My twenty cents keeps moving! - WFMW Better Pictures

Jun. 13, 2007

WFMW Better Pictures

Posted in WFMW

Here are some things I have learned about taking better pictures. I am by no means an expert, and I still end up with tons of blurry shots, or pictures that are under- or over-exposed. But I have picked up a few things along the way. So while you are on vacation or taking pictures of the big game, keep these tips in mind.

1. Get closer. Fill the frame of your camera's viewfinder or LCD screen with your subject. With digital, you can always crop later, but it's better to go ahead and crop while you snap.

2. Don't be afraid to turn your camera vertical-- depending on the shot. If your subject is taller than it is wide, turn your camera that way. I couldn't find a good example, so I tried to crop this one to illustrate the difference. A landscape shot would be better.

3. Understand that your flash only reaches so far. Maybe 15 ft, 20 if you are lucky. So if you are at a concert, recital, play, ballgame, whatever and your child is onstage or on the field, you might as well turn off the flash unless you are right in front of them. It's only going to lighten the heads of the people in front of you and your kid will be the dark blob in the middle of the frame. Use high speed film (800 or more) or set your digital camera to allow as much light as possible.

4. Watch out for poles and trees behind your subject. You don't want a tree growing out of your child's head, so check your angle and notice the background.

5. Remember the rule of thirds-- make your horizon in the upper or lower third of your shot rather than dead center. It is more interesting to the eye.

6. For more interesting shots, draw your viewer into the shot by using diagonal lines.

7. Experiment with shutter speeds. You can read about them online and they can make the difference between this:

=and this:

8. Get down on your kids' level to take pictures. Otherwise you get the tops of their heads or a weird angle that can make them look like a reflection in a funhouse mirror. Here's a comparison:

8. Watch where the sun is. If it is in front of your subject, you get squinty eyes. Behind them can darken this faces (use fill flash if you can't move them).

9. Use mirrors creatively:

10. Take lots of pictures. You blink once and this:

becomes this. I'm afraid to blink again:

Get more great tips atRocks in my Dryer

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Comments

Jun. 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Oh, I love these photography tips! I'll have to remember them the next time I pick up my camera. :)

Thanks for sharing!

OW
http://overwhelmedwithjoy.blogspot.com