Beginners and advanced photographers alike will always benefit from learning more, whether it’s the latest technique or tried-and-true strategies of the experts. This article contains a few tips to get you started with your photography endeavors.
When taking a photograph, take one shot, then move in closer to the desired subject and take a second shot. You want the subject of the photograph to be the majority of the frame. Taking the second shot ensures that you get the better shot from one of the two, whether you were close enough initially or not.
Use a tripod for maximum camera stability. For random shots of your kids or buildings, a bit of camera shake isn’t a big deal, but for once-in-a-lifetime shots that really matter, a bit of camera shake can ruin a perfect memory. If a tripod is not available, try setting the camera on a flat surface.
An important factor in photography composition, is framing. If an object is distracting from the subject in your photo, remove it from the photograph. Zooming in is an effective way to accomplish this. This will help keep clutter out of your pictures, and eliminate any unwanted focal points.
Learn how to use the ISO setting on your camera. It is the setting that determines the film speed. The higher you set your ISO, the more light that will come in. If you increase the ISO in dark settings you will capture more light making the photo turn out better.
Above all else, photography is an art form meant to be enjoyed. It should be an activity performed to allow you to remember a special place, time or event. Always have fun taking pictures, and remain enthusiastic to learn new skills.
When traveling, take pictures of your food. Take the time to play with lights, colors and compose your pictures. You might get used to the food by the time you come back home, but these pictures will look very original to you and your friends later when you reflect back on your trip.
To create an unusual and creative photograph, try changing your perspective. People are used to seeing things from normal human-height and eye-level viewpoints. Getting up high or down low can drastically change how a scene appears. Done right, this will create a startling, memorable shot that your viewers will appreciate.
Play with the idea of depth of field and aperture. Most photograph place their object in the center of their composition and have their background look blurry. Reverse this convention and blur your object to focus on your background. You can also play with the placement of your object in the picture.
It has become the norm to keep everything in life centered and even. We value perfection, so if you’re trying to create great photos, frame your subject so that it is slightly off-center. Be careful with auto-focus that locks into any object in the lens center. Override this by focusing manually, locking the focus before you capture the shot.
Do not stop taking outdoor shots when the sun begins to set. There are many opportunities to keep going, especially if you have a tripod available to use with your camera. This piece of equipment allows for great low-light shots no matter if the sun is up or not.
Pay attention to clothing worn by the subjects in your photographs, particularly shirts. If at all possible make sure they are free from logos and prominent commercial advertising. Logos date a photograph and remove the “classic” feeling that is treasured in years to come. They also seriously clash with natural landscaping in outdoor environments.
Using your camera’s built in flash is rarely a good thing. It will likely cause harsh shadows from the hard light that it puts off. Diffused light is going to work out much better for you. Invest in an integrated flash for your camera. You can point the flash away from the subject to avoid the hard light.
Do not trust the appearance of the photo on your camera’s LCD screen. Any picture that you take and look at on a two or three inch screen is going to look sharp. If you are taking a shot that you do not want to take the chance of messing up, zoom in and look closely at every pixel to make sure that it is as you want it to be.
Simple settings are the best for general photography. Do not complicate your photo taking opportunities by constantly fiddling with your camera. Many cameras have great general settings that will work fine in most normal situations. Changing settings too often can muddle things, and cause you to get unexpected bad results.
Photography is about capturing a moment that is precious to you. These tips will push you from amateur to photography expert.
