Ten Tips for Great Photography
Article by Adriana Bella
How to become a great photographer is not that hard if you are willing to learn. All it takes is dedication to the art and being mindful of few facts that will ensure your pictures come out with lots of character and feeling. Apart from learning these few tips that we are going to share with you on the subject you will need to practice taking photographs as frequently as possible.
1. Make eye contact directly with the subject
Making eye contact directly is one way of bringing a picture to life. It will seem as if you are looking into the subject’s eyes and this will make all the difference in the world. Capturing the beautiful smiles as well as their gaze is an unfailing way to hold the interest in a photograph. Shooting at eye level is the best way to achieve this. This angle will create a dynamic picture where it becomes more personal and mesmerizing to look at. In the case of children, you will have to get down to their level.
2. Have an uncluttered background
The background should be uncluttered and in keeping with the theme of the photograph. There should be no trees growing from the subject’s head or any car’s pouring out of the subject’s ears. These are very common mistakes that we all make as we start out. Keep the focus on the subject and not on any other item in the background.
3. Using a Flash outdoors
The sunlight that is available during daytime can sometimes cause deep shadows around the face and other areas in a picture. To eliminate these shadows you can use a flash to light up the face. If the subject that you are taking a photograph of is within 5 feet a fill-flash mode can be used and for others beyond 5 feet a full-flash mode can be used. The fill-flash mode can also be used on cloudy days. This way you can highlight and brighten up what you need to while at other times the soft lighting on a cloudy day will give you lovely pictures with a pleasant effect.
4. Get close to the subject
Very often the pictures are taken from too far away. Getting closer and using the zoom in feature will help to shoot a proper picture that is well composed. Fill the frame with the subject if it is indeed what you want. Photographing the subject at close quarters will reveal many details that will emphasize certain features of the subject adding character to the photograph. Getting too close to the subject will also ruin a photograph as it will turn out to be blurry. Most cameras work best at three feet when shooting at close quarters.
5. Moving away from the center
Most of the time beginners use the dead center for all their photographs. With time you will learn the power of moving the subject to a side or two thirds away from the edge in the frame. This is guaranteed to bring out a more dynamic pose to the subject and will ensure a better and more interesting picture. In the case of an auto-focus camera it is best to lock in the altered position of the subject as they automatically focus on the center.
6. Compose the picture with care
The picture has to be composed with care as to the positioning of the subject as well as the background in the final photograph. The new position or the focus can be locked in with the aid of the shutter button which is pressed halfway for this. The composition of the picture can be enhanced by using lighting methods and other technical formats even after the photograph is taken.
7. Learn about the flash operation
Using a flash can be tricky to an inexperienced person. The main mistake made with using the flash is taking the pictures when they are beyond the range of the flash. In this situation it is as if there was no flash at all and the end result will be a dark picture. The camera manual will give you the appropriate flash range for your camera. Keep this in mind when taking the pictures. As you gain experience with your camera you will automatically learn the best range of your flash.
8. Lighting of a picture
Apart from the subject that you hope to photograph the next important aspect is the lighting that is available for it. The photograph depends upon the light available and if there is not enough light that will mean an overly dark picture where nothing is clear. The right amount of light can make the picture look great. At the same time, you can learn to play with the light and use this to create different moods, feelings and looks in your photographs. The ways in which light and color can be used in this art is truly countless. Experimenting will allow you to learn more about this.
9. Use different angles
This again is part of composing the picture. If you turn your camera to take the picture vertically rather than the same old way you will notice how different and interesting the picture becomes. In certain situations this seems to be the best way to take the picture. It can add dynamism to an otherwise boring picture. Think of a lighthouse or the leaning tower of Pisa and you will appreciate the difference created by this. So, get used to taking vertical pictures when needed.
10. Control the process.
Take control of your picture-taking and watch your pictures dramatically improve. Become a picture director, not just a passive picture-taker. A picture director takes charge. A picture director picks the location: “Everybody go outside to the backyard.” A picture director adds props: “Girls, put on your pink sunglasses.” A picture director arranges people: “Now move in close, and lean toward the camera.”
Most pictures won’t be that involved, but you get the idea: Take charge of your pictures and win your own best picture awards.
Adriana Bella is professional graphic designer and passionate photographer. She has recently created and published a huge collection of photography templates available on www.artcodesign.com
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