Aperture

Many people that take the plunge and buy a digital slr camera soon become disillusioned and disappointed by the fact that the images they are taking with their SLR camera are better than they may have taken with a compact camera but are far less impressive than expected. It is also common for people to feel like they are unable to make the move from using their cameras automatic settings to manual mode.

This article will explain why the above problem is common and will go on to explain how using aperture priority is likely to give your photographs a massive boost in quality. If you are looking to take your photography to the next level then this may well be the best article you have read in a long time.

All digital camera consist of two things: hardware and software. Obviously the hardware in a SLR camera is far superior to a compact camera enabling to take better pictures. When you are using the fully automatic modes on your SLR you are relying on the software inside to measure the light, composition and subject matter of your photograph and apply what it thinks are the best settings in order to get the best shot. Most of the time the camera will do a good job however it does get it wrong and obviously cannot tell by looking at the end result like a human can.

In order to take better picture you need to start over-riding what the camera wants to do. One of the easiest and most powerful ways to achieve this is to use your cameras aperture priority mode. Aperture refers to the size of the whole in the lens. More aperture means a bigger whole and more light can get into your camera. Why will having more light improve your pictures? Well it lets you blur the backgrounds of your photos making the main subject seem much sharper and it also lets you take sharper images in low light conditions such as indoors.

See also reviews for Canon SD770is.

Leading Lines

Leading lines are everywhere. You see them on power lines, streets from above, train tracks, fences, and so on so forth. Finding lines and using them to your advantage is actually quite easy and can make very visually appealing photos. Lines can lead to the subject or show how cluttered a space is.

Leading lines are basically lines that lead to something. Quite simple, eh? Where these lines lead and/or intersect is where the viewer will focus the most attention to. So make sure that what the lines are leading to is what you want your photo to be most about.

The example I use is of a high school senior photo shoot. As we drove around the neighborhood, I encountered and intersection of two leading lines from this white fence. I placed her head at the intersection with a main leading line coming from the left and then trailing off into the distance. She intersects at the most important area, thus leading her to be the main focus of the photo. No matter how many times you look, your eyes will almost always lead back to her head.

Additionally, I had her place her left hand in such a position that it would eventually lead upwards with the post pointing up that also intersects. So, if you follow her art from her shoulder, it creates a "C" curve going back up to the main subject - her head.

This is one of those rather "simple" rules of photography that can help you to make your images all the more powerful. Give it a try!

See also reviews for Canon SX110.

Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds is a very popular and essential technique which will certainly help you to take great photos. This widely used method (of photographic composition) is one of the important aspects of digital photography. In many digital photography courses for beginners have stressed the importance of Rule of Third. It not only gives any photo enthusiast a well balanced picture but also turns out very interesting pictures.

1. Divide Your Viewfinder or LCD Screens Into Thirds

What you have to do in Rule of Thirds is to visually divide an image or Viewfinder or LCD down into one thirds both horizontally and vertically, so that you have nine rectangular parts. Now you have to imagine where the lines intersect. By placing your objects or subjects at these intersections, you will often realize a delightful and well balanced photo. Many of us usually place the subjects exactly in middle resulting in an image which normally look dull and boring. This means a simple shift in composition by following this Rule of Third will change the image dramatically. The Rule of Thirds is one of the primary and essential rules of composition in any type of photography.

2. Placing a Second Object as a Counter Point

When an image or its center of interest is kept over one of these intersections, and at the same time by placing a second object as a Counter Point at the immediately opposite intersections, a well balanced picture can be obtained. How will this help you to improve your photos? When you use the Rule of Thirds appropriately will help you to produce well balanced pictures soothing to the eye.

3. Position Things Relative to Edge.

When using the Rule of Thirds, you have to make sure to position the subject close proximity to the edges of the frame thereby eliminating tiny things surrounded by empty space.

When you follow the above steps coupled with your ability to see things in a composition,The Rule of Thirds is an excellent tool for any photography specially it has become the standard in digital photographer. On final advice the rules are meant to be broken that means once you master the Rule of third, try to manipulate it subject to how you want to demonstrate your subject or how to tell your story. In essence, photography is an art which can have many options which sky is the limit.

See also reviews for Canon PowerShot A590

Photography

Like anything else in this world, you can never get better anything unless you work at it. The saying that practice makes perfect is true about most any skill or trade, including digital photography. The most experienced photographers will testify that they did not become excellent at their skill overnight. It will vary from individual to individual, but for most people, they had to dedicate a lot of time to get very good at what they do. If you're new to photography, there are some things that you should know to give you a head start on gaining the experience you need.

One of the trickiest parts about taking pictures is getting the light to work in your favor. A sunny day can be your best friend or your worst enemy if you don't know how to utilize the light beneficially. When taking pictures of people with the sun shining brightly, do not put them directly in front or behind the sun because that will only cause underexposure or cause them to squints respectively. For most new photographers, working outside on an overcast day is optimal because the sun is not shining brightly but the day is not dark enough yet either.

