Mistake # 1: Poor lighting

Digital photography is about having a great lighting to capture that magic moment. Sometimes, however, we don’t get the light we want and proceed to take pictures. This often results in poor images. We can fix this mistake. In a bright light condition, try your camera’s Sunshine or Beach mode. You can also set a faster shutter speed in order to control the amount of light. In a dim light condition, use the night shooting mode. You can also lower your camera’s ISO to 50 or 100 for richer detail.

For indoor shooting, allow natural light to come in and avoid using the flash. In addition to muting color, your flash can cast unflattering stark and deep shadows. When shooting outdoors, follow the basic “against the light” rule. The sun should be behind you when you take pictures. It’s also ideal to shoot at dawn or dusk as it provides lovely light.

Mistake # 2: Poor composition

A minor shift in emphasis can ruin a photo. There are many ways to improve your composition. One of the time-honored techniques that you can follow is the “Rule of Thirds”. Another way to achieve a great composition is to shoot photos at different distances and angles, giving you an idea which perspective will give better results.

Another basic rule in photography is to eliminate those distracting background clutters. You can do this by getting closer to the subject or using the Portrait pre-set mode of your camera.

Mistake # 3: Red-eye

Glowing red eyes can spoil the otherwise cute photo of your child or pet. Red-eye happens when our eyes’ retinas reflect light. You can avoid this mistake by not using your camera’s flash. Instead, open the curtains or turn the lights on for additional light. You can also take advantage of your camera’s red-eye reduction setting.

Mistake # 4: Blurry photos

Another common mistake is a blurry photo. While a blur can add drama to the phoro, it can also make the subject incomprehensible. In order to add clarity to your photos, you must reduce the shutter lag (the delay between pressing the shutter and when the camera actually records the photo), minimize camera shake, and use the Action shooting mode.

Landscapes and portraits provide you a great opportunity to learn about elements of photography, but still life can also improve your compositional skills and sense of lighting. With still life photography, you make a picture rather than take it. It gives you more control in arranging elements within a composition. Unlike landscapes, still life gives you more control over the lighting. Unlike portrait subjects, still life subjects will never get bored.

Lighting

Since you’ll be working indoors most of the time, you’re going to need some good light. So it would be best to shoot near a window, one that lets plenty of sunlight in. Be careful when using a camera with a built-in flash. Since the flash is close to the lens, there’s a big chance that the lighting will appear flat, with very little shadows. Use thin tissue paper to scatter the light to smoothen bright spots. When using window light, exposure times should be set in slower mode.

Start small

Beginners have the tendency to just grab still life subjects, put them together, and then snap away. It’s more beneficial if you put careful thought into your work. Try to start with one object and observe the effects of lighting on the modelling of your subject.

Then add another object and try to experiment with arrangements to achieve a great composition. Think about all sorts of contrasts - smooth and textured, light and dark, hard and soft - that produce different effects.

Background

Many beginners commit one of the grave sins in still life photography: not thinking about the background. Basically, a background is your major item of contrast. A good background highlights the subject, whereas a wrong background hides it. You can use a black velvet background to absorb unwanted reflections and light.

You can also use a white background, but you have to ensure that it has no creases because any shadows will be visible in the final print. At times, however, such effect is necessary. For instance, a draped cloth can add nice effects on the subject.

Inspiration

Like other art forms, photography needs some inspiration. So where can you get inspirations for your subjects? There’s an inexhaustible ideas for still life. Think about illustrating movie, song, or book titles as well as proverbs, anecdotes, or sayings.

You can also get ideas from posters, postcards, or a funny experience. If you want to learn something about portraiture but don’t have available model, buy a doll or an artist’s mannequin. Then practice poses and lighting whenever you want to.

Taking impressive photographs of animals can be a real challenge, especially if you’re shooting in the wild. For one, you can teach a cat to climb a tree but you can’t tell a tiger, “Hey you, please go stand beside that rock, show your claws and say cheese.” This article offers some helpful tips to help you capture great photos of your furry, feathered, or scaly friends.

