21 Digital Photography Secrets

By
David Peterson
1. Move In Closer
Almost any shot will look better if you take two or three steps closer to your subject.
Filling the frame entirely with your subject will make a terrific difference to your
photos.

Alternatively, instead of moving closer, use the Optical or Digital Zoom of your
camera to get a close up shot.

When taking shots of family and friends, most people place the subject's full body in
the frame, or place head and arms in the shot. Instead, fill the frame with your
subject's FACE only - particularly if they are smiling or are in a moment of reflection.

Why does this work? With less clutter in the image, there's less to draw the eye away
from the main subject of your photo. Also, human faces (particularly children's faces)
are something we all feel pleasure looking at.

If you can't get close enough when you're taking the shot, you can zoom in later
using photo editing software - crop out everything except the subject's face and see
what a difference it makes.

When using the viewfinder for close shots, be careful of Parallax. Because the
viewfinder is not at the same position as the camera's lens, centering the subject in
the viewfinder may mean it is not centered for the lens resulting in an off-center final
picture. Most digital cameras now come with an inbuilt LCD screen. You can
eliminate this problem by using the LCD - which shows you what the lens sees -
rather than the viewfinder.

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2. Use Optical rather than Digital Zoom
Cameras are marketed with both an Optical Zoom and Digital Zoom capability.

If you've used a film camera, you'll be used to optical zoom. Optical zoom uses the
lens of the camera (the optics) to bring the subject closer. Digital zoom uses clever
software to digitally enlarge a portion of the image - thus simulating optical zoom.

So, which is better? Definitely Optical zoom. Here's why.

Digital zoom is not really 'zoom' in the strictest definition of the term. Digital zoom just
enlarges the image. Eg it takes a portion of the image and enlarges it back to full
size. You lose quality because of the enlargement process so photos that have been
taken with digital zoom won't look as good as those without.

You can perform the same result using image editing software on your computer. In
fact, it can be better to crop and enlarge using your image software in your computer
as you can decide exactly what part of the image to enlarge, and how much to
enlarge by.

So when taking shots, use optical zoom only. If you need to zoom in further, use your
editing software to select the best part of the image to keep. Ensure your camera
warns you when it's switching to digital zoom from optical zoom, or use your settings
to disable digital zoom entirely.

Why is clarity important? The more clarity you have in your image, the larger the
printed size can be without the image appearing fuzzy, or blocky. If you want to keep
clarity in your images, use the optical zoom whenever possible, and avoid the digital
zoom.

How do you use Optical Zoom? When you zoom in using your camera, it will use
Optical zoom first and then use Digital zoom. You can usually set your camera to
notify you when it starts to use the Digital zoom, or tell it to not use digital zoom at all.
Consult your manual for details.

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3. Place your subject off-center
Rather than placing your main subject in the middle of the screen, place it to one side
and ensure something interesting is in the background that fills the remainder of the
image.

This can be especially effective if the background has the same theme. For example,
if photographing a child opening a Christmas present, frame them to one side and
have the Christmas Tree with unopened presents filling the rest of the image.

There are a few guidelines that can help you place your subject in the frame.

The Rule of Thirds

One of the most popular rules in photography is the "Rule of Thirds". It is a simple
rule that can add dynamism to your photos. Simply, divide the image into thirds both
horizontally and vertically. When composing your shot, place important elements
either along these lines, or where the lines intersect - NOT at the centre of the frame.

For example, place a subject's eyes where the top line is, or place your subject on
the place in the image where two of these lines intersect.

It's a very simple rule to follow and will result in a nicely balanced, easy on the eye
picture. It also helps get rid of the 'tiny subject and large amount of space' tendency
because you need to position items relative to the edges of the frame.

Having said this, the Rule of Thirds is also one of the rules you'll want to break often!
This is fine - the Rule of Thirds is more of a guideline and sometimes you will find a
better image when you break the rule.

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4. Photographing Children
Children make a wonderful subject. Here are some tips for ensuring photos of
children are even more memorable.

Meet them eye-to-eye

Bring yourself down to the child.s level . even if you need to crouch down. This will
give your shots a 'kids eye view' and won't distort their image (as taking the shot from
above does).

Capture natural expressions

While posed shots are great, often better results can be gained by capturing an
image when their thoughts are preoccupied with something else . eg while at play.
You.ll capture their faces enjoying the moment rather than thinking about the camera.

