Photography - Become a Better Photographer - Part I

1. Get out of Auto and select your own focus area
   
2. Focus and re-compose
   
3. Make use of edge-contrast
   
4. Manual pre-focussing
   
5. Use 'Live Mode' for improved manual focussing
   

No matter how careful you are, when you press the shutter button there is always some movement of the camera. At faster shutter speeds there is no noticeable effect on the picture but at slower shutter speeds, images can look blurry due to the camera movement. This is generally referred to as camera shake and is made worse as you zoom in with your lens.

Your camera's shutter speed, the focal length, the way you stand and the way you hold the camera all have an effect on the amount of camera shake.

One very important point I forgot to mention during this film is to always press the shutter down in a slow smooth motion, avoid pressing the shutter button too vigorously.

For todays' photographers, the image histogram is a very powerful tool, the trouble is that many people either don't know of their existence or think that they are too complicated.

The good news is that the histogram is actually very simple to read, and once a few simple concepts are grasped, it will enable you to take much better pictures.

For DSLR and Mirrorless Camera Users
Please note that this lecture begins in the same way as the next lecture in describing 'Depth of Field', but then it splits off and refers specifically to aperture priority, mostly used by DSLR and Mirrorless camera users

Improve your photos by using depth of field to control which parts of the image are in focus. Aperture size is the main control for depth of field, but focal length and how far away you are from your focussed subject also make a difference.

It's much easier to show than it is to explain, so get a better understanding by watching this film.

For Compact Camera Users Only
Please note that this lecture begins in the same way as the previous lecture in describing 'Depth of Field', but then it splits off and refers specifically to compact cameras.

Aperture size is the main control for depth of field, but on many compact cameras you don't have direct access to the aperture setting (and nor would many people want it!). Due to the size of the sensors inside compact casmeras, the images have a wide depth of field, most of the photo is in focus, so you are limited in your options.

But there is a way around it, you can use the built-in scene modes (you know the ones, Portrait, Landscape, Beach and Snow etc....) to provide some control of depth of field in order to determine what's sharp and what's not!

Many people think that a sunny day provides perfect light for picture taking. While that may be true for some types of photography (e.g landscapes and buildings), it's certainly not true for taking pictures of people.

Trying to take portraits on a sunny day can prove difficult, especially if you want to flatter your subject, and lets face it, who doesn't want to look good in their photos!!

This video will show you a simple way of getting a beautiful portrait on a sunny day.

Many people don't even consider it when taking photos, but the direction of light in photography is one of the most important aspects of any picture. Just giving a little thought to the position of the sun before taking the photo can allow you to capture more detail, add depth to your subject and add impact using shadows.

It's simple common sense, and all here in this film, give it a whirl now!

Occasionally you may find yourself in a lovely room with great light, and decide to take a photo. You'll probably just leave your cameras in the Auto mode, and this will result in your camera's flash firing.

This will usually spoil the photo and you'll end up with just a snapshot which doesn't do the scene justice.

This film shows how to make the best of a lovely interior scene.

How to turn your flash on and off
The ISO setting explained

You can get brilliant results indoors during the day using window light, it's so much better than switching the flash on.

Generally speaking, using your camera's flash will produce unflattering portraits, this is the first of a two part film describing an alternative to using your camera's flash indoors to get better photos. 

You can get brilliant results indoors during the day using window light, it's so much better than switching the flash on.

Generally speaking, using your camera's flash will produce unflattering portraits, this is the second of two parts describing an alternative to using your camera's flash indoors to get better photos. 

Stunning photographs can be taken when shooting into the light, it's a simple lighting technique called backlighting and can produce wonderful images.

This film reveals all.

If you like to take photos of people, I'm a firm believer that a reflector, even a cheap home made one, is a must-have accessory.

I'm in a local park for this lecture discussing the use of reflectors in outdoor natural light portraits. Watch as I take you through some simple, elegant steps to make a great portrait 

The 'rule of thirds' is a fundamental principle of good composition, and can have quite a dramatic effect on your images.

