David Pogue's Digital Photography: The Missing Manual

Chapter 3. Taking the Shot

You already know from Chapters Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 that choosing a camera can be a complex task. But let's say that you made it through that ordeal alive. Now you've got a shiny new camera, the battery's charged, and a memory card is installed. There's only one little task remaining: learning to use the darned thing.

Chapter 4 is a breathtaking safari through the jungle of technical options on your camera: white balance, exposure, scene modes, and so on. But it's perfectly possible to take beautiful photos, even award-winning ones, without ever adjusting any of that stuff. Plenty of people live full and rewarding lives without ever taking their cameras out of Auto mode. They point, they click, they're happy.

That's what this chapter is all about: the basics of using your camera, including superior composition of the photos themselves. Even if you have only minor photographic ambitions, you can still improve the quality of your fully Auto shots.

Let's assume, for the moment, that you know how to take the very first steps, which are turning on the camera and (if necessary) taking off its lens cap.

Tip

You know that dainty little wrist strap that came with your pocket camera? (Or the beefy black neck strap that came with your SLR?) It's a really good idea to fasten it to your camera—and to wear it when you're out shooting. Nothing makes you feel like an idiot quite as much as accidentally dropping and breaking (or dropping and submerging) your expensive camera. ...