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There has recently been a sudden explosion of interest in the artistic yet technological hobby of photography. While many people just like you would like the ability to take perfect, memorable photographs, it is easy to become discouraged about the amount of techniques that one must learn. This article will help you get over that initial hump that all beginners in photography face.

Play around with shutter speeds to determine which work best during what situations. You can choose to leave the shutter open and capture the night sky as it swirls overhead, or set if for a fraction of a second to capture high speed action. A fast shutter speed can stop a moving object in it's tracks, while a slower speed allows you to blur motion a bit, such as water moving over a waterfall.

You should always be on the lookout for photographers who inspire you. Paying attention to other photographers' work and their different styles will remind you of the endless capabilities of capturing those special moments.

Keep a "photo diary" while taking pictures. As your collection grows, it will become more and more difficult to remember the details, such as where and when you took a particular shot. Use a notepad to jot down a few notes about the pictures you take.

There is no reason you can't move around your subject to find the best angle to photograph. Attempt to shoot your subject from below, above, left or right.

Find someone to take pictures with you or join a club. You can learn a lot about technique from other people, as long as you are careful to maintain your unique perspective. Compare the stylistic differences between photos you both took of the same object.

If you like the creative feeling an old camera gives you, consider buying some vintage gear in a second hand shop. To get an especially nostalgic look, try black and white film. A good choice is film with a 200 ISO rating. Try having prints made on different papers, like fiber-based papers.

Limit yourself to ensure that each photograph you take is creative. For instance, set a daily goal and just shoot what represents a single concept, like "sweet." Try to shoot 100 different photographs from the same point or within the same room. Having these limitations in place can make you be more creative and think outside of the box.

If possible, you want the photo subject to be directly looking at the camera. If you want to make your photos a little more interesting, have your subject fix his gaze on an object outside the camera's field of view. Another idea is to tell your subject to concentrate on something or someone in the frame of the shot, without looking directly at the camera.

A lot of people have enhanced their lives through photography. For many people, it never gets beyond the hobby stage due to the difficulty of sorting out everything they need to know to advance beyond the beginner level.