Most people assume that beautiful photographs are taken by great photographers with very good and very expensive photography equipment. While that may be true most of the time, it is not true all of the time. Almost anyone with a camera, expensive or not, can get beautiful photos with a little foresight. In fact, thinking before you shoot could be the main key to creating that wall hanging masterpiece.
Here are some things to remember when taking photos:
1. Get closer – Once you see the shot, before you press the shutter, get closer. Eliminate background distractions. In other words, if you are looking at a sleeping puppy, for example, fill your viewer with the puppy. Cut out what’s behind or to the side. Move around until the sleeping puppy fills your view from side to side.
2. Be quick – This may take some practice, but learn to be quick, in case your subject moves, flies away, or gets tired waiting for you to open the shutter. Take the picture. Don’t worry about firing too many shots. In this digital age, movie waste has become a thing of the past. Remember … look at it … compose it … shoot …
3. Composition is important – A well-composed image is much more pleasing to the eye, so take a little time to balance your shot. Keep the horizon of the trigger level. Cut out the extra things in the viewer. Move the subject around the frame. In other words, just because the vase is in the middle doesn’t mean it has to be there in your photo. Move it off-center for a more interesting shot.
4. Be selective on the subject – To take interesting and eye-catching photos, it will be necessary to determine what it is that you really like. This will require shooting all kinds of topics until you figure it out for yourself. Once you find your passion, your art will follow. Finding ways to document the different aspects of your passion will take a lifetime. You will never run out of sunsets or cars, or people or landscapes, if that is what you are passionate about. Again, fill your viewer with your passion and leave the rest out.
5. Focus on your topic – Pay attention to your topic. Learn how to erase or blur the background. You want to move the subject forward so that it dominates the attention of those looking at the image. Just as some artists paint the same subject over and over again, it will be necessary to photograph the same subject over and over again with different shutter speeds, through different apertures, or in different light. The subject can be seen better centered in the frame, or it can be seen better from one side or the other. Play until you are satisfied.
6. Playing with shutter speed – One of the biggest opportunities with photography, which is sometimes left out of beginner photography tips, is experimenting with shutter speed. The shutter speed allows you to t speed up or slow down time. Using the shutter speed effectively is what controls the moment of the freeze frame. Using a slow shutter speed and a tripod can capture a time-lapse event. By using a fast shutter, you can capture that split-second event that the eye could miss. The important thing is to experiment and play. This is the way to learn what can happen.
7. Pay attention to the light – Now don’t go looking at the sun, but watch the light play around your subject. Is it a cloudy day or is it blindingly bright? How do shadows fall on the subject or is there a shadow? Is your subject squinting? Can you see your theme? what does it mean that the sun is in front or behind? Strong light can bring out bold colors, while indirect light can soften focus. Paying attention to your light source is probably number one for success when passing on tips for photography beginners.
8. Watch the weather – The sky can affect the appearance of your images. A cloudy sky will mute the tones in the image and blur the sky and background. Sometimes black and white photography works best on a cloudy day. If it’s sunny outside, the sky is the limit. If your camera allows you to shoot through filters, then get a polarizing lens. This is the lens that pops fluffy white clouds against a deep blue sky.
9. Keep the configuration simple – At first, it’s best to stick with simple camera settings. Don’t leave it on automatic and shoot. That can sometimes be frustrating when trying to achieve a certain effect. Set your camera to semi-automatic to allow some adjustments and after it improves, set it to manual program to allow you complete freedom over its settings. So start slow and grow, learning as you go.
10. Cheer up, be brave – Don’t worry if you have the camera configured with the correct settings. Take the photo and keep taking the photo until you are satisfied with the image. Don’t be afraid, shy, or paralyzed by indecision. There is nothing politically incorrect about taking pictures.
Hope you enjoyed my photography tips for beginners.