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Tips of the Week
Composition
To take engaging photos, put thought into your composition and try to make your photos as good as possible.
1. Don’t cut off important parts of your subject with the edge of your frame. Keep your horizons level, and try to eliminate any distractions in your photo by adjusting your composition. See if your photo has a sense of balance and simplicity.
2. If the photo doesn’t look good on your first try, keep experimenting until you get it right. It’s easy to just press the shutter when something looks good, but if you consider a few alternative compositions, chances are one of them will be better than the first.
Use the Camera You Have
Camera gear is not all that important. An entry-level camera is better than the top-of-the-line cameras of 10 years ago. Don’t worry about the megapixels, a photographer I know sells pictures taken on an 8-megapixel Nikon!
Much more important are your creative skills and knowledge of camera settings. Focus your effort on those, not on collecting camera equipment.
Learn Which Settings Matter
Practice with camera modes other than full Auto. You won’t learn anything if your camera is making all the decisions for you.
Don’t ‘blow’ Highlights
Shadows can be lifted in post processing but a blown highlight is lost forever.
Take Your Time
Don’t listen to people who tell you to avoid reviewing photos. Sort out the problems with an image in the field – not back at your computer.
Move Around
If your images are all taken from the same height and without any experimentation, you’re missing out on some great photos.
Know when to use a tripod
When should you use a tripod? If your subject is stationary. That means landscape, architecture, and still life and for static Macro photography.
Even the excellent in-body image stabilization (IBIS) of today’s cameras can’t compensate for very low light and long shutter speeds.
Know when to use flash
Flashes aren’t just meant for dark environments. They’re great if you need some extra light. Get an external flash, tilt it at the ceiling. Everyone will be amazed at the quality of your photos. It’s the easiest way to get good results without actually knowing what you’re doing.
Flash is useful outdoors, even in the middle of the day. ‘Fill flash’ can fill in ugly shadows on your subject just by using a gentle flash – and most people looking at the photo won’t even be able to tell.
Learn Basic Post-Processing
Post-processing can’t fix a bad photo, but it can turn a good photo into something truly exceptional.
Back Up Your Photos
Ideally, you need at least two copies of all your photos at a given time. Your photos should never be stored on a single hard drive because eventually your hard drive will break. It’s not a question of if, but when.
Try Something New
The more you experiment with photography, the more interesting it becomes. It’s easy to fall into a routine of taking similar photos over and over again, but it’s important to try something new as often as possible.
Work with what’s in front of you
You can’t control when you see a subject worth photographing. No mist or clouds, rain, no sun, harsh light - no matter. Make the best of what you have.
Shoot a Lot and Experiment
Practice, practice, practice. It’s a tip that will get you ahead in any skill, not just photography.
Spend Less Time on Social Media
Millions of photos are shared every day on the internet, images that are meant to be seen on a very small screen on your ‘phone. Go instead for well composed, good quality images.
Have Fun!
Photography is supposed to be fun! Getting a good review on social media or more letters after your name with a distinction doesn’t matter. Who cares? Why do you like taking pictures? It’s a way to see amazing sights and meet other creative people. |
