Take a Perfect Shot Every Time
With the age of digital cameras well upon us, it is easier than ever to get that perfect shot. You should still know something about shutter speed, aperture, and depth of field. But even if you don’t know much, these tips will help you take great pictures time and time again.
The best day is a cloudy day
Despite what you might have been told, the best picture taking days are cloudy days. On a cloudy day, there are no harsh shadows. And although everything might seem gray, the colors actually appear more saturated and bold. When there is direct, overhead sun, this tends to water colors down and create too much contrast, therefore losing details in either the shadows or the light. Additionally, if you are shooting with automatic focus, your camera will meter either the dark patches or the light patches and adjust the shutter speed and focal length to compensate, effectively leaving you with a picture that is potentially overexposed or underexposed.
Natural light will work magic
You’ve probably heard that natural light is very flattering. And it’s true. Natural light in the morning or afternoon is often very soft and warm, complimenting almost everything it touches. This type of light is often best for portraits, as it compliments skin tones.
Learn the rules of composition
When composing a photo, you want something in the photograph to create tension or interest to the eye. One way of doing this is a unique angle. Another way is using the rule of thirds—imagine that your picture is divided into three sections horizontally and vertically (like a tic-tac-toe game). Placing your subject at the intersection of these lines will break up the symmetry and create a more compelling photograph. If taking a picture of a landscape, place the more interesting part of the landscape in the lower 1/3 or the top 1/3 or the composition. And remember that these are just guidelines – a good photographer will also know when to “break” the rules in order to create emotion and engage the viewer.
Get to know Photoshop
These days, so much can be altered in the digital medium. Contrast can be created as well as many enhancements to colors and textures. There are also many Photoshop actions that can modify the look and feel of your photograph from making color photos into black and white to creating effects like faded or burned edges.