The Physical Exercise Benefits of Hands on Practice.

Photography is meant to be fun!

This is where you'll find activities geared towards helping you understand your camera and photography.

You'll get to turns dials and push buttons on your camera while learning how and why.

Other activities will offer composition tips. You get to lie on the ground, up down all around, compare vertical and horizontal and more.

Would you agree the fun factor increases with understanding your camera functions, what they mean and a few beginning photography tips thrown in for good measure?

Do you get frustrated when you don't fully understand your camera's buttons and dials?

Are some of your pictures too light or too dark and you don't know how to make adjustments?

I can relate and it's why this page is dedicated to the physical exercise benefits of hands on exercises.

On this page you will find short activities relating to your camera plus tips for taking digital photography.

Additionally, text links from here will lead you to other pages for more indepth hands on learning.

With helpful pictures and examples the intention is to have you enjoying your camera and feeling confident using the settings.

You'll find specific activities walking you through the step by step process to the end result of physical exercise benefits.

Quick Tip activities are on this page. Find It activities navigate from this page with text links.

This hands on exercise walks you through examples, step by step, of how to change your exposure settings and why you may want to.

Find It. Reading through the page, "SLR Photography Tips; An introduction to exposure, the subject and your camera," you will find a bear in a tree photo and the text "If you like, do this exercise."


Quick Tip. Let's take a look at perspective.

How often do you take pictures from the same height?

Do you like to experiment with different heights and angles or is the tendancy to shoot from the same position most of the time?

Notice the difference in the these two photos simply by changing perspective. The picture, right, is from table top height and getting down to the level of the plants. Space has been created allowing for the flow of "leading lines" to literally lead you through the picture.

Another fun activity with physical exercise benefits is letting your creativity free flow and attempting different affects.

These flower images were taken with deliberate movement using a slower shutter speed and the camera being hand held rather than on a tripod.

Choose your subject, in this case the flowers, and then in preparation give thought to shutter speed.

Why? You will want a slower shutter speed because this will give you time to start and finish the sweep of motion. If the camera takes the picture quickly it's over and done with before you have time to react.

This activity will take deliberate consideration to coordinate, including experimenting with the shutter speed.

If you shoot on automatic set the camera to aperture priority. Then, dial in the smallest aperture with translates to the highest number, f/22 for example.

This will allow the camera to adjust for the slowest shutter speed possible as it reacts to you reducing the light coming in through a small aperture. If it's a really bright day and you just can't get a slow enough shutter speed you may need to return when the light has dimmed.

If you like to experiment on manual the basics are the same, small aperture for slower shutter speed.

Once you have the exposure settings compose your subject and "get ready."

As you anticipate the shutter opening be ready to move the camera downward in a smooth sweeping motion. You can move from side to side if you prefer.

That's it! As the shutter is open, meaning the camera is in the process of taking the photo, move the camera in the desired direction and presto, there you have it! You may need to experiment with different shutter speeds to get the desired affect and it does take practice.

If so, you may enjoy the brief activity outlined on the page macro photography tips.

Along with an explanation on what a true macro lens is you'll find photos, explanations, tips and an activity.

Find It. As you read through the page, Macro Photography Tips, you will find a camera mode dial image, the dial used to change program settings. Above the image the activity begins with find a subject.


Do you understand the focusing features of your camera?

Depending on your camera you may have only the automatic focus feature or a digital camera with manual focus options in addition to automatic.

This particular model offers three focusing options.

Each option represents the ability to focus according to the situation and personal preference.

If you would like to read about and experiment with focusing options this page will be for you.

Find It. The page titled Digital Camera With Manual Focus explains the letter symbols and what they mean. Following the explanation is the exercise beginning with the heading experimenting with the focus features.

On the same page, near the end, is another exercise titled It will take some experimenting.

Natural Lighting in Photography.



How much attention do you pay to the changing light throughout the day?

By increasing your skills of observation regarding light you will become aware of the affects and how to take better digital pictures.

How?

With the experience of a few physical exercise benefits relating to:

Sunrise and sunset light.

Bright sun.

Shade.

Find It.

You will find information, including examples, about sunrise and sunset light on the page I refer to as natural lighting in photography.

Do you have friends suggesting that the best times to take photos is on a bright sunny blue sky day?

Do you notice how this photo reveals camera lens flare, indicated by the colored light shapes, and uneven exposure?

It is one of the challenges of shooting on beautiful bright and sunny days.

How can you deal with some of these extreme circumstances?

There are a few simple solutions in addition to being aware of how the light is striking your subject.

Clouds can be very helpful.

Overcast grey sky days can be perfect to bring out the best in your subject.

Find It.

For the physical exercise benefits of practicing and to find out more about bright natural light please visit the page photography tips lighting solutions.


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