Advice On How To Effectively Take Better Photos
July 10, 2013 by admin
Filed under Photography Techniques
Photography can be intimidating to a new photographer. People who are new to photography may not know where to begin because of the extensive amount of information available on learning photography. The following tips are essential tidbits of information that can benefit any photographer, and they are organized in an easy-to-read format so as not to be too confusing.
Different shutter speeds work well in different settings so make sure you have a play around with your camera and determine what works for you. You can capture both a fleeting image or a long time-lapse photograph. A fast shutter speed can stop a moving object in it’s tracks, while a slower speed allows you to blur motion a bit, such as water moving over a waterfall.
While many people mistakenly believe that sunny days make for gorgeous photographs, shooting images in direct sunlight often results in distorted photos. It can cast awkward shadows, glare, uneven highlights, and cause your subject to squint when looking at your camera. Whenever you possibly can, try taking your outdoor shots in the morning or the evening when the sun is lower and casts less light.
Hold your camera tight, keep your arms close to your sides and put your hands on both sides and the bottom of your camera. By holding your camera in this way, you’ll lessen the chance of moving the camera during the shot; thereby keeping it framed and steady for the best shot. By cradling the camera from below, it will help to prevent you from dropping the camera accidentally.
A major part in photography composition would be the framing. Zoom in on your subject or the most important part of the photo and cut out extraneous objects from the background. By using the zoom feature you can clear up any unwanted clutter and eliminate any unwanted focal points.
When going on a trip, begin taking pictures the moment you leave. Of course, you will have tons of great photo opportunities on the trip, but you can make a photo essay that starts right when you leave your home to chronicle the entire trip. An airport has a lot of interesting things to take photos of, so add these to your trip diary of photos.
Taking pictures should be fun. It should be an activity performed to allow you to remember a special place, time or event. Have fun when actually taking the pictures and will will soon fall in love with photography.
Keep your camera handy when you are on a trip. Use it often. If you don’t photograph the fine details, you may not remember them later. Take pictures of street signs, strange products sold in stores or even small objects, like coins or bus tickets.
Consider taking photographs of the souvenirs bought on your trip. You could take a picture of the store where you bought something or simply photograph the object with an original background. After returning home, your pictures and your souvenirs together will help tell a more memorable, engaging story.
Whenever you are going somewhere new, get some ideas for taking pictures. Looking at postcards can give you some great ideas. You will want to create your own images and perspectives of these important places.
In many pictures, people will be looking directly into the camera. If you want to make your photos a little more interesting, have your subject fix his gaze on an object outside the camera’s field of view. Or, you could have your subject focus their gaze on something or someone else in the frame.
Lighting is one of the most important considerations when taking pictures. If you’re taking photos outdoors, early morning and late afternoon are ideal times to take them because that’s when the almighty sun is lowest in the sky. If your subject is facing into the sun, it can distort the picture with shadows, and can also make it hard for your subject to keep a relaxed face. If you must shoot in direct sunlight, at least stand to the side and allow the sun to light from an angle.
Always give the camera’s manual a read before operating the device. Manuals may be off-putting because of their thickness and bulk. They usually get shoved in the back of a drawer or just thrown away. Instead of throwing it out, take the time to read it. The information contained within is extremely valuable and will simplify the process of taking great pictures.
Keep an eye out for any kinds of patterns, whether natural or artificial, when shooting your subject matter. Patters make photographs look a lot more interesting. You can play off these patterns to get unusual angles or frame your subject relative to the background.
Ideally, the insights you’ve gained here will enable you to approach photography in a uniform and organized way. Keeping these tips in mind when you start taking photos can help you one day become a very successful photographer.
