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Need some useful digital photography tips? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.  It’s a fact that whether you’re a beginner or novice at photography, there’s always room for improvement. Photographers in Abu Dhabi and all around the world are no strangers when it comes to implementing digital photography tips.

Photography itself is an art that many strive to perfect! There are plenty of different types of cameras that come with different equipment, but do you know how to make the most out of your camera, even if you aren’t a professional?

Here are 8 useful Digital Photography Tips to get you started:

1. Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds helps every photographer capture stunning photos simply by using one of the most effective rules of composition. It’s a simple concept – all you have to do is imagine four lines, two horizontal lines and two vertical lines across the image that meet and create nine squares across your frame.

By placing your subject or object off-center at one of the intersecting points of your lines, your photo will come out looking more aesthetically pleasing and properly composed. It will be more pleasing to the eye!

2. Keep Your Camera Steady

Blurry photos are never fun! To avoid blurry photos or a camera shake, you should learn how to hold your camera.

We highly recommend using both your hands when shooting and holding your camera close to your body for good support. If you still can’t keep your hands steady, a tripod will be your next best option! If you don’t have a tripod on you, try to set your camera up on a flat surface as a makeshift tripod.

Additionally, make sure you’re using a shutter speed that’s appropriate for the focal length of your lens. If the shutter speed is on the slower side, even the smallest movements will result in extremely blurry photography.

3. Know When to Use Your Flash

Using the flash will make your photos look harsh and unnatural, especially if you’re shooting indoor portraits.

If you do think you need to use the flash indoors, push your ISO up (anywhere between ISO 800 to 1600) and use a wide aperture. This will allow more light to reach your camera’s sensor and you will also get a soft background.

4. Charge Your Batteries

While this is a fairly simple thing to remember, you’d be surprised by how often photographers are forced to stop shooting because their battery died. Keeping spare batteries on hand is also extremely useful! But make sure those are fully charged too so that your shoot isn’t stopped abruptly.

5. Shoot Multiple Images

Even when shooting still subjects or objects, we recommend shooting multiple frames! You can also shoot a burst of frames using your camera’s continuous shooting mode.

Doing so will allow you to have multiple shots of one image, after which you can choose the one with the best lighting, expression or background – as all factors can change within seconds. So, just shoot and pick the best looking frame later!

6. Plan for Different Lighting

One of the most important aspects when it comes to photography is lighting. If your lighting is too dull, you won’t get great shots. You can’t always depend on the golden hour to capture stunning photos.

Balance the light intensity between your subject and the background. Pay attention to where the light is hitting and if you can’t move the light source, you work around it. Position your subject where the light shines, rather than having the light behind them. If the light is behind them, your photo could potentially be ruined by a silhouetted foreground.

Carry your own external lighting sources as well! This will allow you to control the amount of light in shots when you’re capturing photos in already poor lighting conditions.

7. Clean Your Lens

Another simple rule for digital photography is that you should not forget to clean your lens! There’s truly nothing worse than taking dozens of photos, only for them to come out blurry because your lens had smudges all over them.

8. Don’t Overuse Your Zoom

While zooming in may help you take closer shots of your subjects, try not to overdo it. There’s a good chance that doing so will result in pixelated or grainy photos. Do your best to get physically close as possible if you’re looking for a closer shot.

Watch this space for  updates in the Photography category on Running Wolf’s Rant.