Congratulations; this is the very first step to become a great photographer! First, you must begin with research. Do not allow yourself to become overwhelmed by the vast amounts of information you may find. This article provides you with several tips and techniques that will immediately improve your photography skills.
When taking a photograph, take one shot, then move in closer to the desired subject and take a second shot. You want the subject of the photograph to be the majority of the frame. Taking the second shot ensures that you get the better shot from one of the two, whether you were close enough initially or not.
Choose what to focus on and what elements to include in your composition. Many good photos show only a carefully chosen portion of the subject, rather than the whole thing. Don’t attempt to include too much. If you are trying to capture an impression, take a couple of photographs instead of just one singe picture that has no detail or focus.
A great photography tip is to invest in a tripod. Having a tripod is very important because it will allow you to take a clear and focused picture. Don’t assume that you can take a clear picture just by using your hands. Avoid blurry pictures by getting a tripod.
Pay attention to your light. The lighting in a photograph can bring a subject into better focus or change the mood of the picture. Different lighting setups will result in very different photographs. Avoid harsh direct lighting on your subject’s face, as this will generally cause them to squint.
Learn how to play with the shutter speed. You can choose to snap a quick picture or choose a slower exposure to capture a flow or movement in its entirety. You will need to experiment with this and find what kind of speed matches certain situations. This is a matter of personal style rather than a general guideline to follow.
A good photography tip is to use color contrast as a way to create your focal point. Basically this means the area you want the viewer to focus on should have high color contrast. A good way to achieve this is by putting two pure colors side by side.
When photographing portraits, isolate your subject. Use a medium telephoto lens or the medium telephoto setting on your zoom. That, combined with a large aperture (try f/4 or larger), blurs the foreground and background. Focus on the eyes. Use diffused lighting for a flattering look. If outdoors, wait for an overcast sky or shoot with the subject in the shadows and the sun at your back.
Understand and get to know your camera. Although this sounds simple, many people have never even read the instructions on how to operate their camera. Get to know and understand the various menus and functions of every button on it so that when you need to use a certain function, you know where to find it and that the camera can accomplish it.
Move in close to your subject. When you are too far away, it is harder to see the details in the resulting photograph, which can prove quite disappointing. Try to make it easy on your audience to be able to see images clearly and vividly.
This article has likely provided you with some new techniques you are looking to try out in your own photographs. Make use of what you have learned from this article, and come back to it for a refresher as needed. If you are patient enough, your pictures will eventually look like art.
