Got a New Digital Camera?

If you are new to digital photography our club is an excellent place to get the most out of it.  Our members have a vast variety of equipment (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Pentax, Olympus etc) and you are sure to find someone with similar equipment to you.

Are your photos like this?

An 'out of focus' image?  What's all that about then?  Just hover your pointer over the 'fuzzy' image to see!

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By following our tips below, you should start to have a CLEAR understanding of what good photography is all about and become a better photographer as well.

WDCC's Tips for New Photographers

Here are our top tips for great photography:

  1. Understand your camera whatever you use - ie. take time to read your manual.  Particularly true if you are doing something special, like a wedding.  Get to know your equipment!

  2. Think local - That's the place you know best, try to see it at different times of day or year.

  3. The best camera is the one you have with you.  Keep it with you, or a compact when you cannot carry a DSLR.

  4. If taking images of pets or your children, try to get down to their level.  That will make the image more natural.

  5. Buy or borrow a tripod to try some night shots at dusk or interiors (eg churches / architecture etc).

  6. Make a list or notes on paper or on your mobile phone of shots you would like to take or photo ideas. If you have an iPhone or smartphone, there are many apps for just a pound or two you can download. EG PS Express, Autostitch or Hipstamatic. Start here.

  7. Read a few blogs or articles on composition.  Your local library might be a good source of info too.

  8. Take some images every day.  A 365 project would be ideal.  Post the pictures to Flickr once a week.  There is an example of a 365 project here by Tony Smith.

  9. Don't be afraid to experiment.  Take lots of images and edit later.  Its digital so it costs you nothing until you print!

  10. Remember that once taken you can manipulate images on your computer, before printing. A variety of programs and applications are available, some for free. Checkout this link to try some out, some for free or at a small cost if you like it and take a full version. Trial downloads from Adobe, including Photoshop CS, can be found here.

  11. Keep learning!  I keep seeing new techniques and ideas, give them a try and most of all, have fun!

And last of all (and most importantly), come and join us at the Warrington District Camera Club! You are sure to find others with the same camera as you and people who will share their expertise and knowledge of taking, editing and printing images.