Tips for the beginning photographer!
Do you want to become an excellent photographer? Just like any other skill, it takes time to become the best. However, the good news is that everybody, who is willing to make the effort, can become a great photographer. In this article you can read some useful tips. If you pay close attention, and use this advice, you too will take great pictures someday!
It’s not about the equipment!
A lot of people think that, when they purchase a good camera, they will automatically make good pictures. This is not how it works. The person behind the camera is responsible for the quality, not the equipment itself. Of course, it can help to have a nice camera. However, this is not the most important part. So, don’t go out and spend thousands on new equipment if you are not willing to learn true craftmanship and how to become a fantastic photographer. This is wasted money! Instead focus on the skill of taking pictures.
If you want to buy something, choose a good camera lens
If you absolutely want to spend some money, you should rather invest it in a good camera lens. This has more impact on your pictures than the camera itself. Only if you have achieved a sophisticated level, you should consider buying a really expensive camera. Because when you already are a great photographer, there is less room for improvement. So, then a great camera brings something extra to the table. If you are a beginner you should focus on other aspects, which can improve your skills drastically and in a larger way than equipment ever could.
The camera features are important, but not necessary!
Every camera has a lot of different features. They are important. They can help you make great pictures. However, you don’t need to know all of the features to make a good picture. If you know the basics of photography and how the camera works, you can achieve a lot. So, the first step is to figure this out. This should not be a problem. After that, you can learn a new technique. Then you can also start making other pictures. This way you add some variety to your repertoire.
It’s also a fun way to become a better photographer. You don’t have to learn everything before you begin. Just go with the basics and start having fun. Gradually you will learn more and become better and more versatile. Try to focus on learning one new thing at a time. This way you will master it easily.
Learn what good composition is all about
One thing that is really important, is composition. You should try to read as many things as possible about this topic, preferably from the beginning. What is composition? It’s how the picture that you take looks. And how the things that are shown in the picture relate to one another. So, this naturally has a lot to do about the things that you want to take a picture of. Somethings in the real world have a nice composition, others don’t. However, if you are a skilled photographer, you can improve the composition.
Pay attention to people and objects in the background, and shoot a picture from the same height!
How do you do that? You should pay attention to the background. Make sure there are not people walking. Large trees or moving vehicles could also screw up the background. Still, it al depends on the picture. There are instances that a person walking in the background gives your picture something extra.
Another quick tip that you can use to make better pictures is to stand on the same height level as your object when you want to make a picture. When you want to photograph a child for example, you should sit on your knees. This makes the photo more personal and intimate. If you want to take a picture of a pet or another animal, you should also try to lower yourself to their level.
The rule of thirds is also very helpful if you want to make a great picture!
Another rule you should follow if you want to make spectacular pictures is the rule of thirds. Just divide the screen of your camera in 9 different rectangles (3 vertically and 3 horizontally, therefore the rule of thirds). Never put the object in the middle. Put it where the vertical and the horizontal lines cross each other. For example, when you take a picture of a person’s face. Make sure this is placed on one of the crossing lines.
Another quick and easy tip. Before you take a picture, move your camera a little bit to the left and right. Or from the top to the bottom. It’s quite extraordinary how a little movement can greatly improve the end result.
Practice a lot, you will see a lot of improvements
Most things you can master by practicing a lot. This is also the case with photography. You don’t become a great photographer if you only take pictures when you go on holiday. You should practice a lot, preferably every day. There are a lot of opportunities to make pictures. You probably live with relatives or roommates. These are great objects. Furthermore, it’s always nice to have a lot of pictures of your friends and family.
If you have a pet, you should also take pictures of them. These animals will never mind if you take a picture. Furthermore, they often do crazy or cute things, which is excellent material.
Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book about the effect of practice. He claims that anyone can become good at something after 10.000 hours of practice. You will be successful and excel if you spend so much time doing one activity. He researched this thesis across numerous fields. So, if you are willing to invest your time, success is guaranteed. This is also true with regard to photography.
We hope that you learned a lot from reading this article. Just keep on practicing, and read some of our other articles with good advice!