Tips n Tricks




Digital Photo Tips 1: Don’t Assume that camera will do all the work!


Maybe you have heard  this before: “The better the cameras, the better the photos.”. Many believe that these models are just a one-click away for great photos. But is it true?
The rivalry between film cameras and digital cameras is relatively fresh. How come? Three mega pixels digital cameras have an array of choices for consumers, which is already comparable to a high quality point and shoot models. Nowadays, the same thing goes with five mega pixels digital models for excellent quality photographs. The thing is, quality photographs can be taken with ease using digital cameras.  





Once again, main advantages to digital photography are:


•  pictures can be previewed immediately on the built-in LCD screen


•  costs of installing films are replaced with memory sticks or cards that are primarily reusable and can store thousands of photos


•  the stored photos can easily be shared by copying off the images and/or sharing the memory stick or card

•   images can easily be transformed with effects, into black and white and/or sepia and can also be cropped after the picture has been taken

However, photos under low light and taken using film and digital, are both susceptible to artifacts or granularity. Images taken by both cameras appear to be very similar can be improved with the software that can improve the quality and details of images.
Also, you can take lousy shots with the most expensive Cannon models and make great photos with the cheap  “point and shoot” cameras. It suffices to say that it is not the camera that makes great picture-perfect photos. The man behind the camera can squeeze or miss a big time out of the gadget that he use.
 
The following 10 point tips, will enable you to take photos like a pro using your digital photo-cameras. Practice on these tips n tricks, so you can maximize the expense of your digital device...

1. Those Tones Should Warm Up
Change your white balance setting on cloudy when you shooting sunny landscapes or outdoor portraits. This increases the warm yellow and red tones, resulting in warmer and richer photos.

2.  Using [Sunglass] Polarizer
A polarizer should always come in handy when taking those outdoor photos. Polarized shots have more richer colors because unwanted reflections and sun glare are minimized. If your digital camera can not accommodate polarizer filter, simply just place a sunglass as close to the camera lens as possible making sure that the rims of the glass will not be taken along with the photo.

3. Outdoor Shining Portraits
One of the most useful features of digital photo-cameras is the flash mode. This feature allows you to take control when to use the flash. It simply goes on whenever you want it available. This helps in capturing excellent outdoor photos.
The camera exposes for the background first then adds enough flash to illuminate the subject when you are using the flash option. To come up with a more relaxed photo, try putting the subject under the shade or some darker place and use the flash to add some illumination.

4. Macro Mode
I am sure that you want to look at the details of your surroundings but would not be willing to crouch down and lie on the ground.
To do that, you just have to look for the macro or close up symbol, usually a flower icon, and get as close to as possible. Once the confirmation light signals you to shoot, just press the shutter button to record the portrait.
 However, using the close up mode allows you to have a shallow depth so you can concentrate on the part of the, object or subject that you want to emphasize and let the rest go softy. Very cool!

5. The Horizon Line
There are still photographers who become confused when lining up their photos. Meaning, once they look at their cameras LCD, images seem to be a little tilted or bowed inward.
The best way to take care of this is to take your best shot at a straight picture, then take another photo after repositioning the camera. After that, you can delete the others once you feel you take a perfectly aligned photo.
Also very important, just practice framing your shots until you become good with the process.

6. Big storage - media card
You need to have an extra memory card especially when you want more moments to take and preserve. The following suggestions should be considered before buying a memory card:

-  for 3 mega pixels – a 256 MB memory card
-  for 4 mega pixels – a 512 MB memory card
-  for 6 mega pixels – 1 gigabyte memory card
-  for 6 and more pixels – 2,4,6,8,16,32,64 gigabyte memory card

Then you do not have to miss another photo because your card is full. 


7. No need for high resolution all the time
It is more advisable to make more images by shooting a low quality and resolution settings than taking shots with a high resolution all the time. This way you can save space and a 2272 x 1704 resolution on the next great image. However, if you have enough memory (and you should), there is no reason to shoot at a lower resolution and risk missing the chance to display your work in the BIG way.

8. OH that Tripod!
Tripods are “unnecessarily bulky” for some, so rarely  people like to bring them.
Nowadays, there is an ingenious way to settle the dilemma whether to bring a tripod or to do without it.

The UltraPod II™ developed by Pedco fits in your back pocket and holds your camera steady in various situations.
 You can use the Velcro™ strap to attach your camera on a tree limb or an available pole. Its legs can be opened on any flat surface or even on a boulder.

With this, you can be a real photographer without carrying a heavy equipment around with you. 

9. The use of Self Timer
Another option which is under-used feature on almost every digital photo-camera is the self timer. This option can be used to save the photographer for missing the photo by delaying the firing of the shutter up to 10 seconds.
 You need to aim at the subject (or object) and not at a distant background before setting up the timer. Also the depth of the subject should be checked too.

10. Slow Motions
Normally, you will use an exposure of one second or a bit longer to create the flowing effect of water. In this case, you have to look for waterfalls or streams that are under the shade.
Slow water photography looks best when taken in shady landscape scenes instead of bright sunlight. Otherwise your water and surrounding rocks might look over exposed or too white.
The slower the shutter speed , the dreamier or more blurred the water will look. How dreamy you want the running water to appear in your photographs is a matter of personal preference.

