10 Tips In Better Photography
There was a time when the only place we could see our memories captured in pictures was in the album. Nowadays, it's possible to capture moments in photos and share them across social media platforms. However, it's important to know how to take better photographs for sharing on these new mediums. In this blog post, we would like to show you ten tips that will help you take better pictures and make more of a statement with your photography.
1) Be aware of light.
The most important thing is knowing the light. Imagine you are thirsty and find a water source. How will you know whether it is clean enough to drink from? Will it be too turbid? Too boiling, or too cold? You need to feel the temperature of the water with your feet. Likewise, when it comes to taking pictures in the outdoors, you need to feel the light that is being reflected onto your subject's face in order to decide if it will be beautiful enough for you to capture on film. Be aware of what type of lighting is present at that time. If possible, practice by walking around in different locations to determine which lighting source would best suit your needs.
2) Be aware of your shutter speed.
Shutter speed refers to how long the shutter is open when taking a picture. As you already know, in photography, light often comes from fast moving objects; therefore, it's important to take note of the shutter speed. It is best to try your best to use a fast shutter speed (at least 1/500 or faster). To determine how fast your camera can go, double check on the manufacturer's website. If you have a DSLR, then you're lucky because most of them have built in TTL metering (which means that they do all the calculations for you).
3) Layer your effects.
If you would like to take a nice portrait, then you need to know how to layer your effects. An ideal natural light portrait needs the following: a soft focus filter, a soft diffused flash, and an ambient light. These are the three layers that will help you achieve the best lighting for your subject. This is also helpful if you want to set up an indoor shot as well. The soft focus filter will help to reveal the eyes of your subject. The ambient light will be used as a base for your main lighting and the flash will help to add a nice rim light.
4) Use the spot meter (or evaluative metering)
The spot meter is used when you want to fill in shadows or reveal bright highlights in your photos. If you want to take a beautiful portrait, then it's best to use the spot meter, which can be done by pointing your camera at your subject's face (with their eyes closed if necessary). If you want to shoot with natural light, just point it at an area illuminated by sunlight, and take a photo.
5) Use the right lens.
A great portrait can be achieved by using a telephoto lens. This is because it would allow you to get close to your subject and blur out the background (resulting in bokeh). Aggressive lenses with a wide aperture (f1.4-f2.8) should be used to get a nice shallow depth of field effect which will help you to achieve that highly professional look in your photos. On the other hand, if you would like to take a landscape shot, then it's best to use a wide angle lens as they generally have smaller maximum aperture values (the smaller your aperture value, the more light will enter it and hence the better it is for shooting landscape).
6) Light up your subject's face.
We have all seen beautiful landscape photos that didn't capture much of the scene in the background. However, this is most likely because they lacked strong lighting on the subject. If you would like to take a nice portrait, simply position an additional light source on your face so that it is placed directly above your subject's head. This will create a nice rim light and will fill in shadows around your subject's face nicely.
7) Know when to use flash.
If you're taking a portrait, then it's best to use flash (or at least fill in shadows). However, if you're taking a landscape or an indoor shot, then it's best to use the ambient light. On the other hand, if you're using a tripod or a continuous shot, then it's better to use the ambient light.
8) Be aware of your camera.
If you have an entry-level DSLR (point and shoot), then be sure that it has at least a minimum number of megapixels (20 for example). Also make sure that your camera can take photos in RAW format (if needed). This will allow you to open and tweak your pictures in post-production. If you have a point and shoot, then it's best to upgrade to an entry-level DSLR. Entry-level DSLRs can do everything a point-and-shoot camera can do plus much more.
9) Use the right equipment.
Your equipment is your main tool when taking photographs. It's highly important that you use the right equipment for the right type of photography. If you're a beginner, then it would be best if you use a prime lens (the 50mm f1.8, as an example). However, if you're already advanced then it would be best to have your camera upgraded with some lenses (such as 14mm F2.8 or 24mm F1.4). These lenses will help you to achieve the best quality photos possible.
10) Post-production is key.
One of the main reasons people go to art schools is to transform their photographs into works of art. Therefore, post-production is a must when it comes to taking great pictures. If you don't want your pictures to be altered in post production, then it's best that you don't take them at all.
Although many of these tips might seem pretty obvious, it's surprising how many photographers still fail to follow them. Therefore, if you're a beginner that would like to take beautiful pictures, then it's best to follow these tips as taught by professional photographers.
1- http://www.flickr.com/photos/raysanford/2431618099/
2- http://www.flickr.com/photos/dave_pratt/4121084526
3- http://4.bp.blogspot.
Conclusion
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
Best regards,
Paul Rogers
Sincerely, a young photographer who would like to continue writing about photography, even if it takes him a little while. Paul Rogers is a graduate of the Immaculate Heart College studying Business Management and Psychology. He is also a writer and blogger living in Melbourne, Australia. Paul's main passion lies with writing about photography. If you would like to read more articles by Paul then please use the navigation above to view all of his posts. You can also bookmark this blog for later reference: http://www.flickr.