Photography Advice from National Geographic

Do your family photos leave you flat? Improve your snapshots with 13 tips from National Geographic magazine's world-class photographers. And find inspiration in the amazing photos from The Complete National Geographic—a searchable DVD-ROM containing every issue from the 120-year history of the iconic magazine.

From The Complete National Geographic
Original Content | December 04, 2009

Applying lipstick underwater in the 1940s.

Photo: © J. Baylor Roberts/National Geographic

Camera Symbols

Point-and-shoot photography is supposed to be simple, and knowing what the symbols on your digital camera mean will make it simpler.

The icon of a flower signals the macro mode. It allows your camera to focus very closely.
The lightning bolt icon controls the flash—either on, off or automatic when it senses limited light.
The icon that looks like a clock is the self-timer mode.
The "+/-" button allows you to override your camera's automatic exposure settings, to correct photos that are too light or too dark.
The icon that looks like stacked photos allows you to take rapid-fire photos.

About the photo: Taken in January 1944 by photographer J. Baylor Roberts, this photo captures performing swimmers applying lipstick on a set—located in Wakulla Springs, in northern Florida—used for underwater films.