One of my friends was asking me about my photography and how I got started, so I decided to write a top 10 list of things to help you become a more accomplished photographer. I hope there is something in here that proves useful to you!
Photo by Raghunath Thirumalaisamy; ISO 125, f/6.5, 1/250-second exposure.
1) Love. Love your camera no matter what its specs, age, or make. A camera’s only as good as the photographer.
2) Equipment. Take your camera everywhere; make sure it becomes your new best friend, so you’ll never again have to say, “I wish I had a camera with me.” The most amazing photo opportunities are usually the ones you don’t expect.
3) Practice. Practice is everything. Don’t get disheartened when a picture doesn’t turn out how you expected. Take a deep breath and try a new setting. In the age of digital cameras mistakes aren’t as expensive to make as they used to be!
4) Remind yourself. Manual camera settings may be frustrating to fully grasp at first. Get into the habit of writing down some reminders to yourself and keep them in your camera bag.
5) Ask why. Ask, “Why why do I want to take this photograph?” It may be as simple as “it looks pretty.” But what is it that makes it pretty? Is it the amazing detail in the leaf or is it the way the light strikes the petal? Consciously thinking about these sorts of aspects will improve your photos instantly.
6) Get close up. Don’t always just zoom in with the lens. Walk up closer to your subject, fill the frame, and your photos will come alive.
Photo by Tambako The Jaguar; ISO 250, f/4.0, 1/60-second exposure.
7) Lighting. Controlling your lighting is easy and can make or break a photograph. Try using anything from a strobe to fairy lights to a desk lamp.
8 ) Share. Learn to share your photography with others. Submit your photos on social media or create a blog and you’ll find fellow photographers are always eager to help and share their own experiences, too.
9) Composition. Have a look at the rules of composition. Try following them and watch your photos improve. After you’ve mastered them, try breaking the rules!
10) Learn. Learning to use your camera to its maximum potential is vital to becoming a better photographer. Book yourself on to a photography course to help you unlock and understand your camera’s manual settings.
About the Author:
Article written by Michelle Bowden from RedCloudDays Photography.
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As a DSLR beginner (2 years and one month), and at my age (68), I find Michelle’s article refreshing. Basics, basics, basics! How often we shrug aside vital compontents of the basics! I still do and I feel so ashamed at the end of the day. Yes, I keep notes, and the grossly overlooked basics stare at me.
Of course the article assumes PASSION – in many ways this is tall take; because passion too requires discipline and conscious cultivation. I’ll end with something my late music teacher (guru) once told me:
” We like because, we love inspite of “.
Thank you Michelle
Warm regards from Mauritius
Also love the subject you are taking. If your emotion and imagination is flowing then it more likely to come across in your photo:
http://wildlifeencounters.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/African-Mammals/G0000FIcyAEFOesQ/I0000L1e6bLMYQnU