Taking photos adds to enjoyment of outdoors
Over the years, I have had a camera within reach at all times. As a result, there’s nearly 8,000 digital photos on my computer, plus at least twice that number of slides and print photos stored in albums and drawers around my house.
Photography has never been my strong suit. If survival meant only eating the high quality pictures my camera took, my carcass would have been picked clean by vultures decades ago.
Easier than ever
Photography used to be an expensive waiting game, with a few days’ lag between clicking the shutter and picking up the results at a camera shop. Today, taking pictures is fun, easy and cheap, thanks to digital technology. Now it’s possible to plug a camera or SanDisk card directly into a computer and edit the images within a few minutes.
Modern point-and-shoot digital cameras have taken a great deal of the guesswork out of taking photos. They do everything except steady the camera and push the shutter at the proper time for action shots.
Despite technological advances — just like in hunting or fishing — modern photographers must still be patient, especially when waiting for wildlife shots to materialize, even if that “wildlife” is your kids in the backyard.
Unexpected surprises
Professionals plan and set up everything in advance — that’s what studios are for: Perfect pictures. In the real world, especially in the outdoors, nearly everything is a surprise.
To increase the odds of taking a great photo — whether it’s of a chickadee at the bird feeder or your baby’s first steps — do everything possible to eliminate any variables before clicking the shutter.
Digital cameras have changed everything for the better.
For a fraction of the cost of a quality, name-brand 35 mm film camera from “yester-year,” it’s possible to purchase a digital camera — from many of the same companies — in which everything is automated and which is capable of capturing a perfectly exposed and focused image almost every time. Many people take decent pictures with their phones.
X-factor
The primary X-factor that can blur even a well-planned image is movement of the photographer’s hand, especially under low light conditions. A tripod or simply steadying the camera by leaning on a solid, stationary object is the solution to this constant problem.
The great thing about digital photography at any experience or interest level is the relatively low cost of capturing and printing images. If you don’t like them, there’s always the delete button. If you do, there’s a print button.
What to get
Today, an SD card that can hold hundreds of images and be used for years, costs just a little more. A large capacity SD card, with a gigabyte or more of storage is capable of capturing an entire vacation, plus a birthday or two, with ease.
A home computer with a photography program and a cheap printer are capable of producing beautiful pictures that can be sent to any other computer on the planet with the click of a mouse.
Digital cameras have created an entirely new era in picture-taking.
I’m probably the only Neanderthal on the planet who does not own a cell phone that can take a picture for two reasons.
First, I hate cell phones. The company president and business people who are constantly on the road might need one, but most humans don’t. Plus, it’s rude to constantly fiddle around with a phone in the presence of others. My digital camera and I don’t talk at all, unless the batteries die. Then it gets a lens-full of my wrath as they are being changed.
Second, the reliable glass lenses from Sony look like they are for cameras, not like shiny, one-eyed saltine crackers in rain gear or slick, black, pocket calculators with way too many numbers.
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