Photography is a hobby that anyone with a camera can sink their teeth into. It allows freedom of expression in so many ways, that one doesn't have to feel limited or stifled. Nor does it require an expensive camera. Today's digital cameras are not only affordable, but have built-in technology that allows even an amateur photographer to capture quality usable images.
Getting Started in Photography
Before getting started, make sure you have a digital camera that has good megapixel capabilities. 6.0 and up are a good place to start for people new to the hobby. A megapixel refers to the amount of resolution on an image. That translates into more detail in the finished picture, and also gives photographers more room for adjustments when tweaking an image in a digital software program.
Beginning photographers will also want to make sure that they have a decent size memory card installed in their camera. This allows the user to take a large quantity of photos at high resolution, significantly increasing the chances of getting a really great shot. For photos that don't make the cut, it's simple to delete them straight from the camera's memory and keep shooting.
Although today's camera's are designed to simply “point and shoot,” its still very important to thoroughly read the instruction manual that comes with the camera. There are invaluable bits of information in the manual that can save someone hours of trial and error. For instance, if today's goal is to get a close-up photo of a spider's web, knowing exactly how to set the macro to accomplish that is vital to the success of the project.
Photographing Goals
The amount of information on photography can be overwhelming, so start off with one specific photographic goal at a time and focus on that. Want to learn how to take a photograph in direct sunlight? Check the camera's brightness settings to help compensate, and look for tips geared specifically toward shooting into the light. One tip is to let the shadow of a tree or building fall across the camera in order to cut down on the glare.
Next, start setting weekly goals so that you have time to experiment with different aspects of the camera. Timing a shot is one aspect of photography that can take a bit of practice to get the hang of. Many cameras have special settings for taking pictures of a subject in motion. It's good to get a feel of the camera's response time well ahead of time so that there's a better chance of getting that once-in-a-lifetime shot.
Photography Projects
Included is a brief list of ideas for practicing with a camera. Feel free to modify them as necessary. In the long time, practicing with the camera is the absolute best way to hone a skill in photography.
- Photograph a subject in fog or haze. Let the camera pull the subject from the fog without losing the ambiance.
- Dewdrops on petals, spiderwebs, or grass blades
- Take a head shot of a person or animal and let if fill 90% of the frame
- Take a picture of a subject in motion. Try to focus on a sharp, clean result.
- Choose a subject and experiment with shooting just left or right of center.
- Practice looking at things with a photographer's eye. Take a picture of a pot of boiling water and focus on the bubbles or steam.
- Try to take a picture of a reflection captured in glass, a shiny surface, or on the surface of a mud puddle.
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