Photography can be a beautiful art form. No really, it can be. In terms of taking better photos and showing some skill in the application of various techniques to make your photos stand out, it is truly a beautiful thing. To start learning some basics as to how to make this work for you, refer to the tips below.
Don’t try to pose your subjects for every picture. Candid, action shots are often times some of the best. You will capture a person in their natural setting, in their natural mood, and the picture will look more “real” because of it. Take lots of candid pictures and you’re sure to get a few that are great.
When you are shooting a photo of someone, make sure that you are close to them to maximize the quality of the details on their face. This is very important, as you will want to capture every aspect of their expression to help to personalize the photos that you take.
Play with the shutter speed on your camera to catch unique and wonderful photos. If you have the right shutter speed, you can get beautiful photos that would normally happen so fast that the human eye couldn’t process it fully. Try experimenting with shutter speed and a tripod at a stream or waterfall for some great photos.
A great photography tip is to keep your sensor as clean as possible. If your sensor is dirty, you’re going to end up with a dirty picture. Having a clean sensor can save you a lot of time by not having to clean up a photo in an image editing program.
When taking a picture, try to take one at a medium distance and then take one closer. You may decide later on that a picture would have looked better had you taken it a little closer. Also, try to make sure your subject is toward the center of the picture.
A good photograph needs a great subject. Even the best equipment won’t produce an amazing picture if the subject is difficult to work with. Find a subject that brings you inspiration, whether it be a model or an object.
Allow your camera to automatically focus on the subject, then move slightly in such a way that the subject is no longer in the center of the frame. Having your subject in the middle of the picture is very expected and subsequently uninteresting. Off-centering your subject will make your picture look more unique and interesting.
When composing a shot, keep in mind the artistic axiom “less is more.” There is no reason to clutter or add a bunch of elements to your shots. When you keep your backdrop and props simple, your subject has an opportunity to shine.
Play with the shadow of your object. When a shadow is projected on a distorted surface it adopts interesting shapes. You can even have an original shadow become the subject of your photograph. Arrange the lighting and the background to make shadows change and adopt a shape you want to work with. Read more about Fine art of photography here.
Create narrative with your photographs. They need to be able to express and tell a story to the viewer. This can be entirely dependent on what you decide to shoot, but do your best to express a story behind whatever it is. You need to especially make sure that this happens when you have people as subjects.
If you intend to travel soon, make a mental list of landmarks or other objects that you want to shoot. To get some pointers on where to start, head to the nearest postcard rack. Postcards have shots of attractions and subjects you can include in your photos.
When taking your camera equipment somewhere, always make sure you do a quick run through. Cameras can sometimes involve a lot of small pieces. Even if they don’t, you never want to be without a charger or batteries just in case. Make sure that you have everything you need, especially if you are going on vacation with it.
Purchase a DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) camera if you want to take professional-looking photographs. When you are shopping for a camera, do not worry about how many megapixels the product has; instead, focus on the image sensor. Most professional photographers buy full-frame DSLR cameras, which take incredibly clear pictures of your subject matter.
Decide if you are interested in a subject before you photograph it. Know that if a subject is seeming boring to you, it is going to be boring to future viewers of the image. Take some time to make your shots interesting, and you will be rewarded with better shots.
So, now do you see why photography is such a beautiful art form? Discovering your own abilities and improving upon them to make make and take better shots is indeed a thing of great skill. The tips above should have created a good foundation for you to build upon and find your own photographic “muse.”