Digital Camera Tips
Focusing
You might face this problem if you use an auto-focus camera the camera captures the distant background and blurs the subject. This is because cameras are usually designed to have a central focus. The solution is quite simple. Point the camera at the subject and position it in the centre of the frame. Keep the shutter button pressed halfway down to lock the focus on the subject and re-position the camera so the scene is framed to your liking. Finally, press the shutter button down completely to take a snapshot.
The Rule Of Thirds
One of the most popular rules of photography, it applies to both traditional, as well as digital photography. According to this rule, if the frame of the viewfinder were to be divided into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, then the four intersections are the best places to put your subject, instead of the centre of the frame. This yields an appealing image.
In case of a landscape shoot that needs an emphasis on the sky, get the horizon on the lower horizontal grid.
Foreground And background
Zoom in and choose a large aperture setting for sharper foregrounds and blurred backgrounds. This setting is appropriate for portrait photos. Zooming out and choosing a small aperture results in an equal focus on the background and foreground.
Shooting Fireworks
Snap up those beautiful fireworks using a digital camera with a shutter speed longer than a second. Ideally, opt for a shutter speed between 2 to 10 seconds to capture all the sparkle and razzmatazz. You will also need a tripod to avoid jerky, haphazard photos. Eliminate even the slightest possibility of vibration by using a camera that comes equipped with a remote shutter release. Set ISO to the lowest setting to reduce noise the tiny dots across such snaps. Enable long exposure noise reduction, if the camera comes with it. Preview the shot on the LCD screen, and accordingly adjust the aperture so that it’s just the right size to get bright sharp photos. Keep spare batteries with you.
Warm Tones
Normally, the default white balance setting for most digital cameras is set to ‘Auto’. Though this is fine in most cases, sunny landscapes and portraits taken in bright light could turn out dull. Hence, change its setting to ‘Cloudy’ to get warmer reds and yellows that make the picture look better.
Polarizing Filter
Polarizing filter is used for outdoor shoots since it reduces glare and reflection, and results in more saturated colors, especially in the case of sky. Use your sunglasses in case your camera doesn’t have support for one. Place the glasses as close to the camera as possible, check the LCD to see that its frame does not obstruct the view and shoot. For better results, use it when the light source and the subject are at right angles, i.e., when the sun is exactly over your head. Further, set the white balance to ‘Cloudy’ for warmer photos.
Flash Modes
Normally, digital cameras have three flash modes Auto Flash, Fill Flash and Red Eye Reduction. Auto Flash mode is used for general photography. In this mode, the flash determines whether it needs to be fired or not, based on the amount of light present. This mode is represented on the LCD by a lightning icon with a capital A’. In the case of Fill Flash, the flash is always fired. This is useful when the subject is sitting in the shade with bright sunlight around. If set to Auto, the flash would not have fired, resulting in dark spots around the eyes. In the Red-Eye Reduction mode, the flash is fired several times before the shutter actually opens. Thus, the eye-pupils are contracted and the red-eye effect reduces. Use this mode when there is very little light and the photo depends on the flash.
Snapping Water
A camera with a shutter speed that’s slower than a second or two can be used to shoot flowing water and make it look like a painting. Set your camera on a tripod. Adjust the aperture either to f-8, f-11, or f-16 for better depth of field. Now, set the shutter speed to 2 seconds, and shoot. Since you are using long exposures, make sure that the subject is positioned in the shade. Use polarising filters to enhance the effect.
Master the Modes
Digital cameras have many presets, called modes or macros that let you click photos differently. Some of the common modes are Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Sports and Night. Auto mode is the general picture-taking mode. When you use this mode, the exposure, focus, and flash are set automatically. When this mode is active, there is usually a small camera icon on your LCD to indicate it. Portrait mode, usually shown on the LCD as a face, sharpens the subject and leaves the background out of focus.Landscape mode is indicated by mountains on the LCD, and is suited for shooting subjects that are at a distance. Often, a slower shutter speed is chosen and hence, it’s better to use a tripod while using this mode. The Sports or Action mode provides a faster shutter speed and is use to shoot fast moving objects. Night mode, as the name suggests, is used to shoot in poor light conditions. Since this also means longer exposures, use of a tripod is recommended.
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Tags: digital camera, flash mode, polarizing filter, warm tones
