Buying a DSLR camera opens the door to a whole world of new opportunities, allowing you to take professional quality photos wherever you go. Quite simply, it is a must-have addition for everyone wanting to capture the most magical moments in their lives.
While the basic setups are very affordable, the additional equipment can soon see those costs shoot through the roof. Before going all out buying additional lenses and fancy accessories, it’s imperative that you learn to master the basics. Focus on the four points below, and you won’t go wrong. In fact, mastering these four elements will make you look like a pro.
Start with what’s in your Pocket
Getting to grips with the DSLR camera will take time, but you do have another option in the meantime. Virtually all modern smartphones are equipped with cameras, and pretty good ones at that. More importantly, they boast a number of the features expected from your new DLSR, only on a simplified level.
Using the smartphone camera allows you to start with simple click and shoot shots before gradually moving onto changing one or two settings or learning more about photo composition. Meanwhile, the pre-set filters can encourage you to start thinking about how to recreate those artistic settings on your DSLR.
Resist the Urge to Buy Big
When you move onto the DSLR, there are many buttons and settings to master. Learning to adjust the focus, shutter speeds and light exposure, for example, can make a world of difference. Similarly, understanding the different shooting modes takes practice and time, just like anything else. Many camera brands have various tiers of product lines. Don’t buy more than you need – technology is constantly changing. As you master your craft, you will find that you can always upgrade to a more expensive camera while trading in your older one.
Adding accessories such as flashguns or extra lighting only gives you additional variables to master and consider. Likewise, it’s essential to master the standard lens before looking at expensive wide lenses or zoom lenses. Otherwise, you may run the risk of overwhelming yourself. Even when you do start building your kit, one item at a time is usually the best approach. So my best advice, is wait to purchase all these toys.
Master the Zoom
There are many settings to learn and understand, but the vast majority can be turned to automatic solutions. So, if there’s only one item that you want to master straight away, it’s the zoom. In many situations, getting closer to the subject is crucial for the right shot. Then again, you don’t want to compromise on the quality or safety, as in the case of photographing wild animals.
The first thing you should do is educate yourself about the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom. This information will ultimately allow you to work out a suitable level of zoom for your shots. As with most things related to photography, though, practice makes perfect. Try taking shots of stationery items using different zoom settings and then review the images on your laptop screen to start understanding concepts such as subject framing and cropping.
Know where to Frame the Main Object
Tweaking the settings will bring a sense of professional artistry to your photographs. Before worrying too much about those, though, you must learn to successfully frame a shot. Even when taking a landscape photo of a beautiful scene, there will (or should) be a main point of focus. Ensuring that this is positioned well is integral to the success of the shot.
One of the main decisions is whether to position it centrally or off-center. The rule of thirds is a particularly important element of composition while using shapes to enclose the subject can be another winning option. Have fun with getting the framing right, and then move on to more advanced issues.
So my best advice for all you newbies out there is avoid spending your cash on the bells and whistles and first master your smartphone and the zoom. Then, work yourself up to framing, cropping and the rule of thirds. In no time you’ll be ready to study lighting and more advance topics such as aperture, shutter speeds and more.
Happy shooting!
