There are lots of methods to
find out how to use your camera, but do these things make you a more productive
photographer? The answer to that is "maybe". You see, the camera is
just a tool to generate creative photos. It depends on how that tool is utilized
that determines the greatest and most stunning photographs.
Essential
Digital Photography Techniques:
To get spectacular pictures we first need to look at some
fundamental photography techniques. The initial one I am able to share with you
is find out about light. Anytime you learn about light and in what way it
interacts with the direct environment then your photos will get better.
Examine shape and form- Where you place things in the photo is
next. Continually consider the angles and shapes of the things you are
shooting. Do they generate a balanced image that is satisfying to the eye? One
method to master the techniques linked to photographing ideal composition is to
see where these things guide our eye. Each time look for a balance and
simplicity. Put into practice these things by taking photos of straightforward
things that have nice straight lines, or curved lines and proportioned
patterns. Do not have anything else in the surroundings.
A nice way to get started with this creative method is photographing
architecture. Architecture is filled with lines. Take shots of walls, angles in
the walls, look at where these lines direct us and the way it looks as a photo.
This is great practice. This system of looking for symmetry will really improve
your photography, tenfold in fact.
Easy Photography Techniques - Examining light
One of the simplest techniques I know is to examine and study
light. Try this: every time you take a look at something, observe how intense
the light is, what direction it is coming from, the amount of darks and lights
it generates and the color of that light. For the next 7 days, whenever you
photograph something, write down what you saw and then how it appeared as a
photo.
Once you have effectively understood this skill begin shooting
your lines and curves. If you start taking photos in this manner you will
notice that a) your technical skill increases and b) your photos begin to look
artistic and a whole lot more interesting. It's not just simple to do, but a
lot of fun. You will begin to feel like you are experiencing a link with light.
Your comprehension of light improves. As your appreciation
improves, so do your photos. You will start to recognize what will work as a
photograph just by looking at the scene in front of you. It's a fantastically
positive and empowering feeling.
Better Photography Techniques
Enhanced photography techniques come with training. Practice
takes time. Time needs dedication and a willingness to learn. One of the things
that helped me to understand photography was the exploration of light and
shape. An additional useful thing you can do is to write everything down in a
notebook. Before you shoot write down notes about the light.
• Notice how much light
• What direction it is
coming from
• How much contrast it
creates
• The colour of that
light.
Then, if you are shooting in automatic, note down what the
internal light meter is telling you as you point the camera to that scene. Make
a note of the shutter speed and f stop it wishes to shoot at. (It will be
incorrect and generally underexposed, but more about that another time.)
Then, switch your cameras mode to manual and alter the
adjustments to what the auto setting just said. It will be wrong, so make sure
you put the dial in the center, or slightly to the right hand side of the
middle.
Subsequently, look at the lines and shape of the subjects in
your photograph. Where do they guide your eyes? Are there any distracting
elements in the scene that you really don't need?
Imagine that picture as a two dimensional medium and look again.
Is there someone in the way? A tall tree that doesn't really look like it makes
sense to be there? A lot of cars whizzing by that detracts from the drama and
power of the construction? Every time ask yourself these things prior to
photographing.
Digital Photography Professional Techniques
One of the greatest ways to become good at photography is
becoming good at a photo editing program. Photoshop is an incredibly superb
tool to have but it takes time to become skilled at it. It's very complex to
the newbie so take some formal classes if you need to.
You can also learn Light room, which is a less complicated
adaptation of Photoshop. It's less complicated to learn and you may not always
need official instruction. Whichever way you decide to go, specialist methods
come from not only better photography and shooting techniques but approaches in
post processing.
Post processing is a term given to editing, sharpening and
improving your photos in a software program. There are so many incredibly
remarkable special effects you can apply in both Photoshop and Light room.
Darkening the outer areas of a photo and increasing color and contrast are just
some of the simple functions within both programs. You can also add objects
that were not there beforehand. You also have the capability to remove
distracting things in the background.
These programs are dynamic for wedding and portrait photography
as you can add depth to color, generate softness for skin tones, and make
facial features glow and the eyes sparkle. A whole new world opens up to you
after you realize what Photoshop and Light room can do, and, how much better
your photos can appear.
You can become preoccupied for hours when you are post
processing, so become skilled at good techniques. The last thing you want to do
is spend 1 hour taking pictures and 6 hours editing all your photos. The faster
your post processing methods are the better photographer you turn out to be.
On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait
Photography
The worst way to use your flash in wedding and portrait
photography is directly front-on. First, others detest the flash being blasted
in their eyes. Secondly, the direct flash is not really designed for front on
use (except if it's a unique circumstance, in which case it would be turned
down to its lowest brightness.) The flash is meant for filling in the shadows.
Professionals usually have an external flash and point it up to
the ceiling, to the side or position something over it to minimize its strong,
white effects. I never ever use flash front-on for weddings and portraits since
the light is too bright.
When we shoot with light that's bright and white on a person's
face, we waste a lot of the subtle and softer details of a persons face. It
makes people look horrible in photos!
Digital Black and White Photography Techniques
Techniques for shooting in black and white are no different to
shooting in color. However, on saying that, you may want to shoot black and
white subjects with the intention of creating a black and white photo. That's
okay too. If you feel like some really beautiful black and white photos then
try to shoot items that have a naturally strong contrast. For example a white
sign with black letters in front of a silver building may look really well
suited. A person's face with red lipstick and intense eye makeup looks great in
black and white.
Digital Photography Lighting Techniques
I have covered how to assess light and how to employ the flash
properly, but what about ambient light? Ambient light is the light that exists
in the environment we are shooting in. Light from a window that fills a room is
regarded as ambient light for example. It's vital to take note of ambient light
just as much as other light sources.
Ambient light is reflected light. It's light that comes from a
light source and fills up the environment without a noticeable direction. This
is very critical to take note of as it determines how you photograph the scene.
If you have heaps of ambient light you may have light evenly spread all the way
through your photo. This is nice.
But what if that's not the effect you care for? What if you want
a moody and somber result instead? In that situation, you would try and
photograph whilst the intense light source is at an angle. Using a directional
light that generates strong shadows can really create a moody photograph.
The way light is contained within a scene has an effect on the
way you take the photo and the capture the emotion of the photo. This is very
crucial, do not forget this.
Canon Photography Techniques
I got asked last week what camera I owned. I replied a "5D
Mark Two". It impressed the person I was talking too. The fact is that no
matter what digital camera you shoot with you will still want to get behind the
principles of good photography and get good at them. There is in fact no such
thing as specific photography methods for a Canon and a set of unique tricks
and techniques for a Nikon camera. It's still picture making and light is one
of your most important concerns.
The main reason I use a Dslr is for the reason that I require
more management over my image making. I want to be able to amend my focal
length and have various types of lenses on the camera if I want. I also require
the chance for high speed photography if the occasion calls for it.
I also want a really fast shutter speed at times. A really fast
shutter speed takes place when you use a fast lens. This will mean that the
maximum aperture of the lens is pretty wide. A lot of light can come in to the
lens and you have additional light to work with. You may get a fast shutter
speed this way.
Dslr cameras have more controls such as a high ISO, multiple
shots per second, the ability for interchangeable lenses, the functionality to
have an external flash and a lot more. You will still be able to get beautiful
shots with a compact camera, but soon you will start feeling limited in what
you can do.
To really become good at photography it's most ideal to be
taught by a person who is experienced at it. This comprehension can save you
years of errors and disappointments. Learn to master light, where you place
things in the photo, your digital camera and you will have the structure to be
an amazing photographer.