Familiarity ensures success

Children who have grown up having their photo taken will be a lot less likely to freeze
or show off in front of a camera. Start early and make photo taking a part of every
day out.

Children grow up quickly

Record their growth from toddler to child to young adult by taking a family photo
every year around the same time . either the first day of school, or during spring
events.

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5. Take More, And Erase Your Shots
The ability to erase your photos is one of the major advantages of a digital camera.
You'd be mad not to use this to the fullest extent!

Take MANY more shots than you think you need, and then erase those that aren't
right.

Every half an hour, go back through your most recent photos erase any that don't
make the grade, or you have better versions of.

Because you'll be erasing often you can just keep the 'best of the best'. Erasing often
also ensures you don't need a large memory card, as it will not be storing your not-
so-perfect images.

If you're always pressed for time, you can either invest in a larger memory card, or
copy your images to another storage device like a laptop or card storage unit until a
later point.

This is also a huge tip when photographing groups. With such a large number of
people, there always seems to be someone blinking, or looking the other way.
Having a large number of shots means you can pick the best of them to keep.

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6. Preset your Exposure and Focus
When set to auto, some cameras can take a while to adjust for white balance and
focus. This is the 2-3 second delay between when you first push the shutter button,
and the shot actually being taken.

If this happens with your camera, try presetting these by holding the shutter release
half way down to tell the camera to focus before you need to take the shot.

Then, keep your finger held half way down until you get the perfect shot, or use your
camera's 'lock exposure' feature to keep the exposure settings locked until you find
the right time to shoot.

Presetting your exposure and focus can REALLY help out when taking shots of
children. They tend to not sit in one place waiting for you to adjust your camera, so
the best shots are taken when you are prepared for a candid moment - eg when the
child is engrossed in a task.

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7. Use A Tripod
Yes, tripods can be a hassle to carry around with you but they help you take great
shots in two ways.

First, the time you take to get out the tripod, set it up and position the camera on it
will slow your picture taking down. This means you'll become more aware of other
elements like composition of the image, and lighting. The more focussed you are to
external conditions, the more likely you will be to take a great shot.

The added advantage is your camera is more steady allowing you to take razor-
sharp images - particularly in low light situations.

An alternative to the tripod is a 'mono pod'. These only have one leg and don't have
the stability of a tripod, but they have a greater stability than just your hands -
particularly if you lean them against something.

If you do a lot of mountain walking, there are also extendable walking canes (like a
ski pole) that are great for helping you walk up steep hills. The top unscrews to reveal
a tripod mount underneath turning it into a mono pod.

Tripod Tip : If you have a lightweight camera, you might consider purchasing a ultra
lightweight tripod. These are small, don't weigh much and easily fit in a backpack or
camera bag.

Extra Tip : You don't need to purchase a tripod either! Any horizontal surface around
can make a tripod - arms of chairs, railings, rocks, anything! Be very careful not to
damage your camera, though as cameras have a tendency to slip and break when
perched on chairs, rocks etc.

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8. Unusual Angles
Most photos are shot at eye level. I think this is because traditionally, you needed to
have the viewfinder up to your eye to ensure you get everyone in the shot.

Because most digital cameras have an inbuilt LCD, you can now take the camera
away from your eye and try taking photos from unusual angles.

Try tilting the camera left or right to better position your subject in the frame. Try
taking the photo from below, or above your subject. Try getting further away or
closer. The main point is to move the camera away from eye level and experiment!

There's always more than one way to photograph a subject. Using different camera
angles can make an otherwise boring image really stand out. The more you practice
using different angles, the quicker you'll know what works and what doesn't.

Angle Tip : Lie on the ground and point your camera towards the sky for an
interesting angle to shoot large monuments with.

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9. Using Flash During The Day
Interestingly, one of the best uses of your flash is during bright sunlight! I know it
sounds strange but it's true.

A flash helps to eliminate dark shadows (for instance under the eyes and chin of
faces). It also helps to emphasize your subject.

When you take pictures of subjects with bright light behind them, for example a
portrait that is backlit, or a duck swimming in water reflecting the sun, the camera will
be fooled by the bright surroundings so the subject appears dark.

By turning flash on, you will fill in the shadow areas making the picture much more
pleasing.

It can also be used to add a sparkle to eyes, and to reduce shadows under the nose
and eyes when pictures are taken when the sun is bright and high in the sky (eg at
midday).

