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Photography Tips - Purchasing a Camera

By: Dan Feildman

Before deciding on purchasing a digital camera, it is important that you set yourself a budget. This should happen before going online or visiting an electronics shop. It is just like purchasing any other large item else such as a computer. There are a lot of options, and you don't want to get stuck biting off more than you can chew, expense-wise. High-end cameras offer the great zoom, more extra features and more megapixels. Having more megapixels doesn't mean you will have the great picture quality. Unfortunately these cameras can also take a huge bite out of your wallet if you are not careful. When you are starting out in the wide world of digital photography, it is easier to not spend a huge amount of money on the high-end SLR cameras. Look for cheaper, yet effective, compact digital cameras that are a lot easier to hold. The best thing to do is learn the basics with this digital camera and make sure you enjoy the hobby before spending the cash for higher-end digital cameras.

Are you having trouble catching aerial photos? Guess what you don't have to use planes or helicopters! Sometimes aerial shots on planes can sometimes get expensive unless you have a friend with a plane. Another problem would be the fear of heights rather than how expensive planes and helicopters are. Want a great secret? Most "aerial" photos are not actually taken from a plane. It is rather from a countryside vantage point. If you're on a mountain overlooking a vista, on top of a lighthouse, or in the observation deck of a tall skyscraper, and you shoot down, you're quite high up as it is. Your digital photos will look like they came from a helicopter or plane even though you're not in any flying vehicle at all!

For most photographers autumn is one of the most enjoyable times. There are pretty arrangements of colors, ranging from red to gold from tinted green to shades of brown and tan. If you would like to enjoy photography natures fireworks display a well planned trip to one of the best fall places can be arranged. If you live in the US, the Department of Agriculture has a website that displays fall foliage information by geographical area. It is important to plan your trip precisely when the fall colors are their strongest. Information is updated as soon as conditions permit. If don't plan to travel to the US, check with your country's forestry or agriculture department website to see if such information is available. A good website for the US is the USDA Forest Service Fall Colors fs.fed.us/news/fallcolors.

When you are taking fireworks photos a good location is always essential with your digital camera. As in any other type of digital photography, when shooting fireworks, composition is necessary. Before the show begins, find a good angle that will provide you with a clear picture of the upcoming fireworks. Having people in front of your camera is completely unacceptable, avoid it at all costs. Street lights will fade out the fire works phenomenally; therefore it is best to avoid street lamps. Basically finding the best possible shot, with few lights, few people and not against the law is difficult but doable. Sometimes have a view on a boat is helpful if the water is calm.

Taking photos at night is one of the biggest challenges. It may be best to your photo shoot is sometime around dusk, you will be able to get some great shots of the city line and there will be enough light for your camera to get details. With the amount of light that happens at dusk you will be able to prevent blurry photos of what you are trying to do. The best pictures happen at dusk, not in the pitch black of night. Unfortunately dusk only lasts for an hour or so research your shot locations and time beforehand. Be prepared at the place and time to catch the best photos you can.

Don't waste time refocusing between shots during a parade. In order to shoot as many photos as possible during a parade, consider getting a focus lock (keep your shutter button held halfway down and don't completely release it after taking a photo), or setting your camera up for manual focus. Then, you can take several photos in succession, or use your camera's "drive" mode for multiple shots within a small range of time. Without having to refocus for each shot, your digital camera should function much quicker. Though you may want to set up and refocus for certain special shots, other times you may have just as much fun continuously shooting as the action in a parade can happen very fast.

When you are taking digital pictures on sunny days, you must be careful. Sometimes the sun can completely damage your electronic camera. Taking pictures of sunsets and rises can be amusing and enjoyable, but pointing your lens directly at the sun may damage it. Try to keep your lens pointed a little bit away from the sun directly. There is a similarity between your eye and the camera lens, they both can see and both can be damaged by the sun. As a little kid your parents told you never to look at the sun or you will see spots. The same concept applies to your camera. When you are not capturing fantastic views, turn off your camera and store in someplace room temperature so you don't damage it. It is best and easiest to take photos in increments, and then allow your camera to relax by enclosing it somewhere cool.

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