8 Digital Photography Mistakes One Must Avoid

It is humanly impossible to not make any mistakes while clicking photographs. Everybody makes mistakes. Some learn from it while others keep repeating it. Photography is not an exact science, which means there is no one flawless picture. And digital cameras offer a lot of scope for not only committing errors, but also immediately rectifying it.

1. Using flash, or using the wrong kind: Taking photographs using natural or available light can, more often than not, produce better pictures than the time when you use flash. Learn how to adjust camera settings so that clicking pictures without flash brings out stunning results. If the situation demands use of flash, don’t use the built-in flash in the DSLR. Instead invest in a good external flash or bounce cards, which would soften the effect of harsh light produced by flash.

2. Love the balance of white balance: White balance allows the picture to have colours which are closest to the real subject, irrespective of external lighting. So knowing what white balance is and using it to one’s advantage is a mistake many photographers commit. For instance, images look different in cloudy settings or under direct sunlight. Keeping the setting to Auto WB will adjust it automatically.

3. Red eye is an eye sore: Nobody wants to see portraits of vampires! Well that is what a person will look like if the flash is reflected in the eyes of the people in the frame, which takes on a red tint – making it look more like vampire eyes. Tip: If you do end up with red eye in your pictures, you can remove it in post-production photos.

4. Control contrast: Too much difference in the lighter and darker parts is not a pretty sight. This happens mostly while clicking in harsh sunlight.

5. Too much clutter in the frame: Yes, you try to cramp in too many elements in a single frame, the photo police is going to arrest you. Sometimes, keeping it simple works best.

6. Always shoot in RAW: Lets you get stuck with a raw deal, shoot in RAW so that processing the photos later is easier. Shooting in JPEG won’t give you that freedom.

7. Exposure woes: Underexposed pictures are a strict no-no when it comes to photography (among many things). As are overexposed pictures. Adjust the shutter speed to adjust the amount of light entering through the aperture.

8. Blurry and shaky pictures: If you pictures look like they’ve been hit by an earthquake, then its probably because your hands are shaking while you are shooting those photos. Fix this by using a tripod, or by practicing how to balance your body and hands in a way so that shaking is minimum.