3 Super Digital Photography Tips For Better Photos

I still remember the old days of using film. Does anybody even use film anymore? Hard to tell with all the digital cameras being sold. I guess maybe the pros still use film cameras, but for regular Joe Cools like you and me, digital photography is the no muss, no fuss solution. Just snap the photo, hook up to your PC, load up the photo quality paper and even Moto Photo couldn't tell the difference. That is provided that you actually know how to use your camera. Well, in this article, I'm going to share 3 super tips to take better digital photos. I know you're going to find this very helpful.

Probably the most important tip of all is this one, and it's what trips up most digital photography buffs. I don't care how good your camera is. It can be $600 for all I care. The photos you take are only going to be as good as the available light you have at your disposal. Your light source can virtually make or break the quality of your photos. If you're taking photos outdoors during the daytime, this isn't too much of a problem. But what about indoors at night? Do you have the proper lighting? If not, you may find that your photos come out dark and grainy. So much for your $600 camera.

The next tip is almost as important. About that $600 camera. Is it all it's cracked up to be? A lot of photographers think that the megapixel thing is the be all and end all. What you probably don't realize is that all cameras are not graded the same way. Without getting into a real technical explanation, one camera that is 8 megapixels can actually be better than a camera that is 10 megapixels. It all depends on how the camera is rated. And let me tell you, the manufacturers use some really sneaky ways to get better ratings. Ultimately, trust your eyes. So before you buy your camera, demand an in store demonstration so you can see for yourself the kind of quality you get. Don't worry, the manager won't throw you out.

My last tip is on framing your subject. With regular film cameras, this is so critical because the development process is out of your hands and in the hands of the lab where you are sending your photos. If you don't frame your subject just right, well, you know what happens. But with digital photos, this isn't the case. You can always crop the photo afterwards using a photo editing program like Photoshop. Just make sure you get your whole subject in the viewfinder. Don't worry about it being perfectly centered. You can do that after the fact. This makes photographing your subject a lot easier.

Digital photography is a breeze once you get the hang of it. Below is a review of a great book on the subject that I think you will find quite helpful.

Happy picture taking.

To YOUR Photographic Success,

George Sepich

Want to turn your digital photos into pure gold? Please check out my review of a great resource at Popular Digital Products Click On The Hobbies & Fun Category where you'll find the answers to all your questions about digital photography that will turn you into a master of the lens in no time.

How to Take Beautiful Bird Photos - 5 Digital Photography Tips to Take Better Pictures of Birds

Blow out the background. The very first step in taking beautiful bird images is to make sure the bird stands out from the background. Usually, you will be photographing birds in their natural habitat which includes a very cluttered background of trees and leaves. There are two things you can do to "blow out" the background so it does not distract from the photo.
The first way to reduce the clutter is to increase the aperture. Use your widest aperture. On a good lens, that will be f/2.8 or f/4.0. The wider aperture decreases the depth of field, meaning that the plane of focus is very narrow.
The second way to decrease background clutter is to make sure the subject is as far away from the background as possible. Try to position yourself in such a way that you increase the distance of the bird from the closest background.

Increase the shutter speed. Try to get your shutter speed up to at least 1/250 sec or faster. This will reduce the chance of camera shake and give you an opportunity for a much sharper photo. In lower light, you can increase the ISO speed up to 400 or 800 in order to increase the shutter speed to an acceptable point.

Move your camera. Another photography tip for taking good bird pictures is to get on the same plane as the bird you are photographing. If the bird is on the ground or in the water, this would mean that you will get your camera as low as possible. Using a tripod that allows you to get right down on ground level will help. You might also consider using a bean bag to steady your camera on the ground. Taking the photo looking eye-to-eye with the bird will dramatically improve your image.

Set a single focus point. This is a technique that is often overlooked by photographers. In normal situations, you can use multiple focal points to get the entire photo into focus, but when you are limiting your depth of field, you want to make sure you have just the right focal point. The best bird photos have the eye of the bird in perfect focus. If you use multiple focus points, the camera may choose the beak or feathers as the main focal point, and your photo will be just another snapshot.

Change your lens. Finally, use the best telephoto lens you can afford. Great bird lenses are not inexpensive, but they are oh, so worth it when it comes to getting great bird photos.

Learning to take better pictures takes a combination of study, equipment, and practice. Practice using different techniques and keep a journal of your results so that you will know exactly how to reproduce the good results rather than guessing which set up worked best. Find the perfect learning program to suit your photography needs at http://www.betterphotos123.com. Or, if you are looking for a terrific lens that will help you take better pictures of birds and other natural wildlife, go to http://www.digital-photographic-resources.com.

Happy Shooting!

5 Digital Photography Tips For Better Shots

In this article I want to go over some basic digital photography tips that beginners and professionals should review from time to time. Digital cameras on the market today are very capable of producing breath taking photos that will amaze your friends and family with the help of a few easy tips.

Tip 1. Know Your Camera

I know it sounds rather silly and perhaps a bit boring but, when you sit down and take the time to go through the manual, you may be surprised by the amazing things your camera can do. Scroll through the menus and push the buttons; when you come across something you don't know...look it up in your trusty manual. Most manuals are simple and easy to read and are small enough to keep in your pocket or camera case. Becoming familiar with your camera will allow you the freedom and confidence to capture those amazing once-in-a-lifetime shots. You can learn variety of Digital Photography Tips just by reading the manual.

Tip 2. Know Your Interests

You can quickly become disinterested in photography and burned-out if what you are shooting is of little or no interest to you. Sit down with yourself and write out a list of the things that excite and motivate you. Looking at photos online through one of the photo hosting sites like Flickr or Photobucket can give you an idea of what makes your shutter finger twitch. It is difficult to capture those stunning shots if your heart's not in it.

Tip 3. Know What Equipment You Need

Researching through the internet can give you a good idea of just what equipment you will need to take the shots you want. Photography Forums are a wonderful resource that will not only show you the kind of photos you'd like to take but will also, in many cases, tell you how the show what was taken and with what equipment. Hot shoe flashes and tripods are always a sound investment.

Tip 4. Know Your Lighting

Lighting in photography is like flour is to bread. You just can't make bread if you don't have flour. You just can't make stunning photos if you don't have light. Learn how to use the light to your best advantage. When and how to use your flash, using available natural light and using other artificial light sources is worth taking the time to learn. Going back to Tip #1, Know Your Camera, can help you utilize all the sources of light you have available. Knowing this one point alone can make the difference between okay shots and absolutely stunning photos.

Tip 5. Practice, Practice, Practice

With the digital memory cards now available you can take a ton of shots and it won't cost you a penny. Learn how to frame your shots, look for nice clean backgrounds and bring the focus to bear on the main subject. Poles or trees coming out of people's heads can spoil an otherwise sweet shot. The more you shoot, the more you will start to recognize what makes a great shot and you will find yourself planning it before you click.

Use these Digital Photography Tips to help you produce those stunning photos you have a desire to shoot. You'll soon stand head and shoulders above your friends and have them wondering how you produced those amazing photos. You will learn the most from constantly taking shots and learning what works and what doesn't.

Scott Voelker is the creator of NewPortraitBiz. He has taught 1,000's of students how to start a photography business. To receive his Free video lessons visit http://newportraitbiz.com
Visit Scott's Blog at http://newportraitbiz.com/blog for even more up to date Free lessons.