Tips for Better Photographs

It's likely that at some gathering you've had the job of taking the pictures.  Regardless of your level of skill or the expense of your camera, with a little bit of forethought and some practice, you can take some great pictures! Try the following tips the next time you have a camera in your hands:

1. The Rule of Thirds--A general rule of thumb is to place the focus of your picture at one of the crossings on the following grid.  This will make your picture more interesting to look at.  This doesn't always work though (especially when taking formal style portraits), but for landscapes and more casual pictures, it makes a huge impact.

2. Location, Location, Location--It's not just for real-estate!  Be aware of what's going on in the background of your pictures.  If you're against a busy background, that plaid shirt your brother is wearing will make you go cross-eyed.  And be aware of people in the background, too.  A bathing beauty behind your grandmother may make the eye travel somewhere you didn't intend it to.

3. You're Glowing!--This is probably the hardest thing to do when taking pictures, but you have to be really aware of the light that you're shooting in. If the sun's behind your subject, you'll get a dark outline.  In front, and you'll likely get an overexposed, bleached effect.  And don't forget the weird shadows that can happen too!  Try to avoid direct sunlight if you can, or shoot pictures when the light isn't as harsh such as early morning or right before dusk.

4. Don't Miss a Moment--Take way more pictures than you think you'll ever need!  You never know when someone's eyes will be closed or when a bee will land on that flower.  Have an extra roll of film handy or buy an extra large memory card.  That way you never have to look back and think about the pictures you might have taken.

The best tip however, is to practice as much as possible!

Good luck on your future photography experiments and thank  you for stopping by.