Quick Tips

Focal Length:

Backgrounds

Most photographers use focal length only for composition.

There's more you can do.

Use wide focal lengths (small mm) to "push" the background back.

Use telephoto focal lengths (larger mm) to "pull" the background closer.

Go to More from Your Zoom.

"Pushes" Background Far Away

"Pulls" Background Closer

Exposure:

White Subject in the Sun

If you're photographing something white in the sun, your camera exposure meter will make it too dark.

You need to overexpose.

Use exposure compensation to brighten the exposure.

Normal Exposure (0.0)

Snow Is Too Dark

Exposure Compensation +1.0

Snow Is Brighter

Backlighting

If there's a bright background, your subject will probably be too dark.

Use exposure compensation to brighten the exposure.

Tree Is Too Dark

Tree Is Brighter

Expose to the Right

If you're saving photographs as raw files, expose to the right. Take a photograph and check the histogram. If there are no pixels on the right side, increase the exposure with exposure compensation, and take another photograph. The image on the LCD screen may not look well-exposed, but the raw file is.

Go to Expose to the Right.

Unused "Space" on Right

More Data Captured

Fill Flash

Use your flash in the sun to fill in the shadows.

DSLR

Use the P (Program) exposure mode and press the flash button.

Point-and-shoot

Press the flash icon until Flash On appears.

Go to Fill Flash.

Without Flash

With Flash