For a really good digital photographer, which implies using good eye, creativity and ideas, viewers often ask, “How do you do that and what camera model do you use?”





Digital Photo Tips 2: How to Achieve Perfect Shots


It was years ago when photographers had to take several  photos and develop them to find out if a perfect image was taken. Several photographers of this art form refer to this as “trial and error” technique.
Today, there are a many photographers who have decided to shift from regular “point and shoot” and old SLR models to digital ones. SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. The name implies the use of lenses and a mirror. Mirror reflects light entering the lens up into the viewfinder. Thus, a photographer can estimate how the image will likely appear when it is developed. Likewise, a digital SLR or DSLR camera uses lenses and mirror. But instead of a film that records the image, a DSLR camera uses light sensor and digital memory. In other words, a DSLR camera is the computerized version of the SLR camera.
The options of these models are different so it is suggested that users spend time getting familiar with these gadgets. Owners should use that “trial and error” technique by taking a few shots and storing better pictures.
Individuals who decide on using these types of cameras should invest on memory cards and lenses. If they happen to become professionals someday, additional equipment will keep them busy for choosing photography career. 
Here are some tips that will definitely help owners of DSLR cameras in making a perfect photo using the new art of digital photography.

1.   Most of the people take full body photos against a background. However, it is best  to take a shot from shoulders up or an upper body, because image of those in the picture really appear small.

2.   If these firs technique happens to be difficult, you can take a shot of the person with him or her at one side rather than at the center. Then just zoom in so the person appears to be at the center.

3.   The law of optics always remains the same, whether using an old or a digital camera. For instance, if the sun is behind an image, the picture will be silhouette. If light is in front of the image, the picture will appear squint unless there are sunglasses on.

4.   Use your sunglass to act as a polarizer to take away unnecessary reflections from glaring objects.

5.   You can also use a sunglass to increase the exposure of objects.

6.   When using a polarizer, be sure that the source of light is perpendicular to the object.

7.  Change your white balance setting from auto to cloudy when shooting bright landscapes and outdoor portraits.

8.  Do not use the flash mode when the setting is already sunny and bright.

9.  Zoom in to emphasize a certain asset or characteristic of the subject being captured.

10.  Practice. Practice. Practice.

 However, using digital cameras and employing this new art of digital photography have simply improved photo shooting by making capturing pictures easy for everyone.

Most important tip for every digtal photographer, practice  makes perfect shots!


 


Digital Photo tips 3: Digital Photography - common terms for beginners



Today, digital photography is considered the most popular not only in the business industry but also for personal use. For all those who started with digital photography, or shifted from film cameras, it is important  that you know the different terms related to it.

In this part of the digital photography tips, focus is  on the basic terms you need to know before handling a digital camera. Below are the common terms used in digital photography:

1.         Pixel- means the tiniest part of the digital photo. A photo image is composed of combined millions of pixel.

2.         Resolution- the over all quantity of pixels in a photo. Increasing the resolution would make the image become sharper. Thus more pixels are needed to achieve a better photo image quality.

3.         Mega pixel- a photo composed of three to four mega pixels will have a better quality that a photo with only one mega pixel.

4.         Dots Per Inch (DPI) - this term is used to describe quality of the computer monitor and printer. Specifically, laser printers have more dpi resolution than monitors. Hence, higher the dpi resolution means better quality.

5.         JPEG (joint photographic experts group) - it correspond to the format for saving images in the digital camera.

6.         Memory Card- this is where the digital files are stored. Memory cards consist of different sizes and capacity. A memory card with higher storage capacity would be more convenient to purchase.

7.         LCD (liquid crystal display) - almost all digital cameras have this specification. The purpose of LCD is for the photographer to be able to view the scene first before capturing the photo.



Now that you already understand this common terms, the second part will discuss basically on right handling of digital camera.

Proper handling of digital camera is the next important. This is because the success of a digital photographer depends on his output. And the key to achieve quality photos starts in the way you use and handle the digital camera.

Learning how a digital camera works, understanding the strategies in taking photos, and how to take indoor and outdoor pictures are all part of the things a beginner must learn.


These are good ideas to help beginner to master the art of taking photos:

1.         Pay attention to the subject!

One of the most fundamental digital photo tip. You should be able to compose carefully by working on the frame. Play with your camera, and explore the different shots. Avoid positioning your object at the center of the photo, as it may result to dead center image.

2.         Take Close Up Photos

Take great photos by capturing them in extreme close up. Close up photos add a little creativity and excitement to the photos. In addition, this feature is only of the different ways to enhance you photo.

3.         Use a tripod

Very often digital photo-cameras results to blurry photographs if your hands quiver a little. Getting a tripod will surely save your effort from taking low quality photos, and preserve otherwise great photos.

4.         Allways Be active

Try to take creative photos. Take photos from the top of a hill, or off the side of a yacht. Go outside and explore your environment…


Becoming a professional digital photographer takes time. You just have keep on trying new techniques..