Now that you’ve have a chance to see a selection of my photos from Beijing (days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7), I thought I’d give you a break from photos and share a couple of lessons I learned from my first real experience of shooting with a DSLR camera. Next week I’ll bring you a selection of photographs from Yangshuo.

I’ve always liked photography, but never felt that I was any good. For many years I had a pretty decent compact camera but started to get frustrated with the inability to capture some of the shots I wanted. With the purchase of my first DSLR I very quickly realised how much I didn’t know. I was amazed at how easy it had become to take a bad picture.

After shooting my way through two weeks in China, I feel as if I have started to learn my first real photography lessons. The web is full of lessons on how to use photoshop to touch up your pictures. But, even before I get that far, things that I regard as the basics such as being able to instinctively select the correct aperture or shutter speed still seem a long way off for me.

These lessons may seem glaringly obvious, but after picking up a DSLR for the first time, I really did have to start with the basics.

1. Focus
   A blurred photo is almost always a disappointment. It only takes small focal adjustments to make the difference between a clear picture, and a picture that you can’t use. The first thing I realised was that you can’t always rely on the auto-focus to get it right. It does a good job, but make sure you pay attention to what the camera has focussed on. If necessary, don’t be afraid to switch to manual.
2. Angle
   There is nothing like taking a great picture only to find out later that it is a couple of degrees off horizontal. Of course, some photos are meant to be wonky, but make sure you decide this before taking the shot. I was surprised at how many times I didn’t realise that I wasn’t holding the camera level.
3. Subject
   Resist the temptation to take the same photos as everyone else. If you see lots of people taking photos, it doesn’t mean you have to get your camera out and take the same shots. Try looking the other way to see what everyone else is missing.
4. Zoom
   A long lens is no substitute for getting up close and personal. It can be great fun shooting with a long lens, but I found it really difficult to capture any sense of emotion or character when using a long lens. Perhaps this is something to work on.
5. Practise
   You can read all you like about ways to improve your technique, but this is no substitute for getting out there and using your camera. Keep all your photos and, before you delete any, be sure to review them and understand what you feel worked and what could be improved. (tip: you’ll need a bigger hard disk)
6. Ask
   Don’t be afraid to ask people if you can take their photo. I really struggle with this one, but I did learn that asking for permission is far better than trying to take a photo without being noticed. I still have to learn to overcome the fear or embarrassment that comes with taking pictures of complete strangers.

Have you recently made the switch to using a DSLR? Are you a seasoned pro or only just starting out? I’d love to hear what lessons you have learned or what suggestions you have for me. The comments are all yours.