Updated: 6 Mar 2022
Teaching the “art of photography” has been a great passion of mine for several years. Having led many one-to-one and group photography tours and workshops, I get so much pleasure in seeing guest photographers expand their knowledge and skill levels whilst improving their images considerably.
1. Enjoy your whole photography experience
2. Research and get to know your camera and equipment
3. Practice, practice and then even more practice
4. Learn tips and techniques from others
5. Always shoot in Camera Raw (or camera raw & jpeg together)
6. Use different locations
7. Post your images on social media and seek honest feedback
8. Print off your images
9. Try using different photography techniques
10. Use filters, particularly a polaroid filter for reducing glare on water, ice, trees etc
11. Take your images in different formats – landscape, portrait and square modes
12. Take time to view your surroundings – There may be a better view just a few feet away
13. Always view your image back for focusing. You may never visit the location again!
14. Always consider focus or exposure stacking when set up on a tripod
15. If possible, separate your subject completely from other background features
16. Less is more, do not over complicate your image
17. Watch the light, observing may provide you with better natural lighting and patterns in cloud formations
18. Use available apps to plan your shoot
19. Use your in-camera Histogram, remember the patterning should be mainly on the right hand side
20. If you have trouble lining up a shot, use your in-camera horizontal horizon line
21. As much as possible stick with the “Rule of thirds”
22. Try to use leading lines – to draw the viewer’s eye towards a specific point of interest
23. If you have poor eyesight or use corrective vision (spectacles/contact lenses) regularly check and calibrate image sharpness in your camera’s diopter
24. Frame your image with your mobile phone camera before using your main camera
25. DSLR camera users must always calibrate every lens to the camera body. It is not guaranteed they will be automatically calibrated when used together.
Over the years I have stuck by these principles as much as possible. It really worked for me!
This is a comprehensive list, so try drawing up your own list and take it with you on photo shoots. It does work. You will see an immediate improvement in your image taking as a result.
Being such an important subject, I have planned to make a video on this content over the next few weeks with a few more tips and techniques added for producing much better images.
Links:
View further information on my Photography Tuition Page (Read more…)
View further information on the best apps for a photographer (Read more..)
If you have any questions regarding this article, please message me through my Contact Page.
As always, thanks for your time,
Mark