Tips
for Shooting Great Digital Photos
Do you have trouble shooting good digital photos?
Perhaps you've been taking digital photos for some time, but
never really got the beautiful shots you wanted. Maybe you somehow
messed up the photos you took of important events, like your
daughter's birthday or your trip to Paris.
How do you begin to take good photos? Well, the first thing
to remember is this: It's the photographer that takes great photos,
not the camera. Think about that for a minute. It's true isn't
it? I've seen some people take great photos with a simple point-and-shoot
camera, while some take lousy shots with the most expensive SLR.
Fret not! Read these tips on shooting digital photos and apply
them the next time you have a chance. Before long, you'll be
shooting photos like a pro!
1. Know Your Camera
Does this sound familiar? You buy the latest digital camera out
there, come home, rip off the box, then proceed to fiddle with
the device. You briefly flick through the hundred page camera
manual and then never look at it again. Not a good idea! If
you buy a digital camera, you owe it to yourself to understand
its ins and outs. Learn how to control exposure, how to use
different camera modes and how to use the flash. The knowledge
you gain about the camera will be invaluable when you're out
in the field taking those special photos.
2. Learn to Control the Flash
One of the most important things you need to know about digital
photography is to control the flash. Personally, I hate to
rely on the automatic flash that comes with the digital camera.
Depending on the situation, you need to switch off or switch
on the flash.
For example, when taking outdoor photos, it is sometimes good
to turn on the flash to illuminate the subject, especially if
he or she is in the shade. On the other hand, you can also choose
to turn off the flash when taking indoor shots. Sometimes, using
the flash indoors will result in unnatural skin color and harsh
glare in your photos.
3. Play with the Macro Mode
Almost all digital camera these days have a macro mode. This
setting is ideal for taking close up shots of objects like
flowers or insects. On my Canon PowerShot S500, it's represented
by a flower symbol. What you do is to pick a subject, turn
on macro mode, then get as close to it as your camera will
allow. Make sure you allow the camera to focus properly before
depressing the shutter button fully.
4. Hold the Camera Level
A basic rule of photography is to hold the camera level. Since
most digital cameras come with a LCD, you can use it to properly
frame your shots. Next time you're taking a shot, try to look
for the horizontal lines and use them as guides. A good example
is to make use of the horizon when you're taking a photo of
a sunset.
5. Use The Tripod
I recommend this tip to all budding photographers - camera tripods
are an essential tool in your photography arsenal. When will
you need a tripod? Well, it's useful if you're taking shots
under low-light conditions or trying to capture fast moving
objects. I like to use a tripod when taking night shots city
streets, for example. Always try to look for a tripod that's
convenient to carry around. For personal use, you don't need
a huge one - just a simple compact one that's easy to pack.
6. Play with the ISO Setting
I find the ISO setting in digital cameras very useful. The ISO
setting of a essentially camera controls it's sensitivity to
light. If you're taking a photo of a still object, like a flower,
then always use a low ISO setting. It allows for a longer shutter
speed and produces a cleaner image. If you're shooting a moving
object, like a baby playing with a toy, then a higher ISO setting
of say 400 would be better. Do take note, however, that a higher
ISO setting gives a faster shutter speed and requires less
light. This will produce noiser photos.
7. Have Enough Memory Capacity
Just like you must have enough rolls of film when using traditional
cameras, make sure you always have enough memory capacity in
your digital camera. It's terrible to be on a holiday taking
great photos and suddenly realizing you've no memory space
left. Here are some general guidelines for digital camera storage.
2 megapixel cameras - get at least a 64MB card
3 megapixel camera - get at least a 128MB card
4 megapixel camera - get at least a 256MB card
5 megapixel camera and above - get at least a 512MB or 1GB card
Conclusion
Whew. A pretty long article. I hope I've managed to give you
some good tips on shooting great digital photos. Always remember
what I said - while the latest and greatest digital cameras have
amazing features, you still need a skilled photographer to take
nice pictures. Apply the above tips to your everyday shooting
and learn to be a better photographer.
© 2005
Gary Hendricks www.basic-digital-photography.com
