Anyone can snap shots with a camera and be lucky enough to get a few decent pictures. There is much more of a process to taking a good picture than most people realize. If you are looking to take your photographic skills up a notch, see the following tips on how to improve.
Be selective about the elements that you include in your photo. Go ahead and remove anything from the picture that doesn’t belong there or makes the frame seem unbalanced. Use panning shots that keep your subject in focus but blur the background if you can’t remove all unwanted distractions from your shot.
Be simple with your camera settings. Learn how to use your camera one feature at a time. Learn each one completely before moving on. This allows you to just focus on taking photos instead of messing with the camera functions so long that you miss out on the picture.
Keep your pictures relatively simple. A good image should be straightforward and easy to interpret and appreciate. It is important to take meaningful pictures, but in most cases your pictures will say more if you focus on a detail rather than put together a complex composition that might not strike people as much.
One of the best ways for you to learn about photography is to study examples of how to hold your camera and work your subject during photo shoots. In addition, you can talk to someone who has been in photography for a long time to gain valuable insight on your craft.
Keep the arms close to the body and the hands around the bottom and along the sides of your camera when you hold it. You will get less shaking and have clearer shots. Cradling your hands underneath your camera and lens also prevents you from clumsily dropping it.
A great photography tip is to bring your camera with you wherever you go. You never know when an awesome opportunity might present itself. If you don’t have your camera during these moments you’ll definitely regret it later. Always try to bring your camera wherever you go.
Try to plan out all of your shots. You should plan out everything from the subject, to the angle, to the lighting in the area where you will be shooting. Taking a bit of time to plan all of this out, can lead to much better and more interesting photographs.
When you want to photograph something always look all around you. Even if you are strongly interested by an object you might find something more original right behind you. Think about an atmosphere or an effect that you want rather than an object you are going to build your picture around.
Positioning of the subject can make the difference between a good photo and a great photo. The subject should rarely be dead center in the middle of the photo. When taking your photo, try to position the subject in the upper, or lower third of the image. This effect works best when there is a horizon in the distance.
If you do not have a tripod available to use for low lighting situations, try using your motor drive. Try to turn it up to high and then proceed to take a series of shots. Disregard the first shot and go ahead and keep the others that will always be sharper than the first.
While talent can be an important factor in taking excellent photographs, there is quite a bit of learned technique that goes into it as well. Learning the latest techniques on a decent camera and practicing them again and again, should bring up your confidence level. Understanding how to take great pictures can become much more rewarding.
