[2022-03-10] Better photos
With a camera in every pocket—at least, every pocket with a smart phone—it's never been easier to take photos. Taking good photos is another matter entirely.
Despite having written a post offering 10 tips for taking better photos (albeit 12 years ago), I often forget some of the simple tricks for capturing better pictures. So I thought I would share the suggestions I had passed along more than a decade ago. That post was based on a section in the book Presentation Zen Design by Garr Reynolds, who wanted to help readers learn how to shoot better photos for their visual-based presentations. Reynolds turned to photography expert Scott Kelby to write the section. Though a few of Kelby's recommendations are more applicable to traditional cameras than smartphone cameras, most of the suggestions are relevant no matter what you use to capture images.
- Photograph people in the shade, not full sun. Kelby says that direct sunlight is about the most unflattering light you can shoot someone in because it creates really harsh shadows. Instead, have your subject step into the shade, such as under a tree or overhang.
- Shoot a photo of someone to one side or the other of your photo. Most amateur photographers place their subject dead centre in their viewfinder, Kelby says. But professional photographers usually place the person on the left or right side of the photo, not the centre, which adds interest and energy to the photo.
- Use a tripod to avoid blurry shots taken in low light. "If you're shooting in a church, or at night, or even at dawn or dusk, you're going to get blurry photos," says Kelby. "That's because the shutter needs to stay open longer to let more light in, and even the tiniest little movement on your part guarantees a blurry photo." The solution is to put your camera on a tripod.
- Change the white balance setting in different light conditions. Digital cameras often produce photos that are too blue, green or yellow. That’s because we leave the White Balance setting on the default. Instead, Kelby recommends, choose the appropriate White Balance setting: "Shade" when shooting in the shade, "Indoor" when shooting indoors, "Fluorescent" when shooting in an office or other fluorescent-lit setting, and "Auto" when shooting outdoors.
- Diffuse the harsh light of the pop-up flash. The only light harsher than direct sunlight, says Kelby, is the light from a camera’s flash. He recommends adding a small diffuser called a "Soft Screen" that fits over your camera’s pop-up flash. The product softens and diffuses the light, producing more flattering photos.
- Shoot people so their eyes are in the top third of your photo. "One of the biggest mistakes people make when taking portraits is that they leave too much room above the subject's head," says Kelby. "Ideally, your subject's eyes would be in the top third of the photo, and your subject would pretty much fill the frame." And, he goes on to say, the most important thing to have in focus is the person’s eyes.
- Photograph landscapes at sunrise or sunset. These two times of the day are known as the Golden Hours for professional photographers because the light is most beautiful. However, because the light is also lower at these times than during the middle of the day, notes Kelby, you'll need to shoot these shots on a tripod to keep from having blurry photos.
- Change your camera’s presets to match what you’re shooting. "If you want average-looking photos, leave your camera set to what your average camera owner does: Auto mode," says Kelby. But, if you want to take professional quality photos, turn the dial on the top of your camera to match what you're shooting, for example, landscape when shooting a landscape, or flower when shooting something really close up.
- Follow the rule of thirds when shooting a landscape. This simply means putting your horizon line either at the top third of your photo or the bottom third. When the sky is interesting (e.g., with lots of clouds), put the horizon line at the bottom, so you see more sky. When the sky is boring, put the horizon line at the top third, so you see more foreground instead.
- Change your vantage point. Most photographers take photos from a standing position. We shoot down on flowers or our children since that’s how we regularly see them. But to make your photos more interesting, advises Kelby, "simply change your angle to one that isn't so average. Get down on one knee to shoot your children at their eye view. Shoot flowers down low—at their level, so you show a view most folks don't see.... This simple change of perspective gives a fresh, more professional look to your images."
I scanned through recent photos that I had taken to see whether I had followed Kelby's rules. My favourite photo appears in the visual below. I took it last fall from my mom's farm looking north to the cows on her neighbour's farm.
Reminded of these tips, perhaps I'll incorporate more of my own photography in future Jenesis visuals.
