BROWSE HOW TOs

How to Improve Your Photography Techniques

By eHow Hobbies, Games & Toys Editor

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Photography can be extremely rewarding or extremely frustrating, depending on your ability to adjust to constantly changing conditions. The following chart will help you improve both your indoor and outdoor color photography.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Be sure that your autofocus function and flash are on. The absence of these can cause blurriness or darkness in indoor photos.

Step2

If the flash fails, make sure the batteries work and it is turned on. In certain situations, the camera may fail to realize that the flash is needed. On some cameras, there is a setting, usually called Fill Flash, that will cause the flash to fire on every shot. Set the Fill Flash function on.

Step3

Position yourself so that there are no mirrors, windows, shiny walls or TVs behind your subjects to prevent glare. If this is unavoidable, move the camera to the side as much as possible.

Step4

Before you click the shutter, be aware of the frame of the picture. Be sure not to cut off people's heads, for example. If you're wearing gloves, take them off and don't hold anything else in your hands while using the camera. This will help you avoid accidentally blocking the lens.

Step5

When taking group photos outdoors, have everyone close their eyes and relax for a few seconds before taking the picture. When you're ready with the camera, have them open their eyes fully and smile. This helps prevent squinting.

Step6

Be aware of the sun's location and try to take pictures with the sun behind you to prevent shadowy or dark pictures. If you can't get the sun behind you, arrange the shot so that the sun is as far to one side as possible. If you have to take a picture with the sun in front of you, use the flash to reduce shadows on the front of your subjects. If your camera has a focus lock, first point your camera at a bright spot. Keep your finger partially down on the shutter to lock the focus and exposure. Then move the camera to the shot you want and take the picture.

Step7

When taking pictures, be aware of trees, buildings and other behind your subjects. In your photos, these can objects appear to come straight out of the heads of people.

Comments

jalenaaron said

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on 7/3/2007 y do all of these things about photography have to do with film cameras? People these days use mainly digital cameras.

Anonymous said

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on 2/6/2006 Landscapes are better captured when they are illuminated by the warm light from the sun. Pictures taken during dawn or dusk with the sun positioned in the top left or right corners, produce excellent pictures.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 My photo teacher in college always said that you really need to be three to four feet or closer to your subject for a good picture. If you can't get that close, use a zoom lens to at least create the illusion of it. Just remember that the subject needs to be the focus of the picture, so it should take up at least 60 percent of the picture.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 You should almost have your camera manual memorized. If you don't, you better start now. The camera is a tool that helps you to see. When your camera is comfortable to you, and you can use it very easily, your photo taking skills will be better. Your camera will be used like a reflex.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 35 mm refers to the width of the strip of film. If film leader is visible the roll is ready to shoot, if the leader is wound up the roll has been shot. Use ISO 400 speed film. Keep film cool, refrigeration extends the life.
Make sure the lens is clean. Always request index print and photo-CD. Hold the camera steady when pressing shutter. When shooting close-ups use the parallax lines to avoid chopping off someone's head. Never have the light coming from behind the subject.
Make sure background objects don't appear to be growing out of someone's head. Remember that a flash will not light up anything more than about 20 feet away. Use fill-flash mode outdoors to fill in shadows. Placing the subject off center adds interest to most photos. If the subject is not in the center, lock the focus, by pressing the shutter half way down, then frame the picture. Try to fill the frame with your main subject. Keep fingers and hair away from the front of the camera (meters, as well as lens).