Although most people think that taking a picture is just as simple as pointing and shooting, there really is an art form to it. Typically, your photos never look quite as good as you imagined they would. However, once you learn the proper techniques, it really is simple to take great pictures.
Be quick when taking your pictures! If you wait, the subject may move or something may move in to block your view. The more rapidly you can photograph your subject, the more likely you are to get your desired shot.
Use some digital techniques to make watercolor, pencil sketches, and oil painting photos. There are a variety of photo editing programs out there, but all the cool kids use Photoshop. Often, turning a photo into a work of art is easy; simply apply a filter in the medium of your choice.
Digital photography can be altered and manipulated in software to make them resemble traditional art forms. Adobe Photoshop is the best-recognized software package for doing this, although there are other options available from other manufacturers. After choosing the medium you desire and hitting the filter button, you can instantly turn photographs into wonderful pieces of art.
Pay attention to the speed of your shutter and test out various scenes by alternating it. By varying shutter speeds, you can capture stills as well as fast moving objects. 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.
A slightly blurred background is better for shots of people. If you focus less on the background and more on your subject, you’ll find that the focus will be directly on them. The easiest way to do this is to increase the distance between subject and background.
When shooting landscape pictures, cultivate depth in your shots. Give an idea of the scale by including a subject somewhere in the foreground. Choosing an aperture that is small — no larger than f/8 on a consumer level digital camera or f/16 on an SLR using a full-frame sensor — will keep everything from the background to the foreground sharp.
While you are traveling, photograph memorable souvenirs that you have purchased on-the-go. You could take a picture of the store where you bought something or simply photograph the object with an original background. When you do this, you have a nice, ready-made way of sharing the story of your souvenir hunting expedition!
You will learn so much if you watch other photographers. When you see the work of photographers you admire, you will be reminded of the limitless potential for your pictures.
Take down notes whenever you are taking pictures. When sorting through mass amounts of pictures, remembering the exact context or setting of each photograph can be difficult. Record the photograph’s number and the details of the shot in a permanent log.
External Flash
Attempt to move closer to the person or thing that you want to take a picture of. Nothing is as bad as taking a photograph of something that is not close enough to see well. When you move closer enough to get a great shot, you save both yourself and those you share your photos with much frustration because the subjects of your photos are more vivid and clear.
Quite often, digital cameras have an automatic flash function that automatically goes off when the light is dim. While convenient for snapshots, a more professional solution is to use an external flash to take advantage of more lighting options. Find out if your camera comes with a “hot shoe” attached to the top that will allow an external flash to be attached. If you are not familiar with cameras, consider going to a professional to ensure you have purchased an external unit that is compatible with your camera.
When you are photographing a particular subject, move around it. Attempt to shoot your subject from below, above, left or right.
If taking photos with fluorescent lighting as the only available light source, adjust the cameras white balance to the proper settings. It’s all about lighting and color tones, so be very aware of how fluorescent bulbs can negatively affect your images.
Many digital cameras are made with a built-in flash that will pop up automatically when the lighting is dimmer. This is good for random, candid shots, but if you want a professional look, invest in a flash that is external and offers more lighting. Try to get a camera with what is known as a “hot shoe” that can take an external flash, and make sure to ask a professional camera shop if it will sync with the camera.
When you are taking photos, remember that sometimes less is more. You should have no reason to have a bunch of clutter or elements in your shot. Simplicity is sometimes more beautiful, and mastering the ability to know when can transcend your photos to a new level.
Whether you want to take up photography as a hobby or simply learn how to improve your photographs, you can benefit by educating yourself on the elements of composition. Like other forms of art, if your composition is lacking, then the outcome will not be the best. Learn how to implement quality composition into your photography, and you will notice a vast improvement.
One strategy to develop a creative eye is to use limitation. One such limitation would be to only photograph subjects that reflect one specific theme or idea. From one viewpoint, shoot around 100 photos. These limitations can force you to think outside the box and create more unusual photos.
It is important that you take the time to read your camera manual, and become familiar with your camera before you begin using it. The size of a manual often makes them prohibitive to reading. They usually get shoved in the back of a drawer or just thrown away. Instead of throwing them out, use time to read its contents. This is a great way to learn the ins and outs of your particular camera.
When you are photographing a landscape, your photos need to be composed with three distinct and important planes of focus. These include the foreground, mid-ground and background of the image. These are important for photography, but also in other kinds of art.
If you intend to get invested in photography as a long-term craft, you are likely to find a brand of equipment that you really like, and stick with it. There are professional photographers that like certain expensive name brands, but use the brand that works for you. Don’t necessarily pay attention to labels.
You can improve your photography by framing your shots. Try to use natural frames in the pictures you take. Consider looking at the environment you’re photographing in and using elements of nature to frame your shot. This is a great way to practice composition.
Remember that our camera is merely a tool that can be manipulated for capturing your creativity though photographic images. Use a shallower depth of field to blur the background and focus attention on the subject of the photograph.
Take your pictures with a manual white balance. Doing this will have a huge affect on the mood your pictures will have, and will give you more control over how each photograph will look. While you’ll have to adjust to this new setting, you’ll no doubt be pleased with the end results.
Try keeping something interesting in the foreground of your landscape photos to add more appeal to the images. Even something seemingly routine, such as rock formations or tree leaves, can add interesting elements to your images. The viewers get a feel for the general scene and for the focal subject.
You should learn to utilize your camera’s ISO setting or you might not have pictures of the highest quality. An increased ISO lets you see more. This can ruin your pictures unless you are planning on having that look.
Pay attention to your photos so you know whether they are under or overexposed. Consult your camera’s instruction guide for information on accurately reading its histogram. It measures the exposure of each shot and will let you know if it is over or under-exposed so that you can prevent that next time.
Pay attention to how sharpness works as well as where it will appear in your image. Most of the time, the most sharpness will be seen towards the median of your image and lens. The closer you get to the edges, the more distortion you get.
Play with the aperture or shutter and film speed to modify the exposure of your pictures. A good knowledge of exposure will help your photography overall.
You may not have always been happy with your past photographs. However, by using our tips that will not be a problem any longer. Experiment with different angles to produce an artistic photograph taken from a unique perspective.
A photographer needs to understand how to artistically convey the meaning they desire to share. Your composition is the most important aspect of your photography. The best photographers are the ones who know how to compose their photos properly. People can look at these pictures and easily know what message the photographer is trying to get across.
