Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The Flexibility of a Tripod

Some might think that tripods are a hassle to carry around. But, they are very useful and essential for taking great photos. A tripod can be useful in low light situations or when slow shutter speed is required - it keeps your picture sharp and clear and eliminates any accidental blurs. The other benefit is that it helps you compose the image correctly and increase the chances for a super shot - this is true when doing macro photography.

You should consider in investing on a light weight and compact tripod. It is a little more costly, but worth it... especially if you need it a lot of time. Make sure that it's stable and sturdy. One with quick release mount will give you some flexibility.

The best thing is that you might not need to purchase a tripod if you can be creative. Use any sturdy surface in the area. That can be a chair, a table, even a rock... anything that can keep your camera steady! Be very careful that the item can hold the camera really well... you don't want to damage your camera if it slips and falls down.

To good shots,

David

Monday, May 5, 2008

A Different Perspective in Composition

The first and perhaps the most important guideline for better composition in a picture is simplicity. Look through the camera's view finder or the LCD screen... give your subject in your pictures the most visual attention first - don't let the backgrounds steal attention from your subject.

Next, frame your subject correctly. It could be horizontally or vertically. Zoom in or zoom out. Tilt your camera a little bit to one side. Find a different angle - shoot from a higher or lower angle to give a different perspective. Make your subject more dynamic by placing it slightly off center in your frame.

Strengthen your subject by selecting uncomplicated and simple backgrounds - avoid unrelated subjects, clutter subject or unwanted objects from the frame.

Now, go find one subject. Take many pictures of that subject and study what worked and what make them so good.

David