Taking photographs is a great way to capture any moment in life. Organizing them and printing them has never been easier. No longer is there the need for film and processing. Use the tips below to add whimsy to your photography hobby and to take pictures that look like they should be in magazines!
Make sure you’re holding your camera properly to get the best photograph. You want to make sure you have your arms tucked against your sides and one hand should be under the lens to support it. This will help reduce any movement and insure that you’re able to get good photos.
Many people think sunny days are great for photos, but direct sunlight can ruin nearly any image. This can result in sun glare, distracting shadows, odd highlighting and squinting subjects. If possible, always choose early morning or late evening light when shooting outdoors.
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.
The number one lighting to avoid in photography is the use of your built in camera flash. Using the flash setting in your camera actually creates the dreaded red eyes and makes your subjects appear featureless shadow blobs. Only use this setting in the case of an emergency if you are left with no other choice.
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.
If you keep your batteries charged at all times, you will not miss the picture of a lifetime. Digital cameras use up lots of power in a short period of time so make sure the battery is charged fully before you start taking pictures. Get a few sets of rechargeable batteries, and always take an extra set with you. You’ll never miss a shot this way.
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.
In almost every life situation, it is ingrained in us to keep things centered and even. Most people are attracted to symmetry, even in pictures. That said, sometimes going against the grain with an off-center photo is an easy way to add interest. Also, be aware of auto-focusing features that zoom in on what is centered in front of the camera lens. Focus the shot manually, then fix the focus before hitting the shutter button.
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.
Don’t worry about taking too many pictures. It is helpful in being selective while taking pictures, but by taking too many you can capture surprising and unexpected images. With digital photography you can always delete any of the pictures that you do not like. You can also set the camera on burst mode and delete the pictures you don’t like and keep the ones you do like.
Experiment with different speeds for your camera’s shutter. Do not be afraid of hurting your equipment. Speed it up and slow it down. See how the speed effects the final picture. Take a lot of practice shots, and get familiar with how your camera will react at different shutter speeds.
Simple settings are the best for general photography. Do not complicate your photo taking opportunities by constantly fiddling with your camera. Many cameras have great general settings that will work fine in most normal situations. Changing settings too often can muddle things, and cause you to get unexpected bad results.
When you are taking photos of something that is alive, like animals and people, you need to focus on one area so that you can easily take a photograph of them. The best area to focus on for living and breathing subjects is the eyes. Try focusing on their eyes and you will take better photos.
Photography is a wonderful art medium and using the above tips can help even the most mundane photographs look great. Creating and organizing your photographs will be a breeze, and future generations will always have them to cherish when you work on doing it right. Become the photographer in your family in no time at all!