Saturday, July 28, 2012

Great Ways To Improve Your Photography Skills

Photography is a great and creative hobby that has increased in popularity recently. A lot of people want to get into photography, but do not do it because you have to learn a lot. This article will show you the skills you need to get started.

Experiment with free photo-editing software. Even the most professional photographers use software to perfect their shots, so take advantage of the many types of software available to help your pictures look their best. Oftentimes a photograph can change from being "so so" to "oh my goodness"! with minor alterations.

You can use your cell phone camera in a pinch, but remember that they are limited, especially with lighting. Most of the time, cameras in cell phones don't have any flash available, so you will need to make good use of your available light. Zooming in will help you cut down on the amount of shadows and sunspots that are present in the photo.

Be sure to get a tripod to get the best and most focused photos possible. A tripod's main purpose is providing a steady base to stabilize your camera. A steady camera helps if you are shooting long shots or low-light situations. Using a tripod will also enable easier and better composed self-portraits and timed shots.

There is no easy way to photograph food. Food will melt, wither, and shift during the photography session, ruining shots. For this reason, get the rest of your shot set up first, including plates, silverware, napkins, background flowers, candles and any other accoutrements. Then make sure the lighting is correct, and now you are ready to place the food and take a great shot.

Master photographers agree, less IS more. You don't need to overdo your photo elements. There is beauty in the art of simplicity, so keep your shots simple!

Learn how to correctly hold your camera when getting into photography. This becomes important, because you can't get a stable image if you can't hold the camera properly. Make sure your arms are near your body. Support the lens with the non-dominant hand.

When your perfect shot is in view, stay still and hold your breath when you push the shutter. A slight movement is capable of completely ruining a shot. Take that second to freeze before touching your shutter button, hold your breath, and snap the perfect shot.

If you like the look of old photographs, pick up a vintage camera. These will give your pictures an old-fashioned look and a historical vibe. They can be found in pawn shops and second hand stores. To get an especially nostalgic look, try black and white film. A good choice is film with a 200 ISO rating. Once you develop your film, try printing it on different paper styles, including ones that are fiber-based.

Giving yourself some limitations can help you be more creative. For instance, tell yourself that you will only take pictures that revolve around a particular concept. Restrict yourself to standing at one point or staying in one room for your next 100 photos. You can use these limitations to make you think outside the usual parameters.

Choose carefully what will show in your photograph. A quality picture should capture a significant aspect of the object your are photographing. Do not try showing too much. Try taking a series of photos for a better impression of a subject than one without details and focus.

Read through your camera's manual. Camera manuals have a certain bulky heft that discourages reading. Most people simply ignore them or throw them away altogether. Actually spend some time reading your manual instead of tossing it. This is a great way to learn the ins and outs of your particular camera.

Try experimenting with different colors and angles, and all the different features located on your camera. You do not need an original object to take a high-quality picture. A good photographer makes even insignificant objects look interesting. Experiment to find your style.

The above tips show a few different ways that you can capture a scene with the power of photography. You have to do some learning and take a lot of bad photos, but it will all pay off in the end when your friends marvel at your gorgeous photos.

No comments:

Post a Comment