Sometimes a simple list is all you need to get you in the mode to improve and that’s exactly what I have for you today. Here are seven fantastic ways to dramatically improve your pictures.
1. Learn how to hold your camera
No matter what kind of camera you have, but especially if you have a big SLR, you’ve got to learn to hold that thing steady while shooting. There are several methods, and whatever helps you hold the camera still is great, but here is the method that is widely accepted. Obviously your right hand will grip the camera with your finger hovering the shutter release. Your left hand should be supporting the lens, create a kind of cradle for it to rest in, with your thumb on the left side and the rest of your fingers on the right. This should put your elbows in such a position that you can prop them against your body. This will give you ultimate stability when shooting and should help you keep those shots nice and crisp, and with the invention of anti-shake/vibration reduction, you can even get low light shots of 1second or sometimes more (i have done it) without a tripod! Seriously, this is an area that many photographers really need to improve so practice your stance!
2. Get out of AUTO mode!
Take some time to learn how to use the other modes on your camera. For those of you with DSLR’s you probably have A,S and M modes on your dial. These stand for Aperture priority, Shutter priority and Manual. Now manual gives you the ultimate in flexibility but is also the most difficult to master. I almost exclusively shoot in either A or S mode, and the reason is because I can TELL the camera what aperture or shutter to use, and then the camera sets the rest to get my exposure. This allows me to make creative decisions on how I want my shot to look. Do I want the whole scene in focus or maybe just my subject…do I want to show some motion with a slower shutter speed? Try it, if you keep using that auto mode you are going to get the same old average shots…
3. Master the FLASH!
Believe it or not, the flash can be both your worst enemy and your best friend. It all lies in the usage. When, where, how and why. When shooting INDOORS I would suggest using a Bounce Flash whenever possible. Avoid direct flash at all costs. If you are OUTDOORS, a flash can actually really help fill in deep shadows and harsh contrast. Your camera on Auto setting will probably NOT want to use flash outdoors and WILL when you are indoors, which is almost exactly opposite of what makes your shots look good. Do yourself a favor and experiment with your flash usage, and check out my article about Bounce Flash to learn more. Also check out Strobist.com for really detailed information about flash and studio lighting.
4. Get INSPIRED
One of the best things that ever happened to me as a photographer was finding out the importance of inspiration. With the help of sites like Imagekind, Flickr, and even just google images, I was able to focus my efforts on a certain look or subject that I saw someone else doing and try to emulate. Sure, it seems like it goes against creating your OWN style but believe me, for a beginner, its great to go out and learn how to do all the other styles first, and then take what you learned and mold it into something all your own. Flickr is probably the best place for this. Go join some groups and start sharing your work, and look at some others. You would be amazed at how much you can learn about others and yourself.
5. Understand the basics!
This kinda goes along with #2 as you really need to know the basics before you CAN get out of auto mode. Truly, you need to really understand the principles of photography before you can really make the move from “snap shooter†to photographer. The thing is, its just not that hard to learn either. The principles of photography are very straight forward and with a little time and practice, you can have a working knowledge that will take your photography to new levels. I am working on a series of “Foto 101†posts that will help explain everything in a way that anyone can understand, with a few simple assignments that will help sink those concepts in.
6. Experiment
Memory cards are so cheap its not even funny. I got an 8gb card on eBay for 30 bucks a year ago. I can shoot 700 huge RAW files on it. If you are shooting JPEGS (see my post on RAW format if you don’t know the difference) you could get so many more. Go out and get yourself a huge memory card and go wild. Take 30 angles of the same thing, use different settings, EXPERIMENT! That is one of the best parts of digital photography is the ability to experiment so take advantage. I am constantly playing with settings and taking pictures of ridiculous things around my house just to see what works and what does not.
7. GET OUT, and always have your camera with you.
Don’t leave home without it. You never know when an event, moment, or inspiration will strike so just have your camera ready at all times. NOW that said, if you are always sitting at home reading my blog and never out shooting, then it doesn’t matter much so get up off the couch and go find some things to take pictures of. And while your at it, fill up that huge memory card. Challenge yourself to take 10 shots of the same thing from different angles, distances and settings and see what works!
I hope you found this list useful, these are all tips that I received along my way and after following these 7 guidelines, I was coming up with more great shots each time I went out. It has also taught me to recognize the good shots and ignore the ones that will just be boring, so I save time on shoots and get to focus more on the good stuff. Keep practicing and remember to post your best shots on the AlmostPro flickr group!
