Cameras & Camcorders

[Allan-BBY Community Connector]

Digital Camera Basic Picture-Taking Tips 

Get to know your new camera

Read your instruction manual to familiarize yourself with your cameras features and settings.

Protect your new camera

 Use the hand/neck strap that is included with your camera to prevent it from dropping. This will also ensure that the strap will stay out of your shots.

 

Setting image resolution 

Set your camera on the maximum resolution. You can always lower the resolution on your computer later, but you can never raise the resolution once it is taken.

 

Set to Auto 

While you are learning, set your camera on AUTO mode. This automates most settings such as shutter speed and whether a flash is used, allowing you to focus only on taking pictures.

 

Focusing 

Before taking your picture, hold the shutter button down half-way to auto focus the camera. Once it focuses it should give some signal by either flashing or beeping, which means that the camera is ready to snap the image.

 

Composing your image 

Use the LCD screen (or the viewfinder with a DSLR) to frame up your image before you take it, making sure you have everything you want in your picture. The rule of thirds is a good general composition technique that usually will produce better looking images. The rule of thirds suggests placing your subject one third into your composition rather than centering your subject.

 

Keeping your images sharp 

To prevent blurry pictures, hold your camera with both hands and keep your elbows close to your sides. In low light situations using a tripod will help make your images much sharper. Many digital cameras also have what is called image stabilization, and I would suggest making sure this feature is turned on if your camera has this feature.

 

Make sure your subject is lighted properly 

 Keep lighting in mind since light is what is needed for a properly exposed image. Turn your flash on in low light situations.  Avoid taking pictures directly into the sun.

 

Don’t run out of power 

Keep extra batteries or bring your a/c adapter if you are traveling.

 

More is better 

Take LOTS of pictures! You aren’t wasting any film, and you can always delete images you don’t like.

Allan

Community Connector

Best Buy® Corporate

[Rrrrrrr]

Also remember to change your ISO back to 200-400 for bright sunshine shooting the day after you were in a bar taking band pics at 6400. Was wondering why the shots yesterday were blown over. Smacking myself in the back of the head for that one. Glad it was just 'fun' shooting yesterday and not paid for.