Snap quickly and often

Snap plenty of photos to go with the unpredictable movements of the animals. When you have the opportunity, get an exposure and focus lock on the animals and snap very quickly and often. Their movements are random - they may move without warning, shake their heads, groom themselves, run away, fight with other animals, etc. You increase your chances of getting great pictures by taking extra photographs.

Use a fast shutter speed

You can capture movements at incredible speeds - animals attacking each other or flying away - with a fast shutter speed. For example, when you’re taking shots of flying birds, the shutter speed should be as fast as possible with the available light. A shutter speed of only 1/30 of a second is likely to ruin what could have been an incredible image, reducing the photo into a garbage-worthy blur.

Disable flash and camera sounds

Don’t use flash whenever possible to prevent animals from getting startled. In addition for the potential for red-eye, the flash could agitate an animal. Camera sounds may also scare animals. Agitated animals may run away or even worse, attack you. You don’t want that to happen, do you? When shooting animals in the wild, do everything to be quiet, still, and non-threatening.

Use your zoom

Use your camera’s optical zoom in capturing details. This is a show of respect to the wildlife. If you want to take a close-up photo, rather than encroaching on the animal’s space and scaring it away, use your zoom in taking a shot from a safe distance.

Shoot at varying angles

Shooting at different angles can create amazing effects. Taking a picture of an animal at varying angles can modify the overall look of the shot. If you shoot downwards, the subject can appear diminutive. When you point your lens upward, the subject appears to have ends to have an imposing stature. Even insects could appear larger than their actual size. Taking a photo at an animal’s eye-level shows the animal’s perception of its environment.

Get the focus right

Getting the focus right can be a big challenge considering today’s auto focus cameras. Since there are often vegetation, grass, and branches veiling the animals, your camera can focus on these things instead of the subject.. So be very careful that your camera doesn’t focus on that branch of tree in front of the elephant.

We all love the human drama in sports images. Here are some photography tips to help you capture images of slam dunks, home runs, soccer goals, tumbling passes, perfect 10’s, outrageous sports fans, and more.

Know your camera

Understanding your camera’s features can definitely help you take outstanding sports images. Before going to a game, it is very important to read the camera’s manual and become familiar with its settings. While the rules and the position and movement of the players are predictable, there is somewhat degree of unpredictability that can catch you off guard.

At the snap of a finger you may need to adjust the shutter speed, aperture, brightness, or contrast in anticipating an awesome photo moment. Scrabbling through unfamiliar menus and settings in the heat of the game is a waste of valuable time and can be very frustrating as perfect photo opportunities come and go.

Find the perfect spot

You can only capture images of things that you see. The nearer you are to something or someone, the nearer you can see them. Taking sports photos is no different. You need to get as close as possible to your subject. Photographers with a press pass usually get to the sidelines and other good spots to take pictures, but you won’t be allowed on the playing field all the time.

Once you made it to the sidelines, expect to jolt with many other photographers for space - those photographers who have worked sweat and blood just to secure that million-dollar space. No matter what, get as near as you can.

Be familiar with the sports

Taking great sports photos requires an understanding of the sporting event. It is very crucial to know the game’s rules, the positions of the players, where they are likely to move after a particular action, and when the action is going to speed up or slow down. You also have to know who the star player of the team is or the history of the rivalry between the opposing teams.

Understanding the sports allows you to know where to position and what to focus at a particular time. It also helps you to snap the shutter at the right time. Becoming familiar with the sports enables you to capture a memorable event.

Don’t forget the fanatics

Sports is not only about the athletes, it is also about the fans who boost the players, trash talk the other team, sulk when the team or player they are supporting suffered an embarrassing loss. Sometimes, trash talking among fans result in brawls. Fans can tell the story of an event just as well.

Whether a wide-angle shot of the crowd doing “the wave’” or an extreme close-up of a fan’s facial expressions during or after a brilliant play, such images can help narrate a story. You can also take pictures of fans interacting with players: basketball players giving high-five’s to supporters, a fan handing out water to a triathlete, or a girl giving flowers to a gymnast.

