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By Sara Wells
Photography is an art, and therefore there are no set rules
for
getting the perfect pictures. The following tips, however,
will
help to improve your photographic style, experiment, and get
great pictures on a regular basis. Whether your subject is a
child, a pet, or nature, try some of these tips on your next
photographic foray.
1. Get on Their Level With a live subject it is important to
get at eye-level before taking the shot. For children and pets
this may mean kneeling, squatting, sitting or even lying down
to get on the same level as your subject. While it is fun to
experiment with different angles, you will have much greater
success if you look your subject in the eye.
2. Fill out the Frame Photographs are more powerful and
interesting if the subject fills out the frame. Many
photographers make the mistake of being too far from the
subject. It is best to zoom in close enough the that the
subject reaches or goes just beyond the edges of the photo
frame in your view finder. This allows the viewer to see more
detail and expression, and prevents the background from taking
over the photograph.
3. Get a Little Closer When you think your shot is set, try
taking a few steps closer. Get in closer to your subject will
show detail and emotion that add interest to your photographs.
4. Simple backdrop When photographing a specific subject be
aware of what is going on behind them. You want to choose a
backdrop that will not distract or obscure the look of the
subject. Choose plain color background or simple natural
greenery with few accents to really highlight your subject.
5. Use the Flash Most people think that outdoor photos never
require the use of a flash, but that is not the case. When the
sun is at its brightest, can be the time when it casts the
most
shadow. Adding a flash on an already sunny day can even-out
the
shadows cast by wrinkles, strange angles, or other people.
Just
make sure that your camera flash is close enough to the
subject
to be effective.
6. Watch the Light -- Light is one of the most important
factors in photo taking. When you get ready to take a shot,
pause for a moment to take accounting of where the sun is and
what shadows may be obscuring the view. You dont want your
subject squinting into the sun, nor do you want the light so
bright behind them that it makes the subject look dark in
comparison.
7. Go Vertical Dont get stuck in a rut. Many pictures would
look better if you just turned them vertically. There are
certain subjects that lend themselves to a vertical framing
such as lighthouses, the Eiffel tower, or a beautiful tree.
Try
going vertical with some less likely subjects to see the
difference it will make.
8. Get out of the Middle Another common mistake
photographers
make is to put the subject of the photograph directly in the
middle of the frame. This technique is usually not the most
pleasing to the eye. Instead shift your subject to one of the
four corners of the frame so that it is prominent, but not
center stage.
9. Steady does it Make sure the camera is steady when you
are
taking photos. A steady camera will prevent a blurry photo. If
you are not the best at holding steady consider using a tripod
to get a clear shot.
10. Shoot Away If you really want to get better pictures,
take more pictures, more frequently. With a digital camera it
is no longer a waste to snap away. Feel free to take a lot of
photos of the same subject, just varying the angle, lighting,
or backdrop. Experimenting will allow you to find the tricks
that work best for you, and will ensure that you will have at
least a few great shots of each subject.
About The Author: Sara Wells is a successful writer for
www.cameralensetech.com. She provides information and
details on cameras and accessories on her website.
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