What are the Basic Tips for Taking Good Photographs?

Whether you’re a beginner or more experienced with photography, here are some basic tips that will help you improve your photography!

Use the Rule of Thirds

This rule helps you take eye-catching pictures by using one of the most effective rules of composition. If you want to take pictures that have a “wow” factor built in them, the Rule of Thirds is the composition secret you need to take advantage of! To use the rule of thirds, imagine four lines, two lying horizontally across the image and two vertical creating nine even squares. Placing the subject off-center at one of the intersecting points of the imaginary lines will often create a more aesthetically composed photograph.

Avoid Camera Shake

Camera shake or blur is something that can plague any photographer. Here are some ways to avoid it. First, you need to learn how to hold your camera from Beachcamera.com correctly. Use both hands, one around the body and one around the lens and hold the camera close to your body for support. For handheld shooting, make sure that you’re using a shutter speed that’s appropriate for your lens’ focal length. If your shutter speed is too slow, any unintentional movement of the camera will result in your entire photograph coming out blurry. The rule of thumb is not to shoot at a shutter speed that is slower than your focal length to minimize this problem. Also, use a tripod or monopod whenever possible.

Learn to Use the Exposure Triangle

To get your photos looking their best, you need to master the three basics: Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO. Using Auto Mode takes care of these controls, but your photos may not look the way you intended. It’s a better idea to learn how to use Aperture-priority or Shutter-priority modes, and ultimately shoot in Manual mode.

Use a Polarizing Filter

If you can only buy one filter for your lens, make it a polarizer. This filter helps reduce reflections from water as well as metal and glass. It improves the colors of the sky and foliage and will help give your photos the WOW factor you’re looking for. It will do all that while also protecting your lens.

Create a Sense of Depth

When photographing landscapes, it helps to create a sense of depth. In other words, make the viewer feel like they’re there. Use a wide-angle lens from Beachcamera.com for a panoramic view and a small aperture of f/16 or smaller to keep the foreground and background sharp. Placing an object or person in the foreground helps give a sense of scale and emphasizes the distance. Use a tripod if possible, as a small aperture usually requires a slower shutter speed.

Use Simple Backgrounds

The simple approach is usually the best in digital photography. You have to decide what needs to be in the shot, while not including anything that’s a distraction. If possible, choose a plain background. In other words, neutral colors and simple patterns. You want the eye to be drawn to the focal point of the image rather than something in the background. This is especially vital in a shot where the subject is placed off center.

Don’t Use Flash Indoors

Flash can look harsh and unnatural especially for indoor portraits. Therefore, there are various ways you can take an image indoors without resorting to flash. First, push the ISO up. Usually ISO 800 to 1600 will make a big difference for the shutter speed you can choose. Use the widest aperture possible to allow more light to reach the sensor. You’ll have a nice blurred background. Using a tripod or an Image Stabilization lens is also a great way to avoid blur. If you absolutely must use flash, then use a flash with a head you can rotate, and point the light to the ceiling at an angle.

Choose the Right ISO

The ISO setting determines how sensitive your camera is to light and also how fine the grain of your image. The ISO you choose depends on the situation. When it’s dark you need to push the ISO up to a higher number. Anything from 400-3200 will make the camera more sensitive to light, and will avoid blurring. On sunny days, choose ISO 100 or the Auto setting because you have more light to work with.

Pan to Create Motion

If you want to capture a subject in motion, then use the panning technique. To do this, choose a shutter speed around two steps lower than necessary. For 1/250, you’d choose 1/60. Keep your camera on the subject with your finger half way down on the shutter to lock the focus. When ready, take the photo, remembering to follow them as they move. Use a tripod or monopod if possible to avoid camera shake and get clear movement lines. Don’t be afraid to play with the shutter speed to create some interesting effects. When taking a night time shot, use a tripod and try shooting with the shutter speed set at 4 seconds. You’ll see that the movement of the object is captured along with some light trails. If you choose a faster shutter speed of around 1/250th of a second, the trails will not be as long or bright. Instead, you will freeze the action. Whenever using slow shutter speeds to blur movement, it’s critical that the camera is stabilized to eliminate camera shake.

Photography is one of the hardest things you can learn. These basic tips for photography will help you produce photos that will make you proud!