Are you going into photography for the first time? You probably don’t even know where to start. It’s no secret that starting to take photos for the first time can be a bit overwhelming. Below are some tips that can help to make learning to properly take photos a bit easier.
With the ease of cameras today, it is very easy for a novice person to take some great pictures without a lot of knowledge. Having a high quality camera is the first step. Make sure that the camera, lens and equipment are all from a reputable company who makes quality photographic equipment.
To create photographic images that resemble paintings, try having your photos printed onto matte or semi-gloss papers, then painting them by hand with photographic oils or pastels. These items can be picked up at most art supply stores and many camera shops. The most popular paints are made by Marshall’s and are created specifically for use on photographs.
In photography, it is very important to vary the amount of angles that you use on your subject. Shoot pictures from the front, side, and back, which will help to give you an elegant collage instead of just one angle. Move around as often as possible to optimize your results.
Keep your pictures relatively simple. A good image should be straightforward and easy to interpret and appreciate. It is important to take meaningful pictures, but in most cases your pictures will say more if you focus on a detail rather than put together a complex composition that might not strike people as much.
Don’t stay inside when the weather is bad. Although it’s natural to think a sunny day is the best time to grab the camera, overcast and rainy days provide an opportunity to get shots that would be hard to get at any other time. These weather conditions can give shots that would look neutral or cheery on a sunny day a dark and foreboding tone.
A good photography tip is to always trust your instincts. If you suddenly have the urge to get a shot of something, go for it! Don’t let doubt get in your way. You might look back at your work and decide that spontaneous shot you took represents you.
Don’t forget the little things you see when traveling, they might make an amazing photograph! Small unique details are often what makes a particular item, location or face interesting. Taking photos of things such as street signs, storefronts and other interesting objects will help trigger memories you would have forgotten otherwise.
A good photograph needs a great subject. Without a good subject, even the best equipment and most developed skills will fail to produce striking photograph. Carefully choose objects that inspire you, or find a model who will pose for you.
Take your camera with you as often as you can. You never know when a great opportunity for a photo will present itself. Keep your camera out and ready if you expect to use it – by the time you get your camera out of the bag, get the lens cap off, and adjust your settings, your shot is gone. Hang the camera around your neck. Of course, if you’re in a high-crime area, or if you don’t want it to be obvious that you are a tourist, you may need to be a bit more discreet.
Play with lens distortion. Most photographs use portrait lenses or zoom lenses to focus on an object, and use a wide-angle lens for landscapes and such. By using a lens for a different use than its intended one, you will get a very original photograph. Do not let this become your style: learn when you can use an original lens.
Many times the subject looks directly into the camera. Have the subject of your photo focus their eyes on a distant object, rather than the camera. You could also try to have the people in the picture look at something in the frame.
Lighting is not only important for keeping your subject lit and visible, but the shadows in your shot are completely reliant on the lighting of the area. If you are using a larger light source, then you will have smaller shadows to work with. This can be good or bad depending on the subject or technique.
Use many different shutter speeds. Most people use the fastest speed available to gain stills from action shots, but other speeds, like 1/30, can have interesting effects too. Find a moving object passing by, such as a bicycle. You can take a crisp picture of the bicyclist, but the blurred background will give a greater sense of speed.
As you have seen, photography is not anywhere near as scary as it may appear at first. Just think of all of the benefits it has and all of the expenses it can take care of since you are now good enough to take photos of special moments without using a professional.