This page could go on forever. Many books
about photography have been written on this subject. What
we are trying here is to point out the most basic fundamentals
of creating an image. Following the tips below
will make you a better photographer.
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The first thing we need to understand is
the 3 fundamentals that are required for a great
image. Each of these fundamentals will be covered briefly below.
- INTEREST
- COMPOSITION
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TECHNICAL
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INTEREST
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Will strangers say WOW when they see your image?
Think of the word "impact", that is the WOW factor. |
Don't limit yourself to images that only family members
would be interested in. There is a big world out there
with many diverse subjects. When taking that picture,
say to yourself, will that stranger like my shot. Try to
take the kind of shot 90% of the people will like. There
will always be some that will not like your image, just don't
worry about that 10% they just don't count in the long
run. Others may not be interested in that subject, so you
can't please them either. |
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COMPOSITION
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Generally speaking, there are several
rules (guidelines) that govern good composition.
The following rules or guidelines are from PSA the
Photographic Society of America, and are worth
downloading and printing (General Rules of
Composition ). As with any form of art, some
images will not conform to the rules/guidelines.
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TECHNICAL
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A few years ago this subject would focus on
(no pun intended) the operation of your camera and the dark
room process. While that is still important, the
emphasis now seems to be on after the shot workflow. In
Photoshop and other photo editing software, one can correct
exposure, sharpness, contrast and color, plus much
more! |
Is the exposure
correct?
As you look at your
composition, try to find a neutral grey and expose for
that. If your camera is digital and has a histogram,
view it and the histogram will show if the image is
overexposed or underexposed. Also many digital cameras
have the ability to show the hot spots (areas of overexposure)
in the image.
Sometimes when there is a wide dynamic
range, take two shots without moving the camera (must be on a
tripod), one shot exposed for the shadows and the other
exposed for the highlights. |
Is the image
sharp?
Focus on the
subject, check your depth of field and adjust your f-stop, if necessary, to
increase or decease the depth of field. Images can be
sharpened in image editing software somewhat, but nothing
beats having a sharp image to start with.
You can use
two or more images as described above, but in this case one
image is sharp in the foreground and the other image
is sharp in the middle ground and background. This
function is called stacking and can render great results. |
What about
contrast?
Contrast makes the image
pop! This gets back to exposure, and the whites need to
be white and the black should be black. Photo editing
software helps here a lot. |
What about
color?
We used to use filters when using
film cameras to enhance color. Today the only filter you
need is a polarizing filter. You still can use those
color filters if you want, but most digital shooters use their
photo editing software's built-in filters.
Another VERY
important point when using programs like Photoshop is don't
over saturate your image.
It looks phony. Try to stay
with the natural colors in nature.
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There are thousands more
tips that can be talked about on the above subjects
and many books have been written about photography. One
of the best ways to learn about taking and producing good
images is to belong to a photo club and talk to the members who
have produced great images. Many of our members have won
gold medals in international competition which proves their
ability as great photographers, and they generally like
sharing their knowledge with others who are willing to learn
this subject. If you are in the area, come and be a
guest at one of our meetings and meet some very nice
people.
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