Creating Beautiful Memories
A family portrait could be one of the essential memorabilia you can have in the house. It is a photograph of the whole family that will remind us of the one thing that matters when everything else changes. Someday, when all kids grow up and parents retire from their tiresome jobs, they will look at their family portrait and will reminisce all the moments spent together.
Our world is indeed full of beautiful places and sceneries, and we have our advanced technology to thank that we can witness the wonders of different parts of the globe. People travel to see beautiful places, meet new people, taste new cuisines, experience different cultures, and learn about the world we live in, and they can share their experiences by taking photos of all the unique and extraordinary things they encounter.
Photographers give a glimpse of what’s out there through the images they capture. Somehow, people who see their photos get a sense of motivation and inspiration. They would realize they have something to look forward to – to be at the same place, at a perfect moment, and experience the same happiness they see in photographs.
There are millions of photos we see on the internet every day, and some of them are undeniably stunning. Photos have the power to influence the mind of a person just by looking at it, and some have mastered the art of capturing the best scenes and moments.
How To Capture The Best Shots:
Great photographers know that every space in the frame should capture something meaningful. If you are trying to catch an emotion or an action, make sure your distance is just about right to be able to get it. Don’t be afraid to move closer to your subject. See and feel the moment you want to capture.
Whether the light is coming from the sun, lamp, or what not, remember that you can use it to your advantage. Get the right place and position to create highlights and dramatic shadows that can add magnificence to your photos. Light is essential in creating a masterpiece.
You can use the flash during the daytime, especially when the sun is strikingly bright. When there is too much light coming from the sun, there are uneven highlights and shadows on the subject. Use the flash to eliminate shadows and create a balanced exposure.
When you’re trying to capture a smile, you can bring out some humor and tell a joke. Nothing beats a genuine smile that comes from laughter.
Don’t just invest in expensive gears. Instead, invest in your knowledge. Read and learn from photography books. You can also search for the works of famous photographers, so you can get an idea of how they make amazing photos.
Observe your subject through your eyes. Feel the message you want to convey. Sometimes, the key to capturing the best moments is to look at them with our lenses down and our eyes focused.
You don’t have to carry your bulky camera with you all the time. There are smartphones on the market right now which can do just about what a professional camera can do. Always be ready to take photos, because you may never know when and where the lightning is going to strike.
Make it as simple as possible. Avoid trying to capture multiple elements in a photo. Focus on one or two subjects.
Make the camera an extension of your body. Practice your reflexes to respond to what you see by using your finger to click and capture a moment.
Know all the rules in photography then break them. Learn your techniques and develop your style. You don’t have to follow every photographer. You can have aspecific eye and mark in seeing and capturing the best photos.
Life consists of photos taken every millisecond that can only be remembered by our mind, and being able to capture an extraordinary moment is just priceless!
Photography is one of the many hobbies that can foster happiness. While this practice used to be expensive during the time of film cameras, camera phones have made it significantly more accessible. But how exactly do photos bring us more joy? Let’s find out.
Fosters Creativity
Creative activities like painting, pottery, and music can be very expressive. They can help reduce stress and anxiety and make us generally happier. Photography is another one of these practices that can help those creative juices flow.
A good challenge to keep you active is to take or post one picture a day. It pushes us to find something worth capturing every day. “When you challenge yourself to learn a new skill, you are building your intellectual health. People who pay attention to their intellectual wellness often find that they have better concentration, improved memory, and better critical thinking skills,” says Marjie L. Roddick, MA, NCC, LMHC.
Acts As A Journal Or Diary
Another expressive activity is journaling. Alison Stone, LCSW states that “Journaling is great for enhancing self-awareness through helping us detect and track patterns of behavior, thoughts, and feelings.”However, not everyone is fond of or comfortable with writing. As an alternative, a visual diary can help you document memories and special occasions.
On days where we feel a bit down, our photo journals can remind us of better times. Even pictures of everyday life activities can boost our mood. Our collection of photographs can also serve as something we can share with others.
Reminds Us Of The Things We Love
As many people say, nothing is truly permanent. Our loved ones will pass, events will end, and memories can fade. However, a photograph can be somewhat more lasting. Even when we graduate from school, move to a new city, or find a new job, our photos will remain unchanged.
While it does not bode well to cling to the past, looking back helps us remember the good moments. Moreover, it helps us realize how far we’ve come since then.
Connects You To Others
If you’re looking to get into photography, you’ll be glad to know that the community is vast and very welcoming. From online groups to neighborhood gatherings, you’re sure to find people who are always willing to share.
