This article is devoted to casual photographers who want to see an immediate improvement in their photos without devoting too much time and effort to improving their skills. A few simple steps can make you a better photographer. I hope these tips help as you set off down the road or across the planet on your photography journey.
Get Closer
One thing I have noticed when looking at photographs taken by friends and family is that, often times, the subject of their photos are too far away. You will notice that your photo, whether it be a portrait or of an object, will be better if you are a little closer. This is especially true of portrait shots. So, when in doubt take a few steps closer or zoom in.
Natural Light is Better
Often times people forget, or don't bother to, turn their flash off. Many times you don't really need a flash. When taking photos of parties, indoor functions, or nighttime events, the natural, ambient light is washed away by the harsh light of a flash. The image that you pictured in your mind's eye is not the picture you end up taking when you use a flash. The subjects are unnaturally lit up while the background is darkened. So, when possible, turn that flash off. If you notice that your picture looks fuzzy or blurred, try increasing the sensitivity, or ISO (this represents how sensitive your camera's image sensor is to the amount of light present). More on this below.
See the Light
I've seen a lot of photographs of people where they are darkened/shadowed, and more often than not it's because the light or the sun is behind them. Have the subject look towards the light or sun, reposition yourself, and take the photo again. You will notice that the subject will no longer be shadowed. If you are unable to reposition, use a flash if you are outside (during the day). The flash will lighten the subject and balance the light.
Learn to Use Your Camera
No one particularly enjoys reading through camera manuals. However, learning the basic functions of your camera is important. Learning to manipulate your camera's settings will give you more freedom and improve your photographs. If nothing else, at least learn how to turn your flash on and off, and adjust the sensitivity (ISO). Regarding ISO, just remember that the darker the setting, the higher the ISO setting should be. For example, an ISO of 80 or 100 is ideal for outdoors during a sunny day, while an ISO of 800 to 1600 is better for indoors, or dark or night-time settings. You can manipulate the ISO on almost all digital cameras with just a couple of clicks. You don't need to go deep into your camera menus or settings to adjust this.
The Power of the Compact
Unless you are a professional photographer, you don't need a large camera with a detachable lense (SLRs). Compact cameras have come a long way over recent years and generally have a lot of functions, and take very good quality photos. Some even have 12-14x optical zooms, similar to traditional SLRs. Yes, most SLRs on average take better photos than compacts when comparing shot for shot, but most casual photographers will find the process of carrying a heavy camera that often needs its own bag, and the time it takes to get the camera out and prep for the shot, somewhat of an inconvenience. If you are thinking about traveling and want to take one versatile camera, buy a compact or subcompact. It will be easier to carry, so you will have it with you more often, and will therefore take more photographs.
A Note about Photography Software
The majority of the time you will probably not need to make any adjustments to the photos you take if you only intend to throw them in an album to show to your friends and family. There will occasionally be a picture where you will need to fix red eye, brighten or darken the image, increase contrast, etc. You can do almost all of this with the software that comes with your digital camera, so give it a shot with what you have first. But if you want to do some non-symmetric cropping or photo manipulation, buy a photo editing software. Same goes if you are serious about doing some really creative things, striving for perfection, or want to take your photography hobby to the next level. If this is the case, then you will be happy you made the investment. I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0, but there are more current versions out there. But again, don't feel obligated to dive into a software purchase if you are a casual photographer. You will be wasting your money because the software will just sit on your shelf (or your hard drive).
I hope I have now inspired you to add color and culture to your walls, or start a new photography hobby. Please visit Vicarious Eye Photography to see some of the photos I have taken during my travels using a subcompact camera.
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