Photography Information

Better Photos with Your Digital Camera


Everyone has a digital camera today and we all take a lot of photos. But if your photos still have trees coming out of your father's head, mom has red eye, and your beloved pet is never facing the camera then here are some tips to help you take better photos.

1. Always be aware of the background. I know this is the hard one but it is critical. If you're setting up a shot take a quick look at what is behind the people in your shot. So many perfectly good photos are ruined by a tree seeming to grow out of a person's head. It can be as simple as the person taking one full step to the right or left to move the obstacle that would ruin your photo.

2. Use available light. If your digital camera has an option to turn the flash off and it's light enough outside to read a book then use the available light and turn the flash off. In general camera flashes are too harsh for human skin and make all of us look pale. (Even better if your camera has a fill flash use that indoors where there isn't enough daylight, and place the person by a window as well.)

3. Use ambient soft light. The reason that so many of use pose people under trees, and end up with the ruined photo with a tree coming out of dad's head, is that we all instinctively know that soft light is best. Sunlight filtered through a trees' leave is beautiful and warm. It warms up the skin and puts a soft light to the features. Indoors near a window with drapes has a similar effect.

4. Aim your camera slightly down at the person's face. Now I don't mean climb a ladder but just don't ever, and I mean ever, point your camera looking up to a person. We all look fat and bloated at that angle. Also don't shoot just face on to the person, try a little to the side, a three quarter view, so that you see more of their face. Remember camera higher looking down and a three quarter view, it will slim your subject.

5. Remember your focus, are you taking a photo of mom and the tree, then take mom with the whole tree. But if you're taking a photo of mom next to a tree do we really need to see the entire tree? Get closer to your subject. We can see some of the tree bark with mom leaning against it, but showing the whole tree is a waste. Remember this tip with children, many people take a shot of their dear child for an expression on the child's face, but in the printed shot the child is lost next to another kid, the swing set, and the dog. Remember get closer.

6. Never put your subject dead center. All family photographers do this and it's as hard of a habit to break as remembering to look at the background. But if you've moved closer to your subject remember to put them just sightly off center. Not a lot just a bit. When you're shooting even groups of people this is especially easy but odd numbered groups is a little more difficult. Just find your imaginary center line of your group and put that line just a bit off center in your view through your lens or screen.

With these tips you can be on your way to taking better photos today.

About The Author

Copyright 2004 Kelly Paal

Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Recently she started her own business Kelly Paal Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her web design.

kellypaa@kellypaalphotography.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Willits' Michael Coons photography at Northcoast Artists Gallery
Willits News
Coons started with photography in school where he learned to take black and white photos and develop the film, he took photos of friends and photographed ...

and more »


MyFox Spokane

Independence Day means explosive photography!
Examiner.com
Along with the days off from work and cookouts, Independence Day brings the only national celebration where firework displays are widespread. ...
Tips for photographing fireworksZDNet
Photograph fireworks like a proThe Southern
How to Shoot GreatMyFox Spokane
Aiken Standard (subscription)
all 34 news articles »


Tech change created new photography style
Vancouver Sun
Until the late 1970s, street photography meant trying to make a composition very quickly of strangers in public spaces. But Wall said at about that time, ...
Vancouver Gallery Exhibits Anthony HernandezHULIQ

all 3 news articles »


Gallery features news photography
Columbia Daily Herald
1 and running throughout the month, the Pryor Gallery will host a photography exhibit featuring the works of Daily Herald photographers Susan Thurman, ...

and more »


Aperture Foundation Announces Winners of the Strand's First Ever ...
Art Daily
Aperture, Pratt, and the Strand Book Store are pleased to announce the winners of the Eye on the Strand photography contest, which kicked off last fall and ...

and more »


MyBangalore

Photography Workshop with Stefan Koppelkamm
MyBangalore
July 2009 Stephen Koppelkamm from Berlin will be holding a photography workshop in Bangalore at the Max Mueller Bhavan from July 25th- August 4th. ...

and more »


Afghanistan - MFA - Photography Exhibition Opens at the German House
ISRIA
... jointly with the Permanent Mission of Germany, to mark the opening of a photography exhibition entitled “Afghanistan – The Country and its People. ...
Germany to send more police officers to AfghanistanMonsters and Critics.com

all 3 news articles »


Albert Lea Tribune

Photography club presents its end-of-the-year awards
Albert Lea Tribune
The Lens and Shutter Photography Club held its End of the Year Awards and Picnic at the home of Jamie and Darrel Hauer. Darcy Sime, club president, ...

and more »


The Beaches of Agnes (Les plages d'Agnès) - Movie Review
Monsters and Critics.com
Of course for her it is never clear if photography and film making is work or if it is just her way of seeing the world. Perhaps it is no more work that it ...

and more »


Community calendar: Photography exhibit opens Tuesday
Dallas Morning News
"Through the Eye of the Camera" photography exhibit will be on display at the Granville Arts Center, 300 N. Fifth St., Tuesday to Aug. 30. ...

and more »

Google News

Home | Site Map

Powered By: Free Work At Home Business Opportunity!

© 2006