Small Digital Cameras

After we’ve gotten beyond the beginnings of knowing the way our cameras operate… once the “photo bug” has attached itself – we photography junkies all want even more creative digital photography. (Of course that assumes you shoot with a digital camera system – otherwise you’ll want more eye popping film photographs! )

We’ve all been there. We look at the photography we see in books and magazines, then we look at our photos and something is missing. The basics are there, a correct exposure setting, the right shutter speed, sharp focus and so on, but it just isn’t up to snuff.

Don’t Have A “Creative” Talent?

True there are geniuses out there! Possibly a handful spread throughout the world. Our photographs will never compare. (No one else’s will either!) But in general, we aren’t comparing our work to that tiny group… we are typically comparing our photos to the standard production of typical, everyday Joes who usually are NOT any more creative than we are.

Generally, the first thing we think is that we just don’t possess the “creative” talent! As normal people do, we tend to discount our own photography, and overvalue the work of others.

Creative digital photography can be LEARNED.

The only difference between “us” and “them” is that they’ve been taught how to put their creative vision into their cameras – and we haven’t.

Remember, creativity CAN be learned! And it’s fairly easy and FAST!

The secret is modeling. By that, I’m saying… If you shoot the identical subjects, in identical conditions, using the identical settings they’re using, you’ll get the identical results.

It has to work that way! The camera is a machine. Your camera doesn’t care who pushes the shutter. It isn’t going to operate better for one photographer over another. It doesn’t wonder who is studying the scene through the viewfinder.

If we model them correctly, we’ll be shooting the same type of work they do, in no time.

Here’s how…

When you discover a shot you admire, cut it out of the magazine and paste it in your photo journal. You do keep a photography notebook, aren’t you? All the best photographers do!

Then, closely study the picture. Try to figure out what the lighting situation was. What time of day the photo was shot, how many and directionality of the lights (reflectors and mirrors are light sources too ). Guess at the focal length of their lens. Did they mount the camera on a tripod, what was the f-stop, shutter speed and so on?

Then, record ALL this data in your journal.

Try it out!

Grab your camera and try to duplicate the photo. Try out your theories on the way they built the shot. The theories that get you nearer to success, make a note of them in your notebook. Write down the ideas that don’t work out too!

As you move closer and closer to the desired finished result, you’ll be having a ton of fun and discovering a TON of new photo techniques.

Sooner or later, you’ll achieve the finished photo you wanted. It doesn’t take much time. Insert YOUR picture in your notebook, with all the assorted technical data. Now, you will forever be able to duplicate that technique! Just by looking at your notes! You’ve now learned the secret to being creative!

Every time gets easier.

Then, do the same thing with another photograph you like. Every time you go through this experiment, you’ll add a new technique to your photo arsenal. Plus, it gets easier to do because you are increasing what you’ve learned before.

So, there’s the formula for creative digital photography. Try it, you’ll like it. Before you know it, you’ll be creating digital photography any time you want.