Whether it’s writing or photography, getting skills in any discipline requires a concrete plan and action. With the flexibility that editing tools such as Adobe Photoshop offer, many people usually rely on post processing activities to improve their photos. However, there are a number of actions that you can take if you wish to greatly improve the images that you attain from photography. Here are the 6 easy ways to significantly improve your photography skills.
1. Go through your camera’s manual and apply what you’ve read
With all the celebration that comes with purchasing a new gadget, it can be easy to forget about the user manual. However, most people do not know that a camera’s manual is full of information that can help them learn how to take better photos and make the most of their cameras. If you still have your camera’s user manual kept somewhere, it’s never too late to go through it so as to apply what you’ve read. By doing this, you will understand what to do with its different settings and what each button is meant for. You do not have to read it from the beginning to the end but just skim through and look for what you don’t know. Also, do a google search.
2. Know the functions and the features of the camera
Irrespective of your camera, you should know how to operate it and how it works in order attain good results. It doesn’t matter if you are using a smartphone camera or a DSLR, knowing how to operate it will enable you to operate it effectively and also open up for you new possibilities. You can also look for information from various blogs and websites about your camera so that you know all about it. It’s also advisable to get a photography camera. This way, you will learn so many things that are not in the manual.
3. Keep your subjects sharp, unique and interesting
If you are looking to sharpen your skills fast, you need to keep your subjects sharp, unique, and interesting. Clear details in the photos will definitely draw views towards the subject. To take sharp pictures, use a tripod in little light conditions. You should also use the new effect in Adobe. It does a good job and also has a lot of improvement from the previous session.
4. Use a tripod
Just by using this you can greatly improve the quality of your pictures. When shooting photos, a tripod can give you stability and make the images to come out more balanced and sharper. This will also ensure that you don’t have any unwanted elements in the frame. You only need to ensure that you mount your tripod on a steady surface and that it fits your camera well. Once you’ve mounted it well, ensure that your tripod and camera are on a level ground. If need be, use a spirit level to check this. You wouldn’t want to produce slanted photos. If you are using a light tripod, have something heavy under it to improve the stability. This will anchor and prevent it from moving when you are capturing your photos. If you don’t have one you can purchase one which is affordable. While tripods can be expensive if you are just starting out you don’t have to use a professional model.
5. Read the latest photography books
You need to read photography books, browse photography photos online and attend exhibitions. Since photography is an art, you can learn a lot by simply studying it or looking at it closely. If you find a photo that you admire, you need to ask yourself what is in it that you like. You should then study how you can make your photo exactly the same as that one. Write or remember the information down so that you can apply the same the next time you are taking photos. Alternatively, just go straight to experimenting how to recreate this particular style with your gadget. Another way to sharpen your skills is by visiting online resources such as Adorama Learning Center to find tips and camera recommendations and anything else that’s related to taking photos.
6. Get a feedback from others
While exposing your work can be quite intimidating, the kind of feedback that you’ll get from others will help you know your mistakes and what needs improvement. There are several photo sharing sites where you can upload your photos for others to see. However, if you are not yet ready to share your photos, just ask photography enthusiasts to critique your work. You can also ask your family and friends to give you a feedback on your photos.
Wrapping up
Improving your photography skills is a life long process. While there are so many tricks that you can use to improve your tricks, the best way is to practice. More so, a few tweaks in your set up, knowledge, and approach is what you require to take better photos.
Subscribe to our RSS-feed and follow us on Twitter to stay in touch.
