“Just say no”

Posted by Gordon King on Feb 14, 2011 | Comments Off

I had the privilege to be part of a photo class at the local senior center last  Saturday. I was asked to give some suggestions for improving photos, with an eye towards those using digital point-and-shoot cameras.

Here is my list of suggestions for improving photographs, regardless of the type of camera you use.

1. Shoot from the heart, not the head.

Photography, especially personal photography should be fun. Photograph what interests you. Have a good time doing it. Don’t overthink things.

2. See the light

Start seeing light and then learn how to use it in your photographs. Notice which direction the light is coming from and how it falls on a subject. Use light to emphasize a particular part of a photo or create a mood.

3. The early bird gets the worm.

The best light is early in the morning and late in the afternoon and evening. Mid-day light is the worst.

4. Just say no.

Turn off the flash in your camera. Light from an in-camera flash is often harsh and unnatural. And that’s assuming you got the exposure correct.

5. Be available.

Once you’ve turned off the flash, use available light. Learn how to brace yourself and your camera to avoid, as much as possible. camera shake.

This photo is one example I used to illustrate suggestions 2-5. I turned off the flash and used the available light coming through a window to the left of the frame. Sure, I got some motion blur from the two skiers moving around but in the process I got a nice photo which captures the texture of the walls and floor as well as the subdued lighting in the room.

6. Take the high road (and the low one, too).

Shoot from high angles and low angles to make your photos more interesting. Don’t shoot from eye level.

7. How big is big?

Add people or some other element of known size to add scale to a photograph.

8. Weather the storm.

Don’t put your camera away when the weather gets bad. Sometimes the worst weather makes the best photos. Waterproof your point-and-shoot with a Ziploc bag; put the camera in the bag and cut a hole for the lens in one side of the bag.

9. Don’t be a guy.

Guys never read instruction manuals. It’s not manly. But don’t be a guy – read the instruction manual for your camera and learn how to use all the controls of the camera. Point-and-shoots nowadays can do some amazing tasks but only if you know how to work all the various controls and modes of your camera.

10. They’re only electrons.

Assuming you’re using a digital camera, take lots of photos. The more photos you take the better your chances of getting a really good one. And by taking more you will get better at it. With digital cameras, generally speaking, it doesn’t cost any more to shoot 1,000 photos than it does to shoot one. So shoot 1,000.

–Gordon King