 It's a very easy technique to master and requires no special camera settings, so go out and practise it, and keep it in mind at all times when you frame your photos.

Watch out for this when watching dramas or films on TV or at the cinema, it's used all the time to give more impact to a scene. 

Use diagonal lines to add impact to your photos, it's easy to do and can be very effective. They can also help to draw the eye through a photo.

It's a simple compositional trick that can imply action and add depth to your photos, once you discover the secret you'll spot the technique used wherever you look... cinema TV and magazine images. 

Any time there is a strong line in a photograph, the viewers eye will naturally follow along it towards the actual subject. This can be anything from a telephone pole, the side of a building, a road or path, or even a dark shadow.

Leading lines can add drama to images, giving the photos a more emotional and compositional power.

It's a very easy technique to master and requires no special camera settings, so go out and practise it, and keep it in mind at all times when you frame your photos.

Also, watch out for these lines when watching dramas or films on TV or at the cinema, it's used all the time to give more impact to a scene.

Related lectures:-
Improved composition using diagonal lines
The rule of thirds
The half press of the shutter

While repetition in the humdrum of daily life can at times be a little boring, capturing them in a photo can add drama to the image.

Life is filled with patterns, many of which we overlook due to the fact that we see them so often and take them for granted, however once you get an eye for spotting them you’ll be amazed by what you see and you’ll wonder why you didn’t incorporate them into your photography before.

Foreground framing is a great technique for helping direct the viewer's eye right to the photo's star attraction.

A frame can also help clean up a composition by concealing distracting objects or by filling up a featureless sky.

Some subjects just seem to pop right out of the image, don't they? You can use light and colour to achieve this. But a very popular method is to blur the background whilst keeping the subject sharply in focus.

This film demonstrates the technique in detail for SLR and mirrorless camera users, it's much easier to do with these cameras, and looks great, so give it a go.

Some subjects just seem to pop right out of the image, don't they? You can use light and colour to achieve this. But a very popular method is to blur the background whilst keeping the subject sharply in focus.

This film demonstrates the technique in detail for compact and bridge type camera users, but bear in mind that due to the small sensor size of these cameras, the effect is nowhere near as pronounced as on a SLR, unless you photograph something really close up, i.e in the macro mode.

Having said all of that, even a slight blurring of the background, as shown in this film, will still help to improve a portrait.

Related lectures:-
Lens apertures explained
Use depth of field and start getting creative

It's so easy to do isn't it, you just didn't notice that lamppost sticking out of your husband's head, or the branch of a tree embedded in your girlfriend's shoulder.

They are the obvious ones, but even seemingly plain backgrounds can be distracting if they are a different colour or too bright. A busy or cluttered background can be quite distracting, ruin an otherwise nice portrait, but even slight mistakes in a background can lessen the impact of photos.

This film demonstrates the problem and offers some solutions. 

When most people look for a nice background for a photo in a rural environment, they'll choose a tree a or some flowers, or maybe a nice fountain.

While these can look nice, you can jazz up your images using something a little different

Grungy and industrial looking backgrounds can add a new dimension to you portraits, and they're not difficult to find, just keep your eyes peeled, this video shows you some ideas and examples.

When taking photos of your friends and family, just a few small adjustments to the way they're standing can make a huge difference to how relaxed they look, and that will translate into a more flattering picture.

Posing is quite hard to remember, so go out and practise these tips afterwards, otherwise you'll forget them (I used to!) 

Family photos look a whole lot better when people feel comfortable and relaxed and when you avoid cheesy family poses and gimmicks, this film shows you several specific family poses and small group poses that you can use to improve your group photos.

Part 1 of group posing deals with standing poses, these are arguably a little more difficult than seated posing and can look a little too stiff or formal if you're not careful.

