Photography is so much more than simply attempting to take clear shots of a subject in good lighting. It really is a method of artistic expression. There are many techniques and methodologies to taking good photos. You need to develop your eye. You need the ability to frame a shot and show what is interesting about the subject. Here are some tips to help you.
Play around with shutter speeds to determine which work best during what situations. Photography lets you capture a single moment or show motion over time by adjusting shutter speed. The quicker the subject of your photo is moving, the faster your shutter speed needs to be and vice versa.
Don’t be afraid to break some photography rules with your camera. Good photography takes unique style, and you want to show the world a new view through your lens. Avoid recreating certain famous photographs to see how your view differs from that of the original artist. Find unique angles, and do not be afraid to let your creative side loose.
Framing is essential to photography composition. Zoom in on your subject by eliminating objects which detract from your main focal point. Your subject should fill the frame to add the most impact to your photo, avoiding clutter.
When deciding which of your pictures to show or put on display, choose the absolute best shots you have. Resist the urge to show multiple angles of the same setting or showing too many images at a time. It is very tedious to see this type of repetition. Change it around a little; show different types of photographs.
Move in close to your subject. Photos taken from far away don’t tend to be all that interesting because details or colors are too small to see. Move closer to give your shots vivid clarity.
The ISO, aperture and shutter speed are an important part of photos so make sure you know the combination that works best for you. These are the three features that drive the exposure of the photographs you take. Unless you’re trying for a particular effect, you probably want to avoid taking shots that are over- or under-exposed. With a little experimentation, you can strike the right balance between the 3 settings to deliver the results you want.
In most parts of life, we are trained to make things even and centered. Perfection is valued in our society, and rightfully so, but when it comes to creating interesting photographs, try pointing your camera in a way that puts your subject slightly off-center. Use your auto-focus sparingly, especially if you are trying to take off-center pictures. Focus your camera manually, then lock it before taking the picture.
Watch for fixed patterns in the pictures that you take, and make the most of them. Repeating patterns in a photo’s background attract the viewer’s eye and draw his attention to your photograph. You can even use them to your advantage to create some interesting angles and backgrounds for your subject matter.
Toying with the focus can create a more interesting photograph. The f-stop numbers control how wide open the aperture of your camera is when taking a picture. This in turn affects the depth of field. Smaller f-stop numbers mean that your depth of field is shallow, and you can focus on your subject while the background is blurry. This technique is great for portraits or close ups. In contrast, using a larger depth of field (high f-stop value) puts the whole frame into focus. You want to do this when taking landscape photos.
If you want pictures that are brag-worthy, remember to stay focused on your subject. Keep that camera focused to ensure you maintain good composition in your photos. Until you gain some expertise, stick with centering your subject in full view. The background is independent and responsible for itself.
With photography, it is up to you if you would like to expose the shadows or highlights of a subject. However, you can have two pictures taken of the subject exposing one of each, and you can use a program like Photoshop to blend them into a perfect shot.
You need to remember where the sharpest focus will be in the frame. In general, sharpness will manifest itself mostly towards the center of the lens, as well as center of the image. Sharpness then begins to degrade the closer it gets to the outer edges of the lens and the image.
Use special care when you are taking pictures in nature. Look around and appreciate the scene as a whole, then take your picture. When you’re done, attempt to leave no trace of yourself behind. If you find a fantastic spot for taking pictures, make sure your leave the spot the way you found it so the next photographer can get a picture as good as yours.
Before you begin to shoot, think about your main idea. Give yourself time to think about what you are trying to capture and convey, then make notes about the creative ideas that can make your photographs even better. As with any form of art, it’s all in the details and execution of a concept or idea. This approach can help you become inspired so that you can achieve better results.
Now you have discovered how photography is more than just snapping a few well-lit pictures. Your photos will become better overnight if you take the preceding advice seriously.