Improve Your Photography With This Great Advice

By Joslyn Bradsher Vandorien


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.

Try adding one or two stops when you shoot objects like snow or beaches to make sure that they are receiving the proper amount of exposure. Scenes that are very white or even very black will try to fool your camera's light meter and you will need to make adjustments to compensate.

If you have to use your flash, then keep your subject away from walls, especially those that are light colored. Having a busy background or one that is dark will minimize the dark or harsh shadow that comes with using a flash. The best option though is to have enough light that you don't need a flash.

In most parts of life, we are trained to make things even and centered. Perfection is valued in our society, and rightfully so -- but when it comes to creating interesting photographs, try pointing your camera in a way that puts your subject slightly off-center. Beware of auto-focus features that lock in to whatever is in the center of the lens. Just focus manually and then lock the focus before clicking the photograph.

If you have a love of photography but are having a hard time finding a photography buddy who shares your interest, considering joining a photography club. You can generally find a club in most cities, and they are a great way to share the joy of photography and to improve your skills.

When photographing birds or other easily frightened animals, use the zoom feature on your camera. Remember that they will often have a nest with offspring nearby. In order to deflect attention from the nest area, birds will likely fly away at the slightest noise. If you have an SLR camera with the capability of changing lenses, use the most powerful zoom that you have in order to get multiple shots before being detected by your subject.

Use the right lens for the job. If you are photographing a landscape, for example, you need a wide-angle lens that will let you capture as much of the scene as possible, while sporting events generally require a telephoto lens that let you capture faraway players in high detail. Knowing what lens to choose will make it much easier to produce quality photos.

Use your camera's zoom feature to highlight your subject and eliminate nearby distractions. After you've framed the subject, take a moment to look around the frame to see if there's anything creeping in on the sides that will end up being a distraction in the final image. If there is, zoom in a little until the distractions are gone from the frame. If your camera doesn't have a zoom feature take a few steps forward and then re-frame your subject.

Try bracketing the exposure on your camera when you are in the middle of shooting landscapes to help get more lighting. You need to shoot, then you need to stop up, and then you need to stop down from the first shot. There are some cameras that allow automatic bracketing of three shots. You should now see why this hobby is very popular. There is so much you can do in it! There is also a ton of information on how to start enjoying the benefits of it. By following these tips, you are well on your way to becoming a successful photographer.




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