Also, there are definite ways of flattering people so they look their best, and this film provides some ideas.

Download the standing poses cribsheet

Family photos look a whole lot better when people feel comfortable and relaxed and when you avoid cheesy family poses and gimmicks, this film shows you several specific family poses and small group poses that you can use to improve your group photos.

Part 2 of group posing deals with seated family poses, these are quick fire posing tips that you can go out and practise yourself, they can make a real difference to family and group photos and give them a far more professional look.

Also, there are definite ways of flattering people so they look their best, and this film provides some ideas.

Download the seated poses cribsheet

This lecture demonstrates about a dozen natural looking poses for women. They're really easy to do and can make all the difference when you're taking a portrait of your mum, yours sister, girlfriend or wife, or even just a friend!!

Female posing crip sheet PDF file

This film shows a couple of ways to take a specific type of photo of a baby, under a year old. It's really easy to do, you can use a compact camera or SLR and you can get fantastic photos that the parents will just love

Related lectures:-
The magic of Top Shade
How to turn your flash on and off
The ISO setting explained

This film provides a few tips on taking photos of babies once they're sitting up or crawling.

It's really easy to do, you can use a compact camera or SLR and you can get fantastic photos that the parents will just love. Things to remember:-

1. Find some good light
2. Avoid distracting backgrounds, don't put the baby on someone's lap
3. Have fun with the baby for some great expressions
4. Use a medium focal length lens, wide angles lenses can skew the perspective if you're too close and a telephoto lenses could make it more difficult to get full length shots.

In this film, I've got together with my friend Barbara, she's a great landscape photographer who kindly agreed to give up her time to show us her wonderful photos, and landscape photography tips and tricks.

Enjoy her great images from around the world, and listen to her talking through her thoughts about how she approached each photo opportunity and what she had to do to get the type of image she wanted.

This new video is a little different from the others so far, it lasts over 20 minutes and the format is quite different.

Yippee, it's snowing, it looks like a scene from a fairy tale out there, people having fun, sledging and maybe even throwing snowballs.

You've taken lots of photos and got some great shots... you think! Oh no, you've looked at the photos and erm... what's happened to your wonderful snowy pictures? Many of them look a bit dull, grey and maybe (dare I say), even a bit boring!

In this film, I'll show you how to take better photos in the snow, and how to capture some of that exciting atmosphere.

Related lectures:-
Exposure compensation explained 

You've probably realised by now from the other films that I'm not a big fan of on-camera flash. But obviously sometimes you don't always have a choice, and have to use a flash to light the scene.

Any flashgun used directly, whether built-in or an external type, will give hard shadows on the background, and that's because it's a small light source relative to the subject. The only way to soften the light, is to make the source of light larger, and the most effective way of doing this with on-camera flash, is to bounce it. The only types of flashguns which can be bounced are the external ones that can be attached to your cameras' hot-shoe mount.

This film shows the dramatic difference bouncing the flash can have on your indoor flash photos.

Have you noticed how portraits taken with the built-in or popup flash tend to reduce the attractiveness of your beautiful friends and family!! This happens because the small size of the flash, plus the fact that it's pointing directly at them, means that they will be lit by an unflattering, hard, kind of flat light, which also produces hard edged shadows.

Your options for getting better results with the built-in flash are limited, but there are a few things you can do to improve that harsh lighting look.

This film shows how you can soften those hard shadows by simple diffusing the light, it's the first of a 3 part series showing how you can improve indoor flash photos (don't expect miracles though!!)

Here's another great tip that shows how you can improve indoor photos taken with your cameras' built-in flash, this tip can be used regardless of the type of flash used.

Have you noticed how the backgrounds of indoor flash photos can look very dark and flat, almost like you took the photo in a cave? It doesn't always happen obviously, it varies depending on various circumstances, not least of which is how much light there already is in the scene. But if you're using your cameras' Auto setting, quite often the room light won't register on the photo and the whole scene will therefore be lit by the teeny weeny flash on the camera.

