It is a myth that for amazing pictures, one needs sophisticated and expensive gear. We often forget that we have an advanced super-computer in our pockets equipped with bleeding-edge camera technologies. A photograph is created using more than just a great camera or a lens. Composition, lighting, and the timing of pressing the shutter button are just a few of the many factors that decide the result!
All you need is a mobile phone with a camera to take pictures!
So here are 4 tips to get started with photography!
1. Pause before pressing the shutter button.
Most people simply look at the scene in front of them, point their cameras, and shoot. That is the differentiating factor between a simple picture and a great photograph- the thought and effort that goes into it.
To get there, it all starts with pausing for a few seconds before you press the shutter button. In those few seconds look closely at the screen on your phone/camera. Pay attention to every detail and study the scene you have framed. When you start paying attention to what you are clicking, you slowly start composing your photograph.
Once you're satisfied with the scene on your display, go ahead and fire that shutter!
It is equally crucial to review your images after you capture them. Make a list of points that you like and do not like in that picture.
This process of self-analysis is what defines a photographer.
2. The Rule of Thirds!
Composition is king! It takes a great deal of practice to develop the skill of composing images. There are quite a few guidelines to help beginners develop the habit of composing. The most popular composition technique is 'the rule of thirds.
To start using this technique, first enable the 3x3 grid in your camera settings.
The rule of thirds follows a simple philosophy- place the subject of your image on any of the four points of intersection in the grid.
Let's look at a few examples of implementing this rule.
For pictures of people/animals, the area of focus is their head/eyes. Depending on the direction they are facing, place them on the appropriate point.
For sceneries and landscapes, the rule of thirds pertains to the placement of the horizon. The horizon is placed on one-third of the two-thirds line depending on the sky.
There are many techniques and guidelines to compose an image however, the easiest and most profound one is the rule of thirds.
Practice composing an image since it is independent of any equipment you have and is the biggest difference between a poor image and that of an exceptional one.
3. Try Different Angles
A very common beginner's mistake is that we tend to hold the camera at our eye level and take a photo. The resulting pictures lack an interesting perspective.
Before you capture an image try various angles. Go low, turn, or jump to try and uniquely see the frame. Not only does this make the pictures more captivating, but also opens up more compositional opportunities.
4. Pay attention to lighting
Lighting is the very essence of photography, after all, capturing light is the literal translation of the term photography.
While there are multiple ways of harnessing natural light or manipulating artificial lights to achieve stylistic images, we lack the gear or experience to attempt such methods.
So how do we make the most of the light around us?
-Shoot in the Golden Hours: The hours immediately before and after sunrise and sunset are referred to as the 'golden hours' and rightly so. This is the time when you need not worry about the lighting since the whole atmosphere is beautifully lit with a soft light that makes it perfect to take any kind of picture. The soft lighting gives a beautiful fall off of the shadows making this the best time to take outdoor portraits.
The rising or setting sun paints the skies with beautiful hues that are essential for landscape pictures as well.
The soft orange sun can also be used to creatively compose images.
Make it a habit to practice photography in the golden hours.
-Keep the harsh light behind the camera: While shooting outdoor when the sun is harsh keep in mind to position the subject in a way that the harsh light illuminates their face from the front. To achieve this capture the image while standing in between the harsh sun and the subject.
Harsh light creates strong shadows and highlights which can be used creatively to add depth to your images.
During mid-day, the subject's face must be angled such that the overhead sun does not cause too many shadows on their face.
In case the lighting is very harsh and it is not possible to get decent portraits, clicking wide-angle photos showing the surroundings of the subject is a quick way to still get interesting images.
Hey There! Thanks for reading till the end. Feel free to try out the various techniques I have mentioned. If you would like reviews of your images you can reach out to me on Instagram or here. You can also tag my Instagram handle @kshitij.madduri while posting your pictures for a shoutout.