The photography scene has exploded in the last decade, but this doesn’t mean you should just stick with your same ol’ way of shooting. Try a new approach to photography and set yourself apart from the crowd.
There are plenty of quick and easy tips you can take advantage of to improve your photography. Follow them and you’ll be well on your way to taking better photos in no time at all!
Composition
Composition is the art of arranging elements in a photo to create a visually appealing image. It can seem like a frustratingly abstract exercise, and to some photographers, it may even feel a bit unnecessary (even after years of practice).
However, there are a few tried-and-true composition techniques that you can use to enhance the impact of your photos. These can help you achieve a natural balance, draw attention to the important parts of the scene, or lead the viewer’s eye through your photo.
The rule of thirds is one such technique, and it works by evenly dividing the frame into two equally spaced horizontal and vertical gridlines. The key is to place your subjects and areas of interest where these lines intersect or segment the image.
You can also apply this technique to a scene using leading lines and implied lines, both of which are a great way to direct the viewers’ eyes through your photo. These can be lines formed by trees and other structures, or lines that simply hint at what’s going on in the scene.
Another composition tip is to use scale in your images, a technique that can add depth and dimension to the photo. A good example of this is a human silhouette, which can give you a sense of how close or far something in the picture is from the viewer.
Finally, don’t forget to include negative space in your photography. Negative space is the empty space that lies behind and between the elements in your photo, and it can be a great way to enhance the visual impact of your photos.
In addition to these tips, there are many other compositional strategies you can use to improve the overall impact of your photos. Some of these strategies are more complex than others, and it is recommended to experiment with them until you find the best fit for your style of photography.
Exposure
Exposure is one of the most fundamental and important skills to master in photography. It involves understanding how to control the three main exposure settings: shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. These three are commonly referred to as the exposure triangle and have to be used in a balanced way to get the perfect photo every time.
Shutter speed is a setting that controls how quickly your camera’s shutter opens and closes, allowing you to freeze motion or make it blurry if it’s too slow (think sports and wildlife action). A higher shutter speed means you’ll let less light in, so you need to be careful with this setting in low-light conditions.
Aperture is another exposure setting that allows you to control the depth of field, or how much in focus your subject will be. A low aperture value is good for more bokeh in your photos, while a high one will help you isolate your subject from the background.
ISO is the third setting that affects your exposure and works towards increasing or decreasing how sensitive your camera’s sensor is to the light that enters it. The higher the ISO, the more sensitivity your sensor will have to light.
This is why you want to keep your ISO as low as possible for general shots where there’s plenty of light. You can increase your ISO when you’re shooting in more challenging lighting situations, like when the sky is bright and you need to expose for longer or when you’re taking photos of a dark scene, such as a nighttime landscape or portraits.
It’s easy to overexpose your pictures, and it can result in an image with too many shadows or too little highlight detail. This happens when you don’t adjust the ISO or shutter speed properly, so be sure to use these tips and keep practicing to improve your exposure.
You can also try using a light meter, which can give you more precision when it comes to your exposure. A light meter will measure the amount of available light and tell you when your photo is too overexposed or underexposed. You can then use post-processing to make changes to your image.
Lighting
If you’re a photographer who wants to take your photography to the next level, it’s essential that you learn how to use lighting. The quality of your light can affect the clarity, tone, emotion and more of your final photos.
In order to understand the different types of light, it’s important to study how light behaves in real life situations. Try looking at the way a room is lit, or watch the lights from the sun as it hits your window. You’ll see how the shadows change and how quickly an area goes from light to dark.
You can also use a reflector to help bounce the light back into your subject. Hold the reflector opposite the source of light, then adjust its angle to guide the light where you need it.
There are many other lighting techniques that can be used to improve your photography. For example, using color gels over speedlights or strobes is one great way to add some pop to an image.
Another popular technique is’side lighting’, which can bring out contours and textures in your subject, as well as create an air of mystery. It can also be used to soften harsh shadows.
For example, if you’re using speedlights or strobes, you can place a beauty dish or other reflective object in front of the model to add some softness and a hint of colour.
If you’re shooting portraits, you can also use a pair of lights to illuminate your subject instead of one. This is a great way to eliminate unwanted shadows and make your subjects look more attractive.
It is also helpful to use a white balance that matches the kelvin value of the light you are shooting. This can be tricky, but it is essential for making your images look crisp and vibrant.
If you’re unsure about how to light your subject, try getting hands-on experience with an experienced photographer who will show you the best way to light your subject. You can also look at the work of photographers you admire for tips on how they’ve lit their shots.
Focus
Focus is an essential element in any photo, and when used correctly it can draw your viewer’s attention to a certain point or area of your composition. It can also help highlight the mood you want to convey or create a sense of depth in your photos.
While it may seem like a simple thing, it can make a big difference to your photography, so be sure to get it right! This will improve the overall quality of your images and will have you looking like a pro in no time.
There are a few ways to improve your focus: One is by choosing the correct mode for the subject or situation you’re photographing. The correct mode depends on the subject or scene, as well as the type of camera you’re using.
If your subject or scene is stationary, you’ll probably want to use a mode called “One Shot” (Canon) or “Single Servo” (Nikon). These modes will lock onto a specific point and keep it in focus while you press the shutter button down.
For subjects that are moving, a mode called “AI Servo” (Canon) or “Continuous Servo” (Nikon) will allow you to set a focus point and track it. However, this is usually more time-consuming and requires a bit more patience.
Another way to improve your focus is by recomposing your photos. This will ensure that your camera has a clear picture and will also avoid any blurry images due to camera movement. To do this, place your center focus point over the subject you wish to be sharpest and press the shutter button halfway down.
Recomposing your shots is a great way to make your photos look more professional and is especially useful for landscape or macro shots. The resulting image will be much more detailed, giving the viewer a much better sense of the subject.
Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes or macros, focus is an important aspect of photography that can dramatically improve your photos. By following a few quick and easy tips, you can improve your focus and start taking amazing photos!
