Hi, I'm Michael Mistretta, a student passionate about technology, photography, and design. Welcome to my online home where I write about technology, reviews, and my thoughts and opinions on technology-related matters. 
One of the best purchases I made in 2007 was my Nikon D40x. I really enjoy photography, and my 5 year old point and shoot simply wasn’t cutting it for me anymore. However, ever since getting the D40x, I find myself taking a lot of pictures. Where cameras used to be only for special events, I began using my camera to take photos every day. While that was great, the real problem was that I would go to an hour-long event and come back with 500 photos. I would treat my DSLR as a point-and-shoot - a very good one at that. But at the speed I was taking pictures, very few turned out good, and many were out of focus.
I didn’t realize that shooting with a DSLR is a totally different than shooting with a P&S. You have to think differently. You have to imagine things differently. You can’t just see a good shot, aim, and fire. A good photographer has to examine the best way to capture the atmosphere of the moment. It wasn’t until this flickr comment on one of my flickr photos that I finally realized the truth.
“Nice perspective, but lower might be better. Also, the framing is flawed. The fence leads across the center. It would be much better if it led across the entire image or just one side. It feels too centered. Also, you’re missing a subject. This might be an interesting shot at sunset/rise with a subject that the fence could frame.” -baseballboy828
This comment really got me to think about digital photography. Sure digital images are disposable, but I’d rather take 10 awesome shots that really capture the moment, than 500 mediocre shots. Reading some blog posts made me think that the more pictures I took, the better. Instead, this comment has made me think more about framing, exposure, and focus in my shots. I believe that this realization needs to happen in every amateur photographers mind. You are trying to tell a story, and must compose your shots in the best way possible. Whenever I put my eyes up to my camera, I want to remember to spend more time composing my shots, than actually hitting the shutter.
Good post! When I go out taking photos I always think I’ve taken loads, but for some reason when I import them into iPhoto - I realize that I haven’t taken as many. Maybe its a subconscious thing, but find that a good shot finds me and that if I go looking for them I don’t get the best results.
Comment by Jonathan — January 4, 2008 @ 6:49 pm
When I got my Nikon D50 my photography was changed it is so much easier and nice to shoot with a DSLR.
Comment by rmaspero — January 4, 2008 @ 6:52 pm
Yes, taking less photos is a good thing, but the way to learn is to shoot, and shoot as often as you can. Don’t just compose, watch your settings too. I was browsing your Flickr shots, and noticed one of them in particular. You shot with a shutter speed of 1/4000th of a second, while the ISO was set to 800? Watch that, you exposed way to much. Chump it down to ISO 100 and be shooting with a slower shutter speed. Anything over 1/60th of a second for non-action is acceptable.
Comment by Glenn Wolsey — January 4, 2008 @ 7:28 pm
I usually like to take several shots of the same scene using different settings. When I’m photographing flowers, I like to do some in macro and some regular and then when I import them I keep the ones that look best. A lot of times I can’t tell on the camera display which shots look good until I import them.
Comment by Mike Cohen — January 4, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
@Glenn and @Mike: Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll try to keep all those into consideration. The Nikon D40x auto setting likes to take the ISO way up, and I constantly try to tone it down. What is the best way to switch from auto mode to something else (perhaps Aperture-priority mode).
I find that I like to experiment with many settings on different shots, and I am just beginning to learn how different settings affect different attributes of the pictures. I will definitely keep all of this in mind when shooting.
Comment by Michael Mistretta — January 4, 2008 @ 8:37 pm
Oh, Glenn, I think I found the photo you were talking about.
http://www.flickr.com/photo_exif.gne?id=2164299642
I was trying out Aperture priority on this shot, and I wanted to blur out the background by choosing a large Aperture. Unfortunately, I had the ISO set at 800 from earlier. That was a big mistake. Also, the shot turned out with an incredible bluish tinge. Was that because of the ISO, the Aperture, or the white balance? I’m kind of confused, and still learning how certain things affect others.
Thanks for all your help.
Comment by Michael Mistretta — January 4, 2008 @ 8:58 pm
Wow, all this talk of aperture, ISO speed, shutter speed is making me confused myself.
Michael, I think this calls for a post all about these technical details of your new camera. I really want to start using the PASM settings on my camera more, and I have no idea how.
Thanks!
Comment by Chad Ohman — January 4, 2008 @ 9:34 pm
@Chad I agree, I have a Canon DSLR and I only know how to use a couple of the settings, but I’d love to learn about them all!
Comment by Leo — January 4, 2008 @ 10:51 pm