How to Capture a Great Photo

You know the ones…the photos that you stop and stare when you are flipping through your developed pictures. Or the ones you immediately reprint when you see them for the first time. A great photo can not be captured in words, hence the phrase, "a picture is worth a thousand words." But how do you create a stunning, unforgettable photo? It's simple with an eye for the exceptional and a lot of trial and error.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Camera

1. Get to know your camera. You don't have to be a photography expert but you do have to know your camera intimately. Learn how to use the special features, the flash and the focus.
2. Use the light to your advantage. The perfect time for outdoor photos is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Use diffused light indoors. Make sure your subject is not squinting or covered in harsh shadows.
3. Fill the frame. Get close to your subject whether a person, flower or a sunset. Fill the frame with the subject instead of surrounding scenery unless it puts the photo into context.
4. Employ the rule of thirds—a basic concept in composition. Avoid having the subject centered in the photo which is static and boring. Instead dissect the frame into thirds. The subject should reside partially in either the left or right third. Use this rule for people, especially when they are looking across screen and out of the photo.
5. Repeat elements such as colors, shapes or themes. Pose a child dressed in yellow in front of a small flowerbed that includes yellow flowers. Repeat shapes such as a corridor of arches or a row of picket fence.
6. Search for unique shots. View common sites from a different angle. Shoot up at something tall or down on something small. Tilt your camera before taking the shot. Look for irony or contradiction in photos.
7. Shoot what you love. Photos are meant to be enjoyed. Take pictures of sights you love such as people, running brooks, flowers, wildlife or mechanical parts.
8. Aim for a candid when shooting people. Posed photos almost always appear stiff and unnatural. Catch your subjects unaware as you click their photographs.

Tips & Warnings

• Take photos of more than the big events such a Christmas, birthdays and get togethers. Keep your camera accessible so you can snap photos of your kids playing unaware, the hot air balloon that appeared over your house or the stunning sunset that disappeared in seconds.
• Take lots of pictures. Especially with digital cameras, there is no excuse for not learning from trial and error. Make note of the lighting, film speed and settings if you are using a traditional camera and your settings if you are using a digital camera. Note which setting work best for different situations. Much of photography is learning from trial and error.

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