In the past, when I worked at a camera store, I often encountered customers who left the store disappointed, discovering that most of their vacation photos didn’t turn out the way they had envisioned. Back then, most cameras didn’t have many automatic modes – if you didn’t understand the basics of photography, there was a high likelihood that your photos wouldn’t look good. Photographers had to understand the relationships between ISO, exposure time, and aperture to achieve proper exposure, and the lack of autofocus didn’t make it easy to maintain sharpness.
I remember people who couldn’t load a 35mm film correctly into the camera, resulting in the film not advancing. Others forgot to rewind the film, opened the camera, and exposed the film to too much light. We called it “fogging the film,” and the photos were lost. Fortunately, the days when photography was like black magic are long gone. Modern cameras and smartphones make it almost impossible to take poorly exposed and blurry photos in most situations.
Digital photography has completely demystified this process compared to the days of using film. Now you simply press a button and immediately check the result. Cameras and smartphones have greatly improved. Automatic modes and the use of advanced computational and machine learning technologies allow you to capture great photos without needing deeper knowledge of what’s happening.
As a result, we now take more photos than ever before, but they are not always successful. So how can we improve our photos from being just ordinary shots to worthy keepsakes?
Think more and do less. Take the time to plan your photos. Consider what the key elements in the frame are and how you can make them stand out so that the viewer immediately sees what you intend to show. Simple, clear, and easy-to-understand photos are usually the best. A good way to develop your skills is to observe and emulate photographers you admire. Try to identify why their photos work. It could be their ability to use available light or to balance the foreground and background in a landscape.
Before taking a photo, think about the light and composition. Use composition rules such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing to direct the viewer’s eye to important elements in the frame. Consider how all the elements in the photo interact with each other and remove any unsightly objects from the frame. Think about the point of view and focal length you’re using. Zooming in can help draw attention to what’s important in the frame by connecting elements in the photo. On the other hand, a well-composed wide-angle shot can do the same while also conveying a sense of space.
Good landscape photos usually have well-exposed and intricate elements. The golden hours around sunrise and sunset are usually the best time for landscape photography because the light is intense and directional. It creates beautiful colors, long shadows, and greater contrasts between lights and shadows.
Use this to your advantage. Think about lighting. You may want to expose for just the highlights to achieve deep black areas in the shadows or vice versa. During sunrise or sunset, take a look around. Directional sunlight often highlights the contours of the terrain, adding depth to your composition.
If you’re taking portraits, pay special attention to the light and background. Look for pleasant, even lighting. Harsh overhead light creates shadows under hats and eyes, which may be unflattering. In such situations, try moving the person into the shade or turning them away from the main light source to have side or even backlit lighting.
The background should be neutral and not distract attention from the subject. If the background is too busy, you can blur it by using a very shallow depth of field (smartphones do this in portrait mode, and you can adjust it after taking the photo if it didn’t turn out exactly as you wanted).
Think about which focal length works best. A small or medium telephoto lens usually works best for close-up portraits. It has a narrower field of view compared to a wide-angle lens and is more flattering to the subject as it doesn’t distort their face if you get too close.
However, a wide-angle lens can be effectively used as a portrait lens when you want to show the landscape or room behind the subject – just be careful not to overdo it.
FAQ Section:
1. What are important elements to consider when taking photos?
– Key elements in the frame that grab the viewer’s attention and give the photo clarity.
– Composition, using rules such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing to direct the viewer’s eye to important elements in the frame.
– Balancing the foreground and background in a landscape.
2. How can I improve the composition of my photos?
– Pay attention to the point of view and focal length, which influence how the photo is presented.
– Consider how all the elements in the photo interact with each other and remove any unsightly objects from the frame.
– Use different techniques such as zooming in or wide-angle shots to add a sense of space.
3. How can I achieve good exposure in landscape photos?
– Choose the golden hours, which are the period around sunrise or sunset when the light is intense and directional.
– Pay attention to the direction of light, which highlights the contours of the terrain and creates contrasts between lights and shadows.
4. How can I improve lighting and the background in portrait photography?
– Look for pleasant, even lighting, avoid harsh overhead light that creates shadows under hats and eyes.
– Move the person into the shade or turn them away from the main light source to have side or backlit lighting.
– Choose a neutral background that doesn’t distract attention from the subject, or blur a busy background using a shallow depth of field.
5. What lenses are best for portraits?
– A small or medium telephoto lens usually works best for close-up portraits as it doesn’t distort the face like a wide-angle lens if you get too close.
– A wide-angle lens can be used to show the landscape or room behind the subject, but be careful not to overdo it.
The source of the article is from the blog motopaddock.nl