|
Improve your
PHOTOS
|
 |
TELL A STORY WITH
YOUR PHOTOS
Any important event can become a picture story. An all-day outing is perfect for a photo
story. Show the arrival, a variety of
events during the day, the departure and the tiredness of everyone on the way
home.
PROTECT YOUR GEAR
Sand, water and heat are your camera’s worst enemies. All of which you may encounter on your
holiday – especially if you are spending a day at the beach. When you’re not taking pictures, keep your
camera and film in a plastic bag out of the sun. Reload your camera with film (if you are not
using digital of course) only in the shade. If sand does get on your camera, first blow it off and then carefully
brush off any remaining grains with a lens cleaning brush. Or better still …
USE A DISPOSABLE
CAMERA
With a waterproof version of the ‘one time use’ camera not
only can you get some great action water shots, but you can also use it without
fear of damaging your normal camera.
Some of the waterproof ones can be used up to 50 feet under water!
AVOID HARSH SHADOWS
Avoid harsh facial shadows by taking more pictures in shady
areas. On sunny days, if your camera has
several flash modes, selecting the ‘fill flash’ option will do the trick as
this sets the flash even in bright sunlight. This ‘fills’ the shadows on nearby subjects, creating more flattering
portraits in direct sunlight. Check your
camera’s instruction book if you’re not sure.
INCLUDE THE WATER
WHENEVER YOU CAN
Refreshing, invigorating and soothing in person, any body of
water can add these qualities to your pictures. Be sure to frequently include it in the background of your beach
pictures.
PLACE THE HORIZON
HIGH OR LOW
Landscapes make great pictures, but try to keep the horizon
straight and to place it either high or low in your viewfinder. When a horizon cuts across the middle of a
picture, it seems to slice the picture in half and makes it less appealing.
INCLUDE A STRONG
POINT OF INTEREST
Your eye needs a place to rest in the picture, so include
something of interest – a clump of colourful flowers, a cloud in the sky, a
mountain, a tree or a boat.
PLACE THE POINT OF
INTEREST OFF-CENTRE
The picture will be more interesting if the horizon or your
point of interest is not in the centre of the picture. Put the horizon a third of the way down from
the top (or up from the bottom) or the subject a third of the way in from the
left or right. Experiment until you find
what appeals to you.
TAKE PICTURES, EVEN
IN BAD WEATHER
Don’t let rainy days discourage you from taking
pictures. Polished by the rain, colours
seem to glow. On overcast days, try to
include a spot of colour to brighten your picture.
USE THE SELF-TIMER IF
YOU HAVE ONE
Don’t forget to get into some of the pictures yourself. Set you camera on a flat surface and check
what you’re aiming at in your viewfinder, and then set the camera’s self-timer
so that you can join the scene after you press the shutter button. Read your camera’s instruction booklet for
detailed use of the self-timer.
|