When I was 12, I remember receiving my first present - a camera. At that impressionable age, I was naturally over the moon with excitement. It was only when I had gone through a whole roll of film and discovered that everything was underexposed, that I realised that I badly needed a few photography lessons.
Unfortunately for me, the Net was not around at that time. So, I had to pick up all my skills the hard way - by trial and error. Today, however, it's different. You can turn into a reasonably good photographer with a helping hand from online resources.
A good place to start with the basics, and get familiar with the workings of a camera, is the Pentax University Online. There are lessons that cover photography basics like exposure, metering, film, flash, lenses, depth-of-field, and techniques. Tips on composition, getting the perfect picture, and different camera functions like focal length and autofocus are also covered.
Getting familiar with the equipment is the next step. If the camera is automatic, all you need to do is point and shoot. But, in the case of manual cameras, you need to know a little bit more about terms like lens aperture, autofocus, and flash. The Kodak site has a glossary of commonly used photographic terms.
It is hard to get the perfect picture right away. A better understanding of how to use camera accessories like the flash, tripod and filters could make a great difference to picture quality. The flash is usually used to supplement natural light, while the tripod makes sure the camera is stable, making it an important accessory for experienced users. As for filters, they help eliminate some colours, and enhance some to varying degrees.
For budding photographers, this section on Apogeephoto, is dedicated to improving your skills. You can access a whole lot of articles here, including some on shutter speed tips, using depth of field, and what to do after you buy a camera.
If your pictures are still fuzzy, and your cat looks like a lump of white cotton wool in the picture, you obviously have a problem and need a quick lesson from the Guide to Better Pictures. Starting from choosing your film, lenses, filters and attachments, this section deals with all issues you need to be aware of, including composition and remedies for problem pictures.
How many times have we taken pictures only to find that the subject's head has been cut off? Learn how to avoid these common mistakes by picking up these Ten Top Tips.
For wildlife enthusiasts, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet can provide that much needed inspiration to take better pictures. Underwater photography is a fascinating subject and this site maintained by Phillip Colla has some interesting examples. If you are interested in the history of photography, Dr. Robert Leggat maintains a site that gives an insight into the beginnings of photohistory.
This focus on photography should give you direction as to what kind of photography (aerial, travel, adventure, wildlife) you would like to pursue. It also has useful sections on camera basics, composition, lighting and references of photography books.
Now that you are geared up with the equipment, accessories and lots of know-how, all you need to find is a subject (moving or still) and there's nothing to stop you from getting that perfect picture!
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