WCN (Westminster Cable Network)

Issue date: 1/2/10 Section: Community News

December 15, 2007 NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - It's getting more and more difficult to find someone who doesn't own a digital camera. Dana Kerkentzes bought a digital camera several years ago, but did she have any idea what to look for? "Absolutely not," she said, "My mom said, 'Sony-go with Sony.'"

So how do you know what to look for? Enter Westminster College Assistant Professor of Art Krista Birnbaum. Her office is decorated with photos she's taken and a pair of tripods leans against the wall. She suggested buying a camera that fits your needs. "If you're someone that's just taking photographs occasionally then if it's all auto features then that's probably fine for you," she said, "If you're someone who's a little more of a hobbyist and you want to be able to have a little bit more control of your features, then you might want to look for some manual features."

If you have a smaller budget for a camera, Birnbaum says the best way to get the most out of your camera is to learn what everything does. For instance, you can use your camera's scene settings for more than what the title says. "You can use the sports setting for settings other than sports," she said. "What it does is it makes a faster shutter speed which allows you to capture motion, so if you're photographing children for instance, or pets... that scene setting would be really useful."

Another tip: don't always use the flash. "Flash creates some really harsh shadows and highlights," Birnbaum said, "Set your camera on a sturdy surface... Use the auto-timer and then you'll get a better exposure without having to use the flash."

Digital cameras make it possible to see the photo you've just taken, and it's easy to delete pictures that don't turn out the way you wanted. Some things Birnbaum suggested for getting that perfect shot: Put your subject against a plain background, zoom in on your subject, and try moving the subject out of the center.

Try some of these techniques and you might find a new hobby. After Dana started using a more structured approach, she got more and more interested in a particular National Geographic photo contest. Twelve entries are posted each day. "I got really interested in looking at those photos," she said, "and I was able to tell a little more what was a good photo and what was a bad photo on that site and, eventually got up the courage to submit my own and, after 12 or 13 tries... one of mine was selected."

Dana used a longer exposure to capture her subject at night. On the right side of the photo is her cousin trying to blow out marshmallows on fire. The marshmallows add an element on the left side that balances out the photograph. Don't be afraid to try different things, and above all, have fun!

Check out the National Geographic contest!

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