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By Bill, August 20, 2008 10:00 am

Sometimes we are thrilled to have taken a great photograph, but when we see it, either on the computer or printed out, there could be any number of things wrong with it and we feel disappointed. Most of these problems can be prevented or fixed if we just know what’s causing them in the first place. Here are five of the most basic mistakes photographers make.

 

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1. One of the most common mistakes in taking a photograph is that it turns out too dark. What makes this happen? Basically, not enough light is the cause – it’s called under-exposure. This happens when a photo has been taken indoors when the artificial light is just too dim and no flash has been used. To prevent this, bring in some extra lamps or position the subject closer to a window. Outside, lack of light could be caused by it being too late in the evening, or the shutter speed was too fast for the light conditions. In this case, manually adjust the shutter speed if possible. In both cases, flash may be used for extra light. Most photo software allows you to adjust the lighting of your photos.

1. Red-eye is a common problem. The flash reflecting on the enlarged iris causes this. When we are in dimmer light than normal, our irises enlarge to let in more light. When the flash goes off, it refects on the iris and red-eye is the result. Either don’t use a flash or take two pictures with flash one after the other quickly. The first flash will cause the iris to contract; the second flash will get you a picture with no red-eye. Be careful you don’t get your subject when they are blinking. Most cameras have a red-eye removal feature. Photo software features include red-eye removal with just a few clicks.

1. Blurred photos are another cause of disappointment. Three main reasons that photos come out blurry are (a) camera shakes, (b) subject movement due to shutter lag, and (c) lack of light. To prevent your camera from shaking either use a tripod or steady yourself against something solid to take the picture. It helps to gently squeeze the button rather than depressing it quickly. If subject movement is the problem, focus the camera, then depress the button to half-way down. Wait for that moment of stillness before fully depressing the button. If you want your subject to be moving for the shot, use the action mode on your camera. If lack of light is the problem either slow down the shutter speed or use the automatic night scenery mode – and a tripod with both.

1. Subject is too far away – use the zoom feature or get closer to the subject. After the event, use the crop and enlarge features of your software.

1. Photos look too light with details washed out. This is caused by over-exposure. Usually it is a bright and sunny day that causes deep shadows. The camera tries to ‘fix’ the shadows at the expense of the light. Take photos in bright shade or use a flash, which will cast a more even light. Use software to darken it afterwards.

We hope you learned something new about your camera in this article.  Come back for episode 28 for our discussion about the difference between digital and film cameras and which you might prefer for your photography projects.

Meanwhile, visit our site at http://photography.howto-you.com where you can learn eve more about photography and consider purchasing our audio and text ebook about photography.

Thank You, again!

http://photography.howto-you.com

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By Bill, August 19, 2008 3:31 pm

Many of today’s digital cameras are multi-function; they do many things that were once not even dreamed of with traditional cameras. Even the cheapest, most basic digital camera can take both still pictures and moving ones, so if your kids are having a great game of soccer you should be able to shoot that winning goal for posterity. If you are not experienced with cameras, it’s important to find out just what your camera can do.

 

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When you go into a shop to buy a camera, make sure the salesman gives you a good demonstration of all the features in it. They are trained in camera usage – or should be – for this very purpose, and there is nothing like having an expert show you the ropes. Even if you buy from a generic store, the person behind the counter usually knows something about the products.

Many digital cameras can capture a video clip right to the capacity of your memory card, while others only go for thirty seconds. Some capture the sound as well, while others do not, so if you want sound be sure to pay attention to what you are buying. Some allow voice recording and also playback, which is a good feature if you want to record notes to go with your photographs. The camera will need to have a built in microphone to play back recordings.

Some cameras can play MP3 or other audio files; they also have earphones, which are great for music-lovers, but the quality of the photos is often poor. So if you are more shutterbug than music-lover, watch out for this. You will be able to resize, crop or copy images, or edit video clips before you download them to your computer with some cameras.

Digital camera makers have copied cell-phone technology to give us alarm clocks and international time display, a very handy feature if you go overseas for business or holidays. Even if you want to ring an overseas friend, this feature will enable you to find out what time it is over there. Your friend may not appreciate being woken at 2am.

If you are not sure what features your new camera has, you could take it to a specialty shop and ask. The salesman will no doubt hope to sell you a better one – and he may even succeed, but at least you’ll know what you’ve got. Some regions host short courses for digital photography and it could be worthwhile to attend one of these. Otherwise, you’ll be down to reading the book that came with it and experimenting on your own. At least the photos won’t cost you an arm and a leg!

We hope you learned something new about your camera in this article.  Come back for episode 27 to learn five common photography mistakes and how to correct them.

Meanwhile, visit our site at http://photography.howto-you.com where you can learn eve more about photography and consider purchasing our audio and text ebook about photography.

Thank You, again!

http://photography.howto-you.com