Creative Digital Photography: Several years ago I bought my first Digital SLR Camera and fell in love with photography.
With my new Digital SLR Camera, I found a world of creativity that never seems to stop. So I created this website to journal my growing passion for creative digital photography. Here are five beginner tips for creative photography!
Creative Digital Photography
When I first fell in love with photography, I would often see great photographs and wonder how did they take these shots! I knew I had a lot to learn when it came to creative photography.
In fact, I wanted to learn because I enjoy great photographs and I enjoy taking great photographs. However, there were some basic creative digital photography tips that I needed to keep in mind as I began my digital photography journey.
1. Expensive Equipment
People often think you need the most expensive equipment to take great photographs. I realized that’s not true!
I realized I simply needed a working understanding of the equipment I already had in order to take great photographs.
Take some time and learn how to use your Digital SLR Camera. I started with an entry level Nikon DSLR 3000 Series. A couple of year later I upgraded to Nikon DSLR 7000 Series. A few more year later I decided to buy a full-frame Nikon DSLR 600 Series. I will discuss my journey from entry level DSLR to full-frame DSLR below! Also, you can check these Nikon DSLR cameras at Amazon.
Lenses are another area that takes time to understand. A growing understanding of lenses will help you make better choices and save you money – lots of money!
When I purchased my first Nikon DSLR, I went with the kit lens for the digital camera (DX Lens kit). When I upgraded my Nikon DSLR, I decided to buy specific lenses, especially FX lenses (Full-Frame Lenses). This saved me thousands of dollars when I finally bought my full-frame Nikon DSLR. I will discuss the major lenses I have purchased below and why I purchased those lenses. Also, you can check these Nikon DSLR lenses at Amazon.
2. Professional Results
Some people think only professionals get professional results. I realized that’s not true!
All you need to do is learn some basic digital photography skills and you too can take professional photographs. For example: I had to learn some basic skills about composition, depth of field, lighting, etc. etc.
3. Auto Settings
Most people think that your auto settings on your camera are the best setting. I realized that’s not true!
The auto settings on the camera are only a guide. To take great photos, you will need to learn more about your camera settings and your lens settings. For example: shutter speed, aperture, metering mode, auto-focus mode, white balance and exposure mode!
Once I gained a working understanding of these settings, I began to make photographs rather than just take photographs. There is a difference!
4. Too Complex
Most people think digital photography is too complex to grasp. I realized that’s not true!
If you take some time, you can learn the basic skills of digital photography. If I can do it, you can do it too.
The more you learn, the more experience you will gain. The more experience you gain, the more creative you will become with your digital photography. Digital photography is a learned skill and most people can learn it! In fact, I am still learning heaps about digital photography.
5. No Rules
Some people think there are no rules in photography. I realized that’s not true.
Following the rules will help you take great photographs. For example: rule of thirds, depth of field, white balance, lines and frames and lighting.
Creative Digital Photography
Kodak: Easyshare: My first digital camera was a point and shoot camera (Kodak: EasyShare CX7330). I used this digital camera for about three years. This digital camera was a 3.1 megapixel camera. I still have the camera and all the original photographs from this digital camera.
FUJIFILM FinePix: While walking down the street one afternoon, I walked past a second-hand store which had a FUJIFILM FinePix S6500 fd digital camera for sale. This was a 6.3 megapixel camera. I purchased the camera and used it for several years and took some great photographs.
I still have the camera and it still works fine. However, I always used this camera on the auto setting. It was not until I learned how to use a digital camera years later that I realized I could change the settings – aperture, shutter speed, etc.
Nikon D3100: My first real DSLR Camera was an enter level Nikon D3100 with two kit lenses – Nikon DX 18-55mm and Nikon DX 55-300mm. This entry level digital camera has taken excellent photographs and still does.
Over a period of three years, I took about 30,000 photographs. I have never used the Nikon 18-55mm kit lens because the 55-300m lens seemed to work for what I wanted. Around this time I took a course on the fundamentals of digital photography. This helped me understand the camera settings and the importance of lens selection. Nevertheless, I still didn’t fully understand the difference between crop sensors and full-frame sensors in regards to lens selection.
However, I did make some great purchases of camera equipment that I still use after ten years of creative photography. I purchased a great backpack (Check it out at Amazon). I made sure it was waterproof so that I could protect my gear if I got caught in a shower of rain. I paid around $120 and it is still like new.
I also purchased a great tripod unit (Check it out at Amazon). I paid about $150 for the tripod unit with a quick release plate. After ten years, the tripod is still in great condition. I also purchased a couple of quick release plates so that I could leave them on lenses and camera bodies.
Without really understanding a great deal about fast and show lenses, I purchased a excellent lens that I still use on the full-frame Nikon D610 digital camera. However, I initially purchased this lens for the Nikon D3100. The prime lens was a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 (Check it out at Amazon). I have found this to be a great lens for portrait and landscape photography.
I made one final great purchased when I decided to buy the Sigma 50-500mm telephoto zoom lens (Check it out at Amazon). I have used this lens on the Nikon D3100, the Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D610 full-frame camera. I find this lens is great for animal shots. I don’t need to get too close with the lens at 500mm. It is also a great 50mm lens.
Nikon D7000: The second DSLR camera I purchased was a Nikon D7000. I also purchased this with a kit lens – Nikon DX 18-105mm. I must admit I have never used the kit lens.
The four main lenses I use with the Nikon D7000 are: the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 zoom lens, the Sigma 50mm prime lens, the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom lens and the Sigma 50-500mm telephoto lens.
The Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 is a sharp and fast lens and it takes great portrait and sport photographs. This was certainly a great purchase. I now use the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens (Check it out at Amazon) on the Nikon D610 full-frame camera.
It was at this time that decided I would only purchase lenses with 77mm screw on filters in order to protect the lenses and to interchange the different ND filters with the lenses. I use Hoya Professional UV filters (Check it out at Amazon) to protect all of the lenses. I also use ND filters (Check it out at Amazon) interchangeably in order to get that silky look when photographing running water.
The only regret I had at this time was that I purchased the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 lens. I should have purchased the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 VR lens (Check it out at Amazon). There is nothing wrong with the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 lens. It is a sharp and fast lens and it take great photographs but I can only use it on the D7000 and D3100.
Nikon D610: I always wanted to purchase a full-frame DSLR camera. When the Nikon D610 (Check it out at Amazon) came on the market for a realistic price, I decided to purchase the body only.
I use only four lenses with the Nikon D610: the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 VR lens, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens, the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens and the Sigma 50-500mm telephoto zoom lens. The sharpest of these lenses is the Nikon 70-200mm lens with the Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 VR lens next. The Sigma lenses are great for what I paid for them but they are not quite the same quality as the Nikon lenses.
I generally use the Nikon D610 mostly but I still use the Nikon D3100 and Nikon D7000 with specific lenses. I usually take the Nikon D3100 with the Sigma 10-20mm wide angle lens and I take the Nikon D7000 with the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 lens.
Summary Comments:
I have only touch the top of the iceberg when it comes to creative photography. I have learned much about digital cameras and the lenses. If I were to start over again, I would definitely buy only fast lenses. The kit lenses are a waste of money. I have never used the kit lenses except for the Nikon 55-300mm kit lens for the Nikon D3100.
I found the photography course with “Creative Live” by John Greengo (Fundamentals of Digital Photography) to be very informative. My only regret is that I should have taken it earlier. There were seventy-two lessons which covered most topics on photography.
The digital camera I like the most is the Nikon D610 FX with the two Nikon lenses. However, I do use the Sigma 50mm prime lens and the 50-500mm telephoto lens at times.