Lately, there’s been a glut of news about the benefits of the creative pursuits. Writing, cooking, even sewing have made the list of things you can do to alleviate stress and sharpen your everyday skills.

But let’s not forget about the digital world, and the way it’s changed the face of one ages-old artistic pursuit. Digital cameras have made it possible for so many people to produce photographs nearing professional quality, and that has made all the difference in opening up a new hobby to folks who might have otherwise shied away from the admittedly complicated world of cameras.

Digital cameras professional have succeeded where manual cameras fall flat—even in point-and-shoot mode, regular cameras fail to nullify, or even de-mysticize, many issues that the non-professional photographer might have with traditional cameras. Really, when you think about it, the whole point of owning cameras only amounts to one thing: the desire to produce professional-looking photography. And digital cameras make it easier for anyone to produce a good set of photographs—and memories—without having to remember too much about semi-professional details like f-stops, developing solution, or even color balance.

However, if you’re into that kind of thing, a good digital camera will also allow you to play professional photographer: you can turn off the digital aids on the camera entirely, allowing you to play with all of the above mentioned. And you can even, once you get the photographs on your computer screen, opt out of any other sort of digital manipulation, if you really want to play the purist.

But consider, too, that the digital manipulation of photographs can be a curiously meditative task too. Think about it. You start with a regular, run-of-the-mill portrait. A few clicks of the mouse in the right program, and suddenly you’ve got a portrait that looks like it was shot by a professional photographer—in the 1800s.  Or maybe you have a nice, standard landscape photo. A couple of adjustments, and you still have a landscape—but it looks like a Digital Cameras Professional painting. It’s called being in control, and for some, that’s pretty soothing, even if you’re really just in digital control.

And then, with all those great new, digital photographs, you can turn to another soothing pursuit: the art of professional scrapbooking.

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It used to be that professional photography was a tough world to break into. It still is, but now, with the advent of digital photography, the quality of photography that’s achievable by amateur photographers is at least improving.

Today’s professional photographer uses many of the same tools used in amateur photography, and digital photography has now grown to the point that you can get every model of camera, from a traditional, professional-feeling 35mm SLR to a more relaxed point-and-shoot. Each of them has the capability to make any amateur feel like a real professional.

Storing photographs in digital form also allows a much wider range of manipulation: things like color balance, cropping, and even turning photography into painting can be achieved by digital means. You can achieve such stunning effects as turning your color photography into black-and-white photography. Professional photographers would traditional change film for that effect. Like the aged-photography look of a nice sepia-toned piece? One push of a button on a digital camera can get you that effect in a split second, and without the years it takes to achieve that nice patina of age.

Likewise, correcting mistakes: Red eyes making your photography look less than professional? Digital can fix it. Shutter speed a little too slow on that last, once-in-a-lifetime shot? Digital sharpening can fix that problem, too. And finally, the mother of all mistakes: everyone’s eyes are closed, your mother-in-law has a grimace on instead of a smile, and your wife looks like she’s yawning instead of laughing? Erase it. Start over. Professional photography digital can handle it.

They say the Internet has made the world smaller, and digital photography has a part in that, too: sharing your budding photography skills with your friends is easier with digital, even if you’re not about to go professional. Just send an attachment with your e-mail, or even a link to your latest digital masterpiece, and everyone you know will be able to appreciate your work. And almost no one will be able to tell that you doctored up the background and fixed Aunt Martha’s red eye.  

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