| IntroductionModern cameras are highly automatic | | | | its furthest telephoto setting, camera shake will |
| in operation. They have auto focus and auto | | | | become a problem. If you are taking a telephoto |
| exposure. The camera will focus on the subject - | | | | shot and the camera chooses a slow to medium |
| often identified by a small circle or square at the | | | | shutter speed, the result might be blurred due to |
| centre of the viewfinder - and calculate an | | | | the movement of your hands while taking the |
| appropriate exposure by detecting the level of | | | | exposure. Use a tripod - all wildlife photographers |
| reflected light - usually from the same spot. A | | | | use them. They are a pain to carry but improve |
| slight pressure on the shutter release will activate | | | | quality by orders of magnitude.6 Fast Moving |
| those two functions, without taking a picture. | | | | Subject Require a Fast Shutter SpeedThe shutter |
| Further pressure on the shutter release will result | | | | is that part of the camera which opens briefly to |
| in a photo being taken.1 Take care to Focus and | | | | allow light to strike the sensitive surface of the |
| Expose on the Subject of the ImageImagine you | | | | detector to |
| are taking a picture of your girl friend against the | | | | produce an image. Fast moving object require |
| background of an interesting harbour. Your girl | | | | extremely short shutter speeds in order to |
| friend is six feet away while the harbour is around | | | | capture a crisp sharp image. Slower |
| 50 feet away. You position your girl friend | | | | shutter speeds will produce a blur as the object |
| carefully - she is important to you - at one side | | | | moves. |
| of the picture with an interesting view of the | | | | In general outdoor photography a shutter speed |
| harbour in the distance. Now do you want to | | | | of 1/60th or 1/125th second will be acceptable. In |
| focus on the harbour - or your girl friend? Position | | | | contrast, shooting a formula one car in motion will |
| the square or circle at the centre of the | | | | require shutter speed of say 1/1000th of a |
| viewfinder over the spot that you want to focus | | | | second.7 A little About Depth of FieldIn days past, |
| on and correctly expose - take a slight pressure | | | | a photographer would measure the level of light |
| on the shutter release - and keep that pressure | | | | at a location with a light meter and then calculate |
| while you move the camera to frame the image | | | | the best |
| you want to take - then, and only then, push the | | | | combination of shutter speed and aperture to |
| shutter release fully down and take the photo. If | | | | correctly expose the film. This is now done |
| you want to have everything in focus - then see | | | | automatically by the camera. Aperture is the |
| 7 Depth of Field.2 Carefully Compose Your | | | | measure of how much light is passing through the |
| ShotBefore taking the picture take a careful last | | | | lens. The lens has an iris, which can be 'stopped |
| look through the viewfinder. Check the | | | | down' to reduce the amount of light passing |
| composition, and particularly that heads nd feet | | | | through the lens. A fully open lens will pass the |
| are included, and that all faces are visible in | | | | greatest amount of light - full aperture - but this |
| anything other the smallest of groups. With the | | | | also reduces the 'depth of field'. The depth of field |
| camera taking care of focus and exposure - you | | | | is the band of distance over which the subject is |
| have the time to concentrate on getting the | | | | in focus. In 1 above, with full aperture either your |
| composition perfect. Photographic amputation of | | | | girl friend or the harbour is in |
| limbs is unforgivable!3 Set the Colour Balance | | | | focus - but not both. By 'stopping down' the lens |
| Correctly on the CameraDigital cameras have | | | | - reducing the aperture - both can be brought into |
| controls that allow the operator to set the nature | | | | focus. But as a consequence the amount of light |
| of the lighting illuminating the subject. In general | | | | passing through the lens is reduced. The length of |
| they will default to daylight, since shots are likely | | | | time which the shutter is open will have to be |
| to be taken outdoors. On this setting, pictures | | | | increased to compensate.8 When taking |
| taken indoors under artificial tungsten lighting will | | | | Landscapes Avoid Putting the Horizon Across the |
| look yellow - they will have a yellow cast. Pictures | | | | Centre of the ImageDrawing the picture horizon in |
| taken under strip lighting will look green. Setting | | | | the middle of the image simply looks naff. It |
| the camera appropriately will produce consistent | | | | divides the picture in to two and fails to engage |
| balanced photographs. Look in the camera manual | | | | the viewer. Best to concentrate on the sky or |
| to see how to set the control - it is very easy. | | | | the foreground. Photograph a setting sun with red |
| Flash guns produce a light, which is very similar in | | | | sky, or a rainbow with the horizon low in the |
| colour 'temperature' to that of daylight.4 Don't | | | | picture. Or concentrate on the landscape and |
| Expect Too Much from the On Camera FlashThe | | | | place the horizon high in the picture.9 Be Aware |
| on camera flash is designed for convenience when | | | | of the Effects of Back LightingLet us go back to |
| shooting a small group of people. It will not | | | | the example given in Hint 1. Imagine that in the |
| illuminate a hall. When | | | | picture of your girl friend in front of the harbour, |
| watching public events on the television it is | | | | the sun is setting, casting its golden rays across |
| somewhat surprising to see members of the | | | | the sea and reflecting on the masts and other |
| audience in the Albert hall take a pocket camera | | | | metal objects of the harbour |
| out and shoot a picture with their flash. This is | | | | with white clouds illuminated red in the dying rays |
| unlikely to be successful. Better to turn the | | | | of the sun. An evocative and romantic shot. |
| sensitivity of the camera up - say to 800ASA - | | | | Taking the shot with the camera will result in a |
| the 'film speed', or sensitivity. This might produce | | | | beautiful background but a black shadow of a girl |
| a better result. Do not confuse sensitivity of the | | | | friend! Now that might be appropriate should you |
| camera with shutter speed. They are different. | | | | have had a particularly bad day with her and it |
| An on camera flash will illuminate only a short | | | | might correctly reflect the mood. However using |
| distance - as a guide pick up your cat firmly with | | | | the on camera flash to fill in the darkness - to |
| two hands by the tail and swing it around at arms | | | | illuminate her face and show her features might |
| length - that is the sort of distance the flash will | | | | be more appropriate on a better day!Christopher |
| illuminate!5 A Tripod is Essential for Long Distance | | | | Thomas is both keen photographer and company |
| ShotsMost modern digital cameras come with a | | | | director of Viewlink Ltd based in Amersham, Uk. |
| zoom lens that can take both wide angle and | | | | The company focusses on digital photo developing |
| telephoto shots. This is extremely useful. | | | | for both amateur and commercial photographers. |
| However remember that when the camera is on | | | | |