Nature photographers even use flash to ensure the nooks and crannies of flower
petals are properly lit - to reduce shadows.

Professional photographers use flash much more often than amateurs.

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10. Use Continuous Shooting
Most digital cameras have a continuous shooting mode, where shots are taken one
after the other in rapid succession.

When taking shots, there is often a short delay between when you press your finger
on the button, and when the picture is actually taken. This delay may mean your
subject has finished their action (eg blowing out candles on a cake) and you have
missed the magic moment.

With Continuous Shooting you can take a sequence of shots and keep just the right
one. Continuous Shooting also increases you chances of capturing a candid
moment.

Where else can this be useful? Any shots of children or group shots will benefit from
continuous mode.

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11. Give Yourself A Theme
Sometimes you need to think creatively to find better shots. Set yourself a theme to
give your brain a head start.

For example, on a vacation choose a different color every day and ensure all your
shots for that day have that color in that image. Or shoot only shots with triangles in
them.

Other examples of themes are:

Fences
Bright Colors
Time
Cliche
Unfinished
Repeating Patterns
Desperation
Bliss

Make sure your theme is simple otherwise you'll be more pre-occupied with getting a
shot in line with your theme than the image itself.

Another option for a theme when on vacation is to choose a selection of themes that
captures the essence of the destination. Every area has themes relating to its
landscapes, climate, cities, culture etc. Do some research by looking at local
postcards or talking to taxi drivers to get an idea of the good picture taking locations.

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12. Look For Light
Different lighting can change the mood and feel of a shot, or be the difference
between a mediocre and stunning shot.

The light from the setting sun can produce wonderful lighting for a subject, as does
sunlight through leaves. Maybe you see a shaft of light between two large objects
such as buildings that can be a perfect backdrop for your subject.

Other options for different light sources at night include :

Neon lights make great night time subjects. You can silhouette your subjects in
front of them, or use them as a subject themselves.

Use a long exposure on a tripod to capture streaks of car lights on a road or

highway, or other moving lights like on a ferry.

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13. Use Red Eye Reduction Flash
Most newer cameras have two flash modes. Standard and Red Eye Reduction.

The Red Eye Reduction flash causes the camera to flash multiple times before taking
the shot to get the subject's eyes used to the bright light.

Use this whenever taking photographs of people looking directly at the camera in low
light.

Many people don't realise they needed to use the red-eye flash until after they look at
their photos after the event. So remember to use red eye reduction whenever taking
photos in the following situations :

People looking directly at the camera

Low Light
Using your flash.

It is also possible to remove Red Eye with software programs if you don't have this
feature on your camera. There are a few free programs available to do this on the
Internet.

Such as Picasa (http://picasa.google.com). This is a free image manipulation

program from Google that does a great job of removing red eye.

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14. Don't Rely On Flash
In previous tips, we've discussed using your flash. There are occasions, however,
where using a flash ruins the mood of the event you are photographing.

Why? A flash tends to create harsh subjects and will ruin any natural mood.

So, rather than using the flash whenever your camera tells you to, use available light
whenever possible. In a dark situation, it's often better to open the shutter for longer
to let in more light, or turn on existing lights to illuminate the room than to use the
flash.

In daytime and when your subject is inside and near a window, have them face the
light and position the camera between the window and your subject. This will allow
the sunlight to light your image fully.

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15. Use Different Lenses and Filters
There are a wide variety of lenses and filters available to increase the range of
options you have for shooting a photograph.

Note that not all digital cameras come with the ability to attach different lenses and
filters. Check the manual for your camera.

Some lens types include :

Wide Angle
Telephoto
Fish Eye

Using a Wide Angle lens is good for shooting a indoor room, or shooting a mountain
vista. A TelePhoto lens can be useful when you need a close up. TelePhoto lenses
are bascically a better optical zoom.

Filters include :

Polarizing
Soft Focus
Cooling/Warming
Graduated

A polarizing filter can be the most useful filter to own. A Polarizing filter can deepen
the color and contrast in the sky, eliminate glare from water or reflective surfaces, or
cut through fog like haze. Soft Focus filters generate more diffused looks for
romantic, moody, atmospheric, foggy or glowing effects in your shots.

Cooling filters add more blue to an image giving a psychological effect of calming or
serenity in the final image. Warming filters cut out excess blue in an overcast sky to
add more reddish tones to the image and make your photos look less harsh.

