Photography is a form or art. As with other forms of art it takes practice, an eye for design, and skill. Not everyone will spend the time to consider the scene or subject to be photographed and learn what the greater meaning of their image could be. Great photographers spend their lives learning new and distinctive ways to capture their subjects. Digital photography is simply another way of making a picture that has many advantages over film photography.

In digital photography the darkroom has been replaced by software such a Photoshop and the computer printer. Now we can send images to our family and friends instantly and print photographs at home. Taking pictures is simpler by minimizing the guesswork. For example, you can view the image immediately on the camera’s LCD screen instead of having to wait for your film to be developed and printed, and now we are limited by the size of the memory card (hundreds of images) instead of the roll of the film (36 frames).

Digital photography has grown to include the whole spectrum of cameras, from the simplest point-and-shoot consumer model through high-end professional cameras. Now taking pictures easier and a little more fun for everyone involved. As I have already said, we can preview the image with the LCD screen on the back of the camera. And you can crop and make minor edits right in the camera, then print directly from the camera.

We have all played with the camera built into our phones. But if professional photography is your interest you will want to choose a camera that has interchangeable lenses, high sensor resolution, and the ability to set ISO, aperture, and shutter speed manually.

Half the fun of digital photography is setting up your shot just as it is with film cameras. The other half is determining the exposure to create the effects you want the final image to have. You still have to be able to see the unusual elements of the scene, or making something unusual about a common subject, to set the shot up. Look at the subject from all possible angles; maybe take several shots to pick the best angle. Digital cameras are superior to film cameras for this because you can use the LCD screen to see how your photographs look… sort of like using a Polaroid camera before. Using the LCD for instant feedback is the fastest way to learn how lighting, shutter speed, aperture, and ISO all work together in making a photograph.

It may not seem like you would use the same skills you would use with film photography, but you do. Digital photography shortens your learning curve with the instant feedback from the LCD while you are on site photographing, compared to waiting to get you pictures back from a lab.  Digital photography has evolved and gives us a new photographic experience.