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.
Digital Photo Tips 2: How to Achieve Perfect
Shots
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..
