Nikon D3000 Digital Field Guide
What do you need to take amazing photographs with your new Nikon D3000? ThisNikon D3000 Digital Field Guidehas all the answers. This full-color guide, perfectly sized to fit in your camera bag, not only explains all essential controls, features, and functions, it also goes well beyond the basics to give you a photography refresher on lighting, composition, exposure, and more. You'll find step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions and full-color images of menu screens. Even better, it also offers tips and tricks to help you take your best shots, whether you're shooting portraits, candid shots, sports or travel photos, or macro photography.Shows you how to get the very most out of your new Nikon D3000 digital cameraDiscusses in detail all the essential controls, features, and functions of the Nikon D3000Provides step-by-step instructions and full-color images of each menu screenExplains not only how to adjust white balance, autofocus, exposure, and other settings, it explains when and why you should adjust these settingsGives you a thorough digital photography refresher on lighting and compositionShares valuable tips and tricks to help you capture amazing shotsShows you topic-specific secrets to capturing portraits, candid shots, sports or travel photos, macro photography, and othersNikon D3000 Photography Tips from Author J. Dennis ThomasPerfect PortraitsFor this shot of my Boston Terrier Maddie I used a couple of different techniques to get a nice soft portrait effect. First of all to get good soft light I had Maddie sit next to an open window. Window lighting is one of the best ways to easily get soft diffused light which is great for portraits. Next, I set the camera to Aperture priority and using the 35mm f/1.8 lens I set the aperture to f/1.8. This setting allowed me to blur the background to draw attention to the subject. Keep in mind that these techniques work for people as well as pet portraits.(Click on image to enlarge)Specs:ISO 800 / 1/60 @ f/1.8Artistic AnglesFor this architectural photo I used an ultra-wide angle lens, the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 set to 10mm to give the shot a dynamic look. Tilting the camera back a little added some perspective distortion and also allowed me to fit more sky into the shot. I used Aperture priority to select a fairly small aperture of f/8 to ensure that the scene was nice and sharp. I also dialed in some exposure compensation, underexposing just a bit to capture the rich detail in the clouds, which gives the shot an almost ominous look.(Click on image to enlarge)Specs:ISO 100 / 1/400 @ f/8 –1 EV exposure compensationMacro MagicFor this macro shot I used one of Nikon’s sharpest lenses, the 105mm f/2.8G VR. For anyone who’s serious about getting the best macro shots this is a must have lens. I used Aperture priority to select a small aperture to increase the depth of field, which gets shallower as you get closer to your subject. I also turned the VR function on to combat the blur than can be caused from camera shake, which is magnified a close focus distances. Often times when doing macro photography it’s advisable to use a tripod, but with moving subjects such as insects this is often impractical so the VR can be a great help in these situations.(Click on image to enlarge)Specs:ISO 400 / 1/125 @ f/11