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You do not need a fancy camera to take great photos- you just need to follow these simple tips to improve your photography. Start seeing and thinking like a photographer. Notice how light falls on different objects - see how light changes colour throughout the day - capture these moods and textures.
Get in Close
View each subject through the viewfinder with a critical eye. Leave out anything that doesn't add to the overall image. If the photo is meant to be of a person, Move in on that person - the whole person - and nothing but the person. Watch out for cluttered, untidy backgrounds. Use neutral backgrounds where possible - The sky; the beach; a brick wall etc.
Capture The Essence
Highlight the centre of interest in your photos. Whether the picture be of a person, pet, product or a scene. Capture details that give the subject individuality.
Give your photos Depth
When you take a photograph, you are trying to create an illusion - from a three-dimensional stereoscopic image, to a flat, two-dimensional replica (print) - try to give an impression of depth by showing foreground, middle-ground and background in your photographs.
Don't make people Dots in the Distance
When photographing people in a scene - in front of a building, or other object,( If the people are the main subject) keep them within three metres of you, focussing on their eyes. Fuzzy eyes annoy the viewer.
To Flash or not to Flash
Try not to use flash at greater distances than three metres, when photographing night-time sports or stage shows, it's a waste of time. Instead get 800 ISO film which will pick up low light and create photos without the need for flash. If you are taking flash pictures of people within the three-metre range, indoors, try diffusing your flash with a tissue in front of the flash window to try to avoid "Red-Eye". But if this occurs, and you must have the photo, for a price, the local digital imaging shop will scan and take out the red-eye for you. Even if you are at a dark location, you can try to lure your subject to a window, and use the subtle ambient light for a pleasing portrait. For outdoor portraits on sunny days, use flash, it fills unwanted shadows in faces.
If your camera uses flash for every photo, and you want to take an available light photo, cover the flash window with black electrical tape.
Choosing which light to use
Photography is about understanding light-its direction, its temperature, its intensity.
Be aware of the many and varied moods and effects of light. Natural light in the morning is cool and clear, at midday the light is white, and in the afternoon the light is warm. Photos taken in the late afternoon have a dreamy quality about them. To better understand how light affects your photos, stand in an open area and hold your hand (palm down) out in front of you. Slowly turn 360 degrees, and notice how the light changes, on your hand. Look for even lighting with details in the shadows, and this is where to place your subject. Ideally, light should come from 45 degrees of subject both vertically and horizontally. You can use reflectors to send light into shadow areas if your camera doesn't have a flash facility.
Impacting the Image
Try using a viewpoint from a different angle to gain unique perspective in your photos - looking up-looking down - Tilt camera 30 degrees up from level - photograph small pets from ground - level, photograph toddlers from 600mm - 800mm high. When taken from a step ladder double chins disappear - give your photos impact!
Get Composed
Never bisect the frame horizontally or vertically, it creates a tension-instead look at 30%/70% either way. If a scene, 70% land or water; 30% sky; or vice-versa. If a vertical object place 1/3 of distance from one edge. Try to have a person looking into the picture, rather than out of the picture-it's annoying not being able to see what they are looking at!
By tilting the camera 30% when taking shots of oncoming trucks or motor-cycles, or even water skiers, this gives dynamism to the picture. Be aware of lack of depth in the camera's view-look for fences going through ears and trees growing out of heads!
[Inspiring Digital Photography Articles]
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