10 Tips for Beginner Photographers
One, Keep the Camera Steady
Beginner photographers often encounter the problem of blurry images, which is caused by camera shake. Therefore, it's important to avoid any unnecessary movement during shooting. Generally, hold the camera with your left hand and tuck your elbows into your chest, or lean your body against a stable object. When using a telephoto lens, always use a tripod. The technique of pressing the shutter button should be steady and gentle. Relax your entire body, adjust your breathing, then hold your breath while taking the shot. When shooting at a low angle, you can sit down or kneel on one knee to enhance stability.
Two, Keep the Sun Behind You
Photography is a perfect combination of light and shadow, and sufficient lighting is needed when shooting subjects. The simplest method is to position the sun behind you with some offset. This allows the light to illuminate the subject, making its colors and shadows brighter. A slight offset creates some shadows that reveal texture and depth. However, be careful not to let your own shadow enter the frame when composing the shot.
Three, Choose Your Shooting Orientation
Different ways of holding the camera (vertical or horizontal) result in different image effects. Vertically shot photos emphasize the height of the subject (such as forests), while horizontal shots emphasize width (such as continuous mountains). When using a compact camera, ensure that your fingers do not block the flash.
Four, Experiment with Different Styles
It’s important to constantly try new shooting methods or moods during photography; otherwise, your work may become monotonous. Personal photography has a lot of spontaneity—you can shoot wherever you go, as long as you find the scene interesting or meaningful. For example, you can capture close-up portraits, panoramic landscapes, or the same scene under different weather conditions.
Five, Get Closer to Your Subject
Sometimes, capturing just a specific part of the scenery rather than the whole subject can create a stronger visual impact. By getting closer to the subject, you can achieve better results than shooting from a distance.
Six, Enhance Depth of Field
Depth of field is crucial in photography. No photographer wants their photos to lack dimensionality and look flat. To add depth, include objects that show relative scale in your composition. For instance, if you're photographing distant mountains, place a person or a tree in the foreground. Using a wide-angle lens can exaggerate the normal spatial and depth perspective of the subject.
Seven, Correct Composition
The simplest way to highlight the main subject in photographic composition is to place it at the center of the frame. Since the subject is centered, the entire photo gains a special sense of stability. However, always placing the subject in the middle can become monotonous. A well-composed photo usually balances the elements effectively. One common technique in photography is the rule of thirds, where the frame is divided into three equal parts (horizontally and vertically), and the subject is placed along these lines or intersections. Try using the rule of thirds to diversify your compositions.
Eight, Capture Details
Using a wide-angle lens allows you to capture larger scenes, but this approach can make you lose many details, especially meaningful ones. Sometimes, it's better to use a zoom lens to narrow the frame and capture interesting small details.
Nine, Pre-focus for Portrait Photography
When shooting portraits, you can wait for the right moment after determining the shooting position and angle, pre-adjusting exposure and focus. Aim to finish shooting quickly to reduce the subject's nervousness and obtain more natural expressions. In changeable weather, the light also changes, so it's advisable to take more photos to have enough options for final selection.
Ten, Maximize Lens Performance
For most cameras, the optimal aperture range for best performance is between 5.6 and 8, adjusting the largest aperture towards smaller settings by 2-3 stops. Ensure camera stability by using the correct holding technique and body posture, and select a higher shutter speed (e.g., 1/125 second for a 100mm lens on a 135 camera). If slower shutter speeds are necessary, use a tripod to maintain camera stability and ensure clear imaging. Different colored lens filters can create distinct tonal differences between certain colors in the scene. A UV filter can protect the lens from rain and fog while minimizing the effects of ultraviolet light in coastal and mountainous regions.