Snap, snap, snap

There will be a better chance that several fantastic pictures will come out if you take more photos. Make the most of your camera’s digital technology. Games have a “blink of an eye” nature so you may find it extremely hard or almost impossible to capture each single moment perfectly.

Some people will say that the subjects are the main thing in outdoor photography. Others will argue for talent, style, and creative vision. On top of that, hundreds of thousands of photography forum gurus will insist that you don’t have a chance if you don’t have the latest Nikon or Canon DSLR. While they might be right, there are much more than these evident elements of photography.

You need mental fitness

Anyone can take great photos of the sunset from the side of the road, but it is much more exciting to take shots 15 miles or more away from the road. Only things get even more complicated. Exhaustion eats you up, hiking gears fail, and seemingly good-natured animals may turn into savage beasts that seem to disapprove the idea of you making one last step to take a splendid image of the sunset.

You need to be mentally tough in outdoor photography. You need to have the ability to concentrate even when your body is very tired. You also have to stay open minded and flexible when you come face-to-face with an extreme weather or have technical difficulties. You must deal with the social and cultural aspects of an expedition. Know the people and share your intentions.

It is also important that you enjoy challenging outdoor conditions instead of resisting them. It is alright to suffer from time to time. Another important tip is: Don’t overdo it. There are always next trips and it is not a bright idea to burn all your motivation this time.

You must be physically tough

Climbing a mountain or penetrating a forest is physically challenging for outdoor photographers. Physical exhaustion can destroy your concentration and if it does, your trip is gone to waste. Therefore, you have to maintain a regular workout and invest into light gear. Planning your route well also saves you time and energy.

You also have got to have the ability to sprint up and down a hill, get low, climb trees, or become silent as an eel. There are no miracle recipes here. You only have to practice, practice, and more practice.

Be at the right place, at the right time

Improvisation isn’t always the right approach to outdoor photography, especially when in a challenging environment. Think ahead and be prepared for your expedition. Consider the gears you have to bring, the size of the group, the route and terrain, camp location, weather, the local people as well as the animals. A careful planning allows you to maximize opportunities.

This is not much of a problem if you are a well-known photographer who have an impressive portfolio, a state-of-the-art studio, and professional business card. But what if you are just starting and relatively have less photography experience? Do not be surprised if potential models run away from you if you approach them on the street. Here’s how you can find a suitable model for your nude photography:

Project a professional image

You have to appear professional when approaching and talking to potential models. Show them your portfolio. The portfolio does not need to be a collection of nude photos; show your portfolio to gain the trust of the models. It is better to let the photos do the talking, and take it from there depending on the responses of the prospective models.

You also have to show them a business card. It should not be just a business card, but a professional-looking business card. A makeshift business card or one that is ripped off part of an old photo paper invites suspicion.

Do not go for glamor or amateur models

One option is to get professional or glamor models. Sure, they are definitely good for your portfolio, but there are some major drawbacks. First, professional models can be very expensive. Remember, you are a struggling photographer and you do not have the resources. Second, they may not be in line with nude photography, as they are keeping some image. Third, many professional models are known for their bad temper and attitude.

Another alternative is to get the services of amateur models. You can even hire nude still life models. But the problem is that while they have no inhibitions whatsoever getting in their birthday suits (or can sit or stand still, holding a specific pose for minutes), they may not be able to animate themselves - an important quality that a nude photography model should possess.

Go for someone with self-interest

The third alternative is to find models who would be prepared to pose nude in exchange for a portfolio. These models are likely to put extra effort, resulting in an efficient photo session that translates into great nude photos. These models have the enthusiasm to explore various techniques and perspectives, producing better results compared to perfect but wooden models.

Build a good relationship

You have to forge a good working relationship with your models. And build this on confidence. It is very important when you evaluate and criticize the work. Remember that the very first photo session will set the tone for your future work.

