| There were certain basic principles of character | | | | more time in studying good angles and good |
| ethics that are common to successful people. If | | | | composition. Because digital film is virtually free, |
| we can develop those habits, we too can be | | | | we tend not to think carefully enough before we |
| equally successful. It got me wondering whether | | | | hit the shutter button. |
| there were any universally sound practices in | | | | - Keep lenses, filters, eye pieces and sensors |
| digital photography that a budding photographer | | | | clean. P&S cameras which you keep in your |
| could emulate, and make into a habit, such that | | | | pocket or bag, has a propensity for collecting |
| his photography can continue to improve. | | | | thumb prints on lenses, filters an eye pieces. |
| I’m not talking about understanding exposure, | | | | Nothing is more frustrating than to have a great |
| composition or any specific techniques of | | | | shot ruined by a greasy thumbprint on your lens. |
| photography. You’ll have to go and read and | | | | - Manual focus. Even though modern auto focusing |
| learn about that elsewhere. A good start would | | | | systems are pretty good, very often your |
| be to go and read The Digital Photography | | | | camera can lock focus on an inappropriate focal |
| Handbooks. I want to share with you some very | | | | point, especially when there are no sharp edges |
| fundamental habits a digital photographer should | | | | within the frame. Get into the habit of using |
| develop, which I believe could be a foundation | | | | manual focus. It’s usually more accurate. |
| upon which to build your photography expertise. I | | | | - Use Spot or Center Weighted metering and |
| would like to appeal to all those established | | | | explore various exposure alternatives and depth |
| photographers out there to also list here, some of | | | | of field options. Don’t trust the LCD at the |
| their own habits or self discovered secrets of | | | | back of your camera because what you see |
| how to repeatedly get those great shots of theirs | | | | there is only a tiny thumbnail which usually looks |
| What are the 10 good habits of a Digital | | | | good. You should check the histogram for proper |
| Photographer, here’s my contribution: | | | | exposure, which means you need to go and learn |
| - Shoot in RAW– your digital workflow should | | | | and understand what a histogram is showing. |
| be to have Master Files, Edit Files and Special | | | | When chimping what you ought to be looking out |
| Purpose files. Metadata processors, like Aperture | | | | for, besides the histogram and clippings, is to look |
| and Lightroom are extremely powerful cataloging | | | | for proper focusing points, proper composition, |
| applications which double up as fast and efficient | | | | colour casts, angle of view, cropping or space |
| post processing tools. Editing with Lightroom for | | | | around your subject and preferred depth of field. . |
| instance, will help you save Hard Disk space | | | | If you are shooting with the intention of |
| because a metadata processor stores only your | | | | converting to B&W, look also for texture, |
| editing instructions and not the huge PSD or Tiff | | | | contrasts and lighting. |
| files which Photoshop creates, for instance. | | | | - Use the lowest ISO setting possible. With the |
| - With Digital, shoot a little to the right of the | | | | cheaper digital cameras that newbie’s usually |
| Histogram. That is error on the side of slight | | | | possess, noise is a major issue when you push |
| overexposure rather than underexposure. This is | | | | ISO above 300. |
| because your digital sensor can capture more | | | | - Bracket, Bracket, Bracket. When shooting |
| details in the highlights than in the shadows. During | | | | unrepeatable shots, always consider bracketing |
| post processing you will find that you can | | | | the exposure, by at least half a stop on both |
| effectively recover details in what appears to be | | | | sides of the exposure suggested by your camera. |
| blown highlights, while noise is the result if you try | | | | - Use Burst exposure to freeze fast action, and |
| to pull details out of shadows. | | | | plan ahead for your shot. |
| - Use a Tripod or a Monopod, and a cable release. | | | | - Take the flash off the hot shoe when shooting |
| Make it a habit to carry at least a light monopod. | | | | with flash, Attach an extension lead for your flash |
| The rule of thumb is, you can hand hold a shot at | | | | or better still use a remote trigger. |
| a minimum shutter speed which is the reciprocal | | | | Of course there are more than ten good habits |
| of your lens focal length. A great benefit of | | | | that you can develop to be a good digital |
| shooting with a tripod is that you tend to take | | | | photographer. |