Tip of the day - Ten things to make a photograph. |
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Tip of the day - 10 Things to do to make a photograph
10 Things to make a photograph
#01 Observe
Don’t be in a rush
Unless the moment is magic or won’t last take more time to look around and evaluate shots before you get your camera out. • Observe, light, shadows, contrast, colour and textures • Observe shape, form, patterns and leading lines/flow • Frame shots in your head and experiment with height and angles. Think about focal length and depth of focus. • Think about how you feel about your subject and the mood, emotion and feeling you want to portray.
#02 Reset your camera
Make sure you have the right settings
Take a few minutes to check all your camera settings. • RAW/JPG, Metering, ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed. • Focus Mode, Exposure Compensation, White Balance. • Image Stabilisation, Drive Mode, Aspect Ratio. • Bracketing, Picture Style, Battery Level & Memory Card. Check your lens element and filters are clean and free of dust and smears.
#03 Take a custom white balance
Get accurate colours in your photos
Use the Custom White Balance setting on your camera • Take a test shot of something white (cloth/card/paper) • In your camera menu –set the camera to use the test shot as custom white reference • Set WB in your camera to ‘Custom’ • Change your camera picture/creative style setting to ‘neutral’ to confirm accurate colour • Take a second test shot and check that the colour looks accurate by reviewing the shot on the LCD
#04 Frame your shot
Take time to get it right
Framing your shot requires effort and thought to get it right • Watch out for those intruders around the edges – the viewfinder may only show 95% of the frame. • Think about the proportions of the photo – whether you use the rule of thirds or some other guide make sure it feels balanced to you. • Simplify the components to the bare essentials • Use space to emphasise subjects
#05 Take a test shot
Your first shot is not the final one
The first shot can give you a chance to get things spot on – use it as means of testing your settings • Set your aperture, shutter speed, ISO and metering mode. • Focus on your main subject or area to achieve appropriate DOF • Use a cable release or self-timer to reduce camera shake
#06 Review your test shot
Check everything
A minute spent checking and making corrections and adjustments can be the difference between no shot and a great shot. • Check your composition and frame borders • Check your histogram for exposure & dial in exposure compensation if needed • Check sharpness by zooming into the shot and review the whole image • Check for DOF by zooming into the shot and review front to back for detail
#07 Delete the test shot
Image is wrong in some way
If you discovered things in step 6 that can be improved then there is little point in keeping the test image on your card. • Delete the test shot immediately • It will free up space on your card whilst out shooting • You will reduce time and effort at on the computer sorting through your shots and separating test shots from final shots.
#08 Make adjustments and re-take
The 2nd test shot may not be the final shot
This is the opportunity to make adjustments needed from step 6. • You may need to adjust composition • You may need to adjust aperture, shutter and or ISO • You may need to adjust exposure compensation • You may need to adjust focal point and or area • You may need to add filters, polariser or gradual neutral density
#09 Nail the shot
Taking the final shot
You may have needed to repeat steps 6 to 8 several times to get everything just perfect. • Take your final shot with all adjustments applied • Double check the shot by reviewing it again • If you are not confident that you have nailed it then make some slight adjustments to aperture or shutter speed to give you a couple of reserves to choose between when back home.
#10 Be open to improving
The shot could be better
Experience teaches us that sometimes it pays to be patient and observe and consider how things could be improved further • You may find that the light improves or changes dramatically – observe the conditions • You may find switching to a vertical or horizontal version improves the shot • Don’t rush to the next shot, if you have the time, use it to see if a different angle, perspective or a change could improve the shot further.
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