Finally, graduated lenses help for scenes that have a huge difference in light level -
eg late in the day when the sky is still bright, but the foreground is in shadow.

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16. Use Predefined Modes
Many people don't know that most cameras now come with selected modes for
taking shots. Eg Landscape, Cloudy Day, Full Sun, Indoors, Night.

Changing the mode of your camera to match your situation can result in better shots,
as the camera has a better chance of selecting the shutter speed, flash and other
exposure choices for a perfect picture.

Camera makers put a lot of thought into the settings for each of the different modes
and tailor the settings to what will work well with their camera. So don't be afraid to
use the predefined scene modes of your camera.

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17. Don't add frills
Some manufactures give you a feature that can imprint the current date and time
onto your image. Or they offer to imprint other stats like the current exposure
settings, or shot number.

Turn these off!

You don't want anything to distract you or your viewer from the subject of your photo.

Modern digital cameras record the time and date the shot was taken anyway in a
separate part of the image file anyway, and most digital printing places will stamp the
back of the image with the time and date the shot was taken so you can always see
it.

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18. Use the LCD Monitor to preview
The LCD monitor will show you what your final image will look like. It won't be as
large in size as your final image, but you will get enough of a feel for the image to
know how your shot will turn out.

If your camera can show you a half second freeze of your shot just after you have
taken it, turn this feature on. The half second will give you enough time to see if the
image was well framed, and have the correct exposure or if you need to take another
one.

However the LCD uses a lot of battery.

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19. Look for Reflections
Water is a fantastic element to include in your photos, as the reflections it generates
can make your image stand out.

Keep a look out for water around your environment when you shoot. Reflections from
lights, or splashes of color can really help with the ambience of an image.

Rainy days are particularly good as puddles abound!

Extra Secret: Photographing just the reflection and leaving the subject out is a great
way to produce abstract images.

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20. Shooting Vacations
Here are some tips for helping with your vacation shots

Take plenty of memory!

Make sure you have extra memory cards, have another storage facility like a Laptop
or media storage unit.

Get close

Don't stand too far from your subject - instead get nice and close so you can see their
face. Either a three-quarter shot, or profile generally works well.

Candid counts

Images with people are usually more interesting when the subject is caught in a
candid moment. When setting up for a posed shot, try to include something
interesting to liven up the shot.

Make your trip a story. Create a visual diary by photographing landmarks along your
journey such as signposts and street scenes. You can also capture the mood of the
day - If you feel bright and happy, shoot some scenes which will capture that feeling.
If you're moved by what you see, ensure your shots convey that feeling.

Take shots at meals

This is the time when family is gathered around. Take advantage of it by taking an
image or two of your relatives around the dinner table. Ensure you use a the red eye
reduction mode of your flash and activate the self timer if you also wish to be in the
shot.

Include the mundane

Most vacation photographers just photograph landmarks and scenery. Make your
vacation shots more interesting by including the mundane - washing the dishes,
taking off in the car, setting up camp, waiting for an aeroplane etc.

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21. Clean your Camera
If your images always turn out all blurry, it may mean your lens needs a clean. Most
high end cameras come with threads to which you can attach a SkyLight (or UV)
filter. This helps to protect the lens from not only dirt, but scratches. Cheaper
cameras don't have threads so remember to cover the lens when not in use and try
not to touch it.

Don't clean the lens too often - depending on how often you use your camera, every
few weeks or few months is fine. To clean your lens, pick up a lens cleaning kit from
your local photo store. Use the lens brush and air blower to remove any loose
clinging particles. Place a drop of lens cleaning fluid onto some lens tissue (or a
cloth) and wipe the lens clean with a circular motion. Use the blower to dry the lens,
or let it dry naturally. Don't use any abrasive solution (such as soap) or wipe too hard
on the lens as you can wipe away the special coatings.

Watch out you don't create a 'worn spot' by cleaning your lens the same way each
time. Alternate the circular motion with up and down or sideways movements
sometimes.

Ensure you protect the other parts of your camera as well. Particularly the Memory
Card slot and Battery contacts. If you find they have any corrosion, you can remove it
easily with a pencil eraser. Make sure you remove the excess eraser that can get left
in the compartment with an air blower. Never ever insert anything into the memory
card slot that isn't meant to be there, as you could break the small pins. To keep
clean, it's best to leave a memory card in the slot, or at least keep the cover closed.

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