Simple Tips for Good Photos

Here is a list of simple tips for getting good photographs.

The list is reasonably comprehensive – that is, most of the important things about getting good images are here.  Each ‘tip’ is kept short so that you can follow up in more detail elsewhere (eg in the Web or via photography books/mags).

Some of this will seem very basic BUT I have put it all here so you can use it like a checklist – just to be sure you are not ‘missing something…’

Remember – half the photographic process is about YOU the photographer – you find the subject you want to shoot, you compose the shot, you check the light and so on.  The other half of the equation in getting good shots is about equipment – your CAMERA.  For example having your camera (and tripod) with you, being familiar with the capabilities of your camera, being aware that if you want excellent images you need good equipment (but I hasten to add there are many great images taken on amateur level but competent cameras!).

Here is my ‘getting good photographs’ list:

• Hold the camera as STILL as possible (use tripod in low light, use the 2 second delay…)

• Remember – focus in two steps (ie press shutter release, wait for ‘ready’ beep…).  Or when manually focussing check focus in Live View if you can…

• Consciously compose – use the Rule of 3rds (but not rigidly!), get closer, get low, think about how you might crop the image later…

• Lighting – is generally best from the side as you get better contrast and ‘relief.  For landscapes light is best early morning and late afternoon/evening.  For portraits try softer lighting eg a cloudy day through the window.  Use your ‘fill in’ flash if light is coming from behind your subject.  A cloudy day can also be great for photography – you get a nice even light without harsh contrast to deal with…

• Set aperture (AV) to mid-point – around f/5 on a compact and f/8 on a DSLR for best sharpness.  This is a generalisation – that generally works!  As an aside my experience is that any lens is usually sharpest about 1/3^rd of the way between max aperture and min aperture.  This means a typical DSLR ‘kit’ lens is best around f/5.6-f/8.0.  The compromise is getting a good DOF…  But watch shutter speed… especially in low light  (ideally keep above 1/30^th)

• Use Depth of Field (DOF) – eg large DOF for landscapes and narrow for portraits.  For landscapes focus about 1/3^rd of the way into the scene for best focus within your DOF.  Then check your focus in playback.  I generally don’t go below f/16 to maximise DOF as diffraction at higher f stops (eg f/19, f/22 etc) reduces sharpness.  As a general rule (but it depends on the lens – wide angles give good DOF and telephotos give narrow DOF) using low f stop (eg f/1.8) will give minimal DOF (and thus a blurred background), and high f/stop (eg f/16) a ‘deep’ DOF.

• Remember the balance between aperture/shutter speed/ISO.  Ideally you want to keep your shutter speed above 1/30^th sec, use an f stop that gives you the DOF you want and a low ISO (say around 100) to keep image ‘noise’ low.  When using a telephoto lens try to keep the shutter speed around the same as the lens focal length or better (eg for a 200mm lens use 200^th sec shutter speed or better).

• Use ‘focus lock’ to focus and then shift point of interest to side – rule of 3rds

• If you are using your tripod remember to switch camera image stabilisation OFF.  (Also remember to switch it back on again!)  If you are using a long exposure (eg shutter speed below 1/30^th) use the 2 second delay setting or a remote release.

• Set camera resolution to maximum – ie use largest image setting and ‘super fine’ or ‘fine’ compression.  Use Raw + JPEG if possible.  Shoot in colour – convert to black and white later if you want.  Use a large memory card.

• Check your photo on the screen – check focus and exposure.  Use Exposure Compensation to get better exposure – see Histogram…

• If the sun is in front of you or to the side try to shade your lens (or use a lens hood) to reduce ‘flare’.

Other Useful Tips:

• Be familiar with you camera – practice, fiddle, experiment.  Use the ‘manual’ controls

• Have a spare battery.

• Use a tripod (but one you can easily take with you!)

• Understand the Histogram – use it when reviewing your shot.

• Have a foreground in your landscapes – to lead the viewer into the picture…

• If you think the image should look better than it does try converting to mono (Black and white)…

• Consciously plan your photos – eg a photo ‘expedition’ to an interesting spot…

• Use a good quality UV filter to protect your lens, and use a blower and lens cloth to keep it clean.  (Always use the blower first to get dust off, then use the lens cloth…)

• Use photo processing software to ‘improve’ your JPEG images – eg to crop, improve tones and colours.  Use ‘sharpening’ sparingly.  Watch for ‘noise’ – do noise reduction before sharpening.  Eg Photoshop/Photoshop Elements.  When you get serious about your photography you will want to shoot using RAW (I always shoot using RAW + JPEG) and process first in Lightroom, and use Elements to finish if necessary.

• Larger camera sensors and better lenses give better images – but cost…

• Remember – the more you do the better you become!   Experiment.  Try new locations or subjects.  Play with your camera and with your image processing software (see my separate Blog on ‘simple steps with software processing’)

 

SM/12 September 2013