How to be a good photographer

Landscape photographer Ansel Adams, once said, “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” But try as you might, “making” a good photograph can sometimes prove to be arduous. All too often, they turn out very dark, badly angled or bereft of colour or character. But if you are one of those who believe that you can do better, then read on.

Invest in a good camera

Instead of carrying around a lot of equipment, invest in any good DSLR camera and a few good lenses. Keep a lookout on websites like sigma-rumors.com, canonwatch.com, lens-rumors.com and others for new launches and deals. Remember to read the manual that comes with it.

Practice makes perfect

Try to make it a habit to shoot every day, for hours. You will get acquainted with camera settings and this will help you to experiment with different styles till you find one of your own. Familiarise yourself with concepts like ISO which can enhance the quality of your image. During daytime, it is advisable to use a lower ISO like 100 to 200 but at night it might be better to use a higher ISO setting.

Light up

Take a good look at which way the light is coming from. If it is behind the subject or on the side, the effect might be something interesting. Light and shadow plays a very big role in determining the brilliance of your photos. Whether it is sunlight, candlelight or a lamp in the living room, try to make maximum use of it. Some photographers have advocated the use of flash during the day, saying that it forces extra light on the subject making the exposure even. Some even say that shooting at the golden hour lends a bit of magic to the image.

Eye to eye

Make it a habit to look the subject in the eye and have a conversation. Ask questions and make it interesting. The more the subject relaxes, the better the photograph will be. This works very well for portrait photography. It is also a good thing to take permission from strangers before you take their photos.

Get inspired

Learn from any source – books, magazines or websites. There is no limit to what you can learn. Think of colours and shades and what could work well together. Think, even when you don’t have a camera in your hand. Picture a perfect frame in your mind.

Grip

To get a stable, non-blurry image, cup the lens with your left hand as you hold the camera body with your right. To make sure that your hand does not shake, lock your elbows to the side of your body.

These days even a camera phone comes with features that produce excellent photographs. The medium of photography is thus not the main issue, but your perspective. There are millions of happy people out there, seeing with their mind’s eye, the image they want to preserve as a memory. It is time to be one of them.