Dear Friends,
A number of people have complimented me on my photos and I mentioned that anyone can take good photos by following some basic photography principals. Here is what I try and follow.
1. Use a camera other than a cell phone for most cases. Not that you can not get a good photo with a cell phone camera but it has major limitations compared to point and shoot, ultra-zoom or SLR cameras. I recommend an ultra-zoom which are much smaller, lighter, and significantly cheaper than SLR cameras.
2. Be sure the sun or light source is facing the subject and behind you and not behind the subject. Do not photograph people with the sun or light sky behind them because the camera will shut down the shutter opening and the people will appear dark or washed out. Note light sky in the background causes washed out subjects. It can also be too dark if you are zoomed out such as at the beach.
The camera is facing the sunny sky and the subjects are washed out.
3. Use the camera zoom to frame the photo so that your subject occupies the majority of the frame. So many people never use the zoom on their camera. They move closer to the subject or further away to do the framing. Use the zoom feature first.
Too often people are the subject of interest but the background dominates if the camera is too zoomed out. There are obviously situations where the mountain, waterfall or statue is of equal interest and therefore that will determine how much zooming you do. If people are of the most interest do not feel you have to capture them “head to toe”. Perhaps from the waist up will do since faces are usually of the most interest. Wait until everyone is looking forward and smiling. Examine the photo immediately after taking to be sure it is good.
I use an ultra-zoom camera with a Canon 65x optical zoom which is essential for some kinds of nature photography where the animals are in the distance and you can not get closer. Pocket cameras with a 3-4x optical zoom are only useful for parties and close up use. There are a wide range of ultra-zoom cameras with different optical zoom capabilities.
4. Use of a flash can be very important in darker areas or if the subject is moving. You have to use a flash to stop “motion” and prevent blurring. Be sure the cell phone is set to automatic for the flash or the camera flash is popped up to be used if needed. Most cameras will tell you to raise the flash if it is needed when you focus.
There are many instances, such as in a museum, where you can not use a flash. This is not necessarily bad because as long as the subject is not moving you can often get a great picture if the subject is lighted. In fact, in many instances a flash can “wash out” the subject and is not desirable. Take with and without a flash, if allowed, and compare them. This is a major advantage of digital photography where you can see instant results.
No flash use in the Flagler museum in Palm Beach, FL If a flash could be used, the photo would be washed out or a reflection of the flash would show.
5. Focusing is very important to get good photos. With a cell phone wait until you see the focus box show up on the screen before tapping the shutter button. It can be hard to not move the cell phone when touching the shutter button. With a camera also be sure the shutter button is depressed half-way to get the focus box on the screen before depressing it the rest of the way to take the photo.
If I am photographing animals or other subjects that are in motion and I am trying to get a specific shot. I frame the subject with the zoom, look only through the view finder, push the shutter button half way down to focus, and only push the shutter button the rest of the way when I get the shot I want. You do not have time to wait for a digital camera to focus in such situations and thus it needs to be pre-focused to get that special shot.
6. If you have a camera with a view finder use it rather than the LCD screen. Few people use a view finder anymore even when their camera has one. The view finder is easier to see the subject in bright sunlight and resting the camera against your forehead makes it more stead for stopping camera movement and easier focusing.
7. Once you download your photos into a photo program such as iPhoto or Photos on the Mac, try use of the "magic wand” or similar tool to improve the color of the photo. If you do not like the result just undo it.
Then use the crop tool to remove unwanted things in the periphery of the photo.
Note the reflection in the bottom right and the beach scene on the right edge.
Cropped version removing both elements.
I had some photos that were not focused properly and some were blurry because the flash was not up, but I deleted them and thus can not show you an example of some of my own bad photography.
I hope these tips are helpful for your personal photography needs.
Sincerely,
Lynn
