Seven essentials for better photography

These tips are equally important for digital and film photography. You remember film don’t you? Those thin strips of plastic (celluloid) impregnated with chemicals that you had to take to the drug store to have developed. Never mind, these tips are universal. The last tip is the best, easiest and most often underused. There is an old and very true saying in photography, “It’s not the subject, it’s the shooter.” Great photographs require technique and talent. Master the first and allow the second to emerge.

1. Tip one is a combination of Read first (the owner’s manual) so you won’t have to ask questions later and Know your camera and all of its controls. These two important steps are really the same and that it can’t be stressed enough. How can you get that one magical shot when it comes by if you are fiddling with the controls and poof, just like that its gone? This does not eliminate or reduce the importance of the photographer. But those who make a living at this know their cameras inside and out.

2. Master the use of the Flash. When and how to use the flash comes from practice and experimentation. (See tip seven below). When considering the flash take the shot both with and without. Film – sorry digital media – is cheap, so use it. Indoors the flash can be a life saver, but don’t forget to try it outdoors as well; it can fill a subject and add some punch to overcast or dark exterior shots.

3. Steady! You may think you have rock solid nerves of steel, and you may but when it comes to long shots with your camera use a mono-pod or a tripod. Most cameras have guideline in the view finder so take advantage of those as well. If you are caught without proper equipment improvise. Use what’s around you – a tree, the hood of your car or anything you can brace against to help stabilize.

4. Avoid the Sun – no I am not talking about skin cancer. Try and have the sun on your subject or at least not within your field of view. Of course if you are shooting beautiful sunsets off the coast of Capri you won’t need this tip, heck you won’t need this blog.

5. What you looking at? Seriously, this is important. It’s the key difference between ordinary snapshots and photographs. The point of view, field of view, perspective, organizing angles all come into play when you push past the basic point and shot and start to capture images. It even sounds "capturing images" ahhh better than taking pictures.

6. Don’t be afraid of the little Mouse. Learning to use graphic software for image correction and manipulation is as important as many of the tips above. You can’t make a great photograph from a below-average one, but you can take a good photograph and make it really pop. The simple packages have automated many of the most common tasks and the more you learn the better control you will have.

7. Your piano teacher was right. Practice. Practice. Prac… Oh heck if you don’t get it now, a third time won’t make any difference. Great equipment and good technique will prepare you to succeed when the opportunity present itself. Give yourself the chance. All of the pros I know will agree and there is not out there that doesn’t practice every chance they get. What does Tiger Woods do when if finishes a round of golf in a tournament? He goes right back to the range and practices. Tiger Woods. That’s probably the reason he could beat me with a rake and a baseball bat when I have the finest clubs money can buy.