Starting Out with the Basics of a Digital Camera

Does it require costly cameras to be able to take photos professionally? If you have the budget to buy the highest resolution digital camera in the world, would you pay the price knowing that it will be superseded by new models with twice the resolution and features in a year's time? With an average digital camera costing as little as $120, nowadays, you could have a Sony DSCW120 with 7.2 effective megapixels resolution (or any brand within that range) and that for me is enough equipment to come up with extraordinary shots. Just follow these tips for a start.

The back of a Sony DSC-120 digital camera with control buttons

Camera Settings - Just remember to charge the battery to assure the optimum performance of the camera. Then pull out the accessories and read the manual, you are ready to set the basic settings on the menu;

a. ISO - refers to the sensitivity of image sensors to the light available, in digital cameras, the higher the ISO, the better it is to use the camera in low light conditions without flash. ISO settings could be set from Auto, 100,200,400,800,1000 depending upon the manufacturer's provided options on its models. If you are confused, just hit auto, as for me on an average bright day, I use 200.

b. Mode Selection - There should be a selector button with a choice of options from Auto Adjustment, Program Auto, Movie, Snow, Beach, Landscape, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, etc depending upon the options provided by the manufacturer. If you are lazy about reading the operating manual, you could either use Auto Adjustment or Program Auto.

c. Flash Settings - You can set flash to auto to lessen your load.

d. Picture Resolution - Options could be provided from Standard to Fine. Remember the clearer the image the higher memory it will take from your memory card thereby minimizing the number of shots that could be taken. But if your camera is loaded with a 1 GB memory card, you might as well set it to maximum/ finest settings available.

Handling - camera handling is essential. You wouldn't want your digital camera to be easily damaged as a result of miscarriage so take note of this.

Securing your camera - Present digital cameras come with a safety strap. It could be a long one which you could hang on your neck or just a short one which you could wear on your wrist. If you are right handed, wear the strap around your wrist in such a way where you could take shots while the strap is around it. If the strap is long enough to reach your neck, do the same. The logic is that you may slip while taking the best position to nail your subject, if it does, the camera will not get the risk of being thrown over involuntarily. Focus - As a marksman awaiting the best opportunity to hit the target, take your time. First evaluate your subject, is it an animal, a person, a landscape, etc. If you have evaluated your subject, decide on the purpose of the picture, if it is a person, place your subject at the center. Failing to decide on your subject, your mind will probably get swayed in choosing between subject and background and you may regret the result.

Have you seen the half body of a person with the backdrop of a big sky behind? Then you will realize, if you focused the camera straight to the person , you will capture part of the sky as evenly as having your subject's whole body taken without a big space to spare (unless you're trying to capture a passing airplane overhead). The Shot - If you are using a Canon digital camera which boasts of a built in image processor, your time in between shots could be faster and immediate movement after the shot will not affect the picture. Some cameras don't have that and you need to keep your hands fixed on the target after the shot for 2-3 seconds. It is also important to press the button halfway to fixed-focus the lens before a shot. At times, the lens is aimed but not focused so if you have done the shot, it will appear blurred.

Shooting Techniques - The world of technology has allowed everybody to bag the best camera for a few hundred bucks. The trouble is three out of ten may have that patience to read the operating manual and what you have out there is a loose crowd whose only training is to aim the camera and push the button. So it is best to be confident about yourself when you walk out there. Don't be dismayed by comparing your equipment with that of others. When I was in college, I had my Engineering Drawing subject where we were taught how to draw side views, front view, back view, top view, isometric, etc. In the same manner, knowing where you stand from your subject will definitely be a factor to a good picture. And as the saying beauty is in the eye of the beholder, one could only unfold the beauty of a subject on a specified good angle the shot is taken

Who taught the first teacher? You could keep asking that when you are at a loss comparing yourself against the best out there. Some people started out late in choosing their path but still managed to make the best of it. The idea about the first teacher is that the first who did it discovered things for himself. Then photography schools and institutes were founded to teach what those pioneers learned from experience. Unfortunately I wasn't from those schools so I'm sorry to say that I lack the credentials to teach photography by the curriculum. But I shared what I've got from my own experience and in my own school, I bless you with the certificate of patience to get your shots right. So pick up the camera and start capturing images. The only permanent things in life are the changes. But capturing each changing scene could freeze up a frame and time stops there. You have technology's power in your fingertips. Good luck.