Photo Tips
Written by Adam J. Blust
These tips and ideas are meant for the casual vacation and family photographer.
- Get closer
Just about the most important thing you can do to improve your photos is to get closer to your subject. Fill the frame with the person, or building or scene you’re trying to capture. Get even closer than you think you should, and maybe you’ll be close enough. Trust me on this one.
- Watch the light
Direct sunlight will make harsh shadows in portraits of people, and it’ll make them squint which isn’t too attractive. Move into the shadows if you’re taking pictures of people.
- Close-ups are OK
Think of all the interesting details you see while on vacation. Just because the Scottish castle is enormous doesn’t mean all your pictures have to get the entire thing in the frame. Why not try shooting an interesting door, or landscaping, or a cool visual angle?
- Try unposed pictures
It’s great to get everyone in the group together for a shot, with them all looking in the camera and saying ‘cheese.’ But it’s also interesting to get some candid shots of people when they don’t know the camera’s on them.
- Stay off the center
Centered subjects are boring and static. Try moving the focus of the shot somewhat into one of the four corners of the frame – it’ll be more interesting that way.
- Avoid disposable cameras
It’s tempting to pick up one of those cheap plastic doohickeys in the drugstore on the way to the airport, but resist the urge. These things have extremely cheap plastic lenses, with super high-speed film. The combination tends to make everything look grainy and nasty. Any inexpensive point-and-shoot camera will take much better pictures, and you can choose the film you use. Plus, it’ll be cheaper in the long run.
- Don’t always go for the highest-speed film
Another temptation is to always buy 400 or 800 speed film. These films will allow you to take pictures in lower light, but they get grainy, and with most available light outdoors, 100 speed is fine. If you don’t believe there’s a difference in quality, take two rolls and compare them.
- Take your time
Unless you’re trying to capture fast-moving action, take a couple breaths to survey your subject and find the best angle and composition. If you’re not sure, try several different shots – film is less expensive than not getting the shot at all.
- Take your camera everywhere
I can’t emphasize this enough. If you don’t have the camera, you won’t get the shot. And the more you use the camera, the more comfortable you will be with it, and the better your photography will be.
Used with permission from Adam Blust
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