How to Take a Good Picture with Your Camera
Story Highlights
Introduction Read this guide to learn how take better pictures, or photos, with your digital or
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Introduction
Read this guide to learn how take better pictures, or photos, with your digital or film camera.
Learn about composition, light, color and more.
Learn about composition, light, color and more.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You'll Need
- a camera
Steps
1
Step One
Composition: Lines
The use of naturally occurring lines can help you create a sense of direction.
Converging lines, like on a road, can convey depth, scale and distance.
The picture below illustrates both points.
The use of naturally occurring lines can help you create a sense of direction.
Converging lines, like on a road, can convey depth, scale and distance.
The picture below illustrates both points.
2
Step Two
Composition: Thirds
Think of your shot containing two horizontal and two vertical lines. Place the targets of your shots where the lines converge for good composition.
Think of your shot containing two horizontal and two vertical lines. Place the targets of your shots where the lines converge for good composition.
3
Step Three
Composition: Focus
People will tend to be drawn to elements that are in focus. This will influence how your photo is seen.
Use your zoom lens to reduce the 'depth of field' (sense of depth) and throw the background out of focus.
People will tend to be drawn to elements that are in focus. This will influence how your photo is seen.
Use your zoom lens to reduce the 'depth of field' (sense of depth) and throw the background out of focus.
4
Step Four
Composition: Zoom
A wide-angle lens will keep everything in focus and maximize the depth of field of your shot.
A wide-angle lens will keep everything in focus and maximize the depth of field of your shot.
5
Step Five
Light: Source
Lighting from the side produces more interesting shapes and structures.
Lighting from the side produces more interesting shapes and structures.
6
Step Six
Light: Temperature
Natural light is white, while artificial light is often shades of yellow, orange or green.
Earlier or later in the day, natural light tends to be more orange - this can make for more interesting colors in your photos.
Natural light is white, while artificial light is often shades of yellow, orange or green.
Earlier or later in the day, natural light tends to be more orange - this can make for more interesting colors in your photos.
7
Step Seven
Light: Flash
Use your camera's red-eye reduction setting when taking photos of people.
Aiming the flash directly at your subject can result in harsh lighting. Try to bounce the flash off a reflective or white surface, such as the ceiling, to produce a softer light.
Use your camera's red-eye reduction setting when taking photos of people.
Aiming the flash directly at your subject can result in harsh lighting. Try to bounce the flash off a reflective or white surface, such as the ceiling, to produce a softer light.
8
Step Eight
Light: Time of Day
At dawn and dusk there are natural shadows to help give depth and form to your subject.
It's ok to point your lens directly at the sun - sometime it will help you take an interesting photo. Just avoid pointing your eyes directly in the sun!
At dawn and dusk there are natural shadows to help give depth and form to your subject.
It's ok to point your lens directly at the sun - sometime it will help you take an interesting photo. Just avoid pointing your eyes directly in the sun!
9
Step Nine
Color: Use of Color
Look for images that contain contrasting colours, such as red and green or yellow and purple, to add tension or drama.
Look for images that contain contrasting colours, such as red and green or yellow and purple, to add tension or drama.
10
Step Ten
Color: Black and White
Black and white can be used to create a more intimate portrait or a more atmospheric landscape.
Black and white can be used to create a more intimate portrait or a more atmospheric landscape.
11
Step Eleven
Time and Place: Being Ready
You can take great pictures with a small camera. You can't take any pictures with NO camera! Don't let a lack of an SLR stop you from taking great photos!
You can take great pictures with a small camera. You can't take any pictures with NO camera! Don't let a lack of an SLR stop you from taking great photos!
12
Step Twelve
Time and Place: Vantage Point
Sometimes you have to work hard for the good shots. Keep an eye out for great vantage points.
Sometimes you have to work hard for the good shots. Keep an eye out for great vantage points.
13
Step Thirteen
Time and Place: Shutter Lag
Some cameras take a long time from when you press the shutter release, to when it take the picture. Try to compensate for this, or find a camera with less 'shutter lag' to capture the perfect moment.
Some cameras take a long time from when you press the shutter release, to when it take the picture. Try to compensate for this, or find a camera with less 'shutter lag' to capture the perfect moment.
Overall Tips & Warnings
- Remember you can take great pictures with almost any camera!
- A smaller camera will be one that you're more likely to take with you.
- Keep the lens of your camera clean.
- Keep the sensor of your DSLR clean.
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