I have a Kodak digital camera M1073IS. 10th 2 megapixels. When I first bought this I thought it would be great, but I thought wrong. It takes average pictures, and now interested in all of photography. but I am of course only at the beginning so im not going to buy a new camera right away. Thus, there are any tips to help that the pictures will be a little better, or have any tips for beginners photography? Thanks
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The trouble is with that camera is you have little manual control so you’re limited how you can experiment.
I agree with Mel that you have limited manual control. But remember an artist uses whatever their medium to create what he/she sees in their head. So maybe figure out the limitations of the camera, get some good cheap or free aftermarket image manipulation software and go to town. Basic photography tenets apply always. If most of the frame is bright and you want to photograph something in a darker area of the frame use the flash or get closer. Much basic photo law here on the web. You can do this.
I came back to this after a long walk. Everything said here is excellent advice. Especially the photo club suggestion. Seldom have I been with club folks where I wasn’t supported at my level. If someone starts being mean and full of himself walk away. You can learn little from them anyway.
A very long time ago when I was just starting out, I would show my work to anyone and everyone I could. Very seldom was I negatively critiqued. Got a pretty swelled head about it. So swelled that I jumped at the chance to teach at night school locally. So here I am standing in front of these fresh washed faces all expectant and questioning and the first question was, “how do I get my camera to take pictures!?” I was dumbfounded. I had Nikon after all and how in the world would I stoop so far as to answer such a simple question (The swelled head remember?) Luckily, I had the presence of mind to turn it around on her. “Just what kind of pictures do you want to take?” I asked. And in a flash the two hours were up. Everybody had a fresh idea on how and why and when. At the end of that first class I quietly told the first gal to bring in her book next time and we would all learn it together. And everyone brought their books. I taught that class for three years and enjoyed every minute of it. What this meant to me is that, as was said, it means little what you use to take the pictures in your mind. In fact the big hit of the class was me supplying everybody with point and shoot disposable Instamatic type film cameras and giving a single assignment to everybody. This brought everyone equal. Those with brand new top of the line Canon’s and Nikon’s had to put away their shiny toys. Those with just the will and that little box could and did do as well or better than they. Forget the stuff you see in mags. Forget the stuff you see on TV. Think of what you want to convey. Keep it really simple. Truly simple is best. Create a script for it in your mind. Then take whatever camera you have out and try your darnedest to create it. It is absolutely like writing. It is not the end result. It is the process exclusively. Best of luck.
There is a saying.. A bad workman always blames his tools.
Is the camera taking “average” shots, or are YOU?.
It’s not a top of the range camera, but that does not matter, it is more than capable of producing great images. The key to this is..
1) Composition
2) Lighting
3) Subject matter
If you have these three nailed then the camera used makes no difference. I frequently use 35mm P&S cameras that range in price from £1 to £30 and get great results (IMHO). The fourth part to the secret is exposure, but you have no control over this so must rely on the camera.
The first thing you need to practice is composition, read this link..
http://photoinf.com/General/Robert_Berdan/Composition_and_the_Elements_of_Visual_Design.htm
The second is to know the limits of your camera. Megapixels do not matter, what matters more is sensor size and your cameras sensor is about the same size as a grain of salt. This means that low light work will result in a noisier image. Shoot under god lighting, or even better shoot outside in good light and the results will be much better.
Here is a link on the ‘megapixel myth’..
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm
And only upgrade your camera when you are currently restricted by your current one. If you are just starting out with photography and are yet to learn about the three things I mentioned earlier then you have no need to upgrade yet, you will know when the time is right.
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While you have little control of the images exposure when using your P&S camera, you do have control over their composition
Until you can save your pennies and buy a fully adjustable camera (DSLR), you can hone your compositional skills
http://photoinf.com/General/Robert_Berdan/Composition_and_the_Elements_of_Visual_Design.htm
Any camera – IF used within their limitations – can get you decent results. However, it is clear you are no longer happy with the results you get. Seeing as how you actually have a camera you are not a total beginner. I was a film photographer for years but had to learn the digital stuff. Now I use both film and digital cameras because I know that the “look” of the results is different. Also, you can get the approximate equivalent of 24 megapixel resolution with a 35mm film camera. If you aren’t making a lot of exposures this is a cheaper way to get higher resolution. I have a $500 digital camera (Canon G10) and a $30 thrift shop film camera special (Yashica FX-2 with 50mm lens) that has higher resolution! For you, however, I recommend staying with digital for now as there are a lot of advantages in convenience using digital.
As to cameras, Canon and Nikon seem to be the two to consider in the “35mm” digital format. You can also go to a medium format film camera (like a Yashica Mat 124G – another camera I bought at a thrift shop), used, and get great results if you know what you are doing. Your camera selection will depend on what you are doing with it, but you also need to “audition” the camera (if you can) by actually getting your hands on it and seeing what it feels like in your hands. I sometimes buy thrift shop cameras and saw a used plastic 3D camera – I tried it out and I hated the way it felt in my hands so I didn’t buy it. Read the reviews, check to see what other people are saying about certain models and remember that no camera is perfect and no camera does it all so get the one that is right for you even that means waiting a while to get the better one that you really want.
Dear Ha,
All the answers you’ve received, so far, are very true and correct. However, I did not see any that mentioned joining a local photography club. This is a very important avenue available to you to learn more about photography. You can read all the books and websites you want, but if you do not understand something being discussed, who do you ask? A club will let you get one-on-one experience with other photographers, who’ve already experienced most of the pitfalls of modern photography.
If you are a student, your school may have a photo club that you can join. If you are out of school, your local high school or college may be like mine, and offer Continuing Education Classes in photography on a regular basis. Most of these courses are dirt cheap!
Sincerely,
Patrick Lanclos
Cibolo, TX