Digital Photography Tips and Techniques

Digital photography has grown by leaps and bounds in the last couple of years. In this article, we take a look at some important digital photography tips and techniques.
Digital Photography Tips and Techniques
Today, the process of clicking a picture has completely changed, thanks to the introduction of digital cameras and the advent of digital photography. Digital photography has not only changed the face of conventional photography, but has also spurred many amateur photographers to seriously consider taking up photography as a career option. Though digital cameras have made photography relatively easy and hassle-free, it is not child's play by any stretch of imagination. For the benefit of all photography enthusiasts, here are some digital photography tips and techniques that one can make use of.

Important Digital Photography Tips and Techniques
The following photography tips and techniques apply to both amateur as well as experienced photographers:
  • Understanding the Camera Functions: This is the first thing you should do after buying a new digital camera. Go through the camera's instruction manual and make sure that you thoroughly understand all the camera functions. You should be familiar and comfortable with all the different camera features and functionalities before you actually use it for serious photography.
  • Lighting Basics: As a photographer, it is imperative that you understand the basics of lighting. Both indoor as well as outdoor photography heavily rely on lighting techniques. Giving your photo an appropriate amount of light exposure can be done by using a camera flash. Making proper use of light is especially important when shooting in dim lit surroundings. Outdoor photography regularly makes use of reflectors along with additional outdoor lighting for achieving the optimum light effect. Speaking with experienced photographers or googling a little bit on the Internet will help you to understand how to use the concept of lighting effectively.
  • Resolution: The photograph resolution will determine how sharp the image will remain and at what size. Along with reading about this concept in the instruction manual, the best way to understand it, is through practice. Use a trial and error method. Capture the same shot at different resolutions and study all of them closely. Observe the difference between the various shots and you will slowly begin to understand what resolution is.
  • Shutter Speed: Imagine this - you are in a packed football stadium where an absolute cliffhanger of a match has now boiled down to a penalty shootout. As the player walks up to take the final penalty shot, you ready your camera in anticipation of that perfect picture. You press the button at the perfect instant but much to your disappointment, there is a delay which results in the camera capturing an image that is a second too late. The reason for this is 'shutter lag' i.e., a delay in the camera's shutter speed. Digital cameras have different shutter speeds for different capturing modes. You should be aware of this concept and must accordingly set the shutter speed to the appropriate setting.
  • Use Blur Wisely: Quite frequently, we end up with unnecessary blur on our photos. This can happen mainly due to shakiness while capturing the image or due to shutter lag. Try using a tripod to eliminate shakiness. Also adjust the zoom setting to an optimum value at which there is no blur and enough sharpness. Effective use of the zoom setting can also prevent out-of-focus photographs.
  • Red Eye: This is a common problem that almost all of us face. The key to avoiding red eyed photographs is to capture the person's photograph at a slightly oblique angle, instead of dead straight. Alternatively, you can ask the person to slightly look away from the lens without making it appear too obvious.
These were some digital photography tips and techniques that all shutterbugs can effectively make use of. Go on, ready your camera and click away!

By Parashar Joshi
Published: 8/8/2009
 
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