Tips for taking great photos

by Todd Rosspencer

1.   Photo + graphy = write with light

      ALWAYS pay attention to the light--that's what photography is.  Use natural light whenever possible and use a tripod to make it possible.  Use the flash outdoors to lighten up black shadows on people's faces (but only when necessary)  Don't EVER shoot into the sun unless you want a silouhette.

Natural light

Fill flash outside

Night silouhette

2.   Tic-Tac-Toe

      Pretend that your viewfinder (screen) is a tic-tac-toe board.  Avoid placing your main subject in the center square.  Place it in ANY of the other 8 squares.  Even if you're taking a picture of a person, get closer and get their eyes on the "upper line" of the tic-tac-toe board.  This is perhaps the simplest and best composition trick you'll ever learn.

3.   KISS (keep it simple, stupid)

      Decide what your subject is and don't let anything else get into the picture that distracts.  Some things compliment the subject while some things compete.  Too many subjects clutters the frame.

4.   In Your Face!

      Get close to something in your picture so that it feels in your face.  You need subjects/objects up close, in the middle, and in the background if you're going to create a powerful, 3D effect.  Anything appropriate can do, a tree branch, a door frame, etc.  Try not to let the objects overlap if possible.

A>   Know your camera.

         If you have a point-and-shoot, get familiar with the pre-set modes.  They make it easy for you.  If you have an SLR, spend the time to play with and master the weapon you wield.  In both cases, your owner's manual is your best friend.  Read up on something, then try it.  Cameras take pictures, YOU make images.

B>   Master your flash.

         Set it to flash outside to fill in harsh shadows, especially on people's faces.  Turn it off when natural light is available.  Flash flattens things and ruins great light.  It shouldn't flash unless you've made it flash.

C>   Be prepared.

         Have enough memory capacity.  Have spare batteries.  Have something to use as a tripod (gorilla-pod, scarf, coat, anything to stabilize the camera and let you get your hands off of it so that you can set the timer and get crisp-focus in low-light)

D>   Think ahead.

         Shoot the highest resolution possible so that your photos are worth enlarging and not just email.

E>   Throw away 75%.

         Shoot so much, from so many angles, that you get great shots and can throw away all the average ones.  It's tough at first but after you look through your pictures later and lover every image, you'll become a delete addict.

      Now go for it.  But do yourself a favor: stop taking pictures and start making images.  Bonus: Top 10 tips at www.kodak.com has great DO and DON'T photos of the same subject.