Taking a picture is as easy as pushing a button, but taking a beautiful photograph is a work of art. You can take great photos with a simple, point-and-shoot camera or get lousy shots with the most expensive, top-of-the-line camera. It is not the camera that produces wonderful images, it is the photographer. To help you take great photographs, here are some helpful tips.
Digital photography can be altered and manipulated in software to make them resemble traditional art forms. Adobe Photoshop is widely considered the industry standard for digital images, but there are numerous other companies with adequate programs. Instantly making your pictures into masterpieces is simple. Just hit the “filter” button, select the medium that you prefer, and then click the selection that you want.
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.
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.
Do not let your knowledge shape your pictures. You should base your picture around your idea and creative feel and use knowledge and your equipment help you make this idea come to life. You can experiment with techniques when you first learn them, but you will take your best pictures when you let your ideas take charge.
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.
When preparing for a trip, pack your equipment carefully. Pack however many lenses you anticipate using, and don’t neglect to throw in cleaning accessories and backup batteries. But don’t pack too much here. Only take the equipment that you will need. Anything else runs the risk of getting lost or damaged.
You need not stand directly in front of an object to photograph it. Try interesting angles such as shooting from above, underneath, moving from side to side of the subject, or holding the camera at waist level.
A common beginner’s mistake is to place one’s thumb on the lens while taking a photograph. This causes a blurry spot to appear in the corner of a photograph. You should make sure your lens is clean and that you are not obstructing it with your thumb before taking a picture.
In many pictures, people will be looking directly into the camera. You can create a more interesting shot by directing your subject to focus on a point off-camera instead of directly at the lens. Another idea is to tell your subject to concentrate on something or someone in the frame of the shot, without looking directly at the camera.
Pay attention to clothing worn by the subjects in your photographs, particularly shirts. If at all possible make sure they are free from logos and prominent commercial advertising. Logos date a photograph and remove the “classic” feeling that is treasured in years to come. They also seriously clash with natural landscaping in outdoor environments.
Move in closer to your subject. When you spot something you’d like to take a picture of, snap a shot. Then move in closer and take a better shot. If you have your subject fill the frame, it will help the viewer appreciate and understand your photo. When taking the picture, continue to move closer until you are sure your picture will represent the subject.
If you have to use your flash, then keep your subject away from walls, especially those that are light colored. Having a busy background or one that is dark will minimize the dark or harsh shadow that comes with using a flash. The best option though is to have enough light that you don’t need a flash.
Improve your photographs by using a tripod. This is not always necessary for snapshots, but is imperative when using slower shutter speeds. Shaky hands can ruin a picture by making it blurry. Tripods also help you make sure your photo is level; if it is a landscape, you do not want the horizon line to be uneven.
Now that you have some helpful tips, you will be able to start taking more great pictures. With this knowledge and some willingness to make some easy adjustments to your shooting techniques and your camera, you can get some pretty amazing shots from any camera that you are using.