How to Take a Good Picture with Your Camera

Read this guide to learn how take better pictures, or photos, with your digital or film camera.

Learn about composition, light, color and more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a camera

1. 

   Composition: Lines
   
   The use of naturally occurring lines can help you create a sense of direction.
   
   Converging lines, like on a road, can convey depth, scale and distance.
   
   The picture below illustrates both points.

2. 

   Composition: Thirds
   
   Think of your shot containing two horizontal and two vertical lines. Place the targets of your shots where the lines converge for good composition.

3. 

   Composition: Focus
   
   People will tend to be drawn to elements that are in focus. This will influence how your photo is seen.
   
   Use your zoom lens to reduce the 'depth of field' (sense of depth) and throw the background out of focus.

4. 

   Composition: Zoom
   
   A wide-angle lens will keep everything in focus and maximize the depth of field of your shot.

5. 

   Light: Source
   
   Lighting from the side produces more interesting shapes and structures.

6. 

   Light: Temperature
   
   Natural light is white, while artificial light is often shades of yellow, orange or green.
   
   Earlier or later in the day, natural light tends to be more orange - this can make for more interesting colors in your photos.

7. 

   Light: Flash
   
   Use your camera's red-eye reduction setting when taking photos of people.
   
   Aiming the flash directly at your subject can result in harsh lighting. Try to bounce the flash off a reflective or white surface, such as the ceiling, to produce a softer light.

8. 

   Light: Time of Day
   
   At dawn and dusk there are natural shadows to help give depth and form to your subject.
   
   It's ok to point your lens directly at the sun - sometime it will help you take an interesting photo. Just avoid pointing your eyes directly in the sun!

9. 

   Color: Use of Color
   
   Look for images that contain contrasting colours, such as red and green or yellow and purple, to add tension or drama.

10. 

    Color: Black and White
    
    Black and white can be used to create a more intimate portrait or a more atmospheric landscape.

11. 

    Time and Place: Being Ready
    
    You can take great pictures with a small camera. You can't take any pictures with NO camera! Don't let a lack of an SLR stop you from taking great photos!

12. 

    Time and Place: Vantage Point
    
    Sometimes you have to work hard for the good shots. Keep an eye out for great vantage points.

13. Time and Place: Shutter Lag
    
    Some cameras take a long time from when you press the shutter release, to when it take the picture. Try to compensate for this, or find a camera with less 'shutter lag' to capture the perfect moment.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember you can take great pictures with almost any camera!
• A smaller camera will be one that you're more likely to take with you.
• Keep the lens of your camera clean.
• Keep the sensor of your DSLR clean.

[JohanM]

on 7/9/2007 How are people supposed to make any sense of this?