Many people take pictures. However, most do not know the proper techniques needed to go from just taking pictures to making stunning photographs. You need to learn many skills in order to take your photography from ordinary to extraordinary. Here are some tips to improve your shots and your skills.
Photography needs to be enjoyable. Taking photographs should allow you to capture the essence of a memorable event in your life, or perhaps just to snap a glimpse of everyday life. Have a good time while you take your shots and you’ll find that the joy you feel comes through in the pictures you take.
When you are photographing nature, steer clear of taking photos that include a sky that is overcast. If you have too much gray sky in your photo it will make it look muted. Black and white photos can work great for an overcast sky. If the sky is blue, you should put it in your photo, but be careful of the light.
ISO, shutter speed and aperture are important settings, and you may have to try different settings for the best results. These features will influence the exposure. Unless you are shooting for an artsy, atmospheric result, try to avoid under- or over-exposed photos. The best way to learn more about these aspects is to experiment with them, this will help you learn how they interact together.
Choose your very best pictures if you are going to expose your work. Don’t show all your photos, or even too many images of similar subjects. It might bore people if you keep showing the same photo multiple times. Keep it fresh, and show different aspects of your photography.
Make your subject feel comfortable, especially if you don’t know them. Many people view having their pictures taken as something that could be threatening. Be friendly, strike up a conversation and ask permission to take pictures. Help people see photography as an art form, not as a way to invade their privacy.
Always be careful when packing your equipment for a trip. Take cleaning equipment and back-up batteries, as well as all the lenses you expect to make use of. Don’t take more than you need, and think about what you can carry for your trip.
If you plan to shoot images indoors with fluorescent lights overhead, you should make an appropriate adjustment to your camera’s white balance settings. Subjects will not look their best under the harsh light from fluorescent bulbs, so adjust the color settings on your camera.
Ensure you have an extra charged battery so you do not miss the greatest photos. You can go through batteries quickly, especially if you have a LCD screen, so be sure that you have fresh batteries in it before you head out for a day of photography. Another excellent suggestion is to always carry spare batteries with you to ensure you don’t miss a potentially incredible shot.
Play with the notion of scale, perspectives and expressions. Any simple subject can be transformed into something artistic when it is used in a funny, unique way, or made to look much smaller or much bigger than it is. Get different takes on familiar objects by working on your compositions.
Nobody says you cannot move around your subject to search for an interesting shot. Try taking pictures of the subject from below, above, to the left and to the right.
Do you need pictures of subjects that are soaked or misted with rain? You can easily create this look by using a spray bottle and lightly misting water on your subject.
External Flash
Read your camera’s instruction manual. The size of a manual often makes them prohibitive to reading. The common reaction to a manual is to pitch it into a cabinet and forget it or even toss it straight in the garbage. Actually spend some time reading your manual instead of tossing it. There are a lot of dumb mistakes and sub-par techniques you can easily avoid if you review your camera’s manual.
Most modern digital cameras have a flash that automatically deploys when they detect low-light situations. Whereas this feature is great for quick photographer, you should consider purchasing something with an external flash in order to have more professional photographs, as well as to give you more options for lighting. First check your camera for the appropriate attachment point for an external flash, a “hot shoe.” You also want a flash that will sync automatically to your camera. You may have better shopping results at a camera store catering to professionals.
Though you might feel tempted to use the lowest setting on your digital camera, make sure you understand the consequences of your action. Only use these lower quality settings on your camera if you are sure that these images will only be viewed on a screen.
Consider becoming a member of a photography club. You could also meet up with another photographer and take photos with them. You can pick up certain techniques from others, but you do need to strike out and develop your own style. Show them your pictures and view theirs to figure out different ways to visualize a subject.
You can easily edit your pictures. So many software photo editing programs exist now and are readily available. Seek out the programs that have multiple tools for editing the images that you already have in your portfolio. A program that is easy to learn is best.
Read the camera’s manual, please. Manuals frequently are large and awkward. Most people throw manuals away without giving them a second look. Open it up and read it instead of doing this. You can take better photographs because of the mistakes you’ll avoid by reading your manual.
Consider changing the angle, lighting, or settings on your camera to make your photo more exciting. Adjust your camera settings to see how they affect the picture.
Look for opportunities to frame creative shots. Not a picture frame, of course, but one that occurs naturally within the shot. Use the natural elements in the area to create a framing effect around your subject. This helps to build your compositional skills.
Taking pictures in natural environments requires special care. Take a moment to appreciate the scene, as well as to make sure that you are leaving no traces. If you discover a clean, lovely area that allows you to take very nice photos, try to leave it the way it was so that other photographers can enjoy it as much as you did.
You may be tempted to shoot low-quality images so you can store more on your camera card. However, you may be sacrificing the print quality. The lower setting should only be used for images that will be shared via computer and not in print.
It is possible to use your camera’s built-in features as valuable resources for setting up your shots. If you want to blur the background and draw out the subject in your photo, use a shallow depth field.
Use the manual white balance when taking your photographs. This allows you to have greater control over your pictures by altering the overall mood and tone. You can allow for a learning curve while you start out in photography, and you will find that using manual white balance can let you get really creative.
Use a tripod for great landscape shots. Establishing a steady base is important when you are taking photos, particularly when you are photographing landscapes because you can then adjust settings without shaking your camera.
Do not let a great shot go by because you were too busy adjusting your settings. Also, you don’t want a camera with a preset, as this lets your camera choose it’s own settings. You should explore the options you have and use some settings that can change your photo.
Try to visualize a concept prior to actually starting to take photos. Take some time out, and sit and jot down notes and ideas that you can use to make a better shot. Photography is an art, and things like perspective and creativity are apparent in great photos. If you do so, you will see results that are much more interesting.
At this point, you should have enough knowledge to do great and be able to succeed with photography. But only practice will develop your skills and bring you this success.
To enhance a shot to make the focus of the photo seem larger in a looming, powerful sense, frame the shot with an upward angle, where you are beneath the subject you are photographing. If you would like the subject to appear weaker, shoot from up high looking down. Trial and error in using these techniques will help you figure out the appropriate times to use them.
