Basic Photography Tips

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Photography can be a method of documenting news to share it with the world or capturing moments of your life to enhance your own memories. Or photography can be an art form focused on creation, expression, and experimentation. Whatever the basis of your interest in photography, the Internet is your starting point for finding what you want to know. Whether you're just starting to learn about technique or thinking about offering your own photographs for sale, this guide will show you where to look for the information you need.

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Photography Magazines and Blogs

Photography magazine Web sites and photo blogs are excellent sources of general information, ... read more »

Basic Photography Tips

Thirty years ago, the only ways to learn about photography were books, classes, or direct experimentation. Now there are a multitude of Web resources that you can use to teach yourself. Learn how a camera works, discover various techniques and styles, and find tips for taking better photographs with the Web sites below.

Dulcinea's Insight

For technique, try looking for discussion forums for people who own your particular camera or brand, which offer an opportunity to share experiences and tips. This can be invaluable for learning about your camera's features and improving your technique. Just search for your camera by name using Google or another search engine along with a phrase like "owners forum."

Today the majority of photography tutorials are aimed at digital camera users, but they can be useful for film photographers as well, as tips on composition generally apply to both types of users.

The manufacturer of your camera may dedicate a section of its Web site to tips for taking better photos. This is often marketing disguised as how-to guides, but it can be informative.

Most of the magazines' Web sites included in the "Where can I find general photography information?" section of this guide have areas with tips on how to improve your picture taking.

Dulcinea's Picks

For basic information about how a camera works ...

HowStuffWorks has a basic tutorial about how cameras work, and a dizzying number of guides about how different types of cameras and their components work. For more focused results, type your specific camera type in the site's search box.

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The Buskin Journalism Site , though directed at journalists, has a concise explanation of how a camera works that's valuable for anyone.

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For techniques and tips for better photos ...

Focus on Photography from Fodor's, the travel guide publisher, gives a variety of tips for taking travel photos, which are informative for general photography as well. Try the Composition section for some basic tips if you're just starting out.

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Photonhead provides a guide to photography for beginners, including an introduction to camera modes and concepts such as exposure and film speed.

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Cambridge in Colour is written by an independent photographer. The site provides a variety of highly detailed, technical guides for understanding how digital photography works and composing and editing your digital photos.

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ShortCourses is a library of information on digital photography. The site offers a multitude of information, ranging from how to use your camera to how to store your photos. This site is unique in that the "courses" can be read for free on the web or purchased for download or print delivery in book format.

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Digicamhelp.com offers beginning and advanced techniques for improving your digital photos. The site also features a Q&A forum where you can get assistance with your photography and image-editing questions, a Learn section for beginners and intermediate digital camera users, a nontechnical digital photography glossary, and more.

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PhotographyTips.com contains numerous resources to help you take better pictures. Learn about light, composition, and posing under the "Subjects" and "Techniques" sections, and look up photography terms in the extensive glossary. Some content is for paying members only, but the free content is worth looking at.

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For alternative photo processes ...

AlternativePhotography.com offers an overview of alternative photo processes [http://www.alternativephotography.com/process.html] like albumen prints and photogravure, as well as how-to guides for using these old techniques for photo creation and a gallery of photographs created with alternative processes.

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The Victoria and Albert Museum 's Exploring Photography section details the various photographic processes and has section of photographers' individual experiences.

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