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I am not the best photographer there is, I will be the first to say it and argue with anyone that may say I am (especially my wife).
I just thought I would give some personal insights from a self taught photographer so here goes.
Bright sun can create unattractive deep shadows on the face. Eliminate the shadows by using your flash to lighten the face.
When taking people pictures on sunny days, turn your flash on. You may have a choice of fill-flash mode or full-flash mode. If the person is within five feet, use the fill-flash mode; beyond five feet, the full-power mode may be required.
With a digital camera, you can see the results right away and make adjustments.
On cloudy days, use the camera's fill-flash mode if it has one. The flash will brighten up people's faces and make them stand out.
Also take a picture without the flash, because the soft light of overcast days sometimes gives quite pleasing results by itself, this also applies for early morning or late evening when the sun is at a lower level therefore producing a more subdued and even lighting effect.
Keep your main subject away from the middle if possible. The "rule of thirds" means just that.
Bring your photograph to life by simply moving your subject away from the middle of your picture.
It is OK to ignore the "Rule of thirds" in some instances but always be prepared to accept critcizm when you do. You're the photographer and you know what you want so don't be afraid to go "Outside the Box".
The most important part of every picture is the light. It affects the appearance of everything you photograph.
On a great-grandmother, bright sunlight from the side can enhance wrinkles. But the soft light of a cloudy day can subdue those same wrinkles.
Don't like the light on your subject?
Then move yourself or your subject.
For landscapes, try to take pictures early or late in the day when the light is orangish and rakes across the land.
What I am about to say has been said many times and there is a reason for it.
It works.
Experiment.
Go out, take pictures, play around, but most definately take notes.
You may even take a "Cue card" with your shutter speed, Fstop, lens info etc and include it in the shot.
Don't know what a shot may look like when done?
I have a beat up 5x7 photo matte glued to a popcicle stick.
I hold it up to see what the shot may look like.
I move my hand back and forth from my eye to see what the camera sees.
It may sound corny but it works for me, especially with landscapes.
I guess after all this wordy mantra I'm just saying go out and play, keep a record, repeat it again and again and you will most definately get the hang of this thing called photography.
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