Digital Cameras

Digital Cameras

When we see photographers carrying Canon EOS 40D’s or Nikon D700s we often think those cameras must take great pictures. If we happen to be taking pictures of our friends or kids with our Canon PowerShot A 590 IS or a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W150 at the time, we may even shy away from taking more pictures and pocket our small cameras instead. It is true that those high-end SLRs can take world-class photographs. It is also true that entry-level cameras can take phenomenal pictures. The truth is, great pictures are taken by great photographers, not great cameras.

There are a few tips lesser mortals like us could use to make our photos look like a million dollars.

When shooting outdoors we normally just point the camera and shoot. If we have live subjects, we may tell them to smile, say “ready” and press the shutter. That’s it. No adjustments. Just use the default settings. Next time you shoot outdoors, try adjusting the white balance from the default auto to cloudy. This enhances the reds and yellows of your image, making it look warmer and more alive.

Polarizing filters are useful tools when taking pictures outdoors, especially of landscapes. They reduce glare and unwelcome reflections and they produce rich and saturated colors. If you don’t have these filters, or if your camera doesn’t accommodate them, take off your polarized sunglasses, hold them as close to the camera lens as possible and take your shot. Be sure you don’t shoot the rims of the glasses.

Use the fill flash or flash on mode. We often think of the flash as something to use indoors, or when it is dark. Not anymore. Use the flash on mode to illuminate your subject when he or she or it is under a shade. You can also use it if there is a bright light coming from the back or side of the subject resulting in uneven lighting over its surface. This technique is called rim lighting and if you position your subject at just the right angle to the lights, you can come up with great pictures.

You can also try to get up close and personal with your subjects. Switch your camera to macro or close up mode. In some cameras this setting is symbolized by a flower. Get as close as possible to any subject you like. It could be a flower, an insect, or a shell. Point your camera, wait for it to focus, then press the shutter. For photos like these, the depth-of-field is very shallow, so take care to focus on that part of the subject you want to be sharp.

Professional photographers with their SLRs are not the only ones who can take pictures depicting motion. You can take them with your PowerShot. This model features manual shutter speed control. If you set the shutter speed to 1 second or more you can portray flowing rivers. You will want to use a tripod for these long-exposure shots to avoid camera shake. And it is also wise to use the self-timer to activate the shutter. The picture will show the water in motion with all other objects around it staying sharp and focused.

So go ahead, take your pictures.  And remember, it’s not the camera, it’s the photographer.