Friday Photo Tips

So how do you go about getting your shots? do you plan ahead? or do you just wing it and hope for the best? However you shoot theres a few tips here that may help in you in the future, especially when faced with an area you don't know so, try them out and happy shooting.

21. Make a list of shots

Having a list of shots already planned can make a big difference to your time when shooting. For instance, you’ve decided to do a set of 10 landscape photos, now you don’t have to have the details down precisely, just a general idea of what photos you want to take. Say, you want 3 seascapes, the area you’re going on holiday to may provide those so, with a bit of research, that’s 3 ticks on your list. Try using online resources to find places nearby that could bring another couple of photos in; sites like Flickr and Instagram make it easy to find actual shots from places all around the world, again a bit of research could pay dividends. So, you get the idea which is, plan ahead. Another reason to make a list is in anticipation of a shot you’ve been inspired by but can’t plan for. An example would be, a man sitting outside a café with a large hat on and you want him sharp in the frame while the people around are blurred due to motion. This shot you may get in a couple of days it may also take a couple of years, but if it’s on a list that you periodically review it will always be at the back of your mind.

22. Backgrounds

This is a problem that a lot of new photographers end up missing, being focussed (no pun intended) on what’s directly in front of them they forget the clutter in the background. The outcome, the background detracts from the intended focus of the shot. Just before you take the shot have a quick look at the background and see if you can find a better position, alternatively use a wider aperture to blur the background out.

23. Experiment

With DSLR’s it’s easy to take hundreds of photos at no real cost so, use this to your advantage and experiment. Try changing the settings on your camera for the same shot and see how the images vary or, take lots of different angles of a scene to see which turn out best. When you’ve finished just delete the photos that don’t work, you should then have an idea of what works for future reference.

24. Be honest with yourself

Let’s be frank here, 90% of the photos you take won’t be good, this is true even for professionals although an experienced photographer will get that percentage down somewhat. It maybe, your focus isn’t sharp, someone walked in front of the camera, they’re under or over exposed, or the subject is uninteresting and many more problems besides. So, be honest, learn to be critical of your own shots and discard the ones that don’t make the grade. Viewers would rather see one or two well thought out shots than twenty average snapshots which, a lot of the time will get passed over anyway. A good photographer will never be happy with their shots and will point out the faults even on the best work they have, this is how to learn and improve over time. Before you upload your next batch of shots ask yourself are they my best work so far.

25. Manual Mode

Don’t be afraid of the manual setting on your camera. If you can figure out shutter speed, aperture and ISO (the exposure triangle) then your half way there to conquering manual mode. But, don’t expect to get it right every time, take it slow and eventually the settings will come faster the more you shoot and even then, it may take a few attempts to get them perfect. Give it a go, you’ll end up with a lot more creative control over your shots.