Understanding digital photography basics
Understanding digital photography basics is a great way to enhance the pictures that we take and will keep with us during our lifetime. Many people just point and shoot and ignore photography basics such as shooting in correct lighting, making sure our subject is properly positioned, setting up the shot, amongst other things. The haste many people display when taking digital pictures is due to the fact digital cameras allow us such great flexibility. The ability to delete pictures and try again gives the aspiring photographer the inexpensive ability to experiment and try again. The other basic aspect of digital photography is the ability to edit the picture after the fact. So many people have grown to rely on this feature that they no longer adhere to photography basics and try and capture the shot correctly when they take the picture. By understanding a few basic digital photography techniques, getting the right shot at the first attempt will be an easier task. Many of the basic photography tools for taking a quality picture are the same with a digital camera as an analog one. Good photography is a topic of considerable study but for now a brief discussion about just a handful of photography tips that will make the most immediate improvement for the amateur is sufficient.
A basic digital photography tip is to avoid blurry pictures by keeping a steady camera. Tripods are of course an excellent photography tool for this purpose but are not always handy or available. Without a tripod, you can grasp the camera in a manner that is comfortable for you. Using two hands offers the best stability. Steady the camera by holding your arms next to your body with your elbows in close to your chest or stomach. You can brace yourself by keeping your feet apart or leaning against a wall, tree, or other object when possible. Experiment with a variety of techniques to find the best photography posture for you.
Another photography technique many people ignore is to take time to set up the shot. When working with people as subjects, it is easy to direct them for a better picture. Would the shot be better if a group of subjects got in closer together, if they turned slightly, or if an individual looked over his or her shoulder instead of straight into the camera? When looking at the LCD you can see basically how the shot is set up. You are the director and can make alterations at that point.
Another basic photography technique of setting up the shot is to use an uncluttered background. If a person is the subject of your picture you want to eliminate all the other "distractions" in the surrounding area. A lot of background activity and other objects can take away from your intended subject. Sometimes just repositioning a bit and stepping in closer can help achieve a better background as well.
An important photography technique is to understand that lighting is probably the most critical factor in image quality and it will be discussed in greater detail in a later article. For now it will suffice to say that mid-day lighting is harsh and creates shadows therefore often producing poor quality pictures. In general, you want the sun behind you but you need to be sure your shadow is not in the picture.
These are just a few of the most basic photography tips for creating the kind of images you want. To master these photography techniques, remember practice is critical but the happy news is that they don't really require a great deal of time or require any additional equipment and expense.
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