Maximize Your Camera's Potential

On a recent family vacation to Hawaii, I found myself drawn to observing how people use their cameras and phones to capture the beauty around them. It’s something I often do—partly out of curiosity about the gear they’re using, but also to see how they’re using it. Unfortunately, I frequently noticed that many people rely heavily on automatic settings. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, I can’t help but think that they’d capture even better photos if they took the time to really learn how their cameras work.

One of the most common mistakes I observed was people using their camera’s flash in broad daylight. This tells me that they’re just pointing and shooting without fully understanding their gear. Whether it’s a compact camera, a mirrorless, or a DSLR, this kind of approach often leads to pictures that don’t quite match the beauty they were hoping to capture. And I know that when they get home and review their photos, they’ll likely feel a bit disappointed that the images don’t live up to the vibrant memories.

That’s why I always encourage people to learn their cameras. You don’t need to become an expert or spend hours every day studying the manual, but even dedicating just 15 minutes a day to experimenting with your camera can make a huge difference. These days, there are countless resources available online, including YouTube tutorials that can walk you through your camera’s features.

I was recently inspired by a video of Tiger Woods speaking to a group of college golfers. He mentioned that he touches his golf clubs at least 1,000 times a day—not to swing, but just to feel the grip and get comfortable with every inch of the club. As photographers, we can benefit from a similar approach. I’m constantly picking up my Fujifilm X-T5—not only because it’s new, but because I enjoy fiddling with the dials and exploring the menus. The same goes for my Ricoh GR IIIx. Whether I’m photographing my dog, shadows around the house, or random objects in my office, this regular practice helps me understand my camera better and fine-tune the settings for the results I want.

So, if there’s one piece of advice I can offer, it’s this: get to know your camera. Spend a few minutes each day with it—watch a tutorial, read the manual, and most importantly, take lots of pictures. That way, when you find yourself in a breathtaking place like Hawaii, Alaska, or Montana, you’ll be fully prepared to capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments exactly as you see them.