Ten Tips to Taking Great Photos This Spring Break

2010.03.03

Whether you're going on a vacation to somewhere hot and sunny, or staying around town to visit local attractions, you'll want to remember every moment of the fun. Why not grab your favourite digital SLR camera to document your spring break with the utmost flair? Switch to Manual mode and get creative with your shots. Take time now to learn what your camera can do beyond Auto mode. Not sure where to begin? Follow these simple tips and make this year's spring break photos your best ever.

1. Shoot in continuous mode If you've ever had trouble taking crisp, clear photos of a constantly moving subject, a child or pet for example, try changing your camera settings to a continuous burst mode. Several frames per second will increase your chances of catching your subject just the way you want. If you have Subject Tracking, you'll have an even greater array of features to help you capture that perfect shot.

2. Flash forward Using a flash ensures all your photos are crisp and clear, especially in darker lit settings such as a dinner or dance party. And don't stop there be sure to use flash outdoors as well to help balance any dark contrasts.

3. Work with what you've got Take advantage of your camera's settings whether it's a low-light sensitive capability such as a broad ISO range, or automatic setting selections for taking pictures in various environments. Learn the features your camera offers and use them to create impressive images you'll be proud to put on display.

4. Shutter finger The beauty of digital is the ability to review any photographs you take instantly and decide which you would like to keep or re-shoot. With this in mind, don't hold back. Take more pictures rather than fewer and sort through them later. This will help you focus on the photo opportunities at hand, giving you a better chance of capturing that perfect shot.

5. Exposure is key Any good photo has an intended balance to the amount of light used when the picture was taken. Experiment with your camera's exposure settings, bracketing the brightness levels for different effects. Sometimes an over or underexposed photo can be a creative expression of an otherwise normal photograph. Just remember, when in doubt, underexpose these images can be brightened later on, whereas an overexposed image won't pick up all the details and not much can be done to correct it.

6. Get to know, be a pro Take into account who or what your subject is. If you are photographing a person, learn what their personality is like and what they are comfortable with; if you are taking photos of an animal, you will need to know what its temperament is; and taking pictures of an object requires you to identify the best features to highlight. The more you learn and understand, the better you will be able to model your photograph in its best light.

7. Wherever you will go Take your camera with you so you never miss a moment. When selecting a new camera, consider how you will transport it. If you select a smaller unit, this will be less of a concern, but if you purchase a larger, heavier camera with additional lenses and flash attachments, consider investing in a good camera bag to protect your equipment and make it more portable. When on foot, take advantage of a camera strap around your neck many of today's digital SLR cameras feature rapid start-up times, so you'll always be ready if a picture opportunity arises.

8. The more the merrier Challenge your skill level. Investing in a few accessories can make photography easier and help to produce better photos. A tripod can help to steady a shot, while additional lenses provide various zoom options, macro options, wide-angle, and more. Adding an external flash can make a photo more dynamic. Digital SLRs are great because they are customizable to every photographer's needs.

9. Don't forget to touch up Make life easier by performing simple image corrections right on the camera before uploading them to your computer. This makes picture development a snap.

10. Have fun! Be creative Get up high or down real low to capture that perfect shot, creating dimension, angles and a personal flare to all your photos. Develop your own style of photography to set yourself apart from the crowd.

Making use of these tips can be that much easier with a Nikon D3000. Touted as the easiest-to-use digital SLR, its exclusive Guide Mode helps even the most novice photographer capture quality images by assisting users in choosing shooting modes for a variety of situations, and if desired, exploring advanced photographic techniques. The D3000 is lightweight and compact at 126 x 97 x 64 millimeters and only 485 grams, it is the perfect size to take with you wherever you go, ensuring you never miss documenting a moment of the fun. A useful feature in the D3000 is the exclusive Nikon Stop-Motion Movie Mode, one of many tools found in the Retouch Menu, which allows you to choose a collection of the finest moments captured. The camera then creates a fun and creative video out of your selection. This spring break brush up on your photography skills and take the photos everyone will cherish.

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP):

D3000 Body Only - $449.95

D3000 Set with AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 G ED II NON-VR Lens - $529.95

D3000 Set with AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 G VR (Vibration Reduction) Lens - $579.95

For more information on this or other Nikon cameras please visit www.nikon.ca.

Submitted by Nikon Canada

• Digital Photography