Learning to use a DSLR marks the start of an exciting time for amateur photographers and the Nikon D60 has been widely lauded as a great camera for beginners. While getting out into the field and shooting photos regularly is an essential step toward taking good pictures, you must first understand some basic photography skills and theories. Familiarize yourself with how your Nikon D60 works, then apply these shooting tips and you will see a rapid improvement in the quality of the photographs you are taking.
Step 1
Focus your picture. Choose your subject and frame the shot to include all of the elements you want in the photograph. Then press the shutter release button down halfway and hold it there until a red box appears. The red box indicates which part of the photo will be in focus. If it lines up with what you want to shoot, continue pressing the shutter release all the way down to take the photo. If your chosen subject is not in focus, re-frame the photo and repeat the process.
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Step 2
Set the aperture and shutter speed. When pressing the shutter release button to focus, look for a set of numbers in the lower-left-hand corner of the viewfinder. The first identifies shutter speed, which determines how long the shutter stays open before the photo is recorded, and the second indicates aperture, the amount of light that is let in through the lens. The lower the aperture speed, the clearer the focused subject will be in the photograph, while the background will appear somewhat blurred -- an ideal set up for a portrait.
Step 3
Adjust your ISO sensitivity setting depending on the lighting situation. You can find this option in the shooting menu. If you are shooting in poor lighting conditions, you may need to raise the ISO number. Be careful, though. While a higher ISO may sometimes be necessary to compensate for bad lighting, it also creates noisier, or grainy, photographs so a careful balance must be struck. The Nikon D60 has an ISO range of between 100 and 1600.
Step 4
Experiment with different lens types. The Nikon D60 should come with a standard kit lens, likely 18-55mm. While useful for basic photos and for learning, switching to other lenses allows you to practice shooting a variety of photography styles. Using subject-appropriate lenses, such as telephoto lenses for sports and wildlife photographs and prime lenses for portraits, will yield far more satisfying photos as you develop your eye and skill.
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