Getting creative with consumer digital cameras

Creativity is at the heart of photography.

Most people who have a camera and enjoy taking pictures long to produce imaginative images, even if they are only family snaps or holiday photos. Interestingly, it is rarely the camera that is the preventative. Let’s look at some consumer cameras and combine them with the techniques that will allow you to photograph some great pictures…

Any camera can take a well composed picture, so let’s start here. Some basic composition tips are;

• Get Close, fill the frame.
• Avoid placing the subject dead centre
• Divide your image into thirds & place subjects at those points
• Change your format – use both horizontal and vertical framing
• Use repetition, leading lines & natural frames to lead the eye
  to the subject
• Try elevating or lowering your perspective on the world

Any camera with a zoom lens can add even more interest. How?

• Zoom in to bring the subject closer
• Zoom in to remove distracting backgrounds
• Zoom in to reduce depth of field
• Zoom in to compress the background
• Get in close with the wide angle lens for a more dynamic or distorted appearance

And…what else?

• Look for fascinating subjects. The world is filled with them
• Look at the big picture, and then the small
• Compose extremely tightly on interesting textures
• Capture ordinary subjects at odd angles
• Examine light and its ability to beautify, shape and colour
  your subject.

The key to being creative with your family camera is simply wanting to. If you set out to make each picture count, your
photographs will become more meaningful and engaging, no matter how ordinary the subject or how basic the camera.

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• Photography tips: why you should use zoom
• Using the zoom in your compact digital camera
• Panasonic announces the DMC-FS62, FS42, and FS12 consumer cameras
• Canon intros first consumer cameras with Digic 4 processor
• Getting creative with your family photographs