How to Take Excellent Photographs.
There are literally millions of articles about digital photography on the internet and I have read hundreds of them, but I have not read many that give basic tips to would be photographers who are starting out with their first camera.
Of course I only refer to digital cameras; their predecessors have all but disappeared.
The Camera
Firstly, please, please get a camera with a viewfinder, whether you are looking through the lens as with a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) or through a separate viewfinder as on a simpler camera you will introduce too many problems by holding the camera at arms length whilst shooting.
Secondly do not worry about megapixels, more is not necessarily better, a 3Mp camera takes photos that are perfectly good enough for printing up to A4 size (210 x 297 MM)
Finally, zoom. Optical zoom means that the subject is magnified optically before being digitised, digital zoom means that the picture is magnified after being digitised, as far as quality and definition is concerned it doesn't matter how much digital zoom your camera has you will not improve your pictures. Optical zoom however will allow you to zoom in to a distant subject and "see" it with the camera in the same way that you can with a pair of binoculars.
That is all I will say about the camera, even the cheapest of cameras today has enough features and facilities to satisfy the vast majority of amateur photographers.
Set to Automatic
When you start out, set the camera to automatic, you will in time become familiar with the other settings as you learn and gain experience, if the camera has an automatic flash, leave it switched on, it will only operate if the electronics decide that it is needed.
Holding the camera
Hold the camera firmly in both hands with the viewfinder close to your eye, tuck your elbows in to your sides, take a breath, partly exhale and then hold your breath and press the shutter release.
Light
Make sure, if there are lights, especially sunlight, that you have your back to the light.
Framing
When you plan your shot keep in mind the rule of thirds, basically this states that any vertical line such as a standing human subject or a tree should be either one third of the frame in from the left or from the right, and that any horizontal line such as the horizon should be one third of the frame from the top or from the bottom of the picture. For example if you take a picture of the sea it will not look very good if you set the horizon across the centre of the picture, rather have it one third of the way down from the top.
Tripod
For some pictures you may need to use a tripod or monopod if you have one, if not you can lean against a wall or support the camera on a ledge or car roof
Experiment
In the old days it was expensive and time consuming to experiment, the beauty of digital cameras is that you can take as many pictures as you like and, until you decide to print one, it doesn't cost a penny and you can see each shot immediately after you have taken it.
Walk around your garden or house and take dozens of pictures, try taking the same shot from different angles and positions and with different zoom settings, you will soon get the feel of the camera and start to build up confidence when using it.
If you follow the advice given in the paragraphs above you will start taking quality photographs from the very beginning and you will soon become an accomplished amateur photographer. Good luck and have fun.
Of course I only refer to digital cameras; their predecessors have all but disappeared.
The Camera
Firstly, please, please get a camera with a viewfinder, whether you are looking through the lens as with a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) or through a separate viewfinder as on a simpler camera you will introduce too many problems by holding the camera at arms length whilst shooting.
Secondly do not worry about megapixels, more is not necessarily better, a 3Mp camera takes photos that are perfectly good enough for printing up to A4 size (210 x 297 MM)
Finally, zoom. Optical zoom means that the subject is magnified optically before being digitised, digital zoom means that the picture is magnified after being digitised, as far as quality and definition is concerned it doesn't matter how much digital zoom your camera has you will not improve your pictures. Optical zoom however will allow you to zoom in to a distant subject and "see" it with the camera in the same way that you can with a pair of binoculars.
That is all I will say about the camera, even the cheapest of cameras today has enough features and facilities to satisfy the vast majority of amateur photographers.
Set to Automatic
When you start out, set the camera to automatic, you will in time become familiar with the other settings as you learn and gain experience, if the camera has an automatic flash, leave it switched on, it will only operate if the electronics decide that it is needed.
Holding the camera
Hold the camera firmly in both hands with the viewfinder close to your eye, tuck your elbows in to your sides, take a breath, partly exhale and then hold your breath and press the shutter release.
Light
Make sure, if there are lights, especially sunlight, that you have your back to the light.
Framing
When you plan your shot keep in mind the rule of thirds, basically this states that any vertical line such as a standing human subject or a tree should be either one third of the frame in from the left or from the right, and that any horizontal line such as the horizon should be one third of the frame from the top or from the bottom of the picture. For example if you take a picture of the sea it will not look very good if you set the horizon across the centre of the picture, rather have it one third of the way down from the top.
Tripod
For some pictures you may need to use a tripod or monopod if you have one, if not you can lean against a wall or support the camera on a ledge or car roof
Experiment
In the old days it was expensive and time consuming to experiment, the beauty of digital cameras is that you can take as many pictures as you like and, until you decide to print one, it doesn't cost a penny and you can see each shot immediately after you have taken it.
Walk around your garden or house and take dozens of pictures, try taking the same shot from different angles and positions and with different zoom settings, you will soon get the feel of the camera and start to build up confidence when using it.
If you follow the advice given in the paragraphs above you will start taking quality photographs from the very beginning and you will soon become an accomplished amateur photographer. Good luck and have fun.
