We live in an age where digital has made photography easier and more accessible than ever. There is virtually no limit on the number of photos we can take. We can instantly see our photo, and know if it needs to be retaken. Even phones can take decent photographs at this point. So, if we're at the point where anyone can pick up a phone and press a button to take a photo, why do some people's photos just look so much better than others? Why can someone using a phone get a much better shot than someone with a DSLR that cost thousands of dollars? Basically, it's because the operator is much more important than the gear he or she is using. That is great news, if you think about it. It means that you can drastically improve your pictures without spending a dime. Here are 12 free things you can do to take better pictures:
#12 Understand Light - The word photography literally means 'painting with light.' You must pay attention to what the light is doing. If it's a bright, sunny day, you will have very harsh light and shadow, which is the least ideal scenario for taking attractive photos. If it's an overcast day, the clouds will soften the light, which makes for better photos of just about everything. And, of course, take all the photos you can during "Golden Hour" - that time within 30 minutes of sunrise and sunset where everything is painted with a very flattering, almost magical light.
#11 Use The Rule Of Thirds - Imagine a grid of 9 boxes (like Tic-Tac-Toe) over the image you're about to take. (Most cameras have this overlay now, so you may not have to imagine it!) Most of the time, placing the subject of your photo roughly at one of the four intersections of those lines will result in a more dynamic, appealing photo. Placing the subject dead center is usually dead boring. Another aspect of this rule applies to the horizon. If the sky is more interesting, make your photo 2/3 sky and 1/3 land. If the land is more interesting, make your photo 2/3 land and 1/3 sky. Placing the horizon right in the center does not usually produce a very interesting image.
#10 Learn To Do Basic Post-Processing - It doesn't matter whether you use an app on your phone, tablet, PC, or a even a free website. If the only image you can produce is the one straight out of your camera, you're going to have inferior photos. You need to be able to perform basic functions like cropping, adjusting brightness, contrast, sharpness, etc if you want your images to look pleasing. There is no shame in editing a photo...the pros do it constantly. That said, don't go overboard and make everything look massively overdone (unless that's your artistic style.)
#9 Use Foreground To Create Interest And Depth - Placing something in the foreground of a photograph can help draw a viewer into the image. It's the way we see every day...look around right now. You will see things close, medium distance, and far away from you. It's the same way with photos...if they have foreground, mid-ground, and background, our brains instinctively understand the depth and we like the image more than if it was 'flat.' Just make sure that what you choose to put in the foreground is not going to distract from the subject.
#8 Find Photos You Love, Write Down Why, And Include Those Things In Your Photos - Here is an exercise for you. Go to www.500px.com and start flipping through the photos there. When you come to a photo you LOVE (which is easy to find over there) I want you to write down on a piece of paper what you love about that photo. Is it the light? The subject? The color? Is the background blurred or sharp? What draws you to it? Do this for 10 or 20 photos, and you will start to see patterns emerge about what makes a good photo to you. Maybe you'll discover that you love black and white, or landscapes, or pictures with lots of saturated color in them. Whatever those things are, you'll be able to focus on the elements that you like and include them in your own photos.
#7 Shoot Horizontally For Impact - Check out your face in the mirror. You'll notice that your eyes are aligned horizontally. Check out your TV screen and computer monitor. They are also arranged horizontally. Why? Because it's the way we naturally see. Let's be realistic here...99% or more of your photos are going to end up on the web or on your PC. Therefore, it makes sense to shoot your photos in a way that is going to fill up the screen as much as possible, and that means shooting horizontally. (If you're shooting with the intent of doing a magazine cover or printing out a poster, go ahead and shoot vertically.) Vertical images displayed on our horizontal devices only take up a fraction of the screen, and simply lack impact in comparison.
#6 Get An Angle People Don't Usually See - Don't always go for the same eye-level shot that everyone else would take. It's amazing how much an image changes when you take the photo from 6 inches off the ground. It immediately adds foreground, and with it, more depth and interest. If you have an opportunity to safely get a higher angle, this can also be more interesting simply because it's something people don't usually see. Before you walk up to something and take a picture, ask yourself "If a 5-year kid old also took this photo, would mine look any different from his?" If the answer is no, find a better angle.
#5 Avoid Camera Shake - We've all deleted plenty of photos that were just completely blurry. Why did that happen? Well, your camera was moving slightly during the time when the shutter opened, because it's very difficult to hold a camera perfectly still in your hand. There are a number of ways to eliminate camera shake. You can hold it firmly with two hands instead of one. You can place the camera (or your hands or elbows) on something solid to reduce motion before taking the shot. You can take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, press the shutter. (This is your least-shaky period. The same technique is used by snipers to hold their rifles still for accuracy.) You can buy an inexpensive tripod or monopod to hold your camera steady. You can use a remote shutter release or the camera's self-timer to avoid shaking the camera by pressing the button directly. All of these things will help you get sharper photos more consistently.
#4 Eliminate Distractions From Your Subject - Have you ever thought to yourself "Gee, that's a nice photo, but it's too bad she has a car growing out of the side of her head?" Be aware of things in your image that take attention away from your subject, and reposition yourself (get a lower angle, get a higher angle, move left, move right) until they're gone. Also be aware of unwelcome things creeping into the edges of your image such as tree branches, ugly signs, power lines, etc, and move yourself around until you get a clean composition where the subject is the star. If you cannot completely eliminate distracting elements, minimize them. You may be able to eliminate them in post-processing with a crop, or more advanced technique. If you have a camera with an adjustable aperture, take the aperture as low as it will go to create bokeh (nice background blur) that will eliminate background problems naturally.
#3 Maximize File Quality - If your camera shoots RAW format, use it. The files are larger, but they are like digital negatives...you can go back and process the file differently as many times as you want to without destroying the original. If your camera is shooting JPEG, it has already thrown away ~80% of the original information before you even get a look at the photo. This results in more artifacts, and much less flexibility with post-processing, particularly when correcting exposure or white balance. If your camera only shoots JPEG, make sure it is set to record the highest quality possible (often called 'Fine') to minimize compression, and use the highest resolution possible as well.
#2 Learn From Others - You'll improve faster and with fewer headaches by learning from other people who are knowledgeable about photography than by your own trial and error. I highly recommend watching some episodes of The Grid, in particular their blind photo critiques like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=NwJua-pDOBc#t=953 After watching a few episodes, you will have built a critical eye that will prevent you from making these mistakes in your photos that might have taken you years to learn on your own. B&H photo also has a ton of free classes with well-known professionals on its youtube channel.
#1 Select More Interesting Subjects - If you want to take more interesting photographs, stand in front of more interesting things. Pictures of extremely common objects or scenes are unlikely to evoke an emotional response from people, no matter what angle you use, no matter what the light was like, and no matter what you do in post-processing. We've all been guilty of this to some extent. An interesting subject is something that can't be taught or replaced...go find one!
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