Learn Digital Photography : 7 Tips for Shooting Great Digital Photos

Do you have trouble shooting good digital photos? Perhaps you've been taking digital photos for some time, but never really got the beautiful shots you wanted. Maybe you somehow messed up the photos you took of important events, like your daughter's birthday or your trip to Paris. You can imagine the frustration one feels when photos of memorable events turn out ugly.

That leads us to the question of how do you take that perfect photo? The first rule lies within the photographer themselves, for it is with the photographer that the photo begins, not the camera itself. It's just that simple. Think about how you can see a photograph that a child has taken playing around with a simple disposable camera and it is wonderful while a photo with the priciest SLR can turn out to be awful.

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. Get to Know Your Camera You know how this story goes. You rush out and buy the latest and greatest gadget on the market only to take it home and rip it out of the packaging only to throw aside the instruction manual. Not a good idea with your digital camera. You owe it to yourself to take the time learning about your camera's features. Knowing how to control even what you may consider the basics, such as controlling the exposure or even the flash are always important. What you learn will prove to be priceless when actually taking your photos.

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. Experiment with the Macro Mode Most digital cameras available these days come with a macro mode. This setting is perfect for capturing close ups of objects like flowers or insects. I have a Canon PowerShot S500 and its macro mode is represented with a flower symbol. To take photos in this style, choose your subject and making sure the macro mode is turned on, get as close to your subject as possible. Give your camera enough time to focus properly before pressing the shutter button all the way.

4. Hold the Camera Level A basic rule of photography is to hold the camera level. Since most digital cameras come with a LCD, you can use it to properly frame your shots. Next time you're taking a shot, try to look for the horizontal lines and use them as guides. A good example is to make use of the horizon when you're taking a photo of a sunset.

5. Using a Tripod I would recommend this to all photographers of any level. You will find camera tripods an invaluable tool in your photography cache. When do you need a tripod you might ask? It becomes useful when taking a shot in low-light conditions or when your subject includes fast moving objects. I use a tripod while taking pictures of city streets at night to capture all of the elements. You don't have to invest in the largest or heaviest tripod for personal use. Choose a tripod that is compact and easy to carry with you.

6. Experiment with the ISO Setting I have found the ISO setting in digital cameras very helpful. The ISO setting of a camera essentially controls the camera's sensitivity to light. Use a low ISO setting if you're taking a photo of a still object, like a flower. This allows for a longer shutter speed and creates a cleaner image. A higher ISO setting of about 400 would be appropriate while taking a photo of a moving subject such as a baby in a swing. Keep in mind that a higher ISO setting results in a faster shutter speed and needs less light

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

Final Note I know that's quite a bit of information to throw out at you, but I hope I've been able to provide some good tips on shooting great digital photos. A great photo begins with a skilled and knowledgeable photographer no matter what features your camera might offer. Using the above tips in your photography will help you to be picture perfect every time.

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