Question by Ivy: How can I take good quality pictures with a point and shoot camera?I'm looking for techniques in coming up with magnificent photos using only a handy point and shoot camera. Yeah, I have camera envy since I can't afford to buy an SLR or a DSLR. How do you make the most out of your compact camera? Can you give me some tips on how to take good nighttime pictures, underwater pictures, nature shots, landscape shots, moving objects, food, and portraits? What are the appropriate settings for these type of shots? Thank you. :)
Best answer:Answer by Jens
Unless the camera has manual controls, use the appropriate scenic mode. These really make a difference. E.g. portrait mode will try to blur the background and give flattering skin tones, while landscape mode will get everything sharp and give you bright blue and greens.
You're asking for much...here are just some quick pointers:
Nighttime is a challenge for any camera, and P&S ones do especially poorly there. If your camera has manual controls, then take shots on a tripod or bag of beans with low ISO but long exposure times.
For landscape shots, zoom out as far as possible, use landscape mode or a closed down aperture to get everything sharp. Also try vertical orientation with a strong foreground subject before a nice background, thus putting things into perspective. Avoid a horizon in the middle of the shot, decide either to show a dramatic sky or a landscape and place the horizon at the lower fourth or fifth or the upper one respectively. If you use horizontal orientation, avoid having just more on the right of what you already have on the left - it may look like a breathtaking "emptiness" in real life, but on a photo it will be boring.
The time of the day is critical for landscape shots. Avoid bright noon sunlight like the plague. You get the best light in the hour after dawn or before dusk. It's nice and golden, and all the cast shadows enhance structures and give them a 3D look.
Study Jack Dykinga's work for examples:
http://gallery.me.com/petedykinga
I'm not into action or food photography so i cannot comment on those.
For portraits, use a zoomed in setting with a wide open aperture, take the shot from at least two meters away if the zoom permits it. That will give a more flattering perspective and with the zoomed in setting you can obtain at least a somewhat blurred background. Avoid direct flash, preferably take them under a cloudy sky or in shadow - that'll give you nicely soft light without harsh shadows.
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