Taking Digital Photos
by Dave Clingman
 

Published in Guadalajara Reporter,
January 16, 2010

Digital cameras have supplanted film cameras for many years now.  They make easy the photography techniques that many people don't use, or aren't aware of.  Here are a few for you to try.

Getting the right exposure for daylight scenes is easy using your camera's Automatic setting.  But if you want more intense, darker colors you should try a slightly underexposed picture (a picture that has less light than normal).  To underexpose, aim your camera slightly toward the bright sky, press your shutter button (the one that takes the photo) halfway down until your camera beeps or flashes a light, aim it back at your subject, then press the button all the way down.

On the other hand, if your surroundings are giving a dark picture and you want to lighten it up, overexpose the picture.  This gives more light to your camera.  Aim your camera somewhere darker than your subject, press the shutter button halfway down, and then aim back at your subject to take the picture.

Your camera's zoom not only allows closer shots without moving, but can also help frame your photos better.  Before taking a picture, check the sides of the viewfinder frame.  If something is edging on your perfect photo, zoom in a bit until it's no longer visible in your shot.  Also, try taking a few shots of your subject with different zooms and backgrounds.  It only takes a few seconds, and you can pick the best one.

At night-time, don't automatically use your flash.  The flash won't be useful unless your subject is less than about three meters (ten feet) away and you don't care about the background.  Otherwise, turn off the flash.

Here's three ways to take good night-time photos.  First, use the overexpose option described above.  Second, use the "long time exposure" setting, which opens the shutter for several seconds, letting in more light.  Make sure your camera is resting on a still surface, or a tripod if you have one, otherwise the light will blur.  Third, use the ISO setting.  This gives the camera much more light sensitivity, and you can just point and click, though your photo will be more grainy.

When you photograph people with a bright, sunny background, especially if the sun is in front of you, try using the flash to brighten their faces.
For close-ups, try your camera's Macro setting, both with and without flash.  It will give you a much crisper photo at close range.
Have you been at a concert, or a waterfall, and thought - a photo doesn't capture this atmosphere and motion.  Make a short video clip.  Most digital cameras can take short videos easily.

If you're not sure how to perform some of these options on your camera, check your manual.  If you don't have the manual, search online for a digital copy.

So experiment!  Take photos with different settings, exposures, zooms and even video.  It costs nothing, and will make you more confident to take great photos.

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