Archive

Your digital camera has a “macro mode” – think of it as a super magnifying glass. An extreme close up of something like flower petals can bring out textures that you never knew existed, and will add excitement to your photos. Play with this feature, you will find dozens of ways to use it to enhance your pictures.

One of the most basic digital photography tips is to pay attention to what’s in the frame of the viewfinder. Fill the frame. Nothing but blue sky, for instance, behind a single subject throws off the proportions of the photo and decreases interest. You can also turn the camera sideways to see if a vertical photo might have more impact than a horizontal shot of the same subject.

You can also try positioning your subject off to the side, rather than in the center of the photograph.

by Brian

When you are composing your shot (where you want your subject to stand, what angle you choose….), frame the scene so that your main object is to one side. This will draw the eye towards one edge, especially if your subject is pointing or if by its very nature, say a tree, is growing or created in a manner that angles, points, or reaches.

Imagine you take a picture of a large pine tree.  In itself, nice but maybe a bit dull.  Now, picture the tree on one side of the photo frame with a large branch or two reaching out across the center and far side of the image.  The shape and lines will draw the viewer’s eye across the photo from edge to tree and back.

By Brian

When you are composing your shot (where you want your subject to stand, what angle you choose….), keep an eye on the background.  A cluttered or over “busy” background can really detract from your photo.

For example, if you are taking a picture of a friend or family member, do not have them stand in front of blinds or a large crowd or some other “activity-filled” scene.  If you are taking a picture of your children, try to minimize the toys and clutter in the background.

Have your viewer focus on the subject, not the distractions.

Of course, there are times when you need or want a busy shot; chaos and action has a place in photography. However, when you want a straight-forward, complementing shot of someone, try to reduce the business and clutter in the background.

By Brian

After much work, our eBook on – you guessed it – digital photography is in the final stages!  Learn the top secrets, tips, tricks, and techniques to taking pictures like a pro. There has been a brief delay but the book will be available soon!

We have been sharing some of the more generalized lessons here.

I am having some people in the ebook business world look things over so as to make sure the ebook is of the highest quality. As mentioned, there has been a lot of hard work, re-work, and prayer that has gone into this. I will keep you all posted on this exciting venture!

No, not the direction you are pointing your camera — what do you hope to accomplish with a picture?

With unlimited shots available (no expensive and limited film) and a good photo-editing program, the sky is the limit with what you can accomplish.

What are you trying to accomplish with a shot? What would you like to see in the image? How can you manipulate or perfect the image with photo-shop or similar software?

Photo-shop aside, you should still work to take the best photograph possible. There are, after all, some issues that digital photo editing cannot fix. Therefore, consider what you would like you image to look like or convey before you randomly aim and shoot. A little thinking and planning can go a long way to more enjoyable pictures

Today we celebrated my son’s belated birthday. As the birthday cake arrived, I was poised with the camera. I did not want to miss that moment when he blew out the candles. Unfortunately, digital cameras are notoriously slow. There is a split second between depressing the shutter button and the actual snapping of the photo image.

It takes a few moments for your camera to assess exposure and focus; this can cause that annoying delay. If your shooting an image of something happening quickly, that split second might be the difference between the little boy physically blowing out the candles and a grinning boy with a wreath of smoke and blackened candle-stubs.

One trick I know is to depress the shutter button half-way which locks exposure and focus. When you are ready to take the picture, depress the shutter button fully. Doing so will give you a much quicker response to capture the picture you really want.

By the way, the picture of my son blowing out his candles came out great!

by Brian

Many people make a good living from photographing major sporting events. However, say you want to photograph a little league game, high school football, or junior soccer – there are a few tips to know about sports photography.

by Brian

Your own neighborhood, home, or backyard may prove to be a thrilling and unlimited Photographic journey.

First of all, you need to look at the familiar sights in a different light.  Look for unique lighting at different periods of the day or examine intersting shadows and colors.  Zooming in close to normally mundane objects can reveal impressive abstracts or textures.

Just because the landscape is familiar doesn’t mean there is nothing new to see.

If you are going to practice with a new camera or if you are trying out new techniques, where should you go to train yourself?

Why not focus on an area of interests: if you like hiking, take your camera on your favorite trails or if you enjoy plants, shoot images of flowers and trees.

If you combine interests like photography and birdwatching or visiting museums, you will naturally feel drawn to take pictures. In fact, you will probably attempt assorted angles and variations that might not have been inspired otherwise.

Once you begin to photograph your interests, hobbies, or favorite locations, don’t stop. Your images will progressively get better and more creative with each passing attempt.