The other tricky part is working with the flash. When pictures are taken during the night, you will often see that people's faces are very bright. Evaluate how dark the area is and if there is any lighting, and take your pictures accordingly. Try not to get too close to your subject because the end result will turn out overexposed. As in both scenarios mentioned, the best lighting to work with is natural lighting, but experimenting with your camera enough will be the only thing that will help you get the experience with the different types of lighting.

Every camera is different, and you need to examine the different modes that come standard on most digital cameras being released to the public. These cameras will have scene modes that work differently in contrasting situations. A scene mode that is meant to be used at night will appropriate the flash in a different way than a scene mode would in a portrait setting.

Work on your picture-taking technique and experiment. Don't be afraid to use your creativity because there is no predetermined method of picture taking. It's just as important to get familiarized with your camera as it is to take many photos in different ways. Get up close and personal with your subject, tilt your camera at a different angle, or put your subject off to the side so it will appear on the side of the photo and not in the center. Get creative and practice, and you, too, shall learn to take excellent photos in time.

See also review for Canon PowerShot A590

Canon PowerShot A590

Boasting improved Face Detection and Motion Detection technology, the Canon PowerShot A590 IS aims to outperform in the area of portraiture, capturing better exposed and better focused faces, whether they're in motion or standing still. The PowerShot A590 IS is small and compact, and similar in style and overall design to other members of the PowerShot "A" series, with a darker, graphite body that stands out among the silver digital camera crowd. Offering 4x optical zoom, a bright 2.5-inch LCD monitor and an 8.0-megapixel CCD, the A590 IS is a good deal at its MSRP of $179.99.

The 4x optical zoom lens offers slightly more zoom than the average point-and-shoot digital camera, covering a range equivalent to 35-140mm on a 35mm camera. In addition to the 4x optical zoom, the PowerShot A590 IS features another 4x of digital zoom, which does a decent job of maintaining image quality despite the digital enlargement. (We still remind readers that digital zoom compromises quality and resolution by digitally "stretching" the image.) With a full range of exposure modes from Easy to a full Manual mode (this last being unusual in inexpensive digital camera), the PowerShot A590 IS is a good fit for just about any experience level, and its offering of preset Scene modes help with a wide range of common-yet-tricky exposure situations. More experienced users will appreciate the camera's adjustable white balance, ISO, color, contrast, sharpness and saturation adjustments. The PowerShot A590 IS's combination of small, portable size and numerous capabilities should appeal to a wide range of consumers, from novices to more advanced users. Read on for all of the details.

Canon Camera Tips

Canon's Explorers of Light program has earned worldwide acclaim since its inception in December 1994. Out of the original 55 renowned photographers who made a two-year commitment to the program, 36 are still active participants. Including 20 recent additions to the roster, there are 78 current Explorers in total. Explorers make presentations at colleges and universities; appear and participate in on-site and online workshops as well as seminars; act as panelists, demonstrators and make appearances at trade shows such as PMA (Photo Marketing Association) and PhotoPlus Expo (an annual professional photography show held in New York City); exhibit in museums and galleries, and make presentations before a variety of professional and amateur groups.

Truly wonderful programs excel on many levels. The Explorers of Light program excels in various ways by allowing Explorers to act as mentors while also helping to bridge the gap between the professional photo community and amateur photographers. Canon Digital Camera Explorer Greg Gorman, an iconic portraitist, says the “program is an opportunity to return something to our industry. Canon Digital Camera graciously provides us with a platform and an opportunity to share our vision, our passion and our perspective with a new generation of photographers." Explorer and legendary nature photographer Jim Brandenburg says, "Nowhere more than in nature is light more important in conveying the power, vitality and beauty of a subject. It is light that can transform what might otherwise appear to be a barren white snowscape into a paradise, frozen in time. I am delighted to be part of this group of Canon photographers called on to illuminate some of those very sensibilities so that nature's most instinctive and often intimate moments can be shared by people around the world."

Through its association with the Explorers of Light, Canon Digital Camera is afforded the opportunity to present the benefits of EOS within the context of the most creative and most technically challenging environments in imaging today. Canon Digital Camera is honored by each and every Explorer’s choice to use EOS as their preferred camera system. The Explorers are featured in the E.O.L. Gallery and interviews on this site (with links to their own sites for further investigation) and in many Canon-sponsored events. As members of the Explorer program, all of the photographers are able to broaden their audience by teaching (something they are generally too busy to do otherwise), communicate their boundless enthusiasm for photography, as well as deliver their messages about life and work that they hold most dear.

Individuals who spend time looking at the breathtaking and infinitely varied images created by Explorers will, undoubtedly, be inspired to read about the photographers who made those images, learn about their astounding accomplishments (starting with the wonderful new series of interviews here), and see more of their work - all in order to try and inspire each person to take a camera ‘in-hand’ and explore all of the possibilities that photography has to offer for themselves.