5 Common Mistakes in Digital Photography

[Gary@Red Photo]

Mistakes, we all make them. There is nothing wrong with that. But it is when we do not learn from our mistakes that we give up a great opportunity to get better. Here I have listed what I think are the 5 most common mistakes made in digital photography. Look over the list and see if these ring true with you.

1. Shooting JPEGs

This is a very controversial area, the dreaded jpeg vs RAW debate. I have heard arguments over this go on for years, but I think that if you are shooting your camera in jpeg mode that is a big mistake. This is such a common mistake that I wanted to mention it first. When set to jpeg your camera will randomly throw out data in order to compress the files and take up less space. To me this is like shooting with a dirty lens. Why go through all of the time and effort to take a photograph and then not get the best results because of a camera setting? Shoot RAW, deal with the larger files. You will be much happier in the end and the files are more versatile. For a good article on RAW click here.

2. No Program Mode

Many people make the mistake of using program mode on their camera for the convenience. This is a bad idea. You want to use the camera on manual so that you have full control over the shutter speed and aperture for each shot. There are many lighting and subject situations where your in-camera meter will be fooled and you will not get a good result.

3. Dirty Sensors

Common mistake number three is dust and spots on the sensor. This drive me crazy and it can be remedied just by periodically cleaning it. I hate it when I open up an image and I see them, the dreaded aliens, come to invade my beautiful image. Students constantly turn in images from cameras with dirty sensors. You know it can be cleaned, just like your room? So take the time and clean your sensor. You do not have to overpay someone to do it for you. That would be another mistake. Do it yourself by using one of the many good kits out there like the Sensor Scope kit from Delkin Devices. This provides both a wet and a dry cleaning method. For more on sensor cleaning options see my post, '5 Must Have Digital Camera Accessories'.

4. Camera kit lenses

Those lenses that come with your camera kit when you buy it are called 'starter' lenses for a reason. A common mistake is that people will continue to use those inexpensive, poorer quality lenses as they progress more into photography and start taking on professional jobs. Don't be one of those. When you buy a higher end camera they normally do not come in kits and there is a good reason for that. It is a la carte and you buy the body and the lens separately. Unless the vendor has made a package for ease of purchase. With lenses you get what you pay for and you want to move up to a better lenses when you can afford it. The good ones are expensive so start saving now. Only using your starter lens is a mistake.

5. Not reading the manual

"Manual, we don't need no stinking manuals". Well there are good reasons why they put a manual with your lovely new camera. There are so many features that you are making a big mistake by not reading through the manual. Now you don't have to read every page, because most of it is in another language anyhow, but you should read the basics about the camera and how to set various features. Knowing your equipment will allow you not to have to worry about the technical stuff and enjoy the creative side of photography.

For more great photography tips you should read;

'10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Photos (Part 1)'
'10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Photos (Part 2)'
'Lens Focusing Issues'
'Creating Sharper, More Vibrant Images'

www.redphotophotography.com

Red Photo Houston Wedding Photographers

Eye Candy and Brain Veggies

[nicled]

Very valuable tips! As for me, i just follow the idiom that the late, great jazz saxophonist, Charlie Parker once said when he was criticised for introducing a new form of jazz called Bebop: "Forget all the sh__ and play." So i just have fun and let everything just fall into place. If they don't, no problem because photography (for me) is just a hobby It would have been different if it were my bread & butter.

[Photologyst]

Some of these suggestions are good ones. However, claiming that “kit” lenses are not good is not always true. For example, Nikon often used their 18-70mm lens in a kit. This happens to be an excellent lens. The 18-200mm lens is a superb lens that is often used in kits.

The, only use Manual Mode, suggestion is completely erroneous. It is like suggesting a driver should only use a vehicle with a stick shift and 4 wheel drive. Computers can react faster and more accurately than humans.

Even the most famous and excellent photographers use program, shutter or aperture modes. That’s what the programs are there for. Knowing when to switch to manual is the key. Bracketing is insurance.

[Gary@Red Photo]

I was referring specifically to the use of full program mode by people. I have nothing against using aperture or shutter priority modes in the correct situations. But most people use their program mode because they never took the time to learn the technical aspects of photography. You can do it, but without knowing what you are doing there will be many times when you do not get the desired results letting the camera do all of the settings. On the kits lenses thing, if they have been bundled by the retailer you can usually get a better lens, but the best lens are always sold a la carte.

[candidrachel]

Another mistake is dirty lenses! I am partial to not checking if I have a dirty thumb print prior to shooting

[Photologyst]

Yes, of course, Gary, I agree that learning to manage the camera is where it’s at. However, there are times when P Mode is necessary—with photo-ops that come fast and one has no time to adjust manually. In that case I would suggest P Mode and bracketing for insurance. Still, one can exposure compensate, etc. as well.

As for the lenses, it depends on what is being offered. As I said, the Nikon 18-200 was offered as a package for quite some time with several of their tops in the category camera models. It is one of the superior, all around lenses.

What alway shocks and annoys me is people who purchase a pricey DSLR, never read the manual, use it as a P & S—then wonder why they are not getting good photos.

No doubt the same type of folks put in a “gourmet” kitchen with a pro-stove and still only microwave.

[gifarkas]

Good tips, but I don't think using full manual all the time is necessary at all. I never use P, but A and S are very useful. If the lighting is very tricky, I switch to manual.

[Gary@Red Photo]

I will use M and A depending on the situation. Outside I like to go to A to control my depth of field and to give my work that more fine art edge. Indoors, I need to be able to switch controls around and I find that M is the best way to go, especially when I am using flash.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Gary@Red Photo

...On the kits lenses thing, if they have been bundled by the retailer you can usually get a better lens, but the best lens are always sold a la carte.

Err... I think it depends on the camera body and the kit. While most 18-55 kit lenses are very limited lenses you can easily upgrade, there's also the case of the 5D Mark II's kit lens, the EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM, and the Nikon D700 can come kitted with the AF-S VR 24-120G, both of which are $1000+ pro-level lenses.

Not all kit lenses are cheap or suck, and some can be the same lenses that other folks buy a la carte.

Also, while the 18-55 el cheapo kit lenses are limited, they can still produce good images if you know how to use them. Simply stopping a kit lens down to f/8 can increase its sharpness and make it look a lot more expensive. And, of course, post-processing can make up for a lot of issues in the glass. While a better lens can help, an 18-55 can teach a newbie how to get the best out of any lens by sharpening their technique. I often think that newbies are a little too quick off the block to reach for "better" glass to increase their image quality, before looking at whether their technique (or lack of it) might be at fault.

[kirbinster]

You have some very strong statements there. The issue about jpeg and manual are hardly true 100% of the time. I would argue that manual is needed in 10% or less of most shots. You will generally be far better off shooting in "A" or "S" and let the computer in the camera use the meter to pick the other one. The computer is "usually" faster and more accurate than your eye.