Article Advise

submitted: Aug 25th 2008 | by: DanFeildman | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 993 | |

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. You can imagine the frustration one feels when photos of memorable events turn out ugly.

That leads us to the question of how do you take that perfect photo? The first rule lies within the photographer themselves, for it is with the photographer that the photo begins, not the camera itself. It's just that simple. Think about how you can see a photograph that a child has taken playing around with a simple disposable camera and it is wonderful while a photo with the priciest SLR can turn out to be awful.

Take the opportunity to check out these simple tips on shooting digital photos and use them the next time you pick up your camera. With these in mind, you will be successful in all of the photos you take!

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. Using Macro Mode Most digital cameras now come equipped with a macro mode. This is an ideal setting for shooting close up photos of objects like insects or flowers. Depending on your model camera, it can have different symbols. My Canon PowerShot symbol is a flower. Turn your camera to macro mode and get as close as possible to your chosen subject. Make sure you allow the camera to focus correctly before depressing the shutter button completely.

4. Hold the Camera Level One of the most basic photography rules is to hold the camera level. Most digital cameras come with an LCD that can be used to accurately frame your shots. Utilize the horizontal lines as guides next time you are behind the lens. One such case is making use of the horizon when taking a photo of the sunrise.

5. Using a Tripod I would recommend this to all photographers of any level. You will find camera tripods an invaluable tool in your photography cache. When do you need a tripod you might ask? It becomes useful when taking a shot in low-light conditions or when your subject includes fast moving objects. I use a tripod while taking pictures of city streets at night to capture all of the elements. You don't have to invest in the largest or heaviest tripod for personal use. Choose a tripod that is compact and easy to carry with you.

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. Make Sure to Have Enough Memory Capacity Although with digital cameras you don't have to worry about extra rolls of film, the pictures you take still have to be stored somewhere. Make certain that you have enough memory capacity in your digital camera available to you. Nothing is worse than discovering you are out of memory space only halfway through an important event. Here are some basic guidelines for digital memory 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

Wrapping Things Up While it seems like a lot of information to learn, they are all pretty simple with just a little practice. I hope these tips help you to produce the best digital photos possible. Even though the camera plays an important role in your photography, remember that your role as the photographer is the most important of all. Utilize the features that your digital camera offers to make the most of every picture and with incorporating the above tips, you will be shooting photos like a pro in no time!

About the Author

Thinking about digital photography, ever want to start Learning Digital Photography? Get Fantastic Tips on how to take Digital Photographs with This Free Report

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