| |
 |
Top Ten Tips for Great Pictures
 |
TIP ONE - Get down to their level |
- Hold your camera at the subject's eye level to capture the power of those magnetic gazes and mesmerizing smiles
- For kids and pets that means getting down on their level to take the picture
- They don't have to look directly into the camera, the eye level angle by itself will create a personal and inviting feeling
|
Before
 |
After
 |
 |
TIP TWO - Use a plain background |
- Before taking a picture, check the area behind your subject
- Lookout for trees or poles sprouting from your subjects head
- A cluttered background will be distracting while a plain background wil emphasize your subject
|
Before
 |
After
 |
 |
TIP THREE - Use flash outdoors |
- Even outdoors, use the flash setting on the camera to improve pictures
- Use it in bright sunlight to lighten dark shadows under the eyes and nose, especially when the sun is directly overhead or behind your subject
- Use it on cloudy days, to brighten up faces and make them stand out from the background
|
Before
 |
After
 |
 |
TIP FOUR - Move in close |
- To create impactful pictures, move in close and fill your picture with the subject
- Move a few steps closer of use the zoom until the subject fills the viewfinder. You will eliminate background distractions and show off the details in your subject
- For small objects. use the camera's macro or 'flower' mode to get sharp close-ups
|
Before
 |
After
 |
 |
TIP FIVE - Take some vertical pictures |
- Make subjects look better in a vertical picture - from the Eiffel Tower to portraits of your friends
- Make a conscious effort to turn your camera sideways and take some vertical pictures
|
Before
 |
After
 |
 |
TIP SIX - Lock the focus |
- Lock the focus to create a sharp picture of the off-center subjects
1. Center the subject
2. Press the shutter button half way down
3. Re-frame your picture (while still holding the shutter button)
4. Finish by pressing the shutter button all the way
|
Before
 |
After
 |
 |
TIP SEVEN - Move it from the middle |
- Bring your picture to life simply by placing your subject off-center
- Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid in your viewfinder. Now place your subject at one of the intersections of lines
- Since most cameras focus on whatever's in the middle, remember to lock the focus on your subject before re-framing the shot
|
Before
 |
After
 |
 |
TIP EIGHT - Know your flash's range |
- Pictures taken beyond the maximum flash range will be too dark
- For many cameras that's only ten feet - about four steps away. Check your manual to be sure
- If the subject is further than ten feet from the camera, the picture may be too dark
|
Before
 |
After
 |
 |
TIP NINE - Watch the light |
- Great light makes great pictures. Study the effects of light in your pictures
- For people pictures, choose the soft lighting of cloudy days. Avoid overhead sunlight that casts harsh shadows across faces
- For scenic pictures, use the long shadows and color of early and late day
|
Before
 |
After
 |
 |
TIP TEN - Be a picture director |
- Take an extra minute and become a picture director, not just a passive picture taker
- Add some props, rearrange your subjects, or try a different viewpoint
- Bring your subjects together and let their personalities shine. Then watch your pictures dramatically improve
|
Before
 |
After
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |