Digital photography has made it possible to take some very good quality pictures with rather inexpensive, compact cameras, and even hand phones. While these devices are capable of taking technically sound pictures and video, the benefits don't really shine, if you don't fully understand the capabilities of the device, or how it works.
A case in point. My in-laws were recently in town and to no surprise, we found ourselves at the Night Safari. One of the attractions was a performance by the nocturnal creatures; animals that use the cover of darkness to hunt and explore their surroundings. "Please, no flash photography," cautioned the announcer. The sudden and bright flashes of light frighten and disorient the animals.
Out comes the first animal, walking slowly across a rope line above the audience.
Without delay, the sky was brightened by a legion of flashes, from all sections of the audience.
Were these people deliberately trying to frighten the animal or spoil the show? I don't think so. What this really told me, was they simply didn't know how to disable the flash, or in essence, how their camera works.
To prove my point, I went through the newsroom, randomly asking reporters and editors if they owned a camera. Of the 30 who responded "Yes", I asked if they had read the instructions. Only 6 said they had read some, or all of the instructions, the rest shyly admitted that they had not.
Moral of the story? To get the most out of your camera, from its simple operation to its special features, simply read the instructions that came with the camera.