There’s a lot you can learn when it comes to photography, and you could spend years learning the craft. However, just knowing a few key tips can mean taking great shots with your camera. This article contains some sound advice on how you can start taking shots you are proud of.
Be sure your photo has a solid focal point. Without a good focal point your photographs will end up looking empty, leaving the eye with nowhere to rest. Your viewers will be more appreciative of a photo that has a clear focus, even if you are shooting a landscape or other wide setting.
Turn your next vacation into a photography session by taking photographs the moment you step out your front door. Consider taking photos of your journey to and from your destination to add interest to your travel photos. Documenting your journey, whether it’s the airport, a cab ride, or even interesting rest stops on the road, will give you priceless memories of your trip.
Go through the manual that came with your equipment. Even if most cameras are rather intuitive, a manual will explain you what every feature does and how to adjust it. Read your manual and then experiment with your camera. You should feel comfortable much quicker when you take the time to learn about your equipment.
Tripods are great pieces of photography equipment, but not everyone has one or can afford one for their shots. So, what can you do in the meantime to make sure that you have steady, sharp shots of your subject? Try leaning against something solid so that you can steady your hands and the camera.
Are you aware of the “magic hours” in photography? This time period refers to the times of day known as dusk and dawn. These magical times create very soft and warm lighting conditions. There is only 45 minutes around sunrise and sunset to add this beautiful light to your shots, so plan accordingly.
Never stand below your subjects when photographing people or animals. There is nothing more unflattering than looking up a person’s nose in a photograph, while the upward angle also distorts other facial features. In the very least, stand parallel to your subjects. If at all possible, position yourself at a slightly raised elevation to achieve the best results.
Keep an eye out for all kinds of natural geometry when taking pictures. Pay special attention to any “lines” that your eye can pick up on in the area or on the subject that you will be shooting. Find the “line” and use it to take a good shot.
Shoot your subject quickly. If there is any chance of your subject moving, take the shot as quickly as you can. You never know when your subject will move, or get tired of waiting for you to take the shot. It’s better to shoot right away and get too many pictures, then to wish you had.
Don’t worry about taking too many pictures. It is helpful in being selective while taking pictures, but by taking too many you can capture surprising and unexpected images. With digital photography you can always delete any of the pictures that you do not like. You can also set the camera on burst mode and delete the pictures you don’t like and keep the ones you do like.
Like any science or art form, photography is something you could study and read about for a good portion of your life. Or, you could just apply what you have read in this article and improve your photography immediately. Keep these tips in mind the next time your camera is in your hands and you’ll see better images quickly.
