Discover how Digital Dreams are created!

The art of photography has indeed undergone a dramatic transformation with the introduction of digital cameras. These cameras, which make use of electronic devices to capture images in binary data, have made photography a much easier and affordable option for amateurs and professionals alike. Digital cameras allow photographers to view the images, even before they are printed, thus enabling them to sift through the images and sort out the ones they choose to print and discard the rest. These images can be uploaded directly to the computer, without having to undergo the painstaking task of scanning every single photograph separately, and also lets the photographer store these images indefinitely in the computer memory. Also, the user can explore his creativity to the zenith, with the array of image and light enhancements that digital cameras offer.

To get started with your digital camera, it is vital that you learn about what goes into its functioning. A majority of the cameras which are available today, are equipped with a Liquid Crystal Display, which is essentially similar in it's working to the conventional viewfinder. Only, it offers the user even more benefits like viewing the picture, both before and after it is shot to fine tune the details or even shoot another one, if the final result is unsatisfactory. The photographs that you take with digital cameras are made up of thousands of mega pixels, which in turn are comprised of a million pixels or picture elements each. This allows for a lot more clarity and finer detailing than conventional photography. Also, when you work with a digital camera, it is important that you learn how to operate the shutter-release mechanism, which needs to be pressed twice, once in order to lock the exposure and focus adjustments and the second time to capture the image. Digital Cameras are also particularly prone to the 'Camera Shake', which may result in a blurred or distorted image.

Your camera will be preset to an automatic ISO mode, where the ISO will automatically be adjusted in tune with the light conditions. For a more customized effect, you can even choose to manually adjust the ISO, which will also let you cut down on the noise in the image. As the rule of the thumb, the more the brightness in the surroundings, the lower you need to keep the ISO. A higher ISO is applicable when the luminosity is lower than you would like it to be. If your image is distorted by what is known as noise, which means, your image is flecked with random pixels which detract from its clarity, you can choose to work on the image with the noise reduction tool. But doing this will mean that your picture detailing will not be as minute as it would have been otherwise.

If you prefer, your camera can self-adjust the flash settings to accommodate the light conditions. If you aren't too comfortable with the use of flash, you avoid it altogether and enhance the lighting in the room. You can even toggle between the external flash unit which you fix on your camera, and the in-built flash mechanism. A trick many seasoned photographers use is to tilt the flash device upwards so that the light is reflected off the walls and the ceiling on the subject of your image. This creates a more subdued effect while also ensuring adequate exposure. Backlighting is recommended only when you want to specifically create a silhouette. More a more dramatic effect, you can use the flash to first light up the background and then apply an additional fill-in flash to bring out the subject in the foreground.

You can even capture objects which are moving rapidly by simply activating the "Burst Mode' on your camera. You can take multiple pictures of the subject in a brisk sequence by holding down the Shutter Release Button. To bring your picture to life, many digital cameras allow you to vary the intensity of the colors even as you capture the image. you can also click exquisite close ups with minute detailing by activating the Macro Mode which will prevent the subject from going out of focus when you close in. the Optical Zoom feature lets you capture distant object without conceding on the resolution by extending and retracting the focal length of the lens itself without you having to labor on painstaking adjustments.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts to capture a crystal clear image, you may find that your photograph still appears slightly hazy. Here, the problem lies, not in the method in which you choose to capture the image, but in the way you hold the camera itself. Many cameras, which are equipped with only the LCD, do not allow you to hold the camera to your eye, as you would were it outfitted with a viewfinder as well. In these situations, you have to hold the camera at an arm's length to be able to focus on the LCD which invariably leads the camera to shake due to an unsteady stance. And hence it is essential that you keep this is mind when you set out to buy your next digital camera.

As they say, Practice makes perfect. This phrase is specifically relevant when it comes to learning how to handle your digital camera. Also, the manual which comes along with the camera proves to be of invaluable assistance when it comes to grappling with the ropes. However, you need to plough through the complete, extensive manual instead of simply skimming through the basics from the Quick Start Guide, if you want to develop beyond a novice. You may also want to keep referring back to the manual for any hitches along the way, while experimenting with all that your camera has to offer. A digital camera spares you the expense of having to worry about how much you're spending on film. You can also reserve the photographs which display the techniques you want to work on, in the memory card of the camera itself or even your computer. The convenient size also means that you don't have to burden yourself with heavy bags every time you set out on a photography excursion. And if all this isn't enticement enough, simply grab your camera and snap a few pictures for yourself. You'll soon find that breathtaking works of art, which were once considered the hallmark of legendary studio artists, is now your very own niche!