Sunday, June 17, 2012

Half a dozen tips for new photographers

1. You should have a camera with you at all times. Photo opportunities often appear when least expected. A cellphone camera may be okay in some instances, but you will find the current versions up to and through this year insufficiently versatile and less than satisfying for serious photography.

2. Start with a reasonably good camera. Don't sink a lot of money into it, but a quality camera will be important to you. Get the kind of digital camera known as point and shoot in the $100-$250 price range. The best brand names include Nikon, Canon and Sony.

3. We all shake a little bit, even if it is imperceptible. An inexpensive tripod to steady the camera always is worth its weight. A perfectly good tripod can be found between $20-$40.

4. Pictures are everywhere. They are where you find them. Don't expect a great object for photographic art to just pop up in front of you. Instead, scout out locations at different times of day. Look everywhere.

5. Be patient as you wait for a shot to materialize. Don't be frustrated if it doesn't work out at first. Keep after it. Shoot many images and later select the best.

6. Things always turn out for the best when they are fun. Shoot frequently and enjoy yourself while on a photo shoot. If you have fun and an exciting adventure capturing an image, the photos will capture those memories for you and be more appealing to their eventual viewers.

7. Don't overlook mundane subjects. Try to have fresh eyes to see new and different photos in things you encounter every day. Inspiration is all around. Look and you will see things you hadn't noticed before.

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