Photography is a great and creative hobby that has increased in popularity recently. Even though lots of people have a casual interest in the subject, many of them find the huge body of photographic knowledge out there so intimidating that they never really explore the possibilities. This is a great article to assist you when starting photography.
Try using a variety of shutter speeds to determine the best methods for different settings and circumstances. Photography gives you the power to turn a series of single moments into a larger, more broad time frame. If you use a fast shutter speed, you can get photos of things that are in action, whereas slow shutter speeds are good for things that are not moving.
Get as close to your subject as you need to. This method allows you to minimize backgrounds, so that the focus is on your subject. It can also give you a better grasp of how to capture the emotions and expressions that define a great portrait. Small details such as the unique colors in your model’s eyes, or an adorable dimple are often lost when you are too far away.
Try not to capture an overcast sky when taking pictures. Including too much of a gray sky will make your pictures appear muted and washed-out. If you have to shoot with an overcast sky, use black and white methods of photography. If the sky outside is a beautiful blue, include it in your photos but watch the light.
Shutter Speeds
Try out new things; experiment, and don’t be afraid in taking new and original pictures. Personal style should be in a good photograph to express your point of view. Stay away from taking classic pictures that people have seen a million times. Try to find interesting angles, and be creative!
When shooting a variety of scenarios, you should learn to adjust shutter speed to produce different effects. Different shutter speeds allow you to get quick action shots, as well as blur several seconds worth of time together. If you use a fast shutter speed, you can get photos of things that are in action, whereas slow shutter speeds are good for things that are not moving.
The position that you use when holding your camera can make a big difference on the quality of your pictures. To keep your grip steady, hold your upper arms and elbows close to your sides and brace your hands at the camera’s bottom and sides. This keeps the shaking to a minimum and your shots will be more clear. Placing your hands under your lens and camera will prevent your camera from being accidentally dropped.
Keep it simple to get the best photographs. Most of the time, taking a spectacular picture does not require you to adjust a ton of settings, including the color and motion ones.
This next piece of advice is helpful! Learn about the shutter speeds. On your SLR camera there are several settings; S, A, M and P. The ‘P’ button will take you to the program mode. When you apply this setting it means you camera is fully automatic, so it sets things like shutter speed and aperture for you. When you don’t know what you’ll be taking pictures of, it’s best to use this mode.
While many people mistakenly believe that sunny days make for gorgeous photographs, shooting images in direct sunlight often results in distorted photos. You can get some odd shadows and lines on the picture that just look strange. The people in your shots will often close their eyes. If you can, choose late evening or early morning when you shoot outdoors.
As a photographer, it is important that you keep your batteries well charged so you never have to miss out on the opportunity to take a great picture. You should always load your digital camera with fully-charged batteries, because it can be a real energy hog, especially when you use the LCD screen. If you’re really dedicated to always being ready to shoot, bring along an extra set of camera batteries.
Get comfortable with your models before you start photographing them. Some people may feel threatened by the person taking their photograph, making them uneasy. Make conversation and ask them if you can take their photo. You can help them to see that photography is the art of capturing memories, and not an invasion of their personal privacy.
It is important to have a sufficient memory to hold lots of pictures; the best way to get good photos is to take a large number of them. The larger your memory card, the more pictures you can take without having to swap to another card. Another advantage of a large memory card is you can shoot in RAW format, which allows the most flexibility during post-production.
In order to take proper indoor photos under fluorescent light, you should tweak your white balance settings. You will notice that fluorescent light highlights the blue and green light spectrum and will require post processing in order to balance your tones.
It is important to find the perfect combination between ISO, aperture and shutter speed. These are the three features that drive the exposure of the photographs you take. Avoid overexposed pictures or underexposed ones unless you are looking for a particular atmosphere. Try these different features to understand how they influence the pictures you are taking.
It might seem like a beginner’s tip, but even pros forget that sometimes less is more. When dealing with any photo, don’t over-think things. There is no reason to clutter or add a bunch of elements to your shots. When photographing people, try to take shots that your subjects aren’t aware of.
If you’re looking to capture some of the nostalgic intrigue associated with film cameras, try visiting second hand stores and getting your camera there. Consider purchasing black and white film that has an ISO of 200 to create especially dramatic pictures. Try having prints made on different papers, like fiber-based papers.
Usually in life we have been trained to see things that are centered and even as good. Most people are attracted to symmetry, even in pictures. That said, sometimes going against the grain with an off-center photo is an easy way to add interest. Also, be aware of auto-focusing features that zoom in on what is centered in front of the camera lens. Instead, try focusing manually. You can always lock into your subject of choice before you click.
Experience with the composition of your photographs to create unique shots, artistic photos and perfectly posed pictures. As with many other forms of art, a lack of composition will result in an inferior piece of work. Study up and use what you learn about composition when you take pictures and you will get better in photography.
Look for patterns in the background when taking photographs. You’ll find that these patterns lead to more intriguing prints in the end. Try using patterns for unique angles or backgrounds on a subject matter.
If taking photos with fluorescent lighting as the only available light source, adjust the cameras white balance to the proper settings. Fluorescent light gives a cold rather than a warm effect. This means you will need to adjust your settings to increase red and decrease blue tones.
With photography, it is up to you if you would like to expose the shadows or highlights of a subject. If you so choose, you can take two different pictures with different effects, and blend them together using programs such as Photoshop.
To help a wedding album convey the personal atmosphere, take some close-ups of small items belonging to the bride or groom, or details of decorations. You can take these photos before the ceremony begins as a warming up exercise. This could be the occasion to take some great pictures.
As was mentioned at the beginning of this article, photography is a pastime that appeals to many people. Unfortunately, most people do not get into photography because the large amount of information that is available intimidates them.
Make sure you read the manual that came with your camera. Manuals are usually large and bulky. Therefore, most of the time they end up getting stuffed in a drawer or simply thrown in the trash. If the manual is going to get tossed or buried, it should at least be read first. The information contained within is extremely valuable and will simplify the process of taking great pictures.
