Now that you’ve understood how to use your camera as a machine, it’s time for you to learn photography for real. So here are some basic photography tips as a beginner. The key to all good photographs is pretty much good lighting and good composition. Composition requires feel and experience to master, but these tips could give you a jumpstart in your learning curve.
1. The Rule of Thirds
Credits: TechHive
This is as amateur as it gets. The first thing I learnt about composition was The Rule of Thirds. Most digital cameras and smartphones allow you to use something called Gridlines. These lines divide your screen into 3-by-3 boxes and you should ideally place your subject where the lines intersect. Just, try to avoid the middle if possible. It isn’t a hard and fast rule, but it works quite well.
Leading Lines
Credits: Framing the Street
Credits: Project52Pros
Sometimes, people just don’t know where to look, so if you have a guide to lead the eyes of your viewers, it sure helps. Plus, there is just something about repetitive patterns that’s just quite aesthetically-appealing. These lines not only help you form perspective and give your photos a 3D feel, but can also be used to lead the viewer’s eyes to the subject.
3. Don’t be as Straight as an Arrow
Credits: Street Photography Collective
Credits: Pinterest
Use perspective. You don’t always have to shoot things upright. making sure the camera is perfectly well-balanced and horizontal. In fact, you might be surprised as to how nicely slanted photos can turn out. Try not only slanting your camera, but try shooting bottom-up or top-down too. Top-down shots tend to make people look slimmer and more cheerful, but bottom-up shots make them feel larger than life and more magnificent in general.
4. Use Natural Frames
This isn’t always possible, but if you manage to do it, you’re pretty much set for a good shot. Use things you can find in your surrounding as a frame for your subject. This helps keeps things in focus and will give it the extra cool factor.
Concluding Thoughts
Composition is never going to be easy, it’s hard to set the scene to be honest, so before a shoot, always plan ahead. Check out Google Maps and use Street View even to see what’s worth shooting at your location before deciding to just wing it. If you aren’t a pro yet, then it probably isn’t going to be that great of a shoot. Nevertheless, don’t be afraid to give it a shot, after all, you can just wipe your SD card clean when you get home.
About the Aut
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A Dentist-To-Be Dabbling in Tech Journalism:
Zayne is a writer who reports for VR-Zone, Stuff Singapore and The New Paper on all things tech-related. Follow this geek on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram!
