| When my daughter was born four years ago, our | | | | speeds getting in the way. And don't cheat by |
| new digital camera and I had to become friends. | | | | using a low resolution or low quality image setting. |
| Fast. I didn't have any experience as a | | | | Use the highest quality and resolution you can. 3. |
| photographer, or any time to learn the craft, yet | | | | No Film, No Fear. Take a Lot of Shots: Those |
| I still had to find ways to get those perfect once | | | | precious moments come and go quickly. Get |
| in a lifetime shots. Through trial and error I found | | | | them even if the framing and zoom are not |
| a system that works for me. While I'm sure I'm | | | | perfect. That can be fixed later. However, be |
| not blazing any new trails here, these are the | | | | sure to learn how to properly use your auto |
| guidelines I've used to get shots my family and | | | | focus. Very out of focus images are something |
| friends enjoy: 1. Say No to Shutter Lag: Get a | | | | you can't fix after the fact. 4. Go Deeper. Find |
| fast camera. Shutter Lag is the enemy when | | | | the Hidden Gems: Once you've transferred your |
| your subject matter won't sit still. I started with a | | | | images to your computer, review them carefully |
| Panasonic DMC LC20. After my daughter started | | | | to find the shot within the shot. If you've taken |
| getting a bit more mobile I graduated to a Canon | | | | enough shots, the gems will be there. You'll need a |
| EOS Digital Rebel. It's hard to find shutter lag stats | | | | decent digital image editing software package with |
| published even in independent reviews. Try out | | | | and easy to use cropping tool. ACDSee 9 Photo |
| the camera in the store if possible, and pick a | | | | Manager is a good tool at a good price. 5. Shed |
| moving target. I had a friend rotate slowly. I | | | | Unwanted Pixels. Crop Crop Crop: Cropping your |
| snapped a shot when he was facing the camera. | | | | photos creatively allows you to get a fantastic |
| If the picture was of his profile or the back of his | | | | shot out of some not so fantastic raw material. |
| head, I know I had to keep looking. 2. Say Yes to | | | | Once you've found a part of a photo you like, |
| Storage: Get a memory card for your camera | | | | crop away the extra stuff. Highlight the subject |
| with as much storage capacity as possible. I use | | | | matter and reveal shots that would have been |
| 1GB and that allows me to take about 160 shots | | | | missed if you took too much time setting up |
| before I have to transfer photos from my | | | | before hitting the shutter release. Now that |
| camera to my computer. Be sure you have a | | | | you've spent so much time and energy getting |
| fresh memory card for each new outing. Pick up | | | | your shots just right, you want to have a special |
| a memory card reader to speed up the process. | | | | way to show them off. Give Touchpoint Gallery a |
| You need to clear your card frequently so you | | | | spin and let us know what you think. Download |
| don't want comparitively slow USB cable transfer | | | | here for free. |