You Can Be a Photographer Today

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If you're an amateur photographer, or if you've just recently started photography as a hobby, today is a great time. You have plenty of choices for cameras; there are inexpensive digital cameras as small as a credit card and you can snap pictures whenevr you want. If you're looking for a more robust "toy," you can move up to a digital camera or even a digital SLR camera.


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You Can Be a Photographer Today

A photographer, in its simplest (and most obvious) definition, is a person who takes photographs. There are amateur photographers and there are professional photographers. Amateur photographers are those who take pictures as a hobby or those who are just starting their careers in photography.

Today, it is so easy to become a photographer, whether it's for fun or profit. Digital cameras, unlike cameras of the past, don't have film. Photos are saved in a storage media and they can be transferred later on to the computer, where they can be printed straight to the printer and even shared with others via e-mail and photo sharing sites like Flickr and FaceBook.

With digital cameras, you never have to mess with negatives or know how to develop film in a dark room. All you need to do really is point and shoot. However, it's still a good idea to learn some basic photo composition principles and methods so you can take more interesting shots.

It's a Great Time to Be an Amateur Photographer

If you're an amateur photographer, or if you've just recently started photography as a hobby, today is a great time to pick up the hobby. You have plenty of choices for cameras; there are inexpensive digital cameras as small as a credit card and you can snap pictures whenever you want. If you're looking for a more robust "toy," you can move up to a digital camera or even a digital SLR camera.

Professional Photographers and Their Choice of Cameras

Professional photographers are those who practice photography as a career or engage in specific photography fields. You'll find professional photographers who focus on weddings, portraits and commercial photography to be the common..

Different photographers use different cameras; their choice of camera equipment varies. For instance, photographers who are in the modeling and fashion industry still use the 35mm SLR camera, also now called a DSLR. However, photographers who are into portrait photography are now leaning more toward using digital SLR cameras as these cameras allow printing of proof sheets instantly, which means a photo or two can be chosen at the time of the sitting.

Digital cameras are also becoming the camera of choice by those who make a living from wedding photography. Professional grade digital SLR cameras are extremely expensive, but the picture quality they produce is fantastic. Many of these digital cameras auto correct for lighting, skin tones, high contrasts of light and dark on the subject, and other situations.

Some of these cameras are lightweight, compact, easy to manage and help make wedding photographs come out perfect, which is why they are the ideal cameras for wedding photographers. Frequently, extended family wedding photos and wedding photos of the bride and groom are taken outdoors. A digital camera helps tremendously to keep lighting and focus in these situations in check, thereby allowing the photographer to focus on creating the perfect shot.

Commercial photographers have been using digital cameras for many years. Retouching became much easier with digital technology for commercial photogrpahers. Many who have online stores or sell on eBay take photos of their products using digital cameras.

Most commercial photography involves the photographer taking a still picture and then incorporating it into an advertisement. Usually, the commercial photographer uses a photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop to complete the ad. It matters not if the advertisement is in print or on the Internet; digital cameras help commercial photographers get the photos into a finished product faster and less costly than ever before.

Photography for Everyone

There isn't a better time than today to be a photographer, whether professional or amateur. Digital camera technology keeps advancing rather quickly, you'll be amazed at how far http://knol.google.com/k/bob-dale/digital-photo/3sc7328xnxguv/3# digital photography has come in just a few short years.

New technology seems to surface every so many months, and every year great digital cameras are introduced. The quality of digital cameras and the pictures they can take are simply outstanding.

From the 35mm film to APS systems to digital SLR cameras that produce outstanding photographs, the evolution of the camera and its impact on the photographer make for a quite interesting story.

Want to learn more about digital photography from Professional Digital Photographer Bob Dale? Visit http://photo.dalestudios.com/photo/photos/ and sign up for his Digital Photography Tips newsletter.

Comments

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Neat Article - More follow-ups needed!

Great Article!

I would love to hear more from you. And if I'm allowed to make requests lessons on choosing creative subjects?

I use a DSLR (Nikon D50) and over the time have got some fundamentals right like the light/aperture/ ISO settings and all. But I still have trouble deciding what to shoot?

Last edited Mar 9, 2009 10:14 AM
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I am a new comer

I have interest to buy a DSLR and no I using only mobile Camera..eventhough I have firm background in Computer field as well. I am a teacher...I decide to Buy Canod EOS 400D / Sony Alpha 200...
Which one you suggets.
As a matter of fact I noticed that Sony is too expensive compared to others

Last edited Dec 27, 2008 3:57 AM
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Good article

Very nice article. I've always wanted to learn photography, but amidst the busy schedule, never gotten time to learn one. This article will really bring the photographer inside me...

Last edited Sep 13, 2008 9:43 PM
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Good info!

It's great to have everything spelled out. Thanks! My daughter has a digital SLR and loves photography. I still have my Sony cyber-shot, which works great for selling online, family vacations, and anytime snapshots.

Last edited Sep 13, 2008 6:18 PM
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Good advice!

I've always wanted to pursue photography as a serious hobby - I think this has made me decide to do it!

Sep 13, 2008 1:54 AM
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Useful article

Great article which has to be read by anyone who aspires to be a professional photographer or who just want to have fun taking pictures in an amateur fashion.

Last edited Sep 11, 2008 1:33 AM
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Bob Dale
Bob Dale
Professional Photographer Photo Studio at Dale Studios
Minneapolis, MN
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