When you pick up your digital camera to shoot a shot, do you deliberate before you press the button? Or, do you just shoot away trusting that a tiny fairy within your digital camera will magically change it into something beautiful? Appears bizarre doesn't it? However that is what lots of other photographers do. No deliberation, just shoot away and hope for the best.
Imagine a room packed of monkeys. Each one one banging away at a keyboard, full of enthusiasm and concentration. There stands a publisher grinning at the notion that in a matter of time he'll have a best selling novel. He has exactly as much likelihood of it happening as the foolish photographer. You have to give consideration to your photograph prior to clicking the button.
I have found that by going through these 6 brief steps in my mind before I capture the shot my images are dramatically better than if I had not.
1. Why am I taking the photograph?
There has to be a explanation why you are taking the image. Enjoyment, joy, recording an occasion or photographing the emotion of a moment. There is always a reason even if the photographer won't admit it. There may possibly be times that you merely point and shoot lacking a good deal thought other than, heh I am going to shoot a image. However most times you will need to solve this question. The answer to each difficulty will need you to make a choice on the subject of composition, lighting, exposure or framing. How close you need to get or the viewpoint from that you have to shoot. Be true to yourself and solve this problem accurately.
2. What is the focal point of the image?
You need to recognize who the focal point of the photograph will be, i.e. the main subject. Like the actor in a show or stage play. Everybody knows who this is and the same goes for your pictures. Based on this information you want to identify where you will position the subject. In the centre or on a two thirds intersecting line. The subject will pull the eye of the viewer into the image and needs to be perfectly placed.
3. What is competing with your subject?
Extremely significant question to answer. If there is the slightest clash from other possible subjects of focal points then you ought to understand how to deal with them and where to position them. You can't have the subject competing for attention in an picture. This will cause the eye of the viewer to wander in uncertainty between the two items. If they are competing or even creating a distraction they have to go or you have to find a method of minimizing the distraction. Bottom line is that there is no scope for two prima donnas on the stage.
4. Am I close enough to the subject?
Getting in nearer is extremely significant. Fill the frame with as much of the subject as possible. This is the perfect technique to get rid of the competing subjects or distracting things. Getting in closer and cropping the photograph will take out superfluous subjects and clutter from the picture. This will allow the viewer to see more detail in the photograph and make an image a great deal more pleasing to the eye. By the way, don't zoom but make use of your feet to begin with and then if you cannot get any closer begin to zoom.
5. What is in the background and foreground?
If there is nothing then you don't have a dilemma. Much of the time there is and you want to deal with the predicament. Backgrounds which are cluttered or alike in colour to your subject need to be dealt with. Adjust the viewpoint, viewpoint or your position in order to place the subject in front of a better background if needed. Too much disorder in the back will compete with the subject for attention, so be careful. The same goes for the foreground. While not as significant there must not be anything present that is distracting to the eye. And of course decide if you want the background pin-sharp or unclear with a narrow depth of field.
6. What is my main source of light?
If it's the sun then you ought to get it at the back of you and slightly at an angle to the subject. Unless you particularly would like the subject backlit, do not place the subject in front of the sun. Above all know where the sun is and to what degree it will have an effect on the picture. Determine what kind of light it is i.e. bright sun or filtered sun through the clouds on an overcast day. The time of day will also influence the image and if the light is extremely low you'll need a tripod or some kind of support.
Answering these questions speedily before you take the photo will become second nature as you practise. There are others you might need to ask as well, but these six are the most important ones which will assist you to capture great photos.
Author Resource:-
Wayne Turner studied with the New York Institute of Photography and has been teaching photography for 25 years. CLICK HERE to learn digital photography with him by subscribing to his FREE 10 PART PHOTOGRAPHY E-COURSE, emailed daily to your INBOX - To dramatically improve your photography here is his latest ebook, 21 STEPS TO PERFECT PHOTOS - CLICK HERE
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