Tips
Here are a few tips to help you with your photography.
I hope you like them and find them useful.There are basically 3 different types of digital camera. The first is a medium format camera, which is what professional photographers would tend to have.
The second is what is called a "Point and Shoot" which means you do exactly that. You point your camera at something and press the button to take a photo. This is a great starter camera for a child or a young person.
However, depending on what you want to do with it, you don't really want the cheapest and most basic one. You might want something where you have a bit more control over the functions.
All "Point and Shoot" cameras have an automatic setting, which is the easiest one to work with because you are letting the camera do all the work for you. The top of the range cameras have quite a few zoom functions and different things you can do.
The third type is a 35mm SLR (Single Lens Reflex) Camera. This is a much more substantial camera and can be quite big and heavy. It is important to think about how easy it is to hold.
An SLR is usually more of a second or a progression camera and the thing to think of is that you will also have lenses to change. There are a whole variety of different lenses, depending on what you want to do.
If you are using different lenses, then a tripod can be quite useful to make sure you keep the camera still when you are taking photographs.
All cameras of a particular make are same up in almost the same way, so all Canon cameras would be set up the same but Nikon cameras, for example, would be set up differently.
Some cameras have a lot more settings than others, so it is best to have a look at the instruction manual or go on the website of the company.
You can change things such as the "Aperture", which is how much light you allow the camera to take in. This helps you to create completely different looking pictures.
It affects things such as "depth of field", which is how much of your pictures you see in focus and how much of the background is blurred.
When using a camera, it is important to try and get "the basics" right. Make sure you can clearly see what you are taking a photograph of. Try and get the horizon straight, unless you are trying to create a really arty picture.
Another great tip is the "rule of thirds". Imagine you are looking at a box with 9 squares in it, so 3 rows of 3 squares. Try and get something of interest in the centre square, so right in the middle of your picture.
Also aim to get something of interest in each of the corners. This leads into a thing called "Composition" and we'll talk about that more another day.
Make sure you have plenty of Batteries, all charged up and ready to use. Most digital cameras use AA batteries. It is a good idea to go for rechargeable ones because cameras can use a lot of power, especially if you take pictures using the LCD display screen.
Enough Memory. Memory cards come in different sizes and different camera will take different memory cards. Remember, if you use your cameras to take video or have it set on really big pictures, you will use up your memory card quickly.
Keep your camera in a case because this will help keep it clean. If you have a SLR camera, you will probably also need Cleaning stuff to keep your lenses clean.
For more for more cool tips on taking fab photos, as well as the latest news and competitions and great places to go, sign up for our monthly newsletter:
- Improve your pictures
- Photoshop
- Different lenses
- Using the Tripod
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