New Years Resolutions. Now, everyone say after me:

1. I will learn how to use my camera.

This seems like an obvious point, but we are all guilty of skipping our camera manual and just fiddling with settings. Ah, this one works right?Spot-metering? Why not. Hey, what does that button do? Seems to make things darker. Hmm.

I’m going to admit something to you that I ask you to keep hush-hush. I haven’t actually read my 5DMKII manual. I know. Horrible! I’m guilty of arbitrary button pushing and royally messing up shots because I don’t really know how to use my camera. Let’s all become technical experts of our cameras this year. Deal?

2. I will not use the Auto setting on my camera.

Instead of relying on your camera’s dubious Auto settings, force yourself to learn how to use manual settings. Upgrade to Aperture priorty mode (AV) first. Once you understand Depth of Field, jump into Manual mode. You will make mistakes and feel frustrated when you completely blow-out a shot, but this is the way we learn. Don’t get discouraged by your mistakes. Learn from them and push on!

3. I will not use on-camera flash

The only photos you should take with an on-camera flash are ones that end up on your Facebook wall of shame. Tape down that pop-up flash if you have to. Instead rely on your skills as a photographer to capture shots in low-light.

Shoot with a wide-open aperture, as low as your lens will go. Decrease your shutter speed & increase your ISO. Steady your camera on a tripod, gorilla pod or table top. Invest in a good lens. I suggest the 50mm f/1.4 or the f/1.8 if you are on a budget.

4. I will not be hindered by the gear I do not have.

You can take great shots with any camera. From an iPhone to a $20 Holga to cheap point and shoot to a 1DMKIII. Don’t let your lack of gear limit you, but rather let it open up new possibilities to be creative.

Until 6 months ago when I upgraded to a 5DMKII, I was shooting on a Canon Rebel Xti (400D). I shot weddings, actor’s head shots, fashion, landscapes, you name it. You don’t need a 5DMKII to work as a photographer. Get creative. Be resourceful. Rent lenses. Make reflectors with $2 poster boards. There is always a way to do things cheaply, you just need to hunt around a bit.

Nikon UK today announces the world’s slimmest wide angle 10x zoom camera, the S8000. One of its new range of COOLPIX cameras launching this spring, this stylish, high performance camera with HD video measures just 27.3mm thin.

The COOLPIX S8000 is perfect for those wanting a camera that delivers excellent quality photographs without having to carry a bulky camera or spend time to adjust settings. It’s easy to use with a range of automatic settings, including four advanced anti-blur functions, provides 14.2 megapixels and with a fast start-up time and DSLR class AF system it’s ready in an instant. And when a picture won’t quite capture the action, you can immediately record an HD video using the dedicated video button. The high-definition (HD) movie function with stereo sound offers a resolution of 720p and will capture all of the action at an impressive 30 frames per second.

Mark Pekelharing, Product Line Manager Consumer Products at Nikon Europe B.V comments: “All the features in this camera, from the wide angle 10x zoom NIKKOR ED glass lens to the four anti-blur reduction functions, have been brought together to give the best experience while taking pictures. It’s for those who don’t want to spend time getting to know the ins and outs of a camera but do want to get it out in all situations and take the best pictures. The portability of the slim body is essential to this, as well as its incredibly quick response time, so when you see that perfect shot on the LCD monitor, that’s what you’ll get as the final picture.”

High performance

The wide angle 10x optical zoom NIKKOR lens with extra-low dispersion (ED) glass lens gives crisp results whether you’re taking still images or shooting high-definition (HD) movie clips. It also gives you the freedom to take either beautiful, detailed close-ups of your subject in Macro Mode – getting as close as one centimetre – or impressive wide-angle and distant telephoto shots, perfect if you need to get the whole football team in.

The advanced flash control system delivers more natural-looking results when you shoot in low-light and the incredibly clear 7.5 cm (3-inch) high resolution (921K dot) LCD monitor enhances both shooting and playback with minimal reflections, even in bright sunlight.