Absolute Beginner Digital Camera Tips & Tricks

Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:28AM EDT

See Comments (41)

A number of you wrote to say how much you enjoyed the digital camera advanced tricks post I wrote last week, but a few offered a complaint: What about tips for absolute beginners who can barely figure out how to turn on the flash, much less do a long exposure and muck with the white balance. I talked to my pals at Digital Photography School, and together we came up a good list of beginner photography topics. (All of these link to DPS pages for extra detail, so click away.)

Here's how to get the most out of your digital camera.

  • Learn the basic digital camera modes. Master the icons on the dial and you're off to a good start.
  • Learn how to hold your camera. Camera shake: BAD!
  • Learn how to compose a shot by understanding the rule of thirds. The sample photos in the pictures on the linked page speak volumes.
  • Understand the "three elements of the exposure triangle": ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. ISO (light sensitivity) and its effect on your photos is easy to understand. Shutter speed is fairly simple (faster = less motion). And aperture (which affects focus in interesting ways) is pretty darn complex. Start putting the three together and you can get confused quickly. Start slowly by focusing on one at a time, experimenting with different shots at different ISO or shutter speed settings.
  • Learn how to tell your camera to control these settings. You can only do so much with a point-and-shoot camera.
  • Muck with the white balance. Hey, I just said that was an advanced topic, didn't I? Well, dealing with white balance is actually pretty simple, and it allows you to tweak your camera to account for the kind of light you're working under in order to get realistic color. It gets fun when you intentionally change the white balance to get odd colors on purpose.

OK, you made it this far, you're probably a better photographer already. Now you need to practice. Luckily, camera memory is cheap and can be reused thousands of times. So get out there and shoot some photos and you'll soon find your skills improving markedly.

Special thanks to Digital Photography School for collaborating on this list for Yahoo! Tech readers. 

Comments on Absolute Beginner Digital Camera Tips & Tricks

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  • 26 Posted by gqlindsay on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    Could you do tips for sending photos from your digital camera to your email buddies? I have no clue how to do that. I am a MAC person. mark4kay

  • 27 Posted by shawnthevbnative on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:18PM EDT Report Abuse

    I like Canons. I had one of the first Powershoots they came out with. Then I upgraded to an EOS 20D. It retails for about $1,600. Well now it probably is considerably less. For my kick around camera my husband bought me a Canon Sure Shot S5 IS. It retails fro about $350. It takes great pictures and also has a cool video recorder.

  • 28 Posted by graymacus on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    Have just bought a Casio 7.2 something or other... Now tell me what all the stuff means when you press menu My little booklet just told me how to set the date etc.. Can you help a complete novice

  • 29 Posted by ali_ali_kurdia1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:50PM EDT Report Abuse

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  • 30 Posted by ali_ali_kurdia1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:50PM EDT Report Abuse

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  • 31 Posted by clearness on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    How about simple tips like Get close to the subject Try taking the same photo from different angels (up higher or down lower) Try to catch your subject in the act, rather than making him stop to pose. Head outside for natural light, which is usually the best. etc...

  • 32 Posted by patti_ann01 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Which HP digital camera would be a good start for a beginner?

  • 33 Posted by mariakrisal_poquita on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    shoot and tell! it should tell a story, and not u telling the story of the photo.

  • 34 Posted by rhonda_richards@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    i'm still in the dark ages in that i have not yet purchased a digital camera. my primary use for the camera would be capturing shots of my family and special events. i know nothing of pixels and the like. with the old fashioned cameras i can look at the advance wheel and tell how many exposures i have. how do i know what kind of camera to buy and how many pictures it will hold.? rhonda

  • 35 Posted by grammyphyllis3 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    love digital - have trouble b/c of length btw pushing button to take pic and actual taking of pic. can't seem to keep my hands and body still that long and pics wind up blurry - any hints? phyllis (grammyphyllis3@yahoo.com)

  • 36 Posted by daaya5 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thanks for the information. I have been shooting photo's for a while and have a lot of knowledge of photography (self taught). Yet, the more you read, the better you become. Thanks you Lavender Queen!!!

  • 37 Posted by dmitche47 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    Does anybody know what are the best batteries to use for digital cameras, name brand whether disposable or rechargable?

  • 38 Posted by scolandria on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    is there any one in springfield va giving a digital camera away is so email me at scolandria@yhaoo.com

  • 40 Posted by jjythi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would like to know about the optical zoom part in my digi cam. I just recently discoved about it as I wnet shoping for a cam that can zoom more.

  • 41 Posted by giableu on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    Do digitals cameras have timers for taking shots automatically?

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