Choosing black and white

Many believe that removing color from a photo can make it lifeless. On the contrary, black and white photos are full of drama. In fact, removing color can add something to the photo. It reveals details that you would not have noticed in color. Sometimes, color obscures the form and texture of your subjects. What is good about black and white photography is that you can can highlight the structure of an object or a scene using even the simplest digital camera.

Lighting

What kind of lighting conditions should you look out for? In landscape photography, look for “active skies” - the worst conditions are often featureless gray overcast skies or clear blue cloudless skies as they become dull in black and white prints. But sometimes even apparently featureless gray skies can have intricate texture, which you can bring out in black and white prints. When you think of black and white digital images, the absence of light is as important as the highlights.

Look for lighting conditions that will give you good deep shadows, which can give a solidity and depth to an image or a scene. Shadows are one of the most important features of your composition. Go out at night and you will see deep shadows and light sources. In addition, if you have the sun behind you when you take a photo, you will find it difficult to bring out the higher contrast people often look for in black and white digital photography.

Composition

You have all the basic rules in photography to look at and use as necessary. If you want to emphasize the object or the scene’s geometric structure, look for lines lines that guide the eyes into the picture, or curves suggesting a “flow” or movement. And you must not forget the basic rule of thirds. You can get an idea for your composition by checking out other’s work and go for the images that are instantly appealing. If you have to think hard about a photo to like it, then it is probably not a good photo. Composition in black and white digital photography is not primarily an intellectual exercise.

Conversion to black and white

You can create black and white digital pictures by setting your digital camera to black and white mode and shoot a photo. Another way, which is better, is taking color photos and then converting them to black and white with the help of photo editing software. The second way is suggested because with a color photograph, you can undo your black and white conversion if needed. Or if you want, you can leave the photo as is. In addition, you get better results as your digital camera’s black and white picture only has 256 shades of gray. On the other hand, a colored photo has more than 16 million colors, which will result in a great photo once converted into black and white. Lastly, it gives you more control.

Photo editing software

Most digital cameras have their own photo editing software CD. Here are some of the most popular software titles: Photoshop CS3 (Win, Mac), Photoshop Lightroom (Win, Mac), Photoshop Elements (Windows), GIMP (Win, Mac, Unix), and Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 (Windows). Nearly all editing software come with contrast/brightness adjustment and grayscale conversion. But using only these two features will not give you the best photos. You should choose editing software that have the following features: levels adjustment, grayscale conversion, channel mixer, desaturation, curves adjustment, and hue adjustment.

Batteries

Some digital cameras will only require special batteries manufactured by the same company that manufactured the camera, whereas other cameras will take AA’s. So what should you consider when buying batteries for your camera? First, you have to remember that buying cheap disposable batteries is not a good idea. Your digital camera will quickly suck them dry, probably much faster than a hungry vampire sucking blood. Rechargeable batteries are definitely recommended. Although they have a higher initial cost compared to AA’s, they are cheaper in the long term. Many people use rechargeable nickel metal hydrate (NiMH) batteries, finding them as the best solution. You will also have to purchase a battery charger when you buy rechargeable batteries.

Camera bag

You have to protect your digital camera. Looking for the perfect bag for your device should top your list of must-haves. Look for a water-resistant camera case and one with splash-guard zippers. Look also for one that is padded on the inside to avoid the scratching of camera lens. Consider camera bags with an adjustable strap and easily accessible mesh pockets perfect for water bottles and other things. If you are into wild settings, you may want to buy a camera bag built to safeguard your cherished cargo from nasty weather and other elements. In addition to being water-resistant, other bags also sport a rain cover. Other bags strap at both the waist and sternum for a more even distribution of weight when you are hiking the trails.

Memory cards

In almost all cases, digital cameras are sold together with a very small amount of built-in memory space. If you are lucky, you can have an external memory card good to hold 5-20 high resolution photos along with the digital camera. Buying a good memory card is important if you do not want to run out of space for those great shots. In digital photography, you can choose from a wide variety of memory cards.

