Digital photography is one of the latest developments in photography. Digital photos are not only scalable but they can also be modified to a great extent. The improvement of digital camera and D-SLR technology has made digital photography the choice of many amateur and professional photographers.

Composition

In digital photography, there are some golden rules of composition to capture brilliant images.

The “Rule of Thirds” is a rule of thumb for all photographers when taking photographs. The rule suggests that the image is divided into nine parts by placing two horizontal lines and two vertical lines over the image making a grid. This does not mean the photographer should literally draw the lines on the image, although some digital cameras do come equipped with an optional grid on their display that will divide the screen into the nine segments. The rule then suggests that the focal point of the image should ideally be placed on the intersection of the lines.

The golden rules, or, the "Golden Triangles" and "Golden Spiral" or "Golden Rectangle" are all a way of drawing the viewers attention to certain aspects of the image. For instance, the "Golden Triangles" is a way of drawing focus in an image with diagonal lines. Three triangles with corresponding shapes are used to divide the image. Ideally three subjects that will fill or almost fill the triangles are placed inside the triangles.

Other tips for photograph composition include varying the depth of field in your photos -you can achieve this by adjusting your D-SLR's aperture settings, or the f-stop-, using lines be it vertical, horizontal, or diagonal, and varying the angles of your images.

• Composition Techniques: Focuses on digital photography composition.
• Composition: Discusses careful framing of the subject to make a dramatic difference in the photo.
• Top Composition Rules: Ten of the most popular and most widely used composition rules.
• Photography Basics: Explains the Rule of Thirds.
• Basic Tips: Shows how to choose the right backgrounds, frame the subject, and more.

Outdoor Photography

A great challenge for outdoor photographers is to understand the intricacies of lighting. The time of day and the weather can bring about different lighting issues. To compensate for the lighting, photographers often use filters. Other difficulties for outdoor photographers include the transportation and protection of photography equipment. One of the most commonly repeated rules of outdoor photography is to not take photos at midday if you can. Midday lighting is bright and intense and it is easy for novice photographers to overexpose their subject in the harsh sunlight. Adjusting the ISO and white balance of your camera can also help when taking photos in low light or bright light.

When some people think of outdoor photography they think of nature and animals. When taking photographs of plants and natural settings consider getting as close as possible to your subject instead of using a wide zoom and taking photographs using a macro setting or lens. If taking wildlife photos having a quality zoom on your camera can make it easier to get up close photos without startling your subject away.

• Digital Outdoor Photography: Provides information and resources on digital outdoor photography.
• ISO Settings: Several photos that represent different outdoor photography techniques.
• The Art of Outdoor Photography: Some techniques for the advanced amateur and professional.
• Outdoor Photo Basics: Some ideas on outdoor shots in bright sunlight and the inherent glare which may cause discomfort with a person.
• Photographing Lightning: Information on taking photos of lightning with your digital camera.

Indoor Photography

Many photography professionals use studios where they can erect props and lighting equipment to create the desired pictures. While not everyone has the means to create a quality studio there are many things that novice photographers can do on their own for little or no extra cost. For instance using large sheets pinned smooth as a backdrop for portraits instead of buying expensive professional backdrops. When photographing small objects a light tent can be used to create even lighting on your subject.

Photographing indoors does not mean that you should automatically turn on your camera's flash. Flash can be used effectively or it can greatly reduce the potential of the photo. Understanding the flash settings on your camera and knowing how to adjust them are of the utmost importance. Too much flash can white out a subject, eliminate any background from the photo, and create red eye in people or animals. Before using flash attempt adjusting the settings on your camera and see if it is possible to get a good picture without it.

• Indoor Nature Photography: How windows are used as wonderful sources of light for indoor nature photography. 
• Indoor Photography: Tutorial on indoor photography techniques oriented toward digital cameras.
• Indoor Portraits of Kids: Camera tips for photographing kids.

