THERE IS A TOP RANKIN PRO IN US ALL
Don’t rely on luck, do it right every time. This is our New Year photo gift to you.
1. Get inspired
Flick through online photo galleries, you’ll find they’re a great source of inspiration when it comes to taking your own photos.
2. Personal photography manual
Use a Photo book or Stylebook as your own personal photography manual. Include details on how you took the photos, the settings you used, and any other handy hints. It’s a great way to learn.
3. Off centre
It’s tempting to just aim your camera directly at your subject and shoot. You can create a more dynamic feel though by placing your main subject slightly off centre.
4. Steady support
Tripods aren’t the easiest things to carry around but they do enable you to use a slow shutter speed without getting camera shake.
5. Waste of space
Wasting space is widely regarded as one of the most common crimes committed by amateur photographers. Some photos work with plenty of space around the main subject but most have more impact close up.
6. Show off the shape
Interesting shapes are best shown against a plain background where there is little or nothing to distract the eye.
7. Strong lighting
Strong direct light from behind the camera works well with architectural photos but is usually very unflattering for portraiture.
8. Magical monochrome
Black & white images are great for disguising clashing colours and focusing your attention on the mood of the picture instead.
9. Light ideas
Experiment with different light sources such as candlelight, firelight and tungsten to give a different feel to your photos.
10. Celebrity stance
A trick favoured by celebrities is angling one shoulder slightly towards the camera, this gives an instantly more elegant and slender look in photos.
11. Low light
When photographing in low light, if you don’t want to use flash, try bumping up your ISO setting to 800 or 1600.
12. Group shots
For large group shots it’s worth getting sizeable photo enlargements printed up so you can be sure of seeing everyone clearly.
13. Learn from the pros
Become a regular at photography exhibitions, seeing others’ work will help give you your own ideas for themes and projects to try.
14. Correct the crop
Re-cropping an image before ordering digital photo prints can make all the difference between a simple snapshot and a professional looking print.
15. Always carry a camera
The first rule of photography is to always carry your camera. If you haven’t got it with you, you won’t be able to take that award-winning photo! Just one of the many reasons camera phones are so popular.
16. On an angle
Try tilting your camera at a strong angle to get a much more interesting perspective. It will give your photos a whole new look.
17. Mirror image
Seeking symmetry in your photos can be very exciting. Look for interesting examples such as reflections in lakes or puddles, or many modern buildings have reflective surfaces which are fun to play around with.
18. Perfect timing
Think before you click! By waiting just a few seconds for people to either walk into or out of your shot, depending on the look you’re after, can make all the difference.
19. Back light
Back lighting is a great way to emphasis strong shapes and gives a really artistic feel to a photo.
20. Shed some light
A reflector, or even a piece of white card, is an easy way to vary the amount of light falling onto your subject. This is particularly useful for portraits and still life shots.
Tags: gift, photo, photo gift
