With the growing movement toward online photo albums and social networking websites, it is no wonder that more and more people are becoming interested in photography. However, many of those people are not yet confident in their skills and abilities behind the camera. Arm yourself with knowledge on the subject, and be prepared to apply it in your own photographic forays. Here are some tips to improve your shots and your skills.
Use speed when capturing your pictures. If you dawdle, your subject may move away, the lighting might change or something else may ruin the shot that you have worked so hard to frame. The faster the shutter on your camera, the better.
Shutter Speeds
Test varying shutter speeds to learn which speed works best for certain scenarios. You can capture moments that happen in a blip or blur larger time periods together. In general, fast shutter speed work best for action shots, whereas slow shutter speeds are ideal for shooting still-lifes, landscapes and other static images.
Avoid capturing an overcast sky in your photos. A gray sky is going to make your pictures look washed-out. If you have to shoot with an overcast sky, use black and white methods of photography. If it’s a bright day, however, you should include the sky more readily.
If you are traveling with your photography equipment, make sure it is stored properly. Take all the lenses you need and don’t forget to pack extra batteries and cleaning tools! Be sensible about the limitations that your mode of transport will present, and try to take along only what you are sure you will need.
If you are going on a trip, do not wait to reach your destination to start taking pictures. You’ll not only have plenty of opportunities to take photographs once you get to your destination, but don’t forget to take pictures of the trip as a whole as well. Use your entire journey as a way to document your trip through pictures.
Be prepared to take notes when you practice photography. When sorting through mass amounts of pictures, remembering the exact context or setting of each photograph can be difficult. Use a notepad to jot down a few notes about the pictures you take.
Try to get close to your subject when shooting. There isn’t anything worse than a photo where you cannot see any of the details of your subject. 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.
Have you ever needed to take photos of subjects that were rained on? Mimic the look of rain drops even when it’s sunny by spritzing your subject with a spray bottle full of water.
Experiment with silhouettes. The easiest technique is to use a sunset, but there are other creative methods. If your background is much brighter than your subject, you’ll notice a silhouette forming. Using an “off” camera flash behind your subject or using a bright window behind them can create your perfect silhouette. Just bear in mind that sometimes the outline of a body or face can highlight an unflattering feature.
Now that you know what skills are required to become a better photographer, you should start practicing those skills regularly. You can now apply this knowledge and start to take photographs.
