Taking Good Photos
Receive a fancy SLR camera for Christmas? No idea how to use it? These easy tips can help turn snapshots into works of art.
Let’s start with the Rule of Thirds: As you look through the viewfinder, mentally draw a tic-tac-toe board through the viewable area—two lines vertically and two horizontally—to divide your picture into nine separate, equal portions. The Rule of Thirds says instead of centering your subject, bring interest to your photographs by placing the subject at any of the four points where the lines intersect.
Secondly, ensure proper exposure. Don’t trust your camera to do too much for you. Set your camera mode to Manual instead of Automatic. In the viewfinder, you’ll see an exposure meter range from “-2″ through “+2.” Typically, you want the meter to read “0″ for proper exposure. However, sometimes even when you shoot with a “0″ reading colors look too dark or washed out. To properly gauge exposure, put your hand up near the lens to fill the picture frame, making sure it’s in the same light as your subject and is not casting any shadows. Look through the viewfinder and turn the shutter speed setting until the exposure reads “+1.” Remove your hand, refocus and shoot. You should have a good range of highlights, shadows and middle values. If you like gadgets, you can get the same results using an 18 percent gray card (available at any photo store) instead of your hand and adjusting your shutter speed until the exposure meter reads “0.”
And finally, proper focus is key to great photos. If your camera has auto focus, use one of the camera’s sensing points to aim directly onto your subject. Press the shutter button down halfway to set the focus. Keep the button depressed, compose your shot using the Rule of Thirds, then press the shutter button all the way down to take the picture.
Remember, the way to take great pictures is to take lots of pictures; you only see a fraction of the shots professionals take. Enjoy your new camera!
Tags: Productivity, Tools, Featured, Technology, Artistry, Process, Tips, Photography
