![Digital SLR Photography Toolkit for Dummies [iPhone]](http://www.geek-speak.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/dslrtoolkit.jpg)
Photography is one of the passions of my life, and a while back I bought a Digital SLR camera. I can honestly say it’s one of the best purchases I’ve ever made, and has allowed me to take my photography to a whole other level. If you want you can have a look at some of my images on Flickr and RedBubble.
I rely quite heavily on the camera’s automatic settings… if I’m taking pictures of motor racing, I use “sport” mode. Landscape photography? That’ll be “landscape” mode then. I know the creative modes allow more, well, creativity, but I’ve never really got to grips with them. I need some sort of simple guide to what settings are appropriate in different situations so that I can learn what they do.
Get set…
That’s where the Digital SLR Photography Toolkit for Dummies comes in. It’s an iPhone app that aims to help you take great photographs. It’s the settings finder I’m most taken with – you select what kind of subject you’re photographing (e.g. flowers/leaves/nature), what the conditions are like (overcast), and it’ll tell you the best ISO, aperture, and shutter speed to use as well as giving you a bit of advice on the best technique. I tried this with some landscape photography and found it to be pretty much spot on, although you’ll want to check the photo’s histogram afterwards just to be sure. After all, “overcast” covers a pretty wide range of light levels!
Tell me more…
As well as the settings finder, there’s some useful teaching in the DSLR Toolkit. The section on “taking great pics” splits into several topics like how to take a good portrait, getting the exposure right, and thinking about composition. There’s also a section called “Part of tens” that reads like a very in-depth blog series… Ten tips for better photos, ten benefits of using Flickr, ten great online resources, and so on. It’s almost like carrying a photographic advice magazine around in your pocket.
What have I forgotten?
So you’ve managed to convince your friend that you should be the photographer at their wedding. Have they any idea what they’ve let themselves in for? Come to think of it, have you? What kind of equipment do you need for a wedding shoot, anyway? The Digital SLR Photography Toolkit for Dummies includes a series of checklists to help you avoid forgetting that all-important item when going on a shoot. You can even check items off as you pack them. I love the checklist for going on vacation, which includes a small point-and-shoot camera that will fit in your pocket. Yeh, a Digital SLR’s great, but it’s not the most discreet of cameras for snapping family photos when you’re at a restaurant. Seriously, though, the checklists are a very handy addition and should avoid those moments when you’re out and think, “I wish I’d brought the tripod”.
And finally…
Those are some really meaty features, but add in a photoshoot diary, diagrams of different camera’s controls, a spirit level (for ensuring your tripod is level), flashlight, glossary and exposure calculator, and you’ll have noticed that this is an incredibly useful app for anyone looking to improve their Digital SLR photography.
The Digital SLR Photography Toolkit for Dummies is available from iTunes and is well worth the investment of a purchase. Please note that some features require an on-board camera, hence the reason I’ve only listed this as an iPhone app.
Related reading (auto-generated):
Join us on Facebook
Declare your geekdom for the world to see... well, the part of the world that's on Facebook anyway.
Visit our Facebook page to keep up to date with the latest Geek-Speak posts right in your Facebook stream, as well as hearing about discounts and offers before they're posted on the site.
What are you waiting for? Head on over and "like" us.
{ 2 comments }
Thanks for the heads up on that, Chris…just downloaded it…I’ve had a dslr for over a year now and still getting to grips with it! Hopefully this will push me on to the next level…
How bizarre – I was just talking about you tonight! How’s things?
Hope you find the toolkit useful. I’ve certainly found it handy for learning how to use my DSLR better.
Comments on this entry are closed. Have you read our commenting guidelines?