Quick Tips
To Make Your Photographs Better

Here are some Quick Tips we think help you take better photographs whether you are using a point and shoot camera or an expensive, state of the art DSLR.

Keep Your Settings Simple

Having all of the "Bells and Whistles" ready in case you need them is probably a good thing. You will probably get better results with a simple set-up that works in most situations.

Work to master that mode. I use Aperture Priority most of the time when I am out in the field photographing Wild Horses. Tip: Bring a tripod. This is a great accessory and can solve many problems, especially when you are shooting in low light.

Experiment with Shutter Speed

Professional Photographers will use a tripod and slow shutter speed to get that soft, flowing look when photographing streams and waterfalls. Or use a fast shutter speed to stop the motion of a speeding car.

Be Quick

Shoot First, Ask Questions Later! If you are taking pictures of birds or wildlife they can fly or run at any time. With people you could loose that winning smile or cute pose. Shoot once, right away. Do not worry about taking to many pictures! Professional Photographers take many shots to get the perfect one! Practice at getting quicker and quicker.

Be Selective

Focus on what you are really interested in and concentrate your efforts on getting the BEST photograph of the subject. Watch the borders of your viewfinder. for anything distracting. Recompose if something unattractive, like a branch sticks into your picture!

Compose With Care

Everyone responds better to a photograph that we perceive to be in balance, leading the eye into the photograph in an interesting manner. Keep the horizon level. Crop out uninteresting or distracting elements. Place the subject of the photograph where it belongs, rather than where it lands. Play with perspective, changing your location can make the photograph more interesting! And finally, work with the "Rule of Thirds".

Focus on Your Subject

Try using different aperture settings to see what effect Depth of Field has on your photographs. You will find that an f-stop of f/2.8 (large aperture) will give a short depth of field, blurring the background and focusing more attention on your subject. And an f-stop of f/22 (small aperture) will give a large depth of field where the whole photograph is in focus. Using a relatively short depth of field is a technique portrait photographers use to make the subject stand out.

Move Closer

Details are usually more interesting than the overall view! Take a photograph and then move in closer for a better shot. The name of the game is "Fill the Frame". Keep moving closer until You are sure the photograph will successfully represent your main subject!

Be Aware of the Light

Which way is the light coming from? (front light, side light, back light) Where are the shadows falling? How is the light affecting your subject? How would changing your position affect your photograph? The answers to these questions can have a great effect on your photograph. Tip: The best time to take pictures is when you're shadow is longer than you are!

Go Out Early . . . Come Home Late

You can get great pictures at any time of day, early morning and late afternoon ofter some of the most beautiful light! Shadows add depth to scenes. The low sun angles often wash your subjects in a warm glow. Animals are more likely to be feeding and streets are often free of crowds. The "edges of the day" often offer the most exciting photographic opportunities.

Use Overcast Days To Your Advantage

Overcast is "Nature's Soft Box"! Colors become more saturated and the "soft light" will be gentle and flattering when shooting portraits of people and animals. If you are shooting landscapes, simply keep the sky out of your composition. Work with the weather, find ways to use it to your advantage!

Be Patient . . . Wait For A Change

After you have photographed your subject in a variety of ways, hang around for a while. The light might change giving you a completely different look or your subject might do something unexpected! By being patient and enjoying the view for a few minutes longer, you open yourself to a whole new relm of photographic opportunity!

Shoot As Often As You Can

Take your camera with you everywhere! Don't leave home without it. We don't, and never worry about what other people think. As much as you may think that the best photographers take only winning shots, it's not true. They make many images to get that one "keeper". Remember, they only show us their best work!

We hope that you will try some or all of these Quick Tips the next time you are out taking pictures. You may be suprised at the results!

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