Photography can be intimidating to a new photographer. Photography requires a lot of fine skill, and the breadth of information can truly overwhelm new photographers. The following article gives you some great tips to help you sort through all this information.
Play around with shutter speeds to find out what kind of effects you can achieve. Photography lets you capture moments in a split-second and allows you to blur together time periods that are large. To freeze moving objects, try out a fast shutter speed. A slower shutter speed will help to capture calm, natural scenes.
Get closer to the subject to get a better shot. Getting up close gives you a better conceptual focus, and blots out background distractions. You also get the opportunity to allow your subject’s face to be the star of the shot; this is especially impactful with portraiture. Small details are easily overlooked when the subject is a good distance away.
Keep your technique simple to get the best pictures. You can often create a gorgeous picture without playing around with the different motion and color settings.
Keep the knowledge of the settings on your camera simple. Learn how to use your camera one feature at a time. Learn each one completely before moving on. This will allow you to focus on capturing the picture, instead of spending all your time fiddling with the camera while your subject simply walks away.
Look at other photographers’ work for inspiration. By studying the images taken by other photographers, you will recall that the perfect shot can be captured through a vast number of methods and techniques.
When shooting landscapes, it is important for you to create depth within the image. Add scale into your photos by including an object or person in the picture foreground. A small aperture–no more than f/8 on a digital camera and no more than f/16 on a SLR–can show sharpness in both the background and foreground.
Always be careful when packing your equipment for a trip. Take all the lenses you need and don’t forget to pack extra batteries and cleaning tools! Be sensible about the limitations that your mode of transport will present, and try to take along only what you are sure you will need.
When you are going through your photographs and picking the ones that you want to show to others, be sure to pick the cream of the crop. Resist the urge to show multiple angles of the same setting or showing too many images at a time. Many people tire quickly of viewing picture after picture of a single subject. Keep it fresh by showing different facets of your photography.
If you want to get into taking pictures in the old fashioned manner try finding a old film camera and taking some shots! A film that has an ISO number of 200, with your black-and-white capture, will give you a dramatic effect. After your pictures have been developed you should have prints made on different types of paper, including those that are made of fiber.
When it comes to capturing great shots of people, you should aim to have a slightly blurred backdrop. If your background is focused it might take some focus off of your subject. Make sure there is a distance between the subject and the background to get this effect.
Before traveling to some new area, find out about what interesting or unusual sights you should try to get a shot of. Go look at postcard racks to get some ideas. Usually the photos on these cards clue you in on popular and photo worthy local attractions and areas of interest, any of which usually make excellent subjects for your own. So, make an effort to visit these areas and attractions.
If you are going on a trip, start taking photos when you leave to document your journey. Once you get to your location, you can find some good places to take photos, but you should take some original shots as well. Document each phase of your vacation — the airport is always good for some interesting shots.
In most instances, the subject’s eyes are looking right at the camera. Get your subject to look at something to the right or left of the camera for a unique picture. Another interesting look is to ask the subject to look at another person in the shot.
External Flash
It is not a good idea to wear white when having your pictures taken, if you want your photographs to look their best. Because many cameras have auto focus, the camera will read the shades present. White clothes may appear washed out in such photos, or faces may appear too dark.
The majority of digital cameras now come with a feature that automatically uses the flash whenever the area you are photographing is too dim. This is fine for casual snapshots, but if you want more professional results, you need the wider lighting options you can get by using an external flash. If your camera will accept an external flash (look for a “hot shoe”), a photo shop can set you up with a model to sync with your camera.
For a gripping photo, experiment with depth of field. Using a smaller depth of field, otherwise known as an f-stop, will allow you to keep the background blurry and the subject in clear focus. This is a good technique to use when the subject is up close, such as in portraits. A bigger f-stop number will give you a greater depth of field, which means that everything in the photo will be in focus. Larger f-stop numbers are ideal for landscape photography.
When your perfect shot is in view, stay still and hold your breath when you push the shutter. Slight movements can decrease the quality of a shot. For the perfect shot, you must take time and focus your energy on getting the perfect view and angle before pressing the shutter button.
Always make your subject the main focus of your picture. Stay focused on your subject to keep your composure the best it can be. When you are beginning, keep in mind what you want to take a photo of and make sure it is at the center of the picture. Let your background be what it will be.
These tips should help you utilize your camera properly and help you consolidate and organize all the resources of information that you have encountered with regards to photography. If you can remember these tips when you are shooting images, you will be on the right path to becoming an excellent photographer.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to shoot something great because you couldn’t properly adjust your settings. However, you shouldn’t choose a preset; this let your camera choose your settings for you. Pick the elements you want to have control over, and choose a setting that gives you the freedom you need.
