Digital Photography for Beginners

The science and technology of photography has changed. The traditional light-sensitive film strip has been replaced by devices which capture and store images digitally. Like many others you’d like to enjoy the benefits offered by the powerful and relatively inexpensive cameras currently available. Depending on your level of experience, expertise, and comfort with technology, you might have difficulty deciding which camera to buy. The following guide will help you choose one with the features you want, and which matches your skill and comfort levels.

First, ask yourself what you’ll be using it for. The digital camera market breaks down roughly into two segments; the compact or “point-and-shoot”, and the dSLR or digital Single Lens Reflex. Generally, the casual amateur photographer will use the compact camera. It has fewer manual settings, and more automatic features. The professional or more serious amateur will probably chose the dSLR for its wide range of adjustable settings and interchangeable lenses.

Next, decide how you’d like to store your photographs. As you probably already know, digital cameras are offered in a range of picture resolutions measured in mega-pixels. Simply put, resolution refers to the sharpness an image retains when printed or displayed at a certain size. For instance, an image taken with a four mega-pixel compact camera will appear grainy on a billboard. Likewise, using a twelve mega-pixel dSLR to make four-by-six prints of a child’s birthday party is probably a waste of pixels. Knowing how you expect to view your photos will help you decide which resolution to look for in your new camera.

Finally, now that you’ve chosen the camera that’s right for you, do you know how to use it? There are three basic principles of photography. Practice will make you a better photographer over time, but these tips will give you the results you seek right from the start. Commit them to memory.

1. Remember to turn the camera on.

Many a birthday cake has been spoiled by melted candle wax because little Timmy had to wait with lungs full and wishes ready for Mom to find the power switch. Make sure you know how it works before the singing starts.

2. Pets and the elderly make great subjects.

Anyone who has ever attended a family gathering knows that grandpa could sneeze his teeth into the dog’s water dish at any moment. The ensuing chaos will surely make for precious photographic memories, but only if you have your batteries charged and your memory card blank.

3. Don’t ask your subjects to say “cheese”.

This is never as funny as you think it’s going to be. Often Uncle Dave will actually have a mouth full of cheese at the time, and the results could be disastrous. Capturing unscripted, candid action produces better results. You seldom have any control. Try to observe and be ready.

Whichever format you decide is best for you, compact or dSLR, your digital camera can serve as a powerful tool or an enjoyable toy. Whether for small prints in the family photo album, or larger artistic wall-coverings, there is a camera and resolution that will work for you. And whether you’re a private investigator crouched behind the motel drapes, or a proud father blinding his airborne little gymnast with the flash, the digital camera offers one feature that stands out above all others; instant erasability.

Welcome to the future of photography.

Dental health.

Dental health is important. No question. And dentists are a rare breed. They’re the only people I know who ask questions and never wait for an answer. “So…Mr. Fromac, how are you today?” and before I can tell him, he has his hands halfway down my throat and begins to tell me off for not flossing.

Next he tells me his life story...the same life story he told me the last time I was in his chair! Before long I’m thinking that the only way to get a word in is to bite one of his fingers. And nine out of ten dentists will tell you that’s the leading cause of extreme pain in their patients because, you see, dentists are really just people who grew up never getting a word in, always ignored. Now they can say anything they like to people while inflicting great pain on them and get piles of money to do it.

My advice? Just lie still and keep quiet. Dental work is a necessary evil. You don’t want to have to take your teeth out of a glass every morning, so don’t take them for granted. And remember to smile while Dr. De Sade, DDS, takes you to the cleaners.

Isn't life a blast?

Technology...what is it good for?

Technology’s creeping up on us everywhere. Chances are you’re probably not getting this article by Morse code, but rather off some kind of electronic device like a computer or some such wizardry.

Part of me misses the good old days when the TV remote weighed eight pounds, had two buttons and you had to wear lead gloves to use it.

It seems like it was only yesterday I used a drive-through cash machine for the first time. I drove up and stopped by the ATM, put in my card and …forgot my PIN number. While I was explaining to the little screen that my partner usually takes care of this sort of thing, the driver behind me started ramming my car with his Hummer, and I decided to park and go inside instead. So much for technology.

This morning as I was squinting at the paper and grappling with the nagging suspicion that those unintelligible little scribbles used to mean something, I heard on the radio about how they can fix my eyesight with lasers. What’s that? You’re gonna fire lasers into my eyes? And the whole thing takes only seconds and costs the same as the gross national product. Just give me the white stick, thanks very much.

And everything’s getting so tiny. I lost my cell phone the other day, and didn’t find it until I was flossing my teeth before bed.

But I’m not worried. No matter how advanced things get, they’ll never replace me with something plastic and battery powered that fits in a woman’s purse. That’ll be the day!

Isn’t life a blast?

self-help books

The other day after I brought home a new all-in-one mp3 player, stud finder and cork screw, my partner accused me of being gullible for spending my money on things I don’t need, and she suggested I get professional help.

So I went out and bought one of those self-help books called Ten Easy Steps to a Less Gullible You, for only $29.95. One look at it and I knew it was for me.

Yes, I know the old adage that says… “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” And I figure that’s gotta be true, unless the book has a title like Nude Brunettes In Jello, in which case you’re pretty safe to judge.

Anyway, it seems like there are millions of those self-help books out there. With titles like, Stop Biting Your Toenails in Three Weeks, or Compulsive Shopping Made Easy or Tax Fraud For Dummies, how can anyone resist?

Isn’t life a blast?

Fromacology

Today I'm introducing a new discipline...fromacology.

This is the study of all things Fromac. With trademark efficiency I'll lead the inaugural group of devotees through a six year course of study. You'll be subjected to Fromac opinion, musings and rants on whatever seems relevant on the day.

I don't mean to over state the importance of this but, in all modesty, I can see a day in the not-too-distant future when fromacology will be offered at all major colleges and universities. It'll be just as sought after and enjoyed by students as courses like toe-jamology, boogerology and art.

Your first lesson begins shortly so sit down, shut up and pay attention. There'll be a quiz later.

Second post...woopdeedoo!

Still haven't figured out what everyone regards as so special about posting to these Blog thingies.

I guess it'll either catch me...or I'll forget about it and it'll moulder here as a sleepy little out-of-way corner of the Web until someone takes it down.

Watch this space for further inane thoughts and idle musings.

First Post

I bet almost everyone starts with a "first post". This is mine.