Five Photography Tips Where You Won't Go Wrong

The price of technology is steep. But, it is also forgiving. For two-hundred dollars, one can afford a DSLR camera and a lens, a brand new price for a very capable camera.

Consider Canon's T3 and T5i, the staples of entry-level Canon DSLRs. These cameras come in kits and can be found for a few hundred bucks, if one searches enough. With Christmas just around the corner, these deals will be hot.

Tip #1
Research is immeasurable. Use the internet to find reviews of cameras and lenses, to search bargains and tutorials, and to learn the technical depths of the camera. Keep using the search engines to hone skills.

The camera's manual is a valuable resource. Learn every aspect of it. Be patient and learn the functions in real time, learn from experience.

Magazines and websites are a great place to learn about photography. Invest your time in education about prints, RAW files, white balance, etc...

This tip is about staying sharp. Just do it, as the saying goes.

Tip #2
Flash is large part of photography. Invest in a high quality, wireless, high speed flash. Then, learn it well. These units are not lights, they are complicated tools. It takes time to learn them. Take that time and use it to your advantage.

Tip #3
Tripods are an essential part of photography. A state of the art tripod will run $500, but, don't despair, decent tripods range from $100 to $300, and will be acceptable for small crop-sensor cameras with smallish lenses.

Shoot a large lens or a huge camera like the Canon 7D and you will need a more-than-stout tripod.

Tip #4
Buy fast memory cards, not the slow and inexpensive Class 4 cards. Your camera has a lot of work to do. Shooting continuous frames or video, requires a memory card that can keep up. And, the more expensive cards will last longer and have more write/erase capability. Spend the extra money.

Tip #5
Accessories for camera gear range from ultra-useful to brand new garbage. Take for example, those cheap, twenty-dollar extenders. Garbage.

Some gear is absolutely needed. Good filters are a must. UV filters will protect the lens, while high-quality polarizers and neutral density filters will enhance your photography.

Lens hoods make great rain covers in addition to cutting glare.

Rain shields, light meters, padded straps, wireless triggers... these can make your photography more comfortable.

The key here is to be aware of your gear and what you need, not what they want to sell you.

Copyright Ronald Borst 2015