IntroductionModern cameras are highly automatic in operation. They have auto focus and auto exposure. The camera will focus on
subject - often identified by a small circle or square at centre of viewfinder - and calculate an appropriate exposure by detecting level of reflected light - usually from same spot. A slight pressure on shutter release will activate those two functions, without taking a picture. Further pressure on shutter release will result in a photo being taken.
1 Take care to Focus and Expose on Subject of Image
Imagine you are taking a picture of your girl friend against background of an interesting harbour. Your girl friend is six feet away while harbour is around 50 feet away. You position your girl friend carefully - she is important to you - at one side of picture with an interesting view of harbour in distance. Now do you want to focus on harbour - or your girl friend? Position square or circle at centre of viewfinder over spot that you want to focus on and correctly expose - take a slight pressure on shutter release - and keep that pressure while you move camera to frame image you want to take - then, and only then, push shutter release fully down and take photo. If you want to have everything in focus - then see 7 Depth of Field.
2 Carefully Compose Your Shot
Before taking picture take a careful last look through viewfinder. Check composition, and particularly that heads and feet are included, and that all faces are visible in anything other smallest of groups. With camera taking care of focus and exposure - you have time to concentrate on getting composition perfect. Photographic amputation of limbs is unforgivable!
3 Set Colour Balance Correctly on Camera
Digital cameras have controls that allow operator to set nature of lighting illuminating subject. In general they will default to daylight, since shots are likely to be taken outdoors. On this setting, pictures taken indoors under artificial tungsten lighting will look yellow - they will have a yellow cast. Pictures taken under strip lighting will look green. Setting camera appropriately will produce consistent balanced photographs. Look in camera manual to see how to set control - it is very easy. Flash guns produce a light, which is very similar in colour 'temperature' to that of daylight.
4 Don't Expect Too Much from On Camera Flash
The on camera flash is designed for convenience when shooting a small group of people. It will not illuminate a hall. When watching public events on television it is somewhat surprising to see members of audience in Albert hall take a pocket camera out and shoot a picture with their flash. This is unlikely to be successful. Better to turn sensitivity of camera up - say to 800ASA - 'film speed', or sensitivity. This might produce a better result. Do not confuse sensitivity of camera with shutter speed. They are different. An on camera flash will illuminate only a short distance - as a guide pick up your cat firmly with two hands by tail and swing it around at arms length - that is sort of distance flash will illuminate!
