Do you find it difficult to take great digital photos? Many people can take digital photos for years without capturing the stunning image they wanted. I myself have been guilty of ruining photos of important moments like my son's baseball tournament or my own daughter's graduation. There is not a worse feeling in the world than when a photo of an important event is horrible.
So 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.
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. Understand Your Camera I know this sounds elementary, but how many of us are guilty of buying a gadget only to never once look at the manual included? If you are going to make the investment in a digital camera, take the tine to learn about all of its features. The instruction manual is there to be your guide to all of the possibilities your camera contains. Learn how to control the exposure, what the different camera modes do and even the simple things such as the flash. You might find yourself surprised at how much your camera can do that you might have never know by only fiddling with the device. The information you gain will prove itself valuable while behind the lens.
2. Controlling the Flash One of the most essential things to learn in digital photography is how to control the flash. I myself don't like to depend on the automatic flash included with the digital camera. Certain situations might require the flash switch to be on or off
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 Holding the camera level is a basic rule in photography. As most digital cameras come with a LCD, you can make use of this to correctly frame your shots. Next time you're taking a photo, try to find the horizontal lines and use them as guides. One example would be to make use of the horizon while taking a photo of a sunset.
5. Use Your Tripod No matter what level of expertise your photography skill is at, tripods are essential in your photography. How will you know when to use your tripod? It is helpful when taking photos in low-light situations or when trying to capture fast moving objects. I personally use a tripod when photographing certain nature shots such as birds in flight. Try to find a tripod that is easy to carry with you. For your personal use all you will probably need is a simple compact tripod that is easily mobile and you can avoid the inconvenience of a larger, bulkier tripod.
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. Memory Capacity Needed While traditional cameras need film, your digital camera needs memory to store the photos you take. Just imagine being on that perfect vacation only to discover that your memory card in your camera is full. Some guidelines for digital camera memory are helpful:
2 megapixel cameras - requires at least a 64MB card 3 megapixel camera - requires at least a 128MB card 4 megapixel camera - requires at least a 256MB card 5 megapixel camera and above - requires 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:
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