The word photography comes from two Greek words that roughly translate to “drawing with light”. Photography doesn’t just draw light. It draws people together. A great photo is a great way to share memories and make you feel more connected to those close to you. Here are some tips on how to make those photographs better.
Play with the shutter speed setting to get shots of both slow and fast-moving subjects. Slow shutter speeds are great for objects that move very slowly, such as streams. Fast shutter speeds, on the other hand, allow you to get a clear shot of a subject that is moving very quickly, such as a race car.
Try using a tripod to take your photos. This will reduce or completely remove your movement’s influence. It’s incredibly frustrating to have lined up a perfect shot only to discover that your hands were shaking a bit and completely blurred the photo. This is especially important if you know you don’t have extremely steady hands.
Use a diffuser to minimize the negative effects of flash photography. The built-in flash on most cameras produce photos that have a high light-dark contrast, which makes them look harsh and unrealistic. A diffuser diffuses the light from the flash, distributing it more evenly and making your flash photos look more natural.
Only select the best shots that you have if you are planning on showing your pictures to someone. This will help them form the highest possible opinion of you and your work, which is desirable if you are trying to land a job. Always present your best work to others.
A good photography tip is to always trust your instincts. If you suddenly have the urge to get a shot of something, go for it! Don’t let doubt get in your way. You might look back at your work and decide that spontaneous shot you took represents you.
Before going on a trip, make sure you carefully pack the equipment. Take all the lenses you need and don’t forget to pack extra batteries and cleaning tools! Never bring more equipment than you will need, and plan accordingly for convenience of transport.
Be sure to find a subject who is interesting and compelling. You always need good subjects, it doesn’t matter how talented you are or how good your gear is. Chose inanimate objects that inspire you, or search for a willing participant that can act as your muse.
A great photography tip is to make sure your shots have depth in them. An easy way to achieve that is to be sure that you have a background, a middle ground, and a foreground. Having all three of these will give your pictures a sense of atmospheric perspective.
While taking indoor photos under fluorescent lighting, make sure the camera has the appropriate white balance settings. Blue and green light is usually given off by fluorescent lights, so subjects of your photos might take a tone cooler than you intended, unless you compensate with the red tones.
Set your camera to the lowest native ISO it has. This means that your camera will produce a darker image, which can be edited in a photo program with less noise than a picture taken at a different ISO range. This gives you more flexibility to edit your pictures to your satisfaction.
Photography has changed the way we communicate with each other, allowing us to share memories in ways we never could before. If you learn to take great looking photos, the people in your life will feel closer to you. Thanks to the advice in this article, you know a variety of things you can do to make your photos look better. Try putting these tips into practice the next time you pull out your camera.