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7 Tips for Capturing the Perfect Digital Photo

By: Dan Feildman

Do you find it difficult to take great digital photos? Many people can take digital photos for years without capturing the stunning image they wanted. I myself have been guilty of ruining photos of important moments like my son's baseball tournament or my own daughter's graduation. There is not a worse feeling in the world than when a photo of an important event is horrible.

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.

Take the time to read over these tips on taking digital photos and incorporate them the next time you have the opportunity. In no time at all, you can be an expert.

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. Using Macro Mode Most digital cameras now come equipped with a macro mode. This is an ideal setting for shooting close up photos of objects like insects or flowers. Depending on your model camera, it can have different symbols. My Canon PowerShot symbol is a flower. Turn your camera to macro mode and get as close as possible to your chosen subject. Make sure you allow the camera to focus correctly before depressing the shutter button completely.

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. 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 - have at least a 64MB card 3 megapixel camera - have at least a 128MB card 4 megapixel camera - have at least a 256MB card 5 megapixel camera and above - have at least a 512MB or 1GB card

Wrapping Things Up While it seems like a lot of information to learn, they are all pretty simple with just a little practice. I hope these tips help you to produce the best digital photos possible. Even though the camera plays an important role in your photography, remember that your role as the photographer is the most important of all. Utilize the features that your digital camera offers to make the most of every picture and with incorporating the above tips, you will be shooting photos like a pro in no time!

Article Source: http://www.myarticlesdirectory.com

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