If you have finally bought your first DSLR camera but you’re not quite sure how to use it yet, or you are just searching for useful tips to improve your photography skills, you are definitely at the right place!
There is much advice that you can take from web pages that cover such topics and we highly recommend reading as much as possible so that you can gain more knowledge and gradually advance in photography. However, in this article you will be introduced to 5 extremely practical ones, which will not only be beneficial, but also might boost your creativity level.
1. The Rule of Thirds
To use the rule of thirds means to imagine dividing your image into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, so that you have 9 equal parts.
Following this composition rule will most certainly make your photo look more naturally and balanced. Moreover, it will help you put an emphasis on the part of the picture that you find most interesting and important, and will draw the viewer’s attention towards it. The best way to achieve that is by placing the points of interest in the intersections or along the lines.
2. Exposure
In order to capture good photographs you need to understand how to expose an image properly. This will probably be a little bit confusing at the beginning, but don’t get discouraged - practice makes perfect!
In photography, exposure is the amount of light which reaches your camera sensor, The three camera settings you need to think about when it comes to brightness are shutter speed, aperture and ISO.
The shutter speed refers to the amount of time your camera lens will stay open. Using slower shutter speed will let more light, but can create blurriness. In contrast, faster shutter speed will allow less light to pass but can capture quick objects like they are frozen in time.
Aperture – this refers to the size of the opening in the lens diaphragm. Smaller numbers mean a larger opening and more shallow depth of field in your images, while larger numbers let through less light, but make more of your image look sharp.
ISO – it determines how sensitive the sensor or film is to light and how fine the grain of your image will be. The easiest way to find out what ISO you should use is to watch the light meter on your screen. It will be perfect if it lines up in the middle. If it is to the right it is overexposed. In that case you should keep the ISO where it is, then adjust the shutter speed faster. If it is to the left it is underexposed. Fix that by moving the ISO up. Usually, for darker scenarios you will need to use higher ISO, but it will bring more noise to your photo.
3. Focus on the eyes
When taking portraits make sure you focus on the eyes of the person. This will make your photo more appealing to the viewer and most certainly will catch their attention. The eyes are said to be the windows to the human’s soul and the most expressive feature that they have, so by focusing on them you will be able to capture the emotion.
4. Try not to use flash indoors as it can look harsh and unnatural. Instead, push the ISO up and use as wide aperture as possible.
5. Learn all the rules, so that you can break them later! Don’t forget to experiment and get out of your comfort zone from time to time!
Good luck, and always be ready for new adventures! Don’t forget to take your camera with you!
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