A lot of people see a gorgeous photograph and wonder if they would be able to create the same kind of image with their own camera using what they see in their every day life. There are a lot of tips and suggestions that are out there that can help you recreate any of your favorite images. Here are a few of them!
Use manual white balance to spice up your photos. It is possible to let the camera decide the proper white balance for a given environment, but sometimes the camera will get it wrong and the photo will look washed out. Using a manual white balance also allows you to take artsy photos with sepia tones, for instance.
When you are taking landscape photos, consider the sky. If the sky is rather bland and boring, do not let it dominate the photo. If the sky is lit up with wonderful colors (especially during sunrise, sunset or a storm) it is okay to let the sky dominate the photo.
You can do a lot to change the quality of your pictures by adjusting the focus of the shot. What is your primary subject? This doesn’t always have to be in the center of the photo. Having your subject in the lower right hand or left hand corner, for example, can increase dramatic aspects of your picture.
Learn how to use aperture on your camera. It indicates how much of the stuff that is seen in your view finder will be in focus. Low aperture means that only the foreground will be in focus and the background will be more blurred. High aperture means that everything will equally be in focus.
When shooting landscapes, remember the rule of thirds which is to keep one-third or two-thirds of the image as the sky or the foreground. This will give the photo more depth and a more dramatic look. This is an easy tip for beginners to follow but will make a huge difference in the appearance of the photos.
Understand and get to know your camera. Although this sounds simple, many people have never even read the instructions on how to operate their camera. Get to know and understand the various menus and functions of every button on it so that when you need to use a certain function, you know where to find it and that the camera can accomplish it.
The first step of any good photograph is finding a suitable subject. You always need good subjects, it doesn’t matter how talented you are or how good your gear is. Carefully choose objects that inspire you, or find a model who will pose for you.
When you have your shot lined up and it is time to hit the shutter button, stop breathing for a moment and don’t move a muscle. Any slight movement can ruin a shot. A fast shutter speed, a higher ISO setting and opening up the aperture to allow in more light are all effective at helping to minimize blur in handheld shots.
If shooting outside or in an area that is bathed with outdoor lighting, confirm whether or not flash on the subject is appropriate. You want to turn it off if it is bathed in bright sunlight or other really bright conditions. Turn the flash back on when in heavy shadow or darker areas.
When you are dealing with low lighting settings and you do not have a tripod, try to be aware of your shutter speed. Make sure it has a denominator that is greater than the focal length of the lens. Otherwise, you will not be able to capture sharp images.
Don’t just rely on straight on flash from your camera for your shots. That only guarantees a burst of frontal lighting. Get a little more creative and try to create soft lighting conditions. How do you do that with flash, you ask? You can do that by bouncing your flash off of a wall or ceiling.
Always stabilize your hands when taking pictures. If a tripod is not handy rest your arms on a table, wall or even another person to get a clear shot. Also, holding your breath while taking the picture will keep the camera from moving and assure the picture you need.
When setting up a scene to be photographed, you must choose between emphasizing the subject’s highlights or shadows. There are ways in Photoshop to do both of these things at the same time, by blending together two photographs. This can make your photo look perfect.
Using all or some of these tips can help drastically improve the quality of shots you get with your camera in your every day life. Try taking a picture or set of pictures using these tips today and see what kind of difference you are able to notice in your photos.
