Digital cameras are one of the greatest inventions of modern times.We are so fortunate to have this modern convenience called DigitalPhotography. To be able to capture a precious moment or beautiful sceneat the click of a button, is something we should not take for granted.
Many beginners find digital photography rather challenging andrightly so. Today, more and more digital cameras are being created andit seems like the more digital cameras they make, the more difficultthey become to use.
I own a Canon Powershot S3 IS. I purchased this digital camera abouta year ago and I still haven't utilized all of the awesome littlefeatures this camera has to offer. Now you may not want or even need acamera with tons of features. It really depends on the type of picturesyou plan on taking.
Regardless of the camera you own or are planning to own, you shouldhave a well rounded knowledge of digital photography. I hope thefollowing 20 tips for taking digital photography will prove to beuseful in your quest for taking better photographs.
1. Know your camera. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is nottaking time to learn about the features of your camera. Don't be lazy.Read your instruction manual.
2 - When shooting sunny outdoor shots, try adjusting your whitebalance setting from auto to cloudy. The auto setting will make yourshots appear too cold. When you change it to cloudy, it will increasethe warmth of your pictures.
3 - If you are looking for superior image quality, the ability touse a variety of lenses and print large high quality photos, thenconsidering a Digital SLR Camera.
4 - Use your flash outdoors. Sometimes, even on a sunny dayoutdoors, there is still a need for a flash. If the sun is directlyover head or behind your subject, this can cause dark shadows to appearon the face. The flash will help lighten the subjects face.
5- Sometimes simply turning your camera and taking vertical shotscan make a world of difference. Experiment more with vertical picturetaking.
6 - Do not put your subjects directly in the center of your shot.Move your subject off center to inject more life into your photos.
7 - Learn how to hold your digital camera. One of the most commonproblems beginners face is the shaking of the camera because they arenot holding it properly. Of course, the best way to avoid shaking thecamera is to use a tripod. If you don't have a tripod, then you shouldbe holding your camera with two hands. Put one hand on the right handside of your camera where you actually snap the photo and the otherhand will support the weight of your camera. Depending on the camera,your left hand will either be positioned on the bottom or around yourlens.
8 - Learn about the "Rule of Thirds". This is a well known principleof photographic composition that every beginner should become familiarwith. Do a search online and you will find many tutorials on thissubject.
9 - Look at other photographers work. Just spending time studyingthe work of other photographers can provide loads of inspiration.
10 - Join online photography communities. Get active and ask questions.
11 - Do not compare your photography to anyone else.
12 - Do not copy the work of other photographers. Try and develop your own unique style.
13 - Do not leave your batteries in your camera if you don't plan onusing your camera for long periods of time. Some batteries run the riskof leaking and this can damage your camera.
14 - Subscribe to a good photography magazine. Read books on photography.
15 - Find experienced photographers to go out on shoots with.
16 - Post your photographs in online forums. Learn to accept criticism.
17 - Try taking your pictures in RAW format. RAW is a powerfuloption available in today's digital cameras where no in-cameraprocessing takes place. This allows you to do all processing using yourfavorite image editing software.
18 - Don't buy the most expensive photography equipment right away.Practice and learn about photography using cheaper equipment first.After you have been taking pictures for a while, you will then knowwhat kind of equipment you will need.
19 - Invest in a tripod. Some of us have very shaky hands. If youcan't stop the shakes, then get a tripod. It will make a world ofdifference.
20 - If you are not able to carry your equipment with youeverywhere, make sure you have a note pad handy. This way if you find anice shot
, you can write it down and visit that location at a laterdate.