Most memory cards are based on “flash memory”, a kind of electronically-erasable and programmable read-only memory. It is a solid-state memory device. One of the major virtues of read-only memory that flash memory memory possesses is durability, non-volatility, and tolerance for high temperature and shock. One downside, however, is that it has a limited write-erase cycles. This problem can be addressed by wear management techniques.

1. Know your digicam

All too often when people buy a digicam, they excitedly rip off the box and then proceed to tinker with the gadget. They briefly browse through the manual and then never read it again. This is not a good idea at all. You have to understand how your digicam works. You need to know how to control the flash, how to play with different camera modes, and how to control exposure. The knowledge you obtain about your digicam will be priceless when you’re out there shooting special photos.

2. Learn to use the flash

Controlling the flash is an important thing you must know about digital photography. Photographers do not rely on the digicam’s automatic flash setting. You have to switch on or switch off the flash, depending on the situation. For instance, it is sometimes advisable to switch on the flash when taking outdoor photos. This is to illuminate your subject, particularly if the object or person is in the shade. Also, you can choose to switch off the flash when you are taking indoor shots since using the flash indoors sometimes results in unnatural skin color.

3. Play with the macro mode

Remember the time when, as a kid, you discovered an entire community of ants that you never knew existed while playing on the grass? Nowadays, you might not want to see yourself on all fours just to have a detailed view of flowers or insects. All you need is a digicam that has a close up mode and you are ready to explore the world in finer details. A macro mode is perfect for taking detailed shots of objects.

What you need to do is to choose a subject (a flower or an insect), switch on macro mode, and then get as close to your subject as your digicam will allow. Focus your camera properly before you depress the shutter button completely. Since you have shallow depth of field when you use the macro mode, you have to focus on the detail that interests you the most, and let the other parts of the subject go soft.

4. Play with the ISO setting

Basically, the ISO setting controls the image sensor’s sensitivity to the amount of light present. Always use a low ISO setting if you are shooting a photo of a still object such as fruits. This means a longer shutter speed and a cleaner image. If you are taking a photo of an object in motion, like a young boy singing, then use a higher ISO setting. But remember, the higher the ISO setting, the faster shutter speed; and also requires less light. Thus this will yield noiser photos.

Subject

You do not need an actor to photograph in black and white. Everyone can be a good subject. Whether you are taking a portrait of a housewife, an athlete, or an outlaw, you can capture what is behind their gaze or facial expression in monochrome. But there are some demographics that lend themselves more to the allures of black and white portraits than any other - the old, wrinkly people. The lines and folds in the face make a really captivating black and white photo. Portraits of old people reveal their character and personality. They tell a story.

Another great subjects are young children. Whether you are taking a photo of a child licking ice cream or a hungry street child, black and white photography can reflect their innocence alongside joy/suffering on print. Regardless of your subjects’ age, getting in close when photographing them can be worth your while. Many photographers make an extreme close-up, usually losing the ears and the top of the head out of the frame. They focus only on the facial features of the subjects.

Setting up

The exposure should be set right in order to get the crispest whites and the darkest blacks. Try to bracket your shots. Use the exposure compensation function of your camera to take a picture at the automatic setting, then one at -0.5EV and one at +0.5EV to make sure you get come up with the best results. You can also experiment with this as this can produce excellent silhouettes.

Lighting

Think very carefully about lighting. If you are taking a picture of an old person, strong daylight can help if you want to highlight the lines and folds of the face and add character. On the other hand, if your objective is to make your subject look younger in photograph, a bright burst of flash can help. In addition, you can also bounce light off a piece of white card for a lovely effect. With proper lighting, black and white portraits can capture the atmosphere and show to the viewer the emotion you are trying to convey.

Painting with light

You can take photos in black and white. But many photographers also shoot in full color, converting the photos later on using RAW file editor. Either way, you have to approach your subjects in an entirely different manner. Piercing green eyes or bright red make-up simply will not have similar impact in a black and white picture. What you should do is focus on texture, shape, and shade.