Absolute Beginner Digital Camera Tips & Tricks

Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:28AM EDT

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

    WoW. what R U talking about?? can't figure out this stuff. Guess Im just to old or dumb,

  • 8 Posted by julie.wattslaw on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wow, I can't wait to try the portrait mode now that I actually understand that the background is supposed to be blurred. DUH, now I get it! Until now, I've only used automatic and sport...although I don't do so well with sport yet, you are right, trying to focus ahead of my target is tricky-my son is a supercross racer, and I've only got him in the air ONCE with my new camera! Thanks for the tips!

  • 9 Posted by rpcv83 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have found, coming from a 35mm to a digital it is all in the play and use of the camera,the benefits of digital, you can shoot and delete, unlike the film cameras. read the book that comes with it, take your camera and take things in lots of different ways, turn the dials, change the settings, experiment with things your not really caring about and when you take those pics you want to keep you will have a feel for the camera. like most anything else, you can lear so much just by trying. also i use an HP printer scanner copier that i can use to print, stage, and edit the pics with, this is very helpful, you can get the pics you want. Have fun!

  • 10 Posted by sara.goodman3 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    the best advice to give people is this: take a million photos. theres no waste. the ones that dont work out, trash. practice makes perfect right?

  • 12 Posted by bttr6 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a Konica/Minolta DimageX60 and a Canon EOS/Rebel DSLR and find I actually take more shots with the Minolta than the Canon. I take it everywhere and am surprised at how flexible and convenient it is. Regular use and examining the shots shortly after taking, will help you "focus" on your techniques, as well as camera functionality. I not only endorse the reading of the manual(s), but I go back and look at them again, from time to time to see if they make techniques easier, or if I find there are more things I CAN do, than I realized. Experiment! You're not paying for processing anymore! Also, you can fix a lot of problems or mistakes in the processing--Photoshop Elements and/or MS Digital Image Pro do different techniques, filters and effects and I often use both in tandem for really creative pictures. As for books? I've found either Digital Photography for Dummies (stand-alone or the 7 in 1 volume) to be helpful. See if there are any Lantern books for your DSLR's. Websites. Blogs. Go fishing on Amazon and browsing at Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc., stores and see what makes sense to you. Above all, enjoy yourself, share your shots and get better and better!

  • 13 Posted by ricktakagi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think the advise in here is great. I would add that getting used to using a tripod in most shots near the beginning and end of the day will also help a lot. Rick www.ricktakagiphotography.com

  • 14 Posted by cndeariso on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    sorry, but you didn't TEACH me anything. i'm smart enough to know to read the book and learn how to use the camera. i was expecting tips from you on HOW to do those things you mentioned.

  • 15 Posted by ernestmac13 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    I recommend the book Digital Photography, all you need to know by Michael Wright. Its an excellent book that is broken down into two parts, the first half being how to use a digital camera and the various features common to digital cameras. The second half of the book covers who to edit images, do advanced image manipulation, and how to print out and share your images. Each section is color coded which makes for quick access to whatever information your looking for when referring to the book. My favorite aspect of the book is the multi page layouts of the common features of compact and zoom reflex digital cameras, and the multi page layout of the icons for the various modes/settings displayed via the camera's LCD displays. The second half of the book deals with editing your photos with photo shop elements 2, of course the techniques are applicable to most image editing software. The book with well lied out, and each chapter is color coded which makes finding what your looking for vary easy. If your interested in Joining my yahoo egroup dedicated to digital photography, mine is called MeandmyDVcamera We can help each other learn from each others experiences.

  • 16 Posted by pamelapgray on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is great for me as i have recently recieved a dig camera. i know i will find this site suppertive in my learning as i find my instruction manual quite complex and daunting. thank you

  • 17 Posted by sivaswamyss on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    very very timely tips since i got my digicam just a week back and was wondering who will clear some my basic doubts! Here you are coming out as if it is just meant for me! Thanks and it is all really helpful tips siva

  • 18 Posted by carter.darla on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    GOD BLESS YOU FOR TAKING YOUR THOUGHTS AND INFO,AND BRINGING THEM TO US FROM THE GOODNESS OF YOUR HEART,SIMPLE AND VISUAL WORKS FOR ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT CLEARY NEED WORK ON THEIR OWN HEART-HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL,PLEASE PRAY TO THE LORD,GIVE THANKS,AND DO A NICE THING TODAY FOR SOMEONE LESS FORTUNATE THAN YOU-DARLA CARTER

  • 19 Posted by fergie_ashleyferguson on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hi there! Well...I feel stupid! I am looking for a CHEAP digital camera to take a few pics around the house and the main reason i need one is to download pics to the internet! Does anyone know which one would be the cheapest to buy just for those (2) things? If you do, I should would appreciate any input. and THANKS A MILLION! Oh and by the way, what is a PIXEL?

  • 20 Posted by irishrhett@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would appreciate someone recommending a reasonably priced easy to use camera for me, a beginner. Thanks so much for your help.

  • 21 Posted by wlexus1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    I just purchased my first digital camera.HP Photosmart and changed it from english to Spanish......now I cannot get it back on ENGLISH?? help

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

    what does memory card locked mean??????? It just happened out of no where!!!! tahnksto who ever has answers.

  • 23 Posted by jdp12122000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Can somebody tell me how to load my pictures from my mini-digital camera(a keychain one-- a $10 job I got at CVS that came with a CD-Rom and a USB cable)??? I can get the silly thing to take the pictures and store them, but not download them onto its software system. I have taken over 100 pictures(the camera is SUPPOSED to store up to 243, but I don't know what mode that is in) but I can only download a handful of shots and no more. Help!!

  • 24 Posted by jdp12122000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    I called the hotline number for my camera, the toll-free number. The answer was to call a long-distance number to get any advice of operations. This is not a solution to me.

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