10 Simple Photo Tips
Before you point and shoot just follow these simple tips and your next photo will be much more satisfying
Taking a great photo gives great satisfaction. For the photographer as well as the viewer. Have you ever been shown a whole album of 200 photos and flipped right through it in 2 minutes?
Taking great photos is not difficult. It is a skill that can be learnt. You only need to be aware of the surroundings and lighting conditions and very importantly - think before you shoot. Here are some very simple tips to help you take better pictures.
- Use a plain background - Before taking a picture, check the background surrounding your subject. In most instances, choose a plain background. Avoid trees or poles sprouting from your subject's head. A cluttered background will be distracting while a plain background will accentuate your subject.
- Keep your subject at eye level - Capture the natural looks of their faces. For kids and pets, that means getting down to their level to snap the picture.
- Use flash outdoors - It is a common mistake for point and shoot photographers to just let their camera decide whether to use flash. Even outdoors, use the fill flash setting to improve your pictures. Use it on cloudy days to brighten up faces and make them stand out from the background.
- Move closer to your subject - To create more impactly photos move in close and fill your picture with the subject. For small objects, use the camera's 'macro' mode to get sharper close-ups.
- Take some 'vertical' pictures - Most photos are naturally taken in 'horizontal' or 'landscape' mode as it is the most natural way to 'hold' a camera. But some subjects look better in vertical (or 'portrait') mode. The Eiffel Tower comes to mind. So vary your picture taking and make a conscious effort to turn your camera sideways and take some vertical pictures.
- Lock the focus - Lock the focus to create a sharp picture of off-center subjects. Center the subject, press the shutter button half way down, re-frame your picture(while still holding the shutter button) and finish by pressing the shutter button all the way.
- Move your subject away from the middle - Bring your picture to life simply by placing your subject off-center. Imagine a grid with 3 sections horizontally and vertically in your viewfinder. Now place your subject at one of the intersections of lines. Since most cameras focus on whatever's in the middle, remember to lock the focus on your subject before re-framing the shot.
- Know your flash's range - Pictures taken beyond the maximum flash range will be too dark. For many cameras that's only ten feet - about four steps away. Check your manual to be sure. If the subject is further than ten feet from the camera, the picture may be too dark.
- Watch the light - Great light makes great pictures. Study the effects of light in your pictures. For people pictures, choose soft lighting of cloudy days. Avoid overhead sunlight that casts harsh shadows across faces. For scenic pictures, use the long shadows and color of early and late daylight. The most moving pictures are usually taken at dawn or at dusk.
- Know your camera - A survey carried out recently shows that 65% of camera users (notice the avoidance of the use of the word 'photographer') only ever use one button on their cameras; also known as the 'shutter'. So if you are one of them, it's time to learn more about this amazing tool. If you learn to use it well, it will eventually be an extension of you. Then watch your pictures dramatically improve.
