Some
Important Principles Of Photography
By: Susan Banks
A camera is actually a sensitive machine, which will follow
your command and you will be able to take the picture exactly the way you want
it. Of course, there are quite a few things that you need to keep in mind before
you push the camera button. Here is an insight into certain elements that needs
to be taken into account when you are going for that classic picture!
Creativity using camera controls
Mastery over camera controls is necessary. You just cannot do without that. You
need to first read the guidebook that most camera manufacturing companies
provide with the camera. You need to know the various modes your camera offers
from macro to panoramic, back lighting and others.
If you have bought a DSLR then there are several elements that you will have to
master and understand to bring out the best composition. A serious digital
camera has the ability to provide you with a creative control over the images
that you shoot. A digital camera can do this by allowing you the luxury to
control both motion and light in all your photographs and at the same time it
can demarcate between sharpness and softness. Most of the commonly available
consumer digital cameras are completely automatic and hence you will not have to
make too many adjustments. But high-end cameras like the DSLR offer the ability
to work upon a wider range of controls. So before, you can even think of
clicking away to glory; check the automatic exposure as well as the focusing
systems, which is a key to achieving a good composition.
The automatic mode
Most of the digital cameras work on an automatic mode. The automatic mode can
set the focus as well as the exposure for you and all you have to do is click
the subject. The automatic mode will help you in situations where you do not
have the luxury of changing lenses or manually focusing especially when you are
taking shot of a moving subject. But in spite of the automatic mode, you should
choose a sub-mode like the night mode for taking pictures at night, so that
according to the sub-mode the camera can adjust itself.
Some key areas
Some of the key areas that most amateurs miss are too basic to be noticed and
yet hold a lot of importance. For instance, you should always check in advance
if the battery is full or not. You should not be in a situation where you get a
great opportunity for a classic composition and the camera battery dies. Check
all the minute things and then turn your camera on and set it to the automatic
mode. Most digital cameras have an icon that says Auto mode.
Another key area is lighting, which is something that you will need to
understand and feel to become a professional photographer. Here are some of the
most important lighting conditions that assist photography composition:
Backlighting: This kind of lighting comes from behind the subject. If you are
unable to control the requirement of backlighting then it can turn your
photography session into a disaster. Most of your pictures will either be
over-exposed or burnt. The best way to take pictures with high amount of
backlight like the sun behind your subject is by using a fill-flash.
Diffused lighting: As you will learn on the way that sometimes whether the
lighting is through an artificial source or a natural source, it can be quite
harsh. When the lighting is harsh, you will need to soften it and try to
minimize the contrast. Normally, it is advised not to take pictures in such a
lighting condition. It is extensively encountered in landscape or nature
photography and the best you can do is come back at a different time when the
lighting conditions are better.
Framing
This is an important aspect and you need to frame your subject before you can
push the camera button to take the picture. The automatic mode gives you a
well-prepared platform but if you are unable to frame the primary subject then
the final outcome will not be to your liking. Images can become hazy, blur or
even distorted. You can frame the subject by using the viewfinder or the LCD
monitor. Digital cameras have the zoom view also. So if you need to bring the
subject closer then press the optical zoom or digital zoom as necessary. Once
all your elements are in place, then go ahead and click the picture.
There will be times when you might not be satisfied with the outcome in spite of
having framed the subject and following the guidelines. Do not be disheartened!
The best way to move ahead is by experimenting with controls and through
improvisations!
Author Resource:- Susan is a
contributing editor to Fuzing.com. This viewpoint is brought to you by
trade leads from the
Digital Video Cameras section of our portal.