How Anyone Can Improve their Camera Technique?

[parkerlindsey]

Hi Everyone

1. Learn the buttons and dials

Learn where the dials, buttons and switches are located on your camera. No, I mean really know. Can you find them with your eyes shut, by touch alone? Can you make important adjustments - e.g. exposure override, auto-focus mode - by touch alone?
Remember when you first learned to bat a ball? You hit and hit again until you were sore, but eventually you got the hang of it, hitting without thinking. Get the hang of your camera by practicing with it until it all becomes second-nature.

2. Learn the twist

If you have a digital SLR, learn which way to twist to zoom out, to zoom in. Which way to twist the focusing ring for closer subjects, which way for far away objects. Same with controls like the aperture ring and shutter dial - which way for bigger aperture, which way for shorter exposure time.
Every fraction of a second you spend thinking about which way to turn a control is time spent with your eye off the ball. If you have to think about your controls, you can’t think about timing, composition.

3. Learn to love your camera’s quirks

You probably have some friends with quick-fire responses, some who take a little longer to answer or get the joke. But you love them all the same. Your camera may be a little slow to start, a little sluggish to respond to the zoom control. If you allow for your camera’s quirks, you learn how to get the best out of them.
If your camera takes a long time to start when you turn it on, then keep it on - most cameras wake from sleep more quickly than from ‘off’. If shutter lag is a problem, learn to press the button just before the action completes. If the zoom control usually overshoots the setting you want, learn to release it just before you reach the setting you want.

4. Speed up all processes

Turn off every automatic function you don’t need. The more thinking you do for the camera, the faster it can work. If you’re set to a wide-angle on a point-and-shoot camera or dSLR with small sensor, you have a huge amount of depth of field to work in. In good light, there’s hardly any need to focus. Try turning auto-focus off and be amazed at how much more responsive the camera is. Turn off the flash, of course, (but if you have to use it, charge up your battery till it’s bulging!).
You’re getting the idea: the core of camera technique is reducing the gap between you and your subject, so that it all flows effortlessly, and you can concentrate on the picture-making rather than the camera-using.

5. Keep the camera on, keep you mind on

Actually, it’s a good idea to keep any camera on all the time you’re working - and maybe even if not. Knowing the camera is on helps keep your mind in a ready state too. And it really helps to keep the lens-cap off too. Sure, it exposes the glass - but that’s what a lenshood and UV filter are for - protect your glass so that you can take pictures.
The second it takes for you to decide whether to turn the camera on or not could be a second too late. It uses up time that could have been better spent getting into position, selecting the camera angle.

[Bonish Photo]

Awesome advise Parker! Great little bit of info provided here.

Another item I'd ellaborate on is keeping the camera on, and at the ready when you're driving around. I cant count the amount of times I scored a great shot simply by having the camera on my lap, on, and ready to shoot.

So many friends and fellow photographers describe scenes they missed because they were fumbling around behind the seat, or had to pull over to get there camera out and have it ready.

We've been working in Yellowstone all summer, and if I hear it once, I hear it 20 times a day from a park visitor tell me about the shot they missed because their camera was either turned off, or sitting in the back seat while the bear ran right in front of them. While they were reaching for the camera, they not only missed the shot, but they missed even seeing the wildlife because they were too busy fumbling for the camera.

I always tell people while driving, keep the camera on, and keep it in the 'P' mode so you wont have to worry about what setting you have it one. Snap a bunch of shots, and if you have time, make specific adjustments once you already know you have the shot

Again, great info

[Professional]

Before i improve my camera technique i need first to know if i will become a photographer or not, my life and situations all telling me that it is difficult for me to become a photographer, even if i become then i will be normal photography not well known or top pro or award-winning, so that i feel why i waste time to learn and improve my skill if it will not help me to go high level and become a pro one day, and i can't move to another place to achieve this ambition.

Anyway, for now the way i do to improve my technique is keep reading [manuals, books, websites, magazines,....] and practicing/experimenting.

[gldiana]

Before i improve my camera technique i need first to know if i will become a photographer or not, my life and situations all telling me that it is difficult for me to become a photographer, even if i become then i will be normal photography not well known or top pro or award-winning, so that i feel why i waste time to learn and improve my skill if it will not help me to go high level and become a pro one day, and i can't move to another place to achieve this ambition.

I think that by the mere fact of being on this forum you already made that decision. Why do you think that photography can only enjoyed if you can become a pro and win awards? And you definitely don't become a pro by not improving your camera technique. There are many people who enjoy painting and who don't necessarily look to be in New York's best art galleries.

[CG415]

Luca,

I have to agree with you. Awards and maybe even becoming a "Pro" is a by-product of doing what you love. Why not go out and try to make the best possible photo that you can everytime. The only way to be able to do that is to practice, learn, experiment. I guess the point that I am trying to make, and I had to learn this lesson myself, it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. Get out there and enjoy what you do and what comes in the furture will come.

Peace,

[photogod]

i think that the art of taking a great picture is to be a good photographer .. i love photography.. u should check out my page http://www.hectorluisphotography.com i would love to hear what u think