The Three Keys to Better Digital Photographs

Taking digital snapshots is really easy with the these little technical marvels that we call digital cameras. However, if you want to create great photographs rather than just snapshots, there are just 3 basic things that you should do to produce high quality photographs.

Key number one is before you take photo number one is to study the manual that came with your new digital camera. Your camera is not just a camera but a mini-computer loaded super abilities to help you make better pictures. Manual controls, fully automatic mode and as many as 15 or more scene modes that will help you use the proper settings for almost every photo situation that you may come across, back-lit situations, sports mode, scenic mode, portraiture, macro mode and many more. The unfortunate thing is that most people set the camera on full auto and fire away. You may get acceptable snapshots this way but, by applying the proper shooting modes, your snapshots could be far better.

Key number two is to improve your composition. I am really tired of seeing trees growing out of people’s heads. There are a couple of easy ways to improve your composition. Stop by your local library and check out a few of the coffee table photo collection books and study how they are composed. Did they use leading lines, natural framing, foreground or background detail to support the subject. What angles did they use.

You can also go online and find a myriad of photo gallery sites and also study the photographs. Poor composition is one of the leading differences between a snapshot and digital fine art. Look at great pictures and then apply these techniques to your own photography.

Key number three is to use lighting properly. When you check out those coffee table photo books or you visit the gallery websites, don’t just look at the composition, also take the time see how the photographers used light to help create their photographs. Are the pictures, natural light, north window light, full sun, ambient room light, multiple flash or floodlights, bounce light off of a ceiling or wall or perhaps reflectors or fill in flash to lighten deep shadows. These are just a few of the lighting techniques that will help turn your snapshots into works of art worthy of a gallery wall.

While some photographers have a natural eye for these techniques, there are things that you can learn to do with a little simple study that will take you from snapshooter to creating photographic art. If you don’t want to do it on your own, the library also has plenty of “How To” books and online there are plenty of Ebooks and online photographic courses to fill that need. Either way, taking great photographs is literally easier done than said. Yes, I said easier done than said. The best way to learn is get some basic groundings in your camera’s technology, study composition and lighting and then pick up that camera start creating photographs not just snapshots.

Stan Pontiere has been an avid photographer since childhood. Having worked for the likes of the Associated Press and The New York Times and an instructor of photography at a college back east, I have enjoyed the transition from film to digital photography.

For more information on digital photography, please visit: http://digitalphoto.net46.net