When you get your first DSLR and start taking pictures from scratch, lots of doubts pop out. Is it hard? Can I take the kind of picture that I want? Why my photo does not shows up? How can I take a clear capture?
Those kinds of questions come when ignorance is leading the way for learning photography. Amateur photographers can fight ignorance the hard way, with trial and error; or the intelligent way, investing time learning how to use the camera.
The truth is hard; knowing how to take good pictures is not easy. Anyone can take pictures, but not everyone knows how the science works. The first rule is to know your tool, and then, only then, master your craft.
But remember these facts:
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The Shutter Button Has Limited Life, so chill
All DSLRs out there work the same way manual cameras do. They have a mechanical shutter that opens and closes when the button gets pressed. It eventually wears out, but the number of shots that can be taken depends on the camera.
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The Battery Lasts longer when you keep it simple
Keep it simple means just using the camera for taking pictures. The LCD screen spends a lot of energy, so as the built-in flash and erasing pictures from the device. Use the viewfinder for shooting; from there you can manage the job. As well, do not turn off your camera while shooting; turning it on and off several times can quickly empty your battery.
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Cameras work with light, paint with it
If you shoot manual –as you should-, you can control the sensibility of the sensor -ISO- with an specific button. Just like shutter speed and aperture. The ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed options control the flow of light into the camera.
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Memory Cards are not eternal
Some people complain on how memory cards get full so easily. The fact is that on the camera options you can set up the resolution, type of file, and save space on storage.
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The Depth of Field has its own button
You can preview on the viewfinder the depth of field hitting a button close to the lens. Find it to watch your depth of field while taking pictures.
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DSLRs have a back button focus
Some photographers don’t like auto focus, but certainly this feature can save lots of work. Most people use autofocus pressing half-way the shutter button, but with this button you can focus and shoot at the same time.
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RAW files are always better
RAW files are often called digital negatives. Truth being told, this type of file have more details, resolution; and all the data the sensor captured. But don’t forget, the files are going to be bigger.
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You can rate pictures from the LCD screen
Rating pictures on your DSLR can be helpful if you are short of time. After a photo shoot that rating sticks with the file, and when you upload the pictures to an edition software, can be classified.
Article by Gabriel Mata Guzmán