“How do I take better photos?”
That's
the question on the mind of every photographer. Today we have the answer for
you. It actually has a few special considerations. Follow us
40 Tips for shooting.
1. Get in close
“If your photographs aren’t good enough,
you’re not close enough.” If you feel like your images aren’t ‘popping’, take a
step or two closer to your subject. Fill the frame with your subject and see
how much better your photo will look without so much wasted space. The closer
you are to the subject, the better you can see their facial expressions too.
2. Shoot every day
The best way to hone your skills is
to practice. A lot. Shoot as much as you can – it doesn’t really matter what.
Spend hours and hours behind your camera. As your technical skills improve over
time, your ability to harness them to tell stories and should too.
Don’t
worry too much about shooting a certain way to begin with. Experiment. Your
style will emerge in time. And it will be more authentic when it does.
3. See the light
Before you raise your camera, see
where the light is coming from, and use it to your advantage. Whether it is
natural light coming from the sun, or an artificial source like a lamp; how can
you use it to make your photos better? How is the light interacting with the
scene and the subject? Is it highlighting an area or casting interesting
shadows? These are all things you can utilise to make an ordinary photo
extraordinary.
4. Ask permission
When photographing people,
especially while in countries with different cultures and languages, it can be
hard to communicate. In certain countries if you photograph someone you are not
‘supposed’ to photograph, it can get ugly and rough very quickly if you are not
careful. So out of respect you should always ask permission.
I
have started shooting a series of school children in Pakistan. These are all
posed portraits and they are looking down the lens. My guide helps me with the
language and I limit myself to smiling, shaking hands, giving ‘hi-five’ and
showing them the image on the back of my camera once it is done. You would be
amazed how quickly people open up.
5. Use flash during the day
You might think that you should only
use flash at night time or indoors, but that’s not the case at all. If it is an
extremely bright day outside and the sun is creating harsh shadows on your
subject, switch on your flash. By forcing extra light onto your subject, you
will be able to fill in those ugly shadows and create an even exposure.
6. ISO
There are questions to ask yourself
when deciding what ISO to use:
What time of day are you shooting? If
you are shooting outside during the middle of the day you will need to use a
lower ISO such as 100 or 200. If you are shooting at night time without a
tripod you will have to increase the ISO to a higher number to be able to
record the light on the camera’s sensor.
Will the subject be well lit? If
your subject or scene is too dark you will need to use a higher ISO such as 800
or 1600.
Do you want a sharp image or an
image with more movement in it? Using a high shutter speed to capture fast
movement might mean that you need to use a high ISO to compensate. Likewise, if
you’re using a slow shutter speed to capture blur you will need a low ISO to
compensate.
Don’t forget, increasing your ISO
increases the grain or pixel size in your photo. So don’t use an ISO of 3200 or
6400 if you don’t want a photo with a lot of ‘digital noise’.
7. Wonders aperture (f/4)
f/4 is my ‘go to’ aperture. If you
use a wide aperture with a long lens (200mm-400mm) you’re able to separate the
subject from the background. This helps them stand out. Works every time.
8. You’ve got to be joking
A well timed joke will always yield
a more natural smile, than simply saying “smile”
9. Find books to read
Having expensive camera equipment
doesn’t always mean that you’ll take good photos. I’ve seen some absolutely
amazing images shot with nothing more than a smart phone. Instead of having ten
different lenses, invest in some fantastic photography books. By looking at the
work of the masters, not only do you get inspired, you come away with ideas to
improve your own photos.
10. Read your camera’s manual
The best way to know what to do with
your camera is to actually read the manual. So many people miss this really
important step on their photographic journey. Every camera is different, so by
reading the manual you’ll get to know all the funky things it’s capable of.
11. Slow down
Take time to think about what is
going on in the viewfinder before pressing the shutter. How are you going to
compose the shot? How are you going to light it? Don’t jump straight in without
giving it some thought first.
12. Stop chimping (checking the photo
on the back screen)
It’s a bad habit digital
photographers can develop. Time and time again I see photographers take a
photograph and then look at the back of the screen straight away. By doing that
you could miss all the special moments. You can look at your photos later. You
can miss ‘the shot’ and it affects the flow of your work, so just keep shooting!
13. Framing
This is a technique to use when you
want to draw attention to something in your photograph. By framing a scene or a
subject, say with a window or an archway, you lead the viewer’s eye to the
primary focal point.
