Photography Tips And Tricks That Really Work

By David B On Nov 13, 2013

If you are new to photography, you need to do some research about techniques and equipment so you can take more interesting pictures. Read on for some handy, effective tips that will bring your photography skills up to the next level in no time.

Using digital software, photos can be altered to look like watercolors, pencil sketches and much more. While there are several imaging software available, Adobe Photoshop is by far the most popular one to use. Instantly converting photographs to pieces of art is as simple as selecting the “filter” button, choosing which medium you prefer, then clicking your selection.

Shutter Speeds

TIP! Try different digital techniques to come up with wonderful photographs that look like watercolors, oil paintings, and graphic pencil sketches. While there are a variety of software products available for purchase, Adobe Photoshop is listed as one of the best.

Try out all the different shutter speeds and experiment in various scenarios so you have an idea what works best. By varying shutter speeds, you can capture stills as well as fast moving objects. Lighting quick shutter speeds are great for sports shots with lots of action, while slow shutter speeds are nice for landscapes without a lot of movement.

Direct sunlight is actually a guaranteed way to ruin pictures that would otherwise be beautiful. Not only will it cast glaring and awkward shadows, it also causes highlights to be uneven and it makes your subjects squint as they face the camera. Early mornings or the evenings are ideal when doing an outdoor shoot.

Here is a little did-you-know photo hint! Learn as much as you can about the speeds your shutter has. These shutter speeds are indicated by the letters P, A, S and M. The P is an initial for the program mode. When you apply this setting it means you camera is fully automatic, so it sets things like shutter speed and aperture for you. When you don’t know which setting to use, the “P” setting will help you capture a great shot.

TIP! Choose the subject of your photo. The perfect photo will seem like a tiny window focused in on select details about your subject.

People are an amazing subject to photograph! It’s important and often legal that you gain permission before taking someone’s picture. As you travel, these pictures will bring back your memories of your trip. Look for people with interesting faces, candid expressions and casual, local dress.

Memory Card

An essential element of taking great photographs is taking a large amount of them; make sure you have a substantial memory card to store them all. The larger your memory card, the more pictures you can take without having to swap to another card. An added benefit of a larger memory card is that you will be able to shoot in RAW (if your camera has this capability). The RAW format preserves more details than JPEG and allows for a lot of flexibility once you get into post-production.

TIP! Keep your photographic techniques simple and uncomplicated. Keeping it simple means sticking with standard settings instead of changing them every time you shoot.

Be prepared to take notes when you practice photography. When you look at the hundreds of pictures you took, it might be hard to remember where you took all of them, or how you felt at that moment. Use a notepad to write down photo descriptions as well as the file name or number of the photo.

Composition is an important skill you have to learn about and master when delving into photography. Lackluster composition can ruin the potential of a shot, just as any piece of art in any medium needs good composition. Study up on different methods of composition and then apply it to your own photos.

Fluorescent Lighting

TIP! Truly unique pictures are often the result of trying new ideas and experimenting. That’s the best way to develop your own style and allow others to see the world from your perspective.

If taking photos with fluorescent lighting as the only available light source, adjust the cameras white balance to the proper settings. Fluorescent lighting usually gives off bluish and greenish light, so subjects may take on a cooler tone than you intend without compensating for the lack of red tones with your camera.

Try to experiment with perspective, expression, and scale. Even an ordinary object can be transformed into a work of art if its setting makes it appear dramatically magnified or diminished in size or placed in a situation that is humorous or unique. Practice altering your composition in order to see familiar objects in a new way.

Pay attention to natural lighting! When taking outdoor photos, pick a time when the sunlight is low; generally late afternoon or early morning is best. At the height of the day the sun will produce unwanted shadows in your photos, plus your subject may have issues avoiding squinting if the light is too strong. Use sunlight to its best effect by positioning yourself so that the subject is hit by the sun from the side.

TIP! Make sure you support the camera from below and on the sides, while keeping your arms tucked tightly into the sides of your body. Holding the camera in this way, you will reduce camera shake and make shots that are in clear focus.

When you take a photograph, try using manual white balance. Doing so will alter the way the picture “feels” and also puts control into your hands. There’s a learning curve for finding what looks best, but the camera’s manual white balance can help you express creativity in your photos.

Any serious photographer should have a tripod. When you’re taking low speed or active photos, slight shakes are noticeable. A cheap tripod or stand, or even a box really, can help to eliminate unsteadiness. By having a quality tripod, you can impart professional results into your photograph.

When shooting photographs in the wilderness or other natural environment, give your surroundings some extra consideration. While appreciating the scene is good, take an additional moment to see to it that you are not leaving any traces. If you discover a beautiful location to take pretty pictures, do your best to keep it this way for other photographers.

TIP! While the background is important, what the viewer is going to notice first is the foreground of the landscape. Focusing first and foremost on the foreground of a landscape shot will help you to produce a more striking photograph with greater depth.

If you know how to take pictures correctly, you can capture magical moments. If you put the information you’ve learned here into practice you’ll find you move from a beginner to a master of photography in no time!