Wanna kick your photography up a notch? Here are 6 things you can do to begin improving your photography skills!
1. Carry a camera with you as much as possible. (I don't mean your smartphone!)
I don't care if it's a point-and-shoot camera or a Canon 5D, Mark III...carry a camera that's built to be a camera with you as much as you can. It's hard to improve your skills when you don't have a camera, right? Why don't I want you to count your smartphone? BECAUSE IT'S A PHONE WITH A CAMERA AS A SECONDARY FEATURE! Please don't come at me with "But my iPhone takes great photos..." Let me make one thing clear...You aren't going to take GREAT photos consistently with the camera on your phone and that cute li'l LED light that is used as a flash. You might get lucky every once in a while, but I can assure you that it will have very little (if anything) to do with your skills. Can a smart phone be an arrow in your photography quiver? Sure. Can it be your primary camera? NO! They're good in a pinch, but that's it. Wanna take big boy or big girl pics? Use a device that's built to be camera.
2. Learn where your camera's settings are, what they mean, and how to change them.
I understand that you may not want to become a professional photographer, but knowing this will separate you from most people who hold a camera. It will probably separate you from 90% of "professional" photographers. Of course, if you are going to learn your camera's settings you'll need to learn some concepts and terminology, which brings me to #3 and #4...3. Learn basic photography terminology.
ISO - The measure of a photographic film's sensitivity to light. On digital camera's it's the sensor's sensitivity to light comparable to that of film. The lower the ISO the higher the contrast and sharper the picture. The higher the ISO the lower the contrast and the photo is less sharp. Low ISO is good for photos where there is little motion and higher ISOs are good for action.
Aperture - Hole or opening that allows light to travel to the film or sensor. The size of the opening is referred to as the "f-stop". The lower the f-stop the more light is allowed in. The higher the f-stop less light is let in. Works in conjunction with the camera's shutter speed and ISO. Also works with focal length to set depth of field.
Shutter Speed - length of time a camera's shutter is open when taking a photograph. Works in conjunction with aperture and ISO.
Focal Length - Basically the length of the lens. The longer the focal length the higher the magnification, or zoom. Works in conjunction with aperture to determine the field of view.
To learn how to all of those work together stay tuned to this blog for information on classes offered by Gemini Multimedia!
4. Learn basic photography concepts
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| Rule of Thirds |
Rule of thirds - Divide your viewfinder into thirds and place your subject in one of those thirds. More often than not it makes the photo more engaging. In the photo to the right, notice how Joey (@joeysulipeck) is in the left third of the photo? Had he been centered the picture would not have been as aesthetic.
Bokeh - The aesthetic quality of the out of focus area of a photo.
Depth of Field - The in focus area of a photo
Fill the Frame - Click here for previous post explaining this concept.
Again, look for upcoming information on classes offered by Gemini Multimedia!
5. Find a mentor.
I can't stress how helpful this can be. A mentor is someone who can teach you what they know and nurture you in becoming a better photographer. The BEST thing about a mentor, in my opinion, is the opportunity they have to critique your photos. While you may have family and friends who go ga-ga over your work, a mentor will be honest with you when no one else will. If it's crap, they'll tell you it is. If it's great, they'll tell you that, too.
6. Bookmark this blog/Subscribe to photography magazines/Look to other's photography as inspiration.
Go ahead. Bookmark it now. I'll wait.
5...4...3...2...1...
Ok, now that you have done that here are some links to photography magazines and sites that I like.
Flickr - Goes to my personal account, but you can browse from there if you want
Pinterest - Great site for inspiration.
I hope this list helps you out! Of course, if you have any questions or idea for upcoming blog posts, feel free to e-mail me at ande@geminimm.com!
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