May 10th, 2010
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How tough is it to capture a sunset portrait? If you say ‘not tough at all’ then you either have your head in the sand or you have gotten lucky on a pic. Let me tell you, it is tough. This article is not written for the beginning photography tips. Instead it is written for the aspiring photographer that wants to make picture taking a serious hobby or maybe even more.
The reason it is so tough is that in order to capture a sunset you are shooting directly into the brightest light in the sky. With all that back-light you will now try to paint your model with flash.
Most cameras will do one of the following (on automatic) well … but not both. They can either capture the sunset or they can capture the portrait. If you want to capture a portrait like the one displayed here you are going to have to take the camera off automatic and switch to manual.
Manual Mode
If you have a digital camera that will switch from automatic mode to manual mode you will need to make that adjustment. If you do not have a digital camera that will switch modes … follow along and we’ll try to get the shot in automatic mode.
May 7th, 2010
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We have previously looked at how to take a better portrait of the kiddos indoors so naturally we should talk about the same except outdoors. It is rather easy to set your camera to automatic and fire away however depending on the conditions your shooting in the photo may not be one that pops out at you. Here are some beginning photography tips to make the photo more desirable.
Portrait Photography Tips
If we are wanting an outdoor portrait to pop or to be desirable then we should know what a desirable outdoor portrait looks like. An outdoor portrait should have these characteristics:
- Model should be in focus (focus on the eyes)
- Background should be out of focus (as much as possible)
- Model should be well lit (naturally or with strobes)
- Composition should be pleasing.
The photo to the right is a picture my daughter Ava let me take as part of a Mother’s day album we are putting together. Unfortunately for me she does not like to be in front of the camera so I take every opportunity I can to snap pictures with her as my model.
May 3rd, 2010
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Have you been over to a friends house and there hanging on the living room wall is the perfect portrait of someone? When is the last time you spent $100 bucks on a photographer booking fee and half a grand on pictures only to be caught thinking, if I could only spend this money on a camera and equipment maybe just maybe I could take pictures like that. Not that you will never be taking pictures like that …. but if you are wanting portraits of the kiddos to hang on your wall by next week and you are here reading this site, maybe the $600 investment in a professional photographer is not that bad after all.
However, if you aim is to learn and get beginning photography tips then you are in luck.
May 2nd, 2010
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Yesterday my family and I went to the soccer field and with my cell phone I attempted some action shots. How many of you have tried to capture junior scoring a goal with your cell? Now, if little junior is relatively motionless (not running wide open down the field) you have a slight chance of getting a good shot. I am here to tell you, my little girl Ava is not going to stand still for one second on the soccer field and my action shots proved to be nothing more than a blur. I did however switch over to video and get some pretty good captures with that.
So how do you capture good action shots on the soccer field? First off, as in my case, you need to bring along more than a cell phone for your images. At a bare minimum you need a digital camera that has a sports mode or one where you can manually dial in the shutter speed. For those of you who have been around the hobby or profession of photography for a while … yes, I know this is very simplified, but that is what this website is all about. We are here to simplify the idea of owning a digital camera and bring you some good beginning photography tips.
May 1st, 2010
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So you have an outdoor adventure planned and want tips for taking digital photography. The best you could hope for is an overcast sky making the shadows less harsh however you need to be prepared for the sunshine. Our beginning photography tips will direct you to locate the fill flash setting on your camera before setting off for fun in the sun.
Sunshine in the morning & evening is our friend.
Yes, in the morning and evening hours the sun is just perfect for picture taking. Whether you are shooting portraits, landscapes, or wildlife just go out when the sun is casting long shadows and your photos can’t help but be improved.
April 30th, 2010
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Taking good pictures of the kids is a hard thing to do. I am not sure if you have noticed, but most kids don’t like having their picture taken and none of them slow down for anything. Just these two things alone are enough to make our ‘portrait’ turn into an ordinary an mundane snapshot. Here are some tips for taking digital photography to attempt to make the ordinary pic more unique and a picture that you will be happy to post on facebook or twitter.
For beginning photography tips lets consider the subject and their environment. In this case I suppose that will be your (or someone’s) kido. By this I mean a youngster who is either playing hard and running around or one who is not thrilled to have someone pointing a camera their way while having them say “cheese”.
The first thing we need to consider is camera settings. YIKES, did I say that aloud? Is it a requirement that we know how to work our camera to take decent pictures? If you answered the previous questions with a “no” then your pictures may never be more than a snapshot. However, if you take the time and learn what features your camera offers, you will be able to crisply capture your youngster who is playing at warp speed. This article will assume that you already know your cameras features and that you can alter a few of them.
April 29th, 2010
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If you have a camera and want to take good pictures then you have found a website that is devoted to you. Here at CameraTips.org we strive to bring you beginning photography tips or tips that help you become a better photographer. Right off let me be clear … the tips on this site are not meant to be for professionals or serious amateurs, instead they are intended for people that are relatively new to photography and are tips for taking digital photography.
If you are looking for portrait photography tips or black & white photography tips you are a the right website.
