Tips to be a good photographer

Photography is the process of creating an artistic composition using light, shadow and color. Expensive equipment isn't required to practice photography. All you need is a good digital camera and motivation. You should follow these steps to take a picture. First, you must find a landscape or object that catches you eye. Then you should turn on your camera and focus on the object of your interest. Finally, you should click a button to take a picture. Anyone can become a photographer. If you have a digital camera, you can take a look around you and take beautiful pictures.

Photography is an art. It consists of creating a painting using the elements that surround you. A photograph conveys the feelings and emotions of a photographer. Two persons can take a picture of the same landscape. However, each photographer will have its own artistic point of view. While one person can see the landscape as something positive and energetic, the other person can see it as dark and lonely.

Photography classes teach how to apply lights, shadows and effects to a picture. Nevertheless, artistic appreciation can't be taught. You need to discover how you feel in relation with a landscape and create a picture from that. The interpretation of a picture depends on the personality and mood of a photographer. For instance, a fireplace can mean love and tenderness or danger and destruction. Taking pictures of people is a good way to practice photography. You can have friends model for you. However, you will obtain better pictures if your friends don't notice they are being photographed.

Dear aspiring photographer. The harsh truth is...your pictures are awful! Discover how to take the photos you've always dreamed of. Have your photos turn out just like a pro has taken them...

Basic Photography - Tip 3

Tip 3

As "Commander-In-Chief-of-the-Camera" ("CICOTC" for short), you are afforded certain privileges that mere mortals can never hope to attain.

One of the prime rules of etiquette tells us not to invade the personal space of others. However, when it comes to basic photography tips, you are encouraged to ignore this rule.

Depending upon how much of a telephoto lens you have (how much you can "zoom" your camera lens), you want to be close enough to your subject so that they fill at least 85% of the frame, while the background contributes no more than 15%.

The key assumption here is that the background in question is irrelevant. If, for example, you were posing your family for a multi-generational portrait, and it was taking place in front of a giant waterfall, you would probably want to bend the above rule.

The main challenge you will run into when following these particular basic photography tips is when you are taking flash photographs of subjects less than 6 feet away.

Moving from basic to intermediate photography tips for a second, controlling the intensity and type of light can make a huge difference in the final photograph. Some flashes create an unnatural-looking bright appearance. In that case, experiment with the following solutions:

• Use an external flash, attached to the hot shoe, and create a bounce flash off the ceiling or a wall
• Attach a diffuser over the flash head to create a softer, less intense light
• Bounce the flash off a white surface (a piece of white cardboard will do) rather than have it aimed directly at your subjects
• Use a "flash deflector" such as Lumiquest's Pocket Bouncer
• If you can increase the ISO setting without creating too much digital "noise," you may be able to avoid having to use a flash entirely
• If you don't have an external flash, it gets a little more difficult. If you have a Point And Shoot, you can experiment with different translucent materials and hold them over the flash; however, unless you can compensate the F-stop or shutter speed appropriately, your subject will likely be under-exposed
• The last option for Point And Shoots is to move the subject next to a window where there is enough external light coming into the room, in order to avoid having to use a flash. In this case, avoid the glare of the glass by shooting at an angle (that's a bonus basic photography tip)

Basic Photography - tip 2

Photography Tip #2... LIMIT THE CAFFEINE

The biggest cause of blurred photographs is what's known as "camera shake." My personal favorite of all the basic photography tips there are, is don't do that!

Although you are not consciously aware of any movement, the slower the shutter speed, the greater the chances for camera shake. To avoid ruining shots this way (don't worry-there are plenty of other ways to ruin shots), do your best on the following photography tips:

• Plant both feet firmly on the ground.
• Establish a natural and comfortable photography stance in which your elbows are tucked firmly against your body while the camera is pressed firmly against your face.
• Just before you snap the picture, take (and hold) your breath and gently squeeze the shutter. (If you jerk the shutter down too quickly, because of the excitement felt in taking the "shot of the century," you'll get it alright... but it will be blurred).
• If you've had caffeine (seriously!) or have slight hand shaking, do everyone a favor and use a tripod.

  It won't be embarrassing because you don't have to tell anyone why you're doing it. And, you'll even look more professional!

• If you don't have a tripod handy when you need one, brace yourself against a solid object such as a wall, a tree, or Uncle Bruno.
• Remember the "Inverse Ratio Rule," where your shutter speed should not be slower than 1 divided by the focal length of the lens you are using? You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?

OK, quick review; here's an example: if you are using a 100mm lens, you want your shutter setting to be faster than 1/100 of a second. If for whatever reason, you are using a slower shutter speed, please use a tripod or steady yourself against an object.

The waterfall photograph above was taken at F-11 with a shutter speed of 1.5 seconds.

If a tripod had not been used, the picture would have been so blurred that you could not even tell what it was supposed to be.

P.S. - the only way to achieve the "angel hair" look to the water is by using a very slow shutter speed.

Basic Photography - tip 1

Basic Photography Tip #1... DON'T TOUCH THAT CAMERA!

Your pulse has risen... the adrenalin is coursing through your body... you can almost taste the excitement! It's time to grab that electronic wonder and take some photos! Just remember one of the most basic photography tips there is--DON'T TOUCH THAT CAMERA. At least not yet. Make sure you first...

1. Get the camera bag
2. If the camera's not in it, put it in (Imagine how you'd feel if you dropped your camera not in it's protective camera bag)
3. Verify that the batteries in your camera as well as the spare batteries are FULLY CHARGED. (You do have spare batteries, don't you?!)
4. If you're going to be shooting indoors, also take the battery charger (I don't know if this should be considered a "basic photography tip" as much as basic planning, but in any case... be prepared.)
5. Determine if you could possibly need any accessories like a tripod, extra lens, filters, etc., and then pack them up.
6. Open the camera and check if the memory is loaded (There's basic photography tips, and then there's BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS. This one is even "pre-basic.")
7. Estimate how much shooting you'll be doing, and take with at least twice that amount of memory. (Nothing is more depressing than an incredible photo opportunity but... no more memory!)
8. If you're off to a major family event such as an anniversary party or a family reunion, don't forget to take the list of portrait posing ideas. You'll be so sorry if you forget!