Starting Off On the Road to Digital Photography

Photography is a really fun and exciting hobby that many people are engaged in. The number of photography enthusiasts has also dramatically spiked upwards to phenomenal levels with the advent of digital photography, and what was once a viewed as an expensive and sometimes elitist hobby is now turning into a mainstream mainstay.

However, any tool at hand is only just that: a tool-something that won’t do much without the guiding hand of its users. And while many people flock to digital photography over its chemical film counterpart mainly for its forgiving nature (pixels are infinitely cheaper than film) it still won’t do to have a shabby photograph, even if you have the latest digital camera at your disposal.

Firstly, you need to avoid camera shake. It doesn’t matter if you have a DSLR or a pocket digicam-shaking the camera will always result in blurry pictures. The best way to counter this is to invest in a good tripod. It doesn’t really need to be branded and expensive, but it does need to be stable, with flexible-length legs that will adapt to terrain features. It also needs to be sturdy. Lightweight tripods are all good, but some are made of cheap metal that are deceptively easy to warp. Keep an eye out for these tripods.

If your camera has shutter speeds, then it pays to know the difference these shutter speeds will do for your photos. A fast shutter speed adjustment will let you take “moment-by-moment” pictures, such as a water dripping off a faucet, or an elusive smile from a subject. A fast shutter speed is also great for taking in pictures with motion, such as that pivotal last second shot in the hoop or the way a runner’s while doing an obstacle course.

A slow shutter speed on the other hand will give you great effects such as blurring or fancy light effects you normally can’t see with the naked eye. It’s great for pictures taken at night because it allows more light to be taken in your picture.

Composition and lighting are elements that can also help out in taking great shots. Composition in this case could mean the subject itself, the color elements of the photographs, and even the subject’s background.

Granted you may often be unable to control the composition of certain photographs; but in cases that you can, such as portrait shots, you should make an effort into clearing out unwanted elements that will distract the viewer of the photo from your intended subject.

Light also plays an important part in any photograph. Insufficient light will always result to distorted images. If this was your intention in the first place, then it’s all good. Insufficient light and shabby pictures however, are not a substitute for artistry. Control these elements as much as you can, even if you feel a little silly at first.

Practice and patience are as important to digital photography as the kind of camera you have, and in time you will notice an increase in quality in your photographs that you will be most proud to show off.

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