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07 June 2012

Do You Want To Take Better Pictures? Check Out These Ideas!

By Andrew Rufus


Do you know where to start when you are interested in photography? Experiment with different angles and lighting techniques to see how the mood of your photograph is affected. Even if you are a seasoned photographer already, there's no harm in a refresher every now and then, and this article is perfect for that.

Taking the necessary time to educate yourself on the basics is worth it, regardless of whether you are a novice photographer or have just invested money in an SLR camera. ISO, composition, lighting, exposure, aperture, and shutter speed will all be important terms to understand to get the most out of your photos.

Consider drawing up an advance list of shots you want to take whenever you are photographing a celebration or event. By having a list of shots you want to capture, you will be able to keep organized and create a complete record of the event.

Use your camera as a tool for your shots. If you want to blur the background and draw out the subject in your photo, use a shallow depth field.

Try to get close to your subject when shooting. Subjects lacking in color or details are one of the worst things you can see in a photograph. Make it easy for your viewers and you to see the subject vividly and clearly.

Instead of just letting the pictures be what they already are, you should set up the scenes in them yourself. Show some bravado, and tell the subjects of your photos what to do. Your photos will turn out much nicer than if you just snapped candid shots.

When you begin photography, understand balance or the color of light in your shots. All sources of light will produce a different shade or color, so you need to make sure that your lighting is correct.

Great lighting is essential if beautiful photography is your goal. A beautiful picture can be ruined by too bright, too dark, or splotchy lighting. If possible, try to have the sun at your back, or try to have your subjects placed in shady areas. Your pictures will be beautiful because you have taken advantage of the optimum lighting conditions.

Know when to use or skip the flash on your camera. Having the flash on continuously will not produce the best pictures in all situations. Sometimes, too much light spoils a great photo. Photos taken in areas with dim lighting do require the use of a flash.

Remain completely immobile when it's time to click the shutter to get that ultimate photograph. Even a hair's-breadth movement can destroy that perfect shot. Before you take that amazing picture, take care that you are neither breathing nor moving.

Think about buying a tripod if you are sincere in wanting to get better shots. Tripods do one thing very well: keep the camera from shaking. It becomes almost a necessity if you do a lot of shots in low-light settings. If you will be taking any pictures of yourself or using timed photography, consider getting a tripod.

Be aware of when it's appropriate to use, or not use, your camera's flash. Avoid leaving the flash on and forgetting to adjust your settings. There are cases when too much light will spoil an otherwise great picture. When shooting in dim or dark conditions, it is appropriate to use the flash.

Be sure to keep informative notes of the photographs that you take. Just looking at all those pictures you took could be hard to recall your feelings about them or where they were even taken. Carry a small notebook with you so you can take brief notes as you take each photograph.

Experiment with new techniques or subjects, and do not fear taking some original photos. A creative picture should showcase your own style and allow viewers to see the world in a certain way. Stay away from taking the same type of picture that you have viewed a million times over. Instead, shoot from unique angles, and be creative with your compositions.

If you implement the ideas you've read here, you'll find that you can not only impress friends and family, you'll impress yourself with your new found skills. Keep practicing and you might be able to turn your talents into a career!




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