Digital Photography 101
Getting Started

This digital photography 101 page will help you get started taking the pictures you want. When you're first learning how to take digital pictures building your foundation on the basic rules of good photography is important.

I remember when I got my first DSLR camera. I was so excited. I'd been taking digital pictures on my compact camera for years and longing for a DSLR camera. During my first few days of having my new camera I was a little afraid to use it. Getting over you initial nervousness is essential to getting down to taking great pictures.

Before you start taking pictures I always recommend that you read your camera's manual. You'll want to keep your camera manual in your bag in case you run into some problems when you're first taking pictures you can refer to it. Camera manuals may be boring but they are full of valuable information. Knowing all that you can about your camera will help improve your ability to take the pictures you want.

When you start taking pictures there are some simple rules that you should know that will help you take better pictures. In digital photography 101 we'll look at a few of these things.

Light

Light is the most important aspect of photography so it must be discussed on this digital photography 101 page. Knowing how to manipulate light and capture the light that you want in a picture is important. When you're first learning it is best to keep things simple. Try taking pictures using natural light at first. Once you get used to noticing good lighting you can start experimenting with using studio lighting.

Start noticing the light in pictures that you like and trying to figure out how that lighting effect was achieved. Notice the way the light looks in different areas you frequent during different times of day. As the sun moves in the sky the light will also change. Here are some tips about light in your pictures.

When you're taking pictures outside take them with the sun behind you. If the sun is behind the camera it will light your subject. If the sun is behind your subject you'll only get a silhouette in the picture.

Using Your Flash

There are times when you will need to use your flash. A flash is a great tool. Don't feel bad about using it. Sometimes it's absolutely necessary. The problem with the on camera flash is that so many people use it all the time without thought.

When you use your flash be sure to check the background in the area you are taking your picture for reflective objects like mirrors or shiny surfaces. These surfaces will cause an annoying glare in the background of your picture. The on camera flash tends to give a flat look to a picture. Using an off camera flash that you can bounce will usually give you a better result. To bounce a flash aim it at the ceiling or a wall near your subject. The light from the flash will be reflected from the ceiling or wall onto your subject. Find out more about using your flash.

You can also use your flash in sunny conditions to fill in harsh shadows that appear on your subject when the sun is overhead. On your DSLR camera you should be able to adjust the intensity of the flash. Adjust the intensity of your flash down when you use it to fill shadows. Learn more about fill flash.

Composition

composition is another important thing to consider in digital photography 101. The placement of your subject in the frame will affect the look and feeling of the picture. Try taking a picture of your subject with them in the center of the frame. Now try taking another picture with them slightly off center. Which one do you think looks better?

Placing your subject slightly off center will usually add more visual interest to your picture. There is a basic rule of composition called the rule of thirds that people use to compose their pictures. Imagine two equally spaced lines running horizontally across your frame dividing the frame into three equal parts. Image two more lines running vertically in the frame. Together the vertical and horizontal lines divide the image into nine equal boxes. The areas in this grid were the lines cross are a great markers to help you place your subject in your pictures. Find out more about the rule of thirds.

Besides thinking about the rule of thirds, you should pay close attention to what is in the background and foreground of your pictures. Sometimes the background or foreground can add or distract from your picture. Find out more about background and foreground here.

Use lines, textures, shapes and color in your compositions. Find out more about composition.

Practice Makes Perfect

The more pictures you take the better you'll get. Take your camera with you everywhere and take as many pictures as you can. You'll get used to using it and you'll start to get some really great pictures.

I hope this digital photography 101 page has helped you. If you're interested in any more digital photography help check out my digital photography tutorials.