| An often overlooked component in taking quality digital | | | | conditions where the auto flash cannot be used, such |
| photographs is not just in taking the picture itself or its | | | | as in church and other religious ceremonies, indoor |
| composition, alignment or focus; it's in the proper use of | | | | concerts and stage presentations, etc. |
| the digital camera's features and settings. If you want | | | | Shutter Speed |
| to improve the quality of your digital photos, then you | | | | Shutter speed is the amount of time the camera's |
| will need to learn how to properly use your digital | | | | shutter is open. Shutter speeds are measured in |
| camera settings for different photo conditions and | | | | seconds, but most commonly, are measured in |
| effects. In this article I will highlight your digital camera's | | | | fractions of seconds. A standard shutter speed will be |
| basic features and what they are used for. You will | | | | 1/60th of a second. A fast shutter speed is used to |
| find that with making some simple adjustments, taking | | | | freeze a moving object leaving a clean crisp image |
| stunning digital photos can be easy to learn and be | | | | with no distortion of movement. A slower shutter |
| quite enjoyable. | | | | speed allows for the image to be softened giving a |
| Improving quality of digital photos begins with | | | | sense of motion in the photo. Imagine a stream with |
| understanding digital cameras features and their | | | | running water over the rocks. A fast shutter speed |
| functions, as well as proper camera settings for | | | | captures the individual water droplets from the spray in |
| specific desired effects. Here is a breakdown of the | | | | clear detail. A slow shutter speed creates a softened |
| most common camera features you will use and for | | | | and somewhat blurred effect to the water creating a |
| some of the shooting conditions where you may need | | | | sense of movement. |
| to make adjustments in the settings: | | | | White Balance |
| Aperture | | | | A digital camera's white balance is used to |
| Aperture is easily described as being the iris part of | | | | compensate for the effects of different light sources. |
| the eye of the camera that allows certain amounts of | | | | Each type of light source - natural light, incandescent |
| light to enter the camera lens. Just as on a clear and | | | | cool lights, incandescent warm lights, fluorescent lights - |
| bright sunny day, the irises in your eyes become very | | | | give off a color temperature. The human eye can |
| small in size. This allows only a small amount of light in | | | | judge what is white under different light sources, but a |
| to protect your retinas. At night, your irises become | | | | digital camera can auto adjust incorrectly creating a |
| quite large to allow more light in to be able to see | | | | blue, orange, or green color cast that can appear |
| more in the lower light conditions. Aperture works the | | | | unrealistic and ruin the final portrait. There are times |
| same way. Aperture has another function, and that is | | | | where you may want to change the white balance |
| depth of field. The depth of field is the area of the | | | | values such as shooting in twilight that can accentuate |
| photo that is in focus. A large aperture setting blurs out | | | | blue tones. |
| the background and draws the viewer's eyes to the | | | | Understanding your digital camera's features is |
| main subject such as in a portrait. A smaller aperture | | | | important to improving quality of digital photos. Knowing |
| setting leaves a larger part of the photo in focus as in | | | | what features to use and what settings are required |
| a landscape photo. | | | | for different shooting conditions and subjects can take |
| ISO | | | | time to learn with a bit of trial and error. Now that you |
| ISO is a digital camera's image sensor, namely the | | | | have a better idea of your camera's features and |
| camera's sensitivity to the amount of light present. With | | | | what they are used for, start taking photos and |
| a higher ISO value, the image sensor is very sensitive. | | | | experiment with the camera's settings and get |
| Therefore, this setting is ideal for low level light | | | | creative with it. |