Using a Point and Shoot Camera
A point-and-shoot camera might not be an option for serious photographers who take their photography seriously. They’re only for snapping photos, right?
Yes, it is true to a point. They can also be a powerful tool.
Get Good Results Quickly
While I won’t say that a point-and-shoot camera is better than a DSLR, it will show you how to take better photos. However, they can take great photos.
You can control the final look of your point-and-shoot photos by setting shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual shooting modes. Even if your camera doesn’t support custom shooting modes, you can still achieve good results. There are many photographers who take great photos with their phones.
These cameras offer a few advantages over a DSLR. They are small and light. One can be carried in your pocket. It is easy to quickly frame your shot, take the photo, and then slide the camera back into your pocket.
Camera Sketchbook
A sketchbook is a very creative way to use your point-and-shoot camera. What does this mean?
As mentioned, it is much easier to have a small camera on you. Let’s suppose you spot something that you think makes a great photo. You don’t have your DSLR. Use the point-and-shoot to take the photo. This will serve as your sketch. It can be used as a sketch of the subject or location you took the photo. It serves as a guide. Then, you can plan to go back and take the photo using your DSLR.
This is a great way to get rid of your camera. Sometimes we can get overwhelmed by all the features that a DSLR offers. Point and shoot allow you to simply frame the image and then take it. You don’t need to worry about exposure. Set the camera to auto mode and start shooting.
Then you can go through all the photos that you took with it and decide which ones to take with your DSLR. You can view your point-and-shoot images as rough sketches that you can later fine-tune with your DSLR. This is very similar to how an artist uses his sketchbook.
Photograph the area around where you are going to be shooting. You can take several photos and frame your subject in a different way each time. This is a great technique, especially if time is tight. The photos can be taken home to be analyzed. Choose the compositions that you like the best. Decide which lens you will use. Which angles have given you the best results? Which time would you be most likely to return and take the photograph you desire? These decisions can be made based on the photos that you have taken. You can then return with your DSLR to get the shots that you want.
Grab your camera or your phone, and get shooting. Look for interesting angles. Experiment. Keep in mind that you are only sketching.
