I am certainly not a photographer. I have more than enough pictures to prove that. But the invention of digital cameras has certainly made it easier for the photographically challanged.
Present company included!
But, like anything, there are pitfalls, if you’re not careful.
I have comprised a list of a six ways you can avoid a digital disaster by making sure your equipment is ready to capture those once in a lifetime vacation pictures, like a pro.
As far as chopping off heads, not centering your target or always getting your finger in the shot…well, those little faux-pas, I can’t help you with my friends. For that, you’ll have to consult a professional.
1. Familiarize yourself with your camera. Many people buy a new digital camera for an upcoming trip, and it doesn’t see the light of day until they are packing it in their luggage. As a result they become frustrated and disappointed when their pictures come back, looking dark and out of focus, simply because they didn’t know how to use the correct settings. If you do buy a new camera- open it, read the manual and experiment with the camera, take different shots in varied situations until you become comfortable with what settings take the best shots. Be an expert in your camera- you’ll be much happier with the outcome!
2. Give new memory cards a trial run. Same concept as the new camera. Open any new memory cards that you plan to bring along. Pop them in your camera,take a few shots and have them developed, just to make sure the card is working properly. I would hate to get to my destination and take hundreds of shots, just to realize that they were not being stored properly, or not printing up at all.
3. Don’t forget the tripod. Tripods are a must, especially for those night shots and low-light close ups. You don’t want photos of the Eiffel Tower or Trevi Fountain in all their evening splendor to look more like a bad fireworks display do you? Of course not. So you will need a tripod to avoid those blurry shots. My favorite is the tiny and flexible Gorillapod
4. Always have charged batteries. Some cameras like Canon, generally use regular alkaline batteries, which comes in handy. If your batteries die, you can simply run to the nearest store and buy an emergency set. Problem solved. However, if your camera is like mine, it has a lithium-ion battery, specifically designed to fit my camera, which makes it tricky when your battery dies. My solution is to cough up the extra dough to buy a second battery and bring both batteries and the charger (with correct voltage converter, if needed) on your trip. Rotate the batteries when they are low. Always have one battery charging at all times and a fully charged battery in the camera. This way you never miss a shot and never run out of juice.
5. Bring several memory cards. Don’t just rely on one huge capacity gigabyte card- if you lose that, you lose all your photos. Bring several smaller 256mb or 128mb capacity cards. This way if you lose a card or one malfunctions – all your pictures are not lost. The other bonus with bringing many cards is that you won’t waste time or money uploading or printing the pictures because the card is full and you still have 3 days left on your vacation!
6. Click and delete….later. The beauty of digital is that you can’t waste film. Take loads of pictures, even of the same thing with different settings, different angles- then go back to your room and at night, go through the days shots and delete the ones you don’t want. Only keep the best ones. This helps you save card space, battery life and time, by not flipping back and forth, looking at each shot after you take it to decide if you want it.
And what will you do with all of those wonderful vacation photos when you get them home?
Why, you will submitt your favorite to me for Travel Photo Fridays…that’s what you should do!!
Just email them to me, with your description.
I know, I know, shameless plug, but hey, it’s for the greater good, right?