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How to improve your own
photography
I'm often asked by friends,
family and especially wedding guests, if I have any hints for taking
better photographs. So this month I thought I'd give you just some of my
favourite tips to improving your photography. I've split this article
into two sections, the first being some simple rules or ideas to help
you along the way, the second is about my theory, that if implemented,
will help your photography more than anything else...
PART ONE - MY TOP 10 HINTS
AND TIPS
1) Learn your camera
Today we are presented with
numerous styles of cameras to choose from, but fundamentally at the
heart of each they are all the same, an image passes down a lens, and
this image is captured at the back of the camera either on film, or more
likely a digital equivalent sensor. With this in mind, the vast majority
of all the principles of photography still apply, but only if you can
use them, and this means knowing your camera. Not only do you need to
learn your camera to get the best from it, but also, if using it can be
done without thinking about it, e.g. change between modes or flash
settings, etc, then this allows you to concentrate on taking the image
you actually want to take, and not on the technicalities of doing so.
 2)
The rules of thirds
When taking a photograph, do
you place your subject matter in the middle of the viewfinder? Have you
ever thought this just might be wrong?
This mistake is probably the
most common fault with photography today. Whilst yes, there are times
when having your subject in the middle is absolutely the right thing to
do, more often then not, it isn't. To try and help you break this habit,
use the rule of thirds. Imagine a noughts and crosses board on your
screen or viewfinder, now place your vertical or horizontal subject(s)
on one of those line. To further improve it, try to get the focus point
of your image to sit at one of the four intersections. It takes a little
practice, but it's worth the effort... ...and if you
master this one, then try a golden mean! (this and other composition
concepts are
explained in a little more depth here)
3) Less is more
This is probably the
simplest tip I can give, but will actually give you some stunning
results. If your image looks bland despite applying the rule of thirds,
then get closer to your subject. If this still doesn't work, get closer
again, and again, until your image has some real impact. What your are
aiming for is that your subject and only your subject is in the
viewfinder. This ensures that nothing can detract the eye away from what
you actually want to photograph e.g. a busy background behind a person.
Of course this doesn't apply to absolutely every photo, but I bet if you
try it with a few images, you'll go back to this rule time and time
again, because it really does work.
4) Keep it simple
Simplicity is often the key
to giving your images much more impact. Try creating a different angle
so the background of your main subject is more plain, e.g. get lower so
you have a plain sky behind, or vice versa so no sky is visible and only
green foliage.
5) Dare to be bold
A very simply tip, dare to
try something new. In the modern era of digital, if it doesn't work,
then you can simply delete it. However if you find something that works
for you, then keep using and improving. Perhaps a slightly different
angle, or perhaps different lighting. What ever you do, don't be scared
to experiment...
6) The 'eyes' have it
Another great little tips,
especially with children, is take images at their eye level. No-one
really likes images of the tops of people heads (except wig makers
perhaps), so don't stand-up when talking images of your little ones. Get
down to their level and see the difference.
7) What is the right
equipment
The biggest question I'm
asked about photography is what is the best camera for X or Y, and my
answer is always the same. First and foremost, the camera is only as
good as the lens in front of it. For those that decide to buy an SLR
(Single Lens Reflex) camera, then this point is even more important.
Please please please do not skimp on your lens, otherwise you have
simply wasted your money on your expensive camera. My advice is to buy
high quality lens and a cheaper camera body, your results will be far
better. You can always upgrade you camera body later and use the same
lens!
For those with fixed lens
cameras your lens is fixed, but still I'd always look for a lens of note
worthy capability, e.g. a Carl Zeiss lens. Another key point for these
cameras is the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom. My
advice is go for as much optical zoom as possible, as this will without
doubt give you the best results. Avoid digital zoom unless absolutely
necessary, as this method of zooming is basically taking a part of your
image (the centre) and "digitally" magnifying it and this never creates
high quality images.
For some great digital
camera and lens reviews see our website of the month.
8) Mega pixels are NOT
the answer
Finally when it comes to
equipment, mega pixels are NOT the answer. Did you know that a 3-4 mega
pixels camera will print to A4 without any issues. Today we have gone
pixel mad, with some professional cameras going as high as 64 megapixels
and beyond. However, most people will never print anything above A4, if
you do, then there is some great software you can use to enlarge your
image. So my advise on the topic of pixels, is not to worry about how
many you have, but the quality of the sensor and lens!
9) Try vertical
I see all too often, people
who can only use a camera horizontally. Try turning your camera 90
degrees and try a few vertical shots...and if you really want to
experiment, try 45 degrees and see what results you get.
10) Look through the eye
of child
This tip is simply to
encourage parents to hand down an old digital camera to their children
and let them experiment with it. Encourage them to be creative, and most
importantly, make it fun. Then when they've filled the memory card up in
30 seconds flat have a look at what they have captured. It will be fun
for you both, and you might get a few surprises at the results!
PART TWO - LEARN TO LOOK AGAIN!
This is probably the most
important theory you can learn, in my view anyway, but for most it is
the most difficult to grasp. What you need to learn is to look at what
is around you in a way that you have never previously done before. Look
closer, see the beauty of even the most simply of things around you, and
when you can do this, then and only then have you the ability to
actually capture it. Sounds simple I know, but try it.
Let me try and explain what
I mean by using a simply story told by Stephen Covey a well known
business guru. He tells a story of man and three children on tube. The
children are making real nuisances of themselves, running up and down
the corridor, jumping on the seats, making a huge amount of noise.
Stephen watches this for a while thinking to himself, "why is the man
not doing anything to control his children?" ...how do you see
this scene in your mind?
Stephen decides to ask the
man to do something about the children so that he and the other
passengers can complete the journey in peace. On speaking to the man, he
explains to Stephen he and his children are travelling back from the
hospital where they have just found out that his wife and their mother
had just died. Now how do you see the scene? This is a true paradigm
shift in your thinking, and it is this shift that if you haven't
already, you need to create in your own photography. Learn to look at
something and see what is truly there, not what you mind initially tells
you.
 A
great and very easy exercise to help you with this is to try macro
photography. This is probably easier than you think, as most modern day
point-and-click cameras have a macro setting, usually depicted by a
flower symbol. Now get close to your subject, I mean real close,
and see what else you can see. A great image I saw once was that of what
looked like black valleys or corridors. When I looked again it was a
close-up of a car tyre... ...learn to look twice and see
what is really in front of you!
NOW WHAT?
Despite all of these hints
and tips to help you and your photography, I don't think any one of them
alone is the single rule some amateur and enthusiast photographers
desire. Photography is more than technical cameras and rules, it's
emotion and feelings. To make a picture that lasts takes practice,
patience and more importantly an awareness. Anyone can learn how to use
a camera, no matter how complex it is, but to take a photograph takes
the ability to see beyond the lens...
My final thought on this
topic is what ever you do, don't take thousands of photographs and then
leave them on your hard drive for no one to see. Today's digital era
gives you a million and one ways to display your images, so make sure
you use them...otherwise what was the point of taking the photographs in
the first instance?
So grab your camera,
learn it, use it, display the results, but most of all, ENJOY IT!
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Firstly,
a huge thank you to everyone
who was involved in
this event and for making it such a success. Linz and the team did an
awesome job, and the day can only be described as a roaring success for
everyone. I'd like to say a personal thank you to Hugh for covering this
event whilst I was away, and also to all of the models at the fashion
show who waited so patiently for us to get the images online.
