| Has this happened to you? We buy a brand new | | | | Yes, you are in for a few mind numbingly boring |
| camera with all the latest bells and whistles - mega | | | | hours, but the education you get will immediately |
| pixels through the roof, first rate lenses and a flash | | | | show up in your photos. Plus, you will save on a lot |
| that has more computing power than the space | | | | of the time you spend trying to fix your photos in |
| shuttle. The guy at the camera shop offered to sign | | | | "Photoshop". |
| us up for a professional photo tutorial, but we took a | | | | Finally, you will be able to start using your camera the |
| pass on that idea. (Have to cut costs SOMEWHERE!) | | | | way it was made to be used. |
| We get home and anxiously rip into the boxes...one | | | | 2.- A shot notebook will help you learn to master |
| look at the manuals - written by someone whose | | | | your camera. |
| native language is geek - and we quickly give up on | | | | There was a time when people learned to fly an |
| any attempt at understanding them! | | | | airplane by just getting in one, and taking off. That |
| We finally figure out how to put in all 75 batteries | | | | time is nothing more than a fond memory. The same |
| and turn the thing on. Eventually, through trial and | | | | is true of modern cameras. This is particularly true |
| error we discovered how to set it on automatic, and | | | | with digital cameras. They are just too darn complex |
| it's been there ever since. | | | | to just pick one up and hope to get stunning photos. |
| Our pictures are ok, but nothing special. No one EVER | | | | A modern pilot has a checklist of everything he or |
| asks us for a copy! What's worse, that weird little kid | | | | she needs to do to get in an airplane and fly safely |
| down the street keeps getting photos published in | | | | to their destination. |
| the newspapers and magazines! | | | | You should do the same thing with your |
| We know - creatively - that there is more out there, | | | | photography. |
| but we don't have any idea of what to do to make | | | | Start keeping a shot notebook and record all the |
| our photos better. We're getting downright sick and | | | | settings for each shot you take. This simple exercise |
| tired of sitting in front of the computer all day trying | | | | is one that has been done by all the top pros and will |
| to "fix" our photos in "Photoshop". | | | | quickly teach you the fine points of your cameras |
| What to do... | | | | operation. You'll be stunned at how much you learn |
| There are two simple steps that will immediately | | | | by this seemingly innocuous habit. |
| improve your photography. | | | | By recording the details of each shot, you are in |
| 1. - Set aside a few hours, dig through the junk | | | | effect creating your own pilot's "checklist". In the |
| drawers until you find your camera manuals - and | | | | future, any time you want to duplicate that particular |
| read them. | | | | shot, just refer to your notebook. |
| With camera in hand, go through the entire manual, | | | | I hope you've enjoyed this simple, professional photo |
| page by page until you understand each of the | | | | tutorial and will actually go out and try it- it works! |
| settings and how to get there when you want to. | | | | |