7 Tips for Shooting
Great
Digital Photos
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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. |
A shot of some beautiful flowers
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.
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.
 Learn
to Take Beautiful Photos
If you want to
improve your digital photography skills, you may want to take a look at Digital Photography Success. This e-book
package includes excellent step-by-step instructions on how
to take pictures of beautiful landscapes, people, nature, fireworks,
night scenes, etc. Learn how to shoot professional photos - just like
those you see in glossy magazine covers.
Related Articles
You may also wish to read the following related
articles:
Learn the fundamentals of camera shutter
speed
Learn how to take better night photos
Learn how to capture action shots
A guide to shooting beautiful sunset
photos
A beginner's guide to
wedding photography
© 2006
Basic-Digital-Photography.com
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