Many participants find that the community provides a sense of belongingness. You can exchange tips on how to take better photographs and even collaborate on shoots. This social aspect of the hobby allows people to feel more connected to others and, thus, happier as a whole.
Makes Us More Engaged And Attentive
Most people say that those who frequently take photos aren’t “living in the moment.” However, according to a study from the University Of Southern Carolina Marshall School Of Business, photography can create a better experience.
During their research, they asked two tour groups not to use their phones. Then, they encouraged a different set of participants to take photos. They observed the latter explored and looked at museum exhibits longer. Likewise, the third group also felt more “immersed” in their meals during lunch.
Researchers say that asking people to take photos makes them actively look for things they want to document. In this way, they can find things that make them happy and want to hang onto. As Roya R. Rad, MA, PsyD advises, “Give yourself permission to do some serious emotional healing to become your happiest self and remember, it is a process more than a destination.”
Seeing a camera can often prompt a smile from the person who has their picture taken. However, we don’t always get to see the person behind the lens. Photography doesn’t just bring happiness to those in the front of the camera but also the photographer. Taking pictures can bring about greater creativity and remind us of things that bring us joy. It connects us with others and keeps us engaged with life. By looking through the lens of a camera, we capture moments, memories, and happiness.
Learning about photography is not an easy task. It is even more difficult if you are just starting out and you have no idea where to begin. Taking pictures here and there may improve your photography skills to a certain extent. However, you will be unable to advance your shooting techniques without proper guidance. Since that’s the case, we are more than happy to provide you with what you need to be able to start your venture in photography.
Things Beginners Should Do
The tips and essentials in this article will help shape the knowledge you need for taking pictures. It will also aid you to proceed in the right direction rather than making blind attempts. We will also give you the necessary techniques to boost the results of your shots.
Getting the Right Equipment: Buying expensive equipment will not make you a better photographer. What you need to do is find the right camera for the kind of pictures you will take. It is better to start with beginner-friendly cameras considering that this eases the difficulty of the shots you make. Complicated cameras have numerous features, but you also need sophisticated skills to use them. As a result, beginners will only end up impairing their shots if they try to use them.
Read About Your Cam: Getting to know your camera is a fundamental step. It will allow you to see its strengths and weaknesses then use them to your advantage when taking photos.
Take Lots of Photos: This is self-explanatory. Taking lots of shots will improve your skills little by little. After a long time, you will be able to see your improvements when you browse the old pictures you made. Using a digital camera will be efficient for this step due to its ability to show your shots instantly rather than wasting precious film.
Associate With Other Photographers: Getting together with other photographers is advantageous in every angle. Joining local camera clubs, competitions, and conventions will promote your competitive spirit. Additionally, you will be able to exchange information, techniques, and opinions with other photographers.
Try Everything And Ask for Opinions: It is a reasonable thing to focus on one kind of aspect in photography. However, it would be excellent to try different things from time to time to give yourself room for improvement. It is also a marvelous idea to ask friends and family members for their opinions regarding the photos you made. It will surprise you with the amount of information it can give you for self-improvement.
Enjoy Every Moment: Don’t stress and force yourself for quick improvements rather than enjoy every moment you capture in film. Photography is about the heart and mind going hand in hand to produce the best photo results. Take your time to look around because stimulus and inspiration are everywhere for you to find.
Learning photography has its essentials. The step-by-step process can help an amateur photographer experience the benefits of enhancing their knowledge and skills. You can never run out of ideas and things that you can learn about photography.
DSLRs are still some of the most impressive cameras you can buy, despite the emergence of powerful cameras on smartphones. Any committed photographer would eventually want to transition to using DLSRs. These cameras have impressive hardware and software that allow unparalleled freedom in making the most out of your shots.
However, expect to shell out at least $500 to get your hands on one of these cameras. Their relatively high costs mean that you need to choose the camera you want to buy carefully. Buying a camera with frills that you don’t need or one that you’ll quickly grow out of can easily dampen your photography spirits. Taking the time to assess what you want to get out of a DSLR camera can help you avoid wasting money and effort down the line.
Assess Your Needs
First, you should take some time to figure out how you’ll be using your camera. Do you want a DSLR for general-purpose photography? Do you want a model that excels in taking landscapes? How about low-light photography? Will you use the camera to shoot fast-moving objects or underwater subjects?
Keep in mind that you’ll be tempted to think that you’ll use the camera to take exotic shots. However, people tend to overestimate the times that they’ll use their camera for unusual scenarios. Think of the most common shot that you’d like to take, then consider it when you start assessing models.
