Did you get a new camera for Christmas?

Did Santa surprise you with a brand new camera this Christmas? Regardless of whether you got a fancy DSLR or maybe just a handy point-and-shoot, you want to make sure you’ll get the most out of your new prized possession.

When I first got a camera, it was a very basic full-automatic camera, without many of the bells and whistles that have become the new standard today. Yet people often complimented me on my images, and wondered what kind of fancy camera I had that allowed me to take such great shots. Reality is that your photography skills have very little to do with the camera you use. Sure, as you progress in your craft you might want a camera that has more advanced features, but it all starts with having an eye for photography. Thinking the camera itself will improve your skills is thinking that you’ll become a Michelin chef by buying a more expensive set of pans.

In my photography class I use the angle of focusing on your photography skills, not so much on the technical aspects of p…