Beginning Digital Photography
So you have bought a DSLR (Digital SLR)…now what?
You are beginning digital photography and have just joined the world of the “keen amateur photographer” and bought yourself a new Digital SLR, but what do all those bits and buttons actually do?
The way things were going with pricing and technology with regard to digital cameras, I saw a definite boom about to happen with regard to Digital SLR sales back in 2004. Now a good few years on I couldn’t have been more right!
For people who have previously owned film cameras or simple point and shoot digital cameras, and now as prices start to fall for the more exclusive semi professional DSLR’s, the opportunity to join the rest of us in the exciting world of the DSLR (Digital SLR) is more affordable than ever when beginning digital photography.
A new era of photography
This new breed of cameras is quite simply amazing and I sometimes despair when I read reviews and forum comments that air their disappointment when a new camera just released hasn’t addressed the issue of “having to go to the menu” to make an alteration, for example.
When you are reading reviews about a certain digital SLR camera that you wish to buy, please take them with a pinch of salt. The reviewers are there to delve full on into every possible avenue open for discussion and any of their personal gripes should not put you off.
If all cameras were released with everyone’s whims being catered for, the camera would simply have no room for a viewfinder or a lens because of the hundreds of buttons scattered everywhere. What you need to do, even if you may never use them, is to learn what action each individual button, gadget and gizmo actually does, just in case you happen to need it one day.
Taking a photograph with one of these new cameras can be much more involved than with any other camera in the past, but it is also so much more fun and enlightening! The amount of control that a DSLR can give you when taking your photos means that you can now let your creativity run wild and try new things that just weren’t possible with other cameras.
Mirrorless
The stunning Panasonic S1H Mirrorless (yes, I own this camera)
Yet another exciting leap as mirrorless camera sales take over those of the DSLR. A mirrorless camera is, put simply, a DSLR without the mirror. The camera above is so good it has been "Netflix Approved".
By removing the mirror mechanism, more space is freed up to install more tech. For me, when shooting weddings, the biggest benefit of mirrorless is the noise. There is none! The operation is silent.
This can be off-putting at times as you don't know if the shot has been taken or not. Don't worry though, you can add sound to the shutter!
There are many more benefits to the mirrorless camera but for now, let's keep it relatively simple.
A short course on beginning digital photography
Some things for you to learn or consider when beginning digital photography are;
- 1How to hold the camera
- 2Using both eyes when shooting
- 3How to capture your subject
- 4Lighting
- 5Lenses
- 6Filters
- 7ISO or ASA settings
- 8Depth of Field
- 9Shutter Speeds
- 10Black and White photography
- 11Using a Tripod
- 12Keep your eyes peeled
- 13Camera viewpoint
- 14Break the rules
For my full run down of each of these subjects above, please see our Better Digital Photography for beginners section.
For an in-depth explanation of what all the buttons and bits actually do on a DSLR, go to;
Once you feel ready, maybe you would like to check out our private members photography section where you will accelerate your learning super quick with over 16 hours of video tutorials and an online professional photographer ready to help.
All the best and welcome to this wonderful thing called photography!
