Digital photography tips

Tip 1:
A tip for the careless (or those with butter fingers!). Dropped your digital camera in water? Don’t panic! Quickly get the camera out. Whip out the batteries first, then remove the memory card. Do this quickly!

Then dry your camera, battery and memory card out thoroughly. Dry with a towel first, then leave somewhere warm for at least a week (the airing cupboard, if you have one).

When it’s all dry, pop the batteries back in. More often than not, it will work just fine. The memory card should be ok too, but download the images to your computer first, then try it back in the camera.

The best tip, of course, is to avoid dropping it in water in the first place!

Tip 2:
Take it steady! This digital photography tip is one that anyone can, and should, do - Holding your camera correctly.

Don’t hold it at arms length. Instead, hold the camera close to your body, with the screen about eight inches from your eyes. Keep your elbows tucked into your sides. Breathe out, and then firmly press, don’t stab, the shutter button.

If you have a digital SLR, then this digital photography tip varies just a little. You’ll be looking through the viewfinder, not looking at the screen. You should stand the same way, but use your left hand to support the lens, not the camera.

Tip 3:
A digital photography tip for anyone who has found a damaged or torn photo in that shoe box in the attic. Scan the photo, and then repair it using the clone stamp tool found in any decent image editing software.

• Click here for a hands-on image editing software review of popular software.
• Click here for a Photoshop tutorial on how to repair photos.

Tip 4:
A digital photography tip for anyone who either doesn’t have a tripod, or doesn’t want to lug one around!

Find a solid surface to rest your camera on. Use a bag or rolled up jumper under your camera to help you adjust its position. Set the self timer, press the shutter, and stand back!

By using the self timer you won’t jog the camera when the shutter fires.