Digital imaging has done far more than just

modernize photography. Its arrival has given the person behind the camera more creative control over the pictureproducing process than at any time in history.

The ease with which a picture can be viewed

immediately after it has been taken on a digital camera allows you to learn from your results—and improve upon them. You can experiment freely, and unlike with film where

you had to wait to see the outcome, you get nearinstantaneous visual feedback. Furthermore, these “wasted” shots no longer cost anything—and can be deleted to free up space before anyone else has the chance to see them.

Then there is the simplicity with which the digital files can be manipulated after they are taken. This new postproduction stage brings highly skilled darkroom techniques to anyone with access to a basic computer. The

sophistication of programs like Photoshop brings a new level of artistry and craftsmanship to photography.

Without the need for a physical printed form, digital images can also be shared with a wide audience at little cost. Through email and the Web, your photographs can be

sent to anyone in seconds—or displayed in virtual galleries to a global audience.

However, digital imaging is not all plain sailing. The extra control available at the picture-taking stage, and the myriad ways that any image can be enhanced in

postproduction, mean that photographers must learn many new skills. Photography has continued to evolve over its 200-year history, but with digital imaging, things change faster than ever before. New advances in electronics and programming mean it is not just a matter of catching up, it is

a matter of having to keep moving forward.