Make that Digital Camera
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Using Your Viewfinder
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Not all of the clever little gizmos and gadgets in your new
digital camera will help you to produce better photographs. It
may sound a bit strange, but one or two of them can in fact lead
you into habits that may even be detrimental to your final results.
That LCD screen on the back may seem like a great idea, but
if you hold your camera at arms length and view your subject
on the LCD, then a very simple way to make huge improvements
is to start using the viewfinder instead.
Why Use the Viewfinder?
As we have mentioned in other articles, learning to compose
your image is one of the cornerstones of good photography. Once
you've grasped this, you will find that viewing the scene through
the viewfinder rather than using the LCD screen will make life
much easier. |
Basically, whilst using the viewfinder you can see only the area which
will be contained in the final image. There will be no distractions
and you will be cut off to a large extent from whatever is going on
around you. You can focus your mind as well as the camera on the job
in hand and apply yourself to the task of image composition.
You will also see the image exactly as the camera sees it. Again,
there will be nothing going on in your peripheral vision to catch your
eye. More importantly you will see the exact light conditions as seen
by the lens, especially if you are using an slr camera. You can therefor
make much more accurate assessments of whether you will need to override
the cameras choice of exposure settings.
Because you will be concentrating much more closely on actually composing
and taking the photograph you will be much more aware of some of the
bloopers discussed on the articles on composition elsewhere on this
site. You will also be able to make a decision on whether to use selective
focusing to help separate your main subject from the background.
These kind of things are likely to go completely unnoticed if you
rely on the LCD screen.
Learn to use the viewfinder. You will certainly be glad you did!
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So, What's the LCD Screen For Then?
Think of the screen as your cut-down mobile editing desk. Use
it to view your work instantly. One of the real downers of the
film camera is to get home and have the stuff processed only
to find that, for whatever reason you've not got the shot you
really wanted. The LCD is worth more than it's weight in gold
because it gives you the tool you need to get around this. Although
it's tiny in comparison the the final print and the colours may
not be accurate, you can at least see your work and look for
obvious exposure problems or framing and compostional errors.
Professional photographers have relied on Polaroid instant prints
for this kind of thing for years, but now we mere mortals have
access to the same facility without the expense. |
Horses for Courses
Basically, this comes down to the old favourite 'horses for courses'
argument. Use the correct tool for the job and the results will be
far better.
Use the viewfinder to compose your shot, use the LCD to check your
work.
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- complete details of how I built it
- the name of the free/lo-cost software I used and where to get it
- an occasional e-mail with details of other money-spinning digital photo ideas
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digital camera.
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