If you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, you’ll see we post a lot of links to articles about how to take better photos. The better the photo the less likely you are to hit delete, erasing it from your phone or camera and sometimes your memory. Better photos also make for better sharing via cards, calendars and books.
Below are a few tips pulled directly from articles we’ve linked to (and the links to them) I’ve found helpful in my quest to improve my photography.
Contrast
“Keep it simple! Just as too many cooks spoil the pot, too many visual elements are just as certain to ruin to the photo. Limit the number of elements and subjects in your compositions to what you can easily comprehend in a glance. It runs counter to logic, but the human eye lingers longer over the simpler shot while often “sliding off” more intricate shots. So stick to a maximum of three or four fields of color or texture at any one time.” (Pipedreamergrey, http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/photography/articles/12793.aspx)
Color
““Black and white is the best way to learn photography, and in my experience, it’s the photography we all go back to,” said Mr. Versace. “If I had my druthers, I’d never shoot another color photograph as long as I live.” That is because without color to “distract,” he said, a photographer has to learn composition and the skill of capturing a story.” (Roy Furchgott, http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/five-tips-to-get-great-black-and-white-photos/)
Lighting
“I love lighting and it impacts the scene. I also love how I can manipulate the lights to achieve the results I’m looking for.” (Brice Burton, http://weeklyphototips.blogspot.com/2011/10/check-out-these-images.html)
Pose vs. Candid
“Have fun! — Posed images are nice, but your friends and family want to see the real you. Take plenty of images, and even consider using some funny outtakes to show your family’s silly side.” (Kristy Korcz, http://www.geeksugar.com/Photography-Tips-Holiday-Cards-20245326)
Reflection
“Do rainy days and Sundays get you down? Don’t let them: embrace the photo opportunities afforded by the puddles. The rain is as much a part of the story of your holiday as the food you ate and the sights you saw. Use reflections wherever possible for a different take on otherwise well-known scenes.” (Nik Rawlinson, http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/cameras-and-camcorders/50-essential-photography-tips-50006080/)
Captions
Captions aren’t technically part of the photo taking process, but they are important in recording history. A short blurb containing some key information will be the trigger you need to remember the photo’s significance down the road. Nothing to quote here, simply something I’ve learned since becoming a mother. But as a mother, in 5 years are you going to remember this picture was her first taste of chocolate?
Create a photo blurb: First taste of chocolate
Hope you find something helpful in these tips and links. Happy snapping.
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