WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR NEW CAMERA
1 Read the manual: Modern cameras are complex pieces of equipment with myriad functions and capabilities. The way you access and manage these functions varies between camera models. Grab a hold of the manual to at least get an idea as to what all those buttons do. That way you don’t miss a shot because you couldn’t remember how to flick between focus modes.
2. Learn the basics of composition: The key part of photography is you the photographer, not the camera. If you teach yourself some basic rules for how to compose photos, you can shortcut your way to taking awesome shots. These rules aren’t hard to grasp. They just require you to apply some simple principles to all your shots.
3. Learn about the exposure triangle: The basic concepts of how a camera works to capture light are important to master but unfortunately can be confusing to wrap one’s head around. Many people just give up and leave their camera in auto mode, never fully realizing the potential of their device. This isn’t helped by camera manufacturers adding ever more bells and whistles to their products in an effort to stand out in a crowded marketplace, meaning you might not be sure which controls are important and which are superfluous.
4. Learn about light: At its most basic, a camera is just a device for capturing the light. That hasn’t changed since they were first invented in the 1800s. Light is, therefore, a key component of photography. Different times of day offer different qualities of light, with the light around sunset and sunrise offering a warmer, softer quality to our images, while midday light is less flattering, with harsh contrast and flatter colors. Ideally, you want to shoot closer to sunrise and sunset and less around midday if you can. Where the light is coming from is also important. If you shoot directly into the sun, you’ll find your subject will likely be a black silhouette. Instead, you should position the sun behind you when shooting, to properly illuminate your subject and give you the best results.
5. Start editing your photos: Don’t be put off by the thought of having to spend a lot of time editing your photos. Even an application as fully featured can be picked up relatively easily and you can use an even-simpler editor on your mobile phone to make your shots pop.