Friday Photo Tips

"How can I get better photos?" Some of the best advice for improving as a photographer is given when that particular question is asked and its not always a two hour explanation. Just by learning and applying a few things everytime you shoot can dramatically improve the quality of pictures taken. So here's 5 tips to get you started and look out for more every Friday.

1. Horizons

It’s still surprising how many photos are put on the internet with wonky horizons, it’s one of the easiest mistakes to make and to spot if not fixed in post processing. Before you press the shutter have a quick check in the viewfinder to be sure everything is level. A lot of cameras today come with a built in virtual horizon which can be used in the viewfinder or live view, a quick check in the cameras manual should help to set it up. For extra help, you can buy a small spirit level that clips into the camera hot shoe mount, these are cheap and very helpful, especially if your using the camera at a low level and its awkward to check the viewfinder.

2. Batteries

There’s nothing worse than going out shooting and your battery dying on you an hour in. Charging your batteries the night before always helps but, it’s better to have several as back up. Genuine manufacturer batteries are available to buy online as are cheaper alternatives. You will pay more for original camera batteries and get a good quality product alternatives though, can be lacking and may not give as many frames per charge so read reviews before you buy.

3. Look before you release the shutter

We’re all guilty of pressing the shutter without really looking and then finding out later that there’s a tree growing out of someone’s head. There’s also more to this one than foliage problems, checking the background for clutter that could distract from the foreground or objects creeping in to the sides of the frame. As already mentioned check your horizon. Another thing to watch for is the light, is it too bright in certain parts of the frame which may cause blown out highlights or too dark in the shadows which can be a problem in post processing with noise creeping in as you try and lighten them. It’s a lot easier to take a few seconds extra to check for problems at the time than to have to go back a week later

4. Chimping

Chimping is where a photographer constantly checks their screen after every photo they take. The problem with this, you miss out on things that are happening around you and start losing potential shots, so just keep shooting and check later. If you really need to check your screen then the JPEG image you see is not the best representation of the photo you’ve just taken, it may give a good idea of composition but, learn to use the histogram feature it’s a lot more accurate.

5. Watermarks

Are watermarks any use in stopping people stealing the photos you upload to the internet? Mostly that’s a no, they can easily be cropped or cloned out in most cases, so, unless you put it straight through the middle of your photo it acts as no deterrent at all. They can also be a distraction if they’re to big or bright and that’s the last thing you want on an image you’ve spent several hours on capturing and processing to the point of perfection. So, keep them small or try not to use them at all if possible.