Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Photography 101: Everything You Need To Know

By Augustus Mays


Photography is a special hobby in that not only can you enjoy it for its sake by taking pictures of scenery, but you can also make a profession of it. Many people want someone who can through photography preserve memories. This article will offer tips to bring your photography up to par.

Remember that bigger names bring about bigger price tags at the store, so always check the specs of a camera and ignore the name brand. Brand X might have everything you need in a camera, but because this item is advertised on TV and in magazines, you'll pay upwards of 40% more for this than the brand Y camera with the same features.

When photographing a building or landscape, consider shooting from an angle that incorporates a strong point of interest apart from the "bigger picture." Examples could include a colorful bouquet of flowers next to the building, or a majestic oak tree in the forefront of that distant sunset. Landscapes are often lost in translation if not defined by their proximity to other items.

Do not shoot in full daylight. You are going to get some of your best photos on an overcast day. The bright sunlight can cause overexposure, loss of detail and terrible shadows. Shoot at dusk or at dawn on days that are not cloudy for optimum results in your photos.

Don't be afraid to use a "digital darkroom" to touch up your photos. There are tons of image editing programs out there that will allow you to touch up color, reduce some blur, or add a filter to the photo. Some of the best photos were touched up using some kind of software.

When photographing portraits, isolate your subject. Use a medium telephoto lens or the medium telephoto setting on your zoom. That, combined with a large aperture (try f/4 or larger), blurs the foreground and background. Focus on the eyes. Use diffused lighting for a flattering look. If outdoors, wait for an overcast sky or shoot with the subject in the shadows and the sun at your back.

The key to taking good photographs is to always remember that lighting is the most important thing. Think about lighting all the time. It does not matter what the source of the lighting is, but it is the elemental part of any photograph. Use the sun, a streetlight, a spotlight or even the computer screen to capture any light and make a great photograph.

Make sure you taking lighting into account when you're taking your photos. Will there be shadows cast upon your subject? Is your subject squinting into the sun or other bright light? Try moving around to find the best angle in the lighting to get the best photo. Try taking your photos at different vantage points so that you can see what works best.

You need a good deal of information to improve your photography. Even more if you are just getting beginning. Educating yourself is a key element in any creative endeavor. But it's just as important to make the tme for practice. Use the tips you learned in this article, and you will see an obvious progression in your ability.




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