So, you’re keen to get into photography? Well, now is a good a time as any; high-power digital cameras have never been more affordable. You probably have a lot of questions on how to start and what to do, but don’t worry, this article can help. Listed below are some tips that will help you get started with your photography aspirations.
Try out all the different shutter speeds and experiment in various scenarios so you have an idea what works best. Photography lets you capture moments in a split-second and allows you to blur together time periods that are large. Fast shutter speeds allow you to capture moving objects while slow shutter speeds are ideal for shooting calm, tranquil scenery.
Be aware that the weather will influence your pictures. You might not realize it when you take the picture, but a dark sky will give a very gloomy atmosphere to your picture. Compose your pictures accordingly and let the weather inspire you for interesting creations. You can also wait for different kind of weather before you take pictures.
Learn about composition rules. Practice and experiment with these rules to create unique pictures. For instance, organizing a picture around diagonal lines gives an impression of depth. You can also play with colors and gradual nuances to give an impression of movement to a picture. Do not follow the rules blindly, but learn when to use them.
Start shooting pictures right away when you leave for a trip. Even though your destination is probably your primary photo-taking opportunity, consider the journey as a source of promising photographic subjects, too. Use your entire journey as a way to document your trip through pictures.
When photographing young children, time and patience is your best friend. Children are taught to “say cheese” whenever a camera is focused on them, inevitably creating artificial, fake smiles – or worse. Ideally, a child will become comfortable being photographed when the pressure to “perform” is removed. Simply encourage them to go about their normal activities and then follow them around with your camera, clicking when they naturally smile or are obviously enjoying their surroundings.
Nobody says you cannot move around your subject to search for an interesting shot. Explore different positions relative to the subject. For example, shoot the object from above, below or at an unusual angle.
Focus your shot and make sure the subject is off center. A centered picture is usually not as interesting. Try to off-center your shots so that they are more enticing to the viewers.
Move in closer to your subject. When you spot something you’d like to take a picture of, snap a shot. Then move in closer and take a better shot. If you have your subject fill the frame, it will help the viewer appreciate and understand your photo. When taking the picture, continue to move closer until you are sure your picture will represent the subject.
To get a great photograph, make sure you notice the surrounding objects when framing the shot. Too many times there are distracting, unwanted elements like trash, telephone wires or even your fingertip intruding into the shot. Frame the photo so your subject and a non-distracting background are the only elements in view.
Filters that you should consider investing in include; the polarizing filter to decrease the amount of reflections, the colorizing filters for an added richness in different colors, and the IR filter to shoot in the dark. Many filtering effects can now be added after the photo is taken with photo editing software.
Hopefully, the tips that were provided gave you some pointers that will help you to improve your photography skills. Now you are much more prepared. Before long, you’ll be shooting like a pro!
