Many people find shooting a digital photo to be harder than expected. You might find that you have been taking digital photos since first introduced but have never quite captured that perfect shot you set out for. Nothing is as disappointing as missing that important event, such as your daughter's dance recital or even your anniversary trip to Italy. When that once in a lifetime moment is remembered with a horrible photo, the frustration can be overwhelming.
That bring us to the question of how do you exactly take a great photo? While there is a bit of trial and error involved, there is a simple answer. A great photo begins with you and then extends through the camera. Think about it, every shot begins in your mine, not the camera lens. A super photo can be captured by the most basic point-and-click camera just as easy as the most expensive SLR.
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. 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. 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.
An example of manually controlling the flash can be found when photographing outdoors. It is helpful to actually turn on the flash in order to illuminate the photo subject, especially if in the shade. The reverse idea would be to turn the camera flash off while indoors to eliminate potentially unnatural skin color and harsh glare that can occur in your photo.
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 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. 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. Know the ISO Settings I have found the ISO setting in my digital camera to be very useful. The ISO setting on a camera basically controls light sensitivity. When taking a photo of an object that is still such as a flower vase, always use a low ISO setting to allow for a longer shutter speed and sharper image results. On the other hand, use a higher ISO setting for moving objects. A picture of children playing would need an ISO setting of about 400 for optimal results. Keep in mind though that a higher ISO setting allows for a faster shutter speed and needs less light.
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 - 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
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.
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