Five Essential Digital Photography Tips

With a proper understanding of these useful photography tips, average photos can become great photos. We'll share with you five essential digital photography tips that can turn you from a "run of the mill" photographer into one who is more on the ball than most.

1. For Stunning Effects Use a Tripod

A tripod is an invaluable accessory that can be used in a variety of circumstances for great benefit. One method for giving photos dramatic and stunning visual effects would be to take photos at night on a time delay. Many photography tips and tricks can give you interesting results, and this is certainly one of them. The delay itself can be accomplished in one of two ways. One method is to simply use the camera’s “time delay” settings. Many cameras have preset options allowing you to select the exposure time you want. However, if the camera does not have such an option, or one wishes to set the exposure for an unlimited amount of time, leaving the shutter in the “open” position, allows for complete control of the length of exposure. The exposure can then be terminated when desired. Since manually terminating the exposure would require touching the camera, which could causing enough “motion” or "shake" to occur and unintentionally blur the photo. In this case, one might consider using a remote “cable release” or similar mechanism to conclude the shot, without the need to directly touch the camera.

2. Use a “Flash” Outside in Daylight

Many feel this is unnecessary especially since the amount of illumination outside during a bright day is generally quite adequate. The problem bright sunlight presents in a scene is extreme contrast between light and dark areas, typically associated with shadowed areas, and non-shadowed areas. This is a challenge for many compact digital camera metering system’s, because of this tremendous disparity and required latitude or "range of exposure," that would be necessary to compensate for all elements within the photo. This can also occur when the subject is simply much darker, as compared to a bright background, or in comparison to the rest of the scene. The way to balance out for this type of inequity would be to use a flash. When you use a flash, regardless of how short the shutter speed is to ensure proper background exposure, your subject will receive proper exposure by way of the flash’s illumination, and eliminate any perceived imbalances.

3. Use a Larger Aperture to Blur the Scene’s Background

When you use a larger aperture, the background of the photo is blurred. This allows one to leverage the “depth of field,” within a scene or image. This is one of the most basic photography tips and tricks that will place the photos emphasis on the subject “in focus,” and not the background. You will need to override the camera’s default setting to allow for “aperture-priority.” Once this is accomplished, set the aperture at its lowest “numerical” (largest opening) setting, or as close to its lowest setting as possible. Depending upon your compact digital camera’s lens focal length, you will see settings such as: F1.8 or F2.0 or F2.6 or F3.1 or F4.0, on the lower end. That is referred to as the “F-stop.” The F-stops will vary in range numerically from its lowest number, to its highest number. Select the lowest setting available.

4. Take Photos From a “Vertical Perspective”

When a compact digital camera is held level, it is generally considered to be “horizontal” in perspective as it relates to the scene through the viewfinder. Many people, especially novice photographers, never veer from this standard approach. To take a new approach to a photo’s perspective consider turning the camera on its side, and as such the viewfinder will now holds your scene or image “vertically.” This can put an entirely new “spin” on the way a photo appears and looks. In the case of a tall building, tree, person or any similar “taller” object, it may simply provide “the right fit,” and allow the photo to possess a more appropriate perspective and composition.

5. Understand Your “Flash Distance” Limitations

Know the effective distance of a camera’s flash range. The unfortunate reality is that many new photographers don’t know their camera’s flash range. They then discover later as a result of a “spur of the moment” unanticipated “proving ground” in the form of a family get-together, outing or event, that their photos were inadequately illuminated. That’s a tough lesson to learn when others are depending on you. The best thing to do is to take a “test” series of photos, using the camera flash, to understand its limitations. Conduct this test at your spare time. Take photos at different distances from the camera (in different setting if possible) using the flash, and notice at what distance the flash’s effectiveness diminishes. The owner’s manual of most cameras will provide the flash’s range and distance for optimal illumination. However, most people don’t take time to locate and read this information. As a general rule of thumb the effective range for a flash is approximately 15 feet.