Lighting and Flash

For many photographers who take pictures mainly indoors or at night, flash is a necessity. However, knowing how to use it so you don't overexpose your subject is important. For small subjects being photographed indoors or at night a flash may not even need to be used. Using lighting found around the house can create interesting photos. Flashlights, desk lamps, and reflective surfaces found around the house (cooking foil for instance) can be used to create dramatic and interesting lighting without the use of flash. You may however need a tripod since some of these lighting sources may require a longer exposure to keep the subject from appearing out of focus.

• Lightning Photography: Offers information on lightning photography and staccato flash in the daytime.
• Digital Photography: Studio lighting techniques and useful concepts with flash units.
• Photography: Practicing flash exposure within the workshop and learning proven basic lighting setups.
• Lighting and Digital Photography: A look at lighting and digital photography.
• Flash: Digital photography with flash and no-flash image pairs.

Equipment

Some of the basic digital photography equipment to carry includes a good quality bag, tripod, flash, lenses, filters, reflectors, and memory cards. Depending on whether you are an amateur or professional photographer, your equipment will also be quite different.

• Photo Equipment: Table-top Computed Lighting for Practical Digital Photography.
• Lighting Equipment: A look at digital cameras and lighting equipment.
• Digital Safari Equipment: Provides some digital photography tips for people who are going to a safari.
• Professional Photography Equipment: Some information on professional photography equipment and how to get good images.
• Camera Equipment: Explains the benefits of additional photography equipment.

Digital Photo Editing

When editing digital photos it is important to remember that a great photo shouldn't need much editing at all, so overdoing it could in fact take away from the photo instead of improving it. Some programs that can be used for editing or Google Picasa, Corel Paint Shop Pro, and Adobe Photoshop. A good photo editor should enable cropping of photos, resizing of photos, contrast adjustments and color adjustments.

• Photographic Editing: Offers some tips on digital photography and photographic editing.
• Digital Photo Help: Tips, tricks and help on digital photo editing.
• Soft Shadows: Learn more about editing soft shadows.
• Editing Principles: A few basic digital photo editing principles.
• Creating Interesting Effects in Photoshop: This page offers tutorials on editing photos in photoshop.
• Photoshop: Shows how to manipulate your digital photos with Photoshop.

Printing Digital Photos

Printing digital photos is quite simple. One of the most important things to remember is that a low resolution photo will not print as clearly as a high resolution photo. For this reason the higher the megapixels the more likely your photo will print clearly. Another advantage of modern digital cameras is that many are capable of sending photos to certain printers without ever needing to load the photos onto a computer. There are also many companies that will print digital photos for you. All you have to do is bring in your SD card, or send the photos over the Internet, and you can have your photos printed on professional photo paper with professional photo inks.

• Printing Digital Photos: Provides information on the choices of printing digital photos.
• Offset Print: Digital imaging requirements for offset print.
• Photos for Print: Learn how to print digital photos.
• Tech Notes: More on printing digital pictures.

Miscellaneous Photography Tips

Here are some more useful tips when taking digital photos.

- When taking digital photos consider taking multiples of each shot from different angles.

- Take test shots before photographing your subject to be sure that your camera is adjusted the way you want.

- Practice is the best way to improve so take photos of many subjects in many settings. Don't limit yourself or your imagination and always strive to try something you haven't tried before.

- Don't be afraid to get down low, or climb up high when photographing a subject. Being on the same level as a child, a pet, or even a toy can greatly improve the overall appearance of your photo.

- Pay attention to your background. Make sure there isn't a lot of unnecessary clutter that will draw attention away from your subject.

- When photographing children and babies capture their feelings in your photo. Not every picture needs to be a smiling one.

- Be patient. Sometimes your subject isn't able to take direction so you have to wait for them to engage in natural activities worth photographing on their own.

- Make eye contact with the subject to create an intimate photo.

• Getting Started: Getting started in digital photography.
• Digital Photography: Learn about what's inside a digital camera.
• Chromogenic Digital Photography: Provides information on chromogenic digital photography.
• Digital Camera Characteristics: Explains the typical characteristics of a digital camera.
• Smithsonian Images: Digital photography and printed pictures from the Smithsonian.
• Beginners Photography: Photography exercises and information targeted at beginners.
• Photo Tips & Techniques: Some advice on taking great pictures.