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February 22nd, 2007 · 24 Comments

Thursday 13 - 13 Quick Photography Tips..

Could not come up with anything fun tonight, so here are 13 Quick and Easy Photography Tips that can help anyone take better photos:

  1. Focus - Pay careful attention to your subject. When photographing a person or pet, make sure your focus is on the eyes. The rest is not nearly as important. Having the eyes in clear focus makes a huge difference.
  2. Get Closer - Get closer to your subject. All too often we get lazy (myself included) and think “oh, I’ll just crop it later”. Zoom in with your lens, change to a lens with a longer focal length, or physically move closer to your subject. This can have tremendous impact on your photo by removing anything not necessary to the photo.
  3. Change Your Perspective - So many people just stand, raise their camera, and push the shutter.. Get down low to your subject. Get up high if possible. Change it up a little. This is especially true for children and animals. Getting down low provides a completely different feel to the image as you are getting down on their level. Try it, You’ll see what I mean!

  4. Always Be Ready - Familiarize yourself with your camera, flash, and lenses. How many times have you been that fraction of a second late and say “oh crap.. that could have been such a great shot..”?
  5. Don’t Blame Your Camera - A lot of very good photographers don’t have the “latest and greatest” camera setup. Do not use this as an excuse not to take photos. Use what you have!
  6. Try New Things - The one thing I can’t stress enough is to constantly try new things when it comes to taking pictures. Try longer exposures (especially where water is involved - like rivers and waterfalls) by using a smalled aperture. Create a shallow depth of field (limited focus) by using a large aperture. Just have fun and be creative!!
  7. Light - Pay attention to the lighting. Portraits during the middle of the day will tend to have harsh shadows that are not flattering to your subject.
  8. Use Your Flash - Whether its a built in flash, or an external shoe-mounted flash unit, use it! Even during the day. This will help “fill” the shadows during the day and will make a huge difference with your photos.
  9. Use a Tripod - If you are at all serious about taking decent photos, get yourself a good quality tripod. Not only will it allow you to use longer telephoto lenses, they are so helpful with all other photography as well.
  10. Composition - There are many “Rules” of photography. Learn them. These rules are not hard and fast rules, in fact, I tend to view them merely as suggestions. Learn the rules of composition (such as the Rule of Thirds), and learn when to break them.
  11. Timer or Remote - When shooting in low light or while using telephoto lenses, it is important not to move the camera while the picture is being taken. Even the slightest bump can render your photo blurry and useless. Along with a good tripod, use your cameras timer (almost ALL cameras have one) or consider buying an infrared remote - which I highly recommend.
  12. Get Out of Program Mode - Most modern cameras have a lot more capabilities than people realize. Do not be content to simply use “Auto” or “Program” mode. Try Aperture Priority (you manually set the cameras aperture, the camera will then automatically select the proper shutter speed), or Shutter Priority (you manually set the cameras shutter speed, the camera will then automatically select the proper aperture), or go to full Manual mode. These different options will give you a whole new realm of creative possibilities and will make you a better photographer.
  13. Practice - You will never get better at anything you do not practice at, and photography is the same. I take my camera pretty much everywhere I go. Its always with me. If you are serious about taking good photos, pictures you can look back at and be proud of, spend a little more time with your camera in your hand. Yes, it feels a bit funny at first, but you (and those around you) quickly get used to it..

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Tags: Photo Tips · Thursday 13

24 responses so far ↓

  • Kai // Feb 22, 2007 at 3:57 am

    Those are really great tips - well written too! I really need to spend some time and figure my camera out, and at least try to use it to the best of it’s ability.

    I definitely have to get the manual out and do something about #12.

    Great TT!

  • Gabrielle // Feb 22, 2007 at 5:19 am

    Thanks for sharing the tips!

  • smalltown rn // Feb 22, 2007 at 7:05 am

    Great suggestions….not that long ago I got a new camera…still learning how to use it….and yes you are right I have to try new things …..I too try and take it every where I go….

  • Peg // Feb 22, 2007 at 8:38 am

    These are great tips, Ryan! I fool around with my camera now and then, (mostly snapping shots of my kids) and now, I’m looking forward to putting some of these suggestions to work.

    Thanks!

  • Barbara H. // Feb 22, 2007 at 12:50 pm

    Wonderful tips, thank you!

  • Waspgoddess // Feb 22, 2007 at 4:04 pm

    thanks ryan, that was incredibly useful. I’m lucky enough to be able to use a decent camera that was bought for work, but I have never bothered to get to know it (I know — it shows), but now I feel inspired to do so.

    Do you use digital cameras or SLR?

  • Ryan // Feb 22, 2007 at 4:31 pm

    Hi Kai! Ah yes, dreaded #12… Try experimenting in Aperture priority first. This will allow you to set the aperture and the camera will then set the proper shutter speed. Keep in mind that the smaller the f-stop, the larger the aperture, which will give you a shallow depth of field. Conversely, a high numbered f-stop (such as F/20), the smaller the aperture, thus increasing the depth of field (clearer focus deeper into the scene). Further, smaller apertures (higher numbered f-stops) will limit the amount of light reaching the film plane (or digital sensor) therefore will take longer to expose. This can be both a blessing AND a curse. It will allow you to do creative photos such as long exposures for waterfalls as in this water fall photo, or this one, but when shooting people for instance, will most likely result in blur..

    Sorry for being long-winded here. Hope what I wrote makes sense! :)

    Feel free to post follow-up questions if you would like further assistance.

    Ryan

  • Ryan // Feb 22, 2007 at 4:35 pm

    Gabrielle - You are most welcome! :]

    Smalltown RN - Thats really great you take it everywhere, thats half the battle!! Thank you for commenting.

