Digital photography is a lot of fun. Because you
can see your images as soon as you take the
picture, anyone can take better pictures right
from the start. You know immediately if you
got the shot or not.
To get consistently better photos, it helps to
get both you and your camera ready for taking
pictures. Most people know that focusing the
camera is important, but in many ways, it can
be just as important to focus the photographer.
Choosing what and where to shoot is the first
step that you must take before shooting. Read
local newspapers, check out travel books, or
browse online resources to find out what is
happening in your area. You can find great
photo opportunities at local fairs, botanical
gardens, nature preserves, national parks, or
even zoos; and when outside shooting is
difficult, consider shooting indoors where
conditions are controlled. A digital camera
allows much more flexibility for indoor shooting
than film ever did.
The more you know about your equipment, the
more you can concentrate on getting the
photographs that you want and not on learning
how to use your camera. Open up the camera
manual and spend time with it and your
camera so that you know what controls are
available and how to use them.
When you go to shoot, you will be more
satisfied if you are realistic; a day of shooting
does not always result in lots of good photos.
All photographers have bad days that end up
with only mediocre photos, especially when
the shooting conditions work against you!
Enjoy the experience of having fun with digital
photography and learn from it.
You are going to find that the best photo
opportunities for any photographer are those subjects
that you enjoy. Why not photograph those things you
have an affinity for? If you enjoy gardening and
appreciate the thousands of different variations of
iris, shoot irises; or if you are a people-watcher and
find pleasure in observing folks in action, choose
places where you can find active people in settings
that make great photographs.
Tips:
- When you find a good place to take photographs, visit it again and again. Your images will improve each time that you return because you will learn the best times and subjects for photos.
- Some of the best photo opportunities may be in your own backyard. Explore details, shapes, or colors that might make good photographs and give them a try.
When planning a trip, give yourself plenty of time to
stay and take photographs. Allow yourself some flex
time to compensate for bad weather or other shooting
conditions that might prevent you from
photographing. You might spend an entire day or
more at a location, but the light never really becomes
good enough to shoot. Avoid the scheduling trap of
trying to see too much too quickly. You may miss the
kinds of shots that you had hoped to capture because
you saw everything, but shot little. Photography takes
time, and time is often the most important factor in
capturing truly great photographs.
