Taking Better Pictures

Editor: demphoto

This guide will discuss easy tips for for taking better quality photographs.

There are three things you can do to make a better picture. It doesn't make a difference what kind of picture you are taking, these three considerations will help you improve your picture taking.

Don't Be Afraid To Get Closer

Whether you are taking a picture of you family, family pet, flower or auction item, don't be afraid to get to close. Most of the time, unless you are taking a landscape, you will want to get as close as possible. If you are taking pictures of your family for instance, a full length photograph isn't necessary. You want to capture the face, eyes and amount of hair loss on the forehead. You are capturing the personality, not just a record of how big or tall that person is.

Use the lens that you have on your camera to the best of its ability. If you dont have a camera that has interchangeable lenses, you can generally fill the viewer and be comfortable that you are going to get a better picture. If you have a digital camera, the auto focus will let you know how close you can get; push the limit and experiment to know what works for your particular camera and lens.

Watch for the UFO

Have you even seen a picture with the peoples heads cut off at the top? I'll bet you have. That's one of the things I mean when I say watch out for the UFO's. Unidentified flying objects change great photographs into a picture that you can take or leave. When you are shooting a picture outdoors, watch for that stray stem of tall grass that tries to get into the bottom right side of the picture, or the branch of a tree that is trying to sneak into the upper left corner. Scan you eyes around the view finder and look for those things that you don't want in your picture and you will be more satisfied with the outcome. You are on your way to taking pictures for the National Graphic Magazine.

Use A Tripod

Most of us are not shaky by nature, but we all have a heart beat. When you are trying to get the most accurate picture, avoid holding the camera by hand. A hand-held camera, even in the steadiest hands will still transfer the beat of the heart onto the film and the picture will not be as clear and sharp as it could be.

When you see the programs on TV that feature a photographer in the wild, you will notice that every one of them is carrying a tripod. They know that they cant hold the camera and lens steady enough to capture the individual feathers of the bird, the fur of the hunting dog or the grain on a fallen tree without steadying the camera.

This may not be a pretty thought, but with most cameras and lenses, you can capture Uncle Charlie's nose hairs and Aunt Alice's mustache. You may not want to, but thats where the photo programs come into play. With a tripod, you can capture a photograph with available light and wont need to use a flash attachment what a deal, no more red-eyes to detract from the pictures of the kids. And more

This discussion lends itself to even more topics about taking great pictures. Topics like composition, the rule of thirds, close up photography and landscapes are just a few. Feel free to expand and enjoy your photography.

Categories: Do-It-Yourself | Hobbies | Photography