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If you’ve made the move from a regular film camera to digital recently, you’ll already be aware that it takes a bit of practice to ensure that half of the photos you take (which seemed perfect in the preview screen) will be unsatisfactory for printing. A good all-round digital camera will be as precise an instrument as its film counterpart, and we have to be aware of the huge range of variable parameters open to the expert, while making sure we can take and use the techniques we’ll need at our current level.

In fact, many digital cameras are more easily adaptable for beginning work due to their pre-sets. Almost all hand-held digicams have these, and in a sense they cut the corners where you would usually be finding the right F-notch and controlling shutter speed, which are some of the parameters we’ve spoken about before.

Let’s take the portrait, for example. We can simply click our way around to the portrait setting (almost universally a stylized face) on the selector dial, and we’ve got a bundle of settings conducive to a centralized image with high definition. With portrait shots, we’re often better handling the lighting ourselves, so as not to dazzle the subject. Try without the flash, if possible. Do a little thinking about background and about what you want your subject to express – is it a formal portrait, or will you have to generate an emotional response? More of this is up to you than it is to the subject, so take some time in preparation first.

For wildlife images and other close work, you’re likely to want to use your camera’s macro function. This is normally a stylized flower symbol and is often included separately from the selector wheel. The reduced aperture (lens diameter) allows for increased depth-of-field, allowing you to get in close on things like insects landed on leaves, minute textures, and the like. You need to be steady with macro images, as the camera has to process the intended image much more rigorously. With high-activity shots, you’ll want to use your camera’s ‘sport’ preset for high shutter speeds, which will clarify and express the kinetic qualities of the imageand a inkjet printer to print off and share your photo.

Printing is often the forgotten element of hobby photography, simply because it’s possible to view your pictures from your PC, upload them to the internet etc., but it’s the final, important part of the magic of photography; a good image isn’t the same thing as a good photograph. A photo-capable printer, a simple USB hub and some high-quality photographic paper can give you the results you need, and make sure you’ll feel excited about printing, framing and enjoying your photographs to the full.