Photography basics

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Tip 1 :
Read the manual...
Tv = Time value ( shutter priority )
Av = Aperture value ( Aperture priority )
P = program
M = Manual

Tip 2 : Attend the free training.

Tip 3 : Use creative scene modes
When shooting predominantly white images like a wedding dress, use "snow" mode.

Tip 4 : Depth of field
To make a subject really stand out from the background with nice background blur:
- Use AV mode, set it to smallest F/stop number possible ( e.g f/3.5 ) - for your information, the smaller the F/stop number, the larger the aperture )\
i.e bigger number = more focus subject
- Set the camera to the strongest telephoto zoom

Tip 5 : ISO understanding
In low-light situation, increase your camera's ISO setting to avoid blurred photos. Though higher ISO=more noise.
Depending on your camera type, 400-800 should give you acceptable quality for a 4R printout.

Tip 6 : Stabilise your camera
Use a tripod or any stationary surface when the amount of light is low.
- Use the Tv mode to control how long the shutter stays open
- Use the self timer function so that you do not shake the camera when you press the shutter button
- For fireworks, use a slow shutter and low ISO ( e.g 1", ISO 50 )

Tip 7 : Shooting through glass
Get as close to the glass pane as possible to reduce reflection

Tip 8 : Stunning sunset portraits
To prevent subject from appearing too dark:
- Use P mode
- Activate flash
- Stand no more then 4m from subject

Tip 9 : Capturing the night
- Use tripod
- Use Tv mode with slow shutter ( e.g 0.6 sec or more )
- Do NOT use flash

Tip 10 : Night portraits
- Use tripod
- Use P mode, set to high ISO ( e.g 400-800 ) and activate the slow synchro flash

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Stuff to note:

Auto white balance doesn't work very well indoor, so remember to set it. Else use raw.

Cold Weather Shooting Means Extra Batteries

Bracket If You're Not Sure About Exposure. Unless u are shooting raw.

Including the Moon and Keeping Detail
This sounds like it would be easya nighttime city skyline with a crisp detailed moon in the
background, but most people wind up with a totally overexposed bright white circle, rather
than the detailed moon shot they were hoping for. That's because it's just about impossible to
get both the city (which takes a long exposure) and a detailed shot of the moon (which takes
a very short exposure because it's actually quite bright) in the same shot. So, what
photographers have been doing for years is creating multiple exposures (two images
captured in the same frame). Now, there are some digital cameras today that let you create
double exposures, but it's just as easy to take two separate photosone of the city, one of the
moonand combine them later in Photoshop. First, start with your nighttime city skyline. Use a
wide-angle lens (maybe an 18mm or 24mm), put your camera on a tripod (an absolute
must), set your camera to aperture priority mode, choose f/11 as your f-stop, and your
camera will choose the shutter speed for you (which may be as little as 20 or 30 seconds or
as long as several minutes, depending on how dark the city is), then take the city skyline
shot. Now switch to your longest telephoto (or zoom) lens (ideally 200mm or more). Switch
to full manual mode, and set your aperture to f/11 and your shutter speed to 1/250 of a
second. Zoom in as tight as you can get on the moon, so there's nothing but black sky and
moon in your shot (this is critical no clouds, buildings, etc.), then take the shot. Now add the
moon to your city skyline in Adobe Photoshop.

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To get the "blue morning" effect, if you're shooting in JPEG, change your
white balance to Fluorescent, take a test shot, then look at the results in your LCD
monitor.

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Photoshop plugins to use to remove noise from ISO:
Noiseware Professional
Noise Ninja
Dfine2.0