Experiment with exposure Digital cameras usually work best in sunlight, just like film cameras. When you move indoors, or into dim light, things get much trickier -- just like film cameras. So experiment.
One thing you can do is try to shoot your subject from different angles, using a variety of different lighting. If your camera allows you to do so, try turning your flash off. If your camera allows what is called "fill flash," I recommend you try that as well. You will find that every once in a while a flawlessly exposed picture is made even better using fill flash. Also, from time to time turning off the flash and leaving the subject somewhat underexposed can add drama to the shot.
One thing you should do on regular basis, if you are looking for the perfect shot, is take the same picture three different ways, with three different exposure options; you are guaranteed to get three radically different pictures -- and all of them will look good. But you must experiment.
Try bracketing your shots, one shot somewhat underexposed, one slightly overexposed, and one "just right." Some digital cameras do this automatically, but even then you need to practice. If you are expecting the camera to shoot one frame and it ends up shooting three your camera is bracketing.
Special features Many digital cameras have some interesting in-camera special features. Some will allow you to take short QuickTime clips, some will allow you to record sound annotations, and some will allow you to experiment with special effects, such as shooting black and white or sepia-tone images. Ignore the special features until you learn the basics.
Keep in mind that some of these special features can be accomplished with photo editing software, such as black and white or sepia-toned images. Simply open a normal color image in Photoshop and, in a few minutes, you can have perfect black and white or sepia-toned photos. Basically, if you can easily accomplish it in Photoshop, you might be better off concentrating on taking a good color photo, and worrying about special effects later.
However, there are some features you should try out. For instance try panning your camera to track a car moving at high speed; the car will appear in sharp focus however the background will be blurred, making an attention-grabbing picture. Or you can try and do the opposite: focus on a particular stationary object -- a child flying a kite, a freshly-painted fire hydrant -- and allow a speeding car to enter the frame. You'll then have a sharply focused center of attention with the added benefit of motion.
Silhouettes are another nice special effect. Try taking a photo with your subject in shadow, eclipsing a brightly-exposed object in the background. The reverse -- a brightly exposed subject against a dark background -- can be just as interesting. Getting a good silhouette with film is expensive: you shoot a lot of frames with little or no reward. With a digital camera, however, the only cost is your time and patience, and your patience will be rewarded. - 15437
One thing you can do is try to shoot your subject from different angles, using a variety of different lighting. If your camera allows you to do so, try turning your flash off. If your camera allows what is called "fill flash," I recommend you try that as well. You will find that every once in a while a flawlessly exposed picture is made even better using fill flash. Also, from time to time turning off the flash and leaving the subject somewhat underexposed can add drama to the shot.
One thing you should do on regular basis, if you are looking for the perfect shot, is take the same picture three different ways, with three different exposure options; you are guaranteed to get three radically different pictures -- and all of them will look good. But you must experiment.
Try bracketing your shots, one shot somewhat underexposed, one slightly overexposed, and one "just right." Some digital cameras do this automatically, but even then you need to practice. If you are expecting the camera to shoot one frame and it ends up shooting three your camera is bracketing.
Special features Many digital cameras have some interesting in-camera special features. Some will allow you to take short QuickTime clips, some will allow you to record sound annotations, and some will allow you to experiment with special effects, such as shooting black and white or sepia-tone images. Ignore the special features until you learn the basics.
Keep in mind that some of these special features can be accomplished with photo editing software, such as black and white or sepia-toned images. Simply open a normal color image in Photoshop and, in a few minutes, you can have perfect black and white or sepia-toned photos. Basically, if you can easily accomplish it in Photoshop, you might be better off concentrating on taking a good color photo, and worrying about special effects later.
However, there are some features you should try out. For instance try panning your camera to track a car moving at high speed; the car will appear in sharp focus however the background will be blurred, making an attention-grabbing picture. Or you can try and do the opposite: focus on a particular stationary object -- a child flying a kite, a freshly-painted fire hydrant -- and allow a speeding car to enter the frame. You'll then have a sharply focused center of attention with the added benefit of motion.
Silhouettes are another nice special effect. Try taking a photo with your subject in shadow, eclipsing a brightly-exposed object in the background. The reverse -- a brightly exposed subject against a dark background -- can be just as interesting. Getting a good silhouette with film is expensive: you shoot a lot of frames with little or no reward. With a digital camera, however, the only cost is your time and patience, and your patience will be rewarded. - 15437
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