How To Increase Your Photography Skills

By Jake Lei


Today, photography is an incredibly popular hobby that is gaining in popularity. The demand for cameras that can take great photos for personal use is numerous. Now is the time to take advantage of it. Here are some tips that you can use to get you started with your photography plans.

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.

Know all of the rules of successful photography before you decide to try to break any of those rules. They are all in place to help you avoid making photographic mistakes that you can't undo. But, once you know and understand the rules, you may find it easier to stray from them and make photographic art.

Do not miss out on the joy of sharing your photographs. Though the majority of photography lovers have made the switch to digital photography, do not let that stop you from making prints and sharing them with friends and family. You can even consider picking up a traditional film camera before your next vacation or family get together.

If you are shooting in poor mid-day sun, position your subject to face away from the sun. Hard light from the sun can cause shadows that will likely ruin the picture. Putting your subject in a way that they are facing away from the sun puts their face in the shade and then you can over-expose the picture so the face is just right.

Carry a point-and-shoot camera with you everywhere you go. By always being prepared to snap a shot when you feel inspired, you can hone your technique in unexpected places. Since practicing is one of the best ways to become a better photographer, taking loads of photos wherever you go can help you develop your style and improve your photography in general.

It's time for your tripod. Take it out of the closet and find the cable release. Still have those neutral density filters? Get them too. You're going for a night shoot at the school fair. You have arrived. See the pretty colored lighting at the booths and rides? You will photograph the Ferris wheel, exposing not for the overall scene but for the lights. Place the camera on the tripod and attach the cable release. Set the ISO low, at 100 or if possible, lower. Use a shutter speed of maybe fifteen seconds. Set the aperture at f/16 or smaller if your camera can do it this will make pinpoint lights look like stars. Take some test exposures and make adjustments, and use your neutral density filters if necessary. You have a finished product! Thanks to the tripod, everything is sharp except for the ghostly images of fair goers moving about, and the turning Ferris wheel appears as a circular streak of gorgeous colors. The lights at the booths shine like stars.

You should now see why this hobby is very popular. There is so much you can do in it! There is also a ton of information on how to start enjoying the benefits of it. By following these tips, you are well on your way to becoming a successful photographer.




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