| Almost every cell phone has a camera and great | | | | glows and un-natural shadows. Fortunately there are |
| digital cameras for taking still shots or video are more | | | | really simple ways to avoid this. |
| affordable than ever. Digital photography is more | | | | You need to use the flash to enhance lighting, not to |
| accessible now than ever before. | | | | replace lighting. To be most effective there still needs |
| Anyone can take pictures - it's making them look | | | | to be some ambient light from other sources. Unless |
| good that's challenging! | | | | you want to create a specific "ghostly glow" effect, |
| In this article we'll be looking at three things that can | | | | don't light subjects directly from behind or so that |
| make a huge difference to the professional quality of | | | | you face into the light source. Try to increase lighting |
| your photos. | | | | from natural or artificial sources by opening window |
| 1) Reduce camera shake or Hold the camera steady. | | | | blinds or turning on lamps. If you have the kit, angle |
| I know this sounds obvious but it's overlooked so | | | | your flash away from your subject so it doesn't |
| many times. Yes, there are occasions when it's great | | | | shine right in their face. |
| to take a candid shot, be spontaneous or do | | | | If you are posing your subject, one of the beauties |
| something unusual. But the best place to start | | | | of digital photography is that you can take and |
| developing your skills as a beginner in digital | | | | review a shot almost immediately. Look for odd |
| photography is to learn to hold the camera still. | | | | shadows, bright reflections or too much glow back - |
| Hold the camera firmly in your right hand - depending | | | | and at least step back if possible to reduce the direct |
| upon the position of the buttons it is likely that your | | | | light fall. |
| thumb will be on the back of the camera with your | | | | 3) Take more shots. When we had to develop |
| right index finger free to click buttons or turn dials. | | | | traditional films, taking more shots was expensive |
| If you're using a heavier camera, such as a digital | | | | and the time delay between taking the picture and |
| SLR, your left hand will be supporting the weight of | | | | seeing the results meant it was often too difficult to |
| the camera and it's lens. | | | | learn the lesson of how to take more professional |
| A really simple trick is to keep your arms and your | | | | digital photography shots. |
| elbows tucked in, close to the sides of your body. | | | | Right now I'd encourage you to take several shots |
| Just before you press the shutter release button to | | | | of your scene. Take them from slightly different |
| take the picture, breathe in and hold that breath for | | | | positions, angles, distances. Include different aspects |
| a few seconds, click, before gently breathing out. | | | | of your background - try and see what it looks like |
| One of the joys of using many digital cameras is that | | | | with that flower, the tree or the fencepost as part |
| they have in-built shake reduction mechanisms. | | | | of the scene. Fill the photo with your subject by |
| Remember to select that mode on the camera | | | | focussing in or leave more space... |
| before you frame your shot if you think this is going | | | | The idea is to get a small bank of photos for you to |
| to be an issue... | | | | review and to analyse what looks good or makes a |
| Maybe the best tool you can use is a tripod - or if | | | | picture better. |
| you're looking for something more portable, a | | | | We can certainly think about composing a perfectly |
| monopod. | | | | balanced picture using the rule of thirds to guide us, |
| 2) Get the lighting right. If you think that having a | | | | but the first thing is just to shoot and to review the |
| flash on your camera will solve all your lighting | | | | results as we learn what works to move us from |
| problems, you've still a bit to learn about professional | | | | digital beginner to more professional digital |
| digital photography. | | | | photography skills. |
| A flash certainly does allow you to take pictures in | | | | Taking better digital photos is a simple skill we can |
| low light conditions but, used carelessly can cause | | | | learn in easy steps! |
| more problems than it solves such as causing red-eye | | | | |