So you want to be a photographer? Try using all the photography techniques you’ve learned to create photographs you can be proud of. Photography is a personal art, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be difficult to find your own style. Here are some great tips that will help you become the best photographer you can be!
Come closer to the subject, so you can snap a better photo. If you get closer to your subject you can frame it, and focus on it. You can also pay attention to facial details, which will come in handy, especially if you are doing portrait photography. Little details are often missed when your subject is too far away.
Use some digital techniques to make watercolor, pencil sketches, and oil painting photos. While there are several imaging software available, Adobe Photoshop is by far the most popular one to use. You will be able to instantly convert the photo into artistic portraits with the simple click of the filter button and choosing the medium that you prefer.
Don’t let your picture-taking technique get too complicated. There are times when a wonderful photo can be taken without much adjustment in motion or color settings.
Simplify your camera settings for the best results. Take your time and master one part of the control, like the shutter speed or aperture, before you move on to the next. You will be able to pivot your effort around the subject you are photographing. This avoids the common time-wasting confusion that ensnares many amateur photographers.
If you’re taking pictures of landscapes, you will want to create depth and perspective for the viewer. Shooting a person in front of the landscape will provide perspective and scale to your picture. A small aperture–no more than f/8 on a digital camera and no more than f/16 on a SLR–can show sharpness in both the background and foreground.
Framing is very important when composing your shot. Zoom in on your subject or the most important part of the photo and cut out extraneous objects from the background. This will help keep clutter out of your pictures, and eliminate any unwanted focal points.
All parts of the landscape will be visible in your picture, so be sure to pay attention to what will be at the front of the image. The foreground in each shot should be modified to add depth and increase the overall impact within the frame.
Shutter speed, ISO and aperture are important aspects of any great photo. It’s important to find the combination of these. These three features determine the exposure of your picture. Overexposure or underexposure are usually considered to be negatives, unless you are going for a very particular feel to the image. See what kind of combinations you can come up with by switching up these three features.
If you like the old style that is associated with using a camera that uses film then you should pick one up from a secondhand store and see how you like it. To get an especially nostalgic look, try black and white film. A good choice is film with a 200 ISO rating. Try having prints made on different papers, like fiber-based papers.
Many techniques can be used to create unique shots in photographs. The field of expertise surrounding photography offers ideas for all, but what another shutterhound found useful might not work so well for you. The advice above was meant to give you a few techniques and tips to help you develop a few building blocks in your quest to take better photos.