That's asking an awful lot of these small flashes, all things considered they generally do a decent job, but because of their small size, they often produce a flat, boring, and uninteresting type of light.

This film shows an easy tip that helps to balance the light from the flash with the ambient light in the room to get much more pleasing results. 

Ever wondered why the lenses used by professionals are so huge? What's the difference between those lenses and the one that came with your own SLR?This film is about camera lenses and discusses and compares zoom and prime lenses. Did you know for example, that zooming your lens can cause your shutter speed to slow right down and cause your otherwise stunning image to be spoilt by camera shake?

Most SLR's these days come with a kit lens and they're generally great quality, but to keep the costs down these type of camera lenses do have their limitations. A great addition to any SLR or mirrorless camera is a small fast prime lens, and they don't cost the earth.

All is revealed in this film

Everyone knows that zooming your lens in and out makes the subject larger or smaller in the frame. But what you may not realise is that zooming the lens (or using a telephoto instead of a wide angle lens) affects the look of your photos in other ways.

Although this film is about lens focal length and perspective, it's really the subject to camera distance which affects the perspective and which can have a big impact on your images.

Watch the film for more info

Everyone knows that zooming your lens in and out makes the subject larger or smaller in the frame. But what you may not realise is that zooming the lens (or using a telephoto instead of a wide angle lens) affects the look of your photos in other ways.

This film is about lens focal length and how it affects how much of the scene is in the frame, i.e the field of view. Even keeping your foreground subject the same size, the field of view will vary depending on the focal length.

Watch the film for more info

Everyone knows that zooming your lens in and out makes the subject larger or smaller in the frame. But what you may not realise is that zooming the lens (or using a telephoto instead of a wide angle lens) affects the look of your photos in other ways.

This film is about 'Depth of Field' and how changing the focal length affects how much of the image, from front to back,  is in focus. 

Here's a quick tip that shows a specific way of creating a fun, dramatic portrait.

Just put your subject up against a wall, fence, or shutters and shoot alongside it, it's really simple and requires no special settings.

Watch this film to see the amazing results you can get from this easy-to-do technique.

Related lectures:-
How the 'half press of the shutter' technique can improve your picture taking
Use the rule of thirds for better composition 
Better composition using diagonal lines 

Sometimes you can press the shutter button, and there's a delay before the camera actually takes the photo. This happens because the camera has to meter the scene and adjust the exposure, then it has to set the lens so that your subject is in focus.

This takes a little time, and is what causes the delay. Watch this film to find out how to avoid this so called 'shutter lag', whilst improving your focusing and exposure skills at the same time.

When you have a lovely set of photos after a holiday or family event, what do you do with them? Well, you can obviously print them or make photo albums, but you can't easily share those with distant friends.

Consider creating a slide show that you can share online, they're really easy to do and you can get stunning results.

Here's a couple of examples:-
Street People web slideshow (Default theme)
Street People web slideshow ('Lightflow' theme)

Fireworks displays evoke a lot of emotion as they are not only beautiful and spectacular to watch, but they also are often used to celebrate momentous occasions.

So, how to take photos of fireworks, well they aren't that difficult to photograph, and although it's best done with an SLR, there's a few tips here which describe how it can be done even with a compact camera.

Add a touch of glamour to your portraits. Use perspective to give your subject the appearance of longer legs, it's a simple trick that fashion photographers use all the time.

Watch this film to learn their little secret!

The first half of this discusses the Top Shade lighting technique, so you can safely skip the first half if you've already watched the Top Shade lecture.

This lecture describes a simple method of getting a beautiful light on your face, perfect for any type of close up portrait.This is something professional photographers use whenever they get the chance on location. It then discusses the background and shows ways of posing in a more relaxed and natural manner

This lecture shows some tricks for improving and refining the basic technique, small but subtle improvements can make a lot of difference.