Have you ever downloaded your digital images simply to be dismayed by the occurrence of unattractive spots on your pictures? These are generally most visible in blue-sky, landscape shots.

Photo spots are caused by the occurence of debris on the digital camera's sensor, and present a particular difficulty for digital SLR owners who regularly switch their lenses. It is possible to clean the camera sensor in order to eliminate the debris responsible for the photo spots, but to accomplish this you require specialized gadgets or - better yet - you have to take the digital camera in for a good professional clean. In any event, it might end up costing you a bit.

And what happens if you only become aware of the dots on your pictures after your photo shoot? By that time it is much too late, and you'll have to commit several hours to Photoshopping them away.

As always - plan ahead!

Digital SLR sensors are electrically charged once the digital camera is turned on, making them attract dust like a magnet. If you change the lens while the digital camera is fired up, you increase the probability of air-borne debris affixing itself to your charged sensor.

Here are a few tips to limit the chances of sensor dust:

1. Turn off your camera while adjusting lenses

2. When turned off, make an effort not to replace your lens in dirty, windy weather - except if you don't have any other choice

3. Always make sure the exterior of the camera, in particular the parts around the lens mount, are clear and dust free when you switch your lens

4. Ensure that the rear section of the lens (the section that switches into the camera) is dirt free whenever you connect it

5. For street photography, make use of a lens with a nice wide zoom range. Not only will you lower the possibility of having dust on your sensor, but you will also reduce the chance of missing that killer photo whilst you had to spend time messing with lenses. Street photography is about speed!

Adhering to these relatively easy guidelines is going to save you hours during post production spent eradicating unsightly marks from your photos - hours where you might instead be out there hunitng for more photos.

Take note: Don't ever clean the sensor using substances not specially designed for the job It really is a really fragile piece of technology and you may end up harming it permanently unless you work with the correct gear.