The thoughts of photography can be both exhilarating and scary at the same time. Are you not sure exactly what lighting to use or how to frame the shot? Whether you are a newcomer to photography or you have a little know-how already, some more advice is sure to come in handy, and that is just what you can pick up by reading the rest of this article.
Don’t try to pose your subjects for every picture. Candid, action shots are often times some of the best. You will capture a person in their natural setting, in their natural mood, and the picture will look more “real” because of it. Take lots of candid pictures and you’re sure to get a few that are great.
Make sure you taking lighting into account when you’re taking your photos. Will there be shadows cast upon your subject? Is your subject squinting into the sun or other bright light? Try moving around to find the best angle in the lighting to get the best photo. Try taking your photos at different vantage points so that you can see what works best.
Keep your camera settings simple. Figure out each of your camera’s controls individually, like shutter speed or aperture, before tackling the next. 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.
Always look at the photos of others to be inspired. Seeing their work can remind you of all the various ways to take photos of many moments.
When you have to make a choice on what photos you want to show off, pick the best ones! Avoid showing every photo you have taken of a particular subject. When people are looking at your photography, they don’t want to see similar subjects over and over. Be fresh, and try different kinds of photography.
A good photography tip is to try and be helpful when you’re offering criticism. Don’t just tell someone that their photograph is nice, or that you like it. Tell them specifically what you like about it, and why you think it makes the photograph strong. The same goes for what you don’t like about the photograph.
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.
Many cameras allow you to set the white balance. This setting tells the camera which colors to see as highlights. When shooting in artificial light (indoors) set the while balance setting to the “artificial light” mode. It will make your photos look as if they were shot in natural light.
Learn how to use aperture on your camera. It indicates how much of the stuff that is seen in your view finder will be in focus. Low aperture means that only the foreground will be in focus and the background will be more blurred. High aperture means that everything will equally be in focus.
A good photography tip is to remind yourself that less is more. Don’t think that by adding more stuff to your shot that you’ll make it more interesting. If anything, more stuff will only confuse your viewer. Simplicity is something you should keep in mind when composing photographs.
If you desire to get better at photography, you must make an honest effort and dedicate time to gain the knowledge and truly understand the art of photography. Taking a good picture requires you to find the right balance between many nuances and you will be able to do that if you practice.
