When you are getting a camera the best thing you can do is price yourself accordingly. You should do this before you starting shopping online and in camera shops. Buying a digital camera is just like getting any other large item like a car. There more than few dozen brands of camera, and you must be careful not to get confused. Before you go buying a large high-end SLR camera, think about the smaller, yet more powerful camera. High-end cameras offer the best zoom, the most added features and more megapixels. Just because you have more megapixels doesn't mean you will have a great photo quality. Being new in cameras it wouldn't be the best idea to spend a huge amount of money on a high on camera. It would be a better option to look for cheaper, smaller, yet capable, small digital cameras that are quite a bit easier to hold and travel with. It is better learn the basics with electronic cameras and make sure you enjoy photography before spending extra money.
Are you having trouble catching aerial photos? Guess what you don't have to use planes or helicopters! Sometimes aerial shots on planes can sometimes get expensive unless you have a friend with a plane. Another problem would be the fear of heights rather than how expensive planes and helicopters are. Want a great secret? Most "aerial" photos are not actually taken from a plane. It is rather from a countryside vantage point. If you're on a mountain overlooking a vista, on top of a lighthouse, or in the observation deck of a tall skyscraper, and you shoot down, you're quite high up as it is. Your digital photos will look like they came from a helicopter or plane even though you're not in any flying vehicle at all!
For most photographers autumn is one of the most enjoyable times. There are pretty arrangements of colors, ranging from red to gold from tinted green to shades of brown and tan. If you would like to enjoy photography natures fireworks display a well planned trip to one of the best fall places can be arranged. If you live in the US, the Department of Agriculture has a website that displays fall foliage information by geographical area. It is important to plan your trip precisely when the fall colors are their strongest. Information is updated as soon as conditions permit. If don't plan to travel to the US, check with your country's forestry or agriculture department website to see if such information is available. A good website for the US is the USDA Forest Service Fall Colors - http://www.fs.fed.us/news/fallcolors/.
A good location can make all the difference when taking fireworks photos with your digital camera. When capturing fireworks on film, composition is critical. Before the fireworks show begins, find a good vantage point that provides you with a clear shot of the upcoming show. Try to avoid streetlights that may compete with the brightness of the fireworks. Also important is to find a spot that will minimize the chances of people walking in front of your digital camera. Do not trespass on private property and be safe where you go at night, but look around for an area that can give you a clear shot of the brilliance that will light up your camera.
Shooting photos at dusk may provide your digital camera with just enough light to take great cityscape photos. If you are looking for a great nighttime cityscape picture, consider taking your photos at dusk instead of in the pitch black of night. The sky is dark at dusk, but not so dark to prevent some degree of sunlight entering your digital camera, making it easier to take hand-held photos that do not result all blurry due to 'camera-shake'. Dusk only lasts for a little while, so research your shot locations beforehand. Plus, check the local newspaper or visit a weather website for the sunset time, and be prepared to shoot photos around that timeframe.
Don't waste time refocusing between shots during a parade. In order to shoot as many photos as possible during a parade, consider getting a focus lock (keep your shutter button held halfway down and don't completely release it after taking a photo), or setting your camera up for manual focus. Then, you can take several photos in succession, or use your camera's "drive" mode for multiple shots within a small range of time. Without having to refocus for each shot, your digital camera should function much quicker. Though you may want to set up and refocus for certain special shots, other times you may have just as much fun continuously shooting as the action in a parade can happen very fast.
Take care when taking digital camera photographs on sunny days. When you are out taking pictures on hot, sunny days, you need to take care to not permanently damage your digital camera's lens. Photos of sunrises and sunsets are always fun to take and beautiful to view later, but pointing your lens directly at the sun may damage it. Focus your pictures slightly away from the sun to help prevent damage. Also, in between photos, turn off your digital camera and place a lens cap over your lens to protect it from too much light. A digital camera lens is in some way like your eye; too much direct sunlight may damage it. Take photos in spurts, and then protect your digital camera lens by covering it up.