What tips would you give beginners?

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

10/20/2005 01:45:53 PM · #1

I have an entry on my blog which gives 5 Tips to Taking Better Photos. It is generally aimed at beginners and was well received by my readers.

I am thinking of doing a follow-up of some mildly more advanced tips. I still have the point and shoot digital photographer in mind, so have ruled out tips including a stronger flash or post-processing.

Since we all like numbers like 5, I need some help. I have only come up with 3 new tips (see below) and wanted to know what you thought 2 more could be. Opinions?

Currently I am planning on discussing:
1) Composition (basic rule of thirds)
2) White Balance (learn it)
3) Histogram (know what it means, especially the edges)

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

10/20/2005 01:56:01 PM · #2

Fill flash (there's usually some control over this on P & S cameras)
Taking advantage of (or making the best of) the lighting conditions

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/20/2005 02:06:27 PM · #3

How about tips for better macros or for controlling DOF with a P&S camera.

suemack

Canon EOS-20D

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

10/20/2005 02:10:09 PM · #4

Check your camera settings before you go shoot. Few times mostly in the beginning I did stuff like the picture size too small, once I started using manual settings had high ISO. It's so disappointing getting them onto the computer and discovering that your masterpieces are useless!!

mkalandros

Nikon D50

10/20/2005 02:15:01 PM · #5

You've already talked a little bit about aperture and DOF, what about shutter speed and its relation to capturing action (blurred, non-blurred, etc.)? Many P&S have both aperture and shutter speed priority modes so it should be relevant. I'd also like to second Collete's suggestion about flash and ambient lighting, like when to use a flash (e.g. fill flash) and when not to.

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM

10/20/2005 02:15:57 PM · #6

I like the lighting one cpaniaoti recommended. It would be easy enough to talk about sun position and the "golden hour". I can even touch on fill flash in this one.

I covered some DOF in my first 5 tips. I'm not sure about macro, cuz it's probably quite camera dependent.

So I'm going for:

1) Composition
2) Lighting
3) White Balance
4) Histogram

One more?

cloudsme

Canon EOS R5

10/20/2005 02:17:24 PM · #7

Bring your camera with you, and use it a lot.

mkalandros

Nikon D50

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

10/20/2005 02:18:30 PM · #8

I still think shutter speed would be a good one to add. Many beginners won't even know they can control that, and it can have a big effect on whether their toddler is a big blur or not.

parrothead

Canon EOS-40D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

10/20/2005 02:18:31 PM · #9

Angles, expression, contrast?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/20/2005 02:20:09 PM · #10

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Locking in metering/focus then shifting for composition. Most cams now allow this; point at your subject to grab focus, then reframe by rule of thirds without loding focus to the boat in the background, you know what I mean... Basic skill.

R.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

10/20/2005 02:21:45 PM · #11

I'll post a link to the result when I'm done...

Shecoya

Nikon D70s

10/20/2005 02:32:55 PM · #12

Kind of along the lines of what cloudsme said:
Take the pictures because you love taking the pictures... if you impress yourself.. you will impress others, and if you dont.. well then you've already impressed the most important person anyway.

hankk

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

10/20/2005 03:15:35 PM · #13

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

1) Composition (basic rule of thirds)

Add "check the background" to this.

And I think you ought to discuss DOF vs shutter speed tradeoffs.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/20/2005 03:22:29 PM · #14

These are all great tips. Luckily I covered most of them in my first 5...

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/20/2005 03:24:16 PM · #15

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

These are all great tips. Luckily I covered most of them in my first 5...

Not mine, you didn't :-) Or did you?

R.

AzCKelly

Nikon D70s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.0-5.6G ED

10/20/2005 04:23:14 PM · #16

As a hair past a beginner, I would love to learn more about ways improve my pictures. Shutter speed would be great. Many times I have tried to take a picture of something moving and played with this feature only to have it too dark, blown out or still blurry with the motion.

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

10/20/2005 04:24:52 PM · #17

Suggest they visit DPC, look at the photos here and ask questions.

Steve

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

10/20/2005 04:35:40 PM · #18

Simplicity/eliminating clutter
The half-press routine to reduce shutter lag
Use a tripod or brace yourself

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/20/2005 04:40:45 PM · #19

Originally posted by bear_music:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
These are all great tips. Luckily I covered most of them in my first 5...

Not mine, you didn't :-) Or did you?

R.

Your's was the final slot for the new 5... :)

holdingtime

Canon EOS-5D

10/20/2005 05:21:22 PM · #20

Learn Photo Shop it is amazing what you realy might have if you can present it properly

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/20/2005 05:24:55 PM · #21

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Originally posted by bear_music:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
These are all great tips. Luckily I covered most of them in my first 5...

Not mine, you didn't :-) Or did you?

R.

Your's was the final slot for the new 5... :)

Good, good... Soldier on, dude.

R.