you can use butter paper)7. Patient should never feel that you are doing a sting operation on him/her...So, be gentle with the patient by making him/her comfortable…8. If you want to show skin lesions of the patient...Photo should always be a close angled one (you can use macro setting on, where you can show the healing tissue, discharge, etc. effectively)9. Fracture should always be shown with the x-ray film along with the photo.10. Don't swap the follow up photos (ilaaj se pehle ka photo (woh actually baad ka hota hai) ilaaj ke baad wala photo (woh pehle ka hota hai)..Avoid cheap slimming centre photo techniques…11. Discharge (blood, pus, serous discharge, etc.) should always be photographed in natural light.12. Use the right camera for the photos, as it should look good…even if you show it on a bigger screen… For that, you have to know the basics of digital cameras…I am not an expert in that field..I will try to tell some of the important functions and nomenclature of the camera which will be useful to you while purchasing a new one (remember what the Sales Man tells about any product is always insufficient ... and it's a deliberate move by him to sell a lesser known or not so good product)SOME BASICS ABOUT CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAMERA: HERE ARE THE TIPS…Never fall in to the trap of Mega pixel Mania (it doesn't mean that more pixels ... means more clarity) because the clarity of the picture depends on so many things other than pixels (capacity of the chip (image sensor), quality of the lens, memory card and nature of the exposure of the light, etc.)1. Image sensor is the vital device for capturing good photos...so see the details of its value (more than 2.5 cm will be good

2.There are basically 2 image sensors (i) CCD (charged coupled device) (ii) CMOS (compliment metal oxide semiconductor) Sony uses CCD and canon uses CMOS both are good …MORE WIDTH OF THE SENSOR…. MORE CLARITY3. Lens is another important part….in camera… (Sony uses Carl –Zeiss(reputed) Panasonic uses( Leica Lenses) canon uses its own lens and Nikon also uses its own lens(it’s called Nikkor)MY SUGGESTION IS… LENS SHOULD BE OF THE SAME COMPANY (THAT’S WHY CANON AND NIKON ARE SUPERIOR AND WIDELY USED)4. Camera should have a good optical Zoom (min.10x zoom is very good for all purposes) digital zoom only enhances the photo resolution by increasing the resolution digitally (Interpolation…)which means quality of the photo will be compromised…(look grainy..If you enlarge the photo) MORE OPTICAL ZOOM...MORE CLEAR RESOLUTION…5. Camera should always have a good flash (red eye is the main side effect of the flash) buy a camera with redeye reduction (most cameras have this function but canon and Sony are the best)..Don’t use flash in day light.6. Always buy camera with MACRO (Macroscopic) option for taking better (close up) medical photos...MACRO SIMPLY MEANS THAT IT MAGNIFIES SMALL OBJECTS OF THE PHOTO WHILE CLICKING... (Very imp. function)7. Image stabilization and Anti-blur, Anti-shake, smile shot and face detection are some other useful functions one should look for..(Sony cameras have all these functions in cameras below Rs.10, 000 range..But my feeling is except anti shake and anti blur most of the techniques are just cosmeticKaunsa camera mera chehra andhere mein detect kar sakta hai? It’s all marketing gimmicks…)8. Screen of the Camera should always be good for better viewing (Min.3 inches LCD screen is a good option)9. Higher ISO settings (sensitivity at which your cameras sensor reacts to the light when you open the shutter) in a camera is useful when you want to take a picture in low light (settings are like 100,200,400 and so on….you can adjust it manually in some cameras…..400 is for low light..100 is for day light, 200 is for night photography)10. Always try to buy a camera with a detachable lens option (so that you can have the freedom of using different lenses (wide angle lens ... (For wider picture) telescopic lens (to capture far away things)Range starts from 22,500(canon 1000D)12. Video Zoom (zoom in /out function while recording a video available) is necessary if you want to record a video of your case or any surgery for that matter..Remember most of the cameras including Sony, Fuji, Olympus, Casio, Kodak etc. lack this function where you have a fixed zoom (cameras below Rs.8,000…Video zooming feature in all cameras start above Rs.12,000 range)CANON AND NIKON ARE THE EXCEPTION...

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