Basic Specifications
DSLRs have two components: a body that contains the sensor and other electronics and a removable lens that can sometimes be adjusted. You’ll need to check out the body and see if it’s ergonomic. Can you easily twiddle with the controls? You should also be comfortable with the size and weight of the camera, especially if you’ll be using it a lot for outdoor photography.
Moving to more technical specifications, you’ll probably encounter first the megapixel count, abbreviated as MP, of the sensor. Higher MP gives you pictures with more resolution but doesn’t necessarily translate to better image quality. If you’re not planning on making large prints, skip the high MP counts.
What you need to focus more on is the sensor size. Larger sensors take in more light, resulting in better image quality. However, they also make the camera body bulkier. In many cases, investing in larger sensors is a good idea.
You should also check the available modes of the camera. DSLRs exist to give users manual control, but many models also offer automatic and semi-automatic modes that can be useful at times.
If you can, take some practice shots to see how the camera performs first-hand. Test the autofocus performance by pressing the shutter halfway while focusing on different objects.
Other features to note include battery life, ruggedness, and resistance to the elements.
Assessing The Lenses
Even the best DSLRs can’t compensate for bad lenses. Many cameras come packaged with kit lenses, but their performance is passable at best, and they offer limited options. While you can buy better lenses, it wouldn’t hurt to check the kit lenses, especially since they can be costly.
You generally want larger apertures, which means that the lens can admit more light. Your desired focal length will depend on whether you want to shoot near or far objects. If you regularly take photos at different distances, consider a zoom lens which allows you to vary the zoom.
You can choose from a variety of DSLR brands and models in the market. Your chosen camera should suit your experience level and preferences to make the best out of it.
You only need a few minutes on social media sites to find that images dominate the web. From selfies to photos of their nicely-prepared last meal, there’s no denying at this age; almost anyone can take their own photographs.
But that’s not to say that anyone can be considered a photographer, let alone do so professionally. If you’re thinking of seriously taking it up as a hobby or planning to go pro someday, here are a few tips you’ll want to know.
Source: pixabay.com
Smartphones used to take crappy photos that can’t even compare to pictures from a professional camera. However, advances in light sensor hardware and image processing software have drastically improved the quality of smartphone photos. Nowadays, it can be challenging to identify the type of device that was used to take a particular photo.
Improved phone cameras give you the perfect opportunity to improve your photography skills. Ever wanted to take groupies that are the envy of the crowd? How about some beautiful landscape pictures for your next vacation? Learn more about the essential photography tips that will help you maximize the powerful cameras you have on your device.
Explore Your Existing Camera Hardware And Software
In modern smartphones, you already have a stock camera app that performs well out of the box. Almost all apps have an automatic mode that adjusts your camera settings to deliver optimum shots in most scenarios. Apps may also have specialized methods such as night mode for low-light photography or sports mode for capturing high-speed objects.
Burst mode makes the camera take quick shots in succession, allowing you to choose the best photos. Your chances of getting decent images increase with the number of shots you take and burst mode takes advantage of that.
Used correctly, flash can make it easier to take photos in dark settings. Just make sure to adjust distances to avoid glare and overexposure.
Source: pixabay.com
Many apps also use software to add filters and other special effects to your shots. A typical example is the bokeh effect, which blurs the background and puts your face in focus.
Make sure to explore the options you have. There are dozens of decent alternatives out there. Don’t hesitate to use a third-party app if you want.
Learn About Photography Settings
Three primary settings are used to tweak how photos appear. First, the shutter speed controls the duration that light reaches the sensor. There’s also the aperture speed, which adjusts the amount of light that passes through the lens. Finally, the ISO settings modify how sensitive the sensor is to light.
These three settings have different effects on your photos. For instance, low ISO settings are useful for getting clear images in brightly lit environments. On the other hand, high ISO settings allow for decent photos in more moderate light conditions at the expense of adding granularity to the pictures. Low shutter speeds improve night shots but make photos blurry. Small aperture openings prevent overexposure but are only practical for daytime photography.
Many smartphones offer a manual mode which allows you to edit these settings as you see fit. If you want to customize how your photos look, learn more about these settings and practice until you’re skilled at them.
Invest In Tools
Source: pixabay.com
Having additional equipment can improve the quality of the shots that you take. For example, small tripods allow you to eliminate photo blur, which is critical for moving shots or night-time photography. A gimbal will keep your phone level as you move it around, allowing you to try out new shot perspectives. Even a selfie stick can do wonders for your photos.
You should also buy some items for maintaining your camera lens. Buying some microfiber cloth allows you to clean the lens without leaving scratches. However, be wary of other products that can leave lasting damage to them, such as liquid cleaners.
Do you know other tips and tricks on smartphone photography? Share them in the comments!