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5 Tips For Using Your Digital Camera

By B.L. Hill

You finally have that new digital camera and now you want to get busy taking great photos. Can you use a digital camera the same way you used your film camera? In most instances, yes you can but there are some areas that are different and require a change of mindset to get the most out of your digital camera.

Regardless of whether you have a regular or an SLR digital camera, you can follow the tips below to get you started experimenting with your new digital camera and making use of some of the differences between film and digital photography.

1. Take lots of pictures.

With film cameras you were always wondering if you have enough exposures left on the roll and if you had another roll of film. With the digital camera, you can take lots of pictures and then immediately edit them to remove the ones you don't want. If you didn't get the shot you want, you can probably try again. This is especially useful taking group shots - someone almost always has their eyes closed. The two things that determine the number of photos you can take before downloading are the resolution (quality) and the amount of memory in your camera. You can buy memory cards that will increase the number of photos your camera can hold.

2. Don't always use the highest resolution.

Although you can print great 8x10's from the highest resolution, it eats up memory thereby limiting the number of photos you can store in your camera. When you think about it, how often are you going to be printing 8x10's. The option is always there when you need it but I recommend the vast majority of photos be taken using medium resolution. When you are experimenting with your new camera, use the lowest resolution to allow you to take the most shots until you have learned what you can do with each option on the digital camera.

3. Use the fill flash mode.

This useful feature allows you to take better pictures in strong sunlight where dark shadows can ruin a great shot. It can also be used in shadow where it lightens the whole image without the washed out look full flash can give. This is not the regular flash setting, it is usually called 'fill flash' and is less intense than the regular flash.

4. Use a polarizing filter when photographing the great outdoor.

A polarizing filter gives you more contrast and richer, warmer tones when taking outdoor photographs. A polarizing filter can be rotated to give the desired effect. If you have polarized sunglasses, try holding the sunglasses in front of your face and look through one of the lenses. Rotate the sunglasses and notice the difference in the tones and contrast of your surroundings. This is what you can achieve with a polarizing filter. If you don't have a filter, you can use your polarized sunglasses - just hold one of the lenses as close as possible to your camera lens. Oh - make sure your sunglasses are clean!

5. Get up close.

When taking photos of people, don't be afraid to get in close. Head and shoulder shots usually capture your subject more completely that a shot that includes the entire body. If you can't physically get close enough, you can use the zoom on your camera. If you have the choice of optical or digital zoom, use the optical as it will result in a better shot.

So, get out there and try some of these tips and see what a difference they can make in the quality of your photos.

B.L. Hill has been taking photographs with a variety of cameras for over 40 years. Learn more digital photography secrets here.

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