The lost art of photography isn’t so lost. With today’s technological advancements, photography has simply evolved. Instead of a good ‘ol DSLR camera, we also have smartphones with incredible capabilities that are easily toted with us wherever we go. Rather than hours learning and utilizing photoshop, novices can play around with filters and editing apps. There are also a few staple tips and techniques that no matter what you’re using or your age, will help enhance your snapshots when trying to capture the moment.
- Get to know your camera. Take as many photos as you can when you’re starting out to get a feel for the different perspectives you can take, as well as what other features your equipment offers. When you take ten photos of the same subject, you can see which ones you like best and why—Is it composition? Lighting? Angle?—and that ‘why’ will help you determine how you take your next shot so you can start being more specific.
- Shoot candidly! Try to capture your subjects when they aren’t looking directly at you. Same goes for posing. Try not to! You’ll find you start capturing more emotions that way, and unexpected beauty in different angles and perspectives.
- Use your phone camera’s gridlines to superimpose lines onto your screen (not your photos themselves!) to achieve the “rule of thirds”: A photographic composition principle for pleasing results.
- Keep your lens clean! Regularly wipe your camera or phone lenses with a soft, microfibre cloth and deep them otherwise protected.
- In our digital age, it’s tempting to shoot everything—multiple times. Instead, try taking deliberate photos. First ask yourself: Am I genuinely interested in the subject I’m shooting? Am I using the light to my advantage and composing the shot to get the best possible results?
- Back up your photos! Every single one of them. Not just on a harddrive, but online in real-time, as well. We’ve all been there and lost important documents because of no back-ups or a crashed harddrive. Make sure you do it—multiple times.
5 Summer-specific Tips for Captivating Snapshots
Summer, especially, is a wonderful time to play photographer. Often packed with more adventures than the rest of the year, longer, brighter days also lend themselves to spectacular lighting opportunities.
Try these tips for capturing the season’s beauty:
1. Contrary to what your instinct might be, steer clear of totally bright sunshine! Direct sunlight can create harsh shadows—as well as that squinty-eyed look from your subjects. Find shady spots near walls, under trees or natural structures, or under overhangs. Especially for close-ups, avoid bright sunlight.
2. Golden Hour is the best hour to capture the season’s beauty, in our—and many photographers’—opinions. Morning or evening is your time to shine; and snap away to capture softer lighting that shows off summertime’s rainbow of hues. *Pro Tip: use HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode to help balance the light and dark elements in a high-contrast photo.
3. Summer is busy with vacationers from near and far. So whether you’re inundated by tourists or playing one elsewhere yourself, pick spots that are off the beaten path to create personal moments to capture. You’ll also have more time to play with angles and poses in a less crowded place.
4. It’s hot out there to lug around extras! Stay minimal. This goes for what you’re packing along (and why cellphone cameras are a great option!) as well as extra bags, gear, etc. You don’t want to have to watch your stuff while you’re snapping pictures, and always stay mindful of your surroundings and crowds.
5. Feel into the season and be whimsical! Pick spots that scream summertime vibes like the beach or a park. Try summer props like sunglasses, ice cream, or flowers.
Most importantly: Have Fun!
