Film-less photographs, pictures on a chip, scanned memories, call it what you will, digital photography is a new phenomenon of technology that allows for instant gratification. It also allows you to get rid of dust and specks, balance the colors, create a matte or mask, merge images. There's a lot you can do with modern photographic editors.

The digital photo event presented by Martin Bennet was very interesting and informative. The beautiful digital photographs enlarged, as calendars, cards, posters etc were other ways to display the photographs rather than merely albums. You can print your images or post them on the Web. And when you print them, you aren't limited to normal paper. There are heat transfer papers and papers that are self adhesive that allow you to put your images on everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs.

The presentation was very well organised with an excellent power point presentation on the following sections:
Equipment
Special features
Image Manipulation and
General Photography tips

	CYBER-SHOT DSC-P5 DIGITAL CAMERA 3.3 megapixel CCD Capture extended video clips Program AE modes 3X optical/6X precision digital zoom
Sony US$ 565

Ease of use. 
Digital film is easy to load. It is a small card rather than a roll that has to be inserted, stretched out and advanced. Digital film cards simply pop into the camera in a matter of seconds. And the cards are re-useable, so you will never miss that once-in-a-lifetime shot for lack of film.

If you are planning a long vacation and don't expect to have access to a computer, this becomes a real issue. The cameras generally come with a 8Mb memory card which is enough for just 10 -15 photographs. 

Artistic Indulgence. 
There is no better way to learn photography than to experiment with digital cameras! Digital cameras give you the freedom to be creative since there is no worry about wasting film or paying for bad shots, you can explore your more artistic side by taking shots you might not have taken in the past. And when you are finished shooting, you can decide what to throw away, what to keep, and what to print. In addition, before printing, you can also edit and enhance your pictures any way you like with your favorite image-editing software such as adobe Photoshop, etc.

No Wait. 
Patience is a virtue that few have when it comes to photography. It 's frustrating to wait to finish a roll of film and frustrating to wait while it's developed. With digital film, the waiting is over. You can see your images immediately, print modest copies on your home printer within minutes, or print archival-quality images photo-finishing studios such as Fuji.

The presentation also covered great technical tips that beginners in digital photography, like myself, can instantly use. The manipulation of the digital photographs and the finished results were inspiring. A short presentation based on women of Indonesia titled 'She' was the highlight with incredible photographs.

One day courses and other short courses are offered by Martin Bennet in addition to various other services such as desktop publishing, printing and infocus hire. His photos in the form of framed posters, card, and calendars are available for sale. More information on his courses and work is available on his site www.gambarpanjang.com