    Peg - So happy you got something (hopefully) out of my post. Keep me posted (no pun intended) on how it goes. I’d like to see the progress. :]

    Barbara H. - Thank you and you are very welcome!!!!

  • Ryan // Feb 22, 2007 at 4:39 pm

    Waspgoddess - I’m so glad you found some helpful tips in my long-winded post.. :] Makes it feel like the time I spent writing it was worthwhile.

    As far as my camera go, I still have film bodies (SLR’s) but have not used them in some time. From a cost standpoint and the type of photography I tend to do, it makes much more sense to grab one of my digital’s. As I’m sure I may have mentioned in prior posts, I have always shot Nikon film bodies, and can use my collection of lenses seemlessly with my Nikon Digital SLR’s, so that is what I use!

    Thank you for taking the time!

    Ryan

  • Margaret // Feb 22, 2007 at 5:24 pm

    Great article! I can’t wait until winter is over (it’s just so bleak) and I can get out and take more pictures.

    Care to write an article comparing camera’s?

  • Ryan // Feb 22, 2007 at 6:32 pm

    Hey Margaret! Yes, winter is quite dreary.. Love the beauty of the snow - for about 48 hours, then I want summer back!!

    I could certainly look into a camera comparison article. Which cameras are you interested in learning about?

  • Claire // Feb 22, 2007 at 7:46 pm

    My dads got a Nikon D70 and want to buy the attachment to fix it to his telescope (he is a mad birder), but he wont read the manual or fiddle about with camera. So what could be amazing shots tend to be mediocre and whats worse he wont give camera to me!
    As for camera comparison article, i would like to know more about a good quality point and shoot digital camera, that would still get me good shots while hiking, without being really expensive.
    Tips are great. i think you are spot on with number 13.

  • Ryan // Feb 22, 2007 at 9:06 pm

    Hey Claire!! The Nikon D70 is a great little camera (little and light for a DSLR) and I often throw one in my camera backpack along with a couple different lenses while going on hikes and so forth. Many of the images found here on my blog, and on my main photography site were taken with the D70..

    As far as an easy to use compact digital point and shoot, I would most likely have to recommend (although the Nikon blood in me curls a bit) one from Canon’s Powershot line-up. Something in the 6 or 7 megapixels should be quite sufficient.

    A note on megapixels. Do NOT be drawn into the myth and marketing hype that 8 or 9 megapixels is SO MUCH BETTER than 6 or 7 megapixels. Truth is, the difference between 6 and 7 megapixels is very very slight.. The difference between 6 and 8 megapixels is still actually very very minimal..

    Bottom line when searching for a digital point and shoot -
    Cost- You should not have to spend more than $200 USD for a good quality camera that is very capable.
    Lens- Look at the glass of several different models. Not always, but generally, the more glass (larger diameter lens) is better, allowing more light into the camera thus allowing better photos. Again, this is a generalization, but typically this is true.
    Zoom- Try to get 4x Optical zoom or more if possible.
    Ease of use- Play around with a bunch of different ones and use the menu system. Some just make sense, others are nearly impossible to use. Canon, Nikon and Sony are among the best in my opinion..

    Sheeesh…. Guess I better do a post on this to cover everything……. :)

  • Kelli // Feb 22, 2007 at 9:20 pm

    Those are really great tips. I take horrid pictures. This is good to know.

    Now if you can just tell me how to look GOOD in pictures!

  • Ryan // Feb 22, 2007 at 9:33 pm

    Hi Kelli!! :]

    Yeah, I wish I knew that answer, as i usually cannot STAND being in photos…

    Thank you for stopping by, and for the nice comment. I do appreciate it.

  • Claire // Feb 23, 2007 at 5:14 am

    Wow! great tips, i was already down the tunnel following the light to 8+ mega pixels!
    I would read more on this.
    I hate photos being taken of me, but don’t hate it when its me taking them of myself (because i can delete them!)
    Oh i have another Photo related question, but will wait awhile!

  • Waspgoddess // Feb 23, 2007 at 10:21 am

    This has been so interesting. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions (and everybody else’s, which I benefited from enormously). Anything to say on the Canon EOS 350D?

  • star8278 // Feb 23, 2007 at 10:51 am

    Great suggestions.
    I love your blog; so glad I checked out your FF post. I have added you as one of my favorite blogs to read. I will be back!!!!

  • Margaret // Feb 23, 2007 at 12:54 pm

    Hi Ryan, right now we are discussing the Nikon D70 (or even D80) or Canon Rebel. I want a SLR with good macro capability. I also want something which I can use a optical lens on as I find I can’t always get close enough for what I want. SOmeone also suggested Fiji cameras…

  • Mr. C. // Feb 23, 2007 at 4:11 pm

    Ryan-

    Those are great tips and a lot of them we’ve heard in a 4-night photography course that my wife and I are taking from a local professional photographer. The main thing that we’ve learned (with only one class left) is that we knew absolutely nothing to begin with! :-)

    Mr. C.

  • Michelle // Feb 23, 2007 at 9:56 pm

    Hi Ryan,

    Great advice. Nice to have some pointers.

  • CrAzY Working Mom // Feb 25, 2007 at 10:35 pm

    Wow, Great tips. I love to take photos, especially of my children. It is true that if you get down to their level it makes a big difference on teh pictures!!
    Thanks for the great advice and tips.

  • Crystal // Mar 18, 2007 at 5:05 pm

    Great tips, thanks for sharing! One of these days I hope to invest in a good camera.

  • Thursday 13 - Posts with the most Comments.. | Ryan’s Calamity // Mar 22, 2007 at 4:31 pm

    […] 13. Thursday 13 - 13 Quick Photography Tips Thanks as always to everyone for visiting. Your comments are much appreciated. […]

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