A touch of photography... Just for Jess

I have a friend with a new DSLR Camera (Digital Single Lens Reflector). She is a little overwhelmed by all the features as any person would be, this includes a professional or just a hobbyist. These cameras are loaded with amazing features including, internal filters, an endless array of lens, in camera editing, instant start up vs delayed start, on screen built in rule of thirds, swivel LCD screens, auto focus, face detection, just to name a handful of options.

I will start with the basics, while shooting in Auto mode. Things to consider when taking a picture.

First, the rule of thirds, what on earth is this? This is the way you will begin to look through your view finder on the camera - the goal here is to line up important aspects of the composition at the intersection of these lines. Here is an example of how it looks through the view finder.

The grid line is the rule of thirds. Having an image in the center of the photograph is OK, however, once you get the hang of using your composition this will make your pictures stand out. Using this rule allows the eye movement to follow a natural flow around the picture. It creates a virtual hierarchy.

Don't be afraid to move in a little closer. In some situations you don't have the perfect angle and you just go with what you are given. However, when shooting people go ahead and zoom on in. Think about the goal of the picture you are about to take, is it for the background or the foreground? If it is for a cute little head shot of your little girl then get in close so you can capture all that detail.

My recommendation enjoy the Auto mode on your camera for awhile, it is a great catchall that when the lens is opened the camera's internal brain does a few quick calculations based on lighting and speed of the object in the lends and triggers the best capture for that element.

A good tip for shooting on a bright sunny day or an overcast day - use your fill flash.