Whether you're getting a new camera, using the one that's been gathering dust since last Christmas or using your phone, there is ONE sure fire way to get better at taking pictures! It's the easiest trick in the book! You can throw out ALL of the rules and know that with this formula, I'm about to show you how to take better pictures!
I was at a Christmas party last week. Of course, I had my camera because I am the photographer of this particular group and was asked if I could "take a few candid shots"... (this request was funny to me since I had JUST read the comedic post about why you should have a photographer for a friend). And because my camera looks big and professional (cuz it is), it's an easy conversation piece. But I digress... So I was chatting with this person and she was talking about how she had always wanted to take a class or at least learn how to use the camera that's been sitting around being neglected. Like many, she hasn't really taken the time to learn how to do anything more than turn it on, take of the lens cap and make sure it's on AUTO. She was intimidated by all of the modes and buttons and numbers and yada yada, and admitted "It just seems like a LOT to learn!" She's right. There is.
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What I've learned about photography (as I continue to learn) is that photography isn't easy. I am constantly doing math while the lights change, people move or are moved (posed), looking for better light, back to math balancing all those numbers that help make a good picture, back to people moving, messy hair, collars popping, color of light, math, composing the image, what's going on in the background, etc... all this can happen for 1 picture. So yes, having to learn about f-stops and speed settings and ISO's and how they all work together is a lot. So how can you take better pictures? What's the formula? Easy:
Practice.
You hate that answer.
But it's true. You have to practice to get better. Even if you practice one thing at a time, you must. If you're using your phone as a camera, practice. Practice composing your image. Look at images you like (maybe you'll like some on my website?!...plug...) Practice using a filter on all of your images, say, Black and White. Notice how strong or how even light affects a black and white image. But take a lot of pictures! You can delete them all, so there's really no excuse.
If you are interested in learning about what all those icons and numbers and buttons mean on your point and shoot or non phone type camera, you must give yourself time to learn. I instructed this women to devote 10-20 pictures a day to each "mode". I suggested that she put the camera on AV (Aperture Priority...Canon), take a picture of a flower, move the f-stop, take another picture from the exact same spot, rinse and repeat. Then look at the images of the flower together and notice how each turn of the dial effects the image. Do the same with the ISO settings on day, then try TV mode (Speed Priority...which refers to the length of time the shutter stays open). You will never understand what all of these settings mean and how they effect your image if you don't practice. But keep it simple! You don't need to jump in to Manual mode right away and try and figure out how to make all three work together (we call this the Exposure Triangle). In the future, we'll drop in and discuss in more detail what each one of these settings mean and their relationship to getting the right exposure, but for now, just dive in! It doesn't bite or burn or even pinch a little!
Practice!
You're on Christmas Vacation!!!
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