Taking Pictures For Beginners

By Macy Toguchi

We have all played the role of photographer at some time. Most everyone takes photographs as a memento of special events, birthday parties, or family reunions. In the process, whether you realized it or not, you had to compose a photograph. That is, you had to bring the subject of the picture into the frame with other elements in the environment to capture the photograph. The ability to compose a photograph comes naturally for some; others of us really have to work at it.

Composition is one of the first steps for learning to compose great photos. The second step I learning to improve your technical skills with your camera. Photography is considered an art, but there are elements of skill involved that can be learned and perfected. If you excel in one area at the expense of another, it will be reflected in poor photography.

One important key to taking great photos is learning where to stand in relation to your subject. You must figure out which angle looks the best and position the subject in the frame accordingly. Any variation in composition, including placement, can make the difference in an awesome photo and a photo that you need to ditch.

Newcomers to photography love to center every subject. This is a great way to compose a photograph, but it is so overused, why not try adding new dimensions to your photography by moving your subject slightly off center. A good way to master composition is to remember the rule of thirds. Many photographers rely on this concept to create composition. The idea is to divide the frame into three parts, vertically and horizontally. Place the subject in one of the intersections and you will have created a balanced, yet interesting new composition. This is a general rule, so remember that it doesn't apply to all photographs equally well.

Improve your basic knowledge of your camera and technical skills will also help improve your photos. The more you know about your camera and how to use it properly, the more creative and flexible you can be with your photography. By all means, one of the first things you need to learn is how to focus your shots. There is nothing that can be done to improve an unfocused photograph, the moment and the photo is gone forever. Make learning focus a priority.

It is easy for beginners to either over expose pictures or under expose them. Learn to use your lighting conditions to your advantage. Realize that flashes work when you are close to a subject, but not too close. Flashes are useless more than 20 feet away from the subject. Understanding these concepts will save you a lot of wasted photographs. When you want to take pictures at a distance, it is best to set up a tripod for stability, and allow a little longer exposure. Mastering exposure techniques will make a dramatic difference in the clarity and quality of your photographs.

The most important key to taking great photographs is practice. Take photo every chance you get. The more you practice, the greater your artistic and technical skills will develop. - 30452

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