14. Shape with light
Never shoot with the sun directly
behind you. It creates boring, flat light on the subject. If you shoot with the
light source to the side or behind the subject, you are able to shape with the
light, creating a more interesting photo
15. Watermarks
This tip isn’t in direct relation to
TAKING photos, but it does affect the look of photos. When it comes to
watermarks, the smaller the better. And if you can avoid using them, do.
Chances are, unless you are a paid
professional, there’s not much of a chance of your photos getting nicked. But
in reality, they won’t prevent your images from getting stolen. They only
distract from the fabulous image that you’ve created, because once you’ve
slapped a watermark all over it, that’s all the viewer will be looking at. The only
way you can prevent your images from being stolen is to not publish them on the
internet.
Read Open producer Luke Wong’s blog
post on watermarks here.
16. Be present
This means make eye-contact, engage
and listen to your subject. With the eyes – lower that camera and be human.
Bring the camera up for a decisive shot. But remember to lower it, like you’re coming
up for air, to check in with your subject. Don’t treat them like a science
experiment under a microscope. Being there with your subject shows them
respect, levels the playing field in terms of power dynamics, and calms them
down. You’ll get much more natural images this way.
17. Shutter speed
Being aware of your shutter speed
means the difference between taking a blurry photo and a sharp photo. It all
depends on what you are after. If you are shooting a sporting event or children
running around in the backyard, you probably want your subjects to be in focus.
To capture fast action you will have to use a shutter speed over 1/500th of a
second, if not 1/1000th to 1/2000th. On the opposite end of the scale, you
might want to capture the long streaks of a car’s tail lights running through
your shot. Therefore you would change your camera’s shutter speed to a long
exposure. This could be one second, ten seconds, or even longer.
18. Charge your batteries
This seems like a simple one, but
pretty much every photographer on the face of the planet has been caught out
before. Including myself. The trick is to put the battery onto the charger as
soon as you get home from your photo shoot. The only thing then is to make sure
you remember to put it back into the camera after it has been recharged…
19. Focal length
Keep it simple. I shoot with two
prime lenses and one camera; A 28mm and a 35mm. For everything. I use the 35mm
lens 70% and the 28mm lens 30% of time. It takes some time to get used to it,
but once you work it out, shooting primes is the only way to go. It means you
have to work with what you have and you can’t be lazy. Basically, this means
more pictures and less fiddling around with zooming and maybe missing moments.
It also helps for consistency. If you’re working on a project or a series,
keeping the same focal lengths is a great way to maintain a powerful sense of
consistency.
20. Be part of a photographic
community
Like ABC
Open! Not only will you be able to
publish your photos for the rest of the country to see, you’ll be part of an
active group that offers feedback on how great you are going. You can learn new
things to help you improve your technique, and you might even make some new
photography buddies.
21. Shoot with your mind
Even when you’re not shooting, shoot
with your mind. Practice noticing expressions and light conditions. Work out
how you’d compose a picture of that scene over there that interests you, and
what sort of exposure you might use to capture it best.
22. Return the favor
Always remember that if you are
shooting people in a different country, they are probably doing you a favor by
posing. So the least you can do is return this favor some way or another.
I often return to the same places
year after year, so I bring along prints and look for the people I photographed
previously. In some areas people do not have a picture of themselves. Imagine
not having a picture of you and your family? Strange don’t you think? Yet many
people don’t. So a $0.50 print can really make someone happy. It also opens
doors for more photography further down the track.
23. Have a camera on you at all times
You can’t take great photos if you
don’t have a camera on you, can you? DSLR, point-and-shoot or smart phone, it
doesn’t really matter. As long as you have access to a camera, you’re able to
capture those spontaneous and unique moments in life that you might have
otherwise missed.
24. The golden hour
Shoot portraits and landscapes in
the golden hours — the light is softer and the colors are more vibrant
25. Keep it simple
Don’t try to pack too many elements
into your image; it will just end up looking messy. If you just include one or
two points of interest, your audience won’t be confused at where they should be
looking or what they should be looking at.
26. Don’t get bogged down by equipment
We’ve all seen these types of
photographers out and about. They usually have three or four different cameras
strapped around their necks with lenses long enough for an African safari. In
reality, there’s probably no need for all that equipment. One body with one or
two lenses means that you’ll be freer in your movements to capture interesting
angles or subjects on the move.
27. Perspective
Minimize the belly-button
photograph. This is a reference to Moholy Nagy of the Bauhaus movement
in photography (which was all about lines of perspective). In other words,
perspectives are more engaging when we crouch down, or lie down, or elevate our
position in reference to the subject. Look at how changing your perspective can
change the visual language and implied power dynamics of the image. Crouching
low can make your subject more dynamic, whereas gaining height on your subject
can often minimize their presence in the image. One of my favorite exercises is
to make my students lie down and take pictures, often in the dirt. I am a
little cheeky.
28. Be aware of backgrounds
What’s in your frame? So often I see
great photos and think “didn’t they see that garbage bin, ugly wall, sign,
etc?” It’s not just the person or object in your frame, it’s everything else in
the background that can make or break a great photograph. So don’t be afraid to
ask the person to move (or move yourself) to avoid something ugly in the
background.
29. Shade
Shade can be your best friend. If
there is no way you can make the available light work for your photo, shoot in
the shade. You’ll get a nice even exposure with no patchy highlights throughout
your shot.
30. Rule of Thirds
This is one of the most common tips
that pop up when it comes to improving your photos.
To break it down, you cut your frame
into thirds by using both horizontal and vertical lines. You then place your
point of interest over the cross sections of the grid.
Check out this article for
further details about using the rule of thirds.
31. Exposure
I’ve been shooting a lot of protests
lately. Basically, they’re just a lot of people really close to one another;
often moving. After having made many mistakes with getting my exposures right,
I worked out that if the sun is behind me and in the face of protestors I will
set exposure compensation to underexpose by a stop to bring out even tonal
range. When the sun is behind the protestors I like to over expose just
slightly to bring out the shadow details on their faces. This could apply to
street photography when the light is in front or behind your subject.
32. Don’t spend too much time
post-processing
The key is to get it right in the
camera first, so you don’t HAVE to spend time editing. Over working a
photo in editing software very rarely looks good, unless you are trying to
achieve a super-artsy effect. If it takes you longer than ten minutes to alter
your photo, maybe think about going back out into the field to re-shoot it.
33. Variation
Variation is key. I often use a
recipe from Life
Magazine picture editors for building a
story narrative. I look for: over-all shots or scene-setters, interaction,
action, portraits, details, medium shots and of course the signature image.
Having this list in my head helps me start photographing a story that sometimes
isn’t visually apparent until you get into it. This is great when you’re in a
crowded or busy place.
34. Become one with the camera
Push the button regardless of the
outcome so the camera becomes part of your hand.
35. Hold your camera properly
You might not know it, but there is
a right way and a wrong way to hold a DSLR camera. The correct way is to
support the lens by cupping your hand underneath it. This is usually done with
the left hand, with your right hand gripping the body of the camera. This helps
to prevent camera shake. If you are gripping your camera with your hands on
either side of the camera body, there is nothing supporting the lens, and you
might end up with blurry photos. To get an even stables stance, tuck your
elbows into the side of your body.
36. Limit your palette
When photos have too many colors
spewing out from them, they’re often hard to look at. Unless it’s a photo of a
rainbow or the Mardi Gras. Try to focus on having one or two colors
predominately featuring in your photograph. It will be more pleasing to the eye
and will help set the tone of the image.
37. Get your subject to relax
This applies mostly to portrait
style photography. As a press photographer, I spend most of my time doing one
on one portrait shoots. I think it’s really beneficial to take the time (if you
have it) talking to your subject, asking questions, showing an interest in
whatever it is they do. I find it really helpful in relaxing the person and
often they’ll say something and that can lead to a better photo opportunity.
38. Inspiration from all forms
Take in as much photography as you
can – online, and in books and magazines. But not passively. Look at different
styles. Work out what you like or don’t like about them. Look at the technical
elements of pictures and think about how they were made, and what the
photographer is trying to say. The more you take in, the more arsenal you’ll
have when creating your own work.
39. Be patient and persevere
With time, patience, and
perseverance, you will get better; with each and every photo you take.
40. Break the rules
Now that you know some of the rules, go ahead and
break them! Experiment. Have fun. Learn from your mistakes. Make up your own
tips and techniques for taking fantastic photographs. I’d love to hear them.
