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Photography is both about knowing how to use a camera and also knowing how to make decisions. Today's media projects images that can be difficult to understand, and learning photography can help you to understand what you're being showed every day on television, on the internet, and in movies. Photography is a good way to occupy your time, especially if you are a teenager, as it is fun and harmless. Besides that, it's a great way to bring a community together for a project, such as photographing activities and gatherings.

It is quite easy to touch the optics of a camera and leave fingerprints. The result is that your pictures do not turn out clear in certain areas. Or, the autofocus sensors (if your camera has them) can be fooled by the smudge you leave on them, and deliver blurred pictures. Regularly clean your optics with an appropriate cloth and solution (both obtained at any respectable camera store). Do not use tissue paper, your finger, spit or household cleaning solutions.

The autofocus of most cameras has a two-step shutter release. Pressing the button down half-way locks the focus of the picture, and pressing it down all the way takes the picture. Depressing the shutter only half-way allows you to select what part of the picture you would like to be clearly focused; after holding the button halfway down, you can move the picture so that the subject is where you want it to be and yet is still focused. Always press the button gently, not jerkingly, so as not to move the camera too much from the frame and composition.

When you look at a picture where there are objects in the foreground and in the background, you may notice that, besides your main subject, some objects in front of your main subject and going all the way back to behind your main subject are also in focus. This "zone of sharpness" is called the depth of field. The depth of field is dependent on the aperture you are using, the focusing distance, and the size of the projected image. The depth of field decreases as you open up the lens, i.e. as you move to a larger aperture. It decreases as you move closer to your subject. And, at a fixed image size, the depth of field is the same irrespective of the focal length used. You would want to use a shallow depth of field to isolate your main subject from its surroundings, as in a portrait. You can accomplish that by moving in close, by zooming in (again, because it makes the background appear larger and more out of focus) and/or by using a large aperture.

Pictures don't just come out looking right. If you look at some of the pictures you especially like, you will notice that the way the picture was composed probably has a lot to do with it. What we mean by composition is how you place your subject(s) on the blank canvas that's your 4x6. If you mentally divide your screen into three horizontal and three vertical sections, where the lines intersect are focal points. Focal points are what the eyes naturally seek out when they look at a photograph. It therefore stands to reason that a focal point is a good place to position our main subject. It's not a hard and fast rule, so don't go bonkers trying to place your subject right at a focal point.

Landscape photos are very popular and can be very nice-looking. The whole photograph will need to be in focus, unlike some pictures where only a certain part is in focus. In order to have the picture completely focused, you'll need to have a short focal length. This will create a larger depth of field, and everything will be focused. In order to creating a pleasing balance between land and sky, or water and sky, you can use the rule of thirds. Furthermore, if you want a sense of three dimensions, you can have a subject in the foreground.

The panoramic picture is a new and exciting mode that is becoming more prevalent in digital cameras. Start by setting your camera on the tripod and ensure that it can only swivel left and right and not up and down. Take your first shot. Note the edges of the picture carefully and identify where you want to overlap the next picture. Choose an object where the overlap will be less apparent. Then, without moving the tripod to another spot, swivel the camera, say clockwise, and take your second shot making sure you have overlapped a part of your first shot. Continue to swivel and take shots until you have captured everything you wanted to. Then use the software provided with your camera to "stitch" the shots together to form your panoramic picture. If done properly, panoramic pictures (landscapes and group pictures) can be very impressive. Note that best alignment results are obtained from cameras with the tripod socket smack under the lens.

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