Taking Better Photos... Simple tips
Looking to take good photos and don't know how to begin? Well, the first thing you need to keep in mind is that it's the photographer that takes great photos, not the camera.
You've probably seen some people take fantastic photos with a simple point-and-shoot camera, while some take poor and uninspiring shots with the most expensive SLR.
Don't worry... there are a few simple tips on shooting digital photos that can help. Before long, you'll be shooting like a pro!
1. What are all these symbols for anyway?... Know your camera
2. Using flash: 10ft... It's the Law!
3. Want love? Get closer... utilizing the Macro
4. Line it up... Hold steady and break it into thirds
6. Play with the ISO Setting
7. Size matters... Have enough memory capacity
You've probably seen some people take fantastic photos with a simple point-and-shoot camera, while some take poor and uninspiring shots with the most expensive SLR.
Don't worry... there are a few simple tips on shooting digital photos that can help. Before long, you'll be shooting like a pro!
1. What are all these symbols for anyway?... Know your camera
Sound familiar? You buy the latest digital camera out there (the one everyone says can't miss), come home, rip off the box, then proceed to fiddle with the device. You quickly page through the manual... then place it back in the box for safe keeping, never to look at it again. Not a good idea!
When you have a digital camera, you owe it to yourself to understand its ins and outs. Learn how to control exposure, how to use different camera modes, and how to use flash. This is where it all begins.
2. Using flash: 10ft... It's the Law!
One of the most important things you need to know about photography is how to control the flash. Depending on your lighting situation, you might just need to turn it off.
The most common mistake made when using flash is taking the photo beyond the flash's range. Why? Because pictures taken beyond the maximum flash range will be too dark (underexposed). For many cameras, the maximum flash range is less than 15ft - about five steps away.
What is your flash range? You can find this in the camera manual. But if you can't find it then don't take a chance... compose your photo so that your subject is no further away than 10ft.
When taking outdoor photos it's good to turn the flash on to light your subject, especially if the subject is in the shade. On the other hand, you can also choose to turn off the flash when taking indoor shots. Sometimes, using the flash indoors will result in washout, unnatural skin color, and harsh glare in your photos.
When shooting indoors, know where the reflective surfaces (mirrors in particular) are and avoid having them in your line of sight.
3. Want love? Get closer... utilizing the Macro
Almost all modern cameras have a macro mode. This setting is ideal for taking close up shots of objects like flowers or insects. On my Canon Rebel it's represented by a flower symbol.
What you do is to pick a subject, turn on macro mode, then get as close to it as your camera will allow. Make sure you allow the camera to focus properly before depressing the shutter button fully.
4. Line it up... Hold steady and break it into thirds
A basic rule of photography is to hold the camera level. Since most digital cameras come with a LCD, you can use it to properly frame your shots. Next time you're taking a shot, try to look for the horizontal or vertical lines in the scene and use them as guides. A good example is to make use of the horizon when you're taking a photo of a sunset.5. Two's company, but three's stability... Use a tripod!
Good composition can be achieved through the "Rule of Thirds." As you look through the camera's viewfinder, imagine that there are lines dividing the scene into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, dividing your image into nine equal-shaped blocks. Frame your subject at one of the intersecting points instead of in the center of the viewfinder, as in the example below.
I recommend this tip to everyone - camera tripods are an essential tool in your photographic arsenal. When will you need a tripod? Well, it's useful if you're taking shots under low-light conditions or trying to capture fast moving objects. Always try to look for a tripod that's convenient to carry around. For personal use, you don't need a huge one - just a simple compact one that's easy to pack.
6. Play with the ISO Setting
The ISO setting of a camera controls its sensitivity to light. If you're taking a photo of a still object, like a flower, then use a low ISO setting. It allows for a longer shutter speed and produces a cleaner image. If you're shooting a moving object, like a one year old that skipped walking and went straight running, then a higher ISO setting of 400 or above would be better.
NOTE: a higher ISO setting correlates to a faster shutter speed and requires less light, but will produce "grainy/noisier" photos. It has to do with the Periodic Table of Elements and atomic weight... but this is not a Chemistry lecture, so we'll leave that alone.
7. Size matters... Have enough memory capacity
Just like you must have enough rolls of film when using traditional cameras, make sure you always have enough memory capacity in your digital camera. It's terrible to be on a holiday taking great photos and suddenly realizing you've no memory space left. Here are some general guidelines for digital camera storage.
2 megapixel cameras - get at least a 64MB card
3 megapixel camera - get at least a 128MB card
4 megapixel camera - get at least a 256MB card
5 megapixel camera and above - get at least a 512MB or 1GB card
