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| | Get close – Then get closer |
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The biggest mistake that photographers make is to allow too much dead space in the frame. If you're taking a picture of a person zoom in tight and fill the frame with that person. After all they're the subject, the background isn't. And don't be afraid to crop out some of the person either. Take a look at any magazine or glamour shot. Often you'll see part of the subject's head/hair is cropped out. This focuses the viewer's attention on the subjects eyes and creates a more intimate portrait.
The same holds true for landscapes. Too often we're awed by a huge vista but we fail to capture that vista on film. So take that wide shot, then spend a few shots concentrating on things within the scene. Often these will be the better shots.
What if my zoom isn't long enough to get just the part of the scene you want? You have two choices. You can start walking and get closer that way, or if the subject still fills most of the frame you can crop the image when you (or your lab) print it.
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| | Focus attention with selective focus |
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A problem with many photographs is that they're blurry. Avoid 'camera shake' by holding the camera steady. Use both hands, resting your elbows on your chest, or use a wall for support. Relax: don't tense up. You're a marksman/woman holding a gun and it must be steady to shoot. Stay Focused |
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A photograph is all about light so always think of how the light is striking your subject. The best bet is to move around so that the sun is behind you and to one side. This front lighting brings out color and shades, and the slight angle (side lighting) produces some shadow to indicate texture and form. Stay away from LP mode
Since the dawn of the VCR, people have been using LP (long play) mode to fit more video on each tape--at the expense of video quality. What's worse: a gap of 2 to 3 minutes while you swap in a new tape or an entire video that looks grainy? The latter is what you'll get from LP, even if you have a high-end camcorder. If you really need to fit more video on each tape, try a little in-camera editing. Shoot only the scenes you really need; pause the recording during long, uneventful stretches.
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Which way you hold the camera affects what is emphasized in your shot. For tall things (Sailboats, Waterfalls) a vertical format emphasize height. Use a horizontal format to show the dramatic sweep of the sailboat or valley. |
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Even if your camcorder has image-stabilization features, they can't compare to the physical stability of a tripod. Unless you're specifically going for that overused documentary-style shaky look, put your camcorder on a tripod. You'll be amazed at how much better your video looks. |
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Photographs solely of landscape and rocks are enjoyable to take but often dull to look at. Include some of your friends, companions, family, or even people passing by, to add human interest. If there's no one around, include yourself with the self-timer.
Have you ever got your photos back only to discover that something that looked awe-inspiring at the time looks dull on paper? This is because your eye needs some reference point to judge scale. Add a person, car, or something of known size to indicate the magnitude of the scenery.
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You may take the greatest shots but if they're all the same type or style, they may be dull to look at. Spice up your collection by adding variety. Include landscapes and people shots, close ups and wide angles, good weather and bad weather. Take personal shots that remember the 'being there' - friends that you meet, your hotel/campsite, transportation, street or hiking signposts. |
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Depth is an important quality of good photographs. We want the viewer to think that they're not looking at a flat picture, but through a window, into a three-dimensional world. Add pointers to assist the eye. If your subject is a distant mountain, add a person or a tree in the foreground. A wide angle lens can exaggerate this perspective. |
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It's always tempting to use a wide angle lens and 'get everything in'. However, this can be too much and you may loose the impact. Instead, zoom in with a longer lens and find some representative detail. A shot of an entire sequoia tree just looks like a tree. But a shot of just the tree's wide base, with a person for scale, is more powerful. |
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Where you place the horizon in
your shot affects what is emphasized.
To show the land, use a high horizon.
To show the sky, use